I have chosen you...

Hello Monday!
The sun is shining (for a change) and it's the beginning of a new week.
Today's #hellomornings passage was Isaiah 41:8-10. 
Just about every time I've read that passage, I've stopped and found such hope in verse 10 - "Fear not, for I am with you".  It is just so comforting.   As believers in Christ, He is truly with us and we have nothing to fear (only fear itself).  After all, "No weapon formed against us can prosper." Right?
But today.  
Today, I stopped and enjoyed the second half of verse 9, the Promise that come before the "Fear not".   "You are my servant, I have chosen you  and have not cast you away:"
I find such pleasure in being a Servant of God...co-laboring with Him to see His purposes and plans accomplished here on earth as they are in Heaven.  I don't see it as a "servant" in the sense that I am the "hired hand".  I mean sometimes it may feel like that, but we can't trust feelings now can we?
But the very next phrase is what is blowing my mind... "I have chosen you and have not cast you away."  He. Chose. Me.  He chose you.  He saw so much potential in us that He chose us for the specific tasks and circumstances we find ourselves in this very day.
We can't take that lightly.
And example from today...
When I went to sleep last night, I had every intention of spending today working on my blog.  I knew I had the whole morning to write, tweak, etc.  Then daylight hit, and so did laundry, kids heading back to school, #helloexercise - walking 2 miles, and the phone calls that needed to be made.  All stuff that needed to get done before a lunch date at 1pm.
I have two responses to this scenario.  The first is frustration.  Not getting to do what I had planned, what I wanted was frustrating.  I'm not gonna lie I may even have pouted a little.
The second just struck me actually, through these words:  "I have chosen you and have not cast you away..."
I have been chosen for this day and hour.
I've been chosen to create atmosphere in my home.
But I've also been chosen to write here in this space I call home.  
He didn't cast me away, and neither did the cares of life this morning.  He loves me too much for that. It simply gave me something to think about and share with you, dear reader.
Have you felt left behind or cast aside lately?  
Take heart - He has chosen you and has not cast you aside.  He loves you too much for that!
Have a great week!!

What Mom & Daughter Wore...

This is the post where I tell on myself and then enjoy the happy photo find!  And somehow I connected both What I Wore and What Works For Me.... another happy connection... First the tell on myself part...
I have a love / hate relationship with the digital photography realm.  One the one hand, I love the instant gratification of seeing the photo you just took and knowing what it looks like and whether or not you want to take another. But what I really dislike, and can't seem to get a handle on, even after all these years of taking digital photos is the "processing" of them.  No, I'm not taking that little roll of film to the store to have it developed, but there is still a process - unloading the sd card, filing the photos, editing, and backing them up. Friends, it's confession time - I stink at this process.  I'm pretty good at getting them off the sd card, but once they enter my laptop, forget about it - literally.  And the backup - mama mia I can't tell you the last time...I know....  {sigh} Case in point - I switched laptops in the fall... about 4 months ago, and just now have I begun to put the photos on my new laptop.  Part of the problem is the learning curve with iPhoto - SO, if anyone has any tips on using this program,  and wouldn't mind helping a sista out, I'd be terribly grateful!! Now the happy photo find...
But I digress.....  In the uploading I just finished I was pleasantly surprised to find a photo shoot I did with my Dollie last fall.  It was a sunny Sunday afternoon after church and we both looked cute, or so we thought, so we had some shots taken...

   These outfits are really typical for the two of us.  I love the skirt, boot, top look for fall and winter and it works for me, so I go with it.  She is really into the blazers/jackets right now. My outfit - black skirt: Macy's, print top: Macy's, boots: Famous footwear Her outfit - not sure - black jeans: Macy's, top & jacket: Charlotte Russe, boots: Famous Footwear Linking up with: What I Wore Wednesday @ The Pleated Poppy Works For Me Wednesday @ We Are THAT Family

My heart is full...

"I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine" Song of Solomon 6:3
This week my heart is full.   Monday we celebrated 18 years of marriage.  Eighteen!  Someone please explain how that is possible?!?  Seems like only yesterday we walked into that church on such a beautiful, sunny February day - only to come out a little while later to a blizzard.  Ahh February in NY!   Thursday we celebrated Valentine's Day.  I use that term celebrated loosely, because around here our love is not reserved for just one day, but for everyday.  We have always purposed to show it and be it on a daily basis.  For each other.  For our kids.  For our Heavenly Father. But yesterday this week, my Man went all out.  This whole week has been an extra special showering of gifts and flowers, candy and hugs.  For me and our kids.  Truly amazing how he knocks my socks off again and again! And tonight...tonight we celebrate big, with a night out.  It's been awhile since it's been just the two of us.  We usually go out with the kids - we like spending the time with our teenagers and they with us.  But tonight, it's just us...and a host of other couples from church, all dolled up ready to eat, dance, and enjoy our way through the evening!   It's our evening to celebrate one another and the love formed over time.   This week, my heart is full. Linking up with Lisa Jo and a host of others at Five Minute Friday! Also linking up with Fellowship Friday

Winter {Sunday Community}

“As long as the earth endures, 

seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat, 

summer and winter, 

day and night will never cease.”

Genesis 8:22

Linked with: The Sunday Community

As White As Snow...

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Sunday

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

 
Linking up with Jumping Tandem

Sunday {October 14}

"The pastures are clothed with flocks;

The valleys also are covered with grain;

They shout for joy, they also sing."

Psalm 65:13

I realize it's corn by the way...but I loved the pics and the verse...

Happy Sunday!

 ♥Lori

This is Day 12 in my 31 Days of Practice Series 

that I joined for the month of October.

My Weekly Savor 7 {10/13}

Happy Saturday Friends!

Once again, I am joining Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates for Savor 7 Saturday, when we stop and count a few of our blessings from the last week.  It was a good week, as they all are so here we go...Enjoy...

 

Scripture - 1Peter 3:3-4

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

 I actually wrote about my thoughts from the #keptstudy here.

Storyteller - 
I was really touched yesterday when I read this post by Sheila @ To Love Honor & Vacuum.  She does such an amazing job tackling the tough relationship issues and she is really taking a lot of flak for it these days.  I just wonder sometimes, what do people hope to gain when they act so mean and crazy-like?  Have you read her book?  Check it out here.

Social -This week I had a wonderful blogging opportunity!  Remember a couple weeks ago I shared about going to the Quitter conference in Nashville?  Well, while we were there, my Man put my name in a drawing for a coaching call with Jeff Goins, and I WON!  I had that call this week.  I need to write a post about it, so I won't belabor things here, but it was so inspiring and encouraging!!

Silly - We had lots of silly moments on our trip to the Pumpkin farm earlier this week.  The recap is here.  We had such a great day, just the four of us...

Snapshot - Anna and John at the Pumpkin Farm this week...

Sips - this week I discovered the Pumpkin Spice coffee at my favorite place - Dunkin Donuts! 

Sweets - At the Pumpkin Farm we had this wonderful sweet treat - Oh My Goodness! It was so good!  Fresh cut apples, warm homemade caramel, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon!!! MMMM!

Have a Great Weekend!!

♥Lori

This is Day 11 in my 31 Days of Practice Series 

that I joined for the month of October.

A Day At The Pumpkin Farm

This week, the kids both had Monday off from school, so Chris & I cleared a few appointments, and we decided to spend the day at a local pumpkin / Christmas tree farm farm.  The drive was about an hour, back to where we used to live actually, so we drove by our old (rented) house, and then onto the farm.  Considering it's been seven years since we lived there, it was pretty cool to hear the memories flood back to the kids, who were then five and seven.  

Here they are back in 2004.

 

It was a bit of a chilly day, but the farm was still packed with families, and groups of kiddos.  It wasn't too bad though.  

There was only one really long wait!

We rode the pedal car, which was interesting to see John steer.   

He and Chris did the pedaling by the way!

They did the pumpkin launcher and had a blast even though they didn't hit any of the targets!

 The Corn Maze was Anna's Request & she claimed the victory!

The Zipline...need I say more?  It's a ZIPLINE!!

And of course, the food...we downed almost an entire large bag of fresh, hot, sweet yet salty, Kettle Corn as we wandered around to each of the 30 activities.  

When we were done, we stopped by the cafe, and each of us had a wonderfully yummy caramel apple!  Oh it was sooooo good!  Anna especially loved it because with braces, it was pretty easy to eat, unlike a whole caramel apple.

I'm oh so thankful for the time we had that day to spend as a family making those memories.  The kids are no longer five and seven, but thirteen and fifteen.  They just grow up so fast!

I had purposed before we left the house that I was going to take lots of photos and chronicle the day.  How did I do??   
♥Lori

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

This is Day 10 in my 31 Days of Practice Series 

that I joined for the month of October.

Homecoming 2012

This is Day 4 of the 31 Days of Practice Series.
I had it all written in my head to post on Thursday, but the computer was in use all evening so it had to wait til today.

Oh well, done is better than perfect...


Here's the photos of my daughter's Homecoming last week...

She was actually asked by a young man to attend the dance with him, but she declined.  She really didn't want to go with one guy, but with a group of her friends.  And what a sweet group they are.

One of the moms thought ahead and asked the group to meet at their house so that they could take photos and enjoy a few snacks together before the dance.  What a great idea that was!  I've filed it for future use, for sure!

Here's my girl, age 15 in what we call her "princess cupcake dress".  The photo doesn't do it justice, but the skirt is covered in roses, like a cupcake would be.  She loved it!  And it was so her!!

There you have it.  Homecoming Recap 2012.  So hard to believe!  Today I am linking up with Lolli at Better in Bulk, for PhotoStory Friday.

♥Lori

Still {Sunday Community}

Psalm 107:27-29

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.

He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.

Happy Sunday!

♥Lori

Linked with Sunday Community 

Four Concerts & A Speaker {#PSF}

A couple of weeks ago, we were blessed to be able to attend a four day Christian Music Festival 40 minutes from our house.  Of course we couldn't just go one day, we each had a concert we wanted to see so we spent the better part of three days there.

First, on Sunday was the concert I really wanted to see....Casting Crowns.  We saw them last year, and I really enjoyed them, so everyone humored me.  Their style of worship is exactly what I love to listen to!  Needless to say Hubs picked up their new cd for me and that's what's been playing in my car since then...

Then on Tuesday was My Man's choice...Third Day.  I enjoyed this one too!  But before Third Day was For King & Country.  They are a treasure we found last year when they debuted with their sister, Rebecca St. James.  We love the spirit of purity, honor and respect that these young men carry and model.

 
Here's Third Day...

Wednesday was our full day at the park.  The kids enjoyed a few hours riding rides with their Aunt who joined us for the day, and we took in an awesome seminar.  Justin Lookadoo.  If you have children, especially teens, and you've never heard of him, you should take a minute and check out his website.  We actually caught his message - "Is It Holy?" on Tuesday before Third Day and then his hour long seminar on Wednesday.  Awesome!

Wednesday night was Kids choice...Toby Mac.  Man it was tough taking a photo!  That man can move!  But the kids really enjoyed the concert!  Who wouldn't?!?  He is quite the performer!!  I took the photo of Toby on the jumbo screen and the one of my kiddos - well, there is really no explanation!

That's my PhotoStory for this week....

♥Lori

Linked with Lolli @ #PhotoStory Friday