Fresh Oil Today!

MONDAY MORNING SMILES : ))

2011-06-20T10:05:00.007-07:00

Hey Ya'll!!

Well, I pray that everyone had a wonderful weekend and Dad's day!! We sure did! Hubs and I were down in Phoenix sizzling in the 109 degree heat but we loved every minute it (as long as we were in the AC or pool! : ))). Love Phoenix, but love living in the cool N. AZ mountains more than ever this time of year....whewww weee!!!

Started this morning already feeling a bit overwhelmed about the week ahead and really needed a pick me up (can anyone relate?!) and stumbled across this funny music video, "Dad Life", from Church on the Move and it certainly delivered the smiles I needed! Please take a few minutes to enjoy and start your morning off with a smile too, ya'll.....guaranteed! Oh, and yo....my favorite part is the man cave/disney movie, lol! : ))

A cheerful heart is good medicine....

Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Have a wonderFULL and cheerFULL week, ya'll!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Love and Sweet Blessings!

image credit: FreeBackgrounds.com

HEY YA'LL!!! UPDATE!!

2011-06-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll!!!!

Ok, so my last post was uh....almost three months ago.....I can't believe it!! So much going on here I hardly know where to begin! BUT, before I begin, I want to thank each of you for praying for my Sweet Mama and my family. You have no idea how much your emails of encouragement and prayer have meant. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Many a day I've felt like I could fall apart, but thru His strength and encouragement and prayers of sweet friends I'm taking it one day at a time......Bless you!!! I may not know what today holds, but I know our todays and tomorrows are in His hands and He always brings us through!!!

Mama is still with us but it's really been a very rough road. She beat the pneumonia, but her transition (as hospice calls it) has been difficult to say the least. Some days are better than others and my daily vigil by her side has been so heart breaking. However, true to my mama's ways, she remains an example and deep reservoir of encouragement and true faith and trust in the One who holds her in the palm of His hand.....she is such an amazing women of faith and I count it as a true honor to have her as my mom!!! My sister, Diane, stayed for a month and we made such rich and lasting memories as we sat with mama and took many trips down memory lane and reminisced of bygone days.....moments that will forever be etched upon my heart and precious nuggets to treasure. One of my favorite moments was when we crawled into bed with her....I'll never forget that moment....we hugged, giggled and cried....priceless!!

Well, in the midst of all this, we were informed that the house we were leasing was in foreclosure and would be sold on the courthouse steps! Our landlord just pocketed our rent and let the house go! You may recall we sold our home last year and leased this house (which I loved!) with the plan of staying here until hubs retires in a few years and move back to Phoenix (he works in N. AZ). But those plans came to a screeching halt when the lease house was purchased by investors with the intention of flipping it and would not entertain continuing our lease....SO BUMMED, YA'LL!!! I'd really nested and settled in that house and I'm a nesting, decorating, wanna be settled kinda gal! Thank God I found a cute, but ~~little~~, ~~small,~~ tiny, bungalow style house.....uh, I think you get the picture....cute, BUT TINY, bungalow house that was vacant so we leased it and I went into "throw everything overboard" mode and quickly got into my downsize AGAIN pack and move groove. All the while, visiting mama most everyday, endless phone calls with medicare, medicaid, hospice, etc. (the federal red tape is just too much) and rushing to make numerous trips to donate stuff to Goodwill, and Salvation Army and local charities. I even managed to have a mother-load garage sale and sold allot of my lodge/rustic/moose decor and got some cash to decorate my new TINY place....another post on that another time...hint - I switched from moose lodge to beach cottage (weird to think of beach cottage in northern AZ mountains I know...but I'm lovin it, ya'll!). We managed to move without too much fanfare....just allot of sore muscles, short tempers and bruises....news flash - I'm not 25 anymore!! : )) Unpacking stuff and re-settling is just the pits but we're getting there - thank God! I did, however, do the DUMBEST thing, ya'll!........

In an attempt to hurriedly decorate the space above my kitchen cabinets with the cutest stuff from Home Goods and Ross, I climbed onto the counter without a ladder and without my hubs home to help and slipped and fell and clobbered my leg pretty bad.....it was almost one of those "my life flashing before me moments" as I fell! Seriously, I know that His angels kept me from hitting my head on the island....I would have landed on my neck and I can't bear to think of what would of happened! I laugh about it now, but it was no laughing matter at the time....note to self - you're not 25 anymore! So, my decorating stunt put me out of commission for a while spending allot of couch time watching American Pickers and Storage Wars - not sure why I like these show so much except maybe it's comforting to see that there are people out there that amassed more ~~junk~~, stuff to get rid of than me! LOL!

Side note...For some odd reason I've also found Swamp People to be strangely entertaining....anybody else out there find the alligator huntin', cajun bayou culture interesting? Just curious!!

Anyway, I still managed to limp over to the nursing home and visit mama as much as possible, unpack, rest (???!) and continue to trust Him and take it one day at a time!

I mentioned above that ALLOT has happened in the last ninety days......So much that my head spins somedays. My hubs had a health scare but praise God it turned out ok! I had a severe bronchitis attack and also weird excruciating nerve pain in my jaw that required that I take strong migraine/anti-seizure meds to calm the nerves down so the pain would subside.....the meds made me sick as a dawg and again I was put out of commission but praise God I'm on the mend now! Thank You Jesus!!

And lastly, with a sad heart I want to share that Chris and Laraine (my son and DIL) lost yet another pregnancy and she had to have subsequent surgery. Wild horses couldn't have kept me from being there with my kids as they went through this heartache again. So, in the midst of all the other chaos and demands going on in my life, I dropped everything and went to Phoenix to help and be there for them for a few days.....that's what mothers do....love, pray, support and encourage, isn't it. That's the example my Sweet Mama has lived out before me and sowed into my life and I am so grateful.....and that's, with His help, what I want to be for my children! Also, I covet your prayers for Chris and Laraine. We are standing firm upon the promises of God for grand-babies!!!

Also, you may recall that my daughter Katie fell ill several months ago and I wasn't able to leave my mama at that point in time and go be with her in Florida. She is doing well and I so appreciate your prayer for her! I still haven't been able to go but my hubs was able to fly out for a visit last month and I hope to get there soon!! I sure miss her and would love to be transported to Florida this very moment and lay on the beach with her......if only!!!!

Oh, and the icing on the cake......I got a "speeding" ticket last week in my neighborhood.....I was clocked at the break neck speed of 38 in a 35!!!!! OMG 38 in a 35....can't a girl catch a break!!! (Just had to vent a little)!!! : ))

Seriously, no doubt the last 90 days have been peppered with heart ache, tears, frustration, disappointment, fatigue, cratering emotions and stress. But as I type this post and reflect again, I also see 90 days flowered with the beauty of His presence, mercy, strength, grace, power, favor, healing, encouragement, protection and faithfulness! Where would I be without Him!!! Praise Him Forevermore!

Well, I'm so glad that I unpacked my Mac and got plugged back in today and I look forward to "hearing" about what's going on in your bloggy corner of the world. Your words and ponderings bless me so....I've really missed ya'll!!! Gotta run....gotta a whole lotta unpacking and settling in and nursing home visit to do today!!!

Thank you again, dear bloggin' friends for your prayers and encouragement! You are such a blessing in my life.....I continually lift you before the Throne of Grace! We serve a Mighty God!!

Let's always remember.........

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you,

He will never leave nor forsake you.

Do not be discouraged.

Deut 31:8 NIV

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Love,

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR MY SWEET MAMA!

2011-03-15T09:26:00.003-07:00

Hey Ya'll......

As many of you may recall, my sweet 91 yr old Mama has had a really tough year. Since last April, she has suffered two serious strokes, a terrible fall with major injuries and most recently her heart in a-fib and bouts with pneumonia.

Over the last week her health has greatly declined. She is now in congestive heart failure with other complications and very weak. Since last week I've spent almost every waking hour by her side at the nursing home. My sister, Diane, flew in last Friday to be with Mama as well.....we've barely left her side. We are meeting with Mama's doctors this morning to discuss her hospice care. As you can imagine, just typing those words "hospice care" causes my heart to sink and my eyes burn hot with tears.

Mama is such a mighty woman of God and a source of encouragement and inspiration to everyone she's met in her 91 years (her 92nd b'day is Friday). Even this past year in her diminishing physical condition she's touched so many lives and been a shining light in her nursing home facility. When her heart began to fail last Wednesday, the outpouring of love and concern from her caregivers and nurses has blessed my sister and I so.

My sister and I have been blessed beyond measure to have such a wonderful Mama and we realize that we are now walking through the last days of her journey here on earth. We are leaning ever so close upon Him and His Grace and Strength as we navigate the "next" for our Sweet Mama and resting in the assurance that Mama's times are in His hands and when she takes her last labored breath, she'll step into her Beloved's arms and rejoice and dance upon streets of gold before His Throne forevermore! Hallelujah!

Dear blogging friends, my sister and I would greatly appreciate your prayers for our Sweet Mama. Her body and mind are weary of the struggle to breath and think clearly. We're praying for His Peace to sweetly settle her and comfort her as she walks this last journey. And we humbly ask that you would lift us up as well.......we, too, need His peace, comfort and strength as we travel these last days with our Sweet Mama. Bless you......

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh what a foretaste of glory Divine!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love,

TODAY'S QUICK THOUGHT.......WHATEVER!

2011-03-14T01:02:00.015-07:00

"Take this to rule: WHATEVER weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind THAT THING is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."

Susanna Wesley

(letter to son John Wesley, June 8, 1725)

Investigate my life, Oh God,

find out everything about me;

Cross-examine and test me,

get a clear picture of what I'm about;

See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong -

then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Psalm 139:23-24 MSG

Have a blessed week!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Image via Google Images

OUR GOD IS GREATER!

2011-03-07T14:00:00.015-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

I pray that everyone is rejoicing on this beautiful March morning! This is the new day that He's made just for you and I........a new beginning....a fresh new page....perhaps the beginning of a brand new chapter as He writes His-story in your life! It's a new day to rejoice in the goodness and faithfulness of our God! Glory to His Name!!!

I've been MIA from blogging since last month as I recovered from a bad case of the flu and felt called aside by the Spirit to rest and pray and spend time with Him. As many of you know, my daughter Katie fell ill last month and I again want to THANK YOU for your prayers! The prayer power in the blogoshere still amazes me. It's the Body of Christ in action in her purest form, I think. We don't even know each other really accept by our little thumbnail pictures on our profiles and what we post about..... but we share His heart of passion within each of us to stand and encourage and uplift one another.....awesome, isn't it! Katie is doing well and would so appreciate your continued prayers as she has an outpatient procedure later this week. We expect all to go well and a good report in Jesus Mighty Name!!! I plan to visit her in Florida next month!! Yippee!!!!

Up until last Tuesday, I felt that I couldn't leave town because of my 91 year old Sweet Mama's health (she lives in a nursing home near me in Northern AZ, recently had pneumonia and her heart is in Afib) but I'd been soooo praying about attending the Women on the Frontlines conference which was set to begin last Thursday at my church in Phoenix. On Tuesday, I felt peace about leaving town, gathered my outfits for the conference packed my Bible and a fresh new journal and went on line to register. As I clicked on the registration tab, my eyes could not believe the words on my screen....EVENT SOLD OUT! Let me tell you, girls....I had a melt down of epic proportions.....and to put it bluntly.... I was crying and slinging snot for an hour, unpacked my clothes, threw them back into my closet and then like an after shock of an earthquake had another melt down wave of disappoint hit me again and started the blubbering all over again! I called my husband who was out of town on business, interrupted his business meeting (not always wise BUT THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY, ya'll!) and these were my exact words as he answered my call (in between my sniffing, crying and snorting)...."Hey Honey, I'm so sorry to bother you, but (sniff, snort, cry, sob) I have no one else to tell this to (snif, snort, cry, sob)....I just know I'm supposed to be at that conference and I just learned that it's sold out!!!....I just can't believe this....I just can't believe this!!!!...(more crying, snorting and sniffing, sobbing!!).....Why would He wait until Tuesday to give me peace about leaving and the event sell out before I registered????"....(sniff, snort, cry, sob, again)!! My Sweetie of 35 years knows when I fall apart to this degree, that I'm really hurting...this is not hormonal or emotional.....this is real!!! He calmly said "God will work this out, honey....God will work this out." We got off the phone and I took a deep breath....my heart of faith said "yes He will"....but the voice of reason in my head said "but how can He...it's sold out!".

Without going into detail.....let me just say this...GOD DID WORK IT OUT!!! GLORY HALLELUJAH, YEA GOD!!!!! I WENT TO THE WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINES CONFERENCE!! Whooo! Hooo! He put it in my heart to go and He made a way!!!

By Tuesday night, I repented for throwing my clothes in the closet (honestly it was more of a tantrum than throwing...just being
real : ))).....repacked my outfits and stuff and rejoiced in great anticipation of what He had for me at the conference! He is sooo faithful....I love Him soooo much!!

Let me just say it this way......the conference was packed with women (and some men also attended) from all over the world with an insatiable hunger for His presence! AND HE VISITED US!!! The prophetic praise and worship was out of this world.....The Presence of the Lord was indescribable.....The movings of the Spirit were so strong that I can't even begin to explain it......The Joy of the Lord invaded our hearts....lives were changed....vision, purpose and destiny imparted with clarity.....we wept, laughed, praised, rejoiced, and were called into the next level in Him.....each of us left, I'm sure, with a new fire in our bones! The depths of His heart called unto our hearts and we responded.... He poured out His love and manifested His Spirit upon us from Thursday morning until the last meeting ended Saturday night. I've attended many, many conferences and retreats over my years of walking with the Lord and this was by far the best ever.....I was meant to be there and He made a way!!!

One of the highlights were the Divine Connections He made for me over the weekend. Seriously, there were women from all over the globe in attendance...I loved worshipping with them!! There was such a freedom and unity of heart in one accord....We experienced His outpouring individually and corporately in such a mighty way....awesome! I always pray that my steps are ordered and my path made plain and I met some of the most wonderful sisters in the Lord ever. The picture above are my new Canadian sisters who are aglow with His Heart and a passion for ministry.....they inspired and enriched my life. From left to right....Valerie from Ottawa has a passion to sing for her King....she's precious, He's gonna use her in very anointed special ways!; then me...the one who almost didn't get there BUT GOD MADE A WAY! WHOO HOOO!; then Kareen...the Lord connected us the very first meeting...total God thing!! She and her husband pastor in the Ottawa area....such a powerhouse anointed woman of God..luv her....feel like she's my daughter!!!;...Izzy from Victoria...we didn't meet until the last meeting.....she has such a precious smile and her countenance beautifully radiates Him!..... I pray that we'll meet again some day this side of Heaven and share together in the Wonder and Goodness of our God! If not....I know we'll have a blast in Heaven worshipping Him together and reminiscing about our Divine Connection in Phoenix and the wonder of being in His Presence together!!! What an awesome God we serve!!!

Well, I guess I better close now....That's what's been going on in my corner of His world and I look forward to visiting you and getting caught up on your goings on, my sweet bloggin' friends!! I must get to the nursing home and spend time with my Sweet Mama.

May we always remember....

GOD ALWAYS MAKES A WAY!.....OUR GOD IS GREATER!!!

Have an abundantly blessed week, ya'll!! And many thanks for your prayers for Katie!

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Love,

UPDATE ON KATIE....

2011-02-14T23:34:00.004-07:00

Hey Ya'll.....

I want to thank each of you wonderful bloggin' prayer warrior friends for praying for my daughter, Katie. Your prayers, emails and encouraging words have blessed my heart and greatly ministered to Katie. I stand amazed at how God has blessed me with such wonderful sisters in the Lord through the blog world!! Katie is home from the hospital now but we would appreciate your continued prayer as she recovers....we are believing for complete and total healing.....In Jesus Mighty Name!! I will keep you posted.

Since my last post about Katie, I've been totally out of commission......sick as a dawg!!

Had reservations to fly to Katie's tomorrow but had to cancel....SOOO BUMMED!! What started as a simple sore throat a week ago developed into some sort of really bad flu crud/bronchitis thang that's really hit me hard and has been such a drag....even lost my voice....difficult for a yakker like me....but haven't really felt like yaking anyway! I used wisdom this time and went to bed and practically haven't raised my head accept to lay on the couch and then back to bed since last Wednesday, so I apologize for not getting back with so many of you that commented or emailed me about praying for Katie....Haven't even felt well enough to get on the computer or anything much....But please know that I appreciate you so much and praying for you as well!

Last year I had a similar flu crud that settled in my chest and resulted in pneumonia with bronchial spasms (unable to breathe..VERY, VERY SCARY!) and ended up in the ER twice. This time I chose to NOT keep going full steam ahead like I usually do and went to the doc, taking my meds and using my inhaler, and getting plenty of rest, rest, rest! My fare for the last week has pretty much been gallons of water,

copious amounts of green hot tea with honey and lemon, and vast quantities of chicken soup while I've been holed up under my fav buckin' bronc fleece blanket. And as you can see, it's my Maggie Kittie's fav as well!

Uh, don't laugh at my blanket, ya'll.....I've got other cozy, fuuuffeee girly ones, but my cowboy chic one is my very fav.....It's truely is the most buttery fleece blanket ever!! Plus I'm a cowgirl at heart and the retro buckin' bronc print is a throw back to my child hood so maybe that's why I luv it so....Uh, come to think of it, I'm ready to crawl right back under it as soon as I finish this post....(I'm almost done Maggie...I'll be right there)!

I hope you've had a wonderful Valentines Day, sweet friends. Mine has been kinda yucky and my sweetie's plans for Olive Garden had to be scratched. I hear him in the kitchen now warming up my soup....not very romantic, but that's the best it's gonna get for now!!!

Praying that I get over this soon and back to blog visiting and reading what's been happening in your bloggy corner of the world! You really bless and encourage me, sweet friends!

HAPPY VALENTINES YA'LL!
You are Loved...Oh, how He Loves you and Me!

Have an abundantly blessed week!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Big Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

THE GREAT SHEPHERD'S LOVE......

2011-02-07T23:21:00.012-07:00

Hey ya'll!

I pray that each of you had a wonderfully blessed weekend! Alot going on here, my heart is full and allot to share so this post is a bit longer than usual. But I pray that you'll stick with me to the end...

I hardly know where to begin, but want to first share that

little did I know (BUT HE DID) that my last Thursday's post

"STAY FOCUSED" would become the Word of the Lord...a Living Word and anchor from His Heart to mine by Friday afternoon. I shared in Thursday's post that the Lord has been speaking to me allot lately about keeping my eyes set and fully focused upon Him and guarding my mind against runaway thoughts of doubt, fear and unbelief and securely placing my hope, faith and trust upon Him and His promises LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

On Friday afternoon, as I was walking in the door with an already heavy heart from visiting my Sweet Mama at the nursing home, we received a call from our dear SIL Bryan that our daughter, Katie, had fallen seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital. Of course, as with any parent, receiving news that your child is in crisis or peril sends a jolt to your heart and mind, but as I learned the news about Katie it was as though I could hear the words of my last post...."STAY FULLY FOCUSED UPON HIM"!..."KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS AND GAZE FIXED UPON HIM AND HIS PROMISES"....."IT'S TIME TO BE BELIEVERS WHO REALLY BELIEVE HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAID HE WILL DO AND PLACE OUR COMPLETE FOCUS, TRUST AND THOUGHTS UPON HIM AND ABIDE IN HIS PERFECT PEACE"!........

I knew immediately in my Spirit that this was why He has been speaking so strongly to my heart about keeping my focus upon Him and His Word and reigning in any and all thoughts that were contrary to His Promises. As I sat down at the kitchen table with my husband and began to pray, the strongest sense of PEACE I've ever experienced came up from within me....a Peace that is beyond understanding...Glory to His name!! When my mind was tempted to wander and be carried away with worry, it was as if a Holy Spirit magnet would draw my thoughts quickly back to His Promises and into His Peace!

We were up most of the night praying and on the phone with Bryan getting updates and I finally fell asleep in the early hours before daybreak Saturday. As I was waking up, I began to pray Psalm 23 over Katie....As a parent I wanted so much to hold and comfort her but they live in another state....my heart was aching. I continued to pray Psalm 23 and found my heart personalizing it just for her. It brought this mama's heart such comfort to know that The Great Shepherd was with my child and holding, protecting and ministering to her every need. I then felt led to paraphrase and personalize Psalm 23 over myself, my husband and each of my children and their spouses...the anointing was so strong as I layed upon my bed before daybreak praying His Word in such a personalized way. After awhile, I found myself praying over both mine and my sisters entire family! There seems to be so many of my loved ones walking through deep valley's right now. The anointing was so sweet and strong upon my prayer time....It was as if The Great Shepherd was tenderly holding each of my loved ones against His breast and ministering Peace and Comfort to their heart. I arose from prayer and went to my computer and typed what the Spirit had ministered to me and emailed everyone "A Love Letter from The Great Shepherd". Bryan immediately printed Katie's and took it to the hospital to encourage and comfort her....oh, the wonder of the technology of our times! PTL!

I feel led, dear blog friends, to share what the Lord gave me and pray that it blesses and encourages you as well. One of my family members told me earlier today that their "Love Letter" ministered such comfort and assurance and reminded them that they are never alone....The Great Shepherd is with them every step of the way. Glory to God!

As I noted above, I personalized each "Love Letter" by inserting my loved ones name. In the "Love Letter" below I encourage you to insert your name wherever you see the highlighted area. I usually don't permit copying of anything on my site, but feel in my heart that The Great Shepherd wants you to have His love letter too, so please feel free to copy it if you'd like. You are His beloved child and just as a shepherd watches over his sheep, He lovingly watches over every detail of your life and holds you in His tender care........

The Great Shepherd's Love Letter

"Because I Love You So!"

Psalm 23
(adaptation and emphasis added)

I, the Lord, am your Great Shepherd.

I lovingly guard, protect, defend and rescue you.

I make a way where there seems no way and provide for your

every need in every way.

Because I love you so!

I make you lie down in green lush pastures beside still quiet waters.

I speak to your storm "peace be still" and My great calm flows over your entire being.

I heal, restore, make brand new and refresh your

Spirit, Soul (mind, will and emotions) and Body......

reaching unto your very core.

You are forever transformed by my Mighty Hand of

Mercy and Grace.

Because I love you so!

I guide you along the right paths....

My ways and My ways of doing things.....

and you follow.

My heart delights as you stay close and follow me, your

Great Shepherd.

Even though you journey the darkest valley and seasons where there seems no light on the horizon - I, your Great Shepherd,

will hold you close to my heart and bear you up upon my everlasting arms and lead you through to complete wholeness and freedom...nothing missing, nothing broken.

Because I love you so!

Therefore, my beloved, you have no reason to fear....

for you are with Me and I am with you, my child.

Like a shepherd's crook and staff leading his tender flock,

I your Great Shepherd, guide, protect and defend you and bring you into safe and comfortable places.

Because I love you so!

I prepare a banqueting table laden with my unending provision of great and precious promises in the presence of the one(s) who are against you and I.....

For when they touch you, they touch Me....I am your strong defense.

Abide in my Presence and partake of my promises, for in and through Me, all darkness must flee and My Hand you will see!

Because I love you so!

I lovingly pour over your life the blessing of the rich,

productive, fertile and living

Oil* of My Spirit

and you shall overflow and bear much fruit for my Glory!

Know assuredly, my child, that My Spirit is within and upon you. And my loving kindness, mercy, goodness, unfailing love and faithfulness will overshadow you all the days of your life and you will continually dwell in my sweet Presence forever!

Because I, your Great Shepherd, love you so, ______!

*Oil=Hebrew "shemen".... richness, fruitful, perfumed, become fat - rich and fertile

Praying that you have a wonderful week, dear friends, and rest in the assurance that as we fix our focus upon Him, The Great Shepherd, will tenderly guide, provide and protect us all along our way!

Also, I humbly ask that you would remember my daughter Katie in your prayers for complete healing, restoration and quick recovery, in Jesus Mighty Name!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love and Hugs!

Image credit:
Shepherd Image via: adw.org
Heart image via: dezignus.com

STAY FOCUSED!

2011-02-03T02:01:00.010-07:00

Look to the Lord and His Strength,

seek His face always.

Psalm 105:4

Hey Ya'll!

The Lord has been speaking to me allot lately about keeping my eyes set and fully focused upon Him and guarding my mind against runaway thoughts of doubt, fear and unbelief and securely placing my hope, faith and trust upon His promises like never before. The days we're living in now and most certainly the days ahead will surely present plenty of opportunity to choose where our focus and trust will be placed. The enemy and our fleshly nature will certainly tempt us to crater and buy into fear, doubt and unbelief and be dictated by the ever changing sway of circumstances and situations which rob us of our peace. But, He's calling us to FOCUS our sights and continually renew our mind upon the BIGNESS of our God and His faithfulness! It's within our continual gaze upon Him and His promises that our faith is increased, strength and courage imparted and our mind and heart are filled with His assuring and constant Peace. And oh, how I need that, don't you?

As I was in Walmart last evening, I happened to take a moment to peruse the book section and noticed Jesus Calling by Sarah Young in a new beautiful updated cover and stopped to read todays word. I have my own copy at home, but little did I know that the Holy Spirit would stop me in Walmart and speak to my heart (and I thought I was there for just milk and cat food)! I share this word in hopes that it speaks to your heart as well.......

I am renewing your mind.

When your thoughts flow freely,

they tend to move toward problems,

circling round and round it attempts

to gain mastery.

Your energy is drained away from other matters

through this negative focus.

Worst of all, you loose focus of Me.

A renewed mind is Presence-focused.

Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation.

Sometimes you can find me in your surroundings;

a lilting birdsong,

a loved one's smile,

golden sunlight,

At other times you must draw inward to find Me.

I'm always present in your spirit.

Seek My Face,

speak to Me,

and I will light up your mind.

I don't know about you, but I've had allot of opportunities lately to let my freely floating anxious thoughts circle round and round and wear me out with all of the wispers of "what if's", "when and why not's"! And as I began to shift my gaze from Him and behold the circumstances, my blood pressure jumped and my head throbbed and my peace drained away! As I mentioned above, He's calling us to fix our focus and trust upon Him like never before. It is a choice we make, moment by moment, hour by hour and day by day. It's time to be believers who REALLY BELIEVE He will do what He said He will do and place our complete focus, trust and thoughts upon Him and abide in His perfect peace!

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You,

all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

My heart says of You, "Seek His Face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Psalm 27:8 NIV

Staying focused upon Him!!

Image via Pixdaus.com

HACKLES UP!

2011-02-01T11:31:00.007-07:00

Idiom: "To get one's hackles up"

Meaning: To be extremely insulted or irritated!

Hey Ya'll!

Yep....I've got my hackles up this morning! I usually try to stay away from the PC raucous but this morning's article on FOX (read entire news story here) just sent me into a hackled raised frenzy. And I think I'm safe to say that if allot of you've already read the story, there's a whole lot of hackle raising going on out there!

MyFoxDetroit.com

Apparently, the Detroit school system is allowing a student to wear a dagger because within the tenants of the students sikh religion, all baptized males are expected to carry a dagger! A D.A.G.G.E.R. !!! Uh, the last time I checked, a dagger is a short pointed instrument used as a weapon, people!!!

Heaven forbid we offend the religious rights of the dagger totin' sikh religion baptized male student in Detroit! If I were a Christian parent of a child in the Detroit school system, I'd have one thing to say to them............Your liberal bent in the name of tolerance to protect the rights of the baptized sikh religion student not only endangers the safety of students but you have infringed upon my Holy Spirit baptized student's rights and my child will show up tomorrow carrying his Sword of the Lord...THE WORD OF GOD and will be clad with scripture covered attire and will pray before, during and after school on school grounds and will recite the Pledge of the Allegiance and carry an American flag boldly proclaiming GOD BLESS AMERICA!!............I'm just LOUDLY saying!!! Oh and one last rant.....I suppose that if someone gets stabbed (Heaven forbid!), the liberal media will attribute it to influences from Sarah Palin's rugged Alaskan hunting gun and knife totin' life style! GOD HELP US!!!

We must pray for our nation, people!!! WE MUST PRAY!!! AND IN LOVE BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE TRUTH!!

IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,

SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES,

AND PRAY,

AND SEEK MY FACE

AND TURN

FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS,

THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN

AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN

AND HEAL THEIR LAND.

IIChron. 2:14

Blessings!

THE BLOND AND THE CAMO!

2011-01-26T00:00:00.002-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Disclaimer: If you are a blond or have ever been a blond, have a blond spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, relative, friend or even have a blond cat, dog or parakeet, please be advised that the following post is not intended to offend anyone who is remotely blond but is shared with the intent to give you a chuckle and a smile : )). The blond in this post is my big sister, Diane, whom I hold in very high esteem. She is very intelligent and highly educated with two masters degrees in education and has been in full time pastoral ministry for many years. However, her blondness frequently emerges on the most unlikely occasions and places and she cracks me up when she shares her blond moments with me. Thus, with my big sis' permission, I share with you her most recent blond experience in hopes that it will give you a smile and lift your heart and as my Sweet Mama always says, "Here's your laugh for the day".....

"The Blond and the Camo"

A blond (my big sis) was walking through Walmart and noticed a man dressed in camouflage standing in the check out line. The blond (my big sis) who has such a soft patriotic heart and always makes a point to express her gratitude and appreciation to military persons for their service wherever and whenever she encounters them (i.e. restaurants, church, grocery stores, sidewalks, movies, doctors offices, etc. etc. etc. ( I think you get the picture) halted her stride and headed over to the camouflage clad fellow and began to passionately thank him for his sacrifice and service to his country and for putting his life on the line to protect and defend our freedoms throughout the world and then continued on to assure him that she would hold him in her prayers for protection everywhere he goes and for all that he does....this went on for several minutes. As she was in mid passionate sentence...."thank you for all you do", the camo clad bewildered fellow sheepishly smiled at the blond (my big sis) and said..."uh, lady, I'm no soldier, I'm just going huntin'"!

The blond (my big sis) laughed at herself all the way home and later called me to share her blond/camouflage faux pas and we laughed till we cried (and boy did I need it)!

I hope my big sis' blond moment gave you a laugh and a smile today, my friends. Laughter is gooood for the soul and lifts our heart! And we can never have too many laughs and smiles in our daily journey!

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...

Proverbs 17:22

Me and the blond (my big sis) Diane

Oh, and lastly, I just had to throw this in.....I will never think of camo the same again without cracking up! I ran across this photo in google images and just had to share it with you and boy did I have another good laugh! I mean really, who would wear a camo unbrella hat!! LOL!! : ))......Wow am I cracking up typing this, ya'll!! : )))))

Love, Laughter and Abundant Blessings! : ))

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

2011-01-23T15:10:00.001-07:00

Anne Marie and son Joshua

Hey ya'll......

I'm unable to give you the details at this time, but humbly ask that you please pray for my nephew Mark and his wife Anne Marie. As many of you are aware, Anne Marie has been battling the reoccurrence of cancer last year (click here for posts re Anne Marie's journey) and the road has been very difficult on them BOTH and they BOTH need prayer covering right now......they are in a very hard place!

Our family is believing for miracles and Divine intervention on their behalf and would so appreciate your prayers for Mark and Anne Marie......There is nothing too difficult for our God!

Thank you dear bloggin' friends for your prayers........You're prayer support means more that you'll ever know. I will keep you posted.

"The ernest prayer of a righteous person has great power
and produces wonderful results"

James 5:16 NLT

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Prayers and Blessings!

365 BRAND NEW DAYS!

2011-01-08T00:40:00.007-07:00

Happy New Year, ya'll!

Well, I know that I'm a week late, but I'm finally getting it together and welcoming 2011! I pray that you had a blessed holiday season and entered the new year with great joy and anticipation of big things in God in 2011! To be honest with you, however, 2010 was a REAL challenge for me so Christmas and News Years were celebrated in a very low key fashion this year......I just wasn't that into it and that is soooo not like me!

As I was in my reflection mode this morning, it occurred to me that my 2010 was more like a long slow motion scene from the Matrix movie. You know, the kind where Keanu Reeves is dodging bullets and enemy attacks from all sides in sloooo moooootion while being contorted every which way in order to out maneauver the enemies tactics. Yep! That's about how 2010 was for me! Plenty of blessings (PTL!), but lots of warfare too! Frankly, I've really been in a battle weary contorted slo mo funk for a while, ya'll....Just being real here!

For the last several weeks I've been seeking the Lord about my funky forlorn frame of mind an lo and behold! - as I was cleaning house yesterday and listening to praise radio in the background, the song you hear playing with this post "It's a New Day" by Hillsong London came on and before I knew it, a wave of crazy praise erupted from deep within my battle weary heart and emotions and my forlorn funkiness fled and freedom freely flooded my soul as I praised the Lord and danced my self happy all over the house! I even downloaded "It's a New Day" and looped it so it played nonstop through out my house all day!! Whoo! Hoo! Glory Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! It's a new day! Bye, bye 2010! He lifted my head and imparted a fresh anointing of zeal, hope, strength, encouragement and expectation within my heart. I can now begin my journey into a horizon filled with 365 brand new days ahead in Him!! Glory to His Name!

Oh yes, I still have many unanswered prayers and promises of God that I'm standing in faith for and will certainly continue to contend for breakthroughs and miracles for family, friends and loved ones as I journey into the new days ahead. There will always be challenges and uncertainties along life's way, no doubt. But one thing of which I am certain - He has never stopped leading me through and to the other side of difficult times and will never stop speaking His peace, love and encouragement to my heart all along the way. That's the way His Heart operates toward His beloved children! As we cling to the Hand of the One who goes before us and lean ever so closely upon Him with a listening heart that is quick to trust and obey His directions, He is faithful to bring us through!

The enemy may attempt to set up road blocks of fear, doubt, unbelief, rejection, setbacks and disappointments and the like in efforts of stopping or impeding our forward progress in our faith walk with the Lord. And the winds of opposition may fiercely blow and tempt us to give up, cave in and quit. BUT, praise God forevermore!......He has given us authority in His Name, filled us with the power of the Holy Spirit and fully equipped us with mighty armor (Eph 6:10-18) and the unstoppable arsenal and weaponry of prayer and praise and the power of His living Word that is mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (II Cor 10:3-5)! PTL! He has anointed you and I to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) in each and every brand new day!! Hallelujah and Glory to His Name!

I believe with my whole heart that He's calling us into deeper places of intimacy, trust, faith, rest and peace in Him in 2011. I've heard the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit prompting me to seek Him and His Presence like never before. And I believe He's also speaking the same to each of His children. Simply put....He's calling you and I to more face and heart time with Him in 2011. It's within the Secret Place in the Presence of Perfect Love that all fear is dispelled, wounds of the heart and emotions are healed, discouragement, disappointments, despair, weakness and unrest are replaced with His healing balm of encouragement, peace, rest and supernatural strength and fullness of joy! The depths of His Heart is calling your name and mine. Let us respond to His loving call and cling confidently to the One who knows what our today's and tomorrows hold.....He's already been there and has come to walk us through each and every 365 brand new days!

For I the Lord thy God

will hold thy right hand saying unto thee,

fear not,

for I will help thee.

Isaiah 41:13

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Hugs and Happy New Year!

images via: Adobetutorialz.com
IStockphoto.com
Flickdirect.com

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS, YA'LL!

2010-12-22T00:15:00.013-07:00

Wishing each of my wonderful blogging friends a most joyous Christmas!

May you experience the wonder of our glorious Savior throughout
each and everyday!

I will be off-line until after the first of the year and look forward to journeying with Him along side my wonderful blogging family in 2011.
May we fix our gaze upon Him and draw ever closer to His heart as we enter the New Year!!
Love, Hugs and......

Stockings Full-O-Goodies Giveaway WINNERS!!

2010-12-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

Ho! Ho! Ho! and Merry Christmas ya'll!!

It's time to announce the winners of the Stockings Full-O-Goodies Giveaway......

And with the assistance of Random.org, I'm excited to announce that the two winners are.........

Bren

Grace on the Narrow Path

and

Jennifer

Mother of Three

Congratulations, Bren and Jennifer, your Stocking Full-O-Goodies will be mailed to you asap! Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who entered.....Keep on the look out - I'll be having another giveaway after the first of the year!!!

MAY YOU HAVE A MOST JOYOUS CHRISTMAS, YA'LL!

Stockings Full-O-Goodies Giveaway!!

2010-12-14T13:02:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas, ya'll!!

Yippee! It's time for a Christmas giveaway and I'm so excited about it!! There will be TWO winners!!!!

Up for grabs are two Christmas stockings filled with lots of surprises, ya'll. I will sneak and give you a peek of two of my favorite things included in each stocking......

Each stocking will have a Starbucks gift card tucked inside! And any of you who have known me more than five minutes knows how I love me a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte! So, I want share a Pumpkin Spice Lattee or maybe a Gingerbread Lattee or whatever strikes your coffee fancy with you!

Also included in each Christmas Stocking Full-O-Goodies is one of my most favorite things.....

It's a key finder for your purse! I LOVE mine and get comments about it all the time and love to give them away to my friends. You'll never have to dig around in your purse again for your keys. Just hook them to your key finder and hang them on your purse or on an inside pocket....LOVE it!! And, I also LOVE the little blingy crown embellishment! I mean after all we are daughters of the King!!

So there you have it, girlfriends! Two of my very favorite things tucked inside a Christmas Stocking Full-O-Goodies filled with allot of other fun surprises too! And I LOVE surprises, don't you!!!

So c'mon and enjoy the Christmas Giveaway Fun!!!

There will be two winners!

To enter you must live in the United States and it's as easy as 1, 2, 3......

There are THREE ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment about the giveaway on this post.

2. Leave a SEPARATE comment if you post about this giveaway on your blog.

3. Leave a SEPARATE comment if you are following along with me.

Please remember.....You must leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry opportunity. Thanks!

Christmas Stocking-Full-O-Goodies Giveaway ends 10:00 pm Sunday December 19th and winners will be drawn by random drawing and announced Monday December 20th!

I plan on mailing the winners their Stocking-Full-O-Goodies on December 20th so they can receive and enjoy their surprises by Christmas!!

So, Ho! Ho! Ho! Off to leave your entry comments you go!!!

Can't wait to rush your goodies to ya!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

His Presence is in the Food Court! Hallelujah!

2010-12-08T01:08:00.004-07:00

Merry Christmas, ya'll!!

Well, it's the first week of December and things in my neck of the woods have been really busy, whew-wee!! Allot going on here and my focus for the last several weeks has been solely upon my family so my blogging was put on the back burner. I've really missed seeing what's been happening in everyone's bloggy corner of the world and pray that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the most wonderful time of the year.....Jesus' Birthday!!!

I've just got to share a video I ran across this morning.....It's a MUST SEE! And if you've already seen it, I encourage you to watch and be blessed again!! It certainly blessed my Christmas socks off......I LOVE IT! May God bless whoever organized this hallelujah singing flash mob! If I'd been there, I would of dropped my Cinnabon and jumped on a table and started praising Him right along with them!!! GLORY!! HALLELUJAH!!

Oh and be sure to watch for my Christmas Stocking Full-O-Goodies giveaway I'm posting soon!! : ))

Let the hallelujah chorus begin.....................

Let the Holiday Race Begin!

2010-11-18T14:47:00.015-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

Happy Thursday to ya and I pray that you're having a blessed week as we head into the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays!! I can't believe that one week from today we'll be gobblin' down turkey and all the fixins', can you?? YUM!!

photo via edition.englishclub.com/survival

My Walmart grocery store was feeling more like Nascar speedway this morning! Grocery list fisted and focused shoppers were zooming around all over the place feverishly piling copious amounts of all the traditional Thanksgiving fare into their shopping carts as they wizzed by me in reckless abandon! It was turkey and ham mayhem in my local Walmart today, let me tell ya! I'm thinkin' about asking the manager to equip the carts with horns, blinkers, bumpers and those beepers that go off when you put it in reverse or at least require hand signals when changing lanes! LOL! As you can imagine, I grabbed my few essential items, put it in high gear, zoomed through the self check fast lane and raced right outta there! Whew!

As I was exiting I had a hankering for a cup of coffee and since there's not a Starbucks close by, I decided to put it in neutral and take a pit stop in the instore McDonalds and grab a decaf and refuel while reading the paper and see what's happening in the world. I rarely do this, so I took my time as I sipped my mediocre Ronald McDonald java, read USA Today and people watched, all the while wishing I'd taken the drive to Starbucks to get my pumpkin lattee fix. And, lo and behold! While reading my paper I came across some great news that made my lattee lovin' heart leap and am so excited to pass along to all my wonderful holiday lattee lovin' bloggin' peeps! Today thru Sunday from 2-5 pm Starbucks is having a BOGO (buy one get one free) on all their yummy holiday drinks!!! Glory hallelujah and pass me another pumpkin or gingerbread lattee with extra whipped cream, ya'll!!

So what better way to gear up for the holidays than to grab a buddy and race on over to Starbucks and get your holiday lattee groove on (or go by yourself and drink them both...JK! LOL! : ))! I'll be there with holiday bells on! And, uh...I'll take a pumpkin scone with mine please! : ))

Rev up your engines, buckle your seat belts and let the holiday race begin, ya'll! Zoom! Zoom!

Hugs and Sweet Holiday Blessings!

images via google images
grocerycart image via edition.englishclub.com/survival

DREAM BIG, SISTER!

2010-11-13T16:05:00.001-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

Do you have dreams that you're trusting God to fulfill? Are there desires and aspirations that He's sown within your heart that you're still waiting to be manifested in your life? Or, maybe you've grown weary and lost your passion to dare dream beyond your circumstances and believe that what He's promised will come to pass!

I think we all can relate to one or more of these questions! I know I sure can!

Please join me over at Lisa Shaw Shares (click HERE) where I'm guest posting with Ladies On A Mission and sharing my heart thoughts regarding dreaming BIG with God...."Joyfully Bulging!" I believe it will encourage your heart to stretch your faith and continue to believe in the Greatness of your God! BIG dreams are no problem for our BIG God!

Thank you, Lisa! I'm honored to be part of Ladies on a Mission! May He be glorified as we follow hard after His Heart and reflect His Love, Mercy, Grace and transforming Power!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Hugs and Big Dreamin' Blessings!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Luv!

2010-11-10T10:58:00.003-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

I just love this time of the year, don't you! Chilly mornings, leaves crunching underfoot AND Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattee's, Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffins, Pumpkin Scones with creamy icing and Pumpkin Bread Loaf!!! Yummy! I LOVE all things pumpkin!

Yesterday was yet another difficult day for me at the nursing home with my sweet mama. I'm thankful she was having a better day and I treasure every moment I have with her, but the reality of her diminishing health and seeing her like this breaks my heart and takes an emotional toll on me.....I'm just being real, ya'll! I know that the Lord is with her and gently walking her (and me) through this last season of her life, thank the Lord! But observing my once vibrant Southern Belle sweet Mama coping with such frailties and physical challenges is some days more than I can emotionally bare (real again!)!

As I tearfully drove out of the nursing home parking lot yesterday with a heavy heart and heavy sighs, I began to wish I could just get away from it all for a moment and take a little break. You know, a moment where you can press the pause button, take a deep breath and shake off the heaviness of the stuff of life! And suddenly, I remembered the Starbucks gift card that I had in my purse from

Beth Endeans wonderful giveaway package I received the other day!!! And wouldn't you know it, a Starbucks just happened to be right around the corner! Hallelujah!!

Oh and I must stop here and show you a pic of the winning goodies I received from Beth! By now you know I absolutely LOVE a Starbucks gift card and the two Christmas ornaments she surprised me with are just adorable...LOVE them too....Thank you Beth!!

Thanks Beth!!!

Continuing on at Starbucks : ))......

I unashamedly lusted drooled over all the aforementioned profusely decadent pumpkin pastries but resisted the temptation to TOTALLY blow my diet (note the last piece of pumpkin loaf in pastry case above that I ALMOST had to have :)) ) and only ordered my fav Pumpkin Spice Latte, decaf! As I was waiting to order, I noticed a gal in line who looked vaguely familiar sweetly smiling towards my direction but wasn't sure if her smile was directed at me or not. You know, one of those awkward situations where you're not sure if they are smiling at you or someone behind you. A few moments later she approached me and asked if I was Chris and Laraine's mom and also asked about Katie. She began to share that years ago we attended the same church in Phoenix and she was friends with my kids and remembered me also and had moved to live in the same small N. AZ town that I now live in. My memory was delightfully jogged and we stood and talked about the Lord and the importance of the Body of Christ loving and accepting one another unconditionally based upon our Love of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour!! Her radiant smile, sweet spirit, laughter and conversation so ministered to my sagging heart and emotions. Our brief time together was just what I needed! And I thought it was for the luv of a Pumpkin Latte that I was being drawn there! Nope, it was His Love setting me up and drawing me to a Divine Starbucks encounter that would refresh my soul, strengthen my heart and lift my head!

He's AWESOME isn't HE! He is the One who notices when we are sad and dispairing and ministers strength and hope to our hearts and emotions and lifts our head again!

But You, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I call out to the Lord

and

He answers me......

Psalm 3:3-4 NIV

Thank you Beth!

Thank you Jessica!

THANK YOU JESUS!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love and Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Pumpkin photo via Google Images

Yipee!!! We have a winner!!!

2010-11-08T00:03:00.009-07:00

Hey and Happy Monday, Yall!!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!! I've been out of town and away from my computer and so excitied when I returned home last night to see all of your entries for my Thanksgiving Goodies Give-away!!! I wish everyone could win because you are all SO special!! But there can only be one......

So without further adieu and with the assistance of Random.org

And a round of applause to the winner, please!!!

The winner of the Thanksgiving Goodies Give-away is.....

JACQUELYN STAGER
Lifebetweenthebuns.blogspot.com

Congratulations Jacque! Enjoy!!

Please be sure to watch for my
Christmas give-away next month, ya'll!!! : ))

Have an abundantly blessed week!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Luv and Hugs!

THANKSGIVING GOODIES GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-11-01T00:07:00.012-07:00

Hey Ya'll!

It's been quite awhile since I've had a giveaway so I decided that there's no better time than now as we enter the official month of Thanksgiving to have one! It's a way of saying thanks and appreciation to my wonderful bloggin' friends. So here's what's included in the Thanksgiving Goodies Giveaway and YOU could be the winner of all these goodies!.........

A beautiful leather "Counting My Blessings" Gratitude Journal

A Spice Cake scented candle (smells good enough to eat!)

A Cranberry Pumpkin Scone mix (so worth blowing your diet for!)

A "Bless this Home" Thanksgiving kitchen towel!

A Thanksgiving coffee mug!

and

Last but not least....
a Starbucks gift card (you really must try my fav pumpkin spice lattee)!

Here, take a look!....

And a closer look at the beautiful Gratitude Journal......

So, friends, as the days grow cooler and we head into the holidays, what better way to take a break from the hustle and bustle than to bake up a batch of mouthwatering cranberry pumpkin scones, sip some yummy coffee from your Thanksgiving mug, light the most fragrant ever spice cake scented candle and then curl up in your favorite chair and spend sweet fellow-shipping time with the Lord and pen your heart thoughts upon the pages of your Counting My Blessings gratitude journal!!! Ahhh....sounds wonderful, doesn't it!!

So join in the fun! You may be the winner! But you have to enter to win!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:.....

You have three opportunities to enter! Please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT for each entry opportunity that you choose:

1. Leave a comment on this post about this giveaway (entry #1)

2. Leave a separate comment on this post if you are a follower (entry #2)

3. Share info about my giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter and leave a separate comment on this post letting me know when you do so - (entry #3).

That's it!......You must live in the US and enter by the giveaway deadline of Sunday, November 7th, 12:00 midnight MST. The winner will be posted Monday, November 8th! Can't wait to see who wins the Thanksgiving Goodies Giveaway, ya'll!! : ))

Have a blessed week!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Thanksgiving Blessings!

Hey! Ya'll! "Blogaversary" Video!

2010-10-20T14:31:00.004-07:00

Hey ya'll!

It's Fresh Oil Today's first anniversary today and I'm finally doing a video post! Please take a moment and view my video of thanks and prayer for YOU sweet bloggin' friends and then read my "re-post" below that really expresses my heart about this bloggin' for Jesus adventure we are on.......

"Re-post"

HIGH FIVES FROM ON HIGH!

March 8, 2010

Whoo Hooo! Oh, yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about! Yes and Amen!! Praise God! Preach it!......... Wonderful bloggin' for Jesus friends!!

I have been so blessed and amazed by all the words of encouragement, words of insight and discernment, words of joy and laughter, words that challenge, words that stir a deeper desire to dig for rich treasures from the Word of God, anointed words of poetry and lyrics that point to His Heart, words of friendship and love, words of faith filled prayer, words of hope, healing words, deliverence words, freedom words, prophetic words, and in other words - God is using our bloggy words in such powerful ways that I can scarce take it all in!!

Day after day as I visit your wonderful blogs, I find that my Spirit just want's to jump through the computer and give each of you a high five, ya'll! I find my self agreeing, smiling, moved to tears, laughing, praying, filled with peace or crying out for more of Him with every wonderful blog stop! And it's amazing how the Holy Spirit often weaves a common thread, message or scripture that "show's up" in several blogs about the same time! How powerful is that! The God of Heaven through the Holy Spirit inspires our listening heart and mind and as we pen our bloggy words they are launched into the vast blogosphere to land at the right place and the right time to minister a word in season!! Just this morning, the first blog I visited had a word from Heaven just for me!! Her anointed post was filled with direction and encouragement from my Fathers heart tailored made for my heart!! I'm sure you've experienced the same! Hallelujah!...That's what I'm talkin' about!! Glory to God!!

A few weeks before I started blogging last October, the Lord encouraged me with the most amazing scripture that is now my personal "blog anchor scripture"......

"I'll write the book on your righteousness, talk up your salvation the livelong day, never run out of good things to write or say. I come in the power of the Lord God, I'll POST signs marking His right-of-way." Psalm 71:15-16 Message (emphasis added)

He knows me - He gave me the gift of gab (I personally think gab is one of the gifts of the Spirit that Paul forgot to include....LOL! JK!!)! I'll talk up His goodness, mercy, compassion, love, power and salvation all the livelong day and never run out of things to write or share about HIM!! AND when my eyes fell upon the words "I'll POST" in that scripture, I nearly did cartwheels across the room!! He knows I'll yak about Him anyplace, anytime, anywhere but last September I needed that final confirmation or Divine "push" to finally press the publish button and launch Fresh Oil Today!!! I mean, to press the publish button was as intimidating to me as pressing the launch button for the space shuttle!!! Crash and burn or victoriously soar into infinity and beyond, yikes??!!! But, isn't it amazing how one word from God can change everything!!

So, the flow of words penned within our blog posts that are Holy Ghost breathed upon are an amazing Divine thing! Who knows, the words you posted today may be just the rightly designed and seasoned words to minister Salvation, hope and healing, encouragement, deliverance and peace to that precious soul crying out to God in a pit of despair from somewhere on the other side of the globe!

Precious bloggy friends, let us remain in hot, passionate pursuit of His Heart and continually abide within the the treasury of His Word and let the outflow of our Divinely ordered bloggy word's touch the hearts of every reader and bring Him Glory!!

And someday, in Eternity, while worshipping together around the throne, I can only imagine that He might introduce you to the precious ones that your words so deeply touched and hear Him say "Well done thou good and faithful blogger"!! Glory to God!!

Uh, listen! Can you hear it?? I think I'm hearing the sound of HIGH FIVES FROM ON HIGH!

Keep on Bloggin' for Jesus ~ One word at a time, dear one!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

JESUS IS IN YOUR BOAT!

2010-10-13T11:11:00.003-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Do you need encouragement today? Are you believing God for a miracle and Divine intervention in the midst of circumstances, situations and storms waging against you, a loved one or friend? Quite honestly, it seems so many of us in the Body of Christ are in a season of the blowing winds of adversity and/or discouragement right now in varying degrees and are steadfastly looking to our Rescuer to bring us through! We are expectantly standing by faith upon His Promises and looking to Him for healing, deliverances, restoration and breakthroughs that only He can perform!!

I humbly ask that you pop over to my sweet bloggin' friend Sandy's site...Faith Hope Love where I guest post today and share the documented, REAL LIFE MIRACLE AND DIVINE INTERVENTION that was performed by the mighty Hand of God to deliver and save my daughter's life and believe it will encourage your heart today! Some of you who were my bloggin' friends last December may recall when I posted a very urgent prayer request regarding Katie...we had just been notified that she had been found near death and unresponsive in her car.........BUT GOD!!!...............

God can do anything, you know..

far more than you could ever imagine or guess

request in your wildest dreams!!

Ephesians 3:20 Msg

Be encouraged....JESUS IS IN YOUR BOAT!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Miracle Blessings!

Sedona Sunday!

2010-10-04T23:17:00.020-07:00

Hey Ya'll and Happy Monday!

I pray that you had a blessed weekend and are off to a great start this first week of October! Who'd of thought this year would pass so quickly and here we are just 82 days until Christmas!!! Holy cow, I'm not even ready to start thinking about Christmas.....I'm just getting into the swing of Fall, ya'll!! I must confess, though, I have bought a few stocking stuffers and such, but that's it so far. How 'bout you?

You may have noticed that since my elbow/hand surgery I still haven't got my blog post groove back and haven't posted very often. I just completed physical therapy last week and praise God I have my feeling in my left hand now but still pain in my elbow but my doc says it may be months before the nerves return to normal. Not complaining, just slows me down a little and looking forward to getting back into full swing. And I must say, it sure is easier typing with two fully functioning hands now! PTL and many thanks for your prayers!! Also, allot going on here...nothing earth shattering, but just the stuff of life that can wear on you so I've been taking time with the Lord to pray and re-prioritize some things and "press-in" and get "re-filled" and take a stand through prayer for some things I've really had on my heart and believing God for answers and breakthrough in. If you've read my last several posts...."Through Stormy Seas" and "A Mighty Army! Warrior Bride! they have been along the lines of trusting Him and His Promises and He will see us through our storms and warring against the attacks of the enemy with the authority given each believer through the Name of Jesus and His Word. You might say that I've had fire in my bones lately about this! I was so blessed by so many of your comments and emails because obviously so many of us are in a battle right now and we need to encourage and pray for one another and lift up battle weary arms and stand our ground for the victory and freedoms given to each of us through His Name and His Blood!! Well, here I go preaching again.....told ya, I've got fire in my bones about this, ya'll!!

Movin' on.......yesterday afternoon, my sweetie and I decided to drive over to Sedona for lunch and just enjoy the spectacular views.....we just needed a short get-away and leave everyday life behind for a few hours (can anyone relate??). And, I'm tellin' ya, friends, if you've never been to Sedona, AZ or never seen pictures of the red rock cliffs that take your breath away, you just have to come for a visit. Anyone who is around me for more than five minutes knows how I love Arizona and the beauty God bestowed upon it! I love it.....God's marvelous handiwork is on full display everyday here in ways that are indescribable! Yes, I know you're thinking about the Phoenix heat.....I mean 118 degrees in July in as hot as h. e. double hockey sticks but that's why we have A.C. and it's a dry heat anyway! lol! This coming from a Georgia born and raised gal who only knew 100 percent humidity and sticky, glistening sweaty summers before being transplanted into the desert.....I'll take a dry heat anyday!! My hubs says that I should work for the State Tourism Dept because I can really talk it up when it comes to my beloved AZ!!

So saddle up and ride along as I share some of my Sedona Sunday adventure.......

The drive into Sedona yesterday (as always) was jaw dropping gorgeous. The distant cloud formations against the azure blue skies and the ginormous redrock mountains and spires is awesome. It's just about at this point in the highway that first time tourists slam on the brakes, pull over and start snapping pictures. Since I live only an hour from Sedona (blessed me!), I just take a deep breath and leave all care behind and feast of the Divine landscape.....Ahhh...my heart sings!....Still takes my breath away everytime!...His beauty is everywhere!

Gettin' closer to Sedona now! That's Court House Butte to the right.

Oh and I must point out that sitting at the base of Court House Butte is one of my fav furniture stores .....Designs West!....Oh yeah, it's the best for beautiful southwestern and rustic accessories. When in the West, I decorate like the West! (Note: when I lived in Florida I was totally into the whole shabby beach chic thing and all over the sea side look...still love that too, but, uh it look kinda looks weird in the cowboy southwest, ya'll!)! Anyway, we stopped in there and I drooled over everything and got some great ideas! My hubs is the best to just hang out while I get my decorating vibe on!! I'm lovin' our Sedona Sunday gettaway, ya'll!

Oh and this is my dream bed!.....Someday, oh yeah!!

And this is what I have in mind for my guest room....yee! haa!.......

And when I have grandbabies, this is what I have in mind for my little buck-a-roo's room at my house.....

And for grandma's little cowgirl princess, I'm thinking about this......Luv it!!.....

Across from Court House Butte is Bell Rock.....You've probably seen shots of this vista in about every old western movie.....It's amazing!....(I didn't get a good picture, so I've included this one from the web and I think this aerial view of Sedona is breathtaking, ya'll!)......You did so good God!! - You always do!!!

photo credit: Dream Sedona.com/Mike Koopsen

In the midst of the gorgeous red rock buttes and spires is one of my must see places!The Chapel of the Holy Cross. Again, my amateur photography didn't do it justice so I included this one from the web also for your viewing pleasure.....

photo credit: google images

It was built in 1956 on a twin pinnacle spire about 250 feet high jutting out of a 1000' red rock wall. I have such a sweet time with the Lord everytime I visit the chapel. Visitors from all over the world quietly stop by and I'm always amazed at how most everyone stands or simply kneels in prayer in such a holy and reverenced hush. The chapel was inspired by Marguerite Bruswig Staude in 1932. She wanted to build a structure that would glorify her Creator and give gratitude for all that her family had received. She traveled throughout Europe looking for just the right location and upon returning to the United States she and her husband traveled through Sedona and were struck by the beauty of the area and decided the chapel would be built there. The history of the chapel states..."This would be a monument to faith, a spiritual fortress so charged with God, that it spurs man's spirit godward". And I can testify....It is truely charged with the presence of God and spurs me on, everytime! My hubs and I sat inside the chapel in silence for quite awhile just being washed by His gentle touch and feasting upon the glory of His handiwork seen beyond the expansive Cross framed chapel window. Wow! How refreshed I always feel upon leaving this place.....Thank you Lord!

Just outside the chapel is a small flower garden in the midst of all the beautiful red rock desert cactus fauna and flora that I just love. I snapped this pic and love the sign.....It's kinda hard to read but it say's "Please don't pick us we're smiling at God".....luv it!!!

Ok, ya'll, now that our soul and spirit had been so wonderfully nourished we realized that it's time to head on into Sedona for some chow! BBQ was what we had a hankering for so we moseyed on over to our fav Red Rock BBQ for lunch.....BBQ with a view! They're known for their baby back ribs and pulled pork so we were ready to put our feed bag on, let me tell ya!!....yum!!

Not such a great shot of my mouth watering best pulled pork sandwich in the West (with the cute chilli pepper garnish on top) and the best seasoned fries in the universe, but I think you can get the idea of how wonderful our BBQ with a view was (so worth blowing my diet).....heavenly, ya'll! Hmmm?? Wonder if there will be BBQ at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).....hope so.....just saying :))!

Now that my man's tummy is full, it's on to his fav place.....Clear Creek Trading Company. It's kinda totally a guy thing place. It's a trading post for all kind of stuff....antlers, stuffed buffaloe heads, cow hides and other sundry stuffed pitiful furry creatures and indian artifacts. Hubs would love to have a buffalo head over our fireplace, but I just couldn't stand to sit in front of the hearth with poor buffy's big brown eyes looking at me! So for now, we just enjoy poking around the trading post and looking at all the great western stuff....(BTW...I'm so wanting the vintage wagon wheel on the right for somewhere in my back yard next to a barrel of flowers....Oh yeah! I'm adding it to my Christmas wish list, ya'll!)....

Note the piles of antler sheddings behind us! Hey, it's the old west ya'll!

And now we're ready to drive to our fav Dairy Queen just beyond Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon and slurp a peanut butter cup blizzard..(diet's really in the tank now...what ev!)...Yee! Haa!.....It's the best ever and located down in the middle of the canyon with Oak Creek just across the road....beautiful!

And how many DQ's have you been in that have a Cigar indian.....only in the west, ya'll! Luv it! (Now that I think about it, he'd look really great next to my fireplace.....adding him to my Christmas wish list, too!!)......

Well, my sweetie and I had a most wonderful Sedona Sunday! Amazing how a few hours of rest and recreation, good food and gorgeous surroundings can sooth the soul.....Oh, yeah - God thang! And I hope you enjoyed a peak at some of my fav places and things in Sedona, Arizona and the cowboy southwest, ya'll!

So before I hit the trail I want to leave you with a scripture

the Holy Spirit branded within my heart recently........

Photo credit

So let's do it - full of belief, confident that we're
presentable inside and out.

Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going.
He always keeps His Word.

Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out........

SPURRING each other on,

especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:22-25 MSG (emphasis added)

I so appreciate each and everyone of you wonderful bloggin' for the Lord pardners!

Your blogs and sweet comments always encourage and spur me on!! Bless you!!

Praying that you have a blessed week and may your

days be not cloudy all day!

Happy Trails with Him, ya'll!!

He is Faithful!!

Through Stormy Seas!

2010-09-22T09:32:00.010-07:00

Hey ya'll.......

Yesterday as I was reading through my "Streams in the Desert" devotional, a particular poem by Annie Johnson Flint caught my eye and spoke to my heart. The main theme of the poem is the word "through".....as in "through the waters", "you will not go down but through", "safely through", "you will pass through"!

It seems that so many of us are being battered by the billowing sea's of life in greater degrees lately. The raging seas of discouragement and emotional stress, sickness and disease, financial set-back, unemployment and unrest appear to be the prevailing wind of late. And for some, weariness in the storm and battle fatigue has dimmed our vision and dampened our hopes of ever sailing peaceful waters and into calm harbor again! BUT, His Word assures us that.....

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with YOU.....they shall not overflow you.

Isaiah 43:2

This same scripture in the Message translation reads:

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

Isaiah 43:2 MSG

Let us steadfastly anchor our heart upon His sure promises and faithfulness, precious friends, and trust the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow afresh upon the sails of our heart, this day! We must hold our course with faithfilled expectation and set our gaze upon the horizon looking for our Rescuer.....He's closer than we think! It is He that quiets our wearied hearts, dries our tears, hushes our storm and brings us through to His safe haven of deliverance, healing, restoration, peace and joy! He will do it!!

I share the poem with you below and added some images that buoyed my heart. I pray that it blesses and encourages your heart as it has mine.....

"WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS"

Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehova is our refuge,

And His promise is our hold;

For the Lord Himself has said it,

He, the faithful God and true:

"When you come to the waters

You will not go down,

BUT THROUGH."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,

Bitter anguish, fiercest pain,

Rolling surges of Temptation Sweeping over

Heart and brain -

They will never over flow us

For we know His word is true;

All His waves and all His billows

He will lead us safely

THROUGH.

Threatening breakers of destruction,

Doubt's insidious undertow,

Will not sink us,

will not drag us out

to ocean depths of woe;

For His promise will sustain us,

Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!

We will not go down, or under,

For He says,

"You will pass THROUGH."

Annie Johnson Flint, author

And lastly, I leave you with this image and a scripture that the Lord ministered to me many years ago in the midst of a raging storm in my life and He brought me through!!! Hallelujah! ~ He is Faithful!! I pray that it ministers encouragement to you as well, dear friends....

Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble and He brings them out of their distresses.

He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper,

so that the waves of the sea are still.

Then the men are glad because of the calm and He brings them to their desired haven.

Psalm 107:28-30 amp

HE IS FAITHFUL!! HE WILL DO IT!! HE WILL BRING US THROUGH!!

Sailing THROUGH life with the Him!

Photo credits:

image one

image two

image three

image four

A Mighty Army! Warrior Bride!

2010-09-13T00:34:00.015-07:00

"The Bride Prepares" by Chris Fields

I love this painting "The Bride Prepares" by Chris Fields. It inspires my heart and reminds me again and again of the authority and dominion that He has bestowed upon each and everyone of us in the Body of Christ (Luke 10:19, Ephesians 2:5-6). He has given us His Name, covered us with His Blood, adorned us with His beauty, and endued with the dunamos power of His Spirit and His Living Word. We are clothed in a spotless gown and covered with His Robe of Righteousness, prepared for battle and victory through the Blood of Jesus, His Word, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit! (John 14:12-14, Matthew10:8, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 21:2, Acts 1:8, Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 12:11, Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalm 149:6).

The imagery of the painting exemplifies what you and I and every Blood bought member of the Body of Christ should be doing......Preparing! Preparing for battle and taking a stand in the spirit through prayer, praise and worship, continually seeking Him and His Presence and boldly standing in faith believing upon the sure foundation of His unchanging Promises and speaking forth His Word without compromise! We are to be in our battle array and taking our battle position in the Spirit......YOU and I, dear friends, are part of a mighty army formed by His hand and mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.....We are a Mighty Army......His Warrior Bride!!!

I share below a VERY ANOINTED video and urge you to take a few minutes to view it and please be sure to have your speakers on to hear the accompanying musical score. I do not know of the ministry that produced it, but I can tell you that the imagery and words in this video are those of a warrior in the mighty army of the Most High God and will touch you deeply and challenge and inspire you to lace up your combat boots and firmly grasp your Sword of the Spirit and take your battle position and stand for what you believe like never before!!

PLEASE NOTE: SOME VISITORS HAVE HAD TROUBLE PLAYING THIS VIDEO. IF YOU DO, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE LINKED DIRECTLY TO THIS YOU-TUBE VIDEO. YOU WILL BE BLESSED!

Take your stand in the power of His Might ~ You are a mighty warrior!!

Preparing and Taking my stand in Him and His Victory!!

Wake Up, America!

2010-09-10T01:27:00.022-07:00

Hey, Sweet Friends.....This post is lengthy, but I humbly ask that you take a few minutes and stick with me to the end. It's something the Lord has really put on my heart.....Bless you!

Grief has shrouded my heart in recent days for my beloved America, my friends. As the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks approaches, the pain within my grieving heart resurfaces once again like poking at a slowly healing wound. The memories and images of that fateful day replay within my mind and heart and the reality of that grave day still makes me gasp, my stomach turn, and my heart weep. Who could ever forget the moment that you learned of the attack upon American soil and the loss of thousands of innocent American lives in one dreadful, hate-filled, calculated and diabolical act. I'll never forget that day. And I pray that every American, young and old, will NEVER forget that day either!

I must share a dream I had just a few days prior to Sept. 11, 2001 that shook me to the core. Our wedding anniversary is Sept 4th and a few days later my husband and I were able to take a few days off and steal away to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon to celebrate. I love the Grand Canyon. The grandeur of Gods handiwork and the peace I find there always draws me closer to Him and deeper into His Presence. The Canyon is just one of those special places where my heart sings and I feel such freedom in the Spirit. He faithfully meets me there and imparts encouragement, fresh insight and direction and I depart with "new wings" and fresh vision. After spending a glorious day at the Canyon, we returned to Flagstaff for the night. The crisp Fall air was wonderful and we welcomed sitting before the fireplace in our hotel suite and talk of our beautiful day and reminisce about our then twenty five year journey. I am truely blessed to be traveling lifes adventures with my best friend!

Little did I know that a few hours later while sound asleep, the Lord would give me a dream.....a dream that was so real that even as I'm sharing it with you now, I can "see" it and "feel" it as if I had just awakened from that dream. Since childhood I've always had vivid, full color HD dreams and later realized as I grew in the Lord that some of my dreams are inspired by the Heart of God. I humbly share this with you because it is He that gives me the dreams and the Holy Spirit who ministers to me understanding in a measure for a reason and a purpose. Sometimes they are dreams that minister encouragement or confirm something that I've been praying about or for someone else. Sometimes they are of a prophetic nature and alert me to pray purposefully about a particular future event or happening. I don't have them often, but when I do, I pray over them and take them very seriously!

As I lay peacefully asleep that Sept. 2001 evening, a prophetic dream from the Lord flooded my being! It was as if I was suddenly catapulted into the most horrific scene imaginable...I HEARD the most gut wrenching sounds of catastrophic explosions in such ear piercing proportions the likes I've never heard before........metal screeching, groaning, bending, popping, crumbling, collapsing........debris flying everywhere......the screams, the horrible screams and groanings of human beings being caught in the moment of dire sheer terror.......cries for help, death apparent.... bodies plummeting out of buildings and hurling downward to their ash covered demise.......smoke, thick, hot, putrid smoke....there seemed to be no end to the chaos and weeping and death......I woke out of the dream screaming from the top of my lungs and sat straight up in bed, my heart racing, drenched in sweat, unable to catch my breath and frantically screaming to my husband with halted breaths "we've got to get out, we've got to get out of the building"....."it's exploding....we have to get out"! It was as if I could "feel" the concussion of the horrible rumblings and shaking throbbing against my body even as I awakened! As my husband held me and comforted me, I realized that I had witnessed in my dream the most horrific tragedy....it was real....very real! We prayed together and then the only way I could describe it to him was that it was like the Oklahoma City bombing.....It was the only thing in the natural to which I could relate the sudden devestation, horror and death......over and over I told him that I saw buildings exploding like the Oklahoma City bombing.

Oklahoma City bombing - photo credit

I sat alone in the dark in the living room of our suite and cried out to God about what I had just witnessed in that dream......It was real, it was scarry, but I knew it was from God. I didn't know exactly how to pray, so for the days afterward I pondered what the Lord had shown me in the dream and prayed in the Spirit. I can't begin to tell you of the shock and grief that flooded my being as I picked up the phone a few days later on the morning of September 11, 2001 and heard my mama screaming those horrible words.....wake up! wake up! get up! get up!....we're under attack! we're under attack!

I sat in stunned silence as I watched on my TV screen what I'd witnessed in a dream just a few nights earlier. I wept before God and didn't understand why He'd give me such a weighty dream. I sought

Sept. 11, 2001 attack - photo credit

Him for answers and insight about all of this and He lovingly
spoke within my Spirit some time later these words...."I'm heightening your sensitivity to pray and next time you'll be in tune and fully awake and aware of future events and will know when and how to pray".

I must be honest with you - when He spoke "next time", my heart staggered a bit. But then I meditated upon the tone in which He spoke. It was with love, comfort and peace. He knows what our "next" is and He's already preparing and moving upon the hearts of those who are willing and longing to become increasingly sensitive to His ways and the moves of the Spirit and will heed the call to intercede and cover our beloved America with prayer. I also honed in upon His words "in tune" and "fully awake". He's calling us to be in tune with Him like a priceless finely tuned instrument that responds to just the slightest touch of the Master's hand. Fully awake with our spiritual "eyes" wide open and "ears" listening as we pray and seek His face for the healing, safety, protection and freedom for our families and our America. He loves America and is calling the people of this great land to WAKE-UP!.....WAKE-UP, ARISE FROM OUR SLUMBER and return to the God of our forefathers and seek after Him and His ways!!

I've recently added a tab on my blog "Prayer for America". I penned this prayer from my heart and invite you to pray along with me or pray as you feel led.......The point here is that we are living in very precarious and ominous times and we must WAKE-UP to the One and True Living God and cover our land with prayer that brings change, real change. Not change devised by the purposes and heart of man, BUT true and lasting change brought forth by the heart and hand of God!! The time is now!! Before the "next"!

PRAYER FOR AMERICA.....

Photo credit

BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD...

Psalm 33:12

Let us cover our beloved nation in prayer together!!

Lord, we come before your Throne of Grace this day on behalf of our beloved America and praise and thank You for the way You moved upon the hearts of the founders of this Nation to create such a blessed land. Our hearts are heavy, however, for a nation that is turning away from You and the godly principles from which America was birthed in the name of political correctness, tolerance, religious freedom and humanism. Oh Lord, we ask that You once again show Yourself as the Rock and Redeemer, Fortress and Defense of the American people and create within our hearts a deep burning hunger for You and Your righteousness. We ask for a mighty outpouring of your Holy Spirit upon America and may a revival of Truth burst forth from coast to coast and boarder to boarder.....from the highest governmental office to each and every neighborhood and home within this great land. We repent for our wrong doings and sins of indifference to You and Your ways, Oh God, and ask for a wondrous manifestation of your presence in such a way that no one could deny that it was You who interceded for us and moved on our behalf. May the strongholds and strategies of the enemies of this nation be exposed and destroyed and Your Word of Truth keep America safe and free! And may America once again thrive in her God given destiny and purpose as a shining light upon a hill founded upon the principles of the One and True Living God and boldly proclaim that she is.....

AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

We humbly ask these things in the Mighty Name of Jesus

and to You be all the Glory!

Amen!

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Abundant blessings,

At ease......

2010-09-07T09:11:00.003-07:00

Robe of Righteousness by Lars Justinen

Wear My Robe of Righteousness with ease.

I custom made it for you, to cover you from head to toe.

The price I paid for this covering was astronomical.......My own blood.

You could never purchase such a royal garment,

no matter how hard you worked.

Sometimes you forget that my Righteousness is a gift,

and you feel ill at ease in your regal robe.

I weep when I see you squirming under the velvety fabric,

as if it were made of scratchy sackcloth.

I want you to trust Me enough to realize your privileged position in my Kingdom.

Relax in the luxuriant folds of your magnificent robe.

Keep your eyes on Me,

as you practice walking in this garment of righteousness.

When your behavior is unfitting for one in my Kingdom,

do not try to throw off your royal robe.

Instead, throw off the unrighteous behavior.

Then you will be able to feel at ease in this glorious garment,

enjoying the gift I fashioned for you before the foundation of the world.

"Jesus Calling"

by Sarah Young

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul shall be joyful in my God

for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.

He hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness

as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments

and

as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels,

Isaiah 61:10

Sweet friends, let us be at ease and relax

in the luxuriant folds of our Robe of Righteousness

and

continually rejoice in His wondrous

love, mercy and amazing grace!

Oh, how He loves you and me!!

HE IS WORTHY!!

Luv and Sweet Blessings!

Happy Fall Ya'll !!

2010-09-01T14:47:00.011-07:00

Photo credit

Hey ya'll!

I want to thank everyone for your prayers and sweet emails while I was MIA having my surgery. I'm still on the mend and a little sore in my elbow but so much better, PTL! Physical Therapy has helped so much with regaining range of motion in my elbow and strengthening and regaining full use of my hand. Still occasionally have some weird nerve pain in my hand but praying that the nerve transposition surgery in my elbow is healing properly and there is no permanent nerve damage to my hand. Able to use my hand better now and hope to get back in my blogging grove real soon!! Again, THANK YOU, for your friendship and prayers. Each of you bless my heart so and I count it an honor to pray for you as well!! I'm always amazed how the Holy Spirit brings your faces or maybe something you posted or your blog name to my heart and mind and prompts me to pray.......I count it an honor to lift you before the Throne of Grace. Isn't it amazing how He's using this bloggy thing to strengthen and encourage one another in our journey! He's Awesome, isn't He!!!

Pumpkin Spice Lattee ~ Yippee!

We'll, I just couldn't resist officially bidding the Summer goodbye and welcoming Fall, ya'll! September 1st is always my line of demarkation and I'm sooo ready for a change! How 'bout you? I realize that it's still a tad bit warm is some parts (Phoenix will be 107 tomorrow!) but there's a hint of fall in the Northern Arizona mountains where I live and some of the leaves are beginning to turn. My husband and I sat out on our deck and starred gazed last night and had to wrap up in a blanket - love it! And it won't be long before the vibrant hues of gold, orange and deep reds will adorn the landscape, the fire place will be crackling and the smell of pumpkin pie and apple cider will fill the air AND Starbucks will start carrying their pumpkin spice lattee....oh yeah!...just can't wait!.... glory hallelujah, ya'll!

Walmart got my favorite Pumpkin Spice candles in the other day and I've already stocked up - whoo! hoo! They are by far the most fragrant candles I've ever purchased and recommend you check them out. I started burning one a few days ago and my home really smell's like Paula Deen is cooking up some decadent, calorie loaded, whipped cream covered, yummy pumpkin something or other in my kitchen, ya'll! I love it!!

Oh, and I just gotta show you the treasure I found at my fav thrift store the other day.....a pumpkin soup tureen! I'll probably never use it to serve soup, but love displaying it on my buffet for decorating purposes (thanks HGTV!) and waalaa, I have another touch of Fall, ya'll!!

Well, change is certainly in the air. The seasons are a'changing and the "next" is upon us. I've often wondered what triggers nature to subtly begin her transition to the next seasons. His creation peacefully and without hesitation or resistance just flows with His purpose and grand design. Change is a constant and therein lies a great contradiction. If there's one thing that I've learned along life's journey with the Lord, it's the certainty that my course will forever eb, flow and change and my part in His "next" is to - like nature - keep moving forward without hesitation or resistance and stay ever so close to His heart and keep pressing forward by faith. That's why it's called a "Faith walk" not a "Faith sprint or marathon". It's within each next step and season of life that we grow and find ever increasing meaning and purpose in the plans He's has for each of us. Change can be hard....leaving the familiar comfort zones of life requires faith and trust in the One who is leading us onward. I once heard the phrase "you're not truly living until you're on an adventure with God". Stepping out in faith into the next season of life can be a real challenge. But not doing so can result in missing out on seasons of awesome, strong-hold destroying, freedom finding, life-changing, faith-building, outrageous adventures with God - and isn't that what real living is all about!!

Oh and what an awesome Starter and Finisher He is! He knows exactly where we are and what season we're in and what the next season holds and longs to put His loving arms around our shoulders and walk us through our "next's" and bring us through to the finish line in victory! Yes, nature's seasons are changing, but I sense in my Spirit that there are subtle winds of change blowing by His Spirit upon many of us. I say, "yes, Lord" you'll be with me before, during, after and beyond and I don't want to miss one moment of an adventure with God!! How 'bout you?

Press on all you God Adventurers......There's a new season just ahead!!

He is Faithful!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Fall Blessings!

Ouch! Hallelujah!

2010-08-04T11:43:00.003-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Well, I'm so thankful to have my surgery behind me now and thank you, sweet friends, for your prayers and words of encouragement! Feeling better today, but woozy and sore....ouch! hallelujah! And only a little nauseous from the codine - yuk! Surgery went well.....didn't have to have the more invasive procedure, PTL! The impinged nerve in my elbow wasn't too deep and was easier to transposition....starting to get normal feeling back in my hand already...so thankful!! PTL!! Start P.T. next week to strengthen and regain use of my hand.

I'm gonna take a break from posting for a few weeks until I can use both hands to type.....Typing this quick post with one hand took forever......I guess I'm a tad bit ambidextrously challenged (also a little drugged up, too) lol!

You may see me stop by for a visit but probably not leave a comment until I can use my other hand. But please know that I love and appreciate each of you and am praying for you and yours!

In closing..... I want to leave you with a scripture that stirred in my heart and encouraged me this morning and I pray it encourages you as well......

Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands hang limp.

The Lord your God is with YOU,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in YOU,

He will quiet YOU with His love,

He will rejoice over YOU with singing!

Zeph 3:16-17 NIV (emph added)

Glory to God!

He lifts us up, He never leaves or forsakes us,

forever saves and protects us - our rock and mighty fortress,

delights in us, quiets us with His tender love and mercies

and

rejoices over us with singing!!

THERE IS NO GOD LIKE OUR GOD!

He is Faithful!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Would appreciate your prayer...surgery arg!!

2010-08-01T09:13:00.002-07:00

Hey ya'll!

I sure would appreciate your prayers! Tomorrow, I'm having surgery.....arg! Nothing life threatening, but not looking forward to going under the knife, ya'll! Last November my left little finger and ring finger went numb and weak and then began to affect my hand. Nerve conduction tests show that I have an impingement of a nerve in my elbow. I've already put this surgery off several times due to my mama's health needs (update on my sweet mama below) and our recent move, but when I saw my surgeon last week, we both agreed that I MUST get this done asap. Test's show that I have moderate to severe loss of strength in my left hand. Simple things like turning a light on, tying my shoes or typing are a strain. Kinda gets on my nerves (no pun intended) trying to type a blog post and my fingers fall off the key board.......it's not a pretty picture, ya'll:)! Anyway, if you could remember me in prayer I sure would appreciate it! I'm believing for an easy surgery, wisdom for the doctors and NO permanent nerve damage and COMPLETE RESTORATION of my hand. Also, I'm believing that the anesthetic doesn't make me nauseous! The last time I had surgery I barfed my head off.....I hate that!!

Thank you dear friends for your prayer support. I love and appreciate each of you and pray for you as well! You bless and encourage my heart!!

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!:)

UPDATE ON MY SWEET MAMA: Mama had another stroke this week. I was with her when it occurred. She's been in the hospital this week and transfered to nursing care yesterday and doing better. Heartbreaking to see her go through this, but I know that He's in her midst and the Holy Spirit is comforting her weary mind and body. She lost the use of her right hand and we are believing for restoration there. Would appreciate your prayers for her too! Bless you!!!

Urgent Prayer Request!...

2010-07-25T17:37:00.010-07:00

UPDATE: Lance stepped into the loving arms of Jesus today (8/1/10). Please pray for his sweet wife Staci and their family. May the loving arms of the Comforter hold them close and carry them through this very difficult time.

Lance and Staci

Hey, everyone. I want to introduce you to Lance and Staci - a precious young couple in our church. Several years ago, Lance was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent extensive surgery and an aggressive chemo protocol. Several months ago, they learned that the cancer had reoccurred and Lance again began intense chemo treatments and last week had additional surgery.

Staci and Lance are strong Christians and stand firmly upon the faithfulness of God and the sure foundation of His Promises. They are believing for miracles in Lance's body and believe solidly upon the Blood Covenant of wholeness and complete healing that belongs to every believer! I join them and other prayer warriors and intercessors in bolding proclaiming that.......By the stripes of Jesus, Lance is healed - He is the healed of the Lord and shall live a long satisfied life and declare the goodness of our Lord! (Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 107:19-21; Psalm 91:15,16; Psalm 30:2-3; Jeremiah 17:14; Prov 3:1-2; Math12:15; Luke 6:19).

I humbly ask that you include Lance and Staci in your prayers, sweet friends. Standing in the gap for one another and encouraging and lifting and carrying those that are in the heat of the battle is an honor given to us by the Lord. Prayer strengthens the faint of heart, encourages ones faith and lifts weary arms to continue on in the fight of faith! (Eph. 6:18, I Thes. 5:11,17; Exodus 17:10-13)

Also, a prayer event will be held Tuesday, July 27th and intercessors and prayer warriors will be specifically praying on Tuesday and standing in the gap for this precious couple. Your prayer support would be so appreciated by Lance and Staci.

We are believing for miracles, miracles, miracles for Lance, in the Mighty Name of Jesus!!!

We serve an Awesome God and there is nothing too difficult for Him!!

Bless all you powerful prayer warriors for standing with Lance and Staci! Your faith-filled, Word believing prayer, moves mountains and ushers in miracles! Glory to His Name!!

....The prayer of a person living right with God is something
to be reckoned with!

James 5:16 MSG

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

I'll keep you posted.....

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Today's Quick Thought.......Surprise!

2010-07-23T01:00:00.013-07:00

"God still draws near to us in the ordinary commonplace,

everyday experiences and places.....

He comes in surprising ways!"

Henry Gariepy

He loves you beyond measure and delights over you!!

Be on the lookout for His Divine surprises and amazing ways
today and everyday!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Amazing Divine Surprises!

The Sweet Voice of God.......

2010-07-19T01:22:00.003-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Don't you just love it when you're just going about your day and the Lord interrupts and shows you something or speaks a word that lifts your heart.....a word that is perfectly seasoned! That happened to me yesterday as I took a moment to glance through an old devotional poetry book that I recently bought at one of my fav thrift stores. This particular poem is nothing profound or spiritually "deep" but simply encourages us to be looking and listening for the sweet voice of God. The sweet voice of God.....I love just saying those words! Oh how amazing it is that the One who created heaven and earth, set the stars in their constellations, set the sun and moon into orbit and told them when to shine and holds it all in the palm of His hands, SPEAKS to you and me! My heart cries unto His heart.....Yes, Lord, I'm listening, I'm watching, I'm drawing closer to your heart and listening for the whispers of your sweet voice, oh God!

The poem is by Kay Hoffman and the book is Treasures of the Heart. I added some images that I love and hope they bless you and speak to your heart as well.........

"I Hear God's Voice"

I hear God's voice in gentle wind

That whispers through the trees

And in the crunch, rustling sound

of Autumn's fallen leaves.

In each lilting birdsong ringing,

The cooing of a dove,

In the murmur of a peaceful stream

He tells me of His love.

I hear God's voice when thunder rolls

And in the ocean's roar,

The little waves that gently lap

Along the sandy shore.

In the laughter of little children

Playing in places near

And in each kind word spoken

His voice to me so dear.

When the future path looks dark

And my heart is filled with fear,

It's then I hear Him gently say,

"Be still and know I'm near."

God speaks to me in countless ways

No matter where I trod,

And when I humbly kneel in prayer,

How sweet the voice of God!

by Kay Hoffman

The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty!

Psalm 29:4 amp (emphasis mine)

May you have an abundantly blessed week and be looking and listening for the sweet voice of God....He's speaking sweet words of love, encouragement, grace and hope unto His own! Let's be listening!!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Photo credits:
1: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=587
2: googleimages
3: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=303
4: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=862
5: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=587
6. photobucket

Latest on Anne Marie........

2010-07-16T10:54:00.005-07:00

Hey all you wonderful prayer warrior bloggin' friends!

I want to share an update on Anne Marie......When I spoke with her last week she was sooo appreciative of your prayers and just the thought of prayer warriors from all parts of the globe standing with her means so much and encourages and strengthens her faith! She sent me an email this week thanking you for your continued prayer, but before I share her words with you, I want to bring you up to speed on what's been going on. Last week was a roller coaster week for Anne Marie and Mark. My sis, Diane, was with them helping out and kept me informed so specific prayers could cover Anne Marie. Anne Marie was prepared to begin a regimen of various aggressive chemo treatments last week (as I posted in my last update), but out of left field, her pre-chemo heart tests reported that something was wrong with her heart!......This report came as a total surprise and as you can imagine "piled-on" what was already a difficult time for them. Her chemo treatment plan was halted because the type of treatments ordered for her can be hard on the heart and a heart cath was performed last Friday to determine what was going on there. BUT, after earlier heart test reports indicated heart problems, her cardiologist was happy to report that the heart cath showed that her heart is perfectly fine!! PTL!!! What began as a bad report became a GOOD REPORT!! ........ Rejoicing in the good report of the Lord!! Hallelujah!!

Anne Marie was cleared to begin her treatments......They've been "here" before (nine years ago) and have seen Him work miracles in the midst of the storm! We covet your continued prayer support as we stand upon the healing promises of God for her full recovery and total healing and that her treatments have no adverse side effects and do her body good and no harm!! In the Mighty Name of Jesus!!

I want to take a moment to introduce you to the precious little guy in the photo above with Anne Marie........that's Mark and Anne Marie's precious little miracle - Joshua! Oh, and I must say that he's the light of my sister, Diane's, life....let me tell you!! Mark and Anne Marie were told nine years ago when she was first diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer that they most likely would never have a child of their own due to early menopause that would be brought on by the extensive chemo she would have to undergo. Anne Marie and Mark stood upon the promises of God and in the face of tremendous obstacles and mountains of oppositions, believed in the One Who makes the impossible, possible and in faith believing became pregnant and gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy.........little Joshua came screaming into this world two years ago.......he is a TOTAL MIRACLE and a constant reminder of the faithfulness of our God!! Hallelujah!!

The scriptures tell us that...

And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb

and

the word of their testimony.....

Rev 12:11

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STANDING UPON! THE BLOOD BOUGHT COVENANT PROMISES OF GOD OF COMPLETE HEALING AND WHOLENESS AND THE TESTIMONY OF WHAT HE HAS ALREADY BROUGHT THEM THROUGH!! HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Here's a few words from Anne Marie's update email I want to share with you.......

"Please tell everyone how much I appreciate their prayer support. We are praising the Lord for the good report we got last Friday when I had the heart cath and they said my heart is normal!!! I start back on chemo tonight and will be on it for one week then off a week and will continue to this for at least 12 weeks (I'm not sure what the long term plan is). This morning I had the first shot of the bone building drug. I'll have this every 6 weeks as it can be rough on the kidneys. Thursday I'll have the drug that is very effective in fighting this type of cancer but this is the drug that can affect my heart so they will watch my heart closely with echocardiograms every 9 weeks. I SHARE THESE DETAILS SO YOU AND THOSE SPECIAL PEOPLE WILL KNOW HOW TO PRAY. I'm trusting that according to Psalm 91, I'm protected and no drug will do my body harm!...........You all mean so much to me and Mark - thanks for your love and prayers!"

Love,

Anne Marie

Thank you "Special People" bloggin' prayer warrior friends for standing in prayer for Anne Marie and Mark! Your prayer support lifts up and encourages the weary in battle, buoy's their faith and STOPS the advance of the enemy!!

....The prayer of a person living right with God

is something to be reckoned with!

James 5:16 MSG

I'll keep you posted.......

Trusting in the One Who makes the impossible, possible.......He is Faithful!!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Today could be the day!.......

2010-07-12T12:27:00.022-07:00

Hey ya'll

Hope each of you had a wonderful weekend and pray that you have an abundantly blessed week!

I've just got to share with you the astounding beauty of the billowing clouds that rolled in over Arizona over the weekend. Southwestern skies are typically "not cloudy all day".....you know, the old cowboy "Home, Home on the Range" chorus. But, as the July monsoons commence, the cloud formations over the desert SW are simply breathtaking! The crisp white celestial gatherings displayed against the Arizona azure blue skies are nothing short of heavenly. I've become a real sky gawker over the last few days (snapped above photo as I was leaving Big Lots) and my heart and eyes are continually scanning and searching the skies! I can scarce take it all in!...It's a God thang, ya'll! The Heavens are displaying His Glory and it's really speaking and encouraging my heart!! Clouds brimming with a deluge of desperately needed rain which usher in the sights and sounds of restoration and life to an otherwise parched and withering land - both spiritually and naturally speaking - oh, what a beautiful thing! A feast for the eyes and heart!

As I snapped photos of the heavenly display above, my heart leapt within as I contemplated the most wonderful WONDER of all! On an ordinary day, just like today, as you and I are going about the daily "stuff" of life, JESUS.....our KING, our SAVIOR, our Champion and Victorious LORD will arise from His Throne in Glory and His nail scarred hands will part the skies and His nail scarred feet will step through the heavens and WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM!! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!! Oh, yes.....If He returns in my lifetime (and I think He will!!) I will behold the splendor of His return with my very own eyes as He splits the eastern skies! Oh, how wonderful, oh how glorious.....mind boggling actually.....speechless!!

I don't know about you, but it seems more real than ever now. My Spirit arises and witnesses within my heart as I think upon His return! We are told in The Word (Math 24:36-44) that it will be as in the days of Noah when He returns.....lawlessness, immorality, godlessness, what is right will be heralded as wrong and what is wrong will be will seen as right. Men will be man pleasers and have rebellious hearts, indifferent and callous toward God and His ways.....sound familiar?? Most days, as I listen to the news and look around at the state of the human condition, I often find myself thinking..."Have they lost their minds?!"..."Can't they see what's going on?!" There are so many obvious signs of the return of our Lord and King, Jesus! (Luke 21:25-36). Even creation is groaning almost daily now (Ro. 8:22) and it doesn't take a biblical scholar or rocket scientist to see these things! We must be diligent to watch and pray and continually seek after His Heart and fix our gaze upon the heavens (Luke 21:34)....Whoo! Hoo! HALLELUJAH, TODAY COULD BE THE DAY!!

And when these things begin to

come to pass,

Look up and lift up your heads.

your redemption draweth nigh!

Luke 21:28

As I was meditating upon the wonder of His return this morning, a song I haven't thought of in years begin to bubble up from my Spirit ........."We Shall Behold Him" sooo anointed and beautifully sung by Sandy Patty! I encourage you to pause from the busyness of your day and be blessed by the anointed words and images of the video below and allow the wonder of His soon return stir afresh and deeply within your heart as it has mine!......HIS RETURN IS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN ONE DAY.........MAYBE IT'S TODAY!!!

Luv, Hugs and Keep Lookin' Upward!

UPDATE: Prayers needed for Anne Marie.....

2010-07-08T09:46:00.002-07:00

THE HEALED OF THE LORD!

UPDATE: Anne Marie begins chemo today. Please join with us as we pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the Hand of the Lord to be upon her as her treatments begin. We're believing for no adverse side affects and that her treatments do her body good and no harm, in the Mighty Name of Jesus!

Thank you dear friends for standing with Anne Marie and our family for her complete and total healing. We serve a miracle working God......He is Faithful!!

We anticipate the inevitable, supernatural, intervention of God!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings,

"Keep Moving Forward".....

2010-06-29T01:00:00.014-07:00

"Keep moving forward, moving forward"........

These are the words that I've been hearing over and over within my spirit over the last five days! I love when the Holy Spirit speaks like this and have learned that when He moves upon my heart so strongly, those words from Heaven are not just to lift, encourage and minister to my heart only.....but they are also meant to be shared as a word in season for someone who is weary!

Perhaps that someone is you, dear friend. Maybe you're in a weary or discouraged place in your journey today. Maybe your heart and emotions have been wearied and assaulted by setbacks, delays, discouragement or loss and you feel as if you just can't take another step. Or perhaps your pathway is obscured and your steps seem halted and from the depths of your heart you're crying out to see your dry wilderness road burst forth like a rose in the desert and green pastures beneath your feet....."Keep moving forward, moving forward"!

The Spirit is blowing afresh across our weary and thirsty hearts this day and ministering encouragement, healing, peace, direction and love as we lean close into Him and heed His whispers......"Keep moving forward, moving forward". His heart is beckoning us to arise and come up higher and deeper and closer unto His heart. Now is not the time to shrink back, surrender or quit....We must "Keep moving forward, moving forward"! May we not allow the stresses and messes of our yesterday's and the struggles of today veil the wonder of His overflowing treasury filled with the plans, dreams and purposes of our tomorrow's! Our latter shall be greater than our former as we "Keep moving forward, moving forward"! He will make a way where there seems no way!!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I'll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road.

I'll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks,

kick down barred entrances.

I'll lead you to buried treasures....

Isaiah 45:2-3 Msg

Look at the new thing I am going to do.
It's already happening. Do you see it?
I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.
Isaiah 43:19 CEV

I encourage you to take a few minutes and be blessed by this anointed praise video below. This song of praise and declaration unto the Lord is one of my very favorites and I'm always strengthened and encouraged by the anointing upon each word. I know it will lift your heart and bless you today, too! Let's join our hearts in worship unto the Lord and boldly proclaim "Yes Lord, I'm following You - I'm moving forward"!

He is Faithful!!

Luv, Hugs and Keep following Him Forward!!

The latest on Anne Marie......

2010-06-24T14:17:00.011-07:00

January 2011....Meeting with oncologists for scheduling of next course of treatments.

10/15/2010.....UPDATE: Anne Marie completed her first found of chemo recently and is having a complete hysterectomy this morning. Believing that her surgery goes well and she regains her strength quickly. Unsure at this time of what next step in her cancer treatment protocol will be. I will post updates as we learn more. Surgery went well and Anne Marie's on the mend. Believing for good reports in the Mighty Name of Jesus!

Thank you dear friends for your prayer! We are believing for a miracle full recovery for Anne Marie, in the Mighty Name of Jesus!

7/16/2010.....(click here for update)

7/08/2010......UPDATE: Anne Marie begins chemo today. Please join with us as we pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the Hand of the Lord be upon her as her treatments begin. We're believing for no adverse side affects and that her treatments do her body good and no harm, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Thank you dear friends for standing with Anne Marie in prayer. We serve a miracle working God......He is Faithful!!

Hey ya'll...

First, I want to thank you from the depths of my heart for your prayer support since I posted an urgent prayer request for my niece, Anne Marie, last week. Your outpouring of prayer, scriptures and words of encouragement have certainly been felt and keep us focused on the greatness of our God in the midst of the storm. My sis' voice and heart lift each time I share one of your "filled with faith" comments. As you can certainly imagine, her heart and emotions are really hurting right now because when your children are in danger or crisis, it hurts! Dear friends, you have no idea how the words and prayers of you "on-line" prayer warrior's minister to those who are weary and distressed! Oh, what an army He's raising up on the internet!!! Glory to God!!

Before I share the latest update, I want to make it perfectly clear that we are standing upon the PROMISES OF GOD and the BLOOD COVENANT OF HEALING for Anne Marie. We are aligning our words and prayers with what HIS WORD declares......TOTAL and complete healing and wholeness, spirit, soul and body! Every stripe layed upon Jesus' back and every wound and drop of blood spilled at Calvary redeemed every believer from sickness and disease! BUT we must layhold of what's ours, in the Mighty Name of Jesus and remain steadfast and trust in Him, His word and His faithfulness until the manifestation comes! WE ARE CHOOSING TO BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD....ANNE MARIE IS THE HEALED OF THE LORD!!

In my last update I shared that Anne Marie was to have a PET scan and she and her husband Mark would be meeting with her doctor for the results. They met with her oncologist Tuesday and without going into the all the details, were told that the test reports showed that it had spread to her lung and other parts of her body. She will undergo surgery and begin treatments right away. I reiterate here....with full respect of her wonderful doctor (a Christian) and the medical community (and I do believe in doctors and believe God uses them) - that was their report. BUT, we are standing in faith believing upon HIS REPORT and the miracle working power of His Spirit......"BY HIS STRIPES, ANNE MARIE IS HEALED"! She will live and not die and be satisfied with long life and proclaim the goodness of God! She will be a wife and mother to Mark and Joshua THROUGH old age. SHE WILL RUN HER RACE AND COMPLETE HER COURSE.....Anne Marie's latter will be greater than the former!!! No weapons formed against Anne Marie will prosper....In Jesus Name! She is a Blood bought child of the King!!

We covet your prayers of agreement and standing with Anne Marie. There's a battle waging. The enemy knows that if he can discourage and bring thoughts of fear and defeat it may weary and weaken our diligent stance of faith. We must stand side by side one another in the heat of the battle and lift and support weary arms until the manifestation of victory breaks through knowing that He is our Mighty God, Mighty Warrior and the lifter of our heads.....HE WATCHES OVER HIS WORD TO PERFORM IT....HE IS FAITHFUL!!

I love and appreciate each of you and count it an honor to stand side by side with you as well, dear friends.

I'll keep you posted.....

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Update on Anne Marie...Urgent Prayer Request

2010-06-17T00:05:00.003-07:00

My sis called yesterday afternoon after speaking with Mark regarding Anne Marie's lung biopsy.........Her doctor had just phoned him to convey the news.....the report was not what we were praying for. Her oncologist was very shocked that the pathology findings indicated cancer cells present of the same aggressive type that she had nine years ago. He told Mark that he had Pathology run the tests twice to confirm it before he would accept the report. She will have a PET scan today and meet with her doctors to determine what course to take next.

Needless to say, our hearts are very heavy......numb actually. My sis is having a really hard time and would appreciate you prayers. I told her I would be posting an update and it meant so much to her to know that prayers are going up on her/their behalf. She and her husband are pastors and the only thing she wanted to do was get to Wednesday worship service last night and praise Him in the storm and be in His Presence. We are a family that trusts in the faithfulness of our God and the sure foundation of His promises and the power of prayer!

My husband and I reminisced last evening about all the Lord has done for Anne Marie. He touched her and brought her through aggressive breast cancer, double mastectomy, extensive chemo and radiation........She wasn't supposed to be able to have a baby due to effects of her treatments........BUT, she did and their miracle baby boy Joshua was born!! They celebrated his second birthday last Friday, June 11th!! Glory to God!! As we recalled all the miracles the Lord has done for Mark and Ann Marie, my husband spoke these words of encouragement that ministered to my heart ........ "God's miracles never end or run out of power - the same miracle working healing power that brought her through before is still ever present to bring Anne Marie through again"! Thank you Jesus!

So, with a heavy heart and numb emotions, I'm leaning hard into the arms of Jesus and standing upon His Word and the Blood bought miracle working power that has already brought Anne Marie through over and over before. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in Anne Marie's body and quickens, makes alive every cell, organ and tissue within her and no weapons formed against her shall prosper - In the Mighty Name of Jesus!! She is a daughter of the Most High God!

Thank you for standing with us and your continued prayers for Anne Marie. You'll never fully know how much your prayers mean.....Bless each and every one of you.

I'll keep you posted.......

HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

Love and Sweet Blessings!

Urgent Prayer Request!

2010-06-14T00:01:00.005-07:00

My niece Anne Marie who is a cancer survivor and has been cancer free for about six years is undergoing a lung biopsy today and needs your prayers. About nine years ago she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and had a double mastectomy and underwent intensive chemo and radiation treatments. Anne Marie recently developed a nagging cough that has caused concern and requires a biopsy of her lung tissue. Needless to say, she really needs our prayers to undergird her and her husband Mark today and the days ahead. She is a strong woman of God and has already seen the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God bring her through so much......she is a walking miracle!!

We are standing upon the promises of God and believing for a good report....In the Mighty Name of Jesus!!

Thank you so much for joining our family in covering Anne Marie and Mark in prayer. I love and appreciate each of you wonderful bloggin' friends.....the prayer army He is raising up among us is very powerful!! Glory to His Name!!

I'll keep you posted.......

HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

And their journey began......

2010-06-10T00:01:00.003-07:00

Happy Anniversary!!!

Katie and Bryan

June 10, 2006

Four years ago today on a gorgeous
Florida beachfront in a simply
beautiful beach ceremony,
our daughter Katie wed Bryan.....

the man of her dreams and the best SIL ever!
These two are definitely a match made in Heaven!!

As soft ocean breezes blew and
gentle rolling waves caressed the beach nearby,
family and close friends witnessed as vows and commitments before God were exchanged
and
their hearts, dreams and destinies became one.....
and their journey began!

It was a glorious occasion filled with joyous tears and laughter!

Oh, what a wonderful "God Thing" day it was and still is!!

Here are a few of my favorite memories of Katie and Bryan's special day at the beach!.....

How beautiful Katie looked!.....

Dad escorting his little girl through the sand!....

Exchanging rings and vows......

Together they gathered sand from the place they stood while exchanging vows.....

and placed it in a keepsake bottle as a remembrance....

That first "we just got married" look and petals flying in the sea breeze.....

All dressed up for beach wedding fun!!!....

And oh what fun and celebration was had by all!!....

My fav - "Whoo! Hoo! Look at us world....we just got married and this is our big day!".....

Love and congratulations today on your anniversary, Katie and Bryan!! Can't believe it's been four years.....Dad and I love you and are so proud of you both! We pray that as you seek Him you will find greater impartations of His peace, strength, wisdom, direction and love with each passing day of your journey........may all the desires of your hearts be fulfilled!!

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"

Psalm 37:4

Happy 4th Anniversary to our "kids"!!

God is sooo good.............

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

SurvivorWoman!!

2010-06-04T23:32:00.013-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Have you ever watched the TV show Survivorman on Discovery Channel? On this show, adventurist Les Stroud is dumped into the middle of a survival situation and has to persevere through all kinds of obstacles and setbacks, including no food or sleep in order to survive in the midst of the chaos for one week and then is rescued and lives to tell about it. Well, move over Les Stroud - within one week of getting a contract on my house, I waded through years of accumulated "treasures", dug through bottomless pits (cabinets, drawers and closets), crawled through the deep recesses of storage crawl space under my house, trekked to Goodwill a thousand times (slight exaggeration, ya'll - but close), negotiated with my hubs (a great survival skill BTW....I'm being nice here, ya'll) over what to keep and what to pitch (he's a tad OCD so he'd rather pitch it all in the name of order - uh, compromise is a beautiful thing but there was a whole lot of pitching going on!), existed on pizza, burgers and other miscellaneous questionable fast food rations with maybe only a few hours of sleep each night surrounded by vast cavernous mountain ranges of u-haul boxes! I dragged my exhausted body up before daybreak each day with a slug and slurp of coffee and a Zip Fizz energy drink and with my trusty packing tape gun in my hand (after a week I felt as if it were a permanent appendage to my right hand) and my marking pen in the other, I steeled my aching back (whole body actually) to persevere, conquer and survive my 7 day packing and moving challenge!!! Annnnnd, whooo! hooo! I did it, ya'll and lived to tell about it (barely)!!!! LOL!!! Whew - just typing this nearly wore me out!!!

Moving day last Friday was an absolute whirlwind to say the least....up at 5 a.m. and the exodus began!!! The buyer wanted to be in the house by Friday afternoon to enjoy the long weekend up here in the cool N. AZ mountains away from triple digit heat in Phoenix so she had her carpet cleaning people literally standing at our door waiting for us to get out at noon. Kinda got on my last nerve, ya'll, but I just kept praising God for selling our home in such a depressed market and like the children of Israel, kept following the moving cloud......in the form of a U-Haul truck, that is!! I realize I'm not as young as I used to be and a tad, uh - make that allot out of shape, but my goodness, I strained muscles I didn't even know I had!! Ouch, Hallelujah!!....(somehow, I don't think Les Stroud says that!) LOL!!

I always stand amazed at how God does things! The house we rented in the same neighborhood as the home we just sold already feels like home to us! I mean, honestly, my hubs and I have both commented on how cozy and peaceful it feels. And, please don't think I'm nuts, but even my kitties, Murphy and Maggie seem happier and more content here - there was absolutely no adjusting to their new surroundings at all.......kinda like - "OK - we really like it here, we're gonna explore and play for a while and then show us where you put our food, litter box and bed - meow, it's all good"!

(see what I mean.....they don't look too stressed do they!!)

I really love the large open kitchen with skylights and more cabinet and storage space than I've ever had before and absolutely love the huge fir tree just outside the kitchen sink window. It's like having a huge Christmas tree "in my face" and the fragrance is heavenly......I feel like I'm living in a tree house! I'm already looking forward to winter snows.......that tree will look like a Christmas card for sure!!!

(wish you could smell the glorious fir tree!!!)

Here it is outside my kitchen window......Luv it!!

And there's a large deck all the way across the back of the house overlooking a creek-bed and a view of the mountains. The only thing that would make it any better is a hammock! I can just see me now......chilling in my hammock, listening to the birds, with my Bible, journal, laptop and glass of sweet tea close by......ahhhhh.......yep, I'm getting a hammock, ya'll!! I'm gonna enjoy this mountain home the Lord lead us to until we retire in Phoenix someday - PTL! We know we'll be in N. AZ for another year of so until my hubs retires but will start looking for a house in Phoenix to buy now while there are so many good deals - we're trusting in His direction and timing in all of this. He is Faithful!!

I can see forever from my deck!!! Luv it!!

Had to show you the song birds sitting on the railing
that serenaded me this a.m.
(BTW, you can click on the pic for a closer look),

and that chair is already my fav place to read my Bible! Luv it!!

Oh and the place to the right of my chair would be perfect for a hammock - don't ya think??!!

Honestly ya'll, when I posted "Rejoicing and Freaking Out at the Same Time" I didn't know how in the world we could realistically pack and move in one week!!! And yes, I had a few meltdowns along the way, but glory hallelujah He strengthened us to get it done!! It was a miracle our house sold in such a depressed market.....there are three other houses on our street also for sale and we KNOW God did this and we give Him all the Glory!!! Sooo, we stood on Phillippians 4:13 knowing that the same One who sold our house would strengthen and make us able to pack and move in seven days! And He did!!!.....He is constant - His promises are sure - He is ever Faithful!! PTL! Glory Hallelujah!!!

I have strength for all things through Christ

Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything

through Him Who

infuses inner strength into me)

Phillipians 4:13 amp

THANK YOU JESUS!!

Well, I've still got alot of unpacking to do, ya'll!! Since moving last Friday, I've only been consentrating on the most vital essentials things of life like.......sleeeep, finding my clothes, my coffee, my make-up and my MAC!!! LOL!! Uh, but for now ya'll - I think this SurvivorWoman needs a nap!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Thirteen Folds to Freedom

2010-05-31T00:01:00.005-07:00

As the morning sun announces the breaking of another day filled with new Mercies, America pauses to celebrate Memorial Day. Sadly, to many citizens of this great land, it's just another three day weekend filled with family festivities, firing up the barbecue and celebration of an extra day off work. And yes, I also will enjoy a hot dog, apple pie and watermelon today but this morning my heart is deeply stirring and saddened for the condition of my nation.

As I ponder Memorial Day, my thoughts are drawn to a different time and place.......a time when America was hailed and respected as a shining beacon......America was revered.....America was esteemed.......and those who proudly wore an American armed forces uniform and valiantly fought and died for our freedoms were highly honored and celebrated. A time when every town, city and municipality and classroom large or small passionately celebrated the greatness of our blessed nation and wavered not from the principals and standards from which she was birthed.

My memories continue to drift to a Georgia elementary classroom where the Holy Bible lay on my teachers desk and Old Glory stood along side. Daily allegiance to the stars and stripes was proudly pledged and the time honored and proven declarations of "One Nation Under God", "In God We Trust " and patriotic heartfelt choruses such as "God Bless America" and "My Country 'tis of Thee" flowed freely and often from our lips. Oh, how far we've drifted away from our foundation......a foundation forged by the Hand and Grace of God. Forgive us, oh God......we've forfeited Your foundation for the shifting sands of man-pleasing, political correctness and acceptance of other gods!

On this Memorial Day, I choose to honor the One who birthed this great nation and be ever mindful of those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for my freedoms! The beautiful fabric of America was and continues to be woven with the blood stained threads of those in uniform who loyally served and gave their all to protect and defend our God Given rights. May the significance of their sacrifice never be diminished or forgotten!

My first memories of witnessing a flag draped casket were those of fallen warriors returning for burial from Viet Nam. Images still pass through my thoughts of air plane hangers lined with dozens of flag draped caskets awaiting transport to their families.......I will never forget that image. I was ignorant at that time of the true significance of the U.S. Flag-Folding Ceremony that is performed at the conclusion of the burial of those who have honorably served in uniform. My heart was deeply touched once I learned the true meaning of each of the thirteen folds and share it with you below. Whether you're reading about it here for the first time or have read it before, I believe the Flag-Folding Ceremony will bless you and impress upon your heart the importance of sincerely remembering Memorial Day..... because the freedoms you and I enjoy were and always will be very costly......they are not free!..........

The U.S. Flag-Folding Ceremony

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks

who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace through the world.

The fourth fold represents our weaker nature;

as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him

we turn in times of peace, as well as in times of war,

for His Divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to our country,
for in the words of Stephen Decatur,

"Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right,

but it is still our country, right or wrong."

The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie.

It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through

the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag
against all enemies,

whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the

valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day,

and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother's day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through

their faith, love and loyalty and devotion that the character

of the men and women who
have made this country great have been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too,
has given his sons and daughters

for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens,
represents the lower portion

of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes,

the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents and emblem

of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes,
God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.

The thirteenth fold, the flag is completely folded,

the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto,

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

My prayer for my nation......

Father, my heart cries for an mighty outpouring of your Spirit upon this nation. Forgive us, oh Lord, for our lethargy and indifference to You and Your immeasurable Mercies and Grace so lavishly bestowed by your hand. You and You alone are the One True and Living God and have so graciously and faithfully heaped blessings upon blessings upon us! Your Hand has established us, blessed us, prospered, guided, protected and defended the United States of America! May our hearts burn for You and Your ways. I pray that American hearts turn from all other gods, distractions and the spirits of this age that have so subtly enticed, deceived and drawn us away from the God of our founding fathers. Forgive us, extend your Mercy to us and help us Lord! Heal, cleanse and restore our land as we turn from our wicked ways and cry out to You! From the White House to every house may a deep insatiable hunger and thirst for Righteousness break forth!.......From border to border and sea to shining sea may we behold your Glory upon the United States of America, Oh God!

In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray! Amen!!

God Bless America!

REJOICING AND FREAKING OUT AT THE SAME TIME!!

2010-05-21T10:05:00.005-07:00

Hey ya'll.........

Glory Hallelujah, Praise the Lord and whoo! hooo! we got a contract on our house a few days ago and everything is signed off and I'm sooooo rejoicing!!!!

We decided to put our house on the market because we plan on retiring in a couple of years and moving back to Phoenix and with the real estate market so depressed in AZ we figured we'd have plenty of time to sell this one and find a great deal there. Absolutely thrilled about our house selling given the market here and already found a great rental in our neighborhood in one day (God thing, ya'll)!........BUT HERE'S WHERE I GOT MY FREAK ON, YA'LL........

WE'RE CLOSING AND MOVING IN SEVEN DAYS!!!!!!!

S.E.V.E.N.!!!! D.A.Y.S.!!!!

COUNT THEM 1,2,3,4,5,6 MOVE!!!!!

O.M.GOSH!!!!!!

This is me RIGHT NOW!!

And my Sweetie has his Captain Kirk freak on!!

<

And this is what my kitties, Murphy and Maggie think about it!!!

I think I'll just go hide, ya'll!!!

Oh, I just had to throw this photo in!!!.......
Honestly now, have you ever looked this happy, relaxed and beautiful when you're MOVING - they look like they just returned from a 10 day cruise to the Bahamas!!!...if only!!!! lol!!

But I know by this time next week it will all be done and we'll be rejoicing!! PTL! Hallelujah!

But for now, I've gotta get my PACKING SUPER FREAK ON, ya'll!!!!!!!

Soooo, I won't be blogging much (duh!) for the next week or so!

I'll be back when I UNPACK MY MAC!!!

I'm thanking Jesus......

I have strength for all things through Christ
Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything
through Him Who
infuses inner strength into me)
Phillipians 4:13 amp

Praying that YOU and I have an
"infused with inner strength through Christ" week!!
HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Photo Credits:
1,2,4. Googleimages.com
3. Fugly.com
5,6 movinghelp4less.com
7. istockphoto.com

Family Fun! Ready to go again!!!

2010-05-17T02:56:00.019-07:00

I finally downloaded some of my pix from my family trip last month and just had to share, ya'll! And, until I have grand babies to brag about, I'll just have to brag on my wonderful kids.....they rock!!! I am truly one blessed mama with the best daughter - Katie and best son - Chris and the absolute best SIL - Bryan (whose just like a son to us!) and absolute best DIL - Laraine (whose just like a daughter to us!)!! We are doubly blessed!! Hallelujah!! What more could I possibly ask for.....um, let's see----GRAND BABIES, ya'll, GRAND BABIES - hint, hint!! LOL!

I digress......back to my family photo's!! Our family trip to FL was planned around Bryan's homecoming from deployment with festivities and then on to Disney for family fun. We also celebrated my b'day, my Sweeties b'day and Chris and Laraine's anniversary. How thoughtful of the US Navy to plan Bryan's return around our special day's too, lol!! We had a whole lot of celebratin' to do, let me tell you!!!

As I shared in a previous post, I was soooo bummed to miss out on Bryan's homecoming and festivities but had to stay behind in AZ to help with my mama's care and joined my family a week later. BUT, I so enjoy all the photos taken of that special day and share a few of them below. We are so proud of Bryan and honor his and all other committed service members who so willingly sacrifice to protect our freedoms. This also goes for their spouses who stand strong and "hold down the fort" at home. Until MY daughter became a military spouse I absolutely had no understanding of the sacrifices that they make as well. We, as Americans are indebted to our sailors and soldiers and their spouses and families!!! (Didn't know I was gonna get on my flag waving patriotic soap box......but, GOD BLESS AMERICA, ya'll!!)!

Whoo hooo!....So here we go with the photos:

The evening before the boat returned
there was a candlelight vigil with flowers

tossed into the sea to symbolize a
safe return and welcome home to their sailors!

Katie and Dad

She was really into this......it meant only a few more hours until
Bryan's boat would appear on the horizon!!

Early next morning family and friends gathered at the base........so excited to see Bryan's boat now....whoo hoo - he's almost home!!! PTL!!!

My Sweetie "Dad" is ready to see Bryan - GO NAVY!!

I luv this photo of my Katie.....She's leaning against the huge welcome home banner

waiting for her man!!

And I just had to add this one....my personal fav (it's a mom thing!!)!!

Does she look happy or what??!!

Soooo excited!! Just a few more minutes!!!

There he is!!!!

Tears, hugs and kisses...........her hero is safely home!! Thank you Lord!!!

Home Sweet Home - together again!!

Hammock time in the backyard with Mac and Shorty!

So glad their "dad's" home!

The next day it's on to our fam fav!!

The Beach Hut Cafe!

We loved it when we lived in Jacksonville for many years

and always eat there whenever we visit!

The owner's are such a blessing!
They had a huge "Welcome Home Bryan" banner,
a beautiful cake

and publicly thanked and honored Bryan for his service.
It was awesome!! Such a blessing to my kids and family!!

(If you're ever in Jacksonville Beach be sure to check out Beach Hut Cafe for breakfast or a wonderful blue plate special lunch....it's where the locals eat - flipflops, surfboards, beach hat's and all

....you'll love it!!).

Katie surprised Bryan with a new Beach Cruiser bike.

They love cruising the beach together (she has a pink one)!

And then on to Disney, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon!....Whooo! Hooo!

We stayed at the Royal Plaza near downtown Disney. This is the second family trip

we've stayed there and really like it. Note: If you're ever thinking about heading to Disney, be

sure to join Mousesavers.com (it's free) before you make any reservations! Through Mousesavers we've gotten FABULOUS rates (including breakfast) and soooo happy with the Royal Plaza! Oh and Mousesavers has great specials and tips for Disneyland too.....check it out!!

I just have to show you my fav Mickey Waffle breakfast (included with our special rate through Mousesavers.com).

Luv my Mickey Waffle!!

(Who cares about carbs when you're on vaca anyway)!

Uh, I'll take a side of grits with my waffle please.....Just kidding, ya'll (maybe!!)!

Now, back to Disney! By the time we arrived in Orlando it was pitch black skies and raining cats and dogs! I bought rain slickers for everyone in the park (not cheap! yikes!) and decided to brave it and enjoy the fun! Not many photos, however, because getting our camera's out in the rain and taking a shot wasn't easy.....bummer! We had a good time though sloshing around!!

Always love the ginormous merry-go-round!

Watching the fire works (in the dark) during a brief break in the down pour!

Everyone was worn out and water logged but had such a wonderful time!!

Who say's you can't make memories in the pouring rain!!

The next several days were filled with Epcot, Animal Kingdom and
Typhoon Lagoon
and

copious amounts of junk food!

Sooo much fun!!!!

Here we are in the future on Spaceship Earth in Epcot!!

This was so much fun having my Sweetie and I superimposed into the future.
I think we're supposed
to be doing some kind of futuristic underwater farming??!!
Oh and I especially love just how THIN I look - hmmmm all I need is a Lifestyle Lift for my face, LOL!!

I see me in the future and
I look much better than I do right now!!! Glory!!

Love Animal Kingdom!!

Everything in Animal Kingdom is so lush and green and jungly!!
Ya see the snow capped peaks behind us?

That's Everest!! The roller coaster from......well, you know what I mean!!

Chris takes after me! We'd barf our heads off if we road that thing!

But, my Hubs, Katie, Bryan and Laraine LOVE it!!

Chris and I think there crazy, LOL!!

Last stop - Typhoon Lagoon!! Whoo! Hooo!

I absolutely LOVE doing absolutely nothing here.....vegging in the shade with an occasional float down the lazy river is absolutely heaven.....I mean heaven, ya'll!

Let the rest of my fam do all the fun and crazy water rides, but let me do my thing - NOTHING!!!

Yes and there I am! That's me in the far distance waving!

There is no way in this universe

I'd ever post a photo of me in a bathing suit but thanks to the free floating

tube that just happened to block the shot, I'm posting it!!!

Glory Hallelujah, that's me just floating awaaaaaay and not wanting

to ever come back.......can you relate!!

So, thanks for letting me share my vaca photo's with you.

I hope I didn't bore you, but this a peek into my family.

We're much like you and yours.

Ordinary and far from perfect.....
Simply trusting in the Grace and Mercies of The Perfect One,
resting in His Love and Faithfulness

and standing upon His Promises.

My wonderful kids are all grown up now!

The Lord has them on their own walk with Him ......

Living out their own testimony!
My mama's heart trusts that His Hand is strong upon them!!
Leading, guiding and protecting them each day!

My Kids!!

Bryan and Katie

Chris and Laraine

I am sooo blessed!
Glory to God!

From the fullness of His Grace we have received
one blessing after another.

John 1:16 NIV

Have an abundantly blessed week, ya'll!

He is Faithful!!

Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Hey! Hey! I'm no longer MIA!

2010-05-10T03:05:00.012-07:00

Hey Ya'll!!

Whoo! Hoo! I'm no longer MIA! I'm back with a new bloggy makeover and I can't wait to get caught up with my bloggin' peeps! I pray that everyone is doing well in the blogosphere and all of you special mom's had a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

Well, my several weeks away turned into three - My family trip was brief but awesome (will be posting photo's in a few days!). Since then I've been up to my eyeballs in helping with my Sweet Mama's care at the nursing facility in addition to my own "stuff of life"(can anyone relate)! Somedays there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day before I pass out on the couch! OMgoodness! I actually fell asleep during most of 24 last Monday night and I'm tellin' ya, unless I'm in the back tundra of a remote jungle or treking with a sherpa in Siberia with no cable, satellite, Iphone or TEVO, I almost never miss 24!!! Now that I think about it - I think I'll have a Red Bull with tonight's dinner!....It's Monday and I'm already feelin' the need to get jacked up for Jack......I'm out the door to Seven-Eleven now!! LOL!!

(Imagine that! I ran into Britney Spears incognito buying up all the Red Bull.......Bummer! Uh, Britney - I'm just not feelin' the pink wig thing and the "back off sister the Red Bull is mine" body language is kinda scaring me!!.....I'm just saying!!! JK! LOL!).

Movin' on......some of you might remember my "Sick as a Dawg!"post last month about my sister and I getting a major dose of food poisoning and barfing our heads off (with all other related symptoms also) in a hotel in Flagstaff. You might also recall my observation that my pink and green blog reminded me waaay toooo much of Pepto Bismol pink and Gatorade green (of which I had copious amounts last month)! Soooo I decided to get my "geek" on (didn't know I had any!) in my spare time (didn't know I had any of that either!) and try a face lift (not on me - my blog, LOL! ). I was amazed that someone as "geeky challenged" as me could do it! With the help of on line tutorials, picnik, and the new google Template Designer....waaa laaaa! I did it!! Who'd a thought this Dixie chick cowgirl had a tad of "geek" in her, ya'll!! LOL!! It was kinda like decorating (and I love to decorate).....Try out diff colors and backgrounds and accessories and bling, look at it for a few days, take it down, tweak it, redo it until it comes together! Who'd a thunk I'd find CSS, SEO's, CTU (24 LOL!), HTML's, Feeds and links the least bit interesting!!....Still don't really, but so enjoyed my bloggy face-lift makeover challenge!! Oh, help yourself to my new blog button if you'd like and I'd love your feedback!! And be watching for a giveaway!!! I'll be posting that soon!!

Add a little fresh oil to your site!

Grab the code!!

Seriously, the fresh new look is kinda like a breath of fresh air for me....a new season of fresh colors, fresh look, fresh inspiration.....Fresh Oil!! That seems to be the theme of what the Lord is speaking to me lately - fresh and new seasons of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit!! Hallelujah!!! I'm staying really close to Him - I don't want to miss a thing!! How 'bout you??

BTW, thanks so much for your continued prayers for my Sweet Mama. Her leg wound is healing and her PT is going pretty well, but she has some confusion and short term memory loss from the stroke. Once her leg heals (thank you JESUS!) we'll be revisiting options for her next level of care facility. For now, until the leg wound heals she's hooked up to an amazing contraption called a wound vac and must be in a facility that has specialized wound vac care. I'm tellin' ya, a wound vac sounds gross (and it is!) but it is a God send to those with terrible and life threatening wounds that otherwise probably wouldn't heal. It does exactly what it's name implies - it continually 24/7 vacuums out the wound encouraging healing from the inside out. I've learned more that I ever wanted to know about wound care, infection, etc (YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!) but so thankful that mama is getting such good care. Once again, I SO APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS for Mama and for me as well. My sis had to return to NC so daily visits to the Nursing facility without a break have already become very physically and emotionally heavy. I'm just taking it a day (sometime a moment) at a time in His Strength - He is Faithful!!!

I've really missed my bloggin' peeps and thanks so much for those who began following Fresh Oil while I was MIA! I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs and meeting you too!! Can't wait to hear what's been happening in everyone's bloggy corner of the world....Whoo! Hoo! Cowabunga ya'll....I've gotta whole lot of blog surfing to do!!!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Whoo! Hooo! Flip Flops and alot of this!!!

2010-04-16T00:51:00.004-07:00

Whoo! Hoo!......I'm so excited!!! I'm catching a plane to FL today and joining my family!! In my last post I shared how disappointed I was to have them leave earlier this week without me and very sad to miss my SIL Bryans homecoming from deployment and all the festivities...... BUT I knew in my heart that I needed to stay behind to assist in my Mama's care and be a part of the many decisions that must be made for her transfer to a nursing home.....so very bummed, but knew somehow the Lord would "make it up" to me......Hey, He's my Wonderful Daddy and He always makes a way for His kids! So many details began to come together yesterday re OMama's care (our new family acronim for "our mama's care"...LOL!).....God thing, ya'll!!! My sis is here from NC and we now have peace about my leaving for a week or so ......... Sooooo I'm gettin' the heck out of dodge.....trading my AZ boots for FL flipflops for a couple of weeks...........

and plan on doing ALOT of THIS..........

Thanking God for Bryan's safe return and honoring all of our men and women

who serve and protect our great country and their loved ones who

so self-lessly hold down the home front while their sailor is away!!!!

We love you Bryan and are so proud of you!!!

(This photo of Bryan and Katie was the feature photo in the Jacksonville Times Union news story yesterday celebrating the return of the USS McInerney!....They were also interviewed and featured on the evening news!! Oh and that's my Sweetie and DIL Laraine checking the camera in the background....I may not have been able to be there in person, but how awesome is it that the news media featured Katie and Bryan's reunion and I could watch it on line.......Can you say GOD THING!!!).

I'm Honoring and Saluting our troops!!

and then doing ALOT of this.............

Sittin' under the Jacksonville Beach Pier!

(yes - those are my surf kissed tootsies from my last visit - heaven, ya'll - simply heaven!!)

and ALOT of this........

Eatin' and hangin' at Beach Hut Cafe

(our fam's fav place for breakfast at the beach!!)

and ALOT of this........

Hey, we're Disney World junkies!....

I go from 50 something to 10 in about 5 seconds when I walk thru the gate - LUV IT!! ....LUV BEING A KID AGAIN....WHOO! HOOO!....(Uh, will someone please pass another mickey mouse shaped waffle my way!!!)

and can't wait to do ALOT of this.....

Just give me a tube and let me float away....HALLELUJAH!!

and hopefully ALOT of this.....a girl can't ever get enough retail therapy!! Glory!!

Well, this time yesterday I pretty much figured that I wouldn't be able to join my family in Florida to celebrate Bryan's homecoming festivities......But the Lord worked it all out and I can't wait to get there!!!! He is soooo faithful!!!

Soooooooo.......

Here I go!!
Yippee!!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

Update-Mama, This-That and Buckets-o-Tears!

2010-04-14T23:46:00.008-07:00

Hey ya'll.....
First I want to sincerely offer my gratitude to each of you for praying for my Sweet Mama and my family. My sister and I have felt our arms lifted and heart encouraged by your prayers, comments and emails! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I humbly ask for your continued prayers as we navigate the transition of Mama's special needs as a result of her stroke last week and horrendous fall and leg wound. My sister Diane arrived Monday and together we are making decisions for our Sweet Mama's care and it's been so very difficult and heart breaking to say the least.

So much has happened in Mama's life since my last post. I've literally seen her mental state change and her body age so rapidly.....very sad...tears. But, I know her times are in His hands, so I rest in that and my sis and I do everything with His power working through us to comfort and love her through this season. Last Sunday she was transfered to a wonderful skilled wound care and rehabilitation hospital and were told that she would be there approx 6 to 8 weeks but learned yesterday that due to medicare guidelines and assessments she will be released 4/26 and must go to a 24 hour skilled nursing facility. (So much buracracy and governmental red-tape.... I shutter to think what we are facing with Obama Care....very scary.....'nuf about that!!)! Anyway, Diane and I cried buckets yesterday. We visited many skilled 24 hour nursing care facilities and Senior group homes and were overwhelmed by the whole nursing home thing. Many times we pulled over on the side of the road or paused in fast food parking lots to pray for guidance and cried our eyeballs out! I wouldn't even think of placing my Mama in most of those facilities.......Now that I think about it, I wouldn't even put Murphy my kitty there! BUT, we know that He is faithful and will lead us to the right place for Mama!

Got home late last night after an extremely emotional day and was very blue....I'm just being real here my bloggin' peeps....I was overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment and cried another bucket full - (wow, I sure have been a cry baby!!). My Sweetie and I and our kids have had a family trip to FL planned for many months to celebrate the return of our wonderful SIL Bryan (whose just like our own son) home from deployment tomorrow (PTL whoo! hoo!).....big welcome home plans in the works and I was so excited about spending time with our daughter Katie! (We're still praising Jesus for raising her up from near death last December)!! Glory to God!! BUT, I knew in my heart the right thing to do was to let them go on without me.....I needed to stay here and trust God to help my sis and I find the right place for Mama.

This a.m. was really tough. Watching them fly off without me and then calling Katie and telling her I wasn't coming was so hard (understatement!). She totally understands but is very disappointed......we encouraged each other in the Lord and then I cried another bucket......ummm I think that's bucket no. 3 or 10....lost count!! After the waterworks stopped I regrouped with the Lord and sis and I prayed together before heading out to another day of touring nursing home facilities and then to the hospital to be with Mama. While in prayer, the Holy Spirit spoke two scriptures to my heart and another to Diane. I personalized those scriptures and quickly jotted them down to carry in the car with us. His Word is so powerful....we started our day bleary-eyed and heavy hearted BUT carried on in His strength and direction and the leading of the Spirit. Throughout the day we pulled out our scripture cards and spoke them over us before touring a nursing facility. We've had such a sense of peace this day and the last facility we visited this afternoon seems to be the right one. I'll be starting the process of Mama's placement there tomorrow a.m.! We've got a long, unknown transition to navigate ahead BUT He is always faithful and hears and answers the heart cries of His children!!!

Below are the familiar scriptures that the Lord encouraged us with today (please pardon my chicken scratch - wrote them hurriedly). Maybe you're in a place of needing Divine direction, wisdom and clarity as to which way to turn and maybe sadness and despair is looming over your emotions. If so, I encourage you to grab these paraphrased promises of God and keep them before your eyes, pray them, speak them and trust in His Faitfulness to see you through to victory. It may not be overnight and you may feel as if you'll cry buckets of tears, but He knows where you are and what you're going through and He will bring you through to the other side!!! HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

Thanks again, wonderful bloggy praying friends!

......The ernest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16 NLT

I'm outta buckets and resting upon the promises of God!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!

SOS! Urgent prayer request for my sweet Mama!

2010-04-08T23:01:00.007-07:00

Hey ya'll...........I'll be brief and to the point. I would really appreciate your continued prayers for my mama. We received a call early this a.m. that she had a very bad fall and the paramedics were on their way to take her to the E.R. I rushed over there and the EMT met me before I was taken in to see her and told me that she had a very, very bad laceration on her leg.....he took a pictures of the "hunk" of flesh on the floor of her room and wanted to prepare me before I went in to see her. In a few words....it was the worst wound I've ever seen....gouged to the bone and a hole the size of your palm.....she lost alot of blood. They quickly took her to surgery because the "clock was ticking" on potential infection. Surgery was not successful....unable to close it because of it's depth and her skin too frail to hold stiches.....packed it, loaded her with antibiotics and will began specialized wound care tomorrow. The medical prognosis....6 to 8 weeks for the wound to heal and that's if no complications or infection. Not sure of her ability to walk using that leg after that.

Dr. concerned as to what caused the fall (stroke?)....she's been very disoriented lately but not sure if it was because of the pain med's she's on for the two compression fractures in her spine or something else going on....ran c-scan....showed possible infarction (stroke) or tumor on her brain. Ran MRI tonight...will get results tomorrow and go from there. Today's been a very rough day for her. However, true to her amazing ways, when she was lucid she had a bit of her humor and brought laughter to the nurses and doc's. As I've shared with you before....my mama's joyful outlook on life is amazing....it's a God thing! She's proved Him faithful over and over and over again in her 91 years!

I too would appreciate your prayers. I'm very weary tonight. To be honest with you...when I left the hospital a little while ago I began to feel a bit overwhelmed by what we're facing next. BUT, I know Who hold's my mama's next and He is always faithful to strengthen, comfort and impart wisdom and guidance particularly in season's of the unknown. I'm clinging to His promises, His hand and His faithfulness! He knows what's next!

I also want to say how much I appreciate your sweet comments, prayers and emails! I apologize for very little blog visits lately and look forward to catching up with my bloggy peeps sometime soon and reading what's been stirring in your heart......your ponderings always bless and encourage my heart so! So much going on with my mama's care over the last several months that just about everything else has been set aside. Please know that as the Holy Spirit brings you wonderful bloggy friends to mind, I lift you in prayer. I may not know where you are or exactly what you're growing through, BUT He does and I count it a privilege to stand with you!

Must get to bed now.......Back to the hospital early tomorrow!

Bless you again for your prayers!

....."The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results"

James 5:16 NLT
HALLELUJAH! Glory to His Name!!

He is Faithful!!

Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!