Billy's Birthday

Today was Billy's 20th Birthday!

We took him out to dinner and he ordered his favorite cut of Steak... Prime Rib!

I can't believe he is 20!

One of the unique gifts that a parent experiences is from the moment their child is born is to see the day to day change that takes place. Only parents experience this. I mean, I know that I have friends & even brothers & sisters that I have known over the years and have seen them get older, grow, & change. It is just different with our own child. It is love on a whole new level. It was in the birth of my children when I felt what I think in relation to what the Lord feels for all He has created. That over whelming Love that is pure, unconditional, and that He would die for.

That is the gift I want for my children. To love with all they are, without restraint. I pray Billy feels that Love that is perfect & pure in some measure from his parents, but of course it is not...only a perfect Father can truly give him love like that & all that he needs....I pray he has received his heavenly father's pure, unconditional love & recognizes His presence in every minute in every hour & that the Lord says "You are worth dieing for."

Teach a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. I've heard this scripture translated in two ways. One is in the way the child is bent....and another is the Way of the Lord.....I like both translations but I'm praying for the second one!

We are so proud of Billy. He has a heart of gold.

The CALL & The Newspaper

It was early morning, Steve and I just got through praying after our bible study together when the phone call came in. It was God calling to give one of those blessings He drops from the sky just because....
Steve is so looking forward to the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament on Wednesday. Its the preliminary match before the great day. A professional golfer plays 18 holes with 3 other amateur players for a foursome. One of those is Steve! TPC Craig Ranch where Steve works on the weekends, has generously donated a TPC golf shirt for Steve to wear to the event. I'll be going to follow him around to take pictures on this special day.

We looked in the newspaper this morning and discovered he'll be in the 12:30 group with professional Joe Ogilvie.

In a few weeks on May 6th, Steve will once again be playing to raise support for the "Real Options" Golf Marathon. This ministry is near and dear to our heart & we support this ministry in all the ways they help those who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy situation. We want to give out of what we ourselves have been given through such a crisis as this one. Life is just so precious! If you would like to sponsor Steve this year, just let us know...Here is the website for Real Options & if you have any questions about their services I will be happy to answer them for you. Your support just might save a life both physically and eternally!

www.realoptionsforwomen.org

I know how grateful Steve is to have this honor just given to him. What a great gift the Lord has given him. The Lord's timing couldn't be more perfect!

My prayer is that the Lord be pleased with us

Micah 6:8 To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God

Body Worlds

We all went to see the exhibit "Body Worlds" at the Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas. When I first heard about this exhibition on the radio, I was shocked and was turned off about the thought of real human bodies on display. I thought about it some more and realized I was real interested in seeing it. I am so fascinated by the anatomy of the human body. I wanted to get a "real" inside view. In giving a massage, I'm always imagining the bone and muscle placement and getting help from seeing in books that "inside" view. These whole-body plastinates where in all kinds of poses. The wide range of specimens shows the difference between a healthy body and a diseased body. Seeing for yourself, makes one appreciate & want to take care of their own body even better and to be amazed at the details the designer put into such a specimen!

check out the website! www.bodyworlds.com

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations"

Psalm 100:3 Know the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 139: 13-16

The Golden Days of Home

It's been a good day, Lord. yes, a very good day! The last few days I've had a few outcalls. That is when I go to someone's home and give them a massage. One of them was a gift certificate I had donated to the senior citizens who live in the new retirement community apartments in town. A sweet and kind woman found the golden egg with the gift certificate inside at the Easter egg hunt! She was so nice & welcomed me into her home. I really enjoyed having that opportunity. I also visited another woman at her home who had a crook in her neck. I usually see her each monday morning for chair massage at the fitness center. So, to get a telephone call to come to her home was a surprise! She has arthritis in her hands and massage helps to ease the pain. It was a joy to spend time with her and get to know more about her life and her family. I remember the first time I met her I instantly felt her warm heart shining through! She didn't have the crook in her neck when I left.

It did my heart good to visit with these two senior woman. I read a plaque on the wall that said "Getting old is not for sissies!" These two woman blessed me with their courage & wisdom, their character & care for others. I thank the Lord for the sneak preview into their lives of what's up ahead in the golden years for Steve & I!

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies...She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:10,27-28

Old Friends

Today I talked with one of my son's boyhood friends on the phone for a long time. He called me to tell me he would be in town and he wanted to see all of us and me too. He use to live down the street. I remember when he was new to the neighborhood and became friends with our family. We took an instant liking to him. He became very special to us. He is a special boy. I remember having a birthday party for him as well as a going away party when his family moved to Pennsylvania.
He had been in several foster homes & shared some of his life experiences with us. He then was adopted by the family down the street from us .He is in the Army now and just got back from Korea. I found out alot of things about him. I found out he got married and his wife is in Iraq for the 3rd time. He has colitis and can not run or drink alcohol. He may get a medical discharge from the service. We talked about old times.
It was good to talk with him. I'm glad he feels comfortable talking with me. I've kept a card he gave me in my bible for years. It's still there. I'm glad to hear he is happy and doing well.
Dear Heavenly Father-
I thank you for your love for all your children. I thank you for your protection over this one. I pray your protection over this one and His wife in physical, mental, & spiritually as they serve this country. I pray over their marriage as a protection and safe place of unity and love. I pray Lord that they know the power and protection of your love above all things. I pray this in the precious and holy name of Jesus, Amen