Hearts in Service Blog

On Saturday, another milestone was reached.   Nathan purchased his first car and Dan went to pick it up yesterday evening.  The car and insurance are in our name, but he made the down payment and is making the monthly payments.  We told him that as soon as it gets paid off, we'll put it in his name.    He got a 2000 Honda Civic and it's in good shape with fairly low mileage. He made me laugh today because every time I saw him, he was standing and staring at it!  He put his blue light in it, put the fire department logo around the plates, and put his gear in it.   He took it next door to the firehouse to show it off.  He gave one of the fireman a ride who paid him $1.00 for gas.  LOL!!!!!  I reminded him that he should be paying his friends who have been chauffeuring him around for the past two years. :-) He's happy as a lark!  He didn't even fuss when I wanted to take his picture.  Another step towards inde...

It poured all day Saturday and Sunday was overcast and drizzly, but Monday dawned clear, sunny and warm.  What a glorious day! Nathan had a parade in the morning. The rest of the day was spent just enjoying the family and spending it outdoors. I planted flowers and that went a long way towards lifting my spirits.    The flower boxes and hanging baskets are full and back on the porch. I planted some lavender and a few herbs.  This is the first year in about 10 that I will not have a vegetable garden.  I feel kind of sad about that.  Just a bit, but not enough to change my mind. ;-) I made sun tea for the first time in a year and threw in some lemon balm.  Yum! Emily washed the car for her dad.  Stephen washed the other car. I got to sit and chat with Dan.  He got to spend time with the kids. We kept an eye on the baby birds who have all hatched.  This chick is the cowbird.  I'm not sure how muc...

Philippians 3:10-14 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.   Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. There have been trying times here recently and Dan & I have been dealing with church concerns that can leave us absolutely drained at times.  I've been trying to stay close to the Lord in prayer, and reading, and meditating on His promises.  And it helps.  After doing this I will feel rejuvenated and hopeful and ready to face the worl...

It's been almost two months since the release of Words of Encouragement for a Discouraged World.  I've been encouraged by the response from those who have purchased the book and how the book is helping women.  That was my desire when I wrote it! May I ask you a favor today?  If you have purchased, Words of Encouragement for a Discouraged World, would you be willing to go to Amazon.com and leave a customer review if you have not already done so?  If you purchased the book from some place other than Amazon, that does not matter.  You can still leave a review. Book reviews help other women who are considering purchasing it.  The further up in the ranks the book goes on Amazon, the more it will show up in search results.  Obviously, it helps me to sell the book.  Besides the desire to encourage other women, and fulfill my life long dream of writing, I have been trying to help our family by providing some sort of income that will also allow me t...

This post is going to be the equivalent of junk mail; nothing exciting and nothing worth remembering or keeping! ;-)  In the Kitchen...   Last night was one of those times when my cupboards were bare and I had forgotten to take anything out of the freezer to thaw out and both boys had the cars so we were stranded at home. It was 5:30 and I hadn't a clue what Dan, Emily & I were going to eat.  However, after brainstorming, we ended up with a simple, frugal, and delicious meal and it only took about 15 minutes to make. I cut up some potatoes and made home fries with onions & peppers.  I also had thinly sliced ham in the freezer so I cut off a few pieces, sauteed it with some onions and peppers and scrambled up some eggs. Simple, yet good!  On a side note, look at the beautiful color of those eggs.  Farm fresh are so much better for you than those pale, washed out looking eggs from the store. In the Sewing Room... I recently had an ord...

The weather has warmed up a bit and even though it was nippy out, I spent some time on my back deck this morning.  I took my coffee, camera, Bible and journal out there and I'm so glad I did.  I always find time with the Lord in nature is a great stress reliever. I was distracted by this brightly colored visitor.  It kept flitting from branch to branch so it was hard to get a photo that wasn't blurry. I read from Psalm 37 and found some encouragement in there, especially verses 3-7.   Trust in the Lord and do good.      Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord ,      and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord .      Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,      and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of t...

  A two a.m. prayer time led to a feeling of peace and joy this morning.  I woke with a feeling of happiness and excitement for the day.  That hasn't happened in a while.  As my feet when over the side of the bed, I didn't feel dread.  As I poured my first cup of coffee, I looked forward to eagerly seeing what God has for me today. I opened my Bible to this passage. Psalm 19:1-7 ~    The heavens proclaim the glory of God.      The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak;      night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word;      their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,      and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.      It rejoices like a great ath...