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!

Completely Backwards

..but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, dear friend, that not many wise according the the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

And I, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

No one ever said God was suppose to make sense to us.

Faith

Grace

We stand

Rejoice

Hope

Glory of God

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Special Child

When you're days are too heavy to carry. When you feel you're all alone. When you feel and think that no one could possibly understand. Carry these words with you; from someone who has been in the pit.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me with Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off. Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long. But I, like a deaf man, don not hear; and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man whol does not hear, and in whose mouth is no response. For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, "Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me." For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. Those also who render evil for good, they are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. Don not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

Psalm 38