We Are Family

Kandace, Travis, David, me, Tiffany, David

My friend, Valerie, took this picture of me and my family after church Sunday. It's not often we get together in a picture as I'm usually the photographer. Thank you, Val, for asking if we wanted our picture taken. I'm so glad I had my little camera in my purse.

My daughter in law and daughter before leaving for church.

engagement pics

Tiffany & Travis as small children

Family! How important one's family should be.

I thank God for my husband who has taken such good care of us from day one of our marriage. Very few times has he missed a day of work. He's dependable; he's a good worker; he's honest; he's caring; he's a wonderful husband; he's a terrific father; he's a child of God. I've learned so much from him in the 37 years we've been married. He understood the meaning of FAITH when I didn't have a clue of what it really meant to depend upon God.

From the time he was 5 years old his mother was battling breast cancer. His father's job took him away from the family for long periods of time, leaving his mother to care for three small children (my husband being the youngest.) He saw his mother dealing with the hardships of sickness, money being tight, handling all the activities of children, and suffering alone with her illness. He SAW faith in action and understood what it meant to lean on God. Through trials and tribulation this lady was an example of the "gifts of the spirit": love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

I thank God for my family! My mother who had my sister 10 years before having my brother and then me, 3 years later, was the rock of our family. At the age of 38, she was dealing with a husband who suffered a life changing heart attack. Their plans were suddenly changed as he continued to have heart attacks and could no longer work. Out of necessity, she took a job to help with the finances. Our lives were not the same. My daddy struggled with the effects of having a weak heart while mother struggled with juggling a job and caring for children. She too set an example of what it meant to lean on God.

My brother, me, daddy and mother.

As I look at my children and see them starting their families I pray that I've given them a glimpse of what it means to depend on God. Although we've been blessed as to not have any life altering situation that changed the course of our lives, I pray that they've seen their dad and me seeking to know God's truths through our examples. My desire is for them to know Him; lean on Him; seek Him; love Him; depend on Him.

Family. They come in all different sizes but we all come from a family! What a wonderful plan God had for us here on earth. Maybe your family is not what you'd desire but it's what you have. Period! Thank God for them.

We also have our "family of God" our brothers and sisters in Christ. As in our "flesh and blood" family, some easy to love, others not so easy. But they are our family just the same!

Reach out to your family today. Tell them you love them. Let them know that you thank God for them. Pray for them. Ask God to bless them. Pray for the very best for them.

Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

God's blessing to you today!