22 Years.....Our Wedding Anniversary!!

Reasons We Have A Wonderful Marriage.......22 years November 8th

My beloved is mine, and I am his......This is my beloved and this is my friend, (Song of Solomon)

I am yoked together with a believer and lover of Jesus Christ, he seeks to love me as Christ loves the church..sacrificially, he seeks the Lord in truth, in prayer and in meditation, Terry does not have his own agenda or hobbies, his delight is spending time with and being with me and his children, he seeks to have victory over the lusts of the eyes and turns away from things of sight that would hinder our oneness, I so appreciate this about Terry in that I am his "girl," he is one that seeks forgiveness quickly with his children and I, he is a leader in our home in teaching the scriptures as we gather together in the evenings, he has great faith and confidence in Jehovah Jirah, that God will provide for our needs, he has stood for the truth of scripture many times to defend it at the cost of his job and other positions, he is very sensitive and tender with the children and "shows" them and myself affection, he has strong convictions that he stands for and our family is benefited and blessed because of that; like being debt free trusting the Lord and not going to the "King of Syria," he has always helped me with things of the house if needed such as cleaning, helping take care of babies from changing diapers to giving them baths, he tirelessly serves and seeks to not exasperate his children, he has often times made quick and fun decisions that blesses the children, he shares the truth with others and has boldness to correct other believers in love, he speaks truth to my heart when I am weary in faith and holds me up and encourages me to press on, he fought and sought to lay down his very life for our precious Joel, in all our marriage I have only seen him move forward in his faith and he has not grown weary in believing God's plans are perfect and true and for our good even in the midst of our darkest days with Joel, he is productive and has skills and abilities to fix and maintain vehicles and when things break he can "fix" it, he is very sensitive to me and is always asking "what he can do for me," he is a very contented person and can live on little, he is one that seeks to be humble and has a fear of the Lord through out the day as he works or whatever he is doing, he has wisdom as he guides and gives counsel to our older children as they prepare for their future, he is gifted in teaching and helps with our school training, he is teachable and can listen to ideas from others that would be more efficient, he is very meticulous about giving the exact truth and not exaggerating, he is a great birthing coach:), I could literally go on and on, I am so grateful for the husband that God has blessed me with and look forward to the years ahead, Lord willing, as we continue to grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior. I write this as a thank you to the Lord and for our daughters to look at the qualities of their own father as they await for their beloved husbands, but also to exhort our sons to look at the pattern of their father, to run the race as he is, For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. (I Cor. 4:17) This is my prayer for our sons, that you may be beloved and faithful as your father, and bring to others minds and remembrance (your generations) of your fathers ways that are in Christ! And to my dear husband, thank you for being the bestest husband ever, I Love You!!

Cindy

Being a Pattern...

Today was the day in 2006, it was a Monday, we took Joel to our family Dr. trying to figure out, "why all the fevers???" They did a simple blood test and his hemoglobin was a 9, not horrible but cause to wonder. I told the Dr. all the things that I could think of, like he said it hurt when I pulled a shirt over his head, and he had a small knot on his head, I told him about him running into the refrig. door and wondered if he could be bleeding in his head,that he was tired, eye swelling at times, and of course the fevers that would last a few days and go away. He couldn't explain all of it, he just said his iron was low and needed to supplement, so we started doing that, a week passed and still fevers, tiredness, ect.His white count was good so in my mind I thought we were safe, that is and not a cancer. I thought he might have tick fever or the mosquito disease, never thinking it was something so horrible! So this day was the beginning of the search. I see so much now as I look back, things I wish I would have done or told the Dr. to do, but thats all hindsight now, and I must rest it was all by His appointment as how it unfolded.

Rev. 2:3, Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain... That is a tall order for me, but this is what I want to do, to strengthen the children that remain with us here and to encourage them in the faith, to be watchful of the flock that the Lord has given. I read a another verse last week and have been thinking upon it for some time. I Tim.1:13, Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The word form has the idea of a pattern or outline. This is the how to strengthen the ones that remain, to be a pattern or outline of faith and love. My children need to not only hear my words but they need to see my faith and love, to Terry first and then to them. I guess if the children remember all the fun memories, all the wonderful meals, the warm atmosphere of our home but they can not remember my faith that is carrying me through the valley, the calm shores and love demonstrated for Christ first and then to family and to others then what is my life? I write this cautiously because I need grace to do this and may He give it so that I can "show" them Jesus!!

Out to eat tonight with my dear husband for our 22 years of wonderful marriage (the 8th), Bethany is getting the dinner going tonight. Friday evening we get to watch the finished Pendragon movie from start to finish with the music, can't wait!! Anna is doing some baking for the weekend as we head to visit the Duggar family in Ar. Look forward to sharing that with you.

Continuing on....only by His grace!!!

Cindy

What I Did!!!!

For those who have known me for at least 7 years know that I have wore my hair down occasionally and in a pony tail for the other duration. It has been all one length for so long a time. TODAY a change has been made.....I have a new do!!! So I called Terry and asked what he thought about the idea and he gave me the go ahead. I took the plunge and went to the beauty shop and got it layered. The length is still the same, just lots of fluff now! It feels lighter thats for sure, now I just have to make myself fix it and wear it down. I know Mrs. "B," this is a shocker, huh???? Posting about "hair" is something I am thankful for, so many mommy's are writing about their children and the illness they are fighting......I am thankful that Joel is pain free and that our lives are in a "new" normal and the Lord"s grace is so powerful to help us through what others are embarking on and in the middle of. So many children have died this very week.....we have so much to be thankful for!!!!

Anna is fixing a lovely meal for us this evening....Apricot Honey Chicken, Favorite Herbed Potatoes, Herbed Carrots, Peppered Squash Relish and Chocolate Pecan Bars......This is a blessing to me, I am enjoying all the new dinners and the time off in the kitchen!!!

You all are such a blessing, I am encouraged by the numbers that still keep up with our family. I want to be a vessel of use to the Lord as we just continue on with life. I will never be the same in the sense of a part of me is missing, yet He is filling me with hope and peace. I want to encourage you young mommy's in the challenges of raising your children and I am always available for you to contact me, not that I have all the answers, but I know I enjoyed talking with others that were a little ways down the road when we had so many underfoot! Thank you is not enough for your faithfulness to our family, I hope we can be there for you too!!

I was struck with a sadness last night.....I was playing with Mercy in her room and she had ALL her babies out, she was sitting in a chair with one of them and she was feeding it, but she did not feed it like Hosie or even Joel and Josiah fed their babies.....what they would do is pretend they were nursing their baby, even putting a blanket over them, but Mercy has not got to see me do that....by the time a child turns two around here, we have always had a new baby.....it brought a sadness that she doesn't have a real baby to experience like her other siblings. I do not know if the Lord will grant any more, I will keep asking, but I have a calm trust that He will give what is best, as He also takes because it is best.....I trust Him and will keep asking according to His will. I have so many to be thankful for, the Lord has blessed us with more than we deserve and what a privilege to be a mommy to 13 blessings here on earth and 4 that we will meet one day!!!!

Better go and see if Anna needs help, I can wash her preparation dishes at least since our dishwasher croaked again!!!!!

Cindy

The Election Today.....

Five Things Which Are No Different About This Election from All Other Presidential Elections in Our History

1. God is still on the throne.

2. The Scriptures are still the only rule of action for Christians.

3. The duty of believers at the ballot box is the same today as it has always been. We may only select leaders who meet the Scriptural requirements for civil magistrate. Leaders need not be perfect, but they must be qualified.

4. The obedient response of the elect of God to the Lord Jesus Christ and His law-word, not Muslim extremists, political activists, or the results of presidential elections, is the key to national blessing.

5. The results of the presidential election, regardless of who wins, will work together for the good of the elect of God

( the above is From the Vision Forum)


His will, His decrees WILL be carried out today!!!!! Praise the Lord that He is Sovereign and may He give each of us a fear of the Lord not man.....

Cindy

Past, Present, Future....

If I were to pick a description that I feel in my heart that best reflects the Lord for me, my situation, my life and all that we have walked through with Joel and the journey of grieving would be "Faithful and True." I read a scripture this morning in Rev. 1:19, Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. I thought of this verse in light of the past, the present and the future and how He has been Faithful and True in all aspects of our marriage and family. In the past He has been Faithful to provide for our needs and many times our wants. He has been Faithful to protect and guide our family in ways that have been a blessing and benefit to the children, like where we live. He was Faithful as we walked through the illness with Joel and gave Terry wisdom to make decisions that are not popular in the medical community, He was Faithful to provide needs of vehicles and convinces that helped our family operate more efficiently. He is True that He keeps His word and promises, He is True in that He does not make mistakes with plans, and I can trust Him with the plans He had with Joel. He is Faithful in the present, the things which are, in this grieving process, He is getting us through it and there is a peace in the midst of the tears that still flow. His promises are True in that He does give grace to go through the most heartbreaking experience I think a person can go through. He is Faithful to provide work for our family. And looking to the things of the future and the things which shall be hereafter, Oh, how I anticipate the reunion with Joel!!! Because He has been Faithful and True in the past and now, I do not fear the future and have full confidence that He will be true to His name...... Faithful and True!!! Just to meditate upon this quality alone brings calm, comfort, peace of what He has for the future for our family and the generations to come, Lord willing.

The grandparents left on Sunday morning. We had a fun visit, Pop was actually pretty calm this time!! We played volley ball, did some fence work, and played a game called Chicken Foot or Mexican Train over and over and over and over.......I think the children wore their grandmother out with this game!!!! Of course they had to have their big Scrabble match and our traditional pizza and Bluebell, thanks NaNa and Pop for the good time and memories with your grandchildren!!! Our Sunday night teaching with our friends is going well, and we are enjoying the fellowship too. The guys are working afar and we are trying to figure out what to do tonight!! They have a busy schedule for the next few weeks which is always an answer to prayer. Our 22 year anniversary is coming up the 8th, but I guess we will go out to eat before then, as we have plans(Lord willing) to visit/spend the night with the Duggar family this coming weekend. They are expecting their 18th in Jan.

On this day in 06, I had gone grocery shopping and I wrote down that Joel was so excited when I got home because of his new jeans that he got......twins are so fun, buying "two" of everything! I really miss picking up two when I shop for Siah, like today when I picked up one pair of nighties at the store. Last night Josiah was doing something to my arm that he did when he was one and twoish, for his comfort he would like to touch the inside of my arm at the elbow, and for Joel's comfort, he had a pink blanket and he would fold a corner and make a little hole and slide his pointer finger in and out. I am so glad Josiah still likes to cuddle.....it helps.

As I am finishing up here, we still can not come up with a plan for tonight, so I guess we'll hang around here.....

Cindy