Happy Reformation Day!

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to door of the castle church in Wittenburg, Germany.  This was the beginning of what would become the protestant reformation. As Luther studied the scripture, he discovered  that much was wrong with how the church was teaching the scripture to the people.  He wrote his 95 points and it did not turn out as he had hoped.  He discovered that the corruption was much deeper than he had expected.  He and other men began to teach the Word of God to the people and had Bibles printed in their own languages so they could read the Bible for themselves and not have to be told what it said by the church leaders who were perverting the scripture. Because of the work of the Reformers, many people learned to read.  You can go to Monergism to read more about Luther and Reformation Day.   

A Day With Family

Yesterday we spent the day with some of our extended family. We haven't seen them in quite a while. We had a really good time catching up with them and eating a yummy meal together.  The kids had so much fun playing together too. We missed Grandaddy not being there.  This was the first time we have all been together since he died several years ago. I think he would have been so happy to see us all enjoying our time together.  He would have loved watching all the great grands playing together. I still miss him so much. 

We had some photos made that turned out great!

My mother's side of the family....All 30 of us!!



My family....all 3 of my sisters, brothers, mama, daddy, nieces, nephews, and me, Dave, and our kiddos.

(please do not try to diagram the sentence above :)

Oh, and the weather was simply amazing!!





Over the past couple of weeks I have opened this page and started to blog.  It seems I either haven't had time or just couldn't get my thoughts together to write. Getting back to normal has been a little more difficult for me than I thought it would be. I have been having alot of anxiety. I don't know what brings it on, but it is definitely there.   Over the past year  people asked me all the time how I was doing.  My answer was always that I was doing fine.  And....I really was fine the entire time we were in Houston.  I was fine throughout all of the chemotherapy and radiation.  I was fine through all of the scary moments. So I expected to come home after Dave's surgery and jump back into life.  I'm kinda mad that that's not happening.  I feel frustrated that I am not "fine" right now.  I know I will be....it's just gonna takes some time.

 Dave is doing well.  It has been a little over two months since his surgery. He is back to all of his normal tasks.  He is even planning to mow the grass soon.  The kids have been super busy with their school work and other activities.  As good as all of the activities have been, I am so glad some are coming to an end for the semester.  Samuel played football which ended a couple of weeks ago.  All three kiddos took a tennis class which be over this coming week.  They have all really loved this class and they have learned alot.  Even though all these were good things, I feel like all have done for weeks is run children from place to place.  Samuel is still loving his karate classes.  He tested for his yellow belt last Saturday.  He was so cute!!  He was very nervous at first, but he did very well.  He will will know next week if he passed or not.

I have really been loving the cooler weather and the falling leaves.  We have our afternoon classes in the sun room.  It has been so nice watching the beautifully colored leaves falling from the trees while we read our History and do our Science.  It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling :)

For the past couple of years I have taken part in the Giving Thanks Challenge.  I'm going to do it again this year.  Go to South Breeze Farm and check it out, grab a button, add it to your blog, and start listing what you are thankful for.  My list will be on the sidebar of my blog if you want to check it out.  I am hopeful as we head into November.  I'm gonna work on being more thankful.  Listing something  I am thankful for each day really helps me to see how blessed I really am.   I will try not to take so long in between my posts.  I really do have alot to say...I've just got to take the time to write it down!

A New Season

One year ago today we were sitting in the waiting room at MD Anderson waiting to see Dr. Ravi for the first time.  We did not expect to hear what he told us that day.  What a year of ups and downs it has been.  Words cannot express how thankful I am for the lessons learned over the past 12 months.

Last October when we left Alabama the leaves were just beginning to change.  We had no idea we wouldn't be coming back home.  The leaves never really changed in Houston.  I felt like we missed Fall.   I know how insignificant that seems, but it has made this year all the more beautiful to us. We took a little trip over the weekend and really got to enjoy the beauty of the changing in seasons.  We were able to spend some time outside just enjoying the beauty of God's creation.  Alot has changed for us over the past year.  Dave is slowly getting back to normal.  He is laughing a little more....we all are.  We plan to enjoy every minute of this beautiful Autumn in Alabama. 

I was reading this morning and came across this poem.  I loved it and wanted to share it. Enjoy and be blessed.

     The Life I Planned

Has someone seen the life I planned?

It seems it's been misplaced.

I've looked in every corner;

It's lost without a trace.

I've found one I don't recognize --

Things missing that were dear;

Promises I'd hoped to keep,

And dreams I'd dreamed aren't here.

Faces I had planned to see,

Hands I planned to hold;

Now absent in the pictures;

Not the way I told.

Has someone seen the life I planned?

Did it get thrown away?

God took my hand from searching;

Then I heard Him say --

"Child, your ears have never heard,

Your eyes have never seen,

Eternal plans I have for you

Are more than you could dream.

You long to walk by sight,

But I'm teaching eyes to see;

I know what I'm doing --

'Till then, you must believe.

He's done so much, I felt ashamed

To know He heard my moans.

To think I'd trade in all He's done

For plans made on my own.

I wept over His faithfulness

And how He'd proved Himself;

How He'd gone beyond my dreams

And said to Him myself,

"No, my ears have never heard,

My eyes have never seen,

Eternal plans You have for me

Are more than I could dream.

"Yes, I long to walk by sight

But You're teaching eyes to see;

You know what You're doing --

'Till then, I must believe.

I felt His great compassion --

Mercy unrestrained.

He let me mourn my losses

And showed to me my gains.

I offered Him my future

And released to Him my past.

I traded in my dreams

For a plan He said would last.

I get no glimpse ahead;

No certainties at all,

Except the presence of the One

Who will not let me fall.

Are you also searching

For a life you planned yourself?

Have you looked in every corner?

Have you checked on every shelf?

Child, your ears have never heard,

Your eyes have never seen,

Eternal plans He has for you

Are more than you could dream.

Perhaps you long to walk by sight,

But He's teaching eyes to see;

He knows what He is doing --

Child, step out and believe.

By Beth Moore

No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived what God

has prepared for those who love Him.

{1 Corinthians 2:9}