Raise up a child.....

Just came from the races. Blayke here, to your left, is now five and has grown up enough to FINALLY be able to drive his own go-cart. He has been very patiently awaiting his turn, while his big brother Brayden has been the "guinea pig" and started the driving craze. Blayke has the Heart of a Lion...no fear...should be this boy's motto. He is at times quiet, but has a 'carries a big stick' type mentality. It's very hot here in Fresno these days. Not unusual for this time of the year. So try putting on a full driving suit and all the padding needed for safety, a very heavy helmet, and drive in 100*+ weather for about 25 minutes or so on a asphfalt track and see how you do. Today, Blaykie came in second place in his class. Not an easy task for our little "dare me to do anything" boy. So proud of him...and Blayke...Great job on keeping your head down!

Skyler Sadie Perry, on the other hand, just turned four years old on the 30th. What a little "surprise she's always been...from conception to the present. So independantly delightful! She will tell you what's on her mind, whether you want to hear it or not, and only checks in when she's ready to. Her friends are anyone who will enjoy her, no matter the age. She is truly the youngest of four, but don't mistake her smile and laughter for being the weakest in any way, shape or form. Not detoured easily, it's always best to use "creativity" with our little dancer to get her to do what you want. Most likely she's already figured out what her elders wish she would do, so it's best to stay two steps ahead at all times.

How much fun has it been for me to see these kids grow to where they are today. I can't even ever imagine my life without them. Mathematically speaking that would be "half-a-life." They are all a huge part of me. I know that will never change, because God doesn't give gifts to add to who we are to only remove the sparkle that they bring. I love them so much it hurts, and pray for them daily that the many lives that each of them touch in their lifetimes will be fuller, like mine, because of the impact they have had and continue to have on me.

This past Thursday night was scary for me. Sometimes we don't realize how heavily we count on others to give us security. The phone rang and I missed it, but saw that one of my aunt's had tried to call me. A call that time of day was unusual, and the busy signal that I heard while trying to get her made it worse. During that time I had run every senario thru my mind, most of them negative. Finally, after what seemed like almost an hour of busy's I heard her voice answer. She sounded tired and asked me how I was, like it mattered then. My only question was to know what was wrong. The news was that my 86 year old aunt, my mom's closest sister, had been driving home from her weekly trip to the grocery store and had been in a terrible accident. She was turning onto her country road, and had been hit by two girls. The impact had broken her hip and her arm in four places. Her car was totaled, had been spun around twice and she was going into surgery the next morning after she was stabilized. This is not a frail woman, believe me. She is one of 12 children who has 8 children of her own. She lived with an alcoholic husband for twenty years, abused and beaten many times. Has lost two of her children to an early death, and became the primary care-giver to my grandparents before they died. My Aunt Muriel is a woman of God. She has taught me that hardships and circumstances are not permanent, but meant to make us better. Her walk with her Lord is THE most important part of her life, and to pray with her is truly to walk into His presence. Next to my own mom, I love her immensely. God spared her...it was only a couple of months ago that I called her, as I do on a regular basis, and she told me she couldn't answer the phone one day that I tried to get her, because she was doing something on top of her house. NO JOKE! That's my Aunt Muriel. Well, now I want to bring her home...Will she come...absolutely not, but she knows she can. Her kids wouldn't let her go and I know that. But, it reminded me that God alone holds the key to what is allowed and disallowed. When it is time for her to go home with Him, it will be the best time for all of us. Thankfully, God is perfect in his timing, and that He is not bound by it. This reminds me that when I pray for those that I love, I have to trust Him, give my burdens to Him, and allow Him to do things His way. "Thou will keep him/her in perfect peace....when?...when our minds are focused on Him." Our reality is that God will have His way with us no matter what...He wants us to believe and understand that His love for us is unconditional and eternal. I love my aunt, she knows it, and her life is in His hands. What better place could she be? Have a great week-end. Love you.

Why do we make it so hard?

I have heard lately many renditions of what scripture really says. Now, I don't consider myself to have a handle on most things, but my simple mind has come to the conclusion that God isn't nearly as concerned that I understand or even agree with everything that crosses my path, as He is that I not loose my grip on just holding on to Him for all I need. The majority of christian writers, teachers, and pastors are much more well-read and intelligent than I, but I do know that like becoming more the master of my healthcare, I have my Bible and I can read and understand it for myself as well ... This is God's love letter to us, and it is written for us and to us. The book of James cautions me to watch for those that would put their own slant on God's truth, twist it to say what they want to hear, and use it to make themselves look better than they are. We all start in the same place...as sinners that God has given the gift of His own Son, who has bridged the gap our sin presents by giving His life on the cross for us in order that we be able to experience a personal relationship with Him. My position on the health & wealth, and power of positive thinking ideas, has evolved over the past few years in my walk with Jesus by journeying thru life's circumstances, reading and "digesting" the Word, and now lately reading a little book called "the 4:8 Principle." In it the writer expounds on the rather simplistic truth that as believer's we are to first concentrate on making sure that our thoughts are held captive by our heavenly Father's intentions for us. "finally brothers(sisters), whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, & good report..think on these things." It is when we just follow this recipe for success that no matter what crosses our paths, good, bad or indifferent, we find we are already equipped through Him that loves us so, and to walk through it hand in hand. Being "covered", "transformed by the renewing of our minds", "thoroughly furnished", is our legacy as sons and daughters of the King. Being JOY-FILLED is meant to be our natural state as we just take what is ours because of Him who went before us in every way. All these other thoughts that pull us aside from practicing His presence through faith only render us faithless as we listen to the wrong people. Our ineffectiveness is Satan's greatest satisfaction where we are concerned. Veering away from the simplicity of God's Truth is the challenge. Trying to make sense of everything that comes our way is human, but trusting our Creator is the key to being able to watch God orchestrate our lives for our and His ultimate good. "We are over-comer's...Being conquerors through Him who loves us so." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt7gKnzXYXc

Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

See, this little girl? Her name is Shaye. I have known her since the time she was born, in fact, I was blessed to attend her birth. She was a tiny baby girl, not much over five pounds, but I remember the first thing that I noticed about her was her perfect little head and her huge captivating eyes. I love Shaye's family. She has one older brother, one younger brother, and a younger sister, and love each of them tremendously. This kind of places her in the middle. Her parents love and enjoy her completely, and have learned to appreciate and encourage the differences in all four of their children.
I believe that God puts individuals in our lives for a purpose, and I have to say that where this young lady of seven is concerned, Shaye has blessed me in more ways than I can count. I see wonderful qualities in her that have come across in the past to be mistaken at times negitively or hard to handle. However, my feeling is that after doing something questionable, if a hug and a "sorry" follows, there is always hope. I mean, really, do we even ever get it right in adulthood?!!! I'm sure that God shakes His head at us more times than not. Pictures are as plentious of this little girl as are her moods, smiles, creativity, and constant willingness to do or learn something new. She loves to laugh, to teach, to be read to, to write and color, to control, and to do things her own way. How can I (or YOU) not smile inside when you look at this picture of her toothless grin. I tell her as often as I see her how much I love her. It's true! When I sit at her house, or she at mine, she always will come and cuddle up next to me, sometimes with a pile of books. Soon she will be reading them all without any help from me, sadly. Her legs are almost as long as mine, and she has her own things to do, but for now I know that I still have a place in her heart and am important to her. She will always be important to me. I'll always remember those big eyes on that tiny baby girl that I thought was beautiful from the very beginning. She is growing into many of those "tough to handle" personality characteristics that caused her parents grief. Her strengths of spontaneity, a strong will, attention to detail, and most importantly a tender heart are going to take her far. I pray for all of them, just like I do my own three children, now grown. God has been so faithful ... He has a definite and defined purpose for each of us, and I thank Him today especially for my Shaye-Shaye. All I ask in return is that when she thinks of me, she smiles too.

Heavenly Father, You are so good to give us a picture of your love for us, in the love we are gifted to experience in our own lives. I thank you for my family, and for others like Shaye, who you've placed in my life to love so easily...Just as you love us with ease. When something of true beauty is given to us, we know it's of You. Remind me to watch for those "small touches" that you have placed in my heart and life, instead of allowing the mountains that I want moved to blind me of the many "custom made by you" details that are already there.

Bless Shaye, protect her and her brothers & sister, and prepare those that will know and learn from her as she grows and matures into a lovely young woman that belongs to You. Life will always be exciting when Shaye is in it! Amen.