Blessings, Suzanne

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 To God be the Glory for all He has done over the past seven years in "our" cancer journey!  Cancer has become a distant memory for the most part in our family, but the power of the testimony that has come from my going through it...stronger than EVER! There has been so much fruit brought forth in the kingdom through this process. You could have never told me that I would have the courage to continue to speak so boldly and go public with such a private battle. That's because I didn't, God did. It certainly has not been easy, but it has been worth it. Ironically, almost daily I share my story, either someone amazed at God's healing, asking me how I am now or needing hope to get through a rough situation. There is always hope in Jesus Christ.  As I am always quick to say, my healing c...

"For in Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28 Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As we have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation,  But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 Blessings, Suzanne

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son  into the world that we that might live through Him." 1 John 4:9 There are advantages to getting up at 5:45 am on a Saturday morning.. grabbing a cup of coffee and  wrapping back up in covers  to read and write.... seeing this gorgeous sunrise,  over the mountain,  out my bedroom window!  It's been an amazing Saturday!  Sunrise to Sunset! God is so faithful!#Live Blessings,  Suzanne

"I have this hope  that's an anchor  for my soul." Hebrews 6:19 Blessings, Suzanne

"Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; Do not spare; lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2 Roll Tide..2015 Luke and I had our own national championship game of checkers tonight after dinner...he was perfectly fine taking the trophy from dear old Mom..haha! I wanted to do something that was not technology and something that would take my mind off the heaviness of today. It has been one of those days that was just, well, heavy. Not a crisis. Not a bad day. Not a sad day. Just a heavy heart for so many people going through tough situations. I turned our TV on upstairs and the verse from Isaiah 54:2 was on the screen. It immediately spoke to my heavy heart. God's peace covered me and I immediately began to praise Him. Oh, I see, it's not that my heart is heavy it's that my heart is open. My heart is beating again in prayer. My heart is interceding for the needs of others. My heart...

"...be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Ephesians 6:10 Me and my walking buddy, literally, this is "Buddy", he's Dad to me but most people call him, Buddy or George:) He was just the motivation I needed yesterday to get my walk in and break up the busyness of projects around the house. Our first attempt was hindered by drizzling rain so we headed back inside and put on a pot of coffee. We visited and prayed and drank lots of coffee. An hour later, the rain stopped and we headed out to the hills. I did, however, line up Abby to come get us at the bottom of the big hill, it's hard for me and I didn't want Dad to over do it. He was so cute.  The whole walk he was telling me story after story, mostly he shares about people he tries to bring to Christ or childhood stories or favorite songs. I had forgotten about this hill, and once we got to the top, I snapped the picture. We rested a minute. He said with a laugh "Is Abby com...

"He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas." Psalm 78:15 Who says you can't change your mind? Not me. This now, sitting room,( and yes I will gladly do so,) was first coined the dining room. We tried it, and changed our mind. It is the room right off the pantry and I have declared no TV in there :) It has been wonderful the past few mornings for my morning bible/coffee/journaling time! We also have crown molding to install that the previous owner left and smoothing the ceiling then we're done. Yay. Progress. Slow process, but progress.   I've been a bit under the weather this week so I opted out of a dusty house, but making plans to get going on it next week!  And here are the walls as the paper came down, and stayed that way for months...until I could.not.take.it.any. longer!!  And here it was as a dining room right when we moved in. It is true what "they" (whoever they is) ...

"This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad today!" Psalm 118:24 Hope your day was bright! #rejoice Blessings, Suzanne

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 We were a little late getting our Christmas decorations up this year and I am just not ready to take them down. However, little by little the shelves are becoming bare and the bins are becoming full. It's time. The season is over. I tend to repeat this pattern in life as well. I try and hold onto a season when it has changed. I feel like I am not ready. Yet, I have a Lord who is more than ready to help me put up one season and start the next! It's all in His strength anyway! "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's  power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 Until next year.... Let's start our new season looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)!  Blessings, Suzan...

"For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,  do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:3 The smallest room of the house is almost done. I do consider the foyer a room because it is where you welcome people in the front door and many times stand there visiting before moving to another room. I decided to use the same color I used at our previous house called wool skein from Sherman Williams. It looks a tad bit more yellow in these pictures but I am still going for the off white, soft tones. Neutral. Making the decision to paint the chair rail the same color makes me happy. Goes with my theme for this new year...unified. Seamless. In family, fellowship and finishing strong, with my relationship with Christ overflowing in each area. "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth." Psalm 62:7 And would you have a look at the before...a mess! I really had some doubts about the repair of the walls but am so plea...

"  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised:  he also is to be feared above all gods." 1 Chronicles 16:25 Blessings, Suzanne

"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come,  He will guide you into all truth;  for he will not speak on His own authority,  but whatever he hears He will speak;  and he will tell you things to come." John 16:13 Wow, what a journey it's been in 2015! The Glory of the Lord has certainly been a bright light, for He is so very faithful! It was an abundant, exciting, humbling and freeing year!  The  "Get Your House in Order" journey has left me with some spiritual treasures .. *Live Thankful*Make many memories*Follow Through*Slow down*Sit at the feet of Jesus*Acceptance*Trusting*Stay on Assignment*Obedience is your lifeline*Actions speak louder than words*Laughter heals*Hope*Power of Prayer and Fasting*New friends*Reconnections with olfriends*Recovery*Truth*Cooperation*Reciprocation* ORDER*!!! So many of me have shared your own "GYHIO" stories with me along the way, please comment and let me know  what treasures you have been ...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 New Year's Eve 2015 Happy New Year!! To God be the Glory Day#365 And we begin again...2016 Blessings, Suzanne

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,  because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 Day#364 He is  Thankful 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...

"See, I am doing a new thing!   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 My question on the way home from church yesterday was... Wonder what the Lord has in store for us in 2016?? One thing I know for sure, He is with us! Day#362 Countdown to the New Year Blessings, Suzanne

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes,"  Psalm 118:9 I framed Abby's doodling #loveit My life verse is "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 If I had to sum up my year of 2015 I would say that this verse, was tested, tried and turned into the greatest blessing! Trust. The foundation of any relationship. Trust by definition means "firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something." Trust is that has come relatively easy for me, but that's not always been such a good trait. Once I gave my life to Christ (truly made him my Lord at age 25), trust began to take on a whole different meaning. It no longer meant that "anything goes". There were truths that had to line up before I just jumped right into something. These truths are the Word of God. The a...

"Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD." Psalm 93:5 Foyer 2015 What a restful day it has been...after a solid month on the go, I collapsed:)  The only productive thing I did was take a walk and cook lunch! And a nap happened, heaven. I hope that yours day has been as delightful! Day#360 Breaks are refreshing Blessings,  Suzanne

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God that we might know things that have been freely given to us by God...But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."  1 Corinthians 2:12,14 Pic of the day..Dad in his new hat! Merry Christmas! I have said many times, post after post, how different this year has been. And why would I think that the holidays would be any different? I did my shopping (all of it), three days before Christmas. Jeff and I  found ourselves painting the dining room right up until the Christmas Eve service last night. I was still putting out decorations this morning, just because. I wanted the manger  set out on the buffet, the one that I got out every single year growing up. I never really had a good place to put it at the other house. It seems perfect to begin our first Christmas in this h...