I stopped in tonight over at Monica's Here post today mentioned a prayer request that I wanted to share with you. What touched me was the fact that they are preparing for the weather but she mentions that her husband cannot leave with the family because he is in law enforcement. This really got me to thinking. Here is what Monica wrote
"...we are faced with a possible evacuation for Hurricane Hannah - since my hubby can't leave due to being law enforcement and with three littles, I would leave earlier than a mandatory evacuation so that I'm not sitting on the interstate with my car off to conserve gas and no air conditioning!!
We'd rather be safe than sorry, so the plan right now is to leave tomorrow afternoon - it may be undue, but like I said, we're erring on the side of safety and getting ahead of traffic.
If it comes to mind, right now - I would appreciate prayer for wisdom on if and when to leave, that our little ones would be as cooperative and understanding as possible through this and that above all - we would be safe in His care."
I think her words express the need. While I was there I found a cool meme. And so I started working on it. But the dummy I am at blogging it is taking awhile to complete. Here's what I have done so far. I made a collage!
This was a fun meme that Monica found at Megan's, here are the details if you want to make your own!
Here’s how it works:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. b. Using only the first page, pick an image. c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker. Choose 3 columns with 4 rows.
The Questions: 1. What is your first name? 2. What is your favorite food? 3. What high school did you go to? (or, What year did you graduate high school?) 4. What is your favorite color? 5. Who is your celebrity crush? 6. Favorite drink? 7. Dream vacation? 8. Favorite dessert? 9. What you want to be when you grow up? 10. What do you love most in life? 11. One Word to describe you. 12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)
You can go over to Monica's to get all the instructions and the details while I figure out how to do the rest.
Well I finally found a really cool template. And I changed it. I chose it because it is fun and funky. I was looking for something fallish but this just caught my eye. I figure I can leave it for awhile and change it. But I lost some stuff so I have to see now if I can get it back. I had backed everything up but redoing it may be over my head. So if you come by and it looks a little confusing bear with me. Say a prayer for me and enjoy the new wild look. Please leave your comment.
I wrote an earlier post to let you know about something new I am starting today. Please read my earlier post. Here is my Tackle it Tuesday project. Re-arranging the living room. Again! I am just not happy with the way it is arranged. Here's the reasons why: ...Hard to walk through ...My furniture doesn't fit ...New things for the baby ...Too many people and animals in one spot
Yesterday we had a wonderful time with our daughter, son in love, the baby, our dog and thier dog. (that was a sight!)
Our living room has to serve as a dining room as well. So there is the challenge. I am almost ready to video it and post it and get some suggestions.
On Sunday I went ahead and moved the desk the computer was on. That helped. I put the computer on an antique library table which had been behind the love seat. Today I am going to move a couple of other pieces and the t.v. which is way too big for the room. Especially when there is nothing worth watching on! Cowboy was reading a book last night and I was on the computer. Doing guess what? You know it!
Well that is the project I am tackling along with working on my blog.
Can anyone suggest a place to get a pretty free layout?
I hope everyone has a grea day and go over to 5 minutes for mom at http://www.5minutesformom.com/ and read the other tackle projects. Sorry the link won't work I am at my daughters baby sitting. I'll fix it tonight when I go home. Because you ask? I know how! Yea. Have a great day.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
I believe he uses us to encourage one another. Just as the Two Mom's over at Tackle it Tuesday have encouraged so many in the areas of organization and mommy tips etc. I want to Tackle Tuesday by encouraging you too.
Today I want to begin a new weekly Tackle it Tuesday project. I want to share with you what God has placed on my heart or what I learned each week. It might be a devotional, a verse, a tip who knows. But it is meant to help you and encourage you.
And possibly help you maybe be a Happy Momma or make your baby Happy or help you have a Happy Husband.
Today I want to share what I read this week in 15 Minutes with God by Emalie Barnes
This particular devo. talked about telling and showing your children you love them. I know your thinking well I am a SAHM. We take our children to church. Or maybe your thinking it's too late my kids are older they aren't babies little children anymore.
Here is a little of the devo. "Oh look,Daddy,I catched it!" That's good boy get ready for another make more and dad proud of the next one. "Look,Daddy I am only 8 and I can through faster than anyone on the team. Yea but you gotta work on your batting. You can't play in the big league if you can't hit. "Look, Dad I am sixteen and...." Yea but you need to." Although not meant to these conversations were not edifying or building up the boy.
I know these are a bit of an exaggeration. But a point is being made here.
Emalie went on to tell of a story about a father frustrated because his son wasn't into to sports. But instead was into motocross. The dad wasn't into out doorsy things or getting dirty or dust etc. He went to their pastor asking him what to do. The pastor wisely told him. "How much do you love your son? Enough to get grease on your hands?"
Sometimes we get so busy 'taking them to church' or 'grading papers or planning lessons' or 'cooking dinner'. That we forget why we are actually doing all that.
Sometimes maybe our husbands didn't have fathers that were daddy's and they don't know how to be a Daddy like in Emalie's first example.
Do you show your children by your actions that you love them? Or are you just busy running around and taking them to games and practises and driving home thinking about what you are going to cook for dinner.
Or; do you say to your son "Wow that was a great game I saw how you hit the ball. And I saw how you clapped for your team. And I saw how ..."
Emalie suggests thoughts for action: * Write your child a love note or draw a picture for a young child * Spend one on one with each child * Put a note on your calendar to remind yourself to do the above again next week or next month.
I hope you all have a great week. I hope that you are able to Tackle your own projects today. And I hope in some way that what I have shared will be a Blessing to you.
Have a Blessed week and I hope your days are filled with happiness.
If your a reader of my blog you will notice that the template I had awhile back is gone. The interesting thing is I didn't remove it. I suppose the place that I got it "free" only lets you have it for a certain amount of time. I don't know. I do know it is gone. I have been looking for another source and haven't found one yet but I found this really cute site. I got there from Laurel Wreath by way of Down on the Farm. AnywayDesigns by Splat has some cool designs. They are all bright and colorful and fun and not too expensive. So if your looking for a new design go over and check them out. And sign up for the giveway.
Duh.... Sometimes things don't turn out exactly as you planned. I wrote the below post intending to put it on my new blog. Which btw I have not told anyone about yet. But I guess now is time.
Back in June I was over at Amy'sand I noticed a button on her sidebar for Company Girls being the inquiring mind that I am I checked it out and I am glad I did.
It is so much fun. Today Rachel and many of us are taking a day off from blogging (or at least a few minutes in my case) to spend the holiday with family. I am going to do that later this afternoon.
I am just taking a short break from the kitchen. Needed to sit down for a few minutes. We have a huge late afternoon and evening planned.
I visited Rachel's archives and found this Small Thing that I can do amidst all preparation for our wonderful evening.
Here's Rachel's suggestion and thoughts. I had to share it because what she said just cracked me up!
Today's Small Thing is to tidy up your pet areas. Those nasty bowls could use a good scrubbing and a sweep around them to pick up the crumbs. If you have a dog or kitty bed, give it a good shake or vacuuming if you can. And should we talk about cat litter boxes??? Nah, I didn't think so.
Somehow I think our four-legged friends appreciate our efforts to spruce up their domains, even though they keep quiet about it. There's something classy about seeing them eat from a clean dish and I think it helps their self image. (Not that cats need help feeling even more superior!)
POINTS: 20 for cleaning up the dishes and food area
BONUS POINTS: 20 for cleaning up any other pet mess.....
40 pts max, (this is for any pets, not just dogs and cats)
Sorry, non-pet people! I'll make it up to you somehow....
P.S. I once had a friend whose dog was on Prozac for depression. Ooooh kaaaay. Maybe all he needed was a clean dog dish to eat from to lift his spirits!
One way to make your Home a Sanctuary is to take time off from blogging on holidays,
to spend time with your family.
Now before you start thinking I am calling kettle black...we do have a family time planned for today.
I just love being a Company Girl go over and visit Rachel's site and join the fun. Even revisiting is a hoot and can provide a wonderful opportunity to make your Home a Sanctuary
Here are a couple of photo's of my animals.
Daisy and Rascal are behind the gate. Miss Kitty happens to be laying on the dining room table. In our old house it was right by a set of french doors that lead to the backyard and barn. I had come in and tossed my Cowboys really,really warm coat on the table and Kitty made it a bed.
Now I am off to clean the cat's box and make their little area all clean and tidy and nice smelling for company. I wouldn't want them to get all depressed that it is not nice smelling for the company. LOL
Happy Revisits and come by my new blogyou will find all my Company Girls posts.
Outside my Window...Quiet lovely weather, it is still a little cool from the evening and there is dew on the grass. Some of the grass in the pasture is coming back out after the hourses over grazed. When we first moved here the end of June it was so hot and we didn't have all the fences put in. Now they are in and we are settling in.
I am thinking...I am looking forward to getting the yard pulled together and gardens put in...maybe a few fall plantings.
From the learning rooms...I am still planning on making a lap book about Texas for my grandson that lives in Missouri. I am making a soft book ABC for the new grandbaby.
I am thankful for...my daughter and son in love and the baby are coming over this afternoon for a day full of activity and food. They chose to come today so they could spend more time instead of coming on Sunday. Yea.
From the kitchen...Herb cheese bread I made yesterday for todays smorgasbord with the kids. When our kids were little we had smorgasbord on Sunday night after church. I alwasy fixed fun finger foods and we ate on the coffee table. We are continuing the tradition today. I'll post the menu and photo's later in the week.
I am wearing...what I slept in. A comfy tank top and soft shorts. It is still a little warm here.
I am reading...Another novel. (started that again when Cowboy was in the hospital) it is old I have had it a few years. Nothing inteliigent or spiritual. And I am reading Emalie Barnes Devotions for Couples.
I am hoping...to get a certin quilt finished these week so it can hang during the fall holidays.
I am creating...too many things to list. LOL. I hope to creat some Christmas gifts for the family. And to begin making greeting cards for our church card ministry. Kelli at There's no place like home has wonderful ideas for greeting cards. A new blog.stay tuned to find out about it She also does Show and Tell on Friday. Come back by for my Show and Tell entry. look at what I just did!a link to Kelli's blog how cool is that?
I am hearing...The donkeys outside he hawing. Our house is on land by an recreational type park. The offer paint ball and motocross and some other stuff. There is a storage building behind our house and they park the tractor there. The donkeys let us know anytime anyone is around. Or if anyone drives into our driveway. A cheap burgler alarm.
Around the house... I am moving furniture in the living room around again! I just cannot get it arranged. I am about to call HGTV and cry for help. If we can kick the men outside today for awhile my daughter is going to try to help me. Wish us luck.
One of my favorite things... My house. Even though I think I am beginning to dislike the living room. But the walls are the prettiest golden yellow! It'll work out. It is just that my furniture doesn't fit and I am having to get rid of some things. We put the coffee table in our bedroom closet yesterday. I know your thinking good grief how big is that closet? I'll have to take photo's soon. So you can see why I love my house!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I know I am a broken record..but I will continue the sorting/decluttering of the house and the blog. I really hope to get a new template on the blog to make it pretty again. And hopefully a new photo. I would love pointers if anyone can give me some.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... I found this on Dreamstime. I love sunflowers. I thought this was a cool photo. I hope next year to share my own sunflower photos. I have always wanted to have a sunflower garden.
The Welcome mat is out and Daisy says to come on in. . . Welcome to our Daisy's new Sunday post. She moved over from Saturday because we decided since Sunday is family day that she would write about being a family pet. And write about her friends that are family pets. Because all our animals have very special places in our hearts we wanted to share with everyone how special an animal can be. Daisy has had many job descriptions since she has been with us. And one of them is "Missionary Dog". She has gone with us to the mission and licked(kissed), and loved on the kids. And now she goes with us to the food pantry to pick up the food. She loves it. She patiently sits in the truck at the dock and watches all the people come and go and watches the staff load the food. She is a faithful companion to me. I wrote about how she came to be with us on my Sunday post last week. Please go and read it. (Sorry I don't know how to link to it yet) But I have figured out BoldItalics isn't that cool. Oh I am sorry. Daisy is nudging my arm trying to let me know this post was supposed to be about her new friend Happy. Here is a pretty picture of Happy.
Do you see why we said "pretty"? Look at that beautiful hair. I bet her mom brushes her everyday. Oh btw she did get a hair cut recently and she is just so cute. She is so much fun to play with we can tell by reading her moms blog. And the coolest thing is she told us about the neatest blog. It is called Dogs on Thursday. or DOT it is so cool. It is when everyone writes about their dogs. Come back on Thursday because my mom promises to write something special about me. There is a cute button on the sidebar and mom already wrote on it Daisy's Meme Isn't that cool I have a special meme of my own. Mom says we have to go now. Oh and another job title I have is Ranch Dog Because I go out everyday and take care of the horses. I am really busy so I have to go for now. Please go over and visit Happy and her mom at thier blog. Serendipitypark.blogspot.com
My soul is happy this morning and I hope yours is too. Every Saturday I participate in Then Sings my Soul. Here is the song I want to share today. This song has been on my mind all week. I chose this version because it includes the lyrics.
These lyrics have spoken to me so much this week. Because I stumble I face heartache sometimes I am bitter. Fort the last 5 years God has Blessed me and Cowboy to be able to serve him fulltime in ministry. And through these years I have faced these emotions and many more. I/we have faced rejection,hurt,anger,sadness because people that we have trusted and have depended on have come and gone or let us down. Or out right administered hurt. We have faced financial ruin in our personal lives.
But we are called by God to this minsitry. And through all this We will not be moved It is during the times of all the pain and hurt and through many other emotions; that we see that; we must be doing it right because when your right with God many times everything else blows up around you. We have supporters that tell us that we are making the evil one "mad". That is when we face all the struggles. The more difference we make in lives of disadvantage teens. The more we are attacked.
And as We are not moved we try to face these attacks with strength throug Christ we lean on Phillipians 4:13 for strength and on Proverbs 3:5&6 for patience and understanding.
I am grateful for Amy Wyatt over at signsmiraclesandonders.blogspot.com because of her wonderful idea for Then Sings My Soul. It is amazing and fun and a great way to meet bloggers and find some new friends.
If you read my blog you'll know I am not too savy and don't know how to link. But I know how to google. Just go to google and type: Then Sings My Soul Saturday you'll get a whole list. Just click on anyone of the posts. Now when you find one it might not be the current post. Here's how to get to todays. Go back up to your address bar at the top. You'll want to then go to your delete button. Starting at the right end of that address delete everything all the numbers and letters till you get to the end of .com stop don't delete the m or anything else. Thenk hit enter and Easey,Peasey you'll be at a wonderful post.
Go over and check out all the other amazing songs that the others are posting. And thanks so much for coming over today. I hope that my resolve to Trust in the Lord and answer his call in some way ministers to someone else. And if your struggle with anything similar remember he is with you.
Welcome to Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli at Theres No Place Like Home.
I hope you enjoy my Show and Tell today.
And then when you done go over and check out Kelli and the others.
Today my S&T is part of something I have been wanting to show for a while.
Because I have had camera difficulties I have been able to take any photo's.
And so I have resorted to be resourceful.
Before I share my S&T please let me tell you about my new best friend it is my printer/scanner.
It now ranks with duck tape,zip lock bags and Dr. Pepper. The following S&T photo's aren't great but they are here compliments of my scanner.
So without further ado here's my Show and Tell...
First is part of a birthday present my sister gave me last year. It was a
set of dishes. Here is one plate. They are 8 matching plates. A cowboy hat shaped dip and chip bowl and two other boot shape serving pieces.
I have set my table with 4 plates and some pretty candles and glasses and a centerpiece that I like.
Here is a photo of the napkins at each place setting.
There are two lacey napkins and two that are really old white linen or cotton I am not sure which. They have some tatting (I think) on the edge. I just think they are pretty.
I walk by the table everyday and I get to see them. We don't actually use the ones with the tatting because they are really old and fragile. I wash every know and then.
(Home Sanctuary challenge in August...wash linens...see Rachel at Company girls)
Oh the napkin rings. I almost forgot. Can you see them in the photo? They are cowboy hats. I just love them and to tell you the truth I don't remember where I got them. I think maybe a friend gave them too me. I am ashamed I don't remember.
I hope you have enjoyed this resourceful Show and Tell and please drop in anytime. The table is always set.
Come by tomorrow and hear a song I have planned to share for Then Sings My Soul and
don't forget my guest writer Daisywill be sharing about another new friend. I know you will be Happy to meet Daisy's friend.
Blogger doesn't seem to want to upload photos nowPlease check back tomorrow hopefully I can add the photo's.
We just found the coolest new meme for all of us dog lovers and dogs. And so Daisy and I are joining the crowd and inviting everyone over to meet Daisy. When we got her almost 3 years ago she was already named. She came from the local pound. If you go to my Sunday post you can read all about when I got her.
She is "our" dog now. Not just "my" dog.
My Wednesday post tells all about how my Cowboy thinks of Daisy even when I don't. It is totally funny because he didn't want to get another dog.
Recently he suggested that we change her name to Always because she is always with me.
Here is another photo of Daisy which shows how she is always with me. No matter where I am Daisy is there. Usually right under my feet or with me. This is a photo taken in my sewing room on an old couch from my parents that hopefully someday soon I will recover and repaint to look shabby chic. Right now it is just shabby!
I hope you all have enjoyed meeting Daisy. Please come by on Sunday's and see the posts that she hosts. And meet some of her Doggie friends.
Have a happy Friday and come back and see our show and tell. Smiles, Sherry and Daisy
DuhOk. I have figured this out. I was typing these tags now I realize that I can click on them. I am trying to figure out the link thing. So here goes again. I tried it this morning and it didn't work. But we'll see now. I think the bold letters and the italics will work. I get that but I just can't figure out the linking thing. Here goes. Oh before I try notice the label... updated after first attempt... OK...It just won't work on the link. I am realizing that I do forget to add a space sometimes after a bold or italics word. Sorry. I am back to the tutorials again. I swear I am going to get this. Oh BTW...the Decluttering is coming along nicely. I am doing that while cooking dinner. I will give an update on how many spoons etc. that I am donating to charity. Back to the tutorials. BTW thanks everyone for stopping in to see Amy today. I know she appreciated it. I read the comments and they were all so sweet.
I posted this photo late last night after going over to Amy's to see the rest of the WFW posts. Amy had written asking for prayer for her and the family. They lost the family dog yesterday. Please go over and give her a hug today. If you don't know Amy she does the amazing Wordfilled Wednesday meme. Just type Wordfilled Wednesday in google and the160acreawood.com will pop up or just type the160acrewood.com it should work.
My thankful list begins with Special Friends like Amy at The160acrewood.comsorry this still isn't a link I did try what a couple of people suggested last night and it didn't work. This post will be in my dummies at blogging label for sure!
I am thankful for Blogging because it is through blogging that I have found some new friends. Girls that encourage me. Girls that God speaks through. If you guys do not know it; you rock in many ways but especially by allowing God to speak through you. Together we can change the world one little blog at a time!
I am thankful for my printer/scannerI know that sounds silly. But come by tomorrow for Show and Tell hosted by Kelli to see why I am so thankful for my printer/scanner.
I am thankful that God is so loving and caring and so smart. You know; wow when you just think of what all he has done and is doing. And he is just in the middle of all we do. Even when things are crazy he is in control. And if we just take the time to look at his word he will speak to us and calm all the craziness. All I can say is wow.
And another reason that I am thankful for God is because he is the one that brings us all together here. That is just cool. We all get together and get to know one another because we all are so Thankful for the amazing things he is doing for us and in us.
I am thankful too that he gives me opportunities to see his love and he continues to provide for us and the ministry.
I am thankful for Marcia and Beth that came up with the idea of August DeClutter Challenge and so that being said here is what I am decluttering today.
My kitchen cooking utensils. How many wooden spoons,plastic spoons and knives do you have in the drawer probably by the stove? Well I have too many. So today I am going to purge that drawer and get rid of the ones I haven't used in I don't know how long. I caught myself last night tearing the kitchen apart it seemed looking for one specific item. Tongs. Not just any pair of tongs. The Tongsso why do I have 3 pairs. When I only like one of them? So after today The Tongs little buddies will be finding new homes hopefully someone will appreciate them more than me.
And tomorrow my project is going to be condimentsHow many condiments do you have?
I may not know how to link yet but I am getting pretty good at Bolddon't ya think? HeHe
I dropped back in at Amy's tonight because I wanted to visit the other WFW posts. She had a really sad post this evening. The family dog was accidentally killed today. Please go over to Amy's and offer her condolences. She was a little sad about feeling so sad over this loss. I know she would appreciate your thoughtfulness. I am going to try and leave a link here it is. Hopefully this works. If not google The 160 acre wood or try Word Filled Wednesday it should work. To Amy...Your are absolutely amazing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and the new sweet babies. Love, Sherry and Daisy
I love these really cool meme's. I have been doing the August De-clutter challenge with Marcia and Beth and today's challenge was actually inspired by Racheal over at Home Sanctuary. (another cool blog) Racheal has a daily challenge. Go over and check her out for some cool ideas and cool songs to go with each challenge. She is amazing. He challenge was dealing with paper. And she used the song "Under a Paper Moon". Well I was inspired to begin another paper project. I think this is the week for paper. The last couple of days I worked on my Cowboys receipts. Today I tackled my own clutter. Interestingly I ran across a labeled filedthat contained receipts from our Wyoming and South Dakota vacation. The trip was taken to go antique shopping. I was really glad that I had found the receipts and glad that I had kept them. We have some things that we are holding onto and want the kids to know thier value. So I am going to copy all the receipts to keep in a file and store the originals with the items. I want the kids to be able to have an easier time putting a value on these things if they need to. I have a lot of files sometimes the family makes fun of me because my files or so big but they came in handy just a few weeks ago when our daughter was writing a resume about her horse experience. I happened to have receipts,programs and lists of all the seminars and training shows she had been to. So these things really came in handy for her while compiling that resume. I am still working on my files but at least I have a huge start. I hope that more sorting and de-cluttering inspires someone to take the time and do some things like this for the kids. You never know when things like receipts and programs will become important. I had a great day visiting the WFW posts. I hope everyone else did too. Smiles, Sherry
Please visit Amy at The160acrewood.comFor a wonderful Blessing.
Amy hosts Word Filled Wednesday and there are some amazing ladies that participate. The above is not a link because I still can't figure out how to do that. If you can't get there from the above just google it. I just love google. But you might also try goodsearch. There is a link on my sidebar. I use Goodsearch because our ministry can get money from them for searching. Check them out please and speaking of my ministry. If your interested email me and I'll tell you about how you can help our ministry through goodsearching.
This is what I am doing today and why I usually don't post on Wednesday. Besides Amy does a marvelous job.
Actually this is a poster for a food drive. Every Wednesday I go to our local food bank to purchase food that our ministry distributes. Every week we fill 25 groceries sacks and distribute them to 25 different families that have teenagers that are on parole in our city. I am not a math person but if you do the #'s that is a lot of people. I don't say that to toot my own horn at all. I make the point only so you will notice how much need there is. And how many kids there are out there that are in trouble.
So today while your surfing and visiting all the WFW blogs and seeing all the amazing scripture that is illustrated would you think about me and the ministry and all the kids that we are trying to reach.
Have a Blessed day. Oh and come back later for the August De-clutter challenge. Smiles, Sherry
updated Tues. afternoon:My De-Clutter Project is below A dog; a Cowboy and a peach. . . ...what do these things have in common you wonder? Sunday after church we stopped at the grocery store to pick up something for lunch. As we walk through the produce Cowboy asks me to get him a peach. I am thinking this is strange. He said he wanted something healthy so I got him one thinking all along that God is working on him and answering my prayers about eating better etc. You know what I mean. I have the man that wants meat and potatos. So I pick out the peach put it in the cart and tell him that I hope it is ripe. I don't care much for fruit myself. The fruit I eat you don't have to worry too much about ripeness. Watermelon and strawberries,grapes and an apple now and then cut up in a salad. It isn't just Cowboy that isn't too much into the fruit. Anyway I am sorry back to the story. Don't get bored because it is funny. I know you are already guessing. The dog ate the peach. Your right well Cowboy ate it but Daisy ate half. Now here is the funny part. Your thinking we offered it to her to Seeif she would eat it. Wrong we knew she would eat it. One day we were driving home and stopped at a fruit/vegtable stand. I was buying lettuce and Cowboy bought a peach and was eating it while driving. He knows how to buy a peach. It was juicy and he was slurping peach juice and Daisy sitting in the back set kept coming to the front wanting the peach! We ended up giving her a couple of bites.
Now here is the totally crazy part. If you have not read my Sunday post about Daisy plese Stopnow and read it then come back.
Ok....are you back....Here's the funny part. Cowboy bought the peach on Sunday for Daisy Amazing.... I am tackling some de-cluttering again today. I hope you all have a wonderful day. I hope my story made you smile. And if not go over to Amy's 160acreawood.com she's the wonderful hostess of Wordfilled Wednesday he Monday post will make you smile. If not go back to bed and get up on the other side. Here is a photo of the De-clutter project I am stillworking on from yesterday. I am having the most fun with Marcia and Beth doing the August De-Clutter challenge. For me it is a little different than most of you guys. I am not only de-cluttering our house but I have files and inventory from our mission that are now are our home. These are the files I am dealing with right now. We moved into a house that has less extra storage space so fitting it all in is definately a challenge. My Cowboy never throughs anything away, and never files anything. I regularly find receipts waded up in the console of the truck,in the dresser drawer of bathroom drawer. You name it I find receipts. He is an accountants nightmare. And currently I am the accountant! I have to resolve to have a cheerful attitude. I have to lean on God to get me through some of the tasks! So I am thrilled when I find fun ways like the August De-Clutter challenge! Thanks girls for this wonderful meme and thanks for the giveaway too! Smiles to All, Sherry
updated 6:48 p.m. Adding my de-clutter project of the day. Update #2 Tuesday afternoon I added the photo's for my de-clutter project.
For Today...My declutter project follows
Outside my Window...are tiny,sprigs of grass coming up in the pasture(from the rain last week) and no leaves on the porch I swept last night. And fresh cut grass in the yard it is still green.
I am thinking...of all the things on my list to do this. All the de-clutter projects,the ministry projects and paperwork and babysitting.
From the learning rooms...Notice the bold on each entry. I am learning more about how to make my blog pretty. I am praying for all the home schoolers including my son and daughter in love and my grandson starting the second grade. I am working on making lap books for him. Any pointers?
I am thankful for...That God reminds me he is there and that he allows me to work in Hisministry.
From the kitchen...more bread baking today. Cleaning and plans for "Family Smorgasbord Sunday" This is something we did with our kids on Sunday night after church. I/we would make fun appitizer type food and sit in the living room and eat. The kids loved it. I tried new recipes. Now our daughter and son in love have asked to start the tradition again. I'll be getting ideas this week for what we will eat. Since they aren't kids anymore it'll be fun doing grown up type things.
I am wearing...Oh I love this part today!I am wearing dark green corduroy shorts from Old Navy....here's the best part. I didn't wear them last year! They fit again. I just love them! And I am wearing a red t-shirt from Lands End. It has a star on the front and says 'We the people'. I probably won't wear it all day because it is kind of a heavy knit.
I am reading...grant guidelines from foundations and other funders for our ministry and I am going to start reading the book of Titus.
I am hoping...to see God's provision. And that I won't succomb to the sin of worry.
I am creating...greating cards for my churches card ministry. And I am writing a card a week to someone in our Sunday School class. (personal goal)
I am hearing...the barn cat tap the window to go outside this morning. He is mad. We found evidence of coyotes so he has to stay in at night.
Around the house...More de-cluttering. Will it ever end? And more organizing my house. Will it ever end? Although my house is pretty big there isn't as much closet space as I have had before. And only one living area. And there is no garage and no barn so I am struggling to find places to store some of that type stuff. And down size many items.
One of my favorite things...Being busy. I am always doing something. Even when I am watching t.v. I am usually handsewing or something else creative.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Prayer. There are some ministry projects that I am working on and need to be bathed in prayer. And I am praying about where God wants me to go with my blogging as a tool for ministry.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... My grandson showing off the snake skin he found. I had a report over the weekend that he caught 35 grasshoppers for his dad to go fishing with. The fishing netted 4 fish. My daughter in love says that was better than the last 7 hour trip that harvested zero fish! While my son was fishing grandson found another huge grasshopper. He saved it to disect for science. I pray for everyone to have a happy Home School year and enjoy the science classes!
Update...here's my de-clutter project.
I have been spending the day going through my husbands files for his ministry program. He is the worst about keeping track of receipts etc. We are needing some banking info. and other info. for a grant we're writing so I had to give up the grant project and organize his files. I have a photo to add but blogger isn't cooperating. But just imagine what it must be like. I have spent most of the day. Between reading other daybook entries and laundry. I must take a break from the dreaded task once in a while. And I am so glad I did because I found the neatest comment on this post! I won part of the August De-Clutter challenge! I'll write more tomorrow about that. But go over to my sidebar and find the button to find out about the de-cluttering challenge. I am sorry I haven't figured out yet how to link in a post!
Sometimes I just try and close my eyes and ask God to reach out and touch me. Reach out to me and let me know that he is there and that he does hear my cries for help. Those times when I am so lost, broken or hurt that I don't know how to put into words all the pain. That is when the scripture says that the Holy Spirit steps in and is able to go to the father for me and let him know the groaning of my heart.
A couple of years ago I was in actually that spot. The place when I was so hurt, sad and broken that nothing seemed to help.
I caution you when you read this I don't know where you stand with God. I don't know how you perceive his love or how he shows his love to you. I don't know how you perceive coincidence.
I do know that I believe in God. I believe in his word. I believe that he loves me and that he will show me if I only look. I believe that he can and use people and circumstances.
It was through circumstances that he showed me that he is with me and that he will nor forsake me. If I was really scholarly I would be able to put a verse with each point I make. I know the verses. They are in my head. I know bits and pieces but not enough to remember right now to share with you. I am ashamed at that.
But I know that I can share with you a testimony. A testimony of how God showed me he loved me and taught me that I should have patience. When I feel like the whole world is against me. He is there.
He showed me a little over two years ago. It all started one Sat. evening. I happened to be up late couldn't sleep. (this doesn't happen often) I was flipping channels looking for a girly movie. You know one of those flicks that you can watch that just take up a couple of hours of time and just give you the opportunity to just kick back and not think. Well that night there was nothing on. I kept flipping channels and happened on to the local access channel.
The local dog pound happened to be posting photo's of animals that needed to be adopted. I was not shopping for a dog. In fact my Cowboy had already mentioned that he did not want any more animals. At the time we had 3 horses,2 donkeys, 2 cats and 3rabbits. We had recently within the last year and half put down the two dogs that we raised from puppies. None of this entered my mind as I just sat and watched all the kittens and puppies that needed a home. Then I saw Daisy. There was a rolling blinkie on her photo that said "urgent". She had been there for 45 days. They normally only keep dogs for 30 days. I looked at her sweet face and my first thought was I need this dog. My second thought was. I cannot have this dog. On Sunday we went to church and had a normal day. On Monday we had a normal day. I went through regular routine of working in our ministry.
I went through the normal routine for the time of battling a depression that was killing me. You see just over 2 years ago someone that was really,really important in my life pulled away from me. Because of circumstances beyond my control my dear sweet daughter and my wonderful son in love isolated themselves from me and Cowboy. I was lost. I was depressed. I cried. I prayed. I prayed and I cried. I hoped. I asked for help from friends and other family members. They all either ignored my requests for help or just flat didn't know how to help.
I went through the motions everyday of going to the mission and ministering to kids and families. I went through the motions of going to church. I prayed. I was in the word. I was doing God's will.
How could this happen? But it did happen and I was sick and tired and lonely.
I was involved in a Bible study at our church.
On Monday I kept thinking about Daisy. I emailed the city pound and asked if she was still available. She was. I prayed about her.
And on Tuesday morning I threw caution to the wind and I stopped by the pound on my way to Bible study. I saw her. I told the officer that I would think about her and might consider her. But I did ask one important ? does she get along with cats. They were not sure. I said o.k. and left.
I went to Bible study and couldn't keep my mind on the lesson. At the end when our little group of 8 ladies began to pray. I finally broke down and told all of them what was going on with me. The amazing thing is that during the 5 weeks prior I had been the stable person of the group. I led the prayer. I prayed for everyone. I never mentioned to them how hurt I was. That day I let it all out. They all cried with me and prayed for me.
I left. I went to the pound and I picked up Daisy.
I took her home and walked in the door to find Cowboy sitting at the computer in the office. He immediately said. "What is that?" I answered and said. "My dog." I don't normally do things like this so he was totally shocked. He said. "Take it back." I said. "No." He said. "I said I don't want more dogs." I said. "I never agreed. And I am keeping her."
At this point I am sitting in a wing back chair in our office, Daisy is sitting in the floor at my feet and I lean over I put my face in her face and my arms around her neck and I begin to bawl my eyes out.
Cowboy begins to relent and says. "What are you going to do with her when you go to the mission?" I said. "I will take her with me." And I did. Here is a photo of Daisy at the mission. My Cowboy said to me. "I was studying and preparing for today's devotional and for some reason I kept reading in Isaiah a verse that says 'God hates divorce'. I couldn't figure out why I kept going to that verse. But I guess you can keep the dog." Here is a photo of Daisy and Cowboy.
Today Cowboy breaks all my rules. Like no dog in the bed. No feeding people food to dogs. When I say no she doesn't need to "go". He convinces me she should "go".
Today I know that God brought Daisy into my life to show me that he loves me. He brought Daisy to me when I needed to be held and loved I needed to feel his presence.
Today all is back to normal with our family. Today we trust in the Lord. There are still things that we don't understand but we lean and trust in God. And we enjoy our family and we love our dog because she shows us everyday that God is with us and he answers our prayers.
Sometimes I feel like everyone is against me. Sometimes I struggle with faith but I know that God has everything in control. Sometimes it is not easy. Sometimes it is really hard. But I realize that I am not promised it will be easy. I am promised though that my God loves me.
I know I am not alone.
I hope you enjoy this song. I hope that you feel God loving you. And if your ever at a time when you feel unloved or hurt remember that God does love you and that you can trust him no matter what you think. Don't lean on what you understand just open your heart and lean on him.
Then Sings My Soul...
One of my favorite things is worshp and praise music. I listen to the local Christian station whenever I am in the car or in the kitchen. I listen to the music on my cable package.
I think the reason that I enjoy this so much is because many of these songs the lyrics really speak to me and I can see them as a tool in our ministry.
The song I want to share today is Cry out to Jesus from Third Day. Below is a version I found on youtube. (don't forget to turn off my music list at the top of the page. )
This week I was working on a new project for the disadvantaged teen age girls that I work with. While working on a proposal and writing a letter to our supporters I was
reminded of one of the girls that I met last year and of a visit I made to the halfway house at Christimas.
Here's what I wrote in my letter of support for the new project.
"I remember last Christmas when I visited. One of the girls that is always smiling and cheerful wasn’t smiling. She barely looked up when I walked in. That wasn’t normal…this girl usually got in trouble for calling me over, or for stopping what she was doing and coming to greet me. I watched her for a few minutes while I walked around the room and talked to the other girls. When I finally approached she barely looked at me. I tried to make small talk to get her to open up. When small talk didn’t work I finally flat out asked “What is wrong?” She finally looked at me and said she had tried to call her mom and didn’t have a current phone number. I didn’t know what to say. I reached out and touched her arm and said. “I am sorry.” I waited a moment before I added “I know it isn’t the same but I am here.” For a brief moment she didn’t respond then she looked at me and smiled. Almost her old self but not quite. She just smiled and said. “Thank you for coming to see me.”
This girl became very special to me while I had the opportunity to work with her.
She made a huge decision in her life. The decision to follow Jesus. She learned
that when she trusted Jesus that all the things she had done and that had happened to her she was forgiven. She learned that she can "Cry out to Jesus".
Then Sings my Soul Saturday has come to be a special time for me. Rather than taking away from it's message I have decided to change Daisy's post to Sunday at least for awhile. Since in my head Sunday is all about family and Daisy is so special to us and because the subjests of her posts are either my special family members or someone else's then I think it fitting to allow my guest writer Daisy write her posts on Sunday our "family" day.
If you haven't met Daisy please come back tomorrow for a special post.
We hope your day is Blessed and your Soul is touched. By the way you can read more
Then Sings My Soul posts by clicking here.
