when your broken

Taken from Streams in the Desert - October 15

   God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts. It was the breaking down of Jacob's natural strength and Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual power. It was the breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb, by the stroke of Moses' rod, that let out the cool waters to thirsty people.

   It was when the three hundred elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, a type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth to the consternation of their adversaries. It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth, that God multiplied it to bay her debts and supply means of support.

   It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. It was when Jesus took the five loves and broke them, that the bread was multiplied in the very act of breaking, sufficient to feed five thousand. It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house. It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His  life was poured out, like a crystal ocean, for thirsty sinners to drink and live.

   It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by DEATH, that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains. And thus, on and on, through history, and all biography, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have BROKEN THINGS.

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Fare thee well September!

September, well really this whole year, has gone by fast. We've had crazy weather down here in Georgia these passed few weeks. Yesterday and today have been incredibly windy! Wind to knock you down! (almost)

Mom bought some flowers to plant in our front yard. 

It was so windy the plants blew over!

As Mama was preparing to plant, she uncovered tons of daffodil bulbs!

^These are only a few of the many bulbs^

helping plant "fowrs"

Mama's hands.

One of the biggest worms I've ever seen.

Dylan came over for the weekend. Our shadows were very long!

Hope you all are enjoying this fall weather! I sure am.

"To everything there is a season..... a time to plant"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

P.S. Special thanks to my sweet friend, Julia, for designing a new header for me! She makes incredible backgrounds. Go and take a look at I Love It! Blog Designs

Of hay bales and dirt bikes and a determined little boy

The field, on the property that my family and I are temporarily living, was cut recently. This means hay bales! Benjamin and I road his dirt bike down to see these gloriously big golden bales.

They are bigger than they look.

He saw.

He climbed.

He conquered. : )

The smell of a freshly cut field is amazing!

Ol' Faithful. Our dog, Rusty.

A favorite mode of transportation. : )

My 6-year-old cousin, Haydon, has been staying with us for a while and today Mom took him on some errands with her. When they came back, Haydon proudly showed us his "new" bike.

He had never ridden a bike without training wheels so we thought that it would take him a while to learn to ride. Boy were we wrong! Haydon got on that bike and rode like a pro!

He was so excited, so proud that he could do it!

Alright Haydon!

Adrian, on the other hand was upset because he couldn't ride. Look at that face!

I love this boy. He is such a sweet heart, even when he pouts. ; )

He consoled himself when he saw mom's sunglasses.

LOL! Cool dude.

The determination of this little boy was so beautiful to see. He wanted to ride a bike and he rode it. He soaked up our encouragement and excitement for him. This really reminded me of something I posted a while back.

"Woo hoo!" You made it through this post! : )

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its sham, and sat down at the right and of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

In Christ Love,

As the Deer

"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights."

Psalm 18:33

"As the deer pants pants for streams of water,

So my soul pants for you, my God."

Psalm 42:1

His,

July 2, 2011

My cousins Julie, Marianah and Dylan came over for a little while earlier this month. We always enjoy having them over.  Mr. Willis offered us his river cabin for the weekend and we couldn't wait to get down there! Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ben and Winnie came down to join us for dinner at the cabin. (And Uncle Ben brought fireworks!!!)

I love this picture of Dylan and Grandpa.

What are muddy river water pools, except for little boys to play in?

 Marianah couldn't believe how many frogs there were along the path to the river.

There were, at the very least, 30 frogs in that cup....

Ben took Julie and Mari to his favorite fishing spot.

"It's a... it's a...it's a....

piece of bark." Better luck next time Mars. ; )

My beautiful cousin, Julie.

As the sun began setting we went back to the cabin and enjoyed some amazing food.

And then.... fireworks!

Julie and I simultaneously burst into uncontrollable laughter when we saw Dylan and Mari's faces...

Daisy the dog, Uncle Ben and Benjamin.

It's official. I have the most amazing, loving, wonderful, crazy, goofy family in the world.

the end

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The next morning, the girls and I watched the sun rise.

Beauty was everywhere we looked. God's handiwork was evident.

early mornin' fishing.

More river fun. 

See you all again soon!

Blessings,