God's Promises on a Blank Page . . .

Well, it's Friday!! Whew I'm ready to rest. What a busy week it's been, what with all the battling rabbits and flaming sunburns, screaming teens and teens to dinner ~~ I'm pooped!! :)


Last night for supper I fixed homemade pizzas; Canadian bacon and mushroom and Chicken Parmesan pizza ~~ YUM!! We are pizza eating people let me tell ya!! And nothing better than homemade ~~ can I get an Amen?!! :) I had actually planned on having a very simple supper; in fact, Dakota had even said he was going to eat cereal for supper!! (What mother doesn't love that once in a while on a hot summer evening!!) But then a certain young lady came over and so Dakota wanted her to stay and have supper with us, she accepted and I got busy in the kitchen. I wish I'd have taken a pic of that ~~ it looked like a flour bomb went off in there :0) !! But all was well in the end and she LOVED the pizza!!


So what does any of that have to do with my title ~~ well, nothing!! That was free!!


Okay now to the real stuff. Lately I have posted a lot of pics. The reason ~~ God is so good to me and my family. In an earlier post I quoted what our Pastor said on Sunday about the proof of a saved life is fruit not foliage. Well I got to thinking about that in light of our garden this year. This is the first year we have ever put out a "real" garden. And honestly wasn't expecting what we have. But my neighbor is a true green thumb (belongs to the master gardener horticulture thingy-ma-bob) and just loves to share her knowledge with all who are willing to listen. So I have taken careful note of my neighbor's advice and voila ~~ we have a garden!!


But after our Pastor said that on Sunday I got to thinking about our tomatoes. Now let me tell ya these tomatoes are CRAZY BIG!! But if they only had foliage and no fruit they would be worthless. So I got to thinking about that in my own life. As much as I like to look pretty on the outside, if there is nothin' on the inside who cares!! I mean really I am no good to anybody if I am only foliage. So I want God to produce fruit in my life. And we all know in order for that to happen there must be some prunin' going on; cut off the dead so new life can emerge. My fingers are shaking as I type this. I have some experience in this area and I know how very painful this can be. So if this is you right now, and God is cutting off some branches in your life take heart dear one, He does this so that new branches can grow and produce more fruit in keeping with His Word ~~ Hallelujah!!

So for a while I've been in a pruning season. A time when I feel like God is just cutting off some things in my life so new things can grow and fruit and produce a harvest. But it has been painful at times. Obedience is part of the pruning process and sometimes the obedience part really hurts because so often it requires sacrifice and renewing of commitments and dropping off things that were once good, but now are just burdensome, yep obedience is all that sometimes, but so very worth it!! God has so been showing me that lately. Yes He's pruning but yes He's loving me through the process and He's revealing Himself to me through the whole process!! God is so good!!

Well, so what does that have to do with His promises and a blank page? Well, we know His promises are true, and we know that God is faithful. Yet sometimes for me I have to see it on black and white if you will. So I turn to Scripture and see promise after promise fulfilled with a Yes and Amen!! So there's the promises part but what about the blank page and what in the world do the two have to do with each other?

Well, ya'll know that I am a journaler. I have been for a long time; that was not always the case, but has been for a while now. And I am getting ready to fill-up my latest journal. I am not the type of journaler that gets the same kind of journal every time and just dates it and moves on. And you walk into my library and there are volumes of the same type of journal on a shelf. Oh no!! I am the kind of "A-type" personality that must let the journal with all it's blank pages speak to me. So I have various and sundry types of journals, and as I look back and reflect on the different ones I see where I was at that time in my life. Well this is no different. I will be completing my current journal probably in the next few days to a week and the very thought of not having another journal at the ready nearly made me break out in hives!! So off to CPO I went, and . . . .

Voila!! Now who doesn't like a journal with a little bling Huh?!!

So, a couple of things I'd like to point out about this journal. One, of course the aforementioned bling ~~ that is a buckle a real buckle people, like one you could take off and put on a belt if ya wanted ~~ I know too GREAT!!!! And then there is the color: Black and White ~~ I've never had a black and white journal before. But it is very significant to the season I am in right now. God is really speaking to the black and white in my life (no gray area girly no gray ~~ let your yes be yes and your no, no!!) And then a must for every journal ~~ scripture in the pages. Now this one has scripture on one page and then words of wisdom from various authors on the other ~~ GREAT this one will be speakin' to me!! Oh yeah and one more thing, you can't really see it (partially because is etched in the white and partly because these are really bad pics), but it says above the bling, "God's Promises Journal" LOVE THAT!! LOVE IT!! God and I will be doing some serious hanging out in the pages of this journal I can just feel it!! Thank you Jesus for loving me sooooooo much!! I know it's a simple journal, but it is already speaking volumes to me!!

So I thank God for the blank page promises of this journal. I can look back on the journal I just completed and see the season I've been in and the season's I've gone through and you know what I see? The faithfulness of God!! He is good and His love endures forever!!

So let me encourage you today, if you have a journal that has just been lying around and you know you need to pick it up and start; just lay your pen on the paper and let God lead you. It doesn't have to be lengthy or even profound. You don't have to try to think of something to say, just pour out your heart ( and then hide your journal haha !!)

Listen, I know this was lengthy just a lot on my heart today.
I've been getting more comments lately and I LOVE IT!! Thank you so much for all of the encouragement and love I get from you all, and if you've thought about leaving a comment go ahead step out there onto the digital highway and leave me one!! I'd really appreciate it!!

I love you all have a Blessed weekend,
Dawn

Lazy Hazy Days O Summer!!!

Well, I have more pics today!! More about that in a minute. First, yesterday Dakota and his BFF Brandon went to our family friend Georgia's house for lunch and just to hang out. She lives on a farm - w/goats about 30 minutes or so from us. She invited us over to swim in her pool and then she had to a have a minor surgical procedure (mole thingy removed from her leg) so she and I didn't swim, but man the kids sure did.

Now, picture this (since I brought my camera and didn't take a single shot ~~ bad blogger, bad), okay picture this (again :) Georgia and I on her porch on the opposite side of the house from the pool, and the boys in the pool. We were sipping ice tea, listening to the wind chimes, and hearing the laughter of two teenage boys without a care in the world swimming and getting sunburned (oh yeah I do have a pic of that ~~ will share in a moment :) I tell ya it was sweetness for sure. My heart just sang. It was so peaceful and fun ~~ thanks Georgia we had a BLAST!!!

Okay, so on with the pics. . .

So here is Dakota and the sunburn!! Seriously son, where was your mother? Sunscreen boy Sunscreen!!!! OUCH!!

The sentiments of the evening ~~ He's done!! Poor guy!!
Okay, so Dakota and I was in the dollar store (yeah the actual dollar store where everything is $1.00) and we found the sunglass isle. He decided I needed these. Everyone makes fun of my big 'ol buggy glasses, but hey when a teen loves enough to spend the very best (ok it was my money, but it's the thought ~~ it is so the thought), I'm in!! I love my new sunglasses ~~ they make me feel very young - even if I do look like a bug!! :)

So here is the little (okay one of the little) bean eating culbrets caught green-handed in the act!! Shameless I tell ya ~~ Shameless!!

OKay, and then the mighty stick-bearing teen on the loose!! (Okay he did not hurt the rabbits ~~ no rabbits were hurt in the making of this photo :) But boy he sure does like to give it his best HI-YAA to the rabbits and watch 'em run!!
Ahh success!! Rabbit safely away from garden for another moment in time!! Yeah that won't last long!! :) And happy sunburnt, stick weilding, ninja-fighting rabbit, teen ~~ ahhh summer!!
Well, I'm off to the farmer's market and then I have a stop to make (if time permits) that I'll tell ya about soon!!

I just wanted to leave you with our verse-of-the-day (for yesterday :)

Colossians 3:2

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

Its a simple verse with a big punch. Let that one soak in on you today. This is not our home dear ones, we're just passin' on through. God's really been talking to me lately about being sure I keep it all in perspective ~~ I'm a pilgrim just a passin' on through ~~ Praise You Jesus!!

Love you all so much,

Dawn

Really Me? . . . Are You Sure ? . . .

Well, I got a honor today . . .

MY FIRST BLOG AWARD!!

WOO HOO!! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
EXCITED!!!

I want to say THANK YOU to Sweet Sweet Caroline for giving me my first Blog Award!!!

If you have not gotten to know her, please, please, please go over and read her blog. She is one of the most genuine girls of God I have ever "met". (Bloggily speaking of course :)

She is getting ready to go on a missions trip to Japan with teenagers!!

A girl totally after my own heart!!!!!

She is a world changer for God I'm tellin' ya. God's got His hand on her in a big way!!

I've been praying that many in Japan will come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because of Caroline and her team!! To God be the Glory!!

You rock my girl ~~ you totally rock!!!

Pic Posting Mood . . .

Well, it is officially summer around here!! But with all the rain we've been having you think it'd still be April, but we're pressing on. . . because with the rain has brought (for the most part:) some beautiful summer color in the great out of doors!!

So sit back and relax with your fav drink of the summer . . . sweet tea . . . homemade lemonade . . Sonic ... OHH Sonic now there're an idea - okay I'm gettin' off subject - whatever coolness strikes your fancy and enjoy a few pics from our corner of this big 'ole beautiful earth!!

Okay, so these are in very random order . . .

This is our Swiss Chard. I wanted to grow some because it is soooooooo good for you. Well I tried it for the first time last night stir fried w/fresh garden Zucchini (thank you Dena and Brian my sis and B-I-L) soooooooo good let me tell ya ~~ over some brown rice. YUMMY!!

Front flower garden ~~ beautiful hydrangeas!!

Back flower garden ~~ Beautiful Shasta Daisy's . . . all this rain has been good for them!!
And the Lily's (same bed as the Shasta's . . . they hang out together!! :)
This is the good side of our garden :)

Hello BEAUTIFUL sunflowers ~~ my fav!!
There's tomatoes hidin' in them there plants hahahahaha :)
Ahh the garden taken from it's best side!!
Another sunflower ~~ yes they get a lot of air time!! Have I told you their my fav's? :)
Yep those are cherry tomatoes in there ~~ MMMM can't wait to pop one of those babies in my mouth!!

Okay now I told you that these pics were in here randomly ~~ this is what I found when I rounded the corner Sunday night ~~ my dear son sitting reading (fav past time ) and yes that is a bowl of pudding he made with his own two hands ~~ yep been teaching him a thing or two in the kitchen ~~ You go son ~~ you rock my world :)

Okay and here he is Monday helping me in the kitchen. He wanted to grill some burgers he saw on RR and since I'm all about it I said let's go baby boy!! So we donned our apons and away we went.
Oh the apron? Yeah one I made years ago. He put that baby on and wanted to know if it made him look fat. Too funny!! I told him he couldn't put anything on that would do that ~~ you could say he's a running twig~~ Yep that's my boy!!
Okay now the garden from it's not best side. You may be wondering what these are ~~ yep they are beans. They don't really resemble beans . . .
Because they cannot get big enough to produce beans ~~ silly rabbits beans are for people~~ really it's the rabbits!!

So I do realize that this was a whole lot of randomness, but just wanted to share some of our everyday with you. If you read this blog I just want to say thank you. I enjoy so many of yours. They really get me to thinking and praying . . . and listening.

Much love to all who take the time to pass by this way. I actually have a couple more pics to add, but I'm pretty sure that if you've made it this far you're slurpping the end of your yummy goodness you started with. . . :)

Thanks for reading,

Dawn

A Day in the Life . . .

Emilie over at Mimi's posted about a man that took a pic of his day every day for like almost 20 years w/a Polaroid camera. And so she posted a pic of her day and I loved this idea I thought I'd give you a few pics of my life right now in this season.

Before I do, let me preface it by saying that the sermon this morning was absolutely fantastic in a rubber-meet-the-road kind of way. Pastor got right into the middle of life. ~~ We are currently in a series in Luke ~~ now I say currently, but we've been in Luke for I think going on 4 years now. Our preaching team preaches verse-by-verse. So we've been taking Luke one verse at a time, and currently we are in Luke 21. Today he looked at verses 12-19, about the Signs of the End of the Age, and it is an absolutely fascinating and intriguing group of Scriptures. When you study this way the nuances of Scripture really come alive!!

Pastor spent most of his sermon talking about salvation. Now let me just say at the onset here that our church's mission is to share the Gospel. We have been so blessed to see salvation's on a weekly basis in our church for sometime. God has had His hand on this church since it's onset, and our Pastor is very quick to point that out. (He stated just two weeks ago that it is not him, it is ALL GOD!!) He went back to Luke 8 this morning and explained the Parable of the Sower, and what it really meant to be saved and what that looks like in real life. He said what I have heard said many times "The proof of a person truly being saved is fruit not foliage."

Well this got me thinking about my own life and where God has been leading me and my family lately. God has really been working in all three of our hearts. But I really needed to talk this out. So I did what any woman with a husband with a heart after God would do, I went to him and told him how I was feeling and told him I felt like I lacked a boldness. (I'm a very soft person, kind of always have been ~~ very non-in-your-face ~~ but very passionate about the things of God). But I've had a difficult time expressing and really being bold for the Lord. Right now God is giving me a wonderful opportunity to be bold for Him, but I'm having a battle with fear.

As I was sitting there in church today, God was speaking to my heart about being bold for Him, and ways that I can do that and then when I got home this afternoon and was talking to my husband about this, he said the exact thing God had spoke to me in my heart this morning. It was a wonderful confirmation for me. God has been doing that a lot in my life right now. He is working and moving and I am so excited to see where He is leading. And I am so thankful for this Godly man He has put in my life; my sweet husband. He truly is the BEST!!

So now on to the pics . . .

This is my study room. We call it "spare oom" yes from the "Chronicles of Narnia" and I'm so blessed to have a room like this.

I know it is messy but it is so homey to me right now.

Computer, Bibles, and yes ice tea help make this room home :)

This is the book I am currently reading . . . and so far it is GREAT!! I'll let ya know!!

I finished up "The Shack" and oh my word, that book is a post of it's own let me tell ya :)
This is the Bible study that the girls and I are up to our eyeballs in right now ~~ Praise You Jesus!!
This of course if the precious Word of God!! May I never get over it!!
This is my journal ~~ Oh the secrets in there :)
So that is my life right now, and man am I glad!! To read the Word and gain wisdom, to hear God speak through His Word and through His children; truly splendid.

So what does your world look like right now? You really should go visit MiMi and check out that post; pretty amazing!!

Ahh the Little Things !! . . .

Well, as I've written in previous posts, Tuesday was our first Summer Bible study, and I am still just so overjoyed that Abba Father loves me so much. What a joy it is to be His girl. I have so struggled in my life at times with what it means to be His, but He is revealing Himself more and more to me every day; and I do mean every day.

A while back my husband said that we needed to start becoming aware of all the "little" things God does for us in our daily life and giving Him the praise. So I started being more aware, and you just wouldn't believe all the "little" things that have big consequences every single day of our life. He is good and He is gracious and He loves beyond . . . absolutely beyond!!

So I wanted to share a few of the "little" things He has done just this week.
Dakota started Cross Country camp this week and he has been running like a crazy man, and he hasn't had a single problem not one. In the past he has had a lot of trouble with one of his knees (he has Osgood Schlater's), but his knee's have been fine. Also he used to have terrible trouble with getting overheated and breaking out, (then he had to take Benedryl or he would swell up), but this week he has done so good and ran so hard, and he's of course gotten hot but not overheated. We are so proud of him. His team got to go to state last year in CC; it was a great experience for Dakota. He's running to have a repeat this year!! Ahh the little things . . .

My husband came home last night (Thursday) and said that he'd taken the day off ~~ WOOHOO!! He's been so busy at work lately, I'm so thankful he was able to take an extra day off. Ahh the little things . . .

On Tuesday my refrigerator went on the blink - again (yes on our first Bible Study day), so we had to purchase another one. So we went to our local used appliance store and bought one with ice and water in the door. Well, still no ice, but we do have water. Hopefully the ice make will start working ~~ maybe we're missing something. Since we've never had one like this before we're not really sure what we're looking for :) but even with the current problem with the new one, I'm still thrilled to have a refrigerator that keeps our milk cold ~~ Ahh the little things. . .

Well, today (Saturday) Georgia is coming over to cook out and then we're going to watch the local city fireworks. Last year they moved the show to our new high school building, well it is at the end of our street, so we get a front row view ~~ so great!! Ahh the little things. . .

So how are you today? . . . Are you acknowledging the little things in your life? Let me encourage you today. This one simple step has had such huge benefits in our lives personally.

This year is the maiden voyage of our garden.

And so I thought I'd include a couple of pics of our spring planting that my hubby took.

And then hopefully today I'll get a couple pics taken of the current garden ~~ too amazing!!

God is truly AMAZING!! How He takes little seeds and turns them into huge fruit producing plants. . .hmm isn't that what He does with us?! . . . Oh how I hope that's true of me :) I want to be a huge fruit producer for my Jesus!!

Have a very Blessed and happy weekend!! My love to you all in Christ!!

Keep on keeping on and notice those little things . . .Oh how they'll Bless your life!!

Dawn

Oh Dakota . . . You Crack Me Up :)

The rabbits are really enjoying our beans and peppers in the garden to the point that we really have no beans or peppers. So tonight Dakota saw a rabbit go into the garden and asked if we had anything he could throw at the rabbit.

Our conversation:

Me: Dakota you can't throw anything at the rabbits.

Dakota: God have us command over the animals mother. Their not pets!!
Then he proceeded to go out and scare them off!!

Too funny. Baby boy you crack me up!!

When He Shows Up!!

How absolutely humbled I am by the love of my Abba Father!! To love me the way He does is completely overwhelming.



All the ladies came today, and even an extra that I wasn't expecting and I absolutely could not have been happier about that!! So we had seven ladies. We started with lunch ~~ and what a lunch it was; Chicken Enchiladas, Con Queso dip, and Butterfinger cake. Get out of town are you kidding me? Nope seriously ~~ delious!! Thanks for the recipes Melissa (Moore-Fitzpatrick) ~~



It was apparent that God was here from the time the first person walk in the door (Thank you for coming early and praying with me Carrie :) until the last person walked out (Thank you for the beautiful vases/pitchers :) Georgia). He was in our conversation over lunch and in our first Bible study together. I have prayed over this and have been so compelled about getting these ladies together; it is definitely God. He told me exactly which ladies to invite and I can so see His hand in it all!!

I just want to encourage you today, if you are floundering right now, if you just feel like you are not excited about the things of God, if you feel lost in a sea of stuff to do, places to go, and people to see; STOP~~ let God touch you in those places right now. Pick up His Word, read it, live it, breathe it!! He desires to be your all-in-all!! Settle into Him; He will guide and lead you, and the peace you will have in Him will help you get it "all" done.

There is so much I want to write and tell you about, but for now I'll leave you with these verses.
They are not the memory verses we will be learning, but they are the verses God laid on my heart to pray over our dear group yesterday.

Ephesians 3:14-19, 20-21
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpoasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do unmeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

I listed 20-21 seperately because I prayed through verse 19 yesterday, but I so love 20-21, so wanted to make sure you read those as well :) God loves you so much. Don't ever doubt that!! He made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me ~~ What an AWESOME God we serve!!

Blessings and peace to you,
Dawn

Let the Bible Study begin!!

Well hello all. I am as nervous and excited as a new mama about to give birth. That is the best way that I can explain it!! Tomorrow starts the LPM Summer Bible Study, and I about can't contain myself. I've just been having a conversation with God about my excitement and trepidation. I want to be in the center of His will in all that I do in life; from my role as wife and mom to the ministry He has for us, right down to the toilets I clean and the dishes I wash. All that I am needs to be right where He is. I thank Him so much for the opportunity set before me as I prepare the house, lunch, table; everything. He is God alone and my heart is full of expectation to see what He has in store.

If I know anything, I know that He loves completely. Our pastor has a saying that he says frequently ~~ "If ever He loved you, He loves you forever." I know that I am forever loved by Abba Father.

Thank you for your prayers in regards to this particular study and my serious lack of confidence to hold something like this in our home. God has so moved in my heart on this one. Generally before holding anything in our home I am a nervous, seriously cranky, hard to get along with, and bucket of tears kind of gal. But this time has been different. I have not stressed, but now the nerves are kicking in a little, because I know that God is working and I want to be in the exact center of His will ~~ exact center. I don't want to miss a single thing of what He has in store.

Above all else, I want Him to be glorified!! In all that happens in my life, this home and this study, may He get the glory for it all!!

I love you Abba Father, thank you for the extreme privilege of this opportunity. Thank you for trusting me with this. I love you so much ~~ To you my Jesus be praise, glory and honor! Amen

We will be meeting at 11:45 AM with lunch at 12:00 and then our study. I am so pumped!! Thank you again for your prayers and kind words.

In Christ Alone be all Glory, Honor and Praise!!

Love,
Dawn

Weekend Roundup ~~ I'm Exhausted

Well, what a weekend!!



First it rained on Friday like it was never going to rain again!! I'd gone into a local town to take my neighbor to get her truck out of the shop, and decided I needed to make a stop at WM while I was out. Oh brother ~~ why don't I pay attention to the weather? It had rained off and on all day and heavy at times, but it wasn't even hardly raining when I went it. Well, that didn't last. I mean it started dumping rain from the heavens ~~ dumping!! So I got my groceries and headed to the car and I got completely drowneded rat kind of soaked ~~ It was ridiculous!! It even closed our road ~~ what? Crazy I tell ya Crazy!! Dakota was dog sitting at the neighbors while all this was going on. Thank goodness he wasn't alone ~~ nope he had a 4.9 lb toy poodle to protect him :) All was fine in the end, but it made for a harrowing driving experience. Oh yeah and it's suppose to rain again tonight could be 1-3 inches. We are up like 17 inches for the year ~~ wow that's a lot!!



So then on Saturday my hubby and I went to the movies. Yep date day!! Too fun!! We went to see "Prince Caspian". Now let me just say, it was okay. Not nearly as good as the first one, but it did have some very meaningful parts in it. Just overall not as good, and it didn't stay with the book. But still made for a nice date day!!

Then we went to see Chase. I love that kid!! He is finding his way and we are so thankful. He will have our first grandbaby in a little over a month. Can you believe it? We are just thrilled. He and Tonya will be having a baby boy; Sklar Clyde (after Dick's grandfather that passed away last September).

So after that we went and ate at one of my fav's McAlisters Deli. I had the veggie spud. If you've never had one you really should, really ~~ Delious!!

Then we got home and it was the weirdest feeling. We walked up to the door talking and laughing and it is standing wide open ~~ uhh ~~ what do you do with that? My husband always thinks of me first, he tossed me the keys in case I needed to make a get away (like I'd a left him here), but when he got in nothing was touched; nothing. My computer was sitting in the living room and his in the study. We aren't sure if we just left the door open when we left or what. If we did that would be really really weird, because if you know my husband you understand how cautious he is. He doesn't even like the door open when we are here. So we can't imagine that we'd have left it open, but we think that is what happened.

Then yesterday we went to see Dick's dad and had a GREAT day!! Eva (Dick's stepmom) and Leah (Dick's lil sister) cooked out. It was such good food and a very nice day.

I just want to say to my husband, you my sweet, are the most thoughtful, loving and gracious dad I've ever been privledge to be around. I've learned so much from you. Thank you for setting that kind of example. Happy Father's Day baby ~~ You Rock!!

And to my own dad, we don't get to spend much time together, but know that I love you and miss you and hope you are well.

Hope you all had a GREAT Father's day,
Dawn

If You Pick 'em - You Gotta Pit 'em!!

So I guess you know from the title what that means?

Remember these? Yep the cherries I didn't really pick many of but reaped the benefits ~~

don't you love that? Huh yeah . . .

Until this!! It's time to pit ~~ well ain't that the pits (hahahahahahah I crack myself up!! :0)

So I gathered the gang (child Dakota and the Grandmother)

But they had to wear gloves!! Gloves - oh brother!! Come on you two live a little ~~~ get those hands red and cherry pit lookin' ~~ uhh yeah that wasn't happening!! But me? -- no gloves for me ~~ and yes today I am sporting the latest look in cherry pittin' hands ~~ priceless :)

So here is Dakota in his natural state around my mother. These two seriously can NEVER keep a straight face around each other ~~ I love it!!

So here is the fruit of our labor ~ get it fruit, cherries, okay never mind :)

Here is the hired hands ~~ (yep I had to fix lunch and buy ice cream ~~ really now ice cream too)

Okay so my pics are a bit out of order, but here is my mother with her gloves on. She really does have beautiful nails, so we couldn't get those messed up!!

So here is my beautiful mother ~~ always ready and willing to help me with whatever!!

Love you mom!!

So I'm sure you can tell from the pics that yesterday was a really good day!! It is always a good day when you can spend it with fam ~~ I love these two more than I can say!! They're just the best!!

God is so good and I am so thankful for His grace and mercy. God, you my Father are the BEST!! Thank you for always being there, always!! And thank you for this great family You allow me to be a part of!! Thank you God, Amen

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Love and hugs, Dawn

One of a kind Love of my life!!

My hubby has been working 12 hours a day 7 days a week ~~ for now his third week. Hopefully he will not have to work this weekend.

I wanted to share just a few wonderful things about my hubby, and a couple of pics. He is the best ever ~~ really, EVER!! When I say I don't deserve him that is the biggest understatement ever ~~ EVER!!

So some things you should know:

1. He loves God!! I have never met anyone with as much love and tenacity toward God that he has. He has this huge capacity to love and he has shown this to me in incredible ways.

2. He is a man of prayer. He taught me the importance of prayer in my own life.

3. He is hilarious ~~ and this is a point that most people may be wondering about because he is so quiet ~~ I mean if you don't know him he makes you uncomfortable quiet ~~ but really he is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!

4. He loves me Biblically ~~ as Christ loves the church ~~ amazing to be loved like this!!

5. He loves german chocolate cake and chocolate oatmeal cookies.

6. He is the best dad I have ever seen in action ~~ he loves his children w/o condition!!

7. He is the hardest worker ~~ EVER!!

Honey I love you so much. When we started out I had no idea what God would do. You were the catalyst that God used to bring me back to him ~~ thank you for allowing yourself to be used by him.

These two pics were taken on my 40th birthday, almost two years ago (man I'm gettin' old :)

Baby, you are the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on!!

MMM Love this one!!
Oh yeah I had no make up on because 2-days prior I'd had Intralase eye surgery (best $3500.00 we ever spent ~~ EVER!!), and couldn't wear make-up!!

Thank you for letting me introduce you to my hubby!! He is truly one-of-a-kind ~~ and I'm so glad that God chose him for me.

I love you Sweetie!!

Oh Boy am I in Trouble . . .

Uhh okay let me start by saying that, uhh yep I'm in trouble.

My sis e-mailed me yesterday and her and my niece Becca had gotten on the blog to see pics of my day at Big Cedar with them, and uhh well, uhh, yeah I hadn't posted any ~~ Bad blogger, Bad "older" sister ~~ Bad :)

So today is a new day, and I'm turning over a new leaf, and by golly I'm posting those pics today :0)

So here is my adorable "baby" sis!! ~~ Love you Dena ~~

So since I have an adorable sis of course I have an even more adorable neice!!

This is my sis and B-I-L ~~ look how cute they are!! Love you guys!!
Yes and I had to put this pic in there ~~ my fav!!
Okay so here is our summer (rainy) day yesterday. Here is Dakota doing what Dakota does, but for some reason doing it in the living room!!
Oh yeah and this would be why ~~ the eye sore Jumbo Tron!!
Men and big TV's what can I say!!

And then my friend Georgia and I went to her sis's and picked cherries.

Okay, uhh actually she picked and I sat for the most part.

Okay, but the reason is she was up on a ladder - a wooden one - yeah didn't look safe to me :)

But here is the result ~~ thanks Georgia ~~ what a good friend you are!!

Oh yeah but whose going to pit this things? That would be me!!

I hope you all have a GREAT day!!

Take some time to read the Word, study and spend time with Jesus. You will never be sorry you did ~~ He is altogether good and altogether trustworthy!!

Take some time, float down a lazy river, pick some cherries, read a good book, relax it's (almost) summer!!

Love and hugs to ya,

Dawn

Wow that Noah . . Incredible!!

Saturday we had quite a day. A few weeks ago I got a call from my Auntie that lives in Branson, MO and she asked if we'd like tickets to Noah the Musical for $5.00. Are you kiddin' me? Yes YEs YES!! So she got us three tics.

Well, Dick got really busy at work and he was unable to go :( So I got up and went to Big Cedar and picked Dakota up (remember he'd been there staying w/my sis and her fam), and then we went to my Auntie's for BBQ and fun. And fun it was!! I love my Auntie Stella and Uncle Virg so much. They are just great, genuine people!!

We got there and got seated (the place is huge) and it was so very cool. They wouldn't allow pics or believe me I'd have some to show you. I should have taken some of the outside; bad blogger, bad!! :)

It was an incredible show. They had real animals and animaltronics (they called it). The elephants looked so real. It was incredible!! The singing and acting was just superb!!

The best part was at the end of the show. They tell you at the beginning to stay seated even after the casts exits because the show is not over yet. So after the casts left, the ark on stage starts moving. Pieces start moving on the ark and the ark forms a cross and Jesus comes and stands in the cross and gives the plan of salvation ~~ truly INCREDIBLE!! You could feel the presence of God in that place. It was so GREAT!!! Thank you Auntie and Uncle M for thinking of us ~~ We love you!!

I hope you all have a GREAT Monday!! It's suppose to rain cats and dogs here today (how long has it been since you heard that saying Huh? :)

Love and hugs,
Dawn

Oh Good Grief . . . !!

Okay, so how is it that I go to Big Cedar in Branson yesterday, get on an inner tube and float down a lazy river for about an hour and a half and I'm exhausted? Exhausted!! Like wanna take a nap and order pizza for supper kinda tired!! Still tired even this morning! I am pitiful pitiful!! How does that happen? Seriously, no diving, jumping off the side, no chasing my husband or running from my husband as he chases me :) (he was working), no pushing my teen in the water (no he was WAY to cool to hang around ole mom yesterday, there were girls afoot!! :) Oh no it was just me, my sis and b-i-l down the lazy river and I'm exhausted. Oh well, lets chaulk it up to the sun and no lunch ?~~ Ahh the long walk to the Lazy River (about 1/8) mile ~~ Ahh my flipflops ~~ Ahh okay enough excuses could it be I'm getting old?!! Oh NO NOT THAT!! :) (HAHAHAHA) Okay I'm done . . . Good Grief !!

_____________________________________________________________________

On another note, thank you to everyone who has left me a comment or e-mail to encourage me to hang in there with this knee 'o mine!! We really hoped the water would do it a lot of good yesterday (you know all the healthy resistance stuff), but it was really swollen last night when I got home and stretching made it worse, so I just took it easy. We will see where this whole situation leads. I'll be calling on insurance to see if I can even go to either of the facilities my doc has recommended, so I'll be lettin' you know. I serve a mighty God and He is able to do immeasurably more than all I can even ask or imagine (and I've imagined a lot, like being able to hike up Mount Washburn in Yellowstone again ~~ hey I'm ready!!) God is good and He is God and I'm resting in Him.

Love and hugs,

Dawn

Okay. . .Here we go. . .

Well, I'm gonna tell ya today the news from the doc and then we're moving on.

Yesterday was my doc appt for this knee of mine. Just a brief background: I have degenerative arthritis in my knees that I've had since my youth. My first surgery was at 7. So this has been a lifelong problem in some ways. Including the latest surgery in Feb I've had 5 knee surgeries, many injuries, lots of braces, lots of meds and about a ton and a half of ice :) oh yeah and now shots; coritzone and Sinvisc, and my knees still hurt.

The decision was made to have surgery in Feb on my right knee because my kneecap was out of place. So doc did a lateral release and chondroplasty in hopes that all would be well when it healed. Well, after 8 weeks of PT and still a lot of pain doc decided we needed to give this shot series a try. So we did that and yesterday was my follow-up appt. As you know from earlier posts still having pain here doc. Well, I was ready for the next thing. Give it to me doc what you got?!!
Yeah he had nuthin'!! What? Really? Are you kidding me?

We talked a minute, he did the usually poking around on my leg that keeps it inflamed and mad at me for days, and then he looked at me and said what you never want to hear: "We've done all we can do." What?!!

He is really an amazing doc. He has sympathy and tell-it-like-it-is honesty, rolled up in compassion; he is a rare breed this doc of mine. So he proceeded to tell me something I've never been told by a doc in all my years of doctoring; he looked at me and said with sadness in his voice, "This has not been a success." Are you kidding me? The surgery, PT, shots etc etc has failed? Yep that's what he was telling me. So in my desperate need to have this knee out of the pain category I asked him the question that no knee patient really wants to ask, but out of desperation will; what about a knee replacement doc? We know that is where the left one is headed, but lets just do the right one first and get this thing under control. Then he said the second most shocking thing of the day; "It won't work." What? Okay work with me here doc seriously. Nope, not even a knee replacement will work on this knee.

The prob with this knee has to do with the patella and the "extensive" (his word) arthritis that has formed under it. It's pretty much ate up under there; now that is never good!! And they just don't have a good procedure for fixing that. A knee replacement replaces the interior and posterior femoral (bones on the inside and out side of the knee), but not the Patelly (kneecap). Paetella femoral replacements (as they are called in the very techinical med world) are risky at best, and in my case the arthritis is spreading (of course) so in about 2 years it will have gotten in under the new cap as well and then where will you be? Yeah that's not good either. So now what?

Well, he has given me two options: 1. The Washington University in St. Louis, MO ~~ this is a research facility that doc feels is a very good option; he says I'm a perfect candidate for something like this ~~ can anyone say guienna pig? :)
2. The Mayo clinic in MN.

So where am I on all this? Well, glad you didn't ask me that last night !! :) What happened with the lady had the issue of blood after she had exhausted all money and docs (human) possibilities? She touched the edge of Jesus' garment. Reach out girl ~~ Trust me ~~ That is what God is saying to me. Listen I know that is why he gave me that song yesterday, because he knew the news the doc had for me. It was not a surprise to Him!! Thank you Jesus that nothing is a surprise to you!! You know all!!

That is why this song means so much to me. These are the lyrics that I'm holding onto right now: And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home I'll trust in You I will live to love You I will live to bring You praise I will live a child in awe of You Because seriously it's just not about me. People face much worse things in life; I've faced worse in my life, so I'm moving on to face what is before me. I pray that it is not a wheelchair someday but if it is God is God. I will live to love you Father!! I will live to bring you praise!! I will live a child in awe of You ~~ and wow am I ever in awe of You!! You alone are God of all ~~ You alone are wothy Lord and with all I am my soul will bless Your Name!! Yes, I will live to love you, bad knees and all!! Thank you Jesus for loving me. You are the best!! Amen (sobeit)

____________________________________________________________________

So now to the moving on part of this: My baby sis and her family is at Big Cedar Lodge this week on vac so I'm going to drop Dakota off with them to have fun in the sun until Sat and I'm going to spend the day with them today floating all my cares down the Lazy River!!

Thank you so much for reading and listening and for your prayers. It means more to me than humanly possible to relate. I love each one of you that reads this whether I've met you in person or not.
Loving you,
Dawn

His Love . . . Amazing!!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" I John 3:1

Sometimes a good way to describe how I feel in this life is overwhelmed. And yes there are lots of connotations that come with this word: overwhelmed with all the stuff of life; overwhelmed with the pain that is in this world; overwhelmed with the trials we face; overwhelming stress.

There is also another overwhelm that I hope always overwhelms me and that is I John 3:1: The overwhelming love of Abba Father.

I am currently suppose to be writing and posting my CYC study for today on Elijah. Every M, W and F, I do that first thing in the morning and that is what I sat down for this morning. I sit and open God's word and pray and read and let Him speak to my heart and then I write. But as I sat down to do that this morning something truly amazing happened I'll get to that in a minute, but first:

Let me back up to Monday. I had a busy day of housework and stuff. You know the stuff that busy days are filled with. I was on my legs most of the day and at first it was fine, but as the day wore on, yeah not so much, and by the end of the day my knee was so bad that I was barely able to put any weight on it ~~ stinky ~~ So yesterday, I just sat around and caught up on some sewing and blog reading and did very little in the way of stressing my knee ~~ you know walking around and carrying laundry ~~ that kind of stuff, and it was better. It still hurt, but was better. But I found as the day wore on my mood kept getting worse and worse. I was upset that I couldn't do the things I wanted to do ~~ of course the prowling lion was telling me that it would always be this way and that I'd never get better, I'll only get worse and on and on . . . so by the end of the day my mood was sufficiently bad, bad, bad!!

But in the midst of this ever-increasing bad mood I started reading blogs to lift my spirits. I read Faith's blog and she started yesterday's post by quoting Isaiah 55:8-9 ~~ God's ways are not my ways!! Listen I thought and thought about this and wondered why aren't they? Well we all know the answer to that, if God's thoughts were lined up with ours what would happen? Yep TRAIN WRECK!! That is not what I want ~~ I definitely do not need God lining up with me, but what do I need? Yep to line up with Him. His ways are different; they're not my ways; His thoughts are not my thoughts; HALL-LE-LU-JAH!!!

So I know your wondering where I'm going with all of this: well, there was a song that we sang in church on Sunday that I could not get out of my head. I kept singing it all day yesterday, and so I decided I needed to go to all things Google and look it up. Keep in mind I didn't even know the name of the song, and after several failed attempts decided I'd just type in some of the lyrics I knew and voila ~~ there it was 'Till I See You. So I read the lyrics and downloaded the song and hooked up the speakers to my laptop and let it go!! I sang and praised and loved on God!! And felt better, if only for a moment, it was so worth that moment!!

So this morning I got up and went about my normal routine, and was thinking about God's ways not being mine and all that entailed. So as I sat to write my CYC post, decided I'd surf over there and read the post from Monday to refresh and as I did the music came up and I love it because I always wonder what song will pop up next, because I have it on random selection and there it was: Till I see You. Keep in mind that as of yesterday I didn't even know the name of that song and I have no recollection of even putting it on my playlist for that site, I didn't even add anything to the site or playlist yesterday. I just went to the site this morning to read and refresh my memory, and that song came on, you can imagine my surprise! God loves me so much He knew I needed that song in this season so He put it on my playlist ~~ Is that possible? Totally!! He is God and He is AWESOME!! I sang and praised God with tears and rejoicing: Lavish Love Indeed!!

I know this post has gone on and on, but wanted to post the lyrics to this song and then Hillsong United singing it. Fantastic!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this randomness today. I've been really struggling the last little bit with what to do about this knee situation. When you're in pain a lot sometimes it just kind of gets you down. I go see doc today and find out if he thinks the shots have done any good. And to see what the next step is ~~ if there is one in his estimation!! So if you'd like to say a pray today for me as I continue this journey to healing, I would be very grateful.

In Christ Alone,
Dawn

Till I See You

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are the voice that calls the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in you

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all I am my soul will bless Your name

Hillsong United - 'Till I See You

Yikes and OHH Pretty . . .

So first the yikes!! If there is one thing that I could do without it would be mice. I mean come on do they really serve a purpose? Their creepy, squeeky, creepy, dirty, creepy, scary, did I mention ~~ CREEPY ~~ little creatures!! And don't even get me started on rats!! It will send me into a tailspin I may never come out of!!!!!!!! Breathe girl, breathe!! :)

Okay, so Saturday I opened my microwave and this is what I found . . .

Oh Yeah, It nearly sent me over the edge!!!! Now if you look closely you'll see this is not a real mouse, but to me . . . yeah doesn't matter . . . yuk, creepy, yuk CREEPY!!

So how did it get there? ~~ Yep you guessed it . . . The TEENAGER!! Oh yeah he thinks its funny to nearly send his mother into cardiac arrest!! Oh he is hilarious!!

And then Sunday as I was making my husbands lunch (and did I mention at 5:00 am), I pulled his water bottle out of the fridge and something fell off of it. I thought it was the lid, oh no it was this dad-blasted, CREEPY mouse ~~ it liked to send me to the rubber room!!!!!! Breathe girl, breathe!!

Okay so enough of the mouse. HALLELUJAH!! I'd like to show you a bench that my husband has used as a night stand for years. After looking at the pics of my living room that I posted last week, decided it needed some help. . .so I rescued the bench from my husbands side of the bed, gave it a dusting, put a pretty little wicker table in its stead (yeah it's okay my husband doesn't mind :), and put it here with the diffuser my son got me for Christmas and a tray I picked up at Michael's for 1/2 off, and then on the bottom is a decorative candle thingy (very professional word :) that my mother-in-law got me for Christmas a lonnnnnnnggggggggg time ago, and put it under my window looking out the at backyard: what do you think!! I think I like :)

Now this is afore mentioned back yard (porch).

And I just had to show this . . . this is the hosta in my front bed. I only have one and it was so teeny when we moved in four years ago (Sunday). Look how ginormous it is now!! It looks so pretty just had to show!!

Remember to take some time today to thank God for the little things and the big!! He is worthy.

Dawn