Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
~ by 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ~

Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.
~ by Erich Fromm ~

You come to love not by finding the perfect person,
but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
~ by Sam Keen ~

Love does not consist in gazing at each other
but in looking together in the same direction.
~ by Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~

The Polk family

A really cool tree…

Rachel’s birthday meal in paradise

Our trip was interesting with a side of fun to go with it. This was the first time for the children to fly. After six flights, I think they got the gist of it! We went on several tours aournd the island of Oahu that included Pearl Harbor and the memorial of the Arizona, a hike up Diamond Head Crater, various beaches and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We went snorkeling, surfing, sailing on a catamaran boat and swimming. I am so glad to be back! 

I will have to spread the pics and videos out over the next few days…..

PEARL HARBOR AND THE ARIZONA MEMORIAL

Pearl Harbor suvivors!

Wall of names

Oil that still drips from the Arizona after 60+ years!

Bowfin…or The Pearl Harbor Avenger!

U.S.S Missori

Mighty Mo!!

Exerpt from Wholehearted Ministries….

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

    The Lord knows about my work as a mom! He lovingly reminds me that my toil is not in vain. He understands how much I need to be encouraged because he understands weariness. His words and my own echoed in my mind: Be steadfast—hang in there—commit to a heart of steadfastness—choose to be steadfast and immovable—why? Because, my work matters, it is changing history, one life at a time—I am soul-building—it counts.

And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not lose heart.  (Galatians 6:9)

    As I read the next verse, again I seemed to hear God speaking to me: “Don’t lose heart, Sally, I see you, I know you, and I promise that all those prayers you have been praying, all the choices of faithfulness you have made when no one else saw, I heard and saw. You will reap a harvest. Remember, I see you, and I love you, and I am waiting always to speak loving words to you, because you are my own daughter.”

    God tenderly, earnestly called me to himself this morning. My piles, duties, and responsibilities have not changed, but once again, after being in his presence, I am changed. I will turn on music while I work, and I might even dance a bit around my messy kitchen! My words will be softer and my actions more patient, because he has filled me and given me courage. I pray that wi will have the spirit of Mary, Jesus’ own courageous, steadfast mother:

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior. (Luke 1:46-47)

Psalm 103:10-14 (King James Version)

 10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

 12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

……Instead, He sent a SON!

 Getting started..

“This is how you do it…”

Say cheese….I mean COOKIE!

The messier….the better!

One batch down and 20+ to go….

The Patterson’s wreath cookies

“I’ve only got seventy-five years on this earth at best. I want to use them to give someone the Bible.”

Chet Bitterman, martyr for Christ

What better way to use those “seventy-five” years God has given to us?

1 Chronicles 16:34
 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
      His faithful love endures forever.

SIMPLE LIVING QUOTE

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy
things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”

–Will Rogers

BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR TROOPS

A Recovering American Soldier ~ When making out your Christmas card list this year, please include a card or two for the following and encourage your friends to do the same -an easy way to lift the spirit of one who’s been working to save our freedom!  Teachers, this would be a wonderful idea for each of your children to make and send a card.  No extra postage is needed.

A Recovering American Soldier
C/o Walter Reed Army Medical  Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001  

I got these from an email my mom sent me. I couldn’t help but post!

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2 Thessalonians 3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Psalm 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Job 11:18
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.