He makes all things beautiful in His time...

On August 28th,1983 when I was in labor with my 4th child, I asked my husband, Don if I could go have some "quiet time" with Jesus, so that I would be ready for the"hard work" that labor can bring. God very clearly met me that day and spoke 2 scriptures that I wrote in my journal. The 1st one was from Psalm 27( in the amplied version) vs.14"Wait,hope for and expect the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, and wait, hope for and expect the Lord. The other was Ecl.3:11 that says: "He has made everything beautiful in its time". I remember being a little puzzled because I didn't understand what God was trying to tell me, thinking "God this baby is going to come, why are you telling me to wait???".Well, our beautiful baby girl "Laura Elizabeth Ellis" was born the next day,but God in His Beautiful way was planting the seedof His Word in my heart to prepare me for the next 16 years of my journey with my little"victorious spirit" Laura. His Word gave me an anchor of hope, when despair tried to grab my heart! It comforted me over and over when doctor after doctor told us we had to wait until she got bigger!It gave me faith to trust Him with all of my heart and not lean to my own understanding, and when I look back over these past 23 years of Laura's life, I can see that God, so rich in His mercy and love has made"Everything Beautiful in His time". Laura is one of the most precious gifts God has ever entrusted to me. He used Laura to reveal areas of my life that had sinful patterns that were deeply embedded in my heart( like perfectionism, pride, pleasing man, not God, fear of man and others) The beauty that I see in Laura is something that can only come from a heart in love with Jesus!His grace is so evident in her life as a young woman, as a "future nurse" and as a wife to be!!!Laura,I love you and am so grateful that God has given me such a beautiful daughter as you. I pray that you will have the best birthday ever and a glorious year ahead with Lew!!

Welcome,Baby Gianna!!!!

Yesterday morning, at about 3:45 am my cell phone rang with my daughter-in-law, Priscila on the other end:"I think my water broke Mom" she said."What should I do?" I told her to call the doctor right away, and let him know what was going on, and then let me know the "Plan".I was so excited that she had asked me to be a part of her birth.It was such a blessing to see my little grandson Isaiah being delivered!!!Well i ended up waiting til I spoke to Sam about 10:30 and he said I should come to Holy Cross Hospital in the next hour or so because things were moving right along.When I got there I could tell that Prisciala was in transition( The most difficult time before the pushing starts).If you would have heard Sam and I coaching Pri at this time, you might have thought we were coaching a sports event of some sort :-) I think his vocation of being a physical trainer and mine of raising 5 kids and all the events I cheered at played a part in this but it was awesome to be there and Prisciala was such a trooper!!!!She delivered little baby Gianna with such graciousness (Gianna means "grace"in Italian) I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father that He has given me this wonderful privledge of seeing my first two grandchildren come into the world.Lord God, thank you so much for the gift of motherhood and all the rich blessings that you have graciously bestowed on our family!!

We may not be rich, but our children are jewels...

Many years ago, I posted a little sign on my wall that says: We may not be rich......(AS the title says) and I can honestly say that I am so rich!!! Not with money or possessions, but in God and His goodness!!!Yesterday, all of my family got together for a cookout, to celebrate my birthday( my 35th or maybe my 53rd :-) ) and I felt like I was royalty!! The gifts were abundant, and the cards and letters, wow what treasures to me...but not for the pretty pictures, but the hand-written words of love and encouragement to my heart. I am so rich that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much that He gave me His Son Jesus as a Substitute for my earthly blunders......and a wonderful husband and friend who is so dedicated to God and our family..... To my children,,Jer and Rach, Sam and Pri and baby Gianna, Hannah and Enoch and my lil buddy, Isaiah, Laura and Lew,and Charissa......Thank you ALL so much for your gifts and your LOVE!!! I truely am the Richest of women, I love you ALL sooooooooooooooo much MOM