We recently received a box of goodies from the states. One item that was in the box was a new pair of tennis shoes for Mikayla that a friend decorated for her! They are cool shoes!!!!
We recently received a box of goodies from the states. One item that was in the box was a new pair of tennis shoes for Mikayla that a friend decorated for her! They are cool shoes!!!!
James and Jerard were both wheezing a lot this weekend.
Today I took them to the pediatrician pulmonologist that they've seen before.
James has new asthma medicines to take and already seems to be responding well after the first dose!
Jerard has been newly diagnosed with asthma but also seems to be responding well after the first dose.
We've had a 'family cold' as I've come to term it for the past 6 - 8 weeks. We've all been coughing and having sinus drainage.
The doctor says its from the wet, "cooler" weather we are having here. (But now that the 'ber' months have ended the rainy, "cooler" weather is stopping too. Today it's sweating weather again!!!)
Keep us all in your prayers for clear sinuses and a stop to the coughing. It gets a bit tiring to feel 'under the weather' most of the time. Thanks.
This hymn has been playing through my mind recently as I read and study the book of Romans. Thought I'd share the words with you all!
The words were written by Charles Wesley.
"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain--
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
'Tis mystery all: th'Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace--
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray--
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own."
"The Holy Fire of God is burning, you will walk through and not be burned. You will come out a pure vessel if you let the Lord have his way."
These words, penned in the 1980's and based on Isaiah 43, are so true. God uses "fiery experiences" to purify, teach, and train.
Today is the one year anniversary of when we received James and Jerard. These two little guys have been a 'fiery furnace' for me, and I think, for our whole family.
Biblical truths are so much more real and true to me because of experiences we've had this past year parenting these two boys.
"Do not be afraid, He has called you. He has called you by name, You are His. Though you pass through many waters, they'll not overflow for He is with you."
Truths that have sunk deep in my heart....
*He is with me - in every situation. (Isaiah 43:5)
*He guides and directs our lives - so very true.(Jeremiah 29:11)
*My real food is His word. My life blood is prayer and worship.
(Matthew 4:4; John 4:24)
*He is our provider - that reality has sunk in deep here on the mission field. Throughout Jerard's surgeries, hospital stays and medical tests funds have always appeared to pay for these. Clothing, diapers, formula, toys have been richly supplied.
God has been faithful to supply our needs. (1 Tim 6:17)
*Love is a decision, not a feeling. (Luke 10:27; 1 Cor. 13:4-8)
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We came over here on 'official' ministry. But God has opened up so many opportunities for us in 'unofficial' minisry. James and Jerard are our #1 'unofficial' ministry.
James 1:27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...Just as God adopts us into his family, we are adopting these two boys into our family. God has and continues to teach us so much about His love for each of us as we love and parent James and Jerard.
Yes, there have been hard times this past year. But oh, I am so thankful for the lessons God has taught me. The boys are a joy to us.
These two boys are our sons. We look forward to the day when the country of the Philippines grants us adoption and we can get new birth certificates for them with the last name of "Symanzik" on them.
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Thank you for all your prayers for us, for James and Jerard. Please pray that this year, as we start filing for adoption, the process will go smoothly.
James and Jerard on the night we received them. Jan. 5, 2008.
James this morning after breakfast!
Jerard this morning after breakfast!
Hebrews 12: 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."
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Through The Love of God Our Saviour - Mary B. Peters
Through the love of God our Savior,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favor;
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us;
Perfect is the grace that sealed us;
Strong the hand stretched out to shield us;
All must be well.
Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Ours is such a full salvation;
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
Fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
Holy through the Spirit's guiding,
All must be well.
We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our Father's love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
Or in living, or in dying,
All must be well.
We had a game night at our house on New Year's Eve. It was fun having many friends over, playing Monopoly, Mexican train, Pit, Dutch Blitz, Boogle, etc.
The guys playing an intense game of "Robo Rally."
Ben and some of his friends playing warrior games.
An intense game of "Dutch Blitz."
Jerard enjoying cuddles with Ate Bebe.
Kirsten and Kristie playing "In a Pickle."
At midnight we blew our noise makers (with the rest of the neighborhood) and prayed, thanking God for all He is and does.
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As I looked around at some of our many friends at our house that evening I was counting my blessings and thanking God for all He does.
I tend to think in hymns, so bear with me as I share my thoughts by the pen of another.....
"I lift my heart today in praise
To Him Who loves me so,
Whose mercy crowneth all my days,
And makes my cup o'erflow.
O have I loved Him as I should
For all His blessings free?
Praise God Who giveth naught but good,
For He is good to me!
I'll count my blessings--
Count them o'er and o'er--
I'll tell my Father's goodness--
I will love Him more,
I'll count my blessings, bountiful and free--
Yet I can never count them all--
So good is God to me!" Carrie Breck
Charles Wesley wrote this great hymn for the new year.
It fits my prayer that each moment I live be to His glory and that I do all He wants me to.
"Come, let us anew our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear,
His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,
And our talents improve,
By the patience of hope, and the labor of love,
By the patience of hope, and the labor of love.
Our life is a dream; our time, as a stream,
Glides swiftly away,
And the fugitive moment refuses to stay,
The arrow is flown, the moment is gone;
The millennial year
Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here,
Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here.
O that each in the day of His coming may say,
"I have fought my way through;
I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do!"
O that each from his Lord may receive the glad word,
"Well and faithfully done!
Enter into My joy, and sit down on My throne!"
"Enter into My joy, and sit down on My throne!""