God is still good and coffee is still cheap

Good is still good and coffee is still cheap.  That is encouraging on both ends.  When I cannot get moving in the morning, do not know what the "goal" is for the day, I fill up Mema's percolator.  The sound, the smell, the taste always gives me motivation.  Still clinging to Romans 8, where the Lord intercedes for us when we feel we cannot pray.  I know He will get us through this, but we are struggling.  I want to be excited about this time in our lives. I want to be excited about Sullivan starting kindergarten,meeting new friends, and a whole new world.  We should be shopping for new school clothes!
Our anniversary was Saturday. 11 years. I made homemaid tacos.  Not the fancy anniversary dinner you would expect, but we are thankful for our health and that we have each other.  My birthday is Saturday, and my mom and dad ordered me something special that I have wanted for quite some time. It should be fun to learn.  Also thankful for my sister in law and my in-laws who have also tried to make it special for me.

Trying times

June and July have been a struggle. Probably one of the hardest times of my life.  I have been challenged as a mom, a wife, and a provider, both a provider of money, and a provider of healthcare.  
No matter how sad my heart is, God is still good. I have clung to Romans 8, which has a LOT to say, but the most important for me right now is about the Lord interceding for us when we feel we cannot pray.  Yes, that is what I said. WHEN WE FEEL WE CANNOT PRAY. Imagine the depth of despair that comes to make ANYONE feel they cannot pray.  I have been there. I am still there some days. But MY GOD IS GOOD. My GOD intercedes for me and carries me through it all. No matter what. He knows what I need and he knows what I want.  

I wanted to share my peace with you. Always Share Your Joy.
Nikki

Romans 8:22-39
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22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerlyfor our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for usthrough wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have never seen a show that encourages true, natural, RAW talent like American Idol.  With all of the new shows out, it is hard to pull out one that stands out, but the awkward combination of Luke  Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katie Perry just really works this year.  I just LOVE Luke Bryan.  I never really knew much about him- but I really, really, like him as a person.  This year is the best talent I have ever seen. So proud of these kids. We are catching up on it all today.

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