Sweet Boy...

Oh my, sweetness. You might not see it, but his LaLa does. The child is so animated and just keeps me laughing. I retrieved this pic from his momma's blogpost... I had him for a few hours late yesterday, and he kept me laughing. He is now trying to talk in sentences, and you can understand the first couple of words, and the last, but in between it is hilarious. I love this lil' man!

Tears are good...

I read this yesterday, "It means praying through the tears, until we can say, "not what I will, but what YOU will".

Have you ever been in a life crisis? Well, if you have not, consider yourself lucky. I have been in several of them, but one I can remember changed my life, and is the reason I am where I am today. You come to a point, that the tears come and all you can do is pray. At first all you can pray is "God please", do this or that, but then you come to a point where you can say "God I give you this situation and your will be done". I can remember daily "praying through the tears", in fact it was over a period of years. I am closer to God today and thank Him for this period in my life. But you know, I am thinking now as I write this post, it does not take a life crisis to bring on the "praying through the tears". I literally "pray through my tears" on a consistent basis. I have people that I pray for daily and that I have committed to God because I know He hears me. It is hard to tell God, not my will but your will. I find when I pray for HIS will only, that I am comforted in knowing that I have relinquished all control. The end result is what HE desires and is always in my best interest. Read below this verse, Jesus cried also! He "prayed through his tears".

Hebrews 5:7

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Gearing up for July 4th!...

Love this patriotic strawberry Lauren!

and this drink! These just make me happy...

Can you tell I am working on July's advertising! :)

Eagle...

I googled July 4th recipes...hehehe, is this the cutest, ugliest thing you have ever seen. If you had a whole tray of these eagle's, people would sooooo laugh! :)

Do you Belong?...

Wow, I asked God to speak to me this morning as I was reading and Luke 12 was amazing. This chapter brought back memories. I have been wanting to share my testimony of salvation on my blog and today is the day. I was 14 years old in 1976. I was beginning the 9th grade. We, as a family were travelling in a fifth wheel travel trailer and staying at each church for a weeks revival. My dad was an evangelist at that time. Remember those days when churches had a week long revival? Most kids do not remember those days. Anyway, I had supposedly professed that I had been saved when I was 8 years old at camp. I do believe that the age of 14, that I was at the age of accountability, that I understood, that the Holy Spirit was talking to me. I knew the Bible, I knew that if I asked Jesus in my heart that I would be saved. But, it was reading this verse, that I vividly remember, you have got to do this today. The verse was Romans 12:8-9 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God." I think walking down that aisle at church was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did, because I wanted others to know that I was acknowledging God before men and that I did not want to be disowned...I remember praying with my dad, asking Jesus to come into my heart and save me and I remember a weight being lifted from me. That was a long time ago, but it so vivid. I know I have made many, many mistakes in my life, but I do know that I absolutely, without a doubt, am going to Heaven, and that I WILL confess before men, that I love "my God". If this blog post finds you without Jesus in your heart, all you have to do is: Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved".

SURELY,

Believe and Tell NOT show and tell...

Luke 9:41

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

In reading the Book of Luke, I think if there is anything that I am learning, is that when Jesus is healing, there are always those that do not believe. I wonder when Jesus said this "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?", what his tone was? Did he raise an eyebrow :) Jesus was doing miracles openly for people to see and they still did not believe. You know even in writing this blog post, I am thinking, wow, what it must have been like to see miracles first hand. The blind receiving sight, evil spirits cast out, fever's taken away...then right now I am thinking to myself, oh my, we have just as many miracles right now, everyday! Do we honestly think that our lives are the way we are because we make them this way. My belief in God, my faith in God, my prayers to God, my giving of my life to God, doing what is "right and just and fair", that is and should be our response to God. Over and over I read in the Bible, about believing, believing is a core "belief".

John 3:16, "whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life".

At the end of these miracles, you know what I noted? They were all amazed, and they went and told everyone they knew what they had seen. Do we do the same?

Tired of being tired?...

I am a little tired today...I came across this today, enough said, huh?...

He is THE On/Off...

Colossians 1: 16-17

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Psalm 75:3

"When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Selah"

You know I have been thinking on these verses today. I read Colossians first this morning, then I read Psalm 75 right after, and the "HOLD" word just jumped off the page to me. It seems that I try my best to control not one thing, but a plethora of things everyday. This verse just reemphasizes to me that my God is in control, he is the one that "holds" all things together. I can do "nothing" without God. It is not because of me that anything happens. This reminds me of an ON/OFF switch. God is THE On/Off switch of the whole universe. It is not by my doing that anything happens but because of my Almighty, all knowing God. I can do my part, but all results are from His hand. I do not control this universe, repeat, I do not control this universe!

So, what do I take from this? I need to stop worrying and stressing over things that may or may not come to pass. I am not the ON/OFF switch!

1311 Jeb Stuart, Tyler, TX 75703

New Listing: 1311 Jeb Stuart, Tyler, TX 75703

Wow, where do I BEGIN? 1.127 acres located in South Tyler, Whitehouse Schools, 2 living areas, formal dining, breakfast room, utility room,office, guest house, sunroom, gunite saltwater pool, and a four car garage. Inside this home is 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and a one bedroom, one bath guest house. The kitchen has counter space perfect for entertaining. Great flow from living area to kitchen. Beautiful wood flooring, one woodburning fireplace with a gas starter. Sunroom looks out to a covered patio, open patio, gazebo, deck and a sparkling pool. The backyard has endless possibilities, room to run, garden or just relax. Two hot water heaters, one gas unit services house, one electric tankless unit services the guest house. Garage is perfect for vehicles or a workshop. Seller is offering a one year Old Republic Home Warranty to the buyer in the amount of $350. Take a look today!

Letters to Juliet...

I met Jason and the girls at the movie late today, "Letters to Juliet".
"When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young American, travels to Verona, Italy -- the romantic city where Romeo first met Juliet -- she meets a group of volunteers who respond to letters written to Juliet seeking romantic advice. Sophie finds and answers a letter that has been lost for 50 years, and is stunned when its author Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Italy with her handsome but overprotective grandson (Christopher Egan) to find the fiance she left decades before. Fascinated by Claire's quest, Sophie joins them on an adventure through the beautiful hills of Tuscany searching for Claire's long lost Lorenzo."
Warm and fuzzy, predictable movie...and as I always say "and they lived happily ever after!"

PS There is not one thing that I don't just LOVE in the above picture! Feminine!

Home Sweet Home... :)

I think this picture says it all! It is always good to come home from a trip! Home Sweet Home...

Final, Fabulous, Fun Day in Austin...

Jason and I had a fun, fun day. He finished his seminar around 1 and we went to lunch at the Domain in Austin. I had never been to the Domain, but it is a community with high end shopping, restaurants, apartments, etc. Great lunch outside on a patio at the Daily Grill. We then went to Westlake Hills Police Department and saw a couple of his old friends. Police Chief, Cliff Spratlan, and his Secretary, Pam Williams. They had a good old time reminiscing.

Tonight, we drove over to The Oasis on Lake Travis. Awesome views. Great dinner!

We took our picture in the courtyard at The Oasis. Jason is now getting the hang of taking our pictures. He says, "you know we are not kids", but I say, "you know I have to blog this". Blogging memories, right?... fun, fun!

Happy Memorial Day Y'all...

Picture is compliments of http://www.morethanchocolate.net/

"Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service". I think we often forget about the families and persons serving our country. I know several myself, and it brings tears to my eyes when I recall their stories as told to me. I personally want to thank anyone and everyone that is sacrificing their life for mine. Let Freedom ring.

Jason and I finish the day at dinner and a dance...so appropriate for Austin, look at the cowboy Murial on the wall behind us! :)

Memorial Day at the Lake without me...added more pics today!

I am in Austin, so my mother's whole side of the family is out at Lake Tyler. Now mind you, that my mother is one of "10" siblings. So, I have a plethora of cousins. I can't even count all of them. They are texting and sending me pictures of what I am missing. :) I miss all of you! and I love all of you! Do y'all MISS ME YET?

Oh yes, the food. Isn't this picture gorgeous. Love the colors. I must use this for something else. Didn't God make our food bright and cheerful!

My Aunt Ruthye, and my Uncle Andy...Andy is only 6 months older than me. I am close to these two people! :)

These are cousins, Kelly, Katie and Christina. Take a look at the left of this picture. It looks like a shark...omg, maybe it is a big catfish...it is something scarey...omg...what is it?

Another cousin, Duke. He thinks he is a stud... :)

More cousins, Cody and Ben, Uncle Andy on the right.

Andy's son, Chance-yet another cousin...

Cousin Kelly, and Aunt Ruthye...kiss, kiss, love y'all!

Precious Cash Michael...he is my cousin, Kelly's son... she has a son just a tad bit older than my grandson, and she is not very much younger than I. I think she knows how this happens! hehehe, love you Kelly. By the way, he is so proud of his little fish!

More cousins, Jenni and Laura Leigh...cuteness!

Jenni, the camera beauty, and Andy... :) Love this picture!

Aunt Ruthye with my Layton...the sweetest ever...I sure miss being with him!

Cute Jenni again with my favorite candy corn. See how these people are tempting me!

My mothers siblings, Andy, Jeff, Ruthye and Michelle.

Ruthye and Andy cooking breakfast. Yumo!

I think I will have more pictures coming, and I know they are having fun. I will make it to the next Lake run! Promise!