There's nothing like family...

We just got back from Kinston, NC and the Jones/Sutton family reunion (my mother-in-laws side). We had such a great time. I saw uncles 'dropping it like it was hot,' I saw aunties 'shaking what their mothers gave them,' I saw church folks almost go off over a game of softball, and I've had more than my fair share of vinegar-based barbeque and hushpuppies (this is why pictures of us at the beach will not be posted).

We stayed with Virgil's grandmother, who celebrated her 94th b-day! God is so amazing! This 94 year old woman still works every day and gets down on her knees to pray. She cooked a buffet for us on Saturday that included things I didn't even know belonged at breakfast, like fried potatoes, rice and gravy, and chicken wings?!?!?!? But what I will take most from her is her wisdom, there is much that we all can gain from a woman of her wisdom.

I also got to see my nieces, one of whom I've never seen before. I also got to see first hand my brother-in-law and how much he's grown into a young man. The once playful and always teasing boy who was 11 years old when I first began dating Virgil, Sr. is now a married, ex-marine, and father of two beautiful children. It was warming to see him interact so lovingly with his two daughters.

As we traveled back to Virginia on Sunday, I couldn’t help feeling a renewed sense of just how important family really is to each other. God deems the family so important that often in the bible it is used as the building block of the spiritual family of God. This was the first of a tri-annual family reunion and people are already anxiously awaiting the next one.

Now that we've been to Kinston, Winston-Salem is calling...

273 miles...the distance between prayer and an answer

God never ceases to amazes me. I've been a born again believer for over 15 years and yet, there are still times when I feel so awed by my heavenly father. Our family was going through some things that just really shook me for a moment. I never doubted that God was sovereign and in control, but it was hard to walk through those things. As always, God showed up to answer prayer and just in the nick of time. But while He had answered that immediate need, we were still in the 'furnace', so-to-speak. So I began taking out taking tapes of old prophecies just looking for a word from God to stand on. I began looking through my old journals, looking for promises from God to hold on to. Then I just began praying, "Lord, I need a word from you to stand on." At first I felt bad for even asking such a thing. I'm too old spiritually to ask for such things. I should just know that you're going to deliver and then move on. But I really needed to hear specifically from God. And even though it may be easy to hear a word for someone else and encourage them with it, every once in a while it gets difficult to do the same for you. But I prayed that God would me send me a word, and I said, even if our circumstances don't change immediately, I just need a word to stand on now. Within a few days, my mother-in-law (whom I love dearly) called to say that her pastor, who knew nothing of what we were going through, said, "Virgil and Detria need a word from the Lord, just a word to stand on..." and then began prophesying into our lives. God used a pastor 273 miles away to answer my prayers here in VA. How awesome is our God!



Be encouraged saints, God is concerned with everything that concerns you. He loves you so much he'll use a man of God 273 miles away to encourage you with His words.

Come quickly, Lord!

Okay...so I've been feeling conflicted lately. Our youngest daughter, Victoria, turns 5 on Monday and starts Kindergarten in August. Virgil,II, our oldest, is 6 and is going to the 1st grade. We've always wanted more children but we seem to be at a cross roads... make that I seem to be at a crossroads. Virgil, Sr. is all ready to have more children. I'm still on the fence. Let's face it, Virgil,II and Victoria are exactly 13 months apart (yes...13 months, not quite sure how that happened). If we have one more child now we'll have to have another soon after (or else it'd be like they were an only child). Having children at this particular stage in our lives feels like we'll be starting all over again. I feel so removed from bottles, diapers, and late night feedings. Yet, when I see a newborn, I can't help but want another baby.

Then there's the whole career thing. Before going to law school I was a stay-at-home mom and loved it! I haven't had a full time job outside my home since 2003. Now that I can practice law full time I want more children and want to be at home with them. Lord, I'm going to need help to sort through these feelings. Come quickly, Lord!