2011...Just Around the Corner

It is now 11:21 PM in Texas, and I have been thinking about 2010. There has been a lot of things happen over the last 12 months. Some happy, some sad...and God has been FAITHFUL through it all. He's always been by our side and has given us strength to face whatever the obstacle. I'm so thankful He has stood by us all the way!

I always get excited when the "old year" is coming to a close. I love the fact that the "new year" has yet to be written on and we have the chance to change those things we want to change, and to strengthen areas of our lives that need to be strengthened. There's a new year getting ready to be born! I already hear fireworks going off from those who are celebrating, and that's alright, but my heart is having it's own "fireworks of anticipation".

We are just 35 minutes away from opening the clean white pages of 2011!

I wonder...what great things will happen this coming year?
I wonder...who will our new granddaughter look like?
I wonder...which backslider will be the first one in the altar this year?
I wonder...how many souls will come to know Him in the fullness of truth?

And...I wonder...will Jesus appear in the clouds and take us all HOME?

What a great year awaits all of us. What are you planning to do with it? I hope you're making God-centered plans for the new year. I want to be better in many things, and I'm going to work towards "being the best I can be".

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my family and friends! Thank you for another great year of friendships and love. I wish you all the greatest God has for you, and love you more this year than I ever have! YOU are wonderful!

May God bless you in 2011! Let's celebrate His goodness!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures of 2010. In November we were invited to preach for Bro. Huntley in Raleigh, NC, AND he invited us to go hunting with him and is sweet wife, Patsy for a couple of days. Here we all are before heading to the deer stand! By the way...Patsy Huntley shot a deer! It was my first experience of sitting in a deer stand. What fun we had!

Stranger Danger

Sometime in my grogginess this morning I prayed a prayer I have prayed many times. "Lord, keep Jonathan and Brenda, and Andrew and Mandy in the Truth. Don't let anything or anyone turn them away from what they know is RIGHT." I sleepily mumbled and thought nothing more of it. As a parent I have full confidence in my childrens walk with God and know the love for Truth that is in their hearts. But as I have said many times in their growing up years..."I trust YOU, but I don't trust the devil." Our sons are grown men and Pastor two great churches. They are both married to beautiful young ladies that love truth, love God, and love the ways of holiness. I am not worried about their walks with God. I could go to either one of their churches knowing that I would be led in the ways of righteousness and holiness, and I would hear truth preached. I am confident in their relationship with God, but I'm also aware of the "roaring lion that's walking about seeking whom he may devour".

My husband and I were at lunch today talking about this very thing when he made a statement that I will not soon forget. Many times he will say little quips that are simple in thought, but deep in meaning and this was another time his words caught my attention. He said: "The devil always wears a smile." That's it! He said it without fanfare. He wasn't in a "preaching tone". He just said it and he didn't have to say much more to impact me.

Satan is in the business of deception, and he's a good salesman! If you're not aware of what he's doing he will sink his deceptive claws into your spirit so gently that you will not even feel the tearing of your heart, then lead you straight into false doctrine that is deadly. After he has done his damage to you he quietly walks away chuckling to himself, and goes searching for another victim to take to hell with him. His prime target is the ministry and their families. If he can get them to fall he knows there will be untold hundreds of people that will be affected. They might even question God if their Pastor/Preacher goes astray! He "smiles" to himself and says, "Yeah...let me get my hands on the ministry and their children and I will destroy the church of the living God!" Slowly, meticulously, he works, and "smiles" his way into the hearts of those we love and we sometimes stand by watching, because we are too busy in our own world and really don't want to get "involved"!

I saw a video clip on a friends Facebook page this morning that really got me to thinking, along with some other things the Lord quickened to my spirit. It was a "staged abduction of a child" and over a period of several hours NO ONE stopped to help. Finally, someone took action and decided they needed to DO SOMETHING! It's not only the child that is being abducted "on the street" that should concern us, but our children are being "abducted spiritually". Are we going to walk by those who are being abducted by the deceptive spirits walking around "with a smile on their face" and do nothing? Children are in danger! They are crying for our help! Can we HEAR them?

Listen...listen closely...

"Someone please help me! I'm reaching for you! I'm asking for your help. Please don't shake your head and sigh as if there is nothing you can do, then keep walking! You give me no hope when you act as if nothing is wrong. How am I suppose to act when I am approached? What am I suppose to do? What am I suppose to say? How do I protect myself? Please be open to my call for help! Please stop and get involved! If you don't help me, then who will?"

I appeal to all of us today to STOP and GET INVOLVED in the salvation of the generation following us! They are counting on US! I want to be saved and I want my children and grandchildren dancing on the streets of gold with me. I will not sit idly by and do NOTHING!

Christmas Memories 2010

Today has been a quiet day in my house. It feels so empty! Empty of decorations, empty of laughing little girls, empty of banging pots and pans in the kitchen as our daughters work to keep it all picked up, empty of deep "men voices" discussing things of interest. Yes, my house has felt empty, but my heart is full of all the love and memories we have from this week of Christmas! There is nothing like having our children and grandchildren home for the holidays!

It has been FOUR YEARS since "the kids have come home for Christmas". The last Christmas we had in our home was in Wichita Falls! Since we share with the girls families every other year, the last Christmas the kids were suppose to be with us, we were living in our motorhome, so WE went to the kids house (Jonathan and Brenda's) and had our "family Christmas" there. We had a great time! But, this year I was REALLY ready to have Christmas in our home! If you could have seen inside my heart you would have been able to see a little girl jumping up and down with excitement! I could hardly wait to hear the door bell ring and to open it to excited, happy, smiling little girls and feel their arms around my neck! I couldn't wait to hug my grown sons and their sweet wives (our daughters) and to hear...."Hello Mom!" Yes! I was excited and standing beside me was my husband who was like a little boy. I could almost see him shifting from side to side, not able to stand still because he was just as excited as I was!

We had a wonderful time in our "new smaller home" this year. I was concerned that it might be too small, but everyone got moved in to "their" room, and was happy. As the week went on I told Wendell that I kind of liked having a smaller house, because everyone had to be in the same area of the house...most of the time! I love being "together"! I am sharing with you some of our pictures from this past week. My heart is full and running over with thankfulness for another year of blessings and happiness!

Wendell read "The Christmas Story"
My Mother's Bible
The granddaughters listened intently
Ashlyn placed Jesus in the Manger
Here is one happy, spoiled, loved Papa
And...a HAPPY Mimi and PapaWhere's Santa???? Here he is!
Opening gifts began







God BLESSED us with FOUR granddaughters after us having TWO sons! Now, the doctor says the baby that's on its way is another GIRL! FUN! FUN! FUN!

Several years ago we decided to give the parents of these awesome little girls, money. But, I cannot write a check, put it in a card and hand it to them at Christmastime! For me, part of Christmas fun is opening gifts, so I try to figure out a way to give the adults their "money gift" so they have several packages to open.

Andrew is giving me that "look" like, "Mom, what are you up to now? I can't hardly wait to open it!" LOL! I have to admit that I have a lot of fun shopping for these "little gifts". In fact, I was standing in the aisle of one store trying to figure out what to do when one of the ideas came to me and I started laughing just thinking about the reaction. I had spotted what I call a "Shower Foo-Foo" and decided right then and there that I would get a bunch of $1.00 bills and fold them up real small and stick them in the "foo-foo ball". So, I did! I took 50 of those little bills and made a "money ball". I think I have more fun than they do figuring it all out! Although, I'm SURE they enjoy the money. I always seem to come up with different ideas from year to year. I'm hoping I don't run out of ideas very soon! There were more "money gifts" to follow on this night, but it would take too long to tell you all about it.

I think Jonathan got his gift opened first.

"Great idea, Mom!"

Jonathan counting his money...making sure it was all there.
Andrew got all of his...
Mandy seeing what she got. By the smile I see, I know I've done well. :)

Brenda's happy!
I love gifts!

"Santa" even gets to open a gift...or two.

The "traditional ending" of a great night!Evening Christmas Dinner. Totally relaxed and thankful...
Another year has swiftly passed, and God has been FAITHFUL once again! Thank you, Lord! And, thank you our wonderful family for such an awesome time this year!

Mimi...What If...

It has been a "hustle, bustle time of year" around our home, and we have enjoyed our family being with us so very much. I will post pictures and a post later, but our little Ashlyn, three years old said something to me as she was getting ready to get in the car to leave to go home with her parents that will not leave me alone. After all of the gifts she received for Christmas her little mind went back to the "real reason for it all." I can hear her little voice as she asked..."Mimi, what if we were all in one room and all of us opened just one present, then...JESUS walked in?" I answered by saying, "Oh, Ashlyn that would be AWESOME! That would be a whole lot better than Santa Claus, huh?" And to that she replied, "Yes, ma'am!"

As this day has been passing by I find myself in the quiet of my home. The kids are gone back to their homes, my Christmas decorations are all put away, and my house is clean, so I am relaxed and pondering over the Christmas holiday, and Ashlyn's voice keeps resounding in my mind.

I sat down at my desk to do some updating on my computer and decided to check the blog world. My sister, Ronda posted the other day about the song that follows.



Out of all the new "things" Ashlyn received for Christmas she brought me back to the reality of what it's all about. JESUS...you're the real reason for it all. Help me remember in my "grown up world" to welcome you into the activities of life, because..."Of all the gifts I may receive, there’s only one I really need. And it’s Your presence, Your presence for Christmas."

Christmas Fun

The last few days has been so much FUN with our family at home! We are having a great time being together. Laughing, talking, eating, playing games, relaxing, and just being together is what it's all about! I hope you're all having a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior, and showing love to each member of your family and your friends. RELATIONSHIP is what matters MOST in life. Thank you for your love and friendship through the years.

Here's a sweet picture that will bring a smile to your face. These are our four granddaughters on Christmas morning as they were waiting to open their stockings from "Santa".

(L-R). Savanna, Alayna, Scarlet, and Ashlyn.

HOME...SWEET...HOME

I wanted to stop by today and say I am SO HAPPY to be HOME! We have been gone a lot, so today I am decorating for Christmas! God has been good to us as we traveled from the roads of America, and we are thankful for His protection. Today, I am thankful once again for His love and mercy to us.

I will be back in awhile to write some more, but just let me say...I'm HAPPY and THANKFUL!

Dear friends and family...Thank you for all the prayers and support this month!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Angela Martin Hurt

It is with sadness that I make this post. You can go to the following link to view The obituary for Angella. There is also a Memorial video.

Integrity Funeral Home

Please be in prayer for her family. Thank you all...my dear friends.

Shocked...but not in despair

I don't know where to start, and if I get started I don't know where to stop. It seems like all my days and nights have run together since the beginning of November. We have been from California to North Carolina and driven around 9,000 miles! We have been shocked by the death of our brother Royce Elms, then early this morning we received another call that the daughter of Elroy and LaJoyce Martin (writer/speaker) was killed in an auto accident. Angela was 41 years old. For those who know our family you know that Elroy Martin is a first cousin to my husband. We are so sad for Elroy and LaJoyce! Please pray for the "peace of God" to come to them during this terrible time.

It seems like lately I have been using my blog for updates on those who have been called out of this life. Heaven is definitely going to be a wonderful place! When we all gather around the throne we're going to have a wonderful time. Our hearts grieve, and our eyes fill with tears, but we have a HOPE that is far beyond this life. I want to be ready when He calls me home or when the trump of God sounds!

Will you meet me there?