He hears

I love how my daily devotion seems to mimic my life. Maybe I just fit my stuff into it but I like to believe that it's one God's way of talking to me. Today was about God hearing our cries.

Psalm 28:6-7 says "Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of Thanksgiving."

It is so easy to praise God when we see our answer to prayer. But what about the time in between our prayer and his answer? How do we respond then? As you know, I've been in that place recently and I did not always praise him. In fact, I often questioned what He was up to. I prayed earnestly and I think deep down I knew He had things under control - but my actions didn't always reflect that belief. I think that we move too fast. We expect things quickly: our food, our netflix, our technology. We can pretty much access anything via computer: friends, information, recipes, clothes, books, etc. I think I feel like God should move as fast. I should be thankful that I see his answer at all.

I want to praise him always and know that even when I don't have the feeling of being heard, I still have the FACT. I have God's word on it!

Father, thank you for hearing our prayers! I pray for my family and friends who are in an in- between place. Give us peace in knowing that you care for us and you are working behind the scenes to make our paths straight.

Let it shine

I woke up this morning to the sound of thunder and lightning. The sky was dark, though normally bright this time of morning, and I could hear the pounding rain. It was a wonderful sound! We get a lot of rain in Portland but not so much lightning and thunder. Here in Texas, apparently it's a different story.



Anyway - we've been here a little over a week now and are fairly settled. The girls seem to be adjusting great and have met two friends, Alex (she is 12) and Sam (he is, um about 9). They love riding their bikes (after dinner of course when it has cooled down to about 90) and hanging out in our wading pool. Jordan loves everyone and is happy just about anywhere - though she has taken a shining to "uncle" Mark =)



I seem to be the one still out there in limbo. Not sure what to do. Not sure what God has for me here. It is so easy to get caught up in "what's in this for me" I forget to look past my self. This is something I've struggled with these past few months (well, probably a lot longer than that). But I don't want it to be this way. No matter what the circumstance, I want to be a light shining brightly for my Lord. Even when I feel I have nothing firm to stand on - I am reminded that He is my firm foundation. He fills our lives with his plans and his purpose - though they seem hard to understand at times - His plan remains the same.



So this rainy, stormy morning I am reminded to let my light shine. To trust in His timing and His plans. To let His light shine through me so I am not the focus, but that He is.



Father - fan the flames of my passion for you so that others will see your light inside of me. Let the fire that burns be a steady flame, not one that flickers in winds of change or consumes with damaging heat. Let it be a light that shows the way to you!

another beginning

Really - has it been a year? I'll blame it one the third child. Not that she has been difficult - quite the opposite really. It's just that my over 40 brain has taken this long to bounce back and feel somewhat normal (whatever that is anyway!)

So just a little something to help me re-enter the blogging community! We arrived in Texas - and wanted to share what my hubby wrote about our first hour in town. It's a little long (it is from Lanny afterall) - but a good read =) check out his blog at
www.tuckertrivia.blogspot.com


More to come...I'm sure there will be lots to report here from TX!!!

Am I Prepared...

We've been struggling with Kezia the past couple of months. You all know that she is pretty independent and fairly strong-willed but she is really pushing her boundaries - and my patience. I am at a loss at how to discipline her and find that most days I totally lose my cool. I've been praying that God would give me wisdom and discernment on this. I feel tired, mean and a nag. So this morning as I was praying for W/D, patience and for Kezia to have a good day, I read My Utmost For His Highest for Aug 14th. It is titled 'Chastening'. Great - here comes some wonderful insight on how to discipline my daughter!! Well - I was sort of right. (you can see where this is going, can't you =). I am God's daughter - and this was for me. "Despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him" Hebrews 12:5 spoke to my heart. In my attempts to correct Kezia all I really seem to be doing is showing my lack of discipline and need of correction. Kezia is learning from me how to lose patience, peace, and purpose.

"Am I prepared to let God grip me by His power and do a work in me

that is worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what

I want God to do for me, sanctification is God's idea

of what He wants to do for me, and He has to get me into

the attitude of mind and spirit where at any cost

I will let Him sanctify me wholly"

OK - ouch! I know that it is my responsibility to train/teach my children about God, love, integrity, etc. I think that God is showing me, through this challenge with Kez, my need for Him to train/teach me. I am the little child, wanting to go my way and do my thing. Help me Father to have the attitude "at any cost" and let you guide me, and chasten, as needed. Help me to learn from you so that I can teach my little ones. Help me to not be so hard on Kezia - afterall, you show me grace, patience, and love all the time. Thank you God that your mercies are new everyday!

Family haps

Well, I really meant to post these sooner...you know how it goes =)

Kezia lost her other front tooth just days after the first one! She was so excited - Lanny was at the store and I suggested she waited for daddy..."no way, Mommy - I'm gonna pull this one out now!" And so she did =)


The raising of the hoop - finally! With a little (lot) help from our friends, Lanny's basketball hoop dream is fulfilled.


Lanny's first shot...(it went in - yay!) We've had several neighborhood kids come over and stare (it really is big) - and Lanny loves having them over to play.
Kezia enjoyed a two OMSI Science camps this summer: Kitchen Chemistry and Flower Power. Kitchen Chem was cool - she made glue, play dough, muffins & ice cream. This picture is from her field trip to the Rose Garden with her Flower Power group. Lanny was able to join us and help me chaperone some of the girls in the group - Eden was excited to finally go to camp =)
Ah, Jordan - unable to defend herself from the sticker monster, uh, I mean fairy =)

And as for me - I'm just trying to stay on top of all the things that seem to need my attention. In the midst of a crazy, fun summer - I feel God drawing me to Him. I struggle to find my quiet time but when I do, ah, such peace. Unfortunately it doesn't happen every day - but then, maybe that's why Jordan sometimes wakes up at 4am. I tell ya, God will come looking for you - and I'm so glad He does!

here we are...

Summer time is moving quickly! Jordan is almost three months old- and growing so fast. As you can see, she has found her fingers =) She sleeps beautifully (thank you Lord!) and loves to smile at people. She laughs in her sleep (adorable) and when I stick my tongue out at her I can tell she is ready to bust out laughing ...won't be long now....


Lanny has been working hard to get his BB ball hoop up. Eden has been a great helper - pouring water, moving rocks, checking the depth of the hole =). It's not yet completed but Lanny should be shootin' hoops before the week is out.

Kezia lost her front tooth (finally!) - the tooth fairy has come to our house three times in the last 5 months - Crazy! Kez's other front tooth is loose too, but it could be months before we see the tooth fairy again. I can't believe how fast she is growing and turning into such a little girl - with very definite ideas about what she wants =) She has been going to OMSI summer camp and loves it! I love that she is independent and willing to try anything - I just don't want her to grow up too fast.

enjoy the quick update...

Remembering

I'm in a little funk today. Have been most of this month. July is emotional for me. I got married in July, had my first child in July. But right now I'm thinking about two very influentional women in my life - my two best friends who passed away in July: my sister Karen and my Grandma Maxine. I was hoping that blogging would help release some of the sadness, and I guess it does, but tears stream down my face as I type.

My sister and I did not always see eye to eye and were opposites in many ways. But I knew she was always there for me, taking care of me. She could make me laugh like no other person - and cry as well. She gave me my first black eye, taught me how to shoot a basket, how to swim, how to open Christmas presents - but the most important thing she taught me was how to have a relationship with Jesus. She taught me that he was real and I could talk to him anytime I wanted to. She was strong, independent, caring, generous and full of life. I miss her.

My Grandma was just the most special lady you'd ever want to meet. She stood at four feet eleven inches but always appeared taller. She was classy, a smart dresser, loved music and taught me how to do the Charleston. I get my love of dancing from her. She and I would stay up late at night playing cards, telling secrets and giggling. She was a free spirit and a wise woman who taught me to look on the positive side of life, to keep smiling, and never give up. She was 93 when she passed away and I was blessed to be there with her. I read to her Psalms 23 and held her hand as she went to meet Jesus. I miss her.

Losing loved ones stinks! But I was so blessed to be touched by these two wonderful women. Their memories live on in me and I hope to pass them on to my children. I think I'll just go and have a good cry and miss my two best friends.