Joyfull Living

 Fall is my favorite season! In our area, the weather is not yet cool, but fall is in the air, There is an anticipation as we eagerly await the change of seasons.  I love to decorate my home for fall.  My family tells me I begin way too early, but this is my way of bringing on the beauty of fall. All of the stores have beautiful fall displays and items that just beckon you to bring them home!   If you want to fill your home with the feeling of fall, look for ways to engage all of the senses - sight, sounds, smell, taste and touch. Here are some easy ways to fill your home with fall.  I'm also including some of my personal finds. It's not too early to shop, there is a great selection available now! 1. Add a pop of color by replacing everyday pillows with fall themed styles.  *My newest pillow - from Dollar General! 2. Set the mood with the soft glow of lanterns. 3. Add a cozy element with warm, textured throws.  4. Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins. You...

Hello September!!  Although is still feels like summer, autumn days are coming!  Today is Day 1 of the September Daily Word. I hope you will join me each day this month as we look into God's Word and let it wash and quench our soul.  Day 1 - Jeremiah 17:7-8   Blessed is the man who trusts in the  Lord , And whose hope is the  Lord . 8  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Blessed describes the benefits to those devoted to God and His Word.  Planted - One who trusts in God will not be free from trials and adversity, but that God will bring fruit and blessing in and through these difficulties.  Our lives when planted and nourished by God's Word, can not only be fulfilled and fruitful, but we can be sustained in times of ...

Welcome to August! It seems like this year since March things have been in a constant state of chaos. So many things in our world and lives are changing daily, there in no consistency and we are forced to try to stay abreast in the midst of constant change. Fear and apprehension always seem to be lurking behind ready to pounce. We question - 'when will things get back to normal?', or 'what will normal even look like?'. We may feel simply stuck, overwhelmed at the problems we see around us and not sure how to go about being productive.  So let's talk about the weather a minute. Summer in Florida can be brutal.  The heat and humidity are oppressive. They zap the energy from you to where even the simpliest of tasks are put off if they require being outside. One of the things I love about August is that it gives a glimpse of hope that fall will be coming. In our area, there are at least two solid months left of heat, but we are turning the corner and if we look waaayy a...

May is the month in our area for wildflowers.  The roadsides are covered with vibrant yellows, pinks and purple flowers that are just gorgeous!  There is an area where I do my daily walk that usually provides moments of pure beauty to gaze at. Except for this year. The spring in our area was unusually dry.  As the wildflowers bloomed, they didn't receive the rain that would help them to flourish and were smaller in size and not as beautiful as in past years.  Each morning as I walked past the place the flowers bloomed, I noticed that they seemed to quickly die out. Finally it looked like wildflower season was over.  Then, would you believe, the rains came.  There has been almost 2 weeks of rainy days, which we desperately needed.   But, even after being scorched, parched and then rained excessively on, the flowers came back! Seeing the flowers come back for a second round of blooms brought a smile to my face and ...

This year the season of Lent begins February 14.  Lent is a time that offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and it brings our need for a Savior to the forefront. Like Advent, Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer. Often a part of the forty days of Lent is to “give up” something.  It offers opportunity to “give up” or fast from a behavior or action which separates us from God, others and the person God designed us to be. Likewise, we can “add to” our lives by including the ways of Jesus. The church I belong to does not actively participate in Lent, but through the years, I've spent the days of lent abstaining from certain things and one year doing a study to add b...

During this time of year it is very easy to look at what needs to be done, to turn our focus to the shiny, attractive and business of the Christmas season.  Parties, gifts, food all take time and effort. But our motive is the most important thing. Christmas is all about love - God's love to us in sending His Son.  This beautiful reminder came through my email and is the perfect tool to refocus my Christmas activities. 1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits m...

December is usually a busy month as we attempt to squeeze an extra dose of Christmas fellowship in our schedules. This weekend found our family enjoying a weekend slap full of blessings. Family, Ministry and Work gatherings came back to back and filled our hearts and lives with so much joy!   A ministry dear to our hearts is our Pregnancy Care Center. A beautiful banquet was held for the clients to spread some Christmas cheer. It was a sit down dinner complete with beautiful decorations, a photo background, fellowship and of course Santa and his gifts for the children. Severl sweet babies will celebrate their first Christmas this year. What a blessing to be a part of such a wonderful evening.    Following the banquet, it was home to celebrate with the family and friends: My children with their aunt: Our boys with their traditional pose: Lots of laughter and food! A very precious time together. Th...

Our children are spaced out in ages a little different than the 'normal' age span  in most families.   It's been a bit different but it's been a life full of many more blessings and opportunities that never would have came about if planned out 'normally'.   God is a master planner and His ways are always best!  Our 2 older boys were well on their way to growing up when our 3rd son was born.  With the awakening of how fast life goes by and children grow up, I've always viewed this last child as one more chance to capture and cherish those fleeting moments of childhood.   It also presented various opportunities to continue on with mothering duties long after my friend's children were grown and gone.  Things like again returning to sports practices, school plays, church camps and one huge blessing was hanging out with much younger parents!   That full life, busy parenting season extended itself for several years.   Things like ...

Spring is in the air! Although our weather down here in the south doesn't reflect a huge change, there is just something special about spring. It's a time of new growth, flowers that come alive with color and vibrancy, a time when things that were dreary wake up to beauty. Our oldest son just purchased his first home. It didn't take long for his father and I to make the few hour journey up to see it!  It is a beautiful home and land but came with a bit of a sad story. The previous owner built his dream home a few years ago. His love for horses and the outdoors is evident throughout the property. Apparently, his failing health took away the ability to care for his passion and his home and he made the decision to sell .  While doing what moms do (examining everything) I was looking in the flower beds, I found this mum plant buried under old, dead debris.  It almost represented the dreams of the previous owner, as he at one time planted something beautiful, but the ...

I just found this amazing recipe for a simmering Christmas potpourri. I was actually looking for some clip art and stumbled over to The Yellow Bliss Road !  It would be wonderful on a cold winter's evening to have this on the stove permeating the air with a warm fragrance.  Unfortunately, our Christmas weather will be warm, with temperatures in the 80s!  Instead of craving warmth and comfort, we'll have the air conditioner going and seeking relief from the heat!  But, eventually it will cool off and this is a must try for a cold winters night.  There’s no better combination than citrus and cranberry mixed with cinnamon and spices. This is a simple recipe that you can simmer on your stovetop or in a crockpot to help fill your home with these delicious scents. All of these ingredients are combined in a small pot on the stove. It's a little late, but this would make a great gift! Can't wait to try this out!

September is here!  That means, fall is right around the corner...cooler weather, more time to spend outside, baking season, crisp evenings, lots of porch sitting and many other fun fall things. Home Life magazine shares some beautiful Scripture art at the beginning of each new month.  Here is a family calendar for September with a daily Scripture and thought to ponder for the day.   There is also some beautiful fall Scripture verses for your computer!  It's a beautiful way to bring a bit of fall, along with Scripture where it can be seen every day! Visit Home Life for all of these free resources. 

"You can take the girl away from the beach, but you cannot take the beach out of the girl."   I grew up as a child in a beach town.  Going to the beach was a regular family event. When as a teenager, my family moved away from the town with the beach, guess where we went for vacations?  Yep, the beach!  The beach is just a part of who I am! My sweet hubby doesn't share that beach passion.  He is a mountain man, raised as a child vacationing in the mountains, swimming in mountain creeks, camping and enjoying the rugged outdoors. In our 27 years of marriage, he introduced me to mountain vacations which I dearly love, the majestic sights, the crisp, cool hikes and cozy mountain cabins, are all perfect in the fall.  But in the summer....I want the beach!  He doesn't see past the sticky salt air, the heat of summer and the sticking sand to experience the joys of the wind, waves and water.  But, bless his heart, he tolerates it almost yearly f...

Last week we took a quick trip to the beach.  We met lots of family we don’t see often there.  Only problem…it rained…every day!!  But we spent time inside just catching up and dashing out for fun bike rides and walks in between rain drops! One evening after a day of rain, the sun appeared at dusk.  As we walked along the beach, the sunset was stunning…almost worth a day spent inside!

Through last week, things were busy making last minute Christmas preparations and then enjoying special times with family and friends.  Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye!  But the treasured memories will forever stay in our heart. This week often finds us looking toward the New Year.  What will it bring, what are some things we want to do differently, what good habits do we want to incorporate into our lives?  In 2011, one of my goals was to "Grow In 4 G".  Increasing in: Grace Genuine Generosity Greatness This outline gave me some things to work toward and I see the Lord do some great things in my heart.  But one more thing impacted my year even greater. Having a general plan is good, but for me to be diligent, I needed some day by day activities to keep me on track.  Over at A Holy Experience ,  there was a challenge to find 1000 Gifts.  Monthly sheets were available for free download to mark at least one gift a day....

Although creativity is not my strongpoint, I've learned that presentation can be very important. What our eyes perceive at first glance is where much of our opinions are formed and whether we like what is presented or not! In food, gifts and how we carry ourselves, presentation can enhance and bring beauty to the ordinary. For Christmas presents, I like to make baskets filled with many  little things.  This year, homemade beauty items were given.  My closet is my holding place for the gifts and a place for chaos.  I couldn’t even put up my shoes! But, there came a time when some order had to come.  Here is the ‘stuff’ to fill the baskets: Now the hard part – putting it all together.  The goodies were divided up, placed in a basket and thanks to some advice and suggestions from a neighbor who is creative, and wrapped up. The finished products: Now, these are not Better Homes and Garden worthy, but if was fun putting them together and I le...