The box...oh that box

Today, I have been at a loss for words.  Something has happened that is amazing to us, probably not to anyone else, but definitely to us.

Before I could compose my blog, a guest writer stepped up and did it for me! Enjoy Marty's thoughts.  Heather

I have been reminded of God's promises in a small but tangible way this morning. During our move to Fairhope, we lost a box. The box contained trinkets and mementos of Heather and my life. It had no real monetary value but the emotional value was priceless to us. We knew the movers didn't have it, we knew that it had not been donated to the Rescue Mission, and had not been left behind in Dothan. We had searched through every empty box, dug through the garbage, and finally resolved ourselves to believe that it was simply gone. We had done everything we knew to do. Except turn it over to God. So last night, just before bed, as I was praying, I asked God to restore the box to us. This morning we received a phone call from our son who just moved to Huntsville. He had our box. Somehow it had been packed with his things instead of on our moving truck. I was immediately reminded of the widow who upon finding her lost coin invited her friends over to celebrate. A found box that had inadvertently gone in a different direction may not seem like much to you but to us it was an answer to prayer and further proof that the God of all creation loves us and has good things in store for us. --Marty     

swimming....

Just so you know, my granddaughter swims like a fish.

Today we went to the pool and those little legs never stopped kicking. For a slightly out of shape Nana, I must say she gave me quite a workout! 

WE were splashing and twirling and floating, and her mom said, "Isn't it hard to believe that her daddy is old enough to have a little girl for you to play with?...Yes, was the answer! But this is way more fun!!! I worry a whole lot less with her, and get all the benefits.

Today, besides having a girl day, my benefit was having a great workout, and a little flashback to tossing her daddy across the pool, and Flash forward to lots of sweet girl hugs!

Love from a tired Nana in Fairhope!

Saturdays..

Saturdays are the same at any Walmart anywhere...crowded. 

I must say that getting unpacked and getting settled takes longer at my age than it did a few years ago. 

I guess that's why all the commotion in Walmart on any Saturday exhausts me.

Also, I am a little forgetful these days.  Need haircolor..okay. I found it. ...need bananas...ok, got em, oops, forgot soap, back over by the haircolor..now, for lunchmeat, oops, forgot tylenol, well, you get the idea.  Forgetful plus tired, plus disorganized makes you want to have a meltdown in walmart!!!!! AND then, you have to walk around all of the people who know what they want, or have to stop to decide!!! aaahhh!  Just a little melt down, that's all.

On the bright side, it has been great having two of my awesome kids and one daughter-in-law here to help, and Then our oldest and his awesome family come on Monday to welcome us and hang out. We can't wait!

My sweet hubby is ready for his first sermon in his new church..hope he doesn't preach on patience or Walmart!  It seemed to me today that my trip was more like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness!

Love to everyone!! Happy Fourth!

So tired.....

The gnome hat has faded, it has a little tear, and I had a hook all picked out for it, but we have just one more trip this summer. 

The pile of boxes is diminishing, the dog has arrived, Almost all of the children have been to check out our new home, and I have almost found my way to Bruno's and back. 

No internet at home yet, but that's okay, I get to go to McDonalds and check my email and have a Strawberry lemonade....life is good.

Miss my friends at home......ready to meet new friends....but thanking God for a little "down time".

So for now, I am listening to the radio a lot, tinking of you all and unpacking boxes...

Stitching up the gnome hat and getting ready for a new day...

Love, from Fairhope

Mama Hamil"gnome"

Twenty Four years ago today.....

I was holding the most awesome little boy with blonde hair and big blue eyes and I fell head over heels in love...he was my son.

Well, of course he was his daddy's son, too but at that moment, the world stopped turning and there were only two people in that room.  This gorgeous child, and an ill-prepared woman whom he would depend on to meet all of his needs.

If I ever needed God's wisdom and grace it was in that moment...and he delivered.

Did I feel inadequate...you bet, was I scared? terrified, but alone, no way.  God gives us children to be blessings to us, to care for and to love.  He let me know that as long as his father and I provided love and guidance, and entrusted this child back to Him, that he would do the rest.  .."train up a child."

It has been a wonderful 24 years, you are an awesome man, a great husband and a spectacular father. We are amazed daily by your wisdom, love and integrity. 

Thank you for calling me Mom.  I love you! Happy, Happy Birthday, JOSHUA!

I can't find it......Where is it?

Okay, I put it down somewhere, I know it's here...Ahhh, there it is, the little red gnome hat ready for travel once again.  I thought I taped it up in a box somewhere but I didn't.  Let me put it on one more time.

So, today is the day.  The day we have been working towards for quite awhile.  The day that we leave the safety and love and feeling of home and family we have in the Wiregrass for parts unknown. Putting "home" in the rearview mirror is always hard...But getting the opportunity to call somewhere else "home" and to serve somewhere else will be a blessing too.

So, off go the Hamil"gnomes" again....by the time this summer is over, our odometer will read 200,000 miles, our hearts will be full, but hopefully we will have a hook in the kitchen to rest the pointy red hats on for awhile.  A little dust on them won't be a bad thing.

But for now, hats on, reporting for duty, ready to serve.....for the promise of a new day!

From somewhere in South Alabama.....signing off for a day or two....Mama Hamil"gnome"

Doors

There are all kinds of doors. Solid ones, ornate doors with beautiful windows, revolving doors, swinging doors, automatic doors, french doors and I'm sure plenty more that I haven't thought of. 

Been thinking about doors lately.  They either keep or allow things or people in, or let them out.  Or they can even keep people our things out. I think our hearts function a lot like doors in many ways.

 If someone approaches our heart we have the choice to let them in or leave them outside. Everytime you let someone in, you take a risk.  You give them access to your emotions, your feelings and the very heart of who you are. You take that risk to let them see you at your best, your worst and everything in between. 
However, you also take a risk by not letting someone in your heart. You may miss out on a blessing.  The blessing of encouragement, love, frienship, and the joy of living life together.

A huge part of how we give access has to do with who is in the house when we make that decision.  You may decide that you have enough people with access to your heart, you may decide that you don't want to take a risk again.  But, I promise you this, if the One who loves us more than anything is in your house when the knock comes, you won't mind giving access to others. After all, it didn't go so bad when you let Him in, did it?

I have chosen to live my life like a french door.  I try to be inviting, letting people in as they approach.
Have I gotten hurt? Yes. but that is a part of the journey.  But I have someone in my living room, to bandage the wounds, love me completely, and to keep me from putting up the ugly, solid, uninviting door. Have I been blessed beyond measure by those whom I have given access?   In more ways than I have words for!

Don't be afraid to give access....don't be afraid to let someone in....Sometimes, people have to leave, but the things they leave behind are part of the decor that is the home of your heart..

"Then Christ will make His home in your hearts, as you trust in Him, your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong." Ephesians 3:17

What kind of door are you?