A wonderful man!

What a guy I'm married to! I came home from work yesterday and he was preparing to mow the lawn, which is more like a lush green carpet, due to his TLC. I prepared to wash dishes from the night before. He advised me to wait until later when he could help me. I didn't want him to have to do that so I proceeded to start the task, talking about the events of my day. Rather than interrupt me to go outside he picked up a towel, listened and wiped dishes! (he did get the lawn mowed eventually)
Later that night he retired to bed before I did, and when I got there he had propped up the pillows in my favorite way so I could do a little reading before turning out the light.
And that's just one little segment of a day in the life of being married to Kevin.

Thank you, Father, for a Godly man who is truly a gift from you.

I came home from work one day and discovered that we had had visitors while we were away. Written to Amanda in an email.

Gma and the Three Bums

So I was returning home from work yesterday and perfected my close
-shave- pull-up-alongside- the- mailbox-routine to collect the mail and
paper before heading into the garage. The mailbox was
uncharacteristically empty, and I suspected someone had been there ahead
of me. Since there weren't any vehicles in the drive I thought it might
have been the daughter who works in town, but I didn't notice any
telling evidence after a quick overview of the kitchen and DR. I looked
for a stack of mail, then noticed an Ibuprofen bottle on the counter,
but still wasn't sure if that had been left there from earlier in the
morning or from the night before. I stepped into the DR. A Ha!
Someone had been playing on my floor and left a black beanie baby bear
lying there, and as I turned towards the counter I saw another beanie
baby bear reclining in the corner under the desk. I was at the counter
now. A Ha! Someone had been using my pen and paper and left two
notes! I explained the situation to Papa when he came in. He opened
the closet to throw away some trash. A Ha! Someone had left a Little
Caesar's box in the garbage! Much later that evening I went upstairs to
settle Shayla down for the night. A Ha! Someone had turned down the
covers and moved the pillows on the bed! From the notes, I deducted
that someones had been in my house and it was you and that little
precocious 2-year-old-grandson of ours who can-already-write-sentences
and the big Bum (just a play on your last name, no negative connotations
intended). :)

New Discovery

Today I found a woman who I had never heard of before. She has a great ministry. I'm including one quote from her that I really like. She also has a video clip on Y tube entitled, The Invisible Woman.

"We live in a world of great beauty
and enormous pain.
I like to write about the strange way
they come together
on the shores of hope."

Thank you, Lord, for words of encouragement today. I found it here and in the message of a friend on Facebook and unexpectedly from my boss. I breathe in your grace today. How awesome is your name.

From the Pleasures of God by John Piper

He says the literal translation of Ps 23:6 is "Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life." John shares an illustration from a teacher who explained it in this way.
"God is like a highway patrolman pursuing you down the interstate with lights flashing and siren blaring to get you to stop--not to give you a ticket , but to give you a message so good it couldn't wait till you get home. God loves to show mercy...His anger must be released by a stiff safety lock, but his mercy has a hair trigger....The point is the contrast between the sluggishness of his anger and the effusiveness of his love."

"God is a mountain stream, not a watering trough. He delights to overflow-to give and give and give! And therefore the gospel is the good new that God does not need a bucket brigade; he wants people who will drink. The qualification for receiving his kingdom is not strength but thirst."

First or Center?

Something I heard and am pondering today. Is Christ first in my life or center of my life? If I consider Him first, I may spend time with Him first thing in the morning and then cross Him off my list. If He is center, He is with my through my day. I am aware of His presence, desires and guidance. He stays at the center of all my day.

30 days of Thanksgiving

Day #14
Think Only Positive Thoughts

Today, strive to think only positive thoughts about people and your situations. It will lift you up and do good to them also.


Eph. 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

30 days of Thanksgiving

Day # 13
Little Things Make a Difference
My 'little things' list:
Smiles, a packet of Hot Chocolate stirred into a mug of coffee, sticky notes, Avon hand sanitizers, internet radio, popcorn, an hour for lunch, a good neighborhood to walk in...

Thank you, Father, for the little things that really weigh in as very valuable as I stop to consider them. You have made me to lie down besides still waters. I drink of your living water today. May it spring up from within me as you fill me. (I'm meditating in John 4 for my weekly Bible study.) May those I care about be filled with your living water today and may it wash over them, cleansing them from fear, anxiety and discouragement. May strength, hope, and confidence spring up within them.