10

Let's look back at our ten year anniversary.

I did a TOP TEN COUNTDOWN here on our blog.
Here are links to those posts.
#10
#9
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#6
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#1

A Testimony of Ten Years

11

(coming soon)

12

"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich."

~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H

 We are known as the6stricklands. 

Joel and I never imagined there would be six of us. 

We are truly so blessed and so rich!

13

Dont ever underestimate the power of prayer.

Philippians 2:1-5 is a scripture that has been the banner over our marriage.   
 

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

We have turned that scripture into a prayer. 

"In our marriage, we pray that You'd give us the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, and intent on one purpose. We ask that we'd do nothing out of selfishness or empy conceit, but we would have humility of mind. Lord allow us to regard one another as more important. Help us look out for each others interest- not just our own. We want to have this attitude in You. In Jesus Name, AMEN."

We encourage you to find a scripture for your marriage and to pray it in.  Not only does the Word say that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective, but you are praying the Word over your marriage. Thats like a double blessing right there!!!!!!

14 Days

 Never go to bed mad.  Stay up and fight.  

~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

Ephesians 4:26

 

"...do not let the sun go down on your anger."

This is a scripture we have taken seriously in our marriage. We have had numerous late nights of hashing out our differences.  It sure is nice to start that next day new and with resolve.

15

In fifteen days we will celebrate our 15th anniversary. 

Watch the Strickland Site for our15 favorites.

In Loving Memory

A few days ago marked the anniversary of a very special person's birthday. Cindy, who was Joel's beautiful mother went to be with Jesus in 1988. She has been gone for 24 years now.

I find it amazing how I personally never knew this woman, but yet I miss her so deeply. I know so many others who knew her and loved her and miss her deeply as well. She was a very special woman who was greatly loved and loved greatly!

We6Stricklands took some time to reflect her life and her heritage, we concluded that within her death, there was so much life. How does life come from death?

Well, we know Cindy now has an everlasting life in Heaven with her Savior. We know she is pain free with a new body and that she looks down on us with joy.  

We are in awe of  God's goodness as He sprouted new life in Joel's family with his step mother- affectionately know by all her grandchildren as "Granny". I would love to write about her story and how the Lord united her to "mother" this family. God is so good.

We also see her still living on in our lives. Her values are being carried on through her children. I know there are so many things that she had sown in to my dear husband's heart that he will always treasure. These values are being carried onto our children and our children's children.

We also see her genetics living on! We chose to make the collage above out of these particular pictures because we see our family in them. If you know our family, look at the resemblances. Our daughters K&E wanted to add these pictures in. 

Her namesake is even being carried on- our sweet niece is named after her. There are more things to mention about Cindy's legacy, I'm sure Joel's family could even write a book!

We concluded that Cindy's time here on earth was surely a gift. Truly a gift of life that just keeps on giving. 

Happy Birthday Cindy! You are greatly loved and missed!

September

Man oh man! This is a screenshot of my iCalendar. 

 

August was busy but September is gonna be busier! I will be thankful for this season of busyness- for everything we are doing- we have been called to.

I love September because it ushers in fall. It is the month of new academic beginnings with our homeschooling- there is so much hope and excitement.  This is also the month that we celebrate our wedding anniversary. 15 Years this month! (Watch for some special edition XV posts coming!)

I know September is also marked by tragedy. I remember 15 years ago hearing the news of Princess Diana's death. It was a sad loss. This month also marks the anniversary of the devastating 9-11 attacks. It forever changed our country.

As I pray over this month, I do so with gratitude, with heartache, with reverence, and with anticipation for the new season.  

He is good..all the time...and even in September.