How This Morning Started

It started EARLY! Then, mom lowered the boom. The girlies were SUPPOSED to have cleaned under the bed and in the closet before the grandgirls arrived. Did they? They said they did. They did not.

I think they thought they would get away with it, but they did not. So, needless to say, there were a few tears and frustration this a.m. and they didn't get to run outside to take care of the animals until they were done.

Unfortunately, this took until 10:00. Mom helped, but I don't know that it was much appreciated, as mom kept finding things that were supposed to be somewhere else. :)

So, here they are cleaning and then having a late breakfast.

Don't ANYBODY go into my room right now. It is next. :)

Big Winner!

Anna won a great big Easter Basket at Awana tonight. It seems that she guessed the exact number of Jelly Beans in the Jar.


1,088!

Way to go ANNA!

AND WERE OFF......

to a great week with the grand girlies.

Here is our first video, with Lilly (3) and Anna.
Lilly just saw her video and said, "Look! It's ME!". :)

(go to the sidebar under You Tube Videos) and click on Lilly Meets the Animals.

Katie is visiting with us also, and we'll get loads of both ALL week. :)

Just gotta love those grand girls.

Chuck and Jodie, thanks for letting us keep them this week, and have a wonderful week off. :)
Love,
Mom

Spring Break is HERE!!!!

YEA! And guess who is coming to Gramma's House?????

KATIE and LILLY! For the Whole Week! YEA.

We have plans. Tea Party... A luncheon with a real Knight with Shining Armor AND the Famous Annual Zoo Trip. I gotta get the camera working! :(

Others May You May Not

By G.D. Watson (1825-1924)
Others May YOU May Not
If God has called you to be really like Christ in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility and put on you such demands of obedience, that He will not allow you to follow other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others can brag on themselves, and their work, on their success, on their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

The Lord will let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hid away in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His glory, which can be produced only in the shade.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making money, but it is likely God will keep you poor because he wants you to have something far better than gold and that is a helpless dependence on Him; that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day - out of an unseen treasury.

God will let others be great, but He will keep you small. He will let others do a great work for Him and get credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work you have done, and this will make your reward ten times greater when He comes.

The Holy Spirit will put strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do what He pleases with His own, and He will not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle you in His dealing with you. He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and let other people say and do many things that you cannot do or say.

Settle it forever, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that others are not dealt with.

Now, when you are so possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this particular personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven.

Sarah's Song

While I was getting ready for the Day,
Sarah Broke out into Song from her Heart....

I am happy today, I will Glorify the Lord
I am happy to Glorify the Lord

He came down from Heaven
To Forgive My Sin
He died for Me, He died for you
I will Glorify the Lord

We are glad that he came down
and took our sins away
We are thankful the Lord
We are thankful He came down

We are glad he came
We are glad he forgave

He is coming back to take us up
I am glad he's coming back

I am glad he gave me mother and father
I am glad he gave me sistes and brothers

I am glad he is coming to take me up
We can see him Shining in the Sun
We can see him everywhere.


I was trying to type as fast as she was singing without her knowing about it.
This is Sarah's heart. :)

I hope it brings as much Joy to you as it brought to me this morning.

Anna

You know, there is just something so sweet about a sweet little girl.:)
Anna has had some incredible weeks lately in her personal development. I look back on our last 4 plus years and am amazed at her progress. She continues to blossom.

Yesterday, she came and plopped herself between us and told us she loved us. We gave her a hug and we told her she was turning into a beautiful girl on the inside. She said, "you have helped me learn to be pretty on the inside". She was very sincere and innocent in how she was talking. It didn't come off prideful at all. She told us it makes her feel good, to have a changed heart.

Isn't that awesome?

Oh my, from the days of not even understanding how to hold a baby doll, from the days of a nuclear meltdown on a regular basis, from the days of not understanding what permanent or love really meant..... she has emerged....

Our first grocery trip took almost 4 hours. Now, we can run all over town together and have a great time.

Anna is growing up, on the inside and the outside and we are so thankful for her progress and that she is in our lives. She has taught us alot. :)

The Seriousness Of Sin

I have to get this off of my mind and into writing right now, while it is freshly brewing. :)

I read some notes that a couple of little girls were writing during ministry group last week. One little girl said she was praying the that the other little girl wouldn't lie and would trust Jesus.

The other little girl replied, "I do trust Jesus, and Lying doesn't matter because I'm forgiven anyways."

Then, today, while teaching Sunday School, that same aloof attitude about sin came up once again. It doesn't matter if we sin, we're forgiven?

How's that?

It DOESN'T MATTER?

I sometimes think we have spoon fed our kids a different gospel. A FALSE gospel. The "Jesus Loves Me this I Know" gospel. The" God has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life and He loves you Just the Way you Are", veggie tale gospel.

It DOESN'T MATTER?

Are you kidding me?

That attitude, that false truth, is an affront to the Very Gospel of Jesus Christ!

What are we teaching our kids? ARE we teaching our kids?

I think sometimes as 2nd and 3rd and 4th generation Christians, we can do a poor job in helping our children understand their true condition, because many of us don't understand OUR true condition apart from Christ.

I remember as a young person, thinking, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, I don't have pre=marital sex", I believe Jesus died for me, I'm ok....

WRONG....

Jesus doesn't want us to be just "ok". And what I really didn't choose to look at was my heart attitudes. I was a white washed seplicher full of dead men's bones.
I think of the words in the scripture that say, "I'd rather you be hot or cold, but you are lukewarm and I will SPEW you out of my mouth!" How's that for an after lunch thought?

Our TRUE condition is poor, and hungry and naked. We are DEAD, HELLO, D-E-A-D! apart from Christ. He comes to give us LIFE and LIFE ABUNDANTLY.

How do we have life in Christ, if we haven't even recognized the very thing in ourselves that He died for? How DARE we take His gift so lightly.

It is our job as parents to give these truths to our children. Not just our job, but a COMMAND in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:7-8

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart:
You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise.


During this very special time of year, where we Celebrate the Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Let's make sure that we are able to help our children understand the Gospel. The GOOD news.

Let's also take part in the NEW LIFE He has given to us. Here and NOW. It isn't a "die and go to heaven" gospel! It is a DIE AND BECOME ALIVE in CHRIST, walking in newsness of life NOW gospel. It is a "flee from pride and sin and immorality" INTO the loving arms of our Lord kind of Gospel.

Let's die to self and be alive in Christ. It is an exciting life. It is not dull. It is not burndensome.

It is true Eternal LIFE.

Shower Season

It is the season for Showers. NO, we don't shower just in Spring as in the days of old ; it is Wedding Shower and Baby Shower Season!

Today I went to the Wedding Shower for a dear friend's son's future Bride. Did you get that? My friend Brenda's Oldest son Taylor is getting married! Isn't he perpetually 12? I guess not. Just like, I'm not perpetually 35 any more. :)

So, it is a garden type, restaurant type shower. That means CATERED! That means Really NICE! I was excited about going, so I could meet Taylor's new bride, and spend time with my friends, but boy was I nervous about what to wear. Yikes, what should I wear?

I asked Mike and he said, "go as you are". Yea right. I'm sitting here in overalls and a ponytail.

So I broke out the makeup. While it is just me, in color, it was necessary. I wore a dress, but realized, I really do need another dress. This one I got at the thrift store so it was old when I got it, and now it is REALLY OLD. :)

So you wanna see what I looked like? The girls liked the colorized mom.
I just had a good time. I liked the colorized mom in overalls, when I got home. :)

Kellie Jo is a PRO

Here is the newest on Kellie, Jason and Parker. It seems that Kellie and Jason are already pros at taking care of Parker. Kellie was doing what all mom's do; cutting fingernails so they don't scratch themselves to oblivian, and little Parker had a bleed. It seems the fingernail got a little too short. :)
So, did mom freak? NOT! She already knows the trek to the hospital. Before you know it, they will probably be on first name basis. :)

Way to go Kellie!

Hospital Visit with the Keiths

And... a good amount of the rest of the world. :) There were many family and friends at the hospital last night supporting the Keith's in love and prayer. The coolest thing happened. Last night at 8:00, they woke Luke up, and he knew he had been in an accident. He knew he was in the hospital, and he wasn't in pain. The pain meds are working great. (morphine drip) He had surgery yesterday to repair the mandible and jaw. I watched the Keith's be so gracious to the parents of the young man who was driving the vehicle and asked them to join us. They are heartbroken over what has happened. Their son is doing well and out of the hospital.

One of the great things last night was that the Nurse said, it was a miracle that Luke didn't have brain damage. Eating a tree usually is a good indicator that there will be brain damage, but he doesn't. He has acutally improved so much that even she was surprised considering the extent of his injuries. Today they will try wean him from the ventilator. All good news. No, GREAT news!
Praise the Lord

We Never Know

We never know when we wake up in the morning what events will unfold our day. Our only guarantee and comfort in this life, is that God knows, and he will carry us through.

Our dear friends, Lance and Bobbie Keith's son, Luke; who is also Josephs's best friend, since childhood, was in a terrible car accident on Sunday. He is in the Trauma Unit at Baylor Medical Center and at this writing is in surgery. He has many broken bones, and trauma to his body thanks to a tree.

Luke is planning to get married this Spring and has so much ahead of him. This is a detour, and even though we didn't see it coming, God did.

We are praying for this dear and precious family that the Lord will hold them and keep them through this trial, and bring them comfort.

If you think about it during the day, please hold them up in your prayers. They are much appreciated.

I'll Never Know How Much It Cost.....

Tonight we went to Ministry Group. During our singing time, we sang...."here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You're My God, You're altogether worthy altogether lovely altogether wonderful to me.... I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross, I'll never know how much it cost to see My sin upon that cross.........

Then, I pondered, How much did it cost?

If God put the entire existence of the world into place; the sun, the moon, the stars, the planets. He created man, and man fell, and He redeemed mankind. The Cost? The COST? His SON. He sent HIS son. Not mine, not yours....HIS.

He was wounded and bruised for my transgression and iniquity. He was smitten and stricken, and a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.

What did it cost; the events to take place that God put in place? Eternal planning, eternal love, an eternal mindset. So far beyond my finite, conceptual mind that I can NEVER fathom or understand.

But one thing I DO KNOW...

He did it for me, and he did it for you. He DIED that I might live. He died that YOU might live.

Don't take it for granted.

Mommy! Why do we Curse......

"Why do we curse when we sing that song?"

??? What song???

"Hail Jesus You're My King!"

Apparently Sarah thought we were singing

"Hell Jesus Your're My King!"

She is a true Texan! :)

Our Katie

I just want to say something about our Katie. Katie is my very first grandchild.
She was a package deal, and came along with her mom into our family. When I first met Katie, she was a spunky 5 year old. Now she is 11. WOW! What a great kid. What a great grand kid! I just love her so much. She is one of the lights of my life. I love it when she comes to stay the night. I love it when she participates with us in all our craziness. She has openly welcomed each new child into our lives without hesitation, even though she knows it takes gramma time away from her and Lilly. I'm so proud of you Katie. BTW- she won the spelling BEE at her school and is getting ready for JUNIOR HIGH! I can't believe it. She is one beautiful girl.

So here's to you Katie.

I love you

Gramma!

Our Weekend Retreat

Last weekend, all of us were able to go to Family Retreat weekend at Peaceable Kingdom, located just outsie Killeen in the Hill Country.

Peaceable kingdom is a 5013c campground dedicated to serving children with special needs and their families. The Camp is awesome. When we arrived there was a dinner waiting for us, and table games. Then everybody headed up to the theater for more games and a Friday night movie. We then went to our cabins and got snuggled into bed. Every bed in the girl's cabin was taken so Erika and I shared a bed. Anna slept upstairs and Sarah slept on a top bunk across the room. There were giggles until about 1 in the a.m. and then it finally got quiet.

In the A.M., Mike and Anna went for an early walk and the rest of us headed to the main lodge for breakfast and games. Then they divided us into 4 groups. The girls were in 2 different groups and Mike and I wound up in the same group. There were team events including pulling ropes with a hook on the end in order to pick up blocks of wood and move them into a designated area. Some of the children had to tell everybody what to do and which way to pull. (there were 5 or 6 ropes connected)
Then there was Z. A cable tied between trees that formed a Z. They had to figure out how to get between trees with just that line to step on. (2 feet off the ground) TEAM WORK! Then there was the 3 wooden platforms of different size. 4or5 people stood on the platform with 2 planks of wood in different sizes. They had to figure out how to get everybody to the next platform without touching the ground.

Then there was the carnival in the afternoon, put on by a group of teens from the area. After a Chinese dinner, put on by the local Kiwana's club with decorations and all, there was a cool round the fire marshmallow roast. Then, it was time to go to the theater once more.

On Sunday A.M. we headed back home. We really had a neat time.


We were able to meet some wonderful families whose children are all served at Scottish Rite Hospital. I have never met a finer group of parents.

Our Goats Have Arrived!

We have some very excited girlies around here. On Monday afternoon, we picked up 2 of our new baby goats. The 3rd one, a boy, is still too young but will join us soon. The babies have fit right in. They are letting the girls feed them by hand and also letting them walk them on leashes. Oh, has this ever brought huge waves of joy!
The goat in the Pink Collar is Erika's. Her name is "Sweetie Pie". The goat with the yellow collar is Sarah's. Her name is Joy. Anna's is the boy and she still can't decide on a name. She has been googling pet goat names for a few days and her head is swimming in ideas. If you have any goat name ideas, leave a few in the comments. She'd like that. He looks like the girls, but he is a boy. :)

Now you may wonder why I have a picture of the Turkey in this blog. He's just so cute and was courting the goats. He gets very confused. :) But..... what can I say, he's a Minich! :)

Our Very Newest Family Member

We have a large family and we are spread out all over the United States. But that doesn't mean we don't stay in contact and think about each other each and every day!

Our newest family member was born just last week, February 21, 2008. His name is Parker and weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz's. and 19" long. Kellie, his mom, who endured quite a labor, is our first cousin once removed, and 2nd cousin to our children. That makes Parker, our.....????? Hmmmm. Newest Family member.:)

Kirk and Robyn, our cousins are the proud grandparents.

You know, a baby is always such a wonderful thing. The sweet smell, that pathetically sweet cry, the gums without teeth, that special dazed look that dares to focus; such special moments. We look into those little eyes and realize that a whole separate, special, new life, apart from us has entered the world. And while he is apart, breathing on his own, a separate intity, he is also very much a PART OF us. He is totally dependent upon his mom and dad for his life, and what a lucky little guy to be born into such a loving family.

A couple of days after Parker was born, he gave his mom and dad a big surprise. Actually, he gave them a big shock. Parker came into this world with hemophilea.
He let them know, by bleeding. Of course they took him to the emergency room and the
diagnosis was made. He has been in the hospital and at this writing, I am not sure if he is home yet.

No parent wants to hear the words that their child will be different; that their child will suffer more than other children; that their child has a "condition". The words and information go in, and swim around somewhere and we are overwhelmed with trying to comprehend how this could happen. How come us? How come Him?

I don't dare to know the answer to those questions, but there is one thing I do know.
It is that GOD already KNEW. He will hold your hands dear family as you go through the fire. He will be with you as you raise this precious little boy to be all that he can be. And Parker will grow, and smile and laugh and reach out to be loved, and it is so wonderful that on the other end, his family will grow and smile and reach out and they will all connect and love each other and be thankful for this precious little gift. And we cannot wait to meet our new little family member.

Congratulations!

For those reading this blog: Please hold Parker and his family up in your prayers.
They have much to glean about his condition and much to ponder.

Thanks

Sam the Man Turns 1!!!

Samuel Parker Minich has turned 1 year old. I can't believe it. He is such a sweet baby and full of ENERGY! I am sad that I cannot see him as much as I would like, but I know that I'll see him again soon. Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Sam.... and Happy 1 year anniversary to Joe and Becca. (parent anniversary that is) :)

Peaceable Kingdom

This is where we will be heading today. We are so looking forward to the mini vacation for the girls.

http://peaceablekingdomretreat.com/