Grace in the Storm

We moved to Amarillo almost four years ago and after James was in the Marine Corp for eight years this is our first real true home. What makes Amarillo home is that we have planted roots and those roots start with our precious church family. Actually, they are not church family they are just family.
Right now our family is in true grief. On Saturday God welcomed home two of our precious souls, one who was here only a few hours and once who graced us for 50 years. We are all searching for comfort and answers in this time. I don't believe there are answers just faith that our Savior has a plan for all of us and if we allow him too he will show us what he has designed for us.
These are His words that I have found comfort in the last few days, I pray they also bring comfort to my family.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace;that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need
Hebrews 4:16


and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes: and there will no longer be any death:there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain:
Revelation 21:4

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,and so we shall always be with the Lord
I Thessalonians 4:17

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

and finally The Lord's Prayer:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley ...of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV)

New creations from Lift Camp 2011

It was so amazing to come home from a powerful, life-changing week at youth camp and witness new creations make a public profession of faith!
It was wonderful,several of our kids gave their testimony that day also. How wonderful it is to see God move in people.
The biggest blessing I received that Sunday morning in the pew was to watch my husband baptize Randolph a man we have grown to know and love. You see, my husband is not an emotional man at all and I saw him bond with these kids and love them and cry with them all week. We looked at each other the last night of camp full of emotion and wept together! He told us the last night of camp we had gotten all the emotion we were going to get out of him for the next 365 days! James and Randolph were roommates at camp and were able to get know each other and through late night talks James was able to lead Randolph to his salvation at camp.
That Sunday morning, James and Randolph  stepped into the baptismal and James told the story of Randolph coming to Christ and it was a blessing just to be in the room. I could hear the emotion in his voice. I saw a wonderful servant and follower of Christ stand before our church and baptize Randolph. I just happen to be the lucky women that as of tomorrow has been married to that man for ten years.Yes, I am a lucky and blessed women.

Youth Camp 2011

Independence Day this year was truly that for me, An Independence day! Early(very early) in the morning this 4th of July James and I loaded on a chartered bus full of 60 plus teens and 6 adults headed to Lift Student Ministries camp in Long view, Texas.

I don't think in my wildest dreams I could have envisioned how this one week would change my life so much! I have never been so tired and so sleep deprived at one time. Still I could have danced all day for my Lord and King.

I have never laughed and cried so much, sometimes within moments of each other.

I never thought I could love children I didn't give life to like I have fallen in love with these kids. I love them so much! I look forward to seeing them, their high fives, their hugs!

In that week I was truly able to see people love and worship God with a childlike faith. They were not ashamed of who they were or what they had done, they truly understood and accepted that they were forgiven and all was paid.

They sang and worshipped with hands raised high with true abandon as if no one were watching, as if it were only them and God in that room. I watched them pour out love onto one another. They held each other when they cried, they lifted one another in prayer, they praised each other. Friendships were made and friendships were restored were they needed to be. Life's were changed.

On the very first night we saw one of our youth become saved and by Thursday night there were 5 lives saved in all. Several of our youth dedicated their lives to God's service.

There were moments when I just had to sit back and take it all in. I was speechless and in awe of actually seeing God come in and work in their lives right in front of my eyes.

I have to wonder...what if we all loved and worshipped God in this way, with a childlike faith?

The world would be a far better, wonderful place.

James and I started volunteering in youth because we were feeling disconnected in our faith, lost in our church, we were running on empty. Our youth pastor told us that we must remember to fill our cups with God and his word and his love.

I can write you now with 100 percant assurance that my cup is now overflowing.

10 year anniversary pictures

So, yesterday James and I woke up very early in the morning and got all dressed up and went downtown! It was Early but for a good reason.

My friend Heather ( Heather Dexter Photography) is doing a fundraiser. Some of our close friends the Riley family are having alot of pregnancy problems. Her water has broken has 29 weeks so she has been moved to Dallas on complete bed rest and praying to keep her precious baby in until 34 weeks.

Sweet baby Kinley is also in need of an operation when she is born. So the fundraiser is to help with medical, hotel and travel costs. So James and I thought this would be the perfect reason to have our pictures made to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary July 22(married for 10, together for 12). Time has flown by, in ten years we have had lots of growing pains, welcomed and loved 3 children and made countless and priceless memories. I am so thankful to God for my husband and my marriage.

These are a few of my favorite pictures.

Makayla's first trip to Girl Scout Camp

We did something last Sunday for the first time. We sent Makayla to an entire week away at Girl Scout Camp. She went to church camp last summer but it is only three nights with a family night on one night, plus that is my church family so I knew she was in good hands. This was totally different! This was an entire week, Sunday thru Friday with no phone access and camp counselors I did not know. All last Sunday I must have gone over everything with her a million times, mind your manners, brush your teeth, be kind, don't wear your pj's during the day, brush your hair, show others your a Christian. James kept stressing to drink lots of water and wear your sunscreen.I showed her over and  over again where we packed everything in hopes she would remember.

The time finally came for us to drop her off. She was so giggly and excited! We checked in and felt good about the process. We drove down to her cabin and she saw a friend from her troop so from that point on we were invisible. I started to unpack and found out I forgot to pack towels and washcloths, so that led us to a quick trip to the nearest store and back again. When we got back her cabin was full and they were already giggling and on the road to becoming life long friends. So with a sigh, we hugged and said good-bye.

It was a long week for me! We were able to write her an email every night that they printed and gave her at mail time every morning. We were even able to view pictures that the camp uploaded onto a site. The first day we saw a picture of her riding a horse with shorts on!!! Granted, I packed her boots and jeans. I think it was God's way of telling me not to worry over things you cannot control. I prayed alot this week! The boys even missed her and asked about her. I often wondered what she doing, eating etc.

Along came Friday and I had survived the week! Pick up time was between 4 and 5 but you can believe we were there at 3:55! She came running out in nothing but a swimsuit and tennis shoes! She even came back home with her retainer! Thank goodness. She talked all the way home about new friends, swimming, horse riding, cook outs and she has sang every camp song she learned over and over again!She had the time of her life! She is already looking forward to next year!

I suppose as a Mom these are the things that growing pains are made of and the things that make us stronger. As a girl, these are the things life long memories are made of.

All in all it was a great week and she is home and safe and still giggling!!

Thank you God for my blessings!

The Lis Family

Okay Friends and Family!
   I am offically blogging! Hopefully this way you can see pictures of us and the kids all the time and hear what we are doing!