Just a Couple Favorite Photos

I've been sorting photos today following our very recent international trip. While sorting, I stumbled across this photo of our daughter, Anna, and her dear friend, Emily. The two grew up together, and then both were in each other's weddings in early 2011. Emily is holding our first grandchild, Brielle.

Here's Emily with her mom (my very dear friend, Angela) and her sister, Alexa, a dear friend of all of the girls in our family.

From Russia with Love

For more details on our recent trip see our family blog: Unto Him We Live

We're NOT Hopeless

This morning, I picked up a book on my nightstand preparing to put it away. Before I did, I opened it and saw the quote below. Octavious Winslow's words (written in the 1800s) capture why I named my personal blog A Deep Breath of Hope. I often need the reminder--and perhaps at times my reader do also--if I keep my eyes fixed upwards, I'm need not be hopeless, even when my circumstances would logically overwhelm me.

"My reader, are your circumstances trying? Are your resources depleted?Are clouds gathering? Do you find yourself tempted to to succumb to despondency and despair? There is hope for you in God! All other sources and gleams of hope may have expired, but God is the God of hope, and in His power and love, in His word and faithfulness, you may hope even against hope. Take heart, then, and look up. Never yield to despair while there is hope in God. If things look discouraging, and prospects are gloomy, there is one Being to whose providence you may always turn with the full assurance of hope; in His divine love and infinite resources, you will find compassion, support and help."

Our God, Reformation Heritage Books, pg. 22

Precious Moments

When my husband, Jim, and our oldest son, John, got home from work today, we piled in our 15-passenger for a picnic.

We loved having my niece, Amanda, along with us.

Oksana (8) was enthusiastic. 

Amy (10) was also pleased.

Taking pizza kept the evening simple... 

...focused on family fellowship and fun.

Meanwhile, I was focused on one of my favorite past times--trying to capture a glimpse of my children's personalities with a camera.

Some of these pictures were taken while our kiddos listened intenly as their dad read aloud to them from his IPad. Reading aloud is admittedly an unusual activity for a park, but we're in the middle of The Hidden Hand, a mystery full of suspense!

Once he got to a perfect cliff hanger to his listeners dangling, Jim stopped reading and released the kids to burn off some energy before we headed home for Bible time. What sweet family time we shared tonight--truly precious moments!

Choosing Thankfulness

It's been a hard day. The pain from the surgery I had six weeks ago has been much stronger for some reason. I haven't slept well the past two nights. I have a headache. The kids...

But wait. Living in the place of only seeing what's hard is so...easy. Complaints roll off my tongue. Murmurings multiply in my mind. I've been meditating on a verse all summer that tells me God insists on something else: "Devote yourselves to prayer keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

God is good and knows, as no one else can, what is good for us. He says we're to demonstrate an attitude of thanksgiving.

So rather than focus on my frustrations, I'm posting some photos that help me remember that my life overflows with blessings. And, I'm going to purpose to do what the rest of the verse states. I'm going to pray. I'm going to cry out in prayer about what's been hard today. I have a Daddy who will listen... I have a Father who cares...

My precious niece, Amanda, is staying with us

Amanda and my kiddos are dear friends

Fresh summer fruit adorned our table

Cassandra (left) has come alongside 10-year-old Amy (in the purple) this week, teaching her how to bake. We're all a bit relieved because Amy has cooked up some unusual concoctions for us in the past few months, most notably "fried lettuce."

Today's chocolate chip cookies met with everyones approval.

Thank you, Lord, for all the mercies in my life. You have showered my days with goodness. You are good and what You do is good. Thank You, Father, for Your love.

Just A Favorite Photo

Lissie (L) and Daria (R) relishing their new roles as aunties  -- July 2012

Love

"[Real] love always and aggressively takes the initiative, flowing unconditionally into the hearts of those who may not merit it." 

Tim Savage, No Ordinary Marriage, pg. 77