I Love You Every Minute of Every Day, My Beautiful Daughter

I looked at you today and saw the same beautiful eyes that looked at me with love when you were a baby.

I looked at you today and saw the same beautiful mouth that made me cry when you first smiled at me when you were a baby.

It was not so long ago that I held you in my arms long after you fell asleep and I just kept rocking you all night long.

I looked at you today and saw my beautiful daughter no longer a baby but a beautiful person with a full range of emotions, feelings, ideas and goals.

Everyday is exciting as I continue to watch you grow. I want you to always know that in good and bad times I will love you and no matter what you do or how you think or what you say you can depend on my support, guidance, friendship and love every minute of every day I love being your mother.
By:Susan Polis Schutz

The Cowboy Boots

Thought this was cute and wanted to share. Hope you like it or at least it makes you smile!

The Cowboy Boots



Did you hear about the Texas teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten
students put on his cowboy boots?

He asked for help and she could see why.

Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still didn't want to go on.
By the time they got the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat.

She almost cried when the little boy said, 'Teacher, they're on the wrong feet.' She
looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than
it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get
the boots back on, this time on the right feet.

He then announced, 'These aren't my boots.'

She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, 'Why didn't you say
so?' like she wanted to. Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting
boots off his little feet. No sooner had they gotten the boots off when he said,
'They're my brother's boots. My mom made me wear 'em.'

Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. But she mustered up what grace and
courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his little feet again.

Helping him into his coat, she asked, 'Now, where are your mittens?'

He said, 'I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots.'

She will be eligible for parole in three years!

I know it has been a while...Life in my world has been crazy. I do miss everyone and hope all is well with you. Hopefully, soon I will be by your place for a visit.

Hurry Home

Love this song!
Chorus
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you. It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home. And Honey if it's you, we've got a lot making up to do. And I can't hug you on the phone SO HURRY HOME.

For More Sing My Soul Saturday visit Amy.

Wash Day

Wash Day...........

What a world it would be if even only 80% would do this.....

Monday
Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness
and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect
humility through the week ahead.

Tuesday
Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of
prejudice I have collected though the years so
that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday
Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
set a bad example for others.

Thursday
Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday
Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I
may purchase eternal happiness for
myself and all others in need of love.

Saturday
Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love
and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday
The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you.
Please come into my heart so I may spend
the day and the rest of my life in your presence.

Wash Day by Pam Tatum Dobbs from Heart of a Woman FB

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.

Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit.""Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.' Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.

May God bless you and be with you always!


This was sent to me in an email. I know that you have probably heard this several times, but I thought I would share. Pray that you are blessed by it.

What's in a Name

This really spoke to me and I wanted to share with you.

What's in a Name
by Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain" (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV).


Most likely you have heard about one man's little prayer tucked in 1 Chronicles 4. His name is Jabez, and his name means "pain." I don't know if it was a lapse in judgment or just plain meanness, but when Jabez was born, his momma was not a happy woman. She bore this boy in pain and wanted to make sure he never forgot it. So, she named him...Pain. All his life, Jabez had to live under the cloud that he had caused his mother great pain.

Maybe you have echoes in your memory of your mother reminding you that you were a pain. "You are such a pain." "You cause me pain." "You are a bother." "I sacrificed so much for you and you don't even appreciate it." But you know what? Even if someone has made you feel like you were a royal pain,that does not make it true. God would beg to differ. He absolutely adores you. He loves you so much that He even gave His only Son so that you could spend eternity with Him. We don't do that for people who are a pain. On the contrary, we don't want to spend a minute with them...much less an eternity.

Let's go back to Jabez for a moment. What did he do about the name he had been given? He prayed. He decided he was not going to let someone's estimation of him or the label his mother had placed on him, rule him for the rest of his life. Jabez cried out to God. "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."

1 Chronicles 4:9 tells us that Jabez was honorable - more honorable than all his brothers. This was not a self-seeking prayer. He just wanted to be free of the label that had been slapped on him by his momma, and be loved by the God who could slap a blessing on his heart.

Perhaps you need to renounce a few names that have plagued you for years...
"You're no good."
"You're not a good daughter."
"You're irresponsible."
"You don't care about anybody but yourself."
"You're just like your father."
"You're so selfish."

Visualize whatever label you've allowed, to be written on a name tag. Now, visualize Jesus walking up to you and pulling that name tag off your chest, crumpling it up, and throwing it in the trash.

Now visualize Jesus picking up a permanent marker and writing your new name on your heart.
"New creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
Light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
Child of God (John 1:12)
Righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24)

That's who you really are - and don't let anyone tell you any different!

Oh, and what of Jabez's request? "And God granted him what he requested" (1 Chronicles 4:10).


Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for giving me a new name! I pray that I will no longer remember the names that I have been called in the past. This one thing I do...forgetting what lies behind and pressing forward to what lies ahead. I run the race with a new name...the one that you have given me...dearly loved precious child.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Sing My Soul Saturday

HOSANA
I am sure you have heard this song before. If not, it is an awesome song. Close your eyes and let the words speak to you. The group singing is from my church Calera Baptist Church. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!


For more great music visit Amy for Sing My Soul Saturday!

Your Grace is Enough

Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of harden clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a small treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.

Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown about 50 to 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure he could have taken tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It is like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world they way God sees them.

I am so blessed by gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

I don't know who wrote this, but it touched my heart.

I am a Kept Woman

You see there were a few times when I thought I would loose my mind,
but GOD kept me sane. (Isaiah 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go no longer,
but the LORD kept me moving.
(Gen. 28:15)

At times, I have wanted to lash out at those whom I felt have done me wrong.
But the LORD kept my mouth shut..( Psalm 13)

Somtimes, I think money just isn't enough,
But GOD has helped us to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc...
(Mat. 6:25-34)

When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong!
(1 Peter 5:7, Matt. 11: 28-30)

I could go on and on and on, but I am sure you hear me!
I am blessed to be 'kept'!

I'm "kept" by the Grace and Love of GOD

Desert Song

I came across this song yesterday by being apart of Sings My Soul Saturday hosted by Amy.
There have been so many times that I find myself in the Desert. Not only me but, I hear so many who are struggling with all kinds of storms or should I say battles. Whether it is from:
Family, Finances, Friends, Jobs, Sickness...the list could go on and on and on. While we think we are alone because so many do not want to discuss their problems "WE ARE NOT ALONE"! We put on this mask and try to act like everything is happy and blissful when we are breaking into inside. I know because I have been there and still there a lot of the time! Remember this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! God is with you! So, my friend...when life hits you when you least expect it or you feel as things are spiraling out of control with life's struggles PRAISE HIM! MY GOD IS THE GOD WHO PROVIDES!



For more Super Sunday visit Peggy here.

Love Without Limits

For more Sings My Soul Saturday visit Amy.

Lifesavers Candy

A teacher was doing a study testing the senses (taste)        

The children began to identify the flavors by their color:

Red.....................Cherry
Yellow................Lemon
Green..................Lime
Orange...............Orange

Finally the teacher gave them all HONEY lifesavers. None
Of the children could identify the taste.

The teacher said, 'I will give you all a clue. It's what
your Mother may sometimes call your father.'

One little girl looked up in horror, spit her lifesaver out
and Yelled, 'Oh my Gosh! They're butt-holes!

The teacher had to leave the room!

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS Friday!!!:)
For more FUN and Laughs visit Kim here!

Sound Investing

The 4th and last part of Scriptural Prayers for Your Finances is Sound Investing.

Spending. Because everything I have is Yours, I will seek Your glory in every financial decision. Specifically, ______________(consult Him about the decisiions you're making now) (1 Chorn. 29:11; Prov. 3:6; 1 Cor. 10:31).

Saving. Just as the ant prepares for the future, I will put aside money for future expenditures that will honor You, including _______(list the things you need to save for) (Prov.6:6-8).

Financial investment. My Master, are there areas in which You want me to take obedient risks with the wealth You have entrusted to me, in order to bring a return that will serve You and Your kingdom (Mt.25:24-27)?

Treasure in heaven. I gladly store up for myself treasures in heaven, where nothing can destroy them or take them away. I choose to shift the focus of my heart from earthly possessions toward heaven, where my home and my lasting treasure are--with You (Mt. 6:19-21;
Heb. 11:16).

Investing in people. Lord, how can I most effectively invest my worldly wealth in people, so that when it is gone and this life is over, they might join me in heaven(Lk.16:9)?
Scriptural Prayers for Your Finances by Brian Smith

In the time that we are living with so much hurt, pain and financial stress; what better time to pray for our finances and our country than now!

Today is : BFF (Best Friends Forever)

To all my blog friends ....this is for you.

Hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!
Happy BFF Day!

Made Me Glad

For more Super Sunday visit Peggy @Amazing Grace-Mazes, Messes, Miracles.

Three Men on a Hike

Three Men on a Hike Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging, violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed: "God, please give me the strength to cross the river."

Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice.

After witnessing that, the second man prayed: "God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river"

Poof! ... God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once.

Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed: "God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river"

Poof! ... He was turned in to a woman. She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards up stream and walked across the bridge.

"If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!

Ladies...it is good to be back! I have missed you!

For more laughs visit Kim here!

Checking In

Summer is here!! This past month things have been very crazy for me. I hope to post on some of these things soon. Thanks to everyone who continues to visit my blog and send prayers and encouragement! I have one more post on "Praying for your finances" that I hope to get out this week.
I am so behind in visiting and reading blogs...so I will be by soon to see what is going on with you.

For now I am heading to the gym to work on getting in shape!:)

Thieves in the Night

Thieves In the Night

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves?

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. it was just that quick! the replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans. A then the thieves struck again!

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched! One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. this was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world, wake up and smell the coffee! Those "plastic" surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something "lifted", look again --was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere everynight.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.S. Last year I thought some one had stolen my boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone! but when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

These same thieves come in my closet and shrink my clothes!

How do they do it???????

For more laughs and fun visit Kim here.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

(and it's ALL small stuff!)

And above all remember . . .

GOD LOVES YOU!

Girlie Wisdom!

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control-pills.. She has 14 kids but doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does. AMEN!!!

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my sweat pants.

10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12. The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

13. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

Have a Blessed Day!

For more laughs and fun visit Kim.