December 20th.
Can it really be over 6 months since I have blogged?
It has.
Wow. I would say time flies - but I think time does more than fly - time can escape us.
I have not stopped writing -- it is just writing is in other forms, shapes, and print right now and which keeps me quite busy.
That is where God has me using my pen. I enjoy keeping the mailboxes full, especially when I send a note and stickers to my grands.
Before I started this, I even had to dig up my password for Blogger to make sure it was still working.
So, let me NOT delay --
Merry Christmas.
First - I want to share what is ON my heart -- if we were to share a meal, sit and chat on our back porch, or spend some precious time together before this year ends-- we would be sharing what is important to us -- what brings us JOY in this chaos of our present World.
Yesterday in Church Pastor Paul spoke about Mary. The central theme of his message -- humbleness -- her humble spirit to be obedient to the Lord.
I think this last year has been a humbling.
Brendan would always remind our children when they were little about being humble. And 1 Peter 5: 6-7 was often quoted when he was teaching Hunter or Taylor about something or perhaps when their attitude needed adjusting --
-- however, he always would remind them that God was the one to seek for answers and help when something was to change or be figured out.
In the last year, 2021 - I have seen a humbling. I have seen God extend such grace and mercy as He allowed a humbling within others -- that has humbled me!!
And as He has allowed discipline within me and my walk, I am humbled that HE has again and always shown me MUCH GRACE and MERCY.
There is a verse in a song we sand on Saturday at a Women's Conference that blessed me, "my afflictions eclipsed by your glory" -- many around me have experienced MUCH affliction in the last year; however the glory that has been revealed through it -- brings HOPE.
Solid HOPE.
More HOPE than a mandate or a relief check - more hope than the MSM or evening news.
More HOPE than believing WE can solve the problems of this world.
He desires us. THERE has been much awakening!
He created us and we are living at this time - "for such a time as this" - for HIS purpose.
I believe God will allow a hard humbling - to get our attention as within my own heart it took a humbling to OPEN my eyes.
I believe God is allowing MUCH right now, as the Scriptures and prophesy are being fulfilled, and when we dig into HIS Word, we can get a glimpse as to why there is MUCH distraction within our World. The ONLY answer is Jesus.
I believe that--we believe that -- often --much of what we suffer from is because we need to humble ourselves before a Holy God and yet, we don't want to or we resist. Or we don't trust.
I believe God is asking all of us now, 'are we ready?'.
When focused on the World, or even ourselves, I think we can allow the enemy to distract. Pride. Self- Centered thinking.
When Focusing on HIM and SEEKING HIS Word; a humbled heart can't do much but change -- and it will prepare us.
2022 will be here in a few weeks. But I believe our time is short - we believe our time is short. I write this epistle, but Brendan reads and gives the OK. He is more vigilant to ask those peeps God places in his path, if they know about Jesus - which just marvels me. He wants to finish well. And he prayerfully watches for opportunities -- he teaches me much!
Each day, Brendan and I remind ourselves that we must live with intention, HIS purpose and be HIS hands and feet and share HIS good news, as we see several around us - in silent suffering, but also many others that have NO clue that they deceived.
No judgement - NONE, however, fruit inspecting is MUCH easier now with so much put OUT on social media and when Holy Spirit gives discernment, it is hard not to get on our knees and seek Him in prayer, and repent ourselves!! And it also causes us to grieve at times when we want to YELL... GOD can change hearts!
We don't claim to have it all figured out; we fail; however, we KNOW the ONE who does not fail and by by HIS Grace and Mercy - we daily can experience HIS freedom and we WANT that for others too.
When will God tell Jesus to gather HIS Bride?
Only Abba Father knows, but we are IN the season of a coming..... are we ready?
I would hope and pray we'd be like Mary when the Angel told her in Luke 1 that "God had found favor in her" -
Oh Lord, may we ask ourselves, "have you found favor with us?"
I would hope and pray, we'd respond like Mary , "I am the Lord's servant, May your word be fulfilled".
Oh Lord, may we respond as YOUR Servant, but first --
---first, we must KNOW you as Savior --
--may that be the Christmas Gift WE give to Our Father!
Merry Christmas -- Next, our highlights
January brought a new Pritchard into our house. Cindy Renea is dearly loved, graduated with her BS in Education in April and was assigned a position by July! She teaches 1st graders, keeps Brendan on his toes with her dry sense of humor, and makes HP laugh. It has been a JOY to watch them fall in love, help plan a wedding, and then watch them walk out what God has purposed them for. January 15th will make ONE year as husband and wife. She was made for him, as she loves the outdoors, can man the boat while Hunter is unloading it from the dock, and loves to do adventures and with him! Hunter continues to work at the Insurance office and loves to fish, learn new things, and has connected to a great bunch of friends here in Okeechobee. THE BEST thing about the plandemic was bringing him home and God had a plan to KEEP him close. THIS momma has been in heaven!!
With illness, surgery, and the grands growing in 2020 - it was apparent that we needed a bigger place. By Fall of 2020 we began the prayerful process of building a house. Call us crazy, but God assured us to move forward and we sold our Redemption Cottage, and prayerfully we will move into our new place in the new year. Not sure what we will name this spot. "On Golden pond" seems fitting - maybe, but we don't plan to go skinny dipping in that pond!!!
(Those under 50 will have NO clue as to that pop reference. ) We moved 6 times from 2011 -2017 and our 7th move will hopefully be our last stop - But GOD knows. We moved into the Healing house over my birthday weekend in 2012 -- so, maybe we can move into the forever home in February too! God only knows! Praying!
I spent the entire school year of 20-21 at my kitchen table so when we had a break, we took short trips and when school was out, we took more time to visit WI, the Keys, and the pool! We were also blessed with some sweet time in the Exhumes last July which reminded me HOW small we really are within this whole world! It was a once in a lifetime trip, meeting new friends, having concierge service 24/7, and seeing a whole new part of the world - that was a favored blessing! September and October had mini trips to Wisconsin and I was able to sit and watch my Senior Niece play in her Sub-sectional which brought back MANY memories from my own days on the WHS Tennis Team!
School started back in August and I am back in the classroom, this year teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders social studies with an emphasis on geography, government, and some history! I LOVE my new position. This is year 34 - Brendan has been retired four years now, and he works full time at our Insurance office, going between our 3 offices, marketing and selling, but also working with the kids (Taylor works there too) in managing the office and making sure we survive this 21st century!
Speaking of Taylor, as the FIRST photo showed, we were blessed with an announcement just a few short weeks ago. Baby Padrick #3 is due in late June. Yes, we are hoping for a boy, but you all know we just want a healthy little one!
Jake continues to teach, Taylor is doing her teaching at the Insurance office as she leads and manages and helps train while she her hands in LOTS of areas. The last 6 months she has has lead the team in transitioning to a new management system. We are very blessed with our employees and we pray that as Lowell and Marilyn transition into Semi/full retirement - the next generation can continue to build and fulfill God's purpose for that office!
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| Ava and SJP with their Maternal GREAT-Grandparents! |
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Ava went to Sea World for her 2nd birthday and we had to recreate the photo for her 6th - we added a few kids!!
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Ava was six in November, we spent some time as a family at Sea World. Jake's folks live in TN so it is a treasure when we can ALL be together! Miss Kerry and Poppa are Ava and SJ's favorites! She is in Kindergarten and loves to read and playing with her cousins - Brinlee and Zander ( our niece, Jaiden and Dustin's kids). YOU can see the Sea World photo. Brinlee was just six this last week. Zander and SJ are a year apart, and the 4 of them bring much laughter!
Sawyer will be four on January 5th. She is very headstrong and a cut up. She is also the life of the party - wonder HOW that happened??!! She is always moving and singing and had declared she was getting TWINS -- at the announcement! it has been a joy to watch Ava grow into a young lady, and now as SJ approaches her 4th birthday, I can see and hear her learn new things and that toddler talk will disappear soon. She is very into eyelashes and happy faces as she draws on everything!
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| THE LION flanked by two Prayer Warriors that will fight for all of their Grandkids. I am so blessed to do life and FAMILY with the Padricks! I see G-Man snuck into the photo too -- He always wants to be the FIRST one to greet the girls, as he will say, "they forget about me once they see Mimi or Miss Kerry".... BLESS his heart - watching Brendan grandparent those girls with his Johnny Cling stories and how he dotes on them - makes me fall in love with him all over - OFTEN! |
Ava and SJ started soccer. SJ practiced well, but didn't quite master the art of playing in a game. She'd rather be a Ninja - Ava was a pro from the get go and is now doing some travel club soccer cause she is FAST and always the first to the ball. Dance may be the next thing Sawyer tries. And Taylor wants both girls to do some volleyball - SJP goes to Sunlight Academy and it is so adorable to hear her pray and say, "GOD".....to which her big sister has to give her some pointers. It is a blessing to hear each of them pray - and sing to HIM.
The girls so enjoy their time together. We made cookies and decorated the tree a month ago, it was nice to witness and hear them being playmates as they both are growing and becoming more mature! However, they are full sisters too that need a time out here and there as well. Mimi and G-man spoil them and WE enjoy doing that. Brendan will often grab one of them after school if he can and they head for ice cream. Ava loves to draw and is a very good big sister to SJ. Sawyer, at times, can have a melt down and Ava is always the first one to try and calm her....even when Ava may be the cause of it. Both of these girls bring BIG smiles to Brendan and I and we can't wait to have sleep overs at the "pond" house! Hey - that could be the name of the new house!! And we will look forward and await the arrival of the next one and our heart will get even fuller!
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| thanksgiving 2021 - toasting the turkey |
On a Sunday after church, you will find us having lunch with some friends, or grabbing our helmets and taking off for a ride on the Harley. We didn't ride too much this summer, but planning some road trips for NEXT summer. Cindy's folks got a cycle and it has been a BLAST riding here and now we want to show them some Wisconsin sites! We also find LOTS of time to have family gatherings and just enjoy food - Brendan makes some really good ribs! The littles play well together with Brinlee and Zander and we just have to remind them not to RUN down the steps.
The new house will have a pool and NO steps but there will be MORE room! God is so sweet, the people the purchased our home are dear friends and each day as I wipe up the floor, or fill the dishwasher, and or think about packing, I just pray that our Redemption House will bring them MANY grand memories and family time as well. We bought this house from a sweet lady who loved this Cottage well and we have loved it well too. These walls heard laughter, prayer, and JOY as we'd gather with friends and enjoy Bren's ribs or my Chicken Wellington!
My folks are doing well - we had the pleasure of their company for a few days this last November. Playing some games rather than Sheepshead was new but rather fun! My Mom still works at Wally World and my Dad delivers parts for Napa. He can be found in his truck touring the farmland and watching PBS in his free time. Mom still does many crafts sews, and paints and reads. Brendan and I enjoyed a visit from my Uncle Ralph and his wife who ALSO have a Harley and love to ride. So now it is our turn to take the bike north! We had family here for the wedding and visits from siblings which were treasured- as there are 25+ grandkids including my children -- it is a challenge to keep up with the graduations and babies of the cousins but thank goodness for FB - as it has a great quality of allowing one to share our lives.
Brendan's parents are doing well too. After a rough start in 2021, we give God the glory for healing - Lowell - !! The two of them open their home for the holidays and a change to hang at the Hammock - which we all love to do. Dad has a barn that he is 'filling' with his tools and Marilyn still runs in to town to do several tasks each week, and she enjoys her ladies groups and their luncheons! We make the most of family gatherings as we know - time is short.
We have been SO blessed with several really good friends that we not only worship with - but they bless us with meals, trips to the Keys, and humor us when we want to stop by the grandkids for a hug before we head home on the cycle. Our Church family is a big part of our lives and we are looking forward to being in our new building ( Sanctuary ) this spring!
I have a few new walking partners and enjoy praying with and for a few precious daughters of the Most High when God carves out the time! Bren and I stay busy - the last 3-4 months have been fun, window shopping for tile, floor choices, and trying to figure out the design elements of the new spot. Industrial farmhouse is what I think Joanna Gains would call it!? They mudded walls Friday and THAT was exciting! Right now my front room is filled with boxes of fixtures and faucets, all part of the process! Yet, Brendan and I have had great fun!! We keep busy, but we also REST and are still when we need to as well. Brendan still LOVES to read and I took a bible class this last semester that I so enjoyed!
In a very hard season, Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "he will rebuild the house" - in the last ten years - I have seen much and experienced much. And God has rebuilt MUCH within our hearts, our lives, and our families. And, with each move we made -- "he - Brendan - did rebuild much!" !!! God is so so sweet. If you are around me, you will hear me say, "God WINS". He always does. Always.
Will we trust HIM long enough?
Do we hear Him? I find myself often I can't hear when I have TOO much noise and distractions. Several years ago, our word for the year was "intentional" -- it still is. Being intentional each day - is important to us.
I have also learned over the course of these last two years -- that HE won't fail us and if we will WAIT on HIM and be obedient ...HE will work ALL things out for HIS purpose and HIS glory and for our BEST.
I have learned that there is HARD in this life, but we can do HARD, only with HIM as our strength and truth.
Many around us did have a HARD year with death, fears, and other sufferings. Our hearts hurt, cried, and rejoiced and we try our best to continue to pray Psalm 91 over us as well as drink water, eat right, and build that natural immunity!
He created us and appointed us ONCE to die.
Our days are numbered -- by God.
He knows the beginning and the end.
He knows the number of hairs on my head. ( Even the number of the WHITE ones - no longer gray.)
Now I am NOT going to go jump in front of a train, but I am going to TRUST that He speaks and protects. And I won't, we won't live in fear.
Over the last 20 some months -- much propaganda has blinded many.
Natural and common sense has somewhat been thrown out the window in our opinion.
Truth - sets us free. Real Truth -
Our Word for 2022 is unshakable -
May you experience the unshakable faith within your life that brings you much peace and joy, even in the midst of HARD. And may there be more time spent with the important ones around us - we need community. We need each other and we are tired of Satan getting the last word - cause we KNOW, God will win.
Amen - Merry Christmas - Michelle ...and Brendan!
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