Tired of Waiting

It was so cute last night, you know how the pastor's family always stays FOREVER after church? We had been there at least an hour after service, were outside still talking, we looked over and Cherish was sitting on the curb by the flower bed tapping her foot. It was so cute, it was as if she was saying, "I'm waiting patiently here!" We all laughed, got pictures and took her home!!! Maybe I'll try sitting on the curb and tap my foot the next time Stephen stays for ever!

When We All Pull Together

With Cherish in the house, we sing a lot of children's songs. I've sang "When we all pull together" a lot lately. Because of several events at our church recently, I was made aware of how true this is. As the song goes:

When we all pull together, together, together

When we all pull together, how happy we'll be.

For your work is my work

and our work is God's work

When we all pull together, how happy we'll be.

We had the vacation bible school that I mentioned in another post and are in the middle of fireworks set-up and sales now. Our church has astounded me with it's ability to pull together and pull off a first class act! Right in the middle of confusion and falling out, we have stood strong, worked long and hard hours, had a total blast doing so, and it is so rewarding to see people fellow shipping with one another that used to have no contact. We are truly made better when we work together. And I understand the "how happy we'll be!" There is lots of joy, laughter, and just plain old happiness. Thank you God for reminding us in the simple things like working together. Pentecostal Tabernacle, you're the best!!!

Happy Birthday, Stephen

My Handsome Man!!!

Stephen at Cherish's Baby Dedication

Stephen 2006~ Misti's Graduation Figuring Cherish's Christmas Gifts Out, we are a little out of the loop on kids things!

Stephen gave Misti roses & a teddy bear before the wedding! Tear jerker! Everyone cried~!

Well, babe, did you ever think that you would be 44 and this good looking? Sure like the gray~silver! It certainly does become you! You have been a wonderful husband and daddy to my girls! I hope that you have the most wonderful birthday ever! Now I've got to get you to look at my blog so you will see this!!!!

Happy Birthday! I love you!

Oh, by the way, Cherish and I are making a "Happy Cake" as she calls it. Here is her very own clip wishing "Daddy" a happy birthday!

Hidden in Christ

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ link to picture location

Back in April, I really became burdened for our young christian girls. I know that the pier pressures that come from the "world" and pier's are very real. There is the desire to "fit in," to be loved unconditionally, to be beautiful, to be PERFECT. This is obviously not a real goal. We cannot attain these things on our own. However, we can be content in the "perfect" person that God made us to be. Young girls, and older ladies alike, desire to be loved by the love of their life, whether they have found that person or not. I was researching this idea, and I got an email from an eBay customer and it was signed with the quote that Maya Angelou uses (she did not write it):

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

You know, when I was a teenager, I think I would have said, "Oh, beautiful quote!" and gone right on with my life. But now? I spent time, thinking on it, devouring it.

I spoke on this to our young girl's group, Moxy (which means "courage in the face of adversity"). I took a beautiful chest or trunk with me. I put inside it a gorgeous rose. I told them that the rose, which would represent us a ladies and the delicacy of our lives and hearts. That being inside the trunk represented the fact that we were hidden in Christ and that the only way for a man to find us was to go through God (the trunk.)

I talked about how to be hidden in Him. That seeking Him first, not others, not things, but HIM. Not waiting to see who would stand at their pew, at alter call, but the ones who went straight to the alter, drape oneself over it, giving their whole self.

I used the story of Ruth to begin with. She had Boaz's blessings when she dwelt in his fields, but when she went to him and layed down at his feet, completely giving herself to him, he covered her therefore covering her in marriage and then everything he had became hers. As long as she worked and provided as much for herself as possible, Boaz helped from a distance, but as soon as she gave completely she had everything that his kingdom offered. Love, protection, honor, earthly wealth.............. on and on.

I was thinking about a post for today and I felt impressed to share this with you! I'm attaching my notes even thought I have basically reiterated it all already! I love you all! Remember the quote.......

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her. Maya Angelou

Col 3:2-3 “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:2-3

1) Our hearts long to be hidden (safe, adored, secure) in something or someone.
2) And the thought of a man seeking God to know our heart is so tender and precious, and would leave any woman feeling extremely loved and cherished. Fulfilled
Fulfilled adjective: Completed to perfection
fulfilled adjective(of a person) satisfied, having achieved everything he or she needs to have and to do

Yes, our hearts long to be hidden in someone who will protect, love and cherish us immensely for who we are and who we are becoming. But to many women, this quest to be hidden in someone ends in broken hearts, consuming emptiness, and wasted lives. Take a look at the culture around you. What are most young women “hiding” themselves in? Boyfriends? Appearance? Clothes? Diets? Drugs? Sadly, the answer is yes. Sinful human nature will lead you right to these for satisfaction and happiness. A woman’s identity in this world is based on her man, body, and status. If you don’t have these, you will stand out - in a negative way.
As a result of this unbiblical mindset, young girls are cast into the world scrambling to be hidden in something just to fit in, and to find their own happiness. How cruelly they are deceived when a boyfriend doesn’t make you feel safe, your image changes, and at the end of the day you are still fighting that awful, gnawing hunger for something more in the core of your soul.
Dying to the world and it’s ways (Being hidden in Christ, burying ourselves) , we can set our hearts on Someone else. Self has died - and life is hidden in Christ! This word “hidden” can also be translated “planted”, like a seed that is buried in the earth. How astounding that we who have died to sin are like a seed, dead in itself; yet in Christ hidden and buried we become alive and fruitful! We are safe and secure in the refuge of Christ, and our hearts are finally at peace and satisfied in His transforming and fulfilling presence. Our hearts are hidden in Christ alone and this is where we belong.
But we must be prepared to realize that we will not “fit in” by the world’s standards. This quest for a hidden heart in Christ results in a set apart lifestyle that is lived differently than those who are in the world. We don’t (shouldn’t) act, dress, talk, or behave like the world, because we don’t seek the things the world seeks. We seek that which is above - that is Jesus our Lord and the virtues He bestows.
And what blessings this hidden life brings! We have Christ and His Word to comfort and encourage, urging us to press on, stay hidden in Him, and live for Him; conforming to His image and persevering in our sufferings. It is in this set apart life lived for Jesus alone that we embrace the hidden heart and it’s pleasures forevermore.
Benefits that come with being hidden
Isaiah 45:3
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

1 Corinthians 2:7
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Our hearts seek no one else for the happiness we find in Jesus. And if it be His will, He blesses us with an earthly man who can represent to us Christ Himself in many ways. For the woman whose heart is truly hidden in Christ is favored to receive a man seeking after God’s heart in all his ways - including finding her.

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
KJV

disclaimer: There are parts of my notes that I used quotes from different authors or blog posts.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Adam & Misti!

Today, June 23, is Adam & Misti Wiley's 1st Anniversary! You guys have made it a year!! You have made a beautiful couple and we are so proud of you both! You were obviously made for one another!

We love you both! Mom

My Little Kissable Doll

This picture is a year old on Monday. However, it is one of my all time favorites of Cherish. She was 18 months old that day, it was HOT 105 degrees, her sissy had just gotten married, she was in her wedding dress all day and I looked up, someone had pulled her dress off and was pulling her around like that. They expected me to be mad, but no way, I was thrilled for her. She was just about ready to pass out from exhaustion. Just thought I would share it.

She is so kissable! She has got her daddy's lips and they are both kissable sets, although, I reserve rights the her daddy's!!! Wow, that will get some comments!I know, none of you would want to, good...............

The Cherished Toddlers At Vacation Bible School

Be sure to hit the arrow above to watch this clip!!

We just finished Vacation Bible School at Pentecostal Tabernacle. It was a huge success. We had a great showing of children from the community and visitors on Sunday because of it! It was a blast, although we were all exhausted afterwards. Cherish was in the Toddler section. My sister, Candi, was the lab leader for them, so we have lots of pictures of her fun. She put together this darling clip of them. We did wacky hair, sang a lot, and after every memory verse we would say, "Aha!" There were tons of older children in the other classes, but we are spotlighting Cherish and her friends in this one! I wonder why?

To Cherish Friends

Lori Domingues, Andrea Whiseant, Me, & Lorraine Bertram

(I see Cherish's pigtails by my shoulder and my handsome hubby on the left)

I've been thinking a lot about the word "Cherish"this week since I started this blog. Because of situations the past couple of years, namely my health and having a little one when I was 39, I have become very secluded to myself. Just didn't feel the strength to GIVE what I felt I should as a friend, so it becomes easiest to "live within my four walls."

My friends and I have been talking a lot about that lately, how sad that this has happened, because it is in our weakest times that we need friends.

To Lori and Lorraine, I feel that I am so blessed with friends like you two. We may not talk on the phone very often and see one another even less, but when we get together, the time and distance has been spanned and we are truly "friends." I cherish you both dearly. We have done some crazy things, taken spontaneous trips, did the "girl" things like taking off to the garment district and spent our husband's hard earned money. We've taken a cruise, went to Ladies meetings and stayed up all night talking about whatever each of us were feeling or going through at the time, and I have to say, when I needed you guys the most, I withdrew! Thanks for being such wonderful friends! I love you both and I do cherish each of you!

Thank you Andrea, for letting me steal this picture from Saturday at Dean's 50th. You are such a sweet person! We love you and Tim!

The Get Away

We got away for a few days! Everyone applaud! Stephen needed to paint one more room at the Keyes' house in Santa Maria, so since it was 103 degree at home this week, we came here and had to wear jackets!!! Wonderful and gorgeous! Cherish and I slept until 9:30 each morning, which was glorious in itself! We went to lunch each day with Papa & Grandma Keyes, as Cherish calls them. They spoil us rotten and their home is such a comfortable welcoming place! We always go home entergized, encouraged, and STUFFED! We went down to the beach and went out on the pier this evening just before sunset! It was absolutely breathtaking! Thank you Lord for days like today, when we stop, slow down, and re-coup!

Cherish was in the Keyes' back yard today, went over to the side flower bed and bent over to smell a flower. Her daddy said, "Cherish, you always have to stop and smell the flowers!" It struck me that we all need to "stop and smell the flowers!" I do believe that is what we have done the last two days. We have stopped, smelled the flowers, and will go home with the remembrance of the fragrance! Thank you, Bro. & Sis. Keyes for the whole "bouquet" of flowers!

You guys know what you mean to the Hill family! Thank God that He saw fit to put us in each others lives back when Misti was 9 years old! We love you!

Those I "Cherish"

This handsome man is my hubby with his niece Rebecca at her wedding May 31. He is truly my best friend and confidante! I love you, Babe!

Our gorgeous daughter, Misti, and her husband Adam.

They will be celebrating their one year wedding

anniversary this next Monday, June 23!

As you have guessed, this is the

"precious & dearly held"

Cherish Elyse.

She is 2 1/2 years old and the joy of our life!

I love the rest of my extended family and friends dearly! I just thought that I should start this blog with my immediate family. I want to say a little something to each of you now.

Stephen, our 23 years have really been wonderful! How could I ask for a better husband, friend, father to my girls, father-in-law to Adam, and for a better pastor? I love you, babe!

Misti, you have grown into a beautiful, godly, lovely young lady. As I watch you with your father, husband, baby sister and with our church, I sit back as a "Godly Proud" mommy! God has truly answered my prayers for you from the time you were born! I love you, doll!

Cherish, you are mommy's little doll. I am so thankful that God saw fit to let you be mine! You are gorgeous and I love you dearly!! Mommy's little goose!

Adam, I have prayed from the day I found out that I would be having Misti that God would send her a Godly man that God would fashion the man after Himself and that he would love her and live for Him. I know that He answered that (Even if you didn't smile in this picture!) I love you!

These are the most "Cherished!" I am truly blessed! We all have family, born into or married into. We don't all feel that we have received the most wonderful in these things. I, however, have been more than blessed with the ones given to me!

All my love, Mom