Something Beautiful ~ Time together ♥

I'm H♥ME !! I had to leave my honey very early this morning. We had such a WONDERFUL TIME and OMG, IT.FLEW.BY!! Seriously, I don't know that 2 days has EVER gone by sooo fast!

My friend Renee started a meme today called "Something Beautiful" How very appropriate and perfect for my time away this weekend! Won't you join in and share Something Beautiful today :)


For me....There is no where else I would rather be than on the Beach!




Some of you know last year we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary and planned to get away but just before we were to leave town, we unexpectedly lost Brians mom and within days of her dying we found out my Dad had lung cancer. My kids and I immediately drove to Florida and lived there with him for the summer. After losing Daddy in December we tried to get away and spend some time in Florida in January. My husband went before me but I got snowed in and my flight was cancelled 3 times! Well, this year was our 20 year anniversary!! We spent the day working at our Sons school celebrating their last day! It was so much fun! So the Lord gave us yet another opportunity ~ My husband was to spend a week in Fl. having business meetings but the company was offering for the spouses to come up and spend the weekend!! We were able to fly together this time and we left early Friday morning in hopes of spending a full 3 days together. Can you believe that we got to the airport and found out that we could NOT fly out because we were checking a bag and arrived 5 minutes too late! Soooo.....we had no choice but to leave later. OK....so then we flew into Atlanta and first, they delayed our connecting flight 2 hours. Within 30 minutes of that Brian noticed that they had CANCELLED our flight! EXCUSE ME?? REALLY?? yes. really they did. We joined the 60+ people on the stand-by list and did the only thing we knew to do......PRAY! They told us that we would most likely have to get a hotel and not leave Atlanta until 11 the next morning. I rallied my pray warriors via Facebook and sent out texts and the Lord blessed us!! We were able to make the flight and even though we arrived 12 hours later than we had scheduled we were soooo happy to be at our Hotel and were thanking and Praising the Lord! Thank you all so very much, those of you who prayed with and for us!

This is where we spent the day yesterday.....This is Beautiful ~ The Lords creation in sight and sound!



Thank you Lord for this wonderful Time together and to our Daughter Krista and Son-in-law KC for staying here with the kids so that we could go....it was BEAUTIFUL!

Friday Funnies ~ Family waxing??

My Friend Kim hosts Friday Funnies! You gotta go visit her and get your Friday laugh!!!

You know the old saying "The family the prays together stays together"

Wellllllllll ~ In this family not only do we Pray together .......



We wax together! Brian and I are heading out of town this morning so of course I had to wax!! I usually do all of us at the same time and well, you know...provided for the perfect photo op! My men were HUMILIATED!! I think that is the word they chose LOL! Hey, I am the one with wax ALL OVER my FACE hahaha......







Happy Friday Everyone!

Simple Pleasures ~

My friend Dayle has started this meme and I have enjoyed participating so very much! Here is why she started sharing her simple pleasures

Are you noticing the simple things lately? I started the Simple Pleasures series to remind me to stop, to look, to listen, to pay closer attention to the simple things in life. And whenever I do, I'm never disappointed. It might be the sound of a baby's laugh, the gentle splash of a summer rain against the window, or flowers in a jar on the kitchen windowsill. ~ Dayle



On Monday's post, I shared the word of the week would be HOT and I was right! Wow....Everday we have had triple digits and the heat index has been 115's or so!

This week, my simple pleasure is the sound of a fan...it just takes me back to my nanas house and the sound just brings me so much peace and is sooo relaxing... For this week though, it is not just enjoying the sound of the fan but also keeping us cool in this blazing heat!

I am so thankful for my Fans...I have one in every room now LOL ~ even in my bathroom! HA :)

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!