Wordless Wednesday # 15

Andrea is blessed with natural curly hair. She has to straighten her hair to get the results for picture #2. Because I like her hair straight and some family likes it curly; we decided to have pictures in both. Which do you like straight or curly?

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am giving thanks:
* That the Anchor holds in spite of the storm!
(see post on The Anchor Holds)

* For prayer warriors and the power of prayer!

* For God answering the prayer for Joey's work!

* For friends!

* For family!

* For the beautiful flowers!

* For ballgames to go and watch my neices play!

* For the time spent with Ashlynn this past weekend.
Even if she beat me bowling!

* For my husband who works so hard for our family!

* For my MOM....her strength amazes me!

* For weather days.....we are out of school tomorrow! Yeah!!!

For more Thankful Thursday posts visit Sting My Heart

Wordless Wednesday #14

Andrea and Paul
Jemison's Prom "08"
Photo by:Jenifer Stewart @Reflections Photography

Tackle it Tuesday

I am off work today...I have a Dr's appointment. So, I am going to finish cleaning up the clothes from my closet. On Friday, my man decided to paint our closet because it was pink. Who knows why it was pink...like this when we bought the house. We have decided to sell our house...so, that means doing things to improve the look. Plus, I have really let things get out of hand with clutter!! On Thursday evening.....I pull everything out of the closet so Joey can paint on Friday. Saturday morning, Joey and I start putting his things back in. He had 2 garbarge bags full of clothes that he can no longer wear. He says it's the cheap laundry degt. LOL I am still working on my side. I decided to put winter clothes in tote boxes thinking this will help closet to look bigger. I didn't realize I have so many clothes that I too can't wear. What do I do? Do I box up the clothes in hopes that I will loose 10 to 20 lbs so, I can fit back into them? Decisions....you see I really like alot of the clothes that are a tad to small. Anyway, I hope to get the living room back in order today (place where we put the closet clothes)and have closet looking all nice and in order. YEAH!!

If you would like to take part in Tackle it Tuesday go to 5 minute moms to get more info.

HE GIVE ME STRENGTH

In one of the devotions today the scripture verse is:
Isaiah 40:29 "He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power".

As I ponder this I think about what my family has gone through in the past 6 months and how we (Joey and I) have felt like we were backed into a corner and so overwhelmed at times that we couldn't see our way out. God was and is with us through it all. I remember thinking what lesson is God trying to teach me through this. Someone pointed out to me that the lesson may not be for me, but for Andrea. I had not looked at it this way. But, now that I think back....maybe the lesson was for me too. God is greater than any obstacle or trial that I am facing. WOW! how great is that??? The bible tells us that when we cry out to God for help.. HE hears... and HE will give us strength when we are weary... increase our power when we are weak. It doesn't matter what we are facing in our life today, God IS GREATER!!

I guess because I was raised in a christian home and through examples from my parents...I saw how they depended on others to pray when needed. That in my life when I am faced with an obstacle...I want to call on God's people to pray. I know that God hears our prayers and while HE has his own time-line and HE may not answer just like I think he should. He still hears and HE still answers. I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The war is not won ....yet....but through Christ the battles are VICTORIOUS!

While my family has been in a major storm. When Joey and I needed the power to stand in the mist of this storm HE was there holding us to stand strong. There were times when Joey would be strong and I would be weak then I would be strong and Joey would be weak. But, God was strong the whole time and HE never let us give up. I know this was because at different times brothers and sisters in Christ was lifting us up to HIM in prayer.

So many times God has used people to encourage us through words, scripture and prayers. I am so thankful to the ones who prayed and sent me different verses that God put on their hearts for us and the encouraging words. I am thankful that they let God use them to help us.

I am thankful for a Father in heaven who hears and answers my prayers!

Sometimes, when I feel so overwhelmed and feel like giving up. I know that God will give me the strength to keep pressing on. I know when I hear the words "don't give up" that they come from HIM. When I feel that second wind coming I know that HE is sending it to stand me up taller and stronger! What ever challenges come in my life, I know that HE will give me the strength and power to stand.

In the devotion today it asked...
Do you need strength today to overcome a challenge in your life?
Do you need power to stand strong in the midst of a storm?
Call on HIM and HE will hear you. Open your heart and by faith receive His strength and might, and let Him empower you to live in victory all the days of your life!

I believe that God sent this devotion to me...today. I hope that these words help to encourage you through the battles and storms that are in your life. Don't give up my friend. Call on HIM who is maker of heaven and earth. HE will give you strength and HE will hold you to stand strong through the storms of your life. I know this because HE is still holding me!

Thankful Thursday!

I am thankful for Prayer Warriors. People you can call on at a moments notice and ask for prayer and you know they are praying.

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for my husband.

I am thankful for my neices especially... Ashlynn who always is so glad to see me and wants to come to visit me....even wants Joey and I to make a bedroom just for her. We are working on doing just...but, she will have to share with her sister Bralynn.

I am thankful for my Heart Friends.

I am thankful for my MOM who still prays for me.

The Anchor Holds

I have always used songs to help me through different things in my life. In Dec.07 when so much was happening in my family; I would sing real loud in my car to Casting Crowns song PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM. I know people who looked at me going down the road thought "that woman is crazy" but I didn't care. It was just me and God and I was pouring it out to HIM. This past couple of weeks things have been going on in my family and for some reason the song THE ANCHOR HOLDS kept popping in my head. I have this song on CD by Merrell Osmond. (I was a huge Donny and Marie fan). Anyway, I have played this song over and over these past weeks and again I would sing in my car to the top of my lungs! I guess I think God is deaf when I am going through things. LOL I want to share the words with you.
The Anchor Holds
vs 1
I have journeyed through the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet his eyes were watching me

Chorus
The anchor holds
though the ship is battered
the anchor holds
though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
the anchor holds
in spite of the storm

vs2
I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand
but I never knew
they would slip right through
like they were only grains of sand

chorus

vs 3
I have been young
but I am older now
and there has been beauty these eyes have seen
but it was the night
through the storms in my life
ohh thats where God proved his love to me

chorus.

In the song on the chorus instead of faced I would say face (in present tense) also on the 2nd verser what it says about vision and dreams and holding in my hand....I would picture my sweet daughter as a baby and how Joey and I would talk about our plans and dreams for her. I know these change and while Andrea has different plans I know that THE ANCHOR HOLDS and this ship (my family) has been battered and torn but with God as the captain I know somehow...someway we will be okay.

The ship is still in the raging seas....but, I can see calm waters ahead. For those who have prayed and encouraged us I am so thankful for each and everyone of you. Keep praying for us.

Need Prayer

Need prayer!!
Can't say more....just need prayer!!
Thanks!

Thankful Thursday!

Be Thankful
By: Unknown, Henry Gibson

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something.
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for limitations.
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge.
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary.
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those
who are also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

What are you thankful for today?

Living Well #1

This is my first post for Living Well. I forgot to weight this morning, so I am going to try to rememeber to do this in the morning and work on what I put in my mouth this week. I want to try to walk at least 3 times this week. My daughter's Senior Prom is Saturday and I am really busy with getting things ready for this. She graduates in May and I would really like to be 10 to 15 lbs lighter by then. I am also directing my friends daughter's wedding in Aug. If all this don't motivate me to lose some of the pounds I don't know what will.
I don't really know what happened to me. I know I didn't wake up one day and discover I was a lot bigger. But, it almost feels that way. LOL I know I didn't put all this on overnight and it will take some time to get it off. Hopefully, this will be a good place to start for motivation and encouragment.
Okay Ladies ....here goes. Wish me luck!!

P.S. I tried to post the button for Living Well and I couldn't make it work. Oh well, maybe next time. If you are interested in the link it is futher down on my page to the left.

WW # 13

This Saturday is Prom "08".
This is Andrea and Paul at Prom "07"
Isn't she Beautiful and he handsome?