TODAY I want to continue what I have started prior to knowing about THE CHALLENGE.  It has been the sincere desire of my heart to get our home in order, to not be ashamed to have anyone walk in, and get our combined households into one manageable one.  In fact, to get my personal things down to a one-bedroom apartment size as I know that someday Debra and the boys will move out.  This season is one of healing for all of us in many ways.  Each of us have an opportunity to move to another level if we take the gift given to us during this season of life.

God is doing a great work in our lives and I fully believe that 2007 will leave many more markers for us to point back to God's faithfulness and lovingkindness (every year has those markers!).  I want one of those to be a clutter-free home and beginning a Home Group for single moms to bring their children to as those are rare.  Debra had one she could go to, but the home was a beautiful showcase where you could never relax for fear the children would break something.  Parents watched their own children vs having someone that allowed them to focus on the Lord.  The intent is great and this works for some, but not two hyperactive children in the evening after meds wear off!  There is a need I would love to fill.

I also have plans to lead a support group again at my church for people that have issues (i.e. abuse, divorce, death of a loved one) that has them bound in their own private prisons keeping them from moving forward in life.  I do something similar at work, but must leave the spiritual part out.  There are those who have a faith-base who come to me and ask about applying things from the spiritual viewpoint.  It is such a joy to see people find hope to break free and move on!!!

I pray God's blessings on each of you and your families in the coming year.  I pray you will look back and see many markers of your own!

I am so thankful tonight.  My husband's PSA test is finally in the normal range!!!  Don has very early stage prostrate cancer and he has been doing natural things to deal with it to see if it would work during the time the doctor was waiting for healing and the swelling to go down after the biopsy he performed.  Well, PRAISE GOD!!!  The natural is working.  This does not mean we just ignore the issue.  It means he continues to do the natural, keeps being monitored with tests, and keeps all his doctor appointments.  At some point another biopsy or a scan will need to be done as well.  I praise God for what he is doing!!!

There was a time that Debra was very sick and almost died when she was only eleven months old and I was pregnant with our second child.  Don was at Air Force Reserves leaving for two weeks when she nose-dived.  We rushed her to the hospital and attempts were made to reach Don.  His brother, Mike, went to get him, but they missed connections.  Don could not reach me and his plans had been changed to fly out the next day.  He eventually connected with someone and came to the hospital.  I prayed and prayed and prayed.  By the next morning we knew she was going to live and Don was able to go take care of his obligations.  It was a long two weeks though.  It turned out she was allergic to milk. The doctor treating her had made some wrong decisions, but an associate was on call and realized what was going on.  He saved her life literally.  I still thank God for His healing for her.  Debra is the mother of William and Joshua.  They all live with us and bring great joy.

I remember when our son, David, was sick.  The fever would break and then spike higher until it was now 103.-- time to go to the emergency room.  Don was a new believer then and he suggested we lay hands on him and pray.  He stepped out in faith, laid his hand on his head, and prayed  ~ immediately the fever broke  and never returned.  David is now the father of three wonderful children (Whitney, Kyndal, and Dalan) and the husband of a very sweet wife, Tammy.  God has blessed us richly with these precious ones.

Another time our youngest son, Steven, got very sick.  He was very allergic to chocolate and David was selling M&Ms for Cub Scouts.  He got into them without our knowledge and ate about four or five packages of them.  We rushed him to the hospital where it was unsure since he was in respiratory distress and had pneumonia.  Again God answered our prayers and healed our child.  Steven is father to Tiffany and Matthew and step-father to Brittany and Aaron (they do not live with them, but he loves them as his own) as well as husband to Lisa.  We are very blessed by him and his family as well.  (Aaron graduated high school last year and has started college!  We are very proud of him.  We actually got to see Brittany for the first time at his graduation as she lives in another state.  It was a delight to visit with her the little we were able to do so.)

Tonight I am counting our blessings.  I was sick at eleven months old and almost died of pneumonia and scarlet fever.  God healed me, too.  I thank God for the husband, children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren He has blessed me with.  I pray to glorify Him and that each one of my chidren and grandchildren will also.  God has a purpose for each one of our lives and I KNOW that I can trust him with everything.  May you and your family be blessed throughout the coming year.

Just getting this blog started defies odds for me these days.  It is the beginning of a mother/daughter journey that I pray will touch others as God works His wonders in our lives and takes us to higher levels of relationship with each other.

Debra (angelsoup) requested I do the Clean Heart Clean Home Challenge as we all live together.  My husband, Don, of 41 years, Debra, William (age 10), and Joshua (age 9) combined two households some time back.  We never got things in order for a number of reasons, but we have a heart desire to do so at this time.

In many ways, God's Restoration Touch will be needed for me to let go of things that clutter my home and my life including things, paper, and habits as well as emotional baggage which is tangled in with keeping things.  I trust God to help me make this transition as I seek to have a home that honors Him, is open for others to come freely without our being embarassed, and the strength to do what needs to be done.  Prioritizing is difficult while working 60-70 hours a week, but it is not impossible.  Moments in time are opportunities to do one or two things not everything.  As I learned to do this (and that I really can do it!), I found each little thing made a difference to me. 

Debra is in her second year to homeschool the boys and is absolutely terrific at it.  I am very proud of her and I congratulate all of the homeschoolers who are also DEFYING ODDS!!!