Serving the Lord

Last Monday, child #2 texted me from mission camp. I had asked what he had done on his site that day. "We're chopping down bamboo, Mama." Well, ok, that shouldn't take too long I thought. On Tuesday, I asked the same question. He responded the same way! Another day of chopping down bamboo! Mercy! I thought to myself...how much bamboo do these people have? On Wednesday, I got the same response! By Thursday, I had stopped asking!

Then, clarification arrived via another mom whose child was on the same site. They were clearing out the field of bamboo to get to the door that leads under the house. After many years of growth, the bamboo had surrounded a side of the house. No one could get under it at all.

Once the door could be opened, the kids climbed under and helped to tear out a bathroom floor that had rotted. Then, they helped replace the old floor with a new one.

But, it all started with the removal of the bamboo forest! I think of the old statement that "you can't see the forest for the trees!" When I saw this picture that hubby took ( I was on college visit #2 with child #1 who left the camp at midnight the night before!!), I was amazed at all of the trees. I had no idea how many child #2 was talking about!

Once we remove strongholds in our lives, God can show us His perfect plan. He will lead us step by step down His path if only we will let Him. We tend to want to do it all ourselves. Letting go and letting God is what I need to practice each day!

These are some of the kids ( their site leader behind child #2) that worked on the bamboo site. Each group had to leave a cross for their family using materials on hand at the site. I loved this! All bamboo! The crosses reminded the families of God's great love and sacrifice for them. The kids sacrificed a week of their summer vacation and endured temps in the upper 90's. But the kids received more than their families that they served. They saw God at work using their hands and feet to plant seeds of love and hope for those less fortunate.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.--Galatians 6:9

Sweet Blessings,

Sweet Shot Tuesday

Jesus said,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." --Matthew 19:14

This is a little brother. There were lots of little brothers running around a high school on Saturday. Little brothers were telling big brothers and friends good-bye for a week. Big brothers and friends are spending a week of their summer doing mission work for those a little less fortunate not too far from where we live.


This little brother just melts my heart! I remember when he was born. He and his family are good friends of ours, and we attend church together. His dad and my hubby coach basketball together. His mom and I have planned parties and activities for the kids over the years together. Now her oldest and my youngest will begin high school in just a few months....where has the time gone?


As hubby and I dropped off our boys for mission camp, we prayed that our boys will stay close to the Lord so He can help them share their gifts and talents to accomplish His purpose (Praying the Scriptures for your Child--Fern Nichols). This makes year 4 for child #1 at this camp. His faith has grown each time. I love watching Christ work through him. And, this is year 1 for my little one! Praying that he drinks a ton of water and gatorade and just stays hydrated so God can do a good work through him too!!

Join me over at Sweet Shot Tuesday for more great picutres!


Sweet Blessings,

His Perfect Peace

pawleys island, sc at sunset

This time last Friday, we were enjoying a few more sights and sounds of the beach. It's hard to believe that a week has flown by. The peace that God blesses me with can be found in this photo.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

I pray that you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Father's Day with your loved ones. This will be the first Father's Day without my daddy, and I appreciate your sweet thoughts and prayers. Ginger, you are in my heart as well.

Sweet Blessings,

Summer Reading List

Remember when your last report card of the year contained the reading list for the upcoming school year? (Actually, I am way too old because they didn't have summer reading lists in the dark ages!) For you young ones, hopefully you will remember the excitement that accompanied the list! That is the reader and teacher in me!

I am taking a poll today. Since we just got back from our vacation, I now have some down time to read! (Sounds kind of backwards doesn't it?) I LOVE reading! I was able to read "Same Kind of Different as Me" and "Texas Roads" on the beach! Both are by Christian authors. One was fiction and the other, nonfiction. The author of "Same Kind of Different," Ron Hall, spoke recently here in town at a fund raising dinner for the homeless. Amazing testimony!

I am also reading Elaine Olsen's book, "Peace for the Journey... in the Pleasure of His Company." Love this one! Each devotional contains rich scripture and questions to ponder and pray. It's one that I will make last a while!!

So...my poll! What books are you reading this summer for pleasure? I'm not talking about your Bible study books. Those are wonderful, and I really would like to know what you are studying (I am still reading through the Bible with Wendy Pope and have just started Ephesians with Wendy Blight.)

But, for the purpose of this post, just tell us what book/s you plan on reading this summer or share one of your lastest treasures. I can't wait to hear what your plans are!

(BTW, I didn't participate in Sweet Shot Tuesday today. I was actually out of town on a photo shoot in 100 degree weather!! Mercy! But it was a ton of fun! Will share pictures with you all soon of 6 children ages 3 and under!)

Sweet Blessings!

Sweet Shot Tuesday!

This is the first time Mama has been down to the beach in years! The town built a wonderful ramp that is handicapped accessible! We were so excited! No stairs to climb at all. It was a slow walk, but she was thrilled to be back on the beach with her grands!


Do any of you have summer vacation plans this year? Or, are you planning on staying close to home? I would love to hear what you've got in mind to celebrate the summer!


Join us over at my3boybarians for more Sweet Shot Tuesdays! I'd love to see your great pictures!

Sweet Blessings!

Sweet Shot Tuesday

Miss G. and I had wonderful time at her photo shoot a few weeks agon. She had just lost her first tooth, so that was a major topic of conversation! Join me over at Life with My 3 Boybarians for more sweet shots today!

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Ours was soggy, but very nice and relaxing. I think I needed that! What did y'all do?



Sweet Blessings!