Want Some TLC?

Some friends of mine at church have started making jewelry and giving parties to sell their product. Their first party is tonight at Rebecca C's new house if you can make it! I know they'd be thrilled to see you there! I am very excited for them. I think they're going to do very well! Here are just a FEW pieces. They do seasonal and holiday pieces too. I'm sure they'll have some on display. All of these pieces are Tammy's. I'll get some of Brenda's tonight. If anyone around here is interested in any of these, let me know and I'll pass the word. If you are from church you'll want to see Tammy C or Brenda T.

I have this ring and it is BEAUTIFUL! I have the smoke gray though. I Looooove it!

Check out TLC Accessories for yourself. Tammy has more items shown there and prices are listed on her blog site!!

More Rushing

Today was pretty busy. Tomorrow will probably be the same way. Lord willing, things will slow down a bit for us on Wed.
I took Justin to school at the college, then came back and had school with Hannah

and Harry.

Before taking Justin to school, I opened a box containing the last of his school books. The last of his high school books, that is. It was a little sad, knowing that these would be his last year of homeschooling text books. But life goes on, right? And it certainly is going on with Justin. We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for his future. Anyway, he picked up his English text book, Mastering Communication Skills, and said, "Why did you get me this? I've already mastermacated my communification skills. I am a communication master....person." *sigh* Oh, that boy!

After school I started supper a good bit earlier than usual. Supper was over and the kitchen cleaned by 5:00. Dropped Justin off for his second class at 6:00, then off to meet some of the youth so they could work on Rush.

Both teams were able to get things accomplished tonight, but it's still in that tedious stage. You know where you work and work on one particular project and you think it will never happen. Then all at once it's finished and all that's left are minor details and sprucing. I think they're doing a good job. Can't wait to see their finished products!!

Tomorrow will be about the same as today. I already have my stew beef out thawing for the crock pot. Potatoes and carrots will be tasty with a skillet of corn bread. This, too, will be easy clean up. We also have a ladies meeting tomorrow night. Looking forward to that.

Hannah and Harrison before church the other week...

I had nursery yesterday and the kiddos were hilarious! I just love the almost toddling age. So cute! And then last night the service was very touching. The Lord definitely met with me. Exactly where I needed Him to. I'm so glad He loves me and knows me and knows what I need when I need it.

Rush, Rush Rush!

It's Rush time again! We have our first Sigma Saturday for the year today. After Brother RJ preaches to the teens and they do their verses, they will have a couple of hours to work on Rush Night. In the past they have always been given several hours and a couple of weeks. But this year it really is RUSH, RUSH, RUSH!!! I'm excited to see what they do with these few hours. I'll be taking pictures, but of course I won't be able to show them until after Rush Night, as to not ruin the surprise for people in our church.

I had two photographs enlarged to enter in the fair. I just need to know the dates on that. Hopefully I have someone looking on that for me, if she gets my email.

AND! The last of our school books came in yesterday. So I'm happy about that.

Bruce read me a quote from his devotions today. I thought it was good....

".....a fruit problem is always connected to a root problem."

Precious Promises III

Psalm 37:17-19 "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

As Christians, we have a promise of deliverance through trials! A promise of His presence! And a promise of victory over affliction!

In verse seventeen, it says that the righteous cry and the LORD heareth them. I have been on my knees many times, crying out to the Lord in times of troubles for myself or for my brothers and sisters in Christ. There have been times that I felt my cries were never being heard and I wondered if God really cared. Of course He cared. I just had to be patient and allow Him to work in my life in His time. That verse says that the righteous cry and the Lord heareth! But the next part of that verse also says that He delivereth them out of all...not some, but all...of their troubles. He hears our cry and He delivers us from all of our troubles.

Verse eighteen says the Lord is near the broken hearted. I think the darkest time in my life was when my brother committed suicide in 2004. There were and still are, so many unanswered questions. I was filled with worry and doubt. My heart was so broken. Never again would I be able to tell my "Bubby" that I loved him. I knew that things would never be the same and it hurt. I don't know that my heart has ever been that broken. I'll admit that I was very angry. I was angry at Larry for making such a selfish decision. I was angry at people I thought could have done more to stop what happened. I was even angry at God. How could He have allowed such a tragic event to happen to our family? My poor parents? His beautiful little girl? As much as I pushed Him away from me the few weeks following Larry's death, He continued to stay with me. He was still near to me during the darkest time of my life. I was never alone. And eventually I gave myself back over to His love and He was right there waiting for me with open arms. To draw me closer and heal my broken heart. In the darkest hour of your midnight, when you feel you are all alone in your pain, He is near to you. He surrounds you with His presence.

And then verse nineteen says that we face many afflictions. Are you one of those people or do you know someone that just seems to have something bad happening to them all the time? They're health is bad, their finances are low, their cars are always breaking down, etc. It seems that just as they are about to get over one affliction, here comes another! But it's OK. Because that verse also says that the Lord delivereth him out of them all. There's that word "all" again. Don't you just love it? Where the Lord is, there is deliverance. And where there is deliverance, there is victory!

Precious Promises II

loving the fall flowers, aren't you?

Yesterday the promise I studied was to those troubled by doubt because of trials they face and heartache they go through. My verses were Psalm 73: Click here to read that passage.

Basically, these verses are referring to Christians who see the wicked prosper and wonder why in the world God allows them to prosper while they, themselves, go through trials and valleys.

I'll be the first to tell you that I am quick to respond when it comes to people who make stupid decisions. Some of us have family members that make these decisions on a regular basis, or we know people at work that are continually doing the wrong thing. They do what "feels right" instead of what IS right! And watching things on TV like, The View, or other liberal media, I find myself asking why God allows these people to tarry in their stupidity and God-less behaviour. By the way, I do not watch The View. Let me make that abundantly clear!!!

It is not up to me to wonder why God allows certain people to get by with certain things. It is up to me to live right and make right decisions. I fail Him continually. There is not a day goes by that I am better than these people. I am their equal, only saved by the grace of God. Their decisions are only a symptom of their problem, which is their need for the blood that covers all sin.

The promise in these verses is that God holds my hand and gives me eternal life with Him. It only seems as though the wicked are prevailing, but in truth, God's longsuffering will eventually cease and they will be dealt with bitterly. Should we take pleasure in their demise? Absolutely not!! But we should not worry whether or not they are getting by while we wallow in pity over the trials we face.

The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust. The only difference is that God is not holding the hand of the unjust. He is holding the hand of His beloved child. So stop sitting in self-pity and trust God to see you through.

His promise is not limited to a specific time. He will hold our hand and see us through to eternity.
I can live with that!

And let us not forget that last verse, "...it is good for me to draw near to God..." Our trials are an opportunity to move closer to God. Thank Him for the trials.

If He brought you to it, He will see you through it!

Precious Promises

Our church dealt with three funerals over the weekend. It's always hard to say goodbye to those we love and I never know just what to say to those who are grieving. Everyone always says the same things, We're praying for you, or, God knows what's best. I've said those very things to people. Having lost my brother a few years ago I know that, being on the receiving end of those comments, people mean well, but the words seem to do little in bringing comfort.

I decided to do a study on promises from God yesterday and because we were dealing with so many deaths and broken hearts, my first study on precious promises of God was on being caught up with Him!

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

We have a promise that Christ is coming back for us. It's not going to be just an angel or two that come to escort us to Heaven, it will be Christ Himself!!

I remember Brother Curtis Hutson saying that if the Lord came back while he was still alive he would be a little bit jealous because he wanted to be one of the first ones to go! The dead in Christ shall rise first. The grave will no longer hold those bodies, but they will be caught up in the air to meet Christ. And once that happens, the believers that are alive and remain will be caught up with Him also and we will forever be with the Lord!!

These are words of comfort to those that have lost a saved loved one. These are words that bring hope and cheer during those long nights when sleep just will not come. These are words that fuel the desire and longing to leave this world behind for a world where there will be no more goodbyes. A world where graves do not exist.

Parents will hold their children. Spouses will be reunited. Friends will embrace. And best of all, there will be Jesus.

This, indeed, is a precious promise.

Randomness and Happy Birthday, Mrs. Ava

This post is on our weekend. We had a good one. I hope you did too!

The children wrapped up another successful week of homeschooling. Notice Harrison's tongue. He concentrates so much better with it sticking out.


After school, Harrison and I went shopping for him some new clothes. He was in such need of clothes. Found some GREAT deals!! Seven pants, seven shirts, dress shoes, a 10 pack of play socks, three pairs of dress socks, and a USA hoodie. So he's set for winter now! I am so thankful for that!!!

We ran a few other errands and then made it home to put away groceries and relax a little bit before Bruce and I went out for our weekly date. As we were leaving, my neighbor was checking her box so I grabbed her picture. She is so sweet. A good neighbor. A great friend!


We ate at my new favorite Mexican restaurant. LOVE me some Mi Pueblito's!

Here's Bruce with a chip stuck to his chin. LOL Gotta love my man!

And I'll be the first to say that here in the south a fried bologna sandwich with a little mustard, a lot of DUKE'S mayo, and a slice of cheese and mater is a great sandwich. But only in the south will you find a fast food restaurant that sells fried bologna biscuits. Thank you, Hardees, for contributing to southern eating!

When we left Mi Pueblito, we decided last minute...and I mean last minute...to stop by a local church and see Gold City in concert.

Once again....only in the south....will you find an offering being taken up in KFC buckets.

The concert was really good. We had a great time. Bruce's Aunt Judy and mom were there so I took their pictures with Daniel Riley and the new guy....sorry, I can't remember his name! But I got tickled at Aunt Judy. She was sticking her tongue out at someone and I didn't notice it until after we were already walking back to the car! She's so crazy!

Brother Gene and Brother Thornburg were there also. We were all diesel sniffers this weekend. hehe

Sunday morning was beautiful. I'm just lovin' the fall weather. I ended up over sleeping. I didn't wake up until 8:40. I couldn't believe it!! Thankfully my two darlings were up and ready to go on time. And we actually made it to Sunday school before it started.


The parsonage is coming together nicely. They've added the garage. This is a terrible picture of it. I'll get a better one later.

They're also getting the rock on the front. It's gonna be so pretty when they're finished. There was a crew out there working this morning and Pastor kindly told them that this was the church parsonage and we believed in worship on Sunday and they could come back another day to work. They were very understanding and honored that request.

Besides the weather, another thing I like about fall are the beautiful flowers. We had fresh fall flowers planted and they were lovely. I believe Brother Mark planted the flowers.

Pretty, huh?

Mrs. Janet had the giant cornucopia out in front of the church doors. I just love it!

Our weekend ended with two wonderful services at church, followed by a birthday party for our wonderful pastor's wife, Mrs. Ava.

The food line...

Marla was trying to get her little girl to whistle.

Carissa.....

Brother Tim got a new hair cut!

Mrs. Rebecca....

Some of the youth....

Some more of the youth....

Brother Wayne saying, "That'll be on the blog." And he was right!

Our newest friends at Faith, the Dellingers. Oh, I hope I got their name right. LOL Their little grandson is our neighbor and he and Harrison play together a lot. They're a very sweet couple.

Love these ladies! Mrs. Jenny, Mrs. Rector, and Mrs. Carolyn. Sweet, sweet, ladies!

Jennifer showing off her "baby bump" as my little friend Courtney calls it. We're going to take a picture of her tummy each month and watch her grow. LOL

Brother Johnny and Mrs. Vondie's little boy was having fun being pushed around in the high chair.

Mrs. Janet washing dishes.....

Brother Wayne and Pastor were sucking in their guts after chowing down. ROFL

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Ava. You are truly a wonderful lady and I've learned so much from you. You're a great teacher, excellent speaker, and a great testimony to all that know you. We love you so much!!!