the time is near!

Tomorrow Emily comes to Iowa. Yahooo! Yippieee- ky- yea! I get to see her Friday morning. I am like an excited kid only inside a fat old body. ha! I am praying for the Holy Spirit to whisper to me things that are true and good and glorifying to God so that there is no longer room for anything else in my thoughts. I desire and look forward to having a gloriously grand time with all my kids. Emily told me that she has been asked to sing at church the 8th & 9th and she will be singing Turn Turn Turn as an opening to the Ecc. study coming up. I understand the version has been updated from the 60's version however! Looking forward to that! Max and Jill are finally on the mend and I know Em is going to fall in love all over again when she meets him. He's got dimples, Em! And she will surely enjoy seeing the Mc's new house. And of course how all the other kids have grown but are still the sweetness of Jesus. Don and I have nothing new to show and tell. We just want to enjoy everyone.

CC ROCKS!!!

We traveled north yesterday. Looked around my old stomping grounds in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. So much has changed. When they move whole streets and buildings, it changes things so much that it's a lot to take in. . . . and accept! We made it to Charles City by 4:30. We had a little time to talk with Gary and Melinda, but people were always coming up asking them questions, so it was hard, but that's ok. We got a kick out of watching all the happenings and I got to help be a "go-fer" so that was cool. The Bethany Alliance Praise Band was good, not just because Gretchen and Melinda sing in it, but because they sing good! Gretchen even sang a song that she wrote called Run to You. It was beautiful. Yea, Gret, you are a star! By the Tree surprised me. They were really good in a loud rockin' way that I didn't expect. And I love their new World on Fire. God gave us a beautiful evening outdoors and a large crowd to sing His praises. It was great! See, we didn't drive all that way just cause it was FREE! It was free and wonderful! Even if the crowd didn't "get" the beach ball thing!!! What happened there???!!! Oh, well, we tried. I'm tired, but it's a good tired.

This week's Miracles

So much has happened since my last entry. Life changing stuff. Things miracles are made of. Praise God for His miracle in Quintin. I know I prayed the problem in his heart would just go away and I am sure I was not alone in that plea! Awesome, that's what it is. And my 6th grandchild, 5th boy, is so special. I was so sure he would be a girl, not just by guessing, but by faith, and since he's a "he" and not a "she", I am not the least bit disappointed. I have fallen head over heels for this guy. That is a God thing. This Grandma's heart is so full of love for each of them and will hold as many as God is willing to give me!!!

It's PK weekend!

This morning Don left for Cincinnati lock stock and barrel. No, he's not leaving me for good. He took along magic paraphanalia, cd's, photos, clothes, snacks, etc. - everything a guy would need, except for his PK tickets!!! yup. His main destiny is PK. But Joe and Jack will save the day and take his tickets with them. thanks, guys! Don is so excited to be seeing his son, his grandkids, and a new granddaughter. He is more excited to be taking Donny to PK with him. Please pray for Donny's heart to be softened, for him to be open to hearing what a real man is, for realizing his need for God in his life. And that he will truly see his dad as a changed man, one who loves the Lord and loves his wife. So if the baby comes this weekend, that's great, but I'd rather things hold off til Em arrives. We will take what comes. And shout halleluia! In the meantime, I'll do art, pray, do art, sleep, do art, eat, do art, shop, do more art. . . .pray some more. . . . pray while I do art. . . . .

9th month thoughts

"WE" are into that last month of pregnancy and it is getting tougher for all of us. Everytime Jill has some strange twinge I get a bit anxious and wonder if this is it. Then things settle down again for a while and next thing you know she's got another strange twinge. I wish I had an explanation for it all. I wish I could bear some of her discomfort for her. All she has to do is look at those other 2 boys and know that it's all worth it. She can call on the name of Jesus to walk her through it. How awesome is that? Every ache and pain to glorify God. The beautiful baby of God's own creation. What a glorious position to be in right here right now. Waiting and praying. And contracting! (sometimes my tummy hurts, too!) We're all in it!!! For such a time as this, I thank you and praise you, Father God, in the name of Jesus.

Mrs. Connie Simpson

Not to be outdone, here is Connie Simpson!!!

The Sky

Let me first start off by saying that I am just as sane as anyone else in this family, ok? But I think God is doing this thing where He is showing me something many days at 10:00 am. You remember I saw the yellow sky at 10:00??? Today at 10:00 I looked out at the sky and it was very blue but with maybe 10-12 jetstreaks running parallel with each other and then one huge one running almost perpendicular but slightly angled down through the other streaks. There was also the white image of the moon that you sometimes see in the daytime. Then in another part of the sky were these skinny rows of clouds with very interesting lines through them. It was quite a show. I know you are thinking it sounds like I'm on acid or something. nope. Just check out the sky once in a while around 10:00 and maybe God will entertain you, too!

A Funny Thing

A funny thing happened to me recently. I was really really thirsty so I was taking some gulps of pepsi. Ahhhhh. . . . . great stuff . . . . . then I took the next gulp and as I was beginning to swallow and the pop was starting to go down my throat, a huge burp came up my throat, and FIZZ spurted out my mouth down the front of me and onto the floor. WOW! What a trip! Sorry, there is no photo or video. You'll just have to use your imagination.