Sweet Garfield

Our last, but good day with Garfield

Today we have to put Garfield to rest due to fluid that keeps filling his lungs. Instead of continuing to drain him every week, we decided to do what is right and end his suffering. Will be leaving with my family rather soon. It's 4:58p.m. right now...we put him to rest at 6:00p.m.

We love you buddy and we will miss you! <3

OBX Sunrise

     Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

 

 for I have put my trust in you.

       Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 

-Psalm 143:8

Guilt The Enemy

 Guilt. It's task is to manipulate you. To tell you lies and push you far away from God. You feel as if it will never go away...like you're trapped and alone in a battle you can't win. I've struggled a lot with guilt,  even when I shouldn't feel guilty. It's painfully isolating and exhausting. I've learned to let go of the past because I know I'm loved and forgiven every day. My past does not define me, neither does yours.

    

"Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead" -Philippians 3:13

Stop Believing The Lies
Guilt =Torture 
Don't Let It Win! 
Forgive Yourself!

The Robinsons (First family photos)

                  First family photos of Danielle (sister) Brandon(brother in law) Bristol(niece)

Bristol

Bristol Isabelle Robinson

my niece 

born June 10, 2012 at 1:26pm 

**The First Time I Held Her**

**Second Day In Hospital. She's A Cutie!**

**Her First Day At Home**



 Bristol is the love of my life! She's truly a wonderful gift from God and I can't wait to see what she brings to this world. I'm very happy and excited for my sister Danielle & Brandon. To watch them grow as a family is beautiful.

Excited to be Aunt Toria!

Tattoos

 Tattoo or no tattoo?
A lot of people always look to verse (Leviticus 19:28) on this topic which says "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on your yourself" But you have to also look at the surrounding scripture to fully grasp what is being said. 


"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.Do not practice divination or seek omens.
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:26-31 NIV) 
Here, God is speaking to His covenant people of Israel. He is telling them to stay away from all the religious practices so they wouldn't follow false gods. And if you really followed (Leviticus 19), then you shouldn't shave or cut your hair or get piercings.....yeah ;) 
Now back to verse 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves" In this practice people made gashes in their skin not to express sorrows but to give life blood to the spirit of the deceased.  Tattoos today are much different because it's personal decor to express ones self, which obviously is not what that verse is talking about. 

 Pastor Craig Groeschel on tattoos: "Can a Christian get a Tattoo?"

     

The old testament was meant to lead people towards Jesus instead of false gods.

"Now that Jesus has come and set us free, we are not under the law for our good standing with God. Our right standing before God comes from placing our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our debts, not on following the Old Testament regulations."-Pastor Chuckk Gerwig 


"Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:24–25"
 
So yes, as new testament believers, you are free to tattoo...or not to tattoo :-) .. Either way It's ok!

My Mom is too awesome!

"The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare"

 My mother has been going to school for the past 2 years to go from an LPN, to a RN. It wasn't easy but she made it through, and I'm extremely proud of her! She did this while also taking care of 6 kids, which is really inspiring about her. There were a lot of things that happened during the past two years that tried to hold her back. For instance, My nana got into a terrible car accident which almost took her life. It put the whole family in panic mode but God blessed us through it all, and thankfully she is still here with us. My mom could have just given up with school since there was so much going on but she didn't. She kept moving forward and pushed through all the trials that she faced. I'm truly grateful to have a mom like her.♥ God will direct your steps, but you have to take the first one.