Creative Genius

  I love getting to know newborn babies.  They are all so miraculously different.  Facial expressions; curious movements; eye contact, and on what; do they like being naked or not; how do they respond to familiar voices, and on and on.
  The baby boys are an interesting chapter in my life.  From my youth on I've loved babies.  I was third in my family, oldest girl with nine younger siblings.  Once when my mom told me she was going to have another baby, I burst into tears.  Alarmed, she asked what was wrong?  I responded "I'm so happy!"  And I really was.  Another little one to cuddle, get to know, and help care for.
Such a gift!
  Babies are still a joy to me.  They are all so different, I think God just can't control Himself.  He is so creative and generous in all He does.  The twins are double the fun for us, double the curiosity, and double the praise to God.


Psalm 127:3-5a  Behold
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them

Timber

  Jim and our grandson Timothy (7 yrs.) took down a rather large old apple tree in our back yard. There was a lot of digging and sawing to get some of the big roots cut.  When the time came to pull it down, Timothy shimmied up the tree and tied on the rope.  After that it was a joint effort to topple it.  When it finally cracked and came down the cheer was worth all the work

  The "men" hauled branches and stacked them on the old van.  We all piled in to go along to the compost site.  There was a great Minnesota storm brewing and as Jim left the van to pull the limbs from the top, It let loose with a deluge.  Oh! How delighted everybody was to see him get drenched!  But the fun wasn't over.  He needed to get some pails of black dirt to fill the hole.  He got in the car dripping wet (much to our delight) and drove to the pile of compost he needed.

  When he got out of the van to fill up the pails, God let the clouds loose with a mighty rush of water!
He got back in just soaked to the skin.  When he got back into the vehicle, the rain let up to a gentle drizzle. I do believe he enjoyed entertaining us.
Water.  Such a blessing from God in more ways than one.

Psalm 65:9a  You visit the earth
And water it
You greatly enrich it
The River of God is full of water

Surprising Developments

  After our first three children were born, ( three in three years and two months,) you can imagine how busy life was.  We were certain we did not want any more children.
  God thought differently however.  He, in His still small voice, spoke to me again and again about having another child.  Day in and day out I heard that whisper until finally my resistant heart was softened and I actually wanted another child.  My husband also finally succumbed and we had a little boy.
  As I gave birth and the doctor placed the little guy on my tummy, God whispered, "Meet Dominick Israel.  Here is Dominick Israel.  Meet your son Dominick Israel."
  God knows the plans He has for us.  They sure do take surprising turns and twists along the way, but they are always for His glory and for His purposes.  Dominick's life has played a huge part in our journey.  And there is surly more to come.


Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans
I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you
and not harm you
plans to give you hope
and a future." NIV

News Flash! Dominick Turns 36!

  Our Dominick turned 36 years old today, 7/30.  This guy is so amazing, he is extremely brilliant.  He just can't talk his brilliance.  He shows it to us in other ways.
  His eyes tell their own story.  They are so expressive.  You can understand what he has to say if you take the time to look.
  How seldom we look into each others eyes.  Social media has stolen something sacred from us.  Instead of eyes we look at screens.  I am not condemning social media.  There are many good uses for it.  I just wished we could balance our lives more easily; maybe really look and listen.
  There are people in Dominick's life that really matter.  They really see. They take the time to look intently and "see" what he wants to say.  These folks come and go in his life, but each one makes an impact on his it...and on ours too.
  We love them and praise God for them.


Psalm 139;16a Your eyes saw my substance,
Being yet unformed.