I'm the proud mother of ...

three stunningly handsome boys ... even if I must say so myself!!

My firstborn ... my life of the party boy!!

He is so outgoing. He just loves to be around people. There ain't nuthin' shy about this boy.

My sweet, shy boy. He's my deep thinker ... the one that asks the impossible questions long after the sermon at church is over and the pews are cold.

My cheeky little extrovert!!! He loves a good joke .... that is, he loves to play a good joke on anyone who even looks like they would be a good victim!!!

As much as I love my boys, my prayer is that they love and serve God with every particle of their beings.

That, much more then anything that this world has to offer, is the thing I yearn for the most. I do not see it as a reflection of the success of my parenting skills, but rather as the grace, mercy and love of a wonderful Saviour, who died for all and reaches out to everyone who would love Him.

For the promise is unto me and unto my children and unto all them that are afar off!!!

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

I so love this old hymn. It has been rattling around in my poor old head ever since Amy Levine sang it. The words are incredibly poignant.'

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise

Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him;

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

Just in simple faith to plunge me

'Neath the healing cleansing flood.

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Blessed

I just love my family ....

and friends are so important!!!

Ten more things for which I am thankful:

1. Benjy has settled into preschool beautifully and is making new friends.
2. Joel is loving High School and is mainly keeping up with his homework.
3. Matthew was offered a place in the school band and he's accepted the position. He's playing the trumpet!!
4. Rob has a great job and a great boss and a great place to work.
5. I love the rain.
6. Jesus loves me.
7. God is faithful ... oh, soooo faithful!!
8. I am thankful for my church and my church family.
9. I have great in-laws!!
10. I have a wonderful family.

Yep ... I feel blessed.

Friendship

Friendship. The comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words, but pouring them out, just as they are - chaff and grain together - certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow away the rest.

Catching up

Two months have elapsed since I wrote my last post and sooooo much has happened in that space of time.

I have seen my "baby" boy graduate primary school:

My littlest boy turned five:

Here's my attempt at decorating birthday cakes (it's OK ... I really don't mind if you laugh!!!):

At the end of the holidays, Joel started High School and, one week later, Benjy started preschool:

In between all these events, we had Christmas, a fantastic conference, and visitors. It seemed like the holidays had only just began when they were already finished.

I finished reading Jeremiah and I received sooo much from it. Especially from chapter 29. The children of Israel had been in captivity and, I imagine, bemoaning the fact that they were oppressed by their captors. As often happens, I imagine they had forgotten the reason for their captivity ... i.e., they had been disobedient and errant and God wanted to bring them back to Himself. In chapter 29, God tells them to get on with life - marry, have their children marry, tend to their gardens - and then later on He tells them that He knows the plans He has for them. Even though they might have been feeling bad, God's plans for them were plans of peace and not of evil.

I love the thought that, even when I feel trapped or bound up by circumstances, God is in control ... He knows what He's doing.

Lastly, the devastating fires in Victoria have captured my attention and my heart. I feel helpless to do anything to help, yet in the very depths of my heart is a desire to reach out. If my desire is from God, I know He will open the doors and make a way for me to fulfill that desire. In the meantime, I can pray for the victims, that in this time of enormous distress, they will turn to God for comfort and peace.

I am excited about what God is going to do this year and I pray it will be blessed for everyone.