He loves us eternally!

I could so relate to today's devotional written by my friend. There have been times I have picked up something where the memories of the person it belonged to floods my mind and I long to be in their presence.  It is hard when those people we love are no longer with us.  I, like Jennifer, am so glad that my God will never leave me and loves me forever. 

A Heart to Hear

It's officially summer now. I know this because of the constant pile of wet towels in the laundry room, and the corresponding bare shelf in the linen closet. This morning, I ended up grabbing an old orange towel I took from my grandmother's house when my dad and I packed it up after she passed away. Amazingly, it is still soft and fluffy. As I picked it up, I was suddenly swept with a longing to be the little girl who used this towel to dry off after swimming in Aunt Ann's pool, the little girl living it up at Grandma's house with no worries except when she will get to swim again. I thought about it for a moment and I realized that going back to that time wouldn't really help. Knowing all the things I'd have to face all over again made that wish lose it's appeal! It hit me that what I really wanted was to know that I am taken care of by someone who loves me unendingly. My spirit's true longing is for Heaven and my Abba God. His love is the only one that never ends. He will never leave me. He will take care of all the things that worry me. He tells my heart to rest and trust Him; everything is going to be okay. Knowing this, I'm comforted and my heart is warmed, just like a little girl wrapped in a cozy orange towel by a loving grandmother. Maybe you don't have an orange towel, and maybe you didn't have a grandma like that, but we all have a Father in Heaven Who loves us without measure and without end. He has promised to never leave us and He has put the spirit of adoption in our hearts that enables us to call Him "Daddy God". That is what Abba means. When it was time to close up my grandmother's house, my heart ached. It had been the one constant place in my life. Through the pain, God taught me that home is really just our name for the longing we have to be with Him. We take it with us in our hearts and one day, we will experience it with all that we are. So next time you wrap yourself in your favorite fluffy towel, remember you are loved by your Abba Father and He is your home, now and forever!


For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. Romans 8:14-16




Whom have I in heaven but you? Earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73: 25-26

~~Jennifer Davis

With Amy in their hearts...

Today I read a post on my friend, Michelle's, blog...about my daughter.  Our family was so blessed as we read the beautiful tribute to Amy.
God has a plan for each of us.We never know how our lives will touch another person. 
I hope you will visit Michelle's blog
off-to-honduras-with-amy-in-our-hearts  and be blessed!

Happy Birthday/Happy Heart

Last Monday was my birthday.  Funny thing about birthdays...you never know what to expect or how you might feel.  That's how it is with me anyway.  For whatever reason, this birthday I  felt very emotional.  I  had my mom, who is with the Lord, on my mind so much.  I was missing her as well as Stephanie, in Honduras and Joshua in Ft. Riley.  I began to ask the Lord to give me a happy heart. 

The morning of my birthday I was greeted with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Jim. He headed out to Starbucks to buy us a coffee while I made scrambled eggs and put a coffee cake in the oven.  Shortly, Colette arrived, and I told her that today was my birthday and along with our coffees Mr. Jim had bought her a hot chocolate.  Instead of her sitting down to drink it she went to work setting the table with Elmo placemats, fancy napkins and asked where the candles were.  All the while I was to not look.  Then I heard her whispering to Jim.  I hurried and got my camera!  I loved my birthday breakfast.  My heart was happy.  I felt loved by this 5 yr. old that wanted to make my day special!

Stacy called on her way to work to tell me happy birthday and asked about my lunch plans. We met for lunch and she surprised me and had my friend Marilyn join us.  We had a fun, fun lunch.

I received messages and phone calls from family and friends throughout the day.

That night Jim took me to a favorite restauant, Cheesecake Factory and we had a great time together.  I smiled as I opened his card and heard singing: When a Man Loves a Woman. How blessed I am to have Jim as my husband. 
In the days that followed there were other sweet happenings...like the pretty apron I received in the mail from a close friend, the vase of flowers left at my front door from another friend. The candles I received from a friend .  I have a pretty night light in the shape of a tea pot that another friend gave me because she knows I love tea.  A card from a friend was left at my door one day.  Another friend knows I love white chocolate and gave me a piece of Dove white chocolate.  I received a new devotional in the mail yesterday and I had been praying about getting one.  This friend did not know that.  Then  yesterday I went to a tea party given by Colette's mommy.  We all had such a fun time.  She had scones, lemon curd and jellies, cucumber sandwiches, iced sugar cookies and tea. 

I have had a week of birthday blessings.  The gifts were wonderful, but what they represented, the love  from my family and friends ... and from God,  filled my heart with thankfulness.  He did indeed give me a happy heart my birthday week. 

Shared birthdays...

Happy Birthday Stacy

What a wonderful gift you are to our family!

We love you!!

~~IN MEMORY OF~~

We were so excited that Stacy was born on the same day as her grandmother, Jim's mom.

Over the 24 yr. we were in the military we moved a lot, but when we could, Stacy and her Nanny would celebrate together.  We were blessed to have her live in Texas with us for a few years before she went home to the Lord.

 It always meant a lot to all of us that they were born on the same day!

We miss her so much.  We will always remember all the wonderful times we had with her!