Thursday, January 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Ann(ie...just so you know who you are Ann...:P) !



Ann Facts (random; no particular order)
*she is 19 today! :D
*she has a huge heart and is exceptionally giving
*she is outspoken about her faith and love for Jesus
* she has an absolutely sunshiney (I think I created a word there) personality
*she is a wonderful auntie to her 14 nephews and nieces
*she is the youngest of five children
*she has a notable talent to play piano by ear, crochet, cook and sing (she's just notably talented...period! )
*she loves the ocean (at least in Florida thanks to the Wierzchowski's)
*one of her favorite colors is "Florida ocean" blue ;)
*she has a beagle named Daisy*she is a faithful, loving and honest friend*she loves to laugh (I love to laugh with her and Kristie. They are the best laughers ever. You just feel better when you laugh and can they get you going.)

Ann, I love you more than words cans say. You are such an encouragement and blessing to be around; you spread the love and joy of Christ all around you. I rejoice in your commitment to the Lord. You are a daughter of Zion; a gem in Christ's crown. You are your parents crowning glory and a testimony of God's faithfulness in your baptism. May each day bring you closer to Christ and to a greater understanding of His word and will as you press on in the race of the Christian faith (Eph. 3:14).
1 Peter 1 is one of the most encouraging chapters in Scripture, in my opinion. Sorry the text is weird.
Happy 19th Birthday, Nell...I love you!

1 Peter 1:2-25




Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.


Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,


Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:


That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.


Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:


Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.


Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.


Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:


But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;


Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.


And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:


Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;


But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:


Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,


Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.


Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:


Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.


For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:


But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Help Save Handmade Products for Children


The Congress just passed a law that will go into effect in Feb. called the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that will literally shut down a whole industry in our country that produces handmade clothing and toys for children. The concerns are good, but the method is extreme and unnecessary. Please check out this link and help save small businesses!

http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/

(Picture borrowed from www.scarletstitch.com . My sister-in-law is the photographer for this site and her sisters are the owners.)

Friday, January 2, 2009

For Kris, Nate, Ann and my guys... :D

One of our favorite scenes for you. I love you guys!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I have this theory...

let's just say you have a dishpan of leftover water which has set out all night and as you go to wash your hands before preparing breakfast the next morning, you are mysteriously and wondrously greeted by a bubbly soap heart. When this happens, my theory is...it's going to be a good day. :)

This theory has yet to prove itself since the day is young, but I have this tiny little feeling that it is going to "pan" out (sorry about the pun...I had to). Even if it is only a self-fulfilling prophecy, so to speak, that works for me. That silly little memory of a perfect soapy heart has left a smile on my face.

I believe we should look for Christ and his work in our daily lives (1 Cor. 10:31-as we should do so we should also think) and this little heart is no exception. This seemingly silly heart has left me dwelling on heavenly beauties; on the ultimate sacrificial love of the Father in sending his only begotten Son (John 3:16) and the gift of His beautiful Son in laying down his own perfect life in return for his inheritance... the souls of the nations of this world (Dan. 7:14) in which he amazingly and graciously has chosen me. Meaning, I am his and he is mine (Song of Sol. 2:16). Praise be to God in the Highest!

I am so grateful to the Lord, that even though I fight and kick against His will at times (too many times), he sends me a bubbly heart to brighten my day and remind me that I am his because he first loved me (Eph 2 !). How amazing is our great God?!


May the Lord bless you and bring you to a knowledge of Him and His perfection if you don't know Him or encourage your heart and faith in the mercy of our loving God, if you do know Him!