A BOUNTY OF THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Welcome to the Michael Thanksgiving 2011

      Our family just loves this somewhat forgotten holiday between Halloween and Christmas. It is the day to give thanks for all our blessings and gather round the table for a delicious festive feast. It is a day to cherish those whom we hold dear and remember how we got here to enjoy all our freedoms; a day to remember the pilgrims and the sacrifice they made for future generations to go on in this new land; a day to give thanks to the Lord, for without His divine hand we could not be here; a day of traditions…but this year we did something a little different; we honored the sacrifice our 30 lb fowl made to be the honored guest and delicious centerpiece on our dining table. His journey began Thanksgiving eve (history in the making!) as the children kept arriving and toting their laundry baskets, the chefs and apprentices were in the command center (that being the kitchen) prepping and praying over our main guest and loading him with stuffing and garnish. We placed him gingerly in the warm oven, and all through the short night, we could smell the aroma of turkey.

    At the crack of dawn, Hannah joined me to surprise everyone with homemade donuts and rolls as we began the morning full of baking and cooking. When asked if she wanted a donut, Hannah looked at the large baked turkey on the counter top and said, “No, I’d rather have that chicken leg.” We laughed as she was referring to the over-sized drumstick protruding from the foil. It’s so good to have the kids’ home with us. So many beds and bodies in one house. Soon, all were up and helping out. Of course, when we asked for volunteers to help with making the “Michaels Melt-in-Your-Mouth” chocolate chip cookies, Hannah was first in line with her stool. As we measured and mixed, our three year old was in charge of adding the chocolate chips to the batter. More chips ended up in her mouth than in the mixture.

     As I looked around our kitchen, I was so thankful for all our blessings each day. The love and care they showed to others and each other, means that we must have taught them something right. Finally everyone was home and we gathered around our plethora of steaming dishes and garnishes adorning our oversized table. It was so rewarding to see all those faces and hear the chattering. As we prayed over this feast, this year we asked each family member to mention something they were thankful for. It was touching. Most mentioned “family.” Of course our youngest daughter said, her kitty cats and Mommy. Aside from that, we all acknowledged the Lord as the centerpiece of our family with grateful hearts. Our family is a circle of love, with every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared, adds more love. And every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger.

    With the clanging of dishes and the roar of football games in the background some of us got to nestle down into our “turkey coma’s” as the Thanksgiving Day wound down into night. Our daughter Savannah then submitted an offering of “thanks” for all to enjoy! O, I don't have to look far to see how blessed I am and what I'm thankful for; breath in my lungs, a heart that beats, eyes that see, ears that hear; food, shelter, clothing; the things we can take for granted every day; things that millions of people don't have; a family, true friends, and a relationship with a very real and very faithful God. God's love and grace is so real and evident to me, I would be lost without him and have him to thank for every good thing in my life. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”Colossians 2:6-7



    As another Thanksgiving Day shows itself I am able to enjoy it at home with my family. Traditions are carried on throughout the day, and it's never dull around here. It's all hands on deck for cooking, cleaning, baking and enjoying each other. Watching my little sister eat more chocolate chips than she put into the cookie dough. Smells of a cooked turkey traveling throughout the house. Little things like laughing and sharing hugs and having a family to do that with. I do have so much to be thankful for.



    I bet you can say the same thing. I hope you can. Yes, life isn't usually a basket of sunshine, but being grateful for the blessings we have while enduring the hardships will be well worth it. They say nothing good in life comes easy. Maybe you have to dig down deep to see what you're grateful for, and how God has blessed you. That's okay; it doesn't mean He is a less faithful God. Take the time to thank him, especially in the midst of hard times. This Thanksgiving remember the littlest to the biggest blessings in your life and walk with a grateful heart.

Thank you Lord, and Happy Thanksgiving !

Scissors, Suction, or Blunt Trauma

Children continue to be an endangered species, born and unborn.

We no sooner arrived home in the dark of night after our vigil outside the Midwest largest late term abortion mill, Hope Clinic in Granite City, when our daughter called us to mention a baby was missing from a family in Afton, Missouri. His name was Tyler Dasher and he was the same age as our youngest son, Isaac. Of course the news of the death or murder of a small child is always shocking and riveting, but, consider this; had that child been three months younger, it would have been perfectly acceptable as far as American society is concerned. You see, we have allowed murder in the womb for over 38 years inside abortion facilities; all the way up to 9 months, for any reason.

                                                          Reportedly, like a thief in the night this sleeping child was snatched from the security of his crib while his mother lay sleeping in the other room. When she awoke in the morning she discovered his disappearance and law enforcement soon lined the streets of this neighborhood. By the dusk of evening his tiny body was found less than a mile from his home, cradled underneath a pine tree in a small walking park; his blue blanket lay with him. Wailing could soon be heard from the crowds gathering outside this innocent child’s home. Yes, the medical examiner confirmed it was the missing little boy; he was dead. The lead investigator told reporters, “Only a monster could do this to a small child and leave him in that condition”. He died violently.

BREAKING NEWS: Local media is now reporting that an arrest has been made early this morning. The mother of little Tyler has been charged with his murder. “Shelby” led authorities back to the crime scene and back to the tree where she disposed of his small beaten frame. In most murders investigators say the perpetrator is usually someone in the family or someone closest to the victim. But if you think about it, there’s another reason we should have suspected the mother; you see, we have allowed mothers to pick and choose which child is worthy of life… for decades. Noticeably, reporters behind the news desks were outraged when first reporting this missing child and finding his lifeless body. Now that a suspect, the child’s mother, has been arrested and named, their demeanor has gone apathetic. As if to say, “Oh well” just another day. In other news…

You see this is how we treat children in society; like garbage. This past September we reported the horrible deaths of two East St. Louis, Illinois children ages 4&5 at the hands of what was considered their greatest protector, their mother. But instead of a scalpel or suction tube, this mother used a shotgun to relieve herself of the responsibility of motherhood. http://www.smallvictoriesusa.com/Articles/2011/Scissors%20Suction%20or%20Shotgun.html

It all goes to prove; when citizens allow bloodshed in the womb, we will reap it in the streets. Everyday babies are barbarically ripped apart inside abortion mills. They too die violently. Understand, we are not being insensitive of this terrible tragedy, but, the increase of violence on the streets, our homes, and our jobs, is a symptom of what is being sown in the womb. We have become a nation of savages. Life is cheap. No respect for life. That is why mothers and their accomplices don’t even blush at the sin of shedding innocent blood, or its ramifications. Child-killing has become so acceptable, it’s just another day. I’ve often repeated a saying, “When you make the monster, you have to live with that monster”. We have polluted our land with innocent blood for over 38 years, why should we be shocked when a mother decides to kill her baby outside of the womb? It’s just a different weapon, and location.

If this tragedy hasn’t broken your heart enough, as we close, breaking local news is reporting that two young children, ages 1 & 3, have been found wandering the streets of Granite City, Illinois in 40 degree temperatures with no clothes on. Parents are no where to be found. God help us!

Innocent children don’t stand a chance. This is the “monster” the chief investigator referred to. Who is most responsible for child killing? We need only look into the mirror.

“If our American way of life fails a child, it fails us all” `- Pearl Buck

Babies for Adoption

November 2011
Written by: Angela Michael

          Over this past fall weekend we did some fun family activities with our children. We were really enjoying ourselves watching the little ones discovering things and asking a million questions. As we picked the perfect pumpkins to carve for our harvest-fest, I looked into the beautiful faces of those little ones who almost didn’t make it because they were slated for abortion; but because there were people who cared, they are here today to enjoy life and be blessings to so many others.

          We are turning a page of the calendar and going into the month of November. We would like to encourage you and others that November is also National Adoption month. Our ministry is actually working on our 42nd adoption; A baby that was rescued and saved from the jaws of death. But, aside from adoption, there are also many babies and children sitting in the foster care system that would love to have a family to enjoy stability and the simple things in life.

         We want, therefore, to encourage other pro-lifers to get into programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters or the foster care program in your area. Visit www.foster-adopt.org. Unfortunately, we have a drug and alcohol epidemic going on in our nation. The numbers are staggering. Since so many addicts and unable to be parents, their children become wards of the state. I ask you, as Christians, isn’t it our duty to be our brother’s keeper? Are these children not worthy of our love and time? Yes, we can make a difference in their lives, just like those babies being led to their slaughter at the abortion mill but, as prolifers, let’s not limit our dedication and passion for life only to unborn babies, but let’s also extend it to those who have made it past the abortion mill. Just a motivating thought. : )

Proverbs 23:25 “May she who gave you birth rejoice!”