Summer Haze

Summer is such a lively season. There is so much to do for fun and work. It seems to go on forever, but at the same time it seems so very short.

We are in the middle of the busy time in our gardening. All the rain we had this spring and early summer have produced a bumper crop of weeds this year. It seems to be such a battle to just keep them down. We are working very hard a making layers of soil, compost and straw to elimate this in the future. But the work can seem endless sometimes. The blessing is when you see all those canned goods waiting for the cold winter. It's worth the hard work.

The girls have enjoyed the summer so far with swimming, traveling, movies and now its fair time!! It's always a busy time, but lots of fun. All the trips to check in projects, demos, volunteering and cotton candy. It always seems kinda like summer is over when the fair ends. You know that it is time to think about school and all the fall activities.

With all the activites and work it seems extra important that we take time to see God in all the

things around us. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace 1 Corinthians 14:33 We can get so caught up in what we should do that we forget about His peace. I am trying extra hard right now to rest in that peace, and work on making out family not a family of disorder. Only with his grace can I achieve that task.

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.

But those who make their journey home across time and miles,

growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,

are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us

by God's own hands. ---Kristi Lawson

His Perfect Will

I do not ask, dear Lord, to see

All things that lie ahead of me;

Nor do I ask to understand

All thine immortal mind has planned;

To know where I shall lay my head,

From whence shall come my daily bread;

But rather let me know Thy will,

And hear thy tender, "Peace be still."

I dare not ask that thou would'st keep

The waters back that round me creep.

And terrify my soul anew - -

Just hold my hand while I pass through.

I do not ask that thou shouldest quench

All round about, this fiery trench;

Though rising flames may cause alarm,

Thy Word has said they shall not harm

And if I ask Thee to dispel

These trials that my spirit quell,

Perhaps I'd miss a blessing rare

That I should have encountered there,

A lesson that I needed well,

A chance to lead some soul from hell,

A new expression of Thy grace,

A precious look into Thy face.

And so, to Thee, who made me whole,

I give the keeping of my soul.

Thy riches and Thy grace are free,

Perfect that which concerneth me!

Barbara Cornet Ryberg

Blessings will come down . . .

God is so good!! We were recently blessed with tickets to the Casting Crowns and The Afters concert. We have been trying to go as a family for quite some time, but the funds were never available. But due to the generosity of two gentlemen we were blessed with a wonderful worship time and family memory. Were were even able to meet some of the band members in both groups. Their testimonies during the concert were so moving. God is using the music of these groups to touch lives. Including our own !! Naomii drew a picture for one of band members from The Afters during the concert. She was so persistent about giving this little picture to that guy. During the intermission they went out in the corridor and the band was out there doing autographs. Her Daddy didn't let her stop and give him the picture. She was very upset to say the least. We finally took her back and she was able to present it the the lead singer from The Afters. He was very kind to her and she was happy. I wonder what God was doing with this little girl to want her to give back to this person so much. Thank you Lord for all your gifts!!

It has been such a long time since I added any comments to our blog. Things are jumping right along. Mike has been doing very well since being diagnosed with Huntington Disease. God has showed us his love in so many ways and at the hands of so many. The girls are anxious to get school done and spring to be here. We had a wonderful trip twice to Pennsylvania earlier this year. Sierra attending Numida Bible School in Pennsylvania and we took her in late December and pick her up in January. The trip was fun, but very long. We did enjoy seeing a part of the country we had never been to before. The greatest thing is we made lots of new friends.

Very soon some very good friends of ours will be leaving for China to bring their darling daughter home. We are all so excited. The girls feel like their getting a new sister and friend. I hope that some day soon we can experience the same joy while adding to our family.

God continues to do amazing things in the life of our family. Praise God I know He continue as well. He has showed us just this week how amazing He is. We have been studying 1 John as a fellowship, it has shown us again how much God loves us. He expects us to love others as well. We fall short of that sometimes in our daily lives.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11

Sufficent Grace

Isn't ironic that just when you think you understand something, God shows you a new understanding with greater depth. When I started this blog some time ago, I thought I understood what it means to depend on God and his sufficient grace. My heart was stirred by the scripture of 2 Corinthians 12:9 However, in the last three months God has given me greater depth of that scripture. I have always said that I believe that everything that I have is because of God. We'll I now know what it means to fully depend on God. Sometimes, I feel like our family is a cocoon of God's love. Our church family, friends, and even acquaintances have taken care of us completely. I know he foresees the needs before we do and prepares us for them. God is so good!!!!

I have family members walking a difficult walk right now, and I want to cry and plead with them to turn to God. He loves us and will provide for our every need. I honestly do not know who we would have existed so far without God in our lives. Not only taking care of our physical needs, but all of the others as well. I have had a peace that is indescribable. That doesn't mean that Satan doesn't try to creep in and plant his evil seeds. But, the majority of the time I am at peace.

I came upon this 1858 commentary of the Oberlin Evangelist (Charles G. Finney) - "The principle of the divine plan is this: Christ would destroy the spirit of self-dependence--the great and most besetting temptation of his children. They are continually prone to trust in themselves rather in Christ. This must be counteracted and cured."

Thank you Lord Jesus for showing me my sin, and help me never forget to depend on you solely and fully.

Some of the Best days . . . .

Today as I sat with my list of many, many things to do, I took a moment to look around my kitchen table. There were my three oldest children doing their school work. All doing a different subject all engrossed in whatever study they were doing. I had to stop for a moment and take it all in. I have prayed for years to have these wonderful people in my life. I thank God for them. I am so overjoyed to have the opportunity to be home with them, to be part of their daily lives. To be able to share the joys, the trials and the journey with those I love. And now I have an extra special blessing to have Mike home for this time and be part of our daily lives. I do truly believe we lost something in our culture when the Fathers started working away from the home.

At times I get down because my hopes for adoption look further away then ever. But, I keep reminding myself that God has a much bigger plan. My heart and home are open for more children to love and share the gospel with, if God wills.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 20:20-21