Just a glimpse of me...

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Do you ever feel STUCK? In 2000, I began looking for answers to some tough questions in my life. I'd searched high & low and finally conceded to search the promises found in the Bible. Those promises have sustained & guided me through the loss of a parent, the struggle with anxiety & depression, the loss of a valued relationship and so much more! I've found joy amid the pain. And, I want to share it with you!

13 August 2013

A Happy Marriage

I saw a picture on Facebook the other day... you know that place "Facebook" where everything from puppies to porn is freely shared... ? Well, I choose to look at the GOOD side of Facebook. And, the picture below, shared by Proverbs 31 Ministries, struck a cord with me. 

I feel as though I have a pretty happy marriage. I kid about the "imperfections" of my husband. But, I recognize it takes work to be "happily" married. The rewards of that work far outweigh the actual work! And, it can't be all work. It also needs to be fun & laughter & joy & hugs & smiles.

I wonder how many of these I've done consistently over the years?

A SHORT GUIDE TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE
1. be quick to forgive
2. always be kind
3. show affection
4. praise the good
5. admit when you are wrong
6. always be your spouse's champion
7. trust in God
8. share excitement
9. always have a sense of humor
10. don't take yourself too seriously
11. choose joy


picture via Proverbs 31 Ministries & www.LILBLUEBOO.com

I wonder how many OTHER MARRIED PEOPLE have done these consistently over the years? What about you?

 Related posts of mine -- because we all know that I have a lot of theories on life :D
Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...
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09 August 2013

Captivity & Oppression

Lions & Tigers & Bears... OH MY! 

What a title for a blog post, "Captivity & Oppression". 

Who would want to read something with that title? But, alas, I write from the heart & from what I know. And lately, I've been feeling a lot of captivity & oppression!

There are so many things going on in my life lately which have prompted spontaneous blog entries - living now as unpublished drafts. But, I'll need to wait until there's "more water under the bridge" before those entries get published :/ I wrote one late the other night entitled: "Hostage in My Own Home." I have no idea when that post will be cleaned up & published. But, it sure did feel good to put my feelings down on paper, so to speak. I've almost felt oppressed at times by many of the things happening around me. One of the scriptures I cited today reminded me of that blog entry & encouraged me to claim that Jesus was sent to proclaim that the captives & oppressed would be set free. I'm reminded today that life's circumstances & the choices of others in my life have no hold on my personal freedom. My freedom comes through Christ & was guaranteed when He took my sins upon the cross.

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come." 
Luke 4:18-19

My challenge to you out there who call yourself by the name of Christ follower... walk in the knowledge that, no matter what, we are FREE IN CHRIST. With the recognition of that knowledge, how can we not be seen by other as "salt & light" in this world.

As for me, I'm standing up to the scary animals in my life & claiming the scripture...

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them,
because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 

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05 August 2013

2013 July ONE THOUSAND GIFTS #JoyDare

JULY 2013 
One Thousand Gifts (by Ann Voskamp)
#1000Gifts #JoyDare


Buy book here...      
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012...
and now I'm on the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2013... 
my format now is a bit more simpler than before though...

Today I find JOY in...

7/1/13 Mon
1623. not working outside of the home - i really needed a SLEEP day today!
1624. searching, seeking for answers
hearing nothing -- yet believing I will!
1625. hubby dinner for me

 7/2/13 Tues
1626. great devotions & quotes:
"No matter our circumstances, it's never too late to be free." from @Proverbs31org
1627. living vicariously through a friend
my friend, K, just completed
a portion of the Voyage of Elsa
& captured this beautiful shot
1628. His great promises!
With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9

 7/3/13 Wed
1629. ready for a LONG weekend
starting the party w/Cheerwine
1630. sunset & our fields :)


1631. 3rd yr to watch fireworks from our backyard
with the LOML (heart)

 7/4/13 Thurs - 4th of JULY & Half-Birthday of J
1632. traditions
SEVENTH YEAR for T to walk w/the
Marching Highlanders in the 4th of July Parade
4 as student; 1 as super senior & 2 as staff
1633. family time outside
7/5/13 Fri
1635. foggy mornings when you don't have to go anywhere

 1636. recounting blessings from the past days

1637. chicken under a brick

7/6/13 Sat
1638. play time w/a sweet gift from God

1639. in the words of the LOML: the weeds that grown in our yard

1640. watching fireflies come out to cover the fields & lawn

 7/7/13 Sun
1641. wonderful worship & teaching at MPC
1642. options

1643. walking country roads

7/8/13 Mon
1644. bright eyes

1645. sweet tea break by the pool
1646. a little pool friend

7/9/13 Tues
1647. sleeping & coping w/something
I'm very thankful that God gives me rest in sleep sometimes especially!
1648. play date for A&G and time together for friends
1649. late night - feels so good to be home


7/10/13 Wed
1650. relaxing visit with Chelsea
1651. big storm but... no damage to cars, house or pole barn




 1652. gorgeous sunset after a very crazy storm earlier

7/11/13 Thurs (3 gifts in jars)
1653. Old buttons that my grandmother started collecting when she was a child. 
1654. Homemade jelly from a friend's orchard. 
1655. My body - a reminder of God's power. "But we have this treasure in earthen JARS, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  II Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
BONUS: Beauty after a storm:


7/12/13 Fri
1656. worship arts note done by noon
1657. first time on float in pool for the summer - Wha-What!?!?!

1658. MPC softball game - Team A victory over Team B... Then Dairy Queen :)

7/13/13 Sat
1659. Chelsea, A & J being here
1660. Holding A for 2hrs for her nap :)
1661. Date night with the LOML!

7/14/13 Sun
1662. joy of having both my kid with me at church!
1663. harvesting 1st batch of bush beans
the lime shows perspective :)
1664. relaxing evening

 7/15/13 Mon
1665. a little Monday weeding
1666. half-birthday eve at BFFClub
1667. in the words of the LOML...
"That's about as good as a green bean can get!"
7/16/13 Tues 6 Months Old
1668. love eyes

1669. God keeping my mouth shut when I really want to scream,
"RUN! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!"
Sometimes things happen in your life
and you just have to scream,OUCH!
1670. 2 girls sleeping safely in our home tonight

 7/17/13 Wed
1671. so many wonderful prayer partner friends!
1672. peace that passes ALL understanding - in times of uncertainty & fear

1673. a visit from my mom 

 7/18/13 Thurs
1674. the smell of a baby when kissed in the morning :)
1675. doors left wide open all day
opened doors in other areas
1676. family night in the pool

 7/19/13 Fri
1677. talk of a new start - well, kind of
1678. visiting BFFH at her job
I know people in high places.
Don't mess with me - LOL!
1679. church fast pitch softball


7/20/13 Sat
1680. new chapter in our lives complete with MORNING KISSES
1681. thankful for location of this home
away from town!!
1682. prayer warriors

 7/21/13 Sun
1683. shorter church drive than in recent months!
1684. music in the park



1685. ice cream for dinner (okay, dessert... but a BIG bowl!!)

 7/22/13 Mon

1687. BFF Club community = priceless
1688. Sun's going down, cicadas are singing & fireflies are beginning to cover the soybean field and distant corn all bathed by an orange moon!!


 7/23/13 Tues
1689. $5 times 140 = WHAT?
1690. a helper as I work on the WomMin note

1691. praying for my girlfriends & their Strip Club Theology :)

 7/24/13 Wed
1692. 1st strawberry

1693. Never say never when you are open to how God wants to use you!
His ways are not our ways!
1694. cool evening air
7/25/13 Thurs
1695. manners
When she politely asks,
"DeeDee, may I please sit on the kitchen table by the pretty lillies for a picture?"
What can I say except,
"Well, of course you may sweet Ayla!!"
1696. trying to provide for someone who doesn't help at all
1697. ending one life style to attempt to live a healthier, happier life

7/26/13 Fri
1698. Weiner vs Paula Dean
Sometimes it seems to me like the world's becoming more & more tolerant of views & opinions but, at the same time, walking further & further away from the concept of grace & forgiveness when views differ. I'm probably going to have to write a blog post about those thoughts.
1699. 
1700. my Grandma's lamp

7/27/13 Sat
1701. sleeping in - well kinda
(we've had a change in our schedules now that our FAMILY has grown by 2)
1702. little photo shoot w/A
1703. late afternoon sun, pizza party, yard work

7/28/13 Sun
1704. music - sometimes it's the only thing that speaks God to me
1705. botched date night - trusting that something good will come out of that... trusting :/

7/29/13 Mon
1707. early morning blog work!!
1708. great quotes:
“The secret to joy — is to keep seeking God where you doubt He is.”
via Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts
1709. visiting w/Aunt T from FL after BFFClub
BFF Club stats: 16 pounds, 13.5 ounces; 25.5 inches
7/30/13 Tues
1710. classical music played for both of my children (in utero & as they grew up)
being played for my 1st grandchild
1711. pink lint in the dryer screen
love doing baby laundry for A
1712. comforting a tearful young lady
being hopeful in what seems to be a hopeless situation

 7/31/13 Wed
1713. texting w/LRose & sharing scriptures
1714. hard decisions made by a worn out young person
1715. Ice Cream Social for the AHS Marching Highlanders


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01 August 2013

2013 June ONE THOUSAND GIFTS #JoyDare

JUNE 2013 
One Thousand Gifts (by Ann Voskamp)
#1000Gifts #JoyDare


Buy book here...      

I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012...
and now I'm on the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2013... 
my format now is a bit more simpler than before though...

Today I find JOY in...

6/1/13 Sat
1533. "Look where my DeeDee put me now!!!"

 1534. kisses w/eyes closed

1535. women celebrating women
at Festival of Tables 


 6/2/13 Sun YOUTH SUNDAY AT MPC
1536. young people serving

 1537. iHop for lunch & kisses

 1538. The lawn boy, pool boy, grill master, garden man, etc.
our itty bitty garden

 6/3/13 Mon
1539. #TempleMaintenance in the morning
w/T :)

 1540. God is great, God is good, and we thank Him...

 1541. early to bed... :)

 6/4/13 Tues
1542. LAST DAY BEFORE SUMMER BREAK FOR ME!
took my Miss Frizzle Magic School Bus
kids to Gene's for an ice cream cone!
1543. my NEIGHbors

 1544. wonderful night knowing there
is NO afternoon J-O-B tomorrow :) 

 6/5/13 Wed
1545. coffee in bed
1546. watching the sky change colors
1547. nights outside when you just don't want to go back in :)

 6/6/13 Thurs
1548. morning coffee w/pie

 1549. A. walks with PapaBear
1550. pool party in a COLD pool - muahahahaha!

 6/7/13 Fri
1551. rough start to the morning - resulting in a GOOD talk w/son
1552. safe travels to Atlanta w/T
1553. car dates & meeting K's GParents

6/8/13 Sat
1554. being a "creeper" & getting an awesome shot

 1555. new friend
Miley H
1556. GIRLFRIENDS over the years!!

6/9/13 Sun
1557. trying out a new church w/friends in the Atlanta, GA area
Worship team at the church we visited today
closed their service with "Taking Care of Business"
(Bachman Turner Overdrive)

1558. Chateau Elan

1559. men who cook dinner & serve it to their wife's friend :)

6/10/13 Mon
1560. the first thing I saw this morning
seriously... that's what i saw!
1561. new friends who feel like family!!
1562. evening walk w/the H family

 6/11/13 Tues
1563. 10 hours traveling w/my son :)

1564. being missed

 1565. two overnight guests (J&A)

6/12/13 Wed
1566. kissing a baby awake!
1567. waiting for flowers to bloom
so late this year :/

1568. emptying suitcase almost immediately
(very rare for me!)

 6/13/13 Thurs
1569. getting to keep this little one this morning:
SELFIE... starting her out early
1570. rickety trellis - gorgeous flowers
clematis blooming
1571. 

6/14/13 Fri
1572. cool, comfortable temps this am
1573. lunch w/T on the deck

 1574. trombone practice - 4-5 times today

 6/15/13 Sat
1575. getting bigger by the day

 1576. body image :)
be happy w/who you are!
1577. pool time after the sun goes down

6/16/13 Sun FATHER'S DAY
1578. family at church - PRAISE GOD!

 1579. trusting, praying, trusting, praying...

 1580. the famous C Sundae :)


 6/17/13 Mon
1581. sitting on the ground on a broken swing!

1582. BFFClub Stats
14lbs 15 1/2 ounces; 25 1/2 inches 
1583. Pampered Chef party at Aunt Kimmy's house

 6/18/13 Tues
1584. Oh My Word! God the INCREDIBLE Artist!
it totally looked like God combed His fingers through the clouds

 1585. leftovers from Red Lobster on Sunday
1586. sunset panorama

 6/19/13 Wed
1587. morning walkabout

 1588. neglecting housework today to read
1589. finishing a great book!

6/20/13 Thurs
1590. multi-tasking - a million projects, so little time :)
1591. my little "beach"

1592. vintage clothing
"Today I'm modeling a vintage top that my Mommy wore 23 years ago.
It goes perfectly with one of my DeeDee's floppy hats & my white rolled up jeans!" ~ A
6/21/13 Fri
1593. sharing about wearing yourself out in worship

1594. fast pitch church softball
1595. Frazier's Dairy Maid w/JT&A

6/22/13 Sat
1596. hiding things in the house...
I mean CLEANING THE HOUSE
1597. hosting a little birthday party for my niece & friends

1598. choosing to love others in spite of our differences

6/23/13 Sun
1599. short night of sleep - but great morning of worship at MPC
1600. 4-hr Sunday Afternoon Nap - yes, please!
1601. the humor of the LOML:
Sitting outside by the "pond"...
ME: I suggest we go for a slow leisurely walk & then watch a show on TV.
The LOML: A slow leisurely walk into the house?
PS I tricked him into a walk by getting his to look at HIS GARDEN first :)

6/24/13 Mon
1602. early morning walkabout w/KokoBear

1603. lunch w/Janet - a wonderful BFF
1604. family matters

6/25/13 Tues
1605. good words from a friend:

Today love ur family in a way that matters.
Take time 2 affirm, encourage, build up, sacrifice & serve 4 their good. #lovethatmatters
via @RevRoll on Twitter

1606. beautiful perrenial day lillies
along my rickety fence
1607. windy day for a baby

6/26/13 Wed MIECHKA'S BIRTHDAY
1608. big hair - bahahahaha!

1609. found a bird nest with a ROOF
while doing over 2hrs of weeding!!

1610. Meichka's birthday & GMBev's LASAGNA SOUP!

6/27/13 Thurs
1611. getting things DONE around the house
1612. no surprises for God - very comforting
1613. left over pot roast & trimmings & a salad for OUR garden!


6/28/13 Fri
1614. busy, busy morning - feeling God's hand upon me
1615. an especially sweet experience
as I worked on the MPCWorshipArts note:

God's faithfulness to His church and
to each of His children on a personal level
will remain constant.
There are changes ahead for our Madison Park family.
And, undiscovered blessings from Him are awaiting us,
as we continue to seek and to serve Him.
Be encouraged! God is at work!!

1616. wonderful celebration of K & N
Here comes the BRIDE :)
6/29/13 Sat
1617. early morning awake - NOTE TO SELF: No cafeinne after 2pm
1618. organizing the pole barn w/the LOML
God moment or call me crazy... but I feel strongly impressed
to hold on to this OLDIE for something down the road
1619. Bonge's date night to celebrate anniversaries

6/30/13 Sun ANNIVERSARY
1620. Celebration of pastors who are like FAMILY
 "I'm on my way to church to celebrate Jim & Maureen Lyon's 22 yrs of ministry.
22 years... WOW, that's a lot." ~ A

1621. me & my sensitivity... and depression
(I can only CLAIM & BELIEVE that God will make a good thing out of something that happened today!
I am certainly not feeling optimistic now!)
1622. a husband who deeply loves & supports me


I've taken the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012 & 2013... click on the links below for specific months...

1000 Gifts 5/13
1000 Gifts 4/13
1000 Gifts 3/13
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