Laughing~

I have a friend at work who has the most contagious laugh I have ever heard. We all love to hear her laugh! I told her today that I would love to 'tape' her laugh to just have it to listen to when I needed it. She laughs often, the music ringing in everyone's ears. I am not the only one who loves, loves, loves to hear her laugh, we all do! What a special gift!!!

The Lord gave me this verse this morning. Psalm 56: 9 ~ "This I know, that God is for me." What an encouraging, loving verse to send right into my heart! It made my day 'shine'. Even when the coffee pot tipped over and spilled out, even when a little boy vomited in the office, even when I forgot to put Dave and my lunch order into Shirley. I remembered that "God is for me!".

Maybe you have had a hard day. Maybe a hard week. Or even a hard month! If you are HIS child, then know HE is FOR you! If you are like me, that should make you smile. Maybe even laugh! Doesn't it make you want to sing!?

It did me, and yes, I did laugh more than once or twice today!

What a wonderful mercy filled God I love!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Spring Flowers!

I just got back from a sunny brisk walk down our quiet street. The sun is shining bright, no clouds in the sky, and bright beautiful blue skies!




Sweet fresh air! What a lovely day! Temp is 54 and slight chilly wind! I have flung open all the windows in our house....awww.....nice fresh spring air! I love it! Today is Monday so the wash has been going since early after breakfast. Some of our stuff is flapping in the wind (cottons tend to shrink in the drier, so I hang those ~ sweaters too) out back on our deck. I made our own little clothes line over the swing with rope! Gets it done for us!

I was reading this morning and this came to mind ~ "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." Psalm 24:1 & 2

I love Spring! I guess everyone does. Spring belongs to the Lord most of all. All the 'deadness' of winter is passing away and things begin to come to life. Well, they weren't really dead, just dormant. Pretty colors, beautiful smells, bright green leaves.... spring time is delightful!

I am uploading pictures of my very first flowers to bloom in the springtime. I want thank Hannah for taking these pix of our front yard flowers this morning. Our back yard is still so cold, we have micro-systems here on Lake Vista. Our front yard faces south and is warm. Our back yard faces north and is colder and more shady, both of which have their own blessings, come summer time. The daffodils are growing taller yet just buds, so no full blown flowers on them yet! In another couple sunny days and they will be bowing to the sun too.

I see so many analogies in my gardens. We celebrate the Resurrection on a Sunday in the not too distant future; actually we celebrate it each and everyday and especially each Sunday, but our calendar picks one day to especially celebrate it. What LIFE! Because Jesus Christ came, totally man and totally God, gave HIS perfect life for me and you.

If you walked around my gardens with me today it wouldn't look like much. Most things look dead and gone. But they aren't! They are very much alive. Just like one day I will look 'dead', I really won't be. I will be ALIVE! More so than I am today! Because I am a child of God the Father, he will bring me to live with HIM in glory! Won't that BE something!

So as I dig, as I weed, as I trim, as I plant, as I pull up and move my plants, I rejoice! I pray! I talk to my FATHER! I spend time praying for those I love and those things dear to my heart. I smell the sweet fragrances. I feel the soft petals. I 'hear' HIS sweet voice. I move the dirt. I lay down mulch. I water. I rejoice! What blessings!

As spring arrives at your house, your situation is very different from mine, I am sure. You may have little ones, so give them a cup and let them discover 'worms'. Worms are good! I used to save milk cartons and cut them and allow my little ones to plant seeds about this time of year, and then transplant the little plants into our yard gardens and watch them grow.....they would get very excited to see the results. Maybe you are alone, so you can pray more. Maybe you have a house full of 'bigger' kids, so you can make a garden together, maybe veggies or flowers to share. Or you could be "BK" (before kids) , so enjoy an inside garden of African Violets.

We have so much to 'learn' about our God and life from springtime! The earth is the Lord's, yet HE allows us to enjoy it ~ with thankful hearts ~ full of praise! He delights in us as we delight in HIS beautiful gifts!

ENJOY!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Isn't life funny?

Just like everyone else, I love week-ends. Our three kids (well, not really kids--16, 18 and 22 yrs old) are in Deep Creek, Maryland--on a CrossCurrent Leadership Trip. They are doing Bible Studies and interactions and snow tubing too. Learning to share their faith more openly!

Dave and I are home alone.....the second time in 40 years! (overnight, that is) How quiet it is. Well, sorta-ha. I must say, I was even able to play my Sara Groves CDs 'loud....louder....loudest of all' yesterday as I trotted around the house!!! I loved it! I went downstairs yesterday afternoon and could still hear it! YES!!!! Would never happen with my kids here, "turn it DOWN Mom"!

Life is funny! I was sitting at my desk in my bedroom late this morning, writing some notes, music playing softly. Dave had gone outside to start on the damage control with all the fallen branches from the two blizzards we had. As I am concentrating on writing my notes, I hear him talking outside. What? I thought we were home alone? He kept talking for a few minutes. I kept writing. What am I hearing, he's chatting with a neighbor? So I looked out the window and he is alone! I knocked on the window, he didn't look up. So I knocked harder---whacking the window! .....who are you talking to?, I asked, mouthing the words to him! He looked away and kept talking!

It hit me then. YES! We are going to Mexico in June! On a Missions Trip with our Church. He is learning Spanish by Pimsleur from the library. It is a little disc with ear buds you put in your ears. You learn, you repeat, you repeat, you repeat! You see, he was a Linguist in the Army....spoke not only German fluently, but also Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and Romanian. Limited vocab in each, other than German. My hubby has a propensity for languages.

So pray for us as we 'prepare' ! We want to go to be a blessing. We want to serve. We want to see God at work! The most important thing we take isn't our luggage, but our hearts. Hearts that are not only forgiven, forgiving, and full of mercy, but hearts that are soft, pliable and seeking HIS face! It is all about HIM and sharing the gospel!

Home alone? Not really....because Jesus is here with us! Isn't life funny!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Sherry

Random Thought Friday ~

~ This was a very weird week for me. Lots of re-grouping, things going haywire and out of sorts! Yet, I am happy to say through it all, God's grace was not only evident, but shining brightly!

~ Well, the snow is all melted in our front yard, but not the back yard yet! The warm sun yesterday was so nice. Today Caleb, Rebekah and Hannah leave for Deep Creek CrossCurrent Leadership Trip. Deep Creek had 15 inches last week end, so they will be able to do some 'snow tubing' tomorrow!

~ Dave and I will be home 'alone' for 3 days! Woo Hoo! This is only the 2nd time in 40 years that this has happened! (AK--after kids)

~ I had yet another 'lesson' in downloading my ipod and now I am confident that I can do it ----by myself--- that is the key---by myself! YES! I'll keep you posted, ha!

~ I finished a Novel that I thought was very good. "In a Blink of an Eye" by Ted Dekkar. It was a 'fun' book to read about a Princess from the Middle East and a Genius from Berkeley who is a different kind of guy! Give it a try, you might like it too. Got it from the library!

~ Rebekah and I ordered new glasses this week...they should be in soon! She's had hers since she was 14 years old and I have had mine 5 years. That was so fun to do together!

~ The one thing I did not get done again this week, (Natascha and I were going to attack it here the week of the double blizzards but we didn't get to it---smile!) was re-organizing my storage pantry. It is a crazy mishmash of shelves. No order, therefore, I cannot find things quickly. Hunt, hunt, hunt! I just know it is in here 'somewhere' ! Yikes!

~ I had the thought to organize my pantry tomorrow...but my hubby would not enjoy that project at all......at all! Of course I could get up early and do it while he is at Men's Prayer Breakfast.....I like to 'sleep in' too much!

~ The problem with the pantry (which is in my laundry room---crowded) is that things have to stack and lack of room makes it a challenge. I have to come up with a system! I have like items together, one just has to stay on top of it, rather than just throwing things on the shelves! I guess you can tell I am thinking about this...ha!

~ I like to save money, buying things when they are on 'sale', therefore my pantry is in a constant state of flux -haha. This week I bought 10 boxes of spaghetti on sale at Giant for $.77 a box!!! 10 boxes of Ziti, same price! Can't beat that unless you drive to BB's in PA!

~ My Mom-in-Love is doing very well. Her recovery has been slow, yet she is coming along nicely. Dave and I took lunch to them from Panera Bread yesterday, and had an agreeable time. She mentioned she hopes to be back to Church on Resurrection Sunday. That would be fabulous!

~ Looking forward to this week-end ! I am glad this week is almost over ~ HIS mercies are new everyday! Even when things so haywire and tempers around us boil, we can rest in HIS goodness! HE never boils! What a savior, what a GOD! How I love HIM!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Lynette

Thursday Thinkings~

Today is Thursday. I usually grocery shop on Thursdays. I guess I pretty much have a schedule as I think about my daily life. I think I have found it easier for me to get all the important stuff in that way.

Today was a different Thursday though. I got up at my regular time and spent time reading scriptures, praying and writing in my journal (which I have come to love....didn't use to be that way, to my chagrin). My hubby and I had planned a special lunch today. So he came home around noon and off we went.

We went to Panera Bread and placed our order for their yummy sandwiches, soups(for them) and of course their divine salad (for he and I) and took them to his parents home to have a delightful time of lunching together---our treat. My hubby's parents are faithful loving servant of Christ. Not sure who enjoyed it more, them or us....smile!

After a lovely visit and full bellies, we were off and running again. What a funny conversation we had as we drove around doing some extra errands about my technical difficulties with downloading my ipod, using the computer and always not figuring out the DVD player without assistance from one of our brood. It is so EASY for my kids, yet I sometimes can't even get the TV on, much less on the right place. I push every button twice that they tell me to...no go!

I was once again reminded of how 'kind' my hubby is in explaining (again) how to download my ipod. He is a numbers man. He thinks in numbers. He is a walking concordance, honest. Just ask him for reference or verse and he will tell you. Just say the verse and he can tell you where it is in the Bible. Anyway....I am not at all like that. It is really sad. It takes me a few times of doing the same things over and over again to 'get it' with anything technical. I am a sad case, what can I say? Honest, I try. I really do. I just do not get how it all fits together. He is so kind to me. He is patient. He is loving. He doesn't make fun. I would be lost without his know how.

Isn't it funny how we are all different? What would life be like if we were all the same? I am glad God does things the way he does. Opposites attract. Similar s attract too, don't they? Yes, we each have the people in our lives that God has chosen to bring us the greatest lessons. Am I learning?

We got home and as I had dinner simmering on the stove early, my hubby said "come here, I want to show you something". What? Sit here and look at this. Put your fingers on the key board.......and he gave me another lesson using my ipod. What a guy! What thoughtfulness! Such kind words. I am so glad, I am so blessed, I even think I have it this time!

So off my hubby went to his meeting tonight. I sit here and count my blessings! I know that today is Thursday. Yet, not at all just like every other Thursday. Grace has entered my life today because HE was seen in the eyes of one very patient hubby with one very puzzled wife and her ipod struggles. Isn't HE wonderful!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Lynette

Sweet Girls, part 2

Being the Mom of two girls is sheer joy! I know part of the reason I feel this way is because the Lord blessed Dave and I with four boys before giving us two sweet adorable bouncing baby girls. Girls are so different from boys. They are much more different than I can even share in this short blog. Here are a few of my own observations. I am sure you could add your own list!

Our girls like to 'chat'. At the ages our boys were making 'noises', our little girls were saying words and putting them into sentences. Girls like to be 'together'....boys are more independent players, although they like contact sports and wrestling more! Our girls are very affectionate too, in different ways from our boys. They hug, kiss and snuggle more, for a longer time and a lot more often!

Girls also take a bit longer to say what they are thinking. It takes more work to get at the 'heart' of the issue. Boys are blunt. Girls are not. My girls know just looking at one of us if something is wrong. Boys get it when you 'cry', girls see it coming way before you cry. They have a 'sense' of relationships. Girls are more intuitive. Hannah is so creative with crafts. She thrives with crafts. She 'initiates' doing a craft project with me often.....those creative powers at work.

Girls are more relationship centered too. I am sure the Lord does this because they need to be glue for hubby's, babies and children. My girls now have their own rooms, after sharing a room for many years. Often they are found in the morning in one double bed, having 'chatted' long into the night, or having read together into the wee hours of the morning.

Another thing I have noticed is that my girls notice 'tiny' things. They notice the clothes in the drier, or the dirty socks sitting on the steps and then they 'do' something about it. They 'see' the baby toys on the stairs, the sink of dirty dishes, the empty sugar bowl, or crumbs on the floor. Boys just keep going usually. They weren't lazy, they just never noticed. The girls will clean up the kitchen 'just because'. And then wait to see how you respond when you see the clean kitchen! They will notice the bulbs blooming, the dark clouds or rainbow in the sky and mention it. I am sure the boys noticed all these things too, it just never crossed their little minds to mention it out loud.

My girls are 'home' centered, wanting to make things lovely for us as a family. Hannah often just makes cookies as a surprise for her dad and Caleb. Bekah will sit and play the guitar just because it sounds pretty. Hannah will come up and rub my back just to be sweet, as I cook. Bekah will call home just to say she is running a few minutes late (she doesn't want us to wonder). Girls add sweetness and depth. Hannah will get up early to play sweet music on the piano to wake up Mom and anyone else sleeping (never Dad as he is the 1st one up always---early) Babies and children are drawn to Hannah and Bekah! Why? Because they know Hannah and Bekah love children....all shapes and sizes.

Our boys were outward looking. They want to 'hunt' and 'conquer' and 'bag the deal'. Not so much our girls. They want to make life sweet and provide a 'haven' for those they love. We need both. I am glad God has given me the opportunity to be a mom of both our four boys and two girls! How creative and majestic our God is in his making of boys and girls. What a plan. What a GOD! What a JOY!

Delighting in Jesus today, Lynette

Sweet Girls ~

The Lord blessed Dave and I with four bouncing, very active, cute, noisy boys! Our house was filled with truck noises, yo yo's dancing, 'shoot em up' ramblings, fish bowl filled with fish, baseball hats, turtles, cowboy boots, patches on jean knees, every shape and kind of 'ball' made in the western world, and every size and color of play 'sword' you can imagine! It was a boy filled home. And we loved it! Forts were often found in every room. I loved the giant 'sheet fort' in our basement family room that had 5 big sheets all clothes-pinned together. I even crawled in with them one evening and ate our evening snack together, laying in the fort! Of course that particular fort was built over and over and over again. The longest a 'fort' could stay up was a couple days! After all life does go on---smile! Company was coming, or we needed to vacuum or there would be a 'spill'. I kept a stack of sheets in the laundry room just for said fort building.

Then the Lord surprised us with a new baby. Mommy is PG!!!! What fun we had guessing what the baby would be. Boy? Girl? Boy? Girl? I just knew it was a boy! I do well with boys! I understand boys. I am a boy 'type' mother (what was I thinking?---there isn't even such a thing!) So I was sure it was a boy!

SURPRISE! Dr. Zacchheo said "It's a GIRL"!!! What? A GIRL!!!! I laughed and said " Please check again...are you sure?" Yep! A GIRL! Dave and I were just tickled pink. We were so happy! The nurses thought Dave with the four boys coming to see Rebekah and I at the hospital was quite something to behold. Rebekah Lynette was born on Mother's Day Sunday. She and I even had our picture in the Newspaper! Rebekah did not wear anything but PINK and PURPLE for over a year! Sweet, sweet, sweet. What can I say? Our lives CHANGED!!!! Rebekah was followed less than 3 years later by Hannah Joy. She is pure JOY to us. Yes, girls are definitely different than boys. I had no real idea about all that!

There are all kinds of girls, just like there are all kinds of boys. Yet they are very different other than just the plumbing. My little girls were quieter as babies. Ours were shy and not real out going. Our little girls were so caring, affectionate to all, and very very in love with daddy. Rebekah never did take to baby dolls, not for lack of the number of them she was given. She'd rather play 'swords' with her brothers. I'm sure birth order had something to do with that...ha.

An example of the differences is seen in a snapshot of Rebekah and Caleb having a 'tea party' together. It took some doing, but she talked him into it. As they sat at the tiny table having tea Rebekah wanted to 'chat' with Caleb. He was all about gobbling down the cookies and being 'done' with it. On to playing with the legos. It was over before it began. Tears. So Rebekah and I sat and had tea at her tiny table, with tiny cups and saucers. We chatted. We smiled. We refilled our tiny tea cups. We had tea together. No rush. No 'when are we done'. We just sat and enjoyed the moments together.

Children are so special. I love all shapes and sizes. Not just mine either, although mine are special to me in special ways. Jesus told us we cannot come to HIM unless we come as little children. Trusting, believing and without anything to 'bring' to make us desirable!

Today's blog is getting too long. Short...I like short blogs! More tomorrow about 'Girls' ~ I am one, you realize!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Lynette