It is the Season of Light. The Light of the world. We don't have a bunch of twinkly Christmas lights in our house. Christmas lights cause me stress. ;o) We do have some and today I shot these pictures to share with you, to remind you that Jesus is the light that warms our world through HIS love and grace!
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My Fresh Find is for cars not equipped with XM/Sirius Radio. Pretty cool!
There are bright spots in every day. Some days we do have to search for them, but they are there. When we are hurting it is hard to focus on anything but our pain. We are like kids in a way though. A good distraction, getting up and getting busy, will take our minds off our hurting and for a while (until we are still or alone in our thoughts) we feel better.
Since I had a needle stuck in my lower back to give birth to our firstborn, I have had back issues off and on again. Since I am getting older I have pain in my knees, my hip, my upper arm, and my fingers. It seems the past week has been pretty miserable. It must be the weather change because I know many with physical hurting and some with mental hurting.
Weather has an interesting affect on us for sure!
God, in his wonderful creation, made all the dots connect perfectly. I'm in awe of that! Even when I hurt I can't help but think about his blessings in my life. "Bright spots."
Miss A's first "school" pictures came in. Her mommy sent me a picture of one of the pictures so I could see. She will get them in an email soon and then the pictures will be better, but getting this was a "bright spot" in my day!
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Tonight we were headed to dinner and to the Wayland basketball games. As we turned the corner I looked at the sunset and I told Clinton to look at it and that I had to turn around and snap a picture. It isn't a great picture, but you can get the idea of how the cold, moisture filled clouds were weighing on the sun filled sky to create an interesting "bright spot."
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Earlier in the day, actually this morning, I saw a tee pee. A real Indian styled tee pee. It sure was a "bright spot" to see it and know the work that went into it. I think thare r scalpin' Indians inside it, too. ;o)
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Then at the games tonight I got to hold baby Brylee and she sure is a sweetie. Karsten gave me his mean look like he wanted to fight me. We have an understanding...he acts like he doesn't like me and he knows I love him! Gotta love a "bright spot" like that!
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My Fresh Find allows your computer area to smell good with this USB fragrancer! :O)
Dr. Garry Manning and his daughter, Tami Manning Keating, sing Light of the World, in our worship time this morning.
Light of the World by Chris Tomlin
O Jesus son of God , so full of grace and truth
The Father's saving Word, so wonderful are you
The Angels longed to see and prophets searched to find
The glory we have seen revealed
You shone upon the earth but who will understand?
You came unto Your own but who will recognize?
Your birth was prophesied, for You were the Messiah
Who came and walked upon the Earth
Your glory we have seen, the one and only King
And now You?re living in our hearts
Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
In You all things were made and nothing without You
In heaven and on earth all things are held in You
And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where, through the blood you shed, You have made peace again
Peace for a world that God so loves
And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where, through the blood you shed, You have made peace again
Peace for a world that God so loves
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Dr. D. L. Lowrie was our first guest preacher to fill the pulpit in this interim time. It was good, different, but good. God will speak to me through other preachers, but right now I sure miss my Hart family!
The message was appropriate for us. The scripture was from the 123rd Psalm. Dr. Lowrie shared 6 reasons we must watch the Master's hands as he leads us.
1. We must look up to our Master's hands
2. We must focus on the Master's hands
3. The Master's hands will supply our needs
4. The Master's hands will correct us
5. The Master's hand offers protection
6. The Master's hands will bring rewards
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My Fresh Find is this portable play seat for those kids when you go places. So convenient!!!
I came across a few old pictures last night. I had to smile at how much people's looks change...most of time it is for the better or, is it another directive by world measure?
This is Clinton's sister's daughter. She just celebrated her one year of married life. She is a pretty young woman! Congrats to her and her husband on their anniversary!
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On the other side of that family is the son...he is in high school now, but look at him here (on the right)...if he read my blog he might "kill" me for putting this up! LOL
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I found these old Poloroid pictures of my grandfather "Bo" and our son (oh, by the way, that is him in the above picture on the left) priceless...
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Here he is in his rocking chair that his great-grands got him and then with his cowboy hat!
These were taken in 1979 when we lived on Garland Street in Westgate. He was 2 years old.
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Store this Fresh Find right under the sink or in a drawer for a quick sweep up!
A week or so ago as we were driving to the Dallas area and we were blessed to see what I call the "voluminous falling of the leaves" day. We had just turned the curve in Floydada . Texas, and the leaves were all falling at once from this massive tree. It was quite beautiful really. It happens in every direction after a good freeze, the tree just can't hold onto the leaves...it is too cold.
God shared with me that we are like the leaves on a tree. We can hang on in lots of circumstances.Through the valleys and the mountain tops of life he is there for us. As long as we have a relationship with God we can hang on, but when our hearts are cold to him, we fall and are dead.
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Turn on your blow dryer and then use this Fresh Find to store it! Me likey!!!
Today is Chrissa's birthday. Here is a picture of baby "D" and toddler "A" with their mommy!
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Fresh Find calling all shoe lovers!
Today I brought the ornaments in. Well, actually, I had to get Clinton to come home and help me carry them in. Nope, not because they were heavy, but because the metal piece they hang on was too long for me to easily get it and me down the ladder. In my old age I'm trying to not be as risky as I use to be!
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There are 4-8' bars and they are full of lifelong ornaments. Ornaments made by me when I was a young girl, those made by our kids, some from friends, many from family, a few that were bought, and all have a story to tell!
Since we do not have a tree to place them on (by choice) when I do get them out (some years I don't) I hang them from the crown molding that is all around the center living area of our home. It is hard to describe the way our house is designed and I won't post many pictures of it because of safety issues so all I can do is share a snippet of one wall. Imagine hundreds of ornaments from the front to the side to the back to the side of our home. I love it!
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Let me tell you about this art piece. I made it when I was about 24 and the Women's Missionary Union Director of our church. It was Foreign Mission time and this was the 'C' of a huge banner that hung from our balcony at First Baptist Church. It said, "Christ is the Reason for the Season." This letter 'C' is the only letter that had the artwork in it, the Nativity from different countries.
After the offering time during the holiday season the banner was to be trashed. I clipped the 'C' off and had it framed. That was about 26 years ago! Wow!
My dear friend, Sally Eaves, wrote in calligraphy 1 Peter 1:3-9 for me underneath it. 1 Peter 1:3-9 says:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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My Fresh Find are these hanging sachets. You don't see these often.
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Today I drove to Kress to take a picture of an old cotton trailer. While I was in the area I drove through town. I want to share a few of the pictures I took.
I love this sweet church. Someone has taken good care of it through the years. I wanted to go in and worship!
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I'm dreaming of a white cotton candy snow storm! It is actually snowing cotton! I felt it on my face and saw it with my eyes...fun!
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Look at the awesome colors!!! Beautiful!!!
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I know a place, a wonderful place
Where accused and condemned
Find mercy and grace
Where the wrongs we have done
And the wrongs done to us
Were nailed there with Him
There on the cross
At the cross (at the cross)
He died for our sin
At the cross (at the cross)
He gave us life again
This is Shadow, Adelyn's cat. I had to video him standing up firstly, he is almost 3 feet tall. Secondly, he just stood at the door and was giving the Pit Bull, Kane, fits. Right! With a glass door between you and the dog you can be real tough! LOL They actually play very well together. I just found this funny!
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I'm loving me these boots...my Fresh Find. I really like the color!
I spent the past 18 hours on a mission. The Extreme Home Makeover mission in Wellman, Texas. For me it was a most special day and I'll tell you why.
First, here is a picture to prove I was there and we were working...well, I guess we weren't working the very moment we took the picture, but we worked all through the night. These men were the night "in charge" team leaders for EHM. Such nice people! The young woman is Ashley. We worked together quite a bit, very sweet. The room background is mostly whited out because I can't show the inside of the house. The show will air in 6-8 weeks.
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I drove to Wellman (just west of Brownfield, Texas, on Sunday evening. During the early hours of Sunday morning Veronica, Senior Design Producer, asked me to stay to reveal to help them finish up...so, I did. I did not stay for the reveal. The wind was blowing dirt and tumbleweeds everywhere and I was ready to get home not fight hundreds of people getting out afterwards! ;o)
So, let me tell you what happened while I was there. I knew God was nudging me to go to serve this family in the completion of their new home, but it was more than just that. I most likely would have not gone had I not felt strongly that God wanted me there. If you know me you know I don't care about being on camera or seeing TV or movie stars.
During the night I was helping a Lubbock muralist paint her mural and there was a young woman, a Tech student, who started helping and then said she hated to paint. LOL So, I was painting and she sat down on the toilet lid and began sharing about her day and how she had been crying all day. She shared her family story and I had the beautiful opportunity to encourage her in the Lord! Yes, all the work was worth it in those moments. We serve an AMAZING GOD!!!
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I like a little froath on my coffee and hot chocolate and my Fresh Find will allow me to do it myself!
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This weekend Chrissa and Brandon redid their bedroom...well, actually, DID, their bedroom! It seems it was always time for another room until now. So, we went to help them get it all situated. Plus, they will not be here for their birthdays, the 25th & 28th, so we took the opportunity to spend time with them. They will be 30 and needed some comforting! LOL
We got to pick up our sweet 'bag of sugar' from school (daycare) on Thursday and enjoyed her all weekend! I love that God knew her before he gave her to her mommy & daddy to love. He blesses us!!!
It is hard for a nearly two year old to find peace when so much is going on in her home with people in and out with deliveries and everyone concentrating on cleaning, moving, decorating, etc. So, what's a girl to do? Start playing in her mommies "bling"...that's what!!!
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I really love this holiday tie. It must be my Fresh Find today. I believe it will make people smile!!!