More Great Stuff

Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way, Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

But Saul and the people spared Agag.... Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out the the Lord all night.

Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, "Go, and utterly destroy the sinners...and fight against them until they are consumed." "Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord?" And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord..."

So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king."

1 Samuel 12 & 15

Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Thus, Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David... so Saul became David's enemy continually.

David inquired of the Lord... the Lord said... 1 Sam. 23:2

David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him.. 1 Sam. 23:4

David said to the Lord... and the Lord said... 1 Sam. 23:10-12

I have always wondered, "What was it about David that made him "a man after God's own heart"? As I read through the pages of history, I see time and time again, David was continually seeking, continually speaking, and continually obeying the voice of the Lord. You really should take a look at chapter 23.. and more if you are so inclined. It is amazing to me how David and God literally HAVE conversations! How cool is that?! And I think, that is what the Lord longs for: us to bring Him into our day to day, moment by moment, and seek Him. Ask of Him. Listen to Him.

There's more interesting stuff:

1 Samuel 29

Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul kind of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me." .. do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. Then Achish called David and said to him, "Surely as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. Nor to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you.

I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless...

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

There's so much more... dig in!

Mya's Birthday

Almost up to date!!! So excited!!!

So this month our Mya turned....six.... sniff sniff. Her day fell on a Saturday, and we wanted to do a party with friends. We don't do that every year. We invited our closest neighbors and friends from church. Being that it was also the weekend of Mother's Day, we had a small, but intimate group. It was perfect!

March & April

"Would you like some tea? Here. I'll pour you some."

My sweet Emily. I can't help but take pictures of her. She is so full of life! Isn't the boot/dress combo quite the fasion statement? There are days when I require the boots to be worn. We get a lot of rain, and our yard turns into a swamp. If it's NOT raining, we need fresh air though. Other times, I try to talk her into some other sort of shoe, and she insists on her polka-dot boots. She'd sleep in them if I let her!

Emily LOVES the tire swing. She is brave! She goes as high as I can push her. Easter pictures:
We were thankful to not have snow. The previous weekend we had flurries.

Grandma and Grandpa, thank you so much for the beautiful Easter dresses, gloves, and treats! It was hard waiting to wear the dresses, but Mommy insisted.

Out for some sun, fresh air, and hairstyling:

Another fun experiement with Mr. Ralph. He collected about 2 gallons of Sugar Mapel tree sap per day. We kept our fire going to boil it down. After.... I don't know.... 20 gallons or so, we have 5 jars of the tastiest, REAL mapel syrup. Ralph was excited about showing the girls the process.

An antique egg weigher from Mr. Ralph. We weighed each and every egg!

For several weeks (before the unfortunate accident of loosing chickens to wild animals and dog) we were collecting 18-22 eggs a day! Emily and I had a routine of heading to the barn with basket in hand, collect them, feed the chickens, thank the chickens for the eggs, head back to the house, wash the eggs, weigh the eggs, sort the eggs, refridgerate the eggs. Then, Emily would earn some "work money". Then.... we had the accident. We now collect about 10 eggs a day. Sigh. At one point, we had 18 dozen eggs in holding. That's a lot of eggs!

These tiny glss pigs were a gift to the girls from my mom. They were in her "special cabinet" for a long time, and each time Mya would visit Grandma, she would ask if she could have the little pigs. Grandma finally They are not a common play toy, but every once in awhile Emily will ask, "Mommy, can I play with the little glass piggies? I will be gentle, I promise." So, they come to play for a bit. This little girl feeds them bread and was entertained in dream land for over a half an hour the day I took this picture.

Eyes

I've been going through more old photos. These two I thought were cute of Emily. What color, exactly, would you call her eyes?

Many Troubles....

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6

For we do not want you to be ignorant of our trouble which came to us: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despared even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

The signs of life

Spring has finally decided to show up here. Until June, we still run the chance of frost though. I have been spending many days out in the yard, and have been overwhelmed with the feeling of new life. The birds are busy making nests and raising babies, the plants and flowers are budding, and I am reminded that no matter how long the winter may seem (and it may in fact be ages long!), there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Keep your eyes opened, slow down, and be searching for the little glimmers of hope. You'll find them... somewhere!

I am trying my best to be obedient in sharing love and kindness to all. As I reach out, I see just how many people, even the ones you least expect, are CRAVING for interaction.... for relationship, for TIME. I encourage you to reach out as well. You may think, as I did, that you will bless someone, but in fact, it's YOU that gets the blessing as well. Two-fold!

Find Waldo! Can you spot the birds? This morning I spotted two new types of birds that I've never seen before. They are a brilliant orange and black. It looks as though they may have a diet of nectar or pollen. They quickly hop from branch to branch while pecking at the tree.
Check out those legs! I'm sorry, but those are furry like a tarantula. I was trying to let it free until I saw those legs!
Last fall Emily and I were cutting the grass when we came across this HUGE, FAT green caterpillar. We put in it a butterfly house that we had. The very next day it was in a thick cocoon. Talk about perfect timing! All winter we would occasionally check on it. After all this time, I thought that I wasn't going to come to anything. Yesterday, after seeing the caterpillar nest in the tree, we were reminded to check on the one in the house. Again, perfect timing! It had come out and was hanging, drying it's wings. So much excitement! Isn't it beautiful? It's big enough to fill my hand.
I am so excited! In three years, I have not had a single blooming Iris. This year, we have over 15 buds! The girls and I are watching the growth that takes place every day. Little girls and flowers go hand in hand.
A nest of caterpillars! We found 3 nests just like this in the same tree.
The safe way to show the girls how bees collect pollen. You see, my girls and any sort of reptile=wonderment, excitement, and kissing. You name it! Frogs, worms, snakes...

However, any sort of bee or spider= terror and screaming. That is a result of bites and stings on several occasions.

It's been so long!

Our computer died shortly after Christmas. Just this past week I was able to use a computer for a time. We will see how long. I look forward to updating as much as possible. Thank you all for your interest in our lives. We truly are made for relationship!

My hope and encouragement from the past few days:

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strenth, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up... therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord! When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, will I seek." Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!