stuff

I wish it wasn't so hard to post these days. This season is a hard one filled with God doing some deep hard work in my heart. Apparently I prayed for that some time ago. I'd like to sit here and say how great I'm doing but the truth is it is so hard. Constantly dying to self. Never being able to defend myself when I seem to get in to the oddest most ridiculous situations that really have nothing to do with me. Realizing over and over again that I have no rights in ANYTHING and somehow that is a blessed place to be. Having to serve in ways that if it was up to me, I wouldn't. Feeling like I can't possibly do anything to make people chose the right thing. Having to watch train wrecks and I get to pray and pray some more. and then fast and pray. Then somehow when I sit with my Bible and beg God to meet me. It happens and He is there, He is here pouring His love on me and allowing me to experience Joy the real kind of joy when nothing in your circumstances have changed except your heart. Today my life is hard, challenged but I am a beloved child of "THE" God of the Universe who died on a cross for every sin that I have ever committed in my life and ever will commit. He rose from the dead just like He said He would and went to Heaven to prepare a place for ME His beloved daughter, Susan Lynn Richardson. It just doesn't get much better than that. Thank you Jesus!!!!

So today in my Study time I was re looking at my Exodus study. We ('k' group) just started the life of Moses Inductive Bible Study - it will take 2 years so you will be hearing lots about Moses over the next 2 years. Anyway, I love how you can do a study one day and the next day look at it again and still see more. I guess that's why we are to meditate on it day and night. ANYWAY -
Exodus 2:1-4
And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.

So we have Moses' mom who knows that the Hebrew boy babies are to be killed, taking action and making an ark to float him down the river. Well today when I looked at this again I realized how much hope she had. She didn't just give up and wait for the inevitable to happen she had hope that she could somehow still save his life. She became proactive in her hope, which to me proved that she really had hope. I started to ask myself where my hope was in my circumstances am I moving forward DOING. That is where the proof is in our walks. Are we moving forward or staying stuck . Do we just sit around talking a good game or are we being people of our words and living it out. Encouragement from God often comes in some unusual circumstances and today seeing Moses' mothers hope broke me out of my funk. Thank you Jesus for Your Word.
I'm sure none of this made much sense to you but that's okay - go read Exodus 2 and see what you see. It will be just what you need.

keep chasing righteousness!!

Picture Tag

This was fun 4-4-4 picture tagged and this is what came up. We had rescued a Momma and her remaining 5 babies. The Daddy was killing them off. they lived with us for a couple of months. Look at those 2 cutie pies. Nice nail polish ;0) lol

catching up - i'll try to make it brief

January 30th was Bobby's 15th Birthday "Spiritual" that is. Now that's a story for the record books. One of the greatest days of my life.

January 31st was Bobby's 41st Birthday on earth. Now I'd like to tell you that we did this great wonderful Birthday bash filled with great friends and family but well the truth is Bobby wanted to go paint balling with Aaron so that is what he did. then we hooked up that night at church where he had his favorite dessert - Bread Pudding from Claim Jumper - just because you need to know this - - he ate the entire thing by himself without one drink of milk, water or anything - I didn't know whether to applaud or barf. Happy Birthday beautiful Chocolate man of mine.

So I had an Anniversary - gosh and I didn't even post for it. 14years as of January 14th. 20 years together and 14 yrs. married. I wouldn't suggest that long of a dating relationship to anyone. Ours was necessary but that's a novel for another day. I still stand by that somehow in my crazy life I did something really right that God thought I deserved one of the really good ones from that secret special "ISLAND". Yep that's right i got me one of THOSE guys. I still get butterflies when he walks in a room. I have to sit across from him at meals because I HAVE TO look at him. Bobby Ray Richardson is a great man who loves Jesus above all else and chooses the hard road in the Lord and does it with a heart of gratitude and kindness like I have never seen in all my 42yrs on Earth. I love this man.

February 6-8th Leaders Retreat - this one I am still processing. I had begun to pray daily for this retreat and all 33 ladies months prior. This is a gift that I am blessed to do. Pray. The battle is intense and often i want to throw the towel in but the blessing of seeing and knowing the things that God is doing is pure sweet joy. First let me say this was the first retreat in 5 years that i didn't go up that mountain sick. Praise You father in Heaven!!!!. This retreat was by far one of the best. The teaching delivered by our leader, Lori eggenburg was so anointed. Tough stuff but pure truth that what else could you do but allow God to do the hard stuff in your heart. The Worship was perfect. The food was insane. Well there was alot of garlic and my breath made a baby cry but if you are a garlic lover than this was a slice of heaven for you. The fellowship was exactly that true KOININIA. It's hard to know what to post about it because it seems so private in alot of ways.
I mourned my Donna
I allowed God to reprove my heart
I praised my Jesus for the really hard stuff in my life right now
I laughed so hard that well things happen to a women who has bore a child let's just say that.
I sang out loud - that is VICTORY
I prayed and prayed and prayed and SAW!
I repented
I studied the Word
I washed dishes - okay maybe just a little
I watched the girls cook and gave my 2cents - okay fine a buck fifty
I loved on my friends and got tons of love back
I found out Nidia was my Secret Sister - WOW I didn't see that one coming. She spoiled me so much. Thank you Nidia!!!!
I shared a room with Stephnette - the same room I shared with Donna last year. It was good for me to be in there.
I tried to annoy the game players but they ended up making me play.
I watched Susan Collins sit on a table ;0)
And I watch it snow - ALOT!!!!!!!!!
but most of all I watched our faithful Jesus do a really good work.
o and one more thing my word for the year is BELIEVE