As we pulled up to the parents house, I could hardly breathe. I did not have the strength to do this again………..my father in law passed away on Thursday afternoon around 3pm. It was very unexpected. We lost his wife, my mother in law, just a few months before in September. She suffered from cancer and passed on shortly after the family finding out. Both of my husbands parents have passed on within months of each other. I did not blog about my mother in law passing on because it was too painful. His dad passing on is also painful……but if God can use this in someones life than it is worth it.

They are both in the presence of God. They are standing face to face with THEEE Almighty! Beverly is no longer in pain she can dance walk and live to the fullest! George will walk on two good legs. No longer will they cry, have any pain or ailments. But simply rest….rest in God’s peaceful presence. It is hard not to be jealous…..on the other hand it hurts my heart to know they are both gone. I mourn for my husband.

I will admit, I shook my fist at God and asked, “Why, why both, why take both of them…..why take both of them from my husband!” I came to the realization this weekend that God does ALL things well. God does ALL things well. All things!!!!! He did not quite on us..He did not make a mistake…this was not an accident. He simply knew the day that he would call Pop home. Our days are numbered, they are written out before we are even born. This was his destiny. It was no accident. God does all things well. It hurts, I don’t like it, it is soo hard to deal with. We will miss him and Mom tremendously! But only by God’s grace can we deal with the pain.

As my tears flow freely right now……I also rejoice! Thank you Lord……how awesome are you for saving their souls! I will be eternally grateful for working in both of their lives. God thank you that Dad did not have to suffer, you took him quietly and peacefully.

Please Pray!!!!! Pray for our family, friends of his, and pray for us, for my hurting husband. We need your intercession.

Today while I was preparing dinner, I was chopping up lettuce with my chopping knife. I felt disappointed as I ran the blade through the lettuce leaves. I felt this way because not too long ago this knife was new, and in perfect condition. Now it is dull and does not cut like it use to. I am not excited to use it anymore.

Then it dawned on me…isnt our relationship with God the same way? If we are not giving it the attention and care that it needs it no longer serves to the fullest potential of it’s ability. Our walk may no longer be exciting but more of a duty. This is because we are not rooted and grounded in our faith. We no longer have the joy we once did when we first came to Christ. We need to stay sharp in the word or we will also no longer serve to our fullest potential.

Just a thought.

When I was driving home from work today this song by Building 429 came on called, “You Carried Me” I know you have probably heard this song many times before on K Love, I know I have. But today it reached down deep and grabbed my heart. It spoke the words that I needed to tell my Jesus. I feel so revived after laying those words at the foot of the cross. So often we let our lives take us away from our true focus, Jesus, God, love, healing, forgiveness. Thank you Lord for carrying me when I have no strength to move.

You Carried Me
I’ve been so busy, I missed the reasons
I missed Your love, and I nearly missed it all
Still You’ve loved me, and You’ve healed me
You’ve given all and it brought me to Your cross
I stand only because You’ve given me grace to walk
Only because

Chorus
You carried me
You carried me
You carried me through it all
And I believe
Yes I believe
You’ll carry me all the way home
Cause mercy covers all
Cause mercy covers all

I know the scripture, I’ve known the songs
I sang the words from my hollowed heart
But You’ve spoken softly through the storm
I’ve heard Your voice and I’ve felt the calm
I stand only because You’ve given me faith to walk
Only because

Chorus

I know that you love me
I’ll never doubt it I can’t live without it
Your mercy has found me
I am astounded, I can’t live without it

You carried me
You carried me
You carried me through it all
You carried me
You carried me
And I believe
Yes I believe
You’ll carry me all the way home
Cause mercy covers all
Mercy covers all
And I believe
Yeah, and I believe
Yeah, I believe

We loaded up the cooler, grabbed the sunblock and went to our annual Easter picnic after church . It was nice to see the fam (some of them anyway)

I think Grandpa is trying to get in his.. “say wiskeeey!”

I say How Good Is God, because….. I have been praying all week that God would use me to reach out and bless someone, to BE the blessing. I wanted to give of my time or resources to someone in need one way or another, as I mentioned in my last blog. Also, in my pre-k Sunday School class we have been collecting for anyone that may be in need of food, so we have a large bag filled with cans and other non-perishables that my Sunday School class has been bringing in over the past 6 months. So I have been praying that God would reveal someone in need.

Well yesterday both prayers were answered, we received a call from a friend that needed help giving to someone in need. This friend got into a really bad car accident and is unable to work. His wife has been struggling to make ends meet for some time now. He asked us if we could help out with grocery’s!!!! I was SO excited that God answered my prayer! I know it doesn’t always fall in our lap like that, but it was awesome! I am so excited that God is using myself and my Sunday School to reach out and help someone in a difficult time. This was especially awesome after a very rough, discouraging morning. To hear God’s voice, and know that He is there!

Isn’t God good?

I have never cried so much over a TV show in my life than I did today. I love Oprah’s Big Give! It was so touching to watch this big group of people go out into the world and significantly change and impact people they don’t even know in such a positive way! These stories REALLY touched my life! They helped a widow who lost her husband in a shooting while he was working just six months ago, these two men completely changed her life by giving her scholarships for her children and a very large amount of money to go towards her mortgage that she is struggling to keep up right now. Another group helped out a homeless mother of two teens by giving her a large amount of money, scholarships for her children, and a car! And these were just a few people who they touched. I am just so amazed at the love and kindness when people allow themselves to give. It reminds me of the verses,

Mark 10:21— “Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ ”

Matthew 25:34-40— “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ”

Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Jesus is such a radical! And He calls us to be radical also. To give without holding anything back. I cant describe how encouraged I am to go out and give big. What can you give?

I have to say I was having a rough morning today, I was discouraged and felt torn down and really bummed out over some trials that God has placed in my path lately. God knew exactly what I needed today……….

Flowers!

It seems like they are just flower’s, but to me they are so much more. They are my rememinder that God hears my hurting heart, and a remimder that He loves me. Isn’t God good?

Thank you Patty for letting God use you in my life.

Wow! What a day we had. Julie and I rushed to my Dr. appointment after work, that took a long time, while we were there we heard that it was snowing in Ramona. And then we went to Walmart to fill my perscription and get valentine’s day gushy lovey stuff. After that we finally made it to Nick’s At The Beach, where we met the boy’s. We ate dinner pretty late but all in all it was a very eventful evening. Then we came home to this.

Thanks for the fun guys!

Wow, it snowed today. It snowed today in Ramona! In sunny San Diego California, Ramona…….It SNOWED!!!!! Did I mentioned that it snowed at home today? It was WAY cool! It hasn’t snowed for maybe 10 years and that was for 5 minutes. Out of my whole entire life It has only snowed here I think maybe twice!

Definitely a memorable Valentines Day!