Marriage Monday

Went to the Airport on Saturday and picked up my wonderful, awesome hubby and our son Caleb after a week in Chihuahua, Mexico on a missions trip with 14 guys. God is amazing. God is at work in the hearts of men, women and children there.

Yesterday was a really really huge blessing to our Church family. Each of the twelve men (two were not there, Juan and Rich) shared a 'snapshot' of what God did in their life during the week. It was amazing.....I cried through it all out of happiness! The Spirit was really present. It is hard to put into words of the blessing of it all.

My heart is full. I am so thankful. I am overflowing with gratefulness and happiness to be envied. Because God is good, so good. He has a plan and it is for our good and for HIS glory!

Since today is Marriage Monday I am sharing a link. It is about intimacy in your marriage. Taking the initiative in your physical union. Sheila says it well and I agree 100% with this one blog.

I don't usually read many blogs other than Pioneer Woman (recipes--yummy) http://thepioneerwoman.com/ and Girltalk http://www.girltalkhome.com/.

Yet, I think this is one very good post from Sheila. She says it well. If this is a struggle for you (tired, worn out etc.), I would say, pray and ask the LORD to give you a willing heart. He will! I know, because HE has done it for me!

http://internetcafedevotions.com/2011/01/a-new-years-resolution-lets-initiate/

Bless your hubby soon by taking the initiative! If you love him you will care about this too!

My cup runneth over, Lynette

Marriage Monday

It's the little things in life that make life sweet or bitter.

My hubby is in Mexico ministering to Tamahara Indians with 13 other men from here. How I miss him yet how happy I am that he was able to GO! My heart is in this with him.

He is there, and I am here. I am praying often for him and for all God is doing there in Mexico.

I was hit this morning of all the little things Dave does that I have often taken for granted. And it makes me wonder about myself. I 'thought' I was a pretty 'thankful' wife. Since he has been gone, I now know I am not as much as I should be. (There is hope!)

~waking up to no coffee smells (he is the coffee master here)

~realizing the dogs are sitting in his chair for a lonngggg time waiting for him (he throws the ball in the mornings to them as he reads)

~packing the car myself for Sunday

~warming up the vehicle on a cold morning

~someone to laugh with as we make the bed together in the mornings.....

~Rebekah and I realizing late last night that no one fed Taffy and Emma this morning ~ yikes!

~Someone asking when dinner will be ready......

~The oohs and ahhs over something I threw together and called it dinner

~Mailman here....is two days of mail really still sitting in our mailbox?

~his smile

~his presence

It really is amazing to me how much effort it takes to 'focus' and get things done around here when my honey is not here. I find myself not motivated. I am a lost case. I seem to wander around and look at things....hahaha. Monday is laundry day and I have not done one load. I feel like loose ends here.

Yes, Rebekah fed Taffy and Emma this morning!

I made my own coffee, though doesn't taste the same.

Silence as I made the bed this morning.

Only 5 days to go.......

My life is sweet not bitter,

Grateful in a new way, Lynette

Love is......

The world tell us February is "LOVE" month. Yet, in God's economy everyday is "LOVE" day. He tells us the world will know we are Christians by the the love we have one for another.

What demonstration of love do you give those around you? More specifically how do you demonstrate love to your husband? Love is in the details. I have so many examples ~ times I have failed, times God's grace has enabled me to give.

Do I insist on my own way? THE restaurant I want to go to? THE movie I want to see? THE temperature in the house I want?

Do I keep quiet and listen rather than 'butt in' and start yapping? Do I pray asking God if I should speak or be quiet?

Am I willing to go the extra mile? Do the extra thing? Stay up an hour later to help out? Skip my nap so someone else can have one? Let the plans we had planned go, so someone else benefits. Little details that speak love.

Love is a strong witness to the world. Not the "mampy pamby" kind of love but true love. Love that gives and expects not in return. Love that sacrifices ones own desires. Love that reaches out to the unlovely. Love that forgives. Love that desires for another that which one wants for herself. Love that speaks the truth.

You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Free from you. Free from others. Free to love others you may not otherwise have an affinity for.

As I posted in earlier posts, we are studying Song of Songs in our Sunday School class on Sundays. It is an adult class of married couples. This week we were looking at Song of Solomon 8:1-7. In verses 6-7, we are introduced to seven different aspects of love. How many do you see in these verses? What are they?

*Personal ~ 'set me' as a seal upon your heart.

*Protected ~ his care for her and her care for him.

*Powerful ~ Love is strong as death.

*Possessive ~ Godly jealousy of intimacy. For one.

*Passionate ~ Love is full of fire.

*Perseveres ~ Love is going to endure.

*Priceless ~ cannot be purchased.

This week as I have continued to 'meditate' on these truths, I have asked myself many questions. Do I love like this? Am I the 'lover' God desires me to be to my honey. Is my love for Dave as strong as death? Do I persevere in love? Every day God has given me something to think about in light of these Scriptures. And to ask forgiveness for.

Food for thought.

Good for me. What about you? Do you love like God wants you to?

I may be married 40 years, yet I still have lots to learn and apply!

God's Grace is so evident to me today ~ how I thank HIM he doesn't give up on me~

Grateful Girl here, Lynette

Marriage Monday

My creative Hubby surprised me on Valentines Day! This surprise was on our bathroom mirror and the first thing I saw on Valentines Day morning!

So special to me!

These sweet 'blessings' all over the house!

On the downstairs mirrors too.

So thoughtful, so creative, so loving to me ....

Even in the family room upstairs!

Valentines love from my hubby to me ~ Dave is the most loving there is!

Who said "love" get old? Nope! Not around here! It only gets better and better!

We love because HE, Jesus, first loved us.

I am so grateful and full, Lynette

Marriage Monday

Today is Marriage Monday!

Our Sunday School class always has homework. I like this kind of homework....smile! I like it because you don't have to do it alone. We get to do our homework together! Bonus!

As we studied Song of Songs yesterday in Sunday School we were looking at Chapter 6:11 through 7:10.

These are the most amorous verses in the Bible relating to intimacy in marriage.

Our Sunday School teacher began with some observations about men.

~ men are visual. They notice a pretty woman but this doesn't mean he prefers her over his wife.

~ men's minds file snap shots. God has wired them this way.

~ temptations and sin are different. He notices but lingering is sin.

~ wives are not to 'judge' their husband for noticing. She can help him avoid some images.

We discussed so many aspects of these verses. I will just note two.

!. Men are visual ~ wives are to be "visually generous" to their husbands. They are to fill up his mind of 'Rolodex' with images of his own wife. This is loving her husband.

2. Wives like words ~ husbands are to be "verbally generous" to their wives. She wants to hear his thoughts and words of love from his heart to her.

Also notice that these verses are descriptive, not prescriptive. This is a goal not a rule. We are not to 'demand' but to seek to minister to one another unselfishly in intimacy

Homework~

Husband to wife: How can I be more verbally generous to you? Do I speak enough during our times of intimacy?

Wife to husband: What are your favorite snapshots of me? Which ones do you recall most fondly? What can I do to be more visually generous with you?

Homework is good because it helps us to apply that which we are trying to learn and apply.

I love being married to Dave and I love "homework" too!

"I am my beloved's and he is mine", Lynette

Men......

I love this picture! There are 2 thousand words in this picture!

This is Caleb talking to his nephew Joschua, who is two. Caleb loves little people. He loves babies, he loves toddlers. He loves kids. You can see it in his face. Can't you just see how Joschua responds to his Uncle?

HE knows Caleb loves him.

He loves Caleb too.

They love each other.

I love it!

This one gets framed soon!

Loving my men, Lynette

Lorelei ~ January FUN!

Joschua is 'proud big brother' ~ so cute!

I love this picture of her, so sweet!

Lorelei was here for Hannah's 17th Birthday. Here Nadya is holding her, sitting next to our Birthday girl!

Just finished her bath, 1st one Grandma gave her! Baby delicious smells!

Grandma and Lorelei~

Grandma's having fun, Natascha in rear gathering up Lorelei's laundry!

Sooooo cute bum!

Playing with Mommy~

Mommy and daughter ~ both, sweet as can be!

Love is......

Love Is......winter together!

As a High School student I was growing up in Los Angeles, California. The LA Times was the newspaper my parents subscribed to back then. Each day in the newspaper the "Love Is" cartoon was published. It wasn't on the funny paper page but in section A. I know, because I looked for it each day.

Over the years, my honey and myself have off and on collected "Love Is" cartoons, books and articles. I still like them. When the cartoon first began the little people were naked. Like Adam and Eve. The sayings were so cute and vulnerable and innocent. Everyday little sweet 'thinkings'.

I have bought the book 3 times, since our dogs seem to like to eat them. I guess I leave them in the wrong places. My fault.

I was just recently thinking 'love is' so much more. God's love is real. Honest. Truth. He tells me that there really is 'truth' and the truth will set us free. YES!

I still like to send 'love is' cartoons to my sweet hubby every once in awhile. I may stick one in a book he is reading. Put in a pocket or stick on a mirror. It brings a smile to him and to me. Remembered days gone by.

Yet, real 'love is' is God's kind of love. How grateful I am for HIS love. The REAL LOVE. Sacrifice, forgiveness, faithfulness, love, gentleness, loyalty, compassion, help, mercy, justice, hope.....the list goes on and on and on.

So when you think of 'love is' what comes to your mind?

Loved by the King, Lynette

How do we know we love God?

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

So many people think being 'called' by God is just for pastors, missionaries, church leaders and Sunday school teachers. Yet the Bible says everyone of HIS true children is called to serve God by serving others. This is true for me and you. This is true for children, teens, all believers!

We are never saved by serving, but we are saved to do good works and serve others. Paul gives us three insights related to to this subject.

1st ~ The basis for serving others is salvation.

"YOU were called to be FREE. You cannot serve God until you have been set free by Jesus ....set free from the darkness of your own sins.

Until you experience the transforming power of God's grace in your life, you're too enslaved by your own hurts, habits, and hang-ups to think much about anyone else.

Without the freedom of forgiveness, you'll end up serving for all the wrong reasons. Like trying to earn approval of others, trying to run away from pain, trying to kill guilt, trying to impress God. Serving motivated by these will leave you burned out and bitter in the end.

2nd ~ The barrier to serving others is selfishness.

"Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature." The biggest reason we don't have energy to serve others is that we are preoccupied with our own agendas, dreams, and pleasures.

I was hit with this again recently. Every year Dale and I work to decorate for Christmas at our Church. It is one of those things that is not much noticed, unless it goes undone. She went to Mexico on a Missions Trip and I oh so much missed her expertise! I was in charge. To my own shame, I started to get irritated. I prayed about it. The Lord graciously asked me....who are you doing this for? OUCH! Then HE sent me 3 sweet angels of mercy ~ and YES, it did get done. After praying, my heart was again in the right place......how easily I can be selfish!

"If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will ever know what it means to really live." Mark 8:35

3rd ~ The motive for serving is love.

"Serve one another in love."

"No matter what I say, What I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love."1 Corinthians 13:3 ~The Message.

God is way more interested in why I serve others than in how well I serve them. He is always looking at my heart, serving willingly and eagerly out of love for Jesus and gratitude for all he's done for me.

Why do I do what I do? It is the love of Jesus that compels me. Some are looking only to do what they get paid for, or for applause of others, to 'feel' good. Yet these are empty. It is the love of God for me that makes me want to love HIM by serving others, even if they notice not.

We are most like Jesus when we serve others. After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus said, "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." John 13:14-15

So what now?

~ How can I help?-----Consider your response to this Scripture verse: "Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, 'How can I help?" Romans 15:2

~ Who will I serve this week? Ask God to bring to mind someone you should serve this week, and ask him what you should do for that person. Then do it!

Who will you serve this week? Who will I serve this week? Ask HIM!

We love because HE first loved us! Lynette

Christmas Gifts ~

I have been reading a terrific little book titled "Come Thou Long-Expected JESUS" by numerous authors and edited by Nancy Guthrie.

This little book makes an excellent addition to ones usual Bible reading leading up to Christmas ~ the celebration of Jesus' birth; although Jesus was not born in December.

One of the readings has stayed in my thoughts. Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift we could ever receive. He came, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, was both very God and very man, died on the cross for me and for you and rose again and is seated at the right hand of GOD the Father, making intercession for the saints. He is faithful, good, holy, eternal, just, full of mercy and perfect in every way, all knowing, all powerful, present everywhere and creator of everything.

I have only skimmed the subject ~ HE is more, so much more!

We love because HE first loved us. Why do we give gifts at Christmas time? My hubby has asked our children that question many many times over the years. We give gifts because we love. GOD loves us and sent us the ultimate gift, His Son. So we follow HIS example. We give gifts because we love others.

What gifts are you giving this year? I asked myself that same question, again this year. I have put some thought into it ~ asked the LORD about it. Here are a few suggestions ~

* Forgive someone who has hurt you.

* Do something kind for someone you don't like.

* Die to self and let someone butt in line.

* Be silent when someone says something hurtful about you.

* Love an enemy in a tangible way.

* Comfort a hurting child.

* Give that $$$ you got to someone who is going without.

* Pray for a hurting friend, and then pray hard for them again and again.

* Accept someone different than you ~ really accept them with the Love of Christ.

* Give that teenager who bothers you a BIG smile and a pat on the back.

* Admit you are wrong...really wrong.

* Stand up for the one everyone else makes fun of.

These are just ideas....but could rock your world. I know. They did mine!

So joyous this Christmas, with the Love given me, Lynette

Marriage Monday

~ Marriage Monday ~

Our Sunday School Class for this quarter is studying about Marriage. We finished up our study with Ted Tripp called "What did you Expect" and had a time of discussion.

Somehow the question came up, "Why is 'public display of affection' between a husband and wife often times seen as 'not appropriate' around Church (before or after the services) ? Kissing and hugs. Read Song of Solomon. We read the first 5 verses. Some amazing things came out! The very first topic is KISSING. She initiates the kissing too.

Our Sunday School teacher (my husband) mentioned the fact that God's Word is truth. Kissing is a clear indicator of the health of a marriage. If you have a healthy marriage, you probably kiss a lot. A LOT is good. Very GOOD! If you hardly ever kiss, if you don't ever kiss better check things out concerning your marriage. God likes married people to kiss. He has given us marriage as a picture of Christ and His Church (His bride).

Kiss him in the morning, kiss him in the evening, kiss him at noon-time, kiss him when you go out, kiss him when you come in, kiss him always and ever! There is no such thing as kissing too much.

One of the things my husband said is 'your children should see you kissing all the time. When they say...ohhhh stop....then you are just where you should be.' Kids need to see parents kissing!

I so enjoy this Sunday School Class. It makes me think. It is timely. So many marriages are in trouble, all around us. Christian marriages too. It should make us all sad. Don't wait until you have trouble. Do as God tells us in HIS Word. Kiss your husband. Love him. Be loyal. Respect Him because God tells you too. What man doesn't love being desired by his own wife. Just do it! Go kiss your husband, really really kiss him!

A new slant on kissing here, Lynette

Aunts and Uncle Baby Love~

Rebekah made the pumpkin Cheese Cake for Thanksgiving...it was so yummy!

Uncle Caleb and Aunt Rebekah with Lorelei Maria~

Auntie Bekah put Lorelei to sleep this time!

I like the skin on the turkey and now my kids do too....NO!

Sweet talking to her new baby neice!

Lorelei's first walk outside....with Aunt Hannah, Mommy and Joschua.

Joschua is so adorable.....he has chocolate on his face, Grandma's chocolate covered raisins!

Auntie Hannah hugs and kisses!

Learning about 'binkies' !

Sweet, sweet, sweet!

Uncle Caleb and Lorelei ~

She's a natural.....has the touch!

Aunt Hannah was able to visit for 10 whole days! Fun!

Baby Love~

Joyful Grandpa and Grandma with Lorelei!

Joschua, Grandpa and baby Lorelei ~ precious moments!

Mommy Natascha, Daddy Matt Scott, Joschua and Lorelei visiting at the hospital. She had no pain and was actually laughing during the delivery~ she had an epidural! Amazing!

Proud Papa! Loves his Lorelei!

Mommy time with her little guy, Joschua! Sipping on Mommy's juice.

Our little STAR ~ Lorelei Maria!

She looks a lot like Joschua, when he was born ~ he lost all his dark hair and his eyes turned blue ~ we like brown eyes too!

We thank you oh Lord, for YOU are good. We thank you for a safe delivery. We thank you for precious Lorelei Maria and the gift of life. We thank you for YOU are love and you love us so much to give us such tremendous and awesome blessings. Blessed be YOUR NAME!

Faithfully HIS, Sherry Lynette

Marriage Monday Part 2

As promised from last week ~ Here is Marriage Monday Part 2.

40 years together, married and best friends...my hubby and me. He took me to Hilton Head for a week of celebration and memory sharing of our past 42 years of knowing each other. When we came home he announced one more special 'gift'. Extending the celebration into a full year of celebrating!! What? Can this be?

Yes, so for the weeks since May 16th my wonderful, dear, kind, loving husband has written me love notes 5 days a week. He said he wants to do this for 40 weeks....we are in week 24! YES! Notes left on my bed table or on my pillow each night. All kinds....some make me cry. Some make me laugh. Some make me blush. Some make me smile. ALL make me glad I am married to this man!

I asked and received permission to share one today. Not all of it, just partial.....hey.....you can fill in the blanks, I am sure!

On the front of this computer generated card is a small picture of a garden with two small ducks sitting really close together (real) and under that picture is:

Happy 40th Anniversary

Week Twenty Four

Card Three

I open it and read ~

Love' Philosophy

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river

And the rivers with the ocean,

The winds of heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion

Nothing in the world is single,

All things by a law divine

In one spirit meet and mingle-

Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high Heaven

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister-flower would be forgiven

If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth,

And the moonbeams kiss the sea-

What are all these kissings worth

If thou kiss not me?

"What would life be like without your sweet kisses and if our lives were not mingled together."

~ Dave

Romantic! (He has acquired this trait over the years ~ he wasn't romantic when we were first married......there is HOPE!!!)

He is the kind of husband every woman would ask God for if she was wise enough to ask HIM!

Deserved not am I.....it is only God' precious Grace given to me ~ how I thank HIM!

My heart is so FULL ~ Sherry Lynette

PS. I am writing him notes too....just not as eloquent or as often ~

Question of the day ~

Do you keep a journal?

What do you write in it?

~ Marriage Monday ~

I love being married to Dave. We are celebrating our 40 years of marriage this year! May 16, 1970 we were married in Canoga Park, California. It was a sunny gorgeous California day. A day girls dream of. It was simple and elegant ~ a Church wedding in the Church I grew up in. All my loved ones were there. My sister was my maid of honor. It was a wonderful day as I married my very best friend in all the world.

Forty years have flown by. Babies born. Many events. We've moved, and moved again. We have traveled, made lifelong friends, served in ministry together, raised a family, and enjoyed our grandchildren.

In May my thoughtful hubby took me to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a week of fun and celebration. It was wonderful and we made so many good memories, riding our bikes, laying on the sand, swimming in the pool, eating out, long walks on the beach. Remembering and reminding each other of sooo many past happy (& sad too) days and moments together. "The best is yet to be", Dave kept saying to me.

On our last day....we hit a bump. Life is like that. Messy and not predictable. I was sad to leave South Carolina and so was he. We loved our week together far from home.

The amazing thing to me came the next day! My honey took me aside and said I have something to tell you Sherry. I have another gift for you. Since this is our 40th year together.......I want to extend our celebration. So I commit to make this year extra special.

And HE has. We are ending week 22 this week. He has written me 5 times a week for 22 weeks ~ long notes. Notes of poetry, notes of remembrances, notes of Scripture, notes of love, notes filled with memories and notes of times of struggles. This is good stuff, hey, this is GREAT STUFF......I am sure it would be a 'best seller' if it was a book.

I have cried. I have laughed. I have been so moved!

I am grateful. I am blessed. Yes, I have written him notes too....not as many.....not even one a week, I am sad to say. He says that is okay. Hey, HE is the real writer in our family!

Dave is right. When you love the LORD, the BEST is yet to come. Do we have 'our moments'? Yes, we do. Yet, God's GRACE is our HOPE.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much to give me such a wonderful husband, one who loves YOU most of all and because of that fact ~ is the love of my life!!!

Thankful to HIM who is faithful, Sherry Lynette

PS. Next week ~ part 2.

Be Affectionate~

We are told over and over again to 'love one another' ! What does that mean? A piece of it means we are to be affectionate. It comes easy to some of us. It comes with work for others of us. Nevertheless we are to express love to those around us. Why? Because we do as our Father does. God is love. He is my Father....I want to be like HIM. Sooooooo............here are some ideas I enjoy~

Kiss your husband in a place that you don't normally kiss him. Perhaps the tip of his ear, his elbow, wherever. And, of course, more than one kiss is good too. Be spontaneous ~ he will love it!

Happiness is like a kiss - it feels best when you give it to someone else. Author Unknown

When your husband is sitting with his back to you, sneak up and give him a kiss on the back of his neck. Just do it!

Now a soft kiss - Aye, by the kiss, I vow an endless bliss. John Keats

Pray for a sense of play, humor and fun in your marriage. Being serious all the time makes everyone a bit cranky, so ask the Lord to infuse your marriage with fun and laughter.

Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. Henry Ward Beecher

Laugh at yourself today, and tomorrow! Tell a joke even if it falls flat. My kids laugh at my flat jokes! Ask the LORD to help you lighten up! Smile more!

There is no remedy for love but to love more. Henry David Thoreau

Hug a child, smile at a teen ager, laugh out loud at something funny, pat an elderly friend on the back. Give yourself away. You will make a difference in life.

Tell your family and friends 'why' you love them ~ think ~ then 'say' it! We are told over and over again in the Bible to 'love one another'.....just do it!

Grateful to be HIS, Lynette

Marriage Monday~

Today is Marriage Monday ~

"Now as the Church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:24 -25

Scripture tells us that we, as wives, are to submit in EVERYTHING to our own husband. RESPECT is what our husband appreciates. Husbands are told to LOVE their wife. God knows that is what speaks to a wife...love. (More about this another day) So many women love their husbands yet do not respect them, which is what their husband wants most. Love and respect are two different aspects of marriage. Go look them up in the dictionary...I'm sure you will be surprised!

As we think about marriage and how we are with our husbands it should cause us to ponder why we do what we do. Do I show respect? Do I esteem my husband? Do I lift him up in the eyes of my kids? Do I show proper attention? A man longs to be respected. God has made him this way and God has given me to him as a means of grace in this area. I must confess at times I fail to do these things and it makes me sad. What if the Church didn't listen to Jesus? What if Jesus was shown no respect by believers? It would be a broken and sad church wouldn't it?

We are wives who need to take GOD at his WORD! We often don't have the witness in our world that we desire because we don't respect our husbands the way God calls us to. As a believing wife, I need to run to the CROSS and confess my failings, knowing God in his grace and mercy forgives me. He also helps me exhibit Christ-likeness in my respect for my husband.

May we all commit to live as God asks and enables us to live. Yes, I will forget, but that isn't the point. The point is I 'want' to live for HIM! Isn't it great to know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Respecting my husband because God asks me to!

I'm committed....I hope you are too.

Faithfully His, Lynette

Family Beach Vacation 2010

(Taken just before leaving early due to hurricane Earl!)

Fun at the BEACH!!!

Our family vacation for 2010 was at Nags Head, North Carolina and was a very special celebration as a family and of my Birthday!

We planned, we shopped for groceries, we packed up, we secured things at home like the mail being stopped, we made sure we had lots and lots of sun lotions (from 4 all the way up to 70 ~ we don't like sun burns), we even took 20 beach towels with us!

We are planners. Our family tends to be organized. I guess that comes from having a large family....things don't get done if we don't organize and plan. When we get there though.....we put all the groceries away, everyone makes their bed up, unpack and then we RELAX!!! We know how to relax....

We all love sweet tea, so the pitcher never ran dry. We love water too, so we went through how many cases, I do not know. Matthew & Natascha had their Cherry Dr. Pepper which is hard to find in North Carolina! NOT in PA though ~ and they like to share!

We spent our days on the sand, in the ocean water and in the pool. We took turns cooking ~ we do have great cooks, I must say ~ and Matthew is the Grill Master!

After dinner we had family devotions together. Ask one of my kids to tell you about the 'lie bucket' example Dave demonstrated to everyone about what happens when we lie. We cannot have a relationship with the LORD or others if we are not truthful. Relationships are based on trust and there is NO trust when we lie. So we seek forgiveness if we lie and then purpose to speak the truth even if it hurts.

After devotions, it was game time. We ALL love game time. Our family loves to play games. So the first night we played "Signs".....everyone had so much fun! The next night we played "Four on a Couch" ~ guys against the girls. The girls won and were challenged to another one ~ the guys won! We have the pictures to prove it...ha! I laughed til my side hurt. In fact I laughed so hard everyday! We played "WhoNu", "Life", "Wizard", "Mexican Train" (my favorite), and lots of others too. In fact we never turned the TV on (except Caleb to get his SPORTS updates) and Cartoons for Joschua~

Sunday Night we watched the LightShine DVD together that Chad gave us from Mexico.

Wednesday night we all went to Millers Wharf-front Restaurant for dinner out on Dad; Mom's Birthday Dinner. Yummy Steak and Fish! Love those 'hush puppies'! Back to the Beach house and cake and gifts. WOW! At the end I was presented by Rebekah a "Celebrate Sherry" book. I cried ~ as I read loving birthday greetings and memories! From my family and friends! So many happy happy memories and encouragements! I am over whelmed at the love in that book!

We had great moments together, good food, good fellowship, good fun like playing basketball, riding bikes, riding the waves, eating nachos, swimming in the pool, chatting, telling stories, praying together, eating snacks, and staying up late laughing!

We missed those who were not with us, Nat, Tara, Noe, Jeannette, and Sammy ~ yet our time together was precious. How blessed we are!

We woke up Thursday morning to a mandatory evacuation notice! See, the plans we make are held lightly....because there is Someone who holds all our todays and tomorrows in HIS hands. HE holds our lives in HIS hands. Were we sad?...yes. Yet we were joyful inside because we KNEW HE is in control and HIS plans are always for our good and HIS glory! Thank you LORD for 5 glorious, fun, spirit filled days together ~ we love YOU and we are very glad we are YOURS!!!!

Sounds~

I am hearing chain saws buzzing very loudly this morning! Tracey, our next door neighbor is having his huge, big, dead oak tree taken down today. It sounds like a large bee hive outside! As I watched and heard the huge tree come down in one huge swoop, I was amazed at the way the ground literally shook! It's a pretty breezing morning.....but it will get hot cutting up all that wood.

I am thinking how blessed we are to 'hear'. The saw buzzing is unique! The beach waves are soothing. The cry of a new born baby is sweet. The sound of a lovers voice is pure gold. The noise of children arguing can be irritating. The sound of thunder can frighten. The music of your choice is fun. The praise of God's people for HIM is worship. The sound of a piano being played is pure joy (Thank you Hannah). The guitar humming away is beautiful (Thank you Rebekah). The chatter of a happy son is delightful (Thank you Caleb). Songs sung with gusto is thrilling (Thank you Dave ~ my favorite person in the whole world). The sound of a friends voice on the phone is encouraging. Water splashing in the pool full of kids is cheery. The sound of cars crashing is terrifying. Hearing your name called with love is wonderful Soooo many sounds we take for granted!

THINK!

How blessed we are!

You can use your voice to 'bless' or you can use your voice to 'curse'. Which will it be today? What 'sounds' will you make today? I hope to be a voice that 'blesses' my God, my family and friends, and others. Look around today and see how YOU can make a difference. Make a joyful noise today. You CAN you know. Just open your ears and listen. Then make a sound that blesses......I know I will!

Grateful to be HIS, Sherry

Tuesday Thinkings~

As I sit here and pray for Aunt Barbara Rehnert ~ I am reminded of God's FAITHFULNESS! She loves Jesus with all her heart. She has been a 'bright spot' in my life ~ in the way she talks about the Lord and her love for HIM!

She is in the hospital now. She has congestive heart disease. Jesus is with her and her constant companion. How I wish I was there in town to frequently stop by and 'chat'. But I'm not, and I can't. But I write. I have written her 3 times this week. To say all those things we never take the time to say. To say them from the depths of my heart. To get them on paper and into her heart. I love you Aunt Barbara for sharing your love of Jesus with me and with soooo many down through the years! Our HOPE is in HIM! Wait for me.....I can't wait to sing at the feet of Jesus with YOU!

Grateful to be HIS, Sherry