I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary To save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood's atoning, Then I repented of my sins; And won the victory. O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him, And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.

Resurrection Sunday Morning Sunshine

six on sunday...

 

Here's a peek into my week.

1. Temperatures were in the 70's over the weekend.

Crazy, huh?

The snow melted :)

and

the sunshine called me outside

to work in my flowerbeds.

I found a few of these

(my favorite spring flower)

Now faith

is being sure of what we hope (expect) for

and

certain of what we do not see.

Heb. 11:1

~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. My entry is progressing.

Step 1: complete

yep, that is My Mr.  hanging wallpaper 

on.the.ceiling.

yep, we are crazy.

yep, it  is  was really hard to do.

and 

yep, I love it.

(soon, I will be back to show you more, I'm still trying to put it all back together)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

3.  I've been helping Mrs G with her nursery.

I can't show you, yet.

It's gonna  be cute!

here's some of  what we are working with

It is fun to watch my girls find their own style 

and create their own homes.

Not their mama's. 

I 'm the painter

...and am trying to keep my mouth shut...

I wonder how I 'm doing at that:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4.  We been watching a bit a lot of college basketball.

We are a March Madness family.

March Madness means 

family get-togethers and good food.

 What's not to love?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5. TAXES...again.  didn't I just finish 2010?  

Remember what I said about this last year?

Start earlier and get help...

That did not happen.  

The clock is ticking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6.  Today's teaching was on mercy.

 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7

mercy- NOT getting what we DO deserve.

 For that I am thankful.

love is...

found on pinterest, of course

free printable
credit: The Girl Creative

I printed my  version in black and white.
love on.

...may the words of my mouth 

and 

the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, 

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalms 19:4

today...

and

 everyday.

be still...

words whispered to my heart this week

words of grace...

On those days of struggle: 
disappointment, insecurities, unmet expectations, judgement, uncertainties...days like today... 
I remember this:

For we are God's workmanship,  

created  in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared  in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:9

beauty...

 here are a few shots

of the promised bouquet

of peonies

 you may ask

when do i have time to play with flowers?

 i don't

but 

life is too stinkin' short, dang-it

the peonies will be gone before i know it

 i might have have disaster all around  me

i do

there might not be a clear spot on the counter

there isn't

my hair might be a mess

it is 

but

i have beauty

 this quote has been taped onto our upstairs bathroom mirror 

ever since my oldest daughter 

was still here at home..

in  her handwriting...
~ that is beauty ~

what to do, today?

Every morning i get up and make  my to-do list...a silly little list, really...just to get me going and to not be too overwhelmed by it all...i add important things like laundry, correct math with my girl, and dinner (yes, I have to write  to make dinner but that is for another post) ...i even add  blogging...

everything was ok this morning until i wrote it:

Wednesday, December 15

that date will forever be etched on my heart...

there is supposed to be something else on my list today....like celebrate a birthday....not the birthday of my oldest girl tomorrow (yikes-how do I have a 30 year-old ?) 

but the 7th birthday of my youngest....

i've not really spoken of this much except for here

it was a season that changed me forever. You do the math....yes I was 42 when I found out I was pregnant...after years of infertility and years of dreaming about having a large family...i was in shock and really not quite sure about it all... 42...really, God?

all was well until the 19 week ultrasound...

and it was over as quickly as it began...

my heart was truly broken..

i had guilt, i had sorrow, i had brokenness.

i spent the next 2 years desperately trying to have a baby to fill my empty heart and empty arms only to have 4 more miscarriages.

trying to fix it myself.

my 25th wedding anniversary will always be remembered as the day i found out i was pregnant with # 5

it was during this time that Miss Gracie's took off...an escape from the pain...the one place i could create beauty...

and then there was sweet surrender

seasons of growth are hard, they are consuming, they are necessary

but i am paying the price for that season...there have been other broken hearts as well...my daughters have not received the attention they have needed...my Mrs (she'll always my Miss) G especially...she quietly grew up in the shadow of it all...
and then there is  my home...it has truly been out of control...
that, too is for another post.

but today's post is for this

to remind myself and to remind you

that when the disappointments and trials come

and 

they will come

(in fact,  there are  new ones  here now)

 there is hope

these are just a few of the verses marked  in my bible 

with those painful dates

Hear O lord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.

You are my God; save your servant

who trusts in you.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,

for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant

for to you, o Lord

I lift up my soul

You are forgiving and good,

O Lord

abounding in love to all who call to you

Hear my prayer, O Lord

listen to my cry for mercy

in the day of my trouble I will call to you

for you will answer me.

Psalm 86:1-7 

and

Consider it pure joy, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 

Perseverance must finish its work so that you must be complete, not lacking in anything.  

James 1:2-4

How very thankful

 i am 

for a God 

that is full 

of compassion 

and 

grace for all my insufficiency.

 If you would like to read more about all that i learned you can here

I can only go so long without a real post

all of the rest is just so fluffy

Now, that I've had  my time to reflect and to cry...

back to the business of this day.

laundry

math

dinner

thanks...

 They I will celebrate 

your abundant goodness 

and 

joyfully sing of your righteousness.

psalm 145:7 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm smiling...

again.

my pity party is  over :)

it's time for me to walk my talk

~
~
~
I have been so encouraged these last weeks by 
your amazing words.
words that offer comfort
words of understanding
and 
words from the word of words.

Your compassion is amazing;
even as some of you fight for your life
you took the time to comfort me.
How humbling.
How sweet.
How Christ-like.

As for  me,
I am doing better.
I can handle the 25K hospital bill.
I can handle my (paid-for) van
 blowing  the radiator and head gasket.
I can handle the microwave breaking...
It all just money
but
when the relationships in my life are not right
you might as well cut off my legs. and hands. and blindfold me.
I become useless.
~
~
~

There have been 

hurt feelings

misunderstandings

poor communication.

It all came  spilling out  a few weeks back.

I did not see it coming

and

it  rocked my very being.

It went to the center of all that I am

a wife, a mother, a daughter, a homemaker, 

a creator,

 a business-woman, a blogger...
and left me re-evaluating it all;
Examining my heart.
what is real
and
what is emotion?
where does change need to occur?
this mommy business of love
is hard work
but 
oh, so worth it.


my family is my passion

I have been  thankful for grace.

grace for  forgiveness for me, 

for all of my shortcomings; 

grace that I could forgive

when I was so misunderstood, angry and hurt.

And I am  so very thankful

 for my amazing Grace.

May she always know ...

She has my heart always.

Here are some  my pictures

of 
my darling grandbabies.


Aren't they sweet?!


The triplets
 burst into tears 
when we lined them up.

I have such a great effect on them!

   Because of the LORD's great love

   we are not consumed, 

   for his compassions never fail.
    
   They are new every morning;
       
   great is your faithfulness.

   Lamentations 3:22-23