Prayers

Last week I was struggling. I felt like I was having thoughts whispered into my ear by someone other than the Holy Spirit. Honestly, it was a huge burden on my soul. I felt weighted down. The thoughts I was thinking were things I didn't even want to say. I didn't want to give the evil one a foothold. I wanted to write someone, tell someone, do something to unload these cumbersome contemplations. Instead, I silently struggled.

The Sabbath came and with it a peace I hadn't felt in a while. Yesterday I felt the same peace. Today was when I realized that I am not feeling the attack that I was last week. The enemy's campaign against me has been thwarted. Praise the Lord, that He has fought off the enemy from entering my thoughts. Jesus has triumphed for me, again!

I myself was barely able to pray last week. I felt so unworthy to even speak to the Lord because of the things in my mind. I needed someone to pray for me. I needed someone to lift me up and carry me to Jesus in prayer. But I didn't ask anyone. I didn't talk to anyone.

However, I am positive that someone, somewhere, has been praying specifically for me. I am so thankful for that care and concern! Thank you, whoever you are, for your prayers on my behalf. Please know that I am feeling God's love and grace and protection because you have taken the time to speak to our Father in heaven on my behalf.

I thank Jesus for putting me on your heart.

Funny Faces

Climbing

Haven loves to do this now, and I am so afraid that she'll fall off onto the hard tile floor and land on her head. We're hoping to train her to keep her feet on the ground from now on... but I had to take a video first.

Counting My Blessings... 171-180

I need to count my blessings more often. I know I am blessed every day.

171. Hearing my daughter speaking in Thai
172. Bicycle rides
173. The easing of a migraine
174. Early morning hugs and kisses
175. Outdoor play
176. Yummy vegetables
177. Fruit salad
178. The sweetest pineapple ever!
179. Seeing prayers being answered...
180. Friendship

Flight

A friend of mine shared this poem with a group on FB. It speaks exactly of my feelings for my two girls! Just had to share...

Flight
……

I know women
who would lose their children
like throwing off a robe,
unbraiding a red ribbon
and discarding it, to let
their wild selves fly free.

I know women
who put aside their children
like cheap jewelry by the side of the bed.
I know women
who never seem to wear them at all.

My girls, I do not want
to be free of you.
You are like my wedding rings
which I could have easily slipped out of
but wear
every day that my heart beats.

I want you near me.
My girls, my husband,
when I see a sunset
I want these two eyes
to be part of the eight who see it.
I want our laughter and stories
to be so tangled
that our memories weave into one dream.

This is my time with you.

Soon enough, you will be off
swimming your own new seas.
Soon enough, we will step back and watch you
blooming and bursting in solitary ways
in your own fresh, separate skins.

How could I waste this?

Oh my darlings, you are not my cage.
You are my wings.

~Alicia Bayer

Go Rangers!!!

In honor of the Rangers being at the World Series and playing what could be the last game, I think this picture is fitting...

Love the shirt with the claw behind me :)

This was our last Ranger game before coming to the other side of the world. 

First Pigtails

This is my first attempt at putting Haven's hair up in pigtails. I think they turned out pretty well. What do you think?

Packing, Through Hope's Eyes

I used to let Hope use our smaller camera to point and shoot sometimes. These are some of the last shots that she took before the camera broke. She took some pictures of our last night in the US at Robbie's parents' house in Texas. These are the best ones...

Labels for our boxes 

Hope's cousin, and our largest bins

Surveying the mess

Feathered Friends

These are our nameless chickens. The two males love to have crowing competitions, at any time of day. This is not conducive to long nap times for Haven. Although I think she might be growing accustomed to their sound. In Thai, these chickens are called "kai jae." They don't grow very big, and they seem to be more ornamental than anything else. They may look like they are fully mature, but they have a little while longer before they are. 

A Couple Moment

These were taken a couple years ago on a trip that we took to visit some friends.

It's good for me to look back and see pictures like this sometimes.

Years Ago

Going through pictures on our computer, I found these beautiful sunrise shots. These were taken in 2005.

Any guesses where these were taken?

Taking a Breath

A year ago we were traveling around the country visiting family. It was a fun trip, but during parts of it we experienced quite a bit of stress. I felt that our marriage was under direct spiritual attack. I was needing to take a deep breath and feel God's peace in my heart. Then, as we were traveling, God gave us amazing evidence of His love for us, and His watchcare over us. I know that I have shared these pictures in other places, but I just had to share again. God's timing is so perfect, and He knew just how to lift our hearts and gave us just what we needed. The amazing views in these photos took my breath away and overwhelming peace filled my heart. Praise the Lord!

Grand Tetons, October 2010

Jenny Lake (Grand Tetons), October 2010

Dr. Haven

Haven adjusted her stethoscope and gave herself an injection.

As she gave herself the shot, she said, "Poke."

She must know that this is the way babies take their medicine...

Bag Hat

The girls had fun playing with this bag today. Love the smiles on their faces. 

Reading With Hope

Hope has always loved books. She has loved to have us read to her, and she still does. "Mommy, will you read me a book?" is one of her favorite questions to ask. We are happy to oblige.

Now, she is starting to read herself. Today, her story that she read was "Sam is mad at me." She sounded out each word and read it! She has also read the stories "Eat it." "Read it." "That rat is sad." Each story has a picture to look at after reading the story and she loves it! I am so excited for her, and so proud of her.

Story time (2009)

Out of Babylon

I have a confession. I spent a good part of last month, and the month before, watching an old TV show. I had never heard of it when it was actually on TV, but the basic plot of the show was interesting, and so I started watching the episodes on the internet (you can watch almost any show on the internet). There came a point where I kept watching just so that I could find out how the show ended. And then it was over.


Well, after wasting all that time and mind space, I have been doing some contemplating. Yes, the basic plot of the show was good, but there were many things in that show that were not good. I'll name some of them: premarital sex, homosexuality, abortion, atheism, hedonism, pantheism, and so much more. There was a concerted effort in this show to blur the lines between right and wrong. There was a concerted effort made in the show to proclaim that there is not one way that is right. Everyone can be right at the same time. I'm okay, you're okay. Anything goes.


As I was contemplating, I kept thinking about the verse in the Bible that says, "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4)


I know there are many things in my life that need reevaluating. I don't need to fill my mind with raunchy jokes, extramarital affairs, homosexuality, murder, torture, kidnappings, spiritualism, pantheism, occultism, and all the confusion that is Babylon. God is calling me to come out of Babylon. I think I am ready. 


What about you?