How close are you?

I've heard it said that we can "JUDGE" how close our relationship is to God by how QUICKLY we listen to HIS voice....and respond/obey to what HE says to do ~

Do we respond immediately?
Or do we get "around to what HE said to do"
or worse...
Do we listen to HIM and then ignore HIS Voice all together?

Where are you?

I would venture to say we all have those seasons where we fail miserably. We may claim we can't hear or that HE seems so far away. If we are honest, we would know the truth....our Father NEVER leaves us. It is us who strays.

Of course we have times of great Passion, totally On Fire for Christ when we are so close we wouldn't dream of not obeying right away.....

May we be quick to remember to stay close, on fire, seeking HIM ~ ALL OF HIM.

Romans 12:1-3 The Message tells us....
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
(Emphasis mine)


Hanging onto every Word and waiting anxiously for the next.....




Linking with Spiritual Sundays

Word-Filled Wednesday

When life seems out of control and in chaos.... Jesus says:

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. Phil 4:6-7


When Fear tries to rule you and keep you from doing what we are called to do.... Jesus says:


Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you; not as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John14:27

When we feel weak and defeated....Jesus says:

The Lord gives His People Strength. The Lord blesses them with Peace.

When our thoughts take us into some "stinkin thinkin" ...... Jesus says:


You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you.



Thank you Lord that no matter what we are facing today....YOU care and long to fill us with YOUR Peace. True Peace.

For more Word Filled Wednesday go here

An update on Jantzen:

We met with our family doctor and he has ordered some tests for Jantzen. We are hoping to take those sometime before weeks end as well as have an appointment with a neurologist by early next week. I am waiting on phone calls to let me know when they will be.

Thank you all so much for your prayers! Truly, we feel them, each and every one!

Prayers Needed

Would you all please say a prayer for my Son Jantzen? Saturday afternoon he stood up and wrapped his arms around me to hug me. I said to him...."Oh my goodness Jantzen, you are sooo heavy" and then I kind of pushed him away from me. Immediately he fell straight backwards and went down on the floor! As I bent down to get him, I realized he was having a seizure! He also was a bit confused and saying things that didn't make sense. To say this scared us to death is a HUGE understatement!

After a bit, he was alert and able to get up. Although, He continued to do things that were just "off" Like, saying my hands were on fire (to the touch) which they were NOT!! We rushed him to the ER and they did quite a few tests as well as a Ct scan. Everything came back NORMAL! Which is GREAT NEWS except that, we need to figure out Why this happened! The ER doctor explained to us that even with all the tests he did coming back normal that we need to get Jantz to a neurologist and do more tests! He explained that he could have epilepsy.

So today I will be taking him to see our family doctor and then he will refer us to a neurologist! I am praying the LORD direct our steps and we are connected with a wonderful Neurologist and that they can determine what is going on. There is a possibility that it might be dehydration that caused it, but this is a determination that we came up with on our own. The ER doc never even considered that so we might be way off base.

How can you pray?
That we be referred to an amazing neurologist
That we find the truth of why this happened.
No more seizures!!
This isn't anything more serious!!


Thank you all sooo much!! I will keep you all posted and for so many of you who saw my FACEBOOK STATUS and have already been praying I can't even begin to thank you enough! Having your love and support as well as prayers is such a GIFT FROM THE LORD!!

BLESS YOU ALL!!

Spiritual Sundays ~ Laughter is good ♥

WOW! Can you believe it is already JUNE?!?!?! Time is sure flying by! Anywhooo, I saw these pictures@ my friend Anne's blog and thought they were soo cute and would be great for a laughter-filled Spiritual Sunday Post!! They sure made me laugh and brought me a smile :) Hope you all will enjoy them too!



You gotta wonder though..... Is the Lord laughing as well!?? :)








All Google Images

For more Spiritual Sundays go here

Thankful for the turnout!

I shared with you all about my daughters friend Hance who was killed a couple of weeks ago here. A 56 year old woman was drunk and traveling down a highway on the wrong side and sadly Hance was thrown from the truck and died. My daughter, Jenna asked her boss about doing a fundraiser in honor of Hance and giving a donation to MADD. The day the fundraiser was scheduled was the day Oklahoma was hit by some serious tornadoes and killed many and injured even more. Unfortunately, they closed down the business when the severe weather came so that everyone could be safe at home. After the tornadoes in Joplin, it was just too close and everyone was being extremely cautious! Understandibly so.

Both Jenna and I were heartbroken! Some money had been raised but not near what either of us had hoped for. But then...GOD MOVED IN THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE.....

Jenna's boss and owner of Cherry Berry offered to reschedule :) THANK YOU JESUS!! It was an AWESOME turnout and sometime this weekend Hance's Mom will be presented with a check for almost $700 to give to MADD in Hance's honor. This week, Hance's family drove to Utah to get all of his stuff, meet many of his new friends he had made this past year, and just enjoy the beauty of Gods creation the way in which Hance would have. Even though they were not able to be @ the fundraiser, the were able to thank people over Facebook and be a part that way! I truly cannot even begin to grasp how difficult this trip has been for them but What I do know is that the Henrie Family love the Lord and it is HIS STRENGTH in which they are clinging to. One day at a time.

I am so thankful for all of those who came out to support the Henrie's. Who came to take a stand against those who choose to drink and drive. For those who don't know what to do at times like this for those who are hurting or grieving but in some small way this gave so many an opportunity to "do something" tangible.

Thank you Lord for allowing this to be such a huge success and for moving in the hearts of YOUR people!

having some yummy yogurt


enjoying it outside


Friends, Family, and countless others came to Love and Support the Henrie's !!


so much Love for Hance! ♥


I know Hance would thank you Jen....you make me so proud sweetheart!


What are you thankful for today?

The Tortoise and the Hair

I Pray everyone had a Blessed Memorial Day Weekend! My kids have officially begun their Summer Vacation! I know some are still in school for a bit longer....so hold on! It will be here SOON! :)

This weekend Our Sweet Grandbabies came and spent the night with us which can only be described as HEAVENLY!! Swinging outside, taking walks, reading books, and the best part?? HUGS & KISSES OXOXOX

I took a walk around the house really early on Saturday and found this guy peeking over the rocks just ready to nibble on some flowers! LOL



Peek-A-Boo




Here is our Sweet Rylee! She LOVES to be outside and just ONE of her Favorite things to do with her Papa is to put Corn out for the Deer to eat when they come by! The weather was soo Beautiful... and so is her HAIR!!!

She had so much fun running ....


And Running.....


Oh to have her Energy!



Til' Tomorrow.....

Spiritual Sundays

Are you a:

Peace ~ Maker OR Peace ~ Keeper?? Last week in our Series titled "Getting Past Your Past" Pastor Craig Groeschel shared on the difference of

Peace -keeping vs. Peace - making.

I will be honest. I always felt it IMPORTANT to "Keep" the Peace. It wasn't until I started learning a few things such a boundaries or even personalities that I started to recognize that "Keeping" the Peace is sometimes really just sweeping things under the rug or better known as "Stuffing my feelings, and being run over."

Pastor Craig said it this way....

"A Peace Keeper" is one who hates conflict and stuff's their emotions, brushing them aside and refuses to work toward reconciliation.

"A Peace Maker" will face conflict and/or the issues with humility and intregrity, always seeking to work toward reconciliation, healing and in turn bringing about true Peace!

I don't know that you could find one person who has not been "hurt" and as much as we sometimes can focus on that hurt or that pain, we would do best working on those situations or people where we are ones who have caused the hurt. Seeking to bring forth Peace, not only allows for freedom within, and freedom to those whom we have hurt, but it is in this process that the LORD is Glorified.

It is in humility that we can seek to bring forth Peace. It is in humility that we can honestly look within and look into those whom we have wounded and ask forgiveness. When Christ brings truth into the light, exposing it...it is here that Peace and Healing are made. Not kept. Freedom goes forth and brings life to all in its path.


Matthew 5:9
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God

Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays. Please join in with us each week and be blessed by so many who share their hearts and the Love of Christ ~ You will be blessed!

Memorial Day Thanks

As we begin the Memorial Day Weekend I just wanted to say Thank You to all of those who are fighting for our freedom and for their sacrifices as well as those of their families!




May we all take a moment and pray for them and for our Leaders too!

Have a Blessed Memorial Day weekend my friends!

21 Years and Going Strong ♥

Happy 21 Years Honey! EAch day is a gift...one I never take for granted. God made you JUST FOR ME and I am forever grateful!








SCRATCH THAT! MAKE IT...... TWENTY ONE YEARS!!!












From the day we pledged our love
I seem to love you more
Over time our love has deepened
And grown stronger in the Lord
Through all the ups and downs we’ve had
Our love has not grown dim
The light burns brighter to reflect
The love of God within

© By M.S.Lowndes

THANK YOU HONEY FOR 21 WONDERFUL YEARS! Praying the Lord Blesses us with MANY MANY MORE!!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I shared with you all about our new landscaping a few weeks ago and just had to share these pics with you

So cool ~ Looks like a ♥



Our Sweet Garden Angel ~ Her face made us think of Rylee ♥, isn't she sooo cute!


One of our GORGEOUS Roses LOVE THEM! So would my Daddy!


PINK POWER!


LOVE the Purple!!


Our VERY FIRST YELLOW ROSE!!! Took much longer to bloom but sooo worth the wait!!


Our Cats LOVE the Flower Bed too! :)

This is our HUGE and Oh SO Lovable "Coopey JOE"


Our Quiet and Shy "Pongo"


The Queen of all Cats ~ Katrina Carol Anne"




The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"