Paulette's Pilgrimage: June 2013

In an effort to make my blog a little more regular, and add some fun, I have decided to add a new post each week on Thursdays, with a little twist! I am calling it "Throwback Thursday," and it will feature a picture from the past. Some days it will just be a photo, and some days it will be a "mystery" photo, and you get the opportunity to try and guess who it is! We will see how the guessing game goes, and then I will decide whether to keep up the guessing, or just post a photo each week........hopefully it will turn out to be kind of fun and interesting for everyone. So, with no further ado, here is the first "mystery photo" for you to take a guess at! Happy guessing!

Who is this sweet little bundle??

= LOVE!!!!!!!!


                        "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3 NKJV.
                        "Children's children are the crown of the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6 NIV.
Again today, I am filled with emotion! I have just returned from a quick trip to meet my newest granddaughter, Abigail Joy........and, what a joy! Not just meeting her, but being able to see at least two of my three children, and five of my six grandchildren! Yes, that is right........"six" grandchildren, and there is also one more on the way! I can hardly believe that I have that many grandchildren! There are four boys and two girls now, total........and we don't know yet what Joseph and Lillie's upcoming blessing is! My disclaimer: this post will be full of pictures........that is, if I am able to get them to post properly! :-) I can remember when I was growing up, that all I ever wanted was to be a wife and a mommy! God gave me a wonderful husband, and then I just prayed and prayed for children........I promised God that if He would bless us with children, that we would raise them to know and love God. He answered my prayers, and I did the best that I could to uphold that promise! My only wish now is that my husband could still be here with us to enjoy these children and grandchildren........but I know that he is in heaven watching over us all, and he is in a much better place! I still miss him, though. Our children have all grown up to be wonderful Christian adults, and I could not be more proud. They all love the Lord with all of their hearts, and they serve Him and raise their families in His sight. You all know that four of the six grandchildren are biological, and the two little girls are adopted from China. I just have to say that if you have not been down that road, you are missing a real blessing. It is totally amazing how much in love that you can be with a child from the moment that you see that little face, even when it is just a picture........and the joy is so complete when you finally meet them face to face. It is truly no different than it is when you have a biological child/grandchild. God just fills your heart with so much love! I had walked this road several years ago, when my brother and his wife adopted their two boys. I fell in love with them immediately too, so I sort of knew what it was like already, but I was still totally amazed at the feeling that I had when I first saw Linnea's picture a few years ago. Then I met her and she is just as much my grandchild as the boys are........now that same feeling has happened again with Abbie Joy! It is absolutely awesome!!!! I don't want to go on and on with just my words about this........I would like to share some words that God has given us in His Scriptures regarding adoption, orphans, and yes, our adoption. You see, the reason that we can be filled with this same kind of love for adopted children is because we were first adopted by Him! Where would we be if He had not adopted us to be His children?? We would be orphans, too! What better love is there on the face of this earth, than the love of our Heavenly Father??
                        "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 NKJV;
                        "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV;
                        "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27 NJKV;
                        "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18 NKJV.
So, as you can see, His Words say it much better than I can. He loves us all, more than we could ever imagine........and, I, for one, am so grateful for it! How then, can we not love ALL of our children and grandchildren the same?? Just some of my thoughts today........God bless you for listening!