He stands tall and proud, a marine...to my Daddy

Going into a war zone at barely 18. 

He stands tall and proud, a marine. 

He went in, he rescued, he secured. 

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

He saw much, did much, fought hard, cried hard.

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

Wounded in battle, he did not retreat. Came home to protests & peace signs.

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

A purple heart he is awarded...and nightmares that reoccur.

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

Pain still shoots through his shoulder. He would not change a thing.

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

He taught his children to love their country, respect those who serve their country.

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

The flag waves, his hand over his heart...

He stands tall and proud, a marine.

Thank you Daddy...my tall and proud marine!

cuddling my cockroach

Time spent preparing for and teaching students "Why must we be born again?" left me marveling at God's love toward me. He chose not to leave me for dead - dead in my sins with my heart of stone, a child of wrath, a slave to sin, unable to see, unable to accept the Gospel - it was folly to me. My natural self without a saving faith in Christ Jesus - I embraced darkness, loved it, desired it. The light I hated, shunned. So did you, perhaps so do you.

We all...
" were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and by nature were children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
BUT God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in or trespasses, made us alive together in Christ - by grace you have been saved - " Ephesians 2:1-6

Because of His great love, His grace - he caused a new life in me. My eyes were open to see that thing that I cuddled, held dear to my heart, convinced others was a treasure was, indeed a cockroach all along.
My putrid sin made clear, in disgust I want it no more. I fling the cockroach in disbelief that that was what I held so dear.  God has given me a desire for the light, truth, Himself.  That is why we must be born again - a work of God, not of myself.
Thought to ponder, prayer to pray - May God open our hearts (take from us a heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh) so that we see clearly the cockroach we cuddle, and cause us to want it no more. What am I cuddling?

writing and such...

thank you sweet friends for supporting me by encouraging me to write.  Shortly after I started this personal blog, I decided to start another one too! I have been faithful writing on it because it goes beyond my muses and lessons learned and is meant to  encourage families as they disciple their children! 


So when you check this one out and there is nothing new be sure to head over to www.familiesanchored.blogspot.com because each week I post a new blog there.


Coming to a blog near you, aka Mercyville, a post on gardening! That is correct. My daughter (well she is suppose to be participating) and I planted a garden! More on that soon.