Oh the places you can go

This morning I have been having a great time looking through my husband's pictures. He returned, last night, from a week long business trip to Italy. Simply breathtaking and inspiring...

Redeeming Love

What does it mean to be Saved or a Christian?

Regardless of our backgrounds and upbringing, we were ALL people dead in our trespasses and sins. DEAD. Not able to move, let alone help ourselves.

BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

*even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

*and raised us up together (now alive!),

*and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Why? Because I'm a hard worker? Nicer than that other person? NO!

SO THAT in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Rejoicing with you today, Ker Sin, on this first Sunday which you say, "I am a Christian!"

Heroes

Late evenings this week I've been drawing while listening

to some of my favorite biographies here .

Some of my heroes:

John Owen

Jonathan Edwards

John Bunyan

Charles Spurgeon

John Paton

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7

Remembering her

Celebrating Samantha's one year in heaven today. Here, however, life is not the same without her.



We miss you, Samantha...





Looking back and relying on those Scriptures friends have encouraged me with to get through this day



The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Isaiah 57: 1,2



The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18



This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope, through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, for His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion', says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him'. Lamentations 3:21-24

After the Storm

Sunday afternoon we were hit with effects of the hurricane. We didn't have rain, just the wind. They got up to 80 miles an hour. While we were eating dinner we saw 3 trees split and blow right over at my in-law's home. These are some of things we saw on our way home.
Their roof blew off:
Trees were down on the electric line all down our back country road.

When we got home, we discovered a very messy yard.

We were out of electricity for three days. Of course, I loved pulling out the oil lamps...

The power of God's holiness and justice are like a great, violent hurricane, and the grace of God is like the eye of the hurricane where all is peace and calm. Grace is the center of God's reality. Grace, or love, is the essential calm at the center of the vortex of his infinite perfections. - John Piper

First Week of School

O, God,

Grant us in all our duties Your help;

in all our perplexities, Your guidance;

in all our dangers, Your protection;

and in all our sorrows, Your peace.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

our body, and our blood,

our life and our nourishment.

Amen.

St. Augustine (354-430)

Holiday...Week 2

Since I was a child, my parents would camp at Pancake Bay, Ontario on Labor Day Weekend. I have always wanted to take my husband and children there someday. The timing was right so we decided to head up with my parents to Canada and extend our vacation a bit.

Traveling through Mackinaw:

Had to stop for some juicy U.P. Red Haven Peaches...

Watching a ship cross from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron at the Sault Ste. Marie Locks:

Then crossing over to Canada:

To Pancake Bay. It was breathtaking...just as I fondly remembered...

My husband was called on business to Guelph, Ontario so we decided to even extend the vacation (which Canadians call it 'on holiday') some more and go on the visit with him. This time, however, visiting the place where he grew up. We drove down Lake Huron on the Canadian side. There were no beaches it seemed. There was just rock... then water.

The kids got to see the home their daddy grew up in for the first time:

We were able to visit his Hungarian Grandma, who just turned 90

Holiday...Week 1

We went to Michigan along with our dear friends and their 5 children. We each stayed in a cabin along the lake near Rogers City, my hometown. We had such fun and came home treasuring our friends even more. Our cabin had a beautiful willow tree near the shore that made it impossible to not sit outside each day with my coffee and welcome each morning...

They looked out their window and saw this every morning

You can imagine the fun 9 kids had together... They made wonderful memories doing:

And:

Even:

And wonderful breakfasts:

There were even movie nights set up on the back deck:

Holly braving the cold Lake Huron with me:

Don kneeboarding on Grand Lake:

Babies Noah and Judah even enjoying their time:

Ending a wonderful week with some sparklers: