This beautiful award was given to me last week, but I am just now able to share with you my sweet thanks for the acknowledgement. This was very unexpected because I do believe it is my very first award in the blogworld. I have never written to seek approval from anyone other than God, but I must say it was a blessing to receive.

Many of you ladies have produced so much fruit through your words, that I am humbled to even take a look into your lives. I see God's hand in every word many of you type. I see you fear, but then trust. I see you stumble, but then reach out for help. I see you hurt, but then remember who is able to heal. I see you cry, but then laugh with joy. I see you share the love of Christ in a way that is real and relevant to a lost world and to other fellow believers. This is what I see as Real Fruit.

When I read Galations 5:22-23 that says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control," I think of all the men and women who have taught me through their trials, sufferings, and also their triumphs that ultimately we are to love God and love others. I can't think of a better way to produce much fruit.

Home For a While...I Think

I have missed sitting in front of the computer over the last month. I've had a few blog posts here and there, but not any time to write and reflect. I probably still won't have much time until we get settled in Victoria. We haven't even had a person look at our home in two weeks. I am not doubting God at all, in fact, I think he is possibly wanting us to dream a little bigger for our future home, which I will explain in a future post. Just keep praying that God will continue to lead us with clear direction, and that we will have the eyes to see and the ears to hear his voice.

On Monday, my daughter Ashley turned thirteen and we celebrated in Victoria at Chili's with family and a few friends. I don't know where the years have gone, but I am beyond proud of this sweet girl. I could write a book about all the wonderful characteristics she possesses, but it still wouldn't measure up to the gift that she is to me. She is so much like her daddy, but she looks a lot like her mama. Happy Birthday Ashley!

On Wednesday Skip and I celebrated the 15th anniversary of our marriage snuggled up with the sniffles. We both have sinus infections or something to that effect. We feel like crud, and are aching and sneezing. We envisioned a romantic dinner last night, somewhere very secluded and without children, but instead, Skip cooked a pasta shrimp dinner and served me right alongside the kiddos. I know this is not very romantic. We were sick, and he more than made up for it with his post I read today. I guess he really enjoyed reading the post I wrote for him last year.

If I feel better I will be stopping by to catch up with all of you fellow bloggers. I miss you all, and I am so out of the loop of all that is going on in your lives. For now, I have 5 loads of laundry to do, and a whole lot of praise music to listen to as I fold, and clean my sniffles away.

A Heart Filled With Gratitude

I sit here today and I am amazed by my wonderful God. I know that He is here with me, and I am watching how great and sovereign He truly is. Reflecting over the past six months, and all the changes going on around me, has caused me to fall several times to my knees. Sometimes I am falling because I am completely in need of God’s grace and mercy. And at other times, I am falling to my knees in praise and admiration of the goodness of my heavenly father.

Through the need to sell my home, Skip’s transition to a new job, and my family’s distress over not being settled into our new life, God has caused me to realize more than ever that He is ultimately the only one in control of my life. I know after walking with God for many years that I should clearly have this understanding, but sadly I still need reminders.

My struggle with my home sell has led me to believe without a shadow of a doubt that God is up to something big. He has His best for me, and will allow my house to sell at the best possible time for the right price. I trust him to lead, and to show us exactly what we need to do. I am no longer praying for my specific desires, most likely because I don’t know what He knows, and what will be best. He knows my secret desires, and He will allow it to happen if it is going to bring Him honor and glory. I don’t want to settle for anything less.

Skip is doing absolutely great things at our new church. His creativity is in full gear, and that is a blessing that I prayed for him. He is establishing some great relationships, and growing in the friendships that he has already begun. I love to go by the church and visit with him and see how excited he gets when he shows me a new logo or video segment he has been working on with the guys. Vocally he is improving with each weekend. At our other church, he was rarely singing and playing, but now he is singing and leading every weekend. He has had some problems with damage on his vocal chords, and is taking Nexium to improve that situation. I am so honored each weekend as he leads the congregation in worshiping our Lord. There are some fabulous singers and musicians that give their time and gifts each week.

On a personal note, I just met with some ladies this week about leading a bible study in the fall. I didn’t even know if that was a possibility with me being new to the church. They have welcomed me with open arms, and have given me the privilege to select the study I want to lead. I started praying about it last week, and I feel like God is leading me to do two seven week studies(Angela Thomas’s A Beautiful Offering and Shaunti Feldhahn’s For Women Only). When I showed up to discuss my study ideas at the meeting, I found out the session time for the bible studies was already determined to be 14 weeks, and I had no clue, but God obviously did. I am doing fun studies, and topics I am familiar with since I’m not sure how busy I will be with moving, etc. I am so excited about meeting new ladies, and getting involved with the ministry at this church.

I would love for you in your prayer time to pray for one of our pastor’s. His name is Kim and he recently had surgery for colon cancer, and is now having complications with staph and an abscess in his stomach. I spoke with his wife Kay today, and this godly woman showed no fear or uneasiness for the future. She fully trusts the Lord with her husband’s life, and I stood in awe of her faith. She is one of those women that I am going to try to learn as much as I can from because this is a woman of excellence if I’ve ever met one.

I am coming to a close of my two week stay, and I feel like this house-sitting experience has been one of the biggest blessings I could have ever imagined. My kids are absolutely smitten by the puppies we’ve watched, and have made the best of friends with the neighbors. I have had time to read, entertain, and spend quality time with the hubby. Sounds like a vacation to me! In all these things, I Praise God!

Stopping By For A Quick Hi

Hi everyone! What a wonderful week we've had while housesitting in Victoria. Our friends left us with the most awesome house to enjoy. I haven't seen much of my kids because they have made fast friends with the kids across the street (which happens to be our new pastor's kids). They have done so many fun things and not once have I heard the famous words, "I'm bored".

This house is surrounded by trees, and flowers everywhere. There isn't any cable tv, but the kids haven't complained at all. They are too busy swimming, dressing up, having sword fights(wooden ones), playing with (3) two-week old Maltese puppies, and much, much more.

This morning was such an awesome time of worship at church. As we sang, "With All I Am" by Hillsong, I literally could not stop the tears from streaming down my face. I have been so blessed, this week in particular with all sorts of things. Some of the things have been unexpected financial blessings, and others just wonderful personal desires being fulfilled. I am so unworthy, but God choses to bless us anyway. We haven't received an offer to date, but I know God is going to provide exactly what we need until we do. I have peace right now, and for that, I am so thankful. We have another week to stay in this beautiful home, and my sister is in town for a week from LA. I couldn't be more excited.

For those of you wondering, Skip is doing better. He was just having some allergy issues, probably from all the trees and flowers. I just want to tell ya'll how proud I am of him and the ministry he is doing at Parkway. God is working through him like I've never seen before. He is happy and so loved here. We had two sets of friends come to see us this week from Corpus and we had such a great time with them. They really liked Victoria and were surprised to see all the new growth the town is experiencing. My friend Karissa who let me know that she was still very upset that we moved, decided this morning during church, that she agrees that this is a wonderful place that God has placed our family. She gave us her stamp of approval.

We aren't sure what we will do next week. I may just go hang out in Corpus for a while, but not having to keep up with the house has been so nice. I continue to pray that it will sell this week while we are gone, and the house is spotless. Kids, summer, and keeping a clean house do not mix. Amen?

Have a great week, and God bless!

School's Out for Summer

Today was the last day of school, we have a dance recital tomorrow, and then summer will officially begin in our household.

We still haven't had an offer on the house, but traffic is starting to pick up. Ashley has 6 friends over right now and they are playing on the trampoline, dancing to loud music through the house, and eating everything in sight. I would love to join them, but I keep getting the look of "Please no, Mom!"

Some good news we have is that some friends of ours from Victoria will be going to Colorado for 2 weeks, and we get to house sit for them. It will be so nice to be with Skip for two solid weeks. Skip hasn't been feeling too well, so please pray for him if you can.

I haven't been by many blogs lately, but I will catch up as soon as I can. I miss visiting with all of you.