WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING INSIDE OF ME: I'M GRATEFUL!

Remember the feeling? For those of you who became moms by growing your baby inside of you...I know you do! This is Jacqueline, one of our beautiful daughter-in-love's, who displayed for us this last week how "Mavis" (in utereo name for our future grandchild) is growing. There are evident changes going on inside her body as that little girl has transformed from a sperm and egg into a kicking, growing fetus. Jacqueline has had morning sickness, passed out, and felt the kicking and stretching that's going on. Something beautiful is happening on the inside yet sometimes it hurts! Soon there will be a little girl who will be the reflection of her mommy and daddy.

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As you and I transform into the image of Christ, something beautiful is happening on the inside and yet sometimes it hurts. Our song for this week describes it as sometimes feeling like "chaos". We're changing from being the self centered, "navel gazing", high maintainence females to humble, servant hearted women who have stretched and grown into something beautiful. We desire to be a reflection of Jesus Christ.

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When our children were born, we held them up to God and said, "God, here...we give this child back to you...use him/her for Your service." Little did we know what those prayers would bring our way. Yet, along the way we prayed other prayers. One prayer for our sons was that God would be preparing just the right help mate for them. We asked for a young woman who would be the best partner along the rest of their life journey toward their eternal home of heaven.

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God has answered those prayers. I am so grateful! Steve and I have two very Godly daughter-in-loves. Jordan married Jacqueline in May of 2003. Caleb took Krista as his bride on 7-7-07. As I sit here typing this I am smiling at the blessing of these two wonderful women. I can read Proverbs 31 and see two young women who are fleshing out that scripture about Godly women. I can read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and I see it enacted in the lives of two young women who desire to be led by the Master's hand.

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I am thankful that I can share them with you today:

Krista is…honest, straightforward, servant hearted, a giver, a seeker…

Krista / Caleb on their wedding day in a park overlooking Lake Huron.
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Jacqueline is...a comforter, an encourager, a seeker for the hurting, an exhorter, a teacher...

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Jordan/Jacqueline on their wedding day

as Steve (who is officiating) pulls out a camera and snaps a picture.

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Krista has…a gift of innovation, ways to organize her organization, a great listening ear for someone who is a fast thinker…

Caleb/Krista enjoying the outdoors

at our Sikes' family reunion in Estes Park, CO-2008.

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Jacqueline has...a gift with numbers, a memory like a bear trap, creativity/ originality...

Jacqueline/Jordan enjoying the outdoors

at our Sikes' family reunion in Estes Park, CO -2006.
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Krista offers…possibility thinking for the poor and downtrodden, time to pray with those who will, many gifts made with her own hands...

Krista/Caleb heading back to Missouri from the Philadelphia airport

after spending some of the holidays with us.

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Jacqueline offers...humor for the scowling, hugs for the hurting, and a reality check for the dramatizers....

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Jacqueline, Jordan, and Mavis spent the holidays in Chicago with her family.

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"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth."