Free Entertainment!

I found a float 1/2 price at KMart--cost $8.00
My kids had a blast with it-- cost Priceless!

Fun, fun, fun!

Our family recently had the delightful opportunity to visit with some dear friends, and their dogs! LOL

Chips had a wonderful time--as did we all--visiting with both the 2-legged, and 4-legged friends! :0)

We had great food, fun, and fellowship. But, no felines allowed! LOL

Chips really enjoyed himself...but it wore him out! (But, he wasn't the only one!)

Chips Goes Visiting!

Chips recently traveled over to the nursing home again to visit Grammy. (Phil's Mom). As you can see he made himself at home! He also made Grammy smile. :0)
A good day's work!

Bountiful Harvest!

We are being abundantly blessed here from our garden! Above is one day's harvest! We only have a small plot, so this is a huge return! :0)


Last Saturday my dear husband, and sweet daughter helped me with making salsa. Although I have made salsa before, this was a first attempt at canning it. You can see the fruits of our labor below. Neat perspective through the eye of the canning jar ring. :0)
We went on to make and can spaghetti sauce on Monday with the rest of the tomatoes and our fresh herbs. I've made spaghetti sauce, but never canned it before. Another first!

The Chips Are Down!

Actually, that should read "The Chips is Down!" But, I didn't want you to think that I have bad grammar!

Summertime and lots of activity is wearing our new little family member "Chips" out!

Here is a sneak peek at him while he is napping! :0)

Isn't he the cutest!?

Whose Side Is God On?

I know so many people who are going through trials right now...I thought today's Daily Bread devotional might encourage your heart--as it did mine. :0)

Whose Side Is God On?

2 Chronicles 15:1-15
The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. —1 Chronicles 28:9

I do not boast that God is on my side,” wrote Abraham Lincoln. “I humbly pray that I am on God’s side.”
Lincoln’s words paraphrase the thoughts Azariah expressed to King Asa of Judah. After the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, he said, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (2 Chron. 15:2).
Throughout history, people have done despicable deeds while boldly claiming that God was on their side. But being a Christian doesn’t guarantee that God is “on our side” any more than being an ancient Israelite guaranteed that God was on theirs (Isa. 3:14-15). God is on the side of those who are on His side—who know His heart and mind and do His will—not those who insist on convincing God and others that their way is right.
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord indicated that He sides with the oppressed (Isa. 58:6-7,10). For Christians, that means it is right to be on the side of those who are being wronged.
Instead of jumping into a situation with the presumption that God is on our side, we need to be certain that we are on His. — Julie Ackerman Link

Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! —Havergal

It’s dangerous to mistake our wishes for God’s will.

Photos

My daughter, Briana, and I took a great photography course at the library last Thursday evening. She went on over the weekend and practiced using some of the information the instructor gave us on settings etc... here's some of her results

You go girl! LOL

My Orange Tree

I don't know if you remember back in April when I blogged about my sweet friend Lisa bringing me back a darling little orange tree from her trip to Florida?

Well, back then the little tiny orange was green, but now, it's finally ORANGE! My husband wants me to split it four ways so we can each try it! LOL It's about as big as a large grape!

Hail!

Delaware is blessed with few severe storms. But as you can see above, on August 10th, we had hail during a storm! These are just small pieces, I've heard of other states getting great big hail stones. Glad ours weren't any bigger.

Below is the hail stones on my welcome mat.

Choices

I was quite stirred this morning in my devotions, and thought I'd include it in my blog today.
My Daily Bread Devotional today was titled "One Small Choice". It talked about the impact of one small bad choice on a young mans entire life.
It really struck me while reading this that our lives are made up of a series of minute-by-minute choices. Everything from when we're young: "Who will I play with?" "What will I play?" "Will I be obedient to my parents?"....to young adult choice..."Will I go to college?" "What will I study?" "What are my goals?"...maybe even "Will I choose to drink, or do drugs?"
Of course there is the biggest choice we will ever make-it is the most important, and it will determine where we spend eternity. (we will spend it somewhere!) The choice I'm talking about, is accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If you haven't made that decision, or aren't sure...click here to find out!
But the choices that I keep meditating on today, are the ones that we make after we have gotten saved. The ones you make once you know the Truth and you're reading your Bible and know it's principles.
Everyday these choices stare me in the face. Will I obey God-or will I obey me? Now, you may think I am exaggerating the importance of these choices...but am I?
In Joshua 24:15 it says..."choose you this day whom ye will serve; ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Here is an example in God's Word that tells us that this is an important choice.
What kind of choices am I talking about? How about..."Am I using my words the right way...to encourage...or am I harsh?" Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
"Do I choose to submit to my husband?" Or do I do what I want? Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
"Do I choose to be thankful?" "Or do I complain?" Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
"Do I take the resposibility of my children's spiritual training?" Or, do I push it off on the church? Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." and Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. "
"Do I go about my job of being wife and mother cheerfully?" Or not? Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings"
All of our choices affect others. They have a ripple effect. And, our children are watching us as their example~even more reason to make the right choices!
But mostly, I don't want to grieve Christ. I want Him to be pleased with my growth in Him, and with the choices that I make.
I am so glad that Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
I do not have to do this in my own puny strength! Christ will provide the strength.

I choose Christ!

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me the cross before me;

The world behind me the cross before me;

The world behind me the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow

Though none go with me, still I will follow

Though none go with me, still I will follow

No turning back, no turning back.

You can never go wrong with that choice! It's always the right one.

A Summer Bright Spot...

Today while in the yard, I spotted this gorgeous male goldfinch helping himself to our Echinacea. (Smart bird-he knows what's good for him)

I thought you might like seeing him too. I never get tired of seeing these lovely birds!

We also spot him and his mate on our sunflowers too--which we love since these are right outside the back door! But, he is harder to spot here for me to show you...look closely. He is not on the highest branch, but the one to the left of it-right at the top of the branch. Almost in the middle of the picture...

A Walk in the Park...with music!

Wednesday evening our family got to do something we love! It's a tradition of sorts for us! We went to the Battery Park in Old New Castle to hear a summer concert in the park.
We have been doing this since the kids were really small--and they still love to go!
With responsibilities we have at church, we can't usually go as the concerts are always on Wednesdays...but we had off this week, and the Lord blessed us with wonderful weather, and a memorable evening!

The band was good, and most of the crowd were older folks, although you did see some little children there too. If you look closely in the pic above, you can see the moon making it's appearance.
I loved this little old couple sitting at the water's edge together-listening to the music. (I hope they wouldn't mind me taking this--they were just so adorable!) That will be me and my sweetie in a few years. :0)

The park is right on the Delaware River, as you can see in the background of this picture of the kids walking Chips. Snacks are always a favored part of the evening.

As are the games! (almost had a mishap though...Chips tried to eat one of the chessmen!)

Other than that-Chips was wonderfully well behaved on his first concert night!

You can see the Courthouse lit up as it begins to get dark.

Another treasured memory made!

I hope you're making lots of them this summer with your own family! Don't miss the chance!

Chips Takes a Field Trip

Well, Monday Chips went on his first field trip/road trip...first he went to visit his "Grandma" in the nursing home. He was a big hit with her--and her friends!Then, our whole family took him to Valley Garden Park. It is a lovely park of woods, and a little stream with a beautifully kept lawn and garden. We had the entire place to ourselves! Chips got to see frogs...(Bri took some of these nature pics)

And a water snake...(ewwwww) (this made me kinda nervous the rest of the trip LOL)
Trees....(I love the different greens in the forest in the summer! Ahhhhh)

A blue dragon fly...

A scary hornet's nest...(yes, those are live hornets coming in and out!)

And, he spent time with his fav kids too!

AND, on the way home Chips was blessed to see a doe with twin fawns! One is pictured here with the mom, then the other one by itself. (we were surprised as it was mid-day)

Chips was ready for a nap when he got home!