'Tis Mercy All

With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers; You crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Psalm 44:2-4

I was thinking yesterday about these verses. They are such a needed reminder at times when I see much to be done - whether that's in the hearts of my children, or in my day to day doings, or on a grander scale, such as the need of the people of the world for the gospel of Jesus. God has called me to serve, and love, and obey Him, but in the end it is always His right hand, His arm, and the light of His face shining on me that accomplishes anything of worth in this life. To God be the glory!

That makes me think of this next verse: Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.      Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1) May I be about God's business, His agenda, if you will, and may I humbly rest in the truth that He is the Accomplisher - that I must stand out of the way and let Him shine, like John said, He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30)

Palm Sunday is tomorrow. I hope that for each of you, the coming week and Easter are a blessed time of reflection, refreshment, and new appreciation for all that Christ accomplished for us as He went to the cross!
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Today, we got to go to a farmer's market. It's been years. The weather is lovely, blue, breezy. This is a full of life day. So glad that mom and MB got to come with us to the market, on this their last full day here.

Our truck was maxed out with people today. I love to see it full of all of us!

LC and mom. The farmer's market was wonderful, but is definitely not in a picturesque location!

MK, me, CA. I made BB carry the camera today, so there could be proof along the way that my children did have a mother growing up. Haha! I just don't ever end up in pictures (partly because I don't like to!). The market was a fun, thriving environment with stands selling vegetables, of course, but also fresh eggs, live plants, special soaps, bakery items, jarred items, and more. You can see I have a tight-arm grasp on my pickled okra (don't laugh!).

Pregnancy progress documentation. We've never been good about getting photos of me pregnant with the children. Trying to do better at it this time. 23 WEEKS, 3 DAYS. Can't wait to meet baby! 17 or so weeks to go. Much living to do between now and then!

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Listing Mercies...

104 LC: "I asked God for me to know my voss (verse)." This, today, as I sat with her for a moment to talk through and work on memorizing (very slowly but surely) the beatitudes. As she said the portion we've practiced most, I nodded her on, but then at the end, she proudly added almost the whole next verse. She saw the pleasant surprised look on my face and then said she'd asked God to help her with it!

105 crabapple blossoms

106 goodbyes - the sad that goes with them just shows the love that's there...