Horsin' around

M & M started riding lessons yesterday courtesy of Miss Mandy. Doc and Dalli are wonderful horses!

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Joy

It is in the everyday. A kind word or a passing smile. Some of my most joyful moments happen on ordinary days. A tiny note left on my pillow, looking at pictures, watching the girls play. Those same ordinary days have the potential to rob my joy. The world could take over if I let it. In ten seconds I could make a list that begins with gas prices, unkind people and politics. God says our joy is to remain , not go up and down with our circumstances.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

At church we just finished the book of Philippians. It was written by Paul while in prison and it is about joy. What a faithful example Paul is. He did not complain but instead upheld his belief in furthering the gospel. He was more focused on God and others than himself. When we put God and others before our own needs we aren't so focused on our little worries. In Phill. 2:3 the Bible says, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Verse 14 says, Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

Chapter 4:8, Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Worry is wrong thinking and feeling. Worry is a joy robber, worry is sinful. It means that I don't place enough trust in God. God promises that when we live right we have peace and joy. Phill. 4:9, Those things, which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

My joy is found in Phill. 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. My joy is not found in a self-help book, the lottery or this world. My joy is my salvation.

Spring weekend

Just a few pictures during our adventure last weekend. A great launch into official warm and wonderful Spring weather. Being at this enormous park was a perfect finish to the weekend. I wasn't feeling well and the girls had so many things to do. They really were climbing the rope triangle it just looks staged. Some other kids were shaking the entire thing from the top. The girls just happen to be 'rule police' (don't know where they get that) so they were waiting for the kids to stop shaking the ropes. They had snow cones, rode the ponies, climbed the rock wall and hogged the swings for at least a half hour. All I had to do was watch and enjoy.

We had to stop and pose with Snoopy :)

Happy Birthday to......

my BFF of 14 years, Keith!


We hope you have a wonderful day.
Tons of love from your girls.

Growing too fast!

That's all I can say...................

Have a great weekend!

The first picture is a close up of this beautiful rose shrub that is just outside my office.

I love lavender

You may know that I LOVE lavender. It is beautiful, smells wonderful, and now I can say, tastes sooo good. I have tried lavender tea, just steeped lavender with honey and I did not care for it. It tastes a bit too green for me.

For Easter, I made these mini muffins. They are so yummy. They would be perfect for a brunch or tea. My girls didn't like them and Keith wouldn't touch them. He said they looked like they were for girls. Well they are pretty. Here is the recipe.


Mads gathering lavender at the festival last summer. Hundreds of bees swarm all around while you are in the fields. They don't even bother you. It is pretty amazing.

Just some fun

A few pictures from Easter Day. Grandpa was shading the sun from his eyes and Uncle Craig told him to flash the sign because he looked like a gangsta. The picture of the table almost set and Grandma with her Easter gift from Uncle Craig. The chocolates were inside the pretty box. And the girls on the way to church. It was a beautiful day.

Stand still

How amazing is it that the same God who made this vast universe, the same God who told the waters where to stop and the stars when to shine, is the same powerful God who works on my behalf everyday. He has promised that when I walk in the Spirit that I will not succumb to the ways of my flesh (Galatians 5:16). Everyday I remind myself that it is not about me!
It is ALL about GOD! We were not saved so we could live to meet our own desires, but to Glorify God daily. All I need to do is be still. Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10. God asks for my obedience and he will bless me and he will teach me to trust him. In my weakness, I am strong in Christ.


This past weekend was filled with God's glory. Friday night was our annual banquet. Dr. Trieber was our guest and the entire room was blessed I guarantee. After the offering was calculated, the amount was within a few hundred dollars of what was needed to do the projects at the church. Glory be to God.


Easter Sunday was beautiful. Our church service had record attendance in both the main service and Spanish service, we had a baptism and our city's largest egg hunt. The goal is not to be the largest church but to reach lost souls and the egg hunt was just plain fun.


Evangelist, John Goetsch Jr. and his family were our guests. He is an amazing man of God and I am thankful for the message he was given. Mrs. Goetsch could have sang all day and no one would have moved!


The Resurrection should be celebrated everyday.

A little dusty

This is the kind of spring cleaning I need to do! That dust wouldn't be there if I would get out and ride ( if you click on the first pic you will see how dusty). I've kept my bike pretty much parked during the cold weather. I don't like to be cold.

It's nice out now so no excuses. Wish me lots of motivation............

Sweetness on paper

I found this sitting on the middle of my desk this past September. When I asked Mia about it she told me that while she was in her room she just felt like writing. No one helped her with the spelling or anything she said. I thought it was so sweet. Click on the letter to read it easier :)

Oh to be innocent

Last Sunday night, my girls sitting with me in church, I am getting my check ready for the offering:

Mia: "Mommy how much are you doing?"

Me: "Mia, no worries. "

Mia: "Just make it for ten thousand. "

Me: "That's a lot. I don't have that much in my checking."

Mia: "You mean you have to have the money?"

Me: "Yes."

Mia: "I thought the bank would just give the church how much you write it for. That stinks."

A better popcorn

On my quest to be partially hydrogenated free, I came across a better way to get our microwave popcorn fix. This is probably old news to most but was new and very tasty to us. 1/4 cup popcorn kernels, 2 tsp. canola oil, and your favorite seasoning flavor. Use your microwave popcorn button and it will be perfect.

P.S. We tried the prepackaged organic varieties and did not like the cardboard taste.

They didn't save me any........

Update: This popcorn IS better than this!!!

Cotton candy with sour gummy worms

These frozen worms are tougher to eat than you would think. We were off from school yesterday and today so it seemed like a great idea to go for a treat.

Protect me from me

Dear Precious Heavenly Father,
My heart is so deceitful. My perception is not reality. My heart is proud and self-condemning. I can't rely on myself and I pray that you will protect me from me today. Help me to trust the spirit within me, not me. Lord, you are bigger than my heart and only you can kill my flesh. I pray that you will crucify me today. Let today be a "not I" day. The enemy is real but sometimes I am my worst enemy. From my heart to my mind, protect me from me.
In Jesus precious name,
Amen

Pastor Doug Fisher gave a wonderful message tonight and the Lord gave me the prayer above. I can't wait for what the Lord has for us tomorrow.