Blessings, Suzanne

Happy New Year  I started 2017 with Him and when the clock strikes twelve I will have ended it with Him and begun the new journey of 2018. Jesus. The King of my heart. Thank you for this year to remember, a sweet, sweet year. I will continue in moving forward with all you have already started. I have all these ideas, that are kinda repeats of ideas... I call my "new year resolutions" but I think I am going to rename it this year...New Year Solutions. Because God always has the solutions. I need not try and figure it out. Oh goodness, have I been around the mountain with that one. It is already figured out, it will be okay, really, it will. This past year, I did a cleanse of sorts...from fear, from panic. When I wanted to immediately "freeeeak out" over anything, big and small...I would do my own hashtag #don'tpanic. It seemed to kinda put the brakes on so I could gather my thoughts (ask the Lord to take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Him) c...

Have you decided on your New Year's resolutions yet?  Have you prayed about the direction God wants you to go in 2018? Take a few minutes and jot down some bridges you will cross this year! What will it take to stretch you? I am personally compiling my list now and will share some of my plans with you tomorrow. My word for the year is "forward". Keep moving forward. Always forward! Day 15/45...Verse for Today... "I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:9 Blessings, Suzanne

Christmas Cards ...2018   I am still holding on to Christmas. I have, however, cleaned off the kitchen table, but I am still getting a few more addresses for my cards. A few years ago, I implemented what I call the "every other year plan" for Christmas cards and that has taken a wee bit of stress out of the holidays! And deciding to  leave my decorations up until New Year's Day allows me to enjoy them the whole month of December. I just don't want the season to change until January one. It will change though...... Vintage Santa from Mom..Christmas 2018 This waving ceramic Santa has brought me so much joy this season! Growing up, he came out every year and housed candy canes. I failed to fill his bag with the candy canes, as Mom as did, but he sure did look cute in my kitchen...smile! As much as I try to hold onto to the holiday season, I know that the season is changing (has changed, I know). In just a few short days, everything about our home will look comp...

Not ready to take down Christmas..... All Joy, All Peace, All Trust...All God....closing out the last days of 2017 and looking forward to 2018! Day 13/45 ..Verse for Today .. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 Blessings. Suzanne

I take my sleep very seriously. And I may have been told if I don't get my sleep I am not much fun to be around;) I go to great lengths to ensure a good night's sleep...sound machine+ear plugs+eye mask+lavender oil+a daily walk. Yes, crazy I know. It didn't start out that way. I have added and added until I need no other gadget to be added to my night time regimen. Being a light sleeper, any sound or movement wakes me up. Light keeps me awake. So every night I go through my little routine, in hopes of getting some much needed rest. And I didn't add that I am usually the first one to bed and the first one up in the morning. Anyway, my friend Deborah texted me these two words one night (and many after now) SWEET SLEEP.. with today's verse "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8 Sweet sleep. Those words have stuck with me. I say them to my children. I text them to others. And I love the promises G...

Paige and I..Christmas 2018 We continued to celebrate Christmas today with the Bradley crew, Jeff's sister, Paige and her family from Charlotte, NC.  It's really never a dull moment with six kids running around. It's a little different now with two drivers which means the little cousins love getting carted around with the older ones! They had their first adventure this afternoon to the pet store (bet you can't guess who drove on that one..lol) before Christmas dinner..... Kids Table..Christmas 2018..Cousins and Friends Jeff and His Mom...Nonna...Christmas 2018    Jeff and his Dad..Pop.. Christmas 2018 Tripp and Jeff...Christmas 2018 Ruby enjoying her second dessert...we all had seconds! We had such a great time...more eating, giving, receiving and fun watching the kids do "dirty Santa" with gift cards. It's going to be a fun week! Christmas has been one to remember this year. I thank God for the peace and love and grace that co...

Merry, Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I pray it has been a good day for you! We have enjoyed it from a very early six o'clock until now..here are some snapshots from the day! Annual Christmas Breakfast with Grandparents (Pop not pictured) Yummy Christmas Breakfast 2017 Just the guys...Christmas 2017 Opening Presents 2017 Jimmy and Abby Christmas 2017 Clover posing way too late for the Christmas Card!!! What a beautiful day of eating, giving, receiving, loving, (even napping) and celebrating Christmas! Thank you, Lord for every single second of it. Amen. Verse for today...Day 10/45 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God." 1 John 3:1 Embrace the love of God, for it is the greatest gift of all! Merry Christmas! Love and Blessings, Suzanne

I love that Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year! Our church service put all of us in the Christmas spirit, reflecting on the real meaning of love and family that begins and ends with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Christmas Eve at a2 Church 2017 It seems we have had a little more family time this year and as my littles are now bigger, one near leaving the nest (sniff, sniff)...it's funny how we have done all things Christmas! I am so thankful... The elves even made a "one time" appearance and brought tiny cereal boxes..why in the world I let them get a new elf and reindeer each year is beyond me..lol! Now we have a huge bin full of them. Thankful I don't have that every day in December anymore. But I enjoyed a day or two! Abby's Gingerbread Train 2017 Abby made a gingerbread train and Luke attempted the house but decided to wait on his sister...it's still in the cabinet...smile! And we finally, after all these years, drove around and loo...

Access to the stars is quite easy in this day and age, I mean, social media has taken "star struck" to a whole new level. It's no longer the movie and TV stars or the musicians...reality shows, politics and you tube have made people into stars with the click of a button. It is just where we are. It's quite easy to get caught up in minutes, then hours of looking at the lives of others. It fills our time and it fills our mind and before you know it, stars take the place of our own life. The one we were meant to live. The one that God created us to live out. We "follow" people on all social media networks just to see what's going on with them when truly...we have access to follow the ONE and ONLY star...Jesus Christ. Not just go to church, check off the boxes, offer up a prayer or a 911 to Him here and there but access ....ACCESS....to the King of King and Lord of Lords. No star shines brighter than one filled with His love and grace. Don't get me wr...

I love Christmas tradition. One of my favorites is our annual Cookie Swap at the Shaw's. We have attended for years and it has become part of our Christmas week tradition. I make the same treat every year,...rolo pretzels. I was running a tad bit late today (imagine that) and started them about noon... for the 1:30 party. They are super easy and pretty quick, the most time consuming part is unwrapping all the rolo packages! To my surprise...Abby and Luke aka "rolo unwrappers" helped me pull it off and we all loaded up ....in the same car....to swap some cookies!  We had a great time visiting, eating and swapping... then braved the Christmas rush the rest of the afternoon. I told them both it felt like Christmas had come early for me....it's been a long time since the three of us went Christmas shopping. Or have been together a whole afternoon for that matter. I will take it, such a fun day! What a gift! Just as I loved and adored spending time with my children tod...

Boston-Snow 2017 When I went to bed two weeks ago I really was not expecting to wake up and see the beautiful white landscape. Yes, there was talk of it and some prediction but here in Alabama it rarely occurs. I was up before it was light but I all I could see was white. And then it started. Huge flakes. More flakes. Snow, an unexpected blessing. I  think I was just as excited about staying in my PJ's and pouring another cup of coffee. I was in need of some stillness and rest. Mind and body. I waited as long I could before I woke the kids up, I didn't want them to miss it!Five and a half inches, not bad! Our dog, Boston surely enjoyed it! Defintely a highlight of 2017! The "snow cat" by Abby and Luke 2017 Reflecting on the "snow day" reminds me of this season of Christmas and the story of waiting on the Messiah. The whole scenario was nothing like anyone would have predicted. The Son of God, born to a Virgin in a yucky ole stable and pl...

Verse for Today.... #5 "Sow righteousness for yourselves; and reap faithful love:  Break up your unplowed ground.  It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain."  Hosea 10:12 Showers of Blessings, Suzanne

All gifts are not the ones that are perfectly wrapped and stacked, with a pinterest worthy bow, under the tree. They are ones that can't be bought. The ones given in the purest form of love. The love that looks most like Jesus. God shared the sweetest message with me last Spring through an eight year old little girl   "give what you have.” I was volunteering in the PE classes of a school across town. It’s a K-8 school so I got to experience the energy (and attitudes..haha) of various ages, boys and girls. I got lost in the day forgetting all the activities and tasks of my normal day in exchange for playing kickball, watching sack races and giving out snacks. It was a refreshing break and filled with lots of hugs and questions from the kids. The sun was shining bright in blue skies which also made it a wee bit hot out there, I didn’t mind that either, as I said, I got lost in the moment. It’s always interesting to see how children treat each other and I have to say, s...

I broke His heart. Not intentionally, but it makes no difference. I had never thought of it that way until a few months ago. I thought of all the times I made my list of wants and needs, in the name of prayer. I thought of all the busyness trying to prove I was enough. I thought of all the energy wasted worrying about situations out of my control. I thought about the choices I had made that brought consequences. I thought about how I went straight to another friend to talk about what ailed me that day instead of Him. I thought of how much He loved me regardless of how I treated Him. I broke the Lord's heart and that broke mine. And then I began to pray. Earnestly pray. In my brokeness, I repented. And ask for forgiveness. I was not met with silence but with three simple words.... I SEE YOU. It felt as if a wave of reassurance had washed over the top of my head down to my feet. I see you simply meant ...I see you for who I made you to be. I see what's going on. I see it all...

I was right on schedule. Enough time to stop by one more office before my noon lunch. I was downtown Birmingham and had already circled the block once trying to find a close parking spot. That's when I saw it. The one place, right out front of the building and though it would require my parallel parking skills, I was taking it! As I put the car in reverse, I noticed a lady in a cute toboggan with a pom pom, bundled up ...and standing right in front of the parking meter. Hmmm. I continued backwards, rolling my window down to politely ask "are you holding this spot?" Please no, I thought. "No, I am waiting on the bus" she says. Her arms were full of grocery bags. I place the car in park and then what took place felt like watching a slow motion movie.  I see a bus, a very fast campus bus pull in a place right down the road, in front of the "bus stop" sign. I watch this lady begin to gather her bags quickly and try and walk quickly. I look back at ...

When my birthday rolled around this year, I knew something would be very different about forty-five. Forty-five years old. Wow. That morning began as all others, at 5:00 am...with.... coffee+bible+journal+pen+"Experiencing God Day by Day" devotional+a cozy place on the couch+an open heart and =my quiet time.  The best part of my day.  In this season of life, there's just not much consistency anywhere in my life...EXCEPT this... every day... you will find me here. Every day I find Him here. Early morning, time with the Lord. God's word says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 With all my heart, I seek Him. And not one time did I not find Him. I have said before that writing is kind of like oxygen for my soul and though I write (journal) every morning, I have missed sharing. Perhaps that is where I started with the title to the Post, as a declaration...or...because 2017 has been one of my best years yet!...