Please check out DandelionSeeds blog for urgent prayer for Candace. Sign up to pray. Check latest on Candace. Help lift this little girl up in prayer. Thanks…….julie
The coolest thing…
Last night I had the privilege of gathering with 15 other ladies, most of whom I'd never met, to pray for my friend's 13 year old daughter who is entering into womanhood.
Her mom got this idea while listening to someone on the radio talking about gathering a group of men together to pray for his son as he entered into manhood. The father chose several of his closest friends to gift his son with a letter of wisdom and then prayer.
Last night we each gave my friend's daughter a letter we'd handwritten with a small piece of advice or spiritual wisdom in it and a small gift to help her remember the occasion. Some offered advice on relationships, some on purity, others wrote of loving God and ourselves, still others spoke of fun, friendships, forgiveness and the mistakes we made in our teenage years.
We each read our letter aloud to her and told about our gift and why we'd chosen it. Then we prayed for her as a group.
This was the most wonderful introduction into womanhood. It was a Bar Mitzvah of sorts. And I was amazed at how God brought each woman there for a specific reason. We each had something different to share. We each had a story to tell.
The night meant as much if not more to her mother than it did to her I'm sure. It will be in the years to come as her relationship with God becomes her own that He will bring back memories of last night.
Since I forgot both my letter and my gift I plan on giving her a pretty box to keep all her gifts and letters in. I can imagine her pulling it out of a closet or an attic 20 years from now and remembering how much her mom loved her because she cared enough to introduce her to womanhood in this way…..with others who had walked the road before her, with prayer and with love.
Some of the women there had prayed for my friend's daughter since she was in her mother’s womb. How awesome to see this 13 year old blossoming young woman and to again be able to pray God's blessing over her life.
Silly Girls + A Boy
Here's a really silly photo of me, my middle son and my cousins on my recent trip to see my birthmom, uncle, and assorted other family members.
On the road again
Tomorrow we'll be on the road home again. My hubbie was called upon to preach again today. This is the second Sunday in a row he's done so. Everyone has been sick with the flu or some type of bug. Last Sunday he got about 30 minutes warning. This week it was a day's notice.
He had a wonderful friend growing up named Greg. Since he was preaching on teenagers he got to tell stories about their rampages as teenagers. Believe me, the stories are fantastically funny. Since all ours are under the age of 7 he had to pull from his past.
Did I tell you this is the second Sunday he's preached and the Lord has not allowed me to be there? I'm not sure why but it's the way it's worked out.
I love hearing my hubbie preach. He has such a tender heart before the Lord and shines with the light of Jesus when he is teaching. It's so humbling to know that God has brought him to this point in his walk with HIM. Devoted, loving, sincere and vunerable before the Lord.
Praise God for men who love HIM.
My hubbie is definitely one of them.
IN HIM
Julie
(yea, you baby!!)
Sleet in NC
After a beautiful 75 degree day yesterday it's now sleeting and just above freezing. As the saying goes in NC and SC….”If you don't like the weather, stick around, it'll be different tomorrow.”
BRRRRRrrrrr……
Getting Away
This weekend I'm going to see my birthmom (did you know I was adopted) and my best friend and my mom. My sister is having surgery tomorrow so I'll get to check in on her too. Hopefully, I'll see my brother and his son as well. They all live in NC (well, my birth mother is visiting her brother). So getting to see lots of people on one visit.
My hubbie is staying with three of the kids and I'm taking my middle son to have some “special time” with him. I don't feel like we get nearly as much time with him as I do with the other children. He's all excited about getting to go with me. And Nana is taking him shopping for his birthday. This year has been like the neverending birthday. It began last Saturday with his party and is still going. He got a check in the mail today from his other grandmother. 
So….wish me traveling mercies tomorrow.
IN HIM,
Julie
Just a really cool photo
I've been playing around with Photoshop and this is what I've gotten. Cool, huh?
The American Flag
Meaning of the Folding the American Flag
The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our great country was originally founded.
The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a pall on the casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.
In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nations honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
- The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
- The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
- The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks and who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
- The fourth fold represents our weaker nature; for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we
turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidan - The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing
with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.” - The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the republic for which it stand, one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. - The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
- The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we
might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mothers Day. - The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion
that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded. - The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of
our country since he or she was first born. - The eleventh fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
- The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.
flag folding gif comliments of CRW Flags Inc. • Glen Burnie, Maryland
Happy Birthday
Today we had my middle son's birthday party. Last year it was beautiful outside and we had a campfire. This year we had rain and it was cold…..brrr cold.
Here are a few shots.
Have a good Sunday
Julie
More Palm Springs Photos
As we are expecting rain and maybe snow this weekend I thought I'd remind myself and anyone else suffering from “I'm ready for spring to be her” of warmer temperatures. BRrrrrrr it's cold here.
But not here….
Doesn't the tree look like it's wearing a skirt?
Look closely to the left of the tree in the cloud and you can see a bird I caught in flight without realizing it. (above photo)
Many sweet little cotton tailed bunnies scampered around the grounds about dusk. Oh how I wish I could have petted. They were irresistable.
Wishing us all warm sunshine….
and peaceful hearts.
Julie
Wishing us all warm sunshine….
and peaceful hearts.
Julie
What others have said: