Individual Time...

This past week has simply been awesome!

The boys had vacation Bible school at church this week, it has been marvelous to hear them come home singing the songs and telling me about their day at 'school'. =-)

Monday evening as I was trying to figure out what to fix for my family for dinner, our 6 year old son said, "Mom, I want to take you on a date!" Well that's all it took - he and I went out to eat at a fantastic steak restaurant! Our meal was a beautiful presentation of a perfectly cooked steak with gormet french fries and Root Beers. We laughed and talked all through the dinner, afterwards we took a walk through the little villiage the restaurant was located in and he and I had so much fun just simply being together.

Wednesday morning after dropping the boys off at vbs, my 2 year old daughter and I had a spa day - what fun we had being together! I'm looking forward to more of those mother/daughter times!

Wednesday evening, our 5 year old son took me out to eat at our favorite pizza joint. Originally he wanted to go to McDonalds, then changed his mind to Red Lobster, and eventually settled on the pizza place. It happens to be in the same location as the steak restaurant! He kept me laughing all through the meal, in fact we took more home than we ate at the restaurant because of the laughing and talking we did. Then we went for a walk, got an ice cream and talked and laughed some more.

What stood out to me was how fabulous and different all 3 of them really are and how precious the time was that I got to spend with each of them in these times alone.

This is definitely something I want to do more often - it became apparent to me that not only is individual time important for me to spend with God, and how precious it is for husbands and wives to spend time alone, but also for parents and children to spend individual time with each other.

My hearts desire is that my children will not only see me as their mother but as a friend that they can always trust to love them, support them, and laugh/cry with them.

Thank you Lord for my children ~ they are the delight of my heart. Please let me be the mother they need me to be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rejoice Always ...

Here is the understatement of the year, "Somedays are better than others".

It seems like over the last couple of weeks, our family has been on a roller coaster of good days and bad days ~ the good days are fun, easy and carefree --- the bad days are tough, emotional and full of difficult decisions.

This past week, we've had to make one of those difficult decisions regarding our home back in Colorado; after much prayer and talking, we have decided to sell our Colorado dream home at a financial loss - very tough, very emotional and very upsetting to have to make that decision.

God tells us in I Thessalonians 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

With that verse in mind, we decided to 'celebrate' the pending sale of our home by going out to have some 'Family Fun' at a local garden - we had so much fun and it was truly uplifting to see the children have such a great time - it was refreshment for our souls to see the smiles on their faces.

Life is certainly exciting - in a scary roller coaster sort of way - one never knows what is just up over that next hill.

Thank you Father for your blessings, leadership, and love for us. Please help us be who you want us to be in all situations, good and bad. ~ Amen

My friend, bless you and may God give you the perfect peace that only He can provide!

~Anna

America ~ Home of the free BECAUSE of the brave!

On July 4, 1776 our country celebrated the completion of the Declaration of Independence.

The brave men who signed this petition did so at the risk of being thrown in prison and/or killed - their act of bravery set in motion the beginning of a great nation - our nation --- the United States of America!

With pride, honor, and gratitude to God - I say Happy Birthday my beloved country! May God bless our country and our people.