The first birthday that never was

Although our little baby went to Heaven after he/she had been in my womb for a mere six weeks, I still was able to form a love and connection with that child. I never got to hear their heartbeat, but it had been beating for a few weeks at that point. I never got to feel that first kick. I never got to kiss them on the cheek and tell them "welcome to the world, little baby," as I did my other two children.

Just a couple weeks I sat in church surrounded by three other pregnant ladies who all discussed their future plans. I was happy for them, but still sad for me. Sure, I had Ray, my two year old, but I don't think that the statement is true when people say, "at least you have one healthy baby here with you." Or, "at least you have Raylea."

A baby is a person, just like you. In or outside of the womb.

I had someone tell me it was my bodies way of "flushing itself out." Yeah, that could be put in the book called, "The dumbest things to say to a person who suffered a miscarriage."

What's amazing is even though I was confused being that we had wanted our second child for 13 months at that point, and for something so innocent and perfect as a baby to be taken from me in an single day, I still had peace.

Those who know me at all, know that it wasn't but a few months after that we announced our following pregnancy, little Jack Gannon, who is now 10 months old.

Here soon I am going to write a post on all the miracles God has performed in his little life.

I told someone yesterday I can't imagine not having Jack. If our baby who went to Heaven at 6 weeks in the womb would have been here, Jack wouldn't. Now, that's a very sad thought. I know why I had peace during that personal trial, and it was because God had a plan. A better one than me.

If August Shalom would have stayed here, he/she would have been one year old today.

Today is their first birthday that never was.

I think it's pretty awesome though that that baby is in Heaven. I will get to meet my baby for the first time in Heaven. Instead of a doctor or Grant handing me my baby, it will be Jesus. That is a moment I have to look forward to.

There are many birthdays of people that never were. The man who died of cancer at 36 never had a 37th birthday. The woman killed in a car wreck at 54 never saw her 55th.

In Heaven though... everything will be made perfect. We have a definition of perfect. But, how we define paradise isn't close to how awesome it really is.

I don't know what birthday I won't get to see.

It may be my 90th. It may be my 30th. It may be that I am raptured out of here tomorrow and I won't see my 27th. I am game for that! :) I am so excited to go home.

Sir. Ma'am. Kid. Child. Teen. Grandma. Grandpa. Baby.

You have no idea when you will celebrate your last birthday. I would love to tell you to go live out all of your dreams. Travel the world. Go skydiving. Get married. Live by the ocean.

That's all fine and dandy. But I am warning you to prepare for eternity.

You don't know when you'll step into it.

God gives us a FREE WILL to make the choice of whether or not we want to accept Him and live for Him. He won't force you. Neither will I. But I will continue to beg you to make the right choice sooner, rather than later.

The devil is a liar. You are loved, wanted and needed. That's a lie he played on me for a long time. Even after I was saved. He told me I had to win others over. I had every reason to be insecure. I wasn't pretty enough. I wasn't tall enough. I wasn't smart enough. I was funny enough. I wasn't whatever enough.

I can tell you this though, I may not be perfect and I sure never will be until I step over into Glory, but I know the devil wants nothing more than to defeat me in life because he knows he is losing in the end and he wants to take as many down with him as possible. He isn't going to play fair. He isn't going to say, "no blood, no foul." He wants blood. He wants just that actually. He wants me and you to die physically and mostly spiritually.

Speak this with me right now.

(I speak this out loud as I am typing this.)

Satan. Listen up.

You are a loser.

You used to make me feel condemnation over any of my past.

You have made me lie before.

You have caused me to feel jealousy, hatred and wrong feelings towards others before.

You have caused me to believe I am ugly.

You have made me believe I am worthless and I would be better off dead.

You have made me feel like I have no purpose.

You have made me feel like nobody likes me. Or even loves me.

You have tried hard to bring me down. And at times, I felt pretty low.

But, Satan, you have lost.

You have lost me.

You have lost my soul. My eternity. My family. My dreams and future.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life and their is NO condemnation found in Him.

His love is perfect and cast out all fear and evil, which is what you are.

I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.

You must flee from me because I have the power through the name of Jesus to demand that.

So, leave.

Run, actually.

I plan on stealing many souls you think you have gained and winning them over to God's Kingdom.

YOU HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER ME.

___________________________________________

You don't know your last day. So, make it right with God before it's forever too late.



My final prayer

 

 

 

 

I received a text the other day from my sister that had a link to a blog in it. It was from a mothers point of view. She was talking about how there will come a day when it will be the last time you wash your daughters hair, or tuck them in bed, or read them a story on your lap. Ya, pretty much made me sad, but it was an excellent reminder that we need to take in every day and moment with our kids, no matter how crazy the days are.

 

 

The next day my friend Rachel sent me the same blog and I told her my sister had sent it to me and I was writing a blog on an idea I got from the blog my sis and her had sent me.

 

 

 

 

So... here goes my thought.

 

 

 

I won't keep you terribly long today as I have a little man who is a professional crawler now (very fast at it, I might add!) and I truly have to keep my eye on him every second.

 

 

Raylea Jo, my almost four year old, is on a trip having revival in Oklahoma with my husbands parents. Who knows... this could be the weekend she gets saved! Not kidding!

 

 

I pray for a young salvation for my children and my nieces and nephews and so should you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Lord terries...

 

 

There will come a day when I will not have to help put the toothpaste on Raylea's toothbrush.

 

There will come a day when I will not need to change Jack's diaper.

 

There will come a day when I won't get to carry all of Grant, Raylea and Jack's dirty clothes across the house from the hamper to our laundry room to wash, dry, iron and put away.

 

(I just recently started ironing by the way... I'm getting better!)

 

 

One morning, if she goes to Heaven before I do, I will wake up and not have a missed phone call from my Aunt Kay, as I do everyday... who's a best friend to me. She is actually Grant's blood aunt, but since him and I are "One flesh," that means she is mine as well!

 

 

One day I won't get to pick up Raylea and carry her out of her carseat to her bed as she hugs onto my neck.

 

 

There will be a day when Grant may not be strong enough to lift anything I need him to, in or outside the house. He will be older and weaker one day.

 

 

One day Jack will know all of these words and colors and names I try teaching him every day.

 

 

One day I will sit here and type up a blog to post and not have kids and even a dog to be jumping on me.... I think that is one of the saddest thoughts I have had yet...

 

 

One day I won't be able to just drive over to my mom and dad's house and sit and talk.

 

 

One day I won't get a package in the mail from my Granny, sending my kids toys from the one little store they have there in Melbourne, Arkansas.

 

 

One day I will set up a Christmas tree, all by myself with Grant watching me, likely smiling, as our kids are grown up and at their own homes decorating with our grandkids.

 

 

One day Raylea will be all grown up and it won't be quite as a big of a deal for her Papa Danny to take her to Casey's for a donut and biscuits and gravy every morning. Who knows though, that will probably be something they do together the rest of their lives!

 

 

One day I won't have brown roots to cover up with highlights, but I will have grey.

 

 

There will come a day when we won't be able to ride on the kiddy rides with Raylea at the fair anymore.

 

 

All of those last time moments seem pretty sad, don't they?

 

 

Well, I will tell you of one, which will make your heart want to explode with happiness!

 

 

 

One day,

 

it will be the last time you will ever pray for God's direction.

 

 

the last time you will pray for your Dad to be saved.

 

 

the last time you pray for your older brother to commit his whole life to God and be safe while fighting in war.

 

 

the last time you pray for your Dad who sits in a jail cell, alone every single night.

 

 

the last time you pray for a child of your own.

 

 

the last time you pray for God to remove the insecurities you have carried inside of you since you were a child.

 

 

the last time you ask God to deliver you from a habit which has kept you bound.

 

 

the last time you pray and beg God for His will to unfold in your life.

 

 

the last time you ask God to remove the thoughts of your past from your memory which seem to haunt you no matter how much you read and pray.

 

 

the last time you pray for finances to come through. Which is the same prayer you pray each month when the bills are due and you want so badly to tithe and not do it begrudgingly.

 

 

the last time you ask God for wisdom.

 

 

the last time you ask God for anointing from Heaven to fall on you before you preach.

 

 

the last time you pray for your sister to be faithful to the house of God.

 

 

the last time you pray for your Aunt who is an alcoholic and used to be a pastor's wife.

 

 

the last time you pray for your daughter's salvation.

 

 

the last time you pray protection over your children.

 

 

the last time you pray and ask God to send you the right mate.

 

There was a last time I prayed for a mate. I was on a fast and I asked God to show me if Grant was the man I was to marry one day, and He clearly showed me he was.

 

 

the last time you ask God to heal your marriage.

 

 

the last time you ask God for forgiveness.

 

 

 

 Perhaps it will be the last time you pray a certain prayer because God will answer you here and now.

 

 

But, there will come a time when we won't have to or need to pray at all.

 

 

 

If you have asked Jesus into your heart, made him LORD of your life in every area, and you're allowing Him to transform you on a daily basis into the man or woman of God he intends you to be... one day when you die, you will go to Heaven.

 

 

 

We will bow, lay and worship at His feet, I believe whole heartedly.

 

 

God is so big, we can't quite imagine seeing Him or being in His presence.

 

 

God can be so small though, He can fit into my heart.

 

 

Many people want to see and touch something to know it's real.

 

 

When testing out a car, we want to test drive it.

 

 

When eating at new restaurant, we want to eat something popular on their menu.

 

 

When we hold cash in our hands, we hold it up to the light to make sure it isn't counterfeit.

 

 

 

Someone asked me 8 years ago how I knew that God was real.

 

They genuinely wanted to know.

 

 

 

 

I told them I couldn't see Him with my own eyes. I can't touch Him. I am not smart enough to even know where to take them to show them all the places that have been found, which line up exactly with what the Bible says.

 

 

I told them though, I knew God was real because I could feel Him.

 

 

 

 

 

I told them I knew He was real because I was very hard headed and stubborn in my ways as a teen and when I got saved on March 15th, 2006, every single desire I had changed. It felt out of character to me to be rude to someone. It felt out of character to me to be around someone who was cussing and telling dirty jokes. It wasn't natural for me to want to be popular and to fit in as I did all through school. I used to bend over backwards for people trying to win their friendship so I would be accepted by them and ultimately everyone in my school. Whether they were the biggest nerd with the thickest glasses, or the biggest jock, or the outcast who nobody could get to talk, I made friends with them. Not that that was a bad quality, but I felt a need to be wanted and accepted by people much more than God. I liked being liked. I liked people telling me I would be homecoming queen my senior year. I liked the fact that the most popular guys and girls in school wanted to be around me. I liked the fact that I made everyone laugh. I liked the fact that I was popular and didn't sleep around like a good portion of the girls in my school did. (My mom believed that if she didn't talk to me about sex, I wouldn't know what it was, therefore I wouldn't want to do it!) Well, I will definitely say she was right on that! I was just about the biggest prude in school. One "boyfriend" (I never even held hands with the guy!) straight up asked me when I was going to "put out." I said "when I get married I will do that." And he took off in his truck and that was the last day he was my "boyfriend."

 

 

When I became a Christian at 17 years old, I was still in High School, but I soon realized God showed much mercy on me for allowing me to not lose my virginity before I was to get married. I am not embarrassed, but I am proud to say that Grant and I both had sex for the first time on our wedding night. We were each others first! That is something that is rare and special and young kids need to know that God intended it to be that way. Sure, you can mess up and God will forgive. But there are consequences to sin and I believe the devil will try to use your past against you until you put your foot down and tell him THE PAST IS THE PAST. So, do that if you haven't already! Jesus didn't die on the Cross for virgins and people who got saved at 5 years old. He died for the drunk, the girl who gave herself away at 12 years old, the child abuser.... all the same. He died to cover it all.

 

I told you a little bit of my background because this is what I explained to that person asked about God's existence. He is real! He is real because He changed me totally. I have peace which I didn't before. Everyone tries to find peace... Drinking, having a sexy body, doing drugs, cheating on your spouse, having an abortion or even buying new clothes isn't going to answer your problem, friend. Only Jesus. Only Jesus.

 

 

ONLY JESUS.

 

 

 

My point of this post is to let you know...

 

 

there will be a last time you pray. Whether it's a prayer of thanksgiving for all He is and has done, or if it's a prayer of needing Him to come through for you somehow.

 

 

 

 

 

Hold fast, child.

 

 

It's almost done.

 

 

Fight this fight with everything in you.

 

 

You are a conqueror through JESUS CHRIST.

 

 

Pray and live today knowing you won't always have these circumstances. Whether they are good or bad ones. Enjoy today.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading what I have to say. I know there are much bigger names and better writers out there, but I know God has given me a gift to write and I don't have to be "the best" or "most popular," because I know I am making Him happy. Have a wonderful and GOD filled day.



The Cross is Enough

 

 

 

 

Last night Raylea and I were watching a kids movie and the children's parents had died.

 

She wanted to know why they died. She wanted to know that they would be okay. She then started crying and said, "but I want you to live forever and not die!"

 

I explained to her that when I was a "little girl," (17 years old to be exact) I accepted Jesus into my heart and that when I do die that I will go straight to Heaven and live there forever and ever!

 

Well, being that she is three years old, she wasn't able to grasp how awesome that is and she still cried!

 

She said she didn't want to leave our home and she wanted me to stay here with her!

 

 

Well, in the next year or two she will better understand what I tried to explain.

 

 

 

You know the verse about training a child in the way they should go and when they're older they will not depart from it? To me it also means that you can train them to NOT serve God. And when they're older, they will not depart from their evil ways.

 

 

 

How I view and seek and worship God, is how little Raylea will. And now Jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm reading a book right now, and the first page says an amazing, yet simple line that I have pondered upon all day.

 

"In other words, in the sacrifices under the Mosaic Law, the priest didn't even really look at the sinner; he looked at the sacrifice."

 

 

 

Hallelujah.

 

 

That is something to shout about whether you're Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Methodist or Baptist!

 

Or whatever!!

 

 

GOD DOESN'T LOOK AT THE SINNER. HE LOOKS AT THE SACRIFICE!

 

God doesn't look at YOU, liar.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, homosexual.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, thief.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, adulterer.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, child molester.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, drunk.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, gossiper.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, jealous person.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who had an abortion.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who tears down your husband.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, teenager who cusses at your parents.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, home-wrecker.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, drug addict.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who dresses sexy for attention.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, racist.

 

 

 

The LORD of ALL, the ONE TRUE GOD, the FRIEND who will NEVER leave you.

 

THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

 

 

He looks at the Sacrifice.

 

 

JESUS CHRIST.

 

 

Jesus Christ gave his life, he endured not only physical pain for you and I, but he carried every sin of mankind the day he died.

 

 

 

 

 

When I asked Jesus into my heart, He didn't look at me and say, "Look at all your sins. You are as a filthy rag. Just look at you."

 

 

NO.

 

 

He got down next to me as I knelt at that alter, and cradled me in His perfect love.

 

 

What Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary was enough for Him. I didn't have to do anything to earn salvation or His Holy Spirit in my life. I admitted I was a sinner and confessed to Him with my whole Heart and asked Him to be LORD of my life.

 

 

 

Yes, God knows my name and yes he sees me! But, the point is that he doesn't see a SINNER, He sees the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and that someone is accepting that gift and making Him the LORD of their life!

 

 

 

Parents, you're leading your kids towards God, or away from Him.

 

 

There is no grey here!

 

 

Lead them to Him, while you still have the chance!

 

 

 



Deer hunting and the devil

 

 

 

 

 

I guess because there was a couple days of cooler weather with one being rainy and then a chance of rain for today, it's made me all ready for Autumn. I know, I need to enjoy the Summer, but boy, there is no season like Autumn! Cooler weather, leaves changing colors, cleaning out the fire place and getting it all ready for our first fire of the year.. (which I usually do as soon as its below 60 degrees.)

Coffee all day, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, homemade soup, both of my kids' birthdays...

 

 

 

Autumn means a lot of things to me. But one thing it means, (and has meant since I was literally born) My dad went pheasant hunting a couple hours after I was born, November 17th, 1988. But, it means hunting!

 

 

 

Growing up I went hunting with my dad, little brother and eventually after I met Grant, I went with him, his brothers and dad as well.

 

 

There is just something about sitting outside amongst all the woodland creatures, waiting for the big buck to pass by. Well, I have only killed two bucks, but that's two for two shots for me! Both times I was by myself and for some reason I felt like I really accomplished something special. I'm not as serious about hunting as my dad, brothers and Grant. But, I always make a special memory anytime I climb up a stand or sit in a blind with one of them, or by myself!

 

 

I was thinking as I was cleaning up after lunch about how we do so much to prepare to kill a deer. We prepare for that one kill, literally all year sometimes. We put corn out to get the deer used to coming to one spot throughout the year, mostly in the summer and the fall. That way, when we are sitting on a stand that is on a tree about 20 yards from the corn pile, we know there will be some action at some point that hunt.

 

They shower in scent free shampoo and body wash. Once I saw gum that was camouflage and scent free! (I'm not sure why a person would even care to chew it then, but that's just me.)

 

 

Grant will go months before the season opens to put up new stands and check safety of old ones.

 

They set up cameras to see what and what time something is coming by.

 

We dress from head to toe in camoflauge. Grants choice is Realtree Xtra.

For Christmas last year, Grant gave me a pair of Under Armour hunting boots. They are pretty sweet. Mostly, they are a whole lot more comfortable then my cowboy or rain boots!
Man, I sound like a serious hunter, don't I?

 

 

Sometimes we wear a mask or put paint on our face.

 

I feel like I have my hunting face on when Grant slaps a little green and black paint on my cheeks.

I'm sure I look slightly crazy to everyone.

But, I look extra cute to him though! So, it's all good.

 

 

More important than any other item, is the weapon.

 

It depends on the season but there is muzzleloader, bow and rifle.

 

 

All year you practice and shoot at targets. You perfect your shot.




The devil is whole lot like a hunter.


He prepares. He watches. He takes pictures. He learns our schedule. Our habits. Our weaknesses. Our strengths. Our whereabouts. Our interest. The type of people we run around with. What we like to eat and drink. Our bed time. When we wake up. What we like to wear.



He knows a lot about you.


I'm not going to say we are all deer just waiting to be shot and killed by the devil himself, but I will say if we are not putting on the whole armor of God EVERY day, we are making it that much easier for Satan to gain victory and eventually, yes, kill us.


He is hiding in your television. He is wearing lots of Realtree Xtra. His camouflage actually works a lot better than anything we could find at the store.

 

 

 He hides in the music you listen to. Even some that have the title "Christian," on it. He hides in books and magazines you read. He hides in advice that is given to you by so called good Christian people. He hides in your daily routine. He hides in your Social Media. He hides in your relationships at work. He hides under lots of leaves, sticks and dirt called PG-13 movies, Country love songs and that non-Christian boyfriend you have.


He hides in your medicine. He hides in your diet. He hides in your thoughts. He hides well.


Again, he hides well.



So, you better think like a deer. No, think like a 200 inch buck that has survived 10 years in the wild.

Look up high. Look down low. Hunters sit really still and sometimes barely breath when a deer is passing. So, you can't be a dumb deer. Just because you're young in the Lord doesn't mean you're naïve either. You maybe have been saved for 50 years and you are naïve.


Get on your knees and talk to God. He will talk back. Open your Bible and be ready to learn. He will teach.




We must be ready to fight the devil and WIN.


God, through His POWER and HOLY SPIRIT has given us a way out!



One of my favorite things to do is rebuke the devil! He has no power over me and mine!



The devils hunting season is 24/7, 365.

BUT, it's about over for him.



Get YOUR game face on, Christian!


We know who the winner is in the end, and it's NOT SATAN or his followers.




It is GOD ALMIGHTY and I AM ON HIS SIDE AND HE IS FOR ME.



You are either for or against God. There is no gray here.


So pick which side you're on.


I'm on the winning side.


Join me?
 



That was before the cross

 

 

 

 

Saul stood there with a hardened heart.

He looked into the innocent eyes of those around him,

Christians being murdered as he held their clothes.

The images of blood and death were etched into his mind,

hatred and evil filled his life.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

A father who drank for years and years

and didn't seem to care where it took his family.

Gambling, drinking, parties and sin

that's the life he lived.

He looked into the innocent eyes of those around him,

a wife and four kids whose destiny he was choosing.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

 

Seventeen years old, two rows back,

she sat with arms crossed, fighting the conviction she felt.

She wanted to be like her dad and thought so much of him,

she closes her eyes during the alter call and saw the reflection of herself.

Innocent eyes stared back wanting freedom from the girl she had become.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

 

 

Saul got converted and now his name is Paul.

A preacher of the cross.

 

The father gave it all to Jesus and led his family in a new direction.

A Sunday School teacher and man of God.

 

One of the four kids that was his, was me.

 

I was the seventeen year old girl who was running from God.

 

 

That was all

 

before I came in contact with the cross.

 

 

 

My life is changed and yes, I am a hard headed Christian.

 

Nobody will change my mind about what Jesus did for me.

 

There was a song I heard once called Hard Hearted Hannah at a festival when I was kid.

 

 

That was me. I was hard hearted Hannah.

 

That was all before the blood stained cross was applied to my life.

 

 

That's the problem with most people living and breathing on this earth right now.

 

That may be the problem with you.

 

It isn't your spouse. It isn't your kids. It isn't your boss. It isn't your best friend. It isn't your cousin. It isn't your dad. It isn't your mom. It isn't your pastor.

 

It's you.

 

 

 

 

You have never came in contact with it.

 

You are living a life that is "before the cross."

No hope. No happiness. No peace. No haven. No rest. No joy. No love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ask you, are you living your life before or after the cross?

 

 

He's coming back.

 

 

He died once and He will return once.

 

 

Don't miss it.

 

 

 

 

 



Grant Daniel

I remember the first time I saw Grant.

Our first conversation was telling each other redneck jokes and the first time we told each other "I love you," was when we were getting ready to set up a deer blind for the upcoming season.

(For you city slickers, that's a cover device for hunters, designed to reduce the chance of detection.)

I remember Grant calling and asked my dad if he could court me. I didn't know what that meant so my dad explained it to me. (It's basically prayerfully dating someone.)

I remember Grant saying the sweetest things I have ever been told as he cried and washed my feet the day he asked me to "walk with him in the Spirit as his wife." Next to being saved, that is probably the next happiest moment in my life.


I remember the day we made a covenant and said "I do."
Our wedding colors were black and real tree camouflage.
Believe it or not, to this day people tell me that was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to! You can be a classy redneck, it's true.




I remember the day I found out I was pregnant with our first child.
I hollered for him to come here and then pointed at the stick and said, "what does that mean??"
Looking back I can't believe he didn't burst out laughing at such a silly question, but instead he cried and said "it means you're pregnant!" as he hugged me.

I remember watching Grant hold Raylea for the first time. It was amazing.

He had such a deep love in his eyes for his little baby girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eight months ago I watched him say "hello" to his son for the first time.

It was just as amazing.

In between the birth of our daughter and son we were expecting another baby, who's heart stopped beating at only 6 weeks old in my belly. I watched Grant weep uncontrollably the day it was confirmed by the doctor. One day, we will get to meet that son or daughter. I can't wait.

Grant is no more a perfect dad or husband as you are perfect at whatever roles you play in life.

One thing that I have always said about Grant is that he hurts if he hurts God.

 

 

Ya, that may sound simple, but really, how many people do you know like that?

Grant will lay in Raylea's twin sized bed and read her bedtime stories and pray with her before she goes to sleep as he rubs her back, just like she likes.

 

 

Grant will tickle her and make her laugh the hardest I have ever heard.

 

 

He will give her random change either just for fun or for doing "work" around the house.

 

 

He has a way with her that is awesome. Whether it is telling her a story and making her enter into a make believe world with him, or speaking to her about why she needs to share and be nice to our dog... he can explain things to her in the best way.

 

 

When he walks into the room he makes Jack smile the biggest he physically can.

 

 

That's his little man. His little buddy. His "Bubby," as we call him.

 

 

When he has to leave to go preach a revival and we can't go, me, Ray and Jack miss him terribly.

 

 

We get lonesome for him.

Grant is Raylea's first love and Jack's hero.

He is both of their role models.

Grant sets the bar for the type of guy Raylea will look to marry one day.

How he treats me is how she will expect to be treated.

How he loves God is how she will expect her husband to love Him.

How he speaks is how she will expect her husband to speak to her and others.

How Grant treats me is how Jack will treat his wife one day.

How Grant loves God and leads us spiritually is how Jack will guide his family one day.

How Grant loves God is likely how Jack will.

A dad is a very important role.

If you have a dad this Father's Day, call and tell him you love him.

It may be hard to do for some people, as they may not have the best relationship with their fathers, but one day when he is gone, you'll wish you could go back to this day and call him.

God is our true refuge and where we got our pure joy from, but he gives us a dad to play that role to the best of their ability, 24/7 in person. In flesh. Right before our eyes.

Love your dad.

Love your kids, dad.

Forgive your dad.

Forgive you kids, dad.

Time is too short to spend it holding grudges or being unforgiving. Nobody is perfect.

God can and will heal all.

You're ready.

For a little surprise for Grant, I asked Ray a few questions about him. :)

By the way, she is three.

What is your Daddy's Name?

Daddy

What is your favorite thing about Daddy?

I like his hair.

What is daddy's favorite thing to do?

Golf.

What is Daddy's job?

His job is he works.

Where at?

Wichita.

What does he do for his job?

Sings and preaches and he can read.

Why do you think Daddy is the best Daddy in the world?

I know him and I love him and I love him back and I love him strong and I love him back!

What does he do that makes you feel happy?

He gives money to me.

What else?

I like to play with him. We shop and we pray and we get along together and we go eat together.

What do you want to say to Daddy for Happy Father's Day?

 I want to say you're my best friend! And I want to say "Love you, Dad, you're my best friend!"

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Grant, for praying with us and for leading us spiritually and for always trying your hardest to provide for us and love us. We don't deserve you. I have seen you pray, read your Bible and fast on a regular basis and I can truly say that you do seek God. God has anointed your life and we have yet to see the amazing plans fold out that He has stored up for us at the right moment. You're my best friend and my sweetie pie. I would fight a tiger for you. 

 Happy Father's Day from all three of your kiddos. Raylea Jo, August Shalom and Jack Gannon.

I love you, Babe.

Hannah Jo



Bubby and Sissy

 

 

I have been so blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom to my two children.

 

Raylea Jo is three.

 

 

She loves action. She loves going. She loves moving. She loves to giggle. Cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon, cheese, blueberries, eggs, tilapia (I know, right?), ice-cream (ya, that's more like it...) and anything sweet. She loves doing her devotion and school in the morning. She loves to get one sip of my coffee. She loves to brush her teeth. She loves being read to. She loves the sprinkler. She loves the zoo. She loves surprises. She loves church. She loves coloring. She loves to pray. She loves me and her daddy. She loves Sophie, our dog.

She loves Bubby.

 

 

Jack Gannon is eight months.

 

 

He loves to be held. He loves to see himself in the mirror. He loves food. He loves Sophie, too. He loves going on walks. He loves the nursery at church. He loves to swing. He loves being tickled. He loves being read to. He loves peek-a-boo. He loves music. He loves me and his daddy.

He loves Sissy.

 

 

 

I was blessed to be able to have both a Bubby and a Sissy growing up. I have two bubbies to be exact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My sister has always called me "Sissy" and I have always called her "Sis." She lives in South Korea right now with her three daughters and husband. They have been there for a year and they will be there for another two years. I miss them terribly and it makes my heart sad to think I won't see my nieces for three total years. My sister told me the other day she can't wait to meet Jack. She was the one person besides my older brother, that was missing on the day he was born. She made my nerves go down so much on the day Raylea was born. I was so lonesome for her on October 13th, 2014. I will get to meet Lucy, my newest niece when she is well over two years old for the first time. She sent me a package of clothes for Ray and Jack yesterday and my eyes filled with tears as I looked at the sweet little outfits she picked out and bought just for them. I love my sister. And she loves me.

 

 

My older bubby lives in North Carolina. I have always called him "bro." He is my hero in many ways. He would do anything for me, I know that for a fact. He is probably the strongest person I know of personally, physically and mentally. I miss him terribly. His job keeps him busy literally 24/7 so it's hard for him to get away. I have only seen him once in the past 7 years, but I am praying that him and I will have mansions next to each other in Heaven so we can hang out all the time.

 

 

My little bubby lives about fifteen miles away. Thankfully, I have one sibling who I get to be around often or whenever I want. He is one of the hardest workers a person would ever meet. He loves God and it shows in his life. I remember the first year I tried to sit on his head in the snow as a kid and he threw me off and started to sit on me! I realized that he may be younger, but officially he was stronger. I will never forget watching him bawl as he watched his soon to be wife walk down the isle towards him. He loves big. He picks up on stuff. He is meek and kind. I want to be more like him.

 

 

 

Raylea and Jack already have a unique bond. She may feel a little left out when I have to tend to him, bathe him, feed him, do everything for him... but she is so kind and loving towards him always. He makes her smile the biggest I have ever seen and laugh the hardest I have ever heard. She does the same for him. He can be crying and will smile if she comes up to him. She runs to get his pacifier if he's upset and says "shhh, shhhh" really soft. She gives him the sweetest kisses you've ever seen.

 

 

 

She started crying the other day saying, "I want Bubby!!!" We had went to run an errand and left him either with Grant or Nana and buddy, she was not happy that Bubby wasn't with us.

 

 

 

 

It just got me thinking about how blessed we are sometimes to have a blood relative and it can be easy to take them for granted. Whether they are across the world, as my sister is, or across the United States, like the older brother is, or just a ten minute drive away, like my little brother is, they matter and need to know I love them and care.

 

 

This post is a bit different than others, but I wanted to remind those of you who have a Bubby or a Sissy to tell them you love them today. Call them up if you have their number. Texting is so easy and not personable a lot of the times, in my opinion. A phone call or a card in the mail always makes my day, so I'm sure it does for others as well.

 

 

Whether you haven't seen your sibling in 20 years or you talk every single day, let them know you love them and you always will. Show Christ's love. It isn't too hard.