Weddings, celebrations and life's big moments....

We had the pleasure of attending a wedding this weekend. The wedding was a wonderful experience, and we were grateful to have been able to witness the marriage of two people who are not only deeply in love, but are so obviously soul mates. My cousin, Emily, was beautiful and I am sorry I don't have any good pictures of her with her groom, but suffice it to say they were stunning, and clearly deeply connected. At least I can show you her obvious happiness and joy that shines through in the pictures I was able to get of her.

It is sometimes hard to realize that the big moments of life, are simply moments. Most of life is lived out in the mundane everyday-ness that we all experience. But it is those daily experiences that make way for the "big moments" in life. I am so thankful for the big moments I have had...our own wedding was like a dream, and I can only hope that Emily and Tim had at least half as wonderful a day as my sweetie and I shared. However, I might add that not every day we have had since that "big moment" 17 plus years ago has been "wonderful." Some of those days have been hard, and down right difficult. However, I would never trade the mundane everyday moments, or the difficult times to only have just the one "big moment." For without the backdrop of the mundane and the difficult times, I couldn't possibly appreciate the "big moments" God has given to me. Together these weave together a life and love I will cherish for the rest of my days.

Do I Trust You Lord?

There is an old Twila Paris Song that often speaks my deepest feelings when I am considering something difficult, or even something simple. Trust is one of the most basic instincts that a child learns in infancy, and if it isn't learned, they never fully move on to successful adulthood. That may be how it is with our Creator as well. As I learn to trust Him in the small things, I should then be able to trust Him in the bigger situations in life. Clearly God knows the outcome...but mostly, He knows what it is I need to learn in the middle, and that may be the most important reason to listen to His leading and do whatever HE leads.

There was a time not long ago that I continued to refuse to do what I knew in my heart that God was telling me to do. Taking the plunge and actually doing what I knew God had been trying to get me to do, was probably one of the worst seasons of my life. When I finally received counsel from my Godly cousin, I knew that I had to do what I had felt God nudging me to do....or suffer the consequences. Leaving a church and position in which I was not only comfortable, but felt used by God, was devastating at the time. Now, though I can finally look back and see that doing what God said to do, was my only real option. To go my own way, and ignore the Lord, would have surely lead to my destruction, and likely the destruction of my family. I can also now see the blessings. The reasons for the things God planned.

So, trusting God with the outcome, is the only way. Thank you Pastor Dennis for reminding me once again, that God truly does know best, and is not only worthy of my trust....but will be with me from the moment of my first step, to my last...

DO I TRUST YOU?
by Twila Paris

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in your will, what's in your plan
So many times I'm tempted to ask you why.
But I can never forget it for long
Lord what you do, could not be wrong
So I'll believe you, even when I must cry.

Do I trust you Lord? Does the river flow?
Do I trust you Lord? Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind,
And you've got to know, I would rather die,
Than to lose my faith, in the one I love.
Do I trust you?

I know the answers, I've given them all
But suddenly now, I feel so small.
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology,
but right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know.

Do I trust you Lord? Does the robin sing?
Do I trust you Lord? Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind,
And you've got to know , I would rather die,
Than to lose my faith, in the one I love.
Do I trust you?

I will trust you Lord, When I don't know why.
I will trust you Lord, till the day I die.
I will trust you Lord, when I'm blind with pain,
You were God before, and You'll never change.
I will trust you, I will trust you, I will trust you Lord.


Amen.

Family pictures....some that God gave me by birth...

I love summer, and times to just hang out and share time together. I'm so grateful for the ability to build memories with my children, as well. Our first camp fire was a success, and hopefully one of many to come...

Friends.... family that we choose

It was after a recent Weekend with out of town friends, and friends around the block that I was once again reminded of my many blessings and the privilege I have of calling some of these people, "Friend." God is so good. This is but a tiny piece of the joy and fun we were able to pack into a weekend, with friends/family around the campfire. God is So Good....all the time....but especially whe we get to share time with people we love!!!