Thursday, August 27, 2009

KIDS SAY THE CUTEST THINGS; ESPECIALLY GRANDDAUGHTERS

When Laci was four years old, she loved to tell stories and read lots of books. We would play "school" when she would come to visit me or I would babysit for the day. 
I told her the story of the Three Bears and she wanted to tell me the story of Little Red Riding Hood. She knew all the details and she was very animated in telling me how little red riding hood went through the woods with her basket.
As she told me the story, she came to the part where the man (wolf) was asking her what she had in the basket. She explained to the man, (wolf).  The wolf left her and was going to the grand mothers house to hurt her, or worse.

Laci told me, " Little red riding hood reached into her pocket and got her cell phone and called her Grandmother and told her the wolf was going to get her so get in the closet quick".
I tried hard to not laugh but knew she was a modern little girl, who is used to the cell phone and just figurerd that Little Red Riding Hood had one also.
What a modern age we live in and what smart grand children we have today!
 

STEPHEN AND JENNIFER WALMER

When we found out we would have a baby when we comtemplated going to Brazil as missionaires, it was a shock. Not one that I did not want, but a shock anyway. My reaction was "now, Lord"? The timing did not seem so great, at least to me.
After all the years have gone by and here he is with his own family and he has brought us much joy and pleasure through the years. The children are precious; Savannah Love and Laci Joy. Each one is more precious than the other. Soon we will have another little girl to add to this picture; anytime now in August 09. Maybe today?
Stephen is  pastor on staff in Stockton, CA.  We are grateful for this miracle in our life and in our sons life. He always said he would NEVER  be a preacher like his dad or his older brother.  But, alas, God had other plans.
A gift from God, he came to us on Dec 28.  He is our special gift that keeps on blessing and blessing.

MICHAEL AND IVONNE WALMER

Our son Michael Duane and his lovely wife Ivonne are our joy in life. They are hard working missionaries in South America. Over 15 years  in Brazil and now going to Uruguay. They have brought us much joy and happiness and we are glad they serve the Lord and want to do His will in this life.
Being in Brazil makes it hard to get together very often. I suppose that is the worst part of living on the mission field. Yet, there are many rewards to enjoy here on this earth. We are greatly blessed in knowing they and the other children have made their commentment to the Lord. What could be more important than that?

Christian Lucas and Jonathan Michael are their sons. Christian is an A student and travels with his parents in the states raising the funds to go to Uruguay. He has felt the presence of the Lord many times and I belive someday he will be called to work for the Lord also. He is very tender towards the things of God.
Jonathan is in Florida and is working in the computer area. He studied computers in Brazil and was able to get a very good job in the first few weeks of coming to the states. God was good to him in that regard.
Seeing them grow up and not be with them is difficult but we pray for them and love them dearly.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Daughter Rachel Mardell and Stephanie and Vanessa

Being in Brazil, South America it is not possible for me to be able to enjoy my
children, nor my grandchildren. So, there is one way I can do that and that is through
pictures. I have a lot of them. Pictures that some would say, " you have too many".

That is a matter of opinion of course, and I shall be entittled to mine. Having the
Pictures is the way I deal with the feelings of loneliness that comes to me ever
so often. So, if I post a few pictures it is because I enjoy looking at them. Humor me.

Rachel and her girls are very precious to me and to my husband. She is so much like her father in so many ways. She works hard at what she does and never stops until she has finished her project. She has unending enery.
She teaches high school students who do not speak English. She can teach anyone anything. It is a true gift from God. One day, I hope to see her using her talents in the ministry. She will be a blessing to many when that day comes.
Stephanie and Vanessa are two girls who won our hearts the day we saw them. Each one is special and so precious to us. They are great students and are excelling in all their subjects. May God use each of them for His glory.

God has blessed me in so many ways. I have no treasures in my purse, only the children God allowed me to have. Michael Duane, Nathan Wayne, Rachel Mardell and Stephen Andrew. They are my treasures and I think and pray for them every day.

I have seen them at their very best and at their very worst. I have seen them through sickness, pain, joy and seeing them recieve the Holy Spirit into their lives.

I have seen them marry and knew they were struggling to make ends meet. I have seen them worship God when I knew it was very hard to do so. I have seen them discouraged to the point, I was not sure they would continue to love and serve God; but they did. Each time they have proved to me that God is with them also and that life to them is precious as they serve the Lord.

Each one has given me immense joy.
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Saturday, August 22, 2009

Consider this today.

I am posting an article that I think is "right on" and hope you will also. Give some time to read it and let me know what you think.

ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day not enough is, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full . . . They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous, "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now," .said the professor, as the laughter subsided.
“I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
• The golf balls are the important things . . . God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions . . . things that if everything else
was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
• The pebbles are the other things that matter . . . like your job,
house, and car.
• The sand is everything else . . . the small stuff."

" If you put the sand into the jar first," . . he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

“So . Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
• Play with your children.
• Take time to get medical checkups.
• Take your partner out to dinner.
• Listen when your mate speaks to you; really listen.
• Be a friend to someone who needs a friend.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first . . the things that really matter.
Set your priorities . . . the rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked . . . it just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem . . . there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."