It's that time...

 It's that time of year again!  The tides are right, the breeze is salty, and life is simple .  Yes, it's Pine Island Time.  I LOVE being on the boat with my hub enjoying God's beauty all around.  There is something about feeling His peace in the middle of the ocean.  (Well, not actually "the middle", and actually not even too far out, but you get the point).   I love fishing.  I've been fishing since I was a little girl and grown up with an father and brother who fished every moment they could (and still do).  Then I married a man who now shares the same love :)  It works out well when you and your spouse have a hobby that you enjoy together.  Not the best picture below, but what do you expect when you wake a girl up at 5ish to get on the water.  

Me and my dad!

Did I mention that we always bring Kenny with us?  (Chesney, that is ).

Sisters and cousins

My sister and her family have spent the last week with us and the time went by way to fast.  We laughed until we cried, we ate way too much, we stayed up late critiquing watching Dancing with the Stars, we shared our heart with each other, we watched cousins being best friends, we ordered cheese fries at Outback, shared makeup, talked about style (or in my case, lack of), hair coloring, and decorating.  We compared everything from gray hair to cell phones.   We talked about Jesus and heaven, and sinners and saints.  We dreamed about living in the same town and the fun that we would have.  As I grow older, I appreciate my "peanut-butter-sister-time" more with each visit.  I enjoy watching my 4 lovely's playing with their cousins and seeing their friendships grow, too.   Thank you, Jesus, for sisters...and for cousins.   I am blessed- 

Dirty, little hands!

Are these seriously my baby G's fingernails?  I mean, gross!  I definitely do not let my kids dig in the gross dirt in our back woods...well, maybe every now and then  single day I do let them lose in the back woods to explore :)  They're kids, right!?

And just in case you couldn't get the full affect from the first pic, here's a closer look for your viewing pleasure.  But just to ease your mind, I did clean them soak, scrub, cut, and scrub them some more before Easter Sunday.  

Dirt or no dirt, I just love my kids hands.  I pray that these little hands will stay pure and holy .  I pray that these little hands would be used to serve others.  I pray that these little hands will grow to be bigger hands that are not lazy, but hard-working, bringing forth fruit through their labor.  And I pray that these little hands would be held up high in worship praising their Lord!    Thank you, Jesus, for these little hands!

Still Counting...

1 Chronicles 16:8-9  "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of ALL his WONDERFUL acts."

56.  The empty tomb!
57.  Holding hands and hearts!

58.  Easter egg hunts in Florida weather :)

59.  #2 and #4

60.  New life, new growth. 

61.  My sister's coming to visit for a week!  :)

62.  God's financial provisions.

63.  Time with Jesus in the early morning hour!

64.  Coffee pot brewing at 5:45 a.m.  (music to my ears)!

65.  SPRING BREAK finally!

66.  Leftover Easter ham sandwiches on parkerhouse rolls. 

67.  My mom is coming to visit!

68.  The first soccer game of the season for a 3 and 4 year old. 

69.  A competitive by nature little girl and a not-so-competive  laid back little boy!  (I love #2 on her knee and "getting her game on").

70.  God's peace that overcomes fear.

71.  A fishing trip on the books!

72.  Disney annual passes.

73.  God taking me out of my comfort zone and stretching me.

74.  Innocent and tender hearts living for Jesus!

75.  The promise of eternal life for those who believe.

76.  The anticipation of what's to come...

77.  6 year old blondie on the porch reading her Bible and and underlining her "key" words in Scripture.

78.  Sisters planning club meetings and agendas for their "Precious Girls Club".

79.  Waking up in the night to find little "baby G" sound asleep in the middle of hub and I.

80.  The sound of the pond fountain in the background as I type this list.

81.  Pink shoelaces.

Counting to One Thousand....

At the foot of the Cross...

That's where you can find me this week...

Humbled and on my knees.

Time stood still!

Today was an unusually busy day!  For those who know me, I'm not a busy girl, for the most part.  I am a home body!  I love my home.  I love being home.  And because I live at least 25 minutes from anywhere (another story) I don't leave my home much.  Except today.  We had a short school day b/c Friday's are usually just a wrap up from the week day and a test day, and then I had to drive into town to take some Ebay packages to the post office.  All of this before 11a.m. when the kids had to be at my dad's house to pick up 16,000 pine cones!  As I was heading home from the post office, I spotted a shanty of a thrift store tucked way back on hwy 192.  So, of course, I did a 360 and pulled right in.  "Stay put, kids.  Watch your movie.  Mommy will be RIGHT back".   Needless to say, they are good sports and used to these "pit stops"!  (Don't worry yourself...I was parked right next to the outdoor sale, so I was literally less that 10 feet from the car).  And then...time stood still for a moment, and I saw her!  And she had friends.   She was looking right at me and smiling back.  She needed a new home and we needed her!  And her!  And her!  And her!  And her!  And yes, her!  Yep!  SIX PRETTIES in all for under $100.  Now keep in mind,  they'll all be getting an Extreme Makeover so don't judge them or me for such shanty finds!  But, without further ado... let me introduce you to:

Baby "G's" new dresser!  

And her friends below:

Our new coffee table ...

An added bonus of a side table!  She was intended for our upstairs movie room, but I think I may want her downstairs...not sure yet.

I saved the best for last!  I'm sorry, but she's gorgeous.  Or at least I think she'll be after a fresh coat of paint, some distressing, and a new beautiful fluffy toile cushion.  Are you feeling it?  

So, in case you can't find me over the next 6 months, I'll be in the garage with my sander and paintbrush.


I can't wait to share the makeovers with you in the weeks to come.

Ask, seek, knock...

   Matthew 7:7

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

  

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am having fun going through old pictures on the computer.  I am flooded with memories and sweet moments in time as I scroll through each picture.  I am amazed at how fast this journey we called "life" is going.  This is our sweet boy back in 2006!  And yes, our (old) picket fence in the doors reflection.   I sure do I miss this picket fence at 525 Baxter and the house that it surrounded!  But that's another story that I'm sure to share another day.