The "Hills"

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

We drove into the "hills" today to a waterfall park near Molina, north of Verona, Italy. Christian and Logan's home school group was taking a field trip to learn to make cheese from a local Italian and then to lunch and hike in the park. What a fun day! The photos tell it all!

Thank-you, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to spend this wonderful day with two active grandsons!

We are blessed indeed to now have NINE special grandchildren and love each day we have with them. Can't wait to meet our new granddaughter, June Yuan Thorpe!

Orphan Ministry

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

These words have recently taken on new meaning as we welcome June Yuan Thorpe into our family.

My heart is overwhelmed with love for this precious little girl! 

Until last year when Rebecca and Steve actually started on the long journey of adoption I had not thought, much to my shame, seriously about the plight of so many orphans and God's directive for believers to do something about it! Why has not the church, (believers in Jesus), stepped up to the plate? How can those wanting to adopt connect with the children who want a family? Is it because of lack of funds? Couldn't believers pitch in here? Is it because of lack of information?  Couldn't believers learn more and educate? Is it because of lack of prayer? Couldn't believers intercede for these precious ones?

So many questions! The mountain seems tall but God is "taller"! He wants all believers to be involved so the question for me is How, God? I have recently begun to investigate churches with active orphan ministries in areas where I live or where I will be traveling to visit. He has planted a seed in my heart and I want to water it and see how He will allow it to grow for His glory.

I challenge each one of you to reread James 1:27 and see if it speaks to your heart. Maybe you can be involved in an answer to some orphans "prayers"!

The sweet fragrance of a girlfriend!

What is a girlfriend? It is someone you are free to share one's feelings, affection, sympathy, empathy, honesty, mutual understanding, compassion, enjoyment of each other's company, trust, forgiveness, and the ability to be oneself. True friends are always "there for you" in the good times and the bad. As I have become older my friendships have become "sweeter", taking on richer qualities, and I'm more aware of their importance, rather their absolute necessity, in my life! If I were to picture a girlfriend I would see a rose. A rose is beautiful inside and out with layers of delicate petals that slowly open to reveal the precious inner radiance. As friendships deepen hearts open to a willingness to challenge and sacrifice for one's friends. Jesus is our ultimate example of the perfect friendship. He sacrificed his life in order to establish a friendship relationship with each of us. Oh, how wonderful to have earthly friends that join hands with Jesus! As I write this I am inspired by my girlfriends, (you know who are!)! I am humbled that you would call me your friend. Thank-you, Jesus, for my girlfriends and please bless them so they can glorify You!

A recent week-end spent with two high school girlfriends!

"I lift up my eyes..."

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth."Psalm 121:1-2

God's creative beauty is seen in Norway.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Yet, all the grandeur of the mountains, the beauty of the spring flowers, the majesty of the rushing streams, or the peace of the valleys does not compare with the creative mystery of the human soul. 

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14

Train up a child...

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I have known the truth of this Bible verse as it speaks to parents and seen it "in action" with my own chidren but does it also apply to grandparents? What is a grandparent's role? I have heard it said that a grandparent can spoil their grandchild all day then return them to their parents to do the hard work of training. This might sound like fun, after all, haven't we as grandparents already "put in our time" raising our own children? Yet as Hunter and I spend time with our 8, soon to be 9, grandchildren I see this verse as applying to a grandparent's responsibilities too. So how do we do this effectively? 

One day, thinking about this question, I complained to my son-in-law that I just couldn't run after the boys like I used to do-physically I was slowling down, largely due to my disease and I was a bit depressed at the prospect of limitations that would affect my relationship with my grandchldren. He responded by explaining that it is not so much what I DO with the kids as just my presence WITH them. Quality and quanity of time does not necessarily have to translate into physical activity. In other words even from a wheelchair, a bed, or 1000s of miles apart we, as grandparents, can "train" our grandchildrren. We just have to be creative and recognize our important role in their lives and seek out ways to be part of their world. So any grandparents reading this remember, you are needed in the lives of your grandchildren. Be involved and you will be training!

Tickle time!

Water fun in 100 degree heat!

Biking together!

Trampoline jumping!

Biking in Europe-The Netherlands-day 7(The End)

On the final day of our bike ride we experienced picture perfect weather. Even I removed my jacket and  felt the warm breezes off the beaches of the North Sea.

A final glimpse of a towering windmill was bittersweet as we crossed a portion of the sea in a large ferry.

At the ferry ticket office it was necessary for us to show a voucher in order to board the ferry boat. Without the voucher to exchange for a ticket we would be denied passage to the other shore. While enjoying the views during the crossing I was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 1:22: "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." I have a guaranteed voucher which will safely transport me from earthly death to the shores of God's heavenly kingdom! Praise God for freely giving this gift to me through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus! Be certain, you, too, have that all important voucher!!

 Brugge, Belgium was our final destination and we arrived by early afternoon. Deb and I then had three goals in mind: experience the sites of the market square with its magnificent architecture, eat REAL Belgium waffles and buy lots of Belgium chocolates. Mission accomplished!

A delicious good bye to a memorable vacation!

Biking in Europe-the Netherlands-days 5 & 6

As the temps begin to rise and the clouds give way to more sun biking becomes more comfortable and the countryside beauty more vivid. The Netherlands has a fluid mixture of water and land, wildlife and grazing herds of cattle, horses, Shetland ponies, sheep, goats, and even an occational lama thrown in for good measure. There is beauty on both sides of the dikes, as well as historical buildings galore!