Multitude Monday & Favorite Photo Monday

848 ~ 860

precious pictures from our daughter’s wedding

glimpses of what we did not see
revisited in pictures

this very favorite picture,
the love of siblings

my daughter saying on her 2 month wedding anniversary,
She never imagined marriage this good! 🙂

rain after so many hot & humid days

the hum of fans keeping us cool

children dancing in the rain

our puppy after a bath

Christian teachers

son doing well with pre-college tests

a dear friend’s unborn baby doing well

thankful, ohhh so thankful,
no cancer reoccurred for my sister-in-law

new school notebooks

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Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

  

817 ~ 825

the way my youngest ones call me mama

and hearing my new daughter-in-love also calling me “mama”

and an older son lovingly calling me “ma”
Which I thought I’d never like (but do!)

the safety of that same son, in another minor car accident

and him wanting to work at a Christian camp for a weekend
serving the junior highers

and starting a Bible Study at our Community College
and his excitement and enthusiasm to get others to join

and the encouragement of a youth pastor & other adults
to be personally involved in the hearts of these kids weight

and our pastor taking the time to listen and
answer our child’s simple yet complex questions

the years new goal continuing,
weighing 9.8 lbs less

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts ~ Snow & a Proposal

  

805 ~ 804

Finally, SNOW ! ! !

And snowblowers that broke down, giving my husband work

Excitement of our kids seeing
the individual snowflakes on their mittens

Sleds and a big hill &
squeals of excitement

snowmen & snow angelss

shoveled paths
weaving to the barns 

Safety on the roads,

especially for our 2 of our kids
who have their first driving on icy, snowy roads

Friends at church who helped us
with our battery dead car

and if you did not read earlier . . . . 

A new wedding announcement ~
our second daughter engaged last weekend
her twin sister was engaged several months ago 

Now planning tw0 weddings for 2012!

and another “approved”
son-in-law

Counting All Things New!

A

s the juice was passed from one person to the next during our New Year’s Day Communion Service yesterday, we were to say, “He makes all things new!”  It was really neat to hear the whispers of this throughout the church as one after the other, we said this.

Before communion our pastor related how we just don’t fit in this “oldness” and we are looking for new – the new world, the new heavens . . . and it’s probably one reason we have the need for new things – new phone, new clothes, new home, etc., but it never really fills the void.  Our newness did not begin at midnight.  It began when Jesus came into our lives, to make us new in Christ.  My list below is somewhat our pastor’s sermon outline of the new things we have in our lives – new things I am thankful for:   

791 ~ 804

A NEW Dad ~ my Heavenly Father, my provider

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us
in that we should be called God’s children,
and that is what we are! Because the world didn’t recognize him, it doesn’t recognize us.”
I John 3:1 (CEB) 

A NEW Heredity
A NEW Spirit
A NEW Inner Being

You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us.
You weren’t written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.
You weren’t written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:3 (CEB) 

A NEW Identity
A NEW Standing
A NEW loved child
(we are NOT God’s step-children!)

A NEW Family

“This commandment we have from him:
Those who claim to love God
ought to love their brother and sister also.”
I John 4:21 (CEB) 

A NEW Ability
we can be and do what God designed us to be and do 

A NEW Destiny

 We know this because God knew them in advance,
and he decided in advance that
they would be conformed to the image of his Son.
That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29 (CEB) 

A NEW Destination
we are citizens of another home
a NEW Home which won’t need repairs,
or grow old, become in disarray, or become outdated 

A NEW Purpose
We are all in the “ministry” and have a purpose
to glorify Him

A NEW Year
His NEW Mercies every morning
NEW memories to be made
NEW ways to serve Him and others 

He makes all things NEW!!  

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

781 ~ 790

joy that comes in the morning

16 years with our son, Matthew

7 years closer to reuniting with him in heaven, celebrating

3 years since our daughter’s emergency open heart surgery

that our whole family will be together both
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

the laughter our kids bring to our hearts

little by little getting more wedding plans done for our daughter
and am amazed at the special deals we find along the way

youngest daughter receiving a $5 gift card from her SS teacher
and wanting to spend it on someone else

celebrating Jesus birthday

  

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

771 ~ 780

a thrilling Sunday evening as our two younger daughters
were baptized & VERY excited about it!

A sensitive caring pastor who has been very personal

and preaches and teaches God’s word with reverence,
accuracy and tenderness

9 of our children have been baptized so far
of their own decision which I am in awe of
God pursuing them & them following
(2 yet to make that decision)

my sister-in-law’s mom getting through bypass surgery

daughter finding her dream wedding dress for less than $100

starting the advent season

our first real Christmas tree in over 7 years  

special memories as a ornaments are put up

 “Sandy” the penny horse
at our grocery store that each of our children
have enjoyed through the years 

  

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 30 ~ Never Ending List

Day 30

A never ending list of thankfulness

it’s just a drop in the vast oceans combined of all we can
and should be thankful for.

my lists will continue on Mondays
Multitude Monday. 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

741 ~ 750

more than usual warm, sunny autumn days

sweet innocence of children

my four year old insisting on “him taking me”
to the local sports store to see the big black bear

the toddler rocking chair that sits in our bedroom,
an antique we bought before our first child was born
at an auction

the excitement our children have filling the bird feeder

and watching for new birds

safety for another son this past week
when a deer hit his car

safety for a friend who also
hit a deer our recent

trip to Creation Museum

the gift of LOTS of apples
to make 12 pints of apple butter and
twelve half pints of apple/pear butter 

With a grateful heart, 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

730 ~ 740

John Eldredge’s book,
Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

Amazing timing of having this book on hand
when it was recommended to me to read.

God knows my heart,
When it appears others don’t know or understand

He knows my intentions

A short family get-away being planned
it’s been over 8 years since we have

Our older kids WANTING to go!

Missio Dei 

Brand new Ked Shoes at a second hand store
one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve had in awhile! xxxxxx

Two daughters up coming baptism & their excitement

Our pastor telling me his meeting with them &
seeing their tenderness made his day.

The newest member of our family
a “Morkie Poo” – Maltese/Toy Poodle/Yorkie Mix.
Sweet little boy that has brought so much joy already! 

With a grateful, grateful heart, 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts ~ My son’s LIFE

I was not going to do Multitude Monday today.  It’s been a busy day  and sick kids along with a busy week ahead.  But our son, Jayson (almost 22), went off the road tonight, yes, texting and driving . . . ME!  I did not know he was driving.  So, I got a text later that he crashed, but is ok, but his car is totaled.  He’s planning on going on a missions trip in January to Brazil, so this may set him back.  I know God can certainly use this as a lesson for him & others too.  Just so much to be thankful for :

711 ~ 720

 Jayson’s life was preserved,
thank you, thank you, thank you, Father 

No funeral to plan this week

and I am not burying another child 

That we will be able to celebrate his birthday
the end of this month

That he was not seriously hurt . . .
cut his gums above teeth,
may have whiplash – so minor.

That maybe he will learn,
no texting and driving
even though it’s the hard way

That no one else was involved.

That I can still tell him in person,
“I love you”

That I can still hug him.
(can’t wait to do so)

That his lifetime friend, Graham,
was able to get to him quickly.

With a grateful, grateful heart, 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

705 ~ 710

 The impact Sara,
Gitzen Girl,
has had on the  blogging community.

Despite her being home bound so long
she chose joy 

The wonder of the thin veil between
here and heaven 

Four weeks after their accident,.
one boy who had been critical most of the time
now he and his brother are in the same rehabilitation room together
Praising God for their continued healing!!

another little gift from heaven
our lillac bush just flowered again
~ in the fall ~
the one Matthew transplanted for me
just a few months before he went to heaven

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.

John 12:24-25 The Message

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

686 ~ 704

JUST  had a  perfect cardiology check-up for Jessica!
The miracle continues . . .Thank you Father !!

Thank you Father that I truly do not understand persecution

yet being able to do something

Everyone home for Sunday dinner – 16 of us,
including my new daughter -in-law,
daughter’s fiance,
a boyfriend and a girlfriend . . .
all squeezed in, but all together.  Loved it.

husband grilling the pork chops

Jessica’s loud ticking heart mitral valve
making her friends giggle
when they play hide-n-seek.
they can always find her!

a ceramic mushroom gift from a friend,
to remember God’s goodness
 

the bitter-sweetness of sisters singing

their father into heaven last week

Quilts & blankets blowing on the laundry line

memories of my husband’s grandfather 

who now has been in heaven ten years

new paint for the living room
and the canvas to paint it on

the last of our garden produce

and wonderful fresh salsa

a laptop loaned to us to help our children
with homeschooling

hand-made aprons blowing in the breeze

The today reminder of this verse:

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His [daughters] sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—  to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Ephesians 1:4-6 (emphasis mine)

FATHER . . .Thank you for adopting me . . . 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts in the Midst of Sorrow

I could almost repeat last week’s gifts . . .
another death  . . .
a friend, Kristy, was in a car accident with her husband and three children. Her husband died shortly after the accident.  Kristy and two of the children are in serious/stable condition while the oldest child is in critical condition.  Kristy use to babysit for our children.  We’ve known her family close to 20 years.  They’ve gone through many heartaches . . .
and now so many new ones.
and yet, there’s hope without despair.
Please pray for Kristy & her family.

648 ~ 668

music worship service tonight at church – theme – “heaven”
 to have loved
pictures and memories to hold on to
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
neighbors willing to help
friends helping hold her up like those did for Moses
seat belts
airomed helicopters
ambulances
EMT workers
Good Samaritans at the accident
Facebook walls filling up with love, prayers, concern, encouragements
shock that God allows – to help protect
that our whys will someday be answered
or it won’t matter any more

 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting,
God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter.
He does our praying in and for us,
making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves,
knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.
That’s why we can be so sure that
every detail in our lives of love for God
is worked into something good.
Romans 8:26   (Message) (emphasis mine)

FATHER . . .Thank you for holding them . . . us . . . 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts

a young man in our church took his life this past week.
it’s been an emotional few days, yet not one with despair.  

631 ~ 647

there’s hope
there’s eternal life with Jesus
he knew Jesus . .  .He sees Him face to face
satan tells lies we fall for – Jesus will wipe this all away someday
satan won’t win
God wins
believers win!
weeping with those that weep
rejoicing with those that rejoice
a pastor who preaches truth, even after a suicide
a group of believers upholding the family
God showing good out of evil
renewed strength to continue on
bittersweet memories God uses to encourage others
the cloud of witnesses
we will never stop counting His gifts in heaven

THANK YOU FATHER . . . 

Multitude Monday ~ One Thousand Gifts continues . . .

 621 ~ 630

 11 year old daughter getting her first haircut in a salon

and donating 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love

her looking just as beautiful

us being able to praying for a child who will be blessed with it

cooler summer days

fresh sweet corn from our garden

fresh sun warmed tomatoes from the garden

sun tea

cleaning boys’ room and discovering all the “lost” items

and being able to donate many bags full