Well . . . It's Over

Graduation is over. It's been a rough week. We've had our ups and downs, but we made it! Drew's not sure where to go from here, but I'm praying that God will give him wisdom to make the right decision. We have tried to encourage him that he doesn't have to jump right into anything just because some of his classmates and friends already have plans made. He seems to think that because he doesn't know what college he's going to go to or even exactly what he wants to do yet that things are all bad. That is totally wrong! I feel better that he's not jumping into anything. He needs to be patient and pray and decide what will be best for him. What he REALLY wants to do. If that takes a bit of time, so be it.

We all get in such a big hurry. We think everything has to be RIGHT NOW. It doesn't always work that way. We need to learn patience. That, unfortunately, is a hard lesson to learn sometimes. I pray that all of us begin to practice patience in our lives. Not only in the big things, but also in the little things.

Be blessed.

This picture is about a year old, but it's one of my favorites. 

Good Sleep

Well, I finally got some good sleep for two nights in a row!!!!!! I think that's a record lately! I can usually run with not much sleep for a while, but then it catches up with me and I'm wiped. That's what happened to me at the beginning of the week. I was wasted. I was just plain tired. It's amazing what a few extra hours for a couple of nights will do for you. I'm raring to go again now!!!

We are feverishly getting ready for Drew's graduation party. It seems like it's never ending. We get one thing done and then remember that there's something else to do. It's all coming together though. . . with the help of good friends. I know it will done when needed and everything will be good. Marty is happy (I am too!) that his mom and dad are coming up from North Carolina. I couldn't tell you the last time they were up here. It's been several years (probably more than just several). It will be good to have them here.

Well, must go for now. Got to get to work. UH!

Be blessed!

Amy before prom with her best friend Hope. Aren't they cute? 

It's Monday, but it's almost over!

Hi all - Well, it's been a rough Monday. Things were crazy at work and my boss' kids were there and they were having quite the time. I'm really glad I'm home.

I was thinking on my way home about rest. Physical and spiritual. I had to laugh a bit yesterday. I was in the laundry room wading through the mounds of clothes and Amy came in and told me I needed to go to bed. She said I had bags under my eyes and I needed sleep. I think she's trying to look out for me.

She was saying I needed to rest. Of course she was talking about physical rest, but I think that goes hand in hand with spiritual rest. Our lives get so busy and we are on the go all the time. How many times when we are in that state do we really just sit and think about how much rest God can give us? He's always there and all we need to do is tell him how tired we are. Of course he already knows that, but I think he likes for us to admit it and seek him for the rest we need. He can uplift us and give us the peace and strength we need to make it through all the things that we need to do.

Be blessed in the Lord and seek Him for your rest.

Andrew Patton 

Classic Amy 

These are my two youngest kids. They are getting so grown up. I was looking through tons of pictures last night getting ready for Drew's graduation and it just amazes me how much they've grown. To see those cute little babies and then they walk in the room and they are young adults.

It makes me wonder how God sees us sometimes. We start out as baby Christians and then we get all grown up. It's just like with our kids though. No matter now grown up they are they always need us, just like we always need God. He's our daddy. We are always learning from him no matter how old or "grown up" we are. We must always keep pressing into Him. We are never too old for that!

Have a blessed day!

Praises

The Lord is so faithful and good. I look around at all the little things He's done in our lives. I know we have taken that for granted a lot, but it is my hope that we can take note and give praise for all of those little things and not just the big things.

Yesterday God showed himself faithful yet again. Our oldest daughter Amanda is pregnant with her third child. She went to a doctor that she was referred to by her insurance. On her first visit they determined how far along she should be and said that they should hear the baby's heartbeat. Unfortunately, they could not. They told her that they would wait two weeks and try again. I thought that was kind of weird. Actually I was pretty upset by that. Amanda was upset and those silly people were telling her to wait two weeks! She decided that she would just wait it out. She went back again on Wednesday and they still could not hear the heartbeat. They told her that she would have to wait yet another two weeks before they would see her again and do an ultrasound to see what was up. They told her to hope for the best, but expect the worst. As you can imagine Momma was fit to be tied. My baby girl was shook up and I didn't like it!!!!! We prayed and asked for others to pray. I told her that she needed to look on the insurance list and find another doctor. My boss happened to be sitting in my office when Amanda called me and said that she should look to see if her doctor was on the list. She really liked her. We checked and sure enough her office was on the list. Amanda called and they immediately got her in within an hour for an ultrasound. Praise God the ultrasound showed a healthy, active baby that had a strong heartbeat!!! God is so good.

Amanda is trying very hard to put God first in everything. She has made some conscious decisions to put the things of the world behind her. The devil doesn't like that too much and things have been pretty stressful at home. It's hard when you are trying to do what God wants you to do and that goes against the things that other people want to do. Whenever you think about it please lift her and her household up in prayer.

Be blessed in the Lord and thank you for everyone who has been praying for Amanda and the baby.

A Little Overwhelmed

Things have been so busy lately getting ready for graduation I guess I haven't had time to really think about the fact that my baby boy is graduating. So many emotions come into play. I thought I was doing really good until the other night. Marty made the comment that his parents weren't sure if they were going to be able to make the trip from North Carolina for the graduation. Then it hit me. Those are Drew's only grandparents. A wave of total sadness swept over me. My mom and dad are not going to see him graduate. I just started crying. I couldn't help it. It's not like they haven't missed many other things since they've been gone. Maybe it's just because I am so tired.

Having our children grow up before our eyes is a sad and happy thing all at the same time. You want them to be strong adults and you pray that you have taught them the right paths to take through the years, but a part of you wants to keep them close and with you always. I guess that's just the cycle of life. Sometimes it just stinks. Especially for a mom.

Be blessed.

Just getting started!

Hi all. Just getting started in the blogging world.

Our life is so hectic right now I hardly know if I'm coming or going. Graduation is in a week and a half. Can you believe it? Then comes Harvest Christian Camp and then FRANCE!!!!! I am so excited about that. We've been really busy raising money for this trip. God is providing abundantly and I am so blessed. Marty is still pretty nervous about flying, but he's actually been talking about the trip lately so I know it's going to be fine.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll post again soon. Be blessed!