Where Do I Go For Strength?

There's no storm strong enough to tear you away from your source of strength.
No pain can hide the Savior from you.
No disappointment can derail your journey to the Father.
It's a matter of will~ that continual leap of faith you make when your spirit is bruised.
By Max Lucado

I love this quote. It reminds me that nothing can take me away from my Heavenly Father. That tough times can and should make you stronger.

I would like to congratulate my son who knew what he wanted, persevered and made it happen. He will humbly tell you he achieved this goal because he knew God was always with him.
PFC. Bayer finished his Specialty training today!
Ooh Ra! Well done Marine.

I get by with a little help from my friends

I need my Blogger friends to spread the word about ~The Hug Away Foundation~
If you are not aware of our foundation and what we do, let me explain. We are a non-profit that offers grants to families who have been called to adopt. We believe that finances should not be a reason for a child not to come home to their forever family. Another goal, hopefully by the summer is to start humanitarian aid to children who can not be adopted. It goes without saying that this will take some money and lots of it. So that is why I need a little help from my friends. We need to spread the word. I believe there are a lot of wonderful and generous people out there who would love to help and would if they knew about us. So please help us get the word out. Who knows, maybe some of you maybe thinking you would love to help but how? Have a fundraiser! Get your kids and community involved. You will be a blessing and you will be blessed! (my husbands favorite saying)
We are working on our website and blog so that should be up soon. In the meantime you can contact us at: www.hugawayfoundation@cox.net for more information.
We CAN make a difference!

I can see the light!

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I think so! The last six months which have been emotionally, spiritually and financially draining. But I have a feeling things are going to start looking up. I have no clue when or how, but it is just a feeling. I am ready! Hug Away is starting to build some momentum. Hopefully our website will be up soon. I thing that will be www.hugaway.org
I have to share a funny thing Kennedy said to me yesterday. I was at the store and Jordan called me and said Kennedy was having a fit, which is very unusual. She said she was screaming and crying, kicking and hitting, that is way out of character. So I left the store to go home and take care of the situation. I called Kennedy downstairs and asked her if she did all the above. She shook her head no. I said “Kennedy?” and with a very serious face she said “yes mommy, but I smiled!” Good grief. How am I suppose to keep a straight face and deal with the situation? I made her apologize to Jordan, that was about all I could get out.

Michael

This is our oldest son Michael with his son Jaylon.

It is kind of surreal to look at this picture because even though it has been 30 years since Michael was born, I look at this picture and think "where did the time go?" Our son with his son.

I love each of my children the same, but each of them hold a special place in my heart.

Michael's bio dad left when he was a little over a year old. Never had a thing to do with us after that. So it was me and Michael for almost 10 years before I met Mike, my husband. Michael and I grew up together. At the time there was a song out by Helen Reddy called "You and me against the world." It was about a mom and her son trying to make it. That was our song, because it often felt like the world was against us. I often worked 2 jobs, we were on welfare and food stamps at one point and had no car. But the one thing that was sure in our lives was we had each other. I wasn't a Christian back then and I believe I could have been a much better mom as far a quality time verses quantity, but lessons were learned. Michael lost two very important people in his life by the time he was 12, my dad and mom. Funny they were not the best parents to me and my sisters, but they were awesome grandparents! Again, lessons learned. They adored Michael, he was the first grandchild and the first boy in the family. My dad died when Michael was 7. I will never forget at his funeral when they handed him the flag from my dads coffin. He looked so lost. His eyes are big & beautiful a bluish green and all I saw in them that day were big tears and a sadness in his soul that know one could comfort. His papa Jack was gone. Four years later my mom died. I often thought Michael loved her more than me at times, with good reason. Had it not been for her, Michael would have spent a lot of time at a day care. She adored him and he adored her. Her death was painful for Michael. His nanny was gone. Again those eyes. The sadness in them. He was never the same after that. He lost something that he would never get back. Right after my dad died I met and married my husband Mike. After my mom died I became a Christian. Mike adopted Michael. Michael grew up and now he is a dad. He doesn't see his son a whole lot but when he does you can tell they adore each other. They have so much fun. Two guys just having fun! My grandson has these huge brown eyes. Like his dad when you look at his eyes you can see into his soul.

Like I said before I love each of my children the same but there is a special place in my heart for each of them. I have often told Michael that he saved my life. If God had not blessed me with Michael when He did I can honestly say I am not sure I would be alive today. Michael helped me grow up. Michael was my anchor in a stormy sea. Michael was my angel.

Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

If you want me to

The pathway is broken And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if You want me to
Cause I'm not who I was When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself And I can't hear You
answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness If You want me to
Cuz when I cross over Jordan Gonna sing, gonna shout
,Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley If You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valleyIf You want me to

Let me rephrase!

I am not possesed by demons! I should have said Satan is attacking me. I should have also said he does that whenever he knows you are living the life God planned for you and when you step out in faith and when you are close to seeing a dream God put in your heart come true. This is when satan has the most fun messing with you.
I will persevere, I always do. After all I have God on my side!
Thank you for your concerns, they are appreciated. Want a great picker upper? Go to:
http://www.k6comehome.blogspot.com/

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace...that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romasn 15:13

Letting Go

It isn't easy, but sometimes in order to have peace you have to let go. My husband and I have three wonderful grown sons. It isn't easy to let go of children, because in your heart they are just that...children, not grown men. You want to be there for them when they need you but not be an enabler. I have a great relationship with my sons. We talk about anything and everything. I have had them come into my room late at night and we talk until the next morning or they will call and we will just talk and talk. They still do that and I cherish those times. Those are some of my most precious memories.
I think one of the most important gifts you can give your child or anyone for that matter besides teaching them about God and His word is to know that they are valued and that they are loved, unconditionally. I am not saying you agree or condone everything they say or do. Trust me my sons have put us through the ringer at times, but they know without a doubt no matter what, our love is unconditional. In other words you treat them exactly like God treats us.
Tonight my thoughts are with PFC. Bayer, Dustin, our youngest son. On March 18th he will be stationed in 29 Desert Palms, before he is deployed at some point. I have been asked how can you let him go? The answer is my son knew without a doubt that God had called him to serve his country. He loves what he is doing and that makes letting go easier. God spoke to my heart and He promised me that He would take care of him. That is how I let go of my three sons. I gave them back to God. They are His sons. And when it is time to let my daughters go I will do the same thing. God gives them to you, you do your very best raising them, loving them and then when you have to let go, you give them back to God.
Tonight I have to let go of some demons that have been eating at my soul. Yes, I have demons. Sometimes we are so busy praying for others and taking care of their needs we forget to ask God for a little help for ourselves. These demons have wrecked havoc on me not only spiritually but emotionally. Now it is time to let God take over. I am letting go.