Summer Softball

It's been busy, long, learning and mostly fun!  Thanks God for the opportunity to play;thanks Ryan for sharing your gifts.  Girls, you have no idea how precious your dad is for spending this time with you--he has loved it!

Summer cousin lovin'

Yes, these little sweeties were cleaning up for me!  I don't even care if the dishes got clean.  I LOVE Summer for free days and hanging out and Reba reruns and frozen pizza with watermelon!  God, thank You for the gift of friends in our family--truly, a gift so precious!

Lake Peeps

Ahhh, the lake...jet skiing with pops while mom hangs on the beach...the sun, the fun, the energy!

We are pooped!  On the way home from Kanopolis, the temperature dropped 20 degrees--seriously!  We hid under trees from the quarter size hail.  Stopped by Mcpherson for burger supplies in the pouring rain and headed home to find 10 drops...thx God for a great day!  #thankfulfortheblessings

Erin.Camp Mennoscah.2015

Erin, you are leaving for camp today sweetie pie!  I've already written you 3 letters to mail tomorrow.  I miss you like crazy and hope you choose to find home early!  Ha ha!!  Seriously, my prayer is (and I do pray this), you will grow in your relationship with Jesus.  You were sealed until the day of redemption on August 25, 2011.  You have so many gifts, talents, special things about you.  Have fun; can't wait to hear how the week without makeup went😉

Love you, mom!

Foot in thy mouth - MY mouth. Ugh.

Wow! It is 10:20 at night; my oldest just shared her day with me . . . why do people act this way? How her feelings were hurt; how she misses Ms Val (her 5th/6th grade SS teacher) and just share her life with me . . . thank You Jesus! Wow! And, I was just irritated with her when she came home this afternoon and spoke so ugly to her . . . God, forgive me and wipe that out of her memory. I love that dear child & she is such a gift to me - thank You, thank You, thank You!

So, I am sitting her after an evening with some girl.friends (old & new) and cherishing my sweet precious girls. God, I just want to "state for the record" I.AM.BLESSED. Not because of what i have, but dear Father because of the love that has been given to me. God, I pray always for protection over my babies . . . my girls . . . these young women . . . these moms.to.be . . . these always.children.of.mine. I thank You for them. I want Your best for them. Help me to guide them in such a way to show them Your heart and Your ways and that a satisfying life is found in You God. Truly. Only. You God.

So, the big picture is: do not let irritation proceed communication. Love first. Love--active verb-first. React second. Measure twice, speak once. Aha - measure your words and let them come forth without obtrusion in the way (aka "foot in thy mouth" syndrome).


So, did Passport2Purity with Erin Marie. AWESOME!!! Okay - songs were hokey; like really bad. Had to go buy $20.00 cd player at Target because the only one i have is in the car (hot, sunny days are not conducive to that type of listening) and we had an excellent time. Erin talked to me the whole weekend. She reflected, she thought, she considered, she grew . . . she is growing and I (we) are so grateful. It was an awesome time for me as a mom to be able to be with this sweet one . . . I love her so!

For her "fun" activity, she chose to get her hair done and have Miss Paige Wedel do her makeup! Gorgeous and so fun! Erin is just naturally bent that way, so I am praying for wisdom to raise her in a way where she honors God with those talents & desires!

Dear Jesus, give my girls wisdom to be pure in all things. Help them to trust You; to walk by Faith; to love You with all their hearts and to make You First Place in everything. Dear Jesus, help me do the same.

In Your Great name, LORD, I pray!
Amen~
makdaddy

Throwback Thursday

Just a little sad today . . . listening to some music that was popular when I was in highschool/college/young adult and it just takes me back . . .

So, to encourage my girls and those who are coming of age and those who will be making life decisions soon . . . you will never regret working hard and giving your all. Never say never. Love Always. Cherish life. Seek Him. Grace others and forgive yourself. Work hard. Pursue your dream. Travel. Drink good coffee. Experience life, but don't cheapen yourself or sell yourself short. As Paul reminds us, "We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you".
You are chosen. You are loved. God has great things planned for you. Walk with Him and trust Him . . . He will not fail you. nope, not ever.

To remind those who are half way there . . . 40's, 50's, 60's . . . do not look back with regret and do not look forward with worry. Time is of the essence. Keep on keeping on. Use your past and your present to help another; to grow, to learn, to remember, to pass on the good. Know that you were meant to be victorious. Forget comparisons and remember to love. Reach back for those still behind, but look forward towards the prize. Train hard, you're on the downhill stretch. But don't coast - it's never a coast - it's a race worth running so keep running it strong & with life & well.

And, to those close to a new beginning. . . thank you for your service, for your kindness, for your love. Enjoy! Cherish! Pray! Seek God while He is still to be found and prepare! We are grateful and we love you! Hooray for you . . . your race is almost finished. May you hear His praise, Well done - good & faithful. well done . . .

And, to my sis, i miss you. i am sad today because i wish you were here too. i miss you, but. i know, i will see you again on the other side. i can't wait for you to meet my girls! you will adore them!!!

thank You Jesus for that gift - of a love that never ends and a hope eternal. It sustains. yep, always.

This I know . . .

Dear David Crowder,
Thank you for this song . . . it speaks to my heart such Truth and Love with every beat.

Up on the mountain
Where Your love captured me
Where finally I'm free
This I know
Up on the mountain
Where You taught my soul to sing
Amazing grace the sweetest thing
This I know

And then the storm rushing in
And here I am again
This I know

Take me up to where I was
When I never wanted more than You
Lift me up to feel your touch
It wouldn't be that much for You
This I know
This I know
This I know
This I know

Up on the mountain
Where You took me by the hand
Taught me to dance again
This I know
Up on the mountain
Where You took this heart of stone
Put life back in these bones
This I know

Take me up to where I was
When I never wanted more than You
Lift me up to feel your touch
It wouldn't be that much for You.

Dear Jesus, this I know: I am Your child saved by grace, created by God, loved by You forever and ever.
A place so near and dear to us is the Rocky Mountains in Colorado . . . "up on the mountain, where Your love captured me."
Oh, how we are witnesses again and again of Your vast world, Your mighty hand, Your great works . . . they are too much for us; to comprehend how Majestic You are. Thank you for giving us glimpses of Heaven here and now; for Faith; for Hope; for Love.