Family

It's been great to see my brother's family at my nephews' basketball games!

 Drake's last high school game as a senior was called a Blackout, where all the fans wore black.

He and his younger brother, Tyson (below with Drake), played on the same team this year.

I'm so thankful for this time with my beloved nephews ❤

During the school spring break, my parents and I met up with my sister's family in Yosemite...

...and it snowed!

What a special time together ❤

My sister's family, and my mom and dad in front of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite. 

The Cross

 The pain woke me up very early in the morning, so I went for a slow walk with my thumping head. At the bottom of the hill, I sat down on the beach and cried.  

I said to God, "speak, for Your servant is listening." 

Silence 

I looked down in the sand where there were pieces of driftwood that had washed ashore during the recent rains. Under the piece at my feet, was a little 2 by 3 inch weathered cross made of felt.

I picked it up and thought about what it meant to me.

It means to me that Jesus understands it all. 

He suffered and died on the cross. Jesus is my example, and His story ends in victory. It is my desire to follow Him, whatever picking up my cross and following Him looks like - each day of my life. 

With the pain in my head unchanged, I stood up comforted, refreshed, and full of hope and joy. It seems to me that it is in the area of free will (my mind and my heart) that the deepest miracles take place.  

Thank you, Jesus.

Perfected Power

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

No One is too Small to Make a Difference

by Lisa Swerling

Let's be encouraged in God's all sufficient grace...however small we seem and whatever our weaknesses, let's pray that His power be perfected in us for the glory of Christ Jesus!

Giving Thanks and the Forgotten Blessings

  

In this new year, after reading John 6, I decided to kneel down and give thanks to God for the "small number" of opportunities He has given me to share His love during this time of physical pain. 

A miraculous thing happened when I opened my mouth and began to give thanks...the list grew and grew and grew as I thanked God!

I couldn't believe how many opportunities He has given me to love and share His good news with people. It was as if God was reminding me one by one of the multiple opportunities I have had and am having. 

I ended my time of prayer astounded and encouraged. 

I was reminded of the miraculous work of God, that when we give thanks to Him for what we have, He can reveal the unseen or forgotten blessings. 

Happy New Year!

 

God has been faithful.

God is faithful.

God will continue to be faithful.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving with my much loved brother and sister and their families 😊

WV

 

My mom was thankful to visit with one more of her cousins on the way out of PA into WV!

My final visit was with The Refuge church in West Virginia. 

They had the youth sit in for the service, and it was a blessing to share with them too!

After the service, they gathered into small groups to pray for people. This group prayed for my health and God's timing and purposes for my life. 

What a wonderful way to end this trip, and I praise God for His grace, protection, and strength during this time.

Thank you for praying with me and sharing in the blessings of all that God has done!