Joyfull Living

Today is Graduation Day! It's been a busy week filled with graduation events and practices, but tonight is Graduation! Of course I took full advantage of this week with my camera!! Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

“When you have a rainbow deep down in your heart, your smile will shine bright. You know you're a part of that colorful, magical, feeling you'll find, when you have a rainbow inside.” Look... is that the end of the rainbow in our garden???!!! A rainbow is a beautiful thing, pictures don't do is justice for it truly is God's glowing covenant and illuminated promise!

Since my mother's heart is a bit overwhelmed this week with graduation, I thought I would share some quotes from the sweetest book on the earth: "P.S. I Love You - When Mom wrote she always saved the best for last. " As you begin a new task or assignment, it is your attitude more than anything else that will determine your success. I love you, Mom. One of God's greatest miracles is to enable ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I love you, Mom. People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost. I love you, Mom. You will never face a problem that is not charged with opportunity. I love you, Mom. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. - Mom.

Today is Word Filled Wednesday where God's Word is shared in verse and picture. The verse I chose today is special to my heart, especially this week: This week, my oldest son will graduate from high school. Our church honored the graduates last Sunday: It is unreal how fast the time goes by. I don't feel prepared for this milestone and am bombarded in my thoughts on how much I still want to teach and prepare him for the transition of growing into adulthood. It is also a time to release him to make his own choices and choose his paths of life. What a comfort and help God's Word is in every situation that we face. It is a Living Word and speaks to us today. Proverbs 3:5,6 is the perfect verse for this time of life for my son. It is an encouragement to trust in the Lord and not to think that we know it all. It provides the promise that if we seek Him, He will direct our paths. It sums up the fact that our help comes from the Lord and we can walk securely in His dire...

Over the next few weeks, there will be some changes going on for my family. Big ones and little ones. It has been said the only sure thing about change, is that it is going to happen. I don't mind change, but I also like stability and the comfort that comes with routine. I like knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it. Right now we are in the threshold of change. Standing in the middle of two doors, the past and the future. It is a place where a struggle takes place as it is easy to look back and long for the days of old. It is a place of hope and excitement to look ahead at new opportunities, but can be intimidating when we can't see clearly what is ahead. Walking through the doors is ok , it is just the waiting and anticipation that sometimes get to me! Some of our changes are of course the end of the school year, summer is a transition time, but a fun time also. At work there are some coming changes. Some staff workers are in the process of leaving and coming. There...

If you have small children, you have probably read about "If You Give A Mouse..." books. It is a humorous look at how one thing leads to another. Here is a cute version for moms: IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN Author unknown If you give a mom a muffin, She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger"). The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She...

Today is Word Filled Wednesday, the time to refresh and delight ourselves in God's Word! Being a wife, mother and woman can be tough! The above verse tells us that favor can be deceitful and that beauty is vain (and passing!). The only thing which is lasting is a heart open to the Lord. Through this open door of our heart and His glory, beauty, grace and love will overflow. I recently came across a beautiful prayer that was a great encouragement to me: Dear Father, You have blessed me with the precious gifts of children and a family. May my life reflect Your love and my children know You and Your unconditional love. Guide my thoughts and actions each day for I am dependent on Your Spirit to guide me with wisdom. Help me be the mother You wish me to be. Amen

I read this today over at Blessed and thought it was hilarious. You see it is now Sunday afternoon, and there is a chore at our home which was supposed to be done yesterday by our teenagers, it is not yet done...the teenagers made a request to go somewhere, we said no...and quite a few of these exchanges went forth. If you have a teenager, you will love this. If you don't have a teenager yet, prepare your sense of humor, it will help you get through "challenging" times! Why? Because we said so. How come? Because we love you. Why are you and Dad so strict? We're sorry you feel that way. Why don't you trust me? It's not you we don't trust. Brittany is going, why can't I? We'd tell Brittany “no” too, if we were her parents. You don't want me to have fun. Yes, that's it . You don't care about me. You've found us out. Are you trying to make my life miserable? You've uncovered our dastardly plan! You and Dad aren't like other p...

Here are a few pictures of the beauty found in Tennessee! Psalm 78:15 He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:

Here are some pictures of our recent getaway! It was our first time to visit Dollywood . This is the only time someone offered to take our picture together: The rest of the time we had to squeeze close and take them ourselves! I'm someone who likes my feet planted firmly on the ground. But...ended up on the Ferris Wheel: My husband thought that I was doing well, so we went on to the bigger rides: I rode both of these. This was major for me! And I like my feet on the ground the best! We enjoyed some beautiful trails: Visited an old homestead: Of course we walked! And enjoyed some beautiful scenery!

Welcome to Word Filled Wednesday! May your day be blessed through giving and receiving God's Word in verse and picture. I love this verse and how it shares that God's ways are above our ways, but He will teach us and guide us as we follow Him. His Word is absolute truth, may He join our hearts to Him always. Have a blessed WFW !