Seasons of Opportunities

Well, I am running a little late on Monday's post, but thought I would at least share this picture of the raging creek waters in our back yard. It has been raining "cats and dogs" here for a couple of days. And our creek is really rolling. The following Psalm is an awesome expression of what I think of when I go out and watch it roar.

  Give thanks  to the LORD, for he is good;  his love endures forever. I Chronicles 16:34 This is the last Sunday in November. I hope you have enjoyed this month with an extra focus on Thanksgiving. I know I have!! I pray your grateful heart will continue on into December and even into the new year. A grateful heart is the key to Joy - our theme for December.  I also want to remind you that this is the first Sunday in Advent.  If you are beginning some Advent tradition or reading, this would be the day to start.  I am planning on using the book I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, Ishtar's Odyssey ,  with my kids this Advent season. I am hoping they will like it, look forward to the daily reading, and it will help turn their focus toward Jesus a little more this Christmas season. Have a blessed Lord's Day!  Remember to take time to keep it Holy.

And the WIINER is Rachel!!! Moms have been hoodwinked—tricked into believing lies that keep them from not only enjoying motherhood, but forging friendships with other moms who might tackle the tasks of motherhood differently. Myths such as “Mothering is natural, easy, and instinctive” cause moms to feel like failures if they have questions or apprehensions in raising their kids. Operating from the premise that “The way I mother is the right (and only) way” puts up fences between moms instead of building bridges of encouragement between them. Lies such as “I am my child’s choices” tempt moms to mistakenly believe that if their child makes a wrong choice then they, in turn, must be a bad mom. In their encouraging “we’ve been there” style, Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk enable mothers to:

DRUM ROLL Please........ Oh yeah, Just a second... First, Rachel, from Reader's Cozy Corner , and I want to say a BIG thank- you to all of you who entered the Fun Fall Giveaway! It was a joy to have each and every one of you leave comments on both blogs sharing how God has been faithful in your lives and what your blessings are. I was so encouraged by each and every comment. Thank you so very much and I look forward to having you here again soon! And now for the winners: Learning Journey - winner of the Fun Fall Giveaway pack  - Kitchen Collection and Devotional - Five Minutes with Jesus Melissa Henderson - winner of Max Lucado's book Miracle at Higher Ground Cafe, along with a journal and candle

Psalm 34:8 T aste   and   see  that the  Lord  is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I did!  It was a simple one this year, just us mostly. But it was nice. We cooked, ate, had some fellowship with a few family members for an hour or so, cleaned up, and spent some time playing games with the kids. Then we watched the movie - The Christmas Shoes. One of my favorites but a real tear jerker too! Well, this is the last day to enter our fun fall giveaway   so don't miss it. I can't wait to choose the winners tomorrow. And I am looking forward to a new giveaway for Hoodwinked coming up Saturday, so be sure to check back then.  Oh and yes, I did a little bit of my Christmas shopping online. How nice to not have to be out in the crowded stores tomorrow. Some people enjoy that though. Are you one of those? I prefer to be in my living room, with my family and my coffee and be able to...

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So.... how many of you are ready for Thanksgiving? And do you have and exciting plans? What do you love most about thanksgiving? I love the gathering of friends or family to give thanks, enjoying good food and fellowship together. Is every thanksgiving perfect? No, sometimes family can't come, sometimes we may not feel well, but no matter what the circumstances, if we choose gratitude... our hearts can still find JOY. Because true JOY is a by product of knowing God and choosing thankfulness, not the circumstances that surround us. I hope that is what you are choosing this week, because odds are, the holidays will not be perfect. I would love to hear about your Thanksgiving plans and traditions. Don't forget to enter the giveaway that ends this Friday! Details Here.