November Birthdays

As we approach the celebration of the most important birthday of all, that of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, I want to remember some very special precious people born last month. Oh, and we are very excitedly awaiting the birth of our new little grandson any time this month. Thank you Lord for new life!

32 years ago, Lonnie and I welcomed the sweetest little boy to be born up to that time (excluding baby boy Jesus, of course). Well, that's what we felt and thought! We were so grateful to the Lord for this little boy who was born so near Thanksgiving Day. How appropriate! Jeremy Brandon arrived on the scene weighing 8 lb 3 oz and was 21 inches long. He did not cry when he was born and Lonnie always talked about how he had his eyes wide open, just looking around. I believe he is around four days old in this picture. My Uncle John and Aunt Susann came to visit with their two daughters when Jeremy was born and Uncle John just recently sent these pictures to Jeremy. What a proud daddy and mommy! Jeremy has been such a blessing to us over the years and continues to bring joy, love and comfort to our entire family. I thank God for his loving heart and his passion for life!

Fast forward to 2005 and the birth of Logan Brock in the same month of his proud daddy. What a precious little boy Crystal and Jeremy have! He is learning and growing and is an absolute joy to be around! He loves Jesus and talks about Him as he comes and goes....even in the doctor's office yesterday. He was in conversation with another grandmother who was there with her daughter and baby. He was telling her about Christmas and about baby Jesus being

born in Bethlehem. The woman, just out of the blue, said, "Some people say Jesus was a woman." I was taken aback and Crystal said I lightly gasped when she said this to Logan. But Logan immediately responded, "No, Mary was going to have a son because God told the angel Gabriel to tell her that." He spoke the truth so clearly and with such authority and boldness! He is learning about our Savior and is able to witness of it even at his young age. I am amazed by the words that come from his mouth....nuggets of truth. He also has wonderful imagination and creativity! What a Thanksgiving gift from our Lord to his mommy and daddy, and his granmommy and grandaddy as well as the rest of the family!

And now I must mention one more very special November birthday! Terri Rippy....words cannot do justice to what she means to me. She and Mike have been the best of friends to me and also to Lonnie. Terri, who does this....makes amazing cakes (I mean wedding cakes, birthday cakes that are not the kind I make with M&Ms, sprinkles and candles but unbelievable masterpieces), knits stockings, makes quilts, takes beautiful pictures, and is a beautiful singer too? But what is most important is that she is the best grandmom, mother and wife that a family could imagine (I have that on good authority). Then she becomes Auntie Terri to our family along with Uncle Mike! Well, there are just not hours in the day and somehow she does it! And I am just scratching the surface. She is a source of wisdom, kindness, comfort and love to me and to our children. So, as I said, words cannot express!

I celebrate these November birthdays of our firstborn amazing son, firstborn amazing grandson and my (you guessed it) amazing friend! Truly amazing! I am thankful!

Words

Just a thought this morning.... "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer."

We recited this verse every morning at the Christian school I attended for 4th and 5th grades. Mrs. Little was our teacher....around 12 children in a small school in Montana with many different grades. What a task she had!

I understand why this might be the verse she chose for us to memorize and recite. I hope that my words today and my thoughts and meditations are pleasing to our Lord who is my strength and Redeemer.

Making Memories in Hawaii

Just returned from Hawaii and enjoyed sweet time with Jason and Sunnie, Stella and Judah. What a gift that was for me and it brought back many special memories of the 3 years we lived in Hawaii. We made more precious memories during this past week. We stayed at

Bellows Air Station, traveled to the north shore, enjoyed famous shaved ice, went to New Hope Church, had fun "beaching" with Judah and Stella, visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation, snorkeled and saw the amazing fish at Hanauma Bay and so much more.

A true highlight was being able to spend time with Jen and Steve McDonald, both at the beach and in their beautiful home. We saw Gabriel hard at work right when we arrived on the island. Anna and Grace entertained our little ones with all kinds of fun activities and getting to enjoy Anna perform her Irish dances (Grace joined in on one of them) and hear Grace play the piano was such a treat. May God bless them all and keep Matt safe and well as he is away at college! Thank you for your zest for life and for your joy, McDonald family!

When we lived in Hawaii we had so many family adventures! Jeremy was an 8th grader when we first arrived and he learned to drive in Hawaii when he was 15 years old! Is that not incredible that we allowed him to drive on the island when he was 15? He was an excellent driver (as far as I know). He spent a lot of time with his daddy driving before we let him take off on his own. But he did drive on the island and I was always so thankful to the Lord when he arrived home safely. Having children really helps to develop your prayer life and your trust in the Lord that He loves them even more than we do.

Tiffany was in kindergarten, Jen a 4th grader and Jason in sixth grade when we first arrived on the island. It's amazing how you can be living life with your own children and how we can remember things differently....and not just your children. Sometimes I would be telling a story and Lonnie would get that funny look on his face and say, "Hmmmm, that's not exactly how it went," or "That's not quite how I remember it" and always with that cute grin on his face.

It must be perspective. I would love to have our children pick a day, a vacation, a family outing and write down things they experienced in their lives on that occasion and then compare it to what I "thought" was happening at the very same time. I think it might be interesting. Well, but then again, it might be hard for me to remember! Just kidding! I'd do my best. Just wish Lonnie were here to help me remember.

Jason and Sunnie, Stella and Judah, thank you for the precious memories we made this past week. Excellent company, sunrises on the beach, precious talks and conversations, rides in the car to places all over the island with Hawaiian music playing, Jason's body boarding at Sandy's, surfing at Kaneohe, Waimea, his incredible surfing time with Aaron, watching the big waves at Pipeline,

delicious food including L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Jason's BBQ with Sunnie's yummy cooking, sweet children enjoying the sand and the water and also learning about rolling the car window "up" and "down," little pretty princess Stella and sleepy little "honey bunny" Judah at the PCC show, pancakes and so much more! I miss you all already! Thanks for the memories! Help me to remember!

One thing we will always remember is the love we have for one another!

All of us! We are blessed!

My Words Cannot Express....

The steadfast love of the Lord never changes, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' Isaiah 41:13

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thanking God that He is Emmanuel, God with us, and for "His Word" today because I don't even know what to say today.

Logan asked his daddy earlier today, "Did you know that God can lift up trees? Did you know God can lift up a building?"

Jeremy said, "Logan, did you know that God can move mountains?"

Logan replied with this precious question, "Daddy, did you know that God can lift you up?"

Well said, sweet young man!

October Celebrations

Happy Birthday to Crystal! We celebrate your life. What a treat to be able to be with you on your birthday this year! You are so delightful and precious! And your little one is growing and going to be here soon to join his big brothers. What fun we will have with the Barker boys!

Congratulations on your anniversary, Jason and Sunnie! What an amazing couple you are! You bless me so much! I am so excited about your new little baby that is on the way. Stella and Judah are going to have so much fun with this little Barker!

And speaking of new life, I was skyping with Jen the other day. Zoe was showing me a little blanket that I had made her. I asked her to show me her little baby. She walked over to her mommy and patted her tummy. I exclaimed, "Jen, are you going to have a baby?" Jen laughed and told me yes, but she and Benji were going to wait to tell me together. Well, Zoe beat them to it. The funny thing is the next day and every day after when I asked Zoe where her baby was, she would walk over and get one of her baby dolls. Just that very first time, she went to her mommy and patted her tummy. So sweet!

Tiffany and Zachery, we rejoice in your very precious pursuit as well and know the Lord is leading you in this as well. He knows all about your little ones and is guiding you.

The family is growing! Thank you, Lord, for your loving kindness and faithfulness!

Jennifer, Zoe, and Benji (illustrated by Jennifer Horning)

August-October Journey

It is hard to believe that October is here and is going by so quickly. I arrived back in MA after a precious time with the amazing Rippys. I was in Alabama over the last half of August and the month of September. It was a privilege to be able to play keyboard at Evangel Temple with their worship band and choir with Ashley....a true blessing for me. Most of all, I treasure any opportunity to spend time with "Uncle Mike and Aunt Terri." What gifts you all are to me and our family!

During this time, I was able to spend sweet time with Tiffany and Zach and their little Isaiah. We visited with Kim and my Aunt Susann and Uncle John, Linnea and her family. On the way home, I swung by to see Tiffany and Zach and Isaiah again and then saw my sister Karen and her family. What a delight it was to meet my baby sister's first grandchild, little Isabella who was born on Lonnie's birthday!

And tucked in this month was a sweet visit with my friends Laurie and Susie and her family in Virginia. How we laughed and we cried and we laughed and cried again and laughed! While in that part of the country, I was able to visit with friends from the chaplain corps. "Uncle Scott," thank you for helping me with my concerns from way across the ocean. You have been phenomenal! Lola and Keith came for a wonderful visit and brought love and encouragement to us as well. Thank you, Kristi, for having coffee with me in the mornings long distance! Jen M., you touch my heart with your words. Jan, what an amazing day it was to hear your voice on the phone (high school seems like just yesterday). Donna, the bracelet you gave me and your phone calls remind me of the sweet promise that our Lord is always with us. Linda and Dean, your prayers and words of love and hope for our family have been awesome. Cathy, your friendship means so much. I arrived home today to find a comforting message from Sheila.

I have had correspondence and cards from so many friends and family that have truly ministered to my broken heart. How thankful I am for family and friends! I know I could go on and on, and I would miss some precious person or church or chapel or group that has done something so sweet to help us along our journey. So, instead, thank you to all!

Thank you, amazing children, for welcoming me into your homes, taking such good care of your mommy, showering me with love, and for living each day for the Lord in the midst of unbelievable suffering yourselves. Our God's steadfast love has been with us throughout this year and we thank Him for His faithfulness.

Time is precious. Each moment is a gift from God. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and for our family through this past year. Thank you for caring for us in precious, sweet ways. I will be grateful for the rest of my life. I thank my God for you all and for your continued prayers.

Our sweet little girls---Stella and Zoe!

Sweet Sleepy Stella! I have two sleepy stories to tell about our Stella.

She is such a precious little lady. Last spring when I was visiting her up in Washington, she was ready for bed and was "reading" her Jesus Storybook Bible. I told her I would be back in a few minutes after making sure her brother was tucked in. When I came back she was sound asleep with her Bible on her head. So cute!

Jason told me that one night not long ago they arrived home from a church event and Sunnie brought Stella in from the van and told her to get ready to brush her teeth while she went back to the van to get Judah. When her mommy got back just a few moments later Stella had kicked off her shoes and jumped into bed and was passed out asleep with her clothes on from the day.

She is getting to be such a big girl!

Well now, Zoe! Girls will be girls! Zoe found her mommy's mascara. Whoops! Still a cutie!

A couple of Zoe stories, according to her mommy, she likes to read now, says "Stubucks" instead of Starbucks and her mommy says she's a lot like her daddy. She takes baby wipes and cleans up everything, and likes things in order. If she is crying in the car, the way to get her to stop is by giving her a plan. "Ok, Zoe, this is what we're doing, making a right here, getting on the freeway, passing Vons, going to be with Zac and Lacey, eating dinner and then coming home. Is that better?" She says, "Yeah." Even if they just tell her the directions home, she stops crying.

Two very precious grandaughters who bring abundant blessings into our lives and their grandmommy loves them very much! They are delightful!

My prayer for our family:

Thank you, Lord, for our wonderful children and grandchildren! Thank you for their precious lives and for the little ones who will join our family in December, March and others who may be born in the future. Please bless and guide in Zach and Tiffany's adoption efforts as well! Please protect and defend our family, be our Refuge and our Strong Fortress, our Rock.

Lord, You are Good and Your mercy endures forever! In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.