Pinch Me!

Pinch me - I can hardly believe we had baby number 7 almost three weeks ago already, and that we had the experience of using an awesome midwife and had a home birth!  I  am truly humbled and so thankful for the whole experience. I learned more about how the pregnant woman's body functions then in any of my other pregnancies. It was also lovely to have someone treasure the way God created our bodies and this special gift from above during prenatal care, birth process, and after.  We were all so excited to have another little boy, too!    Love these pics - the bottom is big sis Shiloh holding little Casey's hand.

The Times

The above video is about 45 min long but well worth the listening to.  Francis Chan reminds us to stand firm on God's Word and hide it in our heart.  With all the re-educating going on in America, I think this is more important than ever. 

Below, I found this letter very interesting.  Love to hear your thoughts!

Steve Elliot's Letter to Exiles: Response to President Obama's re-election.

From the Desk of: Steve Elliott November 7, 2012 Four more years ... of exile. But there is hope. Please read my thoughts on where we go from here. --Steve Dear Friend, I'm writing to you to explain why, even after a late and discouraging evening that stretched past 1:00 a.m. on the East Coast, I was back at the office before 8:00 a.m. this morning. And why the sinking feeling I felt last night has already been replaced with a deep determination. And why I'm going out to buy equipment for our new office this afternoon. And why we are going to build, build, build -- despite a stunning and, for me, unexpected defeat. + + Let's Be Clear: We Just Got Pummeled Before I go on, let's be clear: last night was a defeat, and I didn't see it coming. I expected a "Tea Party Wave" -- perhaps a 300+ electoral-vote victory for Romney. All the signs seemed to be there. The 2010 elections, the failed recall of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker and even the Chick-fil-A Day pointed to a re-shaped political landscape. The polls and crowds made it clear that there was more enthusiasm with Romney. But that wave never came. The people did not rise up and reject Obama's statism. Quite the opposite -- 15 million fewer people voted, and Romney earned less votes than John McCain did four years ago. + + Far Worse Than 2008 Upon reflection, what happened last night was far worse than what happened in 2008. Our first "dance" with Obama was mostly about smoke and mirrors -- "hope and change" that was never really defined. For many Americans, Obama 2008 was more an idea, an idealized dream and a collective catharsis from our dark past. But Obama 2012 was something altogether different because now we know the real Barack Obama. We watched him advance the most radical leftist agenda since at least FDR. We saw him rape and pillage the free market and impose a government takeover of industries. We witnessed him go to foreign nations and apologize for America and then leave our people alone to die in Benghazi. This time we knew Barack Obama. Yet a majority of American voters said, "More!" The opposition to Obama's agenda never really showed up at the polls. We can try to console ourselves by saying it was a close election ... that the leftist media gave Obama the election ... that we couldn't really expect a Northeastern liberal Republican to be our standard bearer ... that a bizarre hurricane swung the election. All that may be true. But it matters little now. And the less time we spend blaming each other or the trickery of the other guys the better. So here's why I'm more determined ... why I'm building. + + A 2,500-Year-Old Letter Written for Today I want to share with you a letter that, although 2,500 years old, it could have been written this morning. For us. For faithful patriots who feel like they just discovered they will have to live at least the next four years in exile. This letter was written to Jewish exiles who had been pushed out of Jerusalem and forced to live under a tyrannical ruler named Nebuchadnezzar. The exiles wanted one thing: they wanted to be re-established back in Israel. They even had a prophet named Hananiah come to them and tell them that their time of exile would only last two years. You can read about it in Jeremiah 28. Hananiah was a false prophet. He died. And so Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles. You've probably heard a part of that letter recited many times. It's one of the most commonly quoted passages in the entire Bible. Unfortunately, this passage is mostly taken out of its proper context and delivered as a "feel good" word that everything is going to be O.K. One of my friends was quoting this verse yesterday morning: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Those words sound so good. The future is bright. God has a plan for prosperity, for a real hope and a real future. On the eve of the election, it must have meant a Romney win, the GOP takes the Senate and we start the rollback of the Obama regime, right? Not exactly. + + The Plan Was Exile Here's the shocking context of Jeremiah 29 (and I offer to you, the context for November 6, 2012): the plan was exile. That was the "plan" Jeremiah's letter was talking about. I encourage you to go read all of Jeremiah 29. Here is the immediate context:   This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you ..." The plan was 70 years of exile. Keep that in mind the next time someone quotes Jeremiah 29:11 to encourage you that your time of trouble will soon end. Not only was the exile going to last 70 years, the exile WAS the plan! If you don't believe me, go back and read the beginning of the letter, from Jeremiah 29:4. Here you'll see the Lord (through Jeremiah) giving the Jewish exiles specific instructions on how to conduct themselves in exile: --Build houses and settle down. --Plan gardens and eat what they produce. --Marry and have sons and daughters. --Marry off your sons and daughters so they can have children. --Increase in number; do not decrease. Again, remember the context. A false prophet had just come and said the time of exile would only last two years. That prophet died. The truth is, the people will be in exile for 70 years. And the directive is to build families, grow businesses, think trans-generationally and increase. + + Seek the Welfare of the Land It gets better. Because Jeremiah's letter makes it clear that building and marrying is not enough. People in exile must do something else -- they must be a blessing to the land.   "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." So let's review. First, the plan is exile. Second, build. Third, bless. Simple, clear instructions. But why was this important? Why a "plan" for exile with specific instructions on how to act in exile? Historians tell us it was during the Babylonian captivity that the Israelites moved from a Temple/Jerusalem focused society to a synagogue and community focused society. Simply put ... It was the lessons learned during their time in exile which enabled the Jews to survive 2,500 years in exile. But not just survive -- but to thrive and become the most prosperous, most successful and most innovative people group in the history of civilization. Exile was the plan. So that's why, today, I'm going to build. And I'm going to plant. I'm going to bless. And I'm going to pray. For that is the final piece to the puzzle ...   "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." So let's get building. Let's get planting. And let's get praying. And let's bless this land. There are lessons to be learned in exile. Steve Elliott, Grassfire

"Life Goes On" - Friendship

 The following are poems on friendship I have collected since I was young, 
from my "Life Goes On" book. 

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."  Robert Southey

Endless Word

I know a word

That has no end

Some call it love

I call it friend.

"Some people come into out lives and quickly go.

Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our heart

and we are never, ever the same."

FRIENDS (song)

Words: Deborah D. Smith
Music: Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of youth
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus



"Make new friends,
But keep the old ones,
One is silver 
And the other gold." 

I am so thankful for all the poeple God has placed in my life through the years and the new ones He is bringing, and the future ones I know nothing about!  We all influence eachother, sometimes in a 5 minute meeting, sometimes in a friendship that has been built through the years.    We are sometimes separated by distance, circumstances, or death - but for me I will always love, appreciate and be praying for you!  

The greatest of these is love = 1 Corinthians 13

Once upon a baby doll....

This baby doll was given to me at about my 5 or 6 birthday from my Grandpa and Grandma Nelson. I can still remember being in their living room and opening it. It came nestled in a pink checked cardboard cradle with a pink blanket. I still have the blanket, but not the cardboard part!  She is the one baby doll I loved and cherished and helped me to dream about the day I would be a mom  :-)
The fun part now, is that my girls love to play with her, as do friends kids. They have been given other dolls, but this is the one they always love and play with. She is well loved!

It brings back good memories and also makes me laugh, since now we have six beautiful children and another on the way!  God does have a sense of humor!  I used to mock and laugh at our neighbors that had TEN children - TEN can you believe it! - after all I came from a family with three kids, much more "normal".  HA!  See God does have a sense of humor  ;-) (Do you think we'll be blessed with 10?)

  When I was little I always wanted to be a wife and mother.  I didn't always feel as though that was supported as a child. When people ask "what do you want to be when you grow up?"- responding with a wife and mom gets furrowed eye brows, or "that's cute, but what JOB do you want to do."
I hope my girls  and other young women I know, feel encouraged that if that is where their heart is drawn, that they are not frowned upon.  We are all born to do and be different things in this life, and being a wife and mom is a privilege and honor - not always easy - rewarding and heart wrenching all wrapped up in one!

I believe all women are born with a mothering heart, so if you're not married, or don't have children, find someone to love, nurture and encourage - it's part of who you are.  If you have  little ones, smile at them, play a game, truly take some time to ENJOY them without being distracted by the to do list. Be truly present.

This baby doll makes me smile and remember my past, and she makes me smile at the future. God willing she'll be my grandchildren's favorite doll as well!

National Friend Day

My calendar says today is National Friend Day.  I have been so incredibly blessed with amazing friends - old and new ones.  Time goes way to quickly, things can change in an instant, and I don't ever want to take any of them for granted.  I love you all!  I rather enjoy the way facebook lets me stay in touch with loved ones near and far.  I am finally going through the last two boxes of paperwork I had and organizing them.  Coming across all kinds of goodies!  Wanted to share this - a friend in AK - who helped get Christopher and I together -gave this to me.  I like it!

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead

Just walk beside me and be my friend."

Albert Camus

Butterhorn Rolls

My friend gave me this recipe several years ago and it's such a treat.  Am writing the original, but I usually do have white and half whole wheat.  One day I may try all whole wheat!

2 1/4 tsp yeast or one package dissolved in 2 T. warm water
Add 2 cups warm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, and 3 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.
Beat in 3/4 cup melted butter and 3 more cups flour.

Place in greased bowl in fridge overnight. ( Or do it first thing in the morning to bake for supper).
Punch down and divide in half.  Roll each half into 12" circle.  Cut each circle into 12 pie shaped wedges (pizza cutter works great!).  Roll to make crescent rolls.  Let rise until doubled. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes.  YUM!

A Rose Bud

A friend sent the email to me and I had never seen it before.  Such a great reminder for every person God puts in our path.  As a mother it makes me think of my children, and how each is unique and special   :-)

ROSE BUD

                                                   author unknown

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day.  Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rose bush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petal
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.