Two blog posts in one day.. This is a first.. Gods Grace.. is all I have to say...

This Family has really touched my heart

and

made me remember how blessed I am..

There are so many days when I look at this MILITARY life and say.. Why am I doing this? Do I really want to live this life? Do I really want to support my country in this way? Supporting my husband who defends our country by taking care of his children, supporting the people/Marines he works with. Continuing to love these children all around me who are SUFFERING from repeated deployments and time without there "family" together..

Most days the answer is A RESOUNDING "YES".. other days I want to reach into the television and strangle all those politicians and the News Media for making this world seem so bleak and hopeless..

Listening to these stories and seeing how POWERFUL and AWESOME Jesus is.. and seeing how unbelievably faithful he is.. brings me back to sanity.. it brings me back to remember He is control.. He does have a plan, it may not be the plan we want, we like or we think we can endure--but He is in Charge.. We are not.. He decides... Not us.. and for a mother of four boys there is time when taking the decision making away from me is a COMFORT..

I have never endured the trials these families have, but I have endured some pretty similar ones, and I remember HE was in control when I couldn't be and HE was there when I couldn't go another step.. These families help remind me of those times and I am thankful for that.. I know.. there pain is deep and there sorrow is unbelievable but as he sings "I SURRENDER ALL".

I say to myself.. That is what you have to do..

YOU.. YES.. YOU
are not capable of enduring this life without a God as powerful and as True as Jesus..

There are many times when I am at a grocery store or in the mall or at a Doctors office and I get " are they all yours ?" -- Are all those boys yours?

and I have to say.. to myself.. be nice..

Yes, they are..

Well.. How do you do it? How do you handle four Boys ?

I often say..

BY THE GRACE OF GOD..

That tends to make people realize that By his Grace, and only his Grace..
No one could handle four boys from age 10 to 4... and be a military wife and a owner of a Stay at home business by themselves...

Unless your Martha or Superwoman..You Couldn't do it on your own....

If you think you can.. I WANT TO MEET YOU..

So... I say to you.. Remember your trails and don't forget them..Remember how the Grace of God took you through them and made you a stronger and wiser witness for him..

Cause he does and he will again.. but not out of meanness he does it because
HE LOVES YOU.. and he wants YOU and ME to be the best witness of his LOVE this world can handle..


Can you imagine- living through this..


Smith Family Story from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.




What a Testimony....

Todd Smtih "I Surrender All" from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/

This is a family that just made me want to just hug this mother and children like there was NO tomorrow.. The fact that she sees that God loves her daughter and she will now be at peace is the first step in her healing.. Pray for this family..

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

This family is my kind of family.. Adventurous, funny and very cute.. and I am sure she knows what I am going through considering how close her kids are in age.. That is a challenge in itself.. But the sheer story of Stellan is such a testiment of Gods Grace, Gods Miracles and Gods plan.. Take a peek at this blog.. It will give you so much hope...

http://bevinsfamily.blogspot.com/

This family.. Wow.. they must be just Raw right now.. How do they have faith in Humanity right now? How do they continue to wake up each day and take another step.. They do it by Faith..They do it because they know there was a reason.. they don't know the reason.. they don't understand the reason..but they know there is a plan.. It's Gods plan.. Pray for this family.. They are hurting so deeply and need the love of fellow brothers and sisters.


http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/

I love this child.. She is going to be in BIG TROUBLE when she grows up.. She seems like a Real Spitfire... Her Mom is a SuperMom..She has endured a lot.. She's honest and she is REAL.. She knows her God has put her little lady on this earth for a Miraclous reason and she will fulfill it. She has great fashion sense and a real look into How faithful God is.. Check her out.. read the Rocky start little Harper had.. and how she is just blomming with love.

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

This is the blog that the Smith family belongs to.. This is Audrey's story.. This is a Mother and a Father and sisters who have endured such loss.. but see Gods Grace as well.. They are just an inspiration to me.. Wow.. I just admire there strength and perserverance and openness to hear what the Lord wants to tell them.. What he wants them to make from and out of Audreys life.. Gods Grace.. That is all I can say..

I hope you visit these blogs and think about how BLESSED you are.. No matter what... No matter how bad or good your life is right this very minute..

You are blessed.. somewhere in your life you are blessed..

Remeber the Awesomeness of the Lord..