Go. Be. Do.

last of the pretty leaves first fire of the season Grandma Miller's couch filled with cousins banana bread Tim's chocolate chip cookies Alex's pine cone turkey  Tim's pine cone turkey Acorn Kisses

Happy Thanksgiving! All this month I have read post after post and status after status of things that people are thankful for this year. I found myself relating to what was written most of the time, but never felt led to write a status update every day or any "top ten things to be thankful for" posts myself. I asked myself why this was one day...and the answer really never came. But I know better than to force myself to write something just because it seems the thing to do. So, I didn't. And, I am okay with this. It is not because I do not have much to be thankfuul for....but, it is because I want to be genuine in my thankfulness. This is something that tmeans alot to me and takes effort at becoming. It is something that I hope others find in my daily life and not just during the month of November. My Thanksgiving Day today has been a blessed and fun one. Family time, visits with friends, great food, and a walk down memory lane with my childhood friends, the

That little voice inside my head said to take the keys with me. I pulled them out of the ignition.  Held onto them for a second thought.  Then, I threw them on the seat behind me when I exited the truck.  I closed the door with credit card in hand in order to begin the process of pumping gas.  I had just entered my zip code when I heard it.  Honk!  Thunk! In disbelief, I turned around and pulled on the door handle.  It indeed had been my truck horn I had just heard, followed by the ever familiar thunk of the doors locking.   Really?!!  I looked around (as if someone was playing a trick on me or something and they would suddenly come out of hiding with the keys to unlock them again).  Not happening.  I was locked out of my truck...with keys and cell phone staring back at me from inside those locked doors. At Kroger there is no slow time at the gas pumps.  Always are there cars piled one or two deep in line.  Thankful that a young lady had just pulled up in front of me, I asked her

Thursday evening found myself and Tim elbow to elbow in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies together.  It was so much fun!!!  I ♥ my li'l chef!

Consistently get back to the Y in the mornings... Made it every day but Friday.  Didn't hear my alarm.  I went this morning in order to make my 5 days. Yay, me! Begin making/shopping for Christmas presents... Still working on calendars and photobooks and my nephew's blanket.  Every minute of work now is a minute less I'll spend being rushed in December. Use gift of encouragement... Focused on encouraging my boys this week by spending some special one on one time with each of them.  On Tuesday, Alex and I went to work out together in the fitness center.  He's allowed in there now that he's nine and has been wanting to go with me.  We had alot of fun together!  Encouraging good and healthy habits in his lifestyle now can only help him continue in them on his own as he grows up.  Tim and I spent Thursday evening in the kitchen together making chocolate chip cookies.  He got to do everything...and alot of it all by himself.  Loved seeing him work so hard at getting th

  “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”                                                                                                                                 ~Mark Twain I was reminded of this quote as I thought over Pastor Brian's sermon from Sunday morning.  Too many times we speak too soon.  It may be because of nervousness, confidence, or, as it was for Peter in the following passage, fear. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, and His clothes became dazzling extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -because he did not know what he should say

"When you feel like giving up,  remember why you held on for so long in the first place."                                                                               ~ Unknown Consistently get back to the Y in the mornings ...Made it to the Y every day last week! Begin making/shopping for Christmas presents ...More progress made here with using my hours alone on Friday when the boys went to their Nana & Pawpaw's house to start purchasing some of their presents.  I was also able to begin calendars and photo books for my extended family. Use gift of encouragement ...Little things sometimes mean the most.  Made a friend's day when she received the flowers I sent her "just because".  Emails, notes, and phone calls all were taken time for this week, too.

While my camera is still missing...the latest vicitim to the Burmuda Triangle effect happening around here...I took the annual fall photos with my cell phone.  I so miss my camera...but I'm pleased that we were able to get photos taken before it became cold and the wind/rain came through. The little yellow tree makes me smile each year...it's my favorite one on our property.

Ask the LORD for rain in the season of spring rain. The LORD makes the rain clouds, and He will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone. For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore [the people] wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, so I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts has tended His flock , the house of Judah; He will make them like His majestic steed in battle . From them will come the cornerstone, from them the tent peg, from them the battle bow, from them every ruler. Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling down the mud of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them , and they will put horsemen to shame.       Zechariah 10:1-5 Already the stories of spiritual warfare have been heard from His flock preparing for mission work in Alaska next summer.  Expected it.  Not

Well, week one is coming to a close...getting back in the game wasn't as difficult as I anticipated.  That being said, I'm thankful there are 3 more weeks to make progress. Consistently get back to the Y in the mornings.  The morning air is crisp and refreshing these days.  Makes me especially thankful for the garage keeping my car free of frost on the windshield.  Made it to the Y 3 mornings...1 evening instead of morning...and the other day was spent on my feet running, just not in the Y. :) Begin making/shopping for Christmas presents.   Progress on both fronts.  Will have all afternoon tomorrow, too, to make more headway on the projects in the making.  Thankful for the joy brought on when handcrafting presents for others. Use gift of encouragement.   Sent a few emails this week sharing my heart in them with good friends.  Shared a good word with a new friend I'm making at church, too, and was told that she is thankful for the encouragement God gave her through me.  

jubilee [ˈdʒuːbɪˌliː ˌdʒuːbɪˈliː]n 1. a time or season for rejoicing 2. a special anniversary, esp a 25th or 50th one 3. (Christianity / Roman Catholic Church) RC Church a specially appointed period, now ordinarily every 25th year, in which special indulgences are granted 4. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) Old Testament a year that was to be observed every 50th year, during which Hebrew slaves were to be liberated, alienated property was to be restored, etc. 5. a less common word for jubilation [from Old French jubile, from Late Latin jubilaeus, from Late Greek iōbēlaios, from Hebrew yōbhēl ram's horn, used for the proclamation of the year of jubilee; influenced by Latinjūbilāre to shout for joy] Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003 (definition courtesy of thefreedictionary.com) I remember the moment I knew what kind of year I would be having in 2011. Worshiping for the first time at a {then} new church