November 28, 2008

23 years ago (on Thanksgiving Day) the Lord blessed us with our first born son! We named him Jonathan because his name means "God's gift"... and that he most definitely is! We treasure his growing walk with the Lord, his sense of humor and his amazing intellect. We thank the Lord for his kindness and commitment to excellence in his work. We thank the Lord for his generosity and musical gifting. I'm his mom... I could go on and on!!

We pray the Lord will bless our dear son beyond all he can think or imagine this year! Happy Birthday Jon!!

November 26, 2008

I am reading a book by Timothy Keller called "Ministries of Mercy- The Call of the Jericho Road". As I read I am painfully aware of my need to grow in so many areas! One of these areas is in loving the unlovely. Keller writes:

"Since Christ’s mercy was not based on our worthiness, our mercy
must not be given to those who reach some standard of worthiness"

1. Luke 6:32-36 (English Standard Version)
"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

May we learn to generously love the unlovely- as the Father loves us!

November 25, 2008


















I was tagged by my friend Cissy to post the 5th picture in my 5th picture file:)
This is what I found...Mirielle with her sweet friend Lexi Martoia who now lives in Michigan.

I'd love to see what's in YOUR 5th folder-5th picture!

November 23, 2008

We had a fun afternoon with our friend Liz who took our family photos today! This time of year we usually set up a tri-pod and take a kazillion pictures of us sitting on our stairs :). Today Liz took us to the beautfiul quaint town of Davidson to shoot pictures. It was so much fun! Here are a few of the shots...

November 23, 2008


While Jon was working and Taylor and I shopping, Bill took Miri to Shining Hope Farms for a glorious day of fun! Miri's teacher- Jessie - invited her students to a day of decorating the stalls, packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child, lunch and horse relays. Her students took time to celebrate her birthday too :). Thank you Lord for Shining Hope Farms!

November 20, 2008

November 17, 2008

We just celebrated Nana's birthday and today is Nana and Da's 59th wedding anniversary! We pray the Lord will continue to bless them beyond all they can think or imagine! We love you so much Nana and Da!

Here are a few pictures from our trip this weekend...

November 12, 2008

















I love looking for little blessings from the Lord each day! Several mornings a week in the fall we get a visitor in our back yard who I've affectionately named "Pocketa" . His name came from a Danny Kaye movie :). He is a beautiful Blue Heron who flies over our house and lands on a drain in the pond behind our house. (See small speck of white on left?)




Here's a picture of the kind of Heron he is... isn't God amazing?






I'd love to hear some of the wonderful ways the Lord blesses you each day in the little.





I find once you start looking for His hand... you see Him everywhere!

November 11, 2008

I am so happy to finally post a night in the lives of my dear sons Jonathan and Taylor! They played at a coffee house on the UNCC campus last week ... I hope you enjoy the pictures!

DON'T BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING. Let this precious truth, "My times are in your hand," divest your mind of all needless, anxious care for the present or the future. Exercising simple faith in God, "don't be anxious about anything." "Be content with such things as you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." Learn to be content with your present lot, with God's dealings with, and his disposal of you. You are just where his providence has, in its inscrutable but all-wise and righteous decision, placed you. It may be a position, painful, irksome, trying, but it is right. Oh! yes, it is right! Only aim to glorify him in it. Wherever you are placed, God has a work for you to do, a purpose, through you to be accomplished, in which he blends your happiness with his glory. And when you have learned the lessons of his love, he will transfer you to another and a wider sphere, for whose nobler duties and higher responsibilities the present is, perhaps, but disciplining and preparing you.

You can read more on http://www.gracegems.org/ .

November 5, 2008

We just returned from a quick trip to Georgia to see Miri's neuro. We had a wonderful visit with Bill's sister Bette and her husband Paul, had Miri's appointment and then headed home. Miri and I were oohing and ahhing over all the gorgeous trees we saw on our trip! I know I just posted about Christmas...but I must post the last of the fall leaves! What an Artist our Heavenly Father is! The earth is full of His glory!

It dawned on me today... Christmas is coming! I love celebrating the Lord's birth especially this time of year. I love giving gifts and I love Christmas music! So... if you don't mind...I'd like to start playing it now :). If you have a favorite Christmas song- can you post it here? I'd love to hear!

Nov. 2, 2008

We haven't had a birthday party for Miri in a few years so decided to let her have a bowling party this year! We had a blast! I hope you enjoy the pictures :).

Nov. 2, 2008

Thank you my dear 'Prayer Ladies' for a glorious birthday lunch!
I love you all :).