Still Overwhelmed....

Another day...another entry...I am thinking today of all the things I left out yesterday...the ladies of our church that are privileged to stay home during the day have been joining me on Monday mornings for a Bible Study...OH how I have missed Bible Study...I have needed this...I thought if I was lucky one or two ladies would join me but we have consistently had 7-9 ladies and it has been just a sweet time...refreshing...just what my soul was longing for...so thankful for each one of them...

I am thankful for the man that I have shared 33 1/2 years (not all that time married!) of my life with...he never ceases to amaze me...probably there is no one who can make me as angry as him...or hurt my feelings like him...and then turn around and make me feel like the most treasured person on earth...truth be told that is what I feel 99% of the time...our marriage has been and continues to be a work in progress...just as all marriage are or at least should be...he is a kind man...who loves very deeply...when you have been loved by Scott...you know you are loved...as his kids and grand kids will tell you...I think even his mom and siblings would say that...he still hugs his brothers and sisters and tells them he loves them...most of the time...there was a time...I hate to admit this...but I was jealous of Jesus because I've known for a very long time now that I come 2nd in Scott's life...but do you know what I've learned over the years??? (young ladies take advice from this...love a man who loves Jesus way more than you)...as he has fallen more and more in love with the Savior...he is able to love me more and more...the last 32 years of marriage have been amazing and I look forward to the next however many years God blesses us with...

I spoke of Michael and Beks yesterday but I haven't forgotten my girls...and their sweet families...my grand babies are, in my opinion, some of the very best!!!! Adyen Parker will be 9 years old very soon and he still comes in and gives his grammy a hug...I was wondering the other day...if and when that will stop...I hope never...I hope he always likes to come to Grammy and Poppy's...give me a hug and just hang with us...I know to a degree he will out grow us but I also know we could be a safe place for him...that is what I want for him and all of them....now mind you all the boys will give me hugs...and I love them all!!! He is just the oldest so I fear his hugs may stop sooner!!!!! NOOOOO!!!! He is very sensitive just as our Caleb is...they both have deep questions about Jesus...as they grow and attempt to make sense out of this crazy thing we call life...they all (6 of them) love to giggle...and even snuggle...some easier than other but they will all take a time of snuggles with the Grams! I have loved watching Landon bloom in his new school this year...he has a lot more smiles this year than last...I know when the Ball family moved to Florida it was so very hard on Ayden...because he left everything he knew...and the move back was just as hard on Landon b/c he moved back here and left everything he knew there!!!! He is becoming quite the little man this year...and Cams...our kindergarten Rooster...reading already...funny...I'm sure he will be voted class clown more than once in his lifetime!!!! Rylee and Caleb also are loving kindergarten...the ladies are chasing him and she is proud that at this point she hasn't clipped down ONE TIME!!!! She reminds me of her momma the way she will be so quiet in the background...just patiently waiting for you to say hi or hug her...then she bounces along her merry way!!!! Never feeling ignored...she is just quiet...and then there will be that every ONCE IN  A WHILE when she will talk your leg off...sweet girl...oh and our Laney Kate...mess baby girl!!! She is our miss priss and all that comes with it...she knows how to carry a purse and smack you with it all at the same time...Grammy has enjoyed her this year...

and my girls...my friends...I love them so much...I'm so proud of the paths they are all walking on...I'm so very thankful I can call them my friends...and I'm thankful I can say my sweet daughter in law is one too! They are all amazing women of the Lord...a dream come truein all of them...2 of them are amazing mommies...something they did not learn from me...again thankful for grace...they understand their rolls (all 4 of them) so much better than I did at that age...and they all 4 grasp the fact that each step they place their foot on is a mission field...I look forward in the years to come to see 2 more of them become mamma's and and I have no doubt they will be amazing as well...

And for my Son in laws...so very thankful that they will come hang out with us...I think we, overall, enjoy each other! We are not a perfect family...and at times we have a small bit of tension...but each one of us would be there for the other one...if and when needed...God I am overwhelmed by these people I get to call mine...thank YOU...thank you to the parents of the ones who have joined us by choice...thank YOU for trusting ME to be their mom...their Grammy...for 2nd chances...God you are GOOD!!!

...a jumbled mess of thankfulness...

How do I begin to say how thankful I am...November will soon be upon us and those of us who are faithful (or addicted addicts) to Facebook will be putting a daily...I am thankful for... on our status...but I have found myself thinking the last few days of all I'm thankful for already...and let me tell you...it is all running through my head like a jumbled up mess!!!!

Yesterday in church I was worshiping as Michael and Bekah led us...and I found myself thankful...for the one my son has found...the love they share is very apparent between the two of them...they had pulled a little prank on someone yesterday and it was just about all they could both do to keep from bursting out in laughter at any given moment...but then true worship started...I love to see my children worship...don't you...is there anything sweeter...maybe a grandbaby raising hands to the Lord...back to Michael and Beks...she follows his lead so well...in a marriage isn't that how it is suppose to be? I was a bit overwhelmed by it...

Then my step dad...Tucker was taking up the offering and I just glanced his way...and again...I was overwhelmed by the thought of just how lucky I have been to have this special person in my life over the last 34 plus years...I even found myself envious of his children...what an honor to be able to call him dad...and watch the Lord do a transforming miracle in  their daddy's life over the years...I too, am thankful to have witnessed it...he is a good man...not a perfect man...but still a good man...and a man who has taken such good care of my mom! He has a place in my heart that no one else can have...it is his place...he earned...or maybe a better word is he...won it...and I am thankful for him...I have stood by the grave to two other men in my life that have help to form me into the woman I have become...one I told and the other I just assumed he knew...I am overwhelmed with the fact that I do NOT want to take people for granted again...

We have two new "daughters" this year...and I have come to love them both very deeply already...they are very different girls...much like my own children are all very different...but they each have a place in my heart that will forever be there...I am thankful for our Sasha and the way she is opening up to us more and more...I desire nothing more than for her to have true joy...and peace in her sweet life...I love to see her face light up with a smile...and for our Sofia...she has embraced us with open arms...and as she transitions into our lives I want nothing more for her either...joy...peace...HOPE...I am overwhelmed that God choose Scott and I once again be apart of two young ladies lives...Lord...give us wisdom...love...

We spent a little time appreciating our pastor and his sweet family yesterday...again thankful...thankful they are still standing...they are a picture to the world what Jesus can and will do...if only we will seek Him above our feelings...wants...pain...HE IS EVERYTHING...and HE IS ENOUGH...I am thankful that they are willing to let us know that and see that first hand...although...truth be told...we are all the same...if we as believers are standing it is by the grace of God...and the transforming power of Jesus Christ!!!!

...I have more to be thankful for and it will be coming soon...but I want to end with this one more thing I am overwhelmed with...

my heritage...as far as with the Lord...has not got a great track record...my mom and step dad are changing that but as for my grandparents I just know I never saw or heard about Jesus...all I know is I never really heard about the Lord as a child except when His name was being miss used...I want so much for my children...grandchildren...and all the extras that join us along the way to know a heritage of Jesus from our home...to know we love Him...serve Him and desire to love Him above all else...to laugh...and to cry...and to know there is hope in HIM...

I was driving to see my mom the other day...and I past my grandparents old farm...they have both been gone for quite some time now and their farm has been sold a few times since...but now...a church has purchased the land and will be building on it in the future...as I past the other day I notice this on the property...

the sun was just coming onto the cross...with the fog still there...to see a church...and the hope of the cross on my grandparents property brings great joy to me...and I believe, it brings great joy to them as well...I believe no matter their choice in life...that would want us...their legacy...their family...their ancestors to know that the hope of this world...and eternity is found only in the cross...I know this may sound so silly but the emotions that I had that morning was...overwhelming...

As we begin to embrace the holiday season...may be be overwhelmed in HIM...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oxXwRWFTo