We are calling upon Our Mighty God, Jehovah-Nissi: "The LORD my banner."


We have one big praise, all Nicolae's blood tests came back negative. The doctors have decided there is nothing wrong with him. Praise God!

However, we know our family is in a battle right now, and we are calling upon Our Mighty God, Jehovah-Nissi: "The LORD my banner." to fight the battle. God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people. We cling to the words in 2 Chronicles 20 : 15b: Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s."

John's heart converted on Monday, August 12, for those of you who missed that email. He is feeling better now. Please keep him in prayer also as he is understandably under a lot of stress right now. Chemo has started for Molly, and we covet your prayers for her as she travels this road.
We are turning this cancer over to Our God, Jehovah-Nissi. We are claiming victory in Him.

Please join us in Our Valley of Berachah and Praise His Holy Name!
Our battle is not this great multitud; the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites but Molly's cancer, and we are standing together trusting our God to fight this battle for us.
Please join us.
Please read these scriptures:

2 Chronicles 20 (New King James Version)


2 Chronicles 20
Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir Defeated
1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever.”

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around."

In Jesus Care,
Marylou

They Said His Name Was Reggie..............
.....Author Unknown. Please let me know if you know the author.
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous
calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn' t going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice.".........
______________________________________

To:
Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you'r e reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in
there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him
dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info. with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it20means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank.

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they
received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq , that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is w hat I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored
him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you, Paul Mallory
__________________________________

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball? His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

.....Author Unknown. Please let me know if you know the author.

2 Chron. 7:14 in God's word he states,

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and heal their Land."

a quote from Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a
nation gone under." I truly believe this is why the United States
of America is in the shape we are in today. Most people have forgotten
that we are one nation under God! L et us as Christians stand up and
remind people of this..

"You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on take on this old world but to me you know you will always be
My little girl"

It is so wonderful to have our beautiful baby back home again! What a road she travels! Joshua's kitchen project seems to have been a great success. It looks like Kristi was very pleased with the end results! Check out her homecoming in the photos below. We are so blessed. I made her her chili. We ate dinner and visited a little bit. It was great just having her back again.
She shared some beautiful stories with us about her time in Liberia, and thne we sat around and just did nothing much.

Levi is with us tonight. Terry and I spent yesterday and today helping Joshua with his kitchen project, and of course I forgot the camera. He is doing it as a surprise for Kristi when she gets back tomorrow, and we wanted it to all be done. MOST of it is done, not all. Joshua has to move everything back into the kitchen. And there are a few odds and end that need tying up. Wish I had taken pictures while we were doing it. I wanted that camera so I could post pictures, and then I forget to take it with me. Micaiah got me a MEGA purse (Terry is calling it my suitcase) for my birthday, so I need to just keep the camera (and extra batteries)in the mega bag. Going to go get Kristi at the airport tomorrow! I am making chili for her tomorrow. Every year, she asks me to make her chili for her coming home meal. We ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER COMING HOME AGAIN! Terry brought my dog, Lily in for her bath this evening. Levi is having a wonderful time with her.. Well he was I mean. Levi is fast asleep now. Terry is also in bed. It is HARD work for OLD people redoing a kitchen, I wore myself out, and Terry did most of the work. Our age really is showing as we are both stiff and sore and achy tonight. Guess I will go take some Excedrin PM and go to bed too now!

WHAT A RIDE we have been on!
In the beginning we went to:
Isaac's baseball game:



















Then I went to Lawrence Kansas with Joshua and Mom to see my niece and nephew in concert. Stayed at Kathie's condo, had brunch at Ashley and Bens, went to the excellent concert, and then headed home.Had a lovely time. Here are some photos from that trip:









When we got home, I got a call from Matthew, and got the sad news Chandra was in the hospital. So I did not unpack, but went on down to Houston. I planned to help Matthew and Chandra until Chandra got back on her feet. But alas I was feeling sick even before I got there, and I ended up in the Houston hospital with a bout of cellulitous (see a post from last year on that) and then contracted a secondary infection & I ended up with pneumonia.... So I was not the help I intended to be for them. I am however praising the Lord for the wonderful church family they have in Houston. All the evening meals were brought in, and one of Chandra's dear friends came over and played with the boys, did the laundry, and all the house work most days. Here are a few pictures from my time in Houston:

We made hand print cookies:









Noah in his baseball uniform....










And Isaiah in his Green Bay Packers "baseball uniform"...


I have been home since a week ago Wednesday. Shortly after we got home, Terry realized there had been a burglery in our home while we were gone. John and Mom had been here the day before, and left around 4 in the afternoon, and we had gotten home about 3 pm the following day. So sometime in between, we had been robbed. Several guns, in particular the blackpowder the boys had made for Terry, a mason jar full of valuable coins, two of my computers and my external hard drive, which housed ALL of my photos were taken. We had a deputy sheriff visit and he said he would try to locate our stuff, but so far nothing has turned up even with friends looking for us in pawn shops.... I am getting better now and plan to go to church tomorrow and actually teach my SS class again after a very long absence.

My beautiful daughter turns 24 today, and she is answering her call from God. She is spending her third birthday in a row in Liberia Africa, helping the people there to learn how to lead a more healthy and productive life, and to learn more about the love of Jesus Christ. I am so very proud of her and what she is doing. It has been a desire of her heart since 1990 at the age of 4, when she learned about missionaries who went to Papa New Guinea. A fire was lit in her heart at that time, and God has helped her to fulfil that desire by serving in Liberia. I do worry about her, but know she is in the perfect arms of God, and know she is doing His will, so I only worry a little. And I miss her so very much. Especially every year on her birthday. I wish I could just see her and hug her and tell her Happy Birthday today.

Today, Terry is home. We planted (He planted) 25 poplar trees. He planted two lilacs for me too. The roses are blooming, and I brought one into the house from each of the bushes. It got so hot out Mom and I came back in and Terry took a break from digging in the roicks and mowed the yard while we got lunch ready. It has been a pretty prductive day for us because my man is home.

An emotional day for me. Today is Kristi's first day this year in Liberia. Don't know how I got so very blessed but I have the best 7 children God has given to any woman.And though it is hard to let go, it is also so rewarding knowing each of them is following God's direction in their life. And boy is it hard letting your little girl go year after year to Liberia to serve Him. But it is also such a blessing knowing she is doing her Father's work.
Here are the lyrics to the song from Tim McGraw, and though it is a father talking to his daughter, this song means so much to me, especially these words:

"You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on take on this old world but to me you know you will always be
My little girl"

My Little Girl Lyrics
By Tim McGraw
Gotta hold on easy as I let you go
Gonna tell you how much I love you though you think you already know
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm
You’ve had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born

You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on take on this old world but to me you know you will always be
My little girl

When you were in trouble that crooked little smile would melt my heart of stone
Now look at you I’ve turned around and you’ve almost grown
Sometimes your asleep I whisper I love you in the moonlight at your door
As I walk away I hear you say “daddy love you more”

You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on take on this old world but to me you know you will always be
My little girl

Someday some boy will come and ask me for your hand
But I won’t say yes to him unless I know
He’s the half that makes you whole
He has a poets soul
And the heart of a mans man
I know he’ll say that he’s in love, but between you and me
He won’t be good enough

You beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on take on this old world but to me you know you will always be
My little girl

I decided to give my blog page an uplift. Enjoy my rose garden!

Just finished Jude's first kilt! I made one for Nehemiah and Nicolae yesterday. Measured the older boys. I readjusted Caedmon's kilt at Christmas time. Noah and Isaac have shot up but not out, Isaiah is much taller, and a bit bigger around, and Asher and Levi also grew both directions, so all three of them need totally new kilts! It really only takes a couple hours per kilt, so it should be all done by the end of the night. Here are pictures of Jude at his "fitting"

Easter 2009!

Terry and I spent Easter at Matthew and Chandra's house and welcomed our newest granddaughter into the world on Saturday in Houston.
It was a great weekend, got to see Mark, Jordan and Caedmon and Jordan's family, and of course our precious new Caithness!
Matthew delivered a good sermon about the "other side of the cross" and we were blessed with music etc.
And a good time was had by all!

Easter 2009!




















And a good time was had by all!