It's My Burfday!

Italian cream cake from Say It With Sugar



Bubbe met us at Trail Dust for Supper




The Singer!




Happy Birthday to me!




Trying to Texas Two Step
We are so Baptist




The Big Slide at Trail Dust




Kris got a great deal on Priceline!




Heated Pool...outdoors...Yikes!



Go Shorty...It's my Birthday!  Kris and Molly made me breakfast in bed and homemade pizza for lunch.  Greta, (the coolest 12 year old I know) and I share the same birthday so we get to eat cake together.  This year was strawberry, last year was pistaccio.  I hope she'll forgive me for announcing to the room that she is now shaving her legs!  OOPS, I did it again in blogland.  Kris did a great job on gifts, he gave me a pearl drop necklace and speakers for my iphone.  Thanks to all of my sweet friends who sent texts, cards, Fiesta Ware, Vera Bradley and panties.  Yes, every year since I was 5, my aunt Mary sends me panties for my birthday.  Molly now gets a package too.  When Aunt Mary turned 75, all of the cousins got together and gave her a box full of panties.  I don't feel older without my new drawers. I'm 38 and inching ever so closley to the proverbial hill.  Lamentations 3:22-24 says "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion, therefore, will I hope in Him.  So this year I am so thankful to the Lord for is faithfulness and new mercies.  I am thankful for the portion that He has provided and I know that whatever the portion is I can have hope because He is with me and will never leave me or forsake me.  Happy Day!

Home Sweet Home



Mama B.'s porch



little chocolate ducks that I am bringing home to my chicks







sign in kitchen

 


The "Prince" and Mama B.'s house



this morning's view which
allowed me to stay a little longer





I paid $4.95 so I could be blogging on the way home in flight...pretty exciting.  I was supposed to leave St. Louis this morning but "sloppy Snow"  had other plans.  What a gift my husband gave me for my birthday to see one of my most incredible heroes!  Props to Kris!  I feel like I left a scence from my favorite movie and book Anne of Green Gables.  Mama B.  is an absolute treasure to be around and the poster child for the Proverbs 31 woman.  She counts her blessings daily

and I found out that includes serving her family by cooking, laundry and chocolate chip cookies.  I'm armed and motivated to serve the Lord and my family with gladness.  Did I mention she is also a full time chaplain at Missouri Baptist Hospital.  I'm just sayin'....  I thought I'd give you a taste of her encouragement by reading the sweet note she wrote me along with a gift of a "pearl of great price" bracelet from her mission trip to China.  It was wrapped in a little, black, silk, drawstring bag.  The clasp on the bracelet is the Chinese symbol for blessing...precious indeed.  Here is what she wrote...(insert your name as needed);

"Dear, dear Amy,

    This morning's surprise snowfall awakens us to a joyful surprise from our Creator and echoes the joy and wonder in my heart at God's special treat in bringing you to St. Louis.  Of Course, He used your sweet prince to deliever it.  Precious Amy, you have been uniquely created with every gift for the life path (Prov. 3:5-6)  He has appointed for you a treasure trove of grace.  May He also grant you His peace, courage, stamina, and joy for the journey.  The Lord is good and faithful...always.  I Love U...MB"

See Don't you just love her?....I'm just sayin'......Thank you is not enough for the gift of encouragement she so graciously shared.  Hugs to you Mama B.  Or should I say Cold Lips...:)



My pearls of great price from China



Meet Me in St. Louis



The Italian Neighborhood home of Yogi Berra

 John 10:10 says that "He came that we might have life, and have it abundantly"  I've experienced abundant life this weekend and thank my precious host Mama B.  and my sweet husband for giving me this blessing to come and sit like Mary of Bethany sat and listened to wisdom from Jesus.  Here's some things I want to remember...


Miss Aimee B.'s tearoom in St. Charles



Viviano's Italian Grocery Store



Our Buster  Elivis has a buster brother



Immigrant Statue...see the baby



The Hill's St. Ambrose



Some of my treasures



My favorite treasure...from 1940's



Bringing home pretty pasta



Mama B. playing the piano
at Parkway Baptist



Sweet adopted boy
showing me his craft

 


painted in church children's wing





Sweet Anna's Doctor
that now goes to Parkway



My new friend Ingrid,
who bought me lunch



Molasses Lollies from Napoleon's
chocolatier Bissinger's



GOD IS SO GOOD!

God is Close...



Joshua's Texas A&M graduation



Joshua, Anna Joy, Jonathan as babies

Psalm 100:4-5 says" Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, praise His name! For the Lord is good;His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations."  Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling states, "Let thankfulness rule in your heart.  As you thank Me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens.  It is as if scales fall off your eyes, enabling you to see more and more of my glorious riches."  While being here in St. Louis, I have been reminded of a lot of blessings God has sent my way all through life.  Some blessings have been heartaches.  The Bible says that God is close to the broken heart and I think it is those times when we truly grow, learn and sense His presence.  I am thankful for those broken times.  It is hard to think of my children having to experience growth through heartache, pain and suffering.  Mrs. Sherry's son Josh is having a broken heart moment.  He was riding motorcycles with a new friend, and his friend was hit and killed instantly.  Josh was at his sweet Granny's bedside when she went to heaven.  He was holding his precious sister's hand when she saw Jesus.  He fought in Iraq when some of his fellow marine's died and now his friend's loss.  Please pray for his broken heart. P.S.  He's single and Godly...:)

Surprise!

 

Chase the dog, sat by me



Mama B's cool car!



Laura Bush Cookies and Tea
from China!

 For my Valentine's day and my birthday, my sweet husband surprised me with a trip to see my favorite pastor's wife, friend,and mentor, Mama B. (a.k.a Sherry Blankenship).  She lives in St. Louis.  If you know me, you know what a huge blessing this is to get to spend time with her.  She is the reason why I have a relationship with Christ.  Since 7th grade I was able to see the Lord move and work in such precious ways in her life.  She is the essence of a gentle and quiet spirit, she loves the Lord and everyone around her, she is a dear wife to her "Prince", Bible scholar and teacher, and she can throw down a mean cookie any day of the week.  My hero!  I am sitting and soaking up as much wisdom as I can, but having a blast on the way!  Last night we went to the symphony at an incredible theatre called the Powell.  We heard Rachmaninoff performed, I liked finding out tidbits from to program like how big his hands were, and that there were only 2 chubby musicians in the whole symphony.Hmm...Maybe I should learn to play an instrument.  Afterwards we hunted down Ted Drewes for



Chocolate Concrete


some frozen custard.  Today we are headed out Junking and the bookstore.
I saw this prayer from Elisabeth Eliot and see that Mama B.'s witness would hold true to it;

Lord Jesus, I offer You

All that I am

All that I have

All that I do

All that I suffer

Now and Forever

Pray, Mama, Pray!



Christmas Morning 2010



These prayers are from Denise Glenn who wrote Wisdom for Mothers. I love them because they are based off of scripture, therefore, I feel that they would be in line with God's will.  I try to pray them daily, after my kids are in bed. 

1.  That they will know Christ as Savior early in life. 

(Psalm 63:1, 2Tim. 3:15)

2.  That they would have a hatred for sin.  (Ps. 97:10)

3.  That they would be caught when guilty. (Ps. 119:71)

4.  That they would be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: Spiritual, emotional, and physical. (John 17:15)

5.  That they have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships. (Dan.6:3)



The Texas Bowl Game 2010



6.  That they respect those in authority over them. 

(Romans 13:1)

7.  That they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends.

 (Prov. 1: 10,11)

8.  That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. (2 Cor. 6:14-17)

9.  That they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage.  (1 Cor.  6:18-20)

10.  That they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. (Jam



Winter blast 2011...missed 3 days of school!


11.  That they will be single hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.  (Rom. 12:1,2)

12.  That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or places and that wrong people cannot find their way to them. ( Hos. 2:6)

"Pray, Mama, Pray!' yells Molly, every time we hear a siren.  Hopefully it is not coming from a policeman behind my car.

God Bless Texas

Kris and I have been in Austin for the last 2 days.  Kris was asked to be the House Chaplain for the Texas Legislature today.  Here are some pictures and the prayer that he opened the House with. 

To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you God.  Micah 6:8

Dear Heavenly Father,

We recognize today that you are sovereign. You have everything under control. Regardless of the countless issues of the day and the great challenges facing this legislature---it is in God we trust. Nothing has passed into our lives which has not first passed through your hand. For everything has been created by you, and is for you, and you hold all things together.

We thank-you, Father, for your grace toward us as individuals and a state. Even in what has been difficult economic times in our country, you have taken care of this great state. Texas has always been a special place, with a rich, bold, and Godly heritage. As we strive to seek your Kingdom, please continue to prosper our land in the future.

As we consider the business of this legislature, I pray you would give each member of this house wisdom as they make decisions that impact so many Texans and others. I know that many of these men and women carry this burden with great emotional and mental anguish. Your Word, the Bible, instructs us to ask you for wisdom and you will give it. As each one seeks your wisdom, reveal it to them. Then, Father, let them with confidence in act Your will. May each one of these lawmakers follow in the example of your son, Jesus Christ, and the godly men and women who proceeded them.

Further, Lord, I ask your holy hand and favor to be on each one of these law makers. You tell us as citizens to pray for Kings and those in authority over us. As we submit to their leadership we submit to you, Lord. I pray they would not fear the criticism of  opponents or be anxious about the challenges that face them. Let them only fear you and you alone.

Finally, Lord, we thank-you for your son, Jesus Christ. And that through His death, burial, and resurrection, we can have eternal life. Let us live this day as a glory to your name. Thank you for your many blessings and God bless Texas. In the strong name of Jesus we pray. Amen.