Waiting

Well, I started this blog , but I haven't really been good at posting. Something always seems to come first.

This has been a quiet, yet very good week for me. Nicky left on a couple of trips last Thursday and returns tomorrow. So, I have been home " alone" since then. I really haven't ventured out much. I have been doing stuff at home and spent a lot of time with the Lord. It has turned out to be a kind of " spiritual retreat" time for me. I needed it. I have been asking God too many questions lately and doing a lot of complaining. I think , in my desire to see his hand at work, I became impatient, pouting, etc. You know the mood! It is Satan's perfect tool! Well, this week has been good. God and I have spent a lot of time together talking and me just listening. If you are like me, you may tend to always be asking God, " Why and When and you fill in the blank". Whatever your blank may be , it isn't a listening mode or a praising mode.

Today, I was catching up on friends blogs and came across this great poem that had been posted by a cherished friend, Arica. I want to share it with you.



WAIT
Don't we all love to hear Jesus answer us with "wait?" That little word with so much impact -- makes me want to scream sometimes! There are times I wish Jesus would tell me "yes" or "no." It would be so much easier to deal with -- and move on, if necessary. Yet, He still tells me to wait (sometimes using the gentler version - "Just hold on.). And so I wait...not always with the patience I should. My roommate Emily & I were discussing this a few weeks ago. She shared a poem with me that had recently been shared with her. I hope it blesses & encourages you as much as it has me...and helps you to see the value of "wait." ( Arica's comment )

WAITby Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply."Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I relate hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry: I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, and grumbled to God,
So, I'm waiting...for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine... and He tenderly said,
"I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask From an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You'd never know should your pain quickly flee, what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".


I am not saying the waiting time is easy, but I think I will at least let it be a time to really see God and who He is and what he desire for me. You know, make the best of it. It is kind of like waiting in a line and reading a book at the same time! So , I think I will open my book and read! God, show me you in every work I read.

Many things to share ..............busy times!

Well, it has been a while since I posted. I started and then life just got crazy busy. Last post , I introduced you to Naomi, our first granddaughter. Since that time, we have welcomed her with a sweet shower given by family and friends. Prior to that, my sweet little grandsons celebrated Halloween and were absolutely adorable! They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but these pictures are priceless! Naomi chose to just go as herself, a little " princess".



Naomi in her party dress!



Staci and Naomi with hostesses...Noelle, Christie, Julie, and Dana.
( Rynthia, we missed you! )

Staci and Naomi with mom, aka Gee...hostess, too.


Staci and Naomi with their MeMa!


Sam , the very strong " Mr. Incredible!

Jude , aka Spiderman, behind that awkward mask!!

Naomi - our Sleeping " beauty" Princess.

Micah- the awesome Mr. Incredible !

Gavin , Buzz Lightyear ..." to infinity and beyond"!

Cash...the cutest elephant EVER!

Next on my agenda was a trip to Austin. Brad and Noelle ( my 3rd child/ first son and his wife ) are expecting their second child the around April 7. They invited me to be with them during their first sonogram. This was a monumental time, since this was the " sex" of child sonogram. Yes, they chose to find out the sex. Drum roll, please.................It is a girl!!! So, soon we will have granddaughter #2. God is so good. Now as to the sonogram. After determining the sex, the technician began a journey of examining every square inch of that sweet little girl. It was just amazing. Each time I get to be a part of such a time, I am more amazed at God's creative hand and I marvel at how wonderful and special that each person is created to be. Naomi, you now have a girl to join you amongst the little boys!

PICTURE COMING SOON!

Lastly, we have had birthdays these past few months! First to celebrate was Sam. He was five years old on September 25. It is so hard to believe that five years have passed since he first enterd our lives. He was the first grandchild and first grandson. Sam, I love you and I am so proud of the five year old boy that you have become. I love your tenderness and affection . I love that you like to still cuddle with me! I love lying next to you in bed and making up stories . I love playing a "concert" with you or just be there to listen.

Happy birthday, Sam! Waking up to balloons is great!

Next on the birthday train was Jude! Jude's could have been overshadowed by Naomi's arrivel. However, we all made sure that that didn't happen. Jude was two years old on October 25. Once, again,time has just flown . Jude, you are just pure joy and happiness ! You make me smile so much . I don't know when I have ever seen a child that just seems to glow with so much joy! I love you so much! I love your smile. I adore your laugh. I love how you will sit and sing Bible songs for so long and not ever be bored. I love your imagination and enthusiasm for life. I love reading to you and singing you songs in the dark. I love when you ask for more!

Happy Birthday, Jude! How could you resist that joyful face?

Last in the birthdays ( until December) is Micah. Micah is our second grandchild. He celebrated his 3rd birthday on November 21. We had a wonderful party with "happy face" pancakes and lots of family and friends. Micah was so excited this year about his birthday. It was the year that it "clicked" and he actually counted down the days! When I would call him and talk about the party, he would just say " Not yet, Gee". Micah, I love you! I love how you get so excited when you see me and how you want to immediatly put your car seat in my car, so that you can be with me where ever I go ! I love that you like to call me and talk to me on the phone for a long time and tell me lots of cool things. I love playing pretend with you , especially " Handy Manny" on your birthday! I love that you are so tender and sweet and talk to me and ask me lots of questions! I love how tight you hug me when you see me!

Happy "3rd" birthday ,Micah! Cupcakes are so yummy!!!

Now it is time to celebrate Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for the family that God has given me. I remember a song that we used to sing at the church where I grew up as a child. It was " Showers of Blessings" . Well, if blessings are like showers, then I am drenched with the blessings and love of my God and Savior. I have am amazing husband, four wonderful children, and six ( almost 7 ) grandchildren. I am blessed to still have my mother and my mother in law. Lastly , God has so enriched my life with unbelievable friends that have shared many roads and stories with me. So, last , but definitely, not least, I love my Lord and say thank you for all you have given me . Thank you for my salvation and for walking beside me every moment of every day. Thank you for loving me and dying for me.My prayer on this Thanksgiving is that my life will reflect Jesus , so that that each of these special people in my life will see Him in all I say or do.

Until after the turkey and thanks.....................many blessings!

Thinking pink, ruffles and bows!

I just arrived home last night after being gone for about two weeks. The majority of the trip was spent in College Station with my oldest daughter , Staci, and her husband Ross, and their boys, Sam and Jude. We were getting ready for the arrival of a new addition to their family. After several days of waiting anxiously, Staci and Ross left for their adoption agency and arrived home about eight hours later with a new precious daughter. She is just adorable and so perfect and beautiful. Also, so feminine... little nose and lips, long slender fingers, just all girl! So Naomi joins our 5 wonderful and sweet grandsons! Look out boys! I know she already has her big brothers devotion and love and constant attention!

Every time a new grand child enters our family, my heart just swells with more joy and love! After parenting your own children, there are times you just can't imagine loving anyone more, then.......along come grandchildren! You don't love anyone more, your kids or the grandchildren. God just opens up your heart to allow more love to fill it. I will say that loving as a grandparent is different. You have " been there"" and now there is an understanding and awe that just takes over! Time becomes irrelevant and you find you can just sit and rock or play or tell stories forever and not care, because you KNOW first hand how quickly TIME will pass! I am blessed to have wonderful parents in my children and their spouses. They continually amaze me ! They also bless me and Nicky daily with their desire for us to be a vital and active part in the lives of these sweet and precious grandchildren. I know that not all grandparents get to be as involved as we are invited to do. So, thank you kids ! We are blessed in multiple ways! We love the time that you "bless us" with when you visit or send these " little blessings" to spend time with us. Thank you for trusting us and sharing them with us! My pray for all of you and for all the mommies and daddies that I know is that God will give you a revelation of how short a time you have with your kids and how quickly time passes. I know that there are things that do need to get done and kids do need to learn to be " alone", but I pray that God will show you that balance and give you the desire to be the kind of parent that God is to each of you. He always has time for us, regardless of the situation ! Nothing is too silly or small! Every moment that you give is a " moment " of loving, teaching, and mentoring. Remember, your children are a gift and a blessing, so get busy and truly enjoy your gifts to the fullest! " Showers of blessings, showers of blessing I see......." . Let it pour God!

Okay, here goes.......

Well, I have to say, I think it was easier for me to create this blog, than to actually post on it. I have been telling myself that I needed something really good to write. So, that was about two weeks ago. Then , I thought I would just start by explaining the " why" behind my "Show and Tell " title. I spent weeks trying to think of something extremely creative and finally just decided to pick something that was descriptive of my intentions. I suddenly was taken back in my mind and remembered the days of " show and tell". Do you remember them? I remember it being such a fun day at school and I think all kids look forward to it. I can remember my own kids on " show and tell" days. I know that most of those moments probably weren't extremely exciting or life changing for the audience. However, it was important to the one sharing. So , here is my explanation and disclaimer. My times of " show and tell" on this blog may not be very life changing for you, as the reader. I definitly know they will not be moments of great wit and laughter. I do not claim to be the witty , very funny one in our family. I do have plenty of those people in my family surrounding me, so maybe I just don't try and compete in this area. My posts that make you laugh or smile will be when I share the fun and laughter that I experience with my family and friends and as I just live life. My thoughts and insights may not be eye opening moments for you to experience . However, if I share them, then they are for me. So, maybe this blog is just for me...to read, to remember, to laugh again, to ponder a little longer. Whatever... it is my " show and tell" . So I will show you those I love and the times we share. I will share with you memories in the making and I will ponder outloud ( or in writing ) the truths and insights that God continues to teach me each day. Now, enough of that. Let "show and tell" begin!