Joyfull Living

This past weekend myself and 12 ladies from my church attended a Beth Moore conference. We are from a small country church averaging worship is 125 people in a small town. To say that we came out of our comfort zone would be correct. Here is the arena where we met: All 14,500 of us! What a wonderful time it was, worshipping with thousands of women who eagerly soaked up God's Word. Beth Moore is a genuine, down to earth speaker who brought a message from God's Word which spoke directly to our hearts, encouraging us to follow after the Lord, to run the race of life with purpose, always looking ahead - not behind. The ladies from our church who went were so blessed and encouraged. Thank you, Lord, for a great weekend of refreshing and renewal.

Today is Show and Tell Friday over at Kelli's House It is so much fun to share special things around our home with others. Today I want to share something very special to me. This week marked a sad day for me - the first anniversary of the passing away of my mother. My aunt who lived right next door to my mother wanted to do something special for me. She wanted to go to town to pick something up, but she didnt' have the time. She created a beautiful bouquet of flowers and put them in a vase and presented them to me. Something very special she did was take some azalea flowers which were blooming in my mother's yard and added some dogwood flowers also. It was a homemade creation made with love and a thought that I will always cherish. Here is a picture of the bouquet. It brought great comfort and joy to me that day!

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home.... One of our sons pig did not weigh enough to enter the fair, so he got sent back home. Big disappointment for oldest son. The other son's pig made it in fine. Here are a few shots of their day: At the fair in her new pen. Getting a bath! Getting brushed and pretty! Showing the pig All dressed and ready

Today is Wednesday and over at Amydeannes it is time for Word Filled Wednesday. The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a verse! I love this verse as it is always a reminder that whatever we face, we can face with courage - without fear or dismay - because God is always with us, wherever we are. What a wonderful promise and source of strength.

Our oldest sons do a project every year where they get a small pig and for several months raise, feed and train it. Then when the county fair comes, they take the pigs to the fair, participate in a competition show and then at the end they show the hog to buyers and sell them. With my new camera(!), I will be sharing this week the events of "hog week". Here are our girls at home in their pen. They need to get loaded up onto a trailer to transport to the fair. This is a delicate process and takes my guys working together! Up they go like good girls. They stay on the trailer only long enough to get groomed and transported to their new home! This is the first day...stay tuned there is lots of excitement this week!

What a wonderful Easte weekend we had! To begin with ...I got a new camera and absolutely love it! We enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at school for my youngest son. Saturday was the first t-ball game for same son. Sunday we enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunrise Service at church and then an Easter cantata later that morning. Following we enjoyed a picnic lunch with family. Here are some pictues of the activities. Easter Egg Hunt at school: Easter Morning: We had to get up early! Picnic lunch and more egg hunting

Word Filled Wednesday is an opportunity to share God's Word. It has been such a blessing to me joining the other bloggers who are sharing in Word Filled Wednesday over at 160 Acre Woods. This verse is very special to me. Years ago as a newlywed, my husband got a job which entailed him working shift work. He would have to work night shift sometimes and as a young wife, I would promptly go to my mother's house to sleep! For a few years following, day shift was the normal - YEAH! Then a great opportunity came for a different job with an increase in salary - but it was all night shift. By then we had children and it was not so easy to run to Mama's house. I made the decision to stick it out and stay home. This was a biggie as I was a huge chicken - scared of everything. Only a day or two before his new job began, as I was reading the Bible - this verse jumped out at me. I realized that safety comes only from God. There was no need for me to fret, worry or stay awak...

Have you ever heard of the ministry " Above Rubies"? This is an encouraging magazine printed for donations only filled with encouragement for women. The ministry name is chosen from Proverbs 31:10 AMP " A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far ABOVE RUBIES or pearls. There is also a web site chock full of resources www.aboverubies.org In the latest magazine there is a quote: "Keep watch over your vineyard - your home and children. Remember that this is the sphere that God has given to you. When you are enticed away from this realm, you move out of God's perfect will...Don't get sidetracked looking after other people's vineyards when your foremost task is to look after your own." At first, this could seem somewhat harsh, but it really struck my heart. My home and family are my sphere - my God given responsibility. I do work outside the home, but co...

Today is my mother in law's birthday. Ever since one of the grandchildren called her "Nana" years ago, that is who she is now - Nana. I have been blessed to be in Nana's family for about twenty years now. When I first came around, I was a teenager who was a little wild and started dating her son. She may have thought (or I would have) "not exactly who I would have chosen for my son". But she embraced me and was an example of Christian grace and hospitality. After a few years, and many prayers, I began attending her church with my boyfriend (her son) and there accepted the Lord into my heart and was changed into a new creation in Christ Jesus. Her son and I married and Nana is the best mother in law I could ask for. Her life is characterized with dignity, integrity, grace and love as a Chrisitan woman. She carries a delicate balance of always being there for our family while never intruding into our lives. Through good times, she rejoices and through bad ti...

Today is Friday and at Kelli's House , it is Show and Tell Friday! The following are a few items I keep on my bedroom dresser. This vase was my mothers, I remember seeing it on her dresser when I was a young girl and loving it. Of course it was a "no touch", but I always thought it was beautiful. Here is a closer look at it. The flowers are so pretty! Another goody is this bowl, again, my mother's. I love the top to it with the roses and leaves. Stop by Kelli's House and see the other participants in Show and Tell Friday.

It is so much fun to participate in Word Filled Wednesday over at Amydeanne's . The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a verse! I chose this verse today, because first I have spring fever! These tulips represent a promise of spring to me. This verse is very special to me as it reminds me that whatever situation, whatever crisis, whatever trial or test that happens, there is a peace that comes only from God and that peace will cover my heart and mind and that peace is so great, it is beyond comprehension. May the peace of God be with you today!

Have you ever just fell behind on things? I do ...lots, but as I was cleaning today, guess what I found? Here is a peek at my sliding glass door. I like to add special touches in my home for the seasons. Like these cute guys wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! In March??? Since I live with a house full of guys, they don't seem to notice decorations or seasons! Or when they change! But thankfully that was the only Christmas decoration left up. And there are a few Easter decorations up. This coffee table decoration is my guys favorite...especially when they are trying to watch TV!!! NOT! I plan to put some candy in the small basket, may sweeten them up some. Last one, here are a few bunnies! Happy Spring!

"Love is diminished if we dwell on the negatives. Love grows if we focus on the positive. When you have God's heart for your husband, you will be able to see through new eyes". This is from the Praying Wives Daily Calendar, but it helped me get some focus on lots of things. It is so easy for me to focus on such little things that are annoying, while at the same time forget or fail to notice the wonderful big qualities. Has something every just annoyed the daylights out of you and you just dwell and dwell on it? An irritiating habit etc. and each time it is done - annoy you some more??! To get a greater perspective it helps me to reflect on the good qualities, sure enough, that annoyance diminishes. So that is my practice plan this week - focus on the good and appreciate it. I am so blessed with a great family - the best husband in the world and three great sons. Thinking like that doesn't leave much room for complaints! Let love grow!

Here is my favorite Easter wreath! It is a bit old and worn, but I have great memories attached to it. Years ago an aunt who lives far away came to our area. It had been years since we had seen her. We enjoyed a quick visit with her and toured a state park in our area. At the gift shop we browsed and saw this Easter wreath. I was a newly married woman and could not afford things like this, but I really liked it. My aunt bought one for her and one for her daughter. The next day when she left, she gave me one of them as a gift. It was a beautiful surprise and very thoughtful deed that I have never forgotten. There is lots of show and tells over at Kelli's Place today. Take a look!

Today is Wednesday which is Word Filled Wednesday over at Amydeanne's . The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a verse! Here is a beautiful picture I found with a beautiful reminder that God is the master of everything. As we approach springtime, it is exciting to think that God is Creator and is worthy of all worship. May your day be blessed!

There has been this small tree in our back yard which has gave us trouble for a few years. It's roots got tangled into the septic tank, it was dying and would eventually fall. My hard working husband would every now and again go attack it with the ax,little by little. Well, today he really attacked it! Today was the day that it would fall. I wish I had taken pictures of the whole process, but I was watching out the door, praying and telling everyone to stay back! I was a nervous wreck. But it fell and it fell right where the lumberjack (dear husband) wanted it to. Here it is and the boys checking it out. After the hard part, the boys had a lot of fun! This son is testing his balance! Then...the boys disappeared as the work started back up: sawing it up. Now, three hours later, it is sawed, chopped and cleaned up! What an afternoon.

At church yesterday, the sermon began with a cute story: In the family, Mom was the spark plug that got everyone started each morning. One day, Mom had to be at work early, so before the family woke up, she was gone. As Dad and the children woke up and got ready, would you believe that they ran late? The kids informed Dad that they would need a written excuse for being tardy. Together they came up with the following written note: Please excuse this tardy today, our power went out early!! It was a cute reminder of the power that women have over their households. In Proverbs it says that a wise woman "builds" her home. That takes a constant effort to "build". As I thought about my own home, there are times that I grumble in my spirit thoughts like "Can't anyone else - put soap in the shower, empty the trash can, make more tea,"... and the list can go on and on. This cute story enlightened me to the "power" we have in running the home. ...