YOU CAN COMMENT NOW!!!

I have no idea why you guys/gals could not comment for awhile. I did contact word press support and did what they told me and NOTHING. However,  I figured it out on my own!! Crazy!!! Thank you for those of you who contacted me through email to let me know!!!! Now, you guys/gals can contributed if you want! Thank y'all for your patience and understanding!!! Have a great day!!! =)

Registering for Baby stuff, what a trip!!!

  If anyone has ever attempted to register for BABY ITEMS, I  applaud you! =) I have worked with babies, helped out a few moms a many times, and even took care of a sweet baby for months in my home. Well my experience goes beyond that but I will not list it all. So, I am no stranger to the items that are involved in taking care of a precious one. However, shopping for your own  adds another  element to the process of "having baby." I am so grateful that one of my sweet friends was with me to help me through part of the process. Yeah, (we) are not done! There is still much to do to add to the list. I am disappointed that most of the car seats, pack and plays, or other big ticket items are a little on the frilly side. I am having a boy and the choices are limited on patterns. So sad =(...boys get the wrong end of the deal. Yes, of course safety is first and after you established that fact and look around, it is still a limited selection. Anyway, I am so grateful to my friend who was with me and she is very knowledgeable! Now, we just have to decide on a stroller, car seat, etc.......*sigh* =)    

.........So here is to you folks of babies who have learned through trial and error. I applaud you everyday!!!   

  

 ....and thank you Babies R Us, Target, and Pottery Barn Kids!!

What I am Grateful for: It's a BOY!!!!!

Yep, I am pregnant and we are having a BOY!!! So excited! We have waited for this time in our life for over 7 years. Amazing! I am so grateful for so many things:healthy pregnancy, God gave us a son, my mom, my husband, my brother and his boys =), my church family, our home, our neighbors, and blog buddies. God has been so good to us this year and this is my favorite Holiday,Thanksgiving!!! I am so sorry my picture is not uploading but I will show y'all one soon =)! Thanks for the prayers!

Gone to the Mountains!!!!

I bet y'all are wondering where in the world is that Carriker or character!!! ha ha! Well, hubby and I decided we needed a vacation. He has not used his vacation days in awhile. Plus, the last time we left Texas was 2 years ago. We are now in Durango, Co. Wow, is it beautiful here. God did good. Not like he needs my approval. However, somehow I always feel so much closer to Him in the Mountains! Amazing country around here in Colorado! We walked to the grocery store and carried our own bags back to the hotel suite. Walking, walking and more walking is the general theme around here. I love it!  I wish I could walk to our grocery store back at home. Though by the time I did walk to the store and back, the food would be spoiled. Here the store is right around the corner(up a block). The average daily temperature here is 60 degrees!!! That is fine with me!!! My view is spectacular. We will be here for a week or so. I promise to keep y'all more informed than I have been. Life has just been hectic for us. This time to ourselves has been very refreshing. Have a blessed week friends!!   !

Daisy Cottage

If you have not visited the Daisy Cottage then please do so! She has a fabulous blog spot! Today she has featured something yummy. I have copied it here to my page. Click on my blogroll under decorating to get there! 

This version of apple crisp is fun to make AND fun to share - I hope you like it!

Apple Crisp

1 20 ounce can apple pie filling

1/2 cup sugar

1 - 9 oz. box of white or yellow cake mix (Jiffy)

1 stick of butter, melted

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Lightly grease a 9 or 10 inch square baking dish. Pour all of the pie filling in, then sprinkle sugar and dry cake mix on top of that. Pour melted butter over cake mix. Bake uncovered 35 minutes @ 350 degrees. Sprinkle with nuts and continue baking 15 more minutes. So delicious, especially when served warm with vanilla ice cream on top. Enjoy!

 

Just my curtains!

I am always inspired by different blogs to make my home a "home." It is the little things that make me happy. Like a good find! I have been looking for curtains to go in my kitchen window. I was more excited about the price! Yeah, I know it is nothing more than my silly curtains on my blog today. I just had to share!!! Thanks for looking! 

Today, this day may it be the Lord's

• Today, I should have done that one load of laundry and folded what was in the dryer. 
• Today, I should have unloaded those dishes.  
• Today, I should have prepared meals for the week for my sweetheart.   
• Today, I should have finished my bible study for Ladies Class on Tuesday.  
• Today, there are many things that should have been done BUT INSTEAD....      

 

 

My husband and I decided that there was a need far greater than the little things that we worry about in our day to day life. Some friends of ours, their precious baby is in the hospital! We felt a nudge by the Holy Spirit to go and comfort them and be of any service that was needed. I am not bragging by all means. It is just sometimes, we can get caught up in the "do to list" and forget about "God's people."  I was once told by a very wise woman who was my teacher many years ago....she said "you can have yourself a house, spotless & perfect and never get to see the outside or you can make a home of laughter, children playing with toys, full of people, and yes, a little dirt will not hurt and you will always see the outside!" Yeah, I know it is a run on sentence but y'all will get over it =)! The point is priorities! So, Today we are glad that we still have a "to do list" BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SPENT IT WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS IN NEED!   

 

1 Corinthians 12^25"so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."   

We are all part of the body and we should all care for one another!! I'm so grateful to be part of a group that does care for one another!   

Have a blessed Sunday blog friends!  

My Spot

Well, I don't sleep well some nights. I get rest! I just don't get a full nights of rest. I wake up at random times like 2 am, 3am, or 4 am. I typically do all my blog reading at that time or check emails or read my bible studies. We have a "formal" area which is not so formal. I am really not into 2 living areas but who am I to argue since it came with the house. I have gotten use to that little private area, early in the mornings when I need to get away from the rest of the house without disturbing anyone. It is nice to have a wing back chair and comfy pillows with a nice lamp to light my readings. I kinda like being awaken in the early early mornings to complete silence. I have gotten so use to the silence that I relish the time when everyone else is asleep in my neighborhood. I have been reading Max Lucado's book Cure for the Common Life. It is about "identifying your own uniqueness, motivation to put your strengths to work, and the prescription to finding your sweet spot." I have only read the introduction before it starts to section stuff off. One of the thoughts that stuck out to me was that every day is a work day for the Lord. What will you do to Glorify His name? He does not want us to sit on the bench, he wants us in the game. I have only just begun to read this book but I believe it will be every interesting over the next few weeks while it is discussed in connection groups. I think sometimes we get complacent in what we are doing in the church or outside of the church. We are suppose to be people living "extraordinary" lives. So, I hope to share some of this journey with you blog friends. Feel free to comment and add me to your blogroll.            Questions: what have you done to not become complacent in the church or outside of the church? and if you have read the book....what did you get out of it? Did it change the way you think about what you are doing on a daily basis for the Lord? What did it do for you?

Fall.....

Today, I taught a short devotional at our Ladies Bible Class. Even though I had 10-15 minutes, it felt longer than that. It has been a long time since I have spoke before a large group of women. I wanted to share with you my blog friends what was taught to me in my quiet time with God. I can not take full credit for the acronyms that were used for each letter. It came from a bible study called creative ministry but I thought we could all benefit from it. I know I did! I did add my own to it! I hope you enjoy.  

 

I love the Fall! I love pumpkins, apples, and the cool weather. I love the smells. I love Starbucks latest flavor, though Pumpkin Spice latte is still my favorite. I love the baking, it means soup is on the stove. I love the decorations and all the opportunities to attend a fall festival. It means football season is in rare form. If you have ever been to the New England area and have seen the trees at fall time, it is beautiful. The leaves not only change colors, but they stay on the trees for more than just a day. You get to see colors that make a big box of crayons look bleak. Camping is a must for this time of year. What does fall mean to us in the spiritual sense?

 

"F-Fellowship with Christ and with other Christians.

 There’s nothing like a strong devotional life to help us to be spurred on to be what we should be for Christ. Felllowshipping with Him in prayer. Reading and knowing His word, and keeping our life from sin is imperative if we want His power on our life.

 

Psalm 109:4:

   ^……….But I give myself unto prayer.

 Colossians 3:16:

   ¹⁶Let the word of ^[Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom

teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ⁾singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

  Psalm 119:11:

    ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

 

"A- Abiding in Christ."

 We know if we want that invigorating power of Christ, we need to continually be obeying His word and commandments. We need to be in tune with Christ and abiding in Him.

 

1 John 3:24:

   ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

 

 

 "L- Leaning on Christ."

The more we lean on Christ, the more we find that His power and strength are ours.

 

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 Psalm 91

   ¹He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  ²I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 

"L- Living for Christ."

Someone that lives for Christ can have such a powerful life. Being an idle Christiam will never get us anywhere. Living for Christ requires motion. If we are active for Christ it will help us to have the full power of Christ on our lives.

 

Romans 12:11:

¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

 Psalm 100:2:

   ²Serve the LORD with gladness……

 

Conclusion:

I think that having the power of Christ on our life just boils down to doing what we know we need to do as Christians and fully surrendering to the Lord in each aspect of being. We need to be daily walking with the Lord in order to have His crisp and invigorating power breezing through our lives.

 

I challenge you and myself to think of How THIS FALL WILL BE DIFFERENT….Fellowship, Abiding, Leaning, and Living for Christ. Maybe you will have a friend over for coffee, take food to someone, reach out to a neighbor, call a member who needs encouragement, etc……you can continue to fill in the blanks.

 

Blog world.....Tell me friends how will your F.A.L.L. be different? Share with me, if you will.

 

 

Where is FORGIVENESS???? Grace???? Mercy????

My eyes are full of tears and my personal heart is heavy this morning. Someone very close to me has been re-building their relationship with Christ. I will leave names out for their privacy and respect. They have asked for forgiveness and we know he/she has received it.  I am so grateful for their return! They have been a source of encouragement to me! However, recently this person was in contact with someone from their past that they had wronged. The person responded with what I would say was " a hateful/hurtful heart." They told them that God/Jesus will never forgive them and that basically their not good enough. Now, I will tell you the person saying these things  is a "christian." There was a lot more said but I can not reveal that without compromising their privacy.  

 

 I know those reading this blog do not have a full picture of either story so it is hard to understand from any perspective. What I am focusing on this day is FORGIVENESS. I am sad that words of forgiveness were not what was given. I know we all want forgiveness, grace, and mercy! I am also sad for the one whose heart is still hurting. I am sure we have all been there needing forgiveness from others and needing to give it to others! I know I have hurt people myself and I have been hurt myself! However, it is in those moments from both perspectives  we must remember Christ. Jesus forgives all our sins....all, not one or two BUT ALL!!!    Colossians 1:13-17 "¹³For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,   ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   ¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.   ¹⁶For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.   ¹⁷He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  

 

I am sure there are people out there that might have wronged me and needed forgiveness. I may have thought I did but they do not feel like I have given it to them. For that I hope and pray that I have responded in a Christ like manner. So my post started with where is forgiveness, grace, mercy???!! Friends, it is in the hands of the Father. Matthew 18:11 ["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]   

 

That is what matters! I know we would all love it if every one (including myself) would take on this attitude like Christ and the world would be a better a place. It would be great if we allowed our hands to be like his in those moments. People need to be touched by the Savior and Jesus uses us to give that touch to the hurting. Jesus words are very very powerful! His helpers(us) need to remember our hands are an extension of his hands. I may not be communicating very well this am for that I am sorry. I don't have the gracefulness of words like most so thank you for bearing with me through this painful time.   

 Blog friends if you do have moment to spare.......would you please leave some words of encouragement for the one I am close to?  I know they will read this post. Thank you so much! I am on my knees!    

 

Brown Bag Wednesday

When I attended the A.I.M. program many moons ago, a habit was instilled in me that to this day is  practiced. It was named "brown bag" because that is the day you would bring your lunch and pray for those on the mission field. Through the years it changed to a Thursday but the meaning remained the same. Sometimes letters were read from those who were currently serving on the mission field. We sat in a big circle, ate our lunch, listened to stories of lives being changed, called each missionary (aimer) by name, and prayed for them. For me, this was one of the most powerful moments that I got to experience with fellow Christians. Still to this day I take the time to pray for those on the mission field. My list has grown with names through the years! Sometimes my "brown bag" is at breakfast but the day has not changed. What is even crazier is I still have my bible that I purchased at the Sunset Bookstore during my first week of A.I.M. Yep, I have not replaced it. I feel that this sword has seen many many things through the years. I say all this for I hope you know the power of prayer! I am always amazed to find that someone was praying for me when I didn't even know it. That is the beauty of prayer. You can touch a life with the power of being on your knees. So today, maybe we could all take time out of our day to say a prayer for those who do serve whether on a mission field or in the church. We all know someone who needs our prayer! Have a great day! 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-6

  " ¹Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.²We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;   ³constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,   ⁴knowing, brethren beloved by God,His choice of you;   ⁵for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.   ⁶You also became imitators of us and of the Lord,having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit "

just another character trying this blog thing!

Just trying this blog world out since everybody I know is doing it. Well, what is going on in my side of the world? I quit my teaching job over a year ago to stay home. This is my second starting school year to not be there for the first days of school. I love the first days of school. Everything is new! New pencils, markers, papers, faces, attitudes, and just the plain excitement of it all. It was hard for me to leave in one aspect and another it was easy. I was looking forward to getting our home back in order. We (hubby and I) got into the routine of working crazy long hours. Sometimes we both would not get home until 6-7 p.m. Who wants to cook dinner that late?? Not us! I was looking forward to cooking again, having a house clean before the weekend, mowing my lawn, going to ladies class, and reconnecting with our church home. Yep, I said mowing the lawn. I love it! Hubby loves it too. I am not good at edging or trimming! I enjoy this life of getting to go to cycle class or spin class together and eat breakfast saturday mornings without feeling rushed. Don’t worry folks I do work part time from home. That job landed in my lap! I am grateful! However, I can not believe how busy I am staying home. I think in a way I am more busy now. Yet I do not feel stress!  Maybe it has to do with being in people’s life’s again! My main passion is taking care of my home =)! I no longer call it a job because it is my passion. Well, hope y’all tune in to my craziness and that is exactly what it is!