New Blog

My son, Justin, has started his own blog and would sure like to have some visitors. If you have a moment, drop by Justin's Life, and say hello! If you know of any Christian/Homeschool young men who blog, please leave him a link. Thanks!

By Mercy and Grace

Along this journey I’ve come through some valleys,
and I’ve stood on some mountain peaks.
I’ve been led beside the still waters,
and lain down in pastures green,
Yet I’ve struggled up a rocky path,
until I finally gave Jesus my load,
then been lifted up on eagles wings,
as the world disappeared down below.
I’ve had my share of the wilderness wanderings,
and I’ve camped by the river’s edge.
When I stepped out into the water, Jesus took my hand and led.
Though I’ve stumbled through some fog and mist,
I’ve found shelter from many a storm.
And I’ve watched God roll the clouds away,
as the sun broke through in the morn.
But the trip I took to Calvary is where this journey began,
and though sometimes I lose my way,
Jesus always knows just where I am,
and by mercy and grace, I’ll finish my race,
knowing I’m safe in his hand.
Only by his mercy and grace I stand.

The recording for my two cd's is now complete....all 24 songs! Hopefully they will be ready in the next couple of weeks, so I can put some on a playlist here. The lyrics above are for the song Brian and I recorded, and are now scheduled to sing in church soon. I'm hoping that the boys can learn it too, so we can sing as a family...for the first time.

Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against a wall.
Job 36:29 Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
Psalm 139:7,8b Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence….behold, thou art there.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Manitoba Summer

My son, Justin took these pictures on Friday. There were tornado watches in the area, but all we got was thunder and then a downpour, but Justin caught this to the northwest of us.

I didn't pay much attention when Jerry said Justin was taking pictures of a tornado, so I was quite surprised when I looked at the pictures. Guess I'll listen to them next time!

Thankfully, it went right back up!

Years ago, when our older kids were in their teens, we had a trampoline. It finally wore out, but we definitely got our money's worth out of it! Brian has been talking about getting another one, so on Saturday he surprised the boys with it.

Stretching those springs is good exercise!

Notice their little supervisor in pink!

Proverbs 17:22a A merry heart doeth good like medicine:

Another Jubilee

My husband has now caught up to me!

Happy 50th Honey!

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

New Garden Pictures

I've posted some new pictures of my parents' garden, taken June 23rd. The garden is starting to fill out now, but I'm always amazed at how quickly it changes. My next pictures will be taken on July 12th when we have our family reunion, and I know the garden will be completely different again by then! To view the latest pictures, go to Manitoba Gardens, and enjoy a relaxing visit.

Song of Solomon 6:2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

Not My Will, But Thine Lord...Again

For those of you who have been reading my posts for the past few months, you know that we retired from providing foster care in April. Well.....we got a call on Monday about a little girl who left our home four months ago. I had asked to be kept informed of how she was doing, so our social worker was calling to tell us that she was coming back into care. We weren't home when the call came, but she had left a message. I wasn't able to contact our social worker until Tuesday morning. I told her I had just had a dream on Sunday night about having another child come, then remembered(in my dream) that we are no longer licensed. She said, "Wellllll.....actually you are, because I haven't finished the paperwork yet. She said of course, that she wanted to respect our decision to retire, and there was no pressure to take this little girl, but that she knew we would want to know, and that since she had been with us, we were the first choice for placement.

Hmmmmm......haven't we been through this already? Didn't I just write the end of the story? But then I got thinking about where 'the story' had ended.(and you'll have to read my book for all the details!! LOL) But where it ended was with me 'laying my Isaac down,' and as I thought about that, I remembered that when Abraham lay Isaac down....God gave Isaac back to him. I just didn't think that God was going to do that in our situation...even though I know he has in the past. But, as I said to my husband,"What do you do when a baby is dropped on you? You catch it!" So, for whatever the reason, and for however long, we now have an 18 month old little sweetheart back in our home. We're just going to take it day by day and see where the Lord leads, because this turn of events has caught us quite by surprise. I guess I should mention that only this particular little girl could have brought us out of retirement! The fact that she came back in without her four year old brother was also a huge factor, as there is no way we could take him. She also came into care on the same day as about four other kids, which had cfs scrambling for homes. On a quiet day, they may have just placed her elsewhere and not bothered to call us.

I couldn't help but think of some of the 'sports stars' who have retired over the years, just to make a comeback. Well, I'm sure we have them all beat with our two month retirement! I'm also epecting to hear many "I told you so's," from all those people who didn't believe we would actually retire!

Of course I can't show her face, but this will give you a clue as to why our retirement ended so quickly!

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Our Starfish

Almost nine years ago, Brian and I made the decision to adopt another child. Our own children were almost grown up, and we had finally attained legal guardianship of Justin. Exactly a year after we started the paperwork, we were told about a little fifteen month old boy. The information we were given described a beautiful little boy with twinkling blue eyes, who was at risk of having many developmental problems as he grew older. As much as we wanted another child, we needed to know for sure that this was the one the Lord had for us.
As we prayed for God’s guidance, our church had a visiting preacher come to share his ministry. He used the story of the starfish as an illustration. God’s answer couldn’t have been more clear. This little boy was our starfish. One month later we brought Jeremy (Jerry) home. He is nine years old today.

Taken during our first visits

Walking along a sandy beach, a boy saw star fish at his feet.
One by one he threw them far; into the ocean, flew each little star.
Then a man who was watching just shook his head.
“You can’t save them all,” he finally said.
As the boy threw a star fish out to the sea,
he gazed out at the water, and he started to speak.
“ I can’t save all the star fish along the shore,
But I gave that one a chance to live life once more.”
As I thought of a star fish out of the sea,
the Lord touched my heart, and he spoke to me,
of a boy who was needing someone to come,
and to give him a family and a home of his own.
So, we took our starfish, a gift from the Lord,
and together we’ve been blessed far beyond that shore.

Happy Birthday Jerry!

Luke 15:4,6 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he cometh home, he calleth his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Visiting Our Grandkids

Last week we took a day away from yard work and other chores to go visit two of our daughters, Dana and Nicole. We only live a little over an hour away, but our lives just seem to get too busy and we don't see them nearly as often as we would like. I thought I'd post a few pictures of our visit today.

Our first stop was Dana's home. This is our grandson, Jason. This is one of the few pictures we got of him, because he was so busy playing with our boys the whole time we were there! Unfortunately the ball diamond behind their house has become a construction site, and soon they will be surrounded with new houses.

Desiree and Renee had been to the library, and I think Grandpa read just about every book in the huge stack they borrowed.

And here is a lovely picture of me with Paul! He is so much like his Mom with those dark eyes!

Next stop was to visit Nicole, Nathan and Alanna. She was pretty shy at first, but she eventually warmed up, and even gave the boys some hugs.

We all had a nice visit, but way too short!

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

First Bonfire of Summer

Summer has arrived in Manitoba!
We finally had our first bonfire, and roasted marshmallows.
Danny was already in his pj's, and you can see the sun setting behind them.
Do you think they have enough flames?!
What a happy looking bunch!

You'd never know they were having a good time....

Maybe they're sick of me taking pictures all the time!

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.