We Believe...

In case you were wondering.

Sharing Truth and Breaking Bread.....

 I know you have all seen several pics of Eloise's nap quilt, but I had to share a pic of our recent fall arrangement. Eloise helped me decorate these oranges with cloves to add a fragrant festive touch to this grouping. 

Today for our pre-Bible study lunch, the ladies and I enjoyed:

lobster ravioli w/garlic butter sauce

butternut squash ravioli w/brown butter sage sauce

bacon-chicken-ranch foccacia

tossed salad with homemade black raspberry vinaigrette

(thanks to Plain Old Kristi for the recipe)

I know I was born on the west coast, but I guess I have spent too many years living in the south. I cannot bring myself to hold any kind of meeting at my house without making sure that all of my guests leave full.

On to the truth part...

Our lesson was about why Christians should love their non/christian friends and family, but do so without compromising their beliefs. I am truly enjoying the blessing of teaching, because I always learn something new every time I reflect on the scriptures.

P.S. check "Ecole" for pics of our recent outing.

Love & Prayers,

What An Amazing Week.....

We Can't Wait Till Next Year!

P.S. For those of you who are members of the Sister Melody fan club, I have added a link to her blog on my side bar.

~Me~

Yes!...Fall is finally here!

Today our Little Eloise got to wear her fall colors instead of her uniform.

Yesterday I got to wear my jacket!

(Where we're from that's a big deal. LOL)

Sunday we had an awesome "Pastor Appreciation Day."

The service was beautiful.

After church we had an old fashioned Pot Luck.

We ate till we were busting at the seams.

The children played on a jumbo slide and a space walk.

This coming Friday we will have a bonfire/hayride/weenie roast.

I LOVE THE FALL!!!

As Promised....

Here we are...the three amigas! As you can see the accommodations were lovely. I had a wonderful time thanks to these two ladies and the Lord. The sisters we ran into from Bro. Wilbanks church were a blast to be around. Sis. Loretta you're the greatest! What A Woman! What A Burger! ;-) Inside Joke Sorry. On a more serious note, the messages really hit home. There is just something about getting near living water when your spirit is thirsty! This was the first opportunity I've had to hear Sister LaJoyce Martin speak for an event.....What A Woman! Her gift is truly from the Lord. I couldn't replay the whole thing if I tried, but I wanted to leave you with this comment by Sister Martin that really stuck with me: "...you ladies say you want to know the will of God for your life....well here it is......In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18) WOW! That'll Preach! ;-)

It was truly an honor to meet such a great pillar of faith and holiness!

Sister Loretta Giving Thanks...This was definitely a "God Thing" LOL!

We said our good-bye's at the retreat and then ran into each other at a Panera's an hour later......it must've been the will of God is all I can say!

;-( ... ;-I ...;-) ... ;-p ... LOL!!!

Where To From Here?

As I sat here in my tiny office watching the clouds through my window and listening to the sound of my husband cutting the grass my mind began to mull some things over. The picture board next to my desk caught my attention. I began to examine every picture closely. Some made me laugh, many made me smile, while others pricked my heart. I began to truly realize how full my life has been. I am not a wisened matriarch, but my nearing "middle aged" life is so much more than I ever expected it to be. My mental vacation was interrupted by an accute awareness that the clock was tick....tick....ticking It was as if in a small voice the Lord was saying I've given you so much....now what are you going to do with the time you have left. As a Christian and a mother I am sometimes torn between inreach(family) and outreach(others.) I love to spend time nurturing my family, but at the same time I feel a sense of guilt for not selling everything and moving to Zimbabwe to preach the Gospel. After all people died for this message!....right?....then I feel the gentle hand of the Lord and He whispers to my heart, "I gave you this home and this family....enjoy them fully, but use them as tools to reach your world." What do you mean Lord? "You have a large kitchen...use it to feed the hungry while your daughter learns to serve." He also admonished me to spend lots of quality time with my family not only baking bread, but breaking the bread of life. "Use family time to instill my word in her heart so that she can share it with her generation...they desperately need it." then he said again, "I gave them to you... enjoy them, but don't forget to use them wisely." ....silence.....tick...tick.....tick....I whispered, "thank you Jesus."