Psalm 105:1-5

O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wonderous works.

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth;

I have had quite the week. Honestly, I have gotten weary. I found out that one of the twins the Dr. wants to send back to both occupational and physical therapy, my hubby was home for one week and left again today, a long with MUCH more . . . and so it goes.

 Early one morning I heard a ding on my phone and it was my friend from church saying she is praying for me, later in the week get an email from my friend in Colorado just being who she is a precious friend, got text messages from my friend in South Carolina giving me updates on her week which was crazy but she was praying for me too, then tonight just EXACTLY when I needed it I got an email from my sister in law in Wisconsin who this year has adopted me as her sister even though she has a twin sister. I could not believe what she wrote . . . words that were filled with such wisdom and kindness, great kindness. I got up and had the strength to finish off my children's day the way it should with God's Word. I read the above passage and talked through it with the kids. What marvellous work? Name a wonder . . . We sang and prayed for others that have big things going on and said the passages that I want the kids to hide in their hearts. I will try to post those another time.

How ashamed I am of allowing myself to get so discouraged. Instead of waiting on the Lord and mounting up with wings as eagles and not growing weary in my running I was fainting but with the encouragement of dear friends of godly, Christian friends and the Word of God I find my heart strengthened. I am physically tired but encouraged. How can my heart not rejoice in His marvellous grace toward me? How can my heart not rejoice at His wonderous work of creation?

I'm tired. I'm blessed. I'm going to bed. :-)

I don't know what tomorrow holds but I know He holds my future. Don't think that is an accurate quote but close enough. :-)

Here is the Difference between the 2 Girls!!!

The clip right above this is of C and you'll see she keeps putting her head down later that night she got sick and was obviously not feeling well.:-) In the clip of the 2 girls some may wonder why I didn't take back the fork and give it to B again. The purpose of my video taping was to get their interactions with each other.

Baby C and Baby B are SOOOOOO different yet enjoy each other so much. Recently, I put C in bed and she cried while I went to go get Baby B and then when I brought B in C picked up B's bottle and handed it toward her like "ok, here you go now you and I can go to bed." Then another time I put C in her crib first again and then when I brought B in C pointed to B's bed like " Ok, put her right there." They laugh at each other and it is so funny to watch. C is very serious and stubborn and B is very animated, loves music, and to laugh . . . more easy going in some ways. I noticed that sometimes Baby C sees Baby B being praised for being cooperative and then decides "Hey, I want that praise too" so she does the same thing. NICE!

J, our 2 year old, seems to understand the difference between the two extremely well.  He is very rough and tumble with Baby C and usually very sweet and gentle with Baby B. Yesterday, the 3 were in the bath tub and J and Baby C were just really giving it to each other with smacking each other with wash clothes, etc. I came and said who wants to get out? J volunteered Baby B. I had G come and watch the kids in the bath tub while I went to get B dressed. G was telling me how J and C were just going at it with water at each other. J seems to know B is more fragile. The same day later on J was standing just gently hugging and hugging baby B and then even later chasing Baby c in the kitchen. I love that he gets their differences and enjoys them both for who they are.

"J" Story

I was at Walmart and I said to J, my 2 year old, "Look at all the beautiful hearts!". There were so many beautiful candy heart boxes out for Valentine's Day. He replied "For Jesus". I loved hearing that his heart is tender toward Jesus. As a parent that is such a joy to hear.

Psalm 138:8--Beautiful, what a GREAT God that can give STRENGTH in our soul!

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou has magnified thy word above all thy name.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
 
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: 

thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: 

forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Jewish Memorial

Dietrich Bonhoeffer-- a man, after reading of his life, I hold in extremely high regard. He was passionate about his relationship with the Lord and doing right no matter the cost.

On Saturday my hubby went to Flossenburg Concentration Camp in Germany. This is the concentration camp where Dietrich Bonhoeffer along with thousands of Jews were held prisoner and executed. My hubby took videos so I could see it too. Very Very sobering.

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Place of Nations

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Detention Barracks Courtyard

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Prisoner Barracks

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Detention Barracks

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Roll Call Grounds

Flossenburg Concentration Camp - Overview

On Saturday my hubby went to visit Flossenburg Concentration Camp in Germany. This was the concentration camp where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed. My hubby took video tapes of it for me so I could see it to. Sobering.

II Corinthians 4:3-18

2 Corinthians 4:3-18

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Yesterday I got stumped on a devotional passage for family devotions. As I was reading I prayed for the Lord to show me a passage. The above passage I read and knew this was it and it was what I was supposed to read and discuss. I wish I could write more on our devotions last night as it had a couple interesting elements but I think I should leave this entry short. God's Word is powerful. God supplies us with what we need for what He calls us too. "Faithful is He who calleth you who also will do it."

My Hubby is in Love!

My hubby frequently has to travel to Europe. A few days ago he sent me a text with this picture and said "I am in love." While he is in Europe his rental car is the one above and I guess it has a lot of power and very fun to drive.  He wanted me to show the picture to "J" because "J" LOVES cool cars! J enjoyed seeing the car daddy was driving.

Yesterday I was driving home in the rain and dark from another town and my GPS took me the back roads home. CRAZY!!! I am a fairly adventurous driver but this road had no shoulder and the cars were often hugging the center line and my 15 passenger van is wide. It was NOT fun driving. J heard me talking and said "Daddy will help with car" "Daddy will help with car". He said it many times which I thought was very cute and sweet. I told him daddy would help but he is in Germany and that we should pray for God to help us. When we finally arrived home I heard little J say "God helped us." AMEN, I say to that.

I told a friend of our later and they said "Elbow Rd?" I said "Yes!" they knew exactly what I was talking about and said that road can flood over during rain. Yes, it is named Elbow Rd. because it has a lot of turns in it. Maybe fun during the day without rain:-) Oh, so the funny part . . . J was telling Daddy about our drive as we were face timing him and he told daddy that the "cars were hugging Mommy and that it was bad." Too funny! He heard me say the cars were hugging the line:-)

Portion of Acts 20

¹⁷ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: ²⁰ and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, ²¹ testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ²² And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: ²³ save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. ²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Another passage my brother sent to me. What a day. What a week. And another beginning.

Family and the Farm

Me with my big brother and "little" brother!!

 

The day before the wedding my older brother wanted to show A and I around the farm that he now lives on. By the way it was stinking COLD there. Some days just about unbearable and that was one of them! But I was really glad to get to see his home and his surroundings!!

 Me with my siblings and dad and each of us with our oldest or in my case 2nd oldest child.

A loves her uncles and was excited to come to Uncle B's wedding!!

My Brother's Wedding

This is my older brother B and his bride on January 1st. I think that is such a great day of the year to get married and so romatic!!! Every new year is a remembrance of each other and a new beginning of a year together. Anyway, we think J is a WONDERFUL pick and we have no doubt God brought these two together. A and I flew in for the wedding. I'll post more pictures of A with her cousin A from Colorado. They had a blast together along with my older brothers son C. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding and we were blessed to have been there for it.

I did not get many pictures because I had to where to put my camera that was handy and I was wearing incredibly high heels that made walking around something I didn't enjoy!:-) Here A even has one shoe off and one on:-) she is with her dear friend and cousin A. Oh, well about getting better pictures I hope I'll get some from other people. These pictures were taken right before the ceremony started.

I am not real talented at doing hair but I was really happy with how A's turned out. I found this style on Pinterest.

Girls always enjoy being with Bride's!!!!

Sweet kiss:-)

Bride with the bridesmaids. I REALLY enjoyed meeting the lady right next to me. She was the brides cousin and such a fun person!!!

Me with my now sister-in-law and big brother.