Red Ribbon Week!!

This is a Red Ribbon week at Bushland...we are dedicating this week to Trent. You know in the past Red Ribbon week was just fun activies at school, wearing different clothes each day and teachers' would teach something about drugs everyday...like "just say no to drugs."

Been involved with this special week for years until it hits home. The bottom fell out.

It became peronsal.

It became my family's mission.

Speaking from experience, drugs destroys lives.

Each day during the Red Ribbon Week, made us to think about our brother and son.

Red Day - wear red shirt stating that "we want to stop drugs"

Each day, the girls wore something different - crazy hair day, college day, spirit day, and backwards day.

Trent, this week has been dedicated to you. We love you and we know that you're getting so much better.

Dos Ninas de Mis Hijas

That's right...dos ninas de mis hijas.

Two girls, my daughters.

Can't imagine having two girls! Never in my dreams would I have dos ninas!

Aren't they GREAT! They know how to spice up my life. Boy, do they know!

Heard that raising girls were much harder than boys.

'Tis true, 'tis true. Two lil drama queens...hey, hey, just kidding.

They are my queens and I am proud of them.

Dos ninas de mis hijas are Tori and Tiara...along with Trent...they are gifts from God.

Their names means something...a reminder of who Jesus Christ is.

Tori is short for VicTORIa...which means victory.

Tiara means crown. Her middle name is Grace...we are crowned by the grace of God.

Seeing dos ninas everyday reminds me that "I have an absolute victory in Christ who crowns us by the grace of God."

Amazing how God provided us with names for my children. It's wonderful.

Tori and Tiara...I love both of you so much!! Thank you for spicing up my life.

Dad

PS...by the way, the name Trent comes from torrent.
His name means "river of blessing."

How about that!

6:33

Is it 6:33 am? Or is it 6:33 pm?

It's neither.

It's God's way of reminding me to seek him when I starting to slip away from seeking God.

'Tis a wunnerful way to communicate with me.

I see sign posts, bulletin boards, addresses or anything with numbers - 6:33 on it.

I see it every where.

Especially on my watch...6:33 am and 6:33 pm.

So what is 6:33?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33

God's Plan for Our Lives...Trust, Delight, Commit

One of the most asked question is "How do we know what God's plan for our lives?"

Been asked that question zillions of times. It's probably one of the most popular question asked by young men and women that I work with.

Not easy to answer.

I'm going to let the scripture to speak for itself.

'Tis the best way.

Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

Do you honestly believe that God has plans for your life? Are you willing to stake your trust into His plans for your life?

Yes, a simple child-like trust in God's plans.

Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."

You see...it's simple.

Just trust the Lord with all your heart.

All is the key word. Trust the Lord with ALL of your heart. That means 100% of your heart. There is not one ounce of doubting or holding back

You just trust God 100%!

"But what if I don't like God's plan for my life?"

Believe me, God knows you and your desires. He will not make you to do what you don't desire to do. When He ask you to do something, He will put a strong burning desire in your heart.

Oh, yes! Seen it many times.

Experienced it many times myself...love it every time!

Even if God askes you to do something you don't want do, you will want to do it because you have the burning desire to please God.

Psalms 37:3, 4, 5 - "Trust in the Lord and do good...Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him and He will do it."

Delighting yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

What a beautiful promise.

Understand this - God does not break his promise.

It's simple...we delight ourselves in Him...He will give us the desires or our hearts.

So...

First, trust in the Lord.
Second, delight in the Lord.

Lastly, commit your way to the Lord.

Live your life as if you're pleasing God everyday. Commit your works to the Lord!

Prov. 16:3 - "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."

Yes, roll your burdens to the Lord.

Yes, all God wants us to do is to TRUST, DELIGHT, and COMMIT ourselves to Him.

Then, you'll see His plans for your life clear as sunshine.

Sprite!

You know what...we have been a Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper family! Occassionally, we'll have a Pespi if Coke isn't available.

But we are die hard "Coke Family"...until yesterday.

Trent said, "You know how I used to be crazy about Dr. Pepper? Oh well, I don't much like it any more...I love SPRITE!"

Scott and I looked at each other and mouthed the word, "Sprite". We laughed about it.

Trent thought that Sprite was for sick people. When he was little, he would ask people, "What are you drinking?"

"Sprite"

"Are you sick?"

Because when Trent or the girls get sick, we always get them Sprite. So Trent assumes when a person drinks Sprite, he must be sick.

Now, Trent drinks Sprite simply because he loves it!

Scott asked him, "Are you sick?"

We all laughed about it.

"Nah, just love the taste and the feeling when it goes down...burns so good."

Sprite is back!

Amazing Number...263 Days

Saturdays are my favorite days! I would rather for everyday to be a Saturday.

Here's the reason why I love Saturdays...Trent.

Scott and I drive up to the Youth Center and visit with Trent.

We only get 30 minutes with him. That's all. That's 4 Saturdays a month and we only visit with him 2 hours each month. Yep...120 minutes.

And it goes by FAST!

When we visit, we have a great time. Talk about EVERYTHING in 30 minutes.

Today, Trent's exciting. He said, "I have a couple of months left to go home!"

That's right, son!

"You know what? I've been sober for 263 days. That's aweseome."

It is something to celebrate for. Soberiety for 263 days is an accomplishment for Trent. He said that it feels great to accomplish this and will continue to so.

Can't wait for next Saturday.

And Neenee and PawPaw will go with us.

Trent loves it when his grandparents come and visit him.

Angie