~ A wonderful day ~

Yesterday, Friday, was so much fun! The boys (Dad, big Brother, little Brother) were gone and so my sister (in-law) came over and we had so much fun!! We looked through decorating books, worked on home-making notebooks, drank lots and lots of tea, watched a movie, ate cookies, watched and listened to the rain, and other little things. ! :) For more of this wonderful day check out Katya's blog.


(Left) Rain drops on the bird feeder. (Below right) Look at all the water and how green the grass is. Yes, the rain spout is broken. :) (Below left) Rain drops in a puddle of water! Cool!










(Left) Tea and Cookies. (Right) One of the best movies!

(Left) Looking through decorating books and taking notes. (Right) A note book to put decorating tips in. :) Never would have guessed that if I hadn't told you, huh? ;)

They're out!

*~ The pussy willows have bloomed!! And they are so soft and fuzzy! I love pussy willows. ~* (Pictures were taken by me and you are free to use them as you see fit. To see a picture bigger, click on it.)

Wash my car nice!

It was so nice today! I loved it! In fact, it was so nice, I washed my car, and not only did I wash my car, I washed my car barefoot, wearing Capris and a sleeveless shirt! It was so nice! And Kida (my puppy) was sitting in the grass, under a tree, watching me, barking at random things every now and then. :)

(Below) Washing my car. See the suds?! :)

(Below) Who can do anything without music?! :)
And, yes, it's true, I'm still back in the "Stone age" I don't have a portable boom box, and my MP3 player decided it didn't want songs on it, so it deleted all the songs and I just hadn't gotten around to putting them back on there. :)



(Left) Just after drying. The true, non-dirty, color of my car. :) (Right) All washed, dried, and waxed! See how shiny it is? Fancy huh?














(Left) All vacuumed and wiped. And no pictures on the dash. (Right) All done. Windows washed, floors vacuumed, outside washed, dried and waxed.














(Below) Bare feet, it was so nice!

Friday fun with friends!

This morning we were able to watch three little boys! And I loved every minute of it! To see more of the same or similar pictures check out my sister's site Leah.

(Left) R,W, and C's shoes!!

(Right) R,W, and C's coats!

(Below) R's little feet. Cute! :)

(Below) Mine, Leah's and R's feet.

(Left) W, C, and R's cars. (Right) Mine and R's hands.

(Below) W and C's hands.

Prayer

In our question/answer time after the meal at church today, we got on the subject of prayer. And this quote came to mind.

"As to the nature of prayer, it is the offering up of the sincere desires and devout emotions of the heart to God. It consists of several parts of adoration, confession, supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving. The first of these is an expression of a sense of the infinite majesty and glory of God. Confession is an humble acknowledgment of our sins and unworthiness. Supplication is pleading for blessings upon ourselves. Intercession is prayer for others. Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to God for His goodness and mercy towards us and our fellow-creatures."

~Harvey Newcomb, "Young Lady's Guide..."

*Quotes*

"It's the little, everyday occurrences that try the Christian character; and it is in regard to these that patience works experience. Many of these things are more difficult to be borne than the greater trials of life, because it is more difficult to see the hand of God in them. But patience enables us to endure those things which cross the temper, with a calm, unruffled spirit; to encounter contradictions, little vexations, and disappointments, with out fretting or repining; and saves us from sinking under severe and protracted afflictions."

"Godly sorrow is a melting exercise; which softens the heart, and brings it low before God; while a sight of the cross of Christ, and a sense of pardoning love, brings a holy calm and heavenly peace over the soul."

~Harvey Newcomb, "Young Lady's Guide..."

End of a beautiful day!

The Lord amazes me with the way He changes the weather and seasons. It was gorgeous today! I went for a walk and had just a light jean jacket on! I loved it! It was truly enjoyable to teach piano with the windows open! Or to even just walk around the house with the fresh air finding its way in the house! And at the end of the day, without fail, there is a beautiful sunset! And tonight's was simple and yet delightful!

Acrostic

Sunday Pastor taught through Titus two. And he gave this acrostic on being sober.

S -Seriousness
O - Observation
B - Balanced Thinking
E - Expectation (of Christ's return)
R - Responsible

I thought it was very good. A good reminder what we are supposed to be! Keep it in mind as you go through your day. Showing people who Christ is and what He does in our heart and lives, "So that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

*Quotes*

"He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"... all my doubts and fears ... cannot prevail to take Him from His throne ... "
~Jim Elliot

"What is, is actual - what might be simply is not, and I must
not therefore query God as though He robbed me - of things
that are not."
~Jim Elliot

"If Thou shouldest call me to resign
what most I prize, it ne're was mine,
I only yield Thee what was Thine:
Thy will be done."

~Charlotte Elliott "God is going to give me a specific leading - not when I ask for it, but when I need it, and not until then."
~Jim Elliot

"Bring struggle when I need it; take away ease at Your pleasure."
~Jim Elliot

"To dream, and want and pray, almost savagely; then to commit and wait and see Him quietly pile all dreams aside and replace them with what we could not dream, the realized Will."
~Jim Elliot

(All quotes from the book "Shadow of the Almighty")

(Pictures used in this blog were taken by myself and I give permission for you to take and use them for yourself)

*``*Another good quote *``*

" "Trust Me, My child," He says. "Trust Me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away form Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell Me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep My hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear. I love you." "

~Amy Carmichael

*~ Quote ~*

" "Have I an object, Lord, below

Which would divide my heart with Thee?
Which would divert it's even flow
In answer to Thy constancy?
O teach me quickly to return,
And cause my heart afresh to burn.

"Have I a hope, however dear,
Which would defer Thy coming, Lord -
Which would detain my spirit here
Where naught can lasting joy afford?
From it, my Savior, set me free
To Look and long and wait for Thee.

"Be Thou the object bright and fair
To fill and satisfy the heart,
My hope to meet Thee in the air,
And never more from Thee to part;
That I may undistracted be
To follow, serve, and wait for Thee." "

~ G. W. Frazer

Roses

Yesterday Mom got some roses and I just love them!!! I had to share them with you. They brighten up the house and the days! Here they are!! Isn't it amazing what the Lord creates for us to enjoy? I just love them!!! Notice, they are all the same rose but look at the different shades! It's so cool! I love roses. I can't wait for mine to start growing and blooming again!! Grow little roses, grow! But before my roses start to grow we have to wait for warm weather. :) We don't want them to freeze. (Left corner) Sorry this one is a bit blurry

(Left and Right) See how the one on the left is dark red, almost black, and the one on the right is much more red. Strange, but cool!!

A still small voice!

I recently finished 1 Kings in my Bible reading and toward the end I came across this verse.

1Kings 19:11~
"11)Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12)and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

A still small voice. I have found, in my times of trouble and struggling that the Lord does indeed speak to me in a still small voice. Not a voice as thunder or the sound of many waters, as the Bible does say, but in a still small voice! Aren't you thankful that He does speak to us in a still small voice when we're struggling and not a voice of thunder? I am! But at times of trouble we must calm ourselves, quiet our hearts, and listen, be willing to hear the things God is saying to us!

"God spoke peace into my emotional turmoil because I was asking for it and looking for it and being silent enough to hear it."

~Elisabeth Elliot, from the book "Passion and Purity."

But let us also remember that, although God does speak in a still small voice when He sees fit, He is still the strong, mighty creator, to be feared above all else, and when He chooses, His voice is like thunder, like the sound of many waters. May we learn to listen to His still small voice and draw close to His side but also to fall on our face when we hear His strong, thunderous voice, and worship!

Early Rising

Reading through the book, "Young Lady's Guide to the Harmonious Development of Christian Character" I came across a quote that I thought was neat, but also helpful, since I do not rise early. :) (The pictures used in this blog were taken by myself and permission is given if you wish to take and use them for your own personal use and not for selling them.)

"Early rising promotes cheerfulness, invigorates the system, and in many other ways contributes to health. It also assists devotion. There is a solemn stillness before the dawn of day, in a winter morning, peculiarly favorable to devotional feelings; and nothing is better calculated to fill the mind with grateful and adoring views of the beneficence of the Creator, than the refreshing sweetness of a summer morn. Whoever sleeps away this period, loses half the pleasures of existence. To sally forth and enjoy the calmness and serenity of such a season; to listen to the sweet warbling of the birds; to behold the sparkling dewdrops, and the gayety of the opening flowers, as all nature smiles at the approaching of the rising sun; to join the music of creation, in lifting up a song of softest, sweetest melody, in praise of their great Author, is no common luxury."

~ Harvey Newcomb "Young Lady's Guide" pg. 178-179