Delight...In the Mailbox

We haven't seen him in almost 8 months.

This came in the mail this weekend. His 9th grade pictures.

Oh, how we miss him.

Twenty-four more days....

A Special Friend, A Special Ministry

This last weekend we finished up a holiday tradition that became part of the Ponderosa a couple of years ago.

We have a special friend, Laurie Borland, who lost her dear husband, Tim, this last June. Together they have ministered in the prison system teaching Inductive Bible Study to the men who find themselves behind bars...some of them for a very long time. They have been in ministry for 15 years or so with Jesus Only Way Ministry. Since Tim's homegoing, there has been a special man who has taken over the teaching portion of the ministry. We pray for God's direction for our dear sister and friend.

Each Christmas there is a care package put together to give to the men who attend the Bible Studies. We send a Christmas card, with 10 blank note cards and 10 stamps. Things like this we take for granted, but the truth is this is a luxury for many of the people who are incarcerated. Ministries like Jesus Only Way not only make this possible, but also are giving the Bread of Life to many who are very hungry and malnourished. We thank the Lord for those who are sent to the "least of these" and ask God's blessing on them. Missions is taking place in places both far and near.

A Special Adoption Day

Our dear "Marie",


Today we celebrate your 11th adoption day. We can't forget the day we met you at Micky D'S. Your sweet little face was expressionless; almost as if you were depressed. Your little life had already experienced way more than it should have. Within weeks there was a light in your eyes that hadn't been there before.


Your grew in leaps and bounds, but in the past ten years you have grown in an area that is the most important. Your walk with God.

God has does a gracious work in your heart. You have such a close relationship with Him and I stand in awe at what He is doing. Though God created you with all sorts of struggles and delays in what the world would deem as needful, you have proven to us that God can do abundantly above all that we ask or think. 


Our prayer to you, dear daughter, is that your relationship with your Savior will continue to be the most important thing in your life. That you would strive to love Him and continue to have a soft heart for the things of the Lord. Keep seeking Him. Keep asking for His will to be done. Keep living for Him.


"Marie", you sure do amaze us. We love you and are so grateful to the gift that God gave us so long ago.

Happy 17th!

On this day, 17 years ago I married my best friend, lover and confidant. We've been through all sorts of trials and struggles, but love and thankfulness wells up in my heart.

"Mr. Cartwright", You are the love of my life. I am blessed to be your wife. I am eternally grateful to the Lord for bringing us together. The years go by; the love gets sweeter.

Thanks for putting up with me and thinking of me more important than yourself. Thank you for loving me despite my selfish heart and whining so often about wanting my way.

We have made some amazing memories.

I am thankful to have you by my side as we do this thing called "life" together. You are mine forever.

Hearts of Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving from the Puebla Ponderosa!

Movie Review - Journey to Christmas

As our family used the last couple of evenings to view the DVD, Journey to Christmas, we had lots to reflect on afterward.


Everyone likes a reality show format. It's engaging and keeps you wanting more information about the people that are part of it.


Journey to Christmas takes you on a journey with 5 adults, all from different background, places and ages. They are given a tour of Israel from the point of view of the Christmas story. There are 4 episodes, and in each one there is one focal point of the Nativity story.


The "journey" is very well done, as far as a film goes. As a spectator, we learned a lot of the history of Israel and the culture surrounding Jesus' life on earth. We were able to really appreciate the terrain and ruggedness of life in the area where our Savior grew up. Each person who traveled in this movie had a different view on religion and their lives. Two of the women seemed to be the most grounded in what true salvation is. 


The disappointing part of this movie was the ability to see what the world has done to the sacred place of Christ's life. In the words of one of the gentlemen, "This is religious c**p. God is not impressed with all this." Our sentiments exactly. The world has made a shrine of idolatry to God and what He wants most is their lives surrendered to Him. There wasn't much change in any of the travelers. Those who believed still believed and those who did not, still did not. We also would have desired to see more of heart changing opportunities, rather than just a historical synopsis of Israel.


We, as a family connected with Drew the most. He was adopted and left his home at 16 years old due to "issues". We have these "issues" in our lives most days. He was the most down to earth and real, no-nonsense traveler. We pray that God would work past all these human means to save these people for His glory.


The reason for Christ's birth was overlooked. He came because we need salvation from our sins. This is the true meaning of Christmas.


*As a part of the Tyndale Blogging Network, I received a complementary copy of this DVD.

Her First "love letter"

Our beautiful little "Inger" has written her first letter to her big bro...who is so far away. Precious.

Roses are Red....When They are Pruned

My rose bushes seemed to have stopped growing and producing beautiful roses. They are still green but just stagnant. No new growth and the leaves are slowly getting spots. Just not looking too healthy.

Like us, sometimes.


We are still breathing and alive, yet stagnant in any growth.

I grabbed my pruners and chopped away...1, 2, 3.

So does HE.


The gracious, wise Gardener takes His shears and cuts. He knows when we are looking puny. Sure, our roots are still alive, but we sure aren't bearing much fruit, so He cuts. And trims. And sends trials our way that take away the dying leaves and allows for much needed growth. Growth that would NOT come were it not for the pruning.

I looked at my three rather, sorry-looking bushes today. There's hope. There's new leaves. They're beautiful and green.

I'm becoming more thankful for the Master Gardener. He knows what's best.


Trust, soul, trust.

John 15:1,2 (ESV)
"I am the True Vine and my Father is the Vinedresser. Every brand in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every brand that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

Away From Home

So we're told, "He knows why he's here."

We do too.

And yet, we wish He were here.

Home. A safe place where love is lavished on all who reside.
Home. A secure place where each member knows about Our Great God.
Home. Two parents who strive to live each day loving each other and the Lord.
Home. Home. Home.

I often wonder when he will be able to say, "I'm glad I'm home. This is my home. I'm thankful for my home."

I wish I could read his mind and make him believe. But I can't!

So I keep on knocking. My knuckles hurt. So I put on my boxing gloves and fight as I knock.

Fight against self and my wants.
Fight with the Word against the powers of the world and darkness.
Fight for our Son, which he will be forever.

Amazing....

So how many Bibles do you own?

How many are sitting on your shelves?

Rethink the importance...

We, Not He and I

Thank you to my friend for sending this my way. I had not yet heard this song. As I listened and read the lyrics, my prayer is that the "we" will include my "Hoss" . It has been a long road, but what I have come to realize is that God's plan is not mine. The road we travel seems so deep at times.

And lonely.

And sad.

And full of bruises and skinned knees.

But our God is so much more concerned with our Spiritual walk than our physical needs. And, boy, does He know how much Mr. Cartwright and I need to continue to be conformed to His image.

Yesterday I heard this quote from Paul Pennington, "Adoption is not about meeting your own needs. It is about being conformed to the image of Christ." I must remember this.

Book Review - Invasion

I'm always looking for good books for my children.

That was my focus on reading and reviewing Invasion by Jon S. Lewis. It is difficult to find books, especially for boys, that will be adventurous, but not full of language, vampires, or anything that would hinder their spiritual walk.

Invasion could be labeled as a sci-fi book. There was lots of adventure and fast paced movement. The story line follows a young man who is part of a family of CHAOS special agents. Little does he know when his father drops him off for "college days" at the local agency, his life is changed forever.

Jon Lewis does a great job at drawing the reader into the story and once you get sucked in, it is very difficult to retreat. This is not a book I would normally pick out to read for myself, but I am very happy with a good book, that I can trust to put into the hands of my sons.

The only drawback I see is the introduction of aliens. There is so much focus in the world today on life on other planets. People are sucked into this falsehood and it can take away from the story of Beginnings in the Bible. But as long as you and your children are aware of true Biblical life, this shouldn't be a problem.

As part of the Thomas Nelson Blogging Network, I received a complementary copy of this book.

A Sudden Encouragement

This has encouraged me greatly today. There are times you know God sends things your way, knowing you need help and mercy. This is one of those times.

Hymn Study - Robert Robinson

Our hymn study for this week is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson. As you watch this short film on his life, praise God with me for the amazing grace He bestows on man. Of course, my thoughts turn to my "Hoss". God can do the miracle in his life too.

 

This is my favorite rendition. 

Beautiful!

Shai Linne has done it again. His new album "The Attributes of God" is his best yet. 

Sola Deo Gloria!

Wrestling Camp

My big boy is involved in wrestling camp this week at Agape.

We miss him more than words can say.