with arms wide open

The precious moments in a day. I come home and Hadassah, runs screaming, "I MISSSSS YOU, I MISS YOU! I MISSSSS YOU!!!!" then she shouts aloud, Mommy I LUVVVVV YOU! I HODE YOU (hold) while reaching up her great stretched arms ready to be lifted up! Amazing.

How many of us run like that and sincerely mean it with the Heavenly Father? Is he our Number one thought? Our running captivated attention? Where will it lead us? Are our arms open so wide that it hurts?

What?

What do we want?

How bad?

What will drive us to PLEASE ONLY THE FATHER?

Are we truly willing to leave everything for HIM? If he were to ask us to RIGHT NOW?

Does it ache every member of our body to be away from Him?

Are my arms (your arms) stretched wide open as well as extended so far out that it hurts awaiting to "HODE YOU"?

Thanks for one of many lessons late, precious Hadassah Rose! I await with my arms wide open to Love You, and HOLD you for all that I have left with in me. Love you little Princess, your Marmey

"Danny and Annie" from StoryCorps

Today is Kent's birthday and then I read this from sweet Amy B.'s sight so I thought I would repost it. Amazing story.

Enjoy. I did.

Sweet is the price of Prayer

So many times I have grown to love the power of Prayer. To wonder why the good Lord allows us to have a picture window view of His Majesty. As I was working just the other night, an appointment fell through but it allowed me an opportunity to surprise visit and stop by to visit with a dear family! So precious are they that it brought joy to be greeted with a hug.

The sweet family I visited . . . Laurel Davidson and her precious family. Special because they were there when we brought our first born home. Laurel was adorned with the presence of Christ and the power of prayer that surrounded their home from cards, pictures, quilts made by very special people whom you know their hands were praying through each stitch, etc. When the door was opened the Labradors' greeted me warmly. The visit with Gordie and Sue warmed my heart. To fellowship personally with Laurel gave me a smile. The visit was intended to pray with her, listen to her and yet while her body is fighting this awful disease - CANCER her spirits were high, and questions of my family made me humble. Her nails painted so pristine, her smile warm. Her conversation imprinted on my heart forever. Praise the Lord, Laurel has accepted the Lord as her Savior. Thank You Laurel for how precious the visit was. Thank You Gordie, Sue, Amy (her sister), Christian (her son) and Sues' sister for how peaceful your hearts are by allowing me to stop in and smell the sweetness of aroma in Christs presence. May the Lord allow these few days left on this side of heaven to be Joyous.

My prayers still remain, God is GOOD ALL the Time, even when it doesn't make sense on this side of Heaven. The joy, through this fight is that Laurel accepted the Savior as hers personally; in this fight and time is fleeting but is special. The time here will be untied with Laurel's healing perfectly when we all return "home".

I LOVE YOU Davidson's' and will continue to pray for comfort and peace for everyone, especially for Laurel's comfort. For sweet is the price of prayer and Better IS ONE DAY in His courts than a thousand elsewhere.

A step back in time

The simple things that bring a smile.

Matt shared that his daughters' finance has been a true gentlemen from the beginning. This young man sought permission from Matt and his wife to court her, their daughter. He also sought permission to ask her hand in marriage with out her knowing either request.

As he was sharing about this, my mind drifted to the past of one of the most special memories of my own life: Joe and Angie

True to chivalry, he was a gentlemen through and through

May I . . . .

Allow me . . . .

wait a moment . . . .

After you . . . .

never eager to take what was not his to take.

Always a prince.

Dedicated to commitment.

He opened her door ALWAYS.

He took care of her

He treated her as a fragile porcelain doll or the most pristine bone thin china tea set, that was crafted with beauty and intent. A beauty never to be broken, chipped or shattered but gently handled and protected.

Devoted for over fifty five years.

Yes mama . . . .

I love you mama . . . .

I love you Joe-di . . . .

My Pompi; Joe, was the epitome's example of respect and shivery.

I loved what he showed and always led by example. He respected her. He protected her. He waited for her. He cherished her. Eventually he even treated me, his grand daughter the same way. He talked to me a few times about boys. He told me what to look for and beware of. He treated me exactly like he treated Lil' gram'ma. One of our last meals together, he took me out for breakfast, opened the car door and escorted me by hand both times to the car and from the car, then into the restruant. He sat me at our table and he carried on our conversation. He reassured me that a gentlemen is always a gentlemen, even until the day he leaves this earth to be with "The good Lord."

Thank You Matt for sharing your daughter's story that took me back to a very special man who was a gentlemen all his life, and the sweet memories I have of him from the time I can remember. A real and true gentlemen of character, moral, and ethics until the day the good Lord took him home. Why? Because your soon to be son in law shows that they ARE still out there. Not eager to take what is not theirs. I've met a few like him and knew the one who was a great example; Joe, my sweet Pompi!

I have prayed all of time for those kind of young men to be brought to our girls lives.

Few and far in between but they are there.

Those who establish a proper respect, not eager to move fast.

Those who care enough to wait long and hard for a gift that is only for marriage.

Unexpected praise

"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the GLORY OF GOD! . . . " I Corinthians 10:31-ff.

It all began with a snow storm, then a phone call, and an open door. Isn't it amazing how the Lord works when we allow Him to. Two men on their way home could have been stranded, or a statistic on a highway. Then to pay it forward the Lord provides kindness this morning!

Here let me give you details. See the Lord is GOOD ALL THE TIME! ALL THE TIME! YES ALL THE TIME!!!!! Matt and Stan were on their way home from Joplin when they were caught in the Snow storm that dumped over 6.5 inches last night. They called us on our land line; which we just "reconnected" after not having it for eighteen months, for "just in case" measures. Praise the Lord, last night was one of those moments for these two saints. They called Phil and Susan Casey and asked for someone they might know. That is where the Lord provided our number that they last had record of. With out question we offered for them to stay here and how sweet it ended up being. All four our daughters received the joy of having to experience a spontaneous hospitality moment. With fun memories made, a warm meal, sweet home baked cookies and a few cups of Joe, and great laughter through out the night and enjoy fellowship with competition in the WII ~ it all brought us together. Rekindled ministry updates, a new brother discovered and forever reaching for the dreams for the kingdom. We were able to catch up on the needs for prayer for transitions for others from our past, rejuvenate the AWE and WONDER of God, and a new found passion to BE THE ACTS church for today in Sioux City Iowa through Stan's dream and conviction for outreach for our Savior! AMEN and AMEN

The fellowship and discussed many things and closed the night with an incredibly AWESOME God lead prayer over the ministries, RCC, our family and the GIRLS in all venues!!!

Then this morning they hopped in their car to return home. They and another anonymous giver shoveled our walk way in front of our home! I heard a motor ran to the door and saw a brother snow blowing our front way and our neighbors down the block. Stan surprised us by having our home walk and the walk way scooped/shoveled by hand up two homes side walks. Tears of joy sing in my heart when humanly God moves and we respond out of LOVE AGAPE STYLE. This led me to the joy of experiential UNEXPECTED PRAISE!

Thank You Abba for being our JEHOVAH JIRAH! Holy, Holy, HOLY are you Lord God Almighty! I will PRAISE YOU and ask you to give us another opportunity to pass it forward and be hospitable AGAIN!