Broken Idol

It has been a long time since I have blogged. Here is why!!!!! I dropped my new camera and broke it. You all are familiar with the t.v. show American Idol......I now know about Katie's Idol.....her camera. I just laughed and asked a few friends, "Can a camera be an idol?" I had started carrying that camera with me everywhere I went....looking for praise moments, what I call seeing God in the everyday things of life.....I think it was consuming my time too much actually. Well, that is not a problem now.....it was mailed off to Canon to see if it could be repaired in time for baby Reid's arrival.

I have so much to share....our biggest praise is that Amybeth's iron is beginning to climb up as she has finished 7 IV drips. She and Brian were able to go to lake for a couple of days to celebrate their anniversary. I was blessed but exhausted to be able to help with the children for 3 days. We made a little video with my old but working camera and I am going to try an attach it for you to enjoy...in the middle of lots of play, a messy house but very happy children, we burst out into songs of praise.

I have been having a blast doing a watercolor class on the internet with Martha Lever. She is an awesome teacher and makes me feel like a successful artist. Check out the class by going to her blog, http://marthalever.blogspot.com/. I wish I knew how to attach it properly, but if you are a blogger, you probably can find her. The other amazing teacher I have been blessed to have a few workshops with is http://asplendidadventure.blogspot.com/, Mary Freeman's blog. These are two godly women who have given me overflowing joy through God's creativity in their lives and their willingness to teach others their crafts.

Well, off to visit those precious grands and help put away the washed up baby clothes. Thanking the Lord today, Memorial Day, for freedom.....in our country but even more in FREEDOM IN CHRIST. XXOO

THE VIDEO DID NOT WORK...IT WAS CUTE THOUOGH!!!!
BOO HOO

FILLED WITH LOVE

Ephesians 3:19 - 21
"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

I love it when I know, that I know, that I know the Lord has sent someone to encourage my life. I have been "feeling" low the past couple of weeks as I have been sad about illness in several of my mentors lives.

Last week my best friend had to have 2 stints put in her heart and this was totally unexpected. She is the healthiest friend I have....exercises, eats all the right things and none of the wrong things and she is the most compassionate, godly woman I know.

As my blog told you, a couple of weeks ago, a precious friend died from kidney cancer. I have another dear friend in the middle of treatment for kidney cancer and thankfully is doing much better with her treatment now. She had to be taken off the
drugs after her first couple of weeks of treatment because the dosage was much too strong for her.

This time last year, my precious husband had just finished 6 months of hard chemotherapy for colon cancer. He is now cancer free and we are praising the Lord. He is back to planting his garden, fishing with friends, working (praise the Lord again) and playing with his grandchildren.

I felt very fragile yesterday at church. I think I have just stuffed all my emotions for the past 18 months and have not really allowed myself to just sit in the lap of Jesus and let Him comfort me. I have processed some of the feelings, but honestly, have not given Him all my fears, anxieties and just plain old sadness.

Yesterday, He started unplugging my pride of trying to handle all the feelings by myself. It was good to hurt and begin crying a little. Do you understand what I mean? Not allowing yourself to cry is not healthy!

Last night we went to a musical at church. One of my sweet friends, Alexa, sent her little girl over to give me a present. When I opened the bag I saw a journal. On the front was a picture of a little girl clutching a heart right up next to her heart. My eyes filled with tears.

God knows, without our even speaking a word, when we need to be understood, encouraged and loved. I knew this present was not just from Alexa, it was from Him. Alexa explained that she had purchased the journal from her father's drugstore a good while back but had just not gotten it to me until last night. God's timing is perfect. I would not have even realized it was from the Lord if she had given it to me before last night.

Alexa's father is struggling with a very serious illness. He took his first car ride since December this past week-end. He has lymphoma and it has effected his lungs and he carries a big old oxygen tank with him when he tries to walk. Please pray for Steven Smith, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevenbsmith. You will be blessed to follow his victorious journey with the Lord's help.

Now, back to the journal. I have been journaling for about 12 years. I love to spend time giving the Lord my heart and hearing back from Him through my time journaling. Lately, I have been doing more art journaling than writing in my journal. This morning, my new journal before me and my visual art journal too, I had a wonderful time with the Lord. My heart was encouraged and I was filled up to the brim with His love.

The other thing that filled my heart today and everyday is spending time with my grandchildren. I am overflowing with thankfulness for their lives. I feel like the Lord has his arms around me everytime I receive one of their hugs.

I just got back from taking my daughter Amybeth, Brett and Kate's mother, to receive an iron treatment. She is expecting Reid, our other little miracle, in 5 weeks. Her iron is dangerously low and she is scheduled for a C-section. Her blood levels must increase before she can deliver. Please pray for the treatments to work. She has 5 more to go.

So, after a good watering in the Word, I feel my roots being built in him and my faith strengthened and I am overflowing with thankfulness. Thank you for praying for my friends, Wylene, Judy, my daughter, Amybeth and for Alexa's dad, Steve.

Colossians 2: 6 - 7
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Have a blessed day.

TIME OUT AND MERCY

TIMEOUT AND MERCY

I HAVE THE TWO , ALMOST THREE, MOST PRECIOUS GRANDCHILDREN IN THE WORLD.
GOD USES THEM TO SPEAK TO MY HEART ALL THE TIME. YESTERDAY I WAS BLESSED
TO RECEIVE A LIFE LESSON FROM BRETT, MY 4 YEAR OLD.

I DROVE BRETT AND KATE TO SCHOOL YESTERDAY. I ATTEND A BIBLE STUDY AT THE CHURCH WHERE THEY GO TO PRESCHOOL. BRETT WAS ESPECIALLY SWEET AND FULL OF CONVERSATION. I CARRIED MY BIBLE IN A PINK TOTE BAG. BRETT WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS IN MY BAG. HERE IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE.

“MA IS D’ERE A PRESENT IN DAT BAG?”. “WHY YES, BRETT. IT IS MY BIBLE. A GIFT FROM GOD TO ME TO TELL ME HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.” WAS MY ANSWER.

“AND IT TELLS YOU WHAT YOU S’POSED TO DO AND NOT DO, RIGHT MA?”

CAN I SEE THAT BOOK MA?”

“OF COURSE, BRETT!”

“MA, D’ERE ARE PICTURES AND STUFF ALL IN HERE. WHY DEY HERE MA?”

“THOSE ARE PICTURES OF PEOPLE I LOVE AND PRAY FOR BRETT.”

“MA, THEY A PICTURE OF ME IN HERE, MA! MA, YOU PRAY FOR ME???”

AT THIS POINT, I FILLED WITH TEARS…..!

“YES, BRETT, I PRAY FOR YOU EVERYDAY.
I PRAYED FOR YOU AND KATE, MOMMY, DADDY, AND BABY REID IN MOMMY’S TUMMY JUST THIS MORNING BEFORE I PICKED YOU UP.”

“MA, HERE A PICTURE OF MOMMY AND DADDY WITH LOTS OF PRESENTS. DEY GETTING MARRIED IN THIS PICTURE? WHEN I GET MARRIED WILL I GET LOTS OF PRESENTS?”

“YES, BRETT. BUT WHO WILL YOU MARRY?”

“I DON’T KNOW WHO I MARRY , MA!”

“I DON’T EITHER BRETT, BUT I PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP YOU FIND JUST THE PERFECT WIFE FOR YOU AND THAT YOU WILL SAVE YOUR HEART FOR HER UNTIL GOD SHOWS YOU WHO HE WANTS YOU TO MARRY.”

“MA, IS DIS WHERE SANTA CLAUS WRITES DOWN THE LIST OF WHAT I GET FOR CHRISTMAS?”

“NO BRETT, THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT SANTA CLAUS IN THE BIBLE.”

“ I WUV YOU, MA.”

“I LOVE YOU TOO, BRETT.”

SO GOES MY MORNING……A GIFT FROM GOD. THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING VERY CLOSE TO MY GRANDCHILDREN. THE PRIVILEDGE OF BEING PART OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. A PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A BIBLE AND BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT JESUS TEACHABLE MOMENTS. OH, HOW I LOVE THEM. I COULD NOT HAVE ORCHESTRATED THIS CONVERSATION….IT WAS A GIFT FROM GOD.

I CALLED AMYBETH TO SHARE THIS STORY. SHE LAUGHED AND REPLIED.

“IT MUST HAVE GONE DOWNHILL FROM THERE. BRETT CAME HOME WITH HIS SECOND UNHAPPY FACE OF THE YEAR ON HIS BEHAVIOUR SHEET!”

WELL, THAT IS JUST LIKE ME. I HAVE TENDER MOMENTS WITH MY LORD. WE SHARE PRICELESS STORIES AND I FEEL SO CLOSE TO HIM. THEN…….I GO ABOUT MY DAY AND BLOW IT!!!!

HE FORGIVES ME, DRAWS ME BACK INTO HIS LAP AND REPEATS THOSE SAME LOVE
STORIES, THE SAME WISDOM , AGAIN AND AGAIN. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I FAIL, HE IS THERE TO FORGIVE ME AND ENCOURAGE ME.

LORD,
THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME, GIVING ME THE GIFT OF SALVATION AND THE BIBLE, THAT SHOWS ME “WHAT I S’POSED TO DO AND NOT DO.” THANK YOU FOR THOSE “TIME OUT” MOMENTS AND FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS AND MERCY AND GRACE WHEN I BLOW IT.
YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE WITH OPEN ARMS TO FORGIVE AND ENCOURAGE ME.”

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TWO, ALMOST THREE, PRECIOUS GRANDCHILDREN TO GIVE THEIR MA LIFE LESSONS.

I AM TRULY BLESSED.

IN HIS PRESENCE AND FULL OF JOY

"YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE; IN YOUR PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY; AT YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE."
PSALM 16:11

MY PRECIOUS FRIEND, PAM, IS IN HIS PRESENCE EXPERIENCING THE FULLNESS OF JOY TODAY.
OUR HEARTS ARE SAD BUT I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL PRAISE THE LORD TOGETHER IN HEAVEN.
THIS IS A JOURNAL PAGE I DID LAST WEEK....JESUS CARRYING MY SWEET FRIEND, CLOSE TO HIS HEART. SHE IS WEARING ORANGE PAJAMAS BECAUSE ORANGE IS THE KIDNEY CANCER COLOR AND SHE LOVED IT!

PRAY FOR HER FAMILY AS THEY WILL MISS THIS PRECIOUS, GENTLE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS

EASTER AND FOCUSING ON THE CROSS!
THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS
A POWERFUL SONG PRAISING OUR POWERFUL LORD.

LISTEN TO IT HERE!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYQqzoEjgU

THESE ARE SOME PICTURES I TOOK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS I WAS FOCUSING ON THE CROSS AND LEARNING TO WALK IN EXPECTATION AND PRAISE EACH DAY.
I BEGAN TO SEE CROSSES EVERYWHERE! DID YOU SEE THE CROSSES IN EACH PHOTO?
TRY CAPTURING SOME PICTURES YOURSELF....IT IS SUCH A BLESSING.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR THE CROSS.
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER CELEBRATING OUR RISEN LORD.

"GOD KNOWS WHERE TO PLACE US TO ENCOURAGE US IN OUR FAITH."
Ann Hilyer
The Book of Ruth
A Story of Redemption (Bible study notes)

This is so true in my life today. Thank you, Linda Dennis and Clare Whitlock, for inviting me to a Bible study today. Ann Hilyer taught the Book of Ruth, a story of redemption.

I needed encouragement and God placed me in the middle of His Word and truth and surrounded by a large group of encouraging women. I felt as if I was Ruth, gleaning truth in His harvest. I was reminded that Jesus is my Kinsman-Redeemer. "The price has been paid in full for every moment and every event in my life to be redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is that we tend to call on Him only when we cannot handle things. The challenge is to see and know Jesus
Christ as your practical Redeemer revealing Himself at every turn."

Oh, how I want to be yoked with Him. To see Him because no matter where I go, He is there! Do you remember I said in a post earlier that sometimes I have to duct tape myself to the cross to stay put and not run away?


"God loves to take the broken, devasting places in your life and redeem them."

I was reminded that God was able to work through Ruth's demeanor because she was willing to submit to whatever God told her to do. Her attitude was submissive and rejoiceful. This has been something I have been doing over the past several months as I have been reading Ann Voscamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. I love to take pictures of my God moments. Thanking Him in all things....seeing His light reflecting fruit in situations that are dark and sorrowful. (Clare reminded me of that today! Thank you Clare!) I am adding a picture I took in my kitchen....reflection of fruit in the darkness.

Well, these are a few ways the Lord has encouraged me today. Just wanted to share my heart. Soon I will be posting pictures of my most precious grandchildren....the way God showers my life with daily blessings....I live 4 mintues away from them. Thank you God.

Praising the Lord, my Kinsman-Redeemer
Singing the contemporary song, My Redeemer Lives and dancing around the room!!!
Katie

P.S. My precious sister in Christ, Pam, is coming home from the hospital today to start hospice care. Keep praying for her family.

CHECKING MY IN BOX

I HAVE TWO DEAR FRIENDS WHO ARE BATTLING CANCER.

LATELY THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN TOO WEAK TO REPLY TO MY E-MAILS OR CALLS.
I LEAVE MESSAGES. I SAY, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOU. I E-MAILED YOU, CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGES ON YOUR PHONE, SENT WORD THROUGH WRITTEN WORDS ON CARDS, SENT LOVE THROUGH FRIENDS……STILL, NO REPLY.”

MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR THEM AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM. TO HEAR THEIR VOICES....TO LET THEM KNOW I LOVE THEM AND AM HERE FOR THEM. TO ASK THEM HOW I CAN COME ALONG SIDE THEM IN ANY WAY!

DO YOU THINK GOD FEELS THE SAME WAY SOMETIMES?
HE GOES TO MEASURES WE CAN NOT EVEN SEE TO REACH OUR HEARTS AND STILL, NO REPLY.

YESTERDAY I HEARD FROM BOTH OF THEM. PAM’S DAUGHTER E-MAILED ME TO SAY MY SWEET FRIEND IS TOO SICK TO TALK, WRITE, RESPOND. I KNOW HER HEART. I KNOW HOW MUCH SHE DEPENDS ON HER PRECIOUS SAVIOR TO CARRY HER. HER WORDS OF DAYS AGO SPEAK TO MY HEART AND I CAN PRAY FOR PEACE FOR HER NOW.

JUDY, MY OTHER PRECIOUS FRIEND, ANSWERED THE PHONE YESTERDAY WHEN I CALLED TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL. I WAS ELATED TO HEAR HER VOICE AND LISTEN TO HER SAY HOW THE LORD HAD CARRIED HER THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT HOSPITAL STAY BUT SHE WAS IMPROVING DAILY. HER COUNTS ARE UP AND MY JOY IS UP TOO!!!

I AM THANKFUL I HAVE A SAVIOR WHO IS ALWAYS LISTENING FOR MY CALL, ALWAYS CALLING ME TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND LISTEN TO HIS HEART. HE HAS SENT WRITTEN WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE TO ME THROUGH THE BIBLE. HE IS THERE FOR MY FRIENDS AND THAT GIVES ME COMFORT.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A MESSAGE IN OUR IN BOX FROM HIM….. HE IS THERE AND EXCITED WHEN WE LISTEN AND RESPOND.

I AM PRAYING FOR BOTH OF MY DEAR FRIENDS, PAM AND JUDY, AND ASK YOU TO ALSO
PRAY. THIS SILO COVERED IN WISTERIA WAS TAKEN NEAR JUDY’S HOME. SHE IS IN MINNESOTA NOW AND CAN’T SEE ALL OF GOD’S GLORY GROWING NEAR HER HOME HER IN NEWNAN. IN FACT, THEY HAD 10 INCHES OF SNOW LAST WEEK.

I CALL IT GROW DEEP AND HIGH - HOPE STORED AND GROWING FOR US ALL. HANG ON!!!!

OFF TO CHECK MY IN BOX!