Joyfull Living

This weekend allergies invaded our home and family! My poor husband suffered the itchy eyes, headache, nasal congestion and sinus pain all weekend. He took the allergy over the counter medications which offered some relief, but he was still miserable. Although we do take over the counter medication, I prefer to seek out natural remedies for some of our ailments. After doing some research for sinus pain, I came across a Tomato Tea. The ingredients are: 1 cup - 8oz. tomato juice 1 tsp - raw, chopped garlic 1 - 2 tsp. - lemon juice cayenne pepper - as much as can be tolerated a pinch of salt to taste Heat briefly and sip This tea is full of vitamin C which is wonderful for the immune system, garlic which is a natural healing food and the cayenne pepper will bring fast relief for nasal congestion. So, he sipped his tomato tea, rested much of the weekend and is back to the regular schedule of work

At the Well is the place where women gather to discuss and share godly wisdom between one another. Today's At the Well is hosted by Heather at Emotional Purity. The discussion questions for today are: * Have you noticed a pattern of when you find yourself spiritually dry? * What do you do to move quickly through that season of dryness? These are fantastic questions and I am excited to read what others are sharing on this topic. Spiritual dryness is a difficult time for a Christian and can be difficult to understand. It is a time when you feel alone and frustrated and feel a lack of peace and joy and just cannot put your finger on what is wrong. As you pray and continue in God's Word, but feel as if you just "can't get through". You just don't "feel" the presence of the Lord. Now we know that we walk by faith and not by sight - or by feelings. When spiritual dryness comes, our emotions can kick into high gear! Thoughts and questions can bomb...

Spiritual Sundays is hosted over at Blogger Spirit and there is an abundance of inspirational posts which are shared each week. I like to read these and be encouraged to be filled with praise for the Lord which prepares my heart for Sunday worship. Today I want to share with you some of my plants: This plant was at first a thriving geranium. It was big, bushy and full of blooms in a gorgeous shade of pink. It started withering away and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I watered, fertilized, moved to a sunny location, all to no avail - it died. I don't know why I didn't throw the plant away, I just didn't want to admit defeat I guess, but I left the pot where it was. You can see the dead half which was the geranium. One day I started to notice some green in the pot. Upon closer examination, these were little impatiens. There is a big impatiens plant next to it and the seeds blew from the big plant into the pot where my dead geranium was. Look - the impatiens are ta...

I saw a yummy recipe this morning for homemade donuts. When I was a child, I had an aunt who would make these and it was so much fun! I haven't thought about them for years until I ran across this recipe today. There are not healthy by any means...but a great indulgence for a fall weekend. Refrigerator Biscuits (any brand) Oil (for deep frying) To prepare each biscuit, cut the middle out using a water bottle lid. You will have the outside of the biscuit that looks like a donut. Use the middle tiny dough to make donut holes (just like the donut shops). **We place 1/4 cup granulated sugar to 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon in a bowl. When each donut is lightly browned in the oil, we roll it in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. ** You may use powdered sugar as well!

Happy Wednesday! Over at The160 AcreWoods it is Word Filled Wednesday where a great time is had being filled with God's Word in pictures and verses. Go check it out, you will be blessed! As we celebrated the beginning of Autumn this week, and today is the first day we felt a touch of fall in the air in the deep south, I am so excited. The changing of the seasons is a wonderful blessing from our Creator. Here is a beautiful reminder that there is a season for everything. Isn't it wonderful to know that God is in control of all things?

“Hospitality is becoming an almost forgotten Christian virtue in our style of life today… In the New Testament, however, hospitality was a distinctive mark of Christians and Christian communities.” ~Alexander Strauch That is the quote for today over at Joyfully Living where many are gathering to discuss the quote and what it means to them. I wish I had more time to do this topic justice, but I have had a very busy morning. Let me briefly share some things that I have done. After getting the kids to school, I vacuumed out the car, came home and scrubbed the spots in the carpet of the car, mopped my whole house, cleaned bathrooms, vacuumed rugs, washed sheets and other laundry, vacuumed . I have unloaded my fall decorations and put them out and have a ham and sweet potato dish ready to go into the oven for supper. I feel great, my house is showroom clean, a fabulous dinner is ready to go and now I get to blog! So, speaking of hospitality, I feel absolutely ready to be hospitable. Isn...

Today At the Well is hosted by Laurie Ann over at A Magnolia's Heartbeat The Topic: The Words We Speak Discussion Questions: Do the words you speak reflect your reverence for Christ? Would you consider your speech to be self-controlled and pure? Do you find gossip and slander hard or easy to avoid? I am so excited about this topic! This is something very dear to me heart - our words. This is a characteristic or attribute that is one of the most desired in my life. To have godly speech. It is also an area where I struggle the most. The more I read the Word of God, the more I am convinced of the great power of words. Proverbs is full of wisdom about our words. Here is briefly highlighted some of my favorite Proverbs about the power of words: The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, In the lips of him that hath understanding, wisdom is found, The tongue of the just is as choice silver, A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth... the tongue of the wis...

Have you ever faced something bigger than you? Our new puppy Scooter found himself up close to Brandy the donkey. He was a bit intimidated (to say the least). He had no way to know that Brandy is very gentle and would do nothing to harm him. All he knew was that she looked BIG to him. Have you had circumstances in your life that looked BIG? Things that you looked at and thought, "I can't go through that" or "I don't want to go through that" . Many times we can stare at these big things that come into our paths, but in order to move forward we must move toward them and through them. Staying put or having a stand off is not a feasible solution. We are made to be consistent and move forward with life's changes. A verse to examine in the mist of trials is found in James 1. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that y...

Over at The Barefoot Mam a each Friday, ladies share things that make them feel pretty and feminine. This is my first time sharing on Feminine Friday, but as my boys would say "this is all me" ! I love girly things, pretty colors, pretty decorations, candles, dresses and scents. This is my newly organized (see previous post) scent collection. When I was a child, my mother suffered from severe allergies and sensitive skin. The theme of our home was "unscented". We could not use scented lotions, laundry soap, shampoos, candles or perfumes as it would aggravate her allergies. I remember passing women in the store or places and a slight, fragrance would float by. That was what I wanted to be like! So, when I got married and my own home, from day one I filled it with scents. I choose the strongest smelling laundry soap, shampoo, lotions, candles. There are in my home scented plug ins, air fresheners , etc., you name it, it is there!! Nothing makes me day m...

Today I had a day off from work and had some rare time at home alone. Don't get me wrong, I dearly love having my family around, but every once in a while a day at home alone is glorious! The first thing that I did was light some candles. With three sons, we have to be very careful with candles, so while it was just me...I lit away! And lit some more...I decided to count how many I had lit...there were 10! But that is ok , I had a task that needed to be attended to. I'm bearing my soul here for all to see...my messy, unorganized bathroom. This is not the way I usually operate, but I love lotions, bath gels, hair stuff, etc. Oh, and the Avon lady lives next door to me! How convenient to feed my addiction to these lovely things. So...for accountability sake, here it is... the ugly mess What a mess! I unloaded, threw away in one pile and gave to a local thrift store that which I just wasn't going to use anymore. Here is what is left: Please tell me that you all ha...

Quick fast track cleaning tip: (Fast track cleaning is when you don't have time for a deep clean, but it needs to look and smell acceptable). Take the bottle of Windex or window cleaner and paper towels into the bathroom. Spray mirror, faucet handles and toilet, wipe with paper towel and TA DA...the bathroom will look and smell better and you've bought yourself some time!

Today is Word Filled Wednesday over at The160 AcreWoods . This is a special blessing for Wednesdays where there are opportunities to be blessed and be a blessing in sharing God's Word in picture and verse. While browsing through Bible verse graphics, this picture took my breath away. When I read the verse, the words describing the glory of God fit perfectly. May our prayer be that all may see the Lord and His works and that He receive all the glory that they may know He is the Most High. Happy WFW !

“Still, accepting God’s existence is one thing; honoring his command is another matter entirely, especially if we’re required to go back when we’d rather go forward.” ~Liz Curtis Higgs from Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible~ This is the quote that In Other Words will be centered around today. In Other Words is being hosted over at Miriam's . The quote is in a discussion about Hagar in the book Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible . For your information ahead of time, a "slightly bad girl" is someone who loves God and often tries to follow, but still has trouble trusting at times. Isn't that just about all of us? Accepting God's existence is pretty simple. God is the creator of all. In Psalms 19 it tells that His creation declares His glory without uttering a word. We can look all around and behold the glory of the Lord. The oceans and the mountains testify to a creator. The majesty of a sunrise and sunset show there is a God. Many people "believe in God". It ...

Today's "At the Well" is being hosted by: Tracy @ Thirsty For Him be sure to stop by Tracy's blog to for more encouragement on purity Today's Topic is: "Purity - Being Set Apart From the World" Titus 2 calls us "to be self-controlled and pure...so that no one will malign the word of God." Discussion Questions: How do we teach the next generation (both our daughters and other young Christian women) how to live a life of purity WITHOUT falling into legalistic rules, or on the other hand, to slip into a worldly mindset, teetering on impurity? How do we live, as Jesus said, "in the world" without being "of the world"? How is the word of God maligned when we aren't living in purity? My personality is mainly a concrete type. I see things in black or white, I am not very creative or spontaneous, but like to have guidelines and directions. After first reading the above verse in Titus, purity became a desire for my life as a...

Teenagers reside at our home...so we are always in a state of "uncertainty". Meaning that as parents, we are new to this teenage thing, and the teenagers seem to change daily or hourly! There is no rhyme or reason to a teenager's attitude . This is a time of adjusting as we can range from hormonal flair ups followed by loving gestures and words in the space of 15 minutes! I've been reading, researching, praying and trying to figure out why they think and act so much different than they used to, but this phase is a growth period and is vital to who they are becoming. I found this description which fit teenagers pretty well. If you have teenagers, you can relate. Teenagers - the epidemic Most teenagers are a metamorphosis caught in the middle, like a worm transforming into a moth. They have lost the legs of youth, but haven't yet gained the wings of adulthood. Teenagers don't make sense or cents, but cost us dollars. They eat ravenously, sleep like i...

Like many others, with the rising costs of food and gas, our family is seeking to be more frugal in different areas. One of our big expenses with three boys is our grocery bill. I've been researching ways to cut back and of course save money. Snacks are a big part of our food bill, it seems like these boys can eat all day sometimes! There is a blog that I like - Money Saving Mom where great ideas are shared along with links for coupons to match with store sales. Here is a good deal that I'll pass along. At CVS and Walgreens , Chex mix snacks are on sale for $.99. They are usually $1.99. Then there are two links for $1.00 coupons, so the mix is FREE!! At CVS , you need to have a customer card to get the sale price, but it is well worth a few minutes to sign up. Chex coupon link Chex coupon2 link Coupons are a great tool to save on grocery bills, but free is fabulous!

Today is Word Filled Wednesday which is hosted over at The160 AcreWoods . This is a day filled with visiting and sharing God's Word in verse and picture. It is a great blessing for our Wednesdays! I am sharing a simple verse today but one filled with great truth. Truly God can satisfy our desires with His blessings. We may want many material things at times, cars, homes, clothes, shoes, stuff etc., but those things are not lasting. God gives to us freely the things of Him - love, peace, strength, comfort, help, hope and joy. These are the things that truly satisfy . So, as you go through your day today, spread joy and speak blessings to those around you! Happy Word Filled Wednesday.

Currently at our home, we are working on eating healthier. When I saw this article with the 7 best foods for women, I had to share it! Here is a list of seven foods every woman should have in her diet: Berries: Berries have more antioxidant power than most any other food. Aim for 1 cup three times a week. Salmon: A great source of Omega 3 and also Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D. Aim for two servings a week. Leafy Greens: these can include spinach, chard, collard greens to romaine lettuce. These are great sources of fiber, Vitamin C, K, lutein , a vision protector; and four essential minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. Aim for two servings a day. Whole Grains: They have up to 96% more fiber, magnesium, zinc, chromium, and vitamins E and B6 than refined grains. Ideally, all of the six daily grain servings you need should be whole, unrefined grains, but aim for at least three. Nuts: They're excellent sources of protein, magnesium, and B and E vitamins. Aim for Up to five sm...

My mother and father in law will be celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary today. I consider it a blessing and a joy to be part of their family and want to wish them a very Happy Anniversary! You don't have to look hard into their lives to see many attributes of a Christian marriage. First and foremost, they have a love for the Lord and seek Him and His ways in all they do. They have a love and devotion for one another in their marriage and together in heart, they reflect this love, care and commitment in all of their relationships. They are unified to serve the Lord in their ministries which are marked with faithfulness, commitment, integrity and perseverance . They love their children, grandchildren and diligently care for aging loved ones around them. They work hard in all they do but always have time to stop and visit or extend hospitality and show love and care to everyone around them. Here is a picture of them at a summer church event. They would probably prefer that I ...

Over at Spiritual Sundays , bloggers gather to share a verse or inspirational post. It is a blessing to give and receive encouragement from God's Word and is a fantastic way to prepare our hearts for Sunday worship. Do you have a favorite verse that just becomes a part of you? One that you say, pray, think and claim until it is a part of your heart? One of mine is found in Isaiah 40:31 and is a very familiar verse: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint . This verse has become precious to me as I pray over my husband. He is a hard worker, diligent, honest and works with integrity for which I am extremely thankful. He is also blessed with a good job. My prayers are a source of strength and encouragement to him. There are times when his job becomes extremely stressful and at times I used to feel so helpless as to how to help him. I began pr...

Last weekend we decided to take our boat out on the river for a boat ride. The older boys decided to go fishing with their friend instead. They are enjoying a little bit a freedom that comes with these teenage years! Mom and Dad are just not as "cool" as they used to be. Here they are before they left. Here's our captain checking things out before we go! Our puppy got to come along on the trip also. Here we are on the river: Of course no boat ride is complete without casting the fishing rod! It was a great day to be outside and enjoy God's creation!