Stay-at-Home Mom

My daughter said one of the most amazing things to me yesterday.  It was just one of those moments you wish you could freeze in time. When I made the decision not to work after my girls were born, I never …

Do you still believe? | Joy Dare

Ever read something and have a revelation, an eye-opener, a discovery?

There are times I see or read something that just really makes me think, wakes me up.  Sometimes it’s actually something I’ve always known, but hits me in a different light.  Do you ever wonder if your prayers go unheard or you get an answer that’s not what you think you want or need?  We all have, I’m sure, at one time or another questioned God, maybe even screamed at Him….Why!!!  When we get an answer that’s not to our liking, do we still believe God is good, that His way is better than ours? 

                    When the diagnosis is chronic and the healing doesn’t come…

                    When the spouse walks out the door and doesn’t come home…

                    When the prodigal child turns their back and doesn’t return…

                    When the desperate couple seek out the physicians and still can’t have a baby…

                    When you need the job and it doesn’t work out…

How do we handle these situations?  The God of our Faith is bigger than all of these.  When He doesn’t answer in a way we expect/desire/need, what are we supposed to do, how should we react.  He is asking us…

                    Do you still believe? 

                    Do you trust me?

He is showing us Mercy when we are not looking for it.  He is working miracles in the midst of the chaos our lives.  Look close for the miracles.  When you were walking through the mess…

                    Did you learn something new about yourself?
                    Did you grow closer to Him?
                    Did your faith grow?
                    Did you help someone else suffering?
                    Did you make a new friend?
                    Did you share your faith with someone else?

He may not have responded as we wanted, but He did respond and you were blessed.

We do not walk these trials alone.  The One who walked trials on earth and died for us all, walks beside us.  We can rest assured ALL things work to our good.

“These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. It will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.” -1 Peter 1:7

 

JOY DARE

 

 I’ve been slow at it this summer, but here are a few of the gifts I counted.

 

234.  Lazy days at the lake

235.  Sweet watermelon

236.  Sun rays

 

 

 

237.  Swans on the lake

 

 

238.  Evening boat rides

239.  English cottages

240.  Country roads

241.  Golden hay fields

 

 

242.  England coastlines

 

 

243.  A London sunset

 

 

244.  Walks through historic villages

245.  Star-filled nights

 

 

246.  Snow-capped mountains

 

 

247.  Horses in the pasture

  

 

248.  A doe feeding in the meadow

 

 

249.  River drives

 

 

250.  Soothing heat of a natural hot spring

251.  Smell of dried leaves 

252.  Colors of fall

 

 

 

253.  A new friendship

254.  Encouraging words

255.  Candle light

256.  Orange pumpkins

 



 

257.  Wind in the trees

 

  

258.  Warmth from a fireplace on a cool morning

259.  Laughing so hard you cry

260.  Mercy

261.  Feeling of accomplishment.

262.  Magnificent skylines

 

 

263.  Ebony

 

 

 264. A new kitten snuggled in your arms

 

 

 

 



Nags Head – Counting the Blessings

Counting my blessings as I sat in Paradise!  We spent a week in Nags Head, North Carolina, with the sun on our face and the wind at our back.  It’s the kind of vacation you never want to end, time to relax and enjoy life.  My favorite part of the day was sitting on the beach in the mornings before most had gotten up, before the crowds descended, watching the surf and the birds at play.  We had a wonderful time visiting with and catching up with John’s family.

 JOY DARE

205. Waterfalls

206. Lazy turtles

207. A day in the park with friends

208. Little boy silliness

209. Eternal life

210. Baby cardinals-getting to watch them grow

211. Goldfinch at play

212. An evening to say good-bye to friends
 

3 Gifts that made me smile

213. Jack, Maelyn, and Lily

214.  The smell of ocean air

215.  Sea shells
216.  Crashing waves
217.  Sun sparkling on the water



 

218.  An ocean sunrise

219.  Sand between your toes

220.  Seagulls

221.  Crabs on the beach

 

 

222.  Playing in the rain

223.  Seafood

224.  Catching up with family

225.  Thunderstorms over an ocean horizon

226.  Lightening bolts

 

227.  Watching a sunset above the clouds

228.  Cottonball clouds

 

229.  Playing in the waves
230.  Super moon
231.  Walks on the beach

232.  Dolphins swimming by

 

 

233.  Whale sightings

 

 

 



Perfect Love

There is no other love more perfect than that of God’s love.  In a month of showing love, it’s important to remember that God is Love.  For without Him, there would be no love.  His love endures, bringing with it peace and joy.  Just look around at the world He has given us, the gifts that surround us.  And it’s easy to see Him…the creator in it all.  I can never understand those that say there is no God.  The universe itself declares the existence of a creator.  We must only have eyes to SEE and a heart willing to BELIEVE.  In Him we find our TRUE LOVE!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    His love endures forever.     Psalm 106:1

 

Joy Dare

54.  Holding hands.

55. Coconut cream pie.

56.  Warm breeze blowing on the deck.

Three gifts in working:  

57.  My husband for making the sacrifice and making the money.

58.  Cherry pie.

 59.  God working in the lives of my grown kids–He will never let go.

60.  The first sign of Spring–baby buds!

 Well, we aren’t quite to the flowering stage yet, but we do have the beginning of buds showing up on the trees and shrubs.  I can’t wait for the warmth and the color.

63.  Velvety soft roses.

Three things blue:

64.  Blue sky.

65.  Blue birds.

66.  My blue coffee mug given to me by a friend.

Three ways I feel God’s Love
67.  The warm sun shining on my face and another day to thank Him.
68.  Promises and reminders whispered in my heart at just the right time when I need it.
69.  As I count my gifts, His love speaks,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3

To Be Grateful…

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” 

                             ~Thomas Merton

52.  Valentine sugar cookies

53.  Chai tea

 You can find the recipe for these wonderful sugar cookies here 

Thankful for the Music

We think we have found a church finally.  It’ll be nice to get plugged back in, start meeting some people out in this area.  I loved the music.  Their band included a violinist, which just adds a beautiful touch.  It reminded me how much I love the sound of strings…maybe I’ll dust off my violin.  I miss the days when all us girls were playing, when our home was constantly filled with music.  Ari has started playing Viola again and has joined an orchestra at school. I hope to see one of their concerts this Spring.

Joy Dare

39.  Cozy fireplaces.

40.  Flickering candle light.

 41-43.  Three Gifts found in Christ, Love, Sacrifice, Mercy

44.  Peppermint mochas.

45.  Sleeping kitty curled up in my lap.

46.  Sweet violin music.

 47.  Reminders of what once was.

48.  My camera.

49.  Afternoon with a friend.

50.  All the beautiful women in my life.

51.  Rainbows…saw one out the back window this morning!
And, no, this was not my view, though wish it were!  lol!

JOY

I’ve finished the book, One Thousand Gifts, and I’ve learned so much about…

truly living life to the fullest,

God’s love for us,

our relationship with Him.

We can have joy in our life even when things seem impossible, even on days when it’s hard to breathe, when pain, emotional or physical, suffocates us.  It’s about living IN Christ, seeing God’s face in everything, the good and the bad.  NOTHING happens that does not work for our good.  Give thanks in all things…isn’t that what we are told to do?  Being thankful draws us closer to Him, to His heart.  In turn, we heal, by turning the bad into good, by seeing the good in the bad, by seeing the good.  That’s why I pick up my camera, focus on the beauty around me.  I write it down, I capture it in pictures…all the good God has provided, all the blessings.  I’m counting the graces, one by one…a thousand gifts from our Maker.  Each a reminder of His love.  Gratitude is our JOY.  And isn’t that what we all want, to live fully in Joy.

I’ve chosen the word JOY to be my word for the year…a reminder to see the good.

        You turned my wailing into dancing;
           you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with 
                  JOY.                           Psalm 30:11 NIV

 26.  Ice crystals sparkling in a field.

27.  Blue birds playing on river’s edge.

28.  Gift made for newborn.

29.  To hear my daughter’s voice, happy and excited.

30.  For the smallest of prayers answered.

31.  Softly falling snow sparkling in moon light.

32.  Sunny day drives.

 33.  Eagles spotted in a field, perched in trees.

34.  Baby boys who make you smile.

 35.  A hug that says I know, I understand.

36.  Baby giggles.

 37.  Time with my mom.

38.  Painted skies.