More to Expect...

We found out today that we go to our 1st Trimester Screening on June 28th. Really nervous about having to answer questions & being poked & prodded. I read on the Texas Tech website about this screening & it seems like a lot. Makes my heartbeat a little faster & I start feeling a little nauseous, or that could just be the pregnancy. But I know it will be worth it if it helps us to have a healthy baby in the end.

JD says he is nervous about us having another baby & I really feel good about it. I just have a really good feeling about this one. I am not saying I am not nervous at all or that I won't be nervous if I feel something out of the ordinary or perhaps as we approach the 20 week mark. With Nehemiah I had nightmares & bad feelings the entire time, like something was trying to prepare me for what was to come. It is hard to explain if you have never experienced anything like that before. It was like a premonition of sorts. I am not trying to say I am psychic or anything like that, but they do say that people know sometimes.

Makaila has been saying some really funny things. Being pregnant makes a person a little gassier & well, the other day I had to let out a little & she asked, "Mom, was that the baby?" She asked me today, "Will the baby be here next Monday?" When we tried explaining the baby will be here in January she wanted to know if that means the baby will be older than her (her birthday is in March). I am anxious to hear all the other questions she will ask as time goes on. I had read a blog when I was pregnant with her about a woman who was pregnant & had a 3 year old little boy. He would always say he wished he could climb inside to keep his baby sister company until she came out. I always got a kick out of what he had to say.

For now though, I just continue to pray for my marriage & for my children (born & unborn). For I know everything that happens is God's Will.



"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:16

What to Expect When You're Not Expecting...

Well, a few months ago I was not sure where anything in my life was headed. I was praying every night for God's Will to come & make me a stronger woman.

My husband & I physically separated for almost 5 months, I was getting on with my life. Then, we decided to see where things would go. Finally, we decided to either "poop or get off the pot", make it work or end it!

It has only been about a month, but things are pretty good. He is willing to do whatever it takes to repair the damage he has caused, he is doing good so far. We are both frustrated he has not gotten a job.

However, not that we were expecting it to happen, actually not even trying, we have found out that we are pregnant. Mind you, we are scared out of our minds. We just got back together, we are still trying to get through the loss of our son & now we are expecting. There are so many emotions going on inside right now. I just want to share this special moment & ask that each one of you pray with us & for our little bean. To be expecting again after a stillbirth is quite scary in its self.

I got the same tech who had to deliver our bad news for us last time. She is wonderful! She had asked me if I had wanted another tech to do our sonogram. She talked to us about being nervous, took loads of pix & before we walked out of the room she had me get back up on the table for one more thing...to see if we could hear the heartbeat & guess what?!?!

WE COULD!

While she did the regular sonogram we could see our little bean moving around & a good strong heartbeat & the yolk, which helps provide for the baby for now.

We have our next appointment in July 14th. We are going to have an appointment with a fetal specialist with Texas Tech. They do testing that is performed during the 1st trimester to see if they can detect early problems. My awesome nurse will be calling me with that appointment time in a few weeks.

I am 9 weeks today & the projected due date is January 18, 2011, but since I will have to have a scheduled C-section, we are going to see if it is possible to have our little bean January 11, 2011. I know that is a ways off, but maybe it will give us some hope to put a date to see our darling.



"This is the day that God has made, rejoice & be joyful in it!" Psalm 118:24

Better Than a Hallelujah (lyrics)

by Sarah Hart, sung by Amy Grant
God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out,singing out.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing
better than a choir singin' loud
singin' loud
Repeat Chorus

A Mom is....

One of a kind
Born
a Beautiful Experience
Amazing
a Gift
Enough
Chief
Wonderful
Caring
a Chauffeur
Incredible
Special
Talented
a Never Ending Song

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms!!

CHECKiNG iN & GETTiNG READY...

Wow!, I cannot believe we are already to the end of the month of February 2010. What a year this has started off to be. I am praying for better things & happiness to come my way.

I am definitely not one to be down & cry about my problems. I do have bad days though where I do not feel like getting out of bed or going to work. But if I didn't I would go crazy. I have a really good friend who brings me back up to where I need to be when I start to doubt myself or let myself get down. She does not sugarcoat anything either. LOL! I also have the grace of God to help me.

But, what is keeping me up right now is the fact that I am getting pumped about the March for Babies 2010. This is my 2nd year to be a part of this awesome organization. I have met some really great people & it feels good to know that I can help make a difference. I do not feel you had to have a preemie or a child with a genetic disorder or birth defect to be a part of the March of Dimes. You can do it for a friend or loved one, even your future grandchildren. Every little bit helps & that is what matters. These babies are what matters.

When a good friend of mine approached me to be a part of the March of Dimes, I did not feel like I belonged. I mean, my baby was not born alive or with a birth defect. I will, unfortunately, never get to know why my son did not make it into this world alive at full-term, until I meet Jesus that is. However, once I started reading the info & listening to other mother's I knew I belonged here. Hopefully one day we can prevent deaths during pregnancy & help all mothers come full-term & even know what causes birth defects that we can one day prevent them from occurring. It is a far stretch, but I believe it can happen.

So, if you are in my area & would like to walk with me & my team or perhaps you just want to donate, please visit my Team Nehemiah site & sign up or donate. All donations are tax deductible. You can even start your own team if you wish.

So, let's save us some babies!!



"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!""
Psalm 139:14-18

Save a Place for Me... (lyrics)

by Matthew West
Don’t be mad if I cry
It just hurts so bad sometimes
‘Cause everyday it’s sinking in
And I have to say goodbye all over again
You know I bet it feels good to have the weight of this world
Off your shoulders now
I’m dreaming of the day when I’m finally there with you
Save a place for me
Save a place for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon
Save a place for me
Save some grace for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon
I have asked the questions why
But I guess the answer’s for another time
So instead I’ll pray
With every tear
And be thankful for the time I had you here
So you just
Save a place for me
Save a place for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon
Save a place for me
Save some grace for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon
And I wanna live my life
Just like you did
Make the most of my time
Just like you did
And I wanna make my home up in the sky
Just like you did
Oh, but until I get there
Until I get there
Save a place for me
Save a place for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon
Save a place for me
Save some grace for me
I’ll be there soon
I’ll be there soon

Heaven is the Face... (lyrics)

by Steven Curtis Chapman for Maria Sue Chapman
Heaven is the face of a little girl
With dark brown eyes that disappear when she smiles
Heaven is the place where she calls my name
Says, "Daddy please come play with me for awhile"
God, I know, it's all of this and so much more
But God, You know, that this is what I'm aching for
God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door
So right now Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep
Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing
And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms
Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams
And God, I know, it's all of this and so much more
But God, You know, that this is what I'm longing for
God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door
But in my mind's eye I can see a place
Where Your glory fills every empty space
All the cancer is gone
Every mouth is fed
And there's no one left in the orphans' bed
Every lonely heart finds their one true love
And there's no more goodbye
And no more not enough
And there's no more enemy
Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss
And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone
Heaven is the place where she takes my hand
And leads me to You
And we both run into Your arms
Oh God, I know, it's so much more than I can dream
It's far beyond anything I can conceive
So God, You know, I'm trusting You until I see
Heaven in the face of my little girl
Heaven in the face of my little girl

Thought for Today...

No one ever expects to lose a child. I know I did not walk around thinking my babies would ever die during pregnancy. Never had the thought to reach into the crib or bassinet and feel if they were still breathing.

But when you do lose something as precious as a child, a part of you dies as well. It is an unbearable pain. One that will have you worrying about your other children.

I use to be jealous of the mothers who had a baby born alive and had their moment together. I just wish for one moment with Nehemiah alive and looking into my face. Smiling at me with his toothless grin. But then I am thankful that he was already gone when I delivered him, because I do not think I could have handled burying a baby whom I got to nurse or take him to meet his sisters and family before the Lord took them. I am thankful that I got to carry him, feel him moving and see him move on the sonogram machine.

I just wish one day no one would ever have to feel that pain of losing a child. We are not suppose to out live our children.

Now that I have experienced this kind of loss, I dread my children learning how to drive or going to parties. What if they are hit by a drunk driver or what if they are the drunk drive who hits someone and takes someone else's child? I dread my children leaving my sight, even for a moment. What if someone takes them & I find them in a shallow grave or they are hurt in the most horrible way?

I have faith though that the Lord is & will always take care of my children no matter what. I also have faith that my parenting will pay off and they won't be hurt.We have to continue to not think about the bad things that could happen. We have to continue to go on just like we did before the pain hit us in the gut so hard we could not catch our breaths in the fear that our heart would stop beating at any moment from being broken.

The next post and the one for tomorrow, that are actually lyrics to songs, sum up some of the way I feel every day.

I love you precious son! One day we will meet again and I will get to hold you in my arms.


"Do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10

Jesus Christ is Born

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Night That Christ Was Born (lyrics)

(by Kirk Franklin)

Listen to the angels Rejoicing e'er so sweetly Receiving heaven's glory The night that Christ was born

Can't you see the people Coming from every nation Pleading for salvation The night that Christ was born

Oh such a wonderful savior To be born in a manger So that I can share His favor And my heart be made anew

Listen to the trumpets Shouting through the darkness Crying 'holy, holy' The night that Christ was born

Listen to the trumpets Shouting through the darkness Crying 'holy, holy' (Now Behold the Savior) The night that Christ was born

Heartbreaking.....

Update: This father & son have finally been reunited! Amen & praise to God! What an ordeal to have to go through.
..........................................................................

Originally Posted February 10, 2009
Could you imagine having (what you think is) the 'perfect' marriage & then one day your spouse leaves with your child & calls you from another country, where you were planing to meet them later for a vacation, to tell you they are not coming home & you will never see your child again? Demands you to give her a divorce & sign over parental rights? Then when your spouse remarries & dies while delivering the other man's baby, you think you will get your son back. Right? Wrong! Even after Brazil courts have awarded you your son back!

My husband & I watched David & Sean Goldman's story a few weeks ago on Dateline & could not believe how Brazil's government could help keep a son away from his father. I cried & I know JD was brought to tears. First of all the woman dying is a sign of Karma! But for the step-father to keep Sean, after he has a daughter of his own & Brazil does nothing to make him give the boy back is Ludicrous!

Please read this story & pray for this family. They have had to endure so much & it is time that Brazil returns that boy to his actual father!! Remember Elian Gonzales? We had to give him back.

Oh Holy Night (lyrics)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,
O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus
in lowly manger, In all our trials
born to be our Friend!
He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger;

Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!
before Him bend.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name!

Christ is the Lord,
Oh praise His name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory
evermore proclaim.

Set Me Free (lyrics)

by Casting Crowns

It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains

Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away

Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free

Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me

As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide

Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me

You are free
You are free
You are free

BeTtEr LaTe ThAn NeVeR...

Here are pictures from
Nehemiah's 2nd Angelversary
Sunday, October 18, 2009!! It was a nice & windy day at Medi Park... We fed the ducks directly after we released the balloons.

Here KK writing her message of love..

Here Big Sister Drea writing her message of love..

Here I am writing my message of love....

Daddy's balloons & writing his message..

Ready to release our messages of love..

There they go...
We miss you son! Happy Birthday baby boy..

Happy Birthday/Angelversary!

Happy 2nd Birthday/Angelversary
Nehemiah Christopher Reyna!

We love you & miss you dear boy.

The four of us plan to go to Medi Park today & release balloons with messages. We will feed the ducks as well. It is hard to imagine that 2 years have gone by. During this time it has gotten easier. Not to say we are totally over this love, it is still hard to see newborn babies & to see babies at the age he would be.

I have tried picturing how he would look. When my oldest daughter Andrea was born, she had thin pink lips, hair covering her body from head to toe & the hair on her head was as black as night & thick as could be. She never lost her hair as most babies do, so it grew out nice & long. She has dark eyes, you cannot even see the pupil. She has her daddy's nose & ears (hopefully they won't get as big) & she has my smile. I have literally walked into a room & smiled & had people say, "We know who you are here for...Andrea your mom's here!". She has really long toes & fingers & she is 5'2 at 11 years old. We need to get her into playing basketball. She is really smart & talented. She may become a singer/songwriter. She use to make up the best & silliest songs. Or she could become president one day..she is bossy! Ask her cousins & her sister. She loves to talk, especially on the phone, so she may become a public speaker. Over the years we have kept a little binder for school & one question it asks is "What do you want to become when you grow up?", for the first two years she has custodian in it...lol For now she wants to be a doctor. I guess we will wait & see.

When Makaila was born, she had a full set of pink lips & she had hair from her head to her toes. Her hair was thinner & a little lighter than her sister's had been. Her hair fell out in the back & on the sides, so she had a baby mo-hawk for a while. The funny thing I remember about her hair though is when it grew back in it looked layered & it got lighter. She has golden streaks along her hairline & streaks running through it. People would stop me & ask if I had her hair cut into layers & added highlights. She has natural waves & body. This girl has the best hair ever, excluding the two cowlicks in the back that go in opposite directions, so I have to make sure & comb it wet to make sure it lays down. Her eyes are not so dark, more of a topaz color. She has her daddy's dimples. But her smile is a little different, it is radiating! Sometimes if I am mad & she smiles at me, it makes me stop being mad. She loves animals & dressing up (& going topless at the same time). Right now she is at that stage where she wants to do what sister does & sister gets rather annoyed by it. I just have to sit back & laugh as it is a little like dej a vu. She is silly & loves to be the clown. She loves to be called Beethoven & pretend to be a puppy. She is very smart as well & loves to read. She is girly yet holds her own at the same time. She is petite, where her sister has always been one of the tallest in her class, but she has a rather big head like her cousins (you know who you are..lol). She is in love with John Cena & wants to marry him one day. Or she may be the next Taylor Swift, as she knows all of the words to her songs & loves to sing.

So, when I try to imagine Nehemiah, I always wonder if he would have had his daddy's ears or nose. Would he have had a full head of hair that was dark or light. Would he have the thin layer of hair on his body & long eye lashes like his sisters do? Would his skin tone be olive like his oldest sister or a little paler like his middle sister? Would he like to sing or play football? Would he have been a mama's boy or a daddy's boy? Would he fight with his sisters or would they have babied him? Would his eyes be dark or light? I usually imagine him looking like a little JD & laughing as loud as Makaila & Andrea giving him piggyback rides.

We miss you little one & only hope we make you proud!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Andrea & Makaila



P.S. October 15th was Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We went out to the candlelight vigil & I read two poems. I could not believe I had actually gotten up there to read them, but I had taken a look around the circle & that gave me the courage to do it. Originally I was going to read just one, I'll Be There, but a friend of mine had asked me to read the poem "Somebody" that I had posted earlier. I did not write either of these poems, but I love to share ones I find on the world wide web. It was a really nice night. Not too cold & the candles stayed lit. There were more people there this year than last year.

The Month of October...

Not only is October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is also Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. In our area they do not make a big deal about PIL as they do Breast Cancer & that makes me want to do something about it. Unfortunately we have not been able to attend any of the Group Grief Sessions as my part-time work schedule is not as flexible as I had hoped, but I plan to get with them to see how or what we can do to promote more.

October 15th is the designated day to remember our babies. Please light a candle starting at 7pm & let it burn for one hour. If we all do this it will produce a continuous wave of light.

We have a few other things planned this month as well, as this month was the month God gave us our little angel. To recap a little: October 17, 2007 was the day we got the most devastating news any parent dreads hearing & we delivered our special angel on October 18, 2007. This year the girls & I are going to donate our hair to the Locks of Love in memory of Nehemiah. We are not too sure what we will be doing on Sunday the 18th, but the four of us will be making it all about Nehemiah. I plan to send a little something in the mail to each person in my family to have as a reminder of this special baby who they never got to meet.



*Somebody

Somebody said
it was all for the best,
that something was probably wrong.

Somebody said
it was meant to be,
Different verse,
same miserable song.

Somebody said,
"You can have another!"
As if that would make it alright.

Somebody said
"It was not a real child."
Somebody's not very bright.

Somebody thinks it is helpful
To say when grieving should end.
Somebody shows their true colors.
Somebody isn't a friend.

But somebody said, "I'm sorry."
And sat quietly by my side.
And somebody shared my sorrow
And held my hand when I cried.

And somebody always listened
And called my lost baby by name.
And somebody understood
That I'd never again be the same.
~Author Unknown

bLoGgiNg iN...

Well, it has been a while since I actually wrote a post on here & thought it might be good to do a post.

Andrea is enjoying the 6th grade & will be 12 on the 21st of October. Makaila, aka Beethoven, is enjoying the 1st grade when she is not getting into trouble for making the other kids laugh. It has already been an interesting school year & it has only just begun.

I am working a part-time job right now which is really helping me clear my head, but also makes me sad to miss hearing how the girls' day went & putting them to bed. On my evening off during the week we spend the evening talking & laughing. They fill me in on everything. I'm off on Sundays which is nice too. We were spending it at the park watching softball, but the season is about over. Beethoven loves watching her daddy play "t-ball" & even asked him if he will still come watch her play "t-ball" when she gets big like him.

As of right now our marriage is complicated in so many ways. I would love to elaborate more than I have already to some, but until we work it out or separate for good, it would only make it that much more awkward/complicated. For anyone who is or has ever contemplated divorce knows what that means. You want to make your own decisions & if you blab your business to everyone then they all want to "help" & it just makes it that much more difficult to decide on your own what to do with judgments flying everywhere. I know sometimes it seems the decisions are so much easier when you are on the outside looking in, but until you are in that position you will never really know how hard it really is. You have what if's & what about's & some believe leaving & giving up would be just so easy.

We aren't two people who met in a bar last night & hooked up. We aren't two people who met online yesterday & think we are soul-mates today. We have history & it is too much history to let go. We have 14 years together & two beautiful daughters. We have been through a lot more in the last two years than people who have together 30 or 40 years together & I honestly am glad it was him who was here with me. But I am also in that place right now that if we do not work out I am okay with that. That I can say I gave it my all & I know it will be hard, but I can move on.

I have really let myself falter & I am not proud about that. I came on here & blogged about giving it up to God in May & by July we were having problems. I know this is a test & I had not been handling myself very well. However, the past couple of weeks I have been putting more & more of this back into God's hands because He is truly the only one who can help us at this point.

All I can ask for now is prayer from everyone as this month itself is going to have road bumps through out.



"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:15-20

Philippians 4:4

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

Jeremiah 29:13

"If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me."

Isaiah 55:6

"Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near."

Psalm 5:3

"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."

Romans 12:12

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."

Proverbs 8:34

"Joyful are those who listen to Me, watching for Me daily at my gates, waiting for Me outside My home! "

Colossians 4:2

"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."

Psalm 31:14

"But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" "

Isaiah 26:4

"Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."

He Collects Your Tears

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book" Psalm 56:8

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Do you know how important you are to God? He cares so much about every detail of your life. He cares about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In fact, what you are going through is so important to Him that He records every sorrow and collects every tear you've shed. Why would God record your sorrows and collect your tears? It's because He loves you so much. He is your Vindicator. He's keeping account of every wrong that's ever been done to you so that He can make up for every single one of them. He wants to restore everything that has ever been stolen. He wants to heal every single hurt and pain. He sees the longings and desires of your heart, and you can rest assured that behind the scenes He is working things out for your good!

I want to remind you today that God is with you. He is on your side. He has your best interest at heart, and He is working to bring restoration and peace to every area of your life. Keep standing, keep believing, and keep doing the right thing because the One who collects your tears will restore every broken place in your life!

Psalm 9:10

"Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You."

Psalm 146:5

"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God."

Psalm 62:8

"O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge."

Proverbs 16:20

"Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful."

Psalm 13:5

"But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me."

Romans 5:8

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Psalm 103:13

"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. "

James 2:13

"There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you."

Colossians 3:12

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

Matthew 5:7

"God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. "

Micah 6:8

"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

Proverbs 21:21

"Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor."

Deuteronomy 8:5

"Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good."

John 16:33

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Job 4:8

"My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same."

1 Peter 5:7

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."

Philippians 4:6

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done."

John 14:1

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me."

2 Corinthians 4:17

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"

Psalm 38:15

"For I am waiting for You, O Lord. You must answer for Me, O Lord my God."

Psalm 3:4

"I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain."

Proverbs 18:13

"Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. "

Psalm 120:1

"I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer."

1 Peter 3:15

"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."

Jeremiah 33:3

"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."

Proverbs 15:1

"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."

Psalm 25:5

"Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You."

1 Timothy 1:14

"Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:8

"God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."

2 Peter 3:18

"Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen."

1 Peter 2:2

"Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,"

Colossians 1:10

"Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better."

Proverbs 23:19

"My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course."

Philippians 1:6

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Galatians 5:13

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."

Luke 6:38

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."

Colossians 3:1

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand."

Philippians 2:13

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?"

Psalm 120:1

"I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer. "

Isaiah 65:24

"I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"

Luke 6:46

"So why do you keep calling Me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?"

Isaiah 58:9

"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' He will quickly reply."

Psalm 145:18

"The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth."

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

 (We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!!)

How to Stay Young

1. Try everything twice.
On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:
"Tried everything twice.loved it both times!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.
(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning:
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever...
Never let the brain get idle.. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh,
spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen:
Endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves...
LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love:
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county,
to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
I love you, my special friend.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance...


But do share this with someone.
Remember! Lost time can never be found.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle..

Psalm 17:6

"I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray."

Psalm 66:17

"For I cried out to him for help, praising Him as I spoke."

1 John 3:18

"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Hebrews 10: 25

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near."

Hebrews 10:24

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works."

BaCk FrOm VaCaTiOn.....

Hellllooooooo!!

God is Good!

Well, we went on our 4th of July vacation to Jacsboro, TX. We left at 5:00a.m. on Friday. Here is a picture of the sun rising. We stayed at the Fort Richardson RV Park & visited their lake two days. It was smokin hot down there! It did rain the third day, which we headed into town to get my parents some flip flops. Yes, I said Flip Flops! As my dad would say, "Those aren't real shoes!" & the fourth day was only in the 80's.

They have beautiful trails & scenery. I was truly in aw.

It made me think, "How can someone actually believe in the 'Big Bang' theory?" What a crock! The trees, deer, rabbits, butterflies, even the moths were beautiful! There was a baby deer (aka fawn) that would come out for you to see, two bunnies & when we went on our nature trail, there were two huge vultures & a dead armadillo.

Only God could have created these kinds of things.

KK on a trail of stairs...

Papa & My Girls

Mom showing her "Guns"

Who is this?

Papa, before the umbrella broke...

Can you believe this? We were shocked
she actually let it go up her arm!

I would definitely return & recommend this place to anyone looking for peace, quiet & beautiful scenery. We had a blast even if we got sunburned, bitten by mosquitoes & poured sweat.

Hebrews 10:23

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise."

Hebrews 10:22

"…let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him…."

Hebrews 6:1

"So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding…."

Hebrews 4:16

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

2 Kings 19:15

"...You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth."

1 Peter 1:15

"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy."

John 7:18

"Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies."

SuMmEr TiMe....

As a child summer was my favorite time of year.

We either went camping or to visit relatives we did not normally get to see. I remember piling into the back of my dad's Toyota pickup underneath the topper, until we got a silver Buick that we would stretch out in the back seat of & my little brother would lay in the back window, & that is how we traveled.

We camped out in a tent. Sometimes my older brother would sleep in a hammock. We swam, fished, cooked out, roasted marshmallows & hot dogs & just have the best time ever. I have always wanted to pass this tradition on to my own children. Share stories by the campfire, roast marshmallows, swim & fish. I love sleeping in a tent & my girls do not seem to mind it a bit.

My parents purchased a camper trailer last summer, so we have taken advantage of going out camping as often as we can. Last summer we went to Palo Duro Canyon & an RV Park not far from Turner Falls & an RV park in Oklahoma City right before school started. This summer we have already stayed in Palo Duro Canyon & this weekend we are venturing out to Fort Richardson in Jacsboro,TX for the 4th of July. I know we are going to have a blast!

I hope everyone has an awesome & safe 4th of July!

Mark 10:45

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."

John 17:15

"I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one."