No longer barren....

Barren.  The first definition of "barren" in the dictionary is "not producing young or offspring."  I remember 'those days' of barrenness.  The days I spent crying out to God to please bless me with a child.  I pleaded with Him, I cried out to Him, and sometimes I got angry with Him.  It was a hard time, a sad time, a time of waiting.  But God heard my cries and He answered my prayers in His time, in an even bigger way than I imagined.  He not only opened my womb once, but now has blessed me for the sixth time!!!   My days are now full with five beautiful girls, and a growing baby in my womb.  I am so thankful, so grateful, so overjoyed with His goodness to me.

"He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.  Praise the Lord!"  Psalm 113:9

Happy Birthday Dave!

It was just over four months ago that we got the dreaded news.  My father-in-law, Dave, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, the cancer had spread to many areas in his body, and it was aggressive.  All his family and friends, and even strangers, started praying for him.  God has been answering our prayers in an amazing way!  The cancer has been shrinking all over and responding well to chemo.  Dave has been fighting this horrible disease and he is winning!  He is so strong, so brave, a true fighter.  Today is such a gift, we will all be together to celebrate his 63rd birthday.  Happy Birthday Dave!  Keep on fighting and we'll keep on praying!

Serve Joyfully...

Servants.  God tells us to serve one another in love.  God tells us to do all things joyfully.  Oh, how I fail at that, even though I am constantly reminding my children of this verse (1 Thess. 5:16  "Rejoice always.").    I am to serve others and to do it joyfully.   Today was a hard day for this.  I have three children that need help with either diapers or on the toilet.  Some days I feel like all I do is wipe bottoms.  By the end of the day today, I actually had tears in my eyes when I had to change the 3rd messy diaper in a matter of minutes (I blame it on the pregnancy hormones!).  But yet, God tells me to rejoice always.  Even when I am changing the 10th diaper of the day, or being called in the bathroom for the 5th time to help my toddler or preschooler.  Oh that I would remember that God tells me to rejoice even in this.  The fact that I have that many young children to help out is such a gift.  On days when I'm tired, and not feeling the best (I am 6mos. pregnant!),  I need to remember what God instructs me to do.  To serve others joyfully.   Praying that tomorrow I would serve my children joyfully, especially during diaper  time!

" ...but through love serve one another."  Galatians 5:13