Blessings, Suzanne

" The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever." Psalm 121:8 Happy Halloween! I haven't dressed up in years but today I am dressed in pink from head to toe, large hat and all! I smiled as I put that hat on my head full of hair. I chose to wear it, not to cover up  but with the intention of STANDING UP AND STANDING OUT! I was always uncomfortable with hats because I felt like I stood out. Wigs were just plain uncomfortable and scarves were my covering of choice but oh when the day came for the buzz cut look...happy day...gi Jane..gi Suz! I will never forgot the day (8 years ago), I was working at the hospital making calls in doctors offices, finally feeling better. I had sported my "buzz cut" look other days,  but for some reason was just not feeling the confidence that day. Those who have been through losing your hair know all too well... it gets exhausting. The looks. The eyes down. The explanation. And my friends with alopecia, the...

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,  having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:22-23 God is faithful! Happy Fall.... Blessings, Suzanne

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1 Hello there friends! I hope that you are enjoying Spring as much as I am this year! It's been a time for many events like Junior prom, birthday parties, Eighth grade banquet, weddings, galas, as well as sweet time at home with a cup of coffee, a good book, cooking dinner and yes, the usual tons of laundry and dust bunnies just waiting for the "spring cleaning frenzy." To everything there is a season. And this season, I continue my theme of the year to "live intentionally and boldly in 2017." I wanted to share another updated room from our renovation last year.... and this little room might just be my favorite in the house! It could be called the Living Room or Keeping Room or just an extension of the kitchen. Each season it is easy to change out the pillows, add some flowers or seasonal decor and even a new piece of furniture or picture he...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;  there I have continued my faithfulness to you." Jeremiah 31:3 Dining Room After 2017 (pink balloon remnant from party) Hey there, friend! Here's a little glimpse of the  "before and after" happenings in our dining room. It is still a work in progress but I am enjoying the transformation so far! All new trim, hard wood floors and paint color (Revere Pewter, Sherman Williams) were added during the renovation ...I added some chalk paint and mercury glass knobs to the buffet:) This is the first room you see when you walk in the house so I want it to be welcoming and bright! Dining Room Before 2015 This room was used by previous owners as the living room but I chose it for the dining room because it is a bigger space and I pray that there will be lots of "gatherings" in this area. That was one of my hopes when we moved that I would have a big enough space to host not only dinners, but to have bib...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But  the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 I remember that red felt covered shoe box, the one with the red and white gingham heart around the slip for valentine cards. Oh and let me not forget the ruffles around the heart. And the white grosgrain ribbon with multi-color hearts lining the bottom of the box. The perfect valentine box. Made the night before the big day by none other than my Mom (of the year:))! She pulled it off with flying colors. I waited until the last minute and to my surprise she had all the supplies to make this beauty for the fifth grade valentine exchange. Can you imagine that these days...no pinterest or google, just creativity and materials? Originality. I saved that box for years. It was still as pretty to me as it was the night we put it together. And while I no longer have the box, the memory and experience of love remain. The vision of a big heart with a hole in the mid...

"People need more than bread for their life;  they must feed on every word of God." Matthew 4:4 8 Years CANCER FREE  Cancer is brutal but CHRIST IS BOUNDLESS!  I remember this 26th day of January every year as a marker in my life! An encounter with the Lord, face to face and truly beginning to live a life surrendered to His plan, not mine. For the past year I have revisited some of the same quietness I experienced while going through the cancer process. Sitting at His feet. Leaning in closer. Close enough to hear Him whisper the next step. Sitting still, unable to move beyond the written word on the page speaking to me right where I was. And I needed the time with Him. I needed less time with other things. I wanted to make my home with Him. "Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23 Through it all, there has been so much freedom in l...

"For no one can lay foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11 Mother's Day 2016 Ever since the day I could hold a baby doll, I knew I wanted to be a Mother. As a child, I had strollers and cribs and "real" baby clothes and played Mommy daily. I knew that I wanted children and I thank God for the privilege of being a Mom to our two blessings! I heard way back in early motherhood "children are blessings not burdens." That stuck with me. I have learned way more from them in the past sixteen years than any other time in my life. As we navigate THROUGH each and every season, there's always a time of growth, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally.  "A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." Proverbs 1:5  I asked them both what their favorite thing about me was as their Mom: Abby: That you understand. That ...

"For as the earth brings forth it's bud, As the garden cause the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations." Isaiah 61:11 Hey there!! The guest room...finally an update.  I was working on Luke's room at the same time and just used his previous bedding which so happened to (somewhat) go with the window panels I had picked out! I did, however add the creme fringe to the navy dust ruffle via glue gun, so fancy I know. Sewing is not one of my talents so I improvise. Turned out well for a no-sew project:) This garden table was bought for the den but may just stay in here as a nightstand. The sunburst mirror just seems appropriate as I hope that much sunshine is felt in this room, coming through the windows and in the atmosphere..smile! How about that lighting..it is the trendy edison look huh? Umm no, it's a celing fan with no blades..haha and it is on it...

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up  their crosses daily and follow me." Luke 9:23 Live the life you have imagined.  Such profound words. If only it were that easy, huh? At some point I think many of us forgot what we imagined. Part of that is good, for the sake of changing our view of life to more of what Christ's plan is than our own. The other is to LIVE it with Him, and by doing that, we cannot even imagine what lies before us. For me it is about remembering that life is not all about me and my agenda, it's about the cross. I struggle with my flesh like the next person, but pray daily to die to self, take up my cross and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)  In that,  I Live the life I have imagined. Have Jesus as my best friend. Treasure family and friend time. Find Joy in the little things. Love the word of God more than anything, it is life.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunsets of the day. Laugh at myself....

"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