Happy New Year

Wow! 2011, what new things are in store for this year? Personally I am very excited to see what this year has in store for us, for me and my family. 2010 definitely had its ups and downs, at times it felt like more downs than ups, but God is always faithful! When we are weak He is strong, and this last year there were many times when I felt weak, physically weak and emotionally weak. I do know that in our times of weakness we must completely rely upon the Lord for our strength, "The Joy of the Lord is my strength." In Him we find this joy, and in this next year I am trusting God to increase this joy in me! In my own strength I am weak but with Him, all things are possible! In our devotional time with our children the other night my husband felt that this year as a family we need to increase our Faith. I am truly trusting God to increase my faith, we walk by faith and not by sight. There are so many things that I am believing God for, and I will continue to believe, and trust in Him to see these things come to pass. Faith is like a muscle, it must be used, stretched and pulled to be strengthened. If you do not move out in your faith, and not use that "muscle" it will atrophy, I do not want my faith to atrophy, I want it to grow and get bigger and continue to trust God for so much more! What are you trusting God for? Let us continue to exercise our faith "muscle" and see it truly grow in 2011.

On another note, I am definitely planning on blogging more frequently! I enjoy reading so many blogs and I want others to feel the same way about my blog! So here's to this coming year let's see what God has in store!

1 Corintihians 13 Christmas

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family – it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.


What a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is truly about!

Candy Cane Field Trip

We are so excited to go to a Candy Cane factory! Tonight as a home-school field trip we are going to a candy cane factory. The kids are so excited! Rachel is especially excited since we put up our Christmas tree all she has talked about are candy canes. To be able to watch them make candy canes from scratch will be very exciting for the kids. Hopefully I will be able to post some pics of the event!

Blessings,
Susan

Thanksgiving

What are you Thankful for? I am thankful for so many things, I know the Lord has truly blessed me and my family! Here is my "Thankful" list! (In random order)
Things to be Thankful for:

Jesus Christ and the Cross
The Word of God, "The Light unto my path"
My Amazing Husband
My four beautiful children
Cool crisp evenings
Laughing until you cry
Quiet time
My wonderful church family
Close friends
Food on the table
Date nights with my amazing husband
Warm apple pie
The Holidays are coming
My three year old and the way she says things (she makes us laugh)
The smell of clean laundry
My $5 candles
My Pastor and his beautiful wife
Coffee in the morning

Take some time, and make your "Thankful" list, it is important to always remain Thankful, with a heart of Thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:4-5

Blessings,
Susan

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July weekend to everyone! I can't believe that it is already July! How time fly's! My kids are so excited, lots of fun and barbecue for the weekend ahead. Three of us are still trying to recover from a summer cough and cold...no fun. Hopefully we will all be feeling better for the holiday weekend. Josiah is so excited for fireworks, and swimming at a friends house! I love summer time, it brings back so many wonderful memories, and I love to watch my kiddos enjoy the summer fun. Here is my list of my most favorite summer time things!

1. Watermelon
2. Sun shine
3. Barbecues
4. The beach
5. Swimming
6. Warm summer evenings
7. Fireworks
8. Strawberries
9. My growing garden
10. Laughing with family and friends
11. Sitting outside sipping ice tea
12. Flip flops
13. Watching my kiddos enjoy the summer
14. Lemonade
15. Guacamole

These are in no particular order just some things that I enjoy. I am so grateful to God for the life He has given me. I am blessed!

Blessings,
Susan

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This weekend we planted our garden! YAY! We are so excited. The kids are super excited too. We have our own little square planter box in the backyard. So far we have planted tomatoes, lettuce, white cucumbers, green onions, bush beans, and zucchini. We will have our own little salad hopefully soon. Now it is just waiting, and watching. We have planted new seedlings as well, cherry tomatoes, more lettuce, and cilantro! I can't wait until we can actually harvest some of our produce! I will take pictures so that we can see the progress, and post them as time goes on. It will be fun to watch and compare as they grow. If you read this, and have any gardening tips please leave me a note in the comments below!

Blessings,
Susan

Parables

Don't you just love God' s word?! I do. Whenever I read the Bible I really want the word to speak to me, to my heart, to my situation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to allow God's word to transform our heart and minds. Each time I read the Word of God I pray and ask God to allow His word to penetrate my heart, to speak to me. The other day I was reading in Luke, I am currently reading the Gospels. I came across the parable of the lost son, the "Prodigal" son(Luke 15:11-31), we all know the story. So many times I have felt like the prodigal child, "leaving" the Lord to do my own things, he is always there with open arms to welcome me back. But this time when I was reading it the part about the older brother really spoke to me. The story goes; that when the prodigal son returns the father basically throws a big party for him, and then the older brother shows up. The Bible says that the older brother was angry, and refused to come to the party. Then he continues to point out all of his brothers sins to the father, and reminding the father of all the good things he has done. How many times have I done that? Pointing out others "faults" so that my sins don't seem so bad. I need to remove the plank that is in my own eye, before I try to remove the speck in my brothers'/sisters' eye. Lord, help me to rejoice when a "prodigal child" returns, and not think higher of myself than I ought. Thank you Lord for Your word that continues to transform my wicked heart!


Blessings,
Susan