My "baby" is growing up!!!!!

Last night I went to Laura's place to spend time with my girls. Charissa was there to spend the night, because Lew went away on a retreat. We ate together, watched her wedding video, sang ( with the guitar! ) and just laughed and enjoyed each other!!! It made me once again so aware that I am in a new season of life and my "baby" has become one of my closest friends! What a blessing that God gives us new seasons of life, and what precious Grace He gives to enjoy those seasons!!Today, Charissa and her college friends from Intervarsity are heading down to the Mall in Washington D.C. to see what its like for a child in Uganda who has to sleep outside (they have been raising money for the "Invisible Children" ) in Africa. It is a joy to watch Charissa "growing up", because I have seen such good fruit(of the spirit) blossoming in her life. Like compassion, Agape Love, gratefulness and constant appriciation for the "little things",just an all around joyfulness to serve others. I know that the only way this " regeneration" occurs is through a heart devoted to our precious Saviour!!!So once again, I have "tasted to see that the Lord is so good"( Psalm 34 ) There is NO GREATER JOY than to see my children walk in God's Truth!!!! Thanks Lord for hearing the constant cry of my heart, that they might know You!!!!!!

Spring has sprung!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday,in both morning and afternoon classes, and today in the AM class, we visited Meadowside Nature Center, in Rockville, Md. The "Park Ranger" that we had for each of our visits, Glenn and Jonathan, were awesome with the kids!!! They taught them about seasons,mostly about Spring and took us on all kinds of trails to "experience" some of the changes going on outdoors. The children really enjoyed everything, the indoor cave, the nature room(with a real beehive in a glass wall) the different birds, flowers and smells outside, what a glorious time we had!!!!God was so good to hear our prayers and stop the rain for each field trip, and allow the kids to be outside and see His Majestic Handiwork. As we were leaving today to go back to School, I realized that this was one of my own" Favorite places" to bring my own children in the Summertime, just to enjoy nature.Thanks,Papa, for another wonderful year with these precious little ones!!!! We really had fun!!!!!

To our beloved Sneakers.............

When Laura was 9 years old, and Charissa was 4, we adopted a " hot dog" from Baltimore. Sneakers was around to watch 4 of my kids go through the teenage years (at the same time, whew!) Charissa was 5 years later, and He was a great comfort to Laura , when she went through her many surguries.A few years ago, we found out he had "cushings disease" because he couldn't stop eating. God graciously gave us a few more years with him. Last night, I babysat at Sam and Pri's house, and when I arrived home, I discovered that " Sneaks" had died. Even though I am very sad, God heard my prayers, because I asked Him to let it happen this way (we had another dog before Sneakers and because of a tumor, had her put to sleep)After reading Randy Alcorn's book on Heaven, my only prayer is that maybe Sneaks will greet me at the Pearly Gates. Thanks Sneaks, for all the love and memories you gave to us, the Ellis Family!!!!!!

Through the eyes of a child.......

The most wonderful thing about seasons is the " change". It brings new life,a "freshness" and a time to see the hand of God creating His "artwork" so that we, His creation can stand in awe and wonder!!!I have been conversing with the little children at Preschool about the changes that are going on outside. One day, as we were walking outside to the playground, a little boy remarked: "Hey, Mrs. Ellis, the grass is turning green and it's growing!!!" and another child responded enthusiastically" Yea, and GOD DID IT!!!!!" Wow, to see things through the eyes of a child. This is why I love my job. It is so amazing to listen to their simple, yet profound observations of the mighty hand of God and how He must smile from Heaven when He listens to them. Today, at circle time, I taught the children about the little boy who shared his lunch with Jesus for our Bible story. When we were done, and we were discussing what a Miracle it was for Jesus to make the bread grow, precious little Laila exclaimed: " God is so awesome!!" Today I feel like I understand more clearly what Jesus meant when He said that in order to enter the Kingdom of God you have to become like a little child!!!God loves it when we see Him in the little "wonders" of every day life.It pleases Him when we stop to" smell the flowers" look at the beautiful sky, listen to the birds singing their praises to Him,and just say "Thanks, You are so Awesome". I pray that my heart will always "childlike" for I know this is truely the way to God!!!

"Oh the times, the times ,are a Changing"

In this past week, there have been many opportunities to " Trust God" :Different family decisions, possible job change, a move away, and friends parting, and it has at times been a little bit of a "roller coaster" ride for me, even though it's my childrens lives, not my own, that are changing. The scripture that has really held me fast is from Paul( one of my favorite writers) :"Sorrowful, yet always REJOICING, poor yet making many RICH, having nothing and yet POSSESSING all things"( I cannot find the reference at this time, I just had it hid in my heart)When I think about this, it is by the Grace of God that we can obey,because it is so opposite of our human nature.I am finding that with each hurdle that I jump over, His Joy is my strength, and He will rule and reign in each change that comes our way.. Psalm 84:11 says" The Lord will give Grace and Glory. No good thing will He withold from them who walk uprightly"As I am faithful to trust God and pray, He will lead and guide and the "bottom line" will be His!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me........

This week, I have been on spring break, but God has been so good to me to give me some " catch up " time to do things that I love and enjoy!!!Monday and Tuesday, I went to school to"clean out" some of those needed areas of my classroom, and I was able to attend a Christian exercise class at our Church!! Wednesday, I spent the afternoon with Hannah and my Lil' buddy Isaiah, just talking and playing and what a joy they are to my heart!!!!Wednesdat night, Laura and Lew came to dinner.Then Thursday, to Priscila's house for lunch, and more chatting and playing and loving!!!(wow I am so rich!!!) Tonight, I will go to pick up my "baby" Charissa at McDaniel College and tommorow, we will go to Hannah and Enoch's for dinner(YUM, she is a GREAT COOK) . And the grand finale will be on Sunday, when we all head out to Jeremy and Rachel's house for dinner( Thanks, Rach, for doing this!!) It is such a joy to have a big family, and an even GREATER JOY seeing them loving the Lord and loving one another!!!! Psalm 23:6 is very close to my heart today: His goodness and mercy is following me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in His house forever!!!!I love you Jesus, soooo much!!!