He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. Psalm 104:3 Grace and Inspiration have kept our home functioning since Jeff has been in Cuba. I miss him terribly, but hey, I’m a “big girl” who knows how to cowgirl up and deal- – that and He enables me [...]
Read More Bethany, Daddy, family, hugs, perspective, special delivery
If you’ve been following the * “Saige Saga” you know, the quest began simply enough. Like most people, we try to make giving intrinsic to our life- even though it may be small and meager; besides tithing, we like saving all our spare change at Christmas time because Bethany has to give to [...]
Read More adopt, adoption, Bethany, China, Christmas, eternity, family, find a family, inspiration, mom dad, perspective, Saige, treasure
Children are the heartbeat of Christmas ~ To see with wonder…. to know the joy of His presence. “For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.” Charles Dickens Sharing Precious Moments We have 7 different nativities- they’re child friendly and [...]
Read More Bethany, celebrate, Christmas, downs syndrome, family, Finley, grandchildren, Mataya, orphan, Saige, Silas, treasure
Alas, flu has come to visit our home & I hope and pray it doesn’t visit everyone! Last night, Moriah and Bethie boo were up -vomiting & I’ll spare you all the other gory details…. But even as I held heads and prayed, I was contemplating my Christmas wish. On the other side of the [...]
Read More adoption, eternity, family, inspiration, life between the trees, living between the trees, love, orphan, Reece's Rainbow, Saige, treasure
The Holidays are upon us and I have a secret I’d love to share. Turn your holiday celebration into Holyday Rejoicing! Originally, “holiday” meant “holy day”, but its meaning has become shortened, diluted and obscured! It has become effectually assimilated into our culture as a word that now represents a time of feasting, [...]
Read More Bethany, celebration, children, Christmas, Cohen, family, Finley, holiday, holy day, Holydays, Mataya, perspective, rejoice, Silas, tips, treasure
We just got back from an incredible Barclay Clan retreat. We tried to “unplug”! We left behind TV and FB but still held fully charged cellphones, 1 I-Pad, 1 Kindle, and 3 I-pods, but perhaps the most interesting electronic aid was enjoyed by the children; a full-screen fireplace they viewed on the IPad while going [...]
Read More encouragement, fallen world, family, Finley, inspiration, Jesus will meet you there, perspective, treasure hunter
Snap! Flash! Peek-a-boo! Trying to get all the children and babies to look at the camera was hilarious! Celebrating “Grandma Barclay’s” birthday today, we took gathered all of her great-grandchildren around her as cameras immortalized the moment. 6 great grandchildren and two more to join us next May! We sat and talked while babies were [...]
Read More birthday, celebrate, crown, eternity, family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, riches, thankfulness, tiara, true wealth“Mommy- I need your help. I want to talk fast.” Somewhat distracted, but thinking how cute she is when she’s so serious about something, I reply, “Hmmm? What? What do you mean, Bethie? My brain began scrambling for an interpretation- does she mean she wants to talk without stuttering when she gets excited or [...]
Read More Bethany, disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, family, home schooling, Josh, overcoming, special needs, talk fast
The term WALKABOUT was made famous from the movie Crocodile Dundee! Background: Australian: A journey through the wilderness of one’s choosing in an effort to satisfy one’s itchy feet, a need to be elsewhere, the craving for the open road, that space over the horizon… you can’t quite touch it so you have to go [...]
Read More adolescence, Bethany, birthday, Crocodile Dundee, disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, family, journey, perspective, special needs, transformation, treasure, tween, tweener
“Mom, me and my honey, we gonna move and get our own house. You wanna live with us?” “Bethany, you don’t have a honey yet and you live with us, sweetie.” “Yes I do. My new zip be 6604 and we gonna get 5 cats, 5 dogs, 5 baby pigs, 5 goats, 5 chickens, 5 baby [...]
Read More adult, Bethany, child of God, children, family, life, perspective, treasure hunterB U M M E R! I had such ”lofty” expectations for our vacation! Like most of the American world, we try to live within a budget. We save a certain amount each month for Christmas and Birthdays (a necessity in a family as large as ours ) and we set aside vacation money throughout the [...]
Read More encouragement, eternity, family, Jesus, joy, life, living between the trees, overcoming, perspective, transformationOne of my favorite books of all time is by Hannah Hurnard’ entititled “Hinds Feet on High Places.” (this is truly a must read )It’s an allegory I can relate to every time I read it. The story is a triumphant tale of a “crippled” girl called Much Afraid, who desires to follow the Chief [...]
Read More family, hinds feet, mountains, perspective, Pikes Peak, transformation
Ahhhh! Spring Break! Methinks it should be a mandatory holiday week for everyone! I’ve reveled in my “new” routine- no babysitting, no homeschooling, no agendas, no lengthy to do lists. On the positive side- enjoying my family more, a mini-vacation, visiting a museum & a zoo, a more leisurely pace, 3 books devoured, 2 movies enjoyed, rejoicing as [...]
Read More Bethany, Cohen, family, Finley, growth, new things, springWe’re celebrating a day early this year- yet Christmas is the season I intentionally don’t pin all my hopes and expectations on the perfection of our celebration, rather focus on the One who is PERFECT! CHRIST is Christmas and it is only the BEGINNING of the end. I hold Christmas in my heart until my King finally [...]
Read More Bethany, celebrate, Christmas, family, God's love, perspective, transformation, treasureCohen and I snuggled taking our afternoon nap. (both of us are/have been sick) and we woke up in coughing fits. When we finally quit coughing, lay back on the pillows, Cohen said, “Man, Nana, dat was bad…..and when I mean bad- it was weally bad!!” LOL- he’s right- it’s been weally bad. I hate being [...]
Read More Christmas, Cohen, eternity, fallen world, family, Fear Not, heaven, inspiration, life, living between the trees, perseverence, perspective, promises, treasure