Filled with FAITH on this Favorite Foto Friday

Hello friends,

My favorite photos today are the sweet faces of my children . . .

I love each of my children completely, unconditionally and fiercely! I pray daily for them, I watch over them and would do anything to protect them. More than anything I want my children to grow up and be happy . . . loving God, helping others and doing their best in life. I want them to be proud, yet humble. Happy, yet compassionate. Successful, yet not greedy. I want them to be loved and know how to love back. They are my world . . . and I know that many of you feel the exact same way about your own children. I want to give my children all the blessings this life has to offer . . . Oh, how I wish I could guarantee - and give my kids the perfect life.

But I can't.

They will eventually grow up and make their own decisions . . . and already I have learned that I can't protect them from everything - no matter how hard I try or how much I pray. I know that their hearts will be broken, sad times will come and life will sometimes be challenging for them. But I can always promise to be there for my children - available to help them no matter what they go through. I feel their pain when they hurt and my heart soars with joy when they are happy. I love them with all of my heart and soul and I know that I always will . . . through life and death.

"Faith is being willing to trust God - turning your hopes and problems over to Him and trusting in His wisdom - and knowing that somehow everything will turn out for the best. No matter how difficult or dark things become, there is always a light."
Barbara Jean Olsen

Many of you have questioned how I can keep my faith despite all the hardships we have been through. How can I be so trusting of the Lord when we have watched our child suffer and pass on to Heaven? The bible tells us that

"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate."
Psalm 103:13.

I like to think that God loves us MORE than we can imagine . . . even more than we care for and love our own children. We live in this fallen world . . . and unfortunately sickness, evil, tears, sadness and death are a part of it. We make our own decisions . . . and choose how we live our life on earth. I see God as our Father - wanting all those things for US that we want for our own children. I see God hurting when we do and loving us through life and death. I see Him always here with us - helping us through this life with His strength, His grace, His mercy and His love. I see Him forgiving us when we sin - just as we forgive our own children for the mistakes they make. Having children has made me understand better the love God feels for us and has strengthened my love for Him. It is so hard to comprehend God loving us MORE - but He does! I choose to trust God and praise Him and thank Him everyday. I am so grateful for the grace He pours down on our family - for we could not have gotten through the past 4 years without Him. And I am most thankful for the HOME he has prepared for all of us in Heaven because it gives me the promise of seeing Jacob again!

I am still stumbling along on my faith journey - but my faith grows stronger each year. I have seen God's miracles in our life, felt His peace and soaked up His love. I am blessed to have God in my life because I couldn't make it without Him. However, I am still learning and I definitely have my moments of weakness when I cry out to the Lord in anguish asking "WHY??" Faith is a life-long learning process - but I am anxious for my relationship with God to continue to grow . . . I am thirsting for more!

We are all at different points in our faith journeys . . . and that's okay. Everyone is different and I don't judge anyone for their beliefs. We all have to travel our own paths and make our own decisions. FAITH is not a destination - it is a continuous journey as we learn to let go of our life and give it to God. The journey is not always easy - but no matter where we are on the journey - God is with us - loving us, forgiving us, holding us . . . always. God never lets go. EVER.



Ending with a scripture . . . It's a long one today - but one that is so reassuring to me. I hope you take the time to read it and soak up these words. This is how I picture God . . . This is why I can trust Him!

"The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who honor him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who worship him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!"
Psalm 103:6-18

I am sharing the video of the song, "More" by Matthew West. I know I have shared this song before . . . but it is definitely one of my favorites. Have a wonderful weekend my friends. Love on your children and know that God loves you MORE!


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE "MORE" VIDEO!


Trusting my Father,

And because I take way too many pictures and it's too hard to choose just one - I have posted many pictures of Allie below! :)

Our beautiful girl

This is the face Allie makes when you tell her no . . . ;)

I just love her faces . . . she always looks so different in each picture!


HAPPY FRIDAY!