Hearthstone Companion

I have been very bothered/saddened this past week, regarding the accidental drowning death of the little 3 yr old girl in Iowa City last Monday. One week ago today. I cannot imagine the grief her parents feel. It has consumed my mind. I don't go very long without thinking about it- and praying for her family. If you want to read her mother's blog regarding the accident you can find it here: http://foodhealthlifelove.blogspot.com/2014/07/abby.html?spref=fb  I saw a post asking for prayer for her on Tuesday as she had little to no brain activity. They were asking for a miracle! I prayed all day that God would awaken her mind, show that He CAN heal her little body, and bring life back into her. I learned later that day that she had passed away in the morning. Feeling so very saddened by that news, I switched gears and started praying for her family- that God would just shower comfort and peace upon them. But, I kept thinking. WHY???? God totally could've healed little Ab...

I am going to start writing in my blog a few times a week, about personal experiences I have had, that I KNOW were God working in my life. I think it is good to record these things- because they are things we should share, and tell our children, and just to REMEMBER.  Some days it might be long- and just 1 story, and some days I might include several stories, that are shorter. They will not be in chronological order, but might be about last week one day, and 15 years ago the next. :) So I hope you enjoy my experiences and I pray that it encourages you to record your own God moments. :) Beings yesterday was Mother's Day- I have to share this story first. We love the Iowa State Fair. Several years ago- we were at the fair for the day- we had our 3 boys with us. They were probably 9, 7 and 5 at the time.  We were sitting in the kids area just east of the Agricultural Building around lunch time. Noonish. I enjoy people watching-Bill and I were just sitting on a bench watchi...

My heart is still heavy. I am still feeling quite a bit of sadness for the Shepley's. Even though we know intellectually that God has a plan,  in our humanity- this just doesn't make sense!  I have been just praying fervently for Renae and the girls!!! I heard a song today that I've heard many times- but today it held a new light. Here are the words to the chorus:  All I know is I'm not home yet This is not where I belong Take this world and give me Jesus This is not where I belong The first verse so reminded me of how Renae has probably felt this last week:  Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find The answers for "Why"  are not here to find! We will never have answers this side of Heaven- as to why God decided to take Noel now.  In essence- he didn't "take" him from home- he brought him...

Amanda: Noel has died.  This is how I found out on Saturday. A dear friend sent me a private message. Those words are etched in the front of my mind and I can't seem to stop thinking about them. It is so sad and tragic- and also my worst nightmare. A friend, a family that is dear to my heart, is living my worst nightmare!!! I have to say though, that I feel a sense of unity between the body of Christ, as we all pray together for the Shepley family!! Everyone who knew Noel, knew that he was a godly man, husband and father. He had a servant's heart- and was so kind and caring. He loved to pray for people, and he also loved to share the Word of God.  How can a man like that, be gone, in the blink of an eye??? We do not know God's plan yet- but He does have one. That we can know for sure. In the case of any loss of a loved one: Even though we have been shaken to our core over the loss - Our Hope is Unchanged Even though we grieve alongside the family- Our Ho...

It has been a year since I have written in my blog. What a year it has been.  In July, towards the end of the Polk County Fair- I was feeling pretty yucky, and was also missing my "time of the month". So I was suspicious, and told Bill I had better take a pregnancy test.  We got home from County Fair on Sunday afternoon- unloaded everything and went straight to Hy-Vee to buy a test. We got home, and I took the first one- Positive. So I took the second one- Positive. OH MY WORD!!! I'M PREGNANT!!!  We were very happy!!!  We took our parents and my grandparents 4 roses- one for each grandchild (from us). :) :)  We made the boys a cake and wrote on the cake- "Baby Pitts #4 coming soon.". They were also excited. So then comes my months and months of horrible morning sickness. It is very hard to home school and feel horribly sick day in and day out. It isn't like having the flu- and knowing you'll feel better in a few days. This was ...

As I was reading in my Bible about the whole judgment day/rapture prediction, I had the most wonderful image pop into my head. First let me start by saying, that Harold Camping cannot predict when the Lord will return. No one knows when He will return.  However, it could be at ANY time. It could be tonight, May 20th. It could be Sunday morning May 22nd. But there is no way for any human to be able to know a time and date. I was reading Mark chapter 13, and everyone always recites the beginning of verse 32, but rarely do you hear the end. I know I have read it in the past, but it was brought to new light for, and gave me an overwhelming sense of JOY and PEACE. Mark 13:32 says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  (emphasis mine) Wow!!!! I have never thought about the fact that only God the Father knows when they day and hour will be. Not even the Son, Jesus, knows. Then it got me thinking...... It could ...

"It is a good thing, to give thanks unto the Lord" Psalm 92:1 I decided to make a list of all the things that I am thankful for regarding Sadie. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself (like I am doing), I decided I need to focus on all of the wonderful things that I remember. Sadie was a gift from God, a gift that I will cherish forever!!! What I am thankful for: 1. I first and foremost, am thankful #1 to God, for giving me a love for horses and the ability and gifts to work with them, and #2 to my parents for letting me grow up, having horses, and most of all Sadie. Thank you mom and dad!!!! I love you both more than words can say. Lots of little girls love horses, but not many actually get to grow up with them. 2. I am thankful that 21 years ago, we went to look at a Palomino gelding in Monroe, Iowa. Because he was already sold, the man showed us a little blue roan pony mare. I will forever have the image stamped in my head, of the first time I laid eyes on...