Blessings, Suzanne

"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:12 2015 Mother/Son Dinner...1950's Sock Hop! Shades Mountain Baptist Church I was thrilled that this was a dress-up dinner because I actually had a poodle skirt my Aunt Willete had given me years ago:) I borrowed a scarf from Mom and red vans from Abby..all set. So when I came bopping in the kitchen singing "Grease is the word, is the word, that you heard, it's got move, it's got" (you get the picture), and meet my date, he says "Looks good, Mommy but are you SURE everyone is dressing up?" And until we pulled up and saw some poodle skirts and scarves, I think he was a little reluctant to his peppy date in the time warp! Haha! This dinner has been a highlight each year, a special time for Luke and I. And each year he has behaved better and better, those first...

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,  whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought  with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Water and Juice ready to go! And I began again. I got the juicer out of the cabinet two days ago in anticipation of using it. I finally fired it up this morning and made quite a healthy drink for breakfast(yes it is collard green, green). I filled up my water bottle, determined to drink more water on the road today. Normally in January I go on a sugar detox for the whole month, eat more vegetables and fruits, limit carbs. And then I burn out. So this year, I am gradually moving into some small changes. That is the theme, ya know:) You have to start somewhere. I started by making the choice to eat better today.  It's amazing how much better you feel when you eat good and drink plenty of  water. It is so important to me to stay healthy an...

"For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36 Luke's sunflower he planted from seeds in 2013 A very wise woman, I know and love, shared this saying that had been passed down to her... "Be thankful that you did, not regretful that you didn't." I have carried that with me day after day. To try and live without regrets. When I feel I need to make that call, text or email a scripture, stop and talk or visit someone, I try my best to do it right then. And every time that I follow through, whether I really know the reason or not, I am thankful to God I did.  Life is but a vapor " Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes," James 4:14 (NIV) Who can you be a blessing to today? When we take the focus off ourselves, it's amazing how life seems to have so much more meaning....

" The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you." Deuteronomy 23:14 Discipline yourself to: 1. Seek the Lord every morning  2. Do one thing today you have been avoiding 3. Finish what you start  4. Embrace the down time  5. Listen and know that still small voice  6. Live thankful  7. Do a weekly Check-up  8. Eat atleast one piece of fruit daily  9. Be intentional  10. Do one project this season  11. Stick to the List  12. Slow down and Pay Attention  13. Wait  14. Do a weekly Check-up  15. Allow time for Adjustments  16. Learn a little something new each day  17. Take time for things you love to do  18. Know what season you are in  19. Look up daily  20. Live out your freedom in Christ daily   21. Do a weekly Check-up 22. Celebrate big and small things 23.Always look back and see the hand of God 24. Relax 25. Make time for your friends 26. Give God the Glory f...

"But his delight is in the law of the  LORD,  And in His law he meditates day  and night." Psalm 1:2 Luke (6) and Abby (9) Alaska 2009   I had already taken another picture to put on this post and then I saw this one. Oh, the turn around from yesterday's post and my, how little Abby and Luke were then. This was taken in Juneau, Alaska on a cruise we went on for my parent's fiftieth wedding anniversary. We were gone two weeks which gave me some time (while the kids were very occupied) to begin to really look ahead, after months of uncertainty and make the decision, to move on.  Moving on is a big step . It doesn't mean you forget where you have been, it just means you create a space for what God has planned next in your life. It is a little uncomfortable yet exciting at the same time. God never meant for us to stay comfy anyway, why would we need a Savior if we could do everything ourselves?  I am at that very same place. Now, with taller ...

" Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrew 13:8 Celebrating six-years cancer-free... 2009 After Climbing to the top of the Mountain in Alaska 2015 On the Calm Shore of Edisto Beach, South Carolina The very same God who was with me in January 26, 2009 is the same God with me today as I am without words to express my love for HIM. I raise my hands to the heavens and as I look at the picture, I am reminded of how very close the Father is to me every day, in sickness and in health. Mountains, Oceans and Valleys. Carpools, church services and cleaning house. He is with me. He is with you. The same God, forever. This sixth year I don't come from a wounded place but one of great wonder and excitement of all that is ahead!!! I knew from this very day, six years ago, that this was way beyond me and that if my healing was to be on this earth, HE would be able to use this for His Glory. It was a win-win situation for me.  To LIVE h...

"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths  of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3 We couldn't resist stopping at the Country Store Thank you Lord Jesus for restoring my soul this weekend.  And now,  Shannon and I are  back in our separate states,  back with our families,  but already texting (smile)..... Until next time, Shan... it will be hard to beat this one!  I am sure we can pull it off! I loved every single minute! Truly, Life is a BLESSING!!! Day #25 Discipline yourself to make time for your friends Blessings, Suzanne

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,  rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38 After a day of rain yesterday, the sun was so nice ALL day today! Edisto Beach, SC 2015 Day#24 Discipline yourself to relax Blessings, Suzanne

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter  and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 8:21 We made it to South Carolina... Forty Two Celebration Time (Take Two) Wait a minute, you mean we are not twenty-four...haha....we kinda had to do a re-take.. Twenty-four Celebration..opps...(Take one) When I laid my head down on the pillow last night, my mind began to think of all the very fun times Shannon and I have had over the years. The second half of the story from yesterday is the best part. At the end of my junior year of high school, Shannon and I got together, I could drive myself now to Atlanta. So, I could go and see my Memaw and Papaw and Shannon in my own car, way cool! We really connected again that summer, just like we did in preschool. Now, I see that it was ALL the hand of God. I wish that I had seen that part of it then, (HIM) but you live and learn, I can thank Him now: He is a forgiving God and He waited on me." I love all who love me. ...

" Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. 10 If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he's in trouble." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Lunch in Douglasville,GA with Susan and Betty Today I begin my five day celebration with my very first best friend, Shannon. We met in preschool when my family lived in Douglasville, GA. We immediately connected and had the same interests. Our favorite activity was playing with our dolls, endlessly. We would dress them, feed them, push them in the strollers...really anything we did we were always making the other one laugh. My family moved to Alabama when I was in first grade. I hated to leave my best friend behind:( But we can thank our parents for keeping the connection, via trips and visits and mailing lots of letters. My grandparents lived in Atlanta and almost every time we came through Douglasville,  we would pick her up (and I would cry if it didn...

"Evening and morning and at noon I will pray  and hear aloud and He shall hear my voice." Psalm 55:17 1. Seek the Lord every morning  2. Do one thing today you have been avoiding 3. Finish what you start  4. Embrace the down time  5. Listen and know that still small voice  6. Live thankful  7. Do a weekly Check-up  8. Eat atleast one piece of fruit daily  9. Be intentional  10. Do one project this season  11. Stick to the List  12. Slow down and Pay Attention  13. Wait  14. Do a weekly Check-up  15. Allow time for Adjustments  16 Learn a little something new each day  17 Take time for things you love to do  18 Know what season you are in  19 Look up daily  20 Live out your freedom in Christ daily   21 Do a weekly Check-up Are you still with me on the journey? I kinda laughed tonight as I glanced at my house and thought..uh huh, you really need to "get your house in...

"Now the Lord is the Spirit,  and where the Spirit of the Lord is,  there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17 From Abby's Sketchbook 2015 Day#20 Discipline yourself to live out your freedom in Christ Blessings, Suzanne

" The whole earth is filled awe at your wonders;  where morning dawns, where evening fades,  you call forth songs of joy."  Psalm 65:8 While pouring my second cup of morning coffee, I glanced out the kitchen window, as I always do. Wow, can't say that I have seen a morning sky that beautiful lately, if ever! Right before sunrise, the pink sky was so bright mixed in with yellow and the blue. What a perfect picture to share, I thought. I grabbed my phone and tried to capture it through the window panes. But through my phone the picture just looked like a gray sky? So I quietly opened the front door. Barefoot. In my pajamas, I stepped outside..snapped the picture. Same thing. Gray picture. Not happening. Hmmm? I put the phone down and take one more look at God's handiwork in the sky and head back to my chair for more quiet time. Then it hit me. OHHH. This is such a good example of wanting to capture my experience with God and share it immediately. Sometimes...

"For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 Day # 18 Discipline yourself to know what season you are in  Blessings,  Suzanne

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  John 13:34-35 Decorating for holidays is one of favorite things to do. Over the past few years, I have not done as much. I had the ideas and maybe even the decor but just didn't get around to it. Last weekend I took thirty minutes or less to make  a Valentine banner for my shelf in the kitchen. To say that little banner makes me so happy would be an understatement. I finally made time to do something I love and can quit imagining a banner on that shelf (haha, thanksgiving and Christmas came and went with only the idea in my head and not on the shelf)!  As the week went on, I gradually added some other accents.... This is simply just a Valentine card,from a friend that I framed. And here it is below my favorite painting (normally over ma...

"God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." 1 John 3:20 Like Mother Like Daughter..we love journals!!!! Abby and I made a qui ck shopping trip to TJ Maxx on Wednesday, while Luke was studying for his Math test. She was looking for the perfect journal to use this year in her D-Group (as in Discipleship Group). I laugh because of all the things to look at in that store, that section is where I always go first. Journals, paper, pretty books, it's just what I like...the more unique the better! Guess she gets that from me. If my house caught on fire, I would of course, grab my family first and then my journals. Lots of memories, favorite scriptures, revelation and experiences are on those pages. Years of them, all hand written. I treasure them. And I thank God that I have kept it up so long. I pull one off the shelf almost daily to reflect back or get a verse. Almost every verse at the top of my posts come from the journals. Anyway, I started out thi...

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 This is the first moment today, since I opened my eyes at 4:45 am, that I have had to write a post. I thought there would be time this morning. I am trying to figure out a way to work it all in. And sharing is what I enjoy most. I will get there. But tonight I am tired. I am having to make adjustments. Just schedule adjustments and I feel really good about them, it's just the conditioning myself to a new way of using my time. But isn't that part of life anyway? Think, small changes daily.  Thankfully, I snapped a picture of Dad and I at an impromptu lunch yesterday to use for my picture tonight:). It was a late lunch, I had lots going on, but I had to eat and when I called Dad back, he was right down the road from where I was working. Of course. And it rebooted my day and helped move forward through the rest of my our crazy schedule last night. How funny is it that I have a caption...

"When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,  And when you run, you will not stumble.  Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;  Keep her, for she is your life."  Proverbs 4:12-13 Hey friends,  we are two weeks along in the journey of getting our house in order spiritually and physically, making small choices and changes daily. Today it is weekly check-up time..how did I do this week? How did you do? I would love to hear any of your new changes. Here's what we have so far: 1. Seek the Lord every morning  2. Do one thing today you have been avoiding 3. Finish what you start 4. Embrace the down time 5. Listen and know that still small voice 6. Live thankful 7. Do a weekly Check-up 8. Eat atleast one piece of fruit daily 9. Be intentional 10. Do one project this season 11. Stick to the List 12. Slow down and Pay Attention 13. Wait 14. Do a weekly Check-up A little bit each day, I am integrating these ...

"In the same way, let your light shine before others,  that they may see your good deeds and  glorify your Father in Heaven."  Matthew 5:16 In waiting we begin to get in touch with the rhythms of life- stillness and action, listening and decision....It is in the everyday and the commonplace that we learn patience, acceptance, and contentment.   -Richard Foster Day #13 Discipline yourself to wait Blessings, Suzanne

" This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 A Cross you hold in your hand, on my fav flannel PJ's I had no idea that my color of the day would be blue. I don't feel blue, even though the rainy weather here in Birmingham, might trigger such a mood. I picked out my favorite navy blue shirt to wear and put it with gray pants, who knew those would go together for me so easily today? Smile. And my fav gray scarf. Blue and Gray, still sounds dreary huh? Anyway, off to work I go! Good so far.... I picked up Abby from school and told her I was looking forward to heading straight home to finish my work and put on my PJ's. I must have been dreaming  about it because when we got almost home, I mean, right to the street, that's when I saw them. BLUE LIGHTS. In the rear view mirror. Oh no.  So I pulled onto my street, the policeman right behind me, blue lights flashing. Hello neighbors:) The nice policeman wa...

"For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." 2 Thessolonians 3:8 Jeff,Santa and I at the TherapySouth Christmas Party 2014 Today has been another good family Sunday! Though this week we stayed home after church, ate lunch together at the table and all just kinda rested in our own way. Honoring the sabbath, trying to slow down the pace. The only thing I really wanted to do was make out our weekly menu (everybody gave me a dish they like) and make a grocery list. After a nice little nap, I did both:) I cannot tell you what a stress reliever it is to have a menu. Now saying that,why in the world did I not do that for the last four or five months? I have been out of the routine and just never made time to sit down and do it. It took me a total of ten minutes today. Then another five to ten to make out the grocery list to accommodate the recipes. Not only does it relieve stress, it saves money. We did way too much eating out last year, mainly du...

" He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;  He also will hear their cry and save them."  Psalm 145:19 We have lived in our house for thirteen years. Over the past few  years, we have changed the color schemes to a much lighter pallet, updated the kitchen, converted the dining room to my office, did a bathroom renovation and both kids have had room redo! So, I guess you could say I have been trying this "Get your house in order" deal for a while..haha! There is just one room left that is in need of an update..the playroom. It is supposed to be a formal living room, but we have always used it as a playroom. And it really has never had a style.  I am posting this with the hopes that I can make this a goal and have it finished in the next month or so! Oh,but do I dare take a picture and expose? It's a hot mess in there, mix match at it's best!! I find myself thinking up all these ideas and just never getting to them.  Thus, the pieces in th...