Thanking God for A Holy Experience

This new year is very important to me.  For one, God has chosen to let me see "a new'"

I'm excited to see what ...new things .... awaits me.

As I shared with you on Wednesday, my word for the year is: Petros...Rock...Cornerstone.

As I go through my daily routine of reading many of your blogs...I'm blessed.  I wonder if my blogging has moved any of you the way I'm moved by you?

In reflecting on my wanting to be a ROCK or CORNERSTONE for my faith.  I wonder?

How will I go about doing it?  I pray.

Then I go to visit Ann...you know Ann without the fanciful "e"? 

Ann who helps us see the cross in the clothespin.

Ann who reminds us "all is grace" when living in the "upside down world."

She causes me to REMEMBER that my seemingly mundane work is MY HIGH CALLING...my service to him...a holy work...my holy experience.  A calling and sacrifice that I give to Him each and everyday.  She helps me see how blogging about my faith...,my life can reach someone on the other side of the expanse.  She's in Canada.  I'm in Texas, but I'm moved by her  for Him.  She's lit a fire under me for Him the same way Elisabeth and Beth does.

For us bloggers, mothers, and you, yes, your, the reader.  I'm beginning to see how we do have a voice and we can make a tremendous difference for God with our voice...a voice He's chosen to give us.  It's not by accident that I blog and it's not by accident that you blog.

You have a voice and an opportunity to carry the Great Commission from shore to shore without ever leaving your home.  I hope we all continue sharing our story—which is HIS Story..."our life."

Touch a life with your words.  Be here, wherever you are— be all the way there.  Ann names her year.   She's named 2011 the year of here.  Learn to experience your moments. 

If you're a blogger (writer)...write ... be the cornerstone for our Father right where you are.  Use the tools that He's given you and let your life...your story...your blog be A HOLY EXPERIENCE for all who stops by.

I thank God for each and every one of you.  If you were here right now, or if I was there...I would give you a great big hug because you matter and I'm so blessed by you.

Thank you

Happy New Year and stay safe....

Much love :)

Interview with Valerie Elliot Shepard (daughter of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot)

FYI: '

Walter & Valerie Shepard

 As many of you know, I love Elisabeth Elliot.  It is through Elisabeth Elliot, my mentor, that I came to accept and learned how to accept God's will for my life.  Last year, Valerie, Elisabeth and Jim Elliot's daughter honored me by letting me interview her.  She was vague because she has plans on sharing her family story in some manner in the near future, but knowing how I felt about her mother and how much this interview would mean to so many of you she spoke with me via email.  


How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas?

We had company often for Thanksgiving, and we always had a "Pilgrim reading" and saying what we each were thankful for around the table. For Christmas we were not often inviting people for dinner because our older children wanted "just family". We always opened stockings around 7-8 AM, had a Breakfast of baked apples, and either a sweet bread or their favorite "sugared cereals" (which I don't do any more- the cereals, that is!) Then , every one had to have beds made, be dressed, and kitchen and rooms cleaned up before we sat down to open the main presents under the tree. For Christmas Eve, we had leek-potato soup either before or after a Christmas eve service, then had the story of Jesus with candles, and a fire in the fireplace, opening one present before we all went to bed.

Shepard Family

Do you keep in touch with any of the other missionary children who were killed with your Father?


I can't remember if I answered this one,but just have some correspondence with the 3 oldest- Steve and Kathy Saint, and Steve McCully.

Can you explain to us how your devotions have changed now that you know longer have small children?


They haven't changed much- I still get up early, and I try to meditate, and sit quietly more than I used to.

Valerie w/granddaughter Valerie, this is Val's daughter's Elisabeth's child

How did you have devotions when your children were younger?

Almost always before they got up, though sometimes during their quiet time, but i usually couldn't concentrate very well on them then. I learned after about 15 yrs. of "doing devotions" that God wanted my devotion to HIM more than He wanted me to "do my devotions" as if it were a "spiritual check-off" my list.

How did it change when they became teenagers and when they went off to college? What about once they became married and had children ?


It's still not much different now. For the children that are gone, I pray that God will bring them strong Christians who can influence them and that the "image of Christ"will be born in them.

I hear a lot of young mother’s say, “It’s selfish for them to want some “me” time,” what do say about that? (And they feel guilty).


I say that "my time" is when I spend in quiet with the Lord, because He refreshes me, and that is what I need most. Asking Him if He wants me to have more than that, I will trust Him to provide it for me. I don't think I should work hard at making sure I have that time, and making everyone miserable by my leaving and making it happen!

Can you please encourage the Mother’s with young children who home school and feel overwhelmed by all that has to be done?

Every day has to be given to the Lord, and if we are asking for wisdom to do the right things each day, He will show us. We have to also ask Him to help us keep our minds on the good and right and beautiful. "unite my heart to fear Your name!" I was always overwhelmed, and every day was begging Him to help me to do what He wanted me to do. My lists have always been much more than I could accomplish in a day, and sometimes I would show them to my husband and He would cross off things He didn't think I needed to do!

Will you please encourage the mother whose child has gone away to college?


Trust them into the Lord's hands!! Pray without ceasing, call or write them at least once a week.

Valerie will you please encourage the reader, of this interview, to continue in their quiet time with the Lord?

Keep seeking Him, that is how you learn of Him- the story of Mary who has chosen the better part--~ Ask Him to help you learn to pray without ceasing....Ask Him how to find and make the right and best time to spend alone!

What are Walter and you up to now?

Planting a church in Southport, NC

How can we pray for you?


We need wisdom on how and who to contact, we need a music and youth person- the Lord's choice, and the money to raise for the eventual building. We will meet in a hotel until we have a strong core group who are true servants, and when we have them tithing, by the Lord's conviction.

How do you have your quiet time?

Same as above.

 How often?

 Almost daily

Do you use other material or just your Bible?


Yes, some kind of meditation literature or older books, and sometimes a hymn book.

Do you stay in one book or move around?


Move around

Do you do it early morning or when you can? Do you come with pen and notebook in hand?


Yes, with a journal.

Do you see your father’s family often?

Not more than once every 2 years- mainly my father's sister, since she lives in Wheaton, where I've gone several times since my daughter Elisabeth lived there for 7 yrs. The others live in Mich. and Oregon, and we've only had 1 family reunion since I've been an adult.

My Peter moment {updated}

My word for the year: Petros: "Rock".   The year of the rock.  I hope to be one God depends on to do His will.  Be His rock.  Help build His church here on earth.  First by living it out at home, thus carrying it throughout the world.

Each Wednesday I participate in community with Ann at A Holy Experience.  She asked us to name our year in this post.  I thought about that... after a while I thought it was a good idea.  How did I come to my Peter moment—my year of the ROCK?  Read on.


Yesterday after writing the post MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH MY WORDS, I was determined to live how I wrote...practice what I'd preached.  Speak words of life into all around me.

I didn't do so good.


Immediately after cleaning my bedroom, my daughter brought her father's shoes from the living room and said, "Dad here are your shoes."

"Sit them right there," he said, pointing to the floor in front of our bed.


"No, put them in the closet," I said.


"No, I'm going to put them on shortly.  Put them where I said."


"Then you can walk to the closet when you're ready for them," take them to the closet.  I said.


Seeing the bewilderment on my daughters face made me say, "Just sit them down."


I was hot ... oh so mad.


I stormed out of the room and while taking clothes out of the dryer and pouring fabric softener into the dispenser—I had ugliness emerge from within me.  One ugly unkind word after another rolled off my tongue.


Then I remembered my post on words.  My blog post: Making a difference with my words.


And I remembered the beloved Peter.  The one I identify with the most.


...And he went out and wept bitterly. ~ Matthew 26:75

I, too—wept bitterly within.  How could I have meant what I'd written with all my heart one minute.  And in the next minute tear my brother...in this case he's also my husband down with my unkind words.


I remembered what I'd written.  Words to Him.  Words to me.  Words to you.  I was grief stricken.  I'd displeased Him who so graciously gives me grace moment upon moment.


I felt taken for granted.


I felt as if my work didn't matter.


I felt like, though he never said it, as if my husband was saying, "What's the big deal?"  If the room gets messy again, just clean it again."

"I'm sorry Lord."  I say to my Father with grieving heart. 


"I'm sorry sweetie for putting you in the middle of that," I say to my 15 year-old daughter.

Then I go to him, my husband.  "I'm sorry for doing that in front of Kia."


My heart is now calm again.  I sit and talk to my Father.  He strengthens me.  Hugs me with His Words that He brings to memory.  Words that are hidden within my heart.  Words that touch my soul.


I go back to my High Calling Work of the day.  Work that He has called me to do with my hands: 


Cleaning.  Instructing kids.  Uplifting neighbors.  Encouraging family.  Laughing.  Watching children play.  Laundry.  Cooking.

It's now late evening.  I get dressed, put makeup on.  My husband, daughter Kia, and I head 80 miles to my hometown.  The place where I grew up as a girl.


Tonight is my first, girl, cousin dinner.  It's where all of the first female cousins get together.  We look at old photographs.  We laugh a lot.  We talk a lot.

My husband takes our daughter to my cousins house to sleep over.  He comes back for me several hours later.  It's dark.  We drive home.  The skies night light illuminates our faces.



"All is well Lord."  I whisper.


Finally we are home and we're in bed.  He's still laughing and talking from our conversation on the way home.


"Are you listening?"  He asks.

"Um-hum"


"Angie did you hear me?"


I laugh.  "I've been found out."

"I'm sleepy.  Tired.  Let's finish talking in the morning."  I say.


"Okay."  He says.


He kisses me and I fall asleep.


I share this moment only because  I can be one who holds onto issues.  But I was reminded of my words.  Me wanting to speak life, and I was reminded of Peter.


Peter saw his fault instantly.  He repented.  He moved on ... and the Lord used Him.


I know that I'm trying to let my Christian light shine among a dark world, but I also know that it must start at home first— my Christian service.


I am the Jesus my children see first... their father and me.  I also want my husband to see Jesus in me.



The year of the ROCK.  The rock which Jesus would build His church ... Peter the leader of the church, for his function, not even for his character, necessarily.



Peter reminds me that I'm the church... and built on the foundation "Rock" Christ as the cornerstone, all believers are joined into His church... his faith.

Jesus praised peter for his confession of faith.  It is faith like Peter's that is the foundation of Christ's Kingdom.

Gratitude for ...

Today is Monday, which means I participate in the Gratitude Community over at A Holy Experience.  It's where a few bloggers and I gather together to share our "thankfulness" to Him...preferably for what others call "the small things." 

The light of a new day breaks through.  It wakes me.  I turn to my husband, "Good morning.  Will you rub my back please."

He rubs.  His rubs are soothing.  His hands are big; they're warm.  They comfort.

It's cold.  I adore cold, sunny mornings... God's mornings.  His beauty shining brightly on me.  His "Good morning daughter" to me.

I pray, "Thank you that I can be thankful.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to see a new day.  Thank you that we are all seeing another day together.  Thank you Lord for Ann and continue to watch over them and protect them.  Bless them."

I'm at peace again.  They boys will start back with basketball in the new year, first Monday of the month.

It's late, and I really need to get up, but I linger...enjoying the moment.  My older son knocks on the -- he's 17,"Mom I'm going to make pancakes, sausage and eggs."

"Okay, thanks son." I yell from the other side.  "I'll be up in a minute."

I'm thankful for God challenging me through Ann Voskamp to see the beauty in the everyday, for seeing the cross in the clothes line, for looking beyond the obvious,  for appreciating and seeing that "all is grace.

My celebration of greatfulness for my endless gifts #'s 1-17

~ A new day
~ Sunny days
~ Women bloggers
~ Cold days
~ Husband big, warm, steady hands
~ A son who loves to cook
~ leaves turning colors
~ fallen leaves
~ naked trees
~ back rubs
~ God's whispers to my heart
~ Being still
~ His peace
~ You...
~ Ann Voskamp who challenges me to see beauty and everything through His eyes... and that when it's all said and done, "All is grace."
~ gratitude
~ the community

A work in progress

Sometimes do you feel as though you're not making any progress in your spiritual life regardless of how hard you try?

I feel like this a lot at times, thankfully, I'm not feeling like this right now.  For some reason though, I feel compelled to write about it...

When I feel this way--stale in my spiritual progression, my mind instantly goes to, Philippians 1:6 " For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

"Is that really true Lord?"  I ask.

When I look at my life and the mistakes that I've made, am making, and think about the ones I will make, I wonder will He be able to?  Will I, like Jesus, accomplish what I've come to earth to do?

Will you accomplish on earth, like Jesus, what God has sent you here to do?

That bothers me and it's constantly on my mind.  I don't want to get close to death "wondering" if I've completed my earthly task.  Again, like Jesus, when I get to the end of my life I want to say: "It's finished."  And know that what I was sent to do was done by me; therefore, my mission really will be "finished" complete.

Do you think about that?  Do you know why God gave you life?  Why did He save you?  What is your purpose?

Many of us just finished celebrating the birth of God's Son.  Remember, He was born for a reason...a purpose.  So were you.  So was I.

I am a sinner
I'm wretched
I complain way too much
I'm not always satisfied
At times, my own children get on my nerves.
My husband, at times, rubs me the wrong way.
Sometimes I get tired of cleaning the same clothes, dishes and house day in and day out.  I train my children...line upon line...precept upon precept.  I instruct them, only hours later to hear or see them do the very thing I've instructed them otherwise on.

Jesus was born to redeem.

What work is God beginning in me?  I don't have the complete answer, but day-by-day He reveals more.

I remember ...

You remember ...

When you are discouraged, remember that God does not give up on you.

When you feel incomplete...

When you feel unfinished...

When you're stressed by your shortcomings you and I must grab hold to His promise to complete in us what He has started, just like He did with Jesus.  As He did with Jesus so will He do with us... He will provide what is needed for us to carry out our life's purpose...those are His provisions.

Remember not to let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him.

Keep pressing.  Keep moving.  Keep running.  Don't give up.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:6


Photo: Philippian jail cell
Photo: Caesarea theater

Hearing Him say, "Well done my good and faithful servant" draws me to Him

It's early.  Still dark out.  The house is quiet.  I can't sleep.  I toss and turn.  All that is on my mind is Him.

"How have I lived my life?"  I think

"Is my life counting for anything, really?"

"Am I really making a kingdom difference here on earth?"

"How do we know, or can we even know that we are living His will for our lives out as we should?"

"How can I know Lord and be assured?"

My craving sits me up.  Slowly I get out of bed, careful not to wake my husband of twenty-years (today is our wedding anniversary).

The mattress makes an unattractive sound.  I head to the bathroom to wash up, while closing the door I hear a squeak...a loud squeak. 

The silence seems so loud this morning.  I hope I don't wake anyone.  I want to be alone.  I need to be alone.  To think.  To listen.  To be...

After washing up, I head to the kitchen to make a hot cup of green tea.  I hear the refrigerator. 

"Man it's loud," I think.

Now it's time for me to meet Him.  "What will we talk about?"  I wonder.  My Father and I.

The yearning and anticipation for Him overwhelms me.

What is drawing me closer to Him today?  Well, beside the death of my Aunt, my ache for Him is coming from my desire of not wanting to live in vain.  I want my life to count for the kingdom.  I want to hear God say to me, "Angie you've been 'A good and faithful servant.' "

A perfect servant I am not, but I want to be good and faithful at what He gives me to do.

I've learned that the only way I can do this...learn what His will is for me and work at accomplishing it, is by talking to Him, listening to Him...hearing what He says to me.

This sharpens my spiritual antennas.

I become alert ... in tune.

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there."

My friend this is Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Christ, God's Son, who was born of a woman...fully human and divine.  He took the time to meet His Father in prayer and talk.

If you're anything like me, it's not always easy to find this time, especially if you have children and it becomes even harder at times with those who have small children and babies.  I know for me whenever I had a moment to myself during that season of my life, I always tried to sleep when they slept.

We must remember, prayer is a vital link between us and our Maker.

Would you make a consciences effort, today, in striving to break away from other things and people in order for you to spend time with Him,  even if it means getting up very early to do it?

Spending time with Him Saint is the only way we're able to accomplish His will here on earth.  This is how we learn to fulfill our purpose.

Desiring to fulfill my purpose before I leave here and go home as well as my desire to hear Him say to me, "Well done my good and faithful servant," is what's drawing me nearer to Him this week.

UPDATE:  For those of you visitng from Ann's, I'm sorry, I just realized when I went to read her post and some of yours that we were supposed to talk about our Christmas practice.  So sorry, that I didn't write about that and can't share about it next week as Christmas will be over.

Praying my words bless you

And the WORD became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ 1 John 1:14

Today is a start of something new.  Each Tuesday I will write about words as is Ann Voskamp, Holley Gerth.  I'm doing this to see how my awareness of my words will change me as well as others.
Ann at A Holy Experience has blessed me in ways that I couldn't have imagined by her dedication of sharing her words, thus her life, for others to read.  Her words have become her journal which she shares at: A Holy Experience.  Thank you Ann.

Ann and Holley thank you for including us, the reader, to participate in word change by penning our words...our thoughts.

Words and writing is very important for communication.  It is in that very form that I AM, the creator of the universe chose to speak to His creation via the Holy Bible.  Giving us: HIS WRITTEN WORD.

It is my sincere prayer that in my sharing of words like the two women I mention above, and all the women who will participate -- that I will not only make a difference in my life for the better, but that I with my words make a difference; if only slightly, to everyone whose eyes fall upon my written words.

angela

Gratitude for knowing Norma

Yesterday, I watched my Aunt, my mother's sister take her last breath...literally.

She died.

In preparing for today's gratitude list, I was in such a funk until I couldn't think, or rather I didn't want to be thankful for anything...I didn't care.

"Life just doesn't seem fair sometimes," I thought while I was sitting in the hospital room.

"Sin is so ugly...so harmful...so hurtful...and I'm wrapped in it..."

"Why didn't Adam just say "no" to Eve?"


"Why couldn't God just go back on His Word...just once...and give us another chance?"


I've known my Aunt all my life.  She's always been ...

She's always been just a phone call away if I couldn't drive to her, but now she's gone.  God choose to take her. " Why?"

"So tell me, please, someone, "What is there to be thankful for?"

Well ...

After pulling myself up...

Dusting myself off ...

Praying ...

I, of course, remembered how I'm loved by God, an underserving love, I might add.  But I began to think about what I have...you know the small things.

What I learned from my Aunt and always saw in her were many profounds things.  Too much to blog about, but a few of the things that stand out is ~

• How she loved
• How she lived, and
• How she forgave

Then it hit me ...

I'm thankful that I had the chance to watch her live out her life -- in watching her, I have a road map to follow.  I saw these things in my mother (still do), but everyone has their own way...their own style in how they walk their unique walk, their course of life.

My Aunt Norma was full of grace, style and class.  She's what you called "A lady."

So my gratitude is for knowing her and for God still giving me the opportunity to gracefully live out my faith the way she did and in doing so...my goal has become to gracefully ...

~ LOVE like Norma loved

~ LIVE like Norma lived

~ FORGIVE like Norma forgave

Most of all, I'm thankful that I got to know my Aunt Norma, to love her and to call her my precious Aunt.

~ I thank God for you Aunt Norma and I will miss you dearly.

~ Thankful that I can make a difference while living on earth

~ Living out my faith...the good and the bad

~ Lessons learned in life

~ "The way a life can be made all praise"...through simply living

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die... Ecc. 3:1-2

A good and Godly day

Today was a good and Godly day for me.  Nothing special happened, yet a lot of special things happened.  Special in that I had the most wonderful time cooking and washing dishes by candlelight while I listened to music and watched my little children play quietly in the fall leaves scattered in the backyard.

While staring out my kitchen window, feeling the gentle breeze flowing in I thought ...

 ~ I'm blessed.

~ I'm thankful for the calling of: wife.  Motherhood.  Servant.

A daunting job, no doubt.  Sometimes it's a "thankless" work, but it's my work.  The work that the Almighty, I AM has given me.

This day I am thankful for family and servant hood.

Being a sinner causes me to walk closer to Him

I'm so messed up.  I'm such a sinner.

Seems like no matter how much I try I fall to sin's calling and temptations.  I fall down, cry...get back up, only to fall again.

I've come to the realization that as much as it hurts to admit:  I don't like suffering.  Rather, I should say I want to choose what I will suffer for and deny myself of what I choose to deny myself of.

Often times, I will do almost anything to avoid pain.  I pick and choose, though, I call it by another name.  God calls us to be willing and prepared to do His will.

Whatever His will is, even if it means that I must hurt, suffer, or  become BROKEN.

Once we are obedient to God and do what He has called us to, sin then looses its grip on us.

Have you noticed how when we are in bodily pain, or our health or the health of our love one is in jeopardy our values become clear and, sinful pleasures, whatever they might be, become bleak and less important?

Let's remember this:  When we suffer for doing right and we obey in spite of our suffering we have made a clean break with sin and God is pleased.

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. ~ 1 Peter 4:1

In light of knowing this about myself: I'm forced to get up...when most are sleeping and sit at His feet.  We talk.  I talk He listens. He speaks and I listen.  It's my favorite time of my day, when my Father and I are intimate.  This is what I need. Bread.  THE BREAD OF LIFE.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shinning in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart." ~ 1 Peter 1:19

Gratitude for the love of siblings

I never thought I would be thankful for the noise that my children make when they are outside running free and playing, but after what happened this weekend...I'm thankful.

Yesterday (Saturday), my children were outside playing.  They were very loud so I went outside to tell them to quieted down.  Several minutes later, three of the seven ran in and said, "Mom something really bad happened outside...a really bad accident with Krishtiana and Kramon!" 

My heart stopped as I ran to the door and saw my 9 year-old daughter coming inside crying hysterically... her hand covering her left eye blood running down her face and arm, and her 7 year old brother walking in behind her looking dazed as if he was about to pass out!

I ran to her, saw him ran to catch him before he fell right where he was.  While running to him, I yelled to my 13 year-old son who was assisting his sister, "apply pressure to stop the bleeding, someone get him a towel!  Put the towel over her eye and apply pressure!"

"Get the ice pack and bring it to me!"

After having my 17 year-old son hold the ice pack on his little brothers head, I went back to look at my daughter.

"Calmed down"  I told her.

"I know it hurts baby, but you really need to let me see how bad it is."


"Oh my!" I whisphered within.


"Lord please calm me and help me help these little ones and not frighten them."


Timidly, I took over applying pressure to my daughters wound. 

Truth be told, I thought I would pass out, but hey, I'm the mother...right?  I have to be strong?  Especially once I looked around and saw the other kids ages 17 on down to 6 crying for their siblings...silently the stream of love quietly ran down their faces.  Their brother was hurt.  Their sister was hurt.  Their loved one was hurt.  Some were more open than others.  Each one did their best to hide the tears of love that so freely flowed.  Why?  They didn't want to scare the battered and the bruise.

For a minute I thought, "Wait, these were the siblings who not even 24 hours ago were fussing up a storm about a doll.  These are the kids that I make hold hands and walk to their rooms to tell each other 10 things that they like about each other because they bicker so much."

Once things calmed down, I called my husband...sounding like a frighten little girl myself by this time. 

"What do you want me to do," he asked?"

I told him.

"Okay," he replied.

Finally, he was home!

"Let's go," he said, "They do need to go to the ER."

My daughter had to get 6 stitches and my son has a minor concussion.

But I learned from this ...

What did I learn ...

I learned that the compassion I've tried instilling in my children is there.  Even though I don't always see it -- it's there.  They have the ability to put themselves in someone elses shoes and feel empathy.  I'm thankful for compassionate children.

I learned that my children listen to me.  The doctors and I were amazed at how my daughter handled being stitched up.  They were baby talking her, and I simply said to her:  "Kristhtiana, baby this may hurt and it may hurt a lot.  This is what they are going to do to you ... it is very important that you don't move, okay.  If you move, you can make things worse so even though what they are about to do may hurt try very hard not to move.  If it does hurt, it will only hurt for a little bit and then the doctors will put the sutures in, okay."

"Yes ma'am"

I left her in the room with her father and the doctors.  Remember, I'm the timid mother.  Her dad and the doctor said, "She handled herself very well."

"Praise God," is all I could say!

Afterwards we all went out to Chilli's and ate and talked about the events.

I'm thankful (# 7-13) for...

~ obedient children

~family love

~family bond

~family

~prayer

Today I missed the sounds of the little ones running...being free...being healthy...being children.

I'm thankful for ...

~ sounds of happy kids running and playing

Our brothers and sisters are there with us,
from the dawn of our stories to its inevitable dusk.
~ Susan Scarf Merrell