A little bit of me....

First, just let me say how much I love Facebook and being able to stay connected with friends and family. My cousin and I have always been so close, but the years just seem to get busier and busier and we don't get to talk like we used to. She finally joined Facebook and has been posting some pictures of us growing up. I thought I would share this one particular picture that I just loved.

(L-R) My cousin Patty, me, my sister Rachel)

Rachel seems to be snickering at something we must have done. Patty has that angelic "I didn't do it" look and I look like I'm busting at the seams trying not to laugh about whatever we had been up to.

As I enlarged the picture to get a better look at it, something struck me. This is blurry, but check out this close up of me.

Pay close attention to the wide smile and the shape of my cheeks and chin. Now check out this picture of my granddaughter, Alexis and notice the same area....

Can you see the resemeblance or is it wishful thinking on my part? She is such a precious little girl and one of the lights of my life. She does have my blue eyes, which she gets from her Daddy as well (even though his change depending on his mood). My son will be the first one to tell you that she definitely inherited my mouth. But he doesn't mean in looks.....he means because it is constantly in motion. She is much like me in that way for sure. The child can talk a blue streak. If no one is around to talk to, she will just have a conversation with her toys. I remember one trip they took to Panama City and my son told me in the 9 hour drive, she slept about 15 minutes....and talked the other 8 hours and 45 minutes.

Yes, definitely a girl after her Mamaw's own heart! I love when I can see little bits and pieces of myself in my children and grandchildren. It is wonderful to note that as long as we pass on a little bit our genes, there is a sense of immortality that we can live on long after we are gone. 



Do you suffer from blog blindness?

Some days, I suffer from a malady known (to me, at least) as "blog blindness". It's that moment when you sit down to write your blog and you draw a complete blank. What do I write about today? What is on my mind? Do I want to be serious, inspirational, motivational, silly, reminiscing, upbeat? What is my mind telling me or where is my heart leading me?

Do you ever have those days where you just sit and stare at your screen and see a blank. Now I know what an author means when they talk about writers block. I don't think it comes from lack of anything to say, maybe it is more that I have TOO much to say and can't decide. On days like this, I wish I could just type a bunch of letters on here and hope you can unscramble them into some kind of sense.

It is on those days that I think that must be what it is like when God looks into our hearts. Does He see a clean, pure heart full of love for each other or does He see a heart that is jumbled with mixed emotions. Does He see the forgiveness and nurturing that He equips us with or does He see bitterness and jealousy.

Are there days when He is proud of what He sees and are there days where He wishes He was wearing blinders because He can't understand why we harbour the feelings we do.

If God took a peek in your heart today, what would He find?

.....for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. -- 1 Samuel 16:7

How Great is Our God!

Let me just say.....OH WOW!  Monday was such a wonderful day. God has opened the doors of heaven and the blessings have poured down all day. Faith has come through again. We had two awesome church services on Sunday and at both services, I whispered a prayer and today, He has delivered. I am SOOOO blessed and SOOOO happy to give the glory to God from whom all blessings flow.

I also want to take the opportunity to wish my brother, Jack, a happy birthday today. I am just 2 1/2 years older than Jack, but I remember the day he came home from the hospital. I can even describe things that their are no pictures of and Mom says I'm right. He has been my buddy, my pal growing up. We would play cars and truck and marbles. But then I'd make him play house with me and Rachel. I love him with all my heart and hope he has a very wonderful birthday.

(The picture is a little blurry, but this was taken a couple of years ago)

Happy birthday, Jack

Be happy!

Our Sunday School lesson yesterday was from Philippians, chapter 4. It was such a great message and our teacher brought out several points that really stuck with me. Verses 4-7 identified specific actions a church should take to build unity. The first and foremost was rejoice in the Lord. Paul told us "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS and again I say rejoice." It is a short verse but he takes the time to tell us TWICE in one short verse to rejoice.

Our teacher pointed out that Christians should be the happiest people in the world. We have a mentor; a plan of salvation, a greater power to help us in our time of need. But she also stated that many Christians go around with long faces, full of gloom and doom. We have more reason than anyone to have joy, yet we fail to realize it.

Paul also tells us to "be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. In other words, he urges us not to fall apart at the seams and worry ourselves to death. We can be concerned. God wants us to have an awareness of the trials we face, but He doesn't want us to let it cause us such grief that we walk around like a bunch of Oscar the grouches all the time.

In verse 11, he sums it up like this:

"Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

The Multi-Colors of Easter

Have a blessed Sunday!



The Cross

What is the number one most pivotal point in the history of time? An old rugged cross that stood on a hill. It's story is as old as the ages but never loses its meaning or its beauty. We sing a song at church that says He grew the tree, that He knew would be, used to make the old rugged cross. Such beautiful words with such a poignant meaning.

From the beginning of the first seed that was planted, that tree was destined for great things. It was going to support the body of our dear, precious Saviour as He hung there, bruised and broken to die for each one of us. His love, His grace, His mercy all wrapped up on one lonely cross. Forsaken, but not forgotten. Battered and betrayed but not bent. Our Lord hung on that old cross and cried out to His father, but He never cried the one word that would have stopped His pain and suffering. He never said "Please stop." He simply gave and gave and gave until there was nothing left but sweet release as He cried "It is finished."

But that is when it really began. That is the one moment in time that was the most precious moment every bestowed upon mankind. The moment Jesus cried "It is finished." Our lives just began. He knew the road He had traveled for our sake was completed. The job He was sent to do was over. He had succeeded. It was finished. He would rest in a cold tomb for three days and would arise for the world to see that HE LIVES! He is our Saviour, our salvation, our guiding hand. He is the rock we lean on, the shoulder we cry on and the friend we turn to. HE IS LORD.

I for one am glad that God grew that old tree. I am glad that Jesus did not give up the duty that lay before Him. It breaks my heart and makes me cry when I think of what they did to my precious Lord on that brutal day. But it fills my heart to overflowing when I realize He did it all for ME!

I'm linky to My Little Life. Thanks for the invitation!

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

That's an easy one, it would be my shape. I sometimes think my tummy sticks out as much in front as my rear does in the back.

2. Write about a time when you got lost.

My daughter and I were out in her new Dodge Shadow. We were on a road we had never traveled. I thought we had missed our turn-off, so I crossed over the median to retrace our steps. We passed a truck that kept weaving like he was drunk and I realized we had not put our seat belts back on at the gas station. Seeing him weave reminded us of the fact, so we did. We went back down the road a piece, crossed over again and started back. As we were driving back down the road, a car came speeding off an on-ramp and did not slow or yield. He plowed right into our rear end at about 60 mph. Totaled the car, but thankfully we were not hurt bad. Just a lot of bruises and stiffness. If we had not been lost, we would have missed the hit, but thanks to the weaving driver, we had our seat belts on.

3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

When the kids were younger, we did a lot of camping and it always seemed to rain. But how I loved those damp mornings, wearing hubby's flannel shirt while he made bacon, eggs and fried potatoes on that old camp stove. But now that I'm older and wiser, camping? Not so much. I do not require a 5 star hotel every time, but nowadays my idea of roughing it is when the hotel does not have at least a microwave and a refrigerator.

4. Have you donated blood?

One time. Over the years, I have found that I have low iron and am continually at a risk of becoming anemic, which has happened quite frequently, so it was recommended that I did not give blood since I never know when I am on the verge of becoming anemic again. I can usually feel when my iron is low and eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches over a period of several days can help level it back out and keeps me off any kind of medication for the deficiency.

5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

We do have a budget and stick to it extremely well. In the budget, we allot me an allowance each week. Now ask me if I budget my allowance and stick to it? Well, not so much. Since I know it is my "spending money" I do just that...I spend it and enjoy every moment of it. There is no guilt attached that way, because it was already budgeted for. And if I don't spend it all, I get to keep it and add it to the next week's allowance for a bigger shopping spree. Taking an allowance was one of the best financial moves we ever made.