For such a time as this. Do not remain silent!

Goodness, I am sitting here trying to put the whole conference together in a few short paragraphs and am struggling so much! Bear with me. I may exceed my word count for today, but I promise it will be well worth your time.

I'll begin by sharing a few points I brought up to the women last weekend. It was on my heart to encourage and I feel impressed to share with you too.

In the book of Esther many of us are familiar with the latter part of chapter four, verse fourteen, "...and who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?" as Mordecai implores Esther to take on the potentially deadly task of appealing to the King - in the hopes that the Jews will not be slaughtered.

We are familiar with that part of scripture above, but do you know the words before that fateful line? Here is the whole verse below.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

I want to focus for a minute on the first line back there, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place..." God has a plan. He really doesn't need us for His plan. As much as we think He does, He really doesn't. In this verse above Mordecai tells Esther she has a choice. She can remain silent or she can petition the King. If her fear holds her back from this task, God WILL find another He can use to deliver her people. It's as simple as that. If we are not willing, God WILL find another to fulfill His plan.

I LOVE to bake cookies. I have been baking cookies for thirty plus years, so I really don't need any help. But, when my daughter Grace drags a chair over to where I'm baking my heart fills with joy. You see, I actually make a much better cookie if she isn't underfoot. And to be honest with you, I always have to clean up her messes.

BUT, to watch her learning to bake cookies, to be a part of teaching her and having her close beside me as we work together, making memories and growing in our relationship, goodness, there isn't anything better than that. You see girls, God feels the same way about us. He doesn't need us to fulfill His good works here on earth, but He loves us so much He desires us to play a part. He wants us close beside Him as His plans unfold.

The Lord desires we offer ourselves to be willing participants for His plan for our lives. But, always the gentleman He never forces us to do anything we don't want to do.

I don't know about you, but I am jumping up and down with my arms raised in the air. I'm shouting out to the Lord, "Pick me! Pick me!" I want to experience every single thing He has in store for my life. Every good work He created me for- I want to experience. He has promised me an abundant life in Him, and I am holding Him to His Word!

Friends, I don't want to remain silent. I don't want fear to hold me back from all He has for me. That's one of the reasons I got on a plane last week and was launched like a rocket across our beautiful U.S. of A. to Florida. In the past two years I have begun saying "YES" to God and my life hasn't been the same.

My prayer is that by the time He takes me home, I will run into His embrace completely poured out and exhausted. Wiping away my very last tear, He will turn me around and wave his arm towards my eternal reward and whisper, "All of your trials, all of your pain, all of your work...you were faithful to Me for such a time as this."

Free to be Me...PICTURES

Hey there friends, not sure if you're sick of seeing pictures from the Free to be Me conference in Marianna, Florida yet.

Hope not.

I learned alot while away last week. Most especially that Northern Florida might as well be Southern Alabama. Marianna, Florida was rich with Civil War history and ran deep with Southern drawls, or should I say Suthuhn drawls?

There are a few pictures below for your viewing pleasure. I am running out the door to take care of some last minute errands so I will make sure to post who everyone is and their blog sites so you can peruse them and make some new friends next time!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I don't usually do this...

I rarely post twice in one day. Today is special. My mom would have turned 64 today. I put my heart to words for her last year and thought it fitting to re-post it this year on her birthday. I'll make sure to introduce you in Heaven.

You're going to just LOVE her.



Is there a day on your calendar that is marked by your heart? October 27th is that day for me. It is my mom's birthday. Growing up, us kids knew that this day was special for mom. Raising four children, this was the one day of the year that demanded we take our eyes off of ourselves and place them on her.

She would have turned sixty-three today.

This day used to be filled with phone calls, birthday cards, family dinners and birthday cake. For eight years now, October 27th has become painfully quiet.

In some ways, growing older I need her so much more. We used to talk every day, sometimes numerous times a day to share a story, an update about family, a laugh, or just to talk about what we had planned for the day. I miss her calls the most. I yearn for her to be on the other end of the telephone to share highlights of my children's lives.

She would have loved to see Meghan go to her first dance Saturday night. Her heart would have swelled with pride over David's graduation from junior high last year. No doubt she would have bragged to everyone about Grace's first goal in soccer this year and made numerous calls to friends after hearing that Samuel scored five goals this Saturday at his game.

To fill you in on this special photograph, it was snapped a few months before cancer took her life. I had just stopped by to visit and while sitting on the stool beside her, I tried hard to talk to her about anything but the heartache staring me straight in the face. A very mischievous thought came to mind. I leaned down for dramatic affect, whispering in her ear. “You know what mom? I just had a great idea. I think I am going to toilet paper you.” Sadly immobile, a frightened smile lit her face, as she looked up at me with a you-wouldn't-dare look in her beautiful green eyes.

My sister was my accomplice as we twirled the white toilet paper from top to bottom, creating beauty from the cold steel hospital bed. Lastly, placing a paper white bouquet in her hands. All the while laughing until our sides hurt, tears streaming down all of our faces.

Just like vanilla candles, Jean Nate, Aunt Jemimah coffee cake and Greek cookies, October 27th fills my heart with my mother. I loved her so much. I still do. So today, the day that has been forever marked by my heart, I thank God for my mom. Cancer took so much away from her, from all of us, but it never took away our joy and I am anxiously counting the days until I can laugh with her again.

Laughter is Good Medicine

God's Word says laughter is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22) I say it's good for the ol' ab muscles too.

If you haven't seen this already, here's your chance. Marsha from Marsha's Musings videotaped me, Tiffany from Tea with Tiffany and Connie (one of the neatest gals in Northern Florida, or Southern Alabama as they like to say). We got the giggles and couldn't stop.

See what fun you missed at the Free to Be Me conference?!?

I haven't laughed that hard in years. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, "Joy is the flag that flies from the castle of my heart, proclaiming the King is in residence here."

Secrets...

Secrets run deep in the South. I'd heard the whispers not long after I arrived. In a town where ponds are filled with alligators and football is the air men breathe...some eat Possum, it was rumored.

Possum? Seriously?!? I've never seen Paula Dean cook this country fare.

Not one southern-soul admitted to this. Yet, within seconds, four cans miraculously appeared.

Witness below rare seen footage, when four children from the West come face to face with the South.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

You can learn ALOT on a country drive.

You can learn alot on a country drive. Sometimes all you need is just one person to make all the difference. Angie introduced me to Gloria this morning. A gorgeous grandma and native to these parts, she taught me LOTS on our trip to the Tallahassee airport.

Like the fact that any standing water holds alligators...or how the moss you see hanging from the trees around here have redbugs in them. The moss needs only air to grow and I'd wanted to take some home. Gloria told me I needed to put it in the microwave first.

SERIOUSLY? Yup. She was serious.

Gloria schooled me pretty quickly about the lingo in these parts. I thought I'd share a few.

ENGLISH - Horses FLORIDANIAN - Hayburners

ENGLISH - Armadillo FLORIDANIAN - Possum on the half shell

And so you know exactly where I am staying, the town of "Two-Egg" is close by, not far from "Bump Your Nose Rd.".


How cute is that?

Do's and Don'ts of Air Travel

Hi friends! I'm here in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia, sitting at the food court in the airport and trying to stay busy in the midst of a three-hour layover. Guess I got my time changes confused. Yeesh, where was I on that one?

I thought I'd share a microscopic sliver of wisdom gained in the past few hours. A few Do's and Don'ts you might need to know, just in case you are heading anywhere, anytime soon.


Do pack sooner than the night before your trip.

Do check your ticket one last time BEFORE sitting down on the plane and making two large men move.

Do check your IPOD to see if your music works before you board your plane.

Do try and remember all the reasons you love California. Too late.


Don't bring a sandwich with avocado ANYWHERE.

Don't sit by the bathrooms on an airplane EVER.

Don't believe airlines who say they have LOTS of leg room.

and my favorite...

DON'T post a picture of a plane with engine trouble on your blog the night before. It won't make your husband feel very comfortable.



Well, that took up a bit of time. Keep me in your prayers...one last flight before I land in Florida. Gotta run now, there's a java milkshake screaming my name from across the food court.

Leaving on a jet plane...

I'm almost ready to leave for Florida. I can't wait to meet you gals in person. Hmmm, I'd better check the weather while I'm online.

And could someone please tell me why I have a wait-until-the-last-minute disorder? Are there any other sufferers out there? Who's with me?

Presentation ready - CHECK

Refrigerator filled with food for my family - CHECK

Schedule written out for my husband - CHECK

Son's favorite casserole baked and ready to hold him over - CHECK

Chocolate stash tucked away in my purse for the flight - CHECK

Notes tucked under my little ones pillows - CHECK

Packed my suitcase -

Packed my suitcase -

Packed my suitcase????


Awwwwwwwww!!! I knew I forgot something!!!

Doin' a Happy-Dance!

I went to my mailbox yesterday and discovered a package waiting for me from Lifeway. I had originally held my teenage son's report card in my hand, but decided to toss it aside and open what was behind sealed envelope number-two.

A very wise choice, I found out later.

Some of you may remember my posts about our Thanksgiving Tablecloth. Well, I turned my blog post into an article and sold it to ParentLife.

So, for those of you who get ParentLife Magazine, my article is on page 47.


Crank up the music, I'm doin' a little happy dance over here.

Growing UP! Monday

Recently, I've enjoyed the company of older Christians. When I first met some of these people I immediately judged them.

I know. Not my job. Sadly, it's the part-time job I ask forgiveness for more often than I care to admit.

After scratching the surface in our conversations, what I first took for weak faith I discovered instead to be quiet faith. Like an old oak tree, unwavering and resolute - not loud or puffed up. I've judged wrongly by judging at all. Especially by thinking a person who peppered conversations with the name of Jesus is a stronger Christian than those who show Jesus in their day to day actions.

As a writer, we are told to "show don't tell". The same could be said about my faith. I believe more people need to see my love of Christ through my outward life. Not just hear me tell them.

I'm learning lately that I've still got ALOT to learn. Walking this road with Jesus, sometimes like a child who just learned to roller skate...I want to think I have things all figured out.

There could be nothing farther from the truth.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:2

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God?

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

What's Your Pet Peeve?

Do you have any pet peeves? I have quite a few. Rachelle Gardner asked this same question a few days ago but with a twist. I thought I'd play along. Plus, you are such a neat group of gals, I just know you'll make me hoot n' holler.

Lets see, where to start? I'll just give you a few. Don't want you to know just how many I have.


* Women in grocery stores who park their carts in the middle of the aisle and walk away.

* People who make a mistake and can't admit it.

* Commercials and TV shows where children are smarter than their parents.

* Parents who feel compelled to be their kids social directors.

* People who call the police and want to remain anonymous.

* Adults who still blame their parents.

* Churches who feel compelled to fun-up their faith and dumb-down God's Word.

* Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

* Purses that eat pens and dryers that eat socks.

But, hands down, my biggest pet peeve of all time is when I finally sit down to eat after making plates for my own family - inevitably I am asked for a bite of my sandwich, a sip of my drink, or a taste of my chips.

I videotaped this phenomena and have posted it for you below for your viewing pleasure. This is my husband and I trying to eat fish. My children are the ones in white with the long beaks, er, uh...noses.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...well, sorta.

Me and my little caped-crusador harvested our pumpkins to decorate the house. If I'm decorating, cooking, or babysitting little ones, this precious child is my shadow.

My money is on this one for giving me the most grandchildren.

Lately, she loves to wear this cape. Kinda reminds me of something Ramona the Brave would do.

After eighteen years of parenting, it's not a hill I am going to die on.

Plus, I think she looks adorable.

Highway 41 - Have you travelled this road?

With approximately 150,000 new blogs being created every day, who can keep up? Some of you read hundreds of blogs, many of you just a couple. I tend to read the same twenty or so each month.

Today I was reminded why I bookmarked this one.

Highway 41 is a little different than the mommy-Christian -blogs I am used to. Like many, this blog is encouraging, and inspiring, and chock-full of Godly application and great take away power.

But, what sets it apart is the excellence in which it is written and the voice from a Godly man's perspective.

While preparing for next weeks Free to Be Me conference, I went down a bunny trail and ended up on Highway 41.

Click over here to travel down the same road. Highway 41.

You'll be glad you did.

Do you understand why animals eat their young?

Respect. Does your child have it?

Better yet, do you know how to fight this evil foe?

Read about it here and learn a few tricks... I Understand Why Animals Eat Their Young

Growing UP! Monday

We are going through 1Peter at our church. Our pastor spoke on holiness and what it means to be holy. A life set-apart for Christ is the first step towards our holy priesthood.

There are lots of ways we can set apart our lives for Him. Reading the Bible and going to church are only a few of them. How about what TV shows we watch, what friends we hang out with, what words come out of our mouths, or maybe what we put into our mouths? (That one really hit a nerve with me!)

I'm up ten pounds and have been just awful at paying close attention to what I eat. Today it hit me that I am not glorifying the Lord by treating my body, the temple of His Holy Spirit, in a way that is far from God honoring. It's time I make a few changes.

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

500!

Are you wondering what this number means? I'll give you a hint: it isn't how many jelly donuts I've eaten in my lifetime. Way too low a number for that. Nor is it how many times I've promised Paul I'd get organized. That number would be four-hundred and twenty-six. You're close though.

This is Blessed... post number Five-Hundred! Pretty hard to believe isn't it? Or, oddly frightening to admit. Who would have ever thought I would have five-hundred things to say about anything. Don't answer that Paul.

Twenty-six months ago, I had no idea what I had started. I still have no idea. But thankfully, God does.

On post five-hundred, just as I did on my very first post, I would like to rededicate this sweet-little-spot on the world wide web to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has taken my life from the ashes of my sinful choices and created in me something new and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I will be forever grateful for his eternal blessing on my life.

For those of you who rarely ever show your face please comment below. I'd love to meet you.

And for those regular gals who have become sweet friends and have helped to make my blog an extremely Blessed... experience, I thank you from the bottom of my jelly-filled heart.

I adore you girls!

American Idol - Big Brother Edition

These are my boys. Do you see the sun rising behind David's head on the left there? You don't? Look closer, maybe you can make out the stardust all over his hands, clear evidence he hung the stars and the moon the night before. Well, at least according to his younger brother Samuel.

Until a few weeks ago, our boys shared a room together. With Meg moving out on her own, Samuel has his own room for the first time. He isn't the least bit happy about it either.

Meg took her three younger siblings out for hot cocoa before she left home. A friend saw them at the coffee shop, bent down and asked Samuel, "Are you going to be sad when your sister moves out?" Samuel quickly replied, "YES. I'm going to miss my brother telling me fat-guy stories." "Gee, Thanks alot Sam." Meghan laughed. He was more worried about his brother moving ten feet away to the room down the hall, than he was about his big sister moving a couple of miles away.

Samuel LOVED sharing a room with his big brother. Years ago, Samuel found out Meghan was telling his sister Gracie "Princess stories" in their own shared bedroom. My youngest demanded stories from his big brother in their shared room too. Thus, "Fat-Guy Stories" began. Laughter always bellowed from their bedroom door at night.

I wish I could stop time. I love watching these two together.

Apparently, I've Become A Jewish Mother

Should I be offended my little girl flew the coop and soared? Her wings opened up and took flight less than two weeks ago, and still no tear-filled calls asking to come home. Just like when I took her to kindergarten- I cried. She didn't.
The child who once needed help with every single solitary thing, has become an adult who needs no help at all.

The metamorphosis I have watched in her recently astounds me. The change isn't only hers.

Apparently, I have become Jewish.

Well, not really. But, when I complained about my independent grown child to my friend Ken this morning while ordering my soy-chai-extra hot, he roared with laughter from behind the counter. "You sound just like a Jewish mother!"

Ken is from New Jersey. He should know.

"What's wrong with a grown daughter calling her mother once in awhile? She doesn't even have to leave a long message. I'd be fine if she just left the sound of breathing on my answering machine. At least then I'd know she was alive! I worked hand in hand with God to give this child life Ken. Do you have any idea how many stretch marks bear her name? And this is the thanks I get?!"

Hmmmm, maybe I need to popover and pay her a little surprise visit.

That isn't something a Jewish mom would do, is it?

My Miraculous Potpourri Recipe

Does your home smell like fall, or just plain smell? Twice a year our front porch smells. When I say smell, I mean stinky, plug your nose, what just died smell. What is this odiferous scent, you ask? It's a cross between a dirty sock, sour milk and burnt hair. Lovely, isn't it? After nine years in our home we have yet to discover the culprit.

Now, we just watch people walk up to our front door and laugh to ourselves when they act like they don't smell it. I laugh the hardest when my husband holds people hostage on our porch by talking with them. Gosh, I just bust a gut.

Yeah, we're odd like that.

So, in honor of my stinky porch, it's time for my annual potpourri post!

For those who make it past our front door, this is the scent they are greeted with. A reward for their bravery. The scent that permeates our home from this blessed concoction can only be described as heavenly!

Joanne's World Famous Simmering Potpourri Recipe

5-10 cinnamon sticks

1 heaping tbsp whole cloves

2-3 bay leaves

1/2 sliced lemon

1/2 sliced orange

Put all ingredients in a pot of water on your stove. Simmer over low heat, checking regularly so that it doesn't boil over or burn out all water.

Disclaimer for moms of teenagers: This delightful treat will cure the smelliest of stinky-stenches. I won't give away ALL my secrets, but I have been known to get this pot simmering and walk it through my house. It has even taken away evil-stinky-teenage-boys-room-stink.

You know you want to make some.

Why animals eat their young.

Hey moms out there, do you know why animals eat their young?

Click below and find out.

I Understand Why Animals Eat Their Young

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Football Widows Unite!

Does anyone else lose their husbands through the month of January? With the fall season comes football season. For the next three months I will carry on one-sided conversations with the back of Paul's head, and on a good day hear an occasional grunt from the family room.

I came home recently to find my husband hunkered down amidst a spider web of cords and cables. To get to him I had to pull a Tom Cruise-Mission Impossible move and scale our ceiling.

He had somehow found enough cord to hook up the game in our TV-less home. You would have thought he was six-years-old on Christmas morning and found a pony under the tree.

I opened up my fridge yesterday to discover a drum of salsa, the size of an oil barrel. A clear sign that football season has arrived.

So, in honor of all of us wives who become husbandless until Super Bowl, and for all of us women who actually LOVE salsa and a pigskin right along with our men, I've included an interview Dr. James Dobson did with Coach Tony Dungy today on the Focus on the Family radio show. I think you'll enjoy it.

Cmon' girls...football widows UNITE! Let me hear you shout!!!


Are you ready for some football?!?


TONY DUNGY - Stepping away from the common life.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Fall, I love you. You are my absolute favorite season. I love you so much I thought I'd write down why. You are pretty amazing, you know that?

Why I love fall...

1. No more triple digit days. Which means...

2. No more third-degree thigh burns from wearing shorts inside my baking hot car.

3. Sweaters, scarves and blue jeans!

4. I look pretty cute in a sweater.

5. Jackets, hats, and sweatshirts.

6. Have I mentioned how cute I look in a sweater?

7. Apple Cobbler

8. Gloomy days.

9. Cuddling under a blanket and reading a book...in my cute sweater.

10.Pumpkin scented candles!

11. When I say cute, I mean cute.

12. Seriously, cute.

Blessed...blogs of the month - WITH A TWIST!

Blessed... blogs of the month has added a new twist. Since I've had the pleasure of highlighting seven blogs each month, I thought I'd let you join in on the fun!

This way EVERYONE gets a chance to include blogs and sites they may not find on their own. So, if you stop by make sure to add your link below.

I will continue to put up seven Blessed... picks of my very own, on my sidebar, there over on the left. Yes, below my four beautiful and brilliant children.

C'mon, give me a lil' slack here, a mom-blog does come with a few bragging rights!