Free Indeed!

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed!

NOTE: PLEASE PRESS THE *PAUSE* BUTTON ON MY MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE BEFORE PLAYING THIS VIDEO. THE PAUSE BUTTON IS THE TWO VERTICAL LINES TO THE LEFT OF THE PROGRESS BAR dad : )

I have done some shameful things in my life. But no matter how many time those things are brought back to mind for one reason or another I cannot help but rejoice. It sounds crazy but I honestly don't sulk around in self hatred or guilt about things that I know I I have been forgiven for.

Life just turns out too beautiful to sit in a puddle of regret about the things that have gotten you to the place you are...

I remember a particularly hard and trying time over a year ago when I was being tried in every area of my life and it seemed like I couldn't take one breath without holding the next. Anyway, I remember sitting in a corner, melting down to tears and holding my face in my hands and praying that God would just relieve me...That's the only word that I could think of to pray...RELIEF!

Seconds later I was on my feet pacing back and forth trying to hold back screams of joy as I suddenly realised how beautiful the whole situation really was! I couldn't believe that I was actually thinking what I was thinking! My eyes were opened in a new way to the verse that talks about "rejoicing in tribulation"

Romans 5:3-5

" ...but we glory in tribulations , knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. "

All of the sudden the same situation that seemed to b e my demise, was suddenly an opportunity to watch my faith stand against the power of the world and for me to hold strong to the promises of God that I KNEW were true and to come out on the other side of the battle ALIVE!!!

This is how it FEELS TO BE FREE!

Christmas wishes....

Well, my little blog will be out of commission for about a week. We're leaving town to go to Dallas tomorrow morning to be with Andrews family for Christmas. So, since I'm not going to be keeping you busy laughing at my silly posts, I'll leave you with another assignment for the week...
Pray! For Abby to be well behaved and go to bed EARLY everynight!
For morning sickness not to kick in for me while I'm up there.
No drama.
For this to be a relaxing and peaceful trip for everyone,
and of course for safety on the road....we always need an extra dose of that one : )

Dad, Mom, Luke, Sara , chris, mawmaw, pawpaw, Pawpaw Jack,
I'll miss you all this week! I hope you all have a wonderful time together! Merry Christmas XOXOXO
" Enjoy the day's simple pleasures and may those pleasures, simply make your day." Joe M. Galante

Comming In AUGUST 2009 ! ! ! !

This is GOOD!

This, not so much...
It's officially GOOD NEWS!

Went to the doctor Friday, who confirmed that all is well and we can expect a little one sometime in early August.

We got to see a steady little heartbeat and a teeny weeny itty bitty baby!

YAY!

Baby on the Brain!

I bought this sweet little pair of vintage baby shoes at a garage sale about 4 months ago , and right away I had a plan for them. I painted the little "booties" PiNk, re-strung the laces with some sweet pink ribbon and glittered the outer leather with ultra fine pink-pearl glitter...I just had to add a little fairy, and the "baby love" sign to finish it off...
Sarahs bab y is due in march and I made this as a little keepsake to bring with her when she goes to the hospital and she can put all the little keepsake things in it, and it serves as a cutsie decoration for the hospital room...

I kept Abbys little craddle label with her name on it, from the hospital, her armband ID and mine, and the little hat that she wore during our hospital stay....

Isn't it PreCiOuS????

Beautiful Life

How can you put into words the beauty of life itself,

There is no ruler by which to measure the greatness of all of our struggles,

There is no weight by which to scale the depth of our hurts,

Without betrayal, without disappointment, there is no appreciation of honesty, or of promises kept.

The beauty of life is not in its perfection and ease,

But it is in seeing the strength of our own calves and our own will to stand in spite of gusting winds of torment.

We come thought trials ALIVE, and our blood flows with zeal to press on, to test our strength against an army of a thousand more...we find beauty, not in the waters of trouble but in the glory of defeat! RE

Christmas is in the Air!

My sweet Abby and I....I LOVE that girl!

We are blessed to have our sweet little Paw Paw around for another Christmas...He is all smiles when Abby visits him and just about all he says is "She SO Beautiful"...

My newest decoration...

Guess where this pretty Peacock lives?

In my purple and gold "froo froo" christmas tree!

My latest bargain find...Im thrilled with this perfect little side table. Minus the laptop and all the clutter around it, it looks great!

How Beautiful...

How beautiful upon the mountains

Are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things,

Who proclaims salvation,

Who says to Zion, “ Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

"Remember the days of old,

Consider the years of many generations.

Ask your father, and he will show you;

Your elders, and they will tell you."

Deut 32:7

"That the generation to come might know them,

The children who would be born,

That they may arise and declare them to their children,

That they may set their hope in God,

And not forget the works of God,

But keep His commandments;"

Psalm 78:6-7

Life...Unleashed

This is how it works

You're young until you're not

You love until you don't

You try until you can't

You laugh until you cry

You cry until you laugh

And everyone must breathe

Until their dying breath.

RS

Choices. There are tons to choose. Decisions. There are plenty to make. Paths. There are several to follow. You'll never know where life could take you until you step out of your everyday act and do what is truly in your heart to do. Other wise, You are a liar. To yourself. To God, and to the world. If whats in your heart doesn't match holy standards...then pray earnestly night and day and beg God to place a desire from HIS heart into yours. To make his desire, your desire.

If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.
Robert Fritz

Family

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

Thomas Jefferson

Sometimes, when you can't read the thoughts runing through your own head...when the view throught your eyes is hazey and you only see a broken path ahead, they are the souls that ground you...they read your heart with understanding and hold your hand until your path is stable. Those who are true family, can never be replaced, imitated or discarded. These are your poeple....your blood through the generations. To deny family is to deny yourself of a gift that was formed for you before you took your first breathe.

A LONG picture post!

Last week was pretty busy so let me get you up to date on everything.

Abby had Faith over to play on Thurday. They spent the whole day together, playing dress up having tea parties, swinging on the swingset and running around teh backyard and finally settled down for a movie and some popcorn!

Friday was Sulphur Homecomming day so we all packed our bags and went to hang out on Cypress street to watch the parade and cathc some candy...Abby was counting EVERY piece. She took a few breaks to hugg on Granny!

On Saturday we FINALLy bought the King size sleigh bed we've been dreaming of! It's so nice!!!

Then Saturday evening it was party time at our house! Everybody came over to Play the WII and we ate Nachoes and had key lime pie for dessert! Saturday nights are the best!

You can always count on these two sillys to sneak off in the middle of the party and find soemthing better to do...in this case, it was making a tent in Abbys floor : )
SUnday was church and I happened to walk past the play room and see these girls chatting and giggling right beofre church started...HOW SWEET!
Moms house for Sunday lunch..and friends! I LOVE being at home! Its my favorite place of all! SEE me smilling!
Maggie ( the "free pet" squirel) pirch herself on the wood box outside the ding room window and spied on all the ladies in the kitchen...Abby went outside to keep her company and feed her a nut : )
MONDAY was the Big day to find out that Sara and Chris are having a........GIRL!!!! Abby was so amazed to see the baby on the ultrasound and is now obsessed with the fact that "deedee has a baaby!" Cant wait to hold her! Abby will finally have a cousin to be best friends with! Im so glad she will get to grow up with her little cousin so close by!

Thats about all the big news for the week end..Im pooped so Im going to relax and hopefully I'll have some time to blog late tomorrow! Ta-ta!

Pumpkin Seed is Pumpkin Crazy!

~ PUMPKIN SEED loves PUMPKIN SEASON!~

Our first pumpkins of the season...Abby and I have big plans for these but for now, they are just hanging out on our front porch steps~just lookin' as cute as they can be.

I have been EXTREMELY busy with very *ahemm* important things...

Abby and I decided to go to the mall Saturday and spend some time looking at girl things~

Abby got to shop around at the Libby Lou shop where there is lots of glitter and feathers and PiNk and fun girly girl stuff....She loved testing out the Pixie Dust - - - - - - - - ->
.....She loves braclets.......

And what would a trip to the mall be if you didn't get a GiAnT BuBbLe GuM bALL and an OlD FaShIoNeD LoLlIpOp???

AND THEN.......
We went to see MawMaw and PawPaw where Abby spread out on the floor and "TOLD" mawmaw to go get her toys "please"....

OK.... Comming up tomorrow, check in for a look at a recent crochet project. I know I've been known for hatin' on crochet *BUT* you'll see why I had to do it!

Tonights Menu: Pan fried Pork Steaks, homemade mashed potatoes with gravy and buttery greenbeans..And mm' mm' was it goood!

~ PrEcIoUs MoMeNtS~

ABBY FED THE DUCKS AT THE LAKE~
SHE LOVES THE WATER AND WANTED TO GO TO THE BEACH BUT IT WAS TOO COLD...WE WENT LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS WARMER~

ALL READY FOR YARD WORK!
WE WORKED SO HARD THAT WE HAD TO TREAT OURSELVES TO AN ORANGE PUSH POP!

SWEET LITTLE BABY GIRL PLAYING WITH HER DOLLS! SHE HAS A GREAT IMAGINATION!

Back to my old ways...

After months of pinning color swatches to the wall I finally picked a color I could live with. I painted the East Living Room wall and the extended dining room wall Sherwin Williams "Olde World Gold". With pops of vibrant reds and golds the wall comes to life and looks beautiful!

Check it out!