Colorful Gems

5/26/14

My Friend / 365:138 - 147 and One Thousand Gifts (406 - 410)

My friend has stage 4 cancer. It has spread. Those words normally strike terror in the hearts of people. But not my friend. We went to see her the other day expecting.....I don't know what. But what we found was a woman who is the face of Jesus! She was absolutely radiant!

She told us story after story of how this "trial" has been the best thing to happen in her and her family's life. She and her husband are closer than they ever have been. Her children now have an amazing walk with the Lord. She told us of how, although she and her family were Christian, they seemed to be robots. Just going through the motions and obeying what they perceived to be the rules of Christianity. All that was stripped away with the "C" word. They, as a family, sought the Lord. They prayed, and prayed. Then prayed some more. And guess what? God was there. He met them in their need and none of them will ever be the same.

She is such an inspiration to me. I always knew there was more; that I was somehow missing the mark. What she has is real, unshakable and I want it. Best of all, I can have it! In fact, its there all wrapped up in a beautiful package just waiting for me to open it.

It seems strange to say that I'm happy for her, but I am. My earnest prayer is that her cancer is cured and she can spend more time here on earth with family and friends. But if God chooses to heal her in Heaven then I know she's okay with that too.

An old church down the street from my Mother-in-law's house

My gifts...........

406. My friend

407. Praying with my husband :)

408. Our former babysitter is graduating high school! She has grown into a beautiful, godly woman! Can't wait to see what God has for her!

409. Reading through the Bible with my boy.

410. 17 more days of school.

Staten Island Ferry

The creek out behind my sister-in-law's house. So peaceful!

My girl, Bear, bought me flowers, with her souvenir money, for mother's day. I am blessed!

Behind the pulpit at Christ Church

5/17/14

365:136 - 137 and One Thousand Gifts (401 - 405)

I really dislike taking pictures of people. Probably because I still stink at it. So, I gravitate to scenery and macro shots. They don't move, whine and make silly or inappropriate faces. Much easier.

The view from the airplane window on our way home. This was taken with my phone. I should have got my other camera out. Amazing!

Chow mein, anyone?

My Gifts - - - - -

401. Family. We are all still sad to be home. We miss all the PA peeps. So blessed to have spent a week and a half with them.

402. Happy to be home. (I know what I said above. But I'm both!) I missed my grand babies sooo much!

403. Thankful to have my big girl who stayed here to babysit my neurotic dog and the other critters.

404. Soccer is done!

405. 22 days of school left.

5/13/14

365:107-135

So many wonderful God given gifts lately! We just got back from a vacation to Pennsylvania. We were able to reconnect with family and see some fun and historic sites.

Mom-Mom playing go fish with one of the kids.

Pop-Pop with the girls

The Liberty bell. When asked later what she thought of the Liberty Bell, Boo answered "Well, it has a crack." I don't think they were impressed.

Walking up to the visitor's center. Why, oh why are they ALL walking on the grass when the walkway is 6 inches to their left?

What does Rocky have to do with the Declaration of Independence? I dunno either. But the good folks of Philadelphia thought there was a connection.

Phillies Phanatic!

Preach it sister! At Christ Church.

With cousin L after a makeover.

Mama N (my sister in law) didn't think too much of the makeover!

Cousin J. He's as much of a baseball fiend as my Mr. Baseball.

Princess and Boo with baby J (my great nephew) who will be a year old soon.

The kids found all sorts of critters in the creek outside of Aunt P's house. I think this is a salamander? Not entirely sure. These things don't exist here in the desert.

The girls all tuckered out at the Statue of Liberty

Playing in the stream in the park

Team work. I think they were going to make a dam.

Silly city boys trying to catch tadpoles. Like they were going to just swim into the cup, right?!

At the Philadelphia Zoo.

Zoo

At the shore. It was cold...and foggy...and did I mention cold?

Yes, they went swimming!

Boo and Aunt A

Ladybug with Uncle B, Aunt A and Baby J

Hubby with 3 of his 4 siblings.

The boys with Cousin (?) JS

The kids with some of their cousins

I have pictures of my other Mother and Father in law but they are on hubby's camera. Mine died because I forgot to bring my charger! I will post those next time along with the really cool scenery pictures I took.

4/16/14

365:100-106 and One Thousand Gifts (395 - 400)

I've really been having a hard time finding blessings lately. We've had a few big disappointments and my focus has been on those things rather than on God, who remains faithful and continues to bless my socks off at every turn. So, here I am still counting....

395. My friend who, just up and gave me a camera lens! Who does that?! I am blown away by this act of kindness and generosity.

396. Really fun, impromptu church picnic.

397. Seeing the miracle of new life in the ducklings at the park.

398. Watching Bear blow bubbles for random toddlers at the park...just because it made them laugh.

399. Seeing my big girls, who barely spoke to each other as kids, now very close to each other.

400. Amazed and humbled at the miracle of the conjoined twins, now separate and ready to go home.

365-100

Blood moon

365-101

Mr. Baseball feels the need to climb on EVERYTHING! This is at a local park and he's about 20 feet off the ground.

365-102

These ducklings are the cutest thing ever! They struggled so hard to get up that little waterfall. Mama duck was right there the whole time quacking her encouragement.

365-103

This turtle swam right up and let the kids pick him up. They named him Harry.

365-104

My cat. Her name is Jubileena Bing Bing. She's such a love!

365-105

Tigger always has that smirk on his face, like he has the next

joke on the tip of his tongue.

365-106

Boo playing mud cakes

4/12/14

365:89 - 99

As usual, I am behind. I should be at picture 102. Its amazing how fast this gets away from me.

365 - 89

Birthday season is upon us. Princess turned 9.

365 - 90

Bear turned 8.

365 - 91

My kids cooking a great breakfast of fried potatoes and eggs for everyone. Yum! So blessed to have kids who enjoy serving their family. Someday, the boys' wives will be thankful too!

365: 92 - 94