Some Thank You's

Hi Sweet Friends

Thank you for stopping by today

You always bless my heart

I'm praying you are well and

Have enjoyed a Beautifully Blessed Weekend

Today I wanted to share a few Thank You's

First

I want to thank so many of you who have prayed

Over the past few weeks and even months

For some of my friends and my own family

Prayer is so very powerful

And I am grateful to know

That God hears our prayers

"Before they call I will answer;

While they are still speaking I will hear"

Says the Lord."

Isaiah 65:24

So Thank YOU for praying

I'd like to also Thank my blog friend Noreen

She blogs over at 

Life Blessings

She was away for a little trip

But didn't say where she was going

I guessed where she was and who she was visiting

Noreen so sweetly sent me a few gifts

From her trip

You can Never go wrong

Sending me something with a 'beachy' theme

I LOVE it all

AND ...

This little item is what has started my New Collection

Val - Noreen's friend

Who lives on one of the Islands and blogs at

My Girlz Got Paws

Was so very sweet to send me a piece of sea glass

To go along with Noreen's package

Hence, I have a new collection ...

Well, sort of

I want to have a collection

I guess you need 3 of something to call it a collection

So, I'm on the Hunt

Sea Glass - My newest Obsession *SMILE*

Thank you Noreen and Val

Finally

I want to Thank Stephanie

Who blogs over at 

The Enchanting Rose

While participating in her 8th Tea Cup Exchange

I happily sent a second package

To a sweet lady who didn't receive hers

I surely didn't do it to receive a gift

However, Stephanie is so very kind

She sent a really sweet package

I promise I have not even opened the chocolate YET...

But will soon

I Love the cookbook and have been perusing it this past week

The chicken pot holder is just my colors

And super fun

Thank you Stephanie for blessing my home

Again, thank you for your prayers

For stopping by and leaving such encouraging comments

I would Love to pray for you this week

If you or someone you know has a need

I would be honored if you left me a comment

Or sent a PM so I can pray for that need this week

It is My Greatest Privilege

May you be Blessed with Joy

Written With Permission

Hello Sweet Friends,

"Consider it all joy, my friends, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

That is the scripture I based my blog on when I started it in 2008, 745 posts ago.  Since that time I have striven to find joy in the everyday things of life. I don't always succeed but I do attempt.

However, this week I have struggled to find one moment of joy.

I have been faced with one of the greatest challenges of my life.

Second only to my husband's passing on Christmas Eve 2010.

In 1985 I began praying for an unborn child, 
One that was sure to have a challenging life.
There was no way to know, at that time, that Mark and I would end up raising that little child as our own through foster care and later adoption.  I've shared previously that he had a fragile prognosis at the time but has thrived in the nearly 30 years we have loved him.

 
He is kind, compassionate and funny,
Strong-willed, independent and loving.
He has brought joy to my life and I love him dearly
And I Always will

However, 96 hours ago he announced to me
That he wants to be a girl and go through transgender treatment

I am still in Shock
I do not know how to do this
I love him and will always love him

But honestly friends
This is not something I am prepared to accept or support
It goes against everything I believe
It is breaking my momma heart
And I have been Honest with him about this

Why do I share such a private and personal trial?

1. In hopes that you will pray for us.

2. In hopes that there is someone out there who has walked this path and will reach out to this momma.

3. Because someday, when we've walked a bit further down this path, there may be one person who is just hearing those words, whose heart will be broken, who wants to do it right, and who is scared, numb, angry, sad, broken and just needs support.

I am not a victim!!
I am a woman, a momma, a widow who will 
Attempt to walk this new path
With grace, dignity, love and somehow find JOY in the midst

I won't always do it right
I will make mistakes
But, with God's grace and guidance
I will do my absolute best
As a Christian and as a Momma
To walk this path and bring Glory to God

 

If you need me, you can find me here:

Source 

Thank you for allowing me to share
Thank you, in advance, for your prayers

Back to regular postings next week

Blessings
Looking for JOY
 



Urgent Prayer Request

Hi Friends,

I come to you tonight with a Prayer Request

For my Sweet Daughter In Love

Melissa

Pictured in the center of this photo

With her hubby (my son) and their 3 daughters and my 2nd son

She was admitted to the hospital last night

With critically low hemoglobin and iron levels

She has had 2 blood transfusions and a unit of iron

They are performing tests

But no resulting diagnosis at this point

Her hubby has been by her side the entire time

Her girlies (My 3 K's) are with their other grandparents tonight

Hoping they will be here by Thursday

Please pray that doctors are able to figure out

Why she is so terribly iron deficient

And are able to come up with a plan to treat her

And get her home to her family

Thank you so much friends

I will keep you updated as I receive news

Blessings to you all

Always looking to find JOY in the midst