Cherry Pits, Erma Bombeck, and Jehovah God

I remember a quote from Erma Bombeck.  You'll remember her from the seventies.  She said, "If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I aways in the pits?"  A lot of us can relate.  That's what made Mrs. Bombeck so popular.  She was famous for her witty way of stating the obvious.

God is famous for stating the not-so-obvious.  It is He, Jehovah God, our father, who through the Holy Spirit, inspired Paul to write, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. 

Unfortunately, that verse does not not mean that everything that happens to us is good.  Quite the contrary.  It doesn't even mean that all things work together for good for everyone.  It means He uses whatever the circumstances are to work for those who love Him, the ones He called for His purpose. 

So, we have to trust Him even when we don't feel like it, even when we cannot see any way that He can make things good.  Trust, it all comes down to trusting Him and being patient for His perfect will and His perfect timing.

So, next time I'm pitting cherries again, I'll remember that He is Good all the time, not just when we're eating the cherry jam.

Trust and Obey for there's no other way...to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Blessings,
Laura

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Cherry Fluffy Stuff

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"With Every Rising of the Sun..."

Amy Lane Photography ©2015

"With every rising of the sun

Think of your life as just begun.

~

The past has shriveled and buried deep,

All yesterdays. There let them sleep.

~

Nor seek to summon back one ghost

Of that innumerable host.

~

Concern yourself with but to-day,

Woo it, and teach it to obey

~

Your will and wish. Since time began

To-day has been the friend of man;

~

But in his blindness and his sorrow

He looks to yesterday and to-morrow."

.............................

Author unknown

From the Character Classic Tiger and Tom

ISBN 1881545083

Have a wonderful today!

Laura

Idleness, Laziness, Procrastination

"Know the true value of time;
snatch, seize, and enjoy
every moment of it.
No idleness; no laziness;
no procrastination;
never put off till tomorrow
what you can do today."
~ Lord Chesterfield~

Moments get away from us so quickly.  If we truly made use of every moment, how different would our lives be?  Is it even possible? Do we need to be busy every moment?  No. After all, Our LORD is the One who said, "Be still and know that I am God." Rest and refreshment are very important as well.  If we are praying, meditating on God's word, worshiping or investing in others by listening and talking, we are still being productive. It's okay to just be. 

Just remember, all the time in the world slips by in moments.

Seize the day!

Just Something to Think About
Laura

Cherish Yesterday ~ Dream Tomorrow ~ Live Today!

Karen Tribitt 

I guess I’m feeling a little introspective. I ran across this little saying, “Cherish Yesterday-Dream Tomorrow-Live Today” on a little wooden sign in a country primitive catalog. This sign is different, but it’s available from www. allposters.com . Don’t you just love country primitive decorating? You can use all the worn out, less than perfect things you find, and it looks great! Ah, but that’s another post altogether….

My mother died at 51, too young to my way of thinking, of cancer. It began as breast cancer, went into remission for several years, then reappeared with a vengeance. They’re sad memories that I’d rather not think about often.

Anyhow, my momma was only 17 years older than me. She was a child bride, and I came along just before their first anniversary. I’m now 48.  I had a mammogram a couple of years ago, and the results were fine. I need to schedule another one as soon as I can find a way to pay for it. We have a lot of differences in our lifestyles, but heredity is a factor. But- God is a bigger factor!

I have a lot of yesterdays to cherish.

~

I don’t know how many tomorrows I have left to dream. 

~

I do have today, this moment to live and live well.

Like you, I have good memories and bad. Probably also like you, I tend to look at the past through rosy glasses, remembering just the things I want, such as the house I wish we’d never left. It’s great to remember. I have my scrapbooks; and, I’m working on books for the kids, too. Still, it’s just the past, just a memory….

Dreaming and planning and wishing and praying for tomorrow is great, too. Realistically, though, no one knows if she has even one tomorrow. I’ve had a terrible tendency to put off fun and enjoyable things with my family to do the stuff that’s pressing. What if I never get to do those fun and enjoyable things? What if I never make those memories with my children and for my children?

Today…it’s all I have. It’s all you have. I have to choose those things today that are best…things that will have a positive impact on my family and those around me. Though my circumstances are rather hard right now, I am, right this moment, choosing to follow some of the best advice my LORD JESUS ever gave me in Matthew 6:24.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Now realistically, I’m going to have to keep making that choice over and over. Somebody remind me of that when I am feeling whiny! ~smile~

This day…this moment…how will you spend it?  How will I spend it? I think I’m going to go hug my kids, tell them I love them, and make a memory. What about you?

Just something to think about….

Sincerely,

Laura

Happy at Home

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May I suggest?

Why I Love Homemaking
~~~~~

 - 

Modesty?

With the warmer weather, we would do well to think about modesty a bit.  I found an excellent post today that I'd like to share with you.  It's over at Family, Faith, and Fridays.  It was written by Michelle's oldest daughter. 
Modesty- A Command Not a Conviction


Just something to think about....

I'd Like to...

I'd like to... quilt... embroider... write... read... knit... sew... bake... have a tea party for close friends... play more and cool off!

What would you like to do?

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May I suggest?

Just Something to Think About... Wishing

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Monday
Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday 

Laundry Day

Laundry Day...artist unknown

Not too many folks take time to enjoy life anymore it seems. There is pleasure in the process, not just the product.
Laura

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May I suggest?

Just Something to Think About... Christmas Gifts

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Monday
Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday

Something to Think About... Setting the Stage

~~~

Hey Y'all,

I've just read a wonderful post at The Blessed Nest about staging your home to prepare to sell it. Stacey is selling her home and explains what it means to stage it in such a warm, clear, inviting way. The photos of her home and her advice are worth the click! Here's the staging post. Here's the post about the steps to go through to get ready to sell.

So many folks are trying to sell their homes today. You need every little tip, hint, and prayer to sell yours. I was just thinking, why do we wait until we move to spruce up our nests? We've painted, decluttered, repaired, cleaned, and freshened up three houses in the last 8 years for sale. After they were ready, I always wondered why we waited so long. They were then such nice houses. We've rented our current home for a bit more than 2 years now. If we had painted when we moved in, we wouldn't be looking at flat white paint that gets dirty every time it's touched and can't be cleaned! Hmm...perhaps there's a lesson in this?

Just something to think about....

Blessings to you!
Laura

May I suggest...
A Few Ways to Enjoy Homemaking
There's No Place Like Home

Something to Think About...Thoughts on Life... Laura Ingalls Wilder

"...but, at long last, I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all...I believe we would be happier to go back to simpler living and more direct thinking. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest and living close to nature. There are no hothouse blossoms that can compare in beauty and fragrance with my bouquet of wild flowers."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Just Something to Think About...Christmas Gifts

What if...

we didn't give any gifts that we felt obligated to give...

we took the time to make something for those we love...

we refused to buy anything made in a factory or overseas...

we limited ourselves to one gift per person....

Would our gift giving habits change?

Would that be good?

Just something to think about....

Laura
Moving toward Simplicity

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May I suggest?

 Something to Think About... Precedents

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Monday
Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday

Christmas Preparation...

Hello Ladies!

The Maple Leaf Festival is now history for Carthage. What does that mean for me? It means the time is going to go faster and faster until New Year's Day! I am all for preparing early for Christmas. BUT what I've found is that if I'm not ready by early December, I spend all of December in a stressed out frenzy. That's not the kind of memory I want my kids to have of me! This year I've started earlier than ever. You've probably noticed that I've had a ticker in my sidebar with the countdown to the Christmas season. Am I jumping the gun? No, I don't think so. I want to be mindful of my time so that I can enjoy December and Advent with my children. I want the focus to be on Jesus, not on the fuss of it all.

How are you doing? Are you thinking through what you want to do yet? Any presents made or bought or planned yet? Think about what you want this season to be like. Think about what meals you'll be preparing, what snacks and baking you'll want to do. Think about the gifts you'll want to prepare. It's not too early to start getting it all down on paper.

No idea where to begin? Begin with prayer! Ask the Lord how you can honor Him with the celebration of His birth. He'll put some ideas in your head. You'll probably find that you can simplify a lot.

Now is the time to talk with family members about scaling back on gift giving this year, before anyone gets caught up in the gimme spirit instead of the Holy Spirit. It can happen to adults, too. We just paint a pretty face over it and call it the spirit of giving.

Well, I suppose I've given you something to think about. For additional help in getting your thoughts on paper, you might look at the holiday control journal on www.FlyLady.net . It's free to download.

May God bless you with peace, hope, and focus this holiday season!

Laura

Wednesday-  Raising Homemakers - Wholehearted Wednesdays - A Wise Woman Builds Her Home -  So Much at Home - Wake Up Wednesday - What you wish Wednesdays - A Little R & R Sunday Night  Amaze Me Monday - Mix it Up Monday -  Motivation Mondays -

Something to Think About...Precedents

Precedents.... What does that word mean to you?

I looked it up on http://www.dictionary.com/. As I was looking for definitions, most were related to law precedents. That tells me it's a pretty strong word. I am most interested in the first definition that the American Heritage Dictionary presented:

"An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances."

This is the definition that has been a guiding thought for me. In the past, my family has been much more affluent than we are currently. Nevertheless, I have always thought about the precedents that I am setting with my children when we give gifts for celebrate special days and holidays. For instance, even when we could afford it, and wanted to give my children their first bicycles, I would not buy such a gift for Christmas or a birthday. We don't give many big gifts; we never have. 

During the year, I look for gifts that I think they will enjoy. I put them away in a box until their birthdays, Christmas, or an I Love You day. Because I don't give big gifts, they don't expect them. Because I don't give them often, they are thrilled when they receive one.

We are smack dab in the middle of birthday season at our house. All three of my little ones were born within three weeks of each other.

Last week, my daughter turned 7, I spent a grand total of about $8.00 at yard sales, over the last few months, for her gifts. She likes Winnie the Pooh. I was blessed to find a Pooh jewelry box, a Pooh plate, and Pooh pencils, along with some other things. Her big wish was for a jump rope. God so graciously provided a new one for her. She was so happy and so thankful.

This week, my son turned 9. I spent a total of about $5 on his birthday gifts. We were blessed with a big box of Hot Wheel tracks that we gave to the kids about a week ago. Michael is enjoying it so much. He asked for Hot Wheels, he actually requested that brand, for his birthday. So, off to Dollar General for a shopping trip. His sister and I found five of the coolest Hot Wheels cars and wrapped them up. Each of our family chose one to give to him. I also had a top and a beanie baby hedgehog for him. To make it extra special, my oldest daughter hid the gifts. She and my oldest son then made clues for Michael to follow to find his gifts. Periodically throughout the day, I would say, "It's time!"; and, we would wait as he hunted for a gift.  He had so much fun!

The point to all this is that we must be careful of the precedents we set. Christmas is coming. It may be time to set a new precedent for gifts. If we talk with our children and relatives ahead of time, maybe we can make better choices that will allow us to enjoy the season, and the Savior, more this year.

See my sidebar for a countdown to the Christmas season. I find that after December 1st, we're too busy or rushed to really think out the preparations; that's when things just happen.

Let's think ahead, plan ahead, and do ahead this year.

God bless you!

Laura

~~~~~

May I suggest?

A Cozy Christ Centered Christmas
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Live Well. Love Much. Laugh Often.

 Live Well ~ Love Much ~ Laugh Often

Isn’t that a lovely sentiment?

Live well!

What does living well mean to you?

I think living well means doing our best to live each day, recognizing it as a gift from God. To me, it means that I do my best to enjoy life, regardless of what it sends my way. It means that I do the best I can with what I’ve got where I am, to use Teddy Roosevelt’s words. It means focusing on the good, lovely, pure, admirable, things of good report. It means living my life in such a way that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is honored.

Love much!

I want to love the Lord my God with all my heart mind soul and strength. I want to love others as I love myself. I want to love my family like there’s no tomorrow. I want to be a good friend. I want to be kind to those I do not know yet.

Laugh often!

When my youngest son was born, we were planning to name him Zachary Isaac. It means “God remembers laughter”. This meaning was significant because my mother died just before he was born. Although we ultimately named him Michael, he definitely has the gift of laughter. He indeed turned my mourning to rejoicing. I want to laugh more and laugh often. It’s hard to laugh when times are hard, but "a merry heart doeth good like medicine"!

I encourage you to think about these things. What do they mean to you?

Just something to think about….

May God bless us and help us to

live well, according to His plan, love well, and laugh often.

Laura
Happy at Home

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May I suggest?
Happily Ever After
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Modest Mom

Life....

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

So true!

God bless!

Laura

In God's Hands....

Hi Girls,

My aunt and my momma both died of breast cancer. I'm 43, just about the age my momma was when she had a masectomy. Today I have an appointment to get a mammogram. I had my first one when I was 31 as a baseline. I had another one a couple of years ago. I'm not really worried about it. My time is in God's hands.

I encourage you to do your monthly breast exam and get mammograms as recommended by your doctor. But, do not put your faith in a mammogram or a doctor. Your life and your days are in the LORD'S hands.

Grace, peace, and mercy to you in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Laura
In His Hands

Something to Think About...Minutes and Hours

I am, by nature, an introvert.
God, by nature, likes to stretch us beyond our comfort levels.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

I, by nature, wanted one child.
God, by nature, gave me four children!
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

I, by nature, want to create.
God, by nature, wants to create.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

He understands your many responsibilities, the many things that pull on you as a woman. You must ask Him to help you find the minutes here and there. You must ask Him to show you how to organize your projects in a way that will work for you.

For example, when I’m working on a project, I will often pin or sticky note a note to myself to tell me what the next step is, so that I can go back to it without rethinking it. I also have several projects going at once. So, when I am sewing, I try to do all the cutting out that I can at once. The next time, I try to do all the marking I can at once. Next time, it’s all the pinning I can do at once. Then, all the sewing I can do at once. Then all the pressing. I’m sure you get the picture.

I want blocks of time. God gives me minutes.

I’m trying to learn to discipline myself to use those minutes more wisely.

~~~~~

Laura
Happy at Home with my four wonderful blessings!
6, 8, 10, and my teenager
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You might enjoy...
An Icy Snow Day, Family, Cooking, and Sewing!
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January Tidy Up

Something to Think About...Ripples on the River

Recently I went down to the river with my oldest son, Matthew. He's thinking about his future and trying to make some decisions about which path he wants to take this next year. I, on the other hand, am trying to come to terms with the fact that our time with all of our children at home will come to an end sooner than I wish. One of the songs that plays on my blog is "I Will Never be the Same Again." I don't like to think about the fact that our family will never be the same. There's such a desire in a momma's heart to have all her little chicks under her wings, to protect them from all life's foxes, possums, and dogs.

While Matthew and I were sitting there talking, he picked up a handful of rocks and began tossing them into the river, an age old pastime. I gazed at the ripples as they spread slowly outward, just as in a pond. As I watched, I saw them slowly move downstream carried along by the never ceasing current. I was struck by how for an instant he put something into the river. Yet, the ripples continued on, not only spreading out, but also moving on at the same time. I realized that my time to invest myself fully in my son was but a small part of his life. I made ripples that will continue; but, he'll be moving on soon. Those ripples will continue and will touch others as well.

"Lord, I pray that the good, true, Christ-like things that I've invested in my son will continue and stay in his mind, heart, and spirit. I pray that the things I've done wrong, the gaps I've left in his education, the times when I've made wrong decisions, the times when I've lost it, will all be covered in the Blood of Jesus; and, You Lord will make it all right. Thank you, Jesus."

Friends, I do hope you don't mind a prayer or two on my blog. You see, I do believe that God reads blogs. I do believe we talk about praying, and we need to be praying.

So, today I choose to toss a rock in and make a splash in my children's lives and let God handle the rest. This blog is a bit like that. I toss my posts out and hopefully make a little splash in your lives...a splash of hope, a splash of encouragement, a splash of kindness, a splash of Christ's love.

God bless you!

Laura

Splashing in the Grace of God



You might enjoy:

• Something to Think About... Regular Hours
• Stuck in Its Ways
• Hope

Something to Think About...Listening to Children*

"I think a lot of our problems are because people don’t listen to our children. It is not always easy. They’re not always so brilliant that you want to spend hours with them. But it is very important to listen to them." ~Barbara Bush

"Education commences at the mother’s knee, and every word spoken within the hearing of little children tends towards the formation of character."
~ Hosea Ballou

"Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you."
~ Robert Fulghum

Have a wonderful day!

Laura
Happy to be Momma
to my Four

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You might enjoy...

9 Tips for Young Mothers from an Older Woman

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