Have A Great PINK Day!

Soooo, I have noticed that Skyline Church (the one in referenced in the previous post) sermon page is being "updated". I will call them and find out when they will have it fixed and then post and let you readers know! You don't want to miss it!!

Just a few more days before school starts - the 25th!

The above beads are for a scrapbook page I am working on. Cute, Huh?

A Few Good Things

I always hate posting when there is a picture at the top of the screen because then the picture is not the first thing you see. :(

There are a couple of things that I have helped me understand Heaven more. Both I have read/listened to either on the plane to take Noah home or on our way to Myrtle Beach last weekend. I want to share them with you. Hopefully, they will encourage you and help you to understand a place that is beyond earthly words.

First, is the book called "The Shack" by William P. Young. You must know that I am not a reader. I'd much rather be scrapbooking. :) But, this book came recommended to me and I could not put it down. In fact, on the plane to take Noah home, he was apparently bored that I was reading so much. He said, "Mrs. Frazier, the 'fasten seat belt' sign is on and that means you can't read." ;)The book is fiction. It is about grief - more specifically about a father and daughter. It gives great insight to Heaven and the love of God, and why He allows us to suffer. You can get it at the Christian Book Store, Sam's Club, Wal-mart, etc. You will cry your way through it and think of 10 people you could pass it along to.

Second, is a series of sermons from one of Terry's friend's church, Skyline Church Rancho San Diego. Here is the link: http://www.skylinechurch.org/index.php Over to the left you see "sermons", click on that and find the 5 part series called, "If I die before I wake". I downloaded them on my Ipod (is that the best invention, ever?) and listened to them last weekend. The first one is especially great. He gives lots of scripture reference and encourages you to look them up so that you can share his message with others. I am going to listen to them again because there is a lot of information.

So, that is the end of my book/sermon club. If you got others, let me know!

I Do's

Fifteen years ago today Jeff & Karin said their "I do's". 'Till death do they part.

Even then, he has not parted.

When I was talking to Jeff yesterday and we were talking about their anniversary, I reminded him to focus on the great 14 (almost) years they did have, not they years they did not get to have. Then I added that that did not even include the time they were not married. Jeff reminded me that they had known each other since they were 14. Fourteen? That is a along time. Let's see, if had known my husband when he was 14 I would have been 9. :) Hee hee. That is a long time to have known and loved someone.

You will have lots of memories to keep you occupied today, Jeff.

Living on His Grace & Mercy Everday

I got home from taking Noah home late last night. I always feel like a celebrity when I go to see the Carters. I get the red carpet rolled out for me. Noah and I were not even in the car at the aiport before Jeff's Mom, Enola, was filling me in where we were going for the evening. Brought a smile to my face. What girl would not like the celebrity treatment??

I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Noah over the last 10 days and he has such a good handle on missing his mom. He misses her, yes, but he is happy to talk about her. One day he came downstairs while I was making M & M cookies. He asked what was I making and I told him. He said, "My Mom makes those. Where did you learn to make those?" I told him that my Mom had taught me to make them. He smiled. I reminded him that my Mom was in Heaven too and then I said, "Maybe your Mom and my Mom are making these cookies together in Heaven." Another big smile. I just have a peace that he is in a good place in his grieving.

Jeff is doing well. He is noticably different. He has a lot on his plate and he has alot of help to try and cover all the bases. He is running from 6AM to 11PM. His to-do list is a mile long. Single Dad stuff. All that said, he knows he is blessed. He said when he starts to forget it he thinks of Karin's friend Shannon who recently died of cancer and Shannon's husband died a few years earlier. Left behind are two kids the same age as Salina and Noah without any parent to raise them.

It could be so much worse.

With God's grace and mercy we will make it through. Day by day.

They all still need prayer. And a lot of it. The after school homework/dinner/bedtime process is overwhelming, at best. There used to be 1:1 ratio for homework and now there is not. (when school starts, I mean). Noah needs someone to almost stand over him to keep him focused and that is not always possible, even with the grandparents pitching in. It is stressful. Please pray about the logistics of the after school/evening time frame.

Both kids deeply miss their Mommy but Salina is at such a critical age to not have her Mommy near her. It concerns me, for sure, but I know that God allowed us to go here, so He must think we can handle it. This is where we can pray for His grace and mercy to follow these kids. God is the father to the fatherless. I have to believe He is the Mother to the Motherless too.

I leave you with 2 cute pictures. One of the kids swimming and the other is of Noah's "bed" on his last night at our house. All the kids slept in our Bonus Room (by choice - we have plenty of extra beds!). They spent hours making their "beds". Noah slept on the seats of 3 chairs, a ottoman, and a big cushion on top to make it comfy.