Family Time

Here's a picture of the family from a birthday party for Mark's Grandma this past weekend.
(L-R) Mark, Lauren, Matt, CJ (Matt's girlfriend), Me, Steph and Josh.

Lauren is in true form with her mouth wide open screaming for joy! Of course her brother keeps all of us laughing. Did I tell you that he is doing stand-up comedy now? He writes all his own stuff and has been at several of the comedy clubs in the area and state. He's hoping to get to New York this summer.

We have more family time coming tonight as Josh graduates from high school.

It is hard to believe how fast the time goes by!
Family is precious, enjoy every minute.

Two shall become One ~ The Key

I received a call the other day from a friend that locked themselves out of their house. I happened to have access to a spare key and I brought it to them.

I watched them go to the door, put the little key into the lock and open it. I couldn’t help but think about how interesting it is that such a tiny thing- a 2 inch key- can make all the difference.

Sure, you could force your way into the house, but then you end up with damage that will need to be fixed. Instead, my friend sat outside and waited for me to bring the key so that they could enter their home.

I thought about how marriage is similar.
There are certain “keys” to a happy and strong marriage and without them, you really never enjoy all that “home” truly is.

I believe that one of the most important keys is one that I have touched on over and over, but I am going to go there again because if you are like me, you need constant reminders.

That key is humility.


Humility is the key that opens a closed heart.
Being a giver instead of a taker.
Doing things “their way” instead of your way.

I’m not talking about gritting your teeth and saying, “yes dear.” I’m talking about true humility. Truly esteeming others above ourselves.

HUMILITY
Humility in the spiritual sense is an inwrought grace of the
soul that allows one to think of himself no more highly than he ought to think
(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by
Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

Here's what God's powerful Words on the subject are:

Romans 12:10-11
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
NIV

Prov 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor
NIV

Ps 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
NIV

Col 3:12-13
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
NIV

James 4:6
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
NIV

I challenge you to use this key today and see what it opens in your marriage!!

Thank you for the prayers, I am doing better.

Batgirl!

Here is my son and his new sidekick CJ playing with Lauren last night.

At least she's not afraid of the mask anymore!

Pray for the Chapmans

My heart just broke last night as I heard the evening news that Steven and Marybeth Chapman's youngest daughter Maria (5 yrs) was killed by their own teenage son accidently running her over in their driveway.

I could hardly sleep as I thought of what they must be going through. Not only the loss of their dear daughter, but also the pain of their son in this horrible accident.



The Chapman's life and ministry is so precious to us as they have inspired not only our family but countless others to adopt a child that needed a forever home.



We have comfort knowing that the Lord used this short little life to inspire many and change the lives of orphans across the world. Our God, their God, will get them through this.

Let's all pray for their comfort and peace at this incredibly difficult time.

Michigan Bloggers

Hey all my Michigan friends...
Hope is asking for input on a get-together in Lansing.

Stop by and let her know if you would be interested!!

Michigan Bloggers Meet

PS: You don't have to be from Michigan!!

I'm still here...

Hello,
Thank you for your sweet words of concern!

I'm still here and kicking. It's been a rough week. I started feeling sick on Mother's Day and spent much of the week huddled on the couch with a fever and chills.

I went to the doctor Thursday and he said I had an upper respiratory infection and sinusitus. Two for one!

But don't worry, all was not lost. I had a fun day out on Wednesday...my first mammogram!
Being 40 is such a blast, not sure why I didn't try it sooner.

As I write this, I am recovering from a very rough night. On top of everything else, I seem to have a pinched nerve which causes my hands to go numb (and yet be in great pain at the same time) everytime I lay down.
The only thing that seems to eliviate the pain is standing up and walking around, which gets a little exhausting all night long.

It did give me opportunity to pray, so I did plenty of that. I included all of you and your marriages- so I am looking forward to some great testimonies!

I found such comfort in Him, even though the pain did not subside. I know He is my rock, He is my shelter and He is faithful!

Psalms 61:1-4

Hear my cry, O God;listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

So that is why I have not spent much time on the computer this week. I plan to get to my chiropractor soon and I'm sure things will be much better after that.

Sue

The May Praise and Coffee Winner is...

Lisa Swinney fromThe Swinney Family
Congratulations Lisa! Everyone else, try again June !st!

Friday Fluff ~ and other random happenings...

I was driving through town the other day and saw a billboard for a local radio station. This station has been around since I was a teenager. Back then they played hard rock music.

Now they play "Classic Rock."

It occured to me that they are playing the exact same music, but because it is 25...(cough-cough)something years later, it is now called, Classic Rock.

Same music, but now it's "Classic."

That got me thinking...

Wendy's has a Classic cheeseburger...same burger...years later...now it's a Classic.

What about the old Mustangs and muscle cars of our day?? Same cars as before...now their "Classics."

That old pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals in the back of the closet...now "Classics."

Can we do this...

Wednesday night's lasagna is Thursday's "Classic" lasagna!

Why not?!

So I've concluded that the wrinkles and grey hairs don't make me old,
they make me a "Classic."

*****

So I went to my "yearly" (actually year-and-a-halfly) check up this week. My doctor is an old friend (girl-friend) and there's nothing like catching up on what the kids are doing while your feet pointed at the ceiling.

But this is not as bad as when I am answering all the nurses questions and I tell her the ages of my children...20, 18, 16 and 3. "Wow" she states, "kind of like having a grandchild huh?!" (Clenched teeth *grin*...eyes squinting)..."yes, kind of like that."

Also...am I the only one that stresses about how fast to dis-robe when the nurse leaves the room? I wish there was like a little switch I could turn on that worked a light in the hall so that it would go from red to green when I was ready. It's really silly because they are about to come in and see the whole show anyways, but I am traumatized by the thought of them coming in WHILE I'm in the process of taking my clothes off and before the little gown is on.

So now I put the gown over my head while fully clothed and then take everything off as fast as possible while that is over my head- by the way, you have to plan ahead for this and wear button down shirts.

*****

In honor of Mother's Day, here are some fun quotes for women:

"I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows." -Janette Barber-

"You know the hardest thing about having cerebral palsy and being a woman? It's plucking your eyebrows. That's how I originally got pierced ears." -Geri Jewell-

"I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on." -Roseanne Barr-

"I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb . . and I'm also not blonde." -Dolly Parton-

"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." ~ Phyllis Diller

and finally...

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." ~ Mark Twain

Happy Mother's Day! Love, Sue

(I am gone for the weekend, so the drawing for the May giveaway will be on Monday- If you haven't yet- go sign up on the May 1st post!)

Are you sinking???

Just a word of encouragement to any of you that are walking through storms today.

The Lord sees your tears, He knows your pain.
He is there with you.

Turn to Him and let Him be your comfort.

Matt 14:28-33
28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said,
"why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
NIV

Jesus called Peter out of the boat and Peter came....huge step of faith. But then, when he took his focus off the Lord and focused on the wind and waves, he started to sink.
Jesus' response was of course to pick him right back up again.

I am always caught by His words..."why did you doubt?"

The Lord doesn't expect us to doubt, even in the midst of the storm.
He wants us to trust.
Even when the circumstances seem precarious and frightening.

Heb 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
NIV

Fix our eyes on Him.

Even though the storm goes rages on around us, we have a place of peace and comfort in Him.

If you've fallen, reach up, He will pull you out!

Because of Him... I Can

I can know peace.
I can know joy.
I can have HOPE.

I can climb mountains and cross raging seas in this life.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

This is so cool. I needed this today! I hope it encourages you.
Love,
Sue

May Praise and Coffee Giveaway!

It's that time of the month again! ;)
Time for another giveaway!

This month's Praise and Coffee will be:

1 bag of Starbucks coffee

and

the powerful CD by Brian Doerksen, Holy God:

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

Remeber to make sure that I have a way to get a hold of you if you don't have a blog (I am always amazed at the number of anonymous comments without an email address.)
Drawing will be on May 10th!

Our hope is in Him,

Sue