Wow it has been awhile!!

On 1/24/15 I had a Bridal Shower for Tiffanie, my daughter

It was fun!  It is hard to believe that she will be getting married next week!!

I am so grateful for the people that came and made it special for her!

If anyone has some positive marriage advise for Tiffanie and Randy please write it and I will compile a small book for them. Thank you in advance everyone!!!

 

Carol and Autumn

Crystal and Ireland

Elaine, Faith and Maria

Melody and Andrea

Tiffanie being funny!!

Melody, Tabitha, Andrea and Tiffanie

Melody, Andrea and Tiffnaie

Tabitha trying to hide from the camera

May the Lord bless you, Tiffanie, to His fullness! I pray that you would seek God 1st (in Christ) then if after seeking God if you need to go another step, seek godly counsel (in Christ) when you and Randy have rough patches down the road to work things out and get through them!! 

Please pray for Randy all the time...help him to be the spiritual leader of the family, wisdom.. to not only know but to do,  for strength, courage, loving attitudes, to be an active loving leader of the family when you have children.We all need prayer but he is to soon be your other half so it is your privilege to do so ~ 

Please always remember to look at your plank and correct it before his speck. Matthew 7 1-5 (NKJV)

Here are two of the scriptures God has used more recently to help me

 Gal 6:1-2 and Gal 6:6-10

Gal 6:1-2  1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

then 

Gal 6:6-10 ⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.   (NKJV)

Show Randy respect, that is a guy's love language in general, from his wife.

Start learning what respect looks like now and put it into practice because it is easier to develop it as years progress on than to learn later.  Later on it is so much harder to practice...do-able, but harder!

 Either way, problems small or big, learning respect now or later, it can only be done in and through Christ!  Times can get very tough!

 I know I am not the greatest at it, but it is my heart to be respectful to my husband, your dad!! 

I can be so ugly because I want my way…he isn’t doing this or that or because he is doing this or that…….and I hate that because I love him so much I want to be a better wife/person!  Granted, he is not a saint but that is not the point here.  I only have control over changing me!   I continue to seek God in Christ to know what it looks like in every situation and to carry it out, but I know I don't succeed through every situation, but I refuse to stop trying because I love him very much and because I love Christ and want to be as God in Christ wants me to be/do. (This makes me a kinder more loving person)  Can you imagine what I would be like without Christ, I would be worse and a very ungrateful bitter person!  I don’t like that thought at all!!

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

I am so grateful that our loving Lord is so patient with me…. He is the author of 2^nd +++ chances, I honestly think if I/we are really wanting to do what is right in and through Him He is loving and will forgive and continue to strengthen me/us to do better as life happens…but only as I/we seek Him to do so!!

I love you so much and I am so happy for you!!

"Marriage Takes Three"

Marriage takes three to be complete;
It's not enough for two to meet.
They must be united in love
By love's Creator, God above.
Then their love will be firm and strong;
Able to last when things go wrong,
Because they've felt God's love and know
He's always there, He'll never go.
And they have both loved Him in kind
With all the heart and soul and mind
And in that love they've found the way
To love each other every day.
A marriage that follows God's plan
Takes more than a woman and a man.
It needs a oneness that can be
Only from Christ-
Marriage takes three.
_{Beth Stuckwisch/Dicksons &#174}

 http://www.christianbook.com/marriage-takes-three-photo-frame/pd/342292X

"Marriage Takes Three"

I once thought marriage took
Just two to make a go
But now I'm convinced
It takes the Lord also

And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter
As lovers come together
With Jesus at the center

In homes where Christ is first
It's obvious to see
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.

Author: Peter Tanksley
Read more at http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/30365.html#wO0OLbCEQVQIL01x.99

Quotes: Ponderings and reflection

I was reading different quotes by Corrie Ten Boom when I ran across this one...

" And so seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, "Father, what is sexsin?" He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor. Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. It's too heavy," I said. Yes," he said, "and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you." — Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)

While sometimes when I read in God’s word, I find myself not understanding some things! I want to trust Him, because I love Him with all of my heart! After reading this above, I realized… God is saying to me... “it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Kelli, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."

I am still a little girl in Christ, I was born again and I have been learning and still have to learn God’s ways just like a girl has to learn things as she grows up. I must trust God to carry it for me as I come to points I don't understand I realize, maybe, just maybe, what ever it is I don’t understand, is to heavy for me to carry right now. I have, throughout my relationship with God, have had to ask Him on many, many occasions …. Please help me trust You right now!! I must let Him carry what I don’t know or understand, for me, and trust Him. I am and will be strengthened and grow up more (in Christ –likeness) as I continue to trust Him (and obey!)

As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit. ~Emmanuel



As far as Corrie Ten Boom....

Who am I to be ungrateful for the situations that I go through when I know this precious woman went through far more horrendous circumstances than I ever have! God has used her greatly for me....
She and her sister, Betsy, were in a concentration camp and were treated badly, they lost their dad there, yet Ms. Ten Boom could still quote....

"There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still." — Corrie Ten Boom

After she got out, years later she quotes..

"Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the LOVE itself." — Corrie Ten Boom

"(on forgiveness) Didn't he and I stand together before an all seeing God convicted of the same murder? For I had murdered him with my heart and my tongue."
— Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” - Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie quotes her sister Betsy..."no hatred"! Wow! Through all of that and it is because of their love and devotion to Christ that His likeness became so evident in them. In Christ we are a new creation, we are in a process of being made new. It is through Christ that we do become more loving and forgiving!

I thank God so much, for the love and devotion they had toward Christ!

God's love is so great!

I love to read things by people that God, through Christ, were glorified in!

He who has faith has an inward reservoir of courage, hope, calmness, and assuring trust that God is in control - even though to the world it may appear bad or hopeless, He, through Christ, gives us the strength to endure, don't you think?

Sometimes faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but with our doubting nature and Faith in God, through Christ, it helps us know, side by side, God's love and power.... {Not that God wants us to doubt, it is in our sin nature that we do}..
God uses... our faith in Him, through Christ and doubt our flesh/fear to help us trust Him to take us around the unknown curve. Then, as we go through with hanging on to Him (through that fear), trusting and obeying, He can prove Himself trustworthy and does!

O' how I bless His name... O' how I love Him so!

You can read more about Corrie Ten Boom on http://www.soon.org.uk/true_stories/holocaust.htm

Everything To Me / Avalon

I love this song because, even though I was not brought up in Sunday school, Jesus is everything to me! When I heard this song I could really relate, but obviously not that part of the song, lol!

I have never known a greater love, He truly fills my loneliness, even though I love my husband more than I can ever say, I still get lonely because our love languages are different, so I don't always feel loved even though, I know he loves me. But when I feel that way, I go to God, I cry out to Him (and seek Him) because it hurts. He fills my loneliness with love, compassion, wholeness and peace!

I am not, at all, saying my husband is not my other half, he is! I know that with all that I am! But Dale can not fulfill all of my needs, I am very needy!! That is putting to much pressure on him, He can not be there for me 24/7. We complete each other but, Jesus has to be my completer before I could ever recognize that Dale is my true love! Because of surrendering my life to Christ(and Jesus becoming everything to me), I know how to love more deeply and He has deepened my love for Dale!! I could not ask for a better guy for me!! So please don't get me wrong! I love and respect Dale highly! I just can't rely on him for my every emotional need! (although, I do forget to seek God sometimes and that is when we have problems! It is a process of seeking Him when I realize and remember to do that, things get better in my heart)

As I seek God, God through Christ fills in the gaps of my completeness. I seek Him, is the key. If I don't seek Him first, He will not always but into my life. But when I surrendered my live to Him, I gave Him permission to but in at anytime. He is my life!

With Resurrection day coming soon, it reminds me so much of what Jesus did for me!

I do, confess with my mouth, Jesus is Lord of my life and believe in my heart God raised Him from the dead. I know Christ died for my sins, I take it to mean= me personally! I know He died for everyone's sins but it is each individual persons decision alone on whether we will accept that gift personally and surrender our life "as an individual" to Him.

Jesus really is more than a story to me, more than just words on a page, He is the air that I breathe and the water I thirst for!)

We are saved by grace through faith, not in or of our self, it is a gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.

I would love the whole world to know and surrender their life to Christ! It would be such a better place! But Jesus does not want to force people to follow Him!! I am in awe of His sacrifice and love for me! I am very grateful and I want to continue to be transformed into a better person! Transformation into a better person has been and will continue to be a process after my surrender! I don't think I am better than anyone! But I also don't think that people are "better than" me. I am whole and the only one I want to please from my whole heart is God! I can get insecure about myself and things but me, as a person, am no longer insecure as a whole person like I was.

I am Yours

I love any song that explains Jesus' love and or presence! This song is so beautiful because I know I am God's. The bible says you will seek me and find Me if search for Me with all of your heart. I do that daily! He has filled such voids in my life and has made me whole!


Lyrics
Casting Crowns lyrics - Who Am I
album: Casting Crowns (2003)
genre:
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Love, Who would have thought!!

It is so funny!! Dale and I were married for not quite 11 years in April of 1998 when I gave my life to Christ. One of the things I am in awe about is the way God has given me, over the years, more love for my honey.

I never thought I could love him more than I did!! I also did not understand what commitment was before 1998 either, not the way I know it now anyway! I knew I wanted to stay with Dale forever, but I also had so much conflict with in myself that I wanted to also give up!! I really did!! In the beginning I loved Dale more, that, I have no doubt!! I struggled with that very much, it was painful!
He loves me as much now, I am very grateful for that!!

The journey starts for Dale and I in 1998, that is when things started to change for us. God started to show me a different way at looking at my husband and marriage. At first when I gave my life to Christ, I would read God's word then, all of the sudden, I needed to do it (what ever jumped out of the page at me at that time) It drove Dale nuts, I am sure!! I kept saying, well God wants us to do this or that. I know he wondered if I lost my mind!!! I was pushing Dale away from God and me!! I did not mean to!! I just wanted to follow Christ!! I loved Christ so much!! I realized personally, what He did for me. And I was loyal to Him and Him alone!!

Anyway, in June of that year, at church we were doing a bible study called "The Excellent Wife" through that study, God showed me I was being overbearing and pushy!! I honestly did not mean to! God started to show me that I needed to lay off and trust Him!! God started to help me realize what commitment was. Almost like unconditional love, but I did know what that meant or looked like) He started showing me tenderness for Dale. I got a book called "Power of a Praying Wife" because I wanted so much for Dale to follow Christ as well! I was so frustrated because I knew what I was going through was so real!! I never in my life ever felt as cherished as I had since I started to follow Christ!! I wanted him to know what I knew to real and true!! In the book, she was saying that I needed to not only pray for my husband, but I needed to pray for myself as well, to be an excellent wife. For me to ask God to guide me and to help me be respectful, to put on tender mercies for Dale. (at that point, I didn't know what that looked like!! I wanted so much to follow Christ in that, but I did not know how. I asked Him to be my love for Dale, especially when it was difficult (and still do ask when it gets difficult). I had to keep going back to the Lord many times. That was honestly the beginning! It was very difficult to be respectful toward Dale when I did not think he "deserved it". Part of Christ's teachings are to go the extra mile, give the other cheek to someone if they slap you. I could not do that!! Christ had to do it through me!! I knew, I could not be that way, not in and of myself anyway. But I read Acts 9, about Paul being a persecuter of Christians and how he was going out to bring other Christians down, when on the way to Damascus, Jesus stopped Him and reveiled himself to Paul (his name was Saul at that point, Paul was his name after he gave his life to Christ) Jesus changed Paul's heart, Paul realized personally what Christ did for him and he started to follow Christ. I thought well, if God can change someone like Saul, he can change anyone, including me!! I have alot of respect for Paul!! God used that part of the bible to show me the change He can make in people if they make Jesus Lord of their lives. That is what Paul did!! That is also what I did!

Anyway, all through out, I would go to God daily and ask Him to help me be who He wanted me to be. God over the years has shown me what heart changes He alone can make. Many things have happened over the years and in every situation, God has shown Himself faithful and worthy!! He has been changing Dale and I for the past 10 years. In 2001 I went to a seminar, God showed me some things that I was not doing and I was heart sick. I was not under God's design of authority, Dale. I was not being submissive to him. (if anyone before 1998 had EVER TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BE SUBMISSIVE TO DALE, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY LAUGHED IN THEIR FACE!! I WAS NEVER EVER TAUGHT THAT YOU HAD TO LOVE AND OBEY YOUR HUSBAND, NEVER!!! Plus I did not want to obey anyone because it was extremely scary to me!! (Control over me was not my idea of living) I told God I wanted so much to be submissive and under Dale's authority but I did not know how. I asked God to please show me how!! He did, it was so wonderful!! God used my Pastor to help me start to understand what that looked like. I asked my Pastor about something and he asked me if I asked Dale? I outwardly scoffed!! No, I said, I have not, he is not interested. My pastor said, God wants us guys to be accountable. If you just do it yourself, (because you were tired of waiting for your husband) your husband will let you do it. That was it, I needed to ask Dale, and wait for him to say yes, or no, or what ever it may be, but I needed to start there. The waiting is the hardest part sometimes, I want so much to nag and go on and on. But when I do, Dales attitude and the situation goes backwards!! It does no good!! In those cases, I asked God to help me trust Him (God) then I ask Him to show Dale what we need to do. That even in 2009 is not the easiest thing to do, but wow, it has gotten much easier!!!!!!!!!! (It really does depend on my mood and how much I want to listen to God. If I don't listen to God, my heart has such bitterness, anger and torment!! That is why, over the years, I have learned to give it to God much sooner than later in each situation!!)

We renewed our vows in 2002 after 15 years of marriage. I wanted to make sure I put in our vows to "obey". That was very important to me because the first vows I took to Dale, did not have the same depth as I felt in 2002 or after!! It was kind of like a renewal to me, like a second chance or a start over! Unfortunatly it was very close to the time Dale's dad was very ill and then he died a few weeks later. That part was very sad and hard!! The renewal was symbolic for me because of my new outlook on marriage.

In 2003-2004 I had a friend who told me how much her husband loved her and that, and he felt responsible for her. He knew she was the one for him!! But they missed out on so much because he did not wait for her. I respected him so much for that!! I don't know why, but I did!! I thought, I would love to feel that way!! To feel like I missed out by not waiting for Dale, but I did not. I loved Dale but I did not know what that looked like, at all!! I loved that my friends husband looked at it that way (of course, she knew she missed out as well) There was something so deep and loving in the way they looked at it! Like I said, I just was not there!! Then months later I went a seminar. (when I go to seminars, I go there to listen to what God has for me to learn, I don't go there to listen to person word for word, I am listening in my spirit for God) God showed me that the unity between a man and woman was supposed to be treasured. Not flipant. He meant for a man and a woman to come together in unity, a special unity. One man for one woman. I agonized so much over what I missed because, I loved Dale even more then! I realized our union could have been so much more if I would have waited!! I did not even know people really did that. I heard rumors, I guess. I went to Dale and asked him to forgive me, I know I did not know back then, but I knew what it meant when God showed me during that seminar. My heart was so sick. I loved and appreciated Dale even more at that point. I felt it, I missed out, I really did!! What Dale and I have is beautiful!! What was so wonderful was that the next day after I asked Dale to forgive me, he asked me to forgive him, he realized it as well. My love over the years has grown so much!!


Over these 10 years I have seen Dale change so much as well!! I saw more happen when I turned the other cheek (was loving and respectful toward Dale), when he did not deserve it!! I would ask God to be my love for Dale when I get or got frustrated. It does not mean that I am some kind of saint!! Far from it!! Over the past 10 years I have been asking God to help me in situations to be kind, loving, and respectful. When I go to God, I am more of those things. But when I do not go to God to be those things, I am not at all kind, loving or respectful. In everyday life, you go, go, go, and sometimes you just don't think. So, like I said, I am not a saint/perfect at it. I strive though to be a better wife and a better mom because I love Dale and because I love our ladies!! God has not given up on me and I am not going to give up either!!

I will continue to strive to do better and to be more kind, loving and respectful because of the love God has continued to give me for my sweet heart!! I am so honored to be Dale's wife, I really am!! He is very precious to me!! I just never knew I could love him more!! Knowing Christ first has given me a deeper capacity to love!!!!

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASWELL'S

We always get together with Dale's family Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I love visiting with family, they are so precious to me!!

Christmas Eve:
We were at mom's house for Christmas Eve.

We got to see all of Dale's family, he has three brothers and one sister.

Marty is the one just under Dale, he pasted away in 1992, his wife was Carol. Their daughter is Crystal.

Bob is the third born his wife's name is Tanya. They have three boys Russ, Robert and Chance.

Dale's youngest brother is David. David's wife is Jenni. They have three boys as well. Andy, Joe and Nick.

Dale's sister is Liz. She is married to Mike, they have a daughter and her name is Bojena. Isn't that a cute name? It was part of their Grandma Long's (Dale's mom, mom)name. (she had a lot of names and I could not begin to tell you what they were, LOL!! Precious lady though!!!)

Dale's mom is Georgine. She is a very sweet lady!! She is very giving and she loves her kids very much!! I love and respect her for being there for them!!

Dale's Dad Harley died in 2002, Dale's mom and dad were married over 30+ years when he died. Very adorable fun loving guy!! We miss him and Marty both every Christmas they have not been with us!!

Christmas Eve we also got to see Crystal, our niece, who by the way is due Feb 28, 2008 (isn't that exciting) and her husband Nick. He seems very nice and he loves her very much!! It was good seeing them again!!

Christmas Day:
We were at Carol's house for Christmas day. Carol has been a blessing to all of us!! After Marty died, she has been always there with the family because she is just that, family!! Some people would have lost touch, but not Carol or mom!! I love and respect them because they knew we all needed to stick together. We all were a part of their lives the whole time!! That meant a lot to me!! I love Carol very much!! I worked with her years ago (1982) so I got to know her family at that time, as well. They are very precious to me because when I was going through a hard time in my life, they made me feel welcome (1982-1983)!! I hung out there a lot!

At Carol's I got to see Carol's mom (Marty) and sisters (Debra and Jenny) again. It was good seeing them!! Carol is with a guy (Dennis)who is wonderful for her!! She seems so happy and he seems to love her very much! They get along so well!! It is kind of fun to see them be playful. I am so glad she is happy! They have been together for sometime now.

We also got to see Todd and Sharon. Todd is Dale's cousin and Sharon is his wife. They have a son, Jacob. They have always been around too. It is so cool to get together with them every year!

Now you know more about Dale's family. Dale and I have seen 24 Christmas's together with his family. Cool huh?!!!

Christmas is such a good time to be grateful for family!! I know I don't see my family as much, but I love them all very much and miss them as well!! I am still working on being closer to my family!!! I would love that!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! May your new year be filled with hope, love and joy through Christ our Lord =)

Lord bless you and keep you, each one!!

I love this song! It tells what my heart feels!

Lyrics
Just a little while longer I wanna pray
Can't get You off my soul
came to say Thank You Lord just for loving me
Many times as I do forget
Every need that You have met
Oh thank You Lord, I know You're showing me
You are there when I am down and out
You're holding me, Your love is so amazing
Oh it changed me
~~
CHORUS:
Here I am with all I am / have (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Raise my hands to worship You
I wanna say thank you, oh thank you
For everything, for who You are
You cover me, You touch my heart
I wanna say thank you
~~
I could have died in my sin but You saved me
Didn't have any hope at all
You gave me peace divine, strength to carry on
I should have been the one to pay
But instead You took my place
Amazing Grace is more than just a song
Even though I don't deserve Your love for me
You look beyond my fault and You showed mercy
CHORUS
I wanna say thank you for the sun
Lord we thank you for the rain
Lord, I love you!!
Thank you is all that I can say
Thank for the love you gave!!
CHORUS
Lord I Thank you for everything you do in my life
I wanna say Thank you (repeats)
Tell me now,
(Kids saying thank you!)
(Last thank you) Dank you dJee sus