Computer Hiccup

My Computer had a little hiccup. I wasn't able to access any of my pictures, so I had to overhaul iphoto, and it took a long time because I have so many photos. I am back up and running except I will not be able to blog for the next few days. Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

And since a blog post just isn't a blog post without a picture. Here you go.... I cringe every time I see this picture.

Have Mercy!!!

Speechless

Today is a very sad day. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Obama say that Israel should return to the borders of 1967.

Speechless...

Sunday we had a wonderful sermon about needing to be a Christian before you are an American. All your decisions should be based on the Bible and Christ, not "worldly wisdom". Hard to believe that not 4 days later I'm writing this blog and feel the need to say that I am a Bible Believing Christian BEFORE I am an American. Quite frankly after today, I am almost ashamed to say that I am an American.

For the last 2 weeks, I have had several conversations with different people and I have said that I am concerned for this country because there are people who have the ear of Obama that want to destroy Israel and the Jews. Today my fears have been realized and Obama has turned his back on God's people and their country to try and befriend the Arab world. Why do this when they want us dead? Speechless...

In 2004 there was a letter written to Israel stating that we, the United States, would support and never turn our backs on them. It was signed by the President and all of Congress. 7 yrs later we have turned our backs on them. Speechless...

For those that don't understand the implications of this, let me spell some out for you.
Israel is the keystone to the west. Who is the west? We are, the United States of America. The Arab world is going after the Jews, they want to kill them and once they are done destroying Israel, they will go after us. You don't believe me? Remember 9/11? You think that the United States is too big to fall? That is what they said about the Titanic.

You move the borders back to what they were in 1967 Israel will have no way to defend itself. They will lose the Holy City. We will lose the Holy City. You want to see where Jesus had the last supper? You want to see the Mount of Olives? You want to see the Temple Mount? Think again. You already can't get to Bethlehem because Palestine controls that. Is this important? You tell me... Who did God give that Land too?

God blesses those who bless his people and he curses those who curse his people. That is Biblical, Gen 12:2-3. Who are his people? The Jews. And what did the leader of of free world do today? He turned his back on them. You think things are bad right now in this country? Get ready.

What a blow to one of our strongest Allies and on the eve, no less, of Netanyahu's speech to the congress. Do you know who Netanyahu is? Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel. He is the guy we just told to hand over his borders, that he has no right to the land he is governing and even though giving that land up is suicide for the Israeli people, he needs to do that in the name of peace. Like the Palistinians and Hamas are peaceful people.

I am going to be blatantly honest. I know I could get a lot of flack for this, I know that there are many who believe in the "change" that has come to America in the last 2 years, and I have not been silent that I do not agree with most of what has happened and that is not because our president is black or a democrat. It is because his policies do not line up with the Bible. But after today, I seriously don't know how you can call yourself a Christian, and on this issue alone, stand behind a man who is not standing behind God's people. This is dangerous ground we are treading on.

I have so much more I want to say, there is so much people are blind too. Look at history, learn from it. Most of the world was fooled by a charismatic man who spoke lies and ended up murdering over 6 million Jews. I encourage you to get informed. Learn what is going on and don't get your information from the Mainstream Media. They are not thinking and reasoning from Biblical principals. Get into your Bibles, God is very clear on where he stands with Israel and his people. We need to be clear as well, know where you stand.

Israel is the center stage from now till Jesus comes, are you paying attention?

Visiting Covert

Every year Tim & Melissa along with her cousin and his daughter go camping at a little campground on the Big Lake. And every year we try and take an afternoon to go and visit them.

Last year it was freezing! So even though it was the end of summer we were all in pants, sweatshirts and even wrapping up in blankets next to the fire in the middle of the afternoon. That is crazy camping for sure!! Did I mention they camp in tents!!

Jilli LOVES going to visit Uncle Timmy and Aunt Melissa because she knows that she will get to play with Brianna and she loves Brianna!

During this short visit we had two momentous events. Micah roasted his first marshmallow for his smore. It was the most beautifully puffed, light brown marshmallow. Perfect for melting chocolate between two graham crackers.

And then... Roasted Acorn. Don't ask me how acorns taste because I didn't taste it. But from the faces of those who did, it didn't taste very good. But then the idea of roasting it in a little oil sprinkled with seasonings came around. You have to understand that my brother was the kind of kid who would make peanut butter pickle sandwiches and EAT THEM! So roasted acorn wasn't out of the norm for him.

As I understand it, after roasting and seasoning it, it wasn't so bad. So if you ever need a nut to eat and the only thing available is acorns, now you know how to prepare them!

I very thoughtfully left out pictures of my sister-in-law because I know she wouldn't like to be plastered all over my blog (did I mention she was camping in a tent!! You Go Girl!), so instead I am putting on the faces of my doggy nephew and niece, Romeo's cousins. They are about the size of his head, but for little dogs... they are great!

One last picture... Tim checking the score of a game because even though they are camping in a tent, you still need to know what's going on in the world around you!

Blessings!!

14 Years and Counting...

60% of all Marriages in Michigan end in divorce in the first 7 years of wedded bliss. Only 30% of all marriages will make it to 30 years of marriage. That means out of 10 couples that you know, only 3 of the 10 will still be married at their 30th anniversary.

If those are not scary statistics I don't know what are and for what it's worth, going to church doesn't make your statistics much better. You are just as vulnerable in church as you are out of church. Selfishness, anger, bitterness... sin does not discriminate.

Here are some more statistics. The hardest years of marriage are the first 7. Marriage doesn't start to get "easier" until year 9-14. That is when people start to figure out how to be less selfish and more selfless. The interesting thing is that for most of those who divorce, they remarry and start those hard years all over again, that is why divorce is even greater the second time around.

So why these marriage statistics? Well today is our 14th Anniversary! We hit the "magic" number and I can honestly say that I am so thankful to God that we are able to celebrate this special day. We have had our rough times, marriage is work, but we have not given up and we are now enjoying the blessings of 14 years together.

I could go on to mention all the things that make Kevin special. I think I touched on some of those for his birthday post, so I won't go over all that again. But I would like to mention what I think has been the greatest tool for a marriage that is only getting better with time. Prayer.

We have prayed together, I have spent countless hours on my knees for Kevin, our marriage and family. Many, many people have prayed us through our 14 years and will continue praying for us. It is such a blessing to have an army of people surrounding us speaking truth and love into our lives.

I can honestly say that I love Kevin more today than I did that beautiful spring afternoon I became his bride. When I stood in front of a church full of people and promised my life to him, I had no idea where our journey would take us. We have shared so many wonderful times together. My mind is full of happy memories of the past 14 years. I am excited to see where God leads us on our next 14 years of marriage.

And just because I am a little sentimental I thought that I would share some of the precious words that were spoken 14 years ago today.

Kevin: I, Kevin, take you Lyn to be my wife; I promise to love you, care for you and cherish you and be faithful to you.

I will serve you with tenderness and respect.

I promise to pray for you and with you.

I will support you as we walk through life together.

Lyn: I, Lyn, take you Kevin to be my husband; I promise to love you care for you and cherish you and be faithful to you.

I will serve you with tenderness and respect.

I promise to pray for you and with you.

I will support you as we walk through life together.

Kevin: Lyn, I give you this ring as a symbol of our oneness in Christ.

Lyn: Kevin, I give you this ring as a symbol of our oneness in Christ.

We were pronounced husband and wife.

Pastor Van: Father, bless Kevin. Give him strength of character, depth of vision, and a manliness that will enable him to be bold and tender, assertive and kind, enthusiastic and compassionate. May your Spirit in his heart lead him to a growing faith, an increasing hope, and an expanding love. May he lead by serving after the example of Jesus.

Bless Lyn, dear God. Give to her strength of virtue, a heart of wisdom, and that feminine spirit that will enable her to be gentle and confident, considerate and strong, loving and alive in you. May your Spirit in her heart lead her also to a faith on the grow, to a hope that is increasing and to a love that is ever expanding.

Give them together, dear Father, such responsibilities that will bless them and develop their personalities as they walk with you.

In their tears keep them tender;

In their hurts keep them humane;

In their failures clench their hands tightly into yours;

And in all their joys may they ever see you as their good and gracious Father.

Lord, though their lives together may your Name be praised, may your Church be blessed, and your Kingdom come. This we pray in the name of him who taught us how to pray...

Reading those words brings me right back, it puts tears in my eyes and a smile on my face...

Happy Anniversary Kevin!

Cutting his way to Manhood

Last night, my son continued his ever progressing adventure into manhood. My heart is full of pride and yet, sad at the slowly disappearing boy that I love so much.

He took a big step last night as did his Daddy. I was quite shocked at the question that was posed to me over our family dinner. I just looked at Kevin and wondered if he really had lost his mind. My son was not old enough for this task.... or was he? He is very responsible, has a good head on his shoulders, but he still just a boy!

This was an exercise in trust for me. I had to trust my husband to be the teacher (normally my role), I had to trust my husband to make sure my (little) boy stayed safe and I had to trust my husband to know when our son had reached his limit.

Lets just say that I stayed inside the house except for a few pictures and short video so that I wasn't a "backseat driver" to my son's rite of passage. I didn't trust my self watching. I had flashbacks of learning how to drive and my mother gasping, hitting the imaginary break and holding her breath until we made it safely back home. I wanted this experience to be a father son thing. Something they could both look back on with smiles and remember whens.

The journey began with instruction. Going over what everything does, knowing how to work the machine. Then came the most important instruction. This part of the lesson is of upmost importance to the head of this house. How to cut a straight line.

Let me for a moment pause at this part.... For once upon a time, I tried to help lessen the load of my husbands duties around the house when he was very busy. I mowed his lawn. To me this was an act of love. To my husband it was an act that I shouldn't have committed. Now to his credit, he thanked me for helping and then lovingly told me that I didn't cut the lawn with straight lines and that mowing the lawn was his time to relax and not to worry about cutting it again. From that day forward, I have yet to cut the lawn. We have since retired our old lawn tractor and moved to a new one that I have yet to even start.

After Micah had assured his father that he indeed knew what a straight line was and could cut the grass in such a manor, his instruction moved onto practicing driving the tractor around our slice of earth. The smile on his face was radiant. He was so proud of himself as he drove circles around and around the house.

Then it was time for some last minute warnings. You know... don't run over any kids... you fall off you could die (Micah said this one). Just a little healthy fear is good for any kid.

Next it was time for me to run in the house because I.was.scared. I was telling myself that all boys have to go through this. That this is one of those "boy" things that I need to let go and allow him to do. That in the olden days boys were using axes at the age of 5 and most of them survived so what was a little tractor?!

I heard the mower deck start up and I just started praying. Lord, please keep my little man safe and please help him to cut straight lines....

After awhile I stepped out of the house to see how he was doing. His Daddy was lovingly watching over his every move, making it as safe as possible. He had a sweet expression on his face as he watched his first born maneuver the tractor around obstacles.

I headed back inside as Micah continued to mow. I would peak out the window and watch him shoot across the lawn going one direction, then shoot across going a completely different direction. I went and sat on the front steps to watch my son's artwork take shape. His Daddy and I kept laughing as he would dart to a different part of the lawn to cut a part that he missed. We laughed at his 20th attempt at cutting around the landscaping island. I smiled as his face, so serious in concentration, tried to figure out how to cut around the flagpole.

So my little boy started cutting his way to manhood. It's really has been a journey he has been on since the day he was born, but I am only now starting to see it clearly.

And the straight lines? Well... there wasn't really any and his Daddy couldn't be prouder!

Blessings!!

(Here is a short video, I start laughing because he was cutting in the most interesting pattern)

Camping & Horses (again)

We spent an absolutely gorgeous weekend camping. The sun was out, the wind was light the temps were warm. I didn't want to leave. It was a perfect camping weekend.

We were camping with our friends and we also had some special visitors stop in. My sister came for supper and my brother from Chicago showed up early Sunday morning to spend a few hours with us.

Camping brings such peace, I love it's slowed down pace, it's sit around the campfire and let the kids play, it's homemade donuts in the late afternoon and ruin your dinner appetite, the list could go on. Camping is such a special time for our family, the memories I have growing up camping bring a smile to my face and I am sure that my kids will look back at these years of camping with a smile on their faces.

I have needed to finish up my never ending horse pictures. This should be the last post they grace, although I will probably have a whole new slew of them come this summer. I really am hopeless when it comes to horses (as is my daughter).

Even Daddy took his turn petting the horses!

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Blessings!!

Courage in the Storms

I have written 3 posts and have not published a single one. I have a hard time coming here and writing when I have been dealing with emotions that I have had a difficult time silencing.

It's been almost two weeks ago that words were spoken. Honestly the words angered me because they were spoken out of such ignorance. I have felt like Jacob wrestling with the Angel. I am tired, worn out...

There are times that I believe you need to speak up, and then there are times that you need to be silent. Speaking up takes courage and yet.. so does silence. And in this situation I am going to be courageously silent.... for now. But if a mouth opens and ignorance falls out again, I will take that as a sign to take courage and speak up for what is right and true.

Last week there were a series of storms that moved through. One minute it was sunny and blue sky and then next it was hailing. It was a perfect picture of the recent journey my heart has taken. Now at first glance it might seem ominous, but if you take a closer look there is beauty in those storm clouds....

Some might not take the time to look and will miss some of the most awesome displays of God there are. Don't miss out... Even in storms of life, storms of the heart or storms of nature there is beauty.

Blessings!!