WHAT A LIFE!!

Now this is the life - no worries, no cares (except don't forget to feed me!). This is Tiki and Fancy's favorite spot in the afternoon. The sun comes through the front door and they are always right there - lying in the sun, soaking up the rays and sleeping!! When they get a little too hot, they get up and mosey around the living room, maybe jump on the coach and sleep there for a while. Then back to the sunshine!! Wouldn't it be nice if that's all we had to worry about???

FALL BLESSINGS

I love fall. I love the beautiful color on the trees, the cool (not cold) crisp air, the blue, blue sky. All of this given to me by God. He can create a beautiful masterpiece!!

Fall makes me want to be outside more and more. It is not so hot that you feel you can't walk another step. The air is clean and fresh in the fall. Why is that? I don't know but I love it. I love sitting out on my back deck and listening to everything that is going on - birds still singing, dogs barking, even a mule braying. It just sounds so pleasant. And I could sit out there all day long - thanking the Lord for all his blessings and for loving me. And for giving me the beautiful world we live in. Too bad we tend to mess it up.

Besides the beautiful colors and country we live in, there are other blessings that come to mind at this time -

--His love for me and my salvation. The bestest ever blessing anyone could ever have.
--My family - which means so much to me and I love each and every one.
--My friends - who are always there for me, giving me comfort and support and listening when I need to talk.
--My job - I am so thankful for a wonderful job I really love.
--My "little girls" - Tiki and Fancy (and the ones I have lost - Thea & Spirit) - they have blessed my life in ways most people wouldn't understand.
--And last, but definitely not least, God's spiritual gift to me - my compassion, mercy and love for other people (not only family) which I hope I use for His Glory in the ways He wants me to.

These are not only Fall Blessings but they are LIFE BLESSINGS - the best kind!!

"Thank you Father for ALL the blessings you have given me, not only in the fall with the beautiful colors and countryside, but every day with all the "Life Blessings" you have given me. Help me to use these blessings every day for your glory and honor, I pray in Jesus' name. AMEN"

I LOVE MY FAMILY

FAMILY - My family means so much to me. To some people, family is just a bunch of people they are related to. To me - my family is so much more. Every member of my family is a vital part of the family - from the oldest member of the family to the youngest child. Each and every one is so important. And I love each and every one. I can stop and think about each family member and memories will come to mind about each and every one of them. Some family members I haven't seen in years but the memories are still there and I hope to make new memories with them some day soon.

I have started doing research on our family tree and it is so interesting to trace our family back - some as far back as 1400 and 1500s. But it is also sad because I know there are so many facts and stories that are lost because they were not shared and written down. Now they are gone forever. I hope to write down the stories I know so they will always be a part of our family.

I was looking at some pictures as I was thinking about my family and the above flower picture made me think of family. Each little "petal" is an individual part - unique in its own way. But put all the "petals" together and they make up the whole flower. Family is that way - each member is unique but put them all together and they make up our FAMILY. And just like the beautiful flower - so is our family - beautiful and loving!!

IT'S RAINING!!!

Yes - can you believe it??!! I woke up this morning to rain on the roof. And not just sprinkles but a nice soaking rain. It has been a VERY LONG TIME since we have had a nice rain. Thank you Lord for the rain You are sending us today! It may not last long, but it is a good rain and will help.

I was thinking this morning about the weather report last night. The weatherman said the rain probably would not come over the mountain range and would stay in North Carolina. What rain we would get would be in the form of small showers. That was his weather report. God's weather report was - RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. We may not get inches and inches but it is still rain and God is so good to send us some.

Today is Thursday and I have today and 3 more days before my vacation is over. It has been a relaxing vacation. I have not left the house in two days. I have spent time working on my geneology, on small tasks I wanted to get done, and spending time loving on my two "little girls". They have definitely enjoyed having their "mom" home all week. So with my relaxing vacation and the rain this morning, it has definitely been a good week.

Maybe it will rain a little more tomorrow???

INNOCENCE

INNOCENCE - this picture says it all. It is such a perfect picture of complete innocence, trust, and love. If we could only still have these in our lives today.

This is a picture of my friend Susan's little girl - Emmie - and her friend as they were walking hand-in-hand down a path. No cares, no worries - just good friends who care for each other in their innocent way. And we think - wish I could be that way. We think about all the things we have to do - go to work, pay bills, mow the lawn, get groceries, save for our children's college, save for a new car.... and the list goes on. What happened to that carefree, innocent life we had as kids?

Well, first off, we all grew up and now have responsibilities. And we tend to think of all the "earthly" responsibilities we have. And we worry about so many things.

But what if we all stop and put ourselves in Emmie's shoes - a child - walking with her friend. Now stop and realize that you are a child - a child of God. And He loves us more than we can ever know. Now stop and think about who is walking hand-in-hand beside you - Yes - that's right - JESUS. Jesus - who loves us more than we can ever imagine, who wants us to give Him all our cares and worries; to place all that in His hands - to GIVE IT ALL TO HIM AND TRUST HIM. That's what innocence is - Love and Trust.

I want to be "Emmie" - walking with the one who loves me most - JESUS - my friend, my savior, my Lord. I LOVE YOU JESUS!!