Marriage Monday

Sometimes I have to be reminded . . .

God gave me my Cowboy.  For better. For worse.  For the ups and the downs and the days of doubt  And believe me the last couple of years there have been a lot more downs than ups.  And many days of doubt.  When I don't hear kind words.  When there isn't any romance . . .

Sometimes I need a reminder.  In case you need a little remider today. 



Thanking God today for my Cowboy . . .

Happy Marriage Monday

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for God's patience.  Again!  The last few months have provided many challenges for me and my Cowboy husband.  We have had to spend many days trusting in God.  And, I have to admit sometimes it is really hard.  Lately our shedule has been really demanding.  We've both been looking for jobs.  Working the current jobs.  Keeping up with ministry (we mentor and provide Chapel Services at a boys re-hab).  Lately the challenges have kept me from spending time in the word.  I have struggled finding a quiet time to read my Bible. And sometimes when I do find time I am so tired that I can't concentrate.  And sometimes I fall asleep!  It is frustrating.  But, I know my God understands.  I know he is patient with me. 

I am also thankful that God provides.  When we really needed it God provided me with a 'little' job that provided enough hours to help pay rent this month, buy some gas and a few groceries.   And, when we least expected it a small church in our area gave us some money to help us out!  

God provides!  Thank you God! 

So has God shown you his love by providing for you?  What are you Thankful for today? 

Praying you see God's love today! 

Wordfilled Wednesday HELLO

Welcome to Wordfilled Wednesday . . .

Joining Amy Deanne again for Wordfilled Wednesday.  I know that many visitors on Wednesdays are Christians and participate in in WFW.  But I thought todays photo and verse is perfect to share with our friends that have not yet met our Jesus.  Please feel free to post on your blog or facebook.
Pas it on.  Say . . .
Hello
 
Please visit Amy Deanne at Internet Cafe for more Wordfilled Wednesday posts.  Click here for more posts.

Book Review A Quilt Book

Recently I was lucky to find this book at the library.  I picked it up and started looking at the amazing photo's. And then I realized that I knew who the author is!  I had been following her blog for awhile!

I loved the book once I got it home and started getting into it!   I love all the quilts in the book.  The instructions are clear.  And the projects in the book are all pretty simple for the beginner quilter.  Even the more advance projects are simple.   There is one applique project that is beautiful but it has a lot of tiny pieces to applique.  But it is a beautiful quilt! 
Elizabeth has a unique way of cutting and organizing (managing) all the pieces of fabric for each quilt. 
The instructions are easy to follow.  And I guarantee you'll successfully make a beautiful quilt if you buy this book.  Or if your lucky enough to find it at the library.
My favorite quilt in the book is this one . . .

I have this quilt started.  Mine is pink and lime green.  I am making it as a donation quilt.  It will go to a little girl living at Christ's Haven Childrens Home in Keller, Texas.  Click here to go to their website.  I have challenged myself and a few friends to make quilts for the children this year.  We have 30 quilts to make! 

Hopefully I'll get some sewing time this week to get the pink/lime version completed.  I have a blue version cut out and ready to begin piecing. 

The book is available at Amazon.  Click here.  If you go to the Amazon link you can look inside the book!   I am sure it is available at your local quilt shop.  Or maybe your library!  Check it out! 

So since your off to check out Elizabeth's great book  I'll get back to the sewing room now!  

Happy sewing!

Things That Make Me Smile Today

Just sharing a few things that are makin' me smile.

First this great quilt from Elizabeth Hartman.  I recently got the book at the library and I am making my own version of this quilt  . . .

I am lovin' this quilt.  Elizabeth titled her's Kitchen Window.  I loved it when I saw it on her blog. Then
I found the book at the library so I was super happy.  And I smiled! Click here to visit Elizabeth's blog.

A photo I have had in my photo files for awhile.  (I always save horse photo's)

I have this plan once I have a pantry again for it to look something like this.  Well organized and pretty.  I found this one today. Never thought of painting the inside something fun like this.  And I am thinking Red.  Lovin' this one.  The dogs kind a cute too! 

And from my Wordfilled Wednesday files.  This is one of my favorites.  I found the photo and added the the verse.  Today a friend posted on facebook that we can't take 'thing's with us to heaven.  And that

all the 'things' that are important to us now in this world won't be important when we are in heaven.  But that what is important are the people that we take with us.   

And so today.  I pray that if you came by to see some of the things that are making me smile today that your smiling too because your goin' with me to Heaven.   I am praying that you are following Jesus today. 

Well those are just a few things that are makin' me smile today.  How about you?  What is makin' you smile?

Blue Monday Borrowed Blue Part 2

Welcome to Blue Monday today I decided to share a few more borrowed Blue's.  Here's a little tour . . .

First I started at my friend Becky's and found some wonderful vintage Blue's.  

Then I decided to check out pinterest . . .

I am really lovin' aqua and red.  I think I'll be doin' some decorating like this.  Adorable.  

On my next stop I found a fun Easter party in Blue of course . . .

Love the little cake.  Click here to find more party photo's at Ribbonwood Cottage.

And for more Blue's go visit Sally. Click here.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope today's Blues made you smile.  Come by next week for more Blues.

Things That Make Me

Smile Today  . . .

Adorable feet . . .

 

Maybe not adorable but cool . . .

And,

So how about you.  What makes you smile today?

Simple Sunday

Glory in the Lord; O worshipers of God, rejoice.  Search for him and for his strength, and
keep searching! Psalms 105:3,4 (The Living Bible)

May you have a simply Blessed Sunday

Borrowed Blue Monday

Welcome tooooooooooo Blue Monday
I have been having fun lately giving my Blue Monday posts titles.
So today I wanted to call my post Borrowed Blue. 

Here are a few 'borrowed' Blues . . .

 First from our hostess with the mostest Sally.  It says it all I think . . .

I love the amazing imagines I find over at my friend Rachel Anne's.  I love her daily inspirations, suggestions and encouragements to be better wives and homemakers.  Click here to visit Rachel Anne.  .

I really don't like thinking about laundry.  But wouldn't you love a laundry room like this?  And it's Blue.  What more could you ask for.  Except maybe someone to do all the laundry.  This I found at a new friends.  Check out Brook's blog.  Amazing DIY ideas click here.

And from the sweet blog by Becca.  I love this photo.  Doesn't it make you smile?  Click here to visit Becca's Bluebird and Roses blog. 

So I hope you enjoyed the Blue's that I borrowed.  Go by and see my friends and say 'hi'.  And don't forgot

all the other Blue posts linked over at Sally's! 

But wait . . . Before you go I was gonna give you a hint about the post I have planned

for next week.   Hint...What's in a name? 

Smiling (with Sally) Along the Journey . . . .



Friday Praise

I don't know about you but I have had the busiest, craziest week!  I am a woman of timing and scheduling.
And this week has been nothing of either.  It has been so crazy I haven't had any quiet time and so my Bible
looks like this! 

So sad.  I am so behind on reading.  And I have to admit that things have been such a struggle and we have so many challenges and struggles that I have had difficulty praying.  I have been leaning on the Holy Spirit.
I prayed this morning and just told the Father...  " I have no words. I don't know how to put it into words."  But I did have so many praises.  And so I thanked him for those!

And one of those Praises is you.  I love you guys that write devotionals and share verses and encouragement.

So even when the house isn't quiet enough to read my Bible I can usually stop in your blogs and get some encouragement.

So today I am thankful for you!  I am thankful for all the amazing bloggers out there that write and encourage each other. 

And I am thankful for my new follower!  Sis...I'll be over soon to follow you!  Thank you for the sweet words of encouragement. 

So do you have some Praisin' to do this Friday?

A Happy Day or Not

And so I ask myself..."Who am I that I have anything to whine about?"  or  "Cry about?" 

There are some days that I let things get me down.  There are some days that I admit it that I do question God.  Yep I do.  I ask questions like Why me Lord? or Will this burden ever end?  And on and on.

I bet you know what I am talking about.  Those times when pressures and things of this world just get you down.  When you see no light at the end of the tunnel. 

But . . . one day we will have endless joy and perfect peace.  Yes one day when we see Jesus face to face
he will wipe all our tears away. 

And so, I/we must live this life waiting for that day.  And remember that even while we are waiting he is collecting our tears in his hand. 

I was thinking this morning I need to just "buck up" and "get over" all the things that are getting me down. 
So I declare this A Happy Day. 

Maybe your a bit down.  Maybe your not convinced.  Watch the video.  It'll make you smile.




Oh Happy Day

I was sure by now . . .

Leaning on these words  . . .  "I'm with you."  Trusting God is with me.

Facing many challenges right now.  I miss writing.  I miss sharing my thoughts with you guys.  I miss encouraging you. 

I am visiting you.  Sometimes I am able to comment sometimes not. 

And, I am leaning on these words . . . "I'm with you."




While I trust.  While I wait.  Would you say a prayer for me.   

I am sure He is with me.  I am sure He is with you.

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 . . .