Thanksgiving 2020

 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving (8426); let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!  

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

Psalm 95:1-3

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving make melody to our God on the lyre! 

Psalm 147:7

This was an exercise of meditation Thanksgiving morn to help me overcome my emotional shortcomings. 

Waking up that morn to the sad reality of our first Thanksgiving without Poppy overwhelmed me. 

Meme had a difficult week of being alone in her home, because she is still unable to welcome guests into her home for visits.  

Her isolation has compounded her grief, and my inability to be with her compounded mine. 

This was our year to be with the Grays at Mark’s sister’s home.  Meme was taken to Aunt Faye’s for Thanksgiving by my older brother and his family   My younger brother’s family decided to postpone gathering with our family in Clay Hill due to Covid 19, but gathered with their daughter’s family.  Their son’s family was out of town with his wife’s parents. 

I’m thankful Meme and Aunt Faye were not alone. Aunt Faye’s son, his wife and daughter, and close friend gathered as well.  Ken’s friend lost his dad last week.  I hurt for TJ’s grief, but I’m thankful our family could welcome, surround, and support him at such a time. 

As much as I wanted to be with my mom and family this year, her first Thanksgiving without Dad, we needed to be with Mark’s mom and family also.  

This day turned out to be our first Thanksgiving with our firstborn’s family. They are usually away every Thanksgiving, but an unwelcome kidney stone for C’s dad discouraged their drive to visit them. 

Grays,  grands, and great grands enjoyed togetherness, and I am immensely thankful!! 

We're not in the practice of singing together, but if thinking out the words of a song counts as praise, I pray this simple song of doxology will always encourage us to consider how we practice and express gratitude to the LORD...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! 

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! 

Amen!

Because of our absence, I asked Joanna to take and share photos, and this is my favorite of those she shared.

This serene place in the country and the company of her oldest son’s family was good medicine for Meme on Thursday!

Thank you, Father, for your provision and care of my mom on her first Thanksgiving without Dad.  

Thank you for Dear Aunt Faye’s welcome and home, sweet home of comfort.  Please bless her and our family for being available to love Mom when I could not be with her. 

Thank you for being our ALL in all! 

 

Someone’s Mother

“There is a tribe in the Southern Sudan called "Nuers" where a woman's name is changed not when she becomes a wife, but when she becomes a mother. She is "ManPuk"--"Mother of Puka." Among the Nuers, being someone's mother is what makes a woman's life meaningful. Two thousand years ago there was another young woman, of the Jewish tribe of Judah, who understood that truth. The world has never forgotten her--Mary, the mother of Jesus--because she was willing to be known as, simply, Someone's mother.”

I read and copied this the other day from an article shared on Elisabeth Elliot’s new/updated website... 

https://elisabethelliot.org/

I shared it in a text I sent to our children…

I TOTALLY understand the weight and value of being “someone’s mother”,  a mom of children God has given and called me to love and nurture, serve, release, and pray for. 

Does this calling ever end?  

The specifics of how now to love and care has to change with each of you leaving home to marry, but I’m left to continue wondering, “Will I ever stop caring?” 

This season of transition has been hard, an emotional test time for me.  The letting go seems like what (I imagine) an amputation would feel like when the nerve endings still flare from the severing!  I experienced this firing/flaring with the cutting out of the cancerous lumps 3yrs ago (Nov. 22, ‘17).  Those firings and flares lasted for months.  Even now, I still have some occasional sensitivity to the touch, but do not experience  near the electric awareness I exp’d after my surgery. 

Will you pls bear with me, and pray for me?  I think one of the hardest realities from the severings are fears of being misunderstood.  I do not want to hold you back (though I will always long to hold you a little longer) as much as I desire to be faithful to the Lord and to each of you in the letting go. I do not want to mess up.  I will always treasure holding you close for a season.  I love the priceless treasured gift of being your mom.  

As always, I love you more, and more, and forever more...

❤️

Constant Contented Care

Is that beast better that hath two or three mountains to graze on than a little bee that feeds on dew or manna, and lives upon what falls every morning from the storehouses of heaven, clouds, and providence?

Jeremy Taylor.  

From Elisabeth Elliot audio Guide to Contentment

Crossing Faith

You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Christopher Columbus

The Glory of Christ

The Christian Gospel is about 'the

 glory of Christ', not about me.

And when it is- in some measure- about me, it is not about my being made much of by God, but about God mercifully enabling me to enjoy making much of Him forever.

John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, p. 16

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14

Photo credit:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Blend my Will with Thine

“And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father, 

Until it be according unto mine? 

But, no, Lord, no, that never shall be, rather 

I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine.

I pray Thee hush the hurrying, eager longing, 

I pray Thee soothe the pangs of keen desire— 

See in my quiet places, wishes thronging— 

Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire. 

And work in me to will and do Thy pleasure.

  

Let all within me, peaceful, reconciled, 

Tarry content  my Well beloved's leisure,

 

At last, at last, even as a weaned child.”

Amy Carmichael

These Strange Ashes

 

But these strange ashes, Lord, this nothingness,

This baffling sense of loss?

Son, was the anguish of my stripping less

Upon the torturing cross? 

Was I not brought into the dust of death,

A worm and no man, I;

Yea, turned to ashes by the vehement breath

of fire, on Calvary?

O Son, beloved, this is thy heart's desire:

This, and no other thing

Follows the fall of Consuming Fire

On the burnt offering.

Go on and taste the joy set high, afar-

No joy like that to thee;

See how it lights the way like some great star.

Come now, and follow Me.

Amy Carmichael

Poppy, We Love You and Miss You!! ❤️

Thomas Earl Cleland passed from this life on August 3, 2020, at the age of 89 years trusting in his salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born October 10, 1930, in Nahunta, Brantley County, Georgia. He was the son of William Alfred Cleland, Jr. and Maude Alma Harris Cleland. Both parents were of Generational South Georgia lineage and American Revolutionary War Patriots.

He had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida since 1969 and ad served as a Baptist Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and leader in various capacities for over 50 years.

He attended elementary school in Waycross, Georgia, and graduated from Nahunta High School at the age of 16. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Bellevue University in Nebraska after studying with the Universities of Maryland at overseas locations and Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska. As 20 year U.S. Air Force veteran, he served during the Cold War immediately following WWII which included the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. In the 1950's and 60's, he was involved with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in deploying nuclear equipped bombers to NATO and Pacific locations as a deterrent against the Soviet Union. After Completing three months of intense training in NATO cryptography protocol near London, England in 1954, he served the remaining of four years at the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers in Europe, Paris France (SHAPE). This job provided cryptography security for SAC and U.S. Armed Forces located on NATO bases. His overseas service also included three years in Anchorage, Alaska during the Korean Conflict, relaying Top Secret information via cryptography methods between General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo and the War Department in Washington D. C.. His service also included four years in Newfoundland supporting the SAC aerial refueling forces which, in event of war, would have topped-off fuel tanks of nuclear equipped bombers destined for the Soviet Union. After completion of his four year tour in Newfoundland, he was invited to complete his 20 year Air Force career at Headquarters, SAC, Omaha, Nebraska. At Headquarters SAC, Omaha, Nebraska, he worked with the SAC Base Reduction and Closure Team (BRAC), and closed/transferred bases where he had been previously assigned. Following his 20 year career with the Air Force and the completion of his College Degree, he was employed for 25 years with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBS) as a Planning/consultant in the Data Systems Division. After retirement from BCBS, he organized the Brantley County Historical Society and spearheaded publication of his home county's very first history book as well as numerous genealogical books. He also authored his autobiography, “Seeking the Narrow Way of Life” as defined by Matthew 7:14, and a historical book titled, “World War II Era in Brantley County, Georgia”.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Lenene Boren Cleland, two sons, Thomas Earl, Jr. (Mary), and Mark William (Pamela); a daughter, Karen Anne Gray (Mark); all of Jacksonville, Florida; Nine grandchildren, Casey Melinda Cleland Stallard (Riley), Mark Stephen Gray, Jr. (Caroline), Mark William Cleland, Jr. (Hannah), Matthew Clayton Gray, (Grace), David Enoch Cleland, Timothy Ethan Cleland, Katherine Hannah Gray, Joanna Elisabeth Cleland, John Todd Harris Gray and 6 great grand children, Maryella Grace Stallard, Andrew William Stallard, Joseph Jeremiah Stallard, Renn Alethea Cleland, Liam True Cleland and Felicity Jane Gray; all of Jacksonville, Florida;

Services will be 1:00PM Sunday, August 9 at the Hardage-Giddens Legacy Lodge 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida. All family, extended family and close friends are invited. Due to concerns about the Covid Virus, face masks and social distancing will be required. There will be limited seating. Live stream of the service will be available at either https://youtu.be/ZQTATa1n-xg or https://youtu.be/qYF4DpOh-Pw

Audience of One

General Charles Gordon, peerless military strategist, legendary commander, and mostly all-conquering victor, lived so closely before the Audience of One that when his time came he had only a short step home. Like all for whom God’s call is decisive, it could be said of him, “I live before the Audience of One. Before others I have nothing to prove, nothing to gain, nothing to lose.”
“The Audience of One,” excerpt from “The Call” by Os Guinness.

Happy Wedding Day, Matt and Grace 💕

Susan Dixon Photography LLC

Happy Wedding Day!

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Happy Wedding Day!
My heart is overjoyed to know the LORD has made today for Himself,  His glory, and we are privileged to witness your covenant wedding vows to Him and one another!  ❤️
I’m soo thankful He has been so very pleased to give you one another, because you have waited for Him! 

 This mystery is profound, ...

See you soon! 🥰

❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Cleansed by the Washing of Water with The Word

Susan Dixon Photography LLC

28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 

30 because we are members of his body.

Before I continue, I want to first go back to point out and re-emphasize this very valuable key point of the Word playing a vital role in the way a husband loves his wife sacrificially...

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 

Why? 
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

I will always pray that this very special role you play, Matt, as a husband will be prized and by much communion with Christ daily, you’ll trust Him to equip you to spiritually lead Grace to Him to be purified and washed with His Word!! 

So again, ...
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 
30 because we are members of his body.

May your marriage be pure to His praise and glory, and full of joy for knowing you are united with Christ as He presents you spotless before Our Father! 

❤️ always, Mom

Happy Wedding Day Eve 🥰

PS- I want to encourage you to take time today to ponder the lyrics of the hymn: The Church’s One Foundation by SJ Stone, 1866

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Husbands, Love Your Wives as Christ

Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Ephesians 5 continues-
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

If either of you ever question your ability to love one another well, look to Christ and thank Him for sacrificially loving and claiming you for His own!! 
If you need another example, read the story of Hosea and Gomer.  What an awesome story that parallels the sacrificial love Christ displayed by redeeming us and covering our shame so that He may present us w/out shame before His Father! 
❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

God’s Order for Marriage

 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  

Praying you’ll find comfort in this!  Purpose to take pleasure in knowing and yielding to God’s provision and protection for the order of your relationship/marriage. 
This is for your joy and peace, but ultimately His glory! 
❤️ always, Mom

Thomas Cleland Funeral

How to Submit to Your Husband, as to the Lord

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 
Ephesians 5


How?

-Have a heart that is receptive to the filling of the Spirit.
-Address one another..., having adequately prepared your heart by singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
-Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so [you] might more willingly submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

As you begin to submit to one another, I am asking the LORD to unify your aim and help each of you to better understand His sacrificial love and are.
I pray you will bear fruit in keeping with the unity Paul encourages in this book as you seek to know the LORD better, and one another. 

❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Be Filled with the Spirit

I’m thankful for the LORD’s timely encouragement to me of this truth this evening, and I pray it encourages you! 

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I pray as you walk in the Light of God’s presence that you will remember this, that the will of the LORD cannot be surpassed by the best filling and satisfying gift of His grace and provision.  His will is to “... be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the LORD with your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

This is such a profound discipline to overcome the darkness when you are faced with hard times. 

❤️always, Mom

Stepping in the Light

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_3DFGP0bBI

Good morning,
Do you remember this song, Matt?  
We were introduced to it by our homeschool curriculum.  We learned one hymn a month, it was such a blessing to sing together to encourage our faith and walk with the LORD!  Y’all were so much younger so you may not remember singing them as much as I do!  I treasure those days with you!! 

This morn, I want to encourage you with this  wise counsel...
Ephesians 5-
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

I pray your confidence in Christ will be strengthened as you walk daily in the light of His presence.  
Psalm 36 is excellent meditation on this subject, but this verse 
(vs. 9) stands out in my mind, and I pray it will also encourage yours...

For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.

I pray your love for the presence of Our Savior will be the Light of your lives!! 
❤️ always, Mom


Lyrics:
Stepping in the Light

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Trying to follow our Savior and King;
Shaping our lives by His blessed example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.

Refrain:
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light,
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Led in paths of light.

Pressing more closely to Him Who is leading,
When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day.

Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance,
Footsteps of faithfulness, mercy, and love,
Looking to Him for the grace freely promised,
Happy, how happy, our journey above.

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Upward, still upward, we follow our Guide;
When we shall see Him, “the King in His beauty,”
Happy, how happy, our place at His side.
Words: Eliza E. Hewett,1890

Christ Will Shine on You

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 
12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:11-14

I pray your spirits will be daily quickened and illumined by God’s word, separately and together.  
May He keep your hearts tender and warmed by the fire of His fellowship and light, that sin will be exposed and confessed in your home! 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
2 He was in the beginning with God. 
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5

May Christ shine on your marriage and home! 
❤️ always, Mom

Keep in Step with the Spirit

Good morning, 
I repeat, “Walk as children of light” 
[because Ephesians 5 continues...]

9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 

10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  

Soo, what is good and right and true, and pleasing to the Lord? 

I hope and pray today that you’ll consider what walking as children of light looks like....(The cross references for the fruit of light is Galatians 5:22 and Romans 7:4, but I’ve included some of the context surrounding Gal 5:22 for more clarity),

Galations 5-
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 
15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 

21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

[Son, Do you remember us marching around the house when you were little as we sang with Steve Green this “keep in step with the Spirit” song?  I treasure those days!!  

If there’s ever a time when you’re struggling to keep in step with the Spirit in your home, you could take captive those moments by leading and showing Grace how to march and sing 😂!  

Please don’t wait until children come to  🎶 “keep in step with the Spirit”!! 😊

Also, 
Romans 7:4 says, 
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

I pray that the fruit of light and righteousness will mark your lives, resulting in all that pleases the LORD! 
❤️ always, Mom

Walk As Children of Light

Since you have been chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, ...predestined and adopted in love to himself through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed you in the Beloved...

I pray you will strive for unity in Christ so you may live in Christ’s example, not returning to imitate this dark world we live in! 

“6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 
7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 
8 for at one time you were darkness, 

but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...”

I pray You will trust His call and purpose to be light bearers in this dark world. I pray you will be guarded to resist those who do not bear His light, who will try to partner with you and encourage you to participate in their darkness. 
May Christ’s light so shine through you before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
❤️ always, Mom

Let There Be Thanksgiving

Ephesians 5 continues-
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

I pray your lives/marriage/home will be set apart, holy unto the LORD because He is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY in your midst.  
I pray your fellowship with Him and one another will be marked by humble gratitude as you imitate God and walk in love, sharing many days together.  When you’re met with struggles and temptation to complain or grumble, I pray it will become your practice to  praise the LORD, speaking words of thanksgiving for who He is!  

We used to sing a chorus when you older boys were little.  
I hope you remember it...

🎶 “It’s amazing what praising can do, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. 
It’s amazing what praising can do, Hallelujah. 
I won’t worry when things go wrong,
Jesus fills my heart with a song.
It’s amazing what praising can do,  
Hallelujah!”
❤️ always, Mom

Walk in Love

Mindful of you both as you begin these final days of preparation for your wedding! 
We’re excited and beyond thankful to share these precious, sacred days God has called you to!!  I pray you will each ponder all the LORD has called you to in marriage. 
Relating in love and wisdom to one another in marriage is a battleground you will find very confusing at times, but I want to encourage you with Paul’s counsel from Ephesians 5 concerning unity and how to overcome the enemy’s effort to discourage God’s purpose for marriage! 
We are thankful to transition from not just being your parents but married peers.  Though we are older, we pray we can always be a source of love and support for you when you desire our fellowship and counsel. 

Ephesians 5:1-2,
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 ❤️ Always, Mom

Run Fast for Your Wedding Day

Susan Dixon Photography

I can’t help but think about your statement yesterday, “I have three more weeks to do single man things...”.

I pray your heart is not focused so much on single things as much as on couple things. I’ve heard it said, “You gave that freedom up a long time ago”, because that is what commitment does. It sacrifices for the will and well being of another.” 

This time reminds me of those days just before each of you were born, when I knew the last of our closest days together were to be pondered and treasured!  When your very life depended on mine! 

Those days when your pulsing heart was sustained and  beating because of the rhythm of mine. When your nourishment was supplied because of my own, and if I didn’t eat, you were still nourished because you drew from the sacrifice of my own body which gave from it’s store. This is God’s design. 

One life for another.

I hope and pray in these last days of your singleness that you are all the more prepared to get on your face before God and submit your will to His, to learn of Him, of how to be the kingly leader/representative of His kingdom here on earth and in your home (what does God’s word say about that? For starters read Deuteronomy 17:14-20, Proverbs 31:1-9).  I pray you will humble your heart and mind before the throne of God’s grace daily, hourly, as oft necessary, to cry out to the KING of kings for wisdom and nourishment for your spirit to be fed for knowing you are embarking on a journey that you will need to draw strength from Him for.  

Gird up your loins and ready yourself for the greatest journey and hardest battle for the hearts and minds of those the LORD will add to your watch...generations... (Our prayer is that He would show steadfast love to thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments, Exodus 20:6). 

Grace is making preparations as well to come alongside you to help you on this journey.  You have determined her suitable to help you.   You have chosen wisely.  We are thankful!! 

These last 20 days of singleness should be like a sprint for the finish line... fast and furious to cross the line to pursue the LORD, in eager anticipation to add Grace to your life because she is qualified and ready to help you grow closer to the LORD and she is more than eager to stand beside you in life to pursue Him together!! 

God has been gracious to bring her in to your life, to add to you His mercy because of her.  I am thankful she has a tender conscious for God’s fellowship.

I am thankful and believe Grace is best for you!

Though each of you may be like sandpaper in one another’s life from “this day forward”,  that is good!! Refining!!  You will each be the very means by which the LORD has ordained that you be conformed into the likeness of Christ! Don’t forget that!  Tell yourselves daily, “We’re better together than we are apart!!”

I pray these remaining 20 days will cause you to ready yourself for the best days of your life, come what may!!  

I am encouraged Grace will be a crown of honor and glory to you, as the LORD has said in His word He will make of you to be for Him! 

Isaiah 62:10-12, 

Go through, go through the gates;

prepare the way for the people;

build up, build up the highway;

clear it of stones;

lift up a signal over the peoples.

Behold, the LORD has proclaimed

to the end of the earth:

Say to the daughter of Zion,

“Behold, your salvation comes;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.”

And they shall be called The Holy People,

The Redeemed of the LORD;

and you shall be called Sought Out,

A City Not Forsaken.

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Home, Sweet New Gray Home

It's been a long time since I've come here to share my heart...

Aside from being housebound for most of March, April, May, and June, because of a global pandemic called COVID-19, aka The Corona Virus, we've been counting down the days in excitement for the upcoming wedding of Matt and Grace in early August. 

In April they closed on the purchase of  a home, which we're soo very excited about!  They'll live within a 10 minute drive from us and Grace's parents, and they are also within a short walking distance from our older son and his family.  As Matt has expressed, we too are excited for all the gatherings they look forward to hosting in their home with family and friends.  We're soo very thankful they are rooted here, surrounded by family and friends that will be an ever present source of love and encouragement.  We could not be more thankful to the LORD for giving them such a gift.   

Matt, with Grace's help, began making preparations for him to begin staying there before they marry.  A few photos were captured... <smile>

Their house backs up to a pond, which makes for a peaceful and serene background to their lovely home.  Already, Matt and the boys, John, Luke, and Ethan have fished and caught a few Bass and Brim.  

They didn't keep them, but threw them back to their habitat.  

When Matt and his brother, Mark Stephen, were young, Dad gave each of them a wooden tool box for Christmas one year, with some tools in them.  The idea was to add to their box over time, so they'd each have a collection of tools already started when they began needing them.  

It brought joy to me to visit one day and see Matthew had taken his tool box with him.  He was working with some of his tools on a few of his projects...

Grace, Katherine, and Anna spent that same day painting their bedroom...and the final outcome looked really nice!  Grace went with the lower color.  

 Another project Matt began working on soon after he purchased their home and a mattress, was to build a bed frame.  We are soo proud of his expense of only $150 in materials...

and the finished product of his time and labor.





One day after work, Matthew invited me to join  him in doing some yard work, and of course, I loved going to help him.  

Matt began spending the night away from home a few weeks ago in his new home.  

It's been a bitter sweet feeling to miss him and be proud of him at the same time!  

As his mom, I wish we could always be together.  

I wish empty nesting were not soo hard and sad for me!  
I have soo enjoyed our season together, but I truly am also looking forward to watching him enjoy his new season with Grace. 

Our first two have fledged away and our last two are flapping their wings.  

I think, I hope, Matthew will be back a few more times before he leaves permanently.  

He's been back twice so far, and I've told him he's welcome to return home for a sleep over anytime... <smile>!  

The first night he left, he asked me, 

"Mom, will you be okay if I spend the night at my house tonight (1st time)?"  

I asked him, "Will you be okay if you spend the night at your house tonight?"  

He said, "I'll be fine."  

"Then I think I'll be fine too!"  

*HUG*HUG*HUG*

Then he said, "I'll be back in the morn to pick up lawn equipment." 

Ha!  

I'm thankful he's been soo very considerate and caring of me through this transition.  

He's always said he's never wanted to leave home, but we all know it's time.  

That first night he left, I told him how proud I am that he is leaving home with God's blessing and ours.  

It's a huge blessing for us to know he took his time and waited on the LORD to give him a bride who also waited, patiently, on the LORD to grow her for him, their faith and mature their friendship/relationship, resulting in an engagement.  

Thank you LORD that Matthew's leaving is not bitter because of haste or rebellion.  Any sadness we feel about his departure is only because we hate to see him leave at all.  We'll miss his presence in our home terribly, but we're thankful he hasn't gone far.  He visits often and loves us well by texting and calling to check on us.  
What a gift and blessing Matthew is to us.  
  

Please bless Matthew in his coming and going, and in his leaving our home to cleave to Grace.  We are thankful she is eager to join our family, and we are eager welcome her, to watch them become their own family.  
Help us, please LORD, to trust You through the adjustments that will come as we give them space to learn their own unique togetherness.   

Please help us to stand back and enjoy this gracious blessing from your hand, to watch how their love for one another will grow and flourish by your sovereign plan for their marriage.  We look forward to watch how they will grow in their walk with You and one another.  

May our focus be: 

I will extol You, my God and King,
and bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praise,
and His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend Your works to another,
and shall declare Your might acts.
Psalm 145:1-4

Again, LORD, thank you for the many ways You will grow Matt and Grace through this new, life changing season of oneness with You!

When Dad and I were married in 1987, a dear friend from church, Lucy Parker, painted a plate for us that had this quote on it...

In homes where God is first,
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.


I've since found the entire poem which reads...

I once thought marriage took
Just two to make a go
But now I am convinced
It takes the LORD also.  

And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter
AS lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives 
And homes are incomplete
Till He is welcomed there
To help avert defeat.

In homes where God is first
It's obvious to see
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.
Author unknown