Sunday Scripture

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  

2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

Being sifted

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to test all of you as a farmer sifts his wheat.  I have prayed that you will not lose your faith?  Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me."

Luke 22:31 New Century Version

Last night at bible study this was just one of the things that we talked about, but I kept coming back to it over and over.

Probably because in the last month. . . 

My mom's health/memory has deteriorated,

My AC has broken, twice,

2 out of 3 cars have needed repair,

not working as much because of reason #1, so I don't have as much income to help with all the following reasons.

I guess sometimes it's how you look at things that can change your outlook, most of the time I am a glass 1/2 full kind of girl.  But lately, not so much.

But I have learned that I don't have to have a good situation, to have a good situation.

That's a little saying my pastor always says, and it took difficult circumstances to help me really get it.

I have learned that while what may seem like a trying, lonely, life altering situation can change things in my life, it won't change my attitude or my faith, if I don't let it. 

I can look at all of this going on and say Why me?

Or I can say, Why not me?  

God could be allowing these things to happen in my life to "sift" me, to make me stronger, to help me to rely on him more.  It has made my relationship with God stronger in so many ways.

God has been so much more to me, he has been a shoulder to cry on, a lot!!  He gives me strength, shows me that I can't control situations so I must learn ways to adapt and give the stress to him, and I have.  Well, most of the time, sometimes, the human in me wants to think I can take care of things myself but more and more I am giving him complete control.

Maybe we should look at the obstacles in our lives differently.  Maybe these things will be resolved quickly for some, or maybe they are life changes that will not end until God allows them to end.  But we should check our attitudes, and our faith.  Give everything fully to him, and let him take care of it.  He can definitely do it better than we ever could.

Just something to think about.

Huggie makeover

OK. so this wasn't even on my list, but I saw this on a blog party so I had to try it.  Especially since we only have about 50 of these things sitting around the house.  So I picked a few that didn't have any special meaning or anything funny on them and got to work.  

 Here we go, a few huggies, some mod podge and some fabric.

I tried it two different ways, one way I overlapped the top and the other way I tried to get it right to the edge.   Personally, I like the one right at the edge the best.  Just me.

Here it is after a coat of mod podge, and after that was dried I added some ribbon.

Here is the finished product, I think they turned out pretty cute, I can't wait to try them out.


PS.  I want to apologize for not giving credit to the blogger who did this, I can't remember where I saw it, but it was a great idea, so I really wanted to try it.

Summer Projects

This summer I had a list of projects that I wanted to get done around my house.  But, things have not gone anything like we have planned, so I haven't even started on anything until this weekend.

This is what was on my list.

Make patio under deck.

Paint Letter C for front door.

Make lights with jars for patio.

Paint Adirondack chairs.

My son found my list and informed me that I would not be painting his chairs.  You see, he made them and since he was the master crafter he didn't want me to paint them.
Spoiled rotten, I know.
To get around that I told him he would be making me a few more chairs so that I could paint them for my new patio.  He agreed as long as I buy the wood.


This weekend we had a rainy Saturday so I decided to venture out to Hobby Lobby and get some things I would need to complete my projects.


So coming soon, you will see a few of the things I made time to do.  

Staying Grounded

When things start seeming to spiral out of control, what grounds you? 


I have always loved a blue sky, don't you?  It's so peaceful, it fills me with a sense of calm and reassurance that sometimes keeps me from completely losing control when it feels like everything around me is spinning out of control.


I take comfort in knowing that no matter how much control I want to "think" I have, I have none.  One is in control that is more powerful than I will ever conceive to be.


That's what grounds me.

Still a few good ones left.

Today I had to go out to the dollar store, to pick up some necessities.  That's right, we were out of toilet paper.

Anyway, when I was standing in line there was a man in front of me who was getting several items and he went over the amount of money he had.  The cashier, kindly asked him if that was all the money he had, he was over like .81 cents.  She said if that is all you are getting I have a dollar.  He very humbly thanked her and went out with his groceries.

When she rang up my stuff, I told her that was a nice thing she did.

She said, Well, he comes in here a lot and he's a nice guy.

I have to say, I almost cried.  Not surprising if you know me.  But it was a sweet touching thing for her to do. 

That was a Mr. Lovewell moment.

Sunday Scripture

But I am close to God, and that is good.

the Lord God is my protection.

I will tell all that you have done.

Psalm 73:28 NCV

Happy 4th of July Weekend!!!!

Thanks to all the men and women who keep this country free, and thanks to God for true freedom.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. . . 

So if the Son makes you free you will truly be free.

John 8:32, 36

Making pickles!!

This past weekend, with our bountiful cucumber harvest I had an opportunity to make dill pickles.  We have been pretty fortunate with the rain, although it has been dry lately, we started out with a good amount of rainfall.

And with good weather comes good crops,  and

GOOD Pickles!!!!

This pickle mix makes GREAT pickles, and makes them easy enough for a  Martha Stewart wannabe like myself to make.