Just following Jesus in my real life...

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Bear One Another's Burdens...

We had a girl's group in the church I grew up in and this verse about bearing one another's burdens was our theme. The need to bear the burdens of others is something important to remember, but, obviously, even more important to take action and to do. But, lately I've been thinking about the fact that you can't bear someone's burdens if they won't let you-if they refuse to share the load.

For many of us, reaching out for help when we need it is a struggle. This is especially true if you are raised in an atmosphere where self sufficiency was emphasized and weakness was discouraged. Pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps may have then become your default setting. But, what happens when that doesn't work-when you don't have the strength to pull yourself up-when you can't even find your dog gone boots, much less pull yourself up by the bootstraps?

(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, May 20th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Birthday week...

All three of our grandsons have birthdays in May.

The day before our oldest grandson turned ten his little brother was born.

We had his tenth birthday family gathering and cake in his mama's hospital room!

Last week they turned fourteen and four.

My daughter hosted a birthday party and barbecue to celebrate.

The weather was beautiful and all of the grandkids played outside til late in the evening.

For our four year old grandson's birthday, one of his gifts from us was swimming lessons.

I got to take him to his first lesson.

He loved it!

Our youngest grandson will have his first birthday next week.

Time is zooming by too quickly!

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY

Monday, May 14, 2018

Keeping thanks on my lips...

"Every breath's a battle between grudgery and gratitude

and we must keep thanks on the lips

so we can sip from the holy grail of joy."

Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

I continue to count my thanks,

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#10,728-#10,751-

5-7-18-

-the birth of my husband's great nephew

-Shane and Shane's Psalms Live album

-fresh salmon for dinner- a gift from our friend from church

-the hubs and I enjoying tea outside on the patio as the sun was going down

5-8-18-

-a refreshing spring rain and then the sun came back out

-potato salad

-our small group's prayers

-God's protection over our church building when the businesses

around us flooded due to a blocked sewer pipe

5-9-18-

-an encouraging coffee date

-praying with my daughter about their house search

-hugs from my grandson

5-10-18-

-a good spring rain to water our new plants

-the God Who hears us and knows our longings

-hugs from my hubs

5-11-18-

-our second grandson's 4th birthday

-surprising our oldest grandson with lunch and shopping for new shoes,

(his 14th birthday is the day after his little brother's 4th birthday)

-a family barbecue-all the grandkids together!

5-12-18-

-our oldest grandson's 14th birthday

-taking our grandson to his first swimming lesson

-a phone visit with a friend

-free tickets to the Sleeping Beauty ballet

5-13-18-

-yay! I thought my lamp and vacuum both "died" but it was just a tripped plug

-Mother's Day texts from my girls

-a relaxing, summer-like Mother's Day

still following,

Saturday, May 12, 2018

The God Who sees you...

I can't see or know you who will read this post on the day it is published, which will be Mother's Day. Neither do I know the circumstances that you find yourself in and the way that influences how you feel about Mother's Day.

You may be a busy young mother right in the thick of parenting.
You may be broken hearted that you don't have children, and Mother's Day is just a cruel reminder of that fact.
You may be grieving due to miscarriage or the death of your baby or child.
You may be single and wondering if you'll ever have a family.
You may be adjusting to the fact that you are now an empty nester.
You may be a grandparent with a house full of children and grandchildren gathering to celebrate the day with you.
You may be busy with your life and career and can't stand it when people keep asking you when you're going to have a baby.
Your mother may have passed away this year, and this first Mother's Day without her feels unbearable.

Whatever your lot in life may be this Mother's Day, you can be sure that God sees you, knows you, and fully understands you and what you are going through. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, May 13th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Friday Faves...Easy Potato Salad Recipe

It's the time of the year for picnics, barbecues and all manner of gatherings with friends and family. This week we had a barbecue with our small group from church and I made a potato salad to go with the hamburgers and baked beans. It's always a big hit. I learned to make potato salad from watching my mama make hers, so it's more a method than an exact recipe. For your benefit, I actually measured the ingredients as I made it this time and am sharing my simple recipe here.