Joyfull Living

What a great week we had at camp! A few mornings, I took my camera out at sunrise and captured a few images. There were over 130 children there along with adults. In my cabin, there were 8 girls and 6 women counselors. There were 4 bunk beds and 2 double beds. Let's just say we were packed in like sardines! It was a delightful challenge having all those girls and women together under one roof! We were all different, some quiet, some loud, some young, some older, some night owls, some morning larks! But the best part is appreciating and enjoying our differences. It was truly a great week. Oh, and as much as I tried to prepare for girls, I found out one other way girls are different than boys...they can't "hurry". Boys, I have noticed are constant motion, they talk fast, they walk fast, they never sit still. In our camp schedule, many times during the day we had to be from one place to another in 15 minutes - complete with clothes change and needed materials for the ne...

Our family will be attending children's church camp this week. I along with a few other women from church will have a cabin of girls under our care. This is the third year now of doing and I have had a great time each year. However, I have learned a few things. As a mother of all boys, boys can be relativley simple. For dressing, they just slap some clothes on, put a cap over their head and they are ready to face the day. They like to be moving, like action, horseplay and fun. The first year at camp with a cabin of girls, I was astonished at the amount of time it took to do...anything! First they had to find their clothes - the right clothes - then they sat down awhile and "chat" or play those slap games. Finally as we were at the door ready to leave, they needed to do their hair. This I learned can take up to 1/2 hour! So now that I have a better idea of what to expect with my girls, we are ready for camp. If you think about it, please pray for the camp, that al...

Today is Wednesday and one of my favorite things about Wednesdays is sharing God's Word with pictures. Over at 160 AcreWoods where WFW is hosted, there are many beautiful verses to see. As I was searching for a verse this one seemed to capture my heart. Recently I have been studying Proverbs and paying close attention to the blessings it reveals. Also this has been a week where I have been blessed to celebrate Father's Day and our wedding anniversary. So, to bring it all into focus, I am truly blessed to be married to a man filled with integrity, who fathers his children with purpose and direction, teaching and guiding them with love and sincerity. As the fruits of his labor unfold through the years, we are trusting God's blessings in the lives of our children that they will be blessed. Thanks be to God for his blessings and promises. Have a great WFW !

June has always been a bittersweet time of the year for me. In June there are happy and sad anniversaries, pretty close together. In 1989 as my wedding was being planned for June - my father died suddenly - eight days before my wedding. The day after my wedding, was Father's Day. Through the years, God's comfort and strength being ever near, I realized how only God can take a tragic time filled with grief and loss and transform lives with hope, peace and joy. There was a choice to be made back in 1989 - to sit in despair or move forward. My family chose to move forward, and the very next step for us was a wedding and the beginnings of a new family. Of course I miss my father deeply and treasure the memories shared with him. He instilled a lot of knowledge and wisdom of life into me and unconditionally shared his love with me. As I took the new steps of a new life with my new husband, I look back over the years and say that I am blessed beyond measure! God gave me...

The IDEAL Man of God and father would be? A man who loves the Word of God and Loves the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his mind. He would love his wife like Christ loves the Church. He would love his family UNCONDITIONALLY and would ".... provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." ~Ephesians 6:4~ In our home, we are blessed beyond measure to have a dad who is the true head of the home and family. A dad who is filled with integrity, faith and love. We love him very much and appreciate all that he is and all that he does for us. With the help of my sister in law Danell, we have compiled almost 20 years of photos which capture a true father's heart. We love you Dad!!!

Is there anything more sweet than simple pleasures? Things like a boy with his Legos... Or a dad with his grill.. May you find joy today in the simple things of life!

Happy Wednesday! Today is Word-Filled Wednesday over at 160 AcreWoods . It is a time of sharing God's Word through pictures and verses. Today my verse is a reminder that nothing is impossible with God. Sometimes that thought is hard to grasp, but the living Word tells us that the things that are impossible with man, are possible with God. So, that is where I will choose to put my faith - in the Everlasting God with whom all things are possible! May you have a blessed day!

Mothers of sweet little girls just will not "get this", but if you have ever had a little boy, you will totally understand. This morning as my youngest son awoke, he walked into the living room and we had this conversation: Me: "Good Morning" Son: "I just saw the biggest roach ever!" Me: "Where?" Son: "In the bathroom, but don't worry, I killed him." Me: "You did?" Son: "Yes, he was on the toilet so I peed on him and he fell into the toilet" Me: (The ever neat freak): "Did you pee on the toilet seat?" Son: "Yes, but I had to to get him into the toilet" So now let me share my greatest cleaning tip: Take a box of baby wipes, pour a bottle of alcohol on them and keep them for when things just need a bit of wiping up! You know what I mean!! So, now the roach is dead, toilet cleaned and we are ready for breakfast. Can't wait to see how the rest of our day will be!

In your home, are there jobs that no one seems to do but you? Whether it is putting new paper towels on the roll, a new roll of toilet paper on, emptying ice trays (our freezer is old and yes, we still do this!!), washing dishes, picking up...etc. sometimes certain tasks seem to fall on one person. Many times at my home, this is done while grumbling a bit - am I the ONLY one who can do this???? The other day at work, I was getting a cup of coffee and noticed the creamer container was getting a bit low - not empty but low. What inspired me, I'm not sure, but as apparently I was in a fantastic mood, I went and filled it to the brim with creamer. As I did that, the thought came into my heart - "be the one". It was a radical change to think of "being the one" instead of " am I the only one?" It was the difference of a complaining, lethargic, whiny - why me attitude and a helpful, joyful, energetic breath of fresh air! Being the one, is the one who d...

In our area, gardens are coming in. We don't grow a garden but have some friends and family that do and they are very generous with the garden bounty. This week we have received fresh squash, collard greens, cucumbers, potatoes and eggplant. Here is a picture of some of our bounty! Since I have been experimenting on cooking the fresh vegetables, I've been posting some more over at my cooking blog. One of my favorite things I tried was green beans sauteed in garlic. First, let me brag on our Aunt B.: Aunt B. grows a fabulous garden and blesses us often with fresh vegetables. She knows that we love green beans and she grew some in her garden. Usually since Aunt B. is a very hard worker, she picks the vegetables and brings them to us (she is wonderful isn't she??!!) On a walk one day she told us that the green beans were ready, and we were welcome to come pick them. Green beans are tedious to pick and for her to pick and deliver green beans was way too much to a...

As part of my daily Bible reading, I read one chapter from Psalm or Proverbs. The current sequence is that I have finished Psalms and beginning Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is an easy reading book of the Bible, but it is chock full of good advice for daily living. Plus, it reminds the readers of the abundant blessings that go along with following that good advice. Chapter 3 of Proverbs is one of my favorite chapters. It highlights an action of mine with a blessing from God. Watch this: Advice: Let not mercy and truth forsake you ( remember to have compassion and mercy and truth always) Blessing: You will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Advice: Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and don't depend on your own understanding. Blessing: If we do this and acknowledge Him in all of our ways, He will direct our paths. Some other great advice from this chapter includes: Don't be wise in your own eyes, honor the Lord with your possessions, keep sou...

Today is Word Filled Wednesday- where 160 Acre Woods hosts a time to share a Bible verse and picture. This is a great time of mid week refreshment from God's Word. The verse I chose today is a simple but powerful one. When our circumstances seem overwhelming, it is easy to look harder at them that at the power we have through God. In every situation - God is greater and if God be for us, who can be against us? May you have a victorious day, walking in His power!

This is the first official week of summer vacation at our home. I am blessed to work part time, so I have two days a week off. Today was the first day off and it has began wonderfully! I woke up early to have some time to myself. As I was reading the Bible in Proverbs, I came across these verses: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?...Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you." Proverbs 1:22,23 I looked deeper for an explanation in the study Bible and the word simple here means - naive, young people who have not yet made up their minds about life or the direction they will take. Recently graduation has taken place and how many young people are floundering around, seeking for direction? In the following portion of these verses, "wisdom" is speaking and the promise is for wisdom to be known to those who seek for it. Our oldest son will be a senior next year and within a few years, important choices for his life will ...

Do you love pretty things? In my home, surrounded by four males - beauty is not a big issue to them. But, I absolutely love flowers, frills, lace and everything girly ! So, my solution is to surround myself with pretties! My guys are pretty understanding about my need for beauty. The only main issue they complain about is the flower centerpiece on the dining room table. Nightly I hear, "Can you please move the bush, I can't reach the bowl of ..." Oh, and the are also pretty adamant about their bathroom - NO flowers there! I have found the best web site for desktop backgrounds! At joypals you can click on each month and have a choice of beautiful desktop wall papers with a Scripture verse for your computer background. You just click on the current month, select which size screen your computer is. When this picture pops up, using your mouse - click on the right hand side and an option will be "set as desktop background. Click this and it will appear on your desktop. I...