Father, I stretch my hands to thee,. . .

No other help I know; If thou withdraw thyself from me, Ah! whither shall I go?

. . . . . . .

71 - picking up right where you left off with dear friends whose company you haven't enjoyed in a LONG time
72 - friends from clear across the country calling to say that they can have dinner with you in 2 days
73 - bike riding lessons

74 - acquiring a new mop
75 - witnessing brothers & sisters working together for common good
76 - strawberry shortcake
77 - reminders that GOD is in control
78 - clear cat scans and normal EKG tests
79 - prayers from friends and family
80 - hearing my boy & girl say, "you're my FAVORITE mommy!"
. . . . . . .

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  -Philippians 3:8-11

it is enough. . .

that Jesus died, and that He died for me!

For the past month, I have felt very busy.  I am VERY thankful for being able to feel like we are getting back to a schedule!  Now I can relax and savor all the memories that we made!

. . . . . . .

61 - 33 years for me

(yes, my husband managed to get all 33 candles lit)

62 - memories of little cousins

63 - accountability friends

64 - artistic abilities

65 - kitties purring in sleeping bags

66 - outbuilding projects

67 - campfire suppers just because

68 - afternoon fun

69 - braids

70 - soccer

(shouldn't every Guatemala kid play soccer?)

. . . . . . .

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.   -James 3:17

purer be. . .

thy silent musings, Child of grace and peace divine; Holy be thy inner choosings, Lifting thee to nobler climes.

Last night we heard a wonderful sermon on pure hearts.  It was just what I needed to start out the week right.  Gentle reminders and wonderful motivation.  Thank you, Lord!

. . . . . . .

51 - remembering the day Ethan moved from our hearts to our arms!

52 - birthdays

53 - kindling family relationships

54 - Communing with each other and the Lord

55 - The Resurrection

56 - outdoor projects

57 - catching up

58 - helping others

59 - Love With Shoes On

60 - Saturday!

. . . . . . .

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  -Matthew 25:37-40

no, i haven't disappeared. . .

i have just had a whirlwind couple of weeks and a computer with a BIG BAD virus.  I am looking forward to catching up on all our precious memories. . .

as soon as I can use something besides my husband's work computer.

:)

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, - 2 Timoth 2:24

He brought me out. . .

of the miry clay.  He set my feet on a rock to stay.  He puts a song in my soul today.  A song of praise, HALLELUIAH!

When our kids sing this song, they SING with ALL their HEARTS.  Some days, I need to be reminded to do that too.  This is a wonderful week to remind me that my Savior died for MY sins.  He brought me out of that miry clay and set my feet on a rock.
Now why in the WORLD do I want to keep jumping in again?  I am thankful for so much, it's just that sometimes my mind gets cloudy and I have to shove things aside to see the beauty.  In shoving aside today, I am grateful for. . .

. . . . . . .

41 - daddy's helpers

42 - mommy's helpers

43 - Goodwill stores

44 - SPRING!

45 - days of making food for the freezer

46 - naps of rejuvination

47 - inspiration for early rising

48 - a Sunday afternoon with old friends

49 - good books

50 - praising God through song

. . . . . . .

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.  And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way.  And the multitudes that went before, and thatfollowed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  - Matthew 21:1-9

33 years. . .

Servant of The Most High, Son, Husband, Daddy.

Happy Birthday to Joe!

We love you! 

This morning, after Joe left for work, Ethan wondered, "How many years have we had Daddy?"  I am so thankful that out of your 33 years, a little over 10 of them have been with me.

So thankful for your prescence in our life!

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.  -1 Peter 2:17

not pa's haystack. . .

Saturday was an eventful day at the Hess Household.

Friday night Jonas had came and excavated for our new shed. He scraped topsoil, moved dirt, and dug holes. Wow, all that big equipment was a child's DREAM!

Saturday morning, everyone was out bright and early, getting ready for the concrete truck. We were planning to get cement poured in the holes that Jonas had dug for the new building and also in our new sidewalk. It was one action packed day!

After all this, Ethan & Elisa took LONG naps, and when they got up they had the MOST fun of all. . .

Remember reading On the Banks of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder? Remember how much fun Mary & Laura had sliding down Pa's haystack? (until there was no longer a haystack?) Remeber how Pa stacked it all back up and told them not to slide any more? Remeber how they did it again? This was one of our favorite stories in the book, so when Ethan and Elisa started playing on the big dirt pile that Jonas had made, it made me think of this. I reminded them about it and they laughed.

When the day was done, Joe & I lauged a lot too!

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. -Psalm 127:3