Mountains or Valleys?

"Mountain tops are for the view and for the inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys."

Billy Graham

I have kept this quote in my mind for years since reading it in one of Billy Graham's books.  A reminder to me that when I am going through a wonderful mountain top experience, that I must also savor the valley experiences. For it is down in the valley where the real work is done. It's what makes those mountain top experiences so magnificient! Without the valleys, I wouldn't have the bonds of friendships that I have from going through a trial along side someone else, or I wouldn't have grown some extra character traits that my trials have built inside of me. My children may not have learned how to get through a tough time, if they had not seen their mom and dad model it for them. The list could continue on and on.

I'm not sure where you are today as you read this post. Are you on the mountain top or in the valley?  Well let me tell you this my friend, you can be totally sure that  God is with you wherever you are. He is there to help you through.  He is there to celebrate with you. You are very special and precious to Him. He will never leave your side.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;  he will never leave you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

In a few hours I am off to go and see my sweet grandchilren and daughter/son-in-law who live 7 hours away in another state.  I will not be posting until next week.  But I will have lots of pictures to show you when I return. I hope you have a wonderful week and that you savor each moment.

Keep on Keepin on,

Dont' You Love Giveaways?

Hurry over to Today's Creative Blog where Kim is giving away two fabulous creations.  Giveaway ends Sunday, Oct. 25th at 5:00 .  Click on the button below and it will take you straight to her blog.

Hoping you or I win!

I Hope You Choose to Dance

This post is dedicated to my Sisters, Ya Ya Sisters and Girlfriends who inspire me to be Me!

I hope this weekend if you get the chance to sit it out or to dance in this thing called life, that you will choose to dance. Hopefully this little video will give you some inspiration to make each moment count!

Scroll down to bottom of page to turn off my music so you can hear this video.

"Wherever you are, be all there.   Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

Jim Elliot

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" When in doubt TWIRL ! "

Mary Engelbreit

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I am going out right now and buying a hoola hoop!

Love your friendship,

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Hello there everybody!  It is once again Thankful Thursday and I'm a bit behind getting my list posted today, but it's never too late to be thankful.  If you are new to Thankful Thursday, click on the button below to sign up at Sonya's blog. (Truth 4 the Journey)

1.  I am so thankful for some very generous people this past week that surprised us with a wonderful gift. 

2.  I am so thankful that God's angel's softened my fall to the ground on pavement, when I hit my head and tore up my knee this week.  Seriously, just as the back of my head bounced against the pavement, I thought for sure it was gonna be my time to go to heaven. This is also when you can be thankful for the extra cushion you have on your backside!!

3.  I am thankful for the telephone conversation that I had with my 3 year old granddaughter today.  I was suppose to be on the way to her house 6 hours away, but couldn't drive it due to my knee  accident.  Ofcourse I am bummed that I could not go, but today my granddaugher talked and talked and talked to me. Usually, at 3 yrs old, she talks for a couple of seconds then goes off to play. But this time, we played make-believe over the phone and her imagination ran wild and we talked and talked.  Thank you God, because I needed that! I think she did too!

4.  I am thankful that my husband found out that he now only has a year left of college instead of one and a half years as we were expecting. 6 months sooner !!!!!! Yipee, Hurray , Hallelujah! Thank you God!

5.  I am sooo thankful that God wants to use little ole' me, inspite of my unworthiness, to serve Him and to fulfill the purposes He created me for. How amazing is that?  And how amazing HE is!

Blessings to you from one very blessed Chic,

Is Your Attitude Contagious?

Attitudes are Contagious
Is Yours Worth
Catching?

I saw this sign posted in a school classroom today.  It seems these days all kinds of things are going around, such as the awful flu, colds, fevers, diseases etc.... We do everything we can to keep from catching any one of these bugs that seem to be invading the air these days, including staying away from someone with a bad attitude!   

 After reading this sign, it made me think about the good things we can catch from others.  We can catch a smile that makes us happier. We can catch someone doing a good deed for another and seeing the gratefulness in the reciever's eyes and expressions.  We can catch our children and grandchildren loving life with their excitement and wonder, which I don't know about you, but it makes me get down and act like a child myself while joining in with them in fun.  We can catch a good ole' belly laugh when someone very comical and funny uses their magical gift on us.  The list could go on and on! 

When it comes to our attitude, I hope mine will be on the Good list instead of the bad list and that someone will want to catch it.  Even when trials come and our lives are turned upside down, we can choose to have a joyful attitude with the Lord's help. And in doing so, someone is going to notice and want to catch it from us.

"Be mindful to be a blessing..."

Galations 6:10

If you've caught someone with a good attitude lately, will you share with me in a comment what you saw them do? What did you catch from them? Your comment may give us some new ideas!

Achoo..., oh excuse me! Now go out and catch the good attitude bug!  Or better yet, may someone else catch it from you!

I will be back soon with a post! Dr. appointments today and tomorrow for my sprained knee.  Talk to you very soon.

Lee Ann

Go Forward and Don't Look Back

"Life can only be understood backwards,
but must be lived forwards."

Anonymous

Haven't you heard many people or yourself say, "if I knew then what I know now, I would never have done that" ?  Well if a few days ago I would have known that I was going to fall down and twist my knee, pull a muscle in my lower leg and get a huge knot on my head, all from turning around to wave at someone while walking backwards, than I know for sure I wouldn't have done that!  It is painful to walk and the lump on my head keeps me trying to sleep in one uncomfortable position all night.  Age just kinda creeps up on you because you don't know how badly you've hurt yourself until 3 days later when you can't hardly get out of bed!!  Does anyone out there relate????

Anyway, we can learn something from most everything such as I have with this. Continuing to try to walk forward while also trying to walk backwards just doesn't work!  We don't get anywhere doing it and sometimes we even fall. It is the same in our daily walk of life. If we aren't careful after making a decision to follow what God has told us to do, we can get sidetracked if we dwell on our past or on what we might have left behind.

" I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."                              

Philippians 3:14

So this coming week, don't look backward and fall like I did while trying to walk forward at the same time!  Just look UPWARD and God will lead you towards the goal that has a prize waiting there just for YOU....

In the Race with You, ( I have a water bottle we can share!)

Chai Date with My Daughter

I have been so busy the past few days and haven't been able to post something for you.  So sorry about that.  And now I am getting ready to head out the door to have a mother/daughter chai date with my youngest daughter Jaymie.  I promise to get back to my posting tomorrow. 

Me and my daughter, Jaymie

Next weekend I get to travel to visit my daughter, Jessica and family.  I will have a picture to show you of her and I'll throw in a few pictures of my precious grandchildren!

Have a Sweet Day!

HOPE AS YOU WAIT

Someone told me once, "Do not delay the blessing God wants to give you by not waiting." But oh my, how impatient I can be! Especially when I am going through something painful that I don't understand. But have you ever stopped to realize that God has a blessing waiting for you at the end of your trials? He is the one and only who can give you the strength you need. He promises to be there for you.

I was over at Tracie Miles blog today :

http://traciemiles.blogspot.com/2009/10/jesus-knows-how-you-feel.html

She has a great devo on Hope that you will want to check out. I'm including the video below that she used from Casting Crowns.

It will be a blessing to you in your time of waiting.

Be sure to scroll down to bottom of my page and pause my music so you can hear this video 

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Waiting with you as we wait for the blessing,

A Nice Surprise

Hello everyone on this nice fall Monday morning! Hope you had a good weekend. I have a busy day ahead of me but I wanted to post a little something for you first.

First off I want to thank Courtney and Kelly at faithfulbloggers.com for asking me to do a guest interview on their Podcast last week. I am new to blogging, just since August 2009, so this was a nice surprise for me. They are a fairly new blog that is rich with great ideas and I know you will get a blessing by visiting them.  Go to this link to check out the Podcast:

http://faithfulbloggers.com/podcast/faithful-bloggers-podcast-2-introducing-leeann

I know that sometimes Mondays can bring with it the tiredness from the weekend or just from life and it can be tough to get going.  I want to leave you with a great promise from the Lord who knows all about you and knows what you need to face today.  It's wonderful to know that He has GREAT PLANS for you and I.

" No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

1 Corinthians 2:20

 Go out today with anticipation and be watchful for His blessings,

http://faithfulbloggers.com/podcast/faithful-bloggers-podcast-2-introducing-leeann

Check Out Our Family Mosaic

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Since I am fairly new to blogging (Aug. 2oo9), I thought I would introduce you to my family through this Family Mosaic slideshow made at Smilebox.com.  These are pictures of my husband, daughters, son-in-laws and our very special grandchildren.

A Restful Weekend

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1

-Hope you have a wonderful weekend resting in His shadow-

Enjoy,

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Well it is once again time for participating in Thankful Thursday! I hope you will join me and also leave a comment so we can encourage one another with our thankful lists.  Click on the Thankful Thursday button above and it will take you to Sonya's blog at truth4thejourney where you can sign up.

Here goes my list for this week:

1.  I am thankful that God gives us A NEW DAY each every day with a new beginning.  No matter what I'm facing.

2. I am thankful that after 33 years of marriage, my husband and I are still in it together side by side and still learning new things about one another. 

3.  I am thankful for Skype/Video so I can see and visit online with my daughter, son-in-law and my sweet grandchildren who live 6 hrs away. It's the next best thing to being there-kinda!!!

4.  I am thankful for my sisters who are sooooooo good to me and who stick by my side no matter what!

5.  I am thankful for a new art class that I participated in for the first time yesterday.

I'm looking forward to reading your list next. 

His Blessings,

Oh, But It Is Painful!

Are you going through some trials that seem endless? I feel your pain. This post is dedicated to you.  Don't loose hope my friend because God loves you and has a plan for you.

"God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special."

1 Thessalonians 1:4  (The Message)

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I have added a paragraph below of a story from a devotion on Micca's blog at http://www.miccacampbell.com/  (September 29, 2009 entitled "The Positive Side of Suffering") You may want to stop by and read her entire devo.

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This story will touch you and remind you of how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father and Creator:

A little piece of wood once complained bitterly because its owner kept whittling away at it, cutting it, and filling it with holes, but the one who was cutting it so persistently paid no attention to its complaining. He was making a flute out of that piece of ebony, and he was too wise to cease from doing so, even though the wood complained bitterly. He seemed to say, “little piece of wood, without these holes, and all this cutting, you would be a black stick for ever—just a useless piece of ebony. What I am doing now may make you think that I am destroying you, but, instead, I will change you into a flute, and your sweet music will charm souls and comfort many a sorrowing heart. My cutting you is the making of you, for only thus can you be a blessing in the world.”

Oh, I think I can hear your sweet music.. It is beautiful!

Goodbye Indian Summer- Hello Beautiful Autumn

Yes, I know I am behind in singing goodbye to Indian summer!  My goodness, Fall started last week!  I guess  I forgot since I still have a few flowers blooming and haven't bought my pumpkins yet! (usually here in Indiana we have colder weather by now)  Actually, I love Fall.  Especially the smell of apple cider and apple pie! Mmmmm  I'm just a sentimental at heart who is slow at letting go of the special things that I love. (which includes people who have passed on)

For a splash of pink. before everything turns orange and brown, I'm including some pictures of my garden flowers in this post.

I'm in the process of doing a watercolor painting of this picture.

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Each season of the year is special and unique in what it gives to us and what we take from it. In one season we sow the seed and in the next we harvest it.  Such is our life. One season we are marrying our sweetheart, another season we are raising children.  One season we are grieving and another season we are helping those who grieve. The list goes on and on and we change, learning good and not so good things about ourselves.  There is always something learned. And that is a good thing.  If we can just remember that God gave us seasons as a gift. A gift that builds character and molds us into vessels that resemble more of Him. This way we can uplift and encourage others who are going through what we have already gone through ourselves.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."

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So next week I am embracing Fall and celebrating the things I've learned through the thick and thin.  I think I will even make a list so I will be ready to share it with that someone who will need a friend like me who has been there and done that.  I hope you will join me. Please feel free to share a few of the things you have learned through your season of change.  PLEASE OH PLEASE CLICK ON COMMENT AND TELL ME ABOUT IT.  

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This picture is a bit blurry, but the artsy side of me loves the shadowing from the sun on the flower.

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YUMMY

SEE I TOLD YOU I CAN EMBRACE CHANGE

Smiles to you this week,

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I am participating in Thankful Thursdays from the blog site at

 http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/ 

Five Things I am very thankful for this week:



1.  Thankful for the walks my husband and I take together. And thankful that he doesn't mind me talking so much while we are walking. I can cover alot of topics in 45 minutes!



2.  Thankful for all the ladies at Proverbs31.org who send  me a daily devotion in my email.  Those devos are always so encouraging and inspiring.



3.  Thankful for the provision God gave to me this week with some extra paying work.



4.  So thankful for my 2 beautiful (on the inside and out) daughters who are now special grown women who love and serve the Lord and their families. Thankful for my sons-in-laws too.



5.  And sooooo very thankful for my 3 yr. old granddaughter Ella and my 4 mo old grandson Ezra. They bring so much extra joy to my life. The kind of joy I had no idea would be so wonderful!



6.  Thankful for my sisters who know and love me no matter what.  Sisters are great! 



I really could go on and on with this list.  God is so good to me!
Please leave a comment for me and tell me what you are thankful for this past week.  I would l-o-v-e to hear!


May blessings follow you,


Lee Ann