Saturday, November 29, 2014
Thursday, November 27, 2014
A Spirit of Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving
I Am Thankful for:
Pumpkin pies
Stuffing
Turkey
Gravy
Cranberry sauce
Visiting with family
Football on TV
Helpful cashiers
A new Christmas tree skirt
Soup in the crock pot on a cold day
Long text "conversations" with my sisters
A cup of hot tea
Staying in on a cold day
Starbucks free birthday drink
Getting a price adjustment on new stocking - 40% off!
Grand baby saying "it's beautiful! "
A forecast for snow
Quiet early mornings
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
You're You, Not Them
Stop comparing yourself to others! Seriously... just stop!
It's not about what they have done. What they will do. What they have accomplished. That's theirs. Not yours. Not you. Don't judge yourself according to that.
Judge yourself only based on your own merits. Your talents. Your actions. Your accomplishments. What you know you are capable of doing.
Consider only what God thinks of you, not what other people may or may not think.
Your worth doesn't come from whether or not you measure up to what everyone else is doing. Only if you are living up to the plans set for you. If you are walking in obedience to God.
Are you growing? Are you improving? Are you becoming closer to God each day?
Stop trying to be like everyone else. Stop trying to be like anyone else. Just be the best YOU.
(I might have to come back every single day and remind myself why I wrote this!)
It's not about what they have done. What they will do. What they have accomplished. That's theirs. Not yours. Not you. Don't judge yourself according to that.
Judge yourself only based on your own merits. Your talents. Your actions. Your accomplishments. What you know you are capable of doing.
Consider only what God thinks of you, not what other people may or may not think.
Your worth doesn't come from whether or not you measure up to what everyone else is doing. Only if you are living up to the plans set for you. If you are walking in obedience to God.
Are you growing? Are you improving? Are you becoming closer to God each day?
Stop trying to be like everyone else. Stop trying to be like anyone else. Just be the best YOU.
(I might have to come back every single day and remind myself why I wrote this!)
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
False Gods
"Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods."
~ 2 Kings 17 38
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| photo - publicdomainpictures.net |
This verse stuck with me the other day. I kept coming back to in my mind throughout the day. Wondering...
What are my "other gods"?
False gods aren't always golden calves. Or mythical beings from past civilizations.
Anything that comes between us and the one TRUE God.
Anything that distracts us from pursuing Him and His best for us.
Anything - anywhere - we focus all of our time, attention and adoration.
The things of this world that take our eyes off the Father and His Son. Away from His Truth. Away from His promises.
These are our "other gods".
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
A Spirit of Gratitude - November 21
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| photo - publicdomainpictures.net |
I Am Thankful for 22 Years Filled With
Love
Laughter
Friendship
Acceptance
Support
Encouragement
Arguments
Romance
Bad puns (and a few good ones)
Parenting together
Shared joys
Shared losses
Vacations in Charleston
Romance
Bad puns (and a few good ones)
Parenting together
Shared joys
Shared losses
Vacations in Charleston
Sunburns
Family holidays
Birthdays
Family holidays
Birthdays
Blizzards
Hurricanes
Reenactments
Naval Reserve weekends
A trip to New Orleans
New jobs
Lost jobs
New houses
Facial hair and not
A Disney World trip
Home brewing
Finding the perfect Christmas tree
Vacations at the Outer Banks
Long drives to Ohio and Florida
Becoming grandparents
Trips to Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge
Home Makeovers
Hiking Trips
Reenactments
Naval Reserve weekends
A trip to New Orleans
New jobs
Lost jobs
New houses
Facial hair and not
A Disney World trip
Home brewing
Finding the perfect Christmas tree
Vacations at the Outer Banks
Long drives to Ohio and Florida
Becoming grandparents
Trips to Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge
Home Makeovers
Hiking Trips
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
~ 1 Corinthians 13 13
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Are You Living In Fear?
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do
not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you
go."
~ Joshua 1 9
~ Joshua 1 9
How much of what we do - or don't do - in life in driven by fear?
Fear of discomfort. Fear of stepping outside our comfort zones. Fear of not having enough. Not being enough. Fear of failure. Being found lacking in some way. Fear of disapproval. Rejection. Embarrassment. Of being hurt.
Do we let these fears control us? Distract us? Dictate to us?
I timidly raise my hand and truthfully admit that I do. (Timidly... there's that fear again. Fear that all of you reading this will judge me for this and find me lacking.)
When I should be allowing only God - His truth, His promises, what He has to say about me and what he wants for me - to guide me and lead me.
Not the fear.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
He Was Bigger Than The Imagination
He grew up in Texas.He may have left the state, but the Texas never left him.
When he married his bride, he also married her 5 (count 'em FIVE) children. And then had 4 more with her.
I was never sure what he did exactly, but it had something to do with computers - back before computers were common. Back when they filled a room. So I was sure he must be very smart.
He would serenade little girls with songs like "You are my sunshine"
He smoked constantly. I remember him tearing the filters off his cigarettes when he couldn't buy them without any more.
He was tall and thin and always wore a cowboy hat.
Because of both the above things - my sisters and I used to say he was like the real life Marlboro Man.
He lived in exotic places like... New Mexico!
And took me to see new places... like White Sands and across the border to Mexico.
And then he lived in an RV, traveling the country. How cool was that?!?
He always seemed bigger than life. Until today. It's hard to believe that now he is gone.
RIP Grand-daddy. You'll always be my sunshine.
When he married his bride, he also married her 5 (count 'em FIVE) children. And then had 4 more with her.
I was never sure what he did exactly, but it had something to do with computers - back before computers were common. Back when they filled a room. So I was sure he must be very smart.
He would serenade little girls with songs like "You are my sunshine"
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| picture available as FREE printable at http://www.designerblogs.com/you-are-my-sunshine-free-printable/ |
He smoked constantly. I remember him tearing the filters off his cigarettes when he couldn't buy them without any more.
He was tall and thin and always wore a cowboy hat.
Because of both the above things - my sisters and I used to say he was like the real life Marlboro Man.
He lived in exotic places like... New Mexico!
And took me to see new places... like White Sands and across the border to Mexico.
And then he lived in an RV, traveling the country. How cool was that?!?
He always seemed bigger than life. Until today. It's hard to believe that now he is gone.
RIP Grand-daddy. You'll always be my sunshine.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
A Spirit of Gratitude - November 13
I AM THANKFUL FOR
Texts with my sisters
Lunch at Oyster House
Football Sundays
Seeing a bright red Autumn tree while pumping gas
Gas prices are down
Those who serve(d) our country
The Man of the House rubbing my back before I fall asleep
New Christmas tree
Colder weather
Crockpot recipes
Starting Christmas shopping online
Knowing the weekend is close
Piles of laundry to fold
Making Thanksgiving plans
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
I've Got That Christmas Spirit
At the risk of alienating several of you, I just have to say it...
Yes, already! I know, I know... it's crazy early. And you might think I've completely lost my mind over here.
I get it.
I'm usually one of those "bah, humbug" kinda gals until Thanksgiving hits. One of the "don't even think about playing the Christmas music or talking about holiday plans in my presence until I have finished my turkey dinner" people.
And even then I sometimes have trouble getting into the Christmas mood.
But not this year! This year I am so ready already!
I'd be decorating the house already if I didn't think that the family would stage some sort of revolt. And even that might not stop me from putting the tree up this weekend. Or at least pulling the boxes of decorations out of the downstairs closet and getting a jump start.
Maybe it's that 3+ inches of snow we got a week and a half ago on my birthday. Who knows?
Whatever the reason - I am ready for the Christmas holidays to begin!
I am in the Christmas spirit!!
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| credit - publicdomainpictures.net |
Yes, already! I know, I know... it's crazy early. And you might think I've completely lost my mind over here.
I get it.
I'm usually one of those "bah, humbug" kinda gals until Thanksgiving hits. One of the "don't even think about playing the Christmas music or talking about holiday plans in my presence until I have finished my turkey dinner" people.
And even then I sometimes have trouble getting into the Christmas mood.
But not this year! This year I am so ready already!
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| credit - publicdomainpictures.net |
I'd be decorating the house already if I didn't think that the family would stage some sort of revolt. And even that might not stop me from putting the tree up this weekend. Or at least pulling the boxes of decorations out of the downstairs closet and getting a jump start.
Maybe it's that 3+ inches of snow we got a week and a half ago on my birthday. Who knows?
Whatever the reason - I am ready for the Christmas holidays to begin!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
I'm Not Writing
Seriously... I'm not writing.
Nothing.
My blog posts have gone down hill. My journal sits blank for days at a time. And my "creative" writing journal? Ha!!
I'm trying. Really. I'm making something that resembles an effort. I open up a fresh blog post and look at it. I open my journal...and am lucky to get a line or two before I just feel blank. Or my focus wanders off in another direction.
I don't know what's wrong with me. My writing just feels - off.
Now, to be fair to myself - I've been quite off since the time change took place. Or maybe turning another year older that weekend hit me harder than I realize. But I've been tired pretty early in the evenings, but still find it difficult to drag myself out of bed in the early mornings.
And I've been feeling a bit sick off and on since late last week. Especially over this past weekend when I was fighting off a yucky cold.
But, c'mon.
And yes - I know it's normal to go through ups and downs when it comes to writing. But this time it's not even a lack of inspiration or ideas. I've got those. Plenty of them! I just can't seem to make them go anywhere.
I just keep waiting for the flood gates to open and the words to come pouring out!
Nothing.
My blog posts have gone down hill. My journal sits blank for days at a time. And my "creative" writing journal? Ha!!
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| credit - publicdomainpictures.net |
I'm trying. Really. I'm making something that resembles an effort. I open up a fresh blog post and look at it. I open my journal...and am lucky to get a line or two before I just feel blank. Or my focus wanders off in another direction.
I don't know what's wrong with me. My writing just feels - off.
Now, to be fair to myself - I've been quite off since the time change took place. Or maybe turning another year older that weekend hit me harder than I realize. But I've been tired pretty early in the evenings, but still find it difficult to drag myself out of bed in the early mornings.
And I've been feeling a bit sick off and on since late last week. Especially over this past weekend when I was fighting off a yucky cold.
But, c'mon.
And yes - I know it's normal to go through ups and downs when it comes to writing. But this time it's not even a lack of inspiration or ideas. I've got those. Plenty of them! I just can't seem to make them go anywhere.
I just keep waiting for the flood gates to open and the words to come pouring out!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
A Spirit of Gratitude - November 6
I AM THANKFUL FOR
Grand baby playing in the bounce house
Adorable Halloween costumes
Dinner with the male offspring and the grand baby
"Franken-frapp" treat from the female offspring
Trick or Treat fun
Another birthday
Waking up to the first snow
Cheesecake
The male offspring making dinner
A new tablet
Pretty new earrings
A new coffee mug
Smoked pork
Brownies and ice cream
The time change
Early dismissal days
Lunch with my mom
The grand baby playing outside
Having an item on the Etsy "trending items" page
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| www.etsy.com/listing/158513049/ |
You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Trouble
God never says we won't face difficulties or troubles in our lives.
In fact, He tells us in no uncertain terms that we WILL. (John 16.33)
BUT...
Saturday, November 1, 2014
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