COUNT IT ALL JOY

HOLD EVERYTHING IN YOUR HANDS LIGHTLY, 

OTHERWISE IT HURTS, 

WHEN GOD PRIES YOUR FINGERS OPEN.    
CORRIE TEN BOOM

 Little Princess Artteachergirl,
you better hold your head high,
or that little crown of yours will fall off.

Fall off it did!!!

My crown turned out to be MY hair.



I always thought I held MY crown of hair lightly,
but I didn't...

I cried.

Not because it hurt when it came out, but...

  because being bald represented so much!

Losing MY hair symbolized changes.
Changes in MY plans for MY everyday life,
changes in MY future,
and changes in MY dreams.  

  All were changed in a blink by cancer,
and that was the reason for MY short lived tears.

You react by wanting to hold on tightly,
instead of lightly to your secure little comfortable life.


You struggle with it,
you question it and...
  you try to wrap your mind around it,

but there is no changing it.

It is not until you stop struggling, stop holding on and stop questioning that you find what you've known all along...
You have got to count it all joy!

 

God is not going to change your situation...
until He changes your heart,
and until everything fits according to HIS plan. 

Just because you don't see anything happening...
doesn't mean God is not doing anything.

 

When you begin to PRAY...
God begins the MIRACLE.

 

MY MIRACLE is happening NOW...
I see it in all of the prayers from my family, friends
and unknown angels.
I feel it in all the care and love I'm blessed with;
from the silliest of hats to the greatest of gifts.

I am sitting in the palm of God's hand,
with MY fingers open!

COUNT IT ALL JOY...JAMES 1

My little art students made this quilt for me to encourage and support me!
 This is where I go now instead of my teaching job. Their beautiful quilt reminds me I am being prayed for by many and missed. I miss them too!

I'm trying hard to get that crown of hair back, and take all the lessons I've learned from God through all this back into the world!
Especially MY little changed world.





BEST, VICKI

IT'S THE AIR FORCE COWBOY WAY...

 Where to start? 

Where to start? 

OH! 

I know! 

Let's look at some pictures from my wonderful weekend! 

I know I've kept it a BIG secret, but my Jared is in the 
Air Force Academy Band 

Wild Blue Country...

first you've heard, huh? 

Well, here ya go then!

 

My Air Force cowboy, waiting backstage in Destin, Florida for Wild Blue Country's turn to play. They went on to perform for a large crowd at the Destin Seafood Festival. They were enjoyed, cheered on and made to feel very appreciated for their service to our country!

The weekend started with a parade in the little town of Bonifay, Florida. It was the big Rodeo weekend! Wild Blue Country also played just outside the Rodeo gates and some of the band members sang the national anthem for the opening ceremony.

 Our Jared got to head off with us and visit his grandparents who live in the area...

we had a wonderful time with family and with our boy! 

Smiles for us when he saw us in the parade crowd. 

Playing for the Seafood Festival crowds, and making us so proud!

Though these still shots do not show it they put on a very energized show with lots of fun and lots of wonderful songs. They are touring through Florida right now with many free concerts and appearances so if they are near you please go and support these guys! There are more pictures and videos of their performances on the  Wild Blue Country Facebook page if you want to see more of the band. Once again...a very proud proud mama!

 

Best, 

Vicki

BE STILL AND KNOW...

THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU; 

YOU NEED ONLY BE STILL.

EXODUS 14:14

Some of my favorite scenes from the stillness of Maine.