Mustard Seed Faith

Today we start our first day of school at The Puebla Ponderosa. We are missing one important thing, though. "Hoss" finds himself in another place, a different school. (See my previous post)

When I woke this morning, there was a heaviness in my heart at the thought of having school without him. The Lord had other plans for my thoughts. In my quiet time, I read Matthew 17:20. "He said to them, 'Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.'" Matthew 17:20 (AMP)

Then I thought back to a charm bracelet, belonging to my late Gran, that was passed on to me. It contains a charm of a real mustard seed incased in a see through locket. On the back, Mt. 17:20 is engraved. I proceeded to take it off the bracelet and put it on a necklace, which I will wear as a reminder to pray for my son, trusting God is able and can do above all I ask or think. THEN, I pull up a devotional email and ,yes, right in front of my eyes, there I found this.

This is just a reminder that my God knows what encouragement I need for each day. Providentially, He knew I needed a (or it seems, many) reminder that I can have faith in Him to do what seems impossible.

Praying for "Hoss"

I have debated and debated whether I would be specific about our trial we are going through. And I have decided that it would serve the purpose of allowing others to pray ,as well as, being transparent and allowing God to use this in our lives to "comfort others with the comfort we have received". The longer we are in this trial the more I am certain that there are many other adoptive families who experience this same thing without much notice after having a child for many years in the home; even after adopting from a very young age.

Our oldest son, "Hoss", is exhibiting a rebellion that stems from sin, deep rooted hurts and emotional pain. After a very speedy spiraling down, we have placed him in a Christian boys' ranch in another state.

Here are a few things we are praying for. We would love for you to join us in this endeavor. We are confident in what Christ is doing in this situation, though, it is the most painful thing we have ever and will ever experience. It slams pain in the soul that I never knew existed.


Please pray that Jesus Christ would:
-open "Hoss'" eyes to his sin and Christ's holiness.
-heal the pain in the lives of "Little Joe", "Inger" and "Marie".
-heal the pain in "Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright's" hearts.
-reveal to "Hoss" the amazing grace and peace that can come from Christ.
-break "Hoss" heart and then put it back together again.
-keep "Hoss" safe and healthy while away.
-bring an older mentor into "Hoss" life at the Ranch.

Please pray that "Hoss" would:
-give his life to Christ and fully surrender.
-accomplish his studies to the best of his ability.
-open up to a mentor while he is away.
-deal with his emotional pain and hurts.
-repent of his previous actions that have hurt his family.
-get down on his knees and cry out to God.
-truly realize Christ is the answer for all the hurt he is experiencing.

Thank you for lifting us up in prayer. The body of Christ is an amazing thing. We are Christ' hands and feet in action.

My Prayer Today

God All Sufficient

O, Lord of Grace,

The world is before me this day,

and I am weak and fearful,

but I look to thee for strength;

If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,

but on the Beloved's arms I am firm

as the eternal hills;

If left to the treachery of my heart

I shall shame thy Name,

but if enlightened, guided, upheld by they Spirit,

I shall bring thee glory.

Be thou my arm to support,

by strength to stand,

my light to see,

my feet to run,

by shield to protect,

by sword to repel,

my sun to warm.

To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;

All they lovingkindness is in thy Son,

I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,

I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me.

I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.

Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,

his sinlessness for my transgressions,

his purity for my uncleanness,

his sincerity for my guile,

his truth for my deceits,

his meekness for my pride,

his constancy for my backslidings,

his love for my enmity,

his fullness for my emptiness,

his faithfulness for my treachery,

his obedience for my lawlessness,

his glory for my shame,

his devotedness for my waywardness,

his holy life for my unchaste ways,

his righteousness for my dead works,

his death for my life.

This is a prayer from, Valley of Vision.

This is my prayer today as I face very uncertain feelings, thoughts and desires.

May I keep my face towards the Son and my feet towards His Kingdom.

Hurting Hearts

The Puebla Ponderosa is hurting right now....Please pray for us.
Thank you, Rick, for this timely word...


Whatever You're Doing
(Sanctus Real)

It’s time for a healing, time to move on
It’s time to fix what’s been broken too long
Time to make right what has been wrong
It’s time to find my way to where I belong
There’s a wave that’s crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos, somehow there’s peace
It’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see
But I’m giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone, time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender

Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos, somehow there’s peace
It’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see
But I’m giving in to something heavenly,
something heavenly

Time to face up, clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I’ve wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You’re up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly

Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
You’re up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly,
Something heavenly

It’s time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out

Living is Dying

Matthew 10:37-39

He who loves Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.


The cross is the hard road. The cross is in the valley.

His cross must be our central focus. His cross is our redemption.

A Great Vacation Has Been Had

The "Cartwrights" had a marvelous time in Tennessee with family.

"Mrs. Cartwright's" parents...Thanks, Dad and Mom, for a wonderful time.

"Mrs. Cartwright's" sister....It was great seeing you, Jenny. Thanks for your great hospitality...I love you.

"Inger" and "Marie" loved their first airplane ride. They were a little nervous at first, but did very well.

"Little Joe" slept with his headphones on for the ride there. It was also his first flight. He was a trooper.

"Little Joe" and his cousin, Ishmael had a grand time all week. They played so well together and seemed to rekindle their relationship after a few months separation.

"Inger" and her cousin, Ezekiel became great pals. They enjoyed playing trains and watching movies.

We went to Cades Cove for a day. There is an 11 mile, one-way road that you can take through the mountains. Wild life is literally right out your car window. We rode in two vans with the doors open. We were able to see 2 bucks...

and one black bear...

and at least 8 does...

and, of course, the Great Smokies.

They were beautiful!

Headed to Tennessee

The Puebla Ponderosa, minus "Mr. Cartwright" and "Hoss", is headed to Tennessee to take a much needed rest and vacation. We'll catch up with you all later. Have a great couple of weeks.