Counting it all joy!

2 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that  the testing of your faith  produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James 1:2-4

It's been ten days in our new house and we are counting it all joy:

New home ownership

Ants and ants and ants and ants and ants and ants..........................................................

Pest control visit

More ants

An overflowing washer

Roto Rooter visit

More ants

A plugged up toilet

A visit to Home Depot for snake rental

Sewage back up

Have I mentioned ants?

A LEAKING PIPE

Wet carpet and padding

A sewage pipe break

Ants................................................

Waiting for Pest Control to make another visit

Seriously, God has been very gracious to us and He is the best provider. He has given us peace even in the craziness. I will admit when I got the analysis from the plumber today I almost cried, but I remembered that God is sovereign. He is totally in control and that even this seemingly abysmal situation is nothing for us to fret about. Psalm 37:8

Thankfully, my Bible Study this morning was on Joseph and God's sovereignty. Joseph was wronged by his brothers to put it lightly (Genesis 37) and in the end was able to see that although his brothers misdeeds were meant for evil, God is sovereign and He meant it for good! I LOVE that.

Having "situations" with our house is certainly nothing like being sold into slavery or being imprisoned, but the principle remains the same. Our great God is sovereign and there is nothing that touches us that doesn't pass through His hands first. Today we are considering this little trial as a chance to exercise our faith and count it as pure joy, because we know that we are developing a steadfastness that only comes with the fire.

Thank you Lord for your tender mercies that are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness to us O Lord.

Please help us to continue to rejoice in You. You are sovereign and Your understanding no one can fathom.

Until next time,

Missy

Thankful

It's a new day in our new house; our first Tuesday to live here. Spring has sprung in our back yard and I am so thankful to gaze through our dining room windows at our beautiful trees scattered through out. Tim said he spotted a cardinal a few mornings ago, I hope it will come back to visit soon.

I am ever so thankful to the Lord for blessing us with our home. The closing of our house took several months-very long months, but I wouldn't trade the waiting. We learned so much about God's provision, sufficiency, grace, and joy in the midst of waiting. Our kids learned the lessons right along with us and we know that our home belongs to the Lord.

We have visions of hospitality, (ever notice the word "hospital" in that?), laughter, tears, growing children, many visits from family, and lots of late night talks around the table. We are thankful.

At the moment I am aware that a crazy amount of boxes await me in the garage for unpacking, so off I go.

Thank you Lord for your bountiful provision and your sustaining grace. You are good and your love endures forever.

Until next time,

Missy

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've last blogged! We have had an awful lot going on around here and I hope to update very soon.
A mini teaser: crawling-standing-letting go-, broken computer, teenager in the house, packing and purchasing our first home, strep throat, RSV, ear infections, birthdays, cousins, home school, weight gain(yep, I said gain), new computer :), thankfulness, blossoming daughter, wonderful husband, faithful God!

The Lord willing, I will get to write soon!

Until next time,

Missy

Hello!

Hello!

It's been a few weeks since I've last had the opportunity to blog. That might give you an indication of craziness in the Linkletter household!
Our sweet Sammy was really sick over the past few weeks. He came down with RSV, a double ear infection, and is getting 4 teeth in!. Can you say poor baby? Along with all of that I think each one of us got a cold and the parents of the household had very little sleep.

I hope to write a bit more tomorrow, but for tonight I will leave this great link to some God centered music http://newmonikermusic.com/

Until next time,
Missy

A few candid shots

Sammy was not cooperating!
Brother to Brother

Sammy Boy-8 months old

Our newest edition "Cali"

Can you believe what they do to me around here?

Sam Houston Memorial

Bug Eyes!

And I cried out!

I don't know if you have given the name of this blog much notice "And They Cried Out". The title was born after reading Psalm 107 on a weekend get away. It resonated so deeply with me because with out my God, I have no hope, only despair. If by chance you haven't read Psalm 107 recently, it's a must read! When you get there, take notice how many times the it says: "and they cried out in their trouble and He saved them from their distress."

Last week was one of crying out to Him in my distress. The week before I found a lump-where no woman wants to find a lump.... Thursday they were able to get me in for a mammogram & ultrasound. Exactly one week of waiting. One week of intense crying out to my Maker. One week of wondering if my life would be altered forever. One week of looking at my husband and children with a heart overflowing in anguish. The night before my tests, I tossed and turned most of the night. I was in one of those "half asleep-half awake" states. Every time I would turnover, I cried out; "Abba, help me, Abba, be with me!"

I got to the hospital a little early and was able to do some reading. I felt directed to go to Romans 8. Honestly, I thought I would probably read Romans 8:28, but my eyes landed on verse 15. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." My spirit rejoiced with in me! At that moment, I felt the Lord's presence and I knew that He heard my cries. He rescued me from distress, His presence calmed me.

When I say that He rescued me from my distress, I don't mean that I felt a guarantee that they wouldn't find cancer. I mean that I knew whatever they were about to tell me, that He would be with me and that He would sustain me. As it turns out, they did find a mass about 1 1/2 cm and it "appears to be benign". I don't think their too worried about it because they said they want to see me again in FOUR YEARS!

I pray that I don't come across trite; "I don't have cancer, He's a good God, and my life just goes on...." The fact is that He is a good God no matter my circumstance. I am a great sinner, in need of a Savior. Truly, He rescued me from the pit of despair when He called me to Himself. Me, a sinner-separated from a holy God. He lavished me with His forgiveness and grace through His son Jesus Christ! If it weren't for Him, I would be utterly lost and without hope. Today, I have been spared by His great grace. (see Romans 3:23-24)

Our lives on this side of eternity are a mere handbreadth-here today and gone tomorrow. None of us know how long we will have on this earth! King David said, ”Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath” (Psalm 39:4-5) I pray that for the rest of my days, however long are short they might be, will be days of making much of my Savior!

Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in today, cry out to Him, He will not disappoint.

*Below is a song that has blessed me much this last week. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5i2pELpqBg

Until next time,

Missy

Checking in

If you were a fly on the wall in the Linkletter household over the last week, here's what you would have experienced:

1) I started on my healthy eating plan-we are one week down as of Tuesday.

How would I describe it you ask?

hard-great-difficult-imperfect-growth-grace-grumpy-more grace-
still learning-excited-progress-still crying out

2) Signed Justin up for fall ball

He's wanted to play baseball since last year, but we missed the deadline because of all the craziness with Sammy. They asked Tim to coach his team and he agreed. We are all pretty excited to get to support Justin this way. We went to his first week of practice this week. We are relieved that Tim will have help coaching. We really feel like this was placed in our lap from the Lord and are excited to see His plan play out in it all. Justin's first game is on Saturday.

I am happy that he finally gets to play, he's waited along time!

3) Wrote out our goals for homeschooling this year

Tim and I sat down and discussed our goals for our family for the upcoming school year, we start on September 8th. I found a planbook specifically for homeschooling and it has different areas for spiritual, academic, physical, social, and character goals. It was so helpful because it focused me on the right things for our family with the big picture in mind.

4) Flu shots/flu mist-yuck!

Sarah had her 10 year old check up on Monday-we are just a few months late on that one! While she got a clean bill of health, we all walked out with either the flu-mist or a flu shot. We have never had that vaccination; but because Sammy is so little, she highly recommended it. Sammy ended up with a fever that night and Sarah had a fever on Wednesday. I just felt under the weather for a few days while Justin went unaffected as of today. I hope it will be worth it come flu season. I highly doubt I will be signing up for that again anytime soon-at least for myself.

5)The Name Game

Kind of funny. I've been called a lot of different derivatives of Missy believe it or not. To name a few: Mitsy, Misty, Messy and even Dnissy! But this week topped them all. Our neighbor sent us an invitation to her church social and it was addressed in her hand writing "Missen Linkletter"! Yep-Missen....hmm what is one to think of that? :)

6) Our memory verse of the week

Our church has a memory verse every week. We have decided as a family to memorize each verse on a weekly basis. I hope to share it with you on a weekly basis.

Our verse for September 6th is:

" I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other; nor my praise to carved idols."

Isaiah 42:8

*The above picture was taken right after we finished dinner a few nights ago. I just loved how the sun was shining on our memory verse...reminded me of just a glimpse of His glory!

Until next time,

Missy