Everyday Blessings...

It's our sweet Wesley's Birthday this week. It is not easy to put into words what our children mean to us. I think if you are an empty nester right now you probably know what I mean.  There are days that it is wonderful just being back to the two of us. Just us. But, there are also days that we look back and want to push the replay button. At this stage in life when we glance back fondly at those cherished childhood days, it all swirls in our minds as tears sting our eyes. Happy tears, but yes, tears. Some days we really miss those little guys.Words cannot express the joy that the years spent with them brought. We now celebrate having our precious girl to love also. These big gentle giants are taking wing and out making their way on their own in this big world. It's as it should be. But we remember, and smile and are so very thankful for the blessing of being their parents. Our youngest is: Gentle, old fashioned, kind, sentimental, funny, rough around the edges...

Hey! This post gives a rundown of last Saturday. Folks hold the presses. Some exciting stuff here!  (Not really, but we had a nice day.) We are trying really hard to eat organic and to up our veggie intake right now.  Sometimes I will buy the veggies and just don't take the time to cut them up where they will be ready to eat. If they are there to grab, cut up and ready to eat then I am more inclined to eat them and not grab chips or something else that is not so good for me. (Trying hard not to even buy chips- they call my name.) Anyway, the bowl below is just organic cauliflower, broccoli, bell pepper and avocado with organic Leo's Italian dressing. Very few calories and lots of nutrition. My Naturalpath says we need to get our veggie intake up to 70 percent of our diet. Ouch. Well- I'll try but that is a hard request.  I'm hoping to start really loving it soon.  I wish they made potato chip flavored dressing. :)  The skies finally cleared for a...

Join us as we pray everyday at 7:03 am for the persecuted church and for ourselves as we realize our idols in our lives that we must lay down and give over to God. He is to be on the throne of our hearts. The verse above speaks of the idols of Baal or Ashtoreth that were worshipped in early days and who knows, may still be worshipped. Could our idols possibly be sports for our children and watching sports for adults? Other idols for us seem to include television and movies and music or making idols out of our children instead of teaching them the fear and awesomeness of the Lord and the fact that life is not about them. Of course, there are many more like sex and food and possessions, etc., and on and on. I am praying that God can help us identify our idols in our lives and take them down a notch below the top of the throne. I don't feel as if we have to do away with some of these more harmless things we enjoy, but to have the right priorities about where they f...

I have never really thought about or focused on Lent before. It is not a practice that the Christians that we fellowship with have ever focused on or thought about much. So- I looked it up and this was the first definition that popped up: Lent (Latin: Quadragesima - English: Fortieth) is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday.   And this: Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.  The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ- His suffering and His sacrifice, His life, death, burial and resurrection.  Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by the Roman Catholics.   The Bible does not mention the c...

I hope that your Valentines Day was a happy one.  Truthfully- I don't care for it much.  You see, people should love and cherish each other on every day that exists on the calendar.  I have a husband that does that beautifully and I am thankful.  The pressure that goes along with doing something fabulous on Valentines is enough to make me pull my hair out. I guess that is just a cop out in a way to allow me to be lazy or not care, but I do truly hate the pressure. I also feel sorry for people that find themselves single on this day of love and cherubs and flowers and chocolates. I have been there too, years ago and I recently saw the tears of a person I love talking about how it is painful to see all the exchanges of love by couples on Valentines Day. She has a heart of gold and knows that God is enough and is her Valentine, but still, it is hard. Anyway, I say all of this because it is how I have always felt.  So- this Valentines, I did not want to be the...

Hey friends! Wow, the New Year is FLYING!!  You know when you are about to have an empty nest (those sweet kids are flying away) and wonder what you will do with all of your time and you think you will just sit around and cry and watch the time tick past? Well- who ever said that is crazy!! We are working and busy with church and some travels and many other fun things this life has to offer. As the days fly by I realize more and more that the statement above and below in these pictures is very accurate. Coffee is pretty mandatory every day not just because of the caffeine content but also because it just tastes good and is warm and comforting. It's a thing.  But...more importantly, is the fact that I need Jesus a lot more than I need coffee and I need a whole lot of Him . Kind of like when I take the bread plate during communion and sometimes my thought is "I need to eat the whole cracker!" Not because of hunger of course, but because I am THAT thankful for the savin...

Yes- well, not too fat but the kind of uncomfortable fluffiness that is just irritating!! So...this is where we decided to start our new 2015 year early this morning. Planet Fitness!! I promise, I might be REALLY fat if I did not have a wonderful husband that encourages me to exercise. I love how I feel after I workout. It's getting a little easier attitude wise after all these years.  Thank goodness!! Fluffiness BE GONE!!  We also started this day in a renewed effort to include this yummy green drink back into our routine daily. Here though, is the part of the day I am looking forward to. :) As my husband has been heard saying more than once- "It is stinkin-eyed-dog cold" here today. We are not having ice or snow like so many but rain and in the 30's is chilly. SO- it's soup time!! I found this recipe for Cream Cheese Chicken Chili a month or so ago and have made it several times since. LOVE IT!! Here is my very, very lazy way of giving yo...