Step Into the new day

One day at a time. Step into the new day. Stop looking back. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. You cannot focus on looking ahead, if you keep looking back. Look around to see how you can meet the needs of others, care about your neighbors, and your joy will increase, your thankfulness will usher in right thinking and remind you to keep looking up.

Call on Jesus while he may be found. Hug people while they are still on the earth. Bring them flowers while they are alive.

KNOWING LIFE BY HEART

Peace. Be Still. And I am ...
I'm here. Still on the planet.  Learning how to let so much go --- what I thought I knew, what I thought I wanted, what I believed about myself and others. 

Funny how healing comes when you accept yourself for who and how you are. When you can smile at realizing as you are realizing so much you did not know about yourself before, because you were to busy ignoring the pain and trying not to care about what you wanted. As if that is noble or selfless.

Wow..it even hurts to write that. Truth hurts at times. When you grow up in a house and the person you draw your identity from (Father figure) communicates to you by lack of care and concern that you do not matter and you are an annoyance --- strong chance you will unknowingly be attracted to someone who ignores you and devalues your existance. Ask me how I know.

There is victory in the Lord. It is not the end of your life. You are still a person. You matter. And you can make adult decision that can put you in a healthier place of heart and mind and body ...you can be healed from insecurities and loss and devastation and the lies you have believed as truth. You have the power to change your thoughts and your destination and to be thankful that you are you.

I whispered His name (Jesus) and cried like a scared little girl. . . wondering who was going to come to my rescue. The Lord was my ever-present-help in time of need. He knows me by heart. He knows me by name. He saw me in the dark, in my mother's belly, when I was still being formed. He brought me forth. And He has faithfully brought me forth, picked me up and helped me to see that I am loved. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And so are You.

LEARNING HOW TO BE MYSELF AGAIN

Well, another year or two has passed and I have managed to not sit in front of a computer or not log on for long enough to update my blogs. I have been living and dying and struggling through...laughing and crying and learning how to be myself again. Life keeps on happening as it always does.  We learn to grow on, grow up, and hold on and let go for dear life. A sincere hug has been life changing. A genuine conversation has been even more enlightening. Who knew these things could be so rare?

I am thankful to all who have sent their "Well wishes, good vibes, prayer support, and any efforts made towards re-connecting." Sure has helped through all the ups and downs.

On future post I will try to share some more of what I have been learning. For now, I will have to say that I have recently learned that I have grown accustomed to not listening to my 'gut feeling' or ignored my intuition long enough that it became a way of life. One day at a time, I am learning to listen and stop ignoring my feelings. I am thankful to have feelings...interesting to learn they are a God given gift that help us to know we are still alive.

I am still alive and learning to be myself again... (to be continued)

WHOA WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

Well, folks...a few months has passed by for obvious reasons (and some not so obvious reasons). We had our little precious Princess Eliana back in May. 7lbs 13oz 18 inches long. As it turns out, we did not end up having her at a birthing center as planned. Got all the way to 41 weeks of pregnancy for them to tell us there was no fluid in there and it was all baby and umbilical chord. Had to go to the hospital and according to them "Get her out..."  At one point there was talk about having a C-section bc they said she was not passing the none stress test and it could be too much for her. I was already 2 centimeters dialated. They wanted to induce (something I was determined to avoid unless there was no other way). So I agreed to a partial induction (Foley Bulb). Got to 4 or so when they pulled it out and then the rest of the time spent walking around and making some calls and praying. After about 2 hours maybe hard labor...she pretty much was on the scene in two pushes and sixty seconds. Praise God for His amazing goodness and gentle kindness to deliver us all.

All was well and she was fine and strong and made it through labor and delivery just fine. Just about two months old in the picture here. Shiloh loves her - and that's an understatement. Thank you all for your loving prayers and support and encouragements throughout the months leading up to our huge blessing. Her name is Eliana which means, GOD HAS HEARD. He surely has.

HOME FOR NOW

For a long few months we had been looking for housing... and the LORD faithfully provided in every season. We are now in a 2bdrm apartment in Longmont, Colorado right outside of Boulder. How perfectly the Lord has met our needs and given us a place to call Home.

Any of our friends that would like to come visit... our doors are open to you text or email and we will gladly make time for you.

Baby will be here in another ten weeks...and we found a birthing center that seems to be a good fit for us. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHILOH!!

FABULOUS TWO YEAR OLD....

WHERE ARE WE?

We have been in Longmont/Boulder, Colorado for just about a month now. We are currently looking for housing and full time employment, meanwhile, the Lord provides. Before coming to Boulder area we were in woodland, Park for about six weeks. We have enjoyed our time in Colorado and we are hopeful and awaiting direction from the Lord on what the future is going to look like.

Shiloh is a few days away from his two year old birthday. The first part of September we found out we are expecting baby #2 in May 2016. 

JUNE JULY

We were in Lillian, Alabama for six weeks and Foley, AL visiting friends and family.  Then onto Columbia, Missouri for three weeks visiting more friends and family.  About to say hello to Oklahoma and Colorado --- just text or msg us if you are wondering where in the world we are.

A few days after Shiloh's first haircut.

GETTING READY TO MAKE ANOTHER MOVE

Not much time for updating this last month (or year for that matter). Just letting anyone who cares to know that we are getting ready to make another move...

Packing up and heading out of the Northwest for a while. Hopefully on our way to see some of my family and friends in the south east.

We do care about you guys and want to hear from anyone that cares to update us...hopefully we'll see some of you on our way across country (big fat maybe). Tentative departure date April 18 --- 

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

Hi Everyone! So sorry that you have to keep waiting so long to see any post from me on here. Hopefully that's going to change one of these good ole days.

It was just my niece and nephews bdays!! I'm heading to go see them in Georgia in a few more days. Excited to see their sweet faces again after all this time. Then heading to TN and to TX and then back to Canada. Looking forward to visits with friends and family I've been longing to see for a while now.

Dylan is in the middle of this semester...going strong..sometimes feeling like he's forever behind thanks to not really having any breaks in regards to catching up. So much is required of him at present, but I respect him for sticking to the task at hand even when it's hard. He's about to take a trip here soon with his school..for about a week. I pray he has adequate time to prepare for trip with everything else on his plate and deadlines on other assignments.

Say a prayer for us --- to stick together in prayer even when we are far apart. THANKS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are finishing up our time in Canada...and looking forward to what the Lord has in store for this next year. Love and miss all of our family and friends. We'll be posting a longer overview/update from this last year, hopefully in the next 24 hrs.

GLORY COME DOWN

I hope we who believe in the ALL SUFFICIENT ONE realize that we are the manifestation of His goodness in the land and I also pray that we are living our lives worthy of Him who has called us for this reason.

Pray for me that I will start writing, painting, singing and playing again...I've taken some time off from all of it and it would be good for the break to be over. Time for refreshing. Time for creativity. Time to display His glory in some new ways. Thanks for continuing to pray for me and my family even when I am not so good at staying in touch.

SIX IN THE MORNING CONFESSIONS

I AM MISSING YOU MOM. I HAVEN'T SAID IT OUT LOUD IN A WHILE. IN FACT, I'VE STOPPED SAYING IT, EXCEPT FOR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. IT'S SIX IN THE MORNING AND I'M LOOKING AT RECIPE'S FOR HOECAKE BREAD THAT YOU USED TO FIX FOR US KIDS AS A TREAT. I REALIZED AS I WAS SITTING HERE READING THE RECIPE THAT I WAS HOLDING MY COLD FOLDED ARMS JUST THE WAY YOU USED TOO. WITH MY FEET CROSSED JUST AT MY ANKLES AND SHAKING MY LEGS MINDLESSLY --- I GUESS TO HELP WITH CONCENTRATION.

SLEEP IS IMPORTANT, BUT I MISS IT A LOT LESS THAN I MISS YOU. SO MUCH HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE. NOTHING HAS. NOT THAT I EVER REALLY HAD GOOD HABITS TO BEGIN WITH SINCE MY YOUNG ADULT YEARS. BUT IT TRULY HAS BEEN THE SHEER GRACE OF GOD THAT HAS KEPT ME ALIVE.

FEELS LIKE I'M IN A CONSTANT SEASON OF BROKENNESS EVEN THOUGH I CAN FEEL THE LORD BINDING UP MY BROKENNESS. MY HEART SO EASILY TURNS TO TEARS TO THINK UPON WHERE EVERYONE IS AT THESE DAYS (AS FAR AS ALL THE SIBLINGS AND HOW LITTLE WE ALL COMMUNICATE AND KEEP TRACT OF EACH OTHER). I REALIZE THIS IS NORMAL FOR MOST OF THE WORLD, BUT NOT FOR THE MAYO'S. I KEEP BELIEVING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

I AM NOT WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN REGARDS TO PRAYER OR DEVOTIONS, I TALK TO GOD EVERY DAY, BUT IT IS NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE. SO MUCH HAS CHANGED. I AM GLAD THAT HE NEVER CHANGES. HE IS ALWAYS THERE AND AVAILABLE AND LISTENING AND NEAR...EVEN WHEN I FEEL FAR. HOW EASILY WE FORGET THE LORD, HOW UNFAITHFUL WE ARE IN FOLLOWING HIM AND HE CONTINUALLY DELIVERS US AND RESCUES US AND REMINDS US OF HIS GOODNESS BY ALLOWING US TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.

LIFE'S A TRIP

Dylan has started his fall semester already a few trips under way. Shiloh has done wonderfully although after a few days without (Daddy) he kisses his picture and reaches his hands up to the picture on the wall. When Dylan comes home he sobs and won't let go of him for the first few hours. He can't even go in the next room without him panicking... so hoping that his fears subside.

Here are some overdue pics. Shiloh has two bottom teeth now and a few more days he will be a year old.

WALK ON

Shiloh's been walking since August 21st... so fun watching him grow up.

LITTLE AT A TIME

Today Shiloh is eleven months old...and I am taking each day a little at a time. Time keeps moving on...faster and faster...so I am trying to take it slow and get things accomplished when I can, but also take the time to hold and play with our baby and praying for some new creative ways to show love to Dylan.

Do seasons ever change ---
Today is Dylan's last day of work at this job he's had working with conference center at the school. He has been so faithful and loyal and never once complains. He does all that he does well and finishes strong. I am so thankful for his sacrifice and service.

Pictures from camping and from going to our friends wedding...

BRIEF UPDATE

Shiloh's 10 months old now, already taken his first steps and has said his first words (GOD and ball).

This is the backyard where we live...

Sunset towards the north...

Grapes on the vine..

GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS

Dylan and I just got over being sick with colds. He had fever, I did not. I have a bit of a cough and the baby was coughing slightly. But I am quite sure we are all recovered and strong again. THANKS be to GOD our healer.

I tell you what ---- when you don't feel good (which is rare by the mercy of God) it sure does bring some new and important perspective on thankfulness. So thankful to be done with the yuck.

OCCUPY

Spent the 4th of July in Bellingham watching fireworks. When we crossed the border back to the states on our way to go see the fireworks... the border patrol person said, "WELCOME HOME." I was wishing I was wearing red white and blue right then. I do love and appreciate America. I am thankful to be an American. I cannot in good conscience say that I am proud of America due to the onslaught of injustice and dishonor and constant greed and lies happening from the top to the bottom...affecting us all.
Here's a video of Shiloh's first time swinging on an outdoor swing...at the playground.

WE ARE HERE

Just moved to our new place two weeks ago. Thanks for everyone who prayed for us and who helped us. We are unpacking and will get back to everyone soon. We still receive mail at P.O Box 257  Sumas, WA 98295.