The Thanksgiving -Birthday combo and Christmas Tree Day

~Becky

A beautiful tribute

I'm so blessed by what my youngest son put on social media today in honor of his dad.
Here it is:

"Today, 3 years ago I held my fathers hand and thanked him for all that he has been to me. Thanked him for equipping me, fighting for me, loving me, and most importantly, showing me how to follow Jesus and love him for myself.
I slept in the chair next to his bed in hospice that night, and when I woke up, he was in glory with The Lord.

It’s a feedback loop of grief and gratitude that weighs on my heart. I allow myself to feel it and ask God to comfort, provide, and bring peace through this pain. My father taught me more in 16 years than most fathers do in a lifetime.

The truth is, cancer couldn’t be farther from his body as he beholds the King he sought after so diligently. And I will choose to run this race knowing my earthly and heavenly father await me with a smile. God was glorified even in darkness, and my faith was strengthened even in shadow. It would be a lie to run away. I press on with patience as I believe and watch God work all things for good in my life over the rest of my time on t(His) earth.

Thank you to everyone who has been there for my family. You are loved."

💗

Blogging break

At this time, due to an accident with a bass and a MacBook screen, I'm sharing a laptop with a busy college kid. LOL  So, it may be awhile,  but I'll be back here blogging eventually.  😀

Hope you are enjoying a lovely fall!
Blessings!
~Becky

Learning to say 'Yes'

I was recently given a hotel stay and a free ticket to a woman's conference in Daytona and I actually said 'Yes' and went.

Amazing, right? 

 Even though it was totally out of my comfort zone! And I didn't have anyone to go with. And I'm not a spontaneous, spur of the moment type of person, at all!

  I took my first road trip ALONE ever and went, despite the fact that I didn't know the women I'd be sharing a hotel room with very well. 

Of course finding out that the  hotel was a Hilton and RIGHT on the beach, in a room with a gorgeous view helped me feel a whole lot better about the whole thing. LOL ; )

And then the first speaker shared her story and half way through, it became apparent that she is a widow. 

And then I KNEW why I was there! 

In my almost three years as one, I've never heard a widow speak before. 

Her story had so many elements that were similar to  my story. in any of the conferences I've been to. (not that that's a lot)

It really blessed me to get to see how her story of restoration and healing reached a thousand women of all ages and backgrounds and marital statuses!

It was beautiful and so much prayer and ministry took place when she was done. 

All the speakers that weekend were great and had tremendous stories and teachings to share. And the ladies I hardly knew, became my friends!

I made some time to play in the waves of the Atlantic too. I was jumping and laughing and having a great time because the beach is my happy place! Then a wave took me face down to the ground and I felt my legs come over my head and when I eventually stood up, I was facing the other direction!!!  So that was officially the first cart wheel I've done in 30 years! I got out after that shaken and knowing I'd been beat. And seriously wondering if all my body parts still worked. LOL Thankfully, they did! 

It was definitely the weekend that turned me upside down in more ways than one and I'm so glad I said 'yes.' 

~Becky

Book study

I was in a weekly women's small group for a year and a half or so and then the lives of all the ladies got really busy and we couldn't find a night that continued to work for all of us to meet but we stayed connected by posting our prayer requests on a private Facebook page and praying for each other.
 Then we did some online Bible studies on the Bible app.
 The next evolution was reading a book, together and posting our comments on each chapter on a private Facebook page.  I got seriously behind on reading schedule, but the leader of that study is persistent and she is still cheering me on to finish so we can all go out to dinner and discuss it.

I'm not sure what kind of a small group would work best for your life but I hope you have one of some kind, whether you meet in person regularly or have a private Facebook page for sharing prayer requests. However yours looks, I hope you have some people who will challenge you, pray for you when needed, meet you for dinner or movie, share thoughts from the Word with you and make you laugh harder than you've laughed in a long time. Relationships are worth investing in and so are people.


And speaking of our book study, here are some awesome quotes from Adamant, by Lisa Bevere.


"You were born to scale mountains, not merely scan phones. You were born for face to face connections, not emojis. Speak God's word rather than merely echo it in likes and reposts. 
You were made for involvement." ❤


~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I have a new appreciation for Rom. 14:4 

"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. 

And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand."

I used to take comfort in that verse when I was way, way younger and for some reason, pretty critical of the spiritual walk of others around me, I confess. I remember it hitting me hard while in a Christian college and feeling like the Holy Spirit was sure not okay with me doing or not doing certain things that didn't seem to bother other people one little bit. LOL

This verse helped me to turn them over to Him, so to speak and obey the verse several scriptures down that says "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another." v.13

Now, many, many, years later,  what stands out to me in that verse is the beautiful second half! 

No matter how close our friend's, family, co-workers, neighbors' walks with God are or are not, God is able to "make them stand." 

How wonderful is that?!

He is more than able! 

I love that He will them stand. I love that He will make me stand.

"And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Amen! 

Let's cheer each other on!

His grace makes us stand!

 And we all need it! 

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," v.17

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification." v.19

~Becky

Happy 29 -again

Just kidding. I turned 49 last week. I'm not one to go around telling my age or lying about it. I just don't always answer when I'm asked. LOL But it hit me on my birthday that my hubby didn't see 49. And that I need to see this year as a blessing and an opportunity to be thankful for and not a number to be ashamed of.
So, here's to 49!

My sweet kids took me out for Mexican food that night and then we went out for gourmet Popsicles. Andrew and I got the chocolate Elvis Popsicles and I totally forgot that Elvis had a thing for bananas!!! And I don't think Andrew ever knew that LOL so he was pretty surprised when he was sure he was tasting them because he's allergic to bananas!
Thankfully, he didn't have a enough to get sick.

My new room is done and I love it so much. It has stopped feeling big enough to be a hotel and it just feels peaceful and homey now. I used furniture I already had and painted pieces to go with my color scheme. They were getting rid of an IKEA desk at work, so I got a great deal on that. I did buy a cute chair at Ross and now, it's done. For my birthday, the kids decided my room needed an Echo!
So, Alexa is my roomie now.  And we have praise parties almost every night!  And  I found out that she doesn't work, if you accidentally mix up her name with your friend, Alexis' name. ; )

I've been painting my old room because Andrew is moving into that one and we are getting our family room back as a place for all the instruments and exercise equipment! A million hoorays!
He chose a matte dark gray which looks almost like chalkboard paint. (that would've been fun actually!) I had my doubts about it but it is coming together and he loves it. Thankfully there is a lot of white trim in there and that brightens it up. -But Heaven help me when that room needs to go back to a neutral, light color someday! LOL

One of my favorite friends gave me Joanna Gaines' new cookbook and I'm so excited to do some cooking! Fall just makes you want to bake, doesn't it?
It is still 93 degrees here so, I will have to just put up fall decor and pretend the weather has changed. I wouldn't mind it being so hot but there is red tide in some amount at almost all of our beaches, so I've had to cross that off as my happy place for now. Hoping to find one more day to go before the water gets cold. 

Nathan gets to come home for Christmas and spend 18 days with us! Merry Christmas to me!!!
I'm so excited! Our office at work will be closed for several of those days, so I can't wait for some family fun with the whole gang. It will be our first time to all be together since last Christmas.
I love seeing the family dynamics when all my adult kids are together. They feed off each other's sense of humors and we do a whole lot of laughing. And I'm proud of the way they support each other and stay connected to one another throughout the year. That is special too.

I hope you have a blessed week!

~Becky

When it stings

I have learned to get by on the hard anniversaries and holidays by remembering that they will only sting for about 24 hours and then I'll wake up the next day and it won't be my wedding anniversary or my hubby's birthday or the day he went to be with the Lord anymore.

Friday was one of those days.
It would have been our 27th wedding anniversary. And I'd spent most of the week helping the church prepare to put on a marriage conference for 150 couples which was ironically on my anniversary. So that was a tad bit hard.
I had the day off though and my sweet kids invited me to have coffee with their squad. : )
 Then with Joy's help, we tried to fix the fountain in our front yard because my hubby loved it. He loved to have the window open and hear the water splashing. If I remember right, the fountain stopped working while he was sick.
I tried to make it into a planter last year, but when it rained the plants floated right up and out of it. So, then the next option had to be getting a new motor. Each tier of it weighs a gazillion pounds though and so it was a major miracle to catch enough people at home that could help lift those. At one point we had it all set up and filled with water only to have the new motor not work.
 Long story short, I spent most of my weekend at Home Depot. And there were 4 fountain motors involved and one can of foam sealant. And we are close. Really close.

I'm thankful I have a sweet daughter who reminds me that we can do any project we set our minds to if we don't give up. And honestly, she has this gift for the mechanical, thank goodness, because I sure don't. I mainly just cheer her on and make a million trips to Home Depot.

We may not have a running fountain quite yet, but I made it through a hard day surrounded by lots of love.

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I was so honored to be asked to speak to a small group of amazing young adult girls last weekend and I thought I'd share the bullet points that I shared with them here too.

1. Live your best life now
      Give God your whole heart

2. Be the person you want to find
      Become as awesome as you want that guy to be

3. Live and love the Word of God
       Store it up in your heart now for ready recall in all kinds of situations

4.  The only person you can change is you
        You don't want a guy who is a fixer upper (maybe a house that is) ; )

5. Choose someone who honors God, you and everyone else
         Does he honor servers? Does he honor his parents?

6.  Choose someone whose spiritual life you admire
         He will be the future spiritual leader of your family

7. Be devoted to purity
         You are building the story that you will tell your children someday so don't compromise


Obviously there was a lot more to it and maybe you had to be there! ; )




~Becky




 

Wednesdays in the Word

I've been asked to share my testimony with a group of young adult women this week so I've been thinking a lot about what my testimony is.

I feel like I could divide my life into 2  testimonies.
But the last one is still being worked out and is so raw and I'm not including it. ; )

It hit me this morning, when reading in Isaiah 43, that my testimony isn't that God miraculously healed my husband of cancer. "

- I WISH that was my testimony!

My testimony is that when you go through horrible things in life,

GOD  IS WITH YOU.


I know I didn't walk through any of that alone.
His peace was overwhelming and constant!


If you are facing some hard things right now, I hope these verses encourage you. He doesn't ask us to walk alone.

"I have called you by name. You are Mine. When you pass through the waters I WILL BE WITH YOU. 
(notice that it says 'when' and not 'if'. We will all face hard times)
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God. The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 
Fear not, I am with You."


~Becky

Funny footage

This week a friend of mine had a medical procedure, and I didn't want to bother her in case she didn't feel well, but I did want to leave a surprise at her door.
So, I drove over and snuck up to her door and left a little gift on her porch and ran away.
Hours later, I found out that she has footage of it all from her security system and it was hilarious! I look like a criminal running for my life and jumping over bushes! LOL

I post a photo but my computer is not cooperating. Actually, maybe its better this way! LOL

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

~Becky

Wednesdays int the Word

A little encouragement for your day. Make it a good one!

"The Lord is my strength and and my shield. My heart trusted in Him and I am greatly helped!"  Ps. 28:7


" You have hedged me in behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me." Ps. 139:5I

"I will not forget you, see I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands."  Is.49:16  -How great is it to know that God has a tattoo with your name on it on His hands?!

"Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me." Ps. 139:10 

~Becky

Playing and painting

So, the bad thing about painting one room in your house,
is that you look around and realize that the rest of your WHOLE house could use re- painting.
So, I may be spending all my days off painting from now until Jesus comes.
But I should be able to move into my new bedroom in the next couple of weeks and I'm excited.

And speaking of days off, last week a friend and I had plans to go to the beach but red tide spoiled those plans. So, we decided to be adventurous and try Weeki Wachi State Park.
It was kind of like going back in time and getting to see an old view of Florida.
We saw a mermaid show that has been happening since the 1950's. Seriously, girls in mermaid suits, were underwater, acting out the play of  The Little Mermaid and mouthing the words! -There were hoses they could grad and breath from whenever they needed to. It takes a lot of skill to be a mermaid, Y'all!
There was a boat ride included with admission and it was a beautiful ride on the  spring which is completely clear and always 74 degrees.  Usually you can see manatees but because the Gulf of Mexico is so warm right now, they are there instead. But if you go in the winter you will see some!
We went to the 'beach' and got in the spring, which was a bit too cold for me. But Joy went down the lazy river in a tube and there was also a gigantic water slide to enjoy. -You know you planned a cool event when your daughter crashes Mom's day out. Yes!

And speaking of crashing things. My BFF crashed my week in the best possible way! She decided on Monday morning to fly to Florida and arrived that night! It was great to see her again. She spent the week helping her son get ready for college and fixing up his new place.

Here's hoping I can get my kids to crash my next painting party!  ; )

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

Hey Girls,
We may not feel like we are the whole Proverbs 31 package, I mean who really can be?! And some of those things she did probably don't apply to our society today anyway,
(but maybe I'm in denial -LOL) but these verses are sure worth striving to have said about us!

"She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness." 

Another version puts it like this: 

"When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say and she always says it kindly."

I love that!


~Becky

A new season

In 2005 my hubby's best friend helped us build an addition on our house. The kids were young and we pretty much just cheered him on a cleared away debris. ; ) 

 Part of the addition included building a large room and bathroom for our three boys to share.

Hubby and I planned to make it "the honeymoon suite" when they grew up and moved away. 

After his passing, I couldn't move in there because it seemed too sad.

 Many months later, I invited Zac and Tiffany to move in because Zac was about to go back to school and I thought living here would make things easier for them. We also missed them and thought our house was WAY to quiet. Thankfully, they said 'yes' and we had a great time having them here for the last two years.

 

They just found a really cute apartment closer to their jobs and they moved last week. We are so excited for them and a little sad for us. Zac has just one more semester until graduation! Hooray! They moved in on Monday and on Tuesday he took his final exams for his summer classes and turned in a final project. His determination and diligence never cease to amaze me. 

That room actually did have its season as a "honeymoon suite" when I thought about it because they were still newlyweds when they moved in! : )

And I've decided that it is NOT TOO SAD now, for me to move in there. Bring on all that space and my very own bathroom! Yes, please!!!! Can't wait!

So, I'm looking forward to switching rooms soon. -Lots of painting and decorating and room moving to follow. Andrew is thinking about switching rooms as well.

Joy has a new job as a barista in a boutique coffee shop, which she is enjoying. She's also been dog sitting  and house sitting all over town and we barely see her. I saw her at church the other day and I took her picture because Joy sightings are rare. LOL

Andrew is ready to start his second year of college and it wasn't without the usual financial aid paperwork nightmare that college life seems to include. But he is set now and school starts next week. 

Nathan is greatly enjoying his ministry position in CA and he can't be talked out of living there even though we often try. 

My schedule at work has changed and that has been fun. I love having Fridays off  now and I work on Saturday nights., so my brain has been confused all week over what day of the week it actually is, but I'll get used to it. 

Our BFFs in CA sent their son to school in our city and he just arrived and found a place to live nearby. We are excited to have him over for laundry-doing and some home-cooked meals. (when I can catch my kids long enough to atually cook)

Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

 A prayer from Colossians chapter 3


Lord,
Help me to remember that I died and my life is hidden with Christ in God now and that my focus is to be on things above and not on just the things that I can see. 
I have been made new and my mind is renewed. I am the image of Him who created me. I am holy and beloved. You say that I am the elect of God and that sounds awesome! As such, may what people see in me, be YOUR kindness, YOUR humility, YOUR meekness, 
YOUR patience, YOUR ability to forgive and to bear with one another whenever I have a complaint against someone. 
All of this is possible because You make us able to wear love which is the bond of perfection. Help me to wear love well today. And not to take it off in the middle of my day at the first sign of controversy or pain.
May Your peace rule in my heart. Help me not to let anything else rule my life today. So many other things would like to! May I keep in mind that as Yours, I've been called to peace.
May I also remember to be thankful. Thankfullness has the power to change everything. 
May I load up on Your Word daily like it is caffieine or vitamins! May I not let the Word in me dry up, but be ever consuming it so that it dwells in me richly and not barely! Your Word will keep me! 
May it give me the wisdom to live, admonish, and teach. And may I remember to speak it, sing it and meditate on it.
And whatever I do today, may I do it all in Your name and make You proud. 
Amen! 

~Becky

The terrible, horrible, very bad day or almost

On Thursday we got six inches of rain and the parking lot at work became a small river. I was parked right behind this new river and when I got off work, I was fully prepared to roll up my pant legs and run to my car and pull out, when I was informed that if I did, the water would go inside the tailpipe of my Prius and totally ruin my engine.
WHO KNEW?!
I had no idea I came so close to ruining my car!

Then one of my kiddos, who was house sitting near by,  picked me up and we watched Shark Week while waiting for the water to recede. We made dinner and I found out that the owners of the house store their frying pan in the oven! Isn't that odd? With a RUBBER spatula in it.  How weird is that? We took them out to use the oven, and then when we were cleaning up, I put them back in.
I THOUGHT we had shut off the oven by that time but I was sorely mistaken!
So, it wasn't long before we smelled something like....melting rubber!
Then I tried to scrape the rubber out before it cooled and a plastic bag on the counter stuck to the hot pan and hardened and then I burned my hand!
It was craziness.

And then I WHINED! Which I'm happy to say, really surprised my kid because I don't usually.
But by this time, I was just done. LOL
The good news is that by that time, the water had gone down and I could drive home!

Over the weekend, I heated that pan back up at my house and scrapped and scrubbed it and ended up damaging the finish in the process. So, then it was off to the store to buy a new one. UGH!
I was totally bemoaning this fact to myself when I found the pan and saw the price and that is when I felt like the Lord reminded me that I spent a lot of years teaching my kids about restitution and that this is just another opportunity to model how important it is even if they are grown now.

So, when this couple gets back from their cruise, they will have a shiny new red copper pan and rubber spatula waiting for them and maybe they will think twice about storing them in the oven? We can only hope. I've surely thought twice about where I park my car now!

~Becky

I guess sweating is required

So, I usually go on our  treadmill for an hour after work about 4 times a week. And I have been watching Downton Abbey while I exercise and having the best time, although not exactly sweating. L
But I switched shows last week and it has made all the difference. I've been watching old episodes of  Hawaii 5-0, and even sweating! Because it is amazing how fast you walk during car chases and shoot outs! LOL


~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

After I gave my life to Christ, at 16, the book of Philippians was my go-to whenever I needed cheering up as a teenager. 

I remember my friends knew that and would ask if it was a Philippians kind of day or not. LOL

Reading all four chapters in one sitting, always made me feel better for some reason. 

Here's some gems from Philippians 4:

"Let your gentleness be known to all men, the Lord is at hand."

"Be anxious for nothing, But in everything by prayer and supplication -with thanksgiving- let your requests be made known to God. (not everybody else!)

"And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus." 

Lord,

Thank you that I have the option to give You my requests while thanking You for for all You've done, and in exchange, I get a peace that doesn't make sense and one that will guard my mind from further anxiety. What a deal! 

Please forgive me for the times that I don't thank you and just rattle off all my anxious thoughts.

Forgive me for the times that I make my requests known to everyone else and don't leave them with You. And especially for the times when I don't take You up on this offer at all and am anxious about all kinds of things.

You are so good to us! 

~Becky

Thankful

When our kids were young, my hubby and I led a youth group for 6 years. Yesterday at the grocery store, I ran into one of the parents of two girls, who were in our group back then. And as we were catching up, she asked me where I work and I told her.
And her next question really threw me for a second, because when you tell someone that you work at a church, you don't expect them to ask

"Yeah, but are your co-workers back stabbers?"  

LOL

I'm pretty sure I looked a bit shocked and she went on to tell me how tons of people SAY they are Christians and that some of the worst people she's ever had to work with, said they were. 

So, I  had a split second to think about my co-workers and what I said was that they are
all real Christians and very kind!

Later, I wished I'd have been more eloquent with my answer or said something that might be helpful to her in her pain over the Christians she's run into.
But my simple answer really does sum up the people I work with.

From my desk, I get to see them really
live out the gospel in big and small ways, everyday.
What a blessing!

~Also, I've watched Leap Year too many times and I keep thinking of how Dublin has "back stabbing snakes."  And I'm glad I don't know any! ; )

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

It is actually Thursday, but that's okay, right?!

In case you find yourself doing hard things today:

"Watch, stand fast in the faith,be brave, be strong." 1 Cor 16:13

"Be strong and of good courage...for the Lord Your God, He is One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6

"Be strong and courageous and do the work."  1 Chron. 28:20

"Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain."  1 Cor. 15:58

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."  Eph. 6:10

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Josh. 1:9

"Wait for the Lord, be strong,and take heart and wait for the Lord." Ps. 27:114

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Ps. 31:24


Have a brave day! 

~Becky

What will not define me

I'm sure I've mentioned here before that after my husband died, I joined the widow's support group at  church. It is a great group and I met some of the kindest ladies on the planet there. They are all about twenty years older than I am and so I was the baby of the group, so to speak. They were so interested in my life and my children that I felt like the popular kid at school. LOL

They aren't a sad group, by any means. They love to party! They also study the Word and pray for each other. They are awesome.
But it has got to be the only small group where new membership is a sad thing!

Anyway, after attending for almost a year, I realized that I didn't belong there anymore. I thought I did because that was the label that fit. Then one of my sons reminded me that my whole life isn't defined by this one thing that happened. And he was right.

During the conference this past weekend,  I was volunteering at the merch table one evening where one of our guest speakers was standing a few feet away, signing copies of her book and praying for women.

As I sat there, I was thinking that I should buy a book and get in line and have this incredible woman pray for me because I'm a widow.
And I felt the Lord put this question on my heart: "What does that have to do with anything?!"

WOAH!
 It only does if I make it, right? It doesn't have to.

Then the message the next day, rocked my world when the speaker said:

"Don't wear your valley as a badge of honor." 

Wow! How often do we do that?!
How often do I do that?

What have we let define us that we shouldn't?
 Just because it is a part of our story, it doesn't mean that is WHO we are.

"I know you don't know this about me but I'm a ______  or I've been through ______." (insert your valley) As if we need special treatment or extra grace or more ministry.

So don't let ITmistakingly become your THING.

I don't plan to let widowhood be the thing that defines my life.

Actually, I'm desperately hoping the THING that defines my life is
 JESUS!


~Becky

When I learned not to trust expiration dates

So this has been a busy season and was one of the biggest weeks for us in church life. -Okay, maybe it is a toss up between this week and CHRISTMAS, but either way, it was a huge week, in which I'd worked 4 ten hour days. And then the very night before we  hosted a three day women's conference for almost 500 women, I got food poisoning and barely slept.
Ugh, it was not fun! Next time something smell funky, I won't eat it even if ISN'T expired. LOL Why have I not learned that lesson before now?!

By the time the conference started, I felt better. It turned out to be everything we'd hoped it would be. It was amazing, and healing and so inspiring. We had incredible speakers and the Lord spoke so many things that I needed to hear, through them.

Three days of receiving and serving has got to be my max though. I was emotionally spent by the end.
So, today after church, I spent some time going over my notes and processing what I'd learned and then I went to the beach!
The beach is where I EXHALE and relax and regroup. -I need to find a fun place to do that in the winter though, because it is only fun in the summer!
Anyway, I don't live on the Atlantic side of the Florida, so a beach day with WAVES is rare.
 I jumped and laughed and got pummelled and pounded and had the best time!

Maybe because I've been introspective for 4 days straight now,  but the whole scenario reminded me of life.We face something huge and it may crash on top of us and cause us to loose our balance,
but we get back up and face what's next. And maybe we relax and float through the next five waves enjoying ourselves, until wave number six breaks right on top of us and we go under for a second. But then we pop back up to face what is next,
As I was thinking that and totally wishing I owned a Boogie board, LOL
 I was reminded that the One that has seen me through every wave of every storm, once actually WALKED on water. ❤ And He's promised never to leave us or forsake us. 

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I found out recently that I have memorized a verse incorrectly.

On many occasions and especially in difficult times, I have quoted a verse in Job which reminds me that no matter what the circumstances are, I'm going to serve God anyway. Despite whether I understand Him or what's going on, I'm still all in.

"Though He slay me yet will I serve Him."

But here is the kicker! When I looked it up recently, I realized that it doesn't say "serve."
It says TRUST!

Ouch!

Trusting and serving are not the same.
Serving someone is WAY easier than trusting them.

But if anyone is completely TRUSTWORTHY it is Him. ❤ Sometimes we just need to concentrate on that!

Ps. 92:15 says
"He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him." He is completely good!

And speaking of Job, he got a happy ending.


"...You have heard of the patience of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." James 5:11

  "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."


He deserves our trust!

~Becky

The MIA blogger

So, it has been a busy couple weeks. After we visited our family and my bestie in CA, she and her family flew out here to spend a week looking for a job and housing for their son, who is going to school here. I realized then that we have been friends for 30 years now. We met in college. (when we were 5) JK! Now her youngest, who is the youngest of all of our combined kids, is going to college! Wow, time flies! We can't wait to have him live near us and spend whatever holidays he isn't flying home, here.

It was a fun and busy time! But we fit in our traditional meal at Cracker Barrel because she doesn't live near one, and a visit to the beach, which is our happy place. Florida beaches have converted her to the fact that they are FAR better than CA beaches. : )

They haven't nailed down a place for him to live yet, but he did leave here with a job lined up and waiting for him at a very cool coffee shop near his campus, thanks to a friend of ours, who manages it. Yay!

The fourth is right around the corner. Yay!
And Tiffany's parents are hosting a BBQ that day, along with a funny patriotic t-shirt contest! This will be judged by votes received on social media. ugh!
I have had trouble finding a FUNNY patriotic t-shirt that does not have something to do with beer for some reason! So, I bought an American flag romper to wear! And here is what I found out about rompers. They may be oh, so comfy, but they are not a bit flattering,
  especially if you look like a big flag. 
I had my colors done once and I should never wear purple because it makes me look like death warmed over. And now, I know, I should never dress as a gigantic American flag ever, for any reason. : )  I showed the outfit to one of my boys who said "You know you won't win in that, right?" LOL
So, I'm taking it back and I googled 'funny patriotic t-shirts' and kept looking! Thanks to the fact that one of my kids has Prime, I will have on a shirt I think is funny. Not that I'm trying to win or anything! But I will take pics and let you know who did.

~Becky

Wednesday in the Word

When we are lacking in joy,
 the Bible makes it clear that we find it in His presence and not in our circumstances. 💚

"You will make me full of joy in Your presence." Acts 2:28

"In Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Ps. 16:11

"Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence." Ps. 21:6

"Strength and joy are in His dwelling place."  1 Chron. 16:27

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Neh. 8:10

So true!

~Becky

All the fun in San Diego

These sleepy kids and I got up at 4:00 AM and flew to San Diego and had the BEST time with my family!

There was Wii bowling and rolled tacos and a trip down memory lane to the neighborhood I grew up in.

And a visit to La Jolla which is one of our favorite places! We love to see the sea lions!

And since Hubby and I took wedding pictures near this spot I always get a tiny bit emotional.

Then Joy got all excited about riding the trolley in La Mesa . She's the cutest! So we did that next.

We rode it to San Diego State where Hubby and I went to school. 

And then my sister and I took our parents out to dinner to celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day. 

It was so great to be together! 

Thank you to my parents, who love and spoil us and always give us such a wonderful time. 

❤❤❤Love you guys!❤❤❤

Family fun!

We've been in California visiting our friends and relatives this week making memories 💗
and enjoying some summer fun! ☀️🌴

Be home soon!

~Becky

The repentent thief?

So, my dear son in California, who is in youth ministry out there, recently got ALL,
as in every bit,
of his clothing stolen from his condo's laundry mat! Poor guy!

-I remember being a college kid and wearing every stitch of clothing I had before doing a TON of laundry all in one day at the campus laundry mat. LOL
He literally had to run out and buy something to wear to church the next day, especially since he was speaking! He was so mad about this. Bless his heart!

Well, apparently since then, he put up a sarcastic sign in the laundry mat (those of you who know him can totally picture him doing this -LOL)
CONGRATULATING someone on stealing all of his clothes and asking that if anything didn't fit, that they return it!

Well, guess what? He got a bag at his door with some of his crumpled up shirts in it!

Soooo funny!
Or maybe what is even funnier is that he DIDN'T get back the socks and underwear! LOL


~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

There are some verses in Daniel 6 that hit me hard last week and became apart of my daily prayers.

"Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him..." (v.3)

"...they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him."  (v.5) 

I've been praying for an excellent spirit and that there be no fault found in my character.

And most of all, that my life would be a testimony just as Daniel's was.
I truly love how Daniel's life and character impacted King Darius.
 The morning after having him thrown in the lions' den, he "made haste" to the den, and yelled "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

What a great testimony! Daniel's life was so consistent that the king referred to Him as the God that Daniel "served continually."
Because of Daniel's walk with God, the king knew that He wasn't just an idol, but the "living God" and he was absolutely eaten up with curiosity to see if his God actually had the power to save.
I think the world still wonders the same thing.
No matter WHAT we are thrown INTO, may our lives demonstrate that "He delivers and rescues." (v.27)

~Becky

I heart Millennials

I happen to be blessed to have a bunch of young adults in my life, besides my own. On any given night, there are some hanging out at my house, usually making music. I also have a bunch of young adult co-workers that make life fun.

~They passionate and authentic people!

~They know how to 'work smarter not harder.' -One of my kids spent less than an hour with me at work one day and showed me three ways to do my job more efficiently! How great is that?!

~They know where all the cute coffee shops are! Yes, and amen!

~They are ever so techie! I'm pretty sure there isn't anything they can't figure out!

~They can tell you all the healthy places to eat.

~They are sooooo creative and talented.

~They all play an instrument or they can sing down heaven! Or both!

What an awesome generation! I can't wait to see what God does in their lives!

~Becky

Wednesday in the Word

Some encouragement from Galatians today:


"I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

"If you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."

"You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

"...through love serve one another." 

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." 

"Let us not grown weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart."

"Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Have a great day! 

~Becky

The celebrating

It was a lovely Mother's Day. 

There were letters, flowers and gifts. 💙 And dinner and dessert out and then we laughed until we cried while playing a game at our house. It was perfect!

~ I couldn't help but think of how proud my hubby would be at the way our kids spoiled me! He would've every bit of it!

(I wish the calendar would skip over Father's Day for their sakes! Bless their hearts, it's a hard one!)

~Becky

I get to

These verses from Psalm 84 have a special place in my heart.

"Blessed are those who dwell in Your house."

"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand,

I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

I was homeschooling our youngest son, who was in high school, when my husband died of cancer. And when I was still hurting and raw, several months later, a dear friend asked me if I wanted to fill in as the receptionist at our church for a month. I did! And one month has turned into almost two years! I don't completely 'dwell in His house' but it feels like it sometimes since I work and worship here! LOL And I definitely fit the role of a "door keeper" since I lock/unlock the doors every day! 

So, while I was new to working a full time job outside my home (believe me, raising and educating four kids was certainly a full time job -LOL) and new to being a widow/single parent and still grieving, God placed me at this job for a season of time when SO many hurting people were calling and walking in the church doors all the time. And there I was!

 I found out that it is hard to stay a shy introvert when God has other plans. : )

I realized that the cancer battle I had helped fight, had given me a new capacity for compassion that I had never had before. And in talking to people from all walks of life, I realized that so many were hurting way worse than I was! And comforting them comforted me. ❤
 How very Biblical!

I found out that the remarks from the really grumpy ones didn't bother me. The battle had given me some thick skin. So what people said in THEIR pain, didn't hurt my feelings like I thought it would.

Due to grief, it really felt like my brain didn't function as fast as everyone else around me in the beginning and sometimes that was hard. But I reminded myself that it was just that -grief!
And not my lack of brains ; ) and that helped get me through it.

There were times when something would trigger a wave of grief and I'd be a crying mess for no apparent reason, which was embarrassing. But no one minded. My sweet co-workers would pray with me or offer to take my place for awhile so I could regroup. -I probably spent the good part of that first year teary eyed just over the prayer requests we were praying over.

I found out that sometimes my story can come in handy. I've had distraught women say "You don't understand what it is like to be a widow" or "You don't know what it is like to have God take someone you love." Actually, I do.

I've learned that being in "His courts" can be heavy, busy, stressful, hilarious and fun all in the same day. And this is the place He chose to heal me.

Thankful,

~Becky

This song!

This song blesses my soul to no end. I play it all the time! It reminds me of the immense priviledge we have to share the Lord with others, "to call them home."

 And to "celebrate their coming home before they even start to move" about moves me to tears. It inspires me to keep believing and to never stop praying for those I know He's calling to Himself.

Give it a listen if you haven't heard it and be blessed!



~Becky

19

There was a short period of time when our four kids were teenagers all at ONCE! Now, Andrew, our youngest, has entered the last year of his teens and it is like the end of an era for me.

On the morning of his birthday he had to work, but 11 of his friends got up at the crack of dawn to take him to a diner for breakfast! So sweet!
Some of them also wanted to throw him an Olympic themed birthday party this weekend so we all helped out to make that happen. No one loves the Olympics more than he does! So, it was a great theme for a party for him.
-Even though according to Pinterest Olympic parties are mainly for four year olds. LOL

When he walked in we had the Olympic theme song playing, which was hilarious. Then everyone split up into different countries to compete in games.
Italy was the gold medal winner of the evening!

Not everyone realized that these were Olympic torches LOL 

The best game was the cheese puff throwing game. I'm sure it had a better name, I just can't remember it. I definitely enjoyed my role as the one who sprayed shower-cap-wearing kids' heads with shaving cream! Then their team mates had a certain amount of time to throw as many cheese puffs at their head as they could and they stuck. 

Hilarious!

A good time was had by all and Andrew definitely felt all the love!

Happy 19th!

~Becky 

All the allergies

So, Andrew had a birthday last weekend. And it was during a very busy weekend in which we were all serving at church for a men's conference. Bless his heart, he was exhausted when he finally got home for his birthday dinner.

This was our first celebration knowing about all the new food allergies in this family, so finding a meal to prepare that would work for all and feel celebratory was a challenge.
We have figured out that one of them is suddenly allergic to dairy (how does that happen?) and another one is allergic to, wait for it....
 dairy, wheat, seafood, nuts, soy and eggs.
So, like EVERYTHING! ; ) JK

 There were two brownie options, instead of a birthday cake. Regular brownies, and then some soy free, dairy free, gluten free brownies. And those were actually pretty good! We just had trouble getting them out of the pan LOL and for some reason they took 2 hours to cook! I'm totally planning to perfect that recipe in the near future.
And for ice cream, we had  three options! Regular ice cream, dairy free ice cream, and a sorbet that was only made of fruit and water! LOL Something for all!

So, yay us! We are learning and still celebrating over food!

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

Love this verse and pray it often:

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Ps. 19:14 ♡

And then I found this verse one morning this week, which was really convicting later that day when I got cut off on the freeway and started THINKING how dumb some drivers are. LOL
"May my mediation be sweet to Him." Ps. 104:34  Ouch!
~Sometimes I think it is only what comes out of my mouth that matters.

Here's to working on our thought lives too! In and out of traffic! ; )

~Becky

Friends for life

I've been thinking recently, what a blessing it is to parent children who eventually grow up to become some of our own best friends. How awesome is that?! We get to raise our future friends!
-It takes a long time, though! LOL
Hang on, you parents of middle schoolers! They will think you are awesome again by the time they are about 20!

Can I brag about my 'friends' for a minute? They are hilarious, so kind, brave and determined. They are deep thinkers, who challenge me spiritually and inspire me. And they are a whole lot of fun!

A thankful mom,
~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

Boldness is apparently a by product of being in the Lord's presence. ♡

In Acts 4 we read that when the people "saw the boldness of Peter and John...they realized that they had been with Jesus." I love that!

The prayer of the believers who were gathered with Peter and John when they had been released from prison was "Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word."

The answer to that prayer happened when "the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

Boldness in these passages means "a cheerful courage." I really love that!
It isn't a pompous or loud thing.

I'm so glad that His "cheerful courage" is available when we ask!

- I asked for it a lot this week when I had the chance to do some public speaking. Even in a casual setting, it freaks me out!  I was walking around beforehand quoting to myself that "The righteous are bold as a lion." (Prov. 28:1) And that "God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and a sound mind."  (2 Tim.1:7)  LOL
And, hey, I didn't pass out! ; )

"When I called, You answered me, You made me bold with strength in my soul."  Ps. 138:3


~Becky

All the happy happenings

I was blessed to do lunch with these cuties a few weeks ago. Love them!

Last week my Bible study "tribe" got together because one special friend is going to give birth any minute now and we wanted to enjoy one last Girl's Night Out with her before the big day! 

Speaking of these ladies, the Bible study we are doing now, isn't actually in person! Since everyone is so busy, we are doing a study of the book of Ruth together on the Bible App on our phones! 

How techie is that?!

 We read a daily devotion and then post our thoughts on it for only our group to see. It is pretty neat. It has been a great way to stay in the Word together and stay connected.

Friday night I did some painting! This is how the bar to our kitchen used to look: 

And here it is after I white washed it:

Yay! I love it! It brightens up the room and makes me feel all accomplished! LOL

Last night this FUN bunch of ladies got together for a game night. And we literally laughed for HOURS and HOURS! 

That has to be good for a person! LOL Love them!

My baby is turning 19 on Saturday! How can that be? 

His sweet friends and fam have big plans are in the works to celebrate this special guy!

-And it only took a whole year, but I'm happy to say that his cute senior picture is finally up on the living room wall with his 3 siblings! LOL

That's it for now. 

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I'm sure that all of us have had times in our lives when things have not turned out the way that we prayed they would or thought they should. Maybe there is a chapter or two in the story of your life that you feel you could have written better than the Author of Life.
Sometimes we have unmet expectations of God. All these these things can cause us to have moments of doubt and disillusionment.

In Luke 24:13-33 we have what I feel is a comforting account of two of the disciples who felt a bit like this as things had not turned out like they thought they should.
These men had followed Jesus and they had seen his miracles and heard His teaching. They witnessed the crucifixion and His burial and were in the upper room on the third day. They'd even heard the women describe their trip to the tomb and how they found it empty and were spoken to by two angels. So, whatever they thought the resurrection was suppose to look like, this didn't measure up! They were disappointed and they decided to hit the road! Literally! LOL
They left Jerusalem and starting walking the seven miles to Emmaus.

While they were walking, Jesus appeared to them but they didn't realize who He was at the time.

I love that verse 15 says that He "drew near and walked beside them."
This is something that I have come to realize about the Lord. Though, He may not come miraculously change the outcome of a situation,
He always draws near to walk it with us.
 It is who He is. Emmanuel, God with us!

And as they walked along He asked why they were so sad. They were surprised that He didn't know what had been going on in Jerusalem and He asked them about it. They told Him about Himself ; )
 and how they "had hoped that He would redeem Israel." 

They obviously had a different picture in their heads as to what redemption looked like. And then Jesus gave them the greatest Bible study ever! He revealed from Old Testament prophecies everything that was spoken about Himself years and years beforehand!
Basically, He appeared to them and showed them how every single thing that happened, was suppose to happen just the way it did!!!
Wouldn't it be great if He did that for each of us during our difficult situations?

He does still point us to the Word and reveal Himself to us there. 

When they arrived at their destination, they talked Him into staying to eat and we know that He was suddenly revealed to them through communion and the breaking of bread. I love that too.

Sometimes that is what it takes! When we commune with Him, He makes Himself  known,
to us and we find out that He was actually beside us all along. ❤


~Becky

Facing our fears

My family has recently had to walk down a road very similar to the one that changed our lives in 2014. Back then my late hubby was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and for the last several months, one of my kids has had some of the very same symptoms he had. Talk about scary!

This has led to lots of doctor's appointments and the need to tell their dad's story.
The painful part of that journey for us back then and now, is hearing doctors (again) say that my husband was too young for esophageal cancer. (we know!)
And their next questions were always to ask him if he drank or smoked, which would have explained everything -except that he didn't.
(ouch, that always made it feel like we got dealt a really crummy fluke)

During this time  I kept thinking 'Am I really reliving my worst nightmare?!'
Having been here before, I thought I was giving all of this to the Lord, and then I found out I wasn't. The stress caused a muscle spasm near the wall of my chest that pinched a nerve, and oh my stars, that is the closest I ever want to come to finding out what a heart attack might feel like! I had to have an EKG done just to confirm that it was only a pesky pinched nerve and the doctor came back and told me that I have "a beautiful heart." LOL ❤ Yay!

A few days later, a fellow mom and friend prayed for me to surrender my son to God the way that Abraham did with Isaac. Having been a mom now for the last 25 years, this was one of many Mt. Moriah prayer times, so to speak. It is always sobering to remember that our kids belong to the One who loves them so much more than even we do.

A biopsy this week confirmed that this dear one doesn't have cancer, Praise God, and that what they do have is something that isn't life threatening.  Monday they had a procedure done which fixed the immediate problem.
For whatever reason, our family had to look some really ugly fears from the past, full in the face and throw ourselves once again on the One whose been faithful to us in life... and in death.


~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

I keep thinking about Gen.15:1

God told Abraham:

"I am your shield and your very great reward."

Isn't that beautiful?
He protects us and gives us Himself as a reward.
It reminds me of the verse that says God couldn't swear by anything greater, so He swore by Himself. And there isn't anything greater that He can give us, than Himself!
He is Emmanuel, God with us!
I've found that to be true in the most difficult of times, when things have not turned out as I prayed for or ever imagined. He may not have made the outcome different, but His presence made all the difference!
He is our 'very great reward.'

~Becky

On repeat in my heart

This song!

It is about Lazarus but also about all of us!

I have it playing on repeat at my desk for literally hours!

-If anyone has noticed that they hear the exact same song EVERY single time they walk by, they haven't mentioned it. LOL

It blesses my soul every time I hear it!


~Becky

Chin up, Love!

As I mentioned the other day,
Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and Beautiful,  has been such a blessing to me!

❤❤❤

Maybe these excerpts will bless you as well! 

"My anguish and sorrow sent me to the Healer, who would mend all those broken places and put me back together more beautifully than I had imagined. All those cracks and holes and ruptures would be the places in my life that His glory would shine through." 

"It is a brave thing to hope, to continue in hope, knowing that God might say yes but that He could say no, and choosing to praise Him anyway!"

"The God of all mercy and compassion is using our heartache to draw us to Himself and transform us into His likeness. He will turn our sorrows into joy and use our suffering to display gifts of grace. He will turn our darkness into light and He will carry us home. Chin up, Love!" 

"There is always a ram in the thicket because there is always the Lamb on the throne."

  -Katie Davis Majors

❤❤❤

~Becky

Post Easter weekend

This weekend was absolutely beautiful! 

We had a Good Friday service, a Saturday night Easter service and two completely full Sunday morning services. So full, in fact, that the "overflow room" had overflow, as in every single lobby with a chair! It was just amazing! 

I decided Easter dinner would be a pasta bar because it sounded easy on such a busy weekend and everyone brought something to contribute. It was a really fun night even though we were all tired from serving in different areas of ministry. (a happy kind of tired!) 

I made a homemade red sauce and an alfredo sauce with two kinds of noodles for people to choose from and we had meatballs and grilled chicken for meat choices and then all kinds of veggies as topping options. 

Then we played a new game that Zac's mom-in-law brought over, called Left Center Right, which was fun and thankfully didn't take a whole lot of brain power beyond rolling the dice and knowing your left from your right. LOL 

The church staff was given Monday off, 

(how sweet was that?!) so I headed to the beach  

to soak in the sun and finish reading Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful. I highly recommend it!  (for those of you who read Kisses From Katie, this is the sequel)  

I'll post some excerpts from the book tomorrow, hopefully.

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors. 

~Becky