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

Snow and ice!

Sunday, since it snowed and snowed, we had to cancel church and in the afternoon my little bro, E, and I started to make a snow fort. We got it going pretty good, but then late afternoon, early evening, my old bro C (yes, I said old, not older :) ) and his wifey, Katya, came over and C used the snow blower to pile snow and not just plain old shovels. Easier on the back, :) I have to say! After that we all took turns digging the middle out! It was way fun. We got five people in there and there was still room! Huge! And the other picture, the ice, is of some branches that my little bro, E, found and showed us! Aren't they cool?! Enjoy the snow! We did! And I am!!! (For safety I chose to cover the faces of those in the pictures, as you may have noticed.)

(above: Me and lil bro E! I think E is about to get me with a snow ball! Run!)

<--- Snow blowing the snow rather then shoveling! Go old bro C!!! (This gives a whole new meaning to "put a smile on your face." :) )

<--- Even though we blew the snow into a pile, when we dug out the middle the snow still needed to be moved!

<--- It's a big snow pile!!












<--- Our, "All done everyone in the snow fort" picture! We were tired, but at least we all had smiles on our faces! As you can see, we all look alike, it shows we're all related! *giggle*

<--- The ice E found! Cool or what?!

How deep the Father's love for us

Here is a song that really makes me think and really makes me thankful for Christ's work on the cross. For His love, His willingness and everything!

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no pow'rs, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

~Stuart Townend

It's finished!

I finished my quilt this morning! It is so pretty and warm!!! Here are the pictures!!! Thanks everyone for being so excited with me about this!!! It meant a lot to me that you would get excited about this with me! It was also great to get comments from you all about how you were looking forward to it being done with me!! Thanks everyone!

(Above) A close-up of it all together.






<--- The whole thing. I think I'm going to leave the little black tie things because they are kinda cute!



















<--- The front and back. The back is so soft and warm!!!

Extreme hymn

Hello, I'm the one who is suppose to be posting on this site. :) Do you remember me? I know it's been a while and I'm sorry. But I'm posting now. So here goes. I must admit, I was struggling last night with "Love not the world nor the things in the world." And I was thinking, it's so hard to love Christ more than things in this world. Family, friends, desires, wants, things. And as I was thinking and praying this story came to my mind and put things in perspective a bit.

North Korea: The Villages of GokSan

"The young, brown-eyed girl looked up at her mother. What would her mom decide? Earlier that morning, the young girl's mother, their pastor, and twenty-six others in her North Korean village of GokSan were bound and taken before a screaming crowd of Communists. One of the guards ordered Pastor Kim and the other Christians, "Deny Christ, or you will die." The words chilled her. How could they ask her to deny Jesus? She knew in her heart he was real. They all quietly refused. Then the Communist guard shouted directly at the adult Christians, "Deny Christ, or we will hang your children." The young girl looked up at her mother. She gripped her hand knowing how much her mom loved her. Her mother then leaned down. With confidence and peace she whispered, "Today, my love, I will see you in heaven." All of the children were hanged. The remaining believers were then brought out onto the pavement and forced to lie down in front of a large steamroller. The communists gave them one last chance. "Deny this Jesus or you will be crushed." The Christians had already given up their children; there was no turning back. As the driver started the heavy piece of equipment, the singing from the villagers started softly. "More love, O Christ, to thee, more love to thee.""

~From the book "Extreme Devotion"

This story kind of puts our sufferings into perspective. Have I been asked to give up my family for Christ? No. Have I been asked to give up my own life? No. Then why can I not love Him with all I am knowing that it's the right thing? True we struggle with loving the things of the world, but let us keep that in perspective. Right now, perhaps, we struggle with wanting things more then Christ. We have not yet come to the point where we must choose between our lives and Christ. But whatever we struggle with we must remember that when we cry to Christ, He hears us. Let us ask Him, and mean it with all our hearts, to give us a love for Him. And then be willing to give up whatever it takes to get us to that point. See "Do I want a broken heart?" for another helpful quote.

Friday fun!

My sister, Leah, and I spent most of the day with really good friend N and her sweet children P, E and L!!! These are rather random pictures, but I thought they were cute and might show you what my great day was like! Thanks N for a great day!!!

(Above) P wanted a balloon from Happy Joe's!

<--- Yummy Dr. Pepper!!! --->

(Left) Pretty teacup paper!

(Right) A picture P drew for my sister, who gave it to me. :)

(Below) P's adorable little glasses!!

<--- Playing card games!

(Below) Having way too much caffeine!! Wheeeee!!!!

<--- Someone's sippy cup!
















(Left) E putting socks on adorable little

feet!!!!

(Right) E's little tiny foot!!!!

(Below) L's little hand!!

(Below) L's cute tiny ear!!!

<--- L's little tininess!!!!! Ahhhh, way cuteness!!!!

Putting it all together!

I've picked out the fabric, cut it (with help from Katya), sorted it, laid it out, and now I'm sewing it! Here is my progress! The colors in the pictures are the actual colors! The last few posts that I've done didn't have good color in the pictures, but these do. Now you know what the colors look like together! Enjoy! I have been. :)

(Above) Pinning a single row.










<--- Sewing a single row.












<---Ironing and cutting off loose strings (it's still the single row. :)














<--- Pinning the single row to the rows that have already been sewn together.











<--- Sewing the rows together.















<--- Still sewing the rows together. :)





















<--- Ironing them all.











<--- Almost done! :)

Quilt up-date

I was going to post yesterday but didn't get around to it, so I'm posting today. I finished cutting all the squares for my quilt yesterday and got them all sorted in stacks and then laid them out to see how big I wanted it and if I had enough squares. Which I did, in fact, I have a lot left over. :) These are the pictures that you see (in that order). Now I must put all the squares together and attach them to the back and I'll be done. :) Sounds easy right? *giggles* I will try to keep you up-to-date on what's going on. Until then, here's what's happened so far!

(Above: Cutting out the rest of the purple squares)


<--- Both blue and purple squares all cut and sorted! Go me!










<--- All laid out. The color's are much better looking in person. The blue and the purple are much more blue and purple. :) Sorry about the bad lighting in the picture, it makes it look bad.

Quilting and things from my day

I've been wanting to make a quilt for a long time. (I've made other blankets and things with yarn, but not with cotton fabric.) So I asked my wonderful Sister-in-law, Katie, to help me, which she did tremendously! Thank you Katie!!! And here are some pictures of what I'm doing.

<--- Cutting long strips of fabric into five inch squares. Lots and lots of cutting, thankfully my sis (in-law) was able to help me cut most of it today!















<--- Stack of blue squares. When I'm done cutting the purple squares there should be about the same amount. Lots and lots of squares!
















<--- Squares together. In the picture they don't really look good together, but they really do. Perhaps it's bad lighting or something in the picture.












<--- Way neat-o tea pot I bought at the secondhand store today. It's the best!!!! Isn't it cute? I think of little house on the prairie, or some old log cabin and the mother of cute little kids cooking over a big black cook stove and making herself some tea or coffee!












<--- Another really cool tea pot with iced tea in it. :) Yummy!!!

















<--- Book I'm reading, the movie was way good, but I wanted to read the book, just to make sure. ;)















<--- Really soft and warm blanket I also bought at the secondhand store! I also turn it into a shawl. :) It's just the right size!












<--- The little fringes on my warm blanket. Aren't they pretty!!?? :)

Thoughts eternity

The last few nights on the news there have been different reports on Anna Nicole Smith and her death. She was a very immoral woman, from what I've heard and the things she did were very, very wrong. When first hearing of her death I found it hard to really care, in a sense, that she died. I told my mother, "I'm finding it hard to think it sad that she died." I never knew her, I didn't keep up on the news about her, it made no impact in my life whether she lived or died. But then I got to thinking. She's dead, she is now in eternity. She has begun eternity. Most likely eternity away from God. And that got me thinking about others. People I am called to be a witness to and also, about my life. If God were to come back right now, would I be ready for eternity? Can any one ever be ready for eternity? I'm not sure. I know for a fact that I will spend eternity with God. But when I stand before His throne, what will He say about the way I lived my life? About who I did, or didn't, witness to when given the opportunity. It just makes you think. People are entering eternity all the time whether or not they're ready. Also, if Christ were to come back right now, what would He find me doing? Would my actions, thoughts, speech, etc. be pleasing and honoring to Him? Ask yourself through the day, "Am I ready for Christ to come back. And if He were to come back right now, what would He find me doing?" Think about it!

More Love to Thee, O Christ!

This has become one of my favorite songs. As other songs I've posted that I really like, I like to just think the words and pray them! It's such an amazing song! Really think about the words and want them for your life!

More Love to Thee, O Christ

1) More love to Thee, O Christ, More love to Thee:
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee;
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

2) Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best;
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

3) Through all that life may bring -- joy, grief or pain,
Work out Thy perfect plan -- True heavenly gain;
Only create in me more love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

4) Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

~Elizabeth Prentiss

God's glory!

Looking through my digital pictures from various times, I came across one that I took on vacation. It was taken in South Dakota, (I believe on our way to Wyoming). When I look at it it just makes me think of God's glory, Christ's return, and the trumpet sound when He will descend from heaven! Don't you agree? Just had to share it with you! What a God we have, that would, for His glory and our enjoyment, create such wonderfully beautiful, magnificent things! Let us also look forward to His return with joy and longing!

Encouragment from the Psalms

Psalm 34:4~
"I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 34:15~
"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry."

Psalm 34:17-19~
"17) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18) The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 37:23-24~
"23)The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
and He delights in his way.
24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand."