New Year's Party Anyone??!!

This Frosted Rose Statement piece is just looking for a place to be worn!
In case you wanted to know what my next favorite gift was….
this beautiful necklace is in the running with one other…A romantic vacation to Santa Fe in February. Yes it was a very good Christmas!
But this necklace takes center stage today…I don’t know the artist, but the necklace is from an Etsy Shop called LaViejaTunTun, out of California. You should surely check out this shop! She has some beautiful creations, but then again my taste is not typical! Just tell her 7thJOY sent you!
Anyway, my sweet Saint Philip happened to find an anonymous Christmas Wish email with this listing on it, imagine that! And of course, after I subtly mentioned that it was one of kind and would be snatched up soon, unbeknownst to me, he began snatching!! No, I wasn’t too disappointed when it wasn’t under the tree, snif,snif! I don't always get what I want. I figured he had just forgotten or that someone else had gotten to it first.
But then, when my older son and his family came for Christmas breakfast, he reminded the saint, who is also an absent minded professor type and/or an aggie engineer {ENOUGH SAID}, he had forgotten to give me one of my gifts. You see, the necklace had been secretly shipped to them so I wouldn’t know. Long story even longer, it was an unexpected surprise, thanks to his forgetfulness!
But I digress! Now I’m just waiting for New Year's Eve so I can put my party necklace on and usher in the new year with my Frosted Rose Statement Bling, not that I need a necklace or bling to make a statement!….OH, I’ve gotten quite outspoken since I hit this half century mark, along with some of my best friends; I’m in such good company! Especially you Darlene!
Thank you St. Philip for constantly surprising both of us! b

And so it WAS Christmas!

It goes by so fast, all the making of lists, shopping, preparing, checking the list twice, more planning, more shopping, more preparing and then…it’s over!
…No more Santa at my house, but it doesn’t change the excitement of it all.
My boys, in the goofy chartreuse hats, almost grown, still enjoy the excitement and anticipation of it all and the bonus is…after we have Christmas morning, just the four of us, my older son, sweet daughter-in-law and precious Jackson join us for more anticipation and excitement plus GramB’s MonkeyBread and Egg Casserole breakfast !!! I love every minute of it; it just goes by too quickly.

My favorite present this year, a song played by Cameron and sung by Garrison…”Come and Worship” by Bebo Norman (featured). I must admit, it almost sounds as good, especially to a Mom’s ears! Nothing makes me happier! It’s all I asked for, though I seriously doubted it was going to happen. Considering the bickering about who wasn’t learning their part, the directives between them about who was doing it wrong…I figured my request was just too much, so I suggested a gift card to my favorite fabric store as an alternative…..
And just when I least expected it, three nights before Christmas morning, a beautiful sound coming from the music room, two brothers in unison and perfect timing, playing and singing a beautiful Christmas Gift for Mom! You guessed it, tears and Joy overflowed, I am blessed!
Although it comes and goes more quickly each year, the gifts that mean the most will last forever! Thank you God for boys, yours and mine! b

Crazy Comes in Twos

Two Crazy Southern Christmas Bells
Well…the Bell part is debatable!
Crazy and Southern are true for sure!
It is official, together our JOY is more than a little
“out of control”.
Robin and I have officially hit the CRAZY part of middle age this Christmas, even though I made it there a little earlier than her!
It all started with the making of 4 Wise Men (Yes, there were four!)as we wore our Church Lady hats in mid-November for Advent Decorating at our church, then last minute preparations as I whined until she agreed to host our 2nd Annual 7thJoy Trunk Show...
Add to that “Move Over Martha’s”(that would be ROBIN’s) insistence that we take on an enormous Corporate home-baked gift basket job; And there you have it, Two Southern Christmas Bells,,,,ridiculously out of Control!
But is there any other way to spend Christmas? Wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of it all, plus some! I say no, as long as you remember to stop and smell the Christmas Trees, share good time and wine with friends, have fun Santa shopping for your own plus an Angel Tree Child or 2, listen to every Christmas CD at least twice (I have a few!), and bake till the house smells just like you remember it did as a child or at least imagined it should!
That’s what I’m talking about, baking, candy making and buckeye ball rolling! Both homes now are fragrant with the smell of cookies baking, chocolate melting and caramel corn popping, we had to share the messes, but it is heavenly. I think we’ve made enough, messes that is, for the next decade of Christmases…and I think the sweet smells should last about that long as well! At least the laughter and the memories of a whirl wind few weeks, jobs well done, a little profit made, and most of all much joy shared will!
Ahhhh, it is good to have a great friend to be “out of control” with! Makes CRAZY worth being! Merry Christmas from us two SCB”s, May sweet smells and Christmas blessings fill your homes as well! b

Pop 12/08/09

December is truly my favorite month of the year for so many reasons….
NOT ONLY because IS IT CHRISTMAS TIME…WE’VE PRETTY MUCH ALREADY ESTABLISHED I’M A FAN. But because it also happens to be full of other special dates! There is December 6th which is my anniversary with Saint Philip. Next is December 8th, the birthday of not one, but two extraordinary Aggies I know! My niece Jamie celebrates her birthday on December 10th and then of course, December 24th, my beautiful Mom’s Birthday, guess that’s why they named her Elizabeth “Carol”. …Add these to Christmas Band Concerts, the Christmas Museum Tour, Christmas with friends, then Christmas Eve Celebrations and Christmas Day ….and you’ve got a month of just plain JOY~
But before I get too carried away in my thoughts of this joyful month, I’m thinking today of one very special Aggie! That would be my Dad, well…my step-Dad, but that is truly an unimportant point. He is the man that married my Mom almost 30 years ago, who took a family of grown kids under his wing and never looked back. He has nurtured, instilled values, shared knowledge, supported decisions, given advice only when asked and cared for each of us individually like only a true father could. But most importantly, he has loved our mother, unconditionally…he spoils, conforms, lets her shop unnecessarily and dances without complaining too much! He loves God, his grandkids and a good beer occasionally. And at the distinguished age of 82, he still works when his expertise is called for and enjoys every minute of it! He is a man of honor and integrity and I am so blessed to call him my DAD!
I only hope and pray that in these years since he gathered us up, I have made him proud to be the Father I never had until him!
With my love and joy, I honor him today,
Noonan Albert, My Mom’s, Prince! Corny but True…Happy Birthday Pop!

From Thanksgiving to the celebration of Advent....And so it is Christmas!

The Christian season of Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days, ending on January 6. (No, the twelve-day season of Christmas did not start with the song. It was the other way around.) The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent we're reminded of how much we also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior's second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. Indeed, the word Advent comes from the Latin word that means "coming" or "visit." In the season with this name, we keep in mind both "advents" of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.

I am honored to have served as the Altar Guild Chairperson at my church for the last 4 years running….and I do mean running, especially at this time of year. Today is the day that we spent preparing our sanctuary for Advent. It is a day of great fun, but an extreme amount of work, that would never get done without great friends and volunteers! Including my right hand man… Who spent his birthday, by the way, serving along side me (What a Saint!)

As I sit, exhausted yet fulfilled after a too long day, I am reminded of the longing of those in the past for a Messiah, of those in this future who are so in need of a Savior… And truly thankful that HE is mine!

So you see, I am doubly blessed, a Savior for a Father & a Saint as a Husband!
Happy Birthday Philip….P.S. I love you!
b

Fallin Apart at the Seams

Raveling threads, have you ever noticed that once they start, there seems to be no end? You keep trying to stop it, but the harder you try, the more it continues. That’s why I always have my scissors handy, just cut the thread off, before it gets out of control…
Feelings are much the same, I’d say. We all have them, you know, slighty loose, a tiny bit frayed. Especially the ones that are just a little too close to the surface and then one quick brush against something, loosens it even more and it begins; a rush of unraveling and the more you try to grab hold and stop it, pull it back, put it all back in place, it’s futile! And then you realize, all the unraveled feelings that you have tried to keep inside, lay out for the world to see! Good thing Mom always said “wear your best undies” …wouldn’t want anyone to see anything ugly underneath!
But it’s just those feelings that make us who we are, not torn and tattered, but worn and strengthened by the wear! Maybe some of the unraveling is God’s way of exposing the JOY inside, the beautiful things that have made us who we are, as well as the ugly ones that have made us who only HE knew we could be!
Sometimes it’s good to just let yourself unravel, let the threads go; Heck, tug even harder on them until you are exposed and forced to shed the old.
Put on something new! Or maybe just take the old threads and make them into something beautiful and unexpected! It all depends on what you need! I know I’m ready for either! And I am so thankful for friends to unravel with! Friends who hold my threads as thay fall…
Now I just need to learn how to knit or better yet, buy myself a multi-layered weaving loom!
Question for the day…What is the difference between Ravel and Unravel??? Have you ever thought about it?
According to Merriam-Webster.com,
unravel means to disengage or separate the threads of; or to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of: clear up. On the other hand, ravel is to separate or undo the texture of; to undo the intricacies of; to become unwoven, untwisted, or unwound.
Do either my dear friends, but do it in your best undies! B

It's Beginning to look alot like....

Have yourself a merry little….
Christmas time is here….

I KNOW IT’S EARLY! Everywhere, Halloween candy is 50% off, Texas fall leaves have barely started to turn, and the “Holiday” displays, ads and sales have already arrived….
I hear people complain, my goodness, Already??!!

I have to laugh, because as soon as I put my Jack-o-Lanterns in their box, I drag out my Christmas CD’s and begin my musical mental preparation for the season. A season that I cherish, just because it seems to bring out the love and caring that should flow from us year round!

I love this time of year and as far as I’m concerned it always goes by too fast…so I say “don’t be ashamed, start early, enjoy every last minute you can squeeze out of it!”

This Christmas, celebrate the love that we received by the mere birth of a tiny baby! Take time to remember every detail of how it all came to pass. Let us be filled with the spirit and reminded again of why God sent his precious Son Jesus that blessed night in Bethlehem!
To teach us to Love…to show us the way!
God's gift of JOY to the WORLD!

Tyler Ross Abbott, born November 6, 1981. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON, You are my JOY!

This Old House....

It's funny, the stories we hear from past residents of this 70 year old house. The saltbox structure was built by George L. Charlton, a prominent Judge in Tomball, Texas. The history and original hardwood floors were what sold us!
Not so much the hideous green tile bathroom and the stories of haunting!!!
Added onto in the late 60’s, It has had a few owners, most with children or teens having big imaginations…but the tales never cease and they are always interesting,,,
Some tell stories of lights mysteriously shutting off upstairs, a tall underwear clad gentleman appearing nightly in the study, and most recently, a comment that a little lady spirit sits in my front living area…as long as she doesn't get my chair, I'm fine with that! HHMMM,What to believe???
Well, I never put much store in this kind of thing, but as we live near a community museum which has had stories published about being haunted, I guess they could be visiting ghostly neighbors!
So far, no poltergeist experiences by the Shaw household and that is after 9 years of mostly peaceful habitation; not withstanding the frigged air of an old home in winter, the creaking floors or an occasional strange noise. Oh yes, the thought of the house being haunted, does make us look at every unexplained happening with question and there have been a few, but so far-so good…. IF there are ghosts, they must be closely related to Casper!

Or maybe it’s just that this home is filled with blessing enough and most of the time, JOY! After all, teenagers do still live here….
And because of that; rest has finally come to 400 Epps St.!

Joy of Chords & Rhythm

My Joy, Cameron on the Piano....& 89 lbs of Awesomeness (Garrison)on a dance floor!
I am loving the fact that my middle child, Cameron, loves his mother and music enough, to humor her by playing the piano each evening after hours at band practice, blowing his chops on the trumpet and marching in the sweltering heat! No time for lessons anymore, he is now teaching himself "Tennessee" from the soundtrack of the movie "Pearl Harbor". (now playing) Living vicariously, I always wanted to play! I sit and tear up just listening to him. The JOY of Chords!
I keep telling him the way to a girl's heart is a song. Watch out girls!

And then there is 89 lbs of Awesomeness (he's gained a few), as he has been known to introduce himself or Garrison as we know him...The rhythm in that boy makes me smile, reminds me of myself when I entered the "twist" contest at my Dad's company picnic when I was maybe 10. He got that rhythm from somewhere, I'm claimin' it. Well some of it; I never even thought of moving like he does and that was with years of training and practice. He's a natural. An actor at heart (dramatic by nature, not claimin' that), he drums, he plays alto-sax, but it's the rhythm in those bones that gets me every time! The JOY of Rhythm!
Watch out girls, this boy can dance!

Just thankin' of blessings! b

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Of a Different Color

Dear Father by Neil Diamond
Dear Father
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may
Who are we to need,
We need
We need
While we wait,
While we wait....

I was given this book long ago by a very special person, someone I admired, and respected a great deal. When I picked it up the other day to reread it almost 35 years later, I questioned a couple of things about the book and the giver.

First what it was about the book that made it special to the person who gave it to me.... I never asked!

And what was it that he hoped I would learn or feel from reading it?

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life, he thinks!!!! But what he eventually learns is that love, deserved respect, and forgiveness all seem to be equally important to freedom.

AND DREAMS LIVED AND THINGS LEARNED ARE TO SHARE!

I loved the book when I read it as a young naive 17 year old with great dreams and much hope for the future. Now as I look back at its underlying meaning, I am sure of one thing, we see things differently when we are older and hopefully wiser. As I am always open to new possibilities and still have dreams for the future (yes, even at 52), it is what I have learned to this point that I can share with others to help them realize their dreams! Maybe that is what he was trying to share????

Dreaming of a new place to soar, a new opportunity and a JOYFUL new path for my family! Just a dream at present, but could become a reality! And yes I am a Seagull of a different Color! In more ways than one!

Precious Peter Pan

(aka Jackson Everett Abbott)

What to be or not to be, that is the question???
A person runs out of ideas for

Halloween, or as we know it, Fall Festival costumes for boys! It has become somewhat of a forte’ of mine. So after last year’s green velvet hit, Oh he looked so precious in his Peter Pan creation by GramB & Mom, how can we top it!
We’re looking for inspiration. Got any ideas??
I can only name a few of the costumes I have created in my time, let’s see, it started with "PETER PAN'S DAD", my oldest son’s 2 year old costume, a Peter Pan Peanut Butter Jar, peanut hat and all; his best friend went as Welch’s Grape Jelly! Next came, Michael Jackson, green satin jacket, black yarn wig and of course the must have white sequined glove, what was i thinking??? After a couple of back braking stints at the sewing machine, ending in a body suit with cotton stuffed muscles (Hulk Hogan), we just went for the all impressive store bought scary mask and appropriate clothes from the closet….It's all about the candy anyway, right? Then came the second round of boys, at least there was a little breather in between! I’ve done Bible Man, a sparkly alien, Harry Potter, various pirates, Lord of the Rings “Aragon & Legolas”, you name it, you saw it in a magical movie, I was all over it! And just when I thought I was done….I have the delight of creation for grandchildren. And it really is a blessing, just to be ask to participate in some small way in the process of deciding, what to be??!! I’m thankful for the fact that my Mom sewed, so now I sew and pass the tradition of sewing on to the Mom of my grandchildren with JOY.
Happy Halloween, oops…Fall Festival Month! b

Cards of a Different Persuasion!

Cards of a different persuasion!

Birds of a feather…flock preciously on cards!
When God hands you Lemons…make Card-em-ade!
Mother Mary may I…put you on a card!
Aging gracefully does not include a toe ring…

Card anyone?

Yes I know that is not the way it goes…and I know God does not hand us lemons, unless we need them! So I’m making lemonade…well cards!
This transitional period in our lives has caused a great swell of creativeness around here. Maybe is it just that it is easier to escape to my “sewing closet” than face the current inhabitant of my shop!
Yes, Mr. P has set up shop in my shop!
With that said, 7thJoy is now taking on a new endeavor, Handmade Cards!
Enjoy the view, the insides are the best, gives me license to be caddy!
And sometimes inspirational, but always fun!
Soon to be the newest item on our 7thJoy website and our Etsy.com shop by the same name, Check us out! We’d love to sell you something….
Enjoy the last few days of September, it’s almost Christmas….
Blessing is enough, b

Gifts too much to Blog about! PROOF

Proof
God answers if we just give him time….my daughter-in-law is perfect proof positive! When my first son was born, I was more prepared for a girl, just thought “by myself” I could do better with a girl. I didn’t know how to throw a baseball, never baited my own hook, had watched many years of football (being in the drillteam) but couldn’t tell you the difference between offense and defense. We’ll God knew better and gave me Tyler, what a blessing!
OH, I did OK, well, he did OK! He was an exceptional son and miraculously endured my emotional, overprotective, over expectant momisms. He has grown into a wonderful man, caring husband, now father and determined Engineer-to-be. Add to all those blessings, now he is married to that daughter I always wanted. She too is an exceptional wife and mother, caring and fruitful, beautiful and talented. Plus, she always makes me feel like I have something worth sharing and she too endures my emotional, overprotective…

well you get the idea; all those things that made me a better mother to boys

(they just ignore it), than girls!

I celebrate her today, her birthday. She gives me such JOY!
Happy Birthday to Michelle, God’s Daughter gift to me!

b

7th Joy At Work

7thJoy's Latest Creation

This is a Precious Resting Prayer Pillow. Each pillow is made with pieces of prayer said for friends, family and for your baby….Under one piece is a special scripture!

(Numbers 6:24-26)

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

It is a prayer for God’s smile on your baby's life.

Don’t let yourself become raveled with worry.

Let the raveled edges of this pillow remind you of God’s promises.
God will hold her!

Attached is a small prayer pad...with each prayer, concern, worry or need for your precious baby, make a small prayer note and tuck it into the pillow,

hand it over to him who does not ravel !

And rest!

Created by 7thJoy out of control!!!

b

God's Timing - My Gifts

God’s timing - My gifts...

a sleeping boy at home on BeBe’s pillows and dreaming of our special little gift to come!
With each passing day, this little boy grabs stronger my heart.

Just the way he swings his little arms when he walks and hearing him call us by name, Spuddy (Philip), Caquae (Cameron), Ninny (Garrison), and Lyla (our dog, Skyler). I can only imagine how much fun we will have when our home is filled with the JOYofJackson and his little shadow.
We are waiting for the surprise of finding out boy or girl (something to look forward to) and just praying everyday that Mom and baby stay healthy and strong! In the times that surround our family, it is these two who again remind me of God’s wonderful plan and what is truly important in life. Not to mention, filling our home with fun and laughter, watching my boys (his uncles) share and teach, play and "boss"….It’s all just simple sweet living. I am today, so thankful for God’s timing because just when I doubt him or worry about that “timing”, he shows me the reason and I am blindsided by his love. With all the worry that comes from the current events of our life, we can be distracted to the point of giddiness just anticipating Jackson at the door and looking forward to baby to come!

Thank you God for your unfathomable timing, I will never doubt you again…I pray!

Can I get an AMEN, Yes says my family!!!!

b

Friends...

Still!!!

My friends have always been few, but forever. The best of them have traveled with me through many seasons of life, loved me through them and loved me anyway. I think that is the way God planned true friendship. And I celebrate their being in my path at the right time or my being in theirs for that matter. No matter where our paths lead us or how many miles are between us, we always find our way back to the spot where that closeness is centered, at home with each other. As time passes (don’t remind me of how much!)…I’m amazed at the twists and turns of each path, the changes they cause in our individual places and views of the world. But with each step taken in a different direction, the fewer steps it seems to take to get back to where we began. It's a fact that our stride gets shorter and slower as we age, maybe that is so we won’t have as many steps to take to get home!
Happy Birthday Carolyn Funk Floyed, hope you are slowing down JOYFULLY!b

FALL on your knees!

I love FALL for many reasons.

One is so I can say this....another being the crisp mornings that usher in the changing season, both remind me of where I need to be more often!

ON MY KNEES talking to the one who thought up this beautiful season.

I know its not really here yet, but I'm more than ready, as you can see. I'm always eager for refreshing cool air, especially after the sweltering hot days of summer! Like the seasons of our life, some almost too miserable to bear. But just when you think you can't stand the heat any longer, along comes a cool whispering breeze or a golden floating leaf. Each JOYfully reminding you of who is there to refresh and renew, letting go of the season past, making way for the new things to come. Yes, it does usher in the quiet cold of winter, a time to rest and rejoice, ahhh Christmas and then Spring, life anew! But Fall is full of the anticipation of it all! I'm on my knees just "thanking" about it!

b

The Black Madonna

Story says…The Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke The Evangelist; and it was while painting the picture, Mary told him about the life of Jesus, which he later incorporated into his gospel. The next time we hear of the painting is in 326 A.D. when St. Helen found it in Jerusalem and gave it to her son and had a shrine built for it in Constantinople. Finally, it was transferred to a church in Czestochowa, Poland. There, The Black Madonna (Matka Boska) was acclaimed Queen of Poland by King Casimir. In many places, through several owners, during battles and sieges, her presence is reported to have protected her faithful. There have been stories for centuries of miraculous events surrounding those who made the journey to see the portrait. It is known as “The Black Madonna” because of the soot residue that discolors the painting, which is the result of centuries of prayers offered with votive lights and candles burning in front of the painting….
Confirmation of the power of prayer!
In His Son’s name, our Father hears every whisper!
Please whisper loudly for Philip and Bobby this week....
I pray them blessing enough, B

HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME NOT? OF COURSE……HE DOES! John 3:16
Remember when as little girls, we used to search for just the right flower, then with great care remove the petals and go through this silly little ritual?
How many petals does it take to understand we are loved and that it has nothing to do with searching or chance, if we really open our eyes?
Believe me; I’ve picked a few flowers in my life, looking for someone to love me.

The most life changing, but not the first, I didn’t wait to go through all the petals. I just assumed it would end with he loved me, I WAS WRONG and I had a hard time dropping that flower to the ground...It took years in fact!

Another, my very first, I found earlier in life as it was beginning to bloom and in my immaturity I threw it aside; only to pick it up again just before it had wilted, hoping to bring it back to life. Then as its last petal was about to fall at he loves me, I looked over my shoulder and let it slip through my fingers, never to find it again!

The craziest one I ever picked was so breathtakingly beautiful and full, it was almost unbelievable and when I began to drop the petals, I sadly and devastatingly realized, it wasn’t a flower at all, but a dangerous weed!

And last but not at all least, the final flower I ever picked and still hold in my hand…

I pull petals off daily and it puts on more, I forget to water it yet it never wilts; I change with the seasons but it doesn’t; I even mow over it, it grows back stronger. It is definitely a perennial….Imagine that, HE LOVES ME!
Only God knows why??? and thank goodness he loves me too, no petal pulling needed…
b

7th Choice a Charm

Our latest project was one of McKay preplanning, 2 stunningly whimsical chairs, then indecision, transformed into its now or never....seven paint choices later and last minute R&B's painting (I'm rubbing off),

ending in a 7th Joy Winner!

It is always hard doing your own space. Mrs. R, who never seems to be one of indecision, but always one with impeccable taste and right-on choices, was not so with her new project. Add that to her new partnership with mwa:} a last minute, fly by the seat of my pants, kinda designer; what do you get? A nearly perfect parlor if we do say so ourselves! Still a work in progress, its a must for an empty nesting southern girl, a place to escape, read a book, plan the next road trip or just sit awhile....Not for long though, the dust around my dear friend is about to be stirred up again, off to take painting lessons in good old

M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I humpback, humpback , I!

Living vicariously, have fun my friend. Oh to be an empty-nester...

That's just my "Its almost the end of summer Mom talking! Summer with boys who choose video games and movies with friends over a Mom who wants to run the roads, shop, and expects rooms to stay clean,,,,imagine that. Gotta love em!

Just looking for something JOYFUL to blog about!

have a blessing enough day, b

Too Many Pillows

.........DISCLAIMER, THIS IS NOT MY BED, just in the shop!!!

A new day, God has spoken a new JOY!

Have you ever wondered how many people make their beds in the morning when they get up…

have you ever wondered why men think one extra pillow is too many??
Well, if I am honest, it is not something I do everyday, but most days I do, just because I love getting into a perfectly made up bed in the evening; it reminds me that the day is done, warmth and softness await me, kind of like I imagine the arms of God. (And trust me, I have been looking forward to resting in those arms this last week!)

When I pull back the covers, I am thankful that I took the time to make it in the previous a.m. hour. There is just something different about getting into those smooth and straightened layers that make for a more peaceful end to the day. Crazy huh?

 

Some may question why so much thought could be put into this daily ritual, this normal activity, but it is like everything else we should be thankful for in our day to day lives, a place to lay our heads, a safe and comfortable place, unlike many others in the world, especially all the men and women who are serving our country with little or no comforts when it comes time to rest.

I am so grateful for their sacrifice.

Maybe because my nephew was one of those brave servants for two years, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. We are so blessed by his safe return and the fact that he now lays his head comfortably at home with his wife and precious son in Brenham, Texas.

And as I unmake my bed at night, I am reminded of how glad I am that my sister can lay her head down, knowing he is finally home and I am glad for the simple blessings of everyday life and for the JOY of pillows.

 

Yes, those pillows that my husband says we have too many of and I gladly place back on the bed each morning, just because I can!
Thinking of our troops in the heat of this summer and their lack of simple comforts and praying them enough! b

Hands clasped, on my knees, but no words!

This is where I find myself!

Jeremiah 29

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart....my favorite part of this scripture!

It is when I forget this passage and start thinking that God is somewhere else, that surely he has forgotten me,

it is when I stop seeking with all my heart, that I cease to feel JOY.

so I am praying that this is where the mighty work begins....

When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us: "I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold" 1 Peter 1:6-7.

I pray us all enough!

b

In this Life

“Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18b MSG).

My life became brighter almost 17 yeas ago, when this man entered into it. I can honestly say that he is more like Christ than any person I have ever met. Trust me, he is no God, he is a simple, sometimes goofy, normal guy who is devoted to his family and is proof that good and godly men do still exist! It is not his knowledge of the Bible or his strict beliefs or practices that make him Godly; it is merely the pure unconditional love he shows us that make him godlike! Almost always patient, hardly ever demanding, and absolutley never expects more than he is willing to give or do himself. He is dealing today with a crisis, something that may take all his strength and more. If I can only be that more! But he is handling it with the enormous strength, calm and resolve that I have seen in him throughout our years together. As our family depends on God for our future, we pray and trust that God will shine on him because he is truly a man after God's own heart! A man who fills my heart and life with, you guessed it, JOY!

JOY Personified

Late May, for four days, I had this precious boy while his parents took an anniversary trip to New York. This picture is the true JOY that came forth at the sight of his parents after we had explained repeatedly to his two year old understanding that, "Mommy and Daddy had gone on an airplane and they would be back tomorrow". I started telling this little white lie on Thursday the first day in...as he had never been away from them for more than a night. And this GramB had never been brave enough to keep him for that period either. He sleeps through the night alot these days, but not always, enough said! Little did I know the adventure I had agreed to when I told my oldest son, Tyler that I would be glad to help keep him while they took a much needed trip together!

His other grandmother was out of town, so I was blessed with him for four nights and as many days. I can't express how much I enjoyed our time and finally being able to have my grandson spend not one night, but four. After a couple of sleepless ones, more me worrying about him, than him not sleeping, we made it...restful sleep from 9:30 to blessed daylight. It felt wonderful, an accomplishment only a new parent or an anxious grandparent can appreciate.

But the greatest of all was watching this precious baby light up at the sight of his parents in the baggage terminal at the airport. We went to meet them, merely thinking it would help him understand that his parents had gone on a trip and they were indeed returning, so he could wrap his little head around it. I never knew how watching him overflow with delight would overflow me! Joy personified!!

It did take him a few days to adjust, he hesitated at my door for a while, thinking his parent's might leave him for days again. I hated that, but this GramB is anxiously awaiting their next trip! Hmmmm, what creative inspiration might this bring! A security pillow with Mommy and Daddy's faces on it?????

Carol's Fork

If you haven't ever heard the "keep your fork story"....you should google it! It's a wonderful story about anticipating Heaven like a great dessert. The kind of dessert you look forward to after a wonderful church potluck dinner or any dinner for that matter, enjoyed with friends and family, knowing the best is yet to come! This story was read at the memorial service of a dear friend who would be turning 55 this month if not for losing her battle with Cancer a little over a year ago. Although she did lose her battle, she never lost her fight or her faith in the midst of her trials. During the last two years of her life, with each test, treatment and transfusion, I witnessed a wonderful transformation. Instead of fading she became more brilliant. In her weakness God's strength could be seen, her thin face shown with the love of Christ, and she was filled with his spirit which carried her to the end. It was so painful yet so amazing to watch. In this month of July, I celebrate her life and a friendship that I will never forget, knowing she is now enJOYing her wonderful dessert and that yes, the best is truly yet to come! We should all be holding our forks with eager anticipation....b

Cherished Son(s)

Luke 1:30-31
“And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary; for thou has found
favour with God. And, behold thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his
name JESUS.”

Imagine if all the women in the world
would trust God as Mary did…
the abundant blessings and joy we
could bring forth!

7th Joy, 2008

Six days into a vacation at home without my 13 and 15 year old boys in the house (they're hiking in Colorado with their Dad, the oldest of my four boys), I realize that their presence in my life is more cherished than I can express. The noise, the fights, the constant picking up of dirty socks and food wrappers is not such an annoyance....At my age, sometimes I think I should be an empty-nester by now, relaxing at a spa or taking romantic vacations with my husband. What was I thinking having more children so close to 40...And how old will I be, not to mention feel, when I get my last through college???!!!! But I realize today that they give my life such JOY, the joy that only God could give by entrusting us with his new creations. As I am reminded that my exceptional 27 year old son, soon to be a father of two himself, is nearing the age that as history tells us Mary lost Jesus; I can't fathom the short time allowed her to love and cherish her son. And I am extremely thankful for the many years that I have ahead of me to watch my boys grow and live wonderful lives, no matter my age, the noise, or the inevitable arguments. Motherhood, however difficult at times, is a true blessing, an opportunity to recognize that even dirty socks are a reminder of God's love.... NOW, Sunday when they return and I open the bags of dirty hiking clothes, food wrappers and you can bet, filthy socks, I'll need to reread this blog and remind myself of this love, without a doubt!!! b

Recognizing the Joy of Maturity

They say that the dragonfly symbolizes the recognition of maturity, I'M THERE!!!! Walking along the beach with a cherished, almost life long friend this morning, I came to appreciate that maturity! It is now that I appreciate the years that have brought me here to this place, a half century old, but who's counting....a place where honesty with one's self is rejuvenating not devastating! I love this time but more than that, I love thinking of what the next half century (God willing) will hold! The deep friendships I have made to this point in my life, are few but so significant, that my JOY runneth over and my dragonfly wings lift me to new views of life everyday! Thank God for those beautiful views that can only be seen through a true friend's eyes....May your day be filled with such rejuvenation! b