Snow???

As we left S. Texas last Thursday, we traveled through Oklahoma and were flabbergasted to see the ground covered with snow instead of the spring green we expected. Along with the snow was the cold weather. All I could think of was - I already miss S Texas - the wonderful warmth, the fresh produce that will not be available here in Arkansas, the friendship and acceptance of the Mexican people who we serve there.   Soon though I began to feel at home again - our family, friends, the wonderful Ozark Mountains, and our home church with minister and friend, Vance Ubanks. Even the birds are different here but so familiar - the cardinals, the bluebirds, even the deer walking across the fields to the pond.

Yesterday we spent the day with two of our daughters, family and friends, just celebrating the day with a grill out of pork chops and steak. As always happens, son-in-law Scott did the grilling - everything was delicious as usual. My daughter's in-laws, who spend a few months here in Arkansas ( they are from Wisconsin) were delayed from their trip back to Wisconsin due to the fact that Jim had to have emergency gall bladder surgery a week ago. They stay in their trailer on our daughter's property, so there was a pretty large group. Grandson Seth and Page were also in attendance - as we patiently await the birth of our great granddaughters (identical twins) this summer. Hopefully we will be here for the event. Page is doing well, as are the twins, Seth was the basket case!!!! They had a 3D ultra sound done, so watched the video which was amazing, to say the very least. God in all His majesty has given us the gift of life.  I had made quilts for the twins, (with special thanks to friend,  Judi Swanda)  to be given upon their birth, but as usual, I could not wait that long.  Another of our daughters, Brenda and friend Todd, also had bought birth gifts for the twins. They too, could not wait.

one quilt

can you see the difference??? Same material, same pattern

It was fun making them, as these are some of the very first quilting projects for me. God granted me the patience to learn this craft and the perseverance to see it through.

 

 

We attended church services this morning and I realized that I had missed the comfortable feeling of belonging. Vance's sermon was based on Acts 11:19-30 and Titus 2:11-14 - being a witness for the Lord. How many times do we witness to others - through actions and words and not really know it??? Wouldn't it be wonderful to know how many lives we actually did touch? God brings us hardship in order to test us - this testing leads to testimony, which in turn is our witness to the Lord. We must strive to follow God's command "But you will receive power when  the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" Acts1:8  We do not have to go to the ends of the earth to witness - just start in your family, your neighborhood, your city or town. Tell others how God has influenced and changed your life, and you will be blessed knowing that you have been witnesses. 

 

Please pray for Dave Peck, a very good Christian friend, who is in the hospital with an extremely serious infection, which seems to weaken him every day.  Pray for increase in the ability to fight off this infection, which started around his pacemaker which had to be removed, complicating the issue.