More Christmas pictures

Grace with the girls from the youth group.They went caroling that night.





This is our annual sparkling grape juice binge



Robert made ornaments with the kids this year.He was very clever

Can't get any better than this!

Caleb came home for Christmas and it was so wonderful for all of us to see him again.The excitement in the house before he arrived was crazy.We all went to the airport to see his plane come in and the boys were running around trying to see who could get a glimpse of him first.We had a wonderful couple of days with him.We had the Christmas celebration with my parents on Thursday night while he was here.We couldn't get over how wonderful it was to have all five of them together.We are so thankful that he was able to come home for a couple of days.We better get used to the separation because Caleb said his plans right now are to stay at the Air Force Academy so that means 4&1/2 more years of restricted visits.We are so proud of his determination and endurance through such a difficult environment.I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!


Here is a picture of Caleb when we first saw him at the airport.

Grace's Christmas Recital

Grace takes dance from a wonderful Christian lady here in Taylorsville just 2 miles from the house.I am trying to get the video of her Dance recital but I am having difficulty getting it to download all the way so I will include it as soon as possible.She also takes a choir class on Fridays at the dance studio and that is the video I have included here.After the recital they went and sang Christmas Carols all over the town and I have included some pictures from that of the town.It is cold here we had to go get winter supplies today like salt and shovels boots etc...We have had a lot of freezing rain and tonight it is supposed to snow.
Becky

A very Careful balanced view of the movie "The Golden Compass"

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1065

A Letter From A Friend

I received the following letter today from a very dear friend in Jacksonville.Robert was her pastor and her mothers pastor for years in our little church.As God would direct it both Cami's mother and Robert's mother would die within weeks of each other from the same disease.I was so moved by her letter and her great understanding of God's Sovereignty in our lives that I asked permission to place this letter on the blog for all to enjoy.Please scale down to the bottom of this letter to listen to a man that also had muscular dystrophy explain in his own words how God designed him to have this disease.It was not out of God's control as nothing in our lives is out of His control and purpose.I am also including a small video of Steve Saint (,son of Nate Saint missionary pilot killed by the Aucas) who lost his daughter as a young adult who had just returned from a year long mission trip the night of her death.Then ther is one by John Piper about Gods Sovereignty. May your Spirit be moved by such faith.
Becky


Yesterday marked 5 years since my mom passed away. She died peacefully after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gherrig's Disease). It was a Sunday morning right at 9:00. My brother and I always smile and say, "Just in time for church" Mom loved the Lord more than anything and it showed in everything she said and did. She left Marc and I a wonderful heritage as she was a great example to all her family and friends. She touched many, many lives with her kind, gentle spirit. People always walked away feeling loved and encouraged. I miss her.

Tonight I watched a fictional story on TV called "One More Day" about a man who while unconscious because of a car accident, got to spend one more day with his deceased mother. He got to ask her questions and say things he didn't before she died. Thankfully, mom and I were able to spend many days together, as I cared for her. I've never regretted that time. I've always felt like I would do everything exactly the same. I'm thankful for that as well. Not many people are that fortunate. Oh - I guess there are some things I would do differently - but not the important things - not the goodbyes and the "I love you's" and the "you did a great job, mom - I'm thankful that you were my mother". I'll never forget the time she told Marc and I that she had worked her way out of her job of being a mother and how proud of us she was.

Marc and I both wondered how we would survive without her. She was such a constant in our lives - such a comfort. We could call her anytime and talk about anything. She always had some kind of answer and it always pointed us back to the Lord. We always knew she was praying for us. So many mornings, I remember walking into her room and finding her on her knees, face to the floor next to her bed, praying for us. Praying for her day - for her family - for the people around her that she knew and loved.

If I had one more day to spend with mom, I would have to sit and tell her about all the things that the Lord has done in my life since He took her home. How, for so many years, I had her on a pedestal and God showed me that she was human - that I relied too much on her and her wisdom and not enough on His. How my faith has grown by leaps and bounds because I watched Him take me through loosing my mom and I still survived - even thrived.

None of us understood the purpose in God taking mom at 54, but as the years have passed, we've seen His hand. Things have happened in my life that only could have happened because I went through that. My marriage was strengthened, the relationship with my dad restored, and I relate to people in ways that I never could have beforehand. There are so many other things and it would take the whole night to tell them all - but if I could pinpoint it down to one life lesson it would be that there is a purpose in everything! God isn't random - he doesn't just allow things to happen to us for no reason. He doesn't allow people to suffer or die because He thinks it's a good idea for the day. Absolutely nothing that happens to us ever surprises Him or catches Him off guard. He allows thing to happen so that we can see Him working - we can see His power, His grace, His love. We may not see it in the midst of the tragedy - we are too focussed on our own pain and discomfort. But when we come through the other side - just seeing that we survived should be reason enough to praise Him. And as time goes by and you begin to put all the puzzle pieces together - you can't help but see how He only had your best in mind.

Mom loved Christmas. Yesterday we decorated Christmas cookies. Anyone who ever knew mom - knew about her beautiful Christmas cookies. I've continued the tradition. It's not Christmas without her cookies. Each Christmas that goes by, someone usually asks me how I am doing. While I miss her, I go back to the idea that she is celebrating the birth of our Savior with the Savior himself. God took her home so I could live. So I could live the abundant life that He had for me. So I could learn to trust Him and not rely so much on her. So I could see Him do amazing things in my life through something as difficult as watching a loved one suffer and die. There are pivotal moments in everyone's life, and this was one for me. As difficult as it is, and as much as I miss her - I wouldn't be the same person I am today. I am thankful for this experience. The experience of life - of death - of love and loss.

My marriage would not be what it is today. My strength, my character, my faith. Jarod's life wouldn't be the same. Amazingly we were just talking about how Anne is the same age that Jarod was when we moved in with mom. At almost 3 we were talking to him about death and sickness and Grandma going to live with Jesus. He had a love and an understanding of the Lord at an early age and I believe it was because of my mom. He would crawl up in her bed with her and she would talk to him about God. The day that we explained to him that Grandma would be going to heaven soon, he ran full force into my mom's room and yelled with such excitement, "Grandma! You get to go see Jesus soon!!!" Oh! If we all had the faith and excitement of a 3 year old.
He often speaks of her and remembers their times together. She would be so proud of the little gentleman he's become and how at 4 1/2 he gave his life to Christ.

If I had one more day, I would introduce her to my Anne. Mom always wanted a little granddaughter. Oh! How she would be sewing!!!! Feeding that girls vanity with ribbons and bows and dresses! She's such a girly girl. I'm thankful that Anne is still so innocent about death - but sad that she will never be influenced by my mother.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and feelings with you. Seems it was all bottled up and needed to get out. As you go through this holiday season, take time to hug your loved ones a little tighter and be thankful for the time you still have with them. And if you are facing a difficult situation - look for the purpose - be thankful for the opportunity to grow and change and become a better person - to walk closer with God - to stretch your faith. We all get so comfortable and sometimes God likes to shake us up so we will trust Him and not ourselves. Don't be afraid of it - embrace it - and watch Him do wonderful things in your life! He's done it in mine.

Merry Christmas!

Cami

Great news from Caleb

I don't go to rehab anymore, my knee is completely fine. The tests showed it's actually stronger than my other knee now, so that is good.


I received this message from Caleb today.We are so grateful to God for protecting him from a more serious injury and for Caleb's hard work to get better.
Becky

Got to see Movie

I know that the portrayal of John Newton in this movie is not, as some would say, the real story behind Amazing Grace the song but he is not the main focus of this movie.It is so inspiring that it is hard to put in words. I so long to be used in such a way.To be able to stand alone if need be and have my passions not be temporary but fruitful.This world,society and church needs to be filled with such passion.It seems everyone says "well there is nothing we can do about this or that" Well why not do something about the things we are passionate about instead of letting the daily things always take precedent over the important things.I don't mean that my job as a mother is an unimportant thing if it is lived out in passion.I need not let it be mundane. I need to try my best to inspire my children by exposing them to written stories and visual portrayals of godly people of passion. Maybe it is not me who will do such "big" things but maybe it is my children that will not live a life that causes them to say with the rest of the world "Well there is nothing we can do about it" May they be stellar truth bearers even if they have to stand alone.
Becky

This song is meaningful

I have never seen the Passion and I don't know that I would ever care to but I thought that the portrayal of the woman coming to Jesus on her face was such an amazing pictue of how I think it would be to meet Jesus in humility.I look forward to worshiping along with you tomorrow whether that is in person or in hearts united together.Have a blessed Lords day!
Becky