Walking in the Shadows

  See that mess? It's not very beautiful, but this was my view Wednesday night when I was out of commission due to pain and such. The boys went on to church and I assured them I could handle the little one as I reclined with the heating pad and pain medicine. I looked at the messy room and wanted to jump and fix the mess, I wanted to stop looking at it, the mess was affecting my rest.   And wham! Right in my face, the Lord gives me a very important lesson. You've heard the saying "a beautiful mess" (I think there is a book called that too)? Yes, me too, but until I was looking straight at it, I had never really seen it. I have three wonderful, noisy, happy, homeschooling kids. There is a LOT of beautiful mess in my house, but sometimes I'm just too busy to see it.  But on this night, I saw it, every bit of it, and it was beautiful.   What must my Lord see when he looks at me? A mess? For. Sure. Yet, he sees something he wants, something he desi...

*I’ve been trying to write this post for a week, and I just can’t seem to get the words out of my head and onto the screen. There are times in our life when the feelings are just to raw to make them sound pretty or correct, there are times when you just have to get them out. That is my disclaimer for this post.   Can you go 10 whole days without praise? I think you can, I think I did. Can you be thankful but not praiseful? The week of surgery, I was prepared, at peace and even excited about it. The Lord had given me great peace and I truly had no fear. I thought what a great opportunity surgery would be for me to practice my praise. I finished Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts and was well on my way to recording my own personal One Thousand Gifts. I packed my little notebook along with my things for the hospital and was ready, like I was about to embark on a great adventure. Surgery went well, even with a little complication, and I was so happy to have the w...

I thought it only appropriate to have a Thankful Thursday on Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for, I love this time of year when we pause and really think of our blessings. So, here is my list, it is a very condensed version but these are the things I am especially thankful for this week! Answered Prayer My Brother My Sister in Law Obedience Family White Lights Blonde Hair Front Loading Washing Machine Mom's Thanksgiving Ham New Traditions Grace Undeserved Forever Friends who Care 3.9% Interest Rate The Bible The Holy Spirit My Life Change (ach, this is a tough one) Here's to hoping you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With school about to start for us I have been thinking about our summer and the fun we have had just being together. So, today is going to be a Thankful Thursday... 1. Afternoon Thunderstorms 2. New Recipes 3. Parents (so thankful mine are ALWAYS there) 4. Sunday Family Dinners 5. Having a 10 year old Man! (Yes he is growing up) 6. Fridays with my Momma 7. The Bible 8. A Husband who plays 9. Grace 10. True Worship 11. Toddler Messes 12. Homemade Bread 13. Bargains!! (spent $115 for this not counting meat and cold items at Bargain Food Store. And I got a TON of Organic items) 14. Marriage (13 years the 28th) 15. Joy 16. River Fun 17. Peace 18. God's Will 19. Forever Friends 20. God's Provision What are you thankful for today?

The last few weeks have been full of surprises for me and not all of them pleasant! So today, I decided it was time to just be thankful. There is a great blog I read (Sacred Mundane) where every Friday, she ends her week with what she is thankful for. It has been an encouragement to me these last few weeks, I am learning that whether you are in physical pain, plagued with sickness, experiencing financial turmoil, emotional pain, spiritual warfare or any other trial, the quickest way to put a smile on your face is to be thankful. So today, we are going to have a Thankful Thursday.   1. Salvation 2. Air conditioning (repaired this week) 3. Days without pain 4. Green Tomatoes 5. Fireworks 6. Freedom to disagree 7. Kool-aid ice pops 8. Reading with my kiddos 9. My Man 10. Prayer 11. Answered Prayer 12. “I Love You” from my boys 13. My little girl’s excitement when Daddy comes home 14. Being Needed 15. Being Loved 16. Peace 17...