On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Followers

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Just a Few Little Things


Little things ...

A group of us were discussing the importance of little things we do without thinking that bring glory to God as we abide in Him. One of the ladies shared the following from an Upper Room devotional. It really spoke to me so I am sharing it to save it.

“Often I fall into the trap of comparing myself to other people. When I look at the impact they seem to have on the world, I feel as if I don’t measure up. One day, when I was feeling inferior, God gave me a new perspective on the familiar loaves-and-fishes story. Instead of focusing on the miracle itself or on the boy who offered up his lunch, I thought about the woman who might have made the lunch. . . To her, these must have seemed such small, ordinary tasks. How could she have anticipated that the meal she had packed for her son that day would have such eternal significance?
“That reminded me of the many ways that God takes our small efforts and uses them to feed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So when I feel that I should be doing bigger things with my life, I remind myself of the loaves and fishes. My job is to do the tasks in front of me. God’s job – God’s delight – is to use them to feed the world.”

God takes delight in everyday things we do when we are living for His glory ... aiming to please Him with our lives.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Colossians 3:23

I've been busy learning to make different kinds of bread. It is a fun and tasty exercise and so far I have made tasty buns a few times, wheat rolls, cinnamon rolls, French bread, and honey oatmeal wheat bread with my new Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I enjoy working with the dough and watching it rise. But alas, I am also seeing the roll around my middle is expanding.

French bread in the oven

Yummy good garlic toast


Honey Oatmeal Wheat


Breakfast toast

And I noticed I had pictures that haven't been posted. I definitely want these to be included in my photo journal.

Love this pair!

and their sweeties,
Hunter and Lincoln
So precious!

Special times with Daddy





Listening to their accomplishments

Noah is memorizing all the names of the presidents and Sara sends me a video of him reciting them. These are snaps from the video. Love watching his expressions as he searches his memory from time to time. He has a mind like a steel trap.

And I found these pics on DH's camera from Christmas.

Here's what you do.
Steady.
Get ready.

Get set.
GO!

He's adorable even with pie in the face!

Sometimes life is messy. It certainly isn't perfect here. But I sure do love the life God has blessed me with.





Friday, February 24, 2017

Friday Foto Friends

Friday Foto Friends!



These kids are so lucky!

They get to enjoy boating in the middle of winter because their Oma lives on the lake in South Texas. Now they do look a little chilly here, however, just this past weekend, they were skiing!!! Wow!

Meanwhile, back here in our part of North Central Texas, it was cold enough for a sweater a couple of weeks ago and our church hosted a luncheon for us who serve. These luncheons are always nice and show appreciation to all the volunteers. I love serving my church and the people there ... especially the children. It is my privilege.




Brother being silly with his sweet sister.

We had a really fun time at our table!

One of our Hodgepodge questions Joyce asked the other day was whether we held on to old clothes that we were still wearing. That question reminded me of these for some reason. Does anybody remember the wraparound skirt? Mother made skirts for my sister and I was so proud wearing it. They were made of denim and they were our favorites for the longest time. We had a red checked blouse to wear with ours. I'm sure this was probably the pattern she used, but our skirts weren't reversible.





The two pics above are not my photos, but I am enjoying and saving them from a Facebook page that is so sweet.

Spring is springing here.
We are seeing redbuds, daffodils ... and weeds in the neighborhood.
Our jasmine are in full bloom right now.

Tears
let one out ...

and the others blindly follow suit.



One day ...


Thank You, Father.


Until that day ... just a reminder.


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

A Fishy Hodgepodge

Fun questions from Joyce today and she's fishing for some answers from us. 





1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven't been fishing is that something you'd like to try?

Daddy took my brother, sister and me fishing up and down the creek by my grandma's house in Northwest Arkansas. We caught several little fish and kept them to be able to show Mom and our grandparents our success of the day. Then we buried them. Guess we should have thrown them back because they weren't big enough to eat. That day it was just all about being together and the memory is still fresh in my mind. The only other time I've been fishing I didn't catch anything. My Dad so wanted my brother to like fishing and hunting, but it wasn't Phil's thing. The one time Daddy got him out to a pond to fish was a bad experience and a water moccasin kept following them around the pond. My brother saw that as a curse and a sign that he should never fish!


Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, fish or cut bait...which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?

I can't think that any of those apply at this time in my life unless it's fish or cut bait ... and that I don't even want to try to explain. 

2. What's something you're always fishing for in your purse, wallet, desk, or kitchen junk drawer?

Always looking for my sunglasses in my purse or a twist tie in the kitchen junk drawer. 

3. Your favorite fish tale or movie?

Fish movies ... Flipper was just okay. I'm embarrassed to admit that many years ago, we saw A Fish Called Wanda and thought it was hilarious, however, these days, I wouldn't. So that leaves me with Finding Nemo. A group of us from work went to see that movie together and had a blast laughing and being silly! 

But my favorite fish tale is Jesus multiplying the five loaves and two fish to feed all those hungry people. Now THAT is a great fish tale and wouldn't it have been an amazing thing to witness as the disciples distributed the fish and bread? 

4. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Explain why you chose your answer.

Sunrise. The morning finds me at my best, ready to start the day, bright with optimism, and looking forward to either getting done what needs to be accomplished or simply enjoying the morning hours. 

5. What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?

This sweatshirt from 1978. I love it! Happy and cozy. 


My Squarehead Selfie!

Got DH to take this one.

6. We've got one more month of (officially) winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Are you feeling the need for a getaway? What's been the best and worst part of your winter so far?

For me, the worst part has been that we really didn't get to experience any winter. The best part was during the months of November and December, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both months brought unexpected surprises and memories for which I was very thankful. I don't feel the need for a getaway just yet. The most important priority is to get DH well and then we can make some plans. We have a trip scheduled for April, so hoping we are fit and fiddle to go. 

7.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge lands on National Margarita Day...will you be celebrating? Frozen or on the rocks? Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what's your favorite JB tune?

No margaritas here, but if I were celebrating, it would be on the rocks. I only know of one Jimmy Buffet song: Margaritaville. It brings back vacation memories from the summer my husband died. My nephew put together a video of that vacation and part of the background music was Jimmy Buffet's song. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We ate at a Jimmy Buffet restaurant in Louisiana somewhere, I think New Orleans when we did our Mississippi River Cruise. 





Friday, February 17, 2017

Friday Foto Friends and a Medley of Pics

Time flies when you're having fun ... when you're busy ... when you're just idling ... or just hiding. So, except for Valentine's Day and the Hodgepodge, a couple of weeks have passed now since recording anything, trying to keep track of events just hasn't been the top priority. So now my Friday Foto Friends has become a medley of happenings from the past couple of weeks!! ;-)






The sunsets last week were stunning and worth stepping outside to get a pic.

We went to visit our daughter and family February 3. They were having a big surprise party for our son-in-law's mother, Sue, as it was a big birthday for her - 65! What a nice party it was and made me a little misty-eyed because she has not only been blessed with a wonderful family, but has been fortunate to grow up in a town where her parents and grandparents and even great-great grandparents grew up. To still be there with all her children and their families and the children all being part of that family circle just seems so idyllic to me! Having moved around several times as I grew up and losing track of people from my younger years and then even moving away from my family and high school friends, it hasn't been possible to hold on to life long friends. (I'm not complaining, just saying.)

At home before the party, taking care of business.
Brady is a most responsible boy and so disciplined.
Here he is feeding the fish AND the eel.

Brady also takes care of the dogs and does other chores around the house. His discipline includes being a very healthy eater and I have said before that he will turn down sweets for fruit. At ten years old, he even keeps a food journal, is an all around athlete and, of course, is a straight A student, as is his brother Noah, and his cousins.


The eel creeps me out. I've never seen this much of him before.


Noah is demonstrating a few moves against the punching buddy they got for Christmas. Having this fellow around gives the boys a place to vent out their feelings rather than against each other.

Cousins at the birthday party.

Here is the whole family with Sue, the birthday lady.

Sue with her husband and three sons.

Sue and me.
She was truly surprised and moved by this wonderful turning out for her celebration.

Noah looks like the guy from that movie Up.
At least the balloons didn't carry him away. They were
weighted down with blow pops.

My DH just keeping an eye on everybody.

On Saturday, we had fun playing cards, Monopoly, and went to see the movie Monster Trucks, which Brady declared was the best movie he had ever seen!

Last week DH and I went to see A Dog's Purpose. Now that was really an enjoyable movie. We both laughed and cried and I couldn't believe it, but I actually shouted out loud and we applauded at the end. Such a sweet and easy on the eyes movie. I now have the sequel, A Dog's Journey on our Audible collection and we will be listening to that.


Amy's Razor

Amy also had a birthday and what she wanted was a razor like the kids have so she could ride alongside them. I was happy to grant that request because I thought it was such a great idea (since I too had wished I could keep up with them.) Here they are. Too bad the lighting at the restaurant parking light wasn't that great, but she loved the razor scooter. The following Saturday the kids came over and Amy let me borrow it to ride to the park with them. Sooooooooo now, I have experienced the hover board and the scooter and that is enough for me. I think I had best take care of my arms and legs and body so I can take care of DH.

At the park teaching a 2 year old how to steer her Barbie car!

Now I have saved what I think is the sweetest for last. The Friday before Valentine's Day was a Daddy Daughter dance and it was Kate's very first one. I love it and the way Jason was so sweet to make his little girl feel extra special for that date.

Who's at the door?

It's Daddy with flowers for Kate.

Dad thought of this himself with no prompts from Mom.

This picture just moves me.

And they are ready to go.

Jason is one of the most tender hearted and
gentle giants I know. How precious.