Jun. 17, 2008
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Sorry to mess up your bookmarks, but I have found a place to blog that is much more agreeable with our Mac. Time is precious as every mother knows so you will now find me at:
www.joyfulhouse.wordpress.com
Come see what is new in our lives! |
Apr. 17, 2008
The Clark clan,
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Apr. 17, 2008
Beautiful birthday Lady, What an honor to celebrate the life of our Mom
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Apr. 17, 2008
Dad and Mom 2008, Precious parents, gift from God
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Apr. 17, 2008
Mom and Dad's first grandsons....... Matthew and Matteo
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Apr. 17, 2008
My sisters may bring the boys........ but I sure bring the beautiful girls!
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Apr. 17, 2008
The Good Friday Cross walk
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One of the most beautiful memories of being together at Easter is the Cross Walk. A few years ago my sister and her boys nailed quite a few crosses on trees, in the hills behind our sister Angela's home. The last time we visited at Easter we started a tradition we call the Cross Walk. My mother made a reading of different writings from Max Lucado and then put scripture with each reading. I gathered old hymns and worship choruses to go with each selection at each cross. As we go from cross to cross we listen to the readings and meditate on what they tell us, we then worship together to bless our Lord. The harmonies are beautiful as adults and children all join to praise our God. I do not think that I will ever forget the last time as we ended up high on top of a hill at the last cross. The sun was starting to set behind us and we sang There is A Redeemer, My Jesus I Love Thee, and then ended with Blessed Be Your Name. The presence of God was so powerful and many of us choked back tears as we sang in love to our heavenly Father. This year our mother stayed with our dad down at the schoolhouse, centrally located on the 200 acres of the farm. We were sad that mom would not be with us on the walk, but our Father is not able to walk the hills and she needed to stay with him. We were delighted to find out,when we got back to the schoolhouse, that the wind carried our voices over the hills and Dad and Mom were able to hear us worshiping together, and it blessed them. Isn't God, the God of details, the God Who loves to bless and reward....... wonderful? |
Apr. 17, 2008
Good Friday Cross Walk, starting the walk by remembering what Good Friday is all about
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Apr. 17, 2008
Worshipping at the last cross......
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Apr. 17, 2008
The Old Rugged Cross, Where would we be without the cross?
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Apr. 17, 2008
Three sisters and their sweet husbands, those guys did not know what they were getting into!!!!
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Apr. 17, 2008
Matthew, Floriano, and Rick ....... an Italian sandwhich!
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Apr. 17, 2008
My Mother with all of her grand-daughters
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Apr. 17, 2008
My Father with all of his gransons
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Apr. 17, 2008
There is an obvious height difference in our families, these two are a year apart but you can see which family got the tall genes!
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Apr. 17, 2008
Cousins Eating in Grandma's kitchen
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Apr. 17, 2008
Melody sewed this protector for my sister's Blackberry!
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Apr. 17, 2008
Melody, sewing with Grandma....... precious memory
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Apr. 17, 2008
Our favorite road-stop..... Starbucks....... we even got lost and ended up at one! My sweet honey knows how to please his girls!
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Apr. 13, 2008
Tenn. Get away
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Although we have been home for 3 weeks, I wanted to still make note of our visit in Tenn. with our family. We had a wonderful time with my parents and two sisters and their families. We gathered to celebrate our mother's 70th birthday and have a special party for her, and to celebrate Easter. I am always amazed at how time flies because it had been 3 years since I had seen my sister Laurel and her family. It was SO sweet to see them again. Her boys have grown up so much, both are in high-school. Here are some of our precious memories: Sitting on my parents front porch, playing and talking and watching sunsets. My girls and I playing piano and singing for my parents. Hanging out by the bonfire talking and laughing and watching the 16 grandchildren + Jessie playing games and hanging out together. Taking a walk through the hills on our cross walk, reading scripture and worshipping along the way to remember Good Friday. Easter egg hunt with Aunt Marcia and Uncle Bruce. Helping my Dad and Mom. Cooking in the kitchen and sharing meals together. Watching cousins do chores! Hearing my Dad and Mom pray, knowing they lift our family up daily. Watching the Count of Monte Cristo together.... Taking walks Loving each other Seeing older cousins taking care of younger ones Seeing our older children talking to their Grandparents and Uncles and Aunts. Learning about life I will have picture up soon, as soon as my computer cooperates with me! Have a blessed day Joyce |
Mar. 11, 2008
Lessons in letting go
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We have had these precious blessings in our home for six weeks. What amazed me the most is the love and maternal feelings that took over the very night they I brought them in the door. I am not saying that it has been easy, in fact, quite the opposite, it has been hard. I have had to go to God so many times the last few weeks for patience, for strength, for wisdom, for laughter. Not once did God fail me, even when I was telling Him I was quiting and was a failure at this adventure He had taken us on. God would bring something to my mind, bigger than my heart and I knew that I could go on with Christ as my strength. I was amazed at how the enemy tried to trick me with thoughts of doubts and selfishness. The enemy always does that when I am tired. I am grateful for a gracious God that speaks truth to me and show me the enemies tactics. I am thankful for the opportunity for God to do some house-keeping in my heart, getting some areas dealt with that I had thought were under control. Praise Him for the work of sanctification that He has done in me through these children. So the boys will go home on Thursday. I will bring them to their house and meet with their mother and an interpreter. On a side note; anyone looking for a side job should look into doing interpretation, they are paid $35 an hour! And guess who pays for it......... do not get me started. Today I washed clothes, sorted out what I was given and will keep for the next little person, and gathered their belongings and packed them up. I found all the paintings, colored pages and crafts that they made, books that they were given and the Jesus film in Spanish that I hope they will watch. Over and over again the last few days I have reminded God that He needs to keep a watch on these precious boys, and then the Holy Spirit reminds me that of course He will. That truth is what gives me peace. I know that God is not willing that any should be lost, He will draw them to Him if that is His will. I can rest in that truth. Last night A burst into tears as I readied him for bed. This morning he came out of his room for his good morning hug and when I hugged him he burst into tears again. he loves his mommy, but he has told us that he loves us too. He has felt peace here, security and no hunger. I wonder if he is remembering things when he cries. I rest in the sovereignty of God, the all-knowing God, and I hope some day I will know how their futures turned out. We have been blessed. |
Mar. 8, 2008
Annie hung our new bird feeder. The migrating birds should be coming through in a few weeks and maybe some neighborhood birds will start to dine here!
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Mar. 8, 2008
Melody doing reading, numbers and letters for her two little students. She does a great job being a teacher to them.
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Mar. 8, 2008
Annie, B, Kristi, Mandy and A , a circle of love for two little boys
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Mar. 8, 2008
A, sitting on top of his fort, being king of the hill.
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Mar. 8, 2008
Both of our little guests have found solace in our large dog, Morgan. It has been a double blessing because now I have a reason to feed her! Just kidding, I am just not a large dog lover that's all!
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Mar. 8, 2008
B loves to pretend he is a frog after tubby time, he is pretty cute!
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Mar. 8, 2008
B, likes to work, they both do. Here he is doing his "chore" of putting the logs into the holder. Then we have to feel his muscles!
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Mar. 8, 2008
Matthew is a star to these boys. They love it when he "weight lifts" them! Good thing he is such a strong man. B, the 2 yr old often carries his copy of this picture around the house and in his pocktes, he loves Matthew so much!
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Mar. 8, 2008
Saturday.....Spiritual life with foster parenting
Posted in Spiritual Life
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WE are into our 6th week of foster parenting and God has showed Himself strong, faithful and able to help us, as always! This morning as Rick and were grabbing a cup of coffee in our bedroom, we talked about the potential return of the boys. It is a strange feeling to feel like your heart will break to be returning the boys, at the same time having a peace in knowing God is in control of the situation and He will not forget these boys. Rick and I both feel sad and yet OK. We both feel this works for us, this hard, interruptive, emotional, exhausting, rewarding, exciting, stretching, blessed new chapter in our life, it really fits us. We can, through God, love and make a difference in these children. He has given strength for long nights, high fevers, temper tantrums, endless questions and moments of tears. God has given wisdom in moments when my flesh has wanted to scream but the boys needed a gentle response to their stories shared. Stories that baffle my mind because the home behavior is so different then ours, then what I am used to. God's love has allowed us to hold, hug, carry, touch, touch, touch when we have felt all touched out. WE know they have felt love because A, will now tell us who he loves in our family and even our friends. That is God. He will give us peace this week when we hear the outcome for the boys. He will help us to remember that this is our family's short term mission but HE is the one who will control the length of the trip. I can really rest in our Providential God Who has perfect timing in all things. Psalm 107:15 O that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness And for His wonderful works to the children of men. We praise Him, The Johnsons |
Mar. 8, 2008
Saturday.....Home life
Posted in Home Life
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This was a good week....... did not turn out exactly like I had planned, but that is usually how it happens! We had a wonderful Youth night on Wednesday. We gathered here to watch the Billy Graham special. It was so well done and the testimonies were wonderful and very professionally done, interspersed with Preaching from pastor Graham on different subjects. Our 4 yr. old, A, thought it was great. Oh how we pray that he is taking in our love for God while staying with us! Afterwards we made popcorn and played Speed UNO which was a fun. Our company for Friday did not make it last night but is coming tomorrow instead. Melody and I made 150 Swedish meatballs for Easter dinner in Tenn.. And I did get two photo albums done for the boys to take with them when they leave our home, possibly this week. This is something that Social Services feels will help the stay at our home be seen as a positive experience, and to show the parents that they were OK, and the activities that the boys did while here. We went to Sturgeon Bay this morning to check out our daughter Mandy's new apartment that she want to rent. It has beautiful light coming in through the windows, has a safe personal entry, but, it is to far away from home!!!! Oh well. it was bound to happen sometime, I may as well start the emotional adjustment. The best part of it is that it is just a 30 minute drive to Green Bay and to Bayside, a church that we have enjoyed attending now and then through the years. She and Ben went last Wednesday night and said that the sermon pertaining to men being the Biblical leaders in the home and church was excellent. Jeni and I have talked off and on this week as it is her spring break at college. She stayed to make some extra and much needed money. She is doing well and God is growing her up! I can't wait to see her in a few weeks when she and her roommate fly in to Tenn. for my Mother's birthday and Easter. Jessie, her roommate is like one of the family and we are so happy that she will be with us for that weekend. She is a delightful and beautiful young lady, actually she and Jeni could do a comedy routine together, they are SO funny! I have pizza dough raising and we will make personal pizzas for dinner and then Rick and I are |
Mar. 3, 2008
Plans for the Week
Posted in Home Life
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I am one of those kind of people....... you know, the list people! I like to spend a little time on Sunday evening, or Monday morning putting my week in order using lists. It helps me to keep focused, and to feel accomplishment when I get to cross out completed tasks done. Here are my lists for this week: Dinners Monday- Ham and Potato soup, herb bread and salad Tuesday - Fish in foil and fruit salad Wed. Spaghetti Thur. - meatloaf, potatoes,veggies and salad Friday- Parmesan chicken, pasta with marinara or pesto, salad, bread, broccoli Plans - Monday - Beth Moore Bible study, clean house, school, office work Tuesday - School, finish laundry, clean school room, photos, church music organized for March, Wed. School, clean up house for youth group to meet here for Billy Grahm special make sure we have snacks Thurs. - School and trip to Sturgeon Bay for boys meeting with mom, have camera loaded with pictures to print at Target. Mandy is bringing Ben for dinner, pick up house! Friday- Sammy comes for the day, school, play outside if it is nice, school, the new youth Pastor from our sister church is coming for supper, pick up house and clear music around piano because we might end up worshiping for awhile after dinner. Sat. hopefully go to Sturgeon Bay for a few clothing needs for Tenn.. Other- Make meatballs and freeze for trip to Tenn. Finish boys photo album for them to take with when they leave our house try and clean up office start packing things for Tenn., summer clothes, food items Clean my bedroom |
Feb. 23, 2008
Teaching our little Hispanic friends to play UNO, B wanted to hold the cards but refused to give any up when it was his turn!
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Feb. 23, 2008
Lake Ellen 2008
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Here are some pictures from our time at Lake Ellen, our snowbound day. As you can see it is very pretty there and so peaceful. We had a great time together. As the snow came down, the teens got wetter and wetter. They came in drenched through all their snowclothes. We were happy to have washers and dryers that we could use and so everyone got much needed clean jeans and shirts for the extra day and the ride home. What a fun memory we made. |
Feb. 23, 2008
Gretel, Karee, Alyssa and Annie Lake Ellen 2008
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