Celebrating 23!

We were invited to be part of the celebration for SJ tonight-I consider her to be my adopted daughter. Today she turned 23! We have known each other for quite a few years and she has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people's lives. She is a young woman that loves the Lord and it shows in all she does. She is getting ready to leave for Israel-she feels that Lord telling her she needs to live there. She will be missed but her mama and I talked tonight about how we will miss her but you want your child to be where the Lord wants her to be.

Her mama-Kelly-is the hostess with the mostest and knows how to throw a party. She has a business "Dear Jane" and if you need to throw a party-she can do it beautifully and tonight wasn't any different. Her theme was Adventure and travel and all the little details added to the party.

The food was yummy-we all loved the cake pops, and the slaw, and the chicken salad, and the spinach dip!!

Kelly and I are both crazy about cupcakes so of course there were cupcakes to eat! SJ made them!

The travel theme was carried out through all the decorations. It was cute. She got cookies from Pastries by Design in the shapes of planes and suitcases! And we all had small suitcases filled with candy as favors.

It's fun to celebrate together with friends, one day at a time.

We celebrate births, anniversaries, weddings, and many other events. I think about how we will all be together one day and the celebration will be bigger than any party we could ever throw here on earth. It will take place in Heaven and those of us that are saved will all be there to take part in it.

Revelation 5:11-13

 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

   12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

   13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Happy Birthday Sarah Jane! ♥ ya!

New Places~

This weekend I was able to visit some new places and try some new things.

Yesterday Bethany and I were able to visit a new Farmer's Market in San Marco plaza. They have a lot of nice booths-over 35 vendors with things such as fresh salsa, sift bakery with great muffins, and Blissful Essence-natural soaps and scents. We bought some hibiscus tea, 2 kinds of salsa, and a couple of muffins.

This is San Marco Plaza~

This is some of the items that Mary carries with Blissful Essence-she is careful to use natural products and discloses all of her ingredients. She is big on making sure that everything smells GOOD!

This vendor sells and show how to have patio gardens

This is Venetian coffee-roasted right down the road in Venice. They even have a San Marco blend made especially for our area. I plan on trying some soon. It was a beautiful day and fun to walk around. You can get your fruits and vegetables here as well. They even have live music playing as you walk around. Part of the proceeds that the vendors make here will go to a charity. That was a fun first for us on Friday.

Tonight was another new place. A few girls got together and went out to dinner to Ichiban for dinner. It is well know for their sushi but I stuck with a plate of sesame chicken and rice.

You can order exactly what you want-tempura or sushi. The food was good and we enjoyed eating and talking. When we left there Jen asked if I like SweetBerries. I had to admit that I have NEVER eaten there. I thought the car might tip up on 2 wheels as she whipped into the parking lot for us to get dessert!! :)

I had a "concrete"- vanilla custard with carmel and heath bar! It was delish!  Can't believe it has taken me this long to eat there. Then again it may be better that it has taken me this long since it does have a few calories! It's fun trying new places and new things -enjoying life one day at a time! It's fun to get out of the rut sometimes and venture outside your normal routines-it can broaden your horizons. When we thing of new things it brings to mind different aspects of new. We are told of God's love and compassion for us.

 Lamentations 3:22-23:

   It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

   They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

We are also told that when we accept Christ as our Savior we have new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

And we are told that after Christ comes back there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1 

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. 

New can be exciting! Try something new this week!!

K5 Pomp & Circumstance

Tonight I was able to watch C.C.S. K5's class graduate and it was a cute and fun evening!

They shared what they have learned over the past year and it is wonderful how they learn their sounds, count their numbers, and can read by the end of the year. They did their pledges, quoted their verses, and sang their songs! They did a great job. Then the little 4 year olds did their part and they did a cute job also.  The younger ones like to find their families and wave! They are a little more active but they all said their lines and sang their songs with such exuberance! I was there to watch 2 special little girls. One was Brooklyn in K4! She has come out of her shell and was so sweet to watch. And then I was there as "Aunt Lori" to see Chloe graduate from K5! She looks just like her mama did at that age and was so cute! 

Aunt Lori and the graduate!!

Nana and Poppy!

Mom and Dad

What kind of party would it be if we didn't have cupcakes!!

 My friend Lori O is a wonderful teacher that shows genuine love to her students.

Teaching is a responsibility that we have all been given in different aspects. As a parent I am responsible to teach my children and the church and school are there to assist me. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7:

   And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

   And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

 My prayer is that I have taught my children well and that they will love the Lord with all their heart, mind, body, and soul first of all and then strive to be the best that they can be one day at a time and teach those around them about Christ and His love for us. 

Slow & Steady to the Finish

A couple of weeks ago I was able to go and walk the beach one evening. While walking along the sand I came upon this turtle nest.

A mama turtle has the instinct given to her by God to lay her eggs in the sand. After incubation the eggs hatch and the little turtles make their way to the ocean. Most turtles are not known for their speed. We all know the fable of the turtle and the hare. The turtle was slow but steady and he finished the race.  This is how I should be in my life and walk. My life is compared in the Bible to a race. Christ's desire is that I finish "the race" strong. 

2 Timothy 4:7 

I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

Hebrews 12:1 

[ Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith ] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Patience, endurance, faithfulness, and commitment are just some of the qualities that we should  practice. The race won't be complete until we reach heaven and we must continue to run until that time. Be faithful and consistent and keep running!

Servant of All

This is Dillin. He is living right now with one of our church members. He is in training and he so far seems to be doing a wonderful job. His "person" volunteers at the South Eastern Guide Dog where Dillin lives. Right now he is in training to become a service dog for someone who will need his help. He knows that when he has his blue vest on then he is "working". He has been to church 2 times now and you wouldn't even know he is there-he is so quiet. Training him takes patience and time. The end result will be a dog that will be of service to someone. It made me think of how I could parallel Dillin to how we are to be to others. His goal is to be a "servant" to a human. He will be able to assist in different ways. 

Christ came and His goal was to be a servant for all of us. He was our example in showing us how we should be for those around us.

Mark 9:35

If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 

Our goal on earth should not be to get the most "stuff" here or to try to get ahead-life here on earth is only temporary. God will bless us with all that we need and even our desires if we are in tune with Him. Our goal should be to share the gospel with all those around us. We heard tonight in church that humility and pride are incompatible. In order to be more like Christ we need to be submissive to Him, humble in all we do, and willing to put others ahead of ourselves. A children's song comes to my mind- "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart! J.O.Y. =Jesus, Others, and then You! 

Love Them Even in the Little Things

Sometimes it's just the little things in life, like a warm chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk, to make a good day even better.

 It only took a few minutes out of my night to pop these cookies into the oven and have a plate full for my family to enjoy. It's just a small thing to show my family that I love them. They love chocolate chip cookies and I want them to know that I love them enough to know some of their favorite things and am willing to make them for  them. Do we take the time to get to know the likes and dislikes of our family? I try to make one dinner a week that is either my husband's or one of my kid's favorite meals. Have you thought about how your family would feel if you always cooked just what you wanted or only bought grocery items that you wanted? I don't want to be selfish-I want to love my family and put their needs and wants in front of my own. Just like Christ did for me! He left Heaven and came down to live life on earth so that He could know all the things that I have gone through. He then died on the cross for my sins-He didn't have to do that -He could have been selfish and stayed in Heaven and we could all die in our sins, but He didn't and I am so thankful!

Philippians 2 :5-11

 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

   6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

   7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

   8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

   9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

   10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

   11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Take a moment and let your family know that you love them one day at a time, in word and in action.

As the Deer...

As we were driving through a neighborhood the other night we came across this deer standing next to the street. He wasn't afraid of the car and allowed me to take a few good pictures of him. I realize when I decided to post this picture that I correlate a lot of my pictures to songs! I love to sing! What's even better is when I get to sing songs that are written from scripture. And that is exactly where this song comes from.

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength my shield, to You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire.

Psalm 42:1  " As the deer panteth for the water brooks, so panteth my soul for Thee, O God. "

I love where we live-we have a lot of wildlife that still is visible in our neighborhoods. It reminds me of all the   varieties of animals that God created.

Then I think of what the verse says and ask you the same question-Do you "long after the Savior"? My desire is that the more time I spend in His Word and talking to Him the more I will want. My prayer is that we are never satisfied-that we always thirst for more. I am reading the Bible through chronologically and am loving it. I have learned so much more and have been able to see how the different books fit together in the history of the Bible. Challenge yourself and strive to be closer to the Lord each day of your life, one day at a time.