Singin' the Hymns

"I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses.

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing

And the melody, that He gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,

Though the night around me be falling

But He bids me go, through the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling." Written by ~ Charles Austin Miles

This beautiful old hymn has been ringing in my heart for the last month so this morning, I sit and rock and sing on my front porch!

Country living...front porch swinging...Bible reading...hymn singing...Jesus praising!

Yep...it's going to be a beautiful Lord's day!! 

Front Porch Rockin'

My front porch! O, how I love it! Though I've missed most of my summer mornings out here from working so much, I will take every second I can right here in my rocking chair with my cup of coffee, Bible on my lap and of course, big Golden Retriever at my feet. This is my happy place (or one of them. Lol)!

We are coming up on our 9th anniversary of living in this house and that is the longest I've ever lived anywhere in my 41 years of life! We moved quite a bit in my childhood and then the first half of our marriage followed the same pattern but I am so thankful to have planted some roots right here in this little Burgaw town. Yes, Burgaw! It is the butt of quite a few jokes but for us, it is home and God has grown us so much through these last 9 years.

When we first looked at this house 9 years ago, we were coming off of a rocky time. We had sold just about everything we owned and trekked to Florida for a short time while Matt had begun a new job. At that time, we didn't know where we would end up permanently. We were totally relying on God to guide every baby step we were taking. Except, every baby step ended up to be huge leaps of faith! Haha! Finally in October of 2005, we found out we'd be back this way so Matt sent me on to Wilmington to find us a new residence. He was working 6 days a week and couldn't take off to come with me. Yes, he trusted me enough to find us a home! Lol! As we began searching in Wilmington, my heart wasn't in it. Housing was outrageous and we just didn't want to get caught up in the Wilmington "rat race" again. So we decided to look on the outskirts. I had never really been to Burgaw even though I had lived in these areas since I was 10. But I found a neighborhood and thought we'd give it a look. I took Ben & Callie (Caleb was not with us yet as adoption was just being put on our hearts) with me and we drove 20 minutes outside Wilmington to this neighborhood and immediately fell in love with it. Situated right across the street from a beautiful cotton field, this house with a large backyard and humble setting brought tears to my eyes as God had prepared us for this. We had gone from a large beautiful home in a desirable Wilmington neighborhood to a one-bedroom apartment in Florida as God showed us what was truly important. So, this was absolutely perfect....for us! This house was substantially less than the Wilmington equivalent and nestled in the quiet away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Just what we felt God was leading us!

I remember standing in the front yard, the house was almost finished construction, and calling Matt on the phone telling him all about it. We prayed together and knew this was our home. We had recently given up a contract for a home in what everyone called the "perfect" location but we knew....THIS was our home. So, we (or me with Matt's blessing and power of attorney) signed on our new home in late November 2005. I got us all moved in and Matt finally walked through the door late on December 21, 2005. His home...our home....GOD'S HOME!

Is this house perfect? No! At this moment, we are missing some shutters that have blown off in storms and the carpet is in dire need of replacing. But, it is home and it needs continual care just like our lives.

The people that dwell in this home are not perfect either. Sometimes the shutters on the windows of our soul get blown off and need replacing and the many areas where tough situations of life have drug their dirty feet on us need either a good cleaning or just a fresh new lay of carpet. But that is all part of life. Our souls needs continual care and that care comes from our Father!

This front porch has become a sacred place of prayer for me. Many moments of praise through word or song have been lifted from this place. Many hours of tears and conversations with God have been had right here. Many pages of scripture have been poured over while rocking in this very chair. Right here.......

So, this morning I sit here and look across the street as the cotton fields just begin to burst open and I rock and thank God for his magnificent presence! I sip my coffee and think back on all that God has brought us through. Tears come to my eyes because we've been through A LOT but God has so faithfully brought us through it all! Many trials still before us and we will walk in confidence as we trust HIM! I read his promises in scripture and thank him for this Word...LIFE to my soul! Then I rock some more and think about all the beautiful memories this home holds! Memories forever etched in my heart that I hold dear. The voices and sights this home holds....PRECIOUS! Thank you, Holy Father!

When I'm finished rocking in this chair this morning, I'm going to enter that front door praising God for it ALL! Then I'm going to make a big breakfast for the special blessings that reside here with me...that's right, my FAMILY! These are the precious souls that God knit with mine and make this little house in Burgaw a HOME!

Happy Saturday everyone! Take time today to give praise to God! Every victory and every trial...God is faithful and worthy of praise!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

SHCA Staff's First Day of 2014-2015

So, today begins the 2014-2015 school year at SHCA as all the staff returns for in-service! My second year as Director and I'm excited & nervous all at the same time! We have prayed and surrendered this year to our Lord! Our desire is to see God glorified in all we do! A great responsibility stands before us but we are honored and excited to do God's work! Precious children that will fill those hallways next week and each one has been prayed over along with their families! We praise God for them!

Last year had it's many challenges but God, in his faithfulness, paved the way for the best year ever! I learned & grew so much and this passage of scripture became more real than ever:

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps."

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

Today, I'm starting this new year in anticipation of all that God wants to accomplish and drawing on his strength to carry me through! Though I feel so insecure in myself at times, I will rest in the security of HIS mighty plan because in my weakness HE is strong!

God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called!

To God be ALL glory!

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance."

Psalm 65:11 (NIV)

God Heals!

I sat in that little examining room yesterday reminiscing with Caleb's doctor over the last 7 years. Yes, it was almost 7 years ago that we first met this great doctor and he has been a huge part of Caleb's excellent medical care. We set Caleb's doctor appointment with him when we returned from China as Caleb had been born with a medical condition that needed monitoring. We didn't know this doctor, or anything about him at the time and the relationship our family has with him now is wonderful.

I remember first meeting him in late 2007 as he was brand new to UNC. His attitude was that Caleb was just a medical case. I didn't know how I felt about it but we moved on. In February of 2008 Caleb had his first biopsy and I remember talking to his doctor on the phone after that as he was going over the treatment options and just feeling that we didn't need to rush into any treatment at that time. Caleb had not even been home from a Chinese orphanage for a year yet and to rush into a treatment plan that was extremely harsh on his little body and only maybe 25% effective was just not something we felt was needed at that time. His biopsy wasn't bad but this doctor, without a lot of treatment options, was leaning towards just beginning the treatment. When I asked him if we could just have more time and get him the good nutrition he lacked for 3 1/2 years, he wasn't too happy with me and even threw the "if you don't follow my recommendation, I will have to call social services" at me. After a long conversation, I asked him for more time to pray about it and he agreed.

What began taking place after that moment was truly from God! Over the course of the next 3 years, the doctor’s attitude toward Caleb (and us) turned into such a caring provider for his patient instead of just a case file. Every time we would see him and get those long 45-minute ultrasounds and lots of lab work, he would show such care. We would share how we were praying for God to do a miracle in Caleb's body and if needed, open up a new treatment plan that would be more effective and less harsh in his body. He was on board, monitoring everything closely but holding out for other options when needed.

Well, just over 3 years ago after Caleb's third biopsy, it was evident that treatment would need to be done and this doctor fought for Caleb! He found a new treatment option, not even approved in children yet but highly effective in adults, that we could try. As nervous as Matt and I were, we felt such peace after praying over it that this was the route God was leading us. This wonderful doctor worked to find a pharmacy in our area that could even get the treatment and we found one, yes only ONE that could get it. With him and the sweet pharmacist pulling together, they got our insurance company to cover it! What would cost $900/month without insurance coverage only cost us a $35/month copay! Hallelujah! He set us up with lab work here every 6 weeks over the next 6 months to monitor so we didn't have to take the trip to UNC every time. He went over and above what he had to do.

God was at work!!

After a year and a half on the treatment, Caleb's medical condition was totally undetectable! When he called Matt on the phone to tell him, right before Christmas of 2012, they were both in tears!

When we returned last summer to see him, we told him that this is what we had been praying for. This was the work of God that so many people had been praying over our sweet Caleb. He had no other explanation, and though not a believer, he did not discredit the work of what could only be God!

So, where do we go from here?

Well, they aren't completely sure. Lol! Caleb's file has attracted another doctor into the mix as this is the first child patient they have treated with this medication and he is doing so well. This is all new to them as well so we keep on with treatment for a while so there is no risk of a relapse. But now we are only taking an annual visit for lab work, an ultrasound only every other year, and he may never need another biopsy! God is so good!

As we sat there yesterday, reminiscing over these 7 years, I praised God for putting us with this amazing doctor. Though it was a rocky start, now his interaction with Caleb is more than just a case file. He has watched Caleb grow since he's been home and has taken an interest in his life. We can see he genuinely cares and we are thankful for caring doctors! He answers my emails back immediately with any needs we have, but most importantly, he has seen the Great Physician at work in our sweet Caleb's life.

God can take any situation and use it for His glory! We will continue to trust God in all things and will proclaim his goodness to ALL we come in contact with! Though we don't know what tomorrow holds, we know WHO holds tomorrow!

I love seeing God at work!

"O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health."

Psalms 30:2 (NLT)

"O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens."

Psalms 8:1 (NLT)

Happy 18th Birthday, Ben!

Happy 18th birthday to my amazing son. It seems like just yesterday I was holding this precious 10 pound new born bundle of joy and now he is turning 18 and beginning his senior year of high school. It truly all happens in the blink of an eye. God blessed us immensely 18 years ago with the words, "It's a boy!" and every day I praise God for allowing me the honor of being his mom. Ben, I love you so much! You are incredible soul and a fine godly young man. It has been a joy to watch you grow and I can't wait to see all God has planned for you!

Think on these things...

Callie and I visited the bookstore the other day as she wanted to pick up some new reading material. She had a particular book in mind and we had looked up reviews but didn't find anything that seemed questionable. So, she made the purchase and later in the evening started her book. After a little bit, she came downstairs with the book to tell me that she got to the second chapter and felt, from the language, that she shouldn't be reading it. She offered to pay me back and apologized. Sweet girl! But I told her to put it back in the bag and we would see if we could return it for another book. We talked about it and she explained that she just didn't feel right reading it. Though the book was funny, she knew that wasn't something she should be putting into her mind. Wow! Praise the Lord!

I was so proud of Callie for recognizing that what she was reading wouldn't be pleasing to the Lord and putting it aside. It's hard for us adults to do that sometimes. I pray that each of my kids follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit when it comes to things they watch or read because in this day and time, the bad stuff is so easy to come by. There will be obstacles at every turn and it will get harder to do the right thing. It was a lesson for me as well to always pray before reading or watching something and to have the courage to walk away when the Spirit leads.

Today, I praise God for discernment through his Holy Spirit and for his Word that gives clear guidance and direction on anything we put into our minds. God's Word says this:

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

I pray that Callie (and all my kids) will continue to listen for that still small voice that will lead her in the way she should go. God desires first place in our lives and it is there where peace abounds. We need to stay in scripture to know what is true and spend time with God through prayer as he directs our paths.

"Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."

Romans 12:2 (NET)

Lord, give us the courage to do the right thing as the Holy Spirit prompts our hearts even though it may not always be the popular choice. Renew our minds afresh to your will and fix our eyes on that which is pleasing to you!