Cherish The Moments!!!!!

Pictures with our cousins is one of our favorite activities. The Lamphere's had to come into town to pick up the campers that went to camp with our church. So they came a little early and we all met at Tot Shots, our favorite photo studio. For all my local friends, this is the best photo studio in Spokane with the best prices. The website is www.totshotsphoto.com. Lindsey and Lauren
Lindsey - 3 years old

Lauren -5 months

All the Boyle Grands

It was so much fun spending time with family and making memories. More than ever this weekend I was reminded to "Cherish The Moments" that we have with our family. We have a lady in our church who spent many years with her family in Alaska. While there she made many lifetime friends. One family in particular became very close to her and they have remained friends to this very day. These are friends who have helped each other through the worst of times and rejoiced in the best of times. Well, this last weekend was one of the worst of times. While traveling on a highway in Alaska, Grandmother, mother and 2 grand babies (one 4 years old and one 5 months old) were involved in a horrific traffic accident with a semi-truck. Grandmother broke her pelvis and Mom had several broken bones. Both babies were killed in the accident. As we were given the news our hearts broke. They broke for our friend, her friends and the church there in Alaska. Then came the moment of truth for me. A picture was posted on the Internet of the two birth announcements asking for special prayer. Of course we were praying even as we didn't know how to pray. The birth announcement for the 5 month old said that she (yes, a girl) was born on Feb 11, 2011. This is Lauren birthday also. I had to quickly click the picture off the screen. Why did this happen? What is God's plan? I was reminded of the verses in Isaiah 55:6-9.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your way my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

I was reminded that at all times I need to seek the Lord. I need to seek him for wisdom and strength. I can not do all that I need to do without the wisdom and strength of the Lord. I was reminded to call upon the Lord. In everything God wants us to call upon him. He wants to hear our every need, want and fear. I don't know how many times in recent days Jake and I have looked at each other and said,"There are just so many hurting hearts right now." God wants us to bring those burdens of our own and those of others and give them to him. I was remind to forsake my own thoughts. I may have an opinion about things in my life or circumstances of others lives but really my thoughts are so far below the thoughts of the Lord. I need to try to have the mind of Christ. Think in ways that are biblical and not fleshly or earthly. I was reminded that God loves this family more than they love themselves or each other. He loves them more than there closest friends and family. He loves them more then there church family. He knows what is best and although we don't understand, we can trust that God would never do anything that was not for our best. I thought, what if that had been me and my mom? What if those had been my children? Would I be able to trust God the way that I need to? To be honest, I just don't know. I am trying to use this lesson to seek God more, trust him more and think his thoughts and not my own thoughts. I have to remember that God loves me and my family more than I do and give them all to the Lord. This is the only way to have peace. Resting in the goodness and faithfulness of God. This dear family needs more prayer now than they have ever needed. They have just begun this journey of healing and trusting. I am praying for them. Will you pray with me? Pray that the Devil will stay out of this family and that they will trust and rest in the almighty arms of our all wise God. Because it is only Him that can heal their hearts.

I hope this has been a blessing!!!!! Thanks for stopping by to see us. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!