I found money! 💲💰

Super excited... I found $230 that had been missing for 2 years. 😊
That may not seem like a lot to be so excited about, but it has been missing!  And I just could not figure out where it went!

And God's timing is perfect! Hubby has been out of work several days the past couple of weeks, so this was a blessing!

It wasn't even my money, so I'd had to re-pay it. I had given up on finding it... I had it in a "safe place" lol.
But today while going through old papers, installation CDs, and instruction manuals... 🤪 I found the envelope! It was inside a CD box...? 🤔 I do not remember putting it there. In my mind, it was in another specific place where I always put important papers, etc. Except it wasn't. 😄

Also, I finally told my husband about something else that has been missing awhile... I was nervous about telling him, and was just hoping I could find it myself.
Our Social Security cards. 😔
Again, they were supposed to be in the "safe place." But I have learned (and I should have known this would happen...) If I move something from where it has always been, I will not be able to find it.
In just minutes, he found them and brought them to me. 😮
I had looked high and low! For several months!!

In thinking about this... this is a lesson to me.
I should trust my husband and not keep things from him. 😔
Also, why do we not take things to the Lord, instead of trying to do it on our own?
And if I'm doing something God showed me that I need to do... don't change it!

Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

sMiLeS,

Enjoying the Journey

The Enjoying the Journey broadcast began by featuring short podcasts of a study of Philippians.  I especially enjoyed the episodes on Paul's prayers for the people of Philippi.
Bro. Pauley has continued to add more studies on his podcast.

To find the below episodes online, click here, or download the Podbean app to your phone, from iTunes or Google Play, then scroll to the correct date or podcast. (Also on  Spotify now)

If you are using the app, be sure to "follow" the Enjoying the Journey podcasts so you can easily find the new podcast each day.

1. Philippians - 42 podcasts - began on Dec 28, 2017 (download list)
2. The Daily Christian Life - 13 podcasts - began on Feb 28, 2018 (download list)
3. A Revival of Bible Reading - blog post - 5 podcasts - began on March 19, 2018 (download list)
4. A Journey Through Scripture - blog post - began on March 25, 2018, and will briefly go through each book of the Bible
5. A Word to Our Listeners - a single podcast - June 30, 2018 - listen here
6. The Journey is Not Over - a single podcast on methods of Bible study - July 2, 2018 - listen here
7. Journeying with John the Baptist - blog post - 19 podcasts - began July 3, 2018
8. What God Says about Alcohol - blog post, blog post#2 - 5 podcasts - began July 30, 2018
9. Prayer Principles and Promises in God's Word - blog post - began August 6, 2018
10. Seeking God's Direction - Part 1 (3 weeks) - Which Way Do I Go?
      Part 2 (3 weeks) - Psalms For The Traveler - blog post - began Sept 24, 2018
11. A Season of Thanks - The Power of Praise - blog post - began Nov 5, 2018
12. A Christmas Series - blog post - began Dec 3, 2018
13. Meditations For A New Year - blog post - began Dec 31, 2018
14. The Gospel of Mark - blog post - began Jan 7, 2019
15. Letting the Bible Live in Me - blog post - began May 17, 2019
16. On The Edge Of Eternity - the book of Jude - blog post - began June 3, 2019
17. The Need Of Our Nation - blog post - began July 1, 2019
18. Go With the Gospel - blog post - began July 8, 2019
19. God's Strength For Man's Weakness - Samson - blog post - began August 5, 2019
20. God's Construction Zone - the book of Haggai - blog post - began Sept 9, 2019
21. What The Bible Says... - blog post - began Sept 23, 2019
22.  The Lord's "To Do" List - blog post - began Nov 11, 2019



Each episode shows as around 10 minutes, but is actually only about 7-9 minutes, minus the intro and follow up.
On the Podbean app, you can edit your Seek settings for 15- or 60-second increments, and also turn off notifications for other recommendations, etc.  That setting was my favorite, ha!

About a year and a half after I started using this app, I realized it had been automatically downloading new podcasts, and taking up a ton of space on my phone!  So I changed that setting, deleted all the downloads, and freed up 1.5 GB! 😊

Bro. Pauley is an evangelist, and was previously the Vice President of Administration at Crown College of the Bible where my daughter graduated from college.
Click here for a preaching message by Bro. Pauley.  =)

sMiLeS,

A Right Spirit

Proverbs 14:3

"In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride..."

This was me yesterday.

I was gossiping about someone who (to me) appeared prideful... All the while being somewhat proud that I wasn't like that person.

Oops. 😞

I didn't mention the name, but the person to whom I was talking guessed it after like 2 sentences.

Oops again. 😔

And said she knew, because another person had told her some things.

😕😞☹️😯

Thankfully we were interrupted before she could tell me what things... But later she told me she wasn't going to tell me anyway. ♥

(*Now I say "thankfully"... But before I read Proverbs this morning, I was still curious to know.)

►We don't always *consciously we think we are "better."

Sometimes we just think they are not as good/spiritual/kind/humble (really?), etc. as we are... That they are somehow beneath us...

And these were just from things I thought about the person, from what I observed from my limited viewpoint...

I Samuel 16:7 - "... the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

So that means he knows my sinful heart too.

Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Proverbs 21:2 - "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

Our tongue can cause a lot of trouble... 

Proverbs 15:2-4 - "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." 

Proverbs 11:9, 13 - "An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered."A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."

Proverbs 31:26 - "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."

Today is the 15th, so I read Proverbs 15, but I know God caused my eyes to fall on that verse from chapter 14. 

And that interruption we had?  Something that rarely, if ever, happens.  🙂

sMiLeS,

The Lord in the Bible

I see my Lord in the Bible whenever I chance to look.

He is the theme of the Bible, the center and heart of the Book.

He is the Rose of Sharon; He is the Lily fair,

Whenever I open the Bible, the Lord of the Bible is there.

He is in the Book’s beginning. He gave the earth its form.

He is the ark of safety, to bear the brunt of the storm.

The burning bush of the desert, the budding of Aaron’s rod –

And whenever I open the Bible, I see the Son of God.

The lamb upon Mount Moriah, the ladder from earth to sky,

The scarlet cord in the window, the serpent lifted high,

The smitten rock of the desert, the shepherd with staff and crook –

It’s whenever I open the Bible, I see my Lord in the Book.

He is the seed of the woman, the Saviour virgin-born.

He is the son of David, whom men rejected with scorn,

The Lord of eternal glory, whom John the apostle saw,

The light of the Celestial City, that Lamb without spot or flaw.

The Bridegroom coming at midnight, for whom his people look,

Yes, thank God, whenever I open the Bible, I see my Lord in the Book.

“The Lord in the Bible” from The Poetry of Preaching

--Author Unknown

Whatever He Wants for Me

1. Surrendered to the perfect will of God
I dare not give him less
Though he should lead my steps from here abroad
I want his will my life to bless

Whatever he wants for me, his will, his will I must know
Wherever he wants to send me, his way, his way I must go
If he but speaks I’ll obey at his voice
I’ve already decided His will is my choice
Whatever he wants for me, his will, his will I must do

2. My plan must not oppose his perfect will
I want to live his thought
My words and deeds his purpose to fulfill
For I am his, so dearly bought

Whatever he wants for me, his will, his will I must know
Wherever he wants to send me, his way, his way I must go
If he but speaks I’ll obey at his voice
I’ve already decided His will is my choice
Whatever he wants for me, his will, his will I must do

Louis Paul Lehman, 1914-1986

sung by Alvin Martinez (link)



I posted this... but would I do anything...?  We like to hold on to things.  Or like things to stay the same way.
We like to think we'd do anything God wanted, but it starts small, and it starts at home.  Things like cleaning the bathroom, lol... or forgiving someone, and loving them.  Or giving something up.  We have to be willing to do the jobs or commands we have already been given.  Not so easy when I think of it like that.
If I can't do these things that I don't care for, would I really be able to do something "big"?

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.  Luke 16:10

DIY Iced Coffee

Yum!  =)

I am already a Nana... and just started drinking coffee a couple years ago!  Lol.

My sister-in-law had brought me an iced coffee from McD's several times, and I started liking it.  Sometimes it was okay... and other times it was quite bitter (imo).  I found if it wasn't too bitter, I could add a little extra hazelnut creamer to get it to my taste.

But then I decided I could just make it myself, and have it any day, any time I wanted.
And I accidentally discovered that I could eliminate the bitter taste by leaving the coffee to fully cool to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator. 

Letting it cool... 

This calls for planning ahead, and making coffee in the morning even if I already have quite a bit in the fridge.

Not tea!  Lol

After cooling (I even let it sit for up to 8 hours sometimes), I pour the coffee into a pitcher that is distinctive from the tea pitcher, lol.  I did label it for awhile until everyone who came over knew which was the coffee pitcher!  =)  I had to get a gallon pitcher because all my kids and their cousins want iced coffee too!  =)

You can also add chocolate milk mix for mocha coffee!

My son likes hazelnut mocha iced coffee.  =)
1.5 oz creamer, 2-3 spoonfuls dry choc milk mix, fill to the top w/ coffee in a 20 oz bottle.  Shake well!

I found these cute cups at Walmart 

I don't usually add ice, but if you prefer ice and don't want it to get watery, you can freeze coffee, or coffee and creamer already mixed.
Or make a frappuccino, which is something I plan to try soon.  I went to Starbucks last week for the first time ever!  (I was given a gift card, ha!)  My daughter ordered for me - a toffee nut frappuccino, with cream.  It was fabulous!

My first coffee jug... before teens and young adults learned where to get the free iced coffee!  =) 

I do drink hot coffee... occasionally.  =)

My daughter's coffee and my iced coffee.  =)

sMiLeS,

Two resources -- for Psalms and Philippians!

►A Ready Reference for the Psalms - by Bro. Scott Pauley 

"The book of Psalms is God’s devotional book for His chosen people. It is both the Hebrew Hymnbook and a Personal Prayer book. Use God’s devotional book!"In the Psalms you find both prayer and praise. The purpose of the book is to bring every experience into the presence of God. The psalms are expressions of the heart for every experience in life. They have become a great help in my personal worship and devotional time."

Rediscover the Psalms -- This resource is for each chapter in Psalms, that you can keep in your Bible or notebook, or like I have, you may prefer to have screenshots of the pages.  The page folded in half will not fit in my Bible or notebook, and I would get the pages all bent, so I opted to do screenshots (below) which you are welcome to save to your device for your own use.

If you would like a printable version, you may go to the link above and put in your name and email address, and it will be emailed to you from Bro. Pauley's website.

You may also access the printable here.  For my printer, I had to choose double-sided, with the flip "up" option, to get it to print correctly.


Whether you prefer the printable version or the screenshots, I suggest you still read the blog article (the first link above).  You may want to do a screenshot of that too!  =)

(How to get your pics side by side like that, lol)

►A Study of Philippians - by Bro. Scott Pauley 
Learn the secrets of living the joyful Christian life. 

This is the Enjoying the Journey broadcast, which began by featuring short podcasts of a study of Philippians.  I especially enjoyed the episodes on Paul's prayers for the people of Philippi.

To listen to past episodes online, click here, or download the Podbean app to your phone, from iTunes or Google Play.

If you are using the app, be sure to "follow" the Enjoying the Journey podcasts so you can easily find the new podcast each day.  

1. Philippians - 42 podcasts - began on Dec 28, 2017 (download list)
2. The Daily Christian Life - 13 podcasts - began on Feb 28, 2018 (download list)
3. A Revival of Bible Reading - 5 podcasts - began on March 19, 2018 (download list)
4. A Journey Through Scripture began on March 25, 2018, and will briefly go through each book of the Bible

Each episode shows as around 10 minutes, but is actually only about 7 minutes, minus the intro and follow up. On the Podbean app, you can click the 30-sec-forward button twice to skip the intro.
Or you can edit your Seek settings for 15- or 60-second increments, and also turn off notifications for other recommendations, etc.  That setting was my favorite, lol!

Bro. Pauley is an evangelist, and was previously the Vice President of Administration at Crown College of the Bible where my daughter goes to college.
Click here for a preaching message by Bro. Pauley.  =)


sMiLeS,

Italy Mission Trip

Please pray for my son JohnDavid and his friend Danny as they are in Italy for 2 weeks with a missionary family there, Paul and Kelly Childers. Prayers for continued safety during travel and while they are out, and that the Lord will allow them to reach souls for Christ, and to be an encouragement to the Childers family who graciously allowed them to stay in their home, and to others.

The Tyrrhenian Sea

sMiLeS,

New pic ♥

My daughter and her family.

sMiLeS,

Avocado!! ♥♥♥

Avocado Tuna Salad & Avocado Cream Cheese Bacon Roll-Ups

I love avocado, even by itself... it just needs a little salt.
Seriously.  Avocados are a great snack!  ♥

So I saw a recipe on facebook that had avocado, with tuna.  Avocado Tuna Salad.  I was a bit dubious... mess up my avocado w/ tuna?!
But I tried it and although not a hit with my guys, lol, it was pretty good!
Pics and recipe here.  I added tomato.  =)


She has more avocado recipes!  =)





But the Avocado Cream Cheese Bacon Roll-Ups were divine!
I added a little more bacon than the recipe called for, and a little less tomato, for my guys.  ;)

I used these low-carb tortillas (5 net carbs each), and spread it on pretty thick, and the recipe made five.  These are about 8 inches across, and are thin and easy to roll up.  After refrigerating awhile, they slice pretty easily.

I cut the cream cheese into about 6 chunks and microwaved 30 seconds at a time until it was spreadable.  I only mashed up the avocado with a fork because I don't mind if there are small chunks.  =)
Add in crisp bacon, diced onions, and seasonings.
Yummy!

Pics and recipe here.

My youngest daughter knows how to drive...
but she doesn't avocado!


sMiLeS,

Sweet Little Family ♥

My daughter and son-in-law with their little ones. ♥

Caleb & Rebekah, with Carson and Callie ♥

sMiLeS,

♥Notebooks and My Bible Reading

So I'm kind of excited!  This is something I just can't wait to share, and it may not matter to one single other person, but that's okay, because I am excited!  =)

I love notebooks.  I enjoy studying... (okay, I've lost a few of you already, lol).  But I really do!  I love sitting at my desk with my notebook and Bible, favorite pen, highlighters (yes, I like several colors!), my Old or New Testament Survey book, and anything else I might need!  Like whiteout.  =D


For several years now, I've been filling up notebooks.  I use the same notebook for sermon notes, ladies meetings, etc. as well as my daily Bible reading.  During my daily reading, I usually only write down verses that mean something to me, and not too many notes.  And I don't even write something every day!
Those notebooks aren't pictured here - too messy, lol, and just my own scribbles...

I do make notations in my Bible, highlight or underline in my Bible and my Survey books, and cross reference when I see something I want to remember later.
(If you have small children, don't despair... I didn't do this when mine were small!  Or even medium...)

But when I come across a great verse or passage that I really, really want to remember later, in my notebook I will highlight the reference or a phrase in the verse... but then I can't always find them.  I have a small stack of notebooks with lots of stuff in them...  =) =)



So last month, I actually paid $10 for one medium-sized notebook.  I seriously did.  I came across it at a Mast General Store in Boone, NC, and there was only one.  For me.  ♥ ;)
I was so excited because there was a different design on every page!  I prefer color, different designs, something that does not look the same on both sides (kind of like my face, lol).
I didn't know yet what I was going to do with it, but I have a weakness for pretty notebooks.  I simply had to get it.  And it is has a sturdy, hard cover.
The designs inside this particular notebook are not already colored in, but I've used a highlighter on a few pages.

Lang notebook, artist for this notebook - Susan Winget

I was pleased when I finally decided that I could use this notebook as a place to write down my favorite verses and passages that really touch my heart!♥  In addition to scripture, I am including songs or quotes that I treasure as well.

This song is also called I Am Thine, O, Lord.

These verses speak to me... Ps. 139:17-18, 23-24; Ps. 119:97-105

The second notebook that I will talk about is a disc-bound notebook.  It has removable pages, but the whole notebook lays flat and can fold back similarly to a regular notebook, not a binder.  (I just... honestly do not care for binders.... ;)
(This video talks about different brands.)
I haven't used subject notebooks in a long time... When my kids were homeschooling, we had one notebook for math, and one or two notebooks for everything else!  But too many times I wished I could insert another page somewhere... or sometimes ended up with a section that simply didn't get used up and had blank pages sitting there.

I had seen these notebooks several times at Staples, and loved them.  But again, didn't know what I would use it for!  I finally did purchase it when I had a $5.00 coupon that was about to run out!  =)

Love the color and design! ♥

So far I'm using this notebook for two things, one being my prayer list.  I like to write out more things than just a simple list; I want to be specific.  For example, I have listed for my husband and children things I'm thankful for, as well as particular things to pray about.  (For me too!  So I hope no one reads my list!!)  But sometimes I have updates to add that require another page, or just more pages in a certain section, and it's easy to put in an extra page when necessary.

UPDATE: I'm now using PrayerMate - an app that does exactly what I want.  I can have daily lists, lists for certain days of the week, or even a day of the month.  Or the 1st, 10th, and 20th.  etc.  Or if someone has an upcoming exam, or a surgery, you can schedule several days ahead to remember to let others know ahead of time to pray... or to schedule food for their family, etc.  However you want.
It even works well with the Charlotte Mason method of reviewing scripture you've memorized!

Also available are divider pages like the green tab on on the left, as well as pocket pages and other accessories.

--I advise not to remove pages too often.. =)

The main things I'm putting in this notebook for now are verses and passages that are so necessary for those problem areas in my life!  We all have them - those "Till Death Do Us Part" problems!  Those areas that just always seem to get the best of us at the worst times...

I already had a few "go-to" passages and chapters, and am adding more to my list as I come across them.  I have a few verses that are just good to review frequently, and I've grouped others into categories.  I'm writing out some of the smaller passages and individual verses, so it is easier than having to go look them all up each time I have need of them!
The longer passages or chapters are only listed by their references.


sMiLeS,

Callie & Carson ♥

2 years old and 6 months old

Love her little feet sticking out! ♥

He's a happy baby! =D 

sMiLeS,

A Little Off...

I have been THREE CENTS off in my checkbook for several days! I added and re-added, and checked my entries for accuracy....
This morning, I wrote down some more entries, and of course, I was still 3 cents off... then I glanced back a few pages, and suddenly I saw it! An error, on my part of course.  I fixed it and the next few pages, and now my balance is correct.
Thankfully there was only one error. If there are two, it is even more difficult to find, because you don't know what the two errors are that add up to __ cents, or dollars!

It's the same in our Christian lives... we skip (or even just skimp, or hurry thru) on our Bible reading, and things get off, and we end up snapping at our children or spouse, and things just go down hill from there! Even more "errors" add up, and it snowballs...


My problem was, I was starting at the wrong place to begin my scrutiny... I wasn't going back far enough.  I always place a bold check mark at the last point where I have everything balanced correctly.  A few entries before that, my total ended in a 6, then there were a few entries ending in zero, and then the entry where my mark was, at which I had my total with the last digit as a 9 instead of 6... and then placed a check mark there!  Six minus zero does not equal 9!
I had approved the very spot with the error!
No wonder I was wrong -- I checked and re-checked every entry after that, but had actually okayed the error!
I was blind to checking the one detail that was the whole problem.

Psalm 19:12 "...cleanse thou me from secrets faults."

And a false sense of security, thinking I have more in the bank than I do, will get me into trouble!!
It's best to keep checking up often!
We check on our cars if there is a little noise, we check on our health if we sense something is wrong, a few times a day we check our hair and clothes in the mirror...
Measure yourself against the Word... if there is a verse that makes you a bit uncomfortable, that you just want to skim by, you've found an error in your life... =)
God's Word is like a mirror! It shows us for who we really are.

Stay in the Word! Read for meaning, not to check off x number of chapters. Get something from it so it can help you. Be looking for verses and God will show you what you need...


Psalms and Proverbs are great places to start... Look for verses that show you where you need to change, but also look for verses that show God's love for you!  Getting close to him is the only way you can change. ♥



Psalm 16:11 "...and in thy presence is fullness of joy..."

Psalm 8:4 "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"  [But he is!]

Genesis 16:13 "Thou, God, seest me..." ♥

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 25:1-7
"Unto thee, O Lord , do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O Lord ; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord , thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord."

I encourage everyone to watch this message, even if you do read your Bible daily.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rveawoJgyhg
So much in this message...



sMiLeS,

Jesus Loves Me, 8-9-10!

22 months old



sMiLeS,

Carson♥ Smiling at Mommy

9 weeks old

Look at those squishy cheeks!! ♥

He is so precious!! ♥♥♥





sMiLeS,