The Retention Pond

I was putting my littlest down for her nap one day this week. (I always have such amazing conversations with her during this time of day.) I finished reading a story to her that had a map of the southeast United States. As I pointed out where Florida was, she immediately asked me where Tennessee was, since her Gran and Boompa live there. Her little finger than found Florida again and she said, "Yup, we live right here, next to the "tention" pond." See, we have a retention pond right next to our home. I got to thinking about what her little mind was trying to wrap itself around.

Immediately, I thought about my big responsibility as a mom. "Inger", didn't really know anything else about that map, except what she views as her home. I want more than anything else to make her feel secure and happy. But this doesn't mean just having fun reading books. Her security comes from my love, discipline, and more importantly, who I am secure in.

Jesus is my security. Just as "Inger" is familiar with her very close surroundings that bring her peace, I want to strive to be familiar with those things that bring my peace. God's Word is first and foremost. Memorizing and meditating on His Word will bring my security. The picture of Christ as the cleft of the rock in which the Psalmist found himself hiding in, comes to mind, as well as, the picture of the Mother Hen sheltering her chicks under her wings.

As "Inger" grows, my prayer is that she will find ultimate peace and security in Jesus Christ. Lord, help me to lead her there, even in the "mundane" things as reading her books. Help me to accomplish Everyday Talk with her.

Leaves #21-25

Our Thanksgiving Tree is growing many new leaves. I realize in Autumn leaves are usually falling off, but ours are definitely growing new ones.


"Mr. Cartwright": "Little Joe", "Marie", and "Inger"
"Mrs. Cartwright": my four precious children
"Little Joe": my home
"Marie": my family
"Inger": "Hoss" to come home (I realize this is not a thanks, but rather a request. She asks for me to put this on every single time we add a leaf, so I just had to this time. I take it as an anticipation of answered prayer:)

My Great God

I got to thinking today, in the midst of many tears, how great a God I serve. My world as I know it has changed and there are times I want to lay down my head and not ever, ever lift it back up. But, I know I must persevere. So I choose to thank God today that:


~He supplies all of my needs, both great and small.
~He is sovereign and in control and ALL and I need not fear tomorrow.
~no matter what I feel, I can look to the truth of God's Word and use it to conform my thoughts to that truth.
~He knows what is best for me because if I acted on what I thought was best for me, my spiritual life would be completely stagnant.
~He has given me a Godly, spiritual servant-leader who guides this family in the truth.
~He sees my wayward son right where he is, even though I don't.
~He has blessed me with everything spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
~He has given me everlasting life that starts right now.
~He continually sanctifies me, though I continue to sin.
~He promises to never leave me and that keeps me from feeling forsaken, even when everything around me screams it.
~He is my Good Shepherd who at times must break me to mend me.

Lenimin anyone?

These videos will bring you to your knees. As far as knowing what lenimin is you much watch the last video. I will now never forget what it is.

The Great God

The Great God

O Fountain of All Good,

Destroy in me every lofty thought,

Break pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds,

Annihilate each clinging shred of self-righteousness,

Implant in me true lowliness of spirit,

Abase me to self-loathing and self-abhorrence,

Open in me a fount of penitential tears,

Break me, then bind me up;

Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God;

Then can the Father take up his abode in me,

Then can the blessed Jesus come with healing in his touch,

Then can the Holy Spirit descend in sanctifying grace;

O Holy Trinity, three Persons and one God,

Inhabit me, a temple consecrated to thy glory.

When Thou art present, evil cannot abide;

In thy fellowship is fullness of joy,

Beneath thy smile is peace of conscience,

By thy side no fears disturb,

No apprehensions banish rest of mind,

With thee my heart shall bloom with fragrance;

Make me meet, through repentence, for thine dwelling.

Nothing exceeds thy power,

Nothing is too great for thee to do,

Nothing too good for thee to give.

Infinite is thy might, boundless thy love,

Limitless thy grace, glorious thy saving name.

Let angels sing for

sinners repenting,

prodigals restored,

backsliders reclaimed,

Satan's captives released,

blind eyes opened,

broken hearts bound up,

the despondent cheered,

the self-righteous stripped,

the formalist driven from a refuge of lies,

the ignorant enligtened,

and saints built up in their holy faith.

I ask great things of a great God.

~from the Valley of Vision

Be encouraged, child of God. He is able to do above all we can imagine.

Angel?!?

Summer, at the Puebla Ponderosa, was a turbulent one. But amidst all the undoings, there were some nuggets that occurred that reminded us of our Father's love. This story is one of them.

The number kept showing up on caller i.d.: Christian Care. You see, we are part of a medical share program that takes the place of insurance. It has been a blessing. This summer, when "Hoss" had to be taken to Agape Boarding School, we contacted them to make sure he would still be able to be covered out of state and out of our home. Since this is a Christian Ministry, they prayed with "Mr. Cartwright" over the phone for our son.

After that initial phone call, someone from their office continued to call and I was never able to get to the phone in time. He kept leaving messages like: "This is _________, from Christian Care. I am the chaplain here and would like to pray with you concerning your son. Finally, "Mr. Cartwright" called him back and was astounded at the conversation. This man, who also happened to be adopted, (providence?) gave his testimony to my husband of his own rebellion and issues of being adopted. He encouraged "Mr. Cartwright" greatly that day and left the conversation with, "Our God is a great God and has great things for your son. I will take this on personally to pray for him and bring him before the throne of grace."

Since then "Mr. Cartwright" has tried to reach him. He was told, "We don't have a ________ that works for us."

We firmly believe that God sent this precious man that day to uplift us in our grief and pain. We continue to try to find out who he is....God knows!

"Little Joe's" Happy Gotcha Day

I think you and I are actually looking more alike the older you get!

Dear "Little Joe",
God gave us such a special gift when He gave you to us. You bring something to this family that is very unique. Your humor, or silliness at times, really helps us to keep things in perspective. We love your laugh; it is so infectious. Your big, bright eyes exude so much of your personality. We remember this day so vividly, 11 years ago. We always joke with you because the first time we saw you Daddy thought you were a girl; you had a nice size afro! You truly are a gift from God!








October 16th marked a special day in our home. Eleven years ago God brought "Little Joe" into our lives. And for this we are extremely blessed. We went out to dinner and then surprised him by going to Pops in the Park. The Florida Orchestra performed at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. We had a great time.

More leaves~ #16-20

"Mr. Cartwright": My wife
"Mrs. Cartwright": other believers in Jesus
"Little Joe": the ability to play the trumpet
"Marie": my brother's being in a safe place
"Inger": numbers (you've got love that one; I'll be reminding her of this when she is in the midst of algebra)

I Thessalonians 4:7 "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

2009 Band Festival

"Little Joe" was able to attend a 2 day band festival. There were 6 Christian Schools and our homeschool group that were part of the event. They brought in professional conductors who directed and taught the children. This was an awesome experience for the kids. They did an outstanding job. Congratulations Brandon Homeschool Band!

The Love Chapter for Mothers

If I talk to my children about what is right and wrong, but I have not love, I am like a ringing doorbell or pots banging in the kitchen.

And though I know what stages they will go through, and understand their growing pains, and can answer all their questions about life, and believe myself to be a devoted mother, but I have not love, I have nothing.

If I give up the fulfillment of a career to make my children's lives better, and stay up all night sewing costumes and baking cookies at short notice, but grumble about lack of sleep, I have not love and accomplish nothing.

A loving mother is patient with her children's immaturity and kind even when they are not; a loving mother is not jealous of their youth nor does she hold it over their heads whenever she has sacrificed for them.

A loving mother believes in her children; she hopes in each one's individual ability to stand out as a light in a dark world; she endures every backache and heartache to accomplish that.

A loving mother never really dies. As for home-baked bread, it will be consumed and forgotten: as for spotless floors, they will gather dust and heel marks. As for children, right now toys, friends and food are all-important to them. But when they grow up, it will be their mother's love that they will remember and pass on to others. In that way, she will live on.

So care, training and a loving mother reside in a home, these three, but the greatest of these is a loving mother.

~by Dianne Lorang

#11-15

Here are the next 5 leaves added to our thanksgiving tree.

"Mr. Cartwright": my son, Josh
"Mrs. Cartwright": adoption
"Little Joe": Max a.k.a. "Cochise"
"Marie": my house
"Inger": butterflies

Give me your top 5 things you find yourself thankful for today.

A Very Important Phone Conversation

Close your eyes and imagine.
Feel the emotion of anticipation as you gather your family around the telephone to talk to someone very close to you that you have not talked to in a long time.

It has been 9 weeks since "Little Joe", "Inger" and "Marie" have talked to their big brother, "Hoss". Well, they got the chance last night.

The Puebla family were all huddled around the speaker phone on "Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright's" bed. Waiting and waiting and waiting for "Hoss" to come to the phone. Then came the deep voice, even deeper than 9 weeks ago. "Inger" who talks about "Hoss" the most had her lips to the phone as if she could touch the one she missed so much.

"What's for dinner?" she asks. "Ribs", he replies, "now I am having a cherry cake." Just one little question with an answer that I bet she'll remember forever.

"Marie" says hello. "Hoss" thanks her for the pictures; pictures that she and "Inger" paint and draw almost daily.

'Little Joe' says "Hi, 'Hoss'". "Hoss" congratulates him on his place in band. I hope "Little Joe" will sleep soundly tonight.

"Hoss" tells us all about his rodeo week and the thrill (especially to boys) of seeing other boys thrown from the bulls.

The 3 children say good bye and leave the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright" express their love and say good bye.

The tears flow and the prayers are uttered for redemption.

Thank you, Lord, that though "Hoss" is hundreds of miles from home he is in the palm of your hand. Thank you for the work you have begun in his life. Protect and keep him.

Everything's Free!

Do you want to know the quickest way to get rid of your garage sale items? I've never finished a garage sale by 9:30 in the morning, but today was the day for firsts.

The Puebla Ponderosa had a garage sale today. Normally, there are people that come out in the early morning dusk with flashlights. Today, no one came early. I was very disappointed and frustrated. After all, there is so much work to putting together and garage sale. Around 8:00 a.m., my darling husband made the decision that the Lord wanted us to have a FREE sale. My initial reaction was one of, "Are you serious?" "We have to a least make a little money to cover the add in the paper!!" After I calmed down, "Mr. Cartwright" said he was going to get his tracts in Spanish and English out and use this FREE sale as a means of evangelism. This he did. Most people had an astonished reaction to his offer. "We have never seen anyone do this before!" There were people that opened up and shared their hurts. There were people who listened. I know the Lord used this day to touch people as well as to start to heal a hurt in "Mr. Cartwright" that he has been fighting since "Hoss" had to leave. (See September previous posts) But I know the Lord used this in my life too. I am a very task oriented person and easily lose my focus to reach out in the midst of my tasks.

Evangelism 101

You never know how God is going to use what you say, no matter how little.

More Thankfulness~ #6-10

"Mr. Cartwright" - the Cross of Jesus
"Mrs. Cartwright" - Agape Boarding School
"Little Joe" - his sisters and brother
"Marie" - my mom teaching me
"Inger" - the color red

A Broken Butterfly Wing, a Band-Aid, and Sin

Sunday morning, my darling daughters found an injured butterfly. They held on to it and let it crawl on their arms. After a bit, it was time to leave for church and we decided to put it on a bush in our yard. I didn't think it would be there when we got home. I was wrong. The first thing "Inger" said when we got home was, "Let's go see the butterfly." To my amazement there she was, still clinging to life. The task-oriented person that I am, said, "It is time to go in for lunch." My littlest proceeded to bring me a band-aid and said we needed to go fix that butterfly. "Mr. Cartwright" took over from there and took "Inger" outside to attempt to put the band-aid on knowing it would fail. But, he knew this was a great teachable moment.

We believers, have had our eyes opened to the sin in our lives that cripples us. We know the remedy to our "broken wings" is Jesus' blood being shed for us, his death, and resurrection. The world on the other hand proceeds to try to fix their "broken wings" with all kinds of "band-aids". Nothing but a new wing will work. Thank God for the atonement! I praise my Savior for my new wing.

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

Missing "Hoss"

My wonderful husband and I were talking about "Hoss". Needless to say, this happens often. (Please see past posts) We find ourselves on our knees more than we have ever been but , oh, this is so good. We believe great things from our great God! Though we find ourselves in the midst of the greatest trial of our lives, we find ourselves closer than we have ever been to the Lord. Just as I have spoken in the past of the refiner's fire; the fact remains: the more intense heat, the more the dross is brought to the surface, the more you feel the silversmith's presence. I know "Hoss" also feels the pain and separation. I pray that through this pain he will crawl into the shadow of the cross and see the open arms of his heavenly Father.

We adopted this precious boy, 12 years ago. Even the day of entrance into the Puebla Ponderosa was not without a fight. There was a change of mind. Then another one which finally brought our son to us at 5 weeks old. We believe God has wonderful things for "Hoss", but must first acquire his comittment and surrender. But we know God must open his eyes to that need. I ask that you pray for this, too. "Mr. Cartwright" and I believe and expect God to move. We don't presume. We acknowledge His perfect will and are willing to submit, yet believe that God loves our son and desires to see Him come to himself. We will be that persistent friend who knocks and knocks and knocks until there is an answer. And through that determination, we pray we will be made more like our Eternal Creator.

Do we really believe God hears our prayers and acts? Do you?

Remember, the mustard seed.....

The Thanksgiving Tree

So, you may say it is a little early to start thinking about Thanksgiving. I say, "Having children in the house, every day is an opportunity to talk about thanksgiving." Contentment and selflessness are always subjects being discussed at the Ponderosa. These things do not come naturally. These character qualities take hard work to instill; many times I'm looking in the mirror as I exhort my children in these areas. Every year around this time, I imagine spending all my "spare" time doing beautiful fall crafts with my children, helping them to focus on the themes of harvest, plenty and thanksgiving. Every year, I fall short. So this year, we are starting a bit early. I encourage each of you moms out there to plan ahead and come up with a creative way to inspire your children to tackle the heart of Thanksgiving. We are making a Thanksgiving Tree that we will add leaves to each day with the many things we have to be thankful for. As my children add their individual leaves I will post them here. I would love for you to write or leave a comment about what you have chosen to do this season to celebrate the gift of gratefulness.

"Mrs. Cartwright"- my wonderful hubby

"Little Joe"- The Bible

"Marie"- my sister

"Inger"- God