My GG has been Promoted To Glory!

 Now let me clarify.....she is technically my grandma, but since we have had kiddos, (a long time now) we collectively have always referred to her as GG.  She passed away last Friday night, and her funeral was yesterday. 

 THIS is my grandma's legacy!  This right here- all these beautiful faces!!  There were 25 People gathered!  Of course some wives and kiddos, and my cousin's family that is in Taiwan doing mission work couldn't make it. 

 But this....

 crazy

 fun

 loving

 family- we are her legacy in this world. 

 As if that was not enough......there are many many many many more!  Carrying on the name of Jesus as well that my grandfather and grandmother ministered to over the years. 

 Here is her obituary......
GEER, Ethel F. After a long, rich life of love and service to her Savior, Ethel Florence Geer, 92, of Brandon, walked into Heaven on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013. Ethel was born in Salina, KS, on April 6, 1921, to Clarence and Letia Shannon. She was the oldest of 12 children. Brigadiers LeClaire "Bud" and Ethel Geer were officers in the Salvation Army in the Midwest for more than 45 years. She was a "Crusader" upon her commissioning and ordination in 1941. They served in 17 appointments, the last one being at the Rockford Adult Rehabilitation Center, where they oversaw the building of a new residence. After her retirement, Ethel continued to be active in many capacities, including serving as the Home League Secretary and Chaplain at the St. Petersburg ARC. Many lives were influenced for the Kingdom during her lifetime. Preceding her in death were her parents, Clarence Jay and Letia Maude Shannon; her husband of 47 years, LeClaire Eugene Geer; her son, Paul Geer; her granddaughter, Heather Dawn Tejada; and her siblings, Margaret (Don) Yeagley, Arthur (Anita) Shannon, Gladys (Wayne) Denny, Mary Alice (Elton) Knight, James Shannon and Austin Gay. Ethel is survived by her children, Brenda (David) Flatness & Rebecca (Douglas) Stearns; her loving daughter-in-law, Marla Jane Geer; and her eight grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Letia Mae Gay, Jack (Barbara) Shannon, David (Glenna) Shannon, Carol Shannon, Charles (Bobbie) Shannon, Clara (Del) Herbel and Clarence "Joe" (Cheryl) Shannon; nieces & nephews; and many extended family members & friends.The visitation will be at The Salvation Army St. Petersburg Corps, 3800 9th Ave. North, on Oct. 24th, at from 12-2 pm, with the service following at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Salvation Army.

 She prayed faithfully for her own family!  The oldest of 12- SEE larger family run in my family!  :) 

 She got to see her own parents come to know the Lord! 

 She and my grandfather led many hearts to Christ. 

 The modeled Faith in Action to their family! 

 And their children all modeled it for their families! 

 When I think of how sometimes we underplay how important being a Christ Follower is when it comes to - I am only a mom or a dad.  I only help lead Sunday School or I only help with camp once a year.  I only help with parking at the church.  I only .........

I think- THERE IS NO SUCH THING!  Every time we serve the Lord- HE is faithful to Bless others through that! 

 I think of my own children.  Our lives could be very very very different had it not been for the faithfulness of my grandmother. 

 What if we didn't have Faith?  Would we have even adopted? 
We wouldn't have spent years in the camping ministry. 

 In turn would our marriage have made it? 
Our faith is the foundation- the reason we bother getting up in the mornings! 

 The reason all these children are special to me and my cousin!  The reason we fight daily for every child to have a family- a Christian Family who will teach them about the love of Jesus!  The reason we know all life is precious!

 The reason we sing about Him daily!  The reason we do devotion time which was important to my GG, to our family growing up, and in turn why we do devotions in our home now! 

 Our lives have been indeed BLESSED! 

 THIS is what I want my legacy to be.  It isn't easy.  It doesn't even look pretty sometimes.  Sometimes you want to throw in the towel.  But when you daily get on your knees, read the Bible, and pray for your children, grand children, and great grandchildren- God is Faithful! 

 He guides your steps as hard as some days may be......

 I just think about all those who are in heaven now because of my GG's life and it makes me cry those happy tears of JOY! 

 That JOY UNSPEAKABLE!

 This.....is just her body I told our kids as they cried for the loss........

 Cause you see.......it is cold and empty......she is no longer with us- she is WITH JESUS! 

 ONE DAY EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD!!!!  ONE DAY!  I WILL BE THERE- WILL YOU? 

 My GG is up in heaven singing praises to a Savior she knew personally!  One that she worshipped daily.  One she knew through her personal study of Scripture!  One she deeply devoted her whole life to!  He was her ROCK! 

 That is what has been passed on............. 

 This was from Christmas time!  It was a pleasure to live only a mileish from GG for the past few years!  Our children have spent many hours with GG.  Singing worship songs to her during every visit!  Telling her about our latest crazy life stories.  Jason always making her laugh at something. 

 THIS is my GG's legacy!  She has made an imprint on our hearts!  Taught us what it means to be faithful.  What it means to share God with everyone you meet.  What it means to really serve the Lord and others! 

Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

⁴One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

I love seeing the JOY we had in sharing with GG.........

ONE DAY- I want to be just like GG!! 

My hope is in this alone....One Day I will be rejoicing in the presence of MY SAVIOR and KING with her!!!  What a day of rejoicing that will be!!!!!

Romans 8:31-35; 37-39

New International Version (NIV)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

 

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

AMEN!!!!!!

Empowered To Connect Part 2- Connection First

 This was the part of our Valentine's Day :).  We went to visit my GG who lives close by. 

 It was good to see her and think of fun things to say to get her to laugh! 

 The kids had done cards of course and we pretty much just play.....notice the "swinging Michael".....he was giggling and we all were laughing. 

 Even my GG.......

 She doesn't get to get up and move around often now.  How much more important for us as a family to surround her with as much love as we can? 

 I won't lie- it gets a little crazy with 9 kiddos in that small room, but hey....it keeps the nurses on their toes, and to be honest they like it. 

Our girls sure brightened up the day of grandma's new roommate!  :)

So I have a lot of posts in my head swirling around and I am trying to put them in some kind of order so I can share effectively with you.

I wanted today to write something that was KEY to my understanding of what Karen Purvis was saying.  CONNECTION!  In my years as parenting I have thought of connection with my children this way- playing games, going on walks, table talk, having "dates" with different kids when we can, watching a fun family film with them, spoiling them when you can and when appropriate.  I think that is a pretty good list, and I am sure Karen would likely agree.

The thing I would say I did not understand fully is the need to connect while doing discipline.  Pretty much I am more authoritative in my style of correction.  You know sometimes I find myself saying- umm...I am right, you are wrong, get over yourself.  Now if you are in shock, pick yourself back up off the floor.  I am not mean, but I don't mess around either.  Can I have fun? Sure!  Do I?  YES!  However, in the day to day I expect my kids to listen up and obey end of story!  Right?  I mean my job is to make sure my children listen and obey so that they follow the guideline on in faith to listen and obey.

So reading the book "The Connected Child" by Karen Purvis I thought- what is the connection thing?  How does that look.  What I found in the conference surprised me.  It really has an easy basis- You ask to have your child's hands and eyes.  Really creepy huh?  ;)  Then you speak to them in a low slow voice.

First off if you tend to yell....maybe not even on purpose, but hey' you do.  This will completely help you in that area!  For real.  I don't yell as in scream at my kids all the time or anything, but you know they are upstairs and I want them to come because we are starting school then you raise your voice pretty easy huh?  Yep me too.

So taking time to get on their  level, asking for their hands, and please give me eyes is pretty awesome!  Pretty simple and lots of parenting books I have read have said something about this- closer and quieter is what we called it at school when I was a teacher.  Easy, everyone can do it, and you know what I found my blood pressure going down.  If getting hands and eyes is the first thing I do when correcting then I don't have to yell, don't have to get more upset because looking into their beautiful eyes reminds me of the gift I have!

Matthew 6:21-23  New International Version (NIV) 

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

You know what else you are doing when you are asking for hands and eyes?  You are saying I want to touch you.  I want to look into your eyes and see you.  Not just see you from a distance, but really see you.  Praise God!  Isn't that what we want to happen in our relationship with God?  We want to hold His Hands, gaze into His Eyes and be touched and seen.......really seen for who we are- beautifully and wonderfully made. 

 For me......this is where I started to really sit up and take notice!  I thought- HA!  I can do this, and it isn't so strange after all.  It can really be helpful.  Pretty sure this will change my temperament as well as my child's, and it will definitely connect me in a way that we have not experienced before!

So.....there is your first tidbit.  I will keep adding more so if you want more information right now on all of this Empowered To Connect- go to their website and look at all the videos they have.  Most are a few minutes long and worth watching!  :)     

Empowered To Connect Part 1
Empowered To Connect Part 3
Empowered To Connect Part 4
Empowered To Connect Part 5

Christmas Eve....yep a bit behind!

 So for Christmas Eve we went to see GG!!!!  She looks pretty good doesn't she? 

 It was such a joy to see all the grandchildren and great grandchildren that live here gathered around.  I mean look at her face below- is that HAPPY or what???? 

 The cousins of course need no encouragement to have fun ;)

 Running around the home.   Yep- no problems they are too cute and all the people there fawn over them. 

 Having some conversations.......

 Now they are up to something!!!!  Yep- GUILTY!!!

 Awww.....so much love in this family!  We look forward to times to be together. 

Gathering around. 

 Sharing...

 Looking at the phone of course....

 He he he.....my cousin talking to this lady here- she is always wanting "contraband" he he he- cigarettes or alcohol :) oh dear.  We are sooo the wrong people to ask sweetie. 

 Let's sing Carols!!!!

 Lots of fun singing and everyone gathered round to hear it. 

 Jason went around with Sarah and Elizabeth talking to each of the residents asking them if they had anyone to come visit.  Sadly there were those who didn't.  Breaks my heart.  Glad our girls and hubby were able to give some Christmas cheer and hugs!  (while is corralled the other kiddos he he he)

 SQUEEZE!

 MORE SQUEEZES!

 Awww... Jessa is sooo cute and gets lots of extra love!!!!  :)

 And then we came home to do a Bethlehem meal.  Where you do a similar meal to what they would have had  in that time period.  Fresh veggies and fruits, fish, etc.  ALL a shared meal.  Washed hands with pitchers of water and bowl, sat on the floor and ate by candlelight. 

Here we are enjoying it all!  The kids thought it was GREAT!  Yes those are towels on the girls heads- as was the custom.  Jonathan showing off....as usual. 

We had a BLESSED time!  And I promise to update more soon!!!!  Tried to post yesterday, but Blogger was having issues uploading my pics :( boooo.  Soon I will catch up....he he he.....

NO news on the adoption front!  Have put our names in for at least 7 cases.....and been turned down.....so we keep waiting........it is soo hard, but we know our babe will come.