Flag Day

Flag Day used to be so thrilling for me growing up, along with other patriotic holidays. I kept thinking today was a special date that I was supposed to remember. It wasn't until I saw a friend mention Flag Day in a message,that I recalled the reason. How many of you, like me, through time and present day politics, and busy lives have forgotten, or just become numb to the national holidays lately?
I honor our flag, our troops, and our rich heritage paid for in blood.. but I also am reminded that our spiritual banner is the Bible, our troops are the martyrs and missionaries and those on the front lines yearning for souls to be free from sin. Our Christian heritage has been paid for by Christ's blood, and we need to celebrate this EVERY day.
A little chorus from my childhood came to mind, and I want to post it here.. in honor of our flag and in honor of our spiritual freedom from sin, paid for by Christ's precious blood...Are you truly free today?

Let the flag fly high
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart.
Let the flag fly high
on the castle of my heart,
For the King is in residence there.

So I got an iPad...

So about two weeks ago, I had an opportunity to obtain an iPad for a fair price, and simply could not pass it up. Now, I have to say: I'm quite tech savvy, and I was positive I could wrangle this tiny piece of masterful machinery into pure submission. However, after two weeks of juggling my wonderful iPhone, my iPad, and my slowly dying Windows 7 laptop, I realized just how little time I actually have to "play". I sometimes find myself sitting in my armchair picking up one device, only to put it down again and pick up another. I've gone almost all day without touching my iPad, and that makes me iSad :( Although my son James did get to read 5 chapters of Last of the Mohicans while I was laboring in Wadesboro.

But tonight! While waiting for my ritualistic week-ending monotony of phone calls as I struggle to get final numbers from all of my stores, I had an epiphany! So I picked up my iPad, grabbed my tea and headed to the front porch. I lit the citronella candle to ward off the critters (not the wife), dialed up the VPN, and started my bluetooth connection to my iPhone.

So here I sit; typing this blog, wondering why there is a backspace key but no DEL key, waiting for phone calls and wondering what impact version 4.0 of this wonderful device will have on my semi-near future. !ouch! That was a skeeter!!!

Catch Up

Dear Family and Friends,
It has been awhile since I have posted a family newsletter. Not because we haven't had anything to say, mostly because there is just too much happening!

Let's do a quick catch up. School year has officially ended for the boys. They are still finishing some course work, and will have summer school in science and math. James took his road test and passed, and now has an intermediate driver's license. Justin has been registered for driver's ed classes in August.

They both will have a summer job, spend a week at Living Waters Christian Camp, and then part of week there for Leadership Camp.

Ted stays consumed with his job, and tries to sneak in a few moments here and there for rest and family time. Many times I will ride around with him, just to spend some time with him, although he is working. I am still working part-time for my boss/landlord. My job category is secretary/property manager. It is not very time- consuming, so I have a few extra projects I want to work on this summer.

My parents have arrived from New York, and will be spending next week with us.
We had a family dinner with my brother Jon and his new wife Mia and our Uncle Bill. It was good to see them all again, and to meet Mia's children.

We all stay involved in our church ministries, and have really enjoyed God's lessons and blessings.

I had my surgery in April, and am recovering from that pretty well. The doctor will recheck me in September and will know by then if everything was a success. I might have side affects until that time. Already my migraines have lessened and a few other things that have bothered me, have been minimized due to the surgery. Thank God!!
On a silly note, someone, through Ted's work, rescued a litter of kittens from the side of a road. Needless to say, we adopted 2 of the babies. WOW, talk about craziness around here. Those two little spitfires are hilarious, but full of trouble! So we have 4 cats, and a dog who thinks he is a cat!

God is Great, life is good, yes, we miss Momma terribly, but with the signs of the times and grace from God we know it won't be long until we see Jesus and our precious Momma!
We are ready... are you ready?
There I have caught you up.. so until we meet again or are "Caught up in the air"... may God bless you and keep you all
Love,
Rebecca and family

We Remember....

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

Shhhhhhh, somebody is watching

Hello family and friends,
Most of us go through our day with very little thought as to who is watching us, whether it be our children, church youth, peers, or the person sharing an aisle at the local store. It has come to my recent attention that I have many people watching me. They have, in fact, told me that although they rarely say anything they are watching me whether it's what I post online, or how I interact with someone.
Now that can be scary, IF you don't want to think of that responsibility. Maybe you live a double life, and you are afraid someone will catch you doing something less then Christian-like. I am not perfect, I am however under spiritual construction, what progress He makes is often up to how much I let Him work in my life. I think most of all though we need to be very conscious that God our Father is watching us. Now, of course, if you are not saved, you do not feel that burden of responsibility, nor the loving eyes of the Father yearning to guide us every day. I urge you to realize that today is the day of salvation, your tomorrow may never come.
Who do you watch? Who is watching you?
Just a tidbit to think about... I will update y'all on family news later.

Dreams

I dreamed about Momma last night, it was soo good to see her, hug her, and talk with her, even if it was only a dream. Today turned into a very stressful day. I kept trying to hand it over to the Lord, but I wasn't getting any peace. I finally decided to get in the car and drive(something Ronn has to do when his sorrow gets too heavy). I got in,prayed again; then turned on the tape in the tape deck.
Now,let me tell you about this tape. A month ago, the man who helps in the church's tape ministry came up to me at church, and handed me two cassettes and was determined that I needed these tapes to listen to. I accepted them, but told him that I really could just use Cd's. I was thinking there was really no way I would get to hear them, since I don't have a tape player around in use. Well, my trusty bucket of bolts only has a tape player! I had been praying for some good music to listen to, but just never connected the dots in my head that God was answering this prayer, and so many future prayers as well. These two tapes have been such a blessing to me in the car these past couple of months.
Today though, I needed exactly what the youth choir was singing... after many tears and a lot of prayer, God used the first 5 songs in succession to help me over my burdens today. Thank YOU, Lord, for giving me so many answers to prayer, and for the daily healing you pour out on me and on my family. I never dreamed when those tapes were given to me, that they would become such a balm to my emotions and thoughts.
Well, just wanted to share some of that with y'all today in hopes that you will know that God can help YOU through your trials and troubles, if you will only listen to His gentle call.
I am off to dreamland, getting up early tomorrow to get the boys off on their trip to TN for the huge youth rally. Pray for them! I also get to babysit my 3 little nieces tomorrow.... fun-fun!
Love
Rebecca

Easter Monday

Good Blessed Morning to all of you,

I haven't posted in awhile, it's been an exceedingly busy spring season!
The weather is already in summer temperatures, everything is in bloom, the pollen is in overdrive, and the bees are out in full military force.

It has only been a few months since Momma passed away unexpectedly. We are hanging onto God's peace and promises. It has not always been easy, and there are still many tears and walks down memory lane. I am glad God has our past, present, and future in the palm of His hand. Every time I think I can't take it anymore, or I just don't understand why Momma can't be here with us still, God gives me a healing dose of peace and grace that makes it worth it.

Justin turned 16 in March, no, he does not have his permit yet. We are hoping to get James ready for his road test soon for his driver's license. Then Justin will have to take driver's ed class, as well.
Justin has a part-time summer job lined up, that starts in June, James is still looking.
We had special revival services this past week, that were a real help and blessing.
This week, we are getting the boys ready to go on their annual trip to Murfreesboro, TN, for the HUGE Youth Rally they have at Br.Tony Hudson's church. This is a special time for our youth. Please pray that the boys will use this time to draw closer to our wonderful Lord, and determine to serve Him in an even greater capacity.

Ted stays very busy, but makes every effort to balance his work with family and church needs. I praise and thank God for my loving husband. I tell the Lord every day how thankful I am, and how much I love the man He gave me for these past 18 years! It seems impossible that I graduated from high school 20 years ago!!!

I stay busy with school for the boys, working my part-time property manager job for the same boss I have had for the past 4 years, and teaching the teen class in our church's bus ministry. In the past, I have mentioned a few health issues that I needed to have taken care of. Next Tuesday, I finally go to have that hopefully accomplished. Pray for me, Momma won't be around to take care of me, and if they can't remove the growth successfully this time, they will need to put me in the hospital later to surgically remove it with a different method. I ask that you pray that this will be the only time that I need to go in, and that God will take care of the procedure and the healing process.
I hope you all have had a blessed Easter, and if you do NOT know our wonderful Lord and Savior- please, please I beg of you- do NOT wait any longer to accept HIS free gift of salvation!

Happy Birthday Greetings to Justin, my Aunt Joyce, and my niece Naomi.
Special Congratulations on the engagement and marriage of my brother Jonathan to Mia!
Pray for Ted's cousin Becky, who has spreading incurable cancer.
Continue to pray for us as we move forward in the healing process from the home-going of Momma.
There is probably so much more I could write, but I think you get the gist of it!
Love, Rebecca