The Portion of my Inheritance

This sacred pilgrimage began by the will of our Father, intertwining hearts together, plying two cords, twisting and connecting them within His own. Creating for us an endless journey of togetherness, wound tight, rich, thick layers, one rolling over the other. Throughout these years, traveling through the consecrated life that He intended for just us, we have become known by many names.

It has been throughout our individual lives that we have been called, child, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle . . . .

But this 35 year journey together began with just us two.

And we were called husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Newlyweds, young and in love. Our future held so much hope and expectation, and we met each day with vigor and anticipation. We planned for our future and worked to achieve the goal.

And through the grace of our Lord, and the deepening of our love, we were blessed with children, and we were called parents. Father and Mother. Dad and mom, and our hearts were full, running over. And we grew in love, surrendering our hearts and our lives to the Lord. Lifting up our meager offerings to “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Eph. 3:20)

At the near close of this journey, in a steady, unswerving depth unlike any we have known before, we serve the great call of grandparents. Grandpa and grandma, Gumps and mammy, and all the joys this earth has to offer is rolled up in these titles. The riches of His love pours out over our hearts through these names that we are privileged to be called.

We still hope and anticipate even more. Still to come lies before us the treasures of Great-Grandparents. And we wait in the Lord for His perfect timing, to cover us with this wonderful blanket of fullness, continually adding to that first cord, fulfilling His plans and our hearts to overflowing.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecc. 4:12 b

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Just coming together as a family is great cause for celebrating around here. But it usually takes a birthday or a holiday to make that happen. This occasion just happens to be gump’s birthday. We rejoice in these wonderful times and certainly have our favorite ways of celebrating.

One of our favorites is stir fry Hibachi style and gumps is the master at it.

Our outdoor griddle is one of our favorite things to cook on. Not only does it make an awesome stir fry, but cooking bacon, eggs and pancakes on it is phenomenal!

When it comes to choosing between chicken and beef, for this family there is no choice, it’s both!

The amazing aroma fills our backyard and we gather around gumps just waiting for it to be ready.

Absolute perfection!

But the best part of all is in the giving thanks and the just being together.

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   Hebrews 10:25

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“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34

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Our beloved strawberry patch just dissipated after a three year stretch and there was great disappointment.

So gumps and mammy headed out to the nursery on Saturday afternoon to replenish our crop.  The grimace on gump’s face as he handed over the $28 for the flat of strawberries made me think twice.

“I wonder how many strawberries I could buy at the store for that much money?”

But alas, my mind once again returned to sanity as I remembered the exact reason for the strawberries.

Eating the scrumptious berries is just a small part of the joy. The actual true joy lies within the planting, the tending, and the sharing with my girls.

It is in the touching of earth, getting the dirt under nails, deep within the creases of your skin from the packing and patting around the tender, young shoots.

It is in the lit up faces as they see the growth and the harvest that they will reap from the work of their own hands.

It is in the joint effort of our family, together watching, watering, and waiting until finally  . . . . .

The absolute perfect joy comes from the picking and eating of these precious little gems that taste better than anything you could imagine, better than anything you could ever get in a store.

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.   John 14:27

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Brookshire’s had their annual crawdad boil this Saturday and gumps gathered up his little troops and headed to town. This year Aniyah got to participate.

With the shopping done and the crawdads in hand we headed home to feast. Aria could not contain her excitement!

Not only was this an incredible meal, it also became a part of Aria’s pond, lakes and rivers unit. So she spent some time observing the little critters.

Aniyah joined in the observations, but it didn’t take her very long to decide that she didn’t really want any part of it.

Aria has become an expert at shelling and especially at eating them. Her and gumps finished them off in a flash!

We had a great time with our girls! It’s hard to believe that these ugly little things could be so fun and so tasty!

They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;  Luke 24:24

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It is finally here! Strawberry pickin time and our girls are no strangers to digging through the lush green leaves to find those scrumptious little treats.

Aniyah knows this drill well after the past two years of gathering in the strawberry harvest, and immediately finds what she is looking for.

It has been too long since our last crop and everyone is anticipating these tasty little treasures.

This little raised bed has been good to us, aside from the little critters that love them as much as we do. It is definitely a high light of spring.

Our efforts are rewarded today, there are enough for supper, pancakes covered with strawberries and the girls are excited!

“While the earth remains, Seed time and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”  Genesis 8:22

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An unbelievable thing happened!

Aria turned 7 years old!

Little sister along with several of her guest dressed up for the occasion.

Here are a few pictures from her special day.

Happy Happy Birthday to my precious girl! I love you

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. James 1:17

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