Five Precious Reminders

 This is what happens when my camera falls into someone elses' hands..........

 And they often remind me that I need to smile more..........frown a lot less.

 They remind me that life is too short to be so serious, so matter of fact all the time. They remind me that it's ok to be spontaneously silly. They bring to mind the little girl I once knew.......She is still here, when I invite her to come Play.

It's seeing their smiles that makes my heart melt. It's their deep belly laughter that tickles my soul all the way to my toes.

They remind me how truly blessed this Mama is.......That My true calling, my most precious role in this life is being their Mama.

I'm often asked "How do you manage?"  How do you do it?" My answer.........I'm in love with five of the most precious gifts God has chosen me to give birth to, to welcome into this world with open arms. I was made to be a Mama. I was made to be their Mama.

I'm THANKFUL for my FIVE Precious Reminders..........

Sweet Simple Memories

THANKSGIVING......This is the time of year I yearn to be up home. It's been so long since I've held my Mama, since I've smelled that sweet Mama smell. My Soul longs for her embrace. It's amazing to me how much I miss her touch...........

Thankful for my Mama. Thankful for all she has taught me. Thankful for her sweet Mama love. Thankful for her loving embrace. And even though we are apart I feel her love wrapped around my heart.......always.

As each year passes by I keep her traditions.  Apple crumb pie, butternut squash, Slow overnight roasting turkey, and Sweet Pumpkin Pie. I add a few dishes of my own. All of this while I watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I do these things to keep her here with me while we celebrate Thanksgiving apart.

It never fails, each year we call eachother  to compare notes, to see how the other is doing. "I got my pies done." Me too Mama. "I put Tom in last night, the house is smelling good. I can't keep your father out of the kitchen, you know how he gets?" I know Mama, I remember.

Thankful for memories.......Sweet simple memories.

I love you Mama!

Sharper Than Any Double-Edged Sword

I dig deep, pull hard and grab my faith. I look for the light. I grasp for the words, I hold on to The Word. And sometimes His word speaks soft and gentle. Like the sun light streams through the window warming all that it finds.

 and sometimes........sometimes more often than not His word hits hard and drives deep. Splitting you wide open, baring all that needs light. All the dark places of the soul.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I am no stranger to the conviction of His living breathing word. I am no stranger to being split wide open, all of the darkest places needing light.

I hurt when I realize that words said might of offended a friend. I aim to please, I try and do my best to be kind and gentle. The people pleasing side of me wants everyone to be my friend..........But in reality, in this world there is little room for error, little room to be human. And there are times when I may not be forgiven.

But it's not this life that I cling to...........I must have, I need, I want the Cross. He is the Master of Forgiveness. To Him I am Faithful. And although I don't want to hurt with words said........ I will not apologize for His word Spoken

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

My heart, it does hurt..........but I can't.........I won't walk away from the TRUTH.

I'm praying for bridges to be mended and Truth to be revealed............

Firm Foundation

My man had this house built for us 4 years ago. His love and sacrifice for his family never ceases to amaze me. I was told by a very dear friend that "before you even move 1 piece of furniture in, pray in every room. Pray down every hall way. Pray that this house will be a blessing to all who will enter into it."

So that's what I did.......I went in every room, I prayed for each child in each of their rooms. I prayed that this house would bring comfort to them, a secure feeling that they will always have a place to lay their heads. I prayed for lots of laughter.........I prayed for the friends who would be sharing this space with them. I prayed this home would stand strong in any storm.

I prayed for the ones who would be sitting at our table.......I prayed for God to send us people to sit at our table. So that we could feed them, laugh with them, share with them, and love on them. I prayed that all would feel welcome. They would feel like this was their home away from home. Most of all my prayer was for all to see the Love of Christ in our hearts.

I prayed for things taught and wisdom gained. I prayed for questions unafraid to ask........for answers unafraid to give. I prayed for dreams with no limits. I prayed for a Rock Solid Foundation.........before they left this home to make a home of their own.

I prayed our Bible never needed dusting..........I prayed for unapolegetically sharing His word, unashamed. I prayed for the growing......the growth of our souls. This home was built on ROCK the strongest foundation there is. And even though this house is just a house.......It's the people living in God's word that make it a HOME.

And I stand here........The word thankful just doesn't seem to.......it just doesn't seem to be enough. Do you know that since I prayed over this Beautiful home that God has blessed us with............We have entertained and welcomed in so many. From Truck drivers, to long time friends, from church family, to family and even a stranger or two, but they were quick to become our friends. The wisdom, it still continues to come. Sometimes in small doses, sometimes in hard to swallow moments, but it still comes. Oh and the laughter, it seems to rise more often than not. I know the storms will come, but I also know we stand on a firm foundation and with Him we can weather any storm!

THANKFUL!

I Should Be Sleeping

 I should be sleeping...........

 Because believe it or not, she is.........sleeping.

 The first night in a couple of weeks she chooses to sleep all the way through............I can't sleep.

Isn't she amazing? And even though my body says go back to bed, my heart wants to wake her up and rock her just for a moment..........And she is Love, Made from Love, Sent with Love, Given in Love. And I love how they all love her, how they all fight over her.  I love how little man did not want anything to do with her, but now.........now he would be so heart broken with out her.

I'm in love.............I'm in love with all of my babies, big and small. I'm in Thankful Praise this early morning. Thankful praise before the sun rises and streams beams of light through their windows. I'm in Thankful praise to the Giver of life.

She's awake............................

The Beauty In The Mess

Sometimes beauty can be so obvious, and sometimes I miss the beauty in the mess. I know it's there, I've seen it before, many times. When I remember to slow down. When I remember to forget..........to forget about the mess.

He was sitting on the floor with paper punch in hand and hundreds of little paper pieces surrounding his little boy feet. The yelling came before the eyes could see the beauty......I was so absorbed in the mess that I missed it. And when I turned around to look at this boy who said he "always wants to be my baby", his eyes welled with tears, barely able to get the words out.... "But Mama, I was just making you something special. Your favorite leaves."

I knew instantly I had to right the wrong I had done. I swept him up in my arms and hugged him......oh soo tight. I'm so sorry, I said. Won't you go and take your picture in the other room and finish it for me, So I can be surprised? Oh and Kole leave the mess........I'll pick it up for you son. Sometimes the beauty is in the mess.

"Live Life"

She remembers.......she remembers the everyday normal "living life" kind of stuff. The things that were always a given to me, things that were always a part of growing up in that old 2 story house on West avenue.

 It's just a pile of wood............

 It was just everyday normal routine for us. This "Living Life".

You remember my Mama's cinnamon sticks????
"Oh my Heavens yes I remember the cinnamon sticks. I used to love them. I remember the way your house used to smell in the morning before school. A mix of coffee aroma and wood stove smoke. It was such a warm and welcoming smell to me for... some reason. This time of year really brings the memories back...the apples in the yard and having to pick them up...getting wood and stacking it in your basement. Those are such wonderful memories for me. It's probably strange to most people but just being able to "live life" with your family was one of the greatest blessings in my life..I am forever grateful. Now, I try and let others in to our home to "live life" with us."

It's amazing to me how the little, ordinary run of the mill kind of things can make such an impact on some one's life.  How our life affected this childhood friend of mine. This little girl I often think about. The little girl my parents would of gladly taken in to be their own, if they could of. There was nothing extravagant about our life, no frills, no bells, no whistles. It was just an ordinary life. A home filled with warmth and love. I know the memories of her home are ones that she would rather forget. I know the scars run deep. But I also know that she has a forgiving heart because her Savior lives there. 

The smell of wood smoke still lingers in my memory too.......A memory of always having a warm loving home. A memory she only knows because my parents let her "Live Life" with us every chance that was given her.

 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing so, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

You will never know how much you could touch a person's life unless you open your door, light a candle and put a pot of coffee on. You will never know the impact you might have when you teach your kids responsibility, even if its just stacking wood in the cellar. You will never know how much it means to your daughters if you don't spend time with them in the kitchen. You will never know the imprint you will have on one of your child's friends if you don't welcome them into your home.

You will never know................Unless you "Live Life".




180. My Childhood Friend
182. The smell of our wood stove
183. Cinnamon Sticks
184. Every day ordinary things
185. "Living Life"

Pieces To This Ever Changing Puzzle

As a Mama, I have learned over the years that I play a big part in how the day starts out.......Where ever my mood swings, where ever it ends up, so too, will their moods be. I still forget, I still let my mood swing out of control, but I'm happy to report that my mood swings up more often than down now. It's now that I know each day is ripe with possibities.

You see, when you asked to be molded. You must prepare for the molding. Have Faith in the Refiner. I asked, and He made me aware of the places I seem to fall short. Oh and don't get me wrong I will always fall short. I'm not perfect. This sin soaked Mama is still learning and growing. The difference is, that I am growing in Him. And all of those empty, broken pieces in my heart are being filled with all of His warm loving pieces. Pieces to this ever changing puzzle.

I am a more loving Mama because I BELIEVE, I have FAITH in my FATHER. And like a caring, loving Father corrects his daughter, He is putting the pieces to my puzzle back together His way. And I am Grateful, I am Humbled, I am Blessed!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

I've been searching my computer for lovely pictures, so that I could put lovely words with them. I came across this one.....Sometimes the words just aren't there. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.................Tonight I have nothing. There is nothing I could say that this picture hasn't already said.

Remembering His open arms stretched far and wide, as we share Open Door Sunday together.

Blessings to you and yours. May your hearts be open to what He wants you to hear this Sunday.

The Stones Will Cry Out!

 Behind every silver lining..........

 Above and below every hanging cloud...........

 In every mirrored image.........

 With every graceful flight........

 If you can't hear His creation, you are not listening. If you can't see the created you are not looking. If your not among the miracles than you are not among the living. You and I were created..............

With tree tops stretching their green canopy higher than their roots are deep. And the soaring feathered ones, perfect in flight, create a graceful, peace about them.
His creation cries out, I HAVE A CREATOR!

And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, saying,


"BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."

And He answered and said, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

Luke 19:37-40

Don't stay silent, you have a Creator. Praise God with a loud and joyful noise!

Autumn's Jewels

Two large, black garbage bags filled with Autumn's Jewels. I had only asked for a small bag, just a hand full would of pleased me. These two bags made it 1200 miles on the back of My Daddy's Big Truck.

But if you knew her, if you knew my Beautiful Sister, you would understand her "all or nothing" attitude towards life. She has always been that way........Ever since I can remember. And that's what I love about her. I love that she goes all out and leaves nothing left unchecked.

We took a break from the books, and even I took a break from being a grown up.

Did I tell you about the smell that consumed every thought that my mind had held captive after all these years, when I opened the bag? I'm sure I left my head in the bag for a good couple of minutes. Oh the memories blowing by with the wind. Like the leaves that get picked up with each gust, they dance in the sky and I imagine two little girls dancing in a whirl wind of Autumn's jewels.

I love the people in my life.........All these wonderful people are like Autmn's Jewels. Each with their own color, shape and size. All the Precious Jewels that God blows through my life. This is the time of year to remember to be Thankful. And I am..................Thankful, I mean.

But most of all in this particular post I want My Precious sister to know how truly thankful I am that I have always had her in my life. And I remember dancing in a whirl wind of Autumn's Jewels. So here's to you, my precious sister, my precious friend, here's to dancing in the wind and going all out or nothing.

175. Autumn's Jewels
176. The People In My Life
177. Dancing in a Whirl Wind
178. My Precious Sister
179. Memories

The Battle Of Light And Dark

I have often talked about Light. I've often talked of how important the rays of the Son are..........

But I must confess..........My eyes, they wanted no part of light.

I was sick all last week. Sick with fever, shivers and chills. The aches and pains were some times more than I could bare.

Illness is of the "dark one" The pain and suffering all starts with him.

And I, in my room wishing the light would go away. I was praying that magical curtains would appear and drape every window of my room. Because the curtains that I have are transparent, for the letting of LIGHT. A battle was raging inside of me. My flesh was fighting the Light.

Isn't that how it is before we accept His light, before we soak in the Son's rays?

Eventually after 3 long days of the Sun spilling through my windows, my eyes were able to take it in. And when the battle was won. The Victory was in the Remembering.........Remembering the frailty of life, Remembering to be thankful for your health. It's remembering to fall to your knees for those who have falllen ill. It's knowing that the Son has VICTORY over flesh, He has won the battle, He has fought the fight.

And in time, when the last battle rages within  and this body can no more, fight.............My Soul ..........She will take FLIGHT, out of the darknes she will soar to SOAK in the SON'S rays for the rest of her ETERNAL LIFE!