Go. Be. Do.

Well, my birthday has arrived...it's officially the 18th anniversary of my 21st birthday.  It has been a wonderful birthday season .  I am one truly blessed lady!!!  Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to stop and take the time to truly count your blessings.  I've tried to do that this month.  Last night as I was downloading more pics to fb for this month, I took a moment to take in all that we've done and enjoyed so far this month and it brought tears to my eyes.  I say "so far" because as I type this my birthday has only started minutes ago...there's 23 hours and some odd minutes left to enjoy! Not only am I thankful for the past month of little everyday blessings, but also for the moments when God has shown Himself so real, so powerful...yet, so gently amazing.  I was reading in 2 Samuel this week and a verse that speaks volumes to me everytime I read it, leapt off the page again as my eyes took them in... "Th...

These hammocks were the epitome of comfort after a day of deep sea fishing and snorkeling in Key West. I can still feel the breeze and taste the salty air as I look at these photos and remember our trip through the Keys.....awesomeness! Home Is Where You Start From

May goals... 1. Clean out junk drawers...well, some have been tackled and some remain.  Life goes on.  2. Boys' clothes gone through...did this a couple of weeks ago and had fun with it. 3. Proverbs 31 challenge to myself about reaching out to the needy...let me just say that I'm thankful for those who have reached out to me with encouragement to get me through a somewhat rough week.  Sometimes we have to graciously receive blessings from others in order to get ourselves back together enough to be a blessing to others. Looking ahead to June's goals... 1. Enjoy vacation!!! 2. Get back into an exercise routine after vacation!!! 3. Pray with purpose!  James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."  That's what I desire in my prayer life...powerful and effective prayers! Hope everyone has had a wonderful month of May!

The big event in the life of our new pianist, Alex, was Tuesday, May 24th...recital night!  Yes, after 9 months of lessons, it was time to perform for an audience of family, friends, and some unfamiliar faces.  He did so well!  And, in his words, "I didn't make any mistakes!" you find the best way to sum up how he felt about his performance. This recital almost didn't take place.  He had other plans.   Alex has always wanted to play the drums.  He wanted drum lessons.  I am not against drum lessons.  But, I, looking at a bigger picture, had a different goal in mind for my then 7 year old son.  I wanted him to take piano lessons.  We had to compromise. Our agreement was that he had to take at least one year of piano lessons then he could choose drums if he wanted.  My reasoning was that, this way, he'd learn to read music and have a good foundation in music before just banging away on drums like...

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart." 1 Samuel 16:8   Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.  Hebrews 4:16   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...1 Peter 1:3-4   Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines... yet I will triumph in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17a-18    The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever. Isaiah 40:8   Who is wis...

Sunny Saturday + Nana's Pool + 2 Boys = Happiness Who said math was hard? Find other great photos @ Home Is Where You Start From !

"'This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time,' declares the Lord. 'I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'" Hebrews 8:10-12 I just simply love this passage in Hebrews!  God put his law in my mind and on my heart when I accepted Jesus as my Savior...He is my God and I am His child.  And, as a loving, living God He remembers not my sins.  Now that's encouraging news!  Makes me realize that when my end of the promise fails, He is ever faithful to keep His so I can try again tomorrow and not live life in regret. Now, for my May progress... Maybe one of my May goals should be to get my post written and linked up...

As a little girl, I loved springtime flowering weeds in the yard and would go out and pick a handful to put in some water to enjoy inside.  You know...those little yellow and purple flowers that bloom right before the yard needs to be mowed for the first time.  Such little intricate perfect blooms, you have to love them.  Well, I do anyway.  Dandelions were (and are) an all time favorite of mine, too, because they are like little yellow smiley faces. Then there's Queen Anne's Lace...the tall, white beauties along the roadside in the summer months.  I always dreamed of having that in my wedding bouquet.  (This didn't work for a wedding in February...bummer!). Last year, the DOT wildflower project actually worked along a stretch of the highway by our office, and, every morning, I would start my day by soaking up the beauty of the bright, bold colors of poppies, black eyed susans, and...

Yesterday was not your typical Tuesday.  Yesterday, I was able to spend one on one time with both of my handsome boys.  In the morning, after dropping off Alex for his second and final day of testing, Tim and I came home and found a birthday present online for Alex that Tim's been wanting to order for him for some time now.  Alex's birthday is in October.  All the way home from the church, Tim and I were discussing places to hide his present until then.  It was so cute...and Tim was so excited.  Tim hasn't decided exactly where he wants to keep it, but I think under my bathroom sink is high on his list of choices.  He's also worried about where it's going to be delivered, so that Alex doesn't see the box.  Tim wants the best for his brother...it's so sweet. After ordering the gift, Tim went to play for awhile...off in Timmy Land.  His imagination and passion...

Another milestone reached today...standardized testing for my 2nd grade wonder!  I am guessing that maybe I was as nervous as Alex...if not more so.  He was testing with complete strangers, so to speak, as he was being tested with those in our co-op that we signed up with only for the testing purposes this year.  Trusting those in charge with his well being was easy...believing they'd understand him if something came up, not so much.  They didn't know him.  He didn't know them.  That was the hard part for Mama today.  But, nevertheless, I walked him in, registered him, and found his room with the other second graders.  Then, I left.  And prayed...and then prayed some more.  Although my eyes teared up, I kept the tears from falling.  I didn't want to upset Tim or get all emotional over silly things like my boys growing up and such.  I do my best to teach them confidence, independence, and coping skills for wh...

Remember that the L ORD your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the L ORD . Your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these 40 years. Keep in mind that the L ORD your God has been disciplining you  just as a man disciplines his son. So keep the commands of the L ORD your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him. For the L ORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams of water, springs, and deep water sources, flowing in both valleys and hills; a land of wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without sh...

May goals have escaped me thus far...so many things I want to list, I've just gone without listing any.  After a great 4 months of 3 in 30ing, I feel I'm just one month away (always) from inevitable failure.  What if I pick unachievable goals?  What if life gets in the way?  What if....? Just being honest. However, nine days in, I'm ready to list my goals.  I'm ready to face this month with a defined purpose.  Last week hasn't been without focus...I continued April's goals into May...and brought in a few things from previous months as well, but I'm ready for something new to work toward. So, without further adieu....I present to you my May goals.  Drum roll, please. 1. Clean out junk drawers.  Yes, we have more than one...and, yes, I want to tackle them all. (What am I thinking???) 2. Go through boys' clothes to figure out what fits, what they still like, what we need for the summer months, etc. 3. Part 3 of 3...

Meringue baked until perfectly golden brown. Don't miss your golden opportunity to see other great photos @ Home Is Where You Start From !

One of my favorite times of the day is prayer time with my boys before bed.  I never know what they're going to say during those prayers...or just what is going through their minds as we take turns praying. Many times, Tim's prayers are about the same things every night...school, family, thanking God for something, missionaries, etc.  One night, though, when he started to pray, he said a prayer that included "and thank You for this food..."  Though smiling, his brother and I didn't say anything after he said, "Amen!" and it only took a second for what he had said to sink in and then we all had a good laugh with him. Alex's prayers often remind me of what the faith of a child is all about...ask and you shall receive.  He has that much faith.  His prayers include asking protection and courage for missionaries around the world...every night.  He doesn't miss a night.  He prays about things that I sometimes forget over the day's time...

Happy May Day!  I had been counting down the last few days of April in great anticipation for the 1st day of May to be here.  What a beautiful day today was to begin May!  But, the good news is that it's only the beginning.  There's a full month of beautiful days ahead, too. May, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways... May Day Cinco de Mayo Mother's Day Last Day of School Memorial Day and... 31 glorious days of my Birthday Season. Yes, my Birthday Season .  I've adopted this concept from a friend of mine, where in their family each of them has a birthday season during the month of their birthday.  Any little thing can contribute to the celebration of one's birthday during the season...it makes for a great month!  Think, with me, of all the things that get seasons.  Weather.  Deer. Turkeys.  Salmon.  Tornadoes.  Hurricanes.  Holidays.  Why not birthdays?  Why not celebrate in all ...