That's MY KING

Happy Easter, my Precious Friends!

Sunday's Coming...

Hello, Sweet Friends...

I can't seem to write a post this week for anything. I keep finding AWESOME videos and with Easter so fresh on my mind.. well, they just seem FITTING. I hope you enjoy this! I thought it was AWESOME! ☺ (I DO wish there was a little more at the very end.. but we all KNOW the history on THIS story.. AMEN???) ;-)

My "tweets" have apparently not been completely posting. Twitter only allows "x" amount of characters and my text messages (to twitter) were too long. Sorry about that!

We had some really nasty weather here last night.. a friend of mine had two trees to fall in on their home. Praise GOD nobody was hurt! We're heading over to help out so no computer posts from me yet. (Doing this one on my cell)

Thanks SO MUCH for praying for Zach & our family!!! I'll update more on him later. (They're thinkin he's had a virus that caused the episode) they ran heart tests too, but we'll get no results before Tuesday. CBC showed low white cells, thus the "viral" diagnosis. That'll be confirmed Tues too. (Sending off blood work)

I'll check back ASAP! THANKS again for praying!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Please pray for our son..

Hello, Sweet Friends..

I had a post already scheduled to post around midnight. I'll leave it just below, as it was already written. For now.. I want to ask for prayer.

See, since Brent got sick (showing NO symptoms other than back pain).. and since losing him.. well, I'm a bit of a cancer NUT! I laugh at myself, but it's really not funny at all. My first thoughts when one of the boys complain with pain is to wonder if it's cancer. (Then I start running the symptoms through my mind and matching them up to the types of cancers we learned about while at St. Jude) I know.. I'm supposed to walk by FAITH and NOT by sight. For me, I think there's a little guilt for not catching Brent's cancer sooner. (I mean, truly and logically I KNOW that there was NO WAY to know any sooner.. and still.. I'm tempted to feel guilt)

With all of that said, Zach told me yesterday when we were coming inside (we'd been hanging clothes on the clothesline) that he almost passed out. (My poor kids are hypochondriacs now too. Oh, and if you're wondering.. I DON'T express my concerns to, or in front of them.. they were around DOZENS, perhaps even HUNDREDS of kids with cancer.. I mean, what else are they to think?) I didn't think much about it then, but today it happened again. It REALLY SCARED Zach. We had him to come in and rest for a while. He's had 3-4 episodes since. Now, logically I'm thinking, HOPING, and PRAYING that it's just inner-ear trouble. Yet, I don't want to miss anything because I'm self conscious about worrying TOO much.

My prayer request is this: Please pray that the doctor will CORRECTLY diagnose whatever the problem is TOMORROW. (I'm taking him in early in the morning) I feel silly even asking you guys to pray about this, but I couldn't live with myself if we had another child to have a serious illness and I passed it off as nothing. (I've met at least 3 families that have multiple children with cancer.. yes, it's rare, but it's ALWAYS on my mind)

UGH.. I hate to even share all of this with you. I sure don't want you to worry that I'm worrying myself sick. I'm truly not. I mean, I don't want anything to be wrong, but I also don't EVER want to have any unnecessary regrets. I KNOW that whatever the future holds for all of us - GOD IS IN CONTROL! (Kind of makes you want to break out singing that old Twila Paris song, doesn't it?? Ha!! Sorry, trying to make a funny)

Okay, that's enough rambling for me! I DO APPRECIATE your prayers and I thank you in advance for lifting Zach (and our family) up. ☺

WHOOPS.. one other thing. I don't know if you've noticed, but on my sidebar I have that little "Twitter" thingy. I'll TRY to remember to post a tweet on what we learn AS SOON as the doc walks out of the room. (For anyone that might not know.. it'll be like a mini update and I can do it right from my phone) Otherwise, I'll update the blog as soon as I can.

NOW... I'll really stop rambling.. LOL....



You may now return to the regularly scheduled update already in progress.... (Sorry! Man, I'm in a cheesy mood tonight, eh?)





Here I go again...

Yes, I'm posting ANOTHER video... O:-)

This one VERY CLEARLY shares the gospel. Sharing the gospel is the whole reason I started blogging. I wanted our journey to help others. I wanted people to see that you can be in the fire, and come out on the other side still loving, and still TRUSTING JESUS. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that we could have any peace with our lives and where we are today if it wasn't for the promise that JESUS paid our sin-debt.. that HE LIVES within us.. that HE is carrying our burdens and broken hearts. HE ALONE is our JOY AND STRENGTH! I never meant for this to be about me and who I am, or who I'm not. I truly only want my life to point to JESUS.

I hope you enjoy this video. ☺

Love,

In Christ Alone

Hello, Sweet Friends!

I thought with Easter fast approaching I'd share this video. I'm pretty sure I've posted it before.. but the song is BEAUTIFUL and the message is BEAUTIFUL! I'm SO VERY THANKFUL that CHRIST OVERCAME the grave! Because of HIM, we have eternal life! Because of HIM - we have HOPE in each new tomorrow! Because of HIM, we'll see our sweet Brent again!!! My heart could just explode with LOVE and GRATITUDE for CHRIST and the debt HE paid for our sins!!

Easter Story Cookies

Easter Story Cookies


To be made the evening before Easter

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was Beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66. (I like to put a chair in front of the oven instead of using tape. I think it's more symbolic of the tomb being rolled away on Easter Sunday.. AND I'm not so crazy about the residue that tape might leave behind) O=-)

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.




I've done this with the boys a few times.. it is a GREAT way for them to visualize what our LORD went through for us.. MOST importantly - it's WONDERFUL that they can see that the GRAVE WAS/IS EMPTY! ☺

The Truth

I thought I'd share this video on "truth". It's kind of funny, but sad too. This is how crazy our world has become!

John 3:16 (New American Standard Bible)

16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.



Oh, and THAT is the truth.. amen? ☺

Catching up on pics.. FINALLY!

Hello, Friends...

I thought I'd make myself sit still tonight and FINALLY post those pics that I promised from a LOOONNNGGG time ago! O=-) I'm such a slacker, I know..

Anyway.. I'll stop with the yacking and move on to sharing these sweet memories! =-)


The first photo is from the giveaway I did on Brent's birthday... I promised WAY BACK at the end of OCTOBER to share it.. I'm SO, SO SORRY! (I'm planning a SPRING giveaway too.. stay tuned for THAT!) In this box of goodies was a bottle of Bath & Body Works lotion and spray, a Bath & Body Works Scentport, Brent's FAVORITE (Sweet Potato Bread), a Lunch for Life Cookbook, and another book. (I can't remember what it was.. sorry. Perhaps there was another thing or two, my brain is mud.. I can hardly remember ANYTHING! (The whole point of the giveaway was to celebrate Brent's life by doing what he loved - BLESSING OTHERS!)

This shot was made back when the Horrocks family visited.. this is a picture of the kids riding on our boys homemade "Hillbilly bob-sled"! HA!!!



This is a shot of Gabe after they'd been mud-riding...





Oh, get this.. we actually got a LITTLE snow this year! It happened the night before Link's birthday.. You'll see why I shared that detail in just a sec... ha!



(See, now it'll make sense.. hehehe)








Of course I've made a quite a few pics of Allie Grace (I've not done any editing.. just sharing what I uploaded from my camera.. not learned the settings yet.. again, I'm a slacker) O=-) Oh yeah, if any of you are new here, Allie is my niece. She's ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!











Okay, Sweet Friends.. I'd love to stay and keep adding on, but it's getting way past my bedtime.. LOL! I plan to take the kiddos out soon and try to get more pics. (They change SO MUCH from one photo session to the next) =-)


Have a BLESSED weekend!

Love,

Please Pray for Carter

Hello, Sweet Friends...

I'm signing on with a request for prayer from you. We befriended a family through caringbridge while Brent was sick. Their names are Bo & Lindy Oswalt. Their baby (Carter) was born with Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome (or "half a heart"). He's been a very sick little man off and on throughout his short life and was hospitalized today with a fever of 104.2. As best I can tell, the family isn't sure what's going on with him right now. If you'd like to meet his family you can click HERE or on his picture below. I'd also like to invite you to post with requests for prayer from your blogs as well. (If you'd like) Just grab the code below and post it in your posting area. (Or add it to your sidebar.... if you'd like) ☺ I know his family would appreciate ALL the prayer they can get!

<a href="HTTP://caringbridge.org/ms/carter"> <center><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/24697om.jpg" /></center></a>

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Carter's mom, Lindy, was in Memphis for the Redemption 2009 conference that I went to last weekend. She's an AWESOME lady and I've REALLY ENJOYED getting to know her personally. (As opposed to writing back and forth on our caringbridge sites) ☺Lindy is expecting right now.. TWINS! She's had some bleeding... let me quote Bo here so I don't get this wrong...

"Please also be in prayer for Lindy. We found out that Baby A (the closest to the cervix) has a marginal abruption(small tear) in its placenta (the twins have separate placentas). This is why she has been bleeding, so please pray that this will be nothing more than an annoyance and no danger to the baby."

Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Love,

Temptation...

Hello, Friends!

I'm signing on to share another video with you. My friend (Susan Foster) emailed it to me and I thought it was just too cute!

I hope you're having a GREAT day!

LOVE,