We remember, we'll never forget

My dad and my father-in-law
Frank W. Neal III (June 28, 1941 -May 28, 2008)

Ray J. Boiter, Sr. (May 28, 1935 - Nov. 22, 2006)


Today is my dad's 75th birthday, as well as, the two year anniversary of the passing of Chris's dad from this life to Heaven. What a day it was two years ago to sit by Franks side and hold his hand as he took his last breath. I have to admit I whispered in his ear to tell my daddy "Happy Birthday" when he got to Heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus and sing and shout the VICTORY! Frank was a good father-in-law and an excellent grandpa. He is missed. Say a special prayer for Chris and Olivia and all of the Neal's as we remember Frank. Thank you.

Happy Birthday sweet daddy, oh how you are missed. Say a prayer for my mom and brothers as we reflex on my dad today too. Don't we serve an awesome God that His timing would allow these two events to fall on the same day? Sure, it would be my preference to have dad and Frank this side of heaven right now, but ... I don't get to make that call. Instead a perfect, all knowing, all loving, God decides. I trust Him and love Him and thank Him for this day.

Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Go be a blessing.

Fabulous Friday

Oh how I love Friday :) those of you who know me well know it's our family fun night!! We go out to eat, visit family or friends, find a park, hit the mall or Chuck E. Cheese ... something for family togetherness. Right at the moment I am covered in white specks of paint and need to shower before our fun begins. I have been painting our front porch and let me just say; it is a bear!!! We have these decorative spindles with curves, more curves and then a little straight strip (the easy part). Those curves require patience and diligence. Since I want the porch to look good up next to our new siding I am taking my time and doing the job right. I could go out there and throw on the paint, but that would only make a mess and would require more work to straighten it out. Kind of reminds me of my life. When I get in a hurry and don't take the time to read my Bible and just sit and listen to the Lord my whole day turns into a mess. I need that direction early so I will be able to with stand the "curves" thrown at me during the day. You know it's like Matthew 7: 24 - 25 says "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock."

When my day starts with the rock of my salvation, then no matter what happens it's going to be a good day ... mess free.

I guess I'll go clean up so our family fun can begin ... be a blessing where ever you are.

Busy days ...

Do you ever have those days/weeks where you have so much to do that you can't see straight? I am in the midst of one of those months. It's all good stuff, actually great stuff, but just time consuming. We have gotten the siding and windows taken care of and now I need to paint the front porch ( will start today). Remember though I am a home schooling mom so I have lessons to teach, tests to grade and grades to average and send in to our home school association. I also have 5 kittens to teach how to eat and play and get ready to give away. We are about to start teaching the 5 year olds at church again so I have Sunday school lessons / crafts to prepare. In the midst of all of that the Lord has laid on our hearts to be foster/adoptive parents ... now you know what my last post was all about. We have completed the first large packet of questions and are finishing up packet #2 (very in depth and time consuming questions). We have put up a fire extinguisher and got all new smoke alarms. We now have a fire escape route posted in our home :-) We have been fingerprinted and had a SLED check. Chris is giving up his hunting/ fishing / office room so we can make a bedroom for our future foster children. We plan to foster one child at a time due to the fact that we only have room for one other person in both our vehicles ( I don't have a mini van anymore :-( We are very excited, but lots to do in preparation. Cleaning out this office and moving fish and deer heads will be a job ( who knows which wall they will go on now??) I don't want to think about that :-) All I know is that it will be worth it to help a child in need. I am so thankful that the Lord has laid this on the heart of my entire family. Olivia is so excited and looking forward to having a baby or little one in our home. We are applying to help children birth to 4 years right now, but we'll see what the Lord lays on our hearts for the future. Join us in prayer as we seek His will and not our own.

Back to my busy schedule ... Chris's sister is getting married this Saturday in York, SC so we are looking forward to that. Olivia's piano recital is May 18th ... can't wait. Bible Fellowship appreciation dinner May 19, Chris and I will be married 14 years on May 25th . My niece Kayla graduates high school May 28th ( my dad's birthday). Sunday June 30th will be our last day as secretary/ administrator in adult Bible fellowship because we will start back teaching in the 5's on June 6th. Fun days ahead.

That's our little world. ... Jeremiah 29:11

Go be a blessing ...

Our stray cat and orphans

Have you ever taken in a stray cat? My dad used to say it was good luck when a cat comes to your house. ( He wasn't fond of cats so I don't know why he said that, but he believed it). Back in February a stray cat showed up on our deck. It was dark and had started snowing. I turned on the deck light so we could see the snow and that's when I spotted the skinny cat. I carried her around to our front porch and gave her the only thing I had ( dog food)she ate every bite. She seemed "normal looking" no visible signs of poor health other than needing food. I continued to feed her and we claimed her as our own. Olivia named her Pepper. Fast forward to this morning. I was out sitting on the back steps watching Pepper eat and thinking how she came to be our cat. She needed a home and we provided that for her. There was nothing wrong with her ... she just needed love. Now she is happy and has 5 sweet kittens who we are also caring for. We can't imagine not having Pepper. She has a wonderful personality and it's like she's always been apart of our family. I guess that's the good luck my dad was talking about :) a new part of our family.Switch gears with me and let's talk about orphans for a moment. Do you know that orphans are little children who haven't done anything wrong? They were born and have been harmed either by abuse or neglect by their parents; the very people who are suppose to care for them. Do you know how many orphans there are in South Carolina? thousands of them. Do you know what they look like? They look like my daughter and your child. Do you ever watch the news and hear a reporter say that the child was taken into protective custody. Do you ever think about what that really means? Do you visualize a huge building where all of these kids just stay and wait until their parents get their act together? Do you think about these kids at all??? well you should. Think of your own life and your own children if you have them. Can you imagine them not having you? Can you imagine what it would be like for a child to have their parent one moment then to be without them the next. When these children's parents do wrong and the children have to be taken out of their home they don't get to pack an overnight bag and get their things, they just go. How would you feel if someone came in and took you away from the only life you knew? Put yourself in the place of an orphan. The Bible tells us in James 1:27 (New Living Translation)"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." We are told in the Bible to care for the widows and the orphans. Do we do that? Now is a good time to ask the Lord how he would have you help care for the orphans.I'll share more later ... I have a class to go to. Pray and seek.