A Lesson Learned...

February 15, 2007 the author of this babbling brook of twitterings left her home and husband with three small children, an excited black lab, and a very packed Suburban to embark into unknown territory. This trip was within the will, foreknowledge, and permission of a slightly reluctant husband.

But, if you learn anything as a believer in Jesus, you learn obedience. My husband and I were doing our best to obey Jesus despite our reluctance to be apart for the better part of two months.

If you read the last post you know that God showed Gordon and I a vision, independent of each other, of myself and the children care taking the home of my spiritual parents while they went on a Spirit-led trip of their own to Asia.

So, on a very rainy, somewhat cold post-Valentine's day, I loaded the suburban, loaded the dog and children, loaded food and drink, and pulled out of my drive way for the last time for two months.

My departure time was 1 1/2 hours later than I wanted it to be. I was facing a seven hour drive and did not want to arrive at our destination after dark as I had only been there once before and my husband had done the driving and I had done the "ohhh, look at that" commenting. Therefore paying no attention to directions!

We stopped at a popular albeit unhealthy fast-food location to do the last bathroom break and to get small tummies full with the intention of making them sleepy.

The first 2 hours of the trip were fairly uneventful other than pouring down rain, cloudy skies and a stop at a rest stop. The children were being very good and playing well together.

1/2 hour after the rest stop, stop, the boys were becoming restless, antsy, fussy and loud. The rain was wearing on me and I tried to call Gordon to see if I could take a different route than the one he very specifically requested I take as it was major highway 2/3 of the way there. It was also 1 1/2 to 2 hours longer than any other route.

I pulled off the highway and tried and tried to call him. He wasn't answering. So, I began to pray and ask Jesus if I could take a different route. I received no clear answer one way or the other. I had to make a decision and went with the shorter route as my patience was dwindling.

Within a few short minutes of my turn off, the weather cleared up, was beautiful blue skies, a glorious, glorious view ahead and NO rain! Even the boys began to get along better and get drowsy. I took this to mean that God blessed my decision!

Within 45 minutes of my turn off my husband finally called back. I reluctantly told him I veered off course. He was not happy but also, much to my relief, did not insist I turn around. He warned me to be very careful and to pay attention. I wholeheartedly agreed and promised I would do all of that.

At a little over half way, we stopped in a town to get myself a coffee, the children a much deserved ice cream and a pit stop. I asked directions to be certain I read the map correctly and we headed off. I was overjoyed that we would be arriving 2 hours earlier than we originally anticipated. I was praising God for getting us so far, so quick and with relatively little disruption from the backseat!

Just 15 miles after our stop, I could hear my daughters door rattling. We were also approaching the second to last turn off in our trip. I pulled over to the side of the road to get her door shut properly. I looked around for the signs/markers for the turn off that should have been right there. The boys began asking me a bunch of questions, the radio was loud, I was distracted and never saw a sign. I kept going straight ahead.

The road seemed a bit questionable as it no longer had lanes marked and it wasn't maintained well. There were no signs at all, not even to mark what road I was on. I had peace about it though as I knew I should not drive more than 45 miles or so before the next turn. I prayed and prayed and relied on Jesus to get us through. We passed several beautiful farms as the road was a straight-away through the middle of a long somewhat narrow canyon. The sun was still shining beautifully and the children were singing worship songs.

About the same time that I was getting concerned that maybe I had missed the turn 35 miles or so back, the sky became ominously gray, the farms were no longer quite so pretty and then it began to snow heavily.

It seemed an appropriate time to stop and ask for directions. But where does a woman traveling alone stop to ask directions when there are only farmhouses far off the road? Well, she prays first and asks Jesus to tell her where to go. THEN, she listens and obeys Jesus.

This I know because although I prayed and heard which house to go to, I opted for my human brain to know better. I chose a farmhouse close to the road, so I could make a fast getaway if needed.

So, I pull into the terrifically muddied driveway of this somewhat battered home. I was looking for signs of family life as I turned my truck around so I would be facing the road. I saw a few children's play things, I saw cattle in the front of their property. I noticed a dog tied to the side of the house and sitting at the foundation. It seemed well enough and I left the car running, made sure no one was near enough to get to the truck before I could and walked up to the front door. I knocked and could hear someone approaching the door and another dog barking inside.

As I waited for the person to open the door I prayed that it would not be some scary looking man and I turned to look behind me and around me to continue to be aware of my surroundings. The front of the property with the cattle and the road beyond them were at my back. I noticed that in the field with the cattle were about 10-15 dogs looking very shabby and beyond filthy, harassing the cattle. That raised a red flag for me.

Then, as I was turning back to face the door and the rapidly approaching person, I saw a bare boned tree with something hanging in it. I did the fastest double take I ever done in my life and realized to the nth degree of horro* that is was a skin*ed dog hanging in the tree. As I tried to recover my demeanor as the door was now being opened, I noticed a pile of pelts sitting just to my left at my feet and right by the frame of the door way. I saw this right as the foul stench of death hit my nostrils.

It took all I had to appear calm and not bolt out of there praying all the way that this individual would not chase me down with a rifle. I looked up from the decaying pelts in time to notice a long haired Dachschund barreling out the door at me with bared teeth and with a minuscule amount of relief, a woman standing at the door. Albeit, she was hard, weathered and not a sweet grandmother type, but she seemed friendly enough.

I told her I thought I was lost and was looking for Hwy 28. "Where's that?" she says.

Oh. No. I think, as oxygen now begins to leave my body.

"Where ya trying to go?" she asks.

"S" I say.

"Ohhhhh, boy, you're way out of your way."

uuhhhhh. this is not good. not good. in the meantime, every fiber, cell, hair, nerve and limb is SCREAMING at me to get out of there. All I see when I look at her is *itch cra*t and I need to leave NOW. I hear her giving me directions and I am still trying to pray and appear to be listening to what she is telling me, of which I can now only hear the Holy Spirit telling me this is a trap and she is not giving you directions to where you need to be, she is leading you into a snare and get out of here NOW!

As she is giving me directions and I am trying to listen, the dog is barking and jumping at my legs and baring it's angry sharp teeth.

"oh she won't hurt ya." she says.

so I ignore the dog. 15 seconds later the dog takes a bite out of the back of my inner thigh.

"Uh, she just bit me."

"She did! Oh man" As she then beats the dog and literally chucks it into her house.

As she is doing this I turn to look behind me again and now all of the 10-15 dogs I had seen harassing the cattle were now standing behind me in a semi-circle and they were not small dogs, but rather mid-size to large and there were MANY of them.

"Oh, they really won't hurt ya."

uh. hunh. right.

"ok, well, thanks for the help, I better get going."

I think I ran to the car. Got in. Locked the doors. Pulled out of her driveway. Then I hear MrMagoo say, "Mama, what's with all the dead dogs?" Oh. My. There was more than the one I saw???? Oh Sweet Jesus get me out of here. I Pulled out the wrong way and began to go the way she had been telling me. Once again, everything in me physical and spiritual screamed at me to turn around and go back the way I had come when the door was open.

So, I did. I turned around and then literally drove 90+ miles an hour and got out of there. What took me nearly 40 minutes to get in, took me less than 20 to get out. I prayed and praised God the entire way back.

And. What did I see as I approached the place where I had stopped to shut the door that was ajar? A big green highway marker clearly showing which way to go.

The sun was also shining gloriously again upon getting onto the correct highway. This time I for certain claimed this as a sign that I was going the right way.

I also claimed a new truth for me and a dangerous lesson learned: never, Never, NEVER go outside of the will of my husband, ever EVER again.

When I was within 30 minutes of E and G's home I called them to let them know we were close. I got out of the car so the children could use the markets bathroom and I could hardly walk on the bitten leg. The wound was so tender I cringed to touch it and the dog had very clearly broken the skin right through my jeans.

Upon arriving at E and G's home at the same hour I would have had I taken my husbands directive, E prayed for the bite. Upon going to bed that very same night, I could press firmly on the wound and felt no pain whatsoever and all the swelling had disappeared. I gave God ALL the glory for the healing of the dog bite, for saving me and the children from only He knows what and for allowing us to arrive safely at E and G's home.

To this day, I am still praising the Lord for saving me from the consequences of my willful disobedience.

Tying up ends (this one is short!)

Alright! So, you have heard of our first weekend with my "new" parents that Jesus provided to me as a gift.

On our last day with them, a Sunday. We went to church with them. It was a beautiful experience there. Their church was in the early stages of praying for revival and change within the church walls in order to experience change outside of the church walls.

We prayed with E and G along side the church body for their trip to Asia. What a tremendous experience with God that was...all of us praying all at once, with one person here and there speaking more loudly with God's peace and love in their words! It was glorious!

After service we went back to E and G's home in order to eat and finish our loading up of the vehicle. We also prayed with E and G for a person to reveal themselves, or Jesus to bring to them, a caretaker of the property. They would be leaving in 6 days to minister in Asia for 6 weeks, bringing their time of absence to a full two months. E was heavy with concern over who would care for her home, dog, cat, chickens, garden. She did not want to leave the house empty and ship the animals off to others but she would do what Jesus asked.

My husband and children and I left with tears and longing to have more time with these precious, Spirit-filled-led people.

Weather was poor and darkness seemed to fall quickly as it was still early February. Our drive home took almost 8 hours. It was 2 am by the time we reached our door and put the children in their own beds.

Gordon and I slept a bit and then rose to prepare for the day. He did his quiet time and I did mine. (trying to take on spending time with Jesus in the morning for a change, ok, and even daily for a change). By 10am Gordon was ready to go to his office. And, I was ready to face schooling and the days work.

Gordon stood in our kitchen and had a strange expression on his face. I thought at first he was going to tell me he wasn't going to work afterall and would stay home.

He said, "Tam, I don't know if this is me or God but I don't think it's me because I really wouldn't want this, but I think you and the children are supposed to be up at E and G's while they are gone!"

whoa.

whew.

ok.

"Funny thing that you say that...", I said, "God just finished giving me a vision of being up there too, but I thought it was just my own desire. Hunh. Well, should we call them and ask them to pray about it?"

Gordon sat down, dialed their number and got a busy signal. He handed the phone to me, kissed me and said, "I gotta go but you call and pray with them."

The moment his car pulled away from the curb the phone line opened up and I told E and G what had just transpired between Gordon and I.

G said that they had just finished praying about that very topic and that Jesus had shown him the day before we arrived, that we were the family that Jesus had chosen to care for their home. E had been shown during that weekend that we were the family. Yet, neither of them had said anything to us because then, we all knew it was Jesus who did the leading. Praise the Lord!

So, I unpacked, did laundry, repacked and headed back up to Salmon 4 days later.

Gordon was unable to drive with me as he could not break away from work.

What an experience that was and I praise my God that He takes care of us as faithfully as He does.

I praise Jesus for each of you that read these posts. What a gift to me it is to know that whether you comment or not, these words are seen. It is my heartfelt prayer and request that they make an impact on you or someone you know that could use the encouragement.

Oh But God Is Good!

Our weekend with my new parents was so blessed. So much more than I could have anticipated.

E and G live at the end of a canyon in the mountains. 4 miles up a dirt road from the highway. The town lies 9 miles north of the dirt road. They have a few neighbors mostly cattle ranchers, an artist, a bed and breakfast and a few everyday friendly folks.

The house they live in was built by E and G. They started building in 1969. God gave G a vision of the home before they even owned the property. God allowed G to stand in the center of the home so that he could see how the home had been put together and where everything was.

So, he and his wife, E, set up a tepee, built the walls to a garage with no roof and began the road to building a home. Literally. It took nearly six months before the octagon shaped home was barely liveable. They lived through a winter in the tepee and garage and all the critters that living in the wild brings. Jesus clearly gave E stamina and endurance that I have not yet been blessed with!

Once it was barely liveable, they moved in. Dirt floors and a roof with faulty roofing material that leaked like a sieve. Every where.

But they had 8 walls and somewhat of a roof over their heads.

Over the next 10 years they finished it.

It is a beautiful home with exquisite views and wildlife galore (and no more leaking roof).

My husband and I could just hardly contain our appreciation for this place.

The children loved to be able to wander and hide and play without Mama shouting at them to get back from the street or come inside because I didn't like the looks of some stranger walking on the sidewalk. No hollering at them to not go past the neighbors house or no running across the street or no you can't ride your bike that far...

They were free.

After we got some chores done and it was time to rest. We four adults spent some time chatting and discussing the Lord.

My Gordon went out sledding with the children and it left E and G and I to talk more in depth.

E asked what had happened to my Dad. I told them that he died of a massive coronary at age 46. I was able to speak to him twice in the two days before he died. Prior to that it had been seven years since we had spoken.

I told them of my parents divorce. How their own hurts prevented them from raising my sister and I as they should. How they introduced my sister and I to the oc*ul* by the way of new *ge terminology. How supers*itions, g*osts, re*ncar*ation, speaking with the *ead, and hau*tings were all typical and mostly daily conversation.

I told them how I was lost and lonely most of my life. I was a depressed, joyless, frightened, dark dr*nk when I met my husband and what a blessing he was to me and how I believed I would never measure up to be as good as he was.

I told them how much Gordon and I loved each other and how I tried to be a good girl but we still had our first beautiful child out of wedlock.

I told them of the loss of our second beautiful child within the blessed bounds of marriage. The miraculous birth of MrMagoo and and how we almost lost him. The miraculous birth of MisterMister (formerly known as Monkey) and his healing.

I told them of being baptized in the Holy Spirit only a little over a year before and how the power of that seemed far from me until the retreat we met them at.

G looked at me and asked if I had ever renounced all of the o*cul* "stuff" I had dabbled in. I had not. He looked at E and said, well, we better get to this then. He asked if I wanted to be free from all the garbage that came with the dabbling. I didn't realize there was garbage attached but Holy Spirit began to touch me and I began to have a "knowing" that there indeed was quite a bit of garbage and I most certainly wanted freedom from it.

The next 45 minutes were spent with no great fanfare. G would simply ask Jesus where to start. Jesus would give G something that I had been interested in or had at some point in my life had faith in and I would renounce it as a lie, ask for forgiveness from Jesus and G would then tell the spirit to leave or sometimes just praise Jesus for freeing me from the bondage of that lie.

I actually felt a physical tug on my body each time I was given freedom over each one of those lies. It wasn't huge, it wasn't painful, it was almost like a small rush of adrenaline or like driving into a low spot unexpectedly. I noticed it leaving. G also prayed the same thing over our children and praised Jesus for their freedom.

There was a literal, pronounced, and amazing difference in my mindset, in the clarity of my thoughts, in how I felt about myself and those I loved and in the children's attitudes and level of obedience and I even felt as though I walked straighter.

And, of course, I did. All the weight and burden of all those things I used to believe in were still being carried around. Even though I had no faith in those things now. Even though I was saved by the blood of Jesus and baptized with water and the Holy Spirit I was still being physically and mentally and emotionally oppressed by e*il.

Jesus brought things to G to ask me about my past life that G could not have known about. Very specific things that I had not yet shared with them. I was overwhelmed with how Jesus knew me and was sharing with G on how to release me and free me and the children.

Please understand that this time was not spent focusing on how the e*il was impacting my life and that it was all the fault of the enemy or that there was a de*on around every corner. It was quite the contrary.

The time was spent seeking forgiveness from Jesus on some very specific things that I had forgotten about. Had blacked out from my thoughts until this moment. Sins I had brought on myself and allowed the enemy a place to still tell me lies that I would be prone to listen to because of this unforgiven sin.

The time was spent asking forgiveness and praising Jesus over and over from what He had pulled me from the depths of and for freeing me from now and forever more.

Had any one tried to explain this to me two years ago I can honestly say I would have thought them off the deep end. Or, at the very least a religious zealot. Well, I am now a zealot by my own definition.

I have become a zealot by the prompting of Jesus, however. Glory Hallelujah!

Oh, there is just so much spinning through my mind right now, with just how much Jesus had renewed in my mind and how He has changed my priorities and how He has helped me understand scripture more deeply and how I see my children differently, how I care less about what others think and care infinitely more about what Jesus thinks, how I want to be a jewel in my husbands crown at the city gates, how I want my children to know Jesus even better than I do.

Oh, please, please know, that not one word of this is preaching at you, nor is it said to show you what I can lord over you, that I've grown and I know scripture better or know God's will better, Oh, Jesus knows how much I have yet to learn from Him...

I share all this so that you, yes you, can see that God always has more, MORE, for us if we only ask. If you know Jesus and call Him your Savior then bless you. Bless Jesus!

But know, wherever you are in your faith, you can go deeper with God. He wants to impart to you more power, more faith, more gifts (not necessarily material), more love, more discernment, more wisdom, more miracles....so you can in turn give all that away to someone who also needs more. The more you ask and then give away the more you receive.

God is so gigantically humongous and I had Him contained in what my finite mind could process. How incredibly minute that is. How incredibly small minded of me that is.

Jesus loves you with a crazy passion, a wild abandoned love. Why else would He, could He, have gone through a tortuous death just for you?

He did not die to simply get you saved. Hallelujah and Praise God for salvation. But that was only the beginning my beloved.

He did so that you could live and live abundantly, live joyfully, and then show others how to do the same thing.

Does that mean I am saying now go to your pagan of a next door neighbor and start reading the bible to them? NO! It means go to your pagan of a next door neighbor and give them a plate of cookies, or bring their trash cans in, or mow their lawn while you're mowing yours or share the bounty of your green thumb and just LOVE on them in action even if you are mad at God for having to make eye contact with them.

Let those around you simply share in Jesus' love by you loving them and talking about your life.


Oh, by they way, this won't be easy.

Growth in the Lord is not easy. It makes you ill at ease at times. It can make you question your own sanity. It makes you want to turn and run at times. But really. Just where would you run to? If you know the truth (Jesus) and you know the way (Jesus) but you just find it too difficult...to whom and to where will you hide?

Once you know the truth and they way, you cannot turn from it or even simply ignore it without your whole being screaming out at the cost of it. For that expense is far greater than the cost and expense of following Him. That screaming may take the form of restlessness, piti parties, lack of drive in anything or everything in your life, lack of fruit of the spirit (any single one of them), depression, fogginess of the brain, overall dissatifaction in life, and then guilt over feeling that way.

Take those signs as God trying to get your attention, through your very own Spirit, that what He has given you was not meant to get you through until the day you face Him in the gates of Heaven, He has more to teach you, more glory to show you, more love for you to feel.

OK....so that got way off on a tangent and I am praying that somehow Jesus is the one that caused all that and someone is going to read this that needs to hear all that.

You see I had no plans for getting online tonight, I have a visitor arriving in two days (my dear dear bos*m friend April of Your Stitchery Friend (don't bother clicking on her link on my page as it is incorrect and it will not be fixed for another two weeks or so)) and I have one more set of pj's to sew and an Easter dress for Minniemee and a kitchen to clean and on and on I go...not to mention I have to and deeply want to spend some time with Jesus tonight.

Jesus was the one that wanted me to post tonight. He gave me the direction to come do this...the previous posts were all my idea, with His permission. Tonight was different.

My prayer is that you hear/read what it is Jesus wanted you to hear/read. Throw out the rest. Take in only what He has for you.

Bless you dear one, whomever you are. And know and believe just how crazy Jesus is for you and about you. Let more of Him in and just watch Him lift you up!

Continuation of Renewing Renewal

Note: If you have not read the two previous very long posts...it will be helpful in understanding this one.

We left off last time with the retreat being in it's last session and E's Gordon was still finishing off his lesson. Jesus had just confirmed my request to Him through E's Gordon and I was shaken to the core.

E's Gordon stood and prayed over each of us again. Our time together was then over. We all got busy cleaning up chairs and trash and dishes. One of the women I knew and cared about was struggling with the words that E's Gordon shared with her. I asked if E and E's Gordon would pray for her. They agreed and spent the next 2 hours with her.

I had to wait for them to be finished so that I could be obedient to Jesus.

My obedience meant I had to walk over the top of my apprehension, fear of appearing foolish, fear of rejection, fear of being wrong, and outright fear and ask E and G to be my parents. The purpose was a gift from Jesus. The gift was Godly parental instruction here on Earth.

Some of you may be saying well, you're married now, you leave and cleave your parents so why would Jesus give you "spiritual parents" at this point in your life...my husband is the head of my family right?

Well, I don't have a response for that other than, God is God and when He speaks and gives you a task, you do it. Period. Waiting on Him to give you they "whys" and possibly even the "hows" of the task results in disobedience and the high likelyhood of missing out on something incredible your Creator has for you.

In my case and in this situation, disobedience or waiting was just not an option.

So, my husband, of whom did not know what I needed to do, and I waited and waited, ....and, ....waited.

Finally, E and G had a few moments.

I was keenly aware of the time of day both for my husband and I and our children waiting for us, and for E and G as they had a five hour drive ahead of them.

I was keenly aware of being so nervous that my vision was literally impacted and I had tunnel-vision and tunnel-thoughts.

I walked into the large retreat room where the two of them were standing. No one else was out there.

I told them that I needed to speak with them. I told them it was out of pure obedience because I myself was very uncomfortable with the topic.

At that moment I could see my husband walk into the room and I was immediately even more uncomfortable. I did not want a witness to my rejection. I did not want another witness to my tears and weakness and fear.

I had to ignore him. Jesus graciously placed him right behind me so I could not see him, nor did my husband try to help me by touching me or holding me, of which I usually appreciate.

I remember not being able to look E and G in the eyes. I was so emotional, and I do NOT enjoy that, I avoid weeping in front of any one, it's an embarrassment to me.

All the while I am trying to briefly tell them that I do not have Godly parents. My earthly Father is deceased and even while alive was not in my life due to my own sin and his. My earthly Mother is not and has never been nor will she ever be what most of us classify a nurturing mother as. I have been the caretaker. I have had to be motherly most of my life starting at age 8.

I came to know Jesus late in life. At age 32. I have not had the example of
Godly parenting.

Please don't misread this. I am no longer angry or bitter, or hurt or upset. It is simply the way it is and I had, to this point, accepted God the Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to stand in this place for me. To show me how to be a Godly Mother to my own children.

So, I shared all this with E and G.

And.

Then.

I looked at them in the eyes, with my hands out, and said,
"I have to ask you to be my parents."

Jesus graciously, gently, and kindly, did not allow even one second to pass before I received their answer.

E's Gordon immediately opened out his arms and embraced me and held me tight and said,
"I accept you as my daughter. I love you as my daughter. Jesus has said it is to be so and it is so."

E also put her arms around her Gordon and I and held us and said "yes" to each statement her Gordon made.

My husband wrapped his arms around all of us. Me in the middle.

In any instance in the past, even if it had been the day before this one, I would have been unable to tolerate being held like that for only a scant few seconds and would have become so uncomfortable, uneasy and possibly even clau*tro**obic.

But on this day. In this moment. I didn't want it to end.

Being held so closely by people I cherished despite not knowing them was a longing deep inside of me that I did not know was there.

Jesus was also there in it, around it, through it. His presence is unmistakable. Undeniable. Incomparable.

I sobbed all through E's Gordon praying and praising Jesus for this moment. His mouth was right at my ear and I heard every word without confusion or distortion. There was no mistaking that they both had accepted me. They both loved me, truly, with a love given by Jesus. I knew it because I was feeling it for them. I had only known them a few hours and yet I loved them with a love that can come only through a gift from God.

This kind of love is pure, sure-footed, precious, Holy, gentle, powerful and more real than most other kind of loves. (exceptions could be the love of children and spouse)

I don't know how long we stood there like that. All holding each other. All weeping. All praising Jesus. It was long enough for my tears to have soaked E's Gordon's beard. Long enough for my eyes to feel thick from sobbing.

We broke our embrace and all were happy. Not one of us really understanding the extent to which Jesus had given us all a gift.

"This has to be real. This cannot be just a "moutaintop retreat high". It must be as a true parent-daughter relationship, not simply "spiritual"." They agreed and we hugged good bye and my husband and I got into our truck and began to drive away.

As my seatbelt clicked into place, I had a picture in my mind, a vision if you will, of a large black spinning funnel. As if you were looking into the top of a tornado. It was big and deep and even though I could not see it, I knew it was being filled up. It was being filled with the love of Jesus and E and G.

Then, the image was gone and Gordon and I began talking excitedly about all we had experienced on this weekend.

Inside of an hour I had another image, or vision. It again was the funnel, only if wasn't spinning anymore, and it wasn't black. It had been filled almost to the top. It was now white, peeling and scaling back around the rim of it and there was only a slight indentation where the hole had been. Then it was gone.

Another 30 minutes and I saw it again. This time the only telltale sign of the big black spinning deep hole, was a very slight peeling around the edges of it. The hole was now even, flush to the surface. As if you had a gouge in your skin and it had healed perfectly, only the edges were peeling where new skin met existing skin.

Then, at the moment I realized that the hole was now healed and filled in, I felt as if I were being literally washed with love and the greatest sense of safety and comfort and protection that I had ever, EVER felt. The sensation was like what I would imagine standing under a warm waterfall would feel.

I immediately shared this with my husband and we wept. We both knew that God had so much more in store for us. This was most definitely not the end of the gift.

Upon returning home from this retreat, God told me I was to call E and G and ask them when we could visit. God was very clear that we needed to visit them before they left on a mission trip to Vie**am.

They weren't sure about the timing but said they would pray about it. They called me back within 15 minutes and agreed to us coming the weekend before they were to leave.

The weekend we would visit was the 10th of February of this year, which was a Saturday. They would be leaving their house Sunday the 18th.

E and G live 7 hours the long way and 5 hours the short way from our home. In the Winter, you must take the long way.

We enjoyed the trip a great deal because it was so very VERY beautiful and I was given the privilege of seeing a part of our state I have never been to before. We were all very excited about meeting up with our new friends and family!

The children did not yet know that E and G were given to me as parents. God didn't seem to require that they know just yet.

We spent the Friday night before at a darling antique bed and breakfast. It was even the original stage coach stop and Hotel for the area. The owners have done just a lovely job of restoring and taking care of it. They were more than gracious to us and loved on our children and we all enjoyed each other and getting to know each other. They were also friends with E and G.

Saturday morning we headed up the hill to E and G's home.

We were nervous with anticipation of what God had in store for us.

We all visited with chit chat and a bit of testimony from E's Gordon. We then made sure they knew we were not there to be catered to as guests but to help them with what they needed to do before they left on their trip.

Relief seemed to wash over them as G needed help with cutting a tree down for a neighbor and E needed to get daily chores done. My husband helped G with the tree and the children and I helped feed the chickens, play fetch with the dog and get meals prepared.

They have 10 acres and lots of little cabins on their property in addition to two homes. They used to run a school for learning about the Holy Spirit and learning how to live Godly lives and people and families would come here to live for 2-4 months at a time. Although they no longer do this, the property is just beautiful, and the cabins are kept in good shape. A large creek runs through it and so many trees you couldn't count them all.

There is a large fort for the children to play on, a zip line and swings....the children even got to go sledding down their long sloping driveway...

We all loved it here.

Must stop here and continue the rest later...

Allow me to remind you that I am on dial-up in a remote location for 3 more weeks and it just has been so difficult to read all who I want to read...forgive me and I will begin again upon my return home to DSL!

Your comments have been so encouraging and soothing for me thank you~

May the resurrected Jesus bless you and stir up in you a deep desire to seek Him all the more...
(we all could seek more couldn't we?)