“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he created grandmother's."

Last Saturday, June 18th, my mom's family and I celebrated my grandmother's 80th birthday! It was such a blessing to celebrate such an amazing women.  It is so hard for me to grasp how much this lady has seen, done, and blessed in her many years.  I know that I hope to be as much as women as she is some day. 

As we prepared for her party it was truly a blessing to browse through pictures of her children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, and friends.  It is so hard to even imagine how many memories and life lessons she learned beside these people.   One of my favorite memories with my grandma was when I spent the night with her for the first time.  For those of you who don't know I was totally a daddy's girl, ok ok ok I still am, and was not enjoying my first sleep over.   I know you may be thinking it was with your grandmother how scary can it be. It was scary!!! :) My grandmother did all in her power to keep my mind busy and away from being homesick. However, know matter what she did it was not working for me. The one thing I remember the most was that she never mocked or discouraged me from calling home. She encouraged me and reminded me to never be to far from your parents know matter how old you are!

As the years continue to pass I know that one main truth will always be with me:

Philippians 1:20-23

Paul’s Life for Christ
²⁰For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. ²¹ For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. ²² But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. ²³ I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

 I could never tell her how much of an inspiration she is to me, but I am thankful to the Lord for allowing such an example of a Godly woman to be my grandmother. I know that one day  all of our bodies will pass, but I pray today, tomorrow, and  forever that I can live my life for Christ just like my grandma.

Grace ISN'T Fair!

Grace Isn’t Fair!

“Scandalous Grace”

Mathew 20:1-16

I wanted to begin this blog to keep people posted on where God has taken us and how He is working in our lives. Life is always constant and crazy with Shea and I, but I don’t believe we would change it for the world.  I was setting with my mom for a treatment and in church on Monday and I felt God leading me to share not only Shea and I’s journey, but how God is working in my life through my mom’s battle with cancer. We left attending Trinity Church of Mulberry about six months ago. I have to admit leaving Trinity was probably the most difficult decision we have ever made, but because of God and His plans we are happily attending Dayton United Methodist Church.

 We were setting in the Monday night service and I felt God speaking right to me.  Pastor Mike preached on the parable in Mathew 20:  The Parables of the workers in the vineyard.  Pastor outlined that each vineyard owner was responsible on hiring day workers each day for a daily wage.  Each day worker agreed to be paid a denarius for the day.  The vineyard owner went back out at nine, noon, and three and hired others that where just standing around looking for work.  However, at the end of the day each day worker was paid the same wage regardless of the number of hours they had worked.  The workers who worked all day were very furious that the workers that arrived at five received the same amount of pay.  Now if you are anything like me; I was wondering how Pastor Mike was going to apply this to my life.  In his outline Pastor presented five great truths:

1.       Grace Isn’t Fair!*

2.       The last will be first and the first will be last.

3.       God sets us about His work.

4.       The reward is the same for all who spend our lives for Him.

5.       It’s never too late to turn to Grace!*

*** Grace is awesome! God shows us in his word that we are not worthy of his Grace, but because of his death we receive His grace if we choose to accept him. Amen!

                As I think of Grace I think about how God is using my mom’s experience as a lesson for me and my family.  You may wonder how I see Grace in such a harsh disease. Grace is seeing God work in our life to share our story. Grace is allowing each new day, week, month, and year to be spent with my mother.  God always shows His grace by giving us strength and guidance, and by taking care of us each day. God, by His grace, gives me strength to handle difficult problems in my life.

Thank you God for your loving Grace!