She's 5!

Today is Colette's 5th birthday!  God has blessed our life with this little girl. I have been privileged to take care of her, since she was 4 months, while her mommy and daddy work.

Today I had a blueberry muffin, a happy birthday sign and a ballet book with stickers waiting for her. 

She loved having a number 5 candle too!  

Happy Birthday Colette!

Random acts of kindness...

This morning I treated myself to a Starbucks. I went at 8:00 and was surprised when I saw a long line of cars at the drive thru. You can enter the drive thru two ways and I realized that the line of cars actually was forming coming from a different direction than me. I was the only car waiting my turn to enter the line from that side. After watching cars going through and no one letting me in I thought I better go around the building and get in line. Just as I was preparing to move, the person in the next car motioned for me to go in front of him. I was thrilled and waved a thank you. As I was pulling up to order I had an idea of another way to thank him. I have always wanted to do this and today was my chance! After I ordered my white chocolate mocha and cranberry scone (my favorites) I told the person taking the order I wanted to pay for the order in the car behind me. I could tell the person was smiling by her response to me. As I pulled up to the window I wondered what they would buy. Turned out to be Chi Tea drink.  I paid for our orders (his was $4.82) and as I drove away wished I could hear what the person getting the drink thought or said when told it was paid for. I left feeling happy, almost giddly, at the fun of being kind to someone I don't know. 

Later in the day Jim called me from Kenya.  He told me the story of being at a pharmacy when a lady came in to get medicine for her baby.  The lady did not have enough money to pay for the medicine. The pharmacist said that because it was for her baby he would let her have it but she must sign something saying she would come back when she got the money and pay for it.  Jim asked how much it was and said, "I will pay for it!" It cost $3.50 in American money.  Jim told about the look on the lady's face and I heard the happiness in his voice as he told the story.  What we gave did not cost us much, but both of us received so much joy and were so blessed.  Just two acts of kindness that hopefully made a difference to those that received them.  I hope you have an opportunity to show kindness to someone soon! I would love to be there to watch the blessing take place.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22

Easter

Always thankful for her...

Today would be our sweet daughter Amy's 33rd birthday!

We thank the Lord for the 21 years He gave us with her.

Today we remember the many precous things about her life!

Butterflies!

We went to Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens today and saw Butterflies in the garden.  I love butterflies and enjoyed seeing all the different colored ones.  Also enjoyed the pretty flowers and trees that were in bloom. I think everyone else thought today would be a good day to go too, as it was very crowded. I am glad it is a warm day so we could have a picnic! Fun day!

Surprise!

I received two sweet surprises from my daughters in the past couple weeks! Each one gave me a gift and each gift came at a time that I needed a hug! That's what I felt each gift was! Hope someone gives you a "hug" when you need it!

Walk in love...

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Ephesians 5:1,2

The other night I had a girls game night.  We had so much fun.  I rarely win the game we were playing and was so close to winning and knew I could get that last card down and make big points. :) Well, it didn't happen.  I felt the way it ended was unfair and my attitude and words showed it.   Everyone went home and I was left with my thoughts and God speaking to my heart.  I knew my actions were  not right  and it grieved me.  Then yesterday I was studying for my weekly Bible study and read the scripture in Ephesians 5.  I looked up the meaning of some of the words in the Greek to better understand. I saw that to be an imitator of God meant that this was to be my lifestyle, not just now and again or when I feel like it. And to walk in love means to conduct one's self, to make one's way.  Wish I could take my actions back that night but I can't.  I am so glad for God's forgiveness as well as my family and friends.  I want my life to be a testimony to others.  I want them to see that life is so much better when we imitate God and walk in love.  I'm going to make sure those that played the game with me the other night know I am sorry that I was not loving.  Hmm, I think I will send them this blog.

How about  you?  Is your lifestyle one of love? 

Who am I wearing?

I want to share another devotional from my friend, Jennifer.  I love that she is writing a devotional each week for our Ladies Group!  She has given me permission to share some on my blog.  May each one that reads this have "a heart to hear"

A Heart to Hear

Who are you wearing? This is the question all the actresses are asked on the red carpet. Everyone wants to know who deserves the credit or, in some cases, the blame. Who are you wearing? That question has been echoing in my thoughts lately. As I waited before the Lord, He held up His mirror and let me see what and who I was wearing. The first thing I saw was a dense, black cloak sitting heavily on my shoulders and making it hard to do anything with my hands - it is a spirit of heaviness and hopelessness. Then I noticed a thick, choking scarf full of knots wrapped around my neck - it is fear trying to choke the life out of me. On my feet were high heeled shoes that make me wobble and pinch my toes - I'm trying to live up to what I imagine is expected of me. On my head was a band of guilt squeezing my brain and never letting me relax. Who do you suppose is the designer of this ensemble? Of course, it is custom made by the enemy, who loves nothing better than to torture and torment. The question I am asking myself now is why would I choose to dress this way? I know Isaiah 61:3 declares that God's design for me is a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. I know that perfect love casts out fear. God has promised that he will instruct me and teach me His ways. I know that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all my sin. I know that my heavenly Father will complete the work He has started in me. I know that nothing can separate me from His love. So why am I standing here looking like a candidate for "What Not to Wear - Holy Spirit Edition"? It is simply because I haven't been actively choosing to live by the Spirit. I have defaulted to my original programming of living according to the desires of my flesh: choosing extra sleep over time spent seeking the Lord before the day begins, attempting to run on the empty tank of my own sufficiency. In Romans 13:14, the apostle Paul tells us to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." The flesh desires above all else to find a way to function apart from relationship with God, but the end result is always hopelessness and despair. Just as standing on three inch stilettos doesn't really make me taller, all my human attempts to be good are doomed to fail. I have to choose each day, each hour, sometimes each moment to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To put on Jesus is to admit that my only hope for a life worth living is found in Him. Galatians 5:1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." To be passive is to be a prisoner. Let's choose freedom in Christ, even when it is a battle to believe and walk in the truth.

Lord, please give us a heart to hear you.

~~Jennifer Davis

Cookies from a cake mix...

A lady on one of the blogs I follow has the book 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix and is going to make all the recipes.  It reminded me of the movie where Julia made all the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook. Sounded like fun! Since I don't have the book I decided to find one of the recipes online from the book and try it today. It was easy and Colette helped put all the ingredients together. After the cookies cooled we shared them with two neighbors and my daughters.  Colette had fun delivering them as well as eating two. She had to try both kinds that I made.  One of the variations in the recipe was to put in chocolate chips.  I put chocolate chips in half and white chocolate chips in the other half.  I liked them too and just might buy the book. 

Basic Cake Mix Cookies

(101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix)


1 Cake Mix  (I used white)
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together cake mix eggs, and oil until mix is dissolved. (at this point I divided the dough and put choc. chips in one half and white choc. in the other half) Drop balls of dough onto greased baking sheet. Bake 9-12 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from pan and cool.

A Single Story...

My daughter Stacy is one of the writers on a blog called Destiny in Bloom. Her recent contribution is one I wish all single ladies could read. She is open, candid, and honest as she talks about her journey as a single lady and God's timing of  the man of her dreams coming into her life.   Single or married, I know you will be blessed as you read her story.

 destinyinbloom.com