December Photo Project 2010 Day 15

This morning I want to post about my very best friend, my husband. 

He is a true man of God who leads our family in prayer, bible study, family time, fun time...he works to give us the very best of himself and exemplifies the patience of Jesus every day.  All of our six children are the apple of his eye and when he snaps his finger, he has their attention! His strength has really shown these last few months as we have had various trials and such. 

Four years ago my husband lost his job of almost 15 years with a corporate company.  Since then, he has not obtained a job making the same income or benefits he had before.  This has been very hard for him because he feels like he hasn't been able to provide all the necessary things his family may need.  (that isn't true, but anyway)  Actually, this entire situation has brought our family closer to each other and most importantly, closer to God.  Romans 8:28 says, "and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose."

Sometimes in the middle of a hard situation it IS difficult to see how in the world this is 'working for ANY good'. BUT, we must remember: we are not of this world, "We are in it, but not of it." We have our heavenly reward to look forward to and what is very important to remember is this: 

KEEP YOUR FOCUS. 

Loosing your focus can cause such delays in where God is wanting to take you. Last night our Pastor preached a message filled with hope, and tenderness and love.  It was this:

Storms in life will come-they are these:

1. Storm of the elements-Speak to that storm-Mk 4:35-39
2. Storm of the demonic-Stand!-Eph 6:13, Mk5:1
3. Storm of humanity-Don't get sidetracked!-Mk 5:14-17

This is what you do:

Tell it to leave,

Stand,

Keep your focus

Phil 3:13+14, "Brethren, I count myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before;  I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Thank you Pastor for encouraging us last night! We will ponder and study these words.

So, in the midst of the trial you may be going through, whether it be big or small, remember that God is in control and even though you may not be able to see it, there is light at the end of that tunnel you are going through.  Your reward is great in heaven!!

Happy 1st Day of Fall!!

Oh, how I absolutely love this time of year!  Yea--Yea--Yippee!!  It's such a wonderful season and what alot we have to look forward to.  

I have to say this one thing..."To be blessed any more, we'd have to be in heaven."

Last week, my wonderful friend, Bridget, came over with her family and we had a fun time making breakfast together and then spending the rest of the day talking, having tea and sitting outside watching the lazy day go by...then...

...we decided to get out some of my favorite things:  fall wreaths, pretty table cloths, place mats, napkins and rings, little salt & pepper shakers, along with some leaf-shaped candy dishes, a favorite autumn cup & saucer set, and other kitchen items complete with leafy towels and pot holders!!  I know, it may sound  a little silly, but it is a little thing that I always look forward to doing. So I treat myself every season to this 'little thing'. :) Everything looked so pretty and festive and it just brightened the whole house.  

Now, we have this new season upon us and we will build more memories with our family along with others that have come into our lives.  Every year about this time, our family begins to reflect on all that we have been, (and sometimes haven't been) able to accomplish over the past year. It would be easy to sit here and type out lots of things that we didn't get to do, or how things didn't go as we planned, but how would that help anyone? It really wouldn't. So, I'll share something with you...

I woke up today breathing fresh air

brushed my hair & teeth and dressed in one of my favorite dresses

I was free to read my Bible and pray to my Lord-as long as I wanted-and I did!

I ate a healthy breakfast(with my sweet family) drank my favorite tea-with honey

spent time with my beloved (that's my husband)

worked around my home, cleaning and caring for it-it's our little hAven

made my husband a good lunch to take to work

sent him off to work-happy and dressed in clean clothes(we have a washer and dryer)

spent time with my children-laughing, teaching (even correcting at times)

I cleaned my refrigerator---I have one to clean: some people don't

I swept my kitchen, my front porch, my back porch and vacuumed

I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with a friend, we laughed and talked about how good God is

I took time and walked my tiny doggie-she's just adorable

I canned some salsa, some green beans and even some vegetable soup

I read a story to my littlest boy, he read back to me

I got to pray with my children before tucking them into bed

I talked with my older daughter while we finished canning vegetable soup

I got to lay my head on my beloved's shoulder and fall asleep

I know where I'll go if God should come tonight-I'm looking forward to that day

This is all just in one day. It's all just T-O-D-A-Y. Just today.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow and many others, because if I were blessed any more, I just know I'd have to be in heaven.  

Happy Fall to you and your family...make it a season of moments you'll cherish and remember all the little things are what make up the BIG things!  

Blessings to You! Kimi

 

Is It A Farm Yet???

Now, I cane't rightly a-say what might'n make a good farm 'n figur it might be some difficult to put it into jus one term. Let me study on it a spell....mmmmm. I reckon itta be tha land 'nd itta be them thair critters thata run all about it. Itta likely be that tha airs so fur-resh smell'n itta make ya wonta gittup early 'n set out at tha back and just breath i-tall in. 'N Idda spect that itsa all them trees a-blowin and a-swayin in tha wind a-makin' tha birds twitter-payted so that they flutter about nearly knockin' themseves loopy as they bump into one another. Sometimes we look out and kee-in see a rumbl'n storm com'n across the heels and after, it makes evurthin so purty, clean and almost new agin. As Imma sittin here, I can look out yonder and see the heels cover'd n tha greenest grass you evur did see...horses a-grazin on one side and cows a-brawlin on tha other. Its jus real peaceful-like. We got our share of work to git done around here tho. That barn needs some tendin' to and with tha fence line cleaned up we arra gittin' ready to plant some vegetables to so as ta hopefully reap a harvest in the months to come. I figur we'ra gona have to make this land work for us. Imma gona sell me some eggs to the locals and maybe grow some plants and sell them too. Since we got tha horses, we reckon wer a-gona start a saddle club soon. Got us 'bout 10-11 kids to start off with.

I reckon what makes a good farm is see'n the kids run 'n romp all around and not have to worry. Its a sense of accomplish'n even the tiniest and sometimes mundane (back to myself again :). Its watch'n a little flower or seed that you planted, grow. Its the hope you had as a child and feeling your dreams again as they brush your shoulder or blow in the breezes, speaking to your heart.....................we're still here.....waiting.......on you to dream....again. Feeling the hope welling up and emerging into what you imagined many times before....there it is. When you think about it, having a farm, an apartment, a condo, a house in the city, a little house on a cute corner, a trailor in a park...or any place where you are..... is just the place you're at for that time and are doing what you're doing for that moment...it's not what makes anything any better or worse. It's not what makes you any better or worse either. It's just another place to dream and imagine and build and work. And for us it's just a house on some land....and for right now...it's where we live and it's home.

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!! GOD WILL GROW YOU!!!!