"Daddy..."

I am amazed at how a Mother's ear is so in tune to her children. This morning, I was dead asleep .. I had slept through an alarm ringing, my husband getting up out of bed, a noisy shower door, a shower running for thirty minutes.. and then it happened... Cara's whisper, "Daddy"... I woke straight up... she even whispered it so that I wouldn't awake..

How is that we can be dead asleep and out of it and our childrens cry or even whisper can wake us straight out of our sleep?

Even so then, our Father in Heaven waits to hear our voice.. and he is ever eager to answer us. He never slumbers or sleeps.

Psalm 121:3-5

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand

Vickie 6 of 365

Vickie (6 of 365)

I can't even remember when I first met Vickie.. it must have been on the floor as we were crawling around in our Nursery class at church. When she was 1 month old.. I would have been 3 months old. Whenever it was, we have been friends forever. Not only friends, but sisters.
We started school together in Kindergarten went through elementary school, junior high, high school and college together. We not only went to class together, we went to church together ss well. We were Girl Scouts, roommates in college, sorority sisters, and most importantly we are sisters in Christ. I can't imagine my life without my friend, Vic. We have been through highs and lows and in between. One thing I know for sure..is that she is always here for me. She is what you call a true friend. Today is her birthday and I am so grateful to God for her life. She has been right by my side blessing me every step of the way.

Blessings.....

clock clock clocking on heaven's door
Originally uploaded by mivella

I left with my life changed this past Sunday. You see I have always gone to church and I do expect to be changed.. but this Sunday I didn't really know if I would get anything from the sermon or not. Our Pastor had invited his good friend and a fellow pastor to preach. His name is Pastor Eduardo and he is from Brazil and speaks Portugese.

I have always had a heart for Brazil because my Aunt Margaret served as a missionary to Rio De Janerio for 39 years. She left the year I was born and just returned to the states to finish her last year before she retires.

As Pastor Eduardo began to speak in Portugese, a young lady from our church, Carly interpreted for him. He started with this story.. In Brazil, there is a lot of Spiritism practiced. Spirticim is a mixture of Catholicism, Indian and Slavery Spiritual teachings. It involves witchcraft, magic and satanism. There were two young children. A boy, age 6 and a girl age 8. Their family held these rituals every weekend and their Aunt came to their home and would perform sacrifices on the children,magic and lots of other type of things. The services would begin about 10 p.m. at night and last until the wee hours of the morning. The family believed so much in this spiritual teachings that they would leave a cup of coffee up on a ledge for the evil spirits each morning in their home. And every morning the cup would be empty.

One week a Christian lady came around the neighborhood and invited children to a class at her home for children. At the time on Wednesday evening, the eight year old girl accepted Jesus. That following Friday, the Aunt came to do her weekly ritual to the Evil Gods. The two children were in their bedroom. As the Aunt entered the room the mother of the two children with her,she began her sacrifices and other rituals on the small six year old boy. When she finished she went to the eight year old girl, and she stopped and exclaimed, "I can't touch her the man in white is with her." That next week, the little boy accepted Jesus as well. Now, through the obedience of one small girl... a whole family was changed and now thousands if not millions have been changed.. for you see the small boy in this story is Pastor Eduardo who preached at our church on Sunday.

The lessons that he taught were profound and numerous. The one that stuck with me is one that I already knew, but always need reminding... that no matter your age God wants to bless you and no matter your age whether you are six or sixty six or ninety six.. God wants to use you to bless others. God gives us 168 hours a week. How many hours do you give to God?

My ears are still ringing!

Cara had a great fourth grade year. So as a reward for her hard work, I treated her to the Jonas Brothers concert. The difficult part for me was that I purchased the tickets in March and kept it a secret until June.

On Wednesday evening, Cara and her friend, Madison and myself and Madison's Mom, Paula loaded up the car and headed to Dallas to see the Jonas Brothers. The opening act was a girl, Demi Lovato from Colleyville who has hit it big in the last month as she starred in the movie, Camp Rock. She was great, but we were all waiting for the moment when Nick, Joe and Kevin would appear on the stage. And they did.
The concert was awesome! However, I have never heard so many screaming girls in all my life.

The concert had fire, fireworks, stunts, and incredible talent. The thing that I have most admired about these young men is that from everything I know about them.. they know the Lord. On a Disney show that shadowed them, it showed how they pray before every concert. And if you are interested, I found this awesome site about them and their faith.

http://jonasbrothersangels.com/

Here are some pictures from our night in Dallas with the JB boys!

Rockets Red Glare, The Bombs Bursting in Air

July 4th, 2008.
We are privileged beyond measure to live in a free country, where we only sing of Rockets Red Glare and Bombs Bursting in Air.

Every July 4th, it is a tradition that the Kelleys gather in Oklahoma. For the last 3years, we have met at Wade's brothers house in Edmond.




We shoot Rockets.




The bombs burst in air.. but only the ones we shoot off.





Fireworks. Growing up,we would load the car up with our blanket,chairs and bug spray and head down to Vandergriff Park to see the show.

Fireworks for Wade... on the other hand, was going to the local fireworks stand and purchasing fireworks and setting them off..in your front yard. We have our own fireworks show.

So if any of you were venturing North of the Border, yes it was our show you saw as you drove up Highway 44.

Siblings!

For nine years, I listened as Cara would ask me why God had not answered our prayer for a brother or sister. I listened as she would ask, "Why does God keep giving them babies? They already have three children in their family and we only have one.

I watched as others took for granted the ease at which they conceived. I watched as out of frustration they would get on to their children as they bickered. I watched as bonds developed.

I waited. I hoped. I dreamed. I prayed.

God answered.

Although there is quite a difference in age, I still love to see Cara and Caleb play. I love to see Caleb smile in anticipation to see his sister smile back. I love to be able to call them brother and sister. I love to hear their laughter and squeals.

Recently,


Cara said, "I am so glad I have a brother .. I want my children to have an Uncle and cousins." Looking already into the future...

Siblings.. something I wished, dreamed and hoped for and now I see it in front of me. God is good!