TADA!! And now for my monthly update. I don't blog much anymore for various reasons...1. Time...there always seems to be a shortage in this area. 2. I pretty much keep up to date on FaceBook...I can access it from my phone even when I'm off work and not around the computer. 3. I just never was a really good writer...I don't know how to put my thoughts down into words, especially these days. I have been noticing song lyrics a lot more recently. Especially Matthew West's CD, which I have been listening to many times. Here is one of the songs that has awesome lyrics. It is so true of our BUSY world and lives...

Stop The World

The T.V. is talking
The telephone's ringing
The lights are all on and the radio's screaming
A million distractions are stealing my heart from You

I'm tired and empty
This life is relentless
It weakens my knees and it breaks my defenses
It's wearing me down and I'm desperate to hear from You

I need to be still before I make a move
And I need to be humble with nothing to prove
And I need Your Word to show me the truth
I need time, precious time

Stop the world, I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

Stop the world, I'm ready to listen
Show me a sign, just give me a vision of Heaven
That I can hold on to
Stop the world, I need some time with You

Before I can find my voice
I need to hear Your voice
Above all the senseless noise

Stop the world, I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You, I need to hear You, Lord

Stop the world, I'm ready to listen
Show me a sign, give me a vision of Heaven
That I can hold on to
Stop the world, I need some time with You
Stop the world, I need some time with You

And here is just one more song off of that CD...it has been the "cry of my heart" the past several months, and sometimes I wonder why it took me so long to get to this point. I mean, I always wanted God's will, but did I really SEEK AFTER it? Just a challenge....I'm going on faith that it IS worth it!

The Center

I got a feeling as a matter of fact
It's like my whole world just came under attack
And I hear can a voice telling me to turn back
Cause I must be onto something

It happens every single time I get close to
Everything I know is good and right and so true
It's like somebody doesn't want me to love You
And I must be onto something

So help me hold on
Help me be strong
Cause I don't wanna move
Unless You move me

I wanna know how it feels to be
Standing in the center of Your will for me
I wanna know what surrender means
Keep me in the center of Your will for me
Keep me in the center

God forbid, I start to think I'm on a roll now
Cause I do believe there is a battle for my soul now
And I can feel the world fighting for control now
I must be onto something

So help me hold on just a little bit longer
Cause all the struggle's gonna do is make me stronger
This is the everyday prayer of my heart
I just wanna stay where You are

I wanna know how it feels to be
Standing in the center of Your will for me
I wanna know what surrender means
Keep me in the center of Your will for me

Lord, help me hold on
Help me be strong
'Cause I don't wanna move
Unless You move me!

Allow me to tell y'all a cute story about my niece from this weekend. I told Emilee that I would take her and Megan to the park for her birthday sometime this fall. Saturday was a bit chilly, but otherwise a beautiful day for it. We packed a picnic lunch, picked up the girls, and headed to City Park. When we picked them up, Emilee was crying about having to go because Joel was with me. She is rather afraid of him. She is like that with men she doesn't know. We got to the park and played for awhile until the girls were both hungry. Our lunch was yummy (there's just something about the fresh air that makes things taste better), though it took us awhile to eat with so many distractions for the girls.  

After lunch, we played a little more, then decided to walk around the pond. It was lovely. The crunchy leaves, crisp air, cute girls with such tiny hands clutching my own, amusing ducks, geese, swans, and fish, and of course, the bf to share it with.  The girls each got a feather or so, and Joel picked each of them one of the few remaining roses. By the time we got the whole way around, after stopping numerous times to look at the waterfowl and the fish, and to watch some people feeding the same, it was time to go home. Megan wanted to play longer, but we were already running a little late for naps, so we had to leave. We packed up the van and headed back to their house. It was a fairly quiet ride, but after a couple minutes, Emilee piped up from the back. "Aunt Lael" ("yes?"). "I love Joel."  It was SO CUTE!! Let's just say, she is more easily won over than her aunt.  It didn't take long till she started drooping then, and right before we got home, her eyes went shut. I carried her into the house, clutching her treasures (flower and feather), and put her down for a nap. Times like that with children you love are just made to treasure. Those little girls are so dear to me! Yes, I had a good weekend.

Okay, so here are a few pics from a recent weekend. Thanks for letting me "steal" them, Jean.  Es and I had a wonderful time up in Belleville, hanging out with Ivy and Co. (aka, the family.) It was the week of Jean's 16th birthday, so Ivy was sweet enough to include us in on the celebration. The Jeep idea was just awesome!! Totally loved driving around in that thing. Okay, so here they are.... Doing the deed...

Jean in the finished result

Us single girls. Joyce was along too.

Chillin on the rollbars after a "hairy" ride

Great times!!

The icecream cake we got Jean

Our quick stop at the local icecream shop.

 Such great memories of a fun weekend involving awesome friends!! Love you girls!! Now it's your turn to visit...

2 months later.... I'm back!  But only for a very short bit to post about something I read this morning. I loved it. Here it is...

In 1775 thirteen British colonies, across the ocean from the mother country, protested the limitations placed on them by the King of England. Soon battles erupted in a struggle that lasted 8 years and gave birth to a brand new country. The infant nation soon adopted a document know as the “Declaration of Independence” and America was born.

2,000 year ago the Lord Jesus Christ cried out on the cross, "It is finished" thereby proclaiming the believer's "Declaration of Independence." Humanity everywhere was under the tyranny of sin and death. But Christ, the Sinless One, took our place on the cross and died for our sins. Having satisfied God's righteous demands He now sets free for eternity all those who trust in Him.

"I thank God for the freedom I enjoy as a US Citizen which was fought for and bought by the blood on my forefathers. But way more than that I give God the praise, glory and honor for sending his son to free me so I can be born again in the spirit bringing forth freedom from sin.

MAYBE I will be back later to post about my 4th of July, and post some beautiful pics. We will see what happens. Later, ~Lael