Journey With Jen

I know, I know...it's been a while since I've had a contest.  Sorry! But ~ it is Spring and almost Easter!  Such a blessing to look around and see God's creation in bloom!  To be reminded of the resurrection of Christ.  Life is such a gift! We get so busy making baskets for other sweeties in our life.  So, it is time for YOU to get a basket filled with goodies. Or maybe you know some one that could use a pick me up.  Sign up and I could deliver it to their local home.  Cookies!  Cupcakes!  Who knows what I'll be making!  Of course, I do know there will be some chocolate! ;)  Sorry but I have to add one rule.  :(  You must live in Northwest Arkansas.  (or at least able to meet me in Northwest Arkansas)    So, if you would like to join in on the fun ~  hit the comment button and leave me your name.  It's very easy to do!  Contest opens to...

"May all who seek you;  rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation  say evermore, 'God is great!' But I am poor and needy;  hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord , do not delay!" Psalm 70:4-5 I believe that we have all been in David's shoes.  We have all said something similar. Lord, please hear me! Lord, be quick! There is so much pain and sorrow in this world.  Our prayer sheet is filled with cancer.  Prayers for the lost souls ~ especially our own family members.  Prayers for our kids to stay strong in this world.  Our prayers become pleas on our hearts.  Burdens that we take to the Lord.                To Hear Us...                               ...

It is Friday, which means Five Minute Friday with Gypsymama.   Today's word is:  LOUD .  Here we go with five minutes unedited...  well...except for spellcheck! LOL ;D GO! God calls us to live on purpose.  For a purpose.  Our purpose is to go out and spread God's word just as Jesus' disciples did in the New Testament.  That is our job.  Yet, most of us do it so quietly. That includes me.  I let God speak in my actions.  I let God speak in the music that I listen to.  I let God quietly in the conversations with others.  But there are others out there that live LOUD.  Which is not always a good thing! The ones that come to mind are the Westboro Baptist Church.  If you'll remember that's the church that pickets serviceman's funerals.  I looked at their website (which is named god hates fags) and it says they have picketed over 40,000 funerals in 800 cities.  Seriously!  The thing I didn't know ...

God can use us even while we are kicking and screaming.  God can even use us when we are trying to be selfish.  God can take the (often times) little bit we are willing to give ~ and multiply it.  He takes what He is given and transforms it into something beautiful. It doesn't always happen that way.  There are times when I try (and I feel that I am) a cheerful giver.  Times when I put others before me.  Times when my heart is open and I am willing and ready to serve.  Those moments can be such a blessing to myself as well as others.  But some of those moments...well, they don't always turn out so well. Sometimes those moments are taken wrong.  It's like  I started with fresh, clear water (good intentions)...then ended up in a mud bath! ;D  I realize that God's trying to tell me something. You see ~ those moments when I am willing and ready, that is how I should be all of the time.  I shouldn't have to get mys...

We donated 115 pounds of food with the help of friends! Luke walked this senior dog that is part wolf. Kent and Luke with sweet Teddybear! Joey with my favorite, Ike. Faith helped with giving them Heart worm Medicine. Today we did our March month of service project.  We headed to the Lone Pine Animal Shelter in Centerton.  It's a small, non-profit animal shelter that is run by volunteers.   This time, Kent came with us and we spent the morning together as a family giving animals the attention they need.  The first thing we did was get the animals out and walk them around this large field in front.  Faith and I got this German Shepard that was SO strong.  I think that he walked us.  Didn't even get a picture of him because I was being dragged across the field trying to control him! :)  Luke's dog got out of his collar, jumped over a fence, and ran back to the shelter! After that, Luke got that won...

I'm linking up today with Gypsymama .  To write unscripted for 5 minutes.  No editing or making things sound politically correct.  Just writing from the heart.  This week word is: BRAVE When I think of the word brave, my mind goes to superheros. (What can I say, I have two boys) My favorite would be Batman. No, it's not because they are usually portrayed as some one really good looking and rich. But, as I have grown older, I do appreciate that! ;D It is because Batman is smart. He uses his brain. He wasn't born with any powers. Nor was he bitten and attained powers. Batman used his brain (or Alfred's) and created things to defeat the evil. I realize that superheros are not the only brave ones out there. There are real brave people in the world today. Brave as they fight cancer. Brave as they face losing a child. Brave as they face divorce. Brave as they bury their parents. These are the wonderful souls God has put into our lives to show bravery...

I'm linking up today with Gypsymama .  Five minute Fridays.  Five minutes are writing from the heart.  No editing.  No worring if it's right or wrong.  This Friday's topic:  EMPTY . Here I go... My brother has been on my heart even more lately.  He lives right here.  So close...yet so far.  We have had a rough childhood.  No way around it.  I know that we each handle things differently.  And...at different times.  But, the one thing I also know  ~  this pain.  this anger.  this confusion.  All those emtions that he has been dealing with since childhood, cannot be cured by hanging on to it.  That anger and hurt can only be emptied.  Handed over to God.  It's too much for us.  But, God can take it and He can handle it.  We must be empty so that we may be filled with God's love and blessings.  It does take time to go through the process.  I just pray that God ...

Life isn't always what you plan.  To be honest ~ not much turns out like I plan.  Maybe a batch of cookies or a cake...yes.  Follow the steps and usually you get what the recipe says.  It's not like I start out making coconut cake and end up with a pan of enchiladas.  ;D Sitting here, I can think back to what I thought my life would be.  I thought I'd finish college and be an elementary teacher, get married sometime, have four kids, and live happily ever after.  My life now is filled with teenagers (you some how forget those sweet precious babies turn into teens!!), dishes, laundry, bills, work...and autism. Just one of the many things in life that was not in my plans.  Teenagers can be difficult.  I've been told by many seasoned mothers that if you don't kill them ~ it does get better.  In a few years, those hormones balance out and those mouthy moments become less and less.  But, when you add autism in the mix, the...