Monday Shout Outs

Jeremiah 32:17 says, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” And this morning, I just have to say thanks be to God --- that NOTHING is too hard for HIM. It's amazing how life just seemingly hums along some times and others, your heart just goes out to all those hurting and struggling around you and often times with you. The prayer requests this Monday morning are pretty lengthy, but PRAISE GOD that before we even speak the words, HE KNOWS. Praise the Lord, the Sovereign Lord.

Please pray for the Bellenger family in Fort Mill - Stephanie's kidney transplant ended in her body rejecting the kidney - please just lift them up to God this day and the days to come. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stephaniebellenger

Please pray for Chris's colleague - his wife's dad is 83 and in ICU with heart problems beyond my comprehension. Lift that family up to the Throne in this storm.

Continue lifting up my mom and dad in Rock Hill - mom's chemo continues - pray for what God has in store and thank Him with us for how faithful He is. How loving and faithful.

We are so thankful to have had a visit from Chris's folks this weekend - what a great time for us, them and the grandkids - we even shared the joy of worshiping together yesterday before they left to go home.

Celebrate with me and my church family here as our new Equipping Pastor comes on staff this week. This church has searched and prayed for God's man for nearly 3 years - - we are so blessed to just even be a part of this time in this church body's growing in the Lord. Praise God for HIS perfect will and timing as He blesses us all so abundantly -- pray for these times of transition for everyone involved.

God has poured out blessing on us here - we are just so grateful - doors have opened and while the everydayness of it all can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, still we have no doubt that we are where God wants us to be. Begin praying for us as school starts here in mid-August -- I will begin teaching high school age home schoolers math in a Montessori style setting, Ollie will begin MMO, and Emma Grace will return to our church's preschool/elementary school for K4. Lots of new and exciting things along with some drudgery type things that must be done, too, but JOY in it all. Lots of love to all from the nuts here in GA. =)

K, so I'm getting old and finally beginning to mellow...

Three things happened today with each of my precious little family members that made me first, thankful that God continues shaping me to be more like him and less like me, and second, that I will always be me just hopefully, God will keep working on that!

#1 Last night as I was preparing our kid "junk" for a consignment sale, I actually, pulled out one of Emma G's baby dolls and her accessories that was headed tothe sale. If you've known me for any length of time, you know I am merciless about "junk" that when we moved my daddy hauled truckloads of it away for me while Chris was already here; and that when my friends move, I bring them black trash bags instead of boxes to encourage tossing "junk;" and that I do not get sentimentally attached to said "junk" --- for me, the memory is fondly embraced in my heart and soul, not in "junk." So, it was a miracle in itself, that I stopped and saved that doll for Emma Grace --- which totally made her day - it had been packed away for at least 6 months and she has very much enjoyed playing with her "new" toy.

#2 This morning Chris got up early, early in efforts to help me out this evening - and in his darkened haste (before the sun came up), he forgot to carry the trash to the curb along with a nice load of cardboard that has been sitting for over a week. So, I was up much later than him (thank you, honey) and getting morning things done with the kiddos upstairs, when I hear the trash man coming...and I think, mmmmm, I wonder if Bubba remembered...and we go down stairs long after the trash man has come and gone and there's our trash sitting right behind the swing set in its usual spot. And I thought, "Oh, well." Again, if you've known me for any length of time, you know in the past that would have sent me right over the edge and into a fit. God works miracles even in his most challenging of children...ie, me. I ended up just texting Chris to let him know for today, he was a "doof" -- that is Jen terms for Goof and Doofus -- but it sounds nicer - well, maybe not now that I've explained it...but I was actually playful and well, sort of kind as opposed to my alter-ego that Chris "lovingly" refers to as "Mean Jen." And I'm just still kinda blown away that I'm changing...ah, wedded bliss.

#3 This one was my favorite one and honestly better left with fewer words and just this picture. Again, if you've known me for any length of time, you know I like my kids clean as well as my house...Well, Ollie got the dose of grace on this one...and this is as well why I always, always keep my eyes on my kids, especially, Oliver Thomas.

iBelieve series at church...

So, our pastor, BP - that's brother Perry, has been preaching a series on iBelieve and this week's focus was on the church - we are living and breathing and the body of Christ --- and BP shared from God's living Word how important that is and I came to the conclusion that YES - we DO need each other and when you say any different, it's a lie and you call God a liar - Jesus intended for us to all be within the body not on our own, but living, breathing and serving as we are gifted by HIM and as HE plans for us to live and then I read today's verse from Bible Gateway - 1 John 1:7 - but look at the verses around it, too - God is good, all the time.

Fellowship with God (from 1 John)

5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Saturday's "band" and tear down

Okay, so it's not what you'd have expected, but it was due a photo. We tried to get Ollie to participate without any luck at all!
He was more interested in sitting with mommy and taking pictures.

And it was very funny.

Happy Sunday - we are getting moving on our way to church - PTL!

We always have a pizza night...

Every time Chris goes away for a week like he has this week, the kids know we'll have a Papa John's pizza night. So hope you enjoy the pizza night pics. I know we enjoyed the pizza!

Daddy, come home soon - mommy's even crazier than usual!

Okay, so we're still at warp speed...

Honestly, we have been so busy with "busy" stuff since we've been home from vacation. Some days, it's just like I don't have time to think let alone blog - so my apologies - life is gonna keep being sort of random for a while so bear with me in love folks! Spread the love as we expect the arrival of our dear friends as well as some family visits and as we also expect the arrival of a new palladium window on the front of our house and my arrival as a teacher and my children's arrival at school then throw in some youth and music events and maybe a consignment sale and a few other extracurriculars and Chris working in Dalton, GA and that's what we look like--- ALL within the coming weeks! I'd go hide, but it would all come and find me --- But blessings are always abundant and God has been so gracious to remind me every day to hide and rest in Him and in all the chaos, the chaos ceases in quietness (or just in another room from the kids) with Him, the lover of my soul. God is good, all the time. Pray for momma, she's rebounding from bad chemo on Monday - pray for our dear friends as they begin migration to Kennesaw - pray God's will and glory be the focus for us all! I pray Christ will be at the center of your life even when chaos abounds.

Prayer for a friend...

You know, typically, we gather on Wednesday nights for Prayer Meeting, so being a youngster that likes that loud music, this is my version.

Please pray for our friend from home, Stephanie - here's her caring bridge site - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stephaniebellenger

Stephanie is about to have a kidney transplant at the end of this month. Please pray for her and her family. God knows and hears and loves us all through these valleys for His glory and name.

201st post and Monday Shout Outs

Wow, I've actually blogged over 200 different times, I am amazed.

But it's Monday and time for Shout Outs ---

To our new church home here - please pray for our church as we are in times of amazing transition and hopefully, growth. The Lord is working within our new church family all the time and we are so grateful to be rolling up our sleeves and being blessed to be a part of it all. Pray for our youth group this week that is heading out tomorrow morning for Big Stuf camp until Saturday.

To the Z-pak that gets little OT back on the road to recovery in a matter of days rather than a week.

To a great organization, One Goal Sports, that is loving on children 12 and under during this month's football and cheer leading programs - and for teaching EG about Victory and dough nut holes!

To Grandma Barb - pray for her this week - she has her "bad" chemo cycle starting tomorrow - pray for good tests and counts and strength returning faster and faster - above all for God's glory in her life.

Final Picture for Today...

And these are terrible shots, but here are my morning glories...
in the center above the window lock...
this is out of focus, but a closer shot...

And more importantly, these reminded that...
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Ephesians 3:20-21

Blessings and love to all.

Pictures to enjoy...#3

Sharing cupcakes on the fourth of July...
Sissy, did not share...

okay, a nice time at the table...ahhh...

Sugar Rush...

Cupcakes make the world a brighter place...

Ah, happy faces, happy days!

Pictures to enjoy...#2

This was hilarious - Ollie's first little white dough nuts.
This is great, mom!

Mommy's treat - Sweetgrass baskets - I have wanted these since I was a little girl, but my gosh, they were always way out of my price range - so after our 24 hour whirl wind trip to Charleston sans children, I treated myself to them after haggling down the price with the precious lady in the old market down town.

Pictures to enjoy...#1

These are from before vacation!
And I have no idea what Ollie was eating!Emma was actually willing to take a pic!

Ollie and daddy catching up on the race.

Ollie just being Ollie.

Emma Grace in her green room hiding out playing Dora games.

Wow - so I can't think of a good title...

It's been a crazy week at the Nuthouse! Like I mentioned in previous posts, we enjoyed and were blessed by the events around the celebration of our freedom fourth of July weekend, and then Monday came --- bringing with it mayhem! Ollie had to go to urgent care Monday night and we are on yet another Z-pak for another right ear infection. Meanwhile, our palladium window in our two story foyer sprung a leak. And did I mention that everyone's attitudes have just stunk - including my own! Honestly - I feel attacked by evil forces --- even Tuesday morning, Chris woke up shouting as he was dreaming vividly about casting demons out of 2 women! Now if that isn't weird, I don't know what is - I told him last night that he could feel free to cast demons out of this house and its inhabitants!!! But, I must say you get attacked when you pop up on old satan's radar - and guess as of late, we've been a blip on his screen. But, as always, this morning there was a gift waiting for me when I took a minute to look. So, as I looked out my kitchen window, I saw morning glories - yeah, beautiful morning glories - I thought I'd seen them before, but I wasn't sure because it was always later in the day. This morning, I was sure, and I was grateful for the precious gift waiting for me from my Jesus, when I took a moment to be still and thank Him for the good and the bad things in our lives. And minus typical kid stuff, it's almost peaceful in the house this morning -- and it's okay that Ollie is sick, but getting well quickly, and it's okay that we're probably gonna have to pay to have a new window installed and repair work done because we found a contractor we can trust with a kind heart who lives in our neighborhood to boot. It's like I finally got still enough to hear that still, small voice saying, I'm here, I love you...persevere in My Strength, not yours. Lord, I'm here, I love you and I'll persevere in Your Strength and abide in Your Love.

And as I just pulled up Bible Gateway ( a great resource tool), here was today's verse,
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Ephesians 3:20-21
Yeah, Amen.

And I'll post some pics to wish you all a Wordless Wednesday in Him.

Monday Shout Outs

We enjoyed our second Fourth of July in Kenne this year. We had a blast at our church for the big Third of July fireworks deal and then on the Fourth, we had one of our favorite families over for a cook out. It was a nice long weekend finishing out Sunday with two great services and a fellowship after.

And now it's Monday and the kids and I aren't sure we wanna be stuck in the house together - and now OT is running a fever of 100.7 - YET - we will persevere - it's amazing how after such an enjoyable and soul-filling weekend, the devil can take tiredness on Monday to grind away at it all.

So, get thee behind me Satan!!!

And now, I will take a nap, hopefully to wake up happier on the other side of it all!

Happy Monday-ing.