He's My Baby!

(click on photo for a close - up of that cute face...)

A friend of mine recently posted pictures on her blog, of her darling little boy, who was helping her pick up pecans.

Those pictures made me smile..... I do love children! Now, I don't have any kids of my own, but I do have my own "Angel - Baby," my black Labrador retriever, "Jazz". Those of you that have been keeping up with the blog will remember reading his "story" from a previous post, of how God let us find him, when he was starving on the streets as a pup.....

I was looking at some pictures, and came across this Christmas photo of him, and just had to share it with y'all! Isn't his permanent "got milk" mustache, cute?

Lately, when I shut the bathroom door to take a bath, he has started lying right outside the bathroom, in front of the closed door, until I am through. (I had mentioned in that previous post about how he doesn't like closed doors, and will fling them open with his nose and give us dirty looks...)

I am so thankful for my little hairy boy! I sing "You are my Sunshine" to him all of the time, and it is true! He makes me smile, and I am so very greatful to the Lord for blessing us with him. He has added so much joy to our lives!

Aren't pets wonderful? If you, too, have a cherished pet, be sure to give him or her an extra cuddle today, and tell them a special "hello" from Jazz in Texas......

an "Under the Weather" day...

Don't you hate chest colds? There is nothing remotely fun about them... You look yucky, feel even worse, and then, like an unwanted guest that doesn't know when the welcome mat has been yanked, they linger on, refusing to leave....

**Sigh** (or should I say: "Cough, hack")

On the plus side, I did get to read a great novel today.... it made the hours more bearable...

And I talked to the Master, and reminded myself that He has felt our every pain and sickness, and even took stripes for my healing.... Thank You, Lord....

And He is here with me, in the midst of my "yucky, under the weather day," and won't leave me, either!

Isn't He wonderful? It's so comforting to know that He is not just a "fair weather friend" He is an every day, every situation, kind of friend....

I hope your day was a good one.... may you be strong, healthy, and happy (and don't forget the vitamin C!)

It's So Beautiful!

During my Prayer time last evening, I felt drawn to Isaiah 40:28 - 31. Verse 29 resonated so strongly that I have been quoting it aloud many times since reading it. Oh my! It's so beautiful! Here it is:
Isaiah 40:29
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
How reassuring! The Awesome God of the Ages is letting me know that though I may feel helpless to change certain things, HE will give me all the power and strength I need. He has compassion on me in my weakness.... all I need to do is seek Him, and lean and depend on His strength and His might....
I so want to draw closer to Him and spend more time in prayer, but it seems whenever I make up my mind to spend those extra moments seeking Him, something always pops up to distract me. Through this scripture I feel that God has reassured me that though I have been feeling like I have failed, instead of fretting about it, I need to ask Him to help me pray... and ask Him to give me the strength to seek Him more.... and so I have, and He IS helping me! I don't have the will - power on my own to fast, or to be Spiritual, Godly, and Holy... on my own I fail every time! But, I have His Spirit in my Soul, and, as Isaiah 40:29 said, "...to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
How precious is His Word to my soul... within it's pages we can always find direction for every situation we face.... and that is one reason preaching is so very important! God uses the ministry to give us better insight and understanding of His Word.... so many times I have gone to Church with a question or needing a word from God, and it has been answered through the voice of the Preacher. Isn't the Lord amazing?

My Victorian Hat

(click on photo for a closer look)

I'm so excited to share a recent project with all of y'all. I've been wanting a big 'ol foo - foo Victorian style hat, and since I couldn't find one that I liked, I decided to create my own.

So off to Michael's and Hobby - Lobby I went! (Don't you love craft stores?) If you're like me, you keep seeing possibilities... as in: "Oooh! I could make something with that and that and that... LOL! Well, I've made lots of hats in the past, but I do think this one is my favorite. Thanks for letting me share it with with all of you..... Aren't crafty things fun?

It moved me to tears...

I recently received a new Christmas CD that I had mail - ordered. I know you are probably thinking (Christmas music?? It's only October!") So let me tell you a secret.... I usually start listening to some Christmas music on and off in September......

I can't resist. The music is so beautiful and the subject so wonderful it seems a shame to listen only one month out of the year....

The CD I purchased was the brand new "Christmas" one by the Isaacs who are one of my favorite groups that sing Gospel music. They have their roots in blue grass and country and play some of their own instruments: guitar, mandolin, and bass...

It reminds me of playing the violin as I grew up, and going to my grandparent's house in East Texas, where we would play country and bluegrass style Gospel music and sing. Papaw could play the banjo, mandolin, guitar, and a little fiddle, and Grannie could play the guitar. Those are precious memories to me, of us all gathered around singing and playing as other family members sang or just listened and requested songs....

There is one particular song on the Isaacs' CD that moved me to tears; not once, but twice... it is called: "Labor of Love" and is about Mary giving birth to the Lord... oh my! If you love Christmas music, you really should give it a listen in the upcoming holiday season.

I am so thankful for the gift of music! Didn't God give us an amazing and beautiful blessing by allowing us human beings to make music, sing, and also love and appreciate music? And He loves to hear us making music and singing praises to Him.... that is the best music of all...

Why Am I Surprised?

In a previous post, "I will Trust, and I will follow" I made mention of the fact that there were several things going on in my life that I did not understand. I likened it to being in a fog and not being able to see clearly....

I quoted Exodus Chapter 14 verses 13 and 14. I had made up my mind (with the Lord's help, of course) that I did not have to fully understand what was going on, all I needed to do was trust God and follow Him. And do you know what? Several of the things that I was praying about have been ANSWERED! Praise the Lord!

Why am I surprised, when my God is so Great, and Awesome, and Mighty? Why am I amazed when He loves me so much that He went to Calvary and gave His life, and shed His precious blood to save me? His love for me has been constant, never - failing, and sure...

I love Him more every day....

Homemade Pralines

Oh my word! Stop me before I eat another one.... My sister made homemade Pralines today, and they are soooo good!

**sigh** all thoughts of "cutting back" just sort of flew out of the window when I saw them, LOL!

They are so yummy.... (and she went and left the container here at our house... not good)
Pralines have always been a weakness of mine... but I am reminded of that old saying: "A moment on the lips.... forever on the hips..."

But it was so enjoyable while they were on the lips... LOL...

Hopefully tomorrow will be a "Praline - free day;" I do think it was so sweet of my sister to make them though, and I appreciate it (and her) very much!

I love you, Sis!

Little Miss Gabby

Something happened after Piano lessons on Monday that I thought was so cute, so of course I had to share it with y'all...

I teach a sweet little lady named Gabby, who is doing so well in her lessons! She often says things that make me smile, because she sometimes has a unique little way of looking at and analyzing things. I have seen the wheels turning in her big brown eyes many times...

The neighbors behind where I teach have several horses that try their best some days to see over the tall wooden fence separating our yards. After Gabby's lesson the other day, she went outside to the porch, and, as I stepped outside to say goodbye, she came bouncing up to me full of excitement.

"Sister Jen! Sister Jen!" she exclaimed, "That horse hayed at me!"

She meant to say "neighed," of course, but, since horses eat hay, I guess she thought they "hay" at you...... whatever her reasoning, I thought hayed was the cutest substitute...

When God Unfolds the Rose

I got a terrific idea today as I browsed through one of my favorite blogs....

The lady that does the blog had posted some song lyrics that were very special to her, and, since
she is a wonderful photographer, she also happened to have this gorgeous picture on there of a sweet little rose bud. Well, for me, when the image of a rose bud not yet opened is combined with the suggestion of meaningful song lyrics, only one song comes to mind! So, I thought I would post that song here for all of you to enjoy.

"When God Unfolds the Rose" - by Frank O'Brian

There've been times I thought my prayers, wouldn't even reach the ceiling,
of the room, where I knelt to pray,
And a voice inside kept asking me, did I think God was really listening,
to anything, that I had to say
But I just kept on a prayin', and holding on by faith, knowing God
is always in control...
And I waited like that rosebud in the garden, knowing only God can unfold
the rose....

When God unfolds the rose, He always gets it right!
When the petals are in place, Oh, it's such a beautiful sight
God knows when to hold on, and the perfect time to let go
So let God have His way, and watch God unfold the rose.

There are trials and tribulations, we must all go through,
When it comes to heartache, we've all had our share,
But when times are the hardest, we need to hold God
to the promise, that He'd never, give us more than we can bear.
So I'll just keep on a prayin', and holding on by faith, knowing God
is working all things for my good, and I'll wait just like that rosebud
in the garden, knowing only God can unfold the rose...