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!!

MY BABY SISTER IS 50 TODAY!!!

My baby sister Ann turned 50 today. Where have all the years gone? It seems like yesterday we were kids growing up in a small town in Kansas with no worries except what we were going to do for the day - play outside or play with our paper dolls inside. Ann and I were talking today and remembering all the fun things we used to do as kids - climbing trees, making tents in the back yard, playing with our toy horses in the yard, playing with our paper dolls and our Barbie dolls. And what imaginations we had - we could go for days playing the same thing. We may not have had a lot of material things, but we had each other and a loving family and we might not have known it then, but we were definitely blessed.

Now we are all grown up (well pretty much grown up!!). I wish I could have been with Ann today to celebrate her birthday. But I think she knows I was there with her in thought and spirit. I prayed for a beautiful birthday and I think my prayers were answered. I hope she realizes how much her family loves her and also that her family realizes how much she loves us!! Ann has been blessed with a wonderful husband, Al and a beautiful stepdaughter, Jessica, and her husband Murphy & his daughter Rio. And Ann's newest blessing and gift is Jess and Murphy's baby girl - Taryn. Family is such a beautiful and wonderful gift from God and such a gift is to be treasured always.

I truly miss not living close to my family. I miss that more than anything. But I know they are all always there for me and I hope they all know I am always there for them. But today on Ann's 50th birthday - I wish I could have been there to give a super big hug and spend the day celebrating. Instead - my prayers have been with my "baby sister" "Annie Pandannie" "Anna Banana" "Baby Ann". I love you baby sister and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

"Father, thank you for my sister Ann. Thank you for the wonderful childhood we had together and the love we have for one another. Thank you also for our family - our sisters and brother and all our family members who mean so much to us all. You have blessed this family with love and with your presence. Father, I ask that you continue to bless Ann and keep her healthy and safe and help her to feel Your presence always. In Jesus' Name. Amen"