These Ain't Runnin' Shoes

Just the other day, Ellie and Ethan went to check the mail. Ellie decided Dad's flip flops were fitting for the mission. On their way back, Ellie decided that a cougar was fast on the track of hunting her down and making her lunch! I caught it all on camera ... and must say ... laughed the whole time. I know, I know, many would say I am sick . . . laughing while poor Ellie is afeared for her dear little life. I just thought it hilarious to see her high tail it wearing Dad's big ole' flip flops.

walking ... non-chalantly
uh ... ohhhhh ...

Ahhhhhhh .... it's a cougar ... I know it!

Sheer terror!

I'm gonna fall apart here in a second Mom ... serious!

They make you run faster! You should get a pair!

OHHHHHH MOM! It was horrible ...

Don't worry. I most dutifully put the camera down and scooped up my darling girl, reassuring her that cougars don't like the taste of Daddy flip-flops!

Praising Our Saviour

I recently stumbled across a blog entitled www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com
It is a beautiful story of a little girl who was an orphan in Serbia with special needs. She also had dire need of heart surgery. You see, here in the USA there is a 200+ waiting list for adopting children with Down syndrome (ironic - given the abortion rate) but in other countries like Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, etc. these children are deemed useless. They are most often given up at birth and put in an orphanage. Orphanages are typically poor and the babies will usually go malnourished and without the proper treatments they need. Once these children reach ages four or five they are sent to a mental institution where they face much more dire situations. Eighty percent of these children die within their first year of being in what the locals call an insane asylum. Well, this family set out to do something about it. They spent the money and set their hearts to adopt Chrissie just last fall. Well, this morning - after a loooong fight in the hospital ICU she went home to be with Jesus. She is PRAISING OUR SAVIOUR AT HIS FEET!
I pray for the family's collective heart - that there would be peace. That this story would impact others to do the same - save a life. That many would look at their present surroundings and situation in life, and realize that they really have it pretty good.
This family lived out James 1:27 ~ ~ ~ and GOD will get the glory.

~ ~ Happy Birthday Justus ~ ~

May 11, 2009

Justus Theodore Browning was welcomed into this world. Here are a few pictures from that day. (as well as one from me expecting him) We love you sweet baby Butter more than words can describe.

A thank you to all the friends and family who have offered prayer on behalf of Justus' health. He is now a pink and very much active little boy. Much different than that purple foot you see pictured.

I am most thankful to our Lord, and Saviour. He is the one who has allowed us the privelege to care for every one of our children. As we celebrate Justus' life thus far, we look to Christ and praise Him.

Hello, My Name is ... Mommy

I often marvel at the fact that there is a day annually set aside to pay recognition to all the mothers in the world. I understand the principle behind it - wanting to make Mom feel special for doing what she does to take care of her family and her immediate surroundings. I understand it, but have to admit that I always feel a little wierd in accepting any "credit" for being a mommy when the whole reason I get to be the star that day is because of my children. The good Lord allowed me the privelege to raise my kids - to care for them day to day - nurturing, admonishing, teaching, and enjoying them. It is my husband who works so hard day to day to allow me the awesome gift of staying home to do all this. Without these two key players what would I be? I might be a great career woman, or even a world famous novelist, but I know in my heart of hearts I would feel a void. I can honestly say that there is nothing that I crave more than to one day witness my children walk in truth. There is nothing I would gladly trade for as I wipe noses, clean bottoms, or scrub a stain from a shirt. All of those mundane tasks mean that I have someone to care for, and that is MY GIFT. Sure, some days may be a little tougher than all the rest, but not worthy of complaint. I look at each of my children's faces today and think ... I am their Mommy, I am not the reason for celebration - they are. I am reminded to thank Christ for my husband and children.

~ ~ Happy Mother's Day ~ ~

Enjoy your gift of family

I LOVE This Crew

The mountain top

"And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them." ~ Mark 9:2

We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God's standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only, something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among the devil-possessed and lift them up. We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle. Spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mount. We feel we could talk like angels and live like angels, if only we could stay on the mount. The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time.

We are apt to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz., into character. The mount is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a great snare in asking - What is the use of it? In spiritual matters we can never calculate on that line. The moments on the mountain tops are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God's purpose.

~ Oswald Chambers ~

The above excerpt from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His highest", made such a huge impression on me when I first read this entry in 2003. The thought has always stuck with me. It is not of our Lord to continually think that we are to live upon the mountain, but in turn to take that inspiration - that absolute joy from being there and share with those who also are in need to ascend. We may never know the purpose of what God has allowed us to experience, but God knows ... and that is all that is important.

Loved this entry. Just had to share.