Happy Trails Birthday Dawg!

Happy Birthday Kobe...Renegade Cowboy Doggy...

7 Years Old.....Still Digging.....











Hope he enjoyed his ride with Kam and the Micky D's cheeseburger....(I know he did!)

Thankful...

Joining in today.... Hop over here for more.

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/



Thankful today for God's Word...His Words written in His Book...for my instruction and exhortation, and for wisdom..."know-how" to walk this journey. But thankful most of all for Jesus Christ who was truly The Word in flesh...walking right here on this planet long ago. To leave Heaven and be willing to come down here...an act too incomprehensible for me...but I am grateful with all my heart.




C. S Lewis ~ Mere Christianity

“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine....A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”



Do you know today WHO designed and created you? Are you running on the one element you need to keep going?...OR are you feeling lost, running on empty?
Run to Jesus.
Find the true source of fulfillment, joy and peace. Pick up God's Word and get to know the ONE who knows you inside out and can give you all you will ever need.

God's blessings on this day. Thanks to all who popped in for a visit.

Hugs to all my bloggy sisters..

A Dog and HIS spot....

Well~~ this is gonna be...



There are days, .....and there are days.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. There will be times where you have to take a stand, and be unmoveable. You will just know when it is THAT time.

Gideon took his stand yesterday...and he did it laying down!!!

If ever there was a dawg who did NOT want to give up his sunny spot, I would have to say ....There he is... *(yes the vacuum cleaner IS running)

TENACIOUS.




This pic is not the best. I took it with my cell phone which was ON me, while I was vacuuming, because I wanted to share it with my Honey...
He misses the furry family members too!

And so let us all learn, when you have claimed something or somewhere as yours...Be Strong. Hold what cha got! A girl's gotta know her limits......after all.

And sometimes.....So does a DOG!!!!

HUGS ... xoxo

HE'S BAAAACK...

Finally a "late" post, for sure...but a journal entry...Jonny's back from Africa one week now, and I just need to get this recorded in some words and photos...

Jonny came back in from Africa last Wednesday the 5th. He was very tired, "jet-lagging" and hungry. (over 19 hours of flying)



And every mom knows what happens when the troops return from a trip or retreat carrying all their dirty laundry, bags, and booty...

See those sandals there??? Those are a pair Jonny bought in Kenya...made out of tire treads...tough stuff...





He did not want to leave without bringing some of the "flavor and taste" of the trip back with him. It does pull up meaningful and special memories for him when he partakes....




This was my souvenir gift. It is a very heavy egg made of soapstone. It is beautifully painted. Mine was the elephant. Each one had a different scene on it.



Following are pics that I borrowed....ummm...nabbed?? from Al's photo album on Facebook that he shared with Jonny. Jonny only had some phone pics, so I am grateful to Al (their lead man) for the photos he posted that I might be able to share here and also just for my journal memories...

a larger group meeting

sleeping quarters

water tanks

Camp days

Cowboy Jonny and his new buddies...one of these guys got to keep Jonny's hat. :-)

Yes, goat carcass. they ate goat meat on New Year's Eve...verdict? (it was good!)

The entire 11 member team together, finally...after 7 were stranded in Rome for 5 days when their connecting flight was missed.

The American team, some of the Kenyan team, and some campers...

Another Camp day...teams and games...


Yes...before they left Kenya, after Camp was over, they did get in a small-scale Safari and saw a number of animals..this is one of them, and yes...there was a fence between the group and THIS one!!

They enjoyed the country, the open landscape, the wildlife, and most of all ,....the people..

Jonny came back greatly impacted...by MANY things. Part of his heart is back with his new friends. The walk into the slum on Sunday was an eye opener...something he will not forget. Over one million people living within guarded walls surrounding one square mile....It is NOT a safe place, especially at night. The ones who knew the Lord truly understood that Christ was their ALL...their everything. When you don't have much to start with, then you understand the sufficiency of Christ much better.
The eyes of the people in the slums ...who did NOT know Christ, Jonny said they were so empty and lifeless, staring at nothing, communicating nothing, as the group walked by the small houses in a street that was literally single file wide.

I am glad he took this trip. I know he has been impacted. I know there are many things going on in his heart and head right now as he adapts to "re-entry" back into this materialistic and entitled nation of ours. He has struggled. But we know it is all a normal process of visiting and being a part of a 3rd world country and culture, and then coming back to where God has placed him in this abundantly blessed and plentiful nation. He understands now the reason why so many of us in our faith and maturity levels have not quite grasped the term....I have everything I need in Christ. He is my All....IN all.

So glad to have my 3rd born back home. I missed him. I am glad he got to go on this trip. He is already planning for going back next year...NO surprise here...

That is my entry today. For any who stopped by, thank you for popping in. You are all dear bloggy sisters. Hope you are staying warm in this Winter season's cold spell we all seem to be getting a taste of. Looking for that Spring Robin!!!!

Hugs to you all.

White Wednesday...2011...still going...

I am joining Kathleen over at FADED CHARM for her White Wednesdays that continue into 2011 with her 81st linky party.

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/



I purchased this precious little winged cherub resting on a heart shaped stone with a little bit of my Christmas money. The verse says it all for me this year. Truly...with Christ, I can do all things...so I do not need to fear or question the future. He is with me. This sacred reminder rests in my bath on the vanity to inspire all who pass by.



This little cherub lights up my desk. He was a discarded lamp sitting all alone on a shelf at a Goodwill this past summer. No lampshade...and I do believe he was calling out my name because he was meant for me. :-) Precious little angel for 2.99...Most certainly a treasure to me.



This one hovers in the front hall. I do believe I have the same love for angels that my mama did...Heaven's winged guardians flying low, hovering, protecting, and vigilant over all God's children..


And this last addition for White Wednesday is especially for a bloggy friend Joyce.
She said she got sad when she had to take down all of her Christmas lights because they were so pretty and lit up the darkness, which she does NOT like. (just like me!)
Well, I put these two little trees in the front hall after Christmas ...and here they will STAY!... always lit with their white sparkly bulbs. They remind me of Christmas year round... Who says we can't have twinkley lights on throughout the year!??? And Little Woobie surprised me and came and lay down for the picture. So he is my favorite White this week. I think he is missing Justin all over again...



Shouting out a special OOO-RAH for our United States Marine Corps and all the other Military branches who protect our beautiful country of America, the land of the Free and the home of the BRAVE!! May the year of 2011 be a successful and safe year for all of our heroes who continue to defend and fight for Justice for ALL peoples. Please say a prayer for God to protect them and bring their precious boots back safe to American soil and loved ones waiting and praying for their homecoming.

Blessings to all my bloggy sisters and visitors. Thank you for popping in today, and I hope that you will have a wonderful Wednesday.
*** I am thrilled to have my (for sure) travel-weary son coming back in to the US from Africa tonight. After 20 hours of flying, I know he will be ready to hit the sack, but talking like crazy with many stories to tell. So good to get him back.

Christmas 2010

Tons of pictures were taken with Jonny's newest camera on Christmas Day, but alas he took off for Africa the next day so there they remain inside the camera. But I believe Kat stole some out of it for her Facebook, and I stole them from her!

A couple of photos of our whole clan of 6 and even one furry body in one. The entire family being here together is so rare now... Miss it so much.

Hugs to all for a Happy New Year. My hubby. The wind beneath my wings. My kids. The joy that keeps me floating. And of course...My Savior, the One who holds us all together through life.

Blessings to all who pop in. Have a wonderful Sunday. xo

A Quick Glance Back...

I awoke this morning to see 2011 dawning with a very very foggy blanket. Covered with a grey shroud as if not willing to show what the New Year would bring with it.

In the moments, days, and sometimes even seasons that make up the journey of our lives, all that claims our time, energies, and efforts sometimes makes us forget the everyday small miracles and changes that God is working. When "Life Comes At You Fast", the urgent has a way of stealing us away from what is so much more important.

Reflecting is a good thing. It makes us view the entire timeline of our year and how it all was woven together. To see the Hand of God in every moment, not just the ones of obvious blessing and joy and mercy.

God is present and working in every minute of our lives. Nothing can touch a child of God that has not passed through HIS hands first. To know this gives a confidence and peace that one can not get from any other source.


When the storms come, the trials blow in, and we are feeling like things are falling apart or coming unglued...in our hearts we can turn to Him and believe that HE IS THERE.


Through the many events we experienced in our lives in 2010 here at this little cottage on Woodberry, God has shown His faithfulness and mercies... truly they are new every morning.


From deployment of a son to Afghanistan to new employment for a husband in Iowa.... From bringing our Marine safely home to America from a violent war, alive and well, to taking my mama home to Heaven, eternally healed and secure.... From seeing God protect and provide for us for our needs and our health (we had NO insurance) to blessing with greater salary and full health coverage and benefits....and SO MUCH MORE, too many to list in a blog post....


God works and weaves, and directs from Heaven...supernaturally charting the course for our lives. And when we look to Him and simply trust and believe that He will work ALL things....

~~~~ALL THINGS~~~~

for our good... it will make the journey a whole lot easier.

Life is made up of hard times, and the moments between the hard times..

It was never intended to be easy. Those who think it should be will be sorely disappointed in their walks. And the ones who know that the HARD times actually strengthen them and make them tougher and more battle-ready for the things ahead...they will grow and be valuable to others. Ready to reach out and help others keep going and keep the faith, and shout out "this too shall pass!"


God is good, my bloggy sisters...through it all, GOD IS GOOD! He will never forsake us. How do I know...you ask??

Because He promised.

And His Word is good enough. :-)

Hugs to you all. This is just an e-journal entry to state that God has walked with my family...with me...and seen us through another year of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, trials and immense surprises!!

He is our anchor and our resting place. I hope HE is yours too! Amen.