Love & Joy ♥

My friend Angel hosts this meme and she loves for others to join in spread JOY to others so go here & join us won't you??

I am filled with JOY watching the Love of my Life spend time with our grand-daughter doing what Papa's do....sharing those special candies one at a time so she won't get choked, pushing her on the swing for as long as she wants despite the heat, holding hands as they walk even if it is just down the hallway in the house, puting her to sleep as he strokes her face ever so gently, having to leave for work and knowing it is breaking his heart because she wants her Papa to hold her just a bit longer! Oh the love of a grandchild ♥

I am filled with JOY because in just a few more days we will be on a plane together to spend some time alone in Florida! Just the two of us :) Oh what JOY♥

I am filled with JOY because I am blessed to be a stay at home MOM. To be able to spend these days with my children is a gift and a blessing the I DO NOT take for granted! True JOY for sure ♥

I am filled with JOY that I won an autographed copy of one of my new favorite authors most recent books! It comes out in October and I was also able to participate in the cover choice! The cover I (along with many others) chose won :) 2 wins in 1!! JOY JOY JOY ♥

I am filled with JOY because my friend Sandy got a job yesterday! We had been praying and after she didn't receive one position she applied for she pressed on believing and praying and the Lord provided!!! Such JOY and Praise ♥


May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13





What does Love look like in your home is hosted by Joanne

As I asked the Lord to show me specifically about this week's Love post I felt led to share this:

Love can be in a kind act
Love can be in sharing a kind word
but for me.....this week Love was Listening

Listiening to those I love share about their day, their joys and sorrows, their need and prayers requests, their excitement and laughter

I was granted to gift of being listened to as well....by my friends who care what is happening in my life, by my husband who loves me and wants to know my heart, by my children who seek (at times) words of wisdom

and most importantly Listening to the Lord
His Word speaks Life
His creation ~ Owls hooting early in the morning, insects playing their symphony late at night
His Spirit speaks and I am blessed when I listen

What about you ~ What does Love look like in your home this week?

Toxic thoughts

The new series for the Pastors Sermon in August is going to Toxic situations: Thoughts, Tv, Movies, Books, and even Religion. This weekend was on our Thoughts. The toxic ones ~ the battle in our minds. When we allow those toxic thoughts to have room in our minds and leave them to be accepted & believed, it begins a downward spiral. I will be honest at first I was thinking to myself....I know this already! I know to take my thoughts captive and have them obey Christ. I know that I need to reject those thoughts that don't belong there and then as only the Lord can do, I started hearing examples of some of those toxic thoughts....

Do I worry? Yep
Do I think less of myself than the Lord says I am?? YES!!!
Do I get jealous in situations where I shouldn't? Mmmmhm I do
Do I focus on the Negative more than on the Positive? At times ~ YES
Do I feel discontented in my circumstances? Yes Lord I do

OUCH!! The Lord revealed to me and not only did I have to repent for those toxic thoughts but also my pride in thinking I "knew" all I needed to know about this sermon.

Each day we have an opportunity to be pliable to and for the Lord to mold us into more of HIM or we can be prideful, stubborn and miss out on all HE has for us. I pray I am surrendered to HIM and know that it is only through Him that I can do all things! I will never reach that pinnacle moment of arriving at my spiritual place because the moment I think I have arrived is when my pride will bring me down. The Lord longs to continue to love, mold, change and make us more like HIM. May I decrease Lord as You increase! More of you Lord and less of me!

Each and every day we will find what we are looking for....Are you looking for Gods goodness, His will & purpose for you on this very day? Or are you focusing on what you don't have, or what this person has done to you, or my marriage is awful, my kids are out of control, my finances/job is in so much trouble, etc,etc, etc.

Our thoughts are sooo important.....If you are having toxic thoughts. Identify them! Speak to the Lord about them and search HIS Word for what you can replace them with! It is amazing how things will begin to change ~ step by step, one day at a time, one thought by one thought!

Phil 4:6-9 in the Message version is so awesome for this:

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Weekend Wrap up

I have to say the word of this week is HOT!!! The last day of July left us with 3 digits.....107 degrees! It is HOT here and this week calls for more of the same! It is going to be 100's everyday with most days calling for 104 or hotter with the heat index reaching well into 111 or higher! Our humidity just makes going outside to let the dogs go tinkle cause you to sweat! It.is.miserable!!!

We spent Saturday in the pool! It was just about the only place to be! Our friends went out of town again, so we were blessed to be able to go pool sit and boy oh boy did we take advantage! It was a divine intervention for sure!! Thank you Lord!

My son and I went running a few nights this week doing the Couch to 5K program and one night look what we ran up on?


Scared the bejeebers out of me :) We just did a blog post on our book blogs about our biggest phobia...The number one phobia from those who participated was snakes!! I don't like them but honestly frogs scare me more than these do! Silly huh! Luckily this guy is a good snake and won't harm you! If you are going to have a snake around this is the one you want!

Sunday we went to a new church and we all loved it! We loved the Pastor and saw some great friends....Praying the Lord continues to show us His will and if this is where HE wants us!

Tomorrow brings my sweet Rylee girl and this week will be fast and furious. I seriously can't believe Aug. is here! Only 16 days til school starts :( Breaks my heart!!!!



How was your weekend? Is school starting soon for you all?

Pray you have a blessed week! Love to you all!

Spiritual Sundays

In my quiet time as I was sharing with the Lord about rejection. He led me to a devotional specifically about this ~ I found it in Prayers That Avail Much: I wanted to share it here today as I know this is not limited to a few, nor is it limited to believers. Rejection affects Many if not all at some point and time. But the Good news! Those of us who are Believers can lay their hurt, pain, and feelings of rejection at the foot of the Cross and pick up their Sword and begin the battle! Speaking these very words straight from the Heart of God about YOU and ME!!

I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ! Eph 1:3

I am chosen by YOU, My Father Eph 1:4

I am holy and without blame Eph 1:4

I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your Will Eph 1:5

I am accepted in the Beloved Eph 1:6

I am redeemed throught the blood of the Jesus Eph 1:7

I am a person of wisdom and prudence Eph 1:8

I am Your Workmanship Eph 2:10

I am a citizen of heaven Eph 2:19

I am a partaker of Your promises in Christ 2 Pet 1:4

I am rooted and grounded in Love Eph 3:17

How is that for the Lord encouraging us!! I pray if anyone is experiencing rejection that these words would wash over you and bring life and truth to you! Where there is Truth, there is Freedom!

May you all have a blessed weekend! Thanks to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays and for those who came, thankyou for visiting~ You all mean so very much to me!

TGIF ~ Silly Pool Pics

Goodness this week just FLEW BY ~ but don't they all!! I hope you will join in with KIM and share your Friday Funnies! Today I am sharing some silly pics from our time at the pool this week!


Jen and Ty being their silly selves


Dad AKA The Human Butterfly! LOL


Peek a boo in the Tubes ;)


There are just no words LOL


Happy Friday to all!

Simple Pleasures ~ Swimming

I am just thrilled to participate in Simple Pleasures hosted by Dayle of "A Collection of This and That"!! To participate or join in go here


Today I was spending some quiet time with the Lord as I was out weeding my flowerbed and soaking up the Sunshine! I LOVE Summer and my favorite thing to do is go swimming with my kids and my sweet Grand-daughter Rylee! Watching my kids play in the pool no matter how old they have been just brings me such Joy! Relaxing by the water with a book or a friend to talk to is just heaven to me! Everything about it ~ The sunshine, the pretty landscape around the pool, the flowers in full bloom, and the kids laughing....Brings me such Pleasure!




What about you? What is one of your Simple Pleasures this week?

Counting in ALL JOY and some L♥VE

Loving these Joy -filled posts and adding in L♥VE is just a double portion of the Lords goodness don't ya think? To join in and meet these awesome women who host these meme's go here to meet Angel and share some JOY and here to meet Joanne and share what Love looks like in your home




Today Joy fills my heart because Our family is going to dinner with Angels family tonight! She is treating us to thank us for helping her with the wedding this past weekend! We are going to have MEXICAN :) YUMMY!!

Joy fills my heart because my sweet Son went to run with me last night as I started a new workout plan called "From the couch to 5K" He is so supportive! No matter what I am doing ~ Zumba, Jillians 30 Day Shred, or running ~ He is there to workout with me!

Joy fills my heart because Angel got a phone call to come be on the Food Network Show called "Cupcake Wars"!!! I am just so excited for her and know she will hear from the Lord what she should do.... but what an honor!

Joy fills my heart when the Gods Word speaks and instructs.....
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Rom 12:11-13




This week I am also joining Joanne and sharing what L♥VE looks like in our home:

Most of you know I am blessed to have our granddaughter on Tuesdays. She comes the night before and spends Monday night with us. It is sooo much fun :) One thing Rylee l♥ves to do is to grab your face and rub noses! She just giggles and giggles! I love to watch her with her Papa and the kids, but oh boy ....when she grabs my face ~ I melt :)

Rylee sharing L♥VE in our home






Thank you Ladies for these Meme's! Won't you join in and share your JOY and Love today!

Can you believe it???

Can you believe this is the last week of July????

Can you believe how hot it has been this Summer????

Can you believe Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are only a few short months ahead?????

Can you believe School will be starting in less than a month ????

Can you believe how VERY BLESSED we are????

Can you believe that God had such a plan to save us by giving HIS One and only Son to die on that cross for you & me???

Can you believe how VERY MUCH HE LOVES YOU AND ME????

Can you believe I made a whole post like this???

Me either :) but I did!!

Happy Tuesday and may you BELIEVE in the ONE who did send HIS son to die for you, to save you, and set you free!
I love you all!

Weekend Recap ~ bragging on my friend Angel and my kiddos

I pray everyone had a blessed weekend! We sure did!! My kids and I had the honor and privelege of helping Angel prepare and setup for the wedding she was catering!
We had an ABSOLUTE WONDERFUL time and we worked our fannies off too! Both my kids and I were up early and on the road headed to Angels where the work had already started and everywhere you looked was Food, Food and more Food!

I knew Angel had a successful career as the Sweet Lady and even though she has made the decision to release that position so that she can enjoy her family she had this last job to do and I have to say ....She did an amazing job! I know the Lord has to be smiling down on her and so proud of the way she did everything! That girl was organized to a "T", Full of JOY and Praise, and Wow ...the food was awesome and the tables were ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! We all laughed and laughed and then laughed some more! For me, watching our kids together is just so amazing as Angel and I were their age (or younger) when we were first met one another and became best friends !! So without further ado....here are a few pics from our day!


The Master Mind ~Angel, Hard at work!!



The Gang! minus Dan who was taking the pic! Yep, that's my goofy girl with the "green" eyes ;) Isn't she silly!


Friends who work together, laugh together and Love the Lord together! How blessed are we!!


Drew and Jen ....can't believe we got a pic with no funny faces!! Aren't they adorable!



One of her tables with the Famous and "First time attempt" Fruit Tower


Rest of the table with more of the delicious goodies!



I am so thankful to have been able to share in this day and was sooo very proud of my kids! They worked so hard ! Everyone did! It was such a blessing to be a part of!


Colossians 3:23 instructs us

"Whatever work you are doing, do your best as if you are doing it for the Lord...not men!

I love how the Message version goes:

Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work

This is how each and everyone worked for this Bride and Groom! What a blessing!

Spiritual Sundays

On Thursday of this past week I drove with my Mom to her Uncle Roy's funeral in Wichita Ks. Roy was almost 92 yrs. old. He and his wife were married in 1944!!! When she passed away it had been 62 yrs. WOW. WOW. WOW! Roy was a man of Faith. Roy was a man of Character. He was a wonderful husband, a fabulous Father and no doubt a phenomenal Grandfather. He fought for our country in WW II and was very proud to be an American. As they were shooting off the 21 gun salute and then folding the flag, they shared what each fold represented I was just in awe.

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.

So thankful for Men and Women who Serve and Protect our Freedom. So thankful for Men who love their wives and are Faithful to the ways of the Lord! I am married to a man like this and I thank God for him everyday!

Have a blessed weekend my dear friends!