I had no idea that we would get so busy! 2 1/2 weeks have gone by since I've last posted and much has been happening.
Two weeks ago, the children and I packed up our van and drove 1,000 miles North to come take care of my mamaas she recovers from her open heart surgeryand other physical ailments. It was a long drive but it was, also,such a blessing to admire God's wondrous creation on the way! (All of the photos in this post can be clicked on to enlarge)
The mountains are so breathtaking!
A sign we saw in West Virginia. I added the Scripture.
It took us two days of driving but we arrived safely. A few days after we arrived my mama went back into the hospital for a week. She is home now and doing better. (Thank you for your prayers)
While mama was in the hospital we were able to visit with her twice a day. During our visits, the Lord blessed us by allowing us to see His creation... a rabbit finding his meal, a mourning dove sitting on its nest, and a rock dove sitting on its nest, too. The rock dove was close to the ground and we were able to see it very well...
During one of our hospital visits, Ally asked to visit with my mama's roomate (an elderly lady who had suffered a stroke). She gave her flowers (with a tract) and spent about 20 minutes talking and listening to her. It was a blessing to see her desire to reach out her.
While my mom was in the hospital, we made good use of our time by visiting with my grandma and visiting with my dad (who lives a just a little down the road)
We enjoyed one afternoon going to the pond that is close to his home...
Ally fishing with my sister
Sites at the pond...
At grandma's (also my mama's) house, we were very blessed to have a sparrow family right outside the window. We were able to watch them all week as mama sparrow worked to feed her little ones from sun up to sunset...
The lil' girls have enjoyed playing doctor...
Here they traveled to the living room one morning and fell back asleep together... It was such a precious sight.
We have, also, enjoyed a local park...
And, of course, who can resist a summer without bubbles...
It has been a blessing to be here, helping out my mama (and my grandma & dad), though we miss Daddy dearly!
We sure appreciate your continued prayers as my mama is recovering.
How do I know when it's been too long since I've last blogged? When my beloved comes to me and says that he's noticed I haven't blogged in a while. lol When he was in Iraq, I knew he read our blog almost daily but I had no idea he continued to when he returned home.
I'm not sure why I haven't blogged lately. We've been keeping busy with life and tending to hearts, and I, also, confess that my blogging motivation has been down. The Lord has been Faithful in revealing many areas that I need to be working on and that it really is okay to let my blog go unattended. In addition, my mama has been in the hospital for the past few weeks (she has kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia and underwent open heart surgery last week) and has been unable to read our blog and I guess I just didn't want her to miss out on seeing photos of her grandchildren. ;o)
Though I don't have much time to write this morning, I wanted to bring our photos up-to-date. Also, thank you to those that were praying for my beloved and I as we travelled to SC. We spent four days cleaning our house there and are praying the Lord will sell it soon. We sure would appreciate your prayers, too.
Before I close and begin our day, here are a few moments from our weeks past...
Carolynne doing her copywork
Beth doing her copywork
Will working on his typing skills
Ally improving her cooking skills ;o) It's been a blessing to have her "taking over" the kitchen. She is enjoying to opportunity to practice her keeping the home skills, too!
Ally working with Carolynne during her piano lesson
Ally working with Beth during her violin lesson
Will and Ally working together during his piano lesson
Ally enjoying her own time at the piano
We, also, managed to 'squeeze in' a particular event last week... ;o)
(wearing the dress that Ally made me for my birthday)
Discovering the children doing a Bible lesson together... (and drawing outlines to go with the lesson!)
Ally's new objects of affection... "Cutes & Puff"
Dad and Will having a 'man moment' as they make hamburger patties together...
It was Will's first time to 'get his hands dirty' in preparing supper on the grill...
The younger ones enjoying and examining God's creation in their fascination...
the object of fasination... a toad!
It is such a delight to intently watch and observe these precious blessings that the Lord has entrusted us with! And I delight, though not necessarily an easy task, in tending to their hearts. What a calling and responsibility we have as mothers! May I not falter nor grow weary nor pursue my own selfish desires. May I fight the good fight and finish my course (2 Tim.4:7). May I be diligent to know the state of my flocks and to look well to my herds (Prov. 27:23). May I reach Heaven's door and it be said of me "...well done, thou good and faithful servant..." (Matt.25:21)