Back At The Ranch

Yesterday we spent Thanksgiving with about 30 family members at my Uncle Gary & Aunt Brenda's place. This is where our family in Arizona spends Thanksgiving and Easter every year. I felt so good to be back with everyone. We had such a great time. It was cool because Aunt Brenda gave each of us a chance to say what we were thankful for. I think it is so important to speak our gratitude and give God the thanks He deserves in our lives. Yesterday was a very good day to do that. The weather was gorgeous with big clouds all around and just enough coolness in the air to keep the heat away. The time with family was priceless.

Uncle Gary's place is a wonderland for kids. So I took some pictures of the kids riding horses, chasing the cows, getting dirty and having a great time. This is the stuff childhood memories are made of. Sorry I haven't blogged in so long- been a little busy. I'm attaching lots of pictures to try to make up for my lack of posts lately.

Bry is studying Native Americans in school right now and loves anything to do with Indian culture and history. He also recently found out that we have Indian ancestors, so knowing he is part Indian has added to his infatuation.


The kids loved playing in the cattle shoot.


This is my sweet little neice, Kenzie.
I got to take some great pics of her yesterday too.


Surprisingly, Elle wasn't at all afraid of the horses.
She happily rode this one all by herself!


Delainey LOVES living close to Kenzie again.
They are 2 years apart but DJ thinks she's a
teenager half the time so she keeps up pretty well.


Climbing on the cattle shoot...


More climbing...


Elle pretending to be a cow.


This is my nephew Dylan.
Isn't he handsome? Such a fine young man.


Uncle Gary graciously gives every kid a ride.
Here is riding with his grandson, Brendan.


Elle, the cow, playing.


Bry, the Indian, riding.


Little Miss Independent


...on a mission!


DJ about to be swallowed by a horse.
(this child has no fear)


Everybody loves Raymond and what's not to love?


Uncle Gary and Elle, one more go round.


Elle finally settled in with Daddy after hours
of independent climbing and stomping.


Coleman chasing the cows.


Delainey was the horse hog. She didn't want to let
anyone else ride, but the other kids didn't stand for that.


The cows wanted their picture taken.
See how they all pushed to get to the camera?


Brendan, "Pee-wee", winking


Bry stirring up the cows.


Pucker up Dylan.




SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

Quick Trip Recap

Well, tomorrow marks one week since we arrived back to "the Grand Canyon State". I can't honestly say we're settled at all but that will happen in time. Right now this feels a lot like a visit. We're having a good time.

Our trip was seriously better than I could have hoped. Thank you for your prayers as we traveled. The kids were great and the road was easy. Our kids would get the truckers to honk at us by pulling down the imaginary horn as we drove by them. The kids would see a truck coming up ahead and would say, "Get your horns out!" Then, as we traveled through Winslow, my thoughts were on the song by the Eagles..."Standin' on a corner in Winslow Arizona, such a fine sight to see...". Finally, we got up to 7,000 feet at the Grand Canyon and relaxed with some good friends for the night. I've heard it said that the Grand Canyon has heard "WOW" in every language. I've seen that canyon many, many times and I still was wowed.

More updates and pictures to come. Please continue to pray that our house in SC would sell soon. We're glad to be home but miss our dear friends in Charleston too. Love you all!

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.


I'm pretty sure God approves this message!

I got this in e-mail form and liked it so much I wanted to put it on my blog today. I'm so thankful that even though we can't put our hope in our nation, our government or a new president, we CAN always put our hope in God. He is Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega and He knows our every need.

We Made It!

Last night at exactly 6:03, we pulled into town with the view of "A" Mountain directly in front of us. We were in Ajo. We were home. My nephew, who was born when I was 15, turns 16 this week. We arrived just in time for his 16th birthday party and drove straight there. I was so glad to be back for this hallmark.

My brother and his wife, Kenda were only 17 and 18 when Brandon was born. "Unexpected" would be a good word to describe this pregnancy. I remember my childish first reaction of disappointment and even a hint of anger. But I also remember being at the hospital the night he was born. When I first laid my eyes on that perfect little boy, it was love at first sight. Love changes everything, doesn't it? I truly could swear I heard angels sing when I looked at him. How could our family be so blessed by something we initially feared? Grace, that's it. Grace has marked our family greater than any other thing.

So last night was monumental for our 2 families. Kenda's younger sister, who I grew up and graduated with, was also there. We were there together the night Brandon was born. We shared that life-changing event together and last night we got to celebrate Brandon's life together once again. I am so unspeakably proud of my brother and Kenda because of the amazing job they have done raising Bradon and now Dylan and Kenzie also. I think about how young they were and all the hurdles they've overcome. I'm also proud of both sets of parents for sticking by their teenagers, encouraging them, supporting them and building them up. I'm so thankful I got to see the beautiful fruit of years of commitment and God's grace.

Brandon truly is a fine young man. I am very proud of that kid. None of us knew that he would be given his first car last night. Bobby and Kenda miraculously kept it a secret from all of us. So when my brother pulled up in the coolest car I've ever seen a 16 year old get, we all were shocked! I wish I had the moment video-taped but it's permanently stored on my brain's hard drive. It went like this:
Kenda had all of us walk out to the road. Brandon kept saying, "No way. If my parents got me a car..." So Bobby pulls up in this tricked out black Cavelier that was way better than Brandon's wildest dreams. Bobby turns the music on and opens the doors. The doors open straight up- like a Lambourghini! So cool! It also has a really great "system", which apparently is a priority for a 16 year old. It was a great moment. Kenda was crying those parental pride tears and we all said, "WOW". I wouldn't have missed that for the world!

I feel like this whole leap of faith back to AZ, that makes ZERO sense to many of the people in our lives was confirmed last night. We are exactly where we're supposed to be- even when, no ESPECIALLY when it makes no sense to the rest of the world.

We made it, we're home.