Thank God for a Happy Birthday!

I just want to give thanks to God for so many blessings He has bestowed on us. I thank God for our family. We had such a good time together this weekend celebrating my birthday. Saturday night we went to an Ethiopian restaurant. We really like the food and it is fun all eating out of the same dish with our hands. Then as if we hadn’t had enough to eat, we went to Baked Expectations, just up the street a bit for dessert. On Sunday I made a roast beef for lunch with potatoes and carrots. That really went over good. It is so convenient that Justin and Renee live so close together, when it comes to picking them up, etc. I’m sure that was no accident.
Martha

Hello God

Hello God,
I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you God for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!
A man whispered, "God, speak to me"
and a meadowlark sang.
But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled,
"God, speak to me"
and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said,
"God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see. And, the man shouted,
"God show me a miracle."
And, a life was born.
But, the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair,
"Touch me God, and let me know you are here.
" Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away
and walked on.

Alayna is home!!!!!!!!

It is so good to have her home again. She arrived late last night, and slept a good part of today. She went to the chiropractor this morning, had a voice lesson this afternoon, and theory this evening. She is planning to perform at the Music Festival at the end of February.

Thanks for praying

Maybe we overreacted. Alayna called us late Monday night to tell us she was OK! She said they were on a rock-climbing trip for the fun of it, and to visit Katie in Phoenix. She said she had done "nothing wrong". They have separate sleeping arrangements, and nothing improper was going to happen. When I offered to buy her a ticket to fly home, she was clear that she did not want that. We made it clear that we felt that what she had done was highly inappropriate to say the least. She said she knew that she would have to live with the consequences of her decisions.

Some time ago I asked her if she knew what was the best gift her mom had ever given me. When I told her that it was that her mom had given me her virginity on our wedding night, she was emphatic that that is what she wanted to give her husband-to-be as well. So many marriages break up for lack of purity before the wedding.

Alayna is a vivacious, articulate, highly skilled individual. She sings, acts, and generally knows everything about anything. She loves the Lord and wants to walk in the center of His will. She is searching for God's will to be revealed to her. We look forward with keen anticipation to see what that will be! Please continue to pray for her.

--
Raymond and Martha