Phil. 2:4-5 Says: "Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had."

I was reading my email devotional from Proverbs 31 this morning and they likened friendship to paperclips - you will have to read it to understand. Anyway, the jist of the devotional, is that if you are not clipped to someone you can lose them. And sometimes you need to "clip" yourselves by going out to lunch, work together at a church function, serve eachother in humility. Sometimes that is very hard because they are so busy. I am sure that they miss the time that we have with each other too, but how do you connect when they are so busy to even think. I came across the passage above later this morning and thought, maybe that's it. Just to connect and ask them how it's going but not demanding anything back. Maybe you clip your life to them by just being where they are at and realizing this is not how they may want the friendship to be either but until they get through this season in their life, it can be no other way. The devotional stated that if we don't connect with friends they can be easily lost like a paperclip - I don't want that.

MOPS

I start MOPs today. No not cleaning -- Mothers of Preschoolers. I was asked to be a table leader, but it's a little strange. Strange not because I was asked but becuase I will be taking zero children along. Cole is in Kindergarten so he won't be coming with me. This is the last year that I can go to MOPs because the program is for moms who are expecting or adopting all the way through kindergarten. I will "graduate" this year. But do they have a group called MOGs - Mothers Of Grade Schoolers or what about MOTs --- Mothers Of Teenagers. They don't - that I am aware of, but I think that I will need that. I enjoy supporting eachother and the support that you get from others. Maybe by the time your kids enter school you are suppose to have the support from relationships of your child's friends, the church and others. I guess that is true. But sometimes I would think that it would be wonderful to have a support group for these ages too.

Shopping

Boy, do you know how much shopping that you can get done without kids? I had not been shopping by myself in a long time and finally went today. On the way, I called my mom and dad and they met me for lunch, how sweet is that! My dad is a barber and always has Mondays off. My mom works part time in a nursing home and has Mondays and Fridays off. We went to eat and then did some shopping for them, too. We hope to take a family picture soon and they needed to come up with something besides black! So we stretched them out of the box a bit and they got that deep teal color. Looks good! I am home before the kids get off the bus and put my purchases away. Looks like I may have to do this again ;) ! (Don't tell Glenn!)

Animals and heaven

This summer we got some cats from my brother. Grant wanted a cat and when they went to get the cats they came home with two! Glenn said they would be "garage" cats and would stay there most of the time but will come in to "play" occasionally. The one cat was Grant's and the other was suppose to go to someone else but he was very fluffy and cuddly, he stayed too, and became Cole's cat. Grant choose the name Dash. Cole had a bit of a harder time to decide what to name his cat - Flash, Cuddyer, Furball, ---became Fluffball. They are fun to watch and they have grown a ton. They are mostly in the garage but now in the morning when they want to come in they scratch on the door! I don't tolerate them on the table and when they get into my curtains they have to get out! But they are kind of nice (don't tell my family).

This brings us to the topic of today. Do animals live in heaven? Glenn and I didn't know. They don't have souls but God made them and set them in place for man to rule over. They are very beautiful and unique creatures, the flood did not destroy them. Will all kinds of animals be on the new earth? We may have to wait until we get there to find out.

Ps 126:5-6

Ps 126:5-6

Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Is this a perfect passage for mothers or what? Sometimes as mothers we wonder if we will ever pass out one phase or another and it can get overwhelming. But if we are faithful, keep planting faithfully, the harvest will bring joy! It is so easy to become overwhelmed with things, schoolwork, discipline, and life; that we forget the bigger picture. That's why relying on God's word is so important. It says in John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Isn't that reassuring! I have to remind myself of this sometimes daily. That's why I'm writing it down. I am saying it outloud! God has victory the all!

Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

Praise the Lord, Hallelujah Lord!
Happy is the woman who stands in awe of, respects, honors the Lord and takes pleasure in or is pleased to do his commands.
Her children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

What I am doing now, affects my kids and grandkids.
Lord I ask that you will find me faithful!

Words

“’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 a hope and a future.’”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Isn't terrific when you least expect it, God speaks to you and gives reassurance?! He knows the right things to say and provides comfort! We may not understand the "whys" but we give God the glory for the comfort and help He blankets us with!

The Sting

55"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"(I Cor. 15:55)



I know this to be true. I know that on the day when Jesus comes death has no victory, and no sting. But now on earth when you have lost someone, the sting comes in waves. It comes in unexpected places and hits you when you least expect it. It hits your husband and because he is hurting, it affects you. It's hard when you know that your husband is hurting and you can do nothing to take that pain away. God, why does death have to sting so much here on earth? I know that you have victory over death and mom is in a much better place... I know that... I believe that... but why does it have to sting? Why? There are families asking why right now. Death came suddenly for their loved one. Why?

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Thank you for your promises, Lord, Thank you.

Soccer

We are heading full swing into fall. The city soccer league started this week. For Cole this is his first chance to play. He has been ready for a long time, because he has been hauled to games and more games of his brother. He was so excited. He scored a couple of goals. Kindergarten has no goalie, only 6 people on the field at a time, and no referee. They just learn the rules - like the white line is out of bounds and you stop playing when the ball goes over the line. They had their first game Saturday.
Grant actually has Glenn as one of his coaches. This is a first for Glenn and we had to do quick study on the internet for rules and such. On Saturday, Grant scored his first goal ever, too! It was fun to watch both kids. Grant is also playing flag football. It's too bad that they are right after eachother on Saturday mornings. He will be so tired!

Happy Birthday!

It's my Honey's birthday! Happy Birthday, Dear, I Love You! This is my tough football players! They are ready for action! Gotta love it!

Fight for your families

Neh. 4:14
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the leaders and the people and said to them,"Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your friends, your families and your homes!"

I came across this verse yesterday. Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember our Great and Glorious Lord and fight for your friends, families and homes!

Labor Day

We had a busy weekend! My cousin got married about 5 hours away on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day and the bride just beautiful. Grant had to carry gifts, Glenn's job was parking cars and I had to pin on flowers. Cole "had" to park cars with dad. I even requested the Hokey Pokey because Cole had just learned that song in kindergarten - right and left! The boys got to swim in the motel, life is good! Then on our way home we drove through Madison county and found a bridge of Madison county. This particular bridge was a replica becuase a few years ago an arsonist burnt it down (we found this info out when we got home), neither is it on the original spot! Oh, well, I guess we can say that we have been there. Then we went to the Omaha Zoo. It was great to see all the animals. My favorite were the gorillas. Cole was kissed on the nose but the polar bear it swam so close and Grant loved the jaguar. It was fun, Cole loves all animals so it was a great adventure for him. We have not been there since he was 1 1/2. Then on Monday we went to Glenn's dad to celebrate his 70th birthday. We had a picnic at noon, it was a busy fun Labor Day weekend.