Saturday, November 30, 2013

Elf Breakfast 2013

Today we had our Elf Breakfast to kick off the Christmas holiday. (One of my favorite bloggers gave me the idea. She does a North Pole Breakfast & always makes it look magical!)

Last year was our first one. You can check it out here. It kinda makes me want to cry when I see how little my babies were!

This year Kringle (our Elf on the Shelf) brought us some funny elf hats to goof off in, some fun Christmas shirts, & stuffed elves for the boys.

For breakfast we had:
-Strawberry/Banana Candy Canes
-Granny's Fruit Salad (with cool whip & marshmallows!)
-Snow Powdered Donuts
-Reindeer Pinwheels
-Christmas Chocolate Milk (in super fun elf cups)

The boys (Jax, John, & D :)) chowed down & had a fun time while I furiously snapped pictures!













Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thankful Day 28- Thanksgiving!!! / Turkey Time

Today I'm thankful for this holiday that is all about being thankful. It is too easy to get wrapped up in the world & self-entitlement. I love that this time of year reminds me to slow down & reflect on the MANY blessings the Lord has given me.

Psalm 138
1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Thank You Lord for today & for being the creator of, & the reason for, all I have to be thankful for. May I remember to be more thankful everyday!!

_______________

Turkey Time!!!

In related news...

This was a very different Thanksgiving for us. It's our first Thanksgiving away from family &, because of that, it was up to me to make our Thanksgiving meal! (Yikes!)

I'm so excited to say that Brother (his name is Chris, but his name to me is: Brother) got to come & stay the night with us & partake in my first Thanksgiving Feast! I made Mammaw's dressing, Mom's sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, & Mammaw's chocolate pie. Turkey dinner is my favorite meal, so all I that was non-negotiable. We all decided it was yummy! :)








Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thankful Day 27- Brother

[Today Jax is thankful for: "my pooping rein dog" (a treat my Mom sent the boys today)]

Today I'm thankful for my Brother! 

My Brother is one of my favorite people! We've experienced life together like I will with no one else & we've come through it as best friends.

Thank You Lord for my Brother!!










Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thankful Day 26- Snuggles

[Today Jax is thankful for: axes]

Today I'm thankful for sweet snuggle time with my men :)

I love how sweet boys can be & how good they love their Momma. I enjoy every little cuddle & snuggle I get because I know they won't be this way forever.

Thank You Lord for the gift of lovin on my babies!










Monday, November 25, 2013

Thankful Day 25- Missions

[Today Jax is thankful for: "my staff" (his latest favorite weapon)]

Today I am thankful for the opportunity & responsibility God has given us to share His Love with others. 

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 
Acts 1:8 means everything to my faith

I'm thankful to have always been involved in churches who have great hearts for Missions. 

I'm thankful for Woodridge Baptist Church. From starting out as a Mission Friend & ending as Queen Regent in Service, my home church lay a mission-minded foundation in my life by plenty of opportunities each year through family mission trips & youth mission trips. 

I'm thankful for my husband who has a burden to share the gospel & lead others in doing so as well. Under his leadership, my love for Missions & the realization of the weight of my responsibility continue to grow.

I'm thankful for Colfax Baptist Church. The WMU women there have a contagious desire to share the love of the Lord.

I'm thankful for First Baptist Vivian who are incredible examples of loving their neighbors through the Hand & Feet ministry. They have adopted an intentional Acts 1:8 strategy that includes Mission Trips to their adopted people groups in Oklahoma & Burkina Faso, Africa.

I'm thankful for Petal-Harvey Baptist Church & that we get to walk right in on a church that already has a great heart for Missions. We are thankful for a staff who implements Missions into all areas of ministry. We've already participated in some really neat missions opportunities.

I'm so thankful for the many friends God has chosen for full-time missions all over the world. I love getting to be a small part of their journey through prayer & other support.

**Bonus: A few pictures from recent Missions Projects!

The Mannings, some Vivian friends came to share with the Women's Missions group at PHBC about their family being called to Africa.
Find out more about their awesome journey on their blog: incomparablejoy.blogspot.com



These are pics of a bus we recently sent to a Vo-Tech in Belize. A mission adopted by PHBC. We send church missionaries to work there all throughout the year. The day before this, everyone from church packed it full of items they needed. That Sunday night after church, we went out to commission our bus for the mission field there.



And these are our most recent Missions endeavor. We just sent our shoeboxes off to Operation Christmas Child!

Like D always says-it's incredible to lead someone to Christ face-to-face. But won't it be cool to get to Heaven one day & meet all the people that can say they're there because I sent a shoebox, or a bus, or helped to send a missionary to them so that they could hear the gospel. I get crazy fired up just thinking about it!
Thank You Lord for the honor & blessing it is to share Your gospel!!!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Thankful Day 24- Arts & Crafts!

Today I'm thankful for arts and crafts!

For as long a I can remember, I've always loved a good craft project! Doing creative things is restful to my brain, it actually rejuvenates me, it often times saves me money (when I see something I want that I can make), & it's a big hobby of mine.

I've worked on a few Fall/Thanksgiving projects lately. (Most are Pinterest ideas. Maybe I should say that I'm thankful for Pinterest!)

(See my "Completed Pins" Board for the tutorials)

Here is the Turkey I was supposed to make at a paint party my friend had. I was unable to go to the party, but I got a cutout from her & painted it on my own. We have enjoyed this little turkey!


This is what I have named a Blessing Plate (cuz...duh). I've eyed a plate like this for a few years, but never could bite the bullet to drop $60-$80 for a PLATE! I recently went shopping with a new friend & saw it again in a boutique & was reminded of how much I LOVE it! But again...$60-$80 Dustie/Dave Ramsey would NOT have approved! (I mean, where's my envelope named: "frivolous plate that NO ONE will be allowed to eat on...or touch for that matter!") 
Enter Pinterest. 
Long story (obviously) short, I decided to make one using Sharpies & baking it. Viola!
I've made a couple other ones since then & I'm pretty pleased! I'm REALLY pleased with all the money saved!

The other project is a Thankful Tablecloth!
This was made from a drop cloth bought at Lowes, cut & hemmed to size, & then written on with black Sharpie. 
The lady from the tutorial said that it took her 4 hours to complete. I thought that was ridiculous. But oh... :) I didn't do mine in one sitting, but in my spare time. (For many days.)
We made a list as a family of the things we were thankful for & I slowly added them one-by-one. I love it so much! 
It's actually not finished/completely full, but it doesn't look incomplete. I love that so we can add to it each year as our lives change.







I forgot to take a picture of it when it's fully "styled." I have a galvanized 3-tiered stand that goes in the center. The stand holds small pumpkins & other fun Fall stuff. (I'll add a pic later.)

Thank You Lord for fun things!!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Thankful Day 23- Prince of Peace

[Today Jax is thankful for: shovels]

Today I am thankful for the Prince of Peace. 

This is exactly who Jesus has been to me today. He has given me peace that passes all understanding in the midst of non-peaceful circumstances.

He is soooo good & all of His great qualities work together for His perfect plan. He is: 1-Sovereign to know what I need before I need it, 2-Jehovah Jireh to provide just what I need, & 3-in that provision He is the Prince of Peace.

Thank You Lord that You are in control & You are always good.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thankful Day 22- Jehovah Jireh

Today I am so thankful that my God is One who always provides!

I have so many accounts of ways in which the Lord has provided. From the smallest thing like God helping me find my lost contacts after our move, to times like how He faithfully provided when D was a Youth Pastor in seminary & financially, there was way more going out than coming in. (On paper we should not have had enough money to make it from month to month, but through countless & amazing blessings, we did!) He provides for me when I'm emotionally, mentally, or physically spent. He has always, always, always proven this to me! He has never failed!

Thank You Father for being Jehovah Jireh!!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thankful Day 21- The Word

[Today Jax is thankful for: snow]

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. -Isaiah 55:11

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. -Isaiah 40:8

Today I am thankful for the Bible, the living, breathing Word of God!

I am so thankful for every aspect of God's Word!!
-I'm thankful that it is God speaking to me.
-I'm thankful that it never returns void-whether I'm sharing it with someone, or studying it for myself!
-I'm thankful for the power it holds.
-I'm thankful that so far, I've had the freedom to own & read a Bible.
-I'm thankful for the mighty power of God to help me hide it in my heart. My 4 year-old son has scripture hidden in his heart!!
-I'm thankful that it is alive & completely relevant to this age-as well as 2000 years ago.
-I'm thankful that with it being alive-I can reread a passage time after time & the Lord use it to speak something different to my heart each time!
-I'm thankful that the more I put it into my life, the more I desire it!

Thank You Father for Your love letter to me!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thankful Day 20- My God is Worthy of Worship & Praise

[Today Jax is thankful for: "Pops & Belle Belle, Mimi & Mitz" (Grandparents)]

Today I am thankful to follow a God who is worthy of all worship & praise! As I did my Bible Study this morning I was overwhelmed by the love & goodness of God & really just wanted to do nothing but praise Him! That's when I knew my "thankful" for today needed to change appropriately.

Psalm 150
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
(Amen & Amen!!)

(Despite the song that came to mind when you read the title) This song has been in my head all week after singing it on Sunday:

Forever Reign

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting

Oh, I'm running to Your arms,
I'm running to Your arms.
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

Oh, I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Guest Post / Operation Christmas Child--Hits Home

This post is a guest post by a friend I've made since moving to Petal. She and her family attend our church & her husband, Nan, shared his story with the church last Sunday night. 

I have always loved Operation Christmas Child, but after hearing this story, this ministry that I've always thought of affecting "over there", now hits a LOT more close to home. Literally.

Y'all read this & then go pack some shoeboxes!

-Jenni


It's the early 1990’s.  A small village in the mountains near Lake Yojoa, Honduras.  There is a young boy of about 8 years and his name is Renan.  He lives in a small house with dirt floors.  No electricity.  No running water. He is the youngest boy of 10 children and shares a small room containing two twin beds with his five brothersHis father, don Lucio, runs a small store from their house selling things like eggs, sugar,chips, and coca-cola.  His mother, doña Moncha is a mid-wife and the pastor of the small church next door.

Sometimes Renan and his siblings are the only ones who show up to church, but their mother preaches anyway.  She knows the importance of sharing the Word, because just some years before she saw how real Jesus was.  

--------------

Moncha was a young wife and mother.  She spent her days caring for her children and small home.

Her husband worked in the sugar cane fields.  When Lucio wasn’t working (and sometimes even when he was) he was drunk.  

One day Oscar, one of their sons, was invited to a house church nearby and because his father wasn’t home Moncha allowed him to go.  She knew Lucio wouldn’t approve, but she let him go anyway.  Oscar went several times to the house church and soon knew he needed this Jesus they were talking about.  

He could hardly contain his excitement and pleaded with his mother to go with him the next time he went.  And when that time came, since once again her husband wasn’t at home, she agreed to go.  And went several times after that even though Lucio told her not to.  She soon accepted Christ as her Savior.

It had been a few days since she had seen her husband last.  He was more than likely passed out somewhere from drinking too much.  It was just a fact of life she had accepted.  So, when it was time for the church meeting she didn’t hesitate to go.  After they left, Lucio came home to find his house with no one home.  He was drunk and enraged.  He knew exactly where she was.  He walked down the street planning what he would do to her.  He told himself that he would go in where they were meeting, drag her out by her hair and beat her in the middle of the street for all to see.

But, God had other plans for Lucio that night.  He walked into that church meeting a drunk and angry man.  He came out redeemed by the blood of Christ.  

And there began their family’s walk with Jesus.  You can see why doña Moncha would preach even if no one but her own family showed up.

So Renan grew up knowing about Jesus, but he, as a young boy, had yet to experience Him.

----------------

It was almost time for school to start and young Renan desperately wanted to go.  But with so many siblings that were already in school, his parents didn’t have the money to buy him the supplies required to attend school – a notebook and a pencil.  He begged anyway.  His mother told him that they should pray about it and that God would provide a way.  

And so they prayed every day.  For many days.  Renan awoke most days just knowing that this was the day it was all going to happen.  But many days passed and he still didn’t have a notebook and pencil.

One day his sister came home telling everyone that she heard there would be some missionaries in the village the next day to pass out gifts to the children.  Renan was so excited. He had never received a gift before.  Not for Christmas.  Not for his birthday.  He could hardly sleep that night thinking about what it would be like to get a gift.

He woke up early the next morning and got ready.  He put on his best clothes.  And he was so excited it didn’t even bother him that day that he had no shoes to wear.  

He and his sisters arrived early to where the missionaries were coming.  Once they got there and passed out the gifts Renan just looked at his box.  It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.  It was wrapped in paper that had a little man with drums on it.  Someone came along and asked him why he hadn’t opened his gift.  He told them that he didn’t think he could tear the paper because it was too pretty.  But they finally convinced him to open it.  And when he did he found it was the moment he had been waiting for.  Inside his box was a pack of crayons, a coloring book, some scissors, a notebook, and some pencils.  In that moment Renan knew he was going to school.

He ran home to show his mother the gift and tell her that he could go to school.  But in all the excitement Renan was a little confused.  He asked his mom who they knew that would give him this gift.  She reminded him of the prayer they had been praying for God to provide a way for him to be able to go to school.  She told him that this gift was God’s provision; it was the answer to their prayer. And that someone somewhere loved Jesus so much that they sent this gift for him.

Because of that gift, because of the answer to his prayer, Renan knew there must be something more to Jesus than just the stories his mother read to them.  Because of that gifthe wanted to learn more about Jesus.  Sometime later he gave his heart to Jesus.

------------------------------------

My name is Nita.  I met Renan in that village in the mountains near Lake Yojoa, Honduras 11 years ago.  We just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and we have two beautiful daughters.  We now live in Mississippi on my family’s old farm. Renan has been in the United States for 9 years and works at an electrical company.  I am a home school mom to Ema and Rosa.

Although the gift Renan received as a young boy in Honduras wasn’t through Operation Christmas Child he has had the opportunity over the past few years to travel and share his story all over the United States with Operation Christmas Child.  The meaning of the gift he received and the meaning of those more than 100 million shoeboxes Operation Christmas Child has distributed all over the world is the same – Jesus loves you.  So simple, yet it is the greatest message we will ever tell.


Renan with his sisters and an MK the day he got his shoebox.


Renan with his mother at home.  He was probably about 12 in this picture.


don Lucio and doña Moncha in 2012.


Renan sharing about Operation Christmas Child on American Family Radio in 2012


Perdomo Family 2012


Renan sharing his story at Samaritan’s Purse staff devotionals in 2013


Ema and Rosa at Operation Christmas Child offices at Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, NC 2013


Ema and Rosa with the shoeboxes they packed in 2013

Thankful Day 19- God's Sovereignty

[Today Jax is thankful for: "the baby" (John)]

Today I am thankful for God's sovereignty.

I am so thankful that the God I worship has power over all! 

I'm most thankful that He rules over my life.

Those who know me (or even just read my blog) know that I'm pretty "Type A" & definitely a planner. As I've tried to plan every little detail of my life, God's plans have overridden most all of them & I have learned that He has far greater plans than I.

Over the past couple of years, I have attempted to make plans in accordance with God's will for our life &, as always, God has given me His BEST for what I thought was better. 

Dustie and I continue to be amazed at how the Lord gives exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. (Eph. 3:20-21)

Thank You Lord for what a blessing it is to know & follow after You. Thank You that You reign over all!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Thankful Day 18- Accessories ;)

[Today Jax is thankful for : roller skates]

Today I am thankful for accessories.

I love how accessories can change the feel of an entire outfit! They can dress it up, dress it down, add a splash of color, & more! I love that accessories are an inexpensive way to simply feel girly & pretty. :)

Thank You Lord for the little extras!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Thankful Day 17- Victory in Jesus!

[Today Jax is thankful for: blankets]

Today I'm thankful that there's victory in Jesus! There is nothing like the assurance of knowing how everything will end & that I am on the winning team! I am more than a conqueror with Christ!! (Romans 8:37)

Spiritual warfare is alive & something we face all day long. I am so thankful to be equipped to stand against any of the enemies schemes!! (Eph. 6:10-20)

Thank You God for being all-powerful & always victorious!!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Thankful Day 16- Family Fun Time

[Today Jax is thankful for: "my dreamlite"]

Today I am thankful for fun time with my family. 

We have had lots of fun moments lately as a family & it's reminded me just how thankful I am for these people that God has blessed me with & made for me.

This weekend we have watched movies, built forts, watched movies FROM said forts, shopped for Operation Christmas Child shoebox goodies, put shoeboxes together, made Thanksgiving treats, D & Jax had guy-time & went to see Thor with other Father/Son friends, John & I had lots of snuggle time.


Here are the Thanksgiving treats we made for Jax's SS class tomorrow. They're skittles in a pretzel bag tied with raffia to look like corn.





Here are my men putting together their OCC shoeboxes. They all did boy boxes & picked their favorite things to put in them. I made a girl box, but no one takes pics of the photographer! (That might be on purpose... ;))


 Once our boxes were assembled, D prayed for the 3 little boys & little girl who will receive them. We pray for their salvation & that through them, many more will come to know Christ. 
[Sidebar: since moving to Petal, I have become good friends with someone whose life was changed directly b/c of OCC. I hope to get her to share her family's story on here! Stay tuned for that testimony!]

These folks who live under my roof are truly my favorite to be around. 

Thank You Father for all the sweet time I get with my men.