For the last 8 years Carolina Chickadees have built nests in a birdhouse on our backporch. Over the years we have come to look forward to having baby birds so close by. I love hearing them when one of their parents brings food into the birdhouse. One year I was even able to watch all six babies fledge.
This year I didn't think we were going to have a nest in our birdhouse. The first day I hung the house there was some interest as I saw several chickadees check out the birdhouse. Usually by now the baby birds are gone. So the other day I moved the birdhouse and put a beautiful hanging basket on the hook in it's place. Yesterday I noticed a pair of chickadees flying in and out of the birdhouse. Last night I checked to see if they had begun to build a nest and found it completely empty. This afternoon I noticed the chickadees were still flying in and out, so I peeked in and saw that they were indeed building a nest. I had moved the birdhouse and it was in a place that predators could easily get to the eggs or baby birds (and we have many black snakes on our property). So I moved the hanging plant and put the birdhouse back on it's hook. It was only 4 feet from where it had been. The chickadees were not happy and fussed at me for quite a while. It broke my heart watching them not being able to find their birdhouse. I prayed and asked the Lord to help them find it and they did! They were confused for quite a while though and continued to fuss at me. They were gone for a long time and I wondered if they had decided to build their nest somewhere else. I ran inside and got on Cornell's Ornithology website. I saw that they had a phone number so I called and a woman answered. I told her the situation and she told me I had done the right thing, that the chickadee was a stalwart little bird and they would figure it out. About that time both birds returned with beaks full of nesting material. So cute!
Tonight my husband and I sat outside enjoying the cool of the night and the beautiful trees. The little chickadees were so busy and I believe are here to stay. Here are a few pictures:
This is a picture of the birdhouse. If you look closely you can see a chickadee peeking out. So sweet!
Over the week-end Bethany and I attended a very special baby shower. Even though we don't know the babies the shower was for, God knows each and every one and is intimately acquainted with them. A woman in our church had the idea of having a shower for the local pregnancy care center. They are in constant need of diapers and other baby supplies. We were given a list of things that were needed along with the invitation. What fun I had in the baby aisles at Wal-Mart picking out the gifts I would bring. Sweet memories crowded my mind as I reminisced about our three babies.
At the shower we enjoyed sweet fellowship, refreshments and oohed and awed over all of the baby things. We each took part in opening up the presents. The director of the center along with another staff member and volunteer were there and shared their hearts and a little bit about the center and their ministry. We took some time to pray for the staff and all of the women/girls who come to the center for help.
Bethany (17) asked the director if there was anything she could do to help the pregnancy care center. They get bags and bags of baby clothes and are in need of someone sorting, cleaning and organizing these clothes. Bethany is a wonderful organizer and looks forward to volunteering over the summer. She also plans on having a baby shower for the center in our home. What a wonderful opportunity to serve a precious and very needed ministry in our area.
My prayer is that this idea will spread and that soon there will be many baby showers for pregnancy care centers all across our country.
One of my friends found these little crocheted baby booties with the verse and all at a garage sale on Saturday. The director said she would love to have a pair of these to give to each woman who visited the center.
A few days ago my husband got a phone call from a man (Bill) who attended the Maryland church David pastored before coming to North Carolina. Bill wanted to know if he could stop for a visit on his way to a conference center in the mountains of NC. David asked if he would like to spend Sunday night in our home. Bill agreed.
Bill and his wife spent over 30 years as missionaries to Egypt. We spent many hours with them in Maryland hearing stories about their time in Egypt. David formed a very close friendship with Bill and thanked the Lord for an older man who was eager to encourage him in the Lord and give counsel when needed.
Recently Bill's wife died after a very long battle with Alzheimers. He loved and cared for her over their 57 year marriage. We saw close-up how he cared so beautifully for her when she was sick and most days didn't remember who he, their five grown children and fifteen grandchildren were. He has been seeking the Lord as to what is next for his life. The Lord is sending him back to the mission field to be a chaplain at a seminary in the Middle East.
Last night after dinner we gathered in our family room for devotions and prayer. David asked Bill to share his plans with us. He poured out his heart to us not only about the next chapter of his life; but also about his dear wife and how he misses her so much in his life. I have been reading the book To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life by Gracia Burnham. If you remember, she and her husband were missionaries to the Philippines and were kidnapped by terrorists while on a holiday. They were held captive in the jungle for 377 days and her husband was killed during their rescue. She writes about the sorrow she feels each day as she misses her husband but continues to look to the Lord as her Helper and Comforter. I was able to read a few excerpts from the book that I hoped would encourage him. He was very touched and I thanked the Lord that my friend Laurie had given me the book a few days ago. The Lord knew it would not only encourage my heart; but our special visitor's too.
Ben, Bethany and Samuel, who had earlier inquired how long they would have to sit and be part of the conversation, sat and listened to all that Bill shared and later offered the sweetest prayers on his behalf. This morning they are still talking about our special time of sharing with him.
Older brothers and sisters in the Lord can teach us so much. We are blessed to have many in our lives who have not retired from life but desire to serve the Lord with eager hearts in their golden years.
Psalm 71:17-19 "O God, You have taught me from my youth; And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God,
do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?"
Recently I discovered a new recipe that my family and friends have really enjoyed. It's called Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding and it originates from Paula Deen.
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
We celebrated Samuel's 15th birthday over the week-end. He had six friends over for a sleep-over. They played basketball, soccer and four-square outside until 10:30 pm. Fun was had by all as they played hard, enjoyed pizza, root beer and ice cream cake and played with our new puppy. Here is a group shot of these handsome young men.
Each year I take a picture of Samuel with two of his buddies, Caleb and Dustin. I thought I would show you how they've grown over the last few years.
2006
2007
2008
I am so thankful for the friends that the Lord has blessed Samuel with. Join me in praying for Samuel as he continues to grow into a godly young man. We are so thankful for him.
Last Friday night Bethany was sitting on our backporch talking on the phone when she noticed an animal coming out of the woods and into our yard. She wasn't sure what it was but all three of our kids were elated when they realized it was a very sweet and darling puppy. She was pretty battered with a few gashes on her face and was very hungry and thirsty. They gave her water and put a blanket for her next to the garage door where she slept all night.
As I wrote a couple of entries ago, David and I were in the mountains last Friday night so we didn't know about the puppy until we were at lunch on Saturday. By that time the kids had named her Millie and had fallen in love with her. In the beginning David said that we couldn't keep her; but by Sunday afternoon he agreed that she would make a great addition to our family. I drove around the neighborhood behind our woods and nobody was missing a puppy. A man told me he had seen the puppy on Friday and believed someone had dropped her off.
It was obvious she hadn't been cared for so Monday afternoon Samuel and I took Millie to visit our vet. She got shots and we came home with three different medicines that she will be on for a while. She sleeps in a kennel and doesn't make a peep when we put her in it. She loves our backyard and is warming up to our 10 year old black lab, Abbie. Millie can't quite understand why Abbie doesn't want to play as energetically as she does.
To all of the moms who visit my blog... may this video offer encouragement to you whether you have very little ones or teens asking to borrow your car keys. We are so blessed to be moms. (song title is If Ever You Worshiped, by Danny Oertli)
David and I have been married over 22 years. Throughout our marriage God has provided special overnight get-a-ways for us to relax, recharge and renew as a couple. The last few weeks have been very busy and a little stress filled as we prepared for The Rebelution and I battled a pretty stubborn infection. So when David told me he was taking me to the mountains for an overnight trip I packed my bag and was eager to go.
We went to a mountain cabin belonging to the man who owns the building that houses my husband's office. It's less than a half hour from our home and it is so beautiful!!! Here are a few pics from our time there:
Here is a picture of the cabin. Notice the front windows. The owners call this the view room.
Here is part of the view we could see from the front windows. So beautiful!!!
As you can see from this picture the cabin is decorated beautifully.
Here is my sweetie reading and relaxing. It was so nice to slow down with him, have unhurried (and uninterrupted) conversation, and enjoy a candlelight dinner (with our spectacular view).
A little over a year ago my husband read an article about The Rebelution Immediately he began praying that Alex and Brett Harris's conference would come to our area. When he contacted them they explained that the conferences were usually held in large cities and that they were planning on having one in Atlanta in 2008. A few weeks later Brett Harris called our home and explained to David that the Lord had closed the door for the Atlanta conference and they began to talk about the possibility of bringing The Rebelution to our area.
Our church, along with three other churches in the area, began working to prepare for this wonderful conference. This past Saturday every seat was filled (this was their second largest conference so far) and every heart was blessed as we heard Alex and Brett Harris and their dad, Gregg , challenge and encourage teens, their parents and grandparents to do hard things for the glory of God. They have six more conferences planned for this year and I cannot encourage you enough to take your teens and pre-teens to hear the wonderful message that they bring.
Being there on Friday to help set up and also serving on the hospitality team, I was able to get to know these special young men a little bit. Not only did they challenge the teens; but parents as well. I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and see how God wants to use me. God spoke to our oldest son's heart and he apologized to our whole family for not being apart of our team and desired to grow close to the Lord once again.
Gregg Harris preached at our church yesterday morning and we were so blessed by his message. After church he had a time of sharing with our elder team.
This morning as I write this entry my heart overflows with thankfulness to the Lord for bringing The Rebelution to our area, even if it's not large. His blessings abounded. The conference was held at Lenoir Rhyne College and when my husband met with them and explained that many teens would be attending they decided not to charge for the building since this would be an opportunity for teens to see their campus up close. Many lives were touched and Gregg Harris had a beautiful presentation of the gospel message with 75 responding that they had asked Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior.
God is good all of the time and we are so blessed for the opportunity to serve Him at such a time as this.
Julie
