Spiritual Sundays ~ My Nana

When praying about what I would post for Spiritual Sundays I felt led to share about my Nana.

When I became a Believer I learned that I was adopted. Adopted and received into Christ. I have a royal heritage. For me, learning this was lifechanging (as it should be) but to know that ....really know it, just humbles me. God cares for generations and having someone in your family who leaves you with such Christlike examples is by far one of Gods greatest gifts!

Today is my Nana's earthly birthday, she would have been 84. My Nana was an amazing woman. A true Proverbs 31 woman! She lived her life caring for others and serving them too. She was 1 of 14 children!!! Can you even imagine?? But growing up in such a large family she learned so much and she passed that on to us. She was a very frugal woman to say the least. We would always tease her because she would always have odd shapes of foil in a drawer because she wouldn't throw it away. She would fold it back neatly and have it ready for the next use :) She always made whomever she was with feel like the most important person in the world. She loved deeply and when we lost her all those years ago, every single one of us still has a huge hole in our heart, that only Nana could fill.

She taught us all the importance of hard work. What it meant to be diligent and persevere no matter what your circumstances are!
Even on the tiniest of budgets she had such a gift of making every situation soo very special!

As I get older I am learning the importance of passing on to my children and grandchildren. My Nana did that. She passed on so many things to us. I remember when I was with my Mom and we were going through Nana's stuff after she had died and I found her Bible. It was bookmarked in Proverbs verse 31. I just cried because I know it was no coincidence I am the one who found her Bible. It was the Lord's gift to me. Nana's too. Confirmation of a godly women, who loved and lived for Christ and it showed in all she did.

What about you? What example are you leaving to those generations younger than you? Your children? Your grandchildren? Do they see someone who lives their life glorifying Christ and serving others as HE would? Loving them like HE would?

Have a blessed weekend my friends!

For more spiritual sundays go here

TGIF ♥

I am so glad it's Friday aren't you!! Plus, Friday's are always better when you laugh don't ya think?? So join Kim @ Homesteaders Heart and share a funny today!!





Have a laughter-filled day my friends!

Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

"4" Days, "Four"teen Hundred Miles, all "For" the love of Uncle Bob

Have you all ever been to North Dakota? Do you know how VERY COLD it is in North Dakota?? You know the movie "New in Town" with Renee Zellweger when she is just arriving and doesn't think it is going to be "that bad" outside those airport doors...well this is exactly how we felt in North Dakota! IT WAS SOOOO C.O.L.D!




Mom and I loaded up on Saturday and arrived in Valley City, ND very late Sunday evening. My Mom was born in North Dakota and has wonderful memories of living there. Years later, they moved to Missouri, so my Mom and her Sister would return during the summers to visit and stay with their grandparents. You could just hear the Joy in her voice as she reminisced and shared how much she loved this place and all of her family there! It has been quite some time since she had seen some of them and for me, well, I haven't seen any of them since I was a baby some 40 or so years ago :)

Saying good-bye to someone you love is never easy but being surrounded by those who loved them and sharing memories certainly help. It was so special for me to be by my Moms side and to hear the stories of so many who loved our Uncle Bob. One of our cousins sang at the funeral and as my Mom so nicely put it, "Isn't it wonderful knowing at least one of us has a beautiful singing voice!" LOL It was quite the emotional moment for all of us but He truly did a beautiful job and I know Uncle Bob would have loved it as well.

This community is a close one for sure and tons of people came to say good-bye and to give love and support for our family. Uncle Bob had many friends and some since their elementary and high school days. His best friend was there and shared a beautiful poem about the gift of friendship. We all laughed, cried, loved and in the end, it was just so very special! I was so thankful to have been able to celebrate the Life of Uncle Bob!

My Aunt and Moms Sister Lynette(left) and on the right is Uncle Bobs daughter Pam


Bobs kids Pam, Curtis and his daughter in law Donna along with my Mom, Aunt Lynette and her husband Don


This is a very special group.....Bobs longtime girlfriend as well as two of his very longtime friends. Such a deep bond they all had ~ truly a gift from the Lord!


Family....a bond never broken, no matter how long it had been since they had seen one another, it was just like yesterday. Family was so important to Uncle Bob and he would have loved everyone being together!







I just want to thank all of you for your prayers and love! Thank you for praying for my husband who did a WONDERFUL job as usual while I was away! I am so very blessed ~ Thank you Honey! I Love and Appreciate you more than words can say!

Spiritual Sundays

Praising the Lord for rescuing me. Praising the Lord for meeting me right where I am. Praising the Lord for all HE has done!
Truly, I am forever HIS!

I pray this song blesses you....




Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays each and every week! To join in go here

Have a Blessed and Beautiful weekend! I will be driving with my Mom to North Dakota to attend her favorite Uncles funeral. It is quite the drive and the temps are VERY VERY COLD! Would you please offer up a prayer for safe travel and for Uncle Bobs family. If you don't mind, praying for my husband as well while I am gone. I am so blessed to have such an amazing and supportive husband!

Love you all!

Thankful for Grace

Colossians 3:15-17
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Do you let the PEACE of Christ rule in your heart? Does the Word of Christ dwell richly in you? Is there thankfulness in your heart? Do you do everything in the name of Jesus?


I know I fail terribly......


Forgive me Lord! I fail miserably when I don't walk with YOUR PEACE in my heart or allow YOUR WORD to dwell in me. Help me to do everything in YOUR NAME Jesus, thanking YOU with my actions, my words, my deeds so that others see YOU ...not me. Help me to sing my heart out to you Lord!! Help me Lord to cultivate thankfulness and to instruct others in the way of the Lord! May I always be about my FATHERS BUSINESS

Thanking the Lord for HIS Word and HIS Grace today....What about you? What are you thankful for?

Soo Proud of my Boy & WELCOME HOME MOM ♥

Last Night was a WONDERFUL night for sooo many reasons! First, My husband came home from his business trip :)

Second, My Mom and StepDad returned from Paris!! They have been gone for a week and I missed them so much! I am used to talking to my Mom everyday and well....That wasn't an option in Paris :) I can't wait to see her and see all her pictures and hear all about their trip!!

Finally, to top this off we finished the evening at a ceremony inducting My Son into the National Junior Honor Society! Being a part of NJHS is such an honor and a privilege! It is all about serving others in your community as well as maintaining an excellent GPA. (Not to mention it looks awesome on a Resume for College and Future Jobs too!) The Principal shared how special this group of kids was, and I couldn't agree anymore!

Here are some pics from the ceremony!





This was the Biggest class they have ever had....165 7th Grade Students


Playing peek-a-boo from across the room....Love my Zoom lens :)




Receiving His award for being inducted! This is his principal, Mr. Coke... He is wonderful and loves his job!



There was one more picture of Jantzen and a group of kids that have been together ever since PRESCHOOL! There were at least 7 of them that were inducted tonite....It was so precious to see and I know how much their teacher(s) Ms. Diane, Ms. Barbie, Ms. Renee, and Ms. Janet will all LOVE seeing this one! When I get a copy I will have to post it!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I saw God today

Isn't it wonderful when you can go about your day and see God in everything! Seriously, our Perspective can be one that looks for the good or unfortunately looks for the negative!

I have seen many bloggers posting their 1000 gifts and in reading them it has caused me to look for the gifts in my day. The Word tells us that "Every good and Perfect gift comes from above" James 1:7

Some of the gifts God has given me.....

HIS Perfect Timing...you know ....when you see HIS hand on a situation that you think "OH please Lord let this happen, and then it doesn't, and it doesn't, and then SUDDENLY God Moves so Powerfully and you are just sooo humbled! Yep, His timing is amazing.

Laughter as we all went shopping for my husband. He needed some new pants for a business trip that he is currently on. He went into the dressing room to try on all of his choices. It was near closing time at the store so we were almost the only ones in the whole place. Before you know it the four of us are all on the dressing room cracking up and being silly.... Weird? yep! But who cares we were having fun :)

My brother calling to catch up and sharing about his life and how proud I am of him!

Receiving an email from a friend letting you know they are praying for you! Love you Lori! ♥

Waking up to a text message with yet another adorable picture of one of my grandchildren


Think He's sayin "Hi Noni!????" Of course He is! ;)


I pray as you go about your day today, you can see Gods hand on you! In the big things or especially in the tiniest of things...He IS with you....ALWAYS

LOVE YOU MY FRIENDS!

Mondays Musings

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Didn't it just FLY BY!?!?!?

We had a SURPRISE PARTY for Jantzen!!


We had planned on having a party with his friends but then with all the snow days we ended up having to go to school on Friday which made having a sleepover not an option. Soooo we just decided to Surprise him and it was a HUGE SUCCESS :) All of his buddies were here before he got home from school and he had NO IDEA!! WE got him the PS3 MOVE and have had a ball with it :) We played the Jelly Bean Beanboozled game with all the boys. You know..... where the jellybelly's taste like:

Rotten Eggs
Moldy Cheese
Skunk
Canned Dog Food
Barf
Centipede
Pencil Shavings
Booger
Baby Wipe
Toothpaste

So this would explain why most of the pics show them spitting the jelly beans out huh??!!!! ;)~






IT WAS A HOOT!!!!


Yesterday we spent the day With all of my Husbands Sisters! He has THREE SISTERS and He is the baby so he was SPOILED ROTTEN growing up! They doted on him all the time! They dressed him too LOL! It was so nice being together and I hate that I left my camera at home! We plan on doing this once a month so I will have to get some next time!

What did you guys do this weekend? Hope it was Filled with Jesus and JOY

Spiritual Sundays

Each and Every Sunday you will find either Charlotte or Ginger hosting Spiritual Sundays. They are two precious and godly women who share this blog to encourage and share the Lord with all who come to visit. They are mighty prayer warriors as are all who participate each week. If you need prayer please let me know or visit here and know that your prayer need will be shared and many will go into the Throne Room asking Lord to meet your need!

Years ago, my Husband and I were going through a rough patch in our marriage, so we began seeing a Life Coach. We were on year 13 of our marriage. We learned soooo many valuable lessons during that time. It was truly amazing all the Lord allowed us to see and to learn. Going through the pain brought about a depth of love, it was a whole new level, and unless we had gone through this, we never would have imagined it to be possible! Some of the Important things we learned and continue to learn even today was:
The difference of personalities and how to understand one another based on that personality. Knowing what/how each personality works is amazing to me! This not only helps spouses, but having this knowledge allowed us to better parent our kids too. It goes all the way to the workplace too! This information is invaluable for sure!

We also implemented Family Meetings each and every week. We come together with our calendars and share what is going on during that week. We also offer up any prayer needs or things during the week that the kids or one of us need prayer for and this goes into our calendars. Knowing we have one another covered brings such peace. Our kids know Mom and Dad are praying during a test, or if my husband has a issue at work and knows we are all covering him in prayer brings such comfort.

Another of my favorite things we learned was the importance of date night. Both my husband and I come from broken homes. When we married each other almost 21 years ago it was a 2nd marriage for both of us. We were DETERMINED not to go through another Divorce and I am here to tell you. IT.WON'T.HAPPEN!

I would have to say that no matter what..... the bottom line is ... We are a team. We have each others backs. B,ut more than all that we have God leading us and HE is the Captain of our Family Team. He shows my children the Strength that their parents have. The Love and Respect that we have for one another. They also see that we aren't perfect but that we have a Heavenly Father who offers Grace and Mercy and lovingly disciplines those HE loves!

I am so thankful that even though we went through such a difficult time, God was Faithful to bring this godly woman into our lives to coach us in HIS Ways. To surround us with other couples who had gone through tough times as well. God changed their lives, their marriages, and their families.

Whether you are married or not, if you are going through a rough time God wants to help you. To love you and meet you right where you are. HE longs to brings Light into the Darkness of your hearts, minds, and circumstances! If only you will let HIM!
Will you? HE AWAITS!

TGIF ♥

My friend KIM is one of the sweetest and funniest people you can meet here in blogland! She hosts Friday Funnies each and every week and I LOVE to join in and share some laughter! This week I am sharing a couple of videos from Christmas a couple of years ago. We played a game called QUELF. It is HILARIOUSLY FUNNY! You act out what the card instructs you to do and then your teammates guess what you are. Sometimes there is a time limit on what your doing so even though you feel like a complete idiot it doesn't matter....you just keep on doing what your doin!! It is a guaranteed night of laughter as you will quickly hear all of us CRACKING UP!



On this first video I cannot even remember what my stepdad was doing but even he couldn't stop laughing! This one is my favorite


This one is obviously him being a ballerina :)


Happy Friday Everyone.....remember ~ A day without laughter is a day wasted! ♥ U ALL