"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent." Rev 3:19

Today, Monday January 15 -

The Lord has done some amazing things in the life of my family.  Although, we had a very difficult weekend, I can see how the Lord is using these things for our good and His glory.  I know I will be able to share some of the 'happenings' from this past weekend, but right now, I would ask you to please keep my family in  your prayers.  When I think the Lord is ready for me to share more, then I will.

I do want to share a bit of something that the Lord has been dealing with, in me- for several weeks.  First, I would like to say I love my mother very, very much. Although, I had been harboring some unforgiveness towards her for many years, I still loved my mother.  I had thought I was past all that, but it was becoming apparent to me, that was not the case. So blatantly obvious now, how could I not have seen this!! 

I attend an amazing home-group, several of us  have been in this group together, since 2007.  We laugh, cry, share, love, pray, disagree, forgive and are transparent with each other.  For the last several months we have been going through an awesome pamphlet -- small workbook-  totally Bible-based, on bitterness and how that's played out in our lives.  One of the sentences, that really "stuck-out'" to me was --How do you know if your bitter?  You re-play those things over and over in your mind.  GUILTY!!  ........

Last week, there was a bit of a tiff between two of my children,  I didn't think I had taken sides, but apparently one of my kiddos thought so and got angry with me.  When I confronted her, she said, " Look mom, sometimes you just make me mad"  and then she said, "Remember when you were my age, I probably feel the same way about you, as you did about your mom."  That statement was like a thunderbolt to the deepest core of my being-- and in an instant I remembered that time period, of fighting with my mom, somewhat frequently.  I remember one time telling her to her face, " I hate you".  After hearing my child say that she probably feels the same way towards me, I literally withdrew to a room and balled my eyes out.  In that moment the Lord began dealing with me about my sin.  I had been talking bad about my mom, and in front of my children.  " for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap"  (Gal 6:7) was the scripture the Lord engraved in my mind at that very moment.  And..“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise)-- I was not honoring my mom and disobeying God's word.  And disobedience to His word brings severe consequences...Deut 11 tells us...“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today,  and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God.  By disobeying Him, I was cursing my family.  THANK you, Lord for revealing this sin in my life!!  I asked the Lord for forgiveness.  Yesterday, when I was talking on the phone with my mom, the Lord starting working on me to ask my mom to please forgive me.  My sweet mother immediately extended forgiveness and grace and mercy.  She was very quick to tell me, no matter what she will always love me!  What a great picture of our heavenly Father.

Thankful to God, for his love and discipline.  “For whomever THE LORD JEHOVAH loves, he instructs, and draws aside his children with whom he is pleased.” Hebrews 12:6

PS.  I looked through all my available pics, and this is literally the only one I could find of just mom and me.
Mom we need an updated pic together!  I love you!!   PSS, my mom's age in this pic, is about the age I am now!!!   CRAZY, how time flies!!!!

This 'n That

Do you ever have a " hmmm, I wonder what I was doing last year at this time" moment? and then think, I wonder if  last year at this time I was thinking, 'hmm, I wonder what I'll be doing next year at this time?' I have those several times a year, and think to myself, why didn't I journal more, then I could look back and read all about it.  THANKFULLY, I did journal a bit more last year than in previous years. Last year at this time my sisters and I were working on the final details of our parents 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration, that we were about to celebrate-- BOY, I had no idea that a mere year later, I would be working on beginning plans for my own daughter's wedding.  WOW, it's amazing what can happen in a year!

Also,  I know around this time last year I was gung ho, about the Siesta Scripture Memorization that Beth Moore was kicking off on her blog site.  Sadly, I did not make my posts each 1st and 15th.  However, there were quite a few verses the Lord impressed upon me to memorize and I did.  Thankful that I have a few more verses, "hidden in my heart that I might not sin against HIM"  

As of late, like since November, I have been working on memorizing Romans 8 - I have only gotten as far as verse 10, BUT I will not give up.

Do you have a great method for scripture memorization?  I would love some added tips and helpful  hints.

" those whose minds are set on the flesh, are hostile to God, they do not submit to God's laws, in deed they cannot."    Focusing and meditating on this one today.

Lord, help me to make much of you today!!!

The Future Mr. and Mrs. Clark

So, after  talking with Chassity, she really wants to get married in the Spring, and this Spring is wayyy too soon, too much to plan.  So, it looks like we will have a April 6,2013 wedding.  We've got our timeline going and the spreadsheets ready to plan the next 14 months.  Here are some great engagement pictures.  I call them... wait for it..................................................................... Fun In the Sun Snow!!!

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

She said YES

I am sitting here at 12:17am bursting with excitement of what this day is going to bring. I am blogging now, but know I won't be able to post until late tomorrow night!!!  My second born child will be celebrating her 20th birthday today, that she is well aware of.  What she has NOT A CLUE about..... is that her boyfriend of three years will be proposing to her on this very day.  He has been planning this for weeks.

About 5 days ago I walked into the house from running errands and heard my husband( Kevin) and Matt ( soon to be son-in-law)talking, when I walked into the room, Kevin asked me to have a seat.  Matt then prepared to ask me for my blessing in asking Chassity to marry him.  He already gotten his folks blessing and Kevin's blessing, and wanted to make sure he had mine, too.  I was completely overwhelmed with joy and excitement. We love this young man.  He loves the Lord and he is sweet and kind and thoughtful.  He has put together a special plan, for her 20th birthday meal, that will lead up to the proposal.  She will be surprised.  Meanwhile back home on the range....... ok we don't really live on a range, we live in a cul-de-sac corner, in the city--but we do have a large corner lot that works very well for lots of parking... : )  I have invited Matt and Chassity's extended family over, for what they think is a surprise 20th Birthday Party for Chassity, boy they are all going to be surpised!!!.. AND my kids are going to be surprised too, because my sister and her husband, and sweet E and baby Jude will be here, too all the way from Colorado.  THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY HERE, right now!!!    It is going to be an evening of surprises for everyone, and I am so thrilled. 

On a side note back in April we attended a wedding for some dear friends of ours... Chassity wasn't even trying...

 YEP--- she caught the bouquet!!!


 Praying the Lord bless these two and that they make much of Him, not only in their engagement and wedding but their life together, as they serve Him.

 

January 2, 2012

23 Years Strong

"What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."

Today, December 30, 2011 I am remembering that 23 years ago today, I was a day away from marrying the man of my dreams. We were younguns, practically babies.. well, I was anyway.. : ) He was 22 and I was 18.  We had BIG DREAMS, man BIG DREAMS, HUGE!! Ok,  not really but we were madly in love, and we knew we wanted to be together, forever!  (Long-term planning has never been our strong suit, thankfully we found professionals that help with that.)

The Lord has been gracious to us, we have a roof over our head, we've never lacked for food and we are blessed with 4 healthy children.

As I sit here and think back to that day, December 31, 1988 it's so hard to remember what was going on in that little head of mine. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, so I am thankful I have a few of those to look back to,( since I wasn't journaling back then.....)
 

 

It's crazy what has happened over the last 23 years.  God has been good and gracious to us, more than we  deserve. There have been rough and hard times, really rough and really hard, but I am so thankful the Lord has turned those for our good and His glory. 

Happy Anniversary to us, Kevin and Marlo Haft - 23 years

Top Projects Party

I have been blog hopping the last few days, and thanks to Pinterest, my favorite site and NOW app....  Yes, thank you Android for F-I-N-A-L-L-Y adding the Pinterest app. ...I have found some great DIY, organizing tips, vintage, and furniture make-over blogs.http://southernhospitalityblog.com/, http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/, mathewsfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com, http://www.tipjunkie.com/,  those are some of my new favorites, maybe you'll find some interesting things as well.   Today, I am recapping my top projects of 2011, and sharing them so I can link-up with Southernhopitality.... We moved into a "new" ( built in 1987) home June of 2011, and every chance I get, I am redoing, scraping, texturing, painting and or fauxing like crazy.

IF you have some projects, you should so link 'em up over at http://southernhospitalityblog.com/.  It's so fun to see all the before and afters.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Wow, can you believe this year is almost over.  I know I say this a lot, but it's just true    TIMEFLIES!! Last year I ended the year on my blog " in pictures"  and so I think I might just set that tradition into place for the Hafts Happs.   Jesus is so amazing, I hope that you have made much of Him this past year. I know my prayer is that I would make much of Him in 2012, more than ever before. 

We had a blessed year, more than anything we could ever ddeserve.  The Lord blessed us with health, travels to new places, a new home, new friends,great visits with old friends, weddings and more family.  God is so good!!!

 

 

 

 

 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16