Heading Home Soon

It took awhile, but finally Lily (Serena's cat) took to the kittens. I hate to leave with them as she is going to miss them!

Little SuperFuzz had no problem cozing up with Bane.




When you are "little" you should have a little more respect for the ones that are "bigger" than you. Not Taz, he liked Bane's bed and wasn't sharing.



Its now time to head home and wouldn't you know it--there is a blizzard advisory over the California mountains for this weekend. The weather back home is dropping into the minuses, so...maybe the whole trip is going to be a winter driving challenge. I am so glad we have 4-wheel drive!

The Lord has brought me through some terrible winter storms in the past, He is not going to forsake us now. I can't count the number of times I've driven in white-out conditions, hoping to see something showing the sides of the road. One time I traveled from Colorado Springs to Montana and there was not a car on the road. Of course, I never checked weather reports, or listened to the news, so I had no idea what was going on. I got out to scrape the windshield, as my defroster wasn't working, and the road was so slick I could not even stand. I can't believe that the car was able to stay on the road!!

God is good. He gets us through our adventures. God be with us all.

Blessing of the Child

What a great blessing it is to receive the gift of life from the Lord. To hold that little baby in our arms, and love him or her.

God bless the little baby that is about to come into our lives. May your protection be over baby, mom and dad, and brothers and sisters, now and in all the days of their lives.

Jesus loved the children and prayed for them.

Matthew 18:2-4 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Lord gave us instructions on how to raise our children. We are not to raise them to be angry and contentious, but to know the Lord.

Ephesians 6 (Children and Parents) 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

The responsibility for family is not to be taken lightly and the Lord gives instructions on marriage and the family.

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

If we walk with the Lord, He will shield, protect and guide us.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

No matter what we teach or children, no matter what great gifts we give them, no matter how educated, powerful, rich or what great philanthropists they become, they have gained nothing unless you have taught them to love:

1 Corinthians 13 (The Greatest Gift) 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Thank you, Lord, for the great blessings of our children. Amen

The Start of the Holiday Spirit

Thanksgiving is still a couple of weeks off, yet tomorrow is the beginning of our Christmas preparations. Victoria and Huimin invaded the craft stores today and so tomorrow the children will begin making Christmas ornaments for the families.

Years ago, in the late 70's and early 80's, Tim was involved in the Big Brother program. His little brother, Dale, and his family made an entire set of ceramic Christmas ornaments to hang on our Christmas tree. We still have them. They are beautiful and a treasure we rediscover and enjoy every Christmas season!

I never really knew what to do with the Santa story when the children were little! That beloved Christmas fable!! I tried to tell the kids that "Santa" represented the love we have for each other and that we give gifts to the ones we love. However, I think my tries got run over by the jubilation of Santa's coming. It was everywhere.

I hope that, as families, we can all establish traditions for celebrating the birth of Jesus, Our Savior. His gift to us is His love. Our gift to Him is love--not only for God, but love for one another.

1 Corinthians 13 (The Greatest Gift) 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

It is not always easy to love others, to refrain from being contentious and argumentative when others hurt, slander or lie about or to us. We need to remember, that others are acting out from what they have been taught or witnessed...that we all need a Savior and we just might be the only witness that comes into that one person's life that needs Jesus tonight. He is returning soon.