Praying...

I've been so blessed this semester by a ladies Bible study at church called "Live a Praying Life". It really stresses that our prayers have power when they are from the heart of God. There's no manipulating God with a formula, but when our prayers come from His heart we have it right. Wow. Doesn't that seem like common sense, but for 50 years I've just been praying my heart & thoughts thinking that praying was my talking to Him, and reading the Bible was the main way He talks to me. I hadn't really realized that He might have a prayer that He wants to put on my heart. It is a communing thing, and I'm really remedial!!! I've often been guilty of throwing my will out there first, and then saying half-heartedly "If it's Your will". This study has really been a blessing to me, and helped me grow a little more in my understanding of the importance of prayer. I haven't explained it very well, but if your looking for a Bible study to do, check it out. It's always better with a group, but very doable on your own as well.

My prayer list is long at the present. In fact, I'm beginning to feel a little like we are the bullseye of a target. Satan is attacking. Yes, there's a battle going on. But greater is He who is in us then he who is in the world! (I John 4:4) So my prayers are for God to bless & protect His children. I know His children are always on His heart & He never stops working in us, through us & on us! So I'm praying for our sweet Christine, today being two full weeks in the hospital. Yuck. Four white walls, an ipod, a tv & long days of feeling crummy & missing the people she wants to be home with. My precious, precious, precious Mom struggling with heart problems, recovering from a heart attack we didn't even know she had had & going in for a cath on Thursday. Sweet Sharon, who's my favorite "chemo diva" and an inspiration of how to go through trials praising God all the say. I've always looked up to her, and now am truly amazed by her. Rick & Amy and your sweet girls. If you read this, I hope you know I think you're amazing. I love your humor and your faith. The sick list of family, friends, and church family has never been so long . So many struggling in other ways, too. Jobs, finances, family... Life.... You are all on my heart. But more importantly, you are on God's heart. So, if your faith has gone out for a test-drive, hang on. Things are happening that we don't yet see, and in faith we can be certain of what we don't yet see. (Heb. 11:1)

Sorry to be all preachy. Well, I'm really not. But I am praying HARD!

Spring Breakin'

Gotta love Ashley Allen Photography

The Lady Cards grand finale!

We are already over half way through with spring break. Whitney & I spent Tuesday doing some marathon shopping looking for & finally finding a prom dress. My feet are honestly still throbbing! Today she is off to Abilene with Elliott & his family checking out ACU & taking the ACT test they offer there. They will have lots of fun, & I can't believe in 5 months they will be there for school! Wow, that just doesn't seem at all possible.

We are enjoying life after basketball! It seems like that is pretty much all we did for a few months! The Lady Cards made it all the way to the final four. Whitney played her last game with a pretty bad case of the flu. I was so worried about her, but what do you do when it's your senior year & you get to go to the state tournament. She wasn't about to miss it! She spent a few days in bed after that & got well just in time to go with her senior class on their trip to Disney World! They had so much fun!

Kyle was home for a few days last week for his spring break. He will graduate in May with his masters, & still hoping to get a job teaching in Japan. If not, he'll be doing some serious job searching this summer, & maybe we'll get to have him a little closer by! We are just praying & trusting God to put him in the place where he should be!

Christine is still having lots of health struggles. In fact, as I write this she has been in the hospital for a few days. Keep her, Matt, & the boys in your prayers. And pray for Giggi to have a big burst of energy to keep up with two little sparks of energy! I try to just have fun with them when I have them (they are easy to have fun with!) and don't really attempt to accomplish much else. That's one of those things you finally figure out when you're the grandma. Also, I know they really want their Mommy & Daddy & home and wouldn't do anything to rock their boat! OK, yes, they have things going their way here. But I give them credit because they are such little troopers & just adjust to whatever we need them to do. I hate that Christine & Matt have had this seemingly long, drawn out health battle to deal with, but have also been blessed by the many ways the Lord has carried them along. What seems long & overwhelming to us is just a blink in relation to eternity. So we press on & we trust that God will provide all of our needs, just as He promises in His Word.

Be blessed!