The Grahams

I finally got them!! Nothing like Christmas in Feb.

2009-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas pictures Yay!!

2009-02-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

2008-11-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I am typing and walking now! Yeah!!!
Thank you for your encouragements, visits, prayers, and meals!! It all has meant so much to our family. Although I'm still not symptom free I am able to do alot more than I was a few weeks ago. Which at this point is a big celebration!!!!
The Lord has definitely been taking me on a journey and I'm thankful for the glimpses He has given of His grace for me. I don't know yet if this condition is permanent or even what my condition is.
Paul said in Romans "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
My prayers and cries to the Lord have changed during these painful and trying months. At first they were for healing... and then I began to pray for just answers... "Lord just let me know whats wrong with me. I don't mind suffering just let me know what I'm suffering with" .
But while I was in the hospital our God very clearly comforted me with his answer ... "Why?, why do you need to know? Do you not trust me? Am I not in charge? Do I not know whats best for you?". These convictions comfort me!!!
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."Romans 8:26

Dinner at The Grahams anyone???

2008-10-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

So....... if you have ever wondered what it was like to prepare a meal for my family on a typical weeknight. Heres a clear picture of the mess!!!
As I'm chopping vegetables for a recipe, I am also putting milk in a sippy cup for Eli and fixing a snack for everyone in hopes that it holds their bellys until dinner!

From the bathroom I hear Abby screaming that the" TOLIET IS FILLING UP" Oh no!! I run to the bathroom where she had pooped and sure enough it was over flowing!! So... I run to the garage to get the plunger with all four kids right behind me. I grab it and soon realize its caught and tangled in a Barbie fishing pole!! Oh no!! Anna and I pull and pull and break it free.

After cleaning up the small interuption I go back to chopping the veggies for dinner, only to hear Eli crying at my feet "change me momma". So......I take him to his room and find a big diahriaha mess in and on his pants!! After cleaning up the small interuption I go back to the kitchen and begin cutting up the vegetables for dinner again.

I soon hear a gross gaging sound from the dinning room. "You have got to be kidding me" . I ran into the dinning room to find my dog Lulu throwing up!!!!!!! Apparently some of the broccoli that I was cutting up for dinner had fallen on the floor and we now know she doesn't like vegetables!! So.... If you ever come to our house for dinner (which I hope you still do) please know I DO WASH MY HANDS!!!! Ha, ha!!!

Thank Heaven for 11

2008-08-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I were able to go on a date over the weekend!!! We celebrated 11 sweet years of marriage!!!! Are lives have changed so much with every year that we have shared and we both have been so blessed to grow together. I am so thankful to have such a loving man willing to spend his time on earth with me. It is hard to comprehend how fast time goes by!!!
THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE
I loved your long hair when we met
I loved your wild ways when you were young
I loved your love for me while we dated
I loved your joy when you met Jesus
I loved your warm embrace
I loved your commitment when we married
Today.............
I love your hair in anyway
I love your thoughtful , gentle ways .
I love your love for our family
I love your joy in knowing Jesus
I love your warm embrace
I love your commitment to our marriage.

Going back to Cali

2008-07-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

The time we shared with my family was amazing!! My parents are only able to visit once or twice a year. So I sure do miss them the rest of the time. While they were here I was able to go out to lunch with my mom, stay up late talking with my brother, and enjoy watching my Dad play with the kids. Saturday night the unexpected happened.......... my Mom and brother went to church with us. It was totally God ordained and I was overjoyed having them join us. My mom said "she believed everything that Matt said except the parts about God." and my brother said "that it was not like he thought it would be like" and "wasn't that bad." (it was the second time he had ever gone to church in his life) I have been praying throughout our time together that the Lord would plant seeds and he definitely opened up conversation about Him. Praise God for my family and my time with them. Oh by the way, Brandon survived and enjoyed the visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone we are still here!!!!

2008-07-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The past couple of weeks have been especially busy. You wouldn't think so, since I have been stuck at home without a car. But I have been so blessed with awesome friends that serve an Awesome God and they have been helping me get to the grocery store, to work, and OUT OF THE HOUSE !! My parents are coming from California this weekend and I can't wait. They are only going to be able stay a few days so the time is going to go by really fast. The kids and I are getting so excited to see them!! Brandon on the other hand may need your prayers!! ha ha!!... ...We are so thankful to Do Life with You and I will post about the visit as soon as I can.

Update!! Update!!

2008-07-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

This just in --- we are going to be able to pay off our totaled car!!!! I called them again this morning in hopes that they would at least not leave us with a bill for a car we no longer have. Praise God and the persistence he provided!!!!!!!!! This has truly been a learning experience for our family. Now, we can go peaceably forward to what ever car the Lord may have prepared for us. God is always good and the bigger picture probably doesn't involve our family at all. But may have everything to do with the other gentleman in the accident! What if the results of the collision included a changed heart????!!!!

Head on Collision

2008-06-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday on our way home from church our family was hit by a car driving on the wrong side of the road! First let me say that we are all o.k. We are so thankful
our Lord spared everyone involved from any major boo boos!! The guy that plowed into us apparently had a suspended license and admitted he had been drinking a bit earlier. It was so surprising to be laughing with the family one moment and then horrified the next. Our car was towed away and maybe a total loss (insurance lingo). I think we will find out in the next day or so if it can be salvaged. But in the end it is definitely just another temporary treasure!! I know God was not surprised by this accident and it comforts me to rest in the fact that he sovereignty allowed it. My heart has been getting heavy and tired from all the challenges our family has faced the last three years. So even though I understand and truly believe the spiritual and relational benefits to trials and tribulation. My own heart is growing weary. The Lord has been so gracious to us and always gives us enough to handle each new day. I don't believe anyone could truly have peace without Him. With what ever is put before us -we have a loving God beside us and in our limited understanding we have an all knowing God preparing. James 1:2 says to consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:12 says blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Thank God we do not have to do this alone, he has left his Spirit !!!!!!! Our family will continue to press into Him and rely on His strength. We love you guys and are grateful for the encouraging words and prayers!!!

God ordained car trouble!!

2008-06-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Last week our car broke down (again). It is basically an every other month event in our lives. Sometimes Coca Cola does the trick. Yes, our car likes caffeine. But this time not even Mt.Dew was going to be enough. So Brandon and I got started making the game plan for the day, figuring out pickups, Dr.appointments, and repair cost. (yuck)!Feeling frustrated by the repetitiveness of the situation I cry 'ed out to God "why?". Not that I should question our potter the author of my very breath. But in this early morning chaos - He answered quite quickly " For my Glory". Ahh!! Sweet conviction! Brandon and I talked about it as I drove him to work in Richardson. And discussed what the Lord may be doing and how quickly we can become self absorbed. So the slogan for the day was going to be " For His Glory". But well, somewhere between Richardson, Lewisville, Denton, and Plano(the places I had to drive that day) I forgot!! And became schedule absorbed. The mechanic was coming to our house so I had to get home (Corinth).The timing worked out perfect! Fluttered, and tired the kids and I played out front and waited on the verdict. While in the garage,who should the Lord send by ? Two Mormons! I heard them approach our mechanic, so I pleasantly greeted them and began a short discussion about my faith in Christ. After they left I felt a nudge from the Spirit and knew THIS is the time. So I just went ahead and asked our mechanic "Are you a Mormon?" He stopped working for a moment and said "No - but for some reason I thought your family was". I dont know if it was the kids or the light skin but I thought it was amazing how the Lord orchestrated this conversation and set the foundations for it months ago. Our mechanic told me he grew up in church but he kinda wished he hadn't. He shared with me the frustrations he and his other mechanic friends had with religious people. Especially Baptist preachers.''They make the worst customers"."They always want a freebe or deal."(An exciting thing about this hot spot is that the last two times he had come to fix our car The Lord had us pay him more than he asked for to fix the car and if you know our situation this truly was a blessing to be able to do) I was sympathetic with alot of the issues He brought up and the Lord let me share boldly about His Grace. That even if we are professing Christians , devout Catholics, or devoted Mormons. We are not perfect, we are all sinners, and we are all in need of a Savior who is found only in Jesus Christ." Thank God he chooses to use us even though He does not need to and for patiently reminding us that The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak Mat.26:41. So shall the slogan continue to be "For His GLORY". Oh and about the car, all it needed was a little Dr. Pepper! Just kidding it was the alternator. Peace out my hommies!!!

Obedience can be hard but made easier with good friends

2008-05-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I got through it!! Thankyou so much for all of your prayers and words of encouragement. It was so awesome to look out as I was sharing my testimony, and see all of you!! What a blessing to be able to rejoice together and celebrate what the Lord has done in our lives!! I love you all and thank God for you daily.

Restless

2008-05-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm writing this blog Sunday night after a couple weeks of restless nights.It started first with a gentle nudge from the Lord and finally with the Holy Spirit booting me out of bed! Confronted by the knowledge that He wanted me to share my testimony, I began to write and pray about where He was taking me. About a week later a friend called me and asked me to meet her at the park. She began to tell me that there was a need for testimonies at CR and she was hoping that I would be willing."What"?! I now knew where he was directing me but still I was hesitant and felt like saying'' I would pray about it.'' But thank God He had already prepared my heart . So instead I said "Yes"....and with that I have to confess that I am a Nervous wreck!!! Will you please pray for me and hold me accountable,that I may be willing, honest, and unwavering. My testimony is supposed to be on May 27th at the Denton campus. I would love for you to come!! Your friend Beth.

Margo

2008-04-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

We're getting a another dog(maybe). Her name's Margo. She looks just like Bubba and we think she'll be awesome. We're adopting her through the American Bullmastiff Association Rescue. Go to the following link to see a pic.

http://www.greatplainsmastiffrescue.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=503346

First Blog

2008-04-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

This is my first time to blog, my friend Caroline is here helping me and teaching me the ropes. I just wanted to say hi blogging buddies.