God's Grace!

Good morning world.  I've been thinking about Grace, more specifically God's Grace.  Not sure if it is the older I get or the more I walk with Jesus, my view about God's Grace changes.  More teaching I receive, more reading I do?  Not sure.  Does not matter... God's Grace matters.

I have done some horrendous things in my past.  The majority of it before I accepted Jesus as my savior.  I knew who he was.  Would even say, yes I am a Christian.  Even went to church, was involved with the youth group.  Did not have Jesus in my heart.  He would have said, "Depart, I know you not."

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’  Luke 13:27  NIV

However, what about the "bad" things I have done since being saved?  Am I forgiven?  Will I not be helped by God when I ask?

I heard something on the radio yesterday.  My boys are not perfect.  They do not always do their chores, make their bed, talk sweetly to me.  If they got hurt and needed me, would I stop and say, "Just a minute, let me check to see if you did all of your chores like I asked."?

NO!  I would stop what I was doing and help with out question.  Because he is my child and I am his parent.

Are we told in the Bible that God is our heavenly Father?  Of course we are!  Even when we mess up badly, HE is quick to forgive us.  Even when we mess up badly, HE is still here to help us.  Does that mean I have to do anything for Him to forgive me?  Or for Him to help me?  NO!

Grace is freely given, without conditions.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8

Recently we were given a financial gift to help with Tommy going to The Timothy Group camp.  It was a gift until a condition was attached to it.  It was no longer a gift!

Jesus does not attach a condition to his Grace!

21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!  Galatians 2:21  NIV  

Do you feel unworthy of anything?  A friendship?  A job?  A position in your family?  That is Satan and his demons talking to you.  STOP IT!  If you are saved by the blood of Jesus, then STOP IT!

"20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."   Romans 16:20 NIV

I do not have to DO anything to receive God's Grace!  Just by myself, I am not worthy, just filfthy rags.  However, in JESUS, I am made whole, clean, and a child of God, worthy of all of God's gifts and promises!

This is what has been on my mind for the past few days.  And this is just as much for me as for anyone else.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Last night's Birthday, a Success!

Good morning world.  I think last night went really well!  Supper, birthday cake, presents, fellowship....

Today will be a day of rest.  I already have breakfast dishes washed, bed made, laundry almost to the point of being started, floors swept, living room picked up, and birthday decorations taken down.  I have a little more I want to do in my room.  Definitely spending time in my studio.  Can you tell I am resting?

I painted a quail on a flat rock Tuesday for Tyler's grandfather's birthday.  Can feel the painting bug hitting again.  That's a good thing.  Now to get the studio cleaned out a little and get started.  Christmas is right around the corner, again.

This  is short today as I am going to get the "resting" started.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and action,

Elizabeth

My Son is 18 today!

Good morning world!  Today is another birthday in our house.  Tommy is 18 today!  Not exactly sure on how today is going to go.  Before we sent him to The Timothy Group camp, he was defiant, disrespectful, and leaving as soon as he turned 18.  Someone, well meaning I'm sure, told him a while back that as soon as he turns 18, he can  do what ever he wants.

I am praying today goes well.  Since he has been back from the camp, he is respectful, compliant, and still gets into it with his brothers.  We shall see how it goes.

I was thinking I might have our friends the Griswolds come here tonight after working out at the gym for supper and cake.  We usually go there on Wednesday nights after the gym.  As I am trying to save us some money on gas this week, I think we might see about doing this.

Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread with birthday cake would be the menu as we would have 17 or 18 people here, with Grandma and Papa.

His birthday present is coming today via amazon, a jews harp.  That is what he wanted for his birthday.  Also, we are going to put a note in his birthday card saying we will pay for having his windshield fixed too.

Well, need to get started on my day!  Still have some "stuff" out from cleaning and re-arranging my bedroom.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Decluttering and moving furniture around!

Good morning world.  Definitely a busy day planned today!  I tore apart my room yesterday and did not have time to finish putting it back together.  Went to the gym last night, even though moving furniture was plenty of workout.

For some reason my room has become the catch all.  And when I have "stuff", it goes in there even though we do not have the room.  Some of the stuff will not go back into the room.  Not sure where it will go.  We slept on the couch last night because my bed was piled so high of mending projects, extra stuff from the night stands, stuff and more stuff.

I will be doing the 3 pile system as I go through the "stuff", keep, give away, throw away.  Hopefully the keep pile is the smallest.  I have read before that you cannot organize clutter.  If something does not have a place, then it needs to go.

When you walk into my house, we have a lot of furniture in our small farm house.  Some of it belonged to  my Dad which is why I cannot get rid of it.  So we make do.

Our house is full of Patrick and my stuff.  Then add my Dad's stuff when he passed away.  Fast forward several years, my mother had a stroke and was in a nursing home, we closed out her house, a lot of her stuff came to our house.  A couple of years after that, Patrick's Grandma passed away, some of her stuff came here too.

Patrick is a pack rat and I am sentimental about "things".  That is not always a good combination.

I gave Patrick a box this morning asking him to go through the small box and decide where things were going to go.  He just smiled at me as he was going  through the box.

Off to the classroom!  Then back to the bedroom!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of our thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Texting while walking, The Walking Dead

Good morning world!  My day has already started with a shower and laundry.  Today is and probably will always be the extra laundry day.  You know, sheets and towels and such.  Also blessing my home.  Although that will be a fairly easy non time consuming task as we thought we were having a guest over the weekend, so the house is pretty clean.

I am hoping today, after school, I will be able to get my room taken care of.  It is always the last room to clean up as I can always just shut my door.

Completely different topic, I just heard a commercial, a public service announcement to be exact.  It was telling the public to be aware of those who are not aware of their surroundings because they are glued to their phones.  The walking dead so to speak.  They are so concentrating on texting or the latest on facebook, they do not know they are getting ready to bump into a person.

The speaker said to keep an eye out for those people.  REALLY?  So now it is the job of those who are not looking down and are watching where they are going, to watch where others are going.  I feel for those who live in cities and do walk everywhere.

Ridiculous!

Anyway, going to have a blessed day, what about you?

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Did I eat healthy?

Good morning world!  I survived Six Flags!  Yes, I road 2 of the roller coasters.  That was it for the scary rides.  And they were 2 of the more tame ones.  I even cried on the ferris wheel.  It was a tad too high for me and Patrick was standing up.  Not sure why I freaked out, just did.

Did I eat good and healthy?  No, not really.  I did not buy anything at Six Flags to eat.  We had brought food to eat for lunch or early supper as it was.  However, I did buy powdered donuts for the boys and finished them off for the boys. Ate one of the Griswold's cinnamon rolls.  Ate cookies they brought.  Ate 2 bananas, several grapes, crackers, bread, and a hamburger roll with a sloppy joe.

Been doing a lot of thinking this morning.  About yesterday's post mostly.  The problem is not mine, so I am going to treat it as such.  I will go back on my eating plan that has worked for me.  And I will do it for me, no one else!

Today I am still tired, we got home about 11:30 pm, I think.  And woke up a little before 7 this morning.  I tried to go back to sleep, could not. So I have laundry started, and a few dishes washed.

Getting another cup of coffee and check on my kids.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Another Friday....

Good morning world.  Yesterday and last night was a huge success for the birthday boy, David.  Excuse me, young man.  The grandparents came over for the birthday supper.  I baked a new recipe for the cake, Sour Milk Chocolate Cake with boiled frosting.  Yum... definitely not on my eating plan.
Just doing a couple of things in school today as one son is going with Dad today to work with him.  Probably P.J.  David will be staying to help Tyler work on his car.  So I will have Tommy helping me in the house.  Going to get the computer room a little more organized (especially Patrick's desk) and work some in my room.

If I have time, I'll work in my studio too.  But I have some Pat's Services paperwork to get done too.  Had been working on collections for the business.  Not my favorite part of my job.  It has be done.

We are going to be meeting Tyler's friend this afternoon.  I am excited about this.

What is going to be for supper tonight?  I really need to start making menus again.  Made things so much easier.  Maybe starting next week.  Need another cup of coffee and off to start my day.  Usually I have several things done by now.  Not this morning.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

A birthday today!

Good morning world!  Going to be a fun day today and yet I am still not sure what all we are doing today.  Today is my middle son, David's birthday.  He is 17 today.  That means for a week, I have 2 sons who are 17.  Next Wednesday Tommy turns 18.

Last night we had a pre-birthday celebration at the Griswold's.  Today is a birthday dinner with family.  Note to self, make a cake this afternoon.

In the mornings when I'm especially happy, I go upstairs to wake up the boys saying "Good morning, time to get up, it's going to be a wondamous day!"  Not sure why that annoys the boys, but it seems to.  At least one or two of them act like it does.  That does not deter me from doing this!

So school this morning. Going to make it fun!  Then, off to town real quick, back home.  Then bake a cake and get the house blessed.  Presents wrapped too.

Y'all have a great day too no matter what your circumstances might be.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Ramblings

Good morning world.  Do you ever have those days when nothing goes as planned?  Mine was like that yesterday.  Had a hair appointment and it got changed to this morning.  Went to Mountain Grove, a neighboring town, so 2 of the boys could take their driver's permit test.  One passed, one did not.  Got back home around 5 pm and my day was gone.  The only thing that was accomplished besides school, was laundry.

Today, I have the hair appointment this morning.  So there goes school this morning.  Due to some trouble the boys had gotten into, usually they go everywhere with me.  This morning, however, I am thinking it would be a good time to get the camper cleaned out.  I will hide the remotes.  And let them know it has to be done by the time I get home.

My boys love TV.  I am just as guilty at times.  Now that it is getting dark earlier, it is easier to say "Just wait till tonight, after dark".

When my day does not start out or go the way I planned, I cannot seem to get much done.  Maybe we will try school this afternoon instead of this morning.  I have a friend whose family is up when they get up, 9 or 10.  And they stay up late too.  Their farm animals are just use to being fed and watered late.

I am rambling today so I'll close.  Get a shower and get everyone's day started.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

A great Monday!

Good morning world.  I am one happy Momma!  I love my boys!  And Tommy is home, finally.   After spending a week at The Timothy Group camp, he spent a week at Grandma's.  She paid for the camp and that was her condition.  I wrote a post a few days ago about confrontation.  I talked to her about giving gifts and putting conditions on her gifts.

So school in a few minutes.  I cannot wait.  I have been reading so much about different ways of homeschooling that I am going to be making some changes on how we do some things.

We have a classroom and for quite a while, we have been doing a lot of book work.  I  have forgotten to make this more fun.  Even in high school, homeschooling can be fun.  So, this morning we are going to do some journaling, write about things that we have been doing the past couple of weeks, then talk about what they are wanting to learn.

We have not done that in a very long time.  Part of their book work, they will take with us when I am at a cooking class this afternoon with their grandma.  I just want to make some changes now in the classroom.

P.J. is down in the classroom getting a fire started.  It is rather chilly in there as it was 41 when I got  up this morning and our classroom is a room in the barn.  Actually it is half of the barn.

This was from earlier this year.  Tommy and P.J.

David, his desk is right in front of mine.

So off to the classroom I go.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Lazy yesterday causes more work today!

Good morning world.  Going to try to get the things done today I did not get done yesterday.  I am ashamed to say I did not bake like I was going to.  I did get some cleaning done.  However, for the most part I deemed myself as being lazy.  I know I am allowed to have a day or two like that.  I just get frustrated with myself by the end of the day.

Today, the boys are helping out a friend at their farm.  Tommy is still at Grandmas.  So I will pretty much have the house to myself for the day,  I have some canning to get done.  I made some chicken broth yesterday.  Want to get some more chicken canned too.  However, wanting and doing are two different things as yesterday showed me.

I did get 3 dozen eggs prepped.  Meaning, the eggs got coated with mineral oil to preserve them for winter when the chickens do not lay as much.  We will have eggs!  Saw it on a Doomsday Preppers show and read about it on another blog.  Thought I would try it.  I have 2 more dozen cleaned and ready to prep.

Have a great day all!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Baking again! YUM!

Good morning world!  Today I am hoping to get some baking done.  Have not baked on a Thursday in a while.  Also need to get back on track with Atkins.  Been off of it for a bit.  Have not really gained much weight but some.  Probably hitting the gym 3 times a week has something to do with that.  Okay, not this week.

Last night I did something I thought I had done before.  I baked an angel food cake.  I had never baked one.  It looks good.  It is for Tyler's Mom's birthday today.  Angel food cake is her favorite and his sister tried to bake one, it did not work.  He said it was still liquidity after baking.  Probably did not beat the egg whites enough.

It was really super easy.  The most trouble I had was separating the egg yoke from the white.  I NEVER have problems with that.  However, I read it was very important to not get any egg yoke in the whites.  So of course that made me think about it and it happened, twice!

I just might bake another one today for my family.  And biscuits, cookies, bread.... oh bread, need to get it started soon!  Off to get my day going!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

A Visitor Today

Good morning world.  Yesterday on my daily facebook post I commented about yesterday's blog topic, confrontation and forgiveness.  I got quite the response, interesting.  Several of my friends thought I was in the middle of something when at that point I just wanted their opinions.  I had already gone through the confrontation.

Today, a dear friend is leaving her son with me.  He is about 20, I think and autistic.  He is such a sweet boy.  This time last year,  he stayed with us for a day while his Mom did some volunteer work at the school.  This year he requested to come to our house because he had such a good time here and with the boys.

I feel it is an honor to have him come here.  He loves to wander around looking at the various animals we have here on our small farm.  This year we have pigs again, and more ducks and chickens, as well as more horses.  He is going to have so much fun!

Already been busy this morning.  Finished Pat's Services paperwork.  Getting laundry going again.  Kitchen cleaned up, cleaning out both refrigerators today too.  Numerous things to get accomplished.
Be blessed and be a blessing

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Confrontations, can you do it?

Good morning world!  How hard is it for you to be confrontational?  Most of the time I think I am pretty good at it.  I mean, I have no problems with confronting my children when needed.  Or even my husband when there is something pressing, or I am very angry.  Although if I am very angry, I usually will not speak until I have calmed down a bit.  Afraid of what might come out of my mouth, I think.

I have a couple of very close friends I can go to with the truth at any time.  Not that we have had many problems to confront.

But over the years, at different times in my life, I find it difficult to go to someone with my perception of the truth for various reasons.  One reason is I do not want to hurt anyone's feelings.  The other reason, I think, is I do not want to lose that relationship.  Nor do I want them to think badly of me.

Lately, however, this does not seem to be the case as much.  A couple of days ago, I was able to go to an extended family member about some concerns I had.  It was not easy.  It was necessary in order to have an honest relationship and for that matter to continue in the relationship.

And for me, it does not matter anymore how what I have to say is received.  In the past it did matter.  I still wanted them to like me, not be angry with me, or what ever.  I still do not want to hurt feelings.

I am finding more and more if I do not take the initiative, then I end up with some unforgivness and bitterness.  Those 2 things do nothing to or for the other person.  Just bad for me.

"13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  Colossians 3:13

Are not relationships fun?

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

God is still in the miracle business!

Good afternoon world!  This has been a glorious weekend!  I cannot wait to tell you about it!  This was the weekend we went to pick up Tommy from The Timothy Group Camp in Georgia.

Of course we were late, as usual.  I really tried for us to be on time.  But circumstances just did not cooperate.  That was okay though, Tommy and a couple of the other guys was treated to a dinner at the Olive Garden.  He was so excited about that!

We pulled up in the parking lot.  I spotted someone from their group and asked where the boys were, Tommy and the Griswold boy who went with Tommy.  In just a minute here comes a bunch of them pouring out of the restaurant.

Tommy looked so much taller!  He was smiling and laughing.  He talked and talked about different things they did.  He did push ups their style on the sidewalk.  He talked about praying for others, helping others, praising God for accomplishments!

This is definitely not the Tommy we dropped off the Monday before.  He had been angry, defiant, moody, and definitely not respectful!  This Tommy was the opposite!

I have not heard him laugh like this in a very very long time!  I feel as though I have my little boy back.  Of course he is not little anymore.  He is going to be 18 at the end of this month.  God did a miracle work on him this past week.  For that I am truly grateful!

Next year all 3 boys and Patrick are going.  In the meantime, I will be praying, going to my war room, for my family!  There is hope when you feel things are hopeless!  Thank you Jesus!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Trip Again!

Good morning world.  Today we head out to pick up our son who has been away at camp.  So today will be a home blessing day, I like to come home from a trip to a clean house.  Get us packed up with food, water and a little clothes.

Tyler is going to be home as he is not excited about being in the van with 5 or 6 of us for 10 to 12 hours.  Wonder why?  LOL

I am going to try to not have too high of expectations about how this camp has affected Tommy.  I have been praying all week for God to move in a mighty way in Tommy's heart and soul.

I will also be glad to get back to a regular schedule next week with school, cleaning, canning, working on Christmas presents, and more.

Have a great day all!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Road trip this past weekend.

Good morning world.  Been out of pocket for a few days.  Well, except yesterday.  I was trying to get some rest after being in the van for more than 24 hours with little rest in between the getting there and coming back home.

Sunday, in the afternoon finally, we left to go to Pine Mountain, Georgia.  That is over 580 miles away and a little over 10 hours straight driving.  If you have ever gone long distance with me, you would know I cannot drive straight for that long of time.

Oh, as to why we are taking off and driving so far so suddenly?  We took our oldest son to a camp for a week given by The Timothy Group.  We have been having some things going on with him, we felt we needed to do something.

He is going to be 18 at the end of this month and I started worrying about the path he was heading down.  He does not take drugs.  He does not drink.

The Timothy Group Challenge is a week long, military styled, Bible based camp.  Full of challenges and the Bible.

I miss him.  However, I do not miss the mouth he has decided was okay.  I do not miss the quick to anger with both myself and his brothers.  I am praying for my sweet boy.

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."  Psalm 63:1  NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Blessings again!

Good morning world!  Survived my busy day yesterday.  We got in very late last night so I am letting the rest of the family sleep in.  I feel as though I have slept in as I got up just after 7 am when my normal waking time is around 6 am.

Today is going to be a busy at home day.  Well, with a couple of exceptions.  I have to pick up my van at the shop.  I am very excited about getting the van back!  And David and PJ have to go to work this afternoon.  So I will make one trip for both.  Whether or not we have school today is another thing.

So the rest of the agenda is to make chicken broth.  And can the meat off of ham hocks.  Then can the chicken broth.  I was given a LOT of chicken wings, backs and such.  And a lot of ham hocks.  Such a blessing!

Was interrupted a couple of times so I am going to make this short today.  I need to get school started with the boys.

22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:22-23  NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of  my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth