Alive and Puppying Along...

Yes, I'm still here...and we are still enjoying our Scruffy.  She and her Uncle Tiny (Mini Poodle) were getting along quite nicely by the end of our visit.  He liked to sniff and lick her...and she liked to pounce and nip him.  He did not think this was quite fair.  HA!  Poor old dog!

I took her outside the first morning (and only time)...it was snow/raining...and LIGHTNING!  I, yi, yi!  The things we do for our pets, ya'll!  I missed my fenced backyard!  Well, not a whole lot...I gave the job to Loverbrains!

Scruffy walked under the golden arches of Uncle Tiny's bathroom break and required a bath.  My Dad lovingly did this for us!  WOW...thanks.  Scruffy wasn't too thrilled...but she sure smelled nicer!

Scruffy loved Grandma...and would flip over onto her back and let Mom cradle her like a baby.  She took a few good, long naps this way!  She snores...hehehehe! 

Now we are home again...jigity jig...and Emmer-bean loves to sing made up songs to Scruffy.  She evidently likes them...and getting her pink belly rubbed!  Silly doggie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tube Tuesday: Jonah...

I saw this on Stray Thoughts a few days ago...and thought it'd be perfect for today.  It's a bit longer...but adorable!!  She has great presence...and I love the dialogue voices!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

I will be granting myself a blogcation to focus fully on being thankful!  I hope you do the same!!

BORIS? Nope, Scruffy Sassafrass!

My Sweet Loverbrains and I have been discussing pets in some detail lately.  We had 4 anoles...and now Mr. Dominant Guacamole Anole is the sole possessor of the terrarium. 

We thought about buying a Russian Tortoise...even came up with the name BORIS...har har!  But, the more I thought of the cost of that...and my wonderful childhood with SPOTS and Tiny...where I learned to be a dog lover...

...well, long story shortened....

.... we met Scruffy...and fell in love (er, she was a good deal $$$)....SO, we adopted her....and now Scruffy Sassafrass has come to live in our home...she is our dog...and we are her family.

She is a three month old Shih Tzu-Yorkshire Terrier Mix...or a Shorkie Tzu.  She is very calm and curious...She shouldn't do anymore than double in size...about Shih Tzu size...

She has one white front paw...awww!  She sleeps in her little kennel at night...and only cried for a few minutes the first night...then she calmed right down...She held it all in until 5:30....when our alarm went off and we took her outside.  No sleeping past the alarm anymore!! 

She takes lots of naps in her bed.  She was paper trained...but we are outside training her...and she has only had one tiny accident...because the corner of Emmer's room was set up with blankets spread out...and she thought that it was a pee-pee corner.  She seemed pretty confused when she got in trouble for that one.  She likes trotting about outside...and we are pleased. 

Of course, Loverbrains is her favorite person.  It sort of goes that way in this household.  Any other Moms out there notice this phenomena?...YOU care for them all. day. long.  AND who do they love best?  DADEEEE!  Humph...just joking! 

She is a HYPO-ALLERGENIC dog.  We have combed and brushed her and gotten no hair off that way either...wow!  She is not yappy...but very quiet.  We finally heard her bark when she saw the neighbor dogs for the first time.  SO hilarious.  He's a BIG BLACK LAB/CHOW...and he barked back...she ran yipping with her tail between her legs and hid behind Loverbrains' legs!  HAHAHA!

Yes, she has been spayed (neutered?) and micro-chipped.  She has her first VET appt. tomorrow afternoon!! 

Caffeinated Randomness: Making the best of Migraines!

Photo Source

First up, I found this adorable, funny chart and had to share it with ya'll.  I've been making a lot of espresso lately....for migraine medicinal purposes, of course!

Yes, this has been a week of HORRIBLE...all new level...kind of migraines.  I'm totally thinking they are hormonal.  In fact, I mentioned that since a certain cycle (not washer spin cycle) had started *ahem*...that I thought things were lifting.  HA!  Wrong, wrong...WRONG!  I'm praying fervently that today is better....cuz I got stuffs to do....and I was grumbling about that...

But...in all the frustration of laying down and looking through one eye at the stuff I can't get done...in agony every time one of my little peoples shrieked with glee as they played and tore apart the house...*SIGH*...Amid all of that...I was reminded that God's people don't waste suffering.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.  1 Peter 2:21

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Cor. 12:10

We identify with Christ...who suffered way, WAY more than migraines.  He took on all my rotten sin...and yours...and died THE most horrible death on the cross.  Now I realize that I am not being persecuted for my faith, or even necessarily disciplined...but I want to put this pain into perspective.  I want to notice that migraines, although they do hurt...are not life threatening, permanent, and I can still praise God and serve Him amid something so....trivial.

It is no accident that I'm reading several missionary accounts, as is my winterly custom.  You can say that I'm affected by the change of seasons, but I just tend to gravitate to bios this time of year.

I just finished The Small Woman by Alan Burgess, recounting the amazing life of Gladys Aylward.  She was beaten severely by the Japanese at one point in her story and then led 100 some children over the mountains to safety...basically on a whim.  She thought of it and the next morning she set out.  She could have laid nursing her own wounds...but she continued on...serving the Lord in a mighty way.  Not a duty bound way...but a mighty, "I've gotta give Him all I've got" sort of way.  WOW...I want to be like that!

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  Romans 8:17

For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.  2 Cor. 1:5

So, although I was hurting yesterday...I decided to pray about whatever or whoever came to mind.  I figured it was a good opportunity, right?  I'm always saying I don't have time...well, if God allows me time, even time to LAY DOWN...  I also tried to be gentle with my children even though their noise was killing me.  I whispered and snuggled...and they responded beautifully!  They even covered me with a blanket.

Now, I'm not saying that this is what I'd schedule for any given day.  It does hurt...and I'm not a fan of pain.  I would appreciate your prayers that I would not have any major "life must stop" migraines while on holiday.  I'd like to be able to fully enjoy the time with family.  And, when I get back BOY is the Dr. going to get an ear FULL of info.  You know how much I heart lists...yeah...ALL OF THIS info. is being logged!  And she'll also be receiving the clear knowledge that I would like some REAL drugs for these bad boys.  HA!

Deep Thoughts in my coffee cup...

I've been rolling this excerpt around in my deep thoughts today.  I hope you take time to read it and let your heart wrestle with it too.


“Oh how many lives are wasted by peo­ple who believe that the Chris­t­ian life means sim­ply avoid­ing bad­ness and pro­vid­ing for the fam­ily. So there is no adul­tery, no steal­ing, no killing, no embez­zle­ment, no fraud — just lots of hard work dur­ing the day, and lots of TV and PG-13 videos in the evening (dur­ing qual­ity fam­ily time), and lots of fun stuff on the week­end — woven around church (mostly). This is life for mil­lions of peo­ple. Wasted life. We were cre­ated for more, far more. … No one will ever want to say to the Lord of the uni­verse five min­utes after his death, I spent every night play­ing games and watch­ing clean TV with my fam­ily because I love them so much. I think the Lord will say. “That didn’t make me look like a trea­sure on your town. You should have done some­thing more than to pro­vide for your­self and your fam­ily. And TV, as you should have known, was not a good way to nur­ture your fam­ily or your soul.”

“God cre­ated me — and you — to live with a sin­gle, all embrac­ing, all trans­form­ing pas­sion — namely a pas­sion to glo­rify God by enjoy­ing and dis­play­ing his supreme excel­lence in all the spheres of life."

~John Piper

WFW: Trusty Terracotta?

I'll confess...I don't watch the news.  Well, rarely.  I'm more likely to pick up a newspaper or check the news online.  Why...well, I find that it disturbs me so deeply that I go off on various tirades of the soul and cannot (or don't) focus on the very important God given tasks right in front of me.

I shouldn't be shocked by the things going on in this nation (or others) where the Lord is ignored.  The nation that puts it's trust in anything but God will come to ruin.  Frankly, if we trust in anything other than God, we face certain disaster.  Only HE is trustworthy!

My study this week made me think of Emperor Qinshihuang's tomb.  He trusted in a huge terracotta army to protect him in death.  There is a huge excavation still in progress and it's said that there are a good 5,000 individual warriors...with horses...and weapons...."guarding" his tomb.  Very interesting, yet so sad!  You can read more specifics HERE.

And then of course, it hit me.  I put my trust in my own achievements.  I struggled for years as a SAHM that wanted to be counted by my past achievements of teaching third grade, instead of the blessing of simply being a mother to my two Sweet Boobahs.  I often get snippy and resentful with my husband if I feel he is not appreciating all I do each day.

I put my time into practicing music for church...but for my desire to not be "embarrassed by the performance"... or because I truly desire the song to minister to the hearts of my brothers and sisters?  I work on my Sunday School lesson...crafts, songs, stories...out of a sense of duty and the recognition I'll receive...or because I love those kids I pray for...and their parents?

But, my trust in those achievements is no better than a huge clay army.  My trust isn't in the right place when I'm attempting to do it all in my own strength.

"But I will sing of Your strength; I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning. For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress."  Psalm 59:16

There is a day of judgment approaching.  The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war. Is. 13:4  Are you ready??  Do you truly belong to Him?

If so....In what do you place your trust?  Where do you put your time and efforts??

Tube Tuesday: Turkey Wrestling!

Memory Monday: Isaiah 55: 1-6...

It's getting so long...that if you want to check me...go HERE or break out your NASB.  Isaiah 55:1-6. 

I got sort of stuck today...oh, the joys and smiles you must receive from watching a ONE TAKE vlog.

HA!  Man, I wish these things uploaded faster. 

My study on verses 5-6. 

The whole "nation that doesn't know you thing"...is like a reverse of exile.  It's a common theme...the attraction of nations to Israel and Zion.

This should be comforting because it shows that there will be restoration...both physically and spiritually. 

Am. 5:4,6, 14  For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel.  “Seek Me that you may live. “Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph,  And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel, Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! 

Jer. 29:13-14  ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ 

Hos. 3:5  Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

Again, if anyone else decided to memorize...even if you don't want to vlog it...I'd love to support and encourage you...so, let me know!!

CR: Strong Winds..

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down" Proverbs 14:1

This verse is on my mind.  I've had few true "lose your cool" kind of moments this week.  My three year old little man is testing the bounds of God's will, my will, my sanity, my strength...  I'm exhausted.  It does nothing to improve migraines.

And then...it struck me.  You know how sometimes God's Word just pops into your mind?  Yeah...this verse...

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down" Proverbs 14:1

My children don't make me explode and blow up in anger.  My husband does not cause me to be exasperated and disrespectful.  It is clearly...my choice.  Whoa, that's a lot of power.  Scary...oh, how it makes me cry...even as I type this...

All the talk about how "truly liberated and powerful women must return to the workplace." Sure, there's a kind of power there...but...there's so much power in just creating and domestically engineering the home.

And today, it is abundantly clear that it doesn't come from me.  I am weak.  I am selfish.  There is no good in me.  ONLY the working of the Holy Spirit in me...as he points to Jesus love for me in dying on the cross... for my black horrible sin....only that gives me the strength and wisdom to build up my house.

Without His help I cannot respect my husband.  Without His help I cannot teach and discipline these little people.  Without Him I can't do it but...

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Phil. 4:13

Oh Lord, I need you...I need you. 

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,
I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.
But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,
My anxious voice cries upward with words you long to hear.

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord, help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.
I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord You are my song.
Although I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do;
Lord keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord, I Need You  by Ron Hamilton 

Freedom Isn't Free! Say THANK YOU!

WFW: Refreshed from THE Well?

I learned a lot about Jesus being the LIVING WATER last year as I studied the book of John.  It is so interesting how God's Word, and the knowledge of Him, just layers itself.  One great truth, atop another....and another....

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."  John 4:10

 

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  John 7:37

I have been challenged this week...that true peace and unity result in joyous worship.  God's love and the indwelling of the refreshing Holy Spirit keep us safe from burn out.  It keeps our purposes true and pure.  Perhaps, like me, you need to examine yourself...your attitudes and purposes...in the places you serve.  Home, church, work, play...?

We need to have a desire to quench our thirst with HIS WORD.  For God's own children, it's an ability we already have through God's grace.   How great a salvation!!

If you are feeling burned out...GO TO THE WELL!!

The harder we follow after Him, the greater the blessings!!

Download it,
Read it,
Print it,
Share with others!

There are very few  rules, in fact the beauty of this ministry is the creative expression that God reveals Himself thorough.  We marvel at the creativity that participants post with this meme. We encourage the ” post behind the picture,” or the reflections that many of the participants share. We ask that  non-biblical resources not be used.

It is our desire to share the Bible unmarred by human resources (word wise)! We love quotes! ( some of us have quite a collection of our own! However this is not a forum for them.

WFW is not about books, authors, artists.. it’s about God and HIS WORD ONLY. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word.

Tube Tuesday: Turkey Baster Player...

I'm SO trying this...you know I am! Hehehehe!

Memory Monday: Isaiah 55:1-4...

 

“Ho! Every one who thirsts, and come to the waters;
         And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
         Come, buy wine and milk
         Without money and without cost. "

“Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
         And your wages for what does not satisfy?
         Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
         And delight yourself in abundance."

“Incline your ear and come to Me.

Listen, that you may live;
         And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
         According to the faithful mercies shown to David. "

“Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
         A leader and commander for the peoples."

Okay, so obviously...not perfect.  But...I'm not way off...and didn't miss any major chunks.  I'm only allowing myself ONE take...cuz...well, I could practice it over and over...and that's not fair.  Sorry, about the rocking...a bit nervous!  In case anyone is wondering...I do not have cue cards in the air...I just stare into space as I try to picture the words.  I'm a very visual learner...memorizer too!

Study of verses 3-4 came up with this: 
everlasting covenant- refers to the unending dynasty that culminates with the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 
faithful mercies- reminds and assures a continued nation.  Christ's resurrection is proof...Acts 13:34. 
"him" can refer to David because he exalted God among the nations. OR David's "son"...the Messiah who was the light of the nations.

Next week I'm adding verses 5-6!  If you decide to join me...please let me know.  I'd love to come check it out...and support you as you endeavor to hide God's Word in your heart. 

Caffeinated Randomness: Brain Melt...

 

Photo Source

Hello from the land of migraine.  Ugh!  Since about May...I've had migraines.  The aura, the pain, the soinconvenientwithtwosweetboobahs....I logged them for awhile...and decided they were barometric.  A thunderstorm would come...and I'd go down like a felled tree.  They went away for about a month...I chucked my log (dumb) and now they are back with a vengeance....like 3-4 times a week.  SO, I bit the bullet and made a Dr's appt.  They can't see me until mid December.  I see some looonnnggg holidays in my future!

On a random note...I'm back to the indoor activities routine around here.  It's just so cold and icky some days that I have to keep the kids inside.  I'm doing playdoh, turkey with glue, and I think shaving cream today.  Sounds fun! We even made super cute ornaments out of acorns and fabric...too cute...and minimal glue gun burns!

'Tis the season to love your library.  I am going to start off my annual winter bio kick.  I'm using Barbara's Stray Thoughts bio list...should give me a lot to work on this winter.  I've sort of lost the "read all the Agatha Christie this year thing."  That's okay...I'm actually right on target for reading my Bible in a Year!  If you do that every year....well, good for you...but generally I start and stop somewhere in the summer.  My Dad told me...it has to come before everything else...even blogging!  HAHAHA...I think he knows me!

Oh, and I'm on a cookie baking kick too!  We're having a cookie exchange for our women's christmas at church this year.  So, I'm trying out different things.  Well, that's what I'm telling myself...today...Snickerdoodles and Apple Oatmeal Cookies!  Ooooo...drool drool!

Smiles and love to ya'll today.  Pray for me.  I plan to call the Dr's office and plea for an earlier appt.  Perhaps they have cancellations??  And before you ask...I've cut out all but one cup of caffeine a day...three weeks ago...so my coffee headaches should be gone...and yes, these are definitely migraines.  I'm totally blind in my right eye and see sparklers forever.  Coffee headaches DO NOT do that...

Kiss kiss!!

Thankful Challenge & Cookie Time of Year!

For those of you who doubt I'm a messy cook...here ya go...the red kitchen aide just looks good no matter how much flour is around...sigh of happiness!

I made these Coffee Bites and found they were rather like biscotti (ooo, I heart).  Easier than biscotti though...which is a plus.  I didn't make them Vegan...I used REAL butter instead of margarine. 

They do contain 1 T. of coffee...and I'm not sure how much caffeine that is...but Emmer-bean loved these and we had to be careful how many she ate.  My Sweet Boobahs bounce off walls without caffeine...I don't like to think about it as an energy additive

AND...I made pumpkin cookies too....for my Loverbrains!  They didn't seem quite cinnamony enough so I sprinkled some on the top for good measure.

Some of you may have noticed that I'm following along with the Thankful Challenge over with Leah at South Breeze Farm.  It is so easy at this THANKSGIVING focused time of year to still not be intentional about being thankful each day.  SO, this challenge provides a way to share your gratitude with others.  I love that you can do this in the sidebar...Head over and grab a button and join the happy group!

Word FILLED Wednesday: Dynamic Discipline!

Discipline- wisdom and teaching that correct errant behavior.  A right response to God's discipline is repentance.  I want to share the three "P's" of spiritual discipline.

Discipline shows...

PROOF of relationship-

"My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."  Proverbs 3:11-12

PURPOSE- 

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness."  Hebrews 12:10

PROMISE-

"Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul."  Prov. 29:17

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."  Rev. 3:19

If you are currently experiencing the Refiner's fire...I hope this encourages you to remember...God's loving discipline shows you are His child, He desires a restored relationship with you, and He is faithful to all His promises!

PS..I am well aware that not every lifetime trial is spiritual discipline for sin...(aka Job.)  If you are unsure..just pray...and ask God...and He will point out what he wants changed and learned!

Tube Tuesday: Thankful?

Memory Monday: Isaiah 55:1-2...My First Vlog!

Isaiah 55:1-2, "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance."

Just a tiny note...this Vlog thing is tricky...sorry...that's like the 6th take!  I'm actually surprised I did it in so few...I had to try different angles, etc.  I thought about having Loverbrains tape it but...wanted to get it done. 

I studied these verses and I would encourage anyone memorizing scripture to do so...you need to know what it mean, how it connects to other scripture...in order to get maximum impact.  Sounds like a good commercial...yes?

These two verses are referring to spiritual thirst and spiritual refreshment.

Wine and milk are symbols of abundance.

Romans 6:23 talks about the death of our Servant paying for free gift of life.  Hence, "without money and without cost."

The questions about seeking what is not bread or does not satisfy is a call away from all practices of sin/paganism.

To eat what is good is to enjoy God's blessings.