Micah Baptized!

 What a great day we had at VSIBC on Sunday!!  The church was packed.  We had 80!  It was so good to have family that stayed over from Brenna's graduation.


This was also the day that Micah and two others were baptized.  So exciting!

 My sweet boy was ready to show everyone that he had made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour.  He knew that getting baptized didn't get him to heaven, he already made heaven his home when he got saved!  He understood that getting baptized was just like a wedding ring, it shows everyone who you belong to!

 My hubby was quite proud to be the one to baptize his son!

 Praise the Lord for a great day!

A New Title For Me!

 A few weeks ago Joshua and Tabitha asked if they could come by after church to play some games.  Sure!  We love any time we get to spend with these 2!!
So, as they came in I said "Hey" but kept on preparing snacks for the night.  I noticed when Brenna saw Tabitha she gave her a huge hug.  They smiled at me funny, but I kept on preparing the food.  Then, about 15 minutes after arriving Joshua cleared his throat for me to look at him.  When I turned around he smiled.  Tabitha smiled.  Then, I finally noticed her "Mama Bear" shirt. AAAGH!!! I'm going to be a Grandmother!!!!

We are so excited for these 2!  This is going to be one loved baby and this precious one is going to have some amazing parents!  So happy!  Of course, I've done a little bit of shopping and have the urge to go buy more!  We've decided that I will be Lolli and Patrick will be Pops.  I love my new title! What a wonderful season of life!

A Prayer for Healing

It was a little over two years ago, that I heard a message that changed my outlook on my healing.  After battling sickness for over a year (at that time) it was a message I needed to hear. 

 It was a few weeks before we had started VSIBC, so we were visiting a church in another town.  The preacher talked about "What is your aim in prayer?"  Is it to get my way?  I confess.  Sometimes when I had prayed, I gave the Lord "ideas" of how things could go.  Especially when it came to my illness.  I would pray, "Lord, let the doctor discover something on this visit.  Let it be an easy fix."  And I would always end the prayer with "Please, God, heal me!"  Is there anything wrong with healing?  Oh, my, no!  Is there anything wrong with consistently and persistently bringing our requests to the Lord?  Another, Oh, my, no!

But, it was during that sermon that I realized I was living for healing, instead of living in the midst of what God had for me.  I didn't have "Not my will, but thine" prayer attitude like Jesus did.  The preacher that night said, "If we never surrender our will, our prayer life will be frustrating."  I realized that night that God may never heal me.  But, He can use me right where He has me!  That night I surrendered the things I couldn't fix and change: my illness.  I surrendered it to the will of God.  I told God that I would quit begging Him for healing and trust that He knows what's best for me.  

Since then, I haven't been healed.  I lived in days where I didn't feel well.  And I had days I didn't feel great, but was able to accomplish much.  There is so much joy in surrender and trusting God knows what is best!

Well, for the past couple of weeks I have felt worse. My health is spiraling downward as the pressure and pain in my chest have become difficult to bear.  I have a great doctor team that I called and they saw me the next day.  They decided to reevaluate and redo many of the imaging and labs that I've had in the past. As I was scheduled for different test, I had the reminder of being completely out of control for the outcome.

Then, yesterday morning I sat down to have my devotions.  I was reading in Exodus.  I came to chapter 14, verse 14:

"The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

It was then that I realized, once again, that I knew God holds me in His hands.  And there truly is no better place to be.  What peace He gives!! And He sure does a much better job at fighting my battles than I do!

Then, I read chapter 15, at the end of verse 26:

"...for I am the LORD that healeth thee."

It was then, that I felt the Holy Spirit telling me, "It's okay to pray again Kami"  So, I did.  I asked once again for God to heal me.  But, in my prayer, I knew that even if He chose not to, He is still a good God that loves me beyond measure!

So, for now, we wait for results.  The recent tests have shown a new image that needs to be looked at.  It's off to a new Cardiologist for me.  But, in the midst, God is ever faithful.  Always right there with me.  It's a joy to serve Jesus!

Our Brenna's Graduation

 Saturday was the day for our Brenna's graduation!  It was such a wonderful day!

 Months ago, while visiting the beautiful O'Leno State Park, Brenna found the Rec Hall and wanted to have her graduation there.  It was very booked up, but the date, April 22nd was open, so we snagged it!  It's such a beautiful log cabin.  Very rustic, with lots of character.  Very Brenna!

Brenna set up her memory table with her favorites.  Green, turtles, piano music, coke, hershey's chocolate and her Bible.  

She also set up a memory jar for people to fill with memories.  She also had a B for them to write one word that describes Brenna. Then, we had a table with tortilla chips and lots of different salsas.  It was delicious!

Brenna decorated her hat with The Game of Life!

We are so thankful for many special people coming to share in Brenna's special day.  She sure does love her cousins Kaylie and Kiara.  So glad they could come!

So happy Denise (Grammy) could come too!

And, of course, my parents!

 

As it was almost time to start, Brenna had a surprise guest come.  Brenna has been friends with Joshua Hamby for many years.  They have been writing letters for about 2 1/2 years.  She had no idea he was coming all the way from Canada!

The room filled with so many family and friends.  Thank you to all who came to share in our special day!

We started by playing a game called "Guess Brenna's Age"  We had pictures from 1-17 on the board.  They had to guess how old Brenna was in each picture.  It was harder than I thought it would be!  My sister Taylin and Joshua Hamby won with getting only 10 right!  The prize?  A Hershey's Bar!  Very Brenna! :o)

Brenna really didn't want to give a speech.  So, we changed it up a bit.  We played a little game called Brenna's Game of Life.  We had a powerpoint of about 10 questions with 3 possible answers.  Everyone voted for the answer that they believed to be true, then Brenna revealed the correct answer.  We asked things like, "What is Brenna's worst fear?", "Where was Brenna saved?" and "What are Brenna's plans after graduation?"  So, even though she didn't give a speech, she talked plenty!

Then, Dr. Dean Hamby gave the "Charge" to the graduate.  What a blessing he has been to our family!  When we asked Brenna who she would like to have come for giving the charge, she said she would like to ask Bro. Hamby.  So thankful that he and Mrs. Karen could come!

After the charge, it was time to play Pomp and Circumstance (why does that song make me teary-eyed?), give Brenna her diploma, and turn her tassel!

So glad my parents, and two of my sisters, Keela and Taylin, could make it for the day!

Dr. Dean and Mrs. Karen Hamby

Sweet Emma painted her nails many colors because she wasn't sure which one Brenna would like the best.  How sweet!  Brenna has such a heart for children and sure does love the kiddos of VSIBC!

So glad Aunt Florence and Uncle Chuck could make it in, too!

Sweet friends Cynthia and Liz,

And Tricia, too!

So thankful for our girl and so proud of her!  We love you Brenna!

Easter Festivities

We love Easter!  It's a blessed time as we reflect on what Jesus did for us!  And there are so many tools to use to point my kiddos to the Savior and remind them of the resurrection.  They look at this time as a celebration that our God is not dead!  He is alive!

 My thoughtful Mom and Dad sent an egg hunt to my kiddos as well as Patrick and I.  I hid for the younger 3, and the younger 3 hid for all the older ones.  It was great!

 And my kiddos loved that there was money hidden in each egg!  Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

 For dyeing our eggs this year, we decided to use our fresh eggs that our hens are laying.  We had so many!  They gave us a more jewel, earthy tone and turned out very pretty! (although next year I think we'll go back to using white eggs.  I like the pastel color better)

 We had a great day at church on Sunday!  I love how my Sunday School kids (ages 7-12) are enjoying hearing all of the details of our resurrected Lord!  They know details like who is Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea and how they play into the story. They felt compassion as they heard how Jesus suffered. And they felt such an "awe" as they heard that He could have called angels to come and rescue Him, but He chose to die.  Because He loves each one of them.  I enjoyed going around the room and telling each one, "Jesus did this because He loves Silas."  "Jesus did this because He loves Nyela"...and I put in each person's name.  It's still so amazing!  God loves ME!

This is these sweet boys 3rd egg hunt in a row.  Oh, My how they are growing!


Happy Easter everyone!!

Brenna's Senior Photos

My beautiful Brenna.  What a joy this girl is!  Her graduation is just days away and we are all so excited for her!  I took her senior photos and they turned out beautiful, just like my baby girl.  There's a bunch!  But, I couldn't pick just one to post!