Busy, Busy, Busy...

Is it just me, or does today feel like Monday? This whole business of a holiday coming in the middle of the week has this gal all mixed up. But that's okay. Washing eggs tomorrow should bring me back to reality. :D

What a busy, fun, blessing filled week it has been though. Today is the first day I have spent solely at home in over a week. And I must say, it has felt pretty nice focusing on work around here, and yes even being a tad bit on the lazy side... ;)

So, how did this last week keep me hopping? Let me show you...

Last Thursday our church took a trip to the mountains to enjoy some camping and rafting around Bryson City. We left last Thursday and came back Saturday.

On the way...



Our camp site all set up...



There was a creek running through the grounds. Just listening to it flow at night, with all the crickets, and campfire sounds, oh it was pure bliss...







Beautiful mountain view behind our tent site...



Kids wading in the creek Friday morning before we headed out rafting...



;)



We stopped for a picnic lunch along the river. And of course basked in the sights and sounds of the Nantahala River...



Saturday evening I also has the wonderful opportunity of joining Justin's family for an evening of bowling. I'm not very good at bowling, but spending time with Justin's family was awesome....



We had a pretty bad storm roll through Sunday afternoon. It knocked down quite a few branches, and caused several around here to loose power...



I thought I would be crying the next morning. I thought for sure my sunflowers were destroyed in the wind. But praise the LORD! Only 2 stems snapped, and the rest are blooming more beautifully than ever...





Independence Day dawned bright and early. Before sunrise to be exact. Me, Justin, and my brother Noah set out early to watch the sun come up over the Atlantic...









That afternoon our church held a softball game/cookout, followed by a trip to fireworks on a riverfront...













The rest of this week looks to be a busy one as well. I am in charge of arts and crafts for our church's VBS in less than two weeks. I spent most of today planning that out, and writing a list of supplies we will need. But a lot more work is needed there.

How has your week been? I pray it has been a wonderful one for you! :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day my friends! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Unexpected Blessings...

Wow! It is hard to believe. But 3 months have past this year, and we are now on the fourth: April. I am just blown away at how fast time is flying! They say when time flies by, you're getting old. Guess I must be gettin' old, cause time is zooming right on by, and I have no clue where it's a goin'. :D

I guess one of the reasons it is flying by is how incredibly busy life has been. I worked at my neighbor's two days last week, washing eggs and planting okra. Then another two days were spent teaching my K-3 class. And of course there were the usual daily chores of feeding and watering animals on the homestead, cleaning, and what not.

But even in all the chaotic busyness, the LORD squeezed in so many blessings. Like...


Allowing me to finally get started on planting my flower garden...













Sitting down for a moment, enjoying the spring green, clear blue skies, and having my "little smile" Rhett join me...



Finally finishing all the costumes for our church Easter cantata. And being able to see how well each person acted out their part...



Having an incredibly awesome, wonderful person take the time to help me fold all of those costumes and put them into storage...



Being able to take my sister and her friend to a local park and just be in awe of GOD's creation in the spring...





And being able to attempt to fly kites with my brother( the wind wasn't great for it, but it sure was fun trying)...



Thank-you LORD for all these blessing and so many, many more. I am so unworthy of your loving hand in my life. But I am so grateful for it.

So, what unexpected blessings have you experienced this past week? I'd love to hear how the LORD has worked in your life. :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

This post has been linked to...

While I Wait

Friday night, my Sunday school class had a sort of get together. One of the couples in the class invited everyone over to their house to watch a movie. What a blessing it was to get together with brothers and sisters in Christ, and just enjoy each other's company. The movie of choice was one of my favorites, "Fireproof".

In the movie there is a song. It's called "While I'm Waiting".

I've never really paid attention to the song before. But last night, it just sort of hit me, and I have fallen in love with it. Let me share the lyrics...

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/john_waller/while_im_waiting.html ]
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I will move ahead bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience, yeah

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint

And I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You Lord

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting

Sure I'm not facing anything as serious as the Caleb in the movie was facing. But I have come across some pretty rough patches in my short life. And as life continues on, I will be placed in other situations where I have to wait.

My reaction to waiting in the past has not exactly been the best in the world. But through those situations I have learned one thing. The best way to deal with waiting is to serve and worship the one is in total control of that situation.

HE does know best. HE will bring you to what you need, when HE deems best. HE brings all things to pass in HIS great timing.

Sure, it's not easy, but HE promises strength to those who wait.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

I WILL serve, and I WILL worship while I wait!

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Here's the link to a Youtube Video if you would like to listen to the song yourself.

Christmas 2011 Memoire

Good day friends and family! I pray that you are all having a wonderfully blessed day in our LORD. It's a cold one here in my neck of the woods. You think it would be quite warm as bright as the sun is shining. But alas, there is no warmth. Oh well...

Well, another Christmas is down in the books. What a busy holiday it was. But a blessed one spent with family and friends.

On Friday, I went along with our church's Junior Sunday School class, to deliver food that had been collected for needy families, as well as to do some caroling.



It was truly inspiring to see how much food had been donated. We were able to give non-perishable items to four deserving families. You could so see GOD's hand at work that evening.



Christmas Eve arrived with a trip to the emergency room. 0_0 My cousin sliced his hand with a knife, while trying to open a can of BB's. So me and my dad (mama was home visiting with her dad who just came in from Georgia) headed off to get go get him stitched up.

While we were waiting for that to get done, daddy decided to go visit a man we know, that has recently had some major health problems. With all of his issues, he was not able to recognize us. But we were able to talk with one of his sisters for awhile. She seemed encouraged by our visit, and talking about the LORD's goodness for about an hour with her, is one Christmas Eve memory I will cherish forever. And a great example of how the LORD turns something bad, into something good for HIS glory. :)

Following our annual Christmas Eve tradition of Chinese take-out for dinner, we headed to our church's Christmas Eve service. What a blessing that was! To get together, read scripture, and sing songs on the eve of our Saviours birth! Words won't even cover how wonderful that was. :D

We slept in on Christmas morning. We decided that since we had church in the morning, we would wait and open presents after the service. It was nice to have a somewhat calm morning, and not to have to rush around. :)

Some family photos after the service





Gifts were exchanged. Just as on that first Christmas...



















Cousins all tuckered out



And to end the day, a perfect family photo. I LOVE all of our faces here... ;D

To wrap up this Christmas memoire, I would like to share what I told a friend. Even though it was nice spending time with family, enjoying one another's company, there was nothing to compare with spending time in our LORD's house that morning. Singing praises to HIM, on HIS birthday, worshiping and praising HIM, was just how I think the day should be spent.

Sure the presents and lights are nice, but the real gift is HIM. :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel