Rivers in the Desert

Isaiah 43:18-20 (King James Version)
"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;

shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The beast of the field shall honour me,

the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen."

Recently I came across this scripture. I've heard of "Streams in the Desert" before as it is a popular devotional book but I'd really never given it much more thought than that. But when I came across this scripture, I began to really think about it.

First of all, I have found myself in a "desert", so to speak. What is a "desert?" For me, it is an area of unknown....and area of total faith and a time of learning just who God really is. It is that place that you find yourself in when God prompts you to leave your comfort zone, whether good or bad, and go on a journey with Him.

I've come to the edge of my desert before. I've stuck one foot in and retreated back out of fear and also because I didn't fully trust God. Now I'm all in. And what I've found is that God provides even though I'm in a barren land. He offers refreshment and how I need it!! What I got to thinking about this morning, however, is all the rivers He has provided that I have taken for granted. Prayers and encouragement from friends, my church, messages brought on Sunday, worship, a love note from my daughter, a call from my son, a chat with another daughter, and another son doing something nice for his mom...just because. The Psalms, prayer, lessons learned. Lunches and conversations with my mom, phone calls to my dad, race fun with friends and on and on the list goes!! It has caused me to realize how much God has truly blessed me!! And its helped me to get back up and keep walking...with God until I reach the other side. I'm not there yet. I've still got a ways to go.

Tomorrow....

Tomorrow morning, Jacob & Emily will go to school.

Amy will go to work.

Cliff will go back to work after being off all last week....

And I'll be ALL ALONE!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmm...whatever will I do???????

I'm sure I'll come up with something :-)

Thinking Thoughts of Fall

Once school starts, it seems my mind starts drifting towards fall. It helps when you have weather such as we had today....no humidity, low 70's and clear. Nice! Fall weather rejuvinates me. By the time summer comes to a close, I'm sort of tired of living semi-unstructured and dealing with the heat. With autumn weather, I'm filled with new energy.

It's been sort of a tough summer for us and I'm ready for a change of seasons!!

Ecclesiates 3:1-8

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. "

Back To School

I am up earlier than I have been all summer (except the day we took Cliff's mom to the airport). I'm already tired!! Where did the summer go?? Seems I ask myself this question every year. Emily started back today. Amy starts her new job today...working as a para-educator at Emily's school. I'm excited for her...for them both. I think it will be so good for Amy to have a regular 9-5 job. It will also help her decide if she wants to continue pursuing her education degree. The cool thing is that Emily can ride with Amy to and from school. Lots of good sister time!

Jacob starts tomorrow. Junior year. My, oh my...where in the world has the time gone??

Learning to Be A Parent to 20-Somethings (Or Learning to Let Go)

Having two kids in their twenties snuck up on me faster than I ever thought possible!! For the past few days I have been in a very nostalgic frame of mind and Sunday afternoon, I got to missing my older kids something fierce. I know Amy lives at home but she's hardly ever home and I think sometimes what I'm really missing are the days when they were little kids.

Its been a real journey for me, to let go and let them live their own lives. When they are small, as their mom, you do everything for them...my kids were my life for quite a while. I was a mom and I loved it! As they grew older, however, they needed me less and less until the day came when Joshua packed up and left for school. That first year was a difficult one for both of us...him wanting total independence and freedom, me, wanting to still know that I fit somewhere into his life. Somewhere along the lines, I let go. By the time Amy left for school, I was used to having a kid living on his own so I didn't have near the issues with her. But when she moved back home last fall, it threw me for a loop. Once again, it took me several months to finally let go. She was patient, though. And it was the same thing...she, wanting independence and me, wanting to know that I still fit somewhere into her life.

I was thinking today, that when kids are young, we, the parents set the tones and boundaries of the relationship. I love them unconditionally and I set the rules and boundaries. Everything is on the parent's terms. Now its the other way around. Our relationship seems to be on their terms....and its hard but I'm doing it. I have no choice. And I'm trying to put all that extra time and energy into my two I still have at home and my husband. And I have discovered, that there is so much peace when you can finally let go. I know that God loves them far, far greater than I ever could and He'll do a much better job and molding them into the kind of people that He wants them to be than I can.

Doggie Doos

This is my little dog, Jack. If I don't have him groomed, he will eventually look like a marshmallow with a head and legs! Obviously I can't afford to get him groomed every 3 months, so I've had to learn to do it myself. He does very well. He'll lay down and let me go to town with the clippers. Yesterday was bath & haircut day for him. He turned out really cute!!

Since I'm taking care of my mom's dog, Gabby (who is a sister to Jack) this week while they are out of town, I volunteered to give her a hair cut also. I'm spoiled by Jack. Gabby did lie down and let me cut her back & head but she would NOT lie on her side and NO WAY would she lie on her back. It took Emily & I to cut her chest & belly. I did the best I could on her legs. (I didn't want to traumatize her!!) She turned out really cute!!!

Church

I haven't done a post about my church for a long time...and that's incredible because the church is such a big part of my life. Not only do I work for our church but I am also a member. In fact, I think of myself as a member first and foremost because even if I didn't work for Liberty, I would still attend and serve there.

I look forward to Sundays. For me, that time in worship is a time to get away from all the "stuff" that's going on in the world around us. There's so much uncertainty and so much bad news. It's a priviledge to enter into a community and just enjoy being with people I love and worshiping together and learning more about Him.

I'm also part of a Bible study & prayer group for women that meets on Thursday mornings. We have met for 2 years now and I have seen God do some incredible things to and through this group. I can't explain how prayer works, I just know it does and I know I am changed by it. It's great to know that there are people who will help carry burdens through prayer and encourage you while you walk through not only that bad times but also the good ones. I need that. I need to be challenged & inspired. I need to be encouraged & loved. I receive that through my church. I think the most important thing, though, is that I'm constantly encouraged, challenged, & inspired to look up. To look to the One who loves me more than I ever thought possible.

Have a very blessed Sunday!!

The Last of the July Pics

Cliff's mom bought Jacob the Rockband game while she was here. I'm not sure who was more excited about it or who enjoys it more....Jacob, Amy, or their dad!!!

July 4th pics. A nice one of Emily & her cousins & a crazy water-balloon fight.