CONGRATULATIONS JEFFREY RAYMOND GILBERT!!!  WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

Good Friday morning!!  This is going to be one quick blog this morning.  We got home late last night and I slept in until the last possible moment this morning.  I can see a Starbucks in my future this morning.  The graduation last night was awesome!  I was the happiest momma there! 

I will give more details tomorrow.  Here is the proud family right after the graduation.

I was so happy to hear that Haley was elimanated last night on American Idol.  I haven't watched the show yet but will later.  Go Scotty!!  I do like Lauren too but I want Scotty to win!

I will blog more about everything tomorrow, but I gotta run this morning!  I am going to be running like a chicken all day.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....2 Chronicles 35 - 36.  Saturday......Ezra 1 - 3.

Have a fantabulous day everyone!!  Today is another gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question.....What color was your high school graduation gown?  The girls at my high school wore white and I think the guys wore blue.

Good Thursday morning!!  It is college graduation day!!  Woohoo!!  Our son Jeff is graduating tonight from San Diego State University with his bachelors degree in Criminal Justice.  I am so very proud of him and am super excited about seeing him walk across the stage tonight to receive his diploma.  It is one of the things I asked God for.  I asked him if I could please be healthy enough and feeling good to see him graduate.  It is an awesome answer to this momma's prayers. 

I wanted to show you all a picture of the beautiful bracelet that Taylor made for me.  If you didn't see Taylor's comment yesterday, she would be glad to make and send a bracelet to whoever wants one.  Her e-mail address is: tayloraguilera@yahoo.com and just let her know what color/colors you want and your address.  YOU ROCK TAYLOR!!  Thanks for doing this for all of your family members who are fighting or have had cancer and for your friends.  We love you!

So what did you all think of American Idol last night?  I am still cheering for Scotty all the way!!  There is something about him that I just love.

Poppi Mike is working on building things for Vacation Bible school.  Here is Tyler helping to move boxes.

Here he is helping Poppi gluing boxes together for his project for Vacation Bible School.  Tyler loved helping!

Prayer requests:  To be healed or to stay in remission from cancer:  Lorri, Teresa, Lori, Lorenzo, Jose, Susan, Cova, Karen, Cyndi, Claudia's Dad, Sharon, Betsy, Chris H., Allen, Kenny, Irma, Faustine, Samuel, Father Ruben, Ken, Kristin, Patrick, Becky, Jim, Wayne, Carolyn, Ron, Jeff B., Diane, Bill, Lara, Barbara, Kari, Gary, Denise, Cammie, Cody, Martin, Bec, Felicity & Rylee.  Also for a friend who is getting reults to some medical tests today.  Pray it is good news.

Ecclesiastes 3 verses 1 - 8:  There is a right time for everything: A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant; a time to harvest; a time to kill; a time to heal; a time to destroy; a time to rebuild; a time to cry; a time to laugh; a time to grieve; a time to dance; a time for scattering stones; a time to hug; a time to find; a time to lose; a time for keeping; a time for throwing away; a time to tear; a time to repair; a time to be quiet; a time to speak up; a time for loving; a time for hating; a time for war; a time for peace.

Read the bible in a day:  Today..... 2 Chronicles 32 - 34.  Friday......2 Chronicles 35 - 36.

Have a super day everyone!  Today is another gift from God and He is so Good!

Question:  Did you wear braces as a kid?  Yes, I had braces all through high school.  However Mike had a perfect set of teeth.  He even had room for his wisdom teeth.  But Jen and Jeff took after me and both wore braces.

Good Wednesday morning!!  How is everyone's week going?  It has been super windy in the Imperial Valley.  I had a great day yesterday!  It was just one of those days where I was so encouraged and uplifted and praising God for miracles.  I want to share with you all how my day got started.  I was walking into the school yesterday morning and a beautiful 4th grade girl by the name of Taylor Aguilera, whom I have known since she was in kindergarten stopped me.  Taylor had a bag full of pretty beaded bracelets that she had made.  She said, "Mrs. Gilbert, I want to give you one of these bracelets.  You can pick any bracelet and just have it."  Apparently she has been making them and selling them for like 50 cents or a dollar.  Taylor went on to say, "I sell these bracelets but I don't keep the money.  I give it all to cancer research.  I'm doing it for you because you have cancer and I wanted to help and also it is my way to remember my Great-Grandpa Cartwright because he had cancer too."  (I have happy tears just writing this out)  I looked through her bag and picked the brightest one that I could because I WANT people to ask me about this beautiful bracelet.  I hugged and thanked her and was so moved and touched by this pure, sweet gesture from this awesome 4th grader.  Taylor.....you are my hero!  I am so blessed that you are in my life and I thank you for your generous heart.  May God continue to bless you!  You made my heart so happy!  I will never forget yesterday.  You could not and still can't wipe the smile off of my face. 

The rest of yesterday was filled with unexpected encouragement the made my spirits soar.  I am seeing a path that God is leading me down and I am super excited about it.  More about that when the time is right.  I ask that you keep me not only in your prayers for total healing but for wisdom on what God has in store for my future.

Here is a couple of pics of Tyler in his pool recently with the garden hose.

 
Doesn't this pic crack you up?  Refreshing water....straight from the hose.....can't get it any better then that!  hahaha!  Love it!!

Prayer requests:  Please still pray for those who are diligently looking for jobs.  I know it is very discouraging for them.  Pray that something will become available soon.

Psalms 138 verse 8:  The Lord will work out his plans for my life--for your lovingkindness, Lord, continues forever.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.......2 Chronicles 28 - 31.  Thursday......2 Chronicles 32 - 34.

Have a wonderful day everyone!  Today is another gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question....okay I am running out of question ideas so I am going back to the old ones.  What are you favorite colors to wear?  I like red, black and white.

Sometimes life seems hard to bear, full of sorrow, troubles, woe, it's then I have to remember that it's in the valleys I grow.  If I always stayed on the mountain top and never experienced pain, I would never appreciate God's love and would be living in vain.  I have so much to learn and my growth is very slow, sometimes I need the mountain tops, but it's in the valleys I grow.  I do not always understand why things happen as they do but I am very sure of one thing.  My Lord will see me through.  My little valleys are nothing when I picture Christ on the cross, He went through the valley of death; His victory was Satan's loss.  Forgive me Lord for complaining when I am feeling so very low, just give me a gentle reminder that it's in the valleys I grow.  Continue to strengthen me, Lord and use my life each day, to share your love with others and help them find their way.  Thank you for the valleys, Lord for this one thing I know, the mountain tops are glorious but it's in the valleys I grow.----Jane Eggleston

Good Tuesday morning!! A big thanks to Mike's Uncle Richard for sending this poem to me.  I love it!  Let's all encourage someone we know that might be down, sick, depressed etc....We can send a card to someone this week.  So next time that you are at the store pick up a card or two and send it to someone you know that needs a pick me up, a thinking of you or just needs to hear a "Hello" and I am praying for you.

Receiving cards through the last 3 years of the ups and downs with my cancer has been a lifesaver at times.  The timing with most of them was so perfect!  I know that is what will happen to the people you choose to send one to this week.

Here is Tyler climbing up the big bouncer at the hospital picnic. 

He made it to the top.

Sliding down.

Let's do it again.  He was keeping his Poppi hopping.

Prayer requests:  For a friend of mine who lost her Aunt recently with her battle with cancer.  She went very peacefully surounded by family.  Pray for comfort for the family.  Also for some friends who are going to be having some medical tests and procedures done.  Pray that the results turn out great.  Also for someone who is asking for prayer for wisdom and guidance as she is actively seeking what God wants her to do in the future.

Psalms 71 verses 15 - 16:  I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger.  I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care.  I walk in the strength of the Lord God.  I tell everyone that you alone are just and good.

Read the bible in a year:  Today......2 Chronicles 25 - 27.  Wednesday......2 Chronicles 28 - 31.

Have a terrific day everyone!!  Today is another gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question:  Are you a fan of avocados?  We love them....lot's of guacamole is made in my house.  Monica & Gregg...you need to plant a tree at your house.  I doubt they grow here.

                           "The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."

Good Monday morning!!  The weekend just flew by and it was wonderful and fun!  Our family bowling trip on Saturday was great.  I hadn't bowled in a few years and my best score of the afternoon was a 107.  It didn't really matter to me because I was cheering and laughing most of the time.  I don't know why we don't do that more often.  If you haven't gone bowling with your family in a while, it is a must do.

Tyler had a blast there.  He is always a happy camper where ever we go.  In this picture he is helping Uncle Jeff pick out a ball.

Here he is ready to bowl. 

Some of our friends showed up when we did and were bowling just a couple of lanes over from us.  Me, Denise Rogers, Jenna, Chelsea and Debbie Sempsrott.

Then I looked on the other side of the bowling alley and our friends Mick and Peg showed up to bowl.  Here is me and Peggy.

I knew quite a few people there and everyone seemed to be having a blast!  My father and mother in-law then took the whole family out to dinner.  Ahhhh....it was a super day!

Then yesterday at church the kids did a big program for the service and did an incredible job.  Watching a huge group of kids is entertaining no matter what.   After church they had a thank you lunch for all the volunteers who help with the kids catered by Juniors.  I think I am still stuffed from it, it was all so good!  I am sure this weekend helped me in gaining some weight.  I ate my little heart out.

So a lot of people have asked me how tall my son Jeff is.  He is 6 '3 and Jenna is 5'3 and I am 5'4.  So yes....when we are in a pictures together he is tall and Jenna and I are munchkins. hahaha.

Prayer requests:  I have a personal request from someone who is going through a very trying time in their life right now.  They have asked if the prayer warriors here would pray that they will have the strength and wisdom to make the right decisions to some major things that are coming up in the next few months. 

Hebrews 11 verse 1:  What is faith?  It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen.  It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....2 Chronicles 21 - 24.  Tuesday.....2 Chronicles 25 - 27.

Have a marvelous day everyone!!  Today is another great gift from God and He is so Good!

Question.....Hey girls.......what did you name your favorite doll when you were little?   I had so many dolls that I can't remember. I'll try to think about that though.  I loved dolls when I was little.