The end of one chapter and the begining of another!

Today Mark was ordained. He has been in school and pursuing this goal since 2000. It was overwhelming today to see the man I love so much on his knees as he accepts once again the calling God has placed on his life. I pray he knows how very proud of him I am. His determination during this process has been amazing to watch. There have been times in this journey have served as roadblocks and at times I've wondered if we would finish. As I watched people laying hands on my husband today my heart was overwhelmed with the abundance of Christ and the many ways that he has seen and led us through these last 7 1/2 years. Father, I thank you so much that you have always been just a whisper away. Thank you for giving us your strength when our strength had run it's course. I pray that we will live the rest of our lives in a manner that glorify you and pour your love upon those you bring into our lives. We love you so much and we are so thankful for the gift of your son and the price he paid so that we could call you Abba..God be our guide, our source of all that we need.....Constantly Amazed by Your Grace!

Reasons to rejoice!

Today Mark had an interview with an Active Duty Chaplain and all went well. We are very hopeful that this will make it possible for Mark's packet to go before the board at the December 12th meeting and that he will be able to go to school in January and begin service. We kind of feel like we are in limbo right now because Mark will be done serving the churches December 30th and will need to find work if he is not able to go to school. I know that God is working in this situation...I pray that my health will improve and that I will be able to be the strong again. In this joy we have reason for concern as I found out today that I will have to have a hysterectomy. We are trying to get this done before the end of the year so that Mark will be able to be here. We also will lose our insurance at the end of December so it will need to be taken care of. In my heart of heart I pray that God will watch over me and walk with my family and I as we travel through yet another great adventure. We are so blessed to have a father that walks with us through every trial and fear. I have had more comfort in the thought of my Lord and savior in the last few weeks than I can ever remember having. I no that no matter what the future brings that he has rescued me from the pit and has set a place for me in heaven with him. Thank you so much Father, that you love a sinner such as I. I pray that my heart, mind, soul and strength would glorify him in this life......

So blessed! Happy Thanksgiving

Thankful---Blessed

It's been a while since I've written anything. I have been feeling yucky! The last two days have been so good. I am not up to 100% but I praise God that he has blessed me with a couple of days of feeling well. This west nile thing is just awful! My heart has a special place for all those who suffer with it. Many good things have happened from this (illness) but of most value to me right now is that I have learned to absolutely rely on God in the moment and I when I feel good I stop and praise him. I'm so thankful that even though there might be rough roads ahead that for today My God blessed me with good fellowship, good friends and good worship. I stand in awe of the wonderful grace that he pours into this sinners life.....So undeserving, so ready to surrender my self to his will. I love you Lord! I thank you for your strength, power and goodness in my life today....

It was all me!

I must share that in the last several years I have been feeling (hard) so to speak. We had a couple of really hurtful experiences in churches in Kentucky and I let that effect the way that I related to people in our churches. A beautiful thing has happened in the last couple of weeks, in that it seems that the hardness has gone away. All of the sudden I feel like me again. I feel free to love people openly and without fear of hurt. I have missed it so much. It's almost as if it was a bondage. I feel more open to God and his leading than I have in such a long time. Even though my health is not the best right now I am praising God with all my heart for this restoration. It never ceases to amaze and I never get tired of learning that it is not God who journeys away from us but rather it is us that fades away from him. Wherever you are at, wherever you have been just reach out and you'll discover he is right there. From this thankful heart to yours, I pray you are blessed.

Fall Blessings

Today has been absolutely wonderful! We had a consignment auction at the church today. We were there from 8 this morning until after 4 this afternoon. It was such a good day. We spent the day visiting with parishioners (friends in christ) and watching everyone interact. In a big way it was a celebration of the ministry that we have been blessed to be a part of for the last 2 1/2 years. Martell church has always been such a lovely bunch of people and they have just come to live. They are so loving and have such a heart to see there church alive and vibrant in the community. I praise God today that even though I did not feel well he gave me the strength to get through the day and blessed me immeasurably....I pray you are blessed.

I never cease to be amazed at how quickly things can change! We have, for the most part, moved into what will be home for a few months. There are still a few items at the old house but nothing much to worry about. I am so happy that we have gotten this taken care of and now my family will not be living out of boxes for the holidays and I pray that Mark will have the peace he needs to focus on the next couple of months. The holiday season is always such a busy season in the church and now he is trying to transition his ministry to prepare for whomever will take his place when he leaves at the end of December. Our oldest daughter has officially moved into her own apt this week. Such a bittersweet time in our lives. I want so much as a mother to continue to protect her from all things but I realize that she needs to begin to live her life and become who it is that God has called her to be. With all of this going on it seems a fairly poor time to have contracted the West Nile Virus but it would seem that I have. I have had two tests now and they aren't officially diagnosing me at this time but one of the tests does show that I have recently been infected. I strongly suspect that is was late in the summer as I was spending a lot of time out doors riding my bike and walking. I am rather frustrated about this because it has just wiped me out. I am weak and tired and don't feel like I'm of much help right now. There are days when I feel normal for the most part so I praise God in those days...and in the ones that are not so good. I pray that God will give me the strength to pursue his will in this and not get hung up on a pity party (which I have been known to do). If I could communicate the desire of my heart right now it would be that God would heal me from this but that being said I pray that I would delight the heart of God by the way I handle this situation and that he would increase my faith and help to be a blessing not only to my family but to anyone that he would have cross my path. As for this day......I pray you are blessed.