I love Monday Holidays!!

I headed to NH after Church on Sunday to spend some time with my friend Cathy!!  I love the pace when I stay with her.  Laid back, just relaxing fun!!  Even though I was there for only 24 hours, we had a great time and did soo much!! 

On my way up, I took a quick detour to see my Covered Bridge (The Smith Bridge) and photograph the Wind Sock at the cute little Airport (if you were at FBC/LifeSong Sunday, you know why... =).

Once I arrived, and the hugging was finished, we spent some time making a few cards.  I had brought some Frozen Cape Cod pizzas, so we had those for supper and then watched the movie Courageous with Larry - Awesome movie by the way!! 

After what seemed like a very short sleep (maybe we were up a little late talking and "gaming") we had some pancakes got ourselves "together" and headed out to enjoy the beautiful morning and visit a few local COFFEE SHOPS!!!  We started off in Plymouth at Cafe Monte Alto.  I LOVED this place!!  Check out my Coffee Shop tab to hear more... to be posted soon...

Once we finished up in beautiful downtown Plymouth, we headed to The Mad River Cafe.  Driving along side a Mad River...      

We took a detour and drove up Larry's DOT Route, up, up, up!!  The views were incredible.

How majestic - Good job God!!

 Amazing!!  After taking in the mountain views, we headed back down, down, down and found our way to the Mad River Cafe where we enjoyed Peppermint Patty Lattes - yum!!

On our way back, Larry was skating - awesome on skates!!

Soon it was time for me to head home...  Love our times together Cathy!!

Saturday Morning...

I love Saturday mornings!  The one morning I can "sleep in"!!  Not that I ever do.  BUT, I don't have to get up and get going, and I LOVE that!!  This morning I was laying in bed and thinking of what I would do with my morning.  For those of you who have checked out my "other" Blog, you know I am hooked on Card Making.  Of course, thoughts of the cards I would be creating today were swimming around in my head...  let's see, six Birthday cards, how many Challenges can I work on while creating the cards...  what papers and stamps will I use today...  Oh yeah, I also need to clean the house...  hmmm...

So, I started the day with my devotional book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and coffee.

God is so cool!!  This morning's devotional was all about how Jesus is with me (and you), through the ups and downs of my every day...  My life has been a bit of a roller coaster of late and I have gotten off track trying to handle things on my own.  But yes---Jesus has been right here, holding my hand through it all.  I have seen His provision and I am thankful.  He is so faithful!

Psalm 73:23-26 (NIV)

 ²³ Yet I am always with you;
   you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
   and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
   And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart
   and my portion forever.

I love that God is so personal.  He cares and knows about every aspect of my life (and yours).  As I was looking up the scripture referenced in the devotion for today, one of them is a stamp I purchased and got in the mail JUST YESTERDAY...  Zephaniah 3:17 =)  So, once my coffee was gone, the first Birthday Card I made was with the stamp God wanted me to use!!  Here it is my friends.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with His presence, His blessings and His love.

Pooh...

It's Friday...

The word challenge has come to mind a lot this past week.  Life is full of challenges.  Sometimes there are several challenges in one work day...  Sometimes our relationships face unexpected challenges...  One minute all is well and the next we are just not sure.  We can suddenly feel so insecure.  "Will I be able to complete that project on time?", "How does that person really feel about me?", "How am I ever going to be able to pay all the bills?", "What if the results to that test are not what I hope to hear?", "What if, what if, what if...?".  "What if I am not strong enough...?"!

Last year a friend gave me the Devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  It is written as if Jesus were speaking directly to me.  It always amazes me how many days I need to hear exactly what is written.  Today was one of those days.  "When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving ME out of the picture." 

I know I tend to be a "fixer".  I take it all on and try to "fix" it all...  Often times I forget to talk to God first, to seek His direction, to wait on His guidance.  Then, I wonder why I am overwhelmed, why the challenge seems bigger than I can handle...  Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious for anything, but in EVERY situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  How cool is that?  He cares about EVERYTHING to do with us!! 

He is there... waiting... to hear from us!!!

More Pooh...

How sweet...

Life is Short...

Yesterday my dear friend Juanita's Mom passed away.  She had suffered for so long and was separated from her husband of 67 years when she was confined to live in a Nursing Home some months back.  She never complained.  She was joyful!!  She knew Jesus!! 

Hearing the news of her passing brought back memories of my Mom's passing.  Though Juanita and my Mom never knew each other, they are both now rejoicing in Heaven.  No more pain, no more sorrow...

I remember when my Mom passed almost 7 years ago (and a little over a year later my Dad), thinking, what do people who don't have faith in God, who don't know the promise of eternal life in Heaven, how do they get through the grief?  What do they do without the HOPE of tomorrow... 

Both Juanita and I had the priviledge of being raised in Christian homes.  Our lives followed many similar paths, yet also very different paths.  There was a common thread, Jesus.  The thread that holds everything together.  John 3:16 For God so loved the World, that He gave His one and only Son (JESUS), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life!  A Bible verse so many of us learn in Sunday School, so many of us have memorized this verse, but do we really get it?   Read it again, and again, and again...  WOW!!!  If you haven't done so already, claim that verse - believe - ask Jesus into your heart.  Confess your sins, and follow Him!  Heaven is real...  I look forward to the day that I join my parents and so many others who have gone on before me...  Today the Victory is Bonnie's - she has earned her reward and is resting in the comfort of the arms of her Lord and Savior!

So today I pray for comfort and strength for my friend Juanita, her Dad and the rest of the family as they celebrate the life of her Mom, as they deal with the grief that separation brings, and I am so thankful and praising God that one day there will be a Heavenly Reunion, in His time...