Throwback Thursday: "I'm Scared!"

Welcome to Throwback Thursday,
Jordyn and I were remembering this moment 13 years ago this evening. What a beautiful time as a momma to witness my child realizing her need to have Jesus living in her heart! I hope you enjoy stepping back in time with me:

Scripture Sunday: Matthew 18:3-5

Family Friday Throwback: My Daughter Is Now My Sister...

I suppose I would typically have posted this under my Throwback Thursday title, but because it has to do with family and a special event, I thought Family Friday worked better. This originally posted on my blog on Christmas Eve 2008, enjoy!

Monday Madness: You Are Not...

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Dueteronomy 31:6

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

You are NOT...alone.

I don't know about you, but in the middle of winter when the days are long and dreary...it's been weeks since the sun has shone...I sometimes feel lonely. It helps me to remember that the Lord is always with me. I am never alone.

And you...you are NOT alone.

Have a blessed day,

Heidi

Scripture Sunday: Phillipians 4:13

Happy New Year!!!

Remember where your strength comes from!

Blast From The Crazy Past: Our Tiny Prayer Warrior

Welcome to memories...my memories....welcome to a Blast from my Crazy Past!

When our oldest was only two years old, our car was having serious problems...

Monday Madness: "It's So Peaceful Here..."

Welcome to Monday Madness where I will talk about pretty much anything that comes to mind. From homeschooling to special needs to strange blog posts about silly objects to interviewing a family member...you never know what you might read on Monday Madness! Enjoy!

Not too long ago, a girl walked in our home...
She let out a HUGE sigh, relaxed her shoulders and said...

Tuesday Tidings: I am from...

On Tuesdays you will find guest blogs by my daughters and many other people. Please enjoy this post from Mac.

I am from…….

Guest Post: Light of Love and Hope...

This post comes from my husband's Aunt Rosemary. I have always enjoyed listening to her stories and was so happy to have her share this one. Enjoy!

Guest Post: Merry Christmas...From Space!

This guest post was written by my husband Peter.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. Far beyond the receiving of gifts, I have always looked forward to gathering with friends and family around warm fires and good food. In my blessed experience, Christmas is a season of wonderful tastes, smells, sights, and sounds. But, as a father, my greatest joy has become watching my children's faces light up as they open a gift I have given them. Truly, giving is my joy and is what makes Christmas most special for me. This, of course, reminds me of the greatest gift that was ever given to mankind - the Son of God, born as a babe in a manger.

As I read the Christmas narrative in the Bible, the entire story is amazing. So many accounts of danger, intrigue, wonder, and perfect love leaving heaven to become humanity. It's hard for me to pick a favorite part of the Christmas story, but if I had to pick one, it might be the account of the Magi following the star to find the Christ Child. I suppose it is of particular interest to me because I love all things having to do with space and astronomy. The sense of wonder and excitement that I feel as I discover new heavenly sights through my telescope on a dark night must be similar, in a very small way, to the joy that filled the hearts of the travelers when they saw the star and "rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matthew 2:10 KJV). What awe must have gripped the hearts of those faithful searchers as they opened their gifts before the King of Kings.

Thinking about space and the part it plays in the Christmas story gives me an idea for how to wish you happy holidays. A few days before Christmas in 1968, NASA launched Apollo 8 with three astronauts aboard: Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders. They would become the first humans to celebrate Christmas at the moon.

To set the scene, I'll take you back to December, 1968. NASA is engaged in the space race, and is trying to prepare for the eventual mission that will put an American astronaut on the lunar surface. However, up to this point, no humans have ever ventured out of low-earth orbit. So, a few days before Christmas, our three brave adventurers are sent into space aboard Apollo 8. Their mission, though obviously complex, has a fairly simple purpose. Fly to the moon. Prove that humans can actually do that. Once they arrive, they are to take up-close pictures of the Sea of Tranquility - the eventual landing spot for Neil Armstrong's lunar module. But, this also means that this will be the first time in history that a human being will see earth from a distance. Never before have we seen ourselves from another world. We have no idea what the earth looks like from space. We have no idea what we look like to the rest of the universe. But that is about to change.

Apollo 8 launches from Florida and begins heading toward the moon. Of course, they are heading away from the earth at this point, so no earth views yet. Then, when Apollo 8 reaches the moon, it enters lunar orbit - flying around the moon. But again, the rocket is pointing in a direction that prevents our astronauts from seeing the earth through the window. Finally, as the astronauts come around the edge of the moon for the fourth time, the earth comes into view. Suddenly the mission is set aside as the first humans in history to see us from the vantage point of the moon stare in amazement at our home. As Bill Anders would later say, "We came all this way to study the moon, but when we got here, the most significant thing we saw was the earth."

Still reeling from this excitement, NASA informs the astronauts that NASA is going to publicly broadcast their evening news transmission which is to take place just a few moments later. In part because it is Christmas Eve, and in part because of the excitement surrounding the space race, NASA informs the astronauts that this evening news transmission will be broadcasted to the largest audience in history to hear a live human voice broadcasted over radio and television. As Frank Borman relates, the only instructions that NASA gave them were to, "do something appropriate."

I've included a couple of YouTube videos that will help you understand this exciting event. But I promise that you will be blown away when you hear what the astronauts had to say to the earth that Christmas Eve! 

Video #1: A little bit of background.

This video is, admittedly, a bit dull and technical. But, stick with it to the finish. It will help you understand the next two videos.

Video #2: Christmas at the moon.

This is the same event as depicted in the first video, but this time from the perspective of the astronauts who were there.

Video #3: Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Message.

This video contains the full audio of the Christmas Eve message that was sent to earth from the moon by the astronauts aboard Apollo 8.




As you plan your holiday festivities, I hope these videos give you a sense of just how special you are. Providence has placed you on earth: a tiny mote suspended in the vastness of space, an oasis of life. As you plan your holiday festivities, know that you are living in the one place in the universe where we can say with certainty that God has taken on human form and walked among people, the one place in the expanse of space where God's love has been made known to humankind. Truly, your life has been spectacularly arranged so that you might have the best possible chance of encountering God's gift of perfect love.

My hope and prayer for you at this holiday season is that you will experience, in a new and life-changing way, the love, peace, and grace that comes only from the Christ Child.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Blast From The Crazy Past- Poem

I wrote and published this poem 8 years ago in 2008....it has no name. That feels sad somehow....

Blast From The Crazy Past- Happy Thanksgiving

This was originally posted 10 years ago in 2006. Reading through it, there are things I completely forgot happened to our family that year.

Dear To My Heart....Fostering...

This week we found out that the twins we currently have will be moving on to be with family.

Blast From The Crazy Past- I Am From...

I Am From…(Originally posted in 2008)
By Heidi

I am from farmland, long country roads and beautiful starry nights…

From Cabbage Patch, Care Bears and Rainbow Bright…

I am from the one-store town, friendly outgoing people and Brownie Troops…

I am from tall grass, the soft summer breezes blowing the fresh smells of hay and cow poop…

I am from camping trips and prayer warriors, from Great-Great Grandma Joli, Aunt Blanche and Great-Grandma Henderson…

I am from a warm, loving family, a younger brother who was always my protector and six sets of grandparents who were all biological…

From "if you cross your eyes, they're gonna stick", "pick up your feet" and "suck in your stomach"…

I am from the Old Time Gospel, prayer meetings that lasted forever, foot washin' and song-singin', parents who prayed long into the night, and pastors, teachers and family members who prayed for me…

I am from Southern _____ , Ancestors who traveled across the sea, Indians who freely roamed and Sparring nations…

From beans, corn bread and butter n sugar sandwiches…

I am from watching my grandpa die from cancer, the great-grandpa who said,"Don't fall down, fall up!" and praying my relatives would stop smoking so they wouldn't die like my other grandpa…

I am from albums jam-packed with photos, countless hours listening to stories at family gatherings, silent movies and slide shows…

Mainly I am from a wonderfully blessed family, full of God's love… 

From blessings uncountable, healings thought impossible and lives Saved…

Because of Him…I can be "From"…

The Ups and Downs of Life

As I mentioned in my post a couple days ago, I was in a really nasty car wreck. Needless to say, I have been in a lot of pain, sleeping constantly whenever I can because I am not sleeping well at night.
I have been on such a roller coaster of emotions. Re-living the accident and dreaming about it practically every night. I guess my brain keeps trying to resolve it but in reality there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I think the thing that is keeping me going is knowing that all things happen for a reason. By the end of the day on the 14th, we had met up with three different people that we never would have met up with before and we now have the privilege to pray for them.
The story could have had a completely different ending if He had so desired. And even then, I still would be praising His name. However, for some reason, He saved our lives on Valentine's Day. And He let me know, that no matter what, He is in control, not me.
I remember as clear as a bell hollering to my Jesus as I realized what was going to happen. And just like that, He was there comforting me...loving me and showing me it would be okay. I also remember that I was totally okay with dying! There is just something so amazing about knowing where you are going when you die. I had no thoughts of fear, no regrets just knowledge that if I was to die, I was going to be with Him!
Let me tell you right now, if you are reading this and don't have that peace in your heart of knowing that you are headed to Heaven when you die...please stop reading and start praying. Seriously. Nothing, NOTHING is worth losing Heaven over. The devil will use every lie he can think of to get you to turn away right now. To ignore Jesus knocking at your heart's door. My friend, if you don't know that you are headed to Heaven, please pray right now and ask Jesus into your heart. To take away the sin, guilt and heartache and make you a new creature. He can do it! And He will if you come to Him with a completely honest heart and truly want a change. Once He makes that change, you can go through anything with Him at your side! Anything. You can even face death in the face and know that Heaven is your home!
I pray that you will make that choice today if you haven't already!
God bless you!