I am so thankful to be an American. I love my country even more after spending the day in Colonial Williamsburg listening to all that our forefathers went through in order for us to free,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind words, well wishes, and prayers offered to me and my family. Our trip was truly amazing! It was probably one of the best trips our family has ever taken. We started our week at Busch Gardens, of course. (Griffin was not happy about having to stop for a photo op.)
We dropped into some amazing places. (85 ft.)
If you did not know where you were going, you could get a little confused.
We hung around in some pretty lofty places. (165 ft.)
But there were some places my family had to go without me. (205 ft)
We did not miss one opportunity Water Country offered. (No photos of me in a bathing suit available.) Most pictures of me whether atop the highest water slide or 210 feet in a small car harnessed only by a small rubber pedestal tucked securely up to my waist, would find my mouth wide open, eyes tightly shut, and head firmly planted against the headrest repeating, "I can't believe I am doing this. What am I doing up here?" I was the one aboard the ride screaming the loudest. Yes Diane, that was probably me you heard yelling.No matter how little sleep I got, heat I endured, or frightened I might have been, I never reached my
10 Comments:
Welcome home!
Loved seeing the pix. Wendy, you are one brave and adventurous woman! Whooeeee! (my feet stay on the ground and scream in delight for those taking the ride!)
I am off to the beach with my peeps...
Wendy, welcome home! Enjoyed seeing all the pictures you have posted through out the week and today. So glad you had a great time!
Happy 4th Everyone!
Love,
Brandee
Welcome Home Wendy! Love, loved, loved the pictures! Thank you for sharing your family with us! I feel as tho I've taken a little trip myself reading about your comings/goings! :)
ok, today's reading is SO good! Psalm 42. verse 4 -He's remembering his joy in his past intimacy with God... And then verse 11, and (then it is repeated in 43: 5)-
Daily when our heart is sad ---
*We hope in God
*We praise Him over and over
*God is our Savior!
The Lord provided and took care of David when he was forced to be a fugitive. David did not know that his "trials" were intentionally part of God's plan, used to develop his spiritual life! God brought David into circumstances to complete His purpose for him! Don't we all tend to be concerned with the "thing" before us; let us look at it differently! God is quite possibly doing a work within us! That is so BIG to me!
This is why Peter and the apostles were "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name" Acts 5:41.
Our loving father puts twists in our path, puts situations before us, and even stretches us, to prove to us that His grace is sufficient in EVERY situation!
Every situation that we are faced with, good or bad, is for our good.
44:8 "O god, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name." Hmmm...remember Joy telling us about how we "deleat words from the Bible..." Well, this says "all day long, & constantly" I'm not anywhere there yet!
Happy, happy 4th dear girlfriends!
Hugs & prayers, Lori - AZ
WELCOME HOME!!!! What a fun post!!!! Quite witty!!!
The verse that held my attention today was, “All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.” Psalm 44:17-18
The ever popular question surfaces again. Why do bad things happen to good people? The Psalmist here is expressing the bewilderment when suffering seems undeserved.
Lord, I haven’t forgotten You. I’m keeping your laws. I’m not wandering from my walk with You. My heart is in Your hands. Why am I experiencing defeat despite my faith and obedience? Why has “all this” happened?
Are you in an “all this” season? It’s easy to identify. It’s marked with questions, doubts, confusion and countless why’s.
God wants to take our “all this” and transform it into one of the “all things” that He is working together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).
I read a commentary saying that “all this” may not be punishment, but a battle scar that demonstrates our loyalty. Do I love God for what He does or for who He is? Is my commitment conditional and my allegiance qualified, dependent on His blessing? Bad things happen to all people. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, Matthew 5:45. The storm hit’s the home built on the rock as well as the sand. The difference? When the weather clears and the damage is surveyed and assessed, the foundation of faith has remained. Touched. Shaken. But firm.
Maybe the mystery is not so much that bad things happen, but that God allows great things to happen for His redeemed. Is not the good we receive even more undeserving? I'm just saying...
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Hugs,
Joy
I was hoping you'd share pics of your children...they are cuter than little bugs ears! :)
I'm with Joy...what a Fun & "Whitty" post! Loved that Whit's End sign...we will all probably call that to mind a time or two! :)
I'm also with Sharon ~ I'm a cheerleader for those who ride the rides. In my 20's I loved to climb aboard, but something inside me shifted...just can't do it anymore! The pics alone make me gasp!
It's great that we are all back together again in time to wish America a Happy Birthday as well as wish each other a delight-full weekend!
...the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. Psalm 42:8
Rest in him this weekend and Be Encouraged!
Liz
AK
Beautiful images and anecdotes of laughter. You have such a beautiful family. God bless you!
That my faith remains. This is my lifelong prayer. That my faith will remain no matter what happens in my life.
Lord; I'm gonna need help on this one. Please always guide me. Amen.
Morgen
You go girl, I knew you would scream on those roller coasters. The last time I rode the Big Bad Wolf, it just hurt! That's when I thought maybe I was getting too old.:-)
Your family is beautiful. I want to just reach through the computer and pinch Griffin's cheeks. He has that look my boys do. (please mom lets just get on with the fun) But when you show him this picture in a few years, he will love it.
Did your daughter love the Clidesdale Horses? Aren't they just the most beautiful horses? We had one here for a bit.
So glad you had a good time. You know a picture of you at Water Country on one of those rides might be a fun shot at She Speaks! tee hee.
Hugs,
Diane
Joy, thank you for your faithfulness this past week. Your writing is so insightful. Hugs to you sweet sister.
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for sharing your vaction with us. It looks like you had a great time and got home safe and sound.
love,
nancy
Good Sunday afternoon sisters,
I just wanted to pop in and comment on part of our reading for today.
Psalm 49:16-19, "So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day."
Out next to these verses I wrote the year and the list of all the celebrities that have died in the past few weeks. The most recent death of Steve McNair being shot yesterday in the forefront of my mind really stood out to me as I read this. We are HUGE football fans here at our house and the TN Titans are our favorite team. For those of you that might not know, he was the former quarterback for the Titans for many, many years. It has been released that he was shot to death with another woman that was living in his apartment in downtown Nashville that was not his wife. There are more details, but it is pointing to the case that she was his girlfriend from all that has been released. You think of him, Michael Jackson and all the celebrities that have recently died and what does all that fame and wealth amount to now?? Not much! Did they have what mattered most? Christ! None of that stuff really matters and although they might live the life of the rich and famous here on earth, it is all passing and they can't take it with them. As another Psalm in our reading states, "I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked" (Psalm 84:10).
Hope you all have had a wonderful 4th!
Brandee, TN
Post a Comment
Home