Posted in Family on 14. Sep, 2011
My second-born child is 28 years old today. I seriously can’t believe it. Where did the years go? Seriously. I mean, seriously. This can’t be.
My 98 year-old grandmother (Momo) has always called her “Dessie May”. So to honor Momo, I’m calling her Dessie May today. Dessie May is an incredible daughter, mother, wife and sister. She is a giver and a lover. When she knows God is saying something and giving vision, she goes after it with 150% of her being. She keeps my world balanced, and I love her so much.
This is one of my favorite pictures of her. Her face can say a thousand words. She makes me laugh!
And here is her sweet family at a Fourth of July picnic this summer hosted by the American Embassy in Brussels.
I just can’t end this post without showing you this pic, though. Dessie May and her sister, Courtney, are only 23 months apart. I just want to kiss those cheeks!
Happy Birthday, sweetie! Your mother is so proud of you!
My version of New Year’s resolutions is a list of goals and desires that I want to see accomplished in the new year. Not resolutions and promises, but desires that I hope to see accomplished by God’s grace. I spend time in prayer and ask Him to show me what He wants. Internally where no one sees and externally which affect my family and ministry. This year is no exception. There are specific goals that I will attempt to accomplish by His grace. A few can’t be written for all the world to see, but here are most of them (not necessarily in the order of importance):
1. Read & study the weekly Torah readings.
2. Read through the New Testament once a month for a total of 12 times this year. This is the plan I am using: YouVersion.com.
3. Write a blog post at least once a week, preferably twice a week.
4. Continue studying French and Hebrew.
5. Learn to knit.
6. Begin to do prayer walks around the Brussels red light district.
7. Purchase a camera and learn to take quality photos. (Anyone have a good, inexpensive camera suggestion?)
(more…)
Posted in Family on 24. Oct, 2010
Courtney Praise Benjamin Watkins…..
Today is her 29th birthday!
She is my oldest daughter. The oldest of my five children. Her heart of compassion and for the deeper things of God continually inspire me.
To celebrate this wonderful day in the life of our family, I want to share a few things that everyone might not know about her.
But for those of you who don’t know her, I’ll start out with the basics:
1. Her worth is FAR above pearls and rubies. (Prov. 31:10)
2. She broke both of her wrists at the age of 11 while rollerblading. One cast was pink. The other cast was purple.
3. When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely with loving instruction. (Prov. 31:26)
4. Acting is one of her passions. In high school she played the leading role in Pollyanna, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music, and Kindertransport.
5. Most of the time she has to buy her shoes in the children’s shoe section, because her feet are so small.
6. She took ballet lessons for eight years and is an amazing dancer.
7. Her children make her happy. (v.28)
8. Her husband praises her. (v.28)
9. They all say, “Many women have done great things, but you surpass them all!” (v.29)
10. She was a VERY colicky, fussy baby. (bringing it back down to earth here…)
11. When riding in her car seat as a baby she would cry loudly if the sun got in her eyes.
12. She loves animals but doesn’t want to have another thing to take care of. Why?
13. Because she has FOUR children! (Ashlyn-7, Madysen-6, Kadyn-4, and Judah-2)
14. She absolutely LOVES sports…especially football and is very athletic.
15. Adventures and new experiences jazz her.
16. Her children seriously adore her.
17. When she is pregnant, her laugh becomes a snort.
18. The heart of her husband, Nathan, safely trusts her. (v.11)
19. She knows WAY more than I do about the book of Revelation.
20. She could have been an olympic diver. (That might be stretching it, but she’s a great diver!) (more…)
Posted in Family on 16. Sep, 2010
I guess no matter how old they get, I’ll still be amazed at the age of my children. I remember when Destiny turned eight years old, and then six weeks later Courtney turned ten. I was truly amazed that my kids were getting so old. They look REALLY old here, huh?! All three of us look so sophisticated and beautiful.
Well, two days ago Destiny turned twenty-seven. My second-born baby is 27 years old?! It can’t be! Just yesterday she was hopping backward down the hallway with the end of the roll of toilet paper in her hand. Just yesterday she was sitting at the dinner table for two hours with a mouthful of vegetables that she refused to eat. Just yesterday she was telling everyone on the stage what to do during her ballet recital. Just yesterday she was telling me that she had committed her entire life and future to a God who loved her with a Love that she would never fully comprehend.
Yes. Des is twenty-seven years old and pouring her life out for this generation here in Brussels, Belgium. I love her more than I could begin to express. She’s the exclamation point in my life.
Also in case you haven’t heard, she is carrying our 8th grandchild! I went with her and Jon to her first doctor appointment which happened to be on her birthday. I had never had the privilege of seeing a sonogram of a twelve-week baby before, and I have to tell you, I was fascinated. I’ve seen quite a few sonograms in my life, but this one was pretty special. At twelve weeks the baby is only 2-3 inches long, so its image fits entirely on the screen. The baby was kicking and moving his/her little arms around. At one point he put his hand to his mouth then all of the sudden flipped over! It was the coolest thing to see! I immediately bonded with that little bundle of preciousness and can’t wait till she is here! (You notice I used “he” AND “she”, cause I don’t have a clue.)
Just think. This baby is at the prime age for abortions. In Europe 50% of all pregnancies end in abortion. This hit me hard while I was watching this baby in that examining room. (more…)
Posted in Family on 08. Sep, 2010
