On a Lunch Break

What does one do on a rare break between one errand and another must do?

One with not quite enough time to go home,

but too much time to arrive early for the next thing of the day?

I choose a quiet spot, near a boat dock, on a cold windy day.

Warming in the sun and sheltered by my car.

And a view of a bayou.

But the view I really want to look to?

Oh, I need to look into the Word.

To spend some time hearing and learning from God.

In my bible and a great bible study.

Over a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich and a Diet Dr Pepper...

A delightful way to spend one's lunch break  :)

I want to be the (wo)man in Jeremiah 17...

"But blessed is the man who

trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in Him.

He will be like a tree planted

by the water

that sends out its roots by

the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of

drought

and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8



Multitudes on Monday

Sweet December Days...

I wish I could just live in December,

that this month could go on and on.

Last night I called Clay outside to look at the most beautiful moon with me.

Standing outside, in the cold, with Christmas lights lit all around the neighborhood,

I wished time could stand still...

Counting the many blessings this December day.

Table time for me.

Coffee and bible and books and journal and pouring my heart out to Him.

For presents picked out and wrapped. 

Feeling the excitement for my children,

and other loved ones.

Cozy days spent in warm pajama's :)

Sweet treats stored in Christmas tins

Breaking out my bread machine,

and the baking of bread.

Candles lit, just because.

A quick trip to the library for oldest,

and me running to Lynn Austin section -

thinking for sure I had read all of them by now.

And finding one I hadn't.

Finding it so good and so sweet,

reading it nearly all in 3 days,

but savoring the end, not wanting it to end.

Funny how I did not yet know Esther, and Peter, and Penny and Mr. Mendel

just a few days ago - and now they are so dear I'm not ready to let them go...

And how an author can bring life to words...amazing.

The making of a homemade gift

Cozy scarf for cozy days

Hubby in church with me yesterday

Tender heart of littlest one

Nightly Jesse Tree devotions

Planning meals for my family

Delicious aromas from the kitchen

And the list goes on...

Joining with grateful hearts @

A Holy Experience

Oh the holidays...

How I love this time of year...

My most favorite block of months -

from October to December.

I have been enjoying the lights, the already festiveness.

 The glow of the tree just makes me happy.

And finally, it has been cold enough for a fire!

Actually in the 30's in the morning/nights. 

Love it!

If I must study for my Pharmacology final, it can at least be done enjoyably.

Haha, yes, even this is possible!

Especially while sipping a cup of espresso over melted chocolate chips,

with cream stirred in (and a splash of vanilla!)

Add in a most delicious dessert -

and even Pharmacology can be bearable!

To even further get me in the Christmas mood -

I have been

Listening to this:

lovely music



And this too

While I cook, read, eat, read, get ready, or study;
love the folksy sounds!

Even (especially) in the midst of the trials, tests, questions and uncertainties of life,
One must create some time of peace, beauty, and a bit of solitude
to bring peace into a heart and life.
Moments to put aside all cares and worries.

May we all find time for that this season...

Eleven Eleven Eleven

How cool is that?

Love those one once in a lifetime events 

11-11-11

Another cool thing??  

Today is the first frost of the season here.

I know, places may be knee deep in snow right now - 

but since we don't get that here, 

this little frost just thrills me! 

Love when all the roof tops in the neighborhood are covered in white...

I know, I was meant to live in the North!

Though when I did live in the North - I would have been happy to have had my windshield look like this, as opposed to all the scraping I did back then!

Its those little things - like frost,

a new season,

fireplaces and hot tea and cocoa,

roasting marshmallows and smores ,

holidays around the corner,

that delight me.

And speaking of once in a lifetime events - 

so is today.

So this very day, 

look for the little things that bring you delight!

I also want to take a moment to thank my hubby for his 21 years of service

to our country this Veterans Day!

And to all those who have served!

January Flies By

Where has this month gone?  Wasn't the tree just up?  The gifts yet opened?

And here it is, January gone. 

I will admit to being happy about that.  Not a favorite month of mine, by any means.

Always the let down after the holidays, the packing up of decorations,

the expectations of new beginnings/changes, the in-between of winter and spring.

February tomorrow. 

My month of love.  Not the 14th, but the 9th.  The day me and my hubby celebrate our

20th Wedding Anniversary

!!!!!!!

Bits of my January:

Green budding flowers.  The anticipation of what will spring up.

Spring semester brings Anatomy and Physiology 2.

We begin with the blood.  It is interesting, but somehow, my old study habits haven't kicked into gear yet.

Savored my time off too much perhaps.  My first quiz is Thursday morning - I need find my study momentum....once again.

Memorizing Colossians this year.  Going over and over these verses -

again, finding studying so hard.   I bring them with me - many carpool moments to practice.

I want His Word in my heart...

Also in those carpool moments -  enjoying one of the many books.

The beginning of the year brought me the challenge of reading through God's Word - finding the right reading plan.  I have tried different plans, and have failed.  I have tried just opening wherever, and have failed.

  

And this time, I find what works, for me. 

I began in Genesis, and daily read as much as I can - lingering over it.  Journaling about it. 

Reading it along with a commentary at times.

Weaving in and out of the Old Testament and the New Testament, checking off what I have done -

seeing what I have left.  Not being too hard on myself, the days I miss - but catching up when I do.

Loving it.

Goodbye January :)

The Jesse Tree Journey

As we savor this CHRISTmas season, we savor the meaning as well.

We count the days this year, to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus,

using the Jesse Tree Journey.

Each night, we read a devotional - stories from the Old Testament,  pointing to Christ.

" A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD."

Isaiah 11:1-2

Each day has a picture to go with the story, and after each devotional is read,

a child finds the picture to hang.

I got some bare branches and put them in a vase.

I absolutely love this visual - as we count the days, and focus on our Savior.

(And so do the kids!)

You can download your free Jesse Tree Journey also - @

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Just Curious? - A Doggy Question

As I take Kaiser out in the freezing cold, and hear his feet crunching the freezing grass,

and as I stand there shivering under the stars,

or in the bright of day, bracing against winter's winds,

I often wonder, "Just how do people do this in REALLY frozen places?" 

Curious minds want to know - or at least mine does.  Does a dog willing step out into snow and go potty? 

Or is it a little like when it's raining here, and I have to drag Kaiser out the door, give him a little push,

and force him to go into the pouring rain? 

Or are "northern" dogs just so used to the frigid temps and snow on the ground, that they think little of it?

Do they like to be out when it is snowy?  Like to run around?

Do you bundle them up?  In cute little sweaters?  Like the one Kaiser keeps trying to chew off,

and the one I love to put on him - just because it's too funny - and too cute?

Do you take them out on a leash?  And stand there shivering - waiting for them to do their business?

Really - any of you snow people, fill me in...