Memories of Mom.....

Yesterday has been one year since my mom went to be with the Lord. Over the past year I have been referring to my mom's death rather then to her new life. Yesterday, Bryan commented to me that my mom had been with Jesus for a year and how awesome that was. So I have changed my tune.


I thought that I would post some pictures of my sweet mom, to share the joy with you that she has given to me over the past 35 years. None to be forgotten but everything to be remembered. She was the BEST mother ever. She trained me up the way I should go, then I had my turn to testify to her. She was an amazing Nana, it was her most favorite thing to be. Our children miss her so much. There are really no words to discribe the kind of Nana she was because she was so many things to the kids. A best buddy, slumber party friend, sports Nana, secret pal, cheerleader, nurse and the list goes on. She left a legacy for them that they will always remember. I am so glad that our two new little ones had a chance to meet her this side of heaven. We have many a hilarious stories about my mom, and great things to share like Buttons the dog, and worm soup.


Most of all, I miss her. Besides Bryan, she was my very best friend. We did everything together. As a child, I was the growth on her left hip. As a teenager, she couldn't shake me, she drove me every where and did everything with me. As a young adult, she gave me away, and was the very best Nana any daughter or grandchild could ever ask for. As time went by she allowed me to care for her. Even though the tides were turned she still encouraged me and chastised me. She taught me to be brave and courageous. She taught me how to continue to love even when you are too tired to. She taught our children, how to care for the sick. She taught them mercy and grace. She taught us to endure and to only trust God, never man. She taught us the importance of community, and to share the effort. She taught us to rest in Christ. And then she taught us all, how to pass graciously into the hands of Our Father.


I feel so blessed today to have shared all of these things with such a beautiful and special woman. I am who I am today because of the things my mom passed down to me. The Lord has grown and stretched me in so many different ways in the past couple of years, and made Himself known in this house among these people. Today I rest in the knowledge that my mom is with her Lord and Savior. She is whole, healed and dancing with Jesus. I can't help to imagine that she is still Nana to the little baby we lost, hanging out with her mom and some of her dearest friends & family that passed before her. She gets to sit at the feet of Jesus and worship Him all day and night.


My sweet mom is finally, fully alive. Today I rejoice in that!

Memories of Mom....

Nana's Slumber Party

Bonding with C~6

On our way to a Tonsillectomy

Easter Sunday

Me and My Mommy

Memories of Mom...

My Wedding Day

Mom & Grandma, both with Jesus

Nana and some of her kids

Coral's Kindergarden Graduation

One Step Closer To Home

Home: n (h o m) 1. a place to hang your heart. 2. a refuge from the storm. 3. a structure of wood brought to life by the love of the family within.

A couple of months ago I had a dream of three little children in Africa. They were all alone, naked, dying and without parents. I began to run to the children to help them and I became afraid and turned around to leave. A lady told me not to be afraid, but to get them. I turned back and picked up the first child. As I cared for him, he began to heal and live. One by one the healing continued. The Lord revealed to me in my dream that I was to take all three of them home. Little did I know that 3 weeks later we would meet, via e-mail, three children that would one day become part of our ever growing family.

Now some might be saying; "NINE children"?? What would you need with nine children. I am here to say, we don't "need" nine children, we are being obedient to a call that Jesus has put on our lives for nine children. I am thrilled to be a mother of nine, ten, twenty if the Lord allows. We are willing to give all of our life to follow Jesus, may God give us the strength to do it!!

Psalm 127:5 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is the: to look after orphans and widows in their trouble , and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

We have a lot to trust God for. We are trusting for our three children, their safety and the safety of us here. The last time we did this, the enemy tried to attack us in more ways than one. We are praying for their hearts and healing even now. That the Lord will reveal himself to them and their older brother who is allowing them to be adopted so that they will have an opportunity to be cared for. We are praying for their salvation. We are praying for the funds that we need to bring these kids home. We are praying for the timing of it all.

God has so much to do in such little earthly time. Will you join us in praying? We are excited to see God show up in BIG ways. We trust that "He who calls us is faithful, and He will do it".

1 Thessalonians 5:24

The Glory of God....

The Chapel where we prayed for our sweet friend Julie K

Amy and her amazing guitar talent!

The sunset, God is glorious!!!

We spent Monday through Wednesday with some of our worship team in California at Calvary Chapel's campus for a worship conference called "The Glory of God". It was a wonderful time of worship and studying God's word. I sat in awe as we studied the Glory of God and what it looks like in the bible. What God expects from us, obedience and worship.

We enjoyed spending time with our friends, and getting to know each other better then before. We were blessed to stay at my in-laws Dennis and Sue. We have missed them so much, although a couple of days are not enough time.

We were able to join together in prayer for needs beyond our control, healing, adoption, finances, changes of heart. We heard from God in very personal ways, encouraging us and challenging us to trust and submit like never before.

The Glory of God....

Julie and I waiting for AWESOME worship to begin!!

The Manly Men

Bryan's artistic expression, I love it.

Bryan & Me, true love!

Our group, Julie, me, Bryan, Amy & Roger

A Servants Heart

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towl that was wrapped around him. John 13:5

Sundays lesson at church for the children was about being servants, and feet washing. They all came home with wash clothes wraped around a bar of soap tied off with a scripture, John 13:5. I didn't realize that C~6 realized what it was about until I heard her talking about Jesus and washing. I told her that we are servants of God and that He washed the feet of his friends.

By the time we got home, she was on her way to feet and washing. She started with C~4 and then on to Amy and Mommy, then her self. She loved every minute of it as you can see from the pictures above.

I love about that when my kids go to Sunday School at Calvary Chapel Surprise, they are indeed learning about Jesus to the fullest, that is obivous. The second thing I love is the lesson that this presented to me. The Lord says, that we should come like little children. He wants us to be bold with abandoned thought. My little C~ didn't have any issues washing feet, or spending time being a true servant. Nothing crossed her mind like, gross, me wash feet, no way! She enjoyed it and laughed and rubbed our feet. She wanted to continue even when we were done. After, she carefully dried our feet and moved on to the next one.

Granted she is a child and doesn't have full understanding, but it is an attitued to adopt. I find myself asking questions like, do I live to be a full servant? Do I abandon all fleshly desires to live fully for Christ and do what he calls me to do, am I obediant? Do I do what he askes even when I think it is "yucky" or something less desirable?

Jesus is our perfect example of being servants. He was a servant unto death. He loves us and wants us to share that love with others. We may not wash their feet, but we could serve them in other ways.

Lastly, when we serve we experience great joy. The people who receive the service are blessed, but we are truely blessed in return and our joy overflows.

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.....And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 2Cor 8:2,3,5