"...right-wing idiocy...dh"

"Would NEVER pass on such right-wing idiocy. Some people hate freedom and equality and try to pass it off as Christianity. I pity the person that believes that it is. dh"

These words came to me this week by way of a solitary, personal email from someone I do not know.

Of course, it took me a few moments to realize what this note was referring to...
"Who is this person?"
"Where did he come from?"
"Why is he emailing me?"
"Who do I know that knows and associates w/him?"

The subject line read, 'B Graham'. OK, I got it.

I received an email last Friday which was said to be Billy Graham's prayer for our country.
I didn't remember to verify the email as I oft try to do, but instead, I quickly forwarded it to my two eldest sons and father. I knew I'd read it before, but forwarded it anyway, because I thought it would encourage them.

I DID remember to clean it up, however. I edited out all the previous senders' names and email addresses so it would be a quick read for those I sent it to. I am guilty of forgetting and/or not taking the time to do this, but this one time, I did. I know how much it means to me to receive tidy mail...for not having to scroll down and down, sometimes what seems like an eternity (especially on my phone), to read the message. I never considered the results/risks for doing so!
There's no way of knowing whether anyone did this after me, but obviously, someone didn't.

Who would've thought?
DH considered me a worthy recipient of his personal disdain.

I only took the time to share the email w/three people, yet somewhere down the line of senders and recipients, this man was thought of and included in someone's list to receive this prayer.
I didn't forward the prayer to him, but by God's sovereign plan, this man read words that stirred his heart to unrest and he unleashed his offensive words towards me, the name at the beginning of his list of senders. 

This man doesn't know me!
Little did he know, I would consider...
"As for you, ye meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." (Genesis 50:20).

The LORD has laid it on my heart to pray for this man, so, what have I been doing since yesterday? Praying for 'dh'.

Isn't it interesting that I should discover via Snopes, though a little too late, that the words of the prayer did not originate from Mr. Graham. You can find the article here.
Just type 'Billy Graham's prayer for our country' in the search engine.
I tried to include a direct link in this post, but it wouldn't take you directly to the page.
DH was not the only one this prayer disturbed...

Meanwhile, I continue to pray that 'dh' will somehow realize I am just as he, one chosen by a friend to receive the words of this prayer; Although the difference between us is obvious in how we received them.
His words have stirred me to remember him in the days ahead.
Will I ever forget?

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
I Peter 3:13-17

Lead On, O King Eternal

Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted over us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.

Words: Er­nest W. Shurt­leff, 1888. (He wrote this hymn for the grad­u­a­tion cer­e­mo­ny at An­do­ver The­o­log­ic­al Sem­in­ary, where he was a mem­ber of the class of 1888.)














Photo credits: MSG, Jr., October 29, 2011 in Black Mtn, NC
In spite of how c-c-c-old it was, the children requested permission to take a walk together after the NCFIC Marriage Conference ended. The photos they took were beautiful, these being a couple of my favorites! The memories they made that day remain unforgotten, and their laughter continues in my heart!

October Baby: Every Life is Beautiful!!

Our family saw this movie tonight!
We loved it!! This is definitely a movie we'll add to our favorites list!!
The producers and actors did an exceptional job of expressing the value of every baby's life, even those whose life almost wasn't! So much about this movie surpassed our expectations!!
We're not sure why it was rated PG-13; If it had to be rated, then maybe it seemed more like a PG movie, but only because of the theme...a baby survives an abortion.

If you appreciate filmmakers who produce tasteful family movies w/out all the compromising immorality and language, then you must get out to see this movie!! However, when you go to see a movie at the theater, there are usually less than desirable sights and sounds in the advertising, so don't feel you have to be there when the tape begins to roll! Take your time. If you run 10-15 minutes late, you will not have missed a thing!!

Spread the word!!!

Bruce~ "Dweller at the...Gray Fortress"

This is the newest addition to our family of pets....
John's new rabbit, Bruce.
We were blessed Tuesday evening to meet Bruce's previous owner, Meagan, who will soon be going away to college. She aspires to be a nurse, so she decided it was time to find a new home for her sweet bunny before she leaves. Already named, Bruce comes to us as a young (less than a year old), neutered Dwarf Netherland Rabbit, and he is very well trained!! His fur is as soft as silk (and I thought Cotton was soft)!

We are extremely grateful to have found such a nice companion for Cotton. She hasn't complained or acted miserable since Bullet's sudden death in October, however, we still decided she would be happiest w/a new friend. For us, the timing of a bunny addition couldn't have been better.

Thank you, Meagan, for entrusting Bruce to our care and home. We have already enjoyed his presence, and I anticipate many happy years together!! You're sure to watch him grow in our posts of him here, so stay tuned. : )

I had hoped to include the video I took the first night we introduced Bruce to Cotton, but unknowingly, I recorded it vertically instead of horizontally, so it will not play... : (
I'll try again...

A special note of interest: Bruce's name means "Dweller at the Thicket".
We know Bruce is only the offspring of one who was rescued long ago from the thicket, but since he's come to live in our home, The Gray Fortress, we are sure he will dwell securely here. For this reason, his name will remain BRUCE !
Just maybe... we could add EARL as his middle name to commemorate his royal demeanor. He definitely behaves in such a way, and already I can tell Cotton is impressed to have such a male bunny of noble character living beside her.
I hope this means their bonding will go smoothly, because eventually we'd love for them to live happily ever after w/out a wire wall!!
: )

Addendum at noon-
Thanks to John, I'm now able to download a short video he recorded of Cotton watching Bruce this morning.
Hope you enjoy! : )

Giving sacrificially~

"The maturing dandelion has long ago surrendered its golden petals, and has reached its crowning stage of dying. It stands ready, holding up its little life, not knowing when or where or how the wind that bloweth where it listeth may waft it away. It holds itself no longer for its own keeping, only as something to be shared. The delicate seed-globe must break up now; it gives until it has nothing left."
Lilias Trotter, Parables of the Cross

Calvin's Leisure

On any given day, when Calvin is NOT outside, it doesn't take much to make him happy!
He's not supposed to be on the furniture, but every once in awhile he stretches the boundaries so he can leisurely watch "the fish channel".




















When he's a little closer to the aviary, he watches "the bird channel".














He may like watching them, but they don't like watching him!! Ha~

When K & J take care of Cotton and the rabbit hutch, Calvin wants to be there too!














This is only a small glimpse in a day of Calvin's pleasure, but really, if the truth be known, leisure is much better enjoyed in the company of friends!!

Saturday night addendum-
Little did I/we know this morning, as I was typing away about Calvin's enjoyment of visiting Cotton in the rabbit hutch, we would go out to find Calvin locked up in the rabbit hutch!!!!!
He spent all of Friday evening and night there!!!

Late yesterday afternoon, K & J watered and fed Cotton and while they were running in and out to do so, Calvin jumped up into the hutch. They knew he was there, but in their haste to get their work completed so we could eat and then head out to the beach to play Frisbee, they forgot Calvin was upstairs in the bedroom, taking his leisurely time to check on Cotton.
It's not unusual for Calvin to ignore our calls to come in at night, and we just assumed he refused to come in when we called. We never imagined he couldn't!!

OH MY!!

What a discovery!! Poor Calvin!!
Yes, his eyeballs were big, but did he jump down to find a potty spot? NO!
He ran inside the house to eat!! We laughed yesterday when we noticed him drinking from the water bottle, so at least we knew he wasn't dehydrated!
You can be sure I went back outside to check the hutch for buried treasures, but surprisingly, I found none!!
Needless to say, I decided this to be a good time to clean out the rabbit hutch...I mean really clean. Everything came out, was sprayed down w/a vinegar and water solution, and then wiped down and replaced!
Although Calvin wasn't too interested in rejoining Cotton in the hutch today, I'm confident he'll return when he forgets the agony of 'holding it' all night!!

"Not only for Life but for ALL Life"

Beautiful Hannah, Christmas 2011

Today I received a very heart warming email from a Precious Friend!
Please read her personal note below, but before you do, pull out a tissue because you're sure to need it!
The video will also move your heart!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"March 21st is Down Syndrome Day. As you all know, Hannah has brought us so much joy and has given us a new perspective not only for life but for ALL life. I want people to be educated and informed about Down Syndrome, not regarding these children's disabilities but instead their abilities.

We were given the opportunity to participate in this video and it was an honor. Pay special attention at the 2 minute, 34 second mark of the video to see Hannah and what my posterboard says.

7 years ago this week (yesterday the 8th), at week 17 of our pregnancy, is when we received the very grim news about our sweet Hannah. We were told she would not survive birth and that we should abort her. The doctor told us it was in Hannah's best interest to never be born! When we told him abortion was not an option, he told us we were thinking emotionally instead of logically and we didn't know what we were facing! To which Dennis replied with tears streaming down his face, "and you don't know my GOD!"

Here we are, 7 years later, with the happiest, most energetic, most loving, and VERY stubborn and independent little girl! The joy of our lives and the child who has taught us more in 7 years than we have learned in 40+ years about life, love, forgiveness, joy, happiness, and what is truly important.

Take a few minutes and watch this video, see the precious children and read what the parents have to say if hindsight was 20/20!

Love you all!
Tamara

MONUMENTAL Movie

Please join me in praying for the success of this Kirk Cameron movie, a one day only public presentation, March 27th, in theaters all over our country.
This movie will be available in DVD by the middle of the year.

Blooming Beauty~

Beautiful blooms from the Collard Greens in the garden...I enjoyed them for days, even those littered on the table!

We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.
Elisabeth Elliot

The LORD's Pleasure

"He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy."
Psalm 147:10-11