Isaac's Birthday

Happy Birthday

Isaac

The beginning of June is one of the greatest celebrations of our family, I love being Isaac's grandma, my name is Goga.  I have been Goga for one year now, Isaac began truly speaking at the age of two and he named me Goga.  I hope the name is here to stay.  I just LOVE it.

Isaac wanted a Star Wars cake because that is what his cousin

Tyler had the month before on his birthday.

He loved his cake!

What 3 years old looks like.

Hanging out with his new friend, cousin Jordan from Utah. 

This week was the first time they had ever met.

Our adventure to the Butterfly Pavilion at

The Desert Botanical Garden.

 Hugging and Grinning, two of our favorite things to do.

Who wouldn't want to be tickled by this Monster.

                     2009

Fresh from Heaven.

Isaac, You are Loved!

♥

 

Chosing to Believe Me

Spending time with my family, the one I grew up in, takes tremendous amounts of courage and energy.  Last week was filled with preparations for and the wedding of my darling niece.  I wanted to be with her at this special time so I chose to be there.  Making the conscious choice to go, rather than going because "I SHOULD" is monumental for me.

I am not sure I remember when I quit caring whether others believe me or did not believe me.
Frankly, and it is one of my wishes in life to be frank about what I think, I still end up with days or weeks or hours or even minutes where I still care whether or not "They" believe me. I have come to accept this as an unavoidable part of my process.

Is it because of my old rules, like the one which says what every one else thinks, especially about me, is important even more important than what I think?
Is it because I just have to spend time in that place, the one where fear takes over and I am not sure I can trust myself?

I believe the greatest gift my long time therapist his name is Dr. H, has given me has been to teach me that I CAN Trust Myself. So most of the time and now at this point after all the struggle and time I have spent walking through the fire on my journey to healing, it is true that most of the time I don't care at all if anyone else believes me. I know for a certainty that I believe me, I know Dr. H believes me, I know Jared believes me, and I know that God believes me.

I would have to say this shift in my trust for myself began happening right around the time my grandmother died in February of 2008. She was always my very best friend as a child. Her name is Ethel which if you ask me means love, tenderness, and safety. She was my safe place, the one and only safe place I had a child, the sinking feeling in my gut confirms this as I write the truth even today. I am thankful to God that He gave me one safe refuge. I wish every abused child could have at least that much, I wish that with all of my heart. 

Sunday Devotional

This is Stephanie Nielson.

She is amazing!

She is a Hero.

This is her testimony, one of Love, one of incredible Faith, one of knowing that we are all Children of a Heavenly Father who LOVES us.

PS  If you want to see the full screen just click right on the video, that will take you there.  Believe me, her story is so worth it.

HERE is her blog.  

Today I add my testimony to hers.  I know we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us, no matter what.  We have a brother, he is our Savior, our advocate with The Father, He is Jesus Christ.

I can't believe I have been away from my blog for sooooo long, it is so neglected.  I miss you all!!  I send you my ♥.

I am going to girls camp with the teenage girls I work with at church.  SO Fun!!  YaHoo.  I will catch you all at the end of the week.

PS,  The sweetest Grandson ever turned 3 this past week.

Here is a sneak peek at the birthday fun.

That's his new "trash truck" and his famous "cheese" grin!!