~Favorite Foto Friday~

Well, I almost missed out on this one... LOL! (It's ALMOST Saturday NOW) =-) The picture I'm going to share with you is one of my favorites. I'd like to share one of all three of our boys together, but I'm on the wrong computer so I can't. Instead I'll share one from one of our little summer trips. The boys and I, along with my Mom and my friend Joni all went to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We had SO MUCH FUN! The boys were IN AWE of the beach!!!!








Okay... I'm outta here! LOL!! Night, My Friends!

Thankful Thursday - Thanksgiving Edition

Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Everyone!

What a neat way to celebrate, we have "Thankful Thursday" and THANKSGIVING both in ONE! It's always hard for me to write about what I'm thankful for because I'm SO THANKFUL for so many things. God has blessed me with a loving family, great friends, freedom to live and worship in the MOST AMAZING country on the PLANET... then of course the MOST important thing of all is our SAVIOUR! I'm thankful for my salvation, and that of my husband and children. All THREE of our boys have (had) accepted JESUS as LORD of their life. THAT'S been my NUMBER 1 PRAYER since we were blessed with our first son, Brent.

Last night we shared what we were thankful for at our Bible study. I couldn't say this then without "breaking down" and probably can't now. KNOWING that our children are ALL "right with GOD," the thing I'm MOST THANKFUL for is the PROMISE of an eternity! I'm SO VERY GRATEFUL that JESUS paid the way for us to not only be with HIM in HEAVEN (and THAT is ENOUGH) but the Bible also says that we'll be reunited with our loved ones. The secular world would lead us to believe that when our loved ones die that is the end. They teach that we will NEVER see them again. We KNOW that this is NOT true! Because of CHRIST, what we know as DEATH is REALLY the BEGINNING of LIFE! My mind can hardly grasp what our sweet Brent has seen, and felt and heard. I just CANNOT wait to see his sweet face again!

Now, I also want to say that I'm thankful for YOU! GOD has used so many ways (including the internet) to bless me with some AMAZING friendships. My heart OVERFLOWS with JOY & LOVE when I think of all of the Titus 2 ladies HE'S brought into my life. (Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you) Okay, I could go ON and ON and ON... but I won't. Hehe... I know that today will be a very busy day for each of you. Remember to COUNT your blessings!

I pray that you all have an AMAZING day of THANKSGIVING!

Fighting Neuroblastoma...

Hello Friends...

I thought I'd share something that's close to my heart this morning, the FIGHT AGAINST Neuroblastoma. I've also posted this on Brent's site... so my apologies to those of you who are visiting me here that also visit us there. THANK YOU SO MUCH for checking in with me today.

Have a BLESSED day! =-)

Click cookie image above to order!!

The Band of Parents

(www.bandofparents.org), a non-profit foundation formed by parents of children suffering from a deadly
childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma, invites you to be a part of our holiday fundraiser and to give new hope to children fighting cancer.

This holiday, give freshly-baked cookies made using recipes from the recently published cookbook, Cookies, by acclaimed cookbook author Sally Sampson.

Our delicious handmade cookies will not only make the perfect holiday gift but nearly 100% of the proceeds will directly support children’s cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer. You will feel good knowing your generous gift was lovingly baked by hand using all natural ingredients, while your purchase helps to provide hope for children battling cancer. Cookies will be baked, packed with care, and promptly shipped to your entire gift list. A card explaining the significance of your generous gift will also be included.

Please share this unique opportunity to give with your friends, co-workers, and family. A gift that tastes as good as it feels to give…



Place Order: November 16th – December 15th

Go To: www.cookiesforkidscancer.org

Cookies: Citrus Shortbread • Chocolate Chip Oatmeal • Snickerdoodle

Cost: $30/dozen* (plus shipping charges)
*A portion of your purchase may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.

Give all the kids fighting Neuroblastoma today, and those who will be so unfairly chosen to fight tomorrow, the hope all children deserve.

What would you do if you were told your child had a cancer
for which there was no known cure?

Most parents cannot imagine such unspeakable despair. But we have heard those words, and are trying desperately to save our children. We want a cure for every child who is battling Neuroblastoma, a lethal childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system that affects approximately 650 children in the U.S. every year. Only about 30f those diagnosed survive it.



HIGH RISK TREATMENT

As of 2007, our children's only chance of survival is to undergo one of the most intense cancer treatments. The standard treatment for Neuroblastoma offers no guarantees and virtually all children who do survive have significant side effects, including sterility, heart problems, learning defects, hearing loss, and the high risk of secondary cancers caused by the treatment itself. Most children will undergo numerous rounds of high dose chemotherapy, complicated surgeries, intense radiation therapy, endless x-rays, and scans that expose them to levels known to be dangerous. Children will also be subjected to numerous drugs and medicines often not developed or even proven safe for children. The treatments are torture for children to undergo and emotionally devastating for parents to watch. Kids lose their hair and pink cheeks, become vulnerable to serious infections and viruses when chemotherapy destroys their immunity, and cry in pain during countless invasive procedures. And it is unbearable to know that 70f these children will still die in their anguished parents' arms, their bodies overcome by a ruthless killer and their eyes full of fear and confusion, not understanding why their loving parents and committed doctors could not make them better.



REALITY

Why is there no effective treatment for advanced Neuroblastoma? The answer is simple and devastating: There is not enough money for research. Yet, consider this: Since the 1950's the rate of kids surviving leukemia shot from 10o 80Similarly, the survival rates for other types of cancers like, Breast Cancer for example, have also improved significantly thanks to extensive research that uncovered innovative and less invasive treatment options. Children diagnosed with cancer are faced with a reprehensible lack of funding from the government—and a shameful lack of interest from the pharmaceutical giants, because orphan diseases like Neuroblastoma promise little or no profit. Unfortunately no profit leaves pharmaceutical companies with little to no incentive to develop treatments. Children diagnosed with Neuroblastoma deserve better odds of survival on par with most other cancers.



Cancer kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined. But pediatric cancers collectively receive less than 3f the National Cancer Institutes $4.7 billion dollar annual budget. For every dollar spent on a patient with breast cancer, less than 30 cents is spent on a child with cancer. Aren't children our most precious resource? How can you put a price on a child's life?



BOUND BY HOPE



Against this bleak scenario, a group of ordinary parents bound by extraordinary circumstances founded the Band of Parents. Our mission is to raise money to further support and accelerate the research of the talented and dedicated team of doctors and scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), the institution that treats more cases of Neuroblastoma than any other hospital in the world. Our kids' doctors are investigating exciting treatment options that they believe could help save more children with Neuroblastoma.









The institution is working on several pioneering treatments including a humanized version of the 3F8 antibody, used exclusively at MSKCC. The mouse-based 3F8 antibody attaches to Neuroblastoma cells and kills them. The antibody, developed by MSKCC's Dr. Cheung, also trains a child's immune system to attack and kill Neuroblastoma. Since first used in 1987, 3F8 treatment has greatly improved survival without lasting side effects. The mouse-based antibody’s primary drawback is that it can be rejected by the child’s own immune system (HAMA). It is believed a humanized version would alleviate this issue and make it more effective for a greater number of patients. The cost to develop this treatment is estimated to be just $2 – 3 million, a small sum by today’s standards.



HOW YOU CAN HELP


Lack of money bars the way, and time is running out for many of these kids. Today hope lies with private institutions, generous donors, and dedicated researchers, who have made it their mission to discover safer, more effective treatments and a cure.

We as the parents of children diagnosed with this relentless cancer are reaching out in hopes that you will help. Won’t you please support the research so urgently needed to give all the kids fighting Neuroblastoma today, and those who will be so unfairly chosen to fight tomorrow, the hope all children deserve?

~Foto Friday~

I thought for "Foto Friday" I'd share some shots that I took on Sunday. Our church group met up at "Little Mountain" for our worship time and had a picnic afterwards. We had SO MUCH FUN! The boys were REALLY HARD to pin down for pictures but I took advantage of the few times they actually sat still. Ha!

This is a shot of our boys and their best buds... From left to right, Clay (their cousin), Larry, Drew, Gabe (hiding his face), Stephen and Zach



And a lovely shot of some wild berries.. hehe... sorry, I thought they were pretty!




And ANOTHER... (If you don't know this about me by now... I'm VERY EASILY AMUSED!




The boys were LITERALLY SWINGING from the TREES! Hehe...




It's Zach's turn...



Does this look like a heart to you guys or is it just me??? O;-)




This is the rest of the gang (the girls too)




Now, I've just GOT to share a Bible verse with these...

Romans 1:19-20 (New Living Translation)

19 They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.



















Yes, all of creation just SCREAMS of our CREATOR! There is absolutely NO EXCUSE! It's so easy to see the HANDS of our LOVING GOD when we look around us. It's so humbling to see HIS GLORY! AMEN??? ;-)


Be BLESSED, My Friends....

Cherished Drawings

Hello Friends!

Today was... well..... I guess it'd be an appropriate time to "borrow" one of Heather's terms... "bittersweet." I say this because it was my birthday and my little men did everything possible to make it special for me. They stayed up after I went to bed last night making me birthday cards. (Aren't those the GRANDEST???) Well, as nice as everything was it was another FIRST without Brent. He always LOVED to pick at people (as does his mom) and he got quite the enjoyment out of telling everyone that I was 34 when I was really only 33! It's so funny to think back on it and picture his smirky expression when I'd "call him out" on it. They're all PRECIOUS MEMORIES and I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING this old world could offer. I'm SO VERY BLESSED to have these precious boys in my life!

Alrighty... I didn't mean to keep you. I thought I'd end this tonight by sharing those sweet cards that Zach & Gabe made me. Zach put A LOT more effort than Gabe. LOL!! Oh well, they're BOYS! Right? Hehe!


Birthday wishes from Zach



This is the inside... it has someone bowing at the foot of the cross praying, then the opposite side says, "I love you and Jesus loves you"



This is the outside of the one Gabe made for me....



And the inside.... (Oh, Gabe started writing his name and mine, but ran out of room. Hehehehe... I just LOVE it!

~Foto Friday~

I thought I'd share some pictures that my cousin made when Gabe slept over with her son Drew. It's really neat how our boys got along so well because she was one of my VERY BEST FRIENDS growing up! =-)



Gabe lovin' on his little cousin Chloe..




Funny Face....




Looks like I'm NOT the ONLY one with baby fevers! (Hehehe... GIRL FEVER!)



Gabe and his new best bud/cousin, Drew

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

My, there are so many things to be thankful for... I really don't know WHERE to begin. I'm thankful for my salvation, without JESUS, I'd be eternally LOST! I also KNOW that I'd have lost what was left of my sanity without my JESUS! I'm thankful for my family, for my husband and children. I'm ESPECIALLY thankful that of all the children that the LORD might have given us - that HE gave us Brent, Zach & Gabe. These precious boys have meant the world to me - they've taught me how to love UNCONDITIONALLY! I'm also thankful for my friends.

I suppose that since I've NEEDED them so much this past year, I'll share about my friends... GOD has been so gracious in placing special ladies in my life. I won't start naming names because I'll surely leave someone out. (I'm goofy like that) O:-) I've met some in church, some in hospitals, and have even developed a few friendships online. I've had friends, and many extra special people in my circle of friends, but not that many REALLY CLOSE relationships over the years. I'm SO BLESSED to say that I now have a group of ladies that I know my heart is safe with. You know what I mean? I mean those that are there when you're hurting, happy, lonely, or whatever! You don't have to tell them you need them, they can hear it in your voice! (Or see it in your eyes) Some have even "heard it in my type." HA!!

This is a season of my life that I NEEDED friends like that. I also needed to have friends to pull me along, to show me where I'm lagging in my marriage or child-training. I'm blessed with several Titus 2:3-5 friendships!


Titus 2:3-5

3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.


Yes, I'm one BLESSED woman! I'd also like to say that I'm thankful for my new blogging buddies! It's been such a pleasure to meet you! I LOVE how GOD puts people in our lives to keep us "sharp."

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Let's keep each other sharp, my friends!



WHOOPS! I forgot that some of you asked me how old the boys were in the picture below. It was made about a year and a half BEFORE we knew Brent was sick. (That'd make him about 7 1/2. The picture was made at Gulf Shores, AL. The following summer we went to Gatlinburg, TN. It was in the fall of 04 that we learned about the tumor in Brent's back. I've always LOVED this shot of the boys. They all look so "sweet!" (So misleading - HA!) Just kidding, they ARE sweet, just MISCHIEVIOUS!

"Wordless Wednesday"

"Marriage Monday"

Want this button?

My friend Susan told me that the topic today was that of submission. I know this can be a really sticky subject.. one that many would like to "write off" saying that the commands given by GOD were for women YEARS ago. (Been there, done that) They couldn't possibly apply to us today... COULD THEY? What does GOD'S Word have to say about change? His WORD NEVER changes... WHO is THE WORD?

John 1:1, 14

The Word Became Flesh

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.



Now that we know WHO the Word is, let's see what the Bible tells us about "The Word" (Jesus)


Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.



No, GOD'S WORD DOES NOT change. We also know that "all scripture was God-breathed."


2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness



Let's see what GOD has to say about marriage...

Titus 2:1-5

What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

1You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.




Oh my! I wonder how many serious arguments might have been avoided in my home if I had always done things GOD'S way? Yes, submission my be hard at times, but isn't GOD'S way is SO MUCH BETTER THAN ours? I'm not speaking as one who thinks she's got it "together." I've learned over MANY years (15 years of marriage) and through much disobedience to GOD, that HIS WAY IS BEST. Now, that's NOT to say that I'm not still making mistakes DAILY. I'm still learning... I'm still battling the flesh. The truth is, the more that we stay IN GOD'S WORD, the MORE we become like HIM. I want to be pleasing to GOD and to my hubby. I DO NOT want to "malign the Word of God" that's SERIOUS business. Now, I wanted to see what the dictionary said about the word "malign" here's what I found....


Main Entry: 2malign
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French maligner to act maliciously, from Late Latin malignari, from Latin malignus
: to utter injuriously misleading or false reports about : speak evil of
synonyms MALIGN , TRADUCE , ASPERSE , VILIFY , CALUMNIATE , DEFAME , SLANDER mean to injure by speaking ill of. MALIGN suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying . TRADUCE stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim . ASPERSE implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction both candidates aspersed the other's motives. VILIFY implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse . CALUMNIATE imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions . DEFAME stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name . SLANDER stresses the suffering of the victim .



I would love to encourage you to read a book that a friend gave me. It's called, "Created to be His Help Meet," by Debi Pearl.



Now this will challenge you in what you already believe about marriage. (I've read LOTS of books on marriage, but this one is VERY CONVICTING) She tells how Biblical marriage is SUPPOSED to look. The book may seem harsh in some places, but EVERYTHING that she says she backs with scripture. After all, it's GOD'S WORD that brings LIFE! Amen??

I'd like to leave you with something I found at nogreater.joy.org



May 2001
A Wise Woman Builds Her House
By: Debi Pearl

A wise woman doesn’t take anything for granted. She is thankful to be loved and seeks to make herself more lovely.

A wise woman doesn’t allow herself to be a liability but strives to be an asset to the marriage bond. She looks for ways to make, save, and use money wisely. Her husband knows he is a richer man because she is his wife.

A wise woman seeks to be a part of her husband’s life. His interest becomes her interest. She looks for ways to help him in every endeavor in which he is involved. When he needs a helping hand, it is her hand that is there first.

A wise woman knows that his peace of mind (and sometimes, wise understanding) is something she can give or take away by her observations and conversation concerning circumstances or people. She limits her conversation to the positive.

A wise woman sets a joyful mood in the household. She uses laughter, music and happy times to stir the children to a positive, joyful frame of mind. She knows this light-heartedness helps take stress off her husband.

A wise woman gauges her husband’s needs. She seeks to fulfill his desires before even he is aware of them. She never leaves him daydreaming outside the home. She supplies his every desire.

A wise woman understands that her husband’s need to be honored is not based on his performance but on his position. She learns quickly to defer with enthusiasm to his ideas or plans. She looks for ways to reverence him. She knows this is God’s will for her life.

A wise woman is not pitiful, puny, or whinny. She seeks to be confident, capable and thankful.

A wise woman does not dream of what “could have been.” She sees clearly that she is not God’s gift to men; thus she is blessed in her present circumstances. She learns to be content.

A wise woman never expects anyone to serve her; therefore she is never disappointed. She is ready to help—a giver. By her example her children learn to serve cheerfully and energetically.

A wise woman doesn’t attempt to instruct her husband through feigned questions. Her questions are sincere inquiries concerning his will.

A wise woman is always learning. She is open to change. She is ready to hear. She wants to know. She doesn’t cloud her mind with the foolish folly of entertainment. She uses her time wisely.


Before I sign off today I'd like to invite you over to my friend Susan's blog. She has written so beautifully on this topic today. She's been a spiritual giant in my life! I know you'll be blessed!

1 Corinthians 15:35-43

1 Corinthians 15:35-43

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. 39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.

42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.



A friend of ours recently made the most beautiful illustration of death during our group Bible study last week. He's a crop consultant and has much experience with planting "seeds" and the "fruit" they produce.

He shared the passage above (that death brings LIFE) and he told some facts of the corn seed. See, When you plant a kernel of corn it dies. HOWEVER, in it's death a TREMENDOUS CHANGE HAPPENS! (WHEW.. NOW THIS gets me EXCITED!) The tiny little kernel of corn blooms into a stalk. From that ONE stalk you get 1 to 3 ears of corn. From those ears of corn you get 500-1,500 kernels. When using this illustration to make the comparison between our earthly bodies and our heavenly bodies, the difference between the two is TREMENDOUS! (And nothing we can imagine here even comes close to how GRAND & GLORIOUS it is in HEAVEN)

Our bodies are born into a sin stained world. They are only given to serve as "tents." We can STILL look forward to receiving our glorified bodies! Brent's weary, broken, and weak body will be raised in GLORY AND IN STRENGTH! Until then, we can rest in the promise that Brent IS IN THE PRESENCE of the LORD!


2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Assurance of the Resurrection

1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

We PRAISE GOD for HIS SON JESUS Who lived a sinless life so that HE could pay for ours. We PRAISE HIM that HE'S a RISEN SAVIOR - EVER LIVING to intercede for our sins! Because of CHRIST we're assured in the HOPE that we will be in Heaven with our LORD and with our loved ones who've gone on before us.

I guess it's easy to see why I was so blessed when our friend shared the parallel of the kernel of corn and the NEW LIFE it has once it dies! Our sweet Brent is experiencing JOY unimaginable. As much as we miss him, how can we not be happy for him? How can anyone EVER have peace in joyful times, much less in those of sorrow if they don't have CHRIST?

Okay.. I'm looking forward to Marriage Monday. (I think that's what it's called) Susan has been so sweet in helping me learn the ropes of blogging! I've really enjoyed meeting a new group of people and have been blessed by your words of encouragement! Oh, before I sign off I want to thank my friend Susan for blessing me with this blog. She led me to her friend Amy who designed it. It was her birthday gift to me... I have ANOTHER birthday coming up. ICK! Hehehe

I'd also like to say "Thank You" to Amy for her hard work!

Have a BLESSED WEEK!

~Thankful Thursday~

"Thankful Thursday"

There are so many things to be thankful for and I had in mind to write about other things... but as you know we NEVER KNOW what direction our lives will take from one minute to the next. I've been in an overall "chipper" mood this morning (all things considered) until just a few moments ago. I was cleaning out my husband's closet and found where I'd stored some "random" papers. Or so I thought... I quickly discovered there was a picture that Brent colored when he was 7. There was another where we were practicing drawing his letters, and then of course there's a hand print that was made in Vacation Bible School when he was 3 1/2 years old. As much as it hurts to see these today, I'm SO VERY THANKFUL for each of them. For now, they will be safely "tucked away" in his room. Eventually I'd like to take things like these and make a mural or something special for the wall in his room.

Here are our special pictures.....

His hand print at 3 1/2




Learning to write his letters....




One of his first lessons in school...






His sense of humor - he must've made this picture for his brothers. I say this because it has "stupid" written inside the hand print. I found this a few months ago...