Proud to be AMERICAN!

Yesterday as I went to the Military BX and Commissary,
I was struck anew, at the 'normalcy' of patriotic messages
on the vehicles in every parking lot.



                   My Favorite

 THIS is Patriotism in ACTION....in Afghanistan and PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN...
OUR HEROES!!!!

Digital Toys allow me to 'Share my Faith'....see test below....

Click on Play Arrow...

Our Precious 'Chuckie/Turk' going to 1st Grade!

Turk with Mom, Melissa Jo     Chuckie IV with Dad, Chuck III 

Authenticity

Sometimes I am asked why my blog does not have more of our 'daily problems' or situations where 'things go wrong' or 'somebody done somebody wrong kind of song' experiences.
Well, of course, this DOES happen and is normal in any life, family, relationship or church.
No culture or race is immune to such.
Actually you can watch TV or read the news for that kind of happening.
In my life and in the lives of the family, friends and people who come and go in our lives, there remains  one constant refrain. 
Our FAITH and experiences with God, our Father, Jesus His Son,our Restorer to our Father, and the Holy Spirit of Jesus who is in our heart and mind constantly and forever,
is the reason we live successfully and happily even when we fail from time to time....
This is the Good News for all of us.
Out of this we live and move and have our being....daily.
In addition, I'm reading this morning from one of my favorite books of the Bible, Philippians the Joy Book.....
This is the way I think, feel, write and live....
Phillipians 4:8 Living Bible gives me my 'heart therapy'......
....."Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.
       Think about things that are pure and lovely, and DWELL on the
        fine, good things in others.
        Think about ALL you can praise God for and BE GLAD ABOUT!!!"

NOW THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!

  

How BIG is Your God?????

The Tale of Jonah and the Whale seems kinda 'un~believeable' ......far~fetched.

Try explaining that one to a curious 5 yr. old!!!!

Yet, I learned this at a early age in Sunday School and just 'believed' without any thought

of whether it was true or not....

Now today I'm reading my Bible and into the 2nd Chapter:verse 10, of Johan it says very clearly

this.....

".....And the Lord ORDERED the fish

to spit up Jonah on the beach,

AND HE DID!"

Takes a BIG God to 'give an order' and have it obeyed, immediately!

YET THAT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF GOD WE SERVE AS THE ONE AND

ONLY  TRUE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE....

Going back to Genesis it began....

just read the very first chapter alone and it says,

Then God said,

"Let there be light."

And light appeared.

Eight times in the 1st chapter of Genesis it says....

"Then God said...."

This is throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelations....

"Then God spoke...and it happened..."

Why should the incident with Jonah be a surprise to us

when it is a 'natural', super~natural, event

for our God?

We serve a  prayer hearing, prayer answering,

Miracle Working God...

Says so in the Bible.

Really the question should not be about 'How BIG God is...'

but should be...

"How BIG is our Faith in God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit

to be GOD completely natural and normal in us?"

My Prayer Today

"Dear Lord, I pray for my areas of 'unbelief' and You alone,

know where I have 'lack of faith', limited faith, wishy~washy faith and 'doubting faith.'

I know that Your Word says that Jesus is the 'Author' and 'Finisher'

of our Faith, so I am depending on You, Jesus,

to complete that which is lacking in me...

I know simply that I  believe in You, Jesus,

so let's get on with the job at hand beginning where I am now, today.

I ask this, in faith, believing that You will finish

what has been started in me, on planet earth.

In Jesus Love, I expect Your usual, unusual

Miracle work in me...

Amen

My Promise

Luke 12:6-7Amplified Bible (AMP)

^{Jesus speaks.....6"}Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And yet not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God.
⁷But  even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
 Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm;
 you are of greater worth than many flocks of sparrows."

Fun Time with Joshua & Dylan aka: JJ & TuTu

Saturday, Charlie & I, had special time with JJ & TuTu, Brittney's two wonderful sons.
Britt was busy so they stayed with us in our home ALL day...
We had previously planned to 'take them here...and take them there' but instead decided to let them see what they wanted to do...
Joshua, the whiz kid, always has his mind on something....now Dylan, wild child, is another story.
I knew he had to be 'worn~out' or there would be too much energy flying around:)
So early morn, Dylan and I went out back by the pool and started a 'cleaning project' in a storage bench, and it all became a teaching lesson as well....we taught  each other.
A tiny baby frog had to be 're~located' to the outside jungle area.   Then a small baby lizard (they are everywhere here and eat bugs etc.) was fascinating to Dylan.
I told Dylan that if the tail of the lizard got broken off, that it would grow back!
Explaining that certain animals such as earthworms, lizards and starfish can grow new heads, tails, and other body parts when injured, opened up a whole day of 'questions'....
I should have known!!!!!
...."MaMa, if this little lizard is lost from his Mommy and Daddy, can he 'smell' where they are?
Or will his Mommy and Daddy 'smell' where their baby is?"
YOU try answering these profound questions that will give 'peace of mind' in truth to a very curious and lively 5 yr. old?????"
Needless to say, we stayed busy, working, talking then playing in and out of the pool with the water hose going wild at 'unlikely' times!
Course we stopped for snacks and ....more chatter.
Big Brother, 10 year old JJ,  was happy being left alone in peace.   Pops was doing 'car work' somewhere....
Finally the energy level  had dropped, mine not his so much, and we decided to come inside and I suggested to Joshua that we watch the family DVD that I had created showing his first 5 years birthday celebrations, back to back on one DVD.
.......He was fascinated at the 1st year Winnie~the~Pooh party, (see pic below on the TV set in background) of the messy little boy who sat in a high chair slinging birthday cake everywhere and hearing Uncle Chad say, "I'm glad this is not at my house!"
I told him that he was the 'center of attention' at all family events (and he saw this to be true) for many years....On his 5th birthday, with his Nena Lynn and Cindy and Pops and I, we took him to swim with the Manatee....oh, how he had grown in 5 years and looked much like he does today...
....He reminded me that we had also taken him recently for his 10th birthday to 'swim with the dolphins' in Cozumel.  JJ wanted to know what he would swim with on his 15th birthday...
Only time will tell.....
Meanwhile, Wild Child, wanted to know about every party, "Was I still in my Mommy's tummy"?

All in all, Joshua seemed to 'fall in love' with the cute little guy that was the 'life of the party' and dressed so cute, and talked crazy, ('Shut Up, Bear!' at Chuck~e~Cheese loud band ordeal. Then 'shut up' bad word!)

Moral of the Story (as they used to say).....Time stands still....FOR NO ONE!!!!
Enjoy the Moment and times with those we love....They are 'priceless'.....  (JJ watching himself)

 "Who is that 'messy' baby?"   ***Click on photo to enlarge

Brother Dylan had fun seeing his 'big' brother as a messy baby...

Dylan, The Question Box Kid!

Dylan says  'Hello to Mommy'..

Wisdom Thoughts

"It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.
One or the other becomes a habit of life."

By: Elisabeth Elliot, missionary in Ecuador whose husband was killed by Huaorani warriors during their work with an indigenous tribe.

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Special & Blessed Birthday to our Chuck in Kenya, Africa....

Chuck,  all your Family wish you a wonderful, happy day of celebrating your life....

We Celebrate YOU!

Think About It!

Interesting sermon from Joel O'steen yesterday...
a few 'profound' truths spoke to me....
.......
"Give yourself permission to have some F L A W S.
No one has it ALL together!
Don't go through life being 'against' yourself!  and
quit 'over~analyzing' yourself!!!!
Start focusing on the 'good'....God knows how to use 'cracked pots'......
Actually,
     WE ARE ALL A BUNCH OF 'CRACKED POTS'...... "
       

Computer set up with Dockie

Lil Chuck arrives with Dad & Christy with airboating in mind
with Chris. One adventure follows another when these guys
head out...

Christy waits patiently while pre-inspection checks are made.

Chuck & cousin Chris discuss problems and solutions of the moment.

Turky places something for safe keeping in his Dad's pocket.

Mother & Son discuss "It will be a quick ride, I promise!"

All aboard Chris's boat...finally it is Mom, Dad on Chris's airboat
and MaMa Faith, Turkey, and Chuck/Pipo on his boat.
It was a wonderful nature ride with those we love...who love
'going fast'....

Girls Day Out

Cindy arrives 'bearing gifts' for my 4th of July Birthday!
She gave me some wonderful, thoughtful and beautiful gifts...
It is always fun and meaningful, to get gifts from Cindy...

Cindy gave Lynn & I coupons for "Free Hugs"....and she
gave them all day...we gave them to each other as well.
We visited the 'Spring' thrift shop...and had fun.

Having lunch at The Lime near Hyde Park....
Britt told us not to go 'there' it was her place that we
were too 'aged' for that place...
So, of course, we HAD to eat lunch there...
And it was great....sent this pic below to Britt at work
saying 'Na~Na~Boo~Boo'!

I believe in a Prayer Hearing
                    Prayer Answering
                               Miracle Working God!

"Yet even so the people kept on sinning

and REFUSED to believe in MIRACLES!"

Psalm 78:32 Living Bible

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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

I Don't Understand

I don't understand how Jesus could take time to go into the desert to fast and pray when countless individuals needed Him....but He did!
I don't understand how He could tell us not to worry about life when times are so difficult.
I don't understand how He could say that sometimes it is better just to sit at His feet than to be up doing things for Him. Or how He could promise rest in the midst of a world filled with turmoil and distorted with pain.
I don't understand how Jesus could play and celebrate and enjoy life, when the world was in the condition it was in.
I don't understand.........but He did!

"The disciples now rejoined Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
He said to them, "Come with Me, by  yourselves, to some lonely place where you can rest quietly."
~Mark 6:30~31
(From: Keep On Dancin' by: Tim Hansel)

Reality Check

This picture above is kinda my 'signature' philosophy!
When I am in a 'funk 'or  a state of melancholy  (as was the case yesterday) my thought process becomes short-circuited.   To my own self, I appear to be seeing the world thru a fog, or from a deep dark 'unreal' point of view....
I AM NOT ME!!!
In this  state of unsettledness others around me can pick up on these 'vibes'....
For example, when the computer gets infected with a virus , everything goes 'haywire' and information is distorted, corrupted, and the system crashes, BANG!!!!
That was me yesterday! (I was on the phone dealing with this very issue with my brother, Dockie)
NOW I DID NOT LOOSE MY PEACE WITH MY LORD, that remained constant even though I was sending 'help' popcorn prayers continuously.
I'm talking about my attitude, my outlook, my thinking!!!!
By evening I was ready to go to bed early just to get this 'stinking' day over with and start a new one 'fresh' and exciting!
LIFE WAS 'OUT OF FOCUS' and I had let it get that way!
It was my own 'doing'....no one to blame here.....BUT ME!!!!
Guess what????
I woke up early, 4:00 a.m. and couldn't wait to get out of bed, read my devotions while enjoying a cup of cappuccino and meditating on the wonderful blessings of life with my God, my family and friends!
I wrote a 'heart~love~note' and put it in my sweet husbands coffee cup for his awakening and then got serious with my 'foolish' self!
Writing this I realize anew  that we human beings absolutely MUST be 'recharged' DAILY!
Now I understand fully why even Jesus, Himself,  had to 'go away to a quiet place to pray',
away  from his 'inner circle' of disciples and the needy crowds of people .
His humanness required it in order to 'restore or sync His soul' back with 'His Father God'!
It is not often that I have a day like yesterday.....I can't remember the last time I've had such....it was a good reminder to me of the value of a glowing, fresh outlook on life that is uncontaminated by the worlds cares, worries, and plain 'ole crap' .
......"Even though I walk through the darkest valley I fear no evil; for YOU, God, are with me."
~Psalm 23:4
So today I am thanking God that this is a fresh start of another day.
I'm reminded of the scripture that I need daily, for this 'Good Life'.
....."the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness."
~Galatians 5:22
This is my  Rx prescription for enjoying the Good Life!

PEACE

My inner peace contributes to a peaceful world.

Not long ago, it was unimaginable that millions worldwide could be in contact with each other simultaneously. Today with the Internet and social networking, we can easily join our hearts and minds in thoughtful, peaceful response to challenging world events.
Even if not connected to the Internet, we are all part of an "inner net"--our oneness in God.
As we hold peace in mind, we contribute to a more peaceful world.
I open my heart and envision peace for families, communities and countries around the world. I consciously contribute to a growing awareness of our oneness. I hold this vision, and I am peaceful in my own heart and mind. I do my part to maintain the inner net of peace that connects all humanity.

"If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

--Romans 12:18

(from DailyWord.com)

Simple Words?...

With Love In You,
               You Have No Need
                             Except to Extend It
















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What I Have Learned In Life

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!

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Our Joshua Shane is 10 yrs. old today!!!

The Family Wishes you a WONDERFUL LIFE, dear JJ!

We are sooo proud of you and all your accomplishments in your first 10 years.

You are loved!



GO GATORS!!!!

TIME ENOUGH

This is a day of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Whenever I seem to be running out of time to do what I need to do, I take a reality check. Starting with this simple observation: There is the same amount of minutes and hours in each day. Check! I am the "master" of my time because I can make choices. Check! I have no reason to feel out of control as I look forward to the next few hours or days. Check!

I gain confidence about being the authority over my time by first starting my day with prayer. Centered and relaxed, I don't fight time; I go with the flow. I think with clarity and act efficiently. I know when to say yes and when to say no. I feel composed, and my day flows smoothly.
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing."--Luke10:41-42

Gift of Love

Testing Blogging from my new birthday gift from my husband!
New iPad2...
I thank God and Family for all of my many blessings of life.....and LOVE!

A Wild & Crazy Birthday, 4th of July Celebration...

Matt brings me a 100 lb. watermelon which was my gift
from Chuck/Pipo...I have  never seen one this big in my life!!!

Jude & Eli, their first experience with our 25 yr.
Grand Cypress Family Tradition...

MaMa Faith, Britt 'Joy Child, and Lynn....What a Blessing .....

Lynn and long time family friend, Donna...They sure have some 'tales to tell' ....and some 'not' to tell....Wonderful seeing the 'new' Donna!!!

Walker & Pat our traveling friends....

Chuck & Family send this delicious Edible Flower Bouquet for
ALL of us every year....

This was the time of the crazies...
Gifts of 'church lady' hats...'I can't see glasses'...
African Safari jacket, Barbie tiara, Lotto Flamingo and on and on....



Happy Birthday America....

My Honey & I....