Blue Monday

Since last week my Blue Monday post title was BRRRR. I thought today I would think spring.  I think it is time don't you? 

I can't wait to drive along the road and see a field of these.

I love all the photo's of people, kids and pets in beautiful bluebonnet fields.  This photo I found on the Ennis, Texas website.  They have a Blue Bonnet festival.  Think we will have to check it out. 

I hope you enjoyed a little touch of spring. 

Happy Blue Monday.

For more Blue's drop over at Sally's.  Click here.

BRRR ...Blue Monday

Expecting a little (only a little I hope) of this . . .

Planning on wearing these while . . .

waiting on this . . .

Spring

So are you enjoying frigid weather or waitin' on Spring.

Go by Sally's and check out a bunch of Blue photo's

Click here

Happy Blue Monday

Thankful Thursday

 I am thankful today for my daughter.  I am thankful for my grandson who will be 4 in May. 
I am thankful that I see smiles on their faces.  I am thankful that God loves them and provides and protects them. 

 Z's preschool had the sweetest Christmas party.  We got to attend and of course I took tons of photo's.

A couple of weeks before Christmas we went to church together on a Saturday night and then went to look at lights. 

We drove through our little down town area and they had an ice skating rink set up.  It was really, really cold and Cowboy and I kind of wanted to just stay in the warm car. 

But the words that came out of my daughters mouth broke my heart.  "We would not have been 'allowed' to do this before.  We are going ice skating!"

Cowboy and I looked at each other.  Shut our mouths bundled up and watched them ice skate. 

You see.  Our daughter was in a 5 year emotionally abusive marriage.  She is still recovering.  Our grandson is still recovering. 

But with counseling.  And a lot of pray she is slowly but surely becoming her old self. 

I am thankful God allows me to have them in my life!  

If you have loved ones in a similar relationship.  Don't give up.  Don't give up on them when they say and do things you don't expect.  Love them.  Love them anyway.  Love them always.  And pray. 

Be thankful God is in control. 



a

Wordfilled Wednesday

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast sprit in me. Psalm 51:10

Wishing you a Blessed Scripture filled Wednesday.

Prayer Request

Prayer Request Dear Friends Please Pray


I am asking you to please pray for me and Cowboy tonight, tomorrow and over the next few days. We are at a bit of a cross roads and need to make decisions about:

Where we will live, where Cowboy will work and the biggest decision if I should work.

The last few years (2 to be exact) have been a huge struggle for us. In August of 2010 we were homeless. In September we were offered an Apartment Ministry position which seemed like an answer to prayer and a door opening. We took the position which included free rent. In December our supervisor was fired. And in February our position was terminated.

Within only a few days we were offered a position at a boys home. We thought then. This is it. God’s sending us here. We gratefully accepted the position and began Praising God. We moved the end of February. It was a difficult time for us because we couldn’t get inter-net and Cowboy had to drive way too far to get to work. Gas was eating up every penny he was making. Cowboy did find another job much closer. But, then by April we were so disappointed in the position and what was happening with how the program was being run that we knew we could not stay.

By May we had turned in our resignation and were asked to leave in 2 weeks. It wasn’t until June that we were finally able to move into our current home.

Which turned out to be a cute little bungalow on the lake. (well at the end of the street) Although it is the smallest place we have ever lived we managed to ‘fit in’ the small space.

This little apartment was at the top of our budget. And were it not from donations to our ministry we wouldn’t have managed to pay rent and utilities. Remember last summer. The electric killed us! (It stays warm even now we have not turned on the heater at all)

All this time I have been looking for a job.

Very shortly after moving into this small space we began to notice bugs. Everyday we began seeing more and more bugs. We began asking for the owner to exterminate.

Well long story short. Even though they have finally had a professional come and begin a program it is too little too late. They have been here twice. Bugs still crawl across the counter even when I am cooking. I won’t share more detail. I am sure you really don’t want to hear more!

We have been looking for a new place for a few months.

Here’s where the prayer comes in . . .

Today we found an apartment that we will look at tomorrow. Our criteria was something less than $500.00 a month. What we found is less than $400.00 with washer/dryer and inter-net included. Hello. Did you hear that? Inter-net! Yea.

And, today I received 2 job offers. One is pretty certain it is a part-time gig at the company my husband works at. Basically filling in for other personal. Just enough hours.

The other is the one I really want. Call me crazy but it is managing a Non-profit Resale Shop. This is my heart.

The draw back. The new apartment is 22 miles round trip to both jobs.

The positive is the apartment is minutes from our daughter. And a short distance to the detention center where we minister currently 2 times a week.

So, over the next few days we have to make decisions on housing and on jobs.


We want to be in God’s will. I am afraid and I talked to God about this that Satan is tempting me with these job opportunities. That a job is what “I” want not what God has planned for me.

This apartment sounds just so perfect.

So, dear sweet friends, would you pray for us. Please pray that God will give us wisdom and discernment. And show us where he wants us to live. Help us to see His provision.

And to know his plan for how that will happen according to His will and purposes.

I am just so excited but yet worried and confused.


Will you pray for me?

There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit

The words to the song Sweet Sweet Spirit came to mind as I was thinking about what I wanted to share today. 

Sharing today a sweet grandma moment . . . 

 Yesterday we had the best time.  I keep our grandson on Monday afternoon.  But yesterday our daughter was sick so he came over early.   They brought do-nuts.  A sack of holes for him to share with Daisy.  Daisy got 2.  He got 8.  Still working on the sharing.  But you know she is a dog so she really didn't need that many.  Right? 

After that we played awhile and then went to the lake.  Daisy ran  around and had a blast.  And Cowboy and Z threw sticks in the water and rocks.  And made big splashes.  They had a great time.
Dummy me.  I didn't take the camera. 

The sweetest part of the day was when we laid down at 3:00 for  'a rest'.  He doesn't like the word nap.
But this grandma needs one.  Anyway when we laid down and he asked me to sing Jesus Loves Me. 
(which is what I normally do.)  I got through one verse.  One verse humming and then I heard snoring. 

It was a Sweet Sweet time.   The best. 

On a Sweet, Sweet Journey . . .

Book Review part 1--No Safe Haven

Since I started reviewing books about 2 years ago and, I would have to say that No Safe Haven by Kimberly and Kayla R. Woodhouse is the BEST book that I have read. the publishers site . . .

And, it is one that I found at the library. In fact I really didn’t even read the cover description because I was in a hurry. It was a new release. I read a couple lines on the description and figured it would be readable.

I had no idea what category it really fell in other than it was a suspense. 

This book flat out Blessed me. It is the story of mother Jenna and daughter Andie are boarding their private plane and within minutes the suspense begins. Their flight is sabotaged and they crash land in Denali Park in Alaska. As the drama unfolds instead of their pilot (an old trusted friend) trying to ‘save the day’ he pulls out a gun and shoots the radio!

It is once they land that the Blessing for me began. When Andie forgives the pilot and refuses to leave the plan until she has shared the gospel and prayed for him.

As the suspense and intrigue develops both Andie and Jenna’s own faith is tested.

The authors mom and daughter team Kimberly and Kayla do an excellent job of developing the characters and the plot.

I have a lot more to say about this book.  But here's a little from

Jenna and Andi Tikaani-Gray are hoping for a fresh start. Though twelve year-old Andi has long struggled with a rare medical disorder, she and her mother have finally received good news from out-of-town specialists. It's news they desperately needed, especially after the recent death of Jenna's husband (Andi's dad) in a car accident.


But as they are flying home to Alaska, ready to begin again, the unthinkable happens. The pilot sabotages their small plane and crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Even worse, a winter storm is headed their way along with someone who doesn't want to save them, but to kill them.

Only one man can keep them alive: Cole Maddox, the mysterious last-minute passenger who joined them on their flight. But trust doesn't come easy to Jenna or Andi and they both sense Cole is hiding something.

A relentless tale of survival and suspense unfolds, involving military technology designed by Jenna's late husband that some would do anything to possess.

Check this one out.  You won't be disappointed. 

For more info.
www.kimberleywoodhouse.com
www.kimberleykaylawoodhouse.com
www.kaylawoodhouse.com

I was not asked by the author or publisher to write this review. 

Thankful Thursday

 Welcome to Thankful Thursday.  I am Happy to be able to share my Thankful heart today. 
I have a short thankful list.  Today I am thankful for my husband.  My very own Cowboy.  Today I am thankful that this is the view from the end of our road.

Sometimes I get frustrated when things don't go as I have planned.  Today was kind of one of those days.

But the thing that changed all that was when Cowboy suggested taking the dog for a ride around the lake.

And then we stopped and let her run and play awhile. 

It was kind.  It was compassionate.  I am Thankful my Cowboy took time for us today. 

I hope you have a long list like I do of things to be thankful for.  Even if you only have one to share today  go ahead and write about and link up.  Click here to join Iris for Thankful Thursday.  

On a Thankful Journey . . .

Thankful End of January Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday . . .
Today I am thankful it is Thursday so that means the week is almost over.  It has been a really, really busy week for us.  I'll share more and why in another post.  I have lots more things to be thankful for . . .

 I am thankful my Cowboy and I got to eat lunch out yesterday.  I had nacho's while he ate
Menudo.  Yuck.  But he really loves it.  We had gone to his favorite Mexican resturant that has a bakery.  We went there to buy chicharones (sp) for the boys on the drama team last night. 
Sorry but the spelling. In case your a gringo like me . . . they are fried pork fat.  The boys loved them it was a great treat for them.   I could share more. 

 But I have more thankfulness . . .

I am thankful that God uses other bloggers to encourage and help hold me accountable in many areas.
I am thankful to join this group and talk about why we love our husbands. 

And this one should have been #1  I am glad that God loves me and he is patient with me.

God put it on my heart to read through my Bible this year.  This week because it was such a busy week my Bible got dusty again. It was frustrating not to be able to read it.  But, I am praying that next week we will be back to normal. 

And I am thankful for Laurie who is the hostess for Januray. 

So do you have a thankful list today.  Click here to join Laura and link up.  Or just stop over and read all the other posts. 

On a Thankful Journey . . .

I would love for you to join me in reading through the Bible this year.  Or just join me in reading everyday.  Leave me a comment and let me know your Reading On.  I would love to pray for you everyday.  I would love to hear from you!

Wordfilled Wednesday Artcamp 1

Welcome to Wordfilled Wednesday
Today I wanted to begin sharing with you photo's from last Thursdays Art Camp at the Juvenile
Dention Center where my Cowboy and I serve as Chaplains.  

I was able to photograph Alan  early on during the painting process.  We were all amazed at what he chose to paint. 

It was actually his painting that gave me the idea to put the scripture on the artwork.  Notice he wrote the reference in the right hand corner.  I applied the verse when I downloaded the photo's.  

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.
Jeremiah 29:11-14

I had not had the chance prior to art camp to talk to Alan. (He had not come to chapel services)  I was listening as a couple of different volunteers talked to him during the day.  One of the volunteers asked him if he went to chapel and he answered 'No'. He continued to say he wasn't sure that there is a God. 

Alan is on my prayer list.  I am praying that he will call on God and he will pray.  I am praying that God hears his prayer.  I am praying Alan will seek God with all his heart. 

I am praying for you too.  I pray that if you don't have a relationship with God that today you will seek him. 

And, if you are a Believer.  A follower of Jesus that you will pray for Alan. 


Last Thursday was my first time to join the Art Camp.  I never dreamed that using a talent or a knowledge of painting was a way to spread the gospel.  A way to share God's love with boys in a Juvenile Detention Center. 

I would love for you to click here and read my entire post about Art Camp. 

Maybe God will reveal to you a gift you have or a new idea to share his love with someone else.

Thank you Amy Deanne for allowing God to speak to your heart and for sharing Wordfilled Wednesday!  Click here to visits Amy's blog.  Click here for the WFW linky.

I am challenging myself to read the Bible everyday this year.
Will you join me?

Reading along the Journey . . .

Titus Tuesday--T.V. or No T.V.

Today I am joining Darlene for Titus Tuesday a fun linky party about encouraging each other as Godly women.   As the scripture commands the older women are to teach the younger women.  To encourage.
Today I want to be open and honest.  And encourage you. 

A few posts ago when we were all writing about the New Year one of the things I said was that I was so glad for 2012 to start.  I was more than happy to put 2011 behind me.  It was a rough year for us for many reasons.

One of them being the lack of this. 

We spent from February to June with absolutely no t.v.  And, very little inter-net.  Giving up the t.v. as you can imagine was pretty difficult.  I really missed Home and Garden network and the Food Channel. 

But not having the inter-net was even harder.  Just for a moment girlfriend sit and think what it would be like to not be able to visit your friends blogs.  Or to write on yours.  Now that I have your attention let's switch gears and go back to the t.v. (We'll talk about the inter-net another day)

You see the reason that we didn't have any t.v. was we flat didn't have the money for cable.  Where we were living at the time cable was the only option.  And then thankfully in June we moved.  And we got t.v. again.

Still without cable.  This is what the picture looked like until we were able in July to buy an antenna or something so we could at least get local channels.

You may not think so but actually it really didn't bother me all that much because I am a reader.  I read alot.
I love to review books.  I love to read books from the library.  So, no t.v. really wasn't as much a burden to me it was Cowboy.

Once we got the antenna thingy we were able to get local channels.  Cowboy was happy when he could watch football last fall.  And we could get CW33.  Which was o.k. with me because I started watching
Hart Of Dixie and Ringer.  At least for a few weeks until I realized that those two hours needed to be spent sewing I had a quilt that had to be finished by Christmas.  BTW I didn't start watching those shows again.  I realized that in those 2 hours that I could do a lot of sewing.

Besides local channels we do have a couple of other channels.  One which has come to be my favorite.  And the real reason for this post. 

You see even before we didn't have t.v. we never really watched network t.v. we mostly watched Food Channel and Home and Garden.  And we would watch movies.  Usually rented.   We both just really are not into the themes of most sitcoms.  And all the adult cartoons are just trashy.  I don't know any other way to describe them.  The only other thing really left to watch is NCIS and although I would watch those types of shows Cowboy isn't into them.  And even those shows have language and contain adult very adult themes and scenes. 

T.V. isn't like it was when I was a kid or a teenager or actually a young adult.    Back in the day it was shows like . . .

Adam 12

And

And others like Leave It To Beaver and McHales Navy.  I love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke.  I remember

back in the day when a couple rarely even kissed.  And they slept in twin beds.  When mom's like June Cleaver stayed at home and wore pearls and dresses. 

I was glad when we got the antenna thingy and we found this channel

They show all the old shows.  All the shows that are wholesome and don't have words bleeped out.   All the shows that I wouldn't worry about my children hearing a bad word or seeing something that they shouldn't. 

I know that there are at least a couple of different camps when it comes to t.v. I know that some of you ladies don't even have t.v.'s in your house.  And honestly if it was up to me I would not have a t.v.

But I have to admit to you ladies it isn't necessarily because of the violence or language or adult content necessarily.  For me I just have other things to do. 

I realized when we didn't have t.v. that I could spend more time sewing or reading.  Or even cleaning.   I realized that if I didn't watch Ringer or X Factor (and it was hard to quit) that I could spend that hour reading my Bible.  Which is something that I have challenged myself to do much more of this year. 

Dear friends today I am challenging you to think about.  To ponder.  And to pray about what t.v. means to you and your family.  If your a young mother I want to challenge you to think about the amount of t.v. your children watch.  And, the content of what they do watch. 

And, I would love to hear from you.  I would love  for you to comment or email me. (slegan@yahoo.com) 

I want to pray for you and your family.  I know that many of us maybe are very careful about what we watch.  And we're careful about what the children watch. 

And, if you have already made the decision to not watch Ringer tonight (I think it's tonight. LOL) well why not just spend a few more minutes on the computer and go and check out the other Titus Tuesday posts I know you'll be encouraged.    Click here to go to the linky.  See you there!

Reading On the Journey . . .

Mosaic Monday Art Camp 1

Welcome to Mosaic Monday . . .
I haven't joined in a while.  I am glad to be back and share some cool art . . .

These photo's were taken last Thursday.  I got to go to art camp at the juvenile detention center where my Cowboy and I are Chaplains. 
It was our first time for art camp.  It was so much fun.  I thought it would be fun to collage/mosaic and share the photo's.   You can click here to read the story on my Thankful Thursday post. 

The Art Camp program will be presented monthly throughout the spring and hopefully into the summer.  I'll be taking photo's at each camp.   This time I just went in and started snapping shots  And then a couple of hours into the day the other volunteers had begun talking to the boys and giving them a Bible.  Then they shared a special verse with each boy.  I was watching and taking photo's and it came to me that I could put the verse on the art.  By that time the day was almost over and I didn't get a chance to take any more shots.  I was in the process of taking shots of the boys holding their work.  Which unfortunately I can't share with you. I took those last shots and cropped them to only include the artwork which is what I used for the mosaic. 

I will be taking each of the individual photo's and adding the Bible verses to them.  I'll post them Wednesday for Wordfilled Wednesday.  Please come back by and see them. 

I am so looking forward to the February Art Camp.  I can't wait to share more photo's.  Click Here to read the Art Camp Story.

Thanks Mary for offering Mosaic Monday at your Little Red House!  Click here to join Mary for todays Mosaic Monday.  She is sharing some very pretty winter photo's.

Reading along the Journey . . . Read On

Marriage Monday

It was over 30 years ago that I did this . . .

 I don't usually write alot about what happens behind these closed doors.  If you happen to be a regular reader you might have noticed the page/tab I have set-up for The Love Dare.  And, if your a regular visitor you might have already noticed that there is nothing there. 

You see most of the time I am angry.  Most of the time I am annoyed.  Most of the time I am not this . . .

Oh I am really good at cooking dinner and keeping the laundry done. I am really good at keeping the house clean most of the time.  But I am not so good at Praising my husband.  I am not so good at supporting him.  I am not so good at having confidence in him.  Because . . .

• I am really good at finding fault. 
• I am really good at expecting too much
• I am really good at critizing
• I am really, really good at 'I want'

and the list could go on and on and on. 

But I realize that at least in my head.  Not so much in my heart.  That God expects me to be forgiving. 

Even when he happens to be feeling bad (he struggles with extreme pain in his knees) and he doesn't say he's feeling bad and he gets in a bad mood and yells at me over something insignificant. 

Or he happens to be a little snippy and make a comment to me that isn't so nice. 

Or like the other day when he came home about an hour before I expected him and I was in the middle of laundry.  And I was moving stuff around in my sewing room area (in our bedroom) and I was putting up in a closet some fabric and books to make room to put the dirty clothes hamper in a more out of the way place.
And I had a stack of books and papers in the middle of the bedroom floor that I was sorting to throw away or put in the closet.  And I had the computer on the floor because I was also writing a post between laundry loads.  One thing I do well at least I think so is multi task.  And, besides all this chaos in the middle of the bedroom floor is a really, really big dog and her dog bed. 

Which left actually no room to walk if you have good knees.  But imagine having bad knees. 

But in my defense all he had to do was say something like "Um honey I realize I came in an hour earlier than you expected.  But I would really like to get to my closet without stepping over the dog, and piles of fabric.  And piles of books and papers and ...."  But did he say something nice like that No. Of course not because he can be a ______ .  Well we won't go there but I am sure you have an idea of what I was thinking. 

He yelled at me.  And then when I yelled back he actually pointed his finger at me.  Which really, really, really made me mad.  And I was mad the rest of the day.  He left to go to work.  And I was still mad when  he came home.   The next day I was still mad. 

Even after praying for over an hour while he was at work.  Even after God tried to work on my heart and my spirit.  I was still mad. 

And then something happened.   God's grace.  God's patience. And God's loving kindness broke through all the anger.  And I . . .

looked into the mirror and I saw . . .

not a beautiful shining crown.  Not a woman of noble character.  I saw a broken and rusy, tarnished crown.  I saw a woman that expects too much.  I saw a woman that needs God's grace.  I saw a woman that needs her husbands grace and forgivenss. 

I saw a woman that needs to be loving and kind even when I don't feel like it.  Because God said to. 
And I pray that God will keep being patient with me and teach me to be loving and kind even when I don't feel like it.  

On the Journey to kindness,

Today I am linking with e-mom at  Marriage Monday.

Because someone near and dear to me had a rough week last week. 

And, I want you to know that even though we try to pretend all is well with the world. 

And that well all try to pretend that we are almost perfect.  And that our marriages are perfect. 

Well we're not.  We're human.  We're Real

  I pray that you are encouraged not by my actions but by my heart.

If you have any encouragement from being united in Christ, if any comfort from His love if any

fellowship witht he Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by

being like-minded, havingthe same love, being on in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of

selfish ambition or cain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 2:1-5

I am thankful God hears my cry for forgiveness.  I am God gives grace.

I am glad that my Cowboy gives grace.

Thankfully on a grace filled Journey . . .

My Bad

Yep I have to say "My Bad".  I have no idea what happened last week.  I didn't get a lot of posts done.  And, I didn't get a lot of Bible reading done.   I can't even tell you what happened.  Other than we were really busy with a lot of stuff that I won't bore you with!

This week here's what I plan to do . . .

And I plan to pray for you.  I plan to email you.  I plan to leave comments.  And encourage you to do what I need to do . . .

Dust a weeks worth of dust away and get back into reading!  Let's do this thing together!
Even though I may not come by and visit you.  Or send an email.  Or leave a comment.  I am praying for all of you!

If you haven't joined our little group yet it isn't too late.  Jump right on in and start reading your Bible everyday! 

I am challenging myself to get 'back on track' this week!  I challenge you!  Let's  Read On together. Reading along the Journey

Blue Monday--Blue Linky's

Happy Blue Monday I thought it might be fun to do something different and share some of my favorite linkys that all happen to have Blue buttons.  Or at least alot of blue on them. 

 First  my favorite and the first one I found.  Wordfilled Wednesday is a day dedicated to photo's that illustrate God's word.  When I first started participating I was pretty clueless.  I didn't know how to put words on photo's.  Amy was kind enough to let me use her post each week and link up.    After a few months I figured it out and started making my own.  Mine are not near is nice as Amy's or some of the others that participate each week.  But I love it.   Go over and check out WordFilled Wednesday Amy is now linked with Internet Cafe Devotions.  Click here to visit.  Be sure and go by on Wednesdays! Click here to visit Amy's blog. 

 This one I ocassionally visit.  I usally think about it when I visit my friend Denise at Shorty Bear's Place who I visit everyday because she Blesses me!  Click here to visit Denise.  She has the button on her blog.

 One of my absolute favorites.  Amy had the amazing idea to post videos of favorite Christian songs found through the week.  Go by on a Saturday and visit.  You will be Blessed.  Click here.

 And a new one I love, love, love.   I don't think I have actually participated here yet because I haven't gotten anything finished that I have photo's for.  I'll be posting the grandsons quilt this week!  Come by on Friday to check it out and go over to Sarah's too to see lots of amazing quilts and finished projects.  Click here.  Oh and Sarah's blog name is Confessions of a Fabric Addict. That could be my name!

 Next the newest I have found and joined.  Cindy had the amazing idea to memorize scripture in ABC order.  She has spent who knows how many hours coming up with a verse for each letter of the alphabet.  I started last week and I am challenging my kids to memorize with the grandkids.  Looking forward to this helping to bring our family closer together!  Click here to join Cindy. 

And last only because that is how the photo's loaded.  One of my favorites.  Thankful Thursday is the brain child of the amazing Iris at Grace Alone.  On Thursday we post about things we are Thankful for.   She also hosts Marriage Monday on her blog which I want to join soon.  Thankful Thursday now rotates to different blogs each month. In January the hostess is Laurie.  You can click here to join this week.

And one more Blue button . . .

Of course have to include Blue Monday!
I hope you enjoyed visiting today. And maybe you found a new linky you might want to join.  If so link up and leave a comment and let the hostess know I sent you by!  Oh and don't forget to visit Sally for Blue Monday!  Click here!