Colorful Easter

Girls at First Baptist Dallas

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. Jesus. Enough said. But I'm a little wordy today, so I'll add a few more. Grin!

We had the most wonderful Easter service at First Baptist Dallas.

We had decided to attend the early service, hoping that it might not be as crowded. On the way to church, we stopped for a quick bite at McDonalds for breakfast. Pouring rain came. We got wet. My skirt was completly soaked, but due to an umbrella, my hair barely got wet. I was so thankful, or we would have had to turn around and go back home. And with a seat-warmer and Kleenex, my skirt dried. When we arrived at the church, the early service was already full. But that didn't stop us. We stood first in line for the next service for over an hour! I wouldn't wait that long for a ride at Disney, but we knew the service would be worth the wait; and it was.

Way to go, Dr. Jeffress ... way to go, God! The new sanctuary is just beautiful. I felt as though I were sitting and soaking up a truly historical moment. And I was so thankful to be a part of it.




Girls at First Baptist Dallas, Easter 2013

Shelli and Katelyn

Shelli and Karalee

Before ...

After ...

Jesus, you color our world! And I thank you!

April 2013 Missions Mosaic-WMU

Hey sweet friends! Just a heads up that I have two articles in the April 2013 issue of Missions Mosaic (WMU). Go here if you'd like to order a copy. Or call 1-800-968-7301. My first article is a "Missionary Focus" article on a precious couple from Southeast Asia. I got to Skype them ... an amazing and fun experience! Y'all, they have been there since 1986, the year I graduated high school. Gracious! Amazing service and amazing people.

Then, my second article is on "how to cope through a child's life-threatening illness" ... if you know anyone with sick children, I think this article would really help and encourage them. I have lived it, you guys ... our daughter had a kidney tumor (cancer) back in 2001. She was just a year old then.

Much love,
shelli

My Beloved Ma-Maw

Ma-Maw about 26 years old

My beloved grandmother, Leola Stinson, has gone to be with Jesus, as of February 11, 2013, 11:35pm. My very favorite story that she used to tell me was about the first time I stayed with her. My mother and dad had gone to visit her and were going to let my older sister, Donna, stay with Ma-Maw. But I was too small to stay. As we were leaving, Ma-Maw said that I reached out my tiny arms to her. And I got to stay. I reached out my arms because I saw someone who loved me; and I wanted to go to her and stay with her.

 

On my grandmother's final day, numerous times in her ICU hospital bed, she looked up and reached her arms up. The nurse was concerned that she would pull her tubes out and would help lower Ma-Maw's arms. So when the nurse walked out, I followed in her footsteps, and when Ma-Maw raised her arms, I would help lower them. Though I kept looking up, wondering what amazing sight Ma-Maw was seeing. We got tickled later on, realizing that Ma-Maw couldn't go to be with the Lord until we all left the room and stopped lowering her arms. You see, she was raising her precious arms because she saw someone who loved her; and she wanted to go to Him and stay with Him. That someone was Jesus, her Savior.

 

Ma-Maw, I have adored you on this earth, and I will adore you in Heaven. I couldn't have asked for a better grandmother. You taught me everything you possibly could. I am broken-hearted; I will miss you terribly. But I'm so thankful you are not in pain anymore and that you are with Jesus.

 

You are my Ma-Maw.

Ma-Maw and Karalee

 

Ma-Maw and Katelyn

 

 

 

My beloved Ma-Maw and Pa-Paw; I will love you both forevermore.

Happy New Year 2013!

February 2013 Issue

Just wanted you to know that I have a new "Cover Story" out with WMU's Missions Mosaic magazine, February 2013 issue, titled "Great Return" sharing how Women on Mission groups are aiding Christian Women's Job Corps (CWJC). If you would like to get your hands on a copy call 1-800-968-7301 or go to the WMU website to order one.

A Texas Rarity

For those of you who live in Texas, you know that snow is rare. We are so blessed to see snow "once" a year. But for it to snow on Christmas Day? That is rare, my friend!
IT SNOWED ON CHRISTMAS DAY! Can you believe it? I can't.
But I sat there watching it come down,
and I praised God for such a sweet blessing.
And on Christmas Day?!

Lord, you truly color our world!

 

 

 

Something New

Drawn by Karalee on our new
Christmas tree box!

Welcome to the 2012 Christmas season! It is glorious. We have leaves falling, and we are delighting in the cool breeze. Oh, we wish we had an indoor fireplace. We have an outdoor fireplace; imagine that! And we have a firepit that we greatly enjoy on the weekends. We burn off the fallen limbs around the property and enjoy sitting around the fire. But on the days it is too cold to be outside, we long for that indoor fireplace. I don't think we'll get an indoor fireplace, because our space is limited. But we are trying to figure out the best spot for a small wood-burning stove. We really need one for back-up heat in case of an ice storm and electricity lost. Unfortunately, that probably means parting with a piece of furniture; and I'm the sentimental type. So, that is going to be really difficult for me.

Brand new tree

This leads me to another item we need to part with - our old Christmas tree. I don't remember the year we bought it, but it has to be over 15 years old. The layout of our "little house on a county road" is very different than we've previously had, and there just isn't room for that broad tree! So, we had to buy a new "slim" tree. I really love it though. Our old one was 7.5 feet; and our new one is 9 feet. That extra height is glorious. We had to place it in our entry way ... leaving just enough room to open the front door ... there simply was no other place. But it is so pretty there, and the lights on it shine through the front door at night. Makes me smile.

I'm not the only sentimental sap around here. My husband wants to keep our old tree and set it on the front porch with lights. I'm all for that! It so hurts to part with the old to make room for the new and necessary. And that is why there is a dollhouse high above the front door in the photo (look closely). One daughter is a teenager, and the other soon-to-be; but a special friend gave us the dollhouse, and hand-delivered it all the way from Mississippi. You know what I mean! But hanging on to the old can overcrowd us - our closets, doorways, and our garages - and keep us from having room for new growth.



Stockings were hung on the "bookshelf" with care ...

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Jesus came that we could part with the old to make room for the new and necessary. It's spring cleaning in December! Let His light shine through your heart's door. If you haven't pushed away the old to let Jesus be your new, it's time to consider - something new.

(Please do not look closely at this picture!)

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Shelli


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy Fall, Y'all!

 

Just a few pictures to share with you what's been happening around our house.

Happy fall, Y'all!

 

Pumpkins yet to be carved.

Peppers from my pepper plants!

These roses don't make good "vase roses,"
 but they line the front of our home, smell wonderful, and make my heart happy!

Aslan and Lucy gazing upon "fall,"
and longing and "rising" up to the challenge for another great escape! Oh, yes.
But that is another story.

Monopoly. I can't own up to a game played. I'm not much of a Monopoly fan.
But I'll fess up to a few games of Princess Uno!

Pray for Rita

Friends, I don't normally do this through my blog, but I have a prayer request. My childhood best friend's mother was just recently diagnosed with lymphoma. The cancer is advanced, so her chemotherapy treatments will be advanced. I know God will carry her through this uphill battle, but she needs prayer.

If you would like to see her caringbridge page, I have it linked.

God bless you for praying for Rita.

Shelli

*** Just want to let you know that my sweet friend is in remission. Amazing grace. Thank you for praying for her.

Reason to Rejoice

Dr. Bowman and Katelyn with band-aid on arm!

We always have reason to rejoice, but this week we have a special reason. Our daughter, Katelyn, had her yearly check-up with her oncologist, and she is 11 years cancer-free! Every time her oncologist walks into the room, he reminds us how many years he has known us ... 10, 11 ... so grateful for him. And let me tell you, we are so grateful for every year we get to go see him.


Cook Children's in Fort Worth has just recently remodeled their hematology/oncology department. It is truly amazing. I wish I had taken pictures of the waiting room ... huge.



Dr. Bowman with Karalee and Katelyn

I felt like a horrible mother though as we entered the building. I had brought Katelyn's numbing cream (EMLA cream) that I always use on her arm when she gives blood. She used it for all her chemo treatments and bloodwork, and it saved her many tears. That is one product we are truly thankful for. Since that time, I always used it on her arm for when she had to give blood. She was the only child I ever saw that would give blood with a grin. Well ... I forgot to bring the EMLA cream inside with us. I left it in the car. We had walked so far to get to inside the building, and we were just right on time for our appointment; I just didn't have the time to go back to get it. I was really concerned she was in for a rude awakening giving blood this time. But ... she smiled. That sweet child truly amazes me (coming from one who used to literally pass out when giving blood).

Build-a-Bear again!

Then, though her daddy has said over and over again, "This is the last Build-a-Bear" ... he made a bee-line straight to Build-a-Bear and let both girls make yet another one! She deserved it.



We thank you, Cook Children's and Dr. Bowman for years of excellent care.


Love, Shelli

Up on the Roof!!!!

"Little House" on a County Road

Hello! It's been all summer since I've had a real chance to write. Long story short ... we sold our house in Fort Worth and moved to country house in Royse City, Texas! Here is our home:

Moving was so much harder than I had remembered. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Though I miss my friends and the Fort Worth Zoo back in Fort Worth, we can ride our bikes, swim, play basketball, go walking on our county road, walk our property (5 treed acres) ... things we haven't been able to do freely the last three years of city life. And how I needed this activity ... exercise.

Our new country friends consist of ducks, raccoons, swift foxes, spiders, and scorpions! Meet "Snowy" and "Freckles" ...

"Snowy" and "Freckles" must belong to our neighbors, but they come waddling everyday to see us.
Thank goodness for $1 loaves of bread!

This raccoon was on our front porch last night ... stretched its paws up and peeked in front door.
We fed it a slice of bread so it may return!

One would mistake this for "our" dog ... this is "Sammy," our neighbor's dog who seems to claim us, too.

We have heard there are Copperhead snakes in our area. Our neighbors claim of seeing them constantly, say Copperheads are ankle biters and that we should wear boots outside. Thankfully, I haven't seen one since we have been here. But I own a new pair of boots, and I'm not ashamed to wear them with shorts!


Aren't the boots cute? The girls picked them out! Pink, of course!



This picture is blurry, and you should thank me for it! We were looking fairly rough here. See my "knee high socks" peeking out of my boots?!



Walking the property, hoping not to run into anything that resembles "copper."





Karalee 14 and Katelyn 12

Well, the boxes are nearly all unpacked. I have only a few left in the garage to be sorted through.

And school is about to start. I have a "high-schooler" this year. So hard to believe.

It has been a wild-ride of a summer, but I am loving this "little house" on a county road more and more every day. It is starting to feel like home now.

I hope you have had a blessed summer, and are you looking forward to that first cool breeze? I'm starting to see pumpkins everywhere!

Love, Shelli