I can't believe it's the middle of June!  How'd that happen?  Our family has been busy this summer, first with Vacation Bible School, then coping with summer-colds-turned-sinus infections, and on top of that a computer that caught some fatal virus.  VBS was fun, the infections are clearing up, and the Geek Squad revived our computer for a measly $200.  (At least that was cheaper than a new computer.)  In between all this I'm working on Cassie's quilt top. It's turning out quite cute. I hope to post some pictures soon.

That's all for now. Be blessed!

Wow! I'm not an American Idol watcher. (Not because I think there is anything wrong with it, but because I just don't think about it.) However, it's been brought to my attention that "Shout to the Lord" was performed last week. How incredible is that? Here it is:

To see such a talented group praising the Lord is incredible. I pray it wasn't just their voices, but their hearts as well.

Read the article here. 

The article provides a link to the HSLDA page which provides a place to sign a petition expressing our concerns. 

I made 15 of these. Only eight girls attended, but I just wasn't sure how many to expect. This is a sampling. I was going to make them all the same, but I got bored and started changing this and that. I had so much fun making these. (Can you see why I haven't had time to blog?)

This is my favorite one. I still have it, though I really didn't hold it back on purpose.

Be blessed!

Drewe Llyn

I'll confess that the blue and white quilt came from Walmart. :-(

I am happy and content. 

Yesterday was an awesome day at church.  I received a lot of "happies" for Christmas, and while I certainly know it is not about the gifts, it does warm my heart to receive unexpected ones.  Those are the ones with extra love attached. 

The Cantata was awesome.  So many people stepped out of their comfort zones to sing solos and learn lines that my heart nearly bursts with joy.  It's nearly bursting with love too. Everyone did an incredible job.  They each gave 110%.  Afterwards my choir presented me with flowers and chocolate.  (Doesn't get much better than that. )  Someone commented on how much the choir loved me.  All I can say is that the feeling is truly mutual.  I have so much fun with them. My parents weren't able to come to the Cantata, but some dear friends...nearly family...traveled 2 1/2 hours to see it.  That just made my day.  Speaking of friends, the sanctuary was filled to the seams with friends and family of those in the choir and drama.  And I was afraid few would venture out on the 23rd of December, at night!

And I wasn't prepared for the overwhelming response to the Christmas/prayer boxes.  But oh, it fills me with great joy to know lives were touched by them.  I also gave out a few Christmas Bears this year.  Again, I'm filled with joy knowing someone's Christmas burden is a little lighter because of them.

Last Friday was our Family Christmas Day.  No arguing or complaining.  We had a great time with our adventures.  I racked my brain for the present search this year.  Finally, I decided to do picture clues.  What fun watching the kids run around the house trying to figure out where the next clue was! LOL!  They even said I did well.

Christmas isn't even over, yet I feel blessed beyond measure. 

I'm having tons of trouble formatting a post here.  I FINALLY had it completed, then,  when I clicked "view" it was lost.  I don't have the time nor energy to go through all that trouble again.  So, please, hop over to my other blog to receive my Christmas gift to you.

Mildred's Gift

What's happening in this picture?  I'll make it easy.  This is multiple choice.

(A)  We're going on a major camping trip and decided to take the entire refrigerator.

(B)  I got energetic and decided to deep clean the kitchen.

(C)  I'm looking for hidden Christmas presents.

(D)  We're contestants on Trading Spaces.

(E)  My mother-in-law is coming to visit.  (Though in my case my own mother is more likely to notice dust and dirt.)

(F)  Our refrigerator went out on Thursday, was declared dead on Friday, and is now waiting for transport to its great reward.

Scroll down for the correct answer.

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The answer is..........

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(F) The refrigerator went out on Thursday, was declared dead on Friday, and is currently waiting for transport to its great reward. 

A new one was purchased last night with promised delivery this morning.  The delivery man arrived around 4:00....PM not AM!  He arrived with the WRONG refrigerator!  All our cold food is in ice chests.  (I'm having flash backs to Katrina.)  However, there is no great loss without some small gain.  I choose to count my blessings.

1.  It is now clean behind my refrigerator.

2.  It is now clean underneath my couch and recliner.  (Had to move them to move out the old and bring in the new.)

3.  This happened before I bought groceries so I didn't lose too much when it went out.

4.  This didn't happen next weekend when my cookie swap takes place.

5.  I'll miss the Florence parade because we're waiting for the delivery to return and then I'll have to put everything that's in the ice chests in the refrigerator and clean up my kitchen.  (I've been to the local Christmas parade for the last 5 years.  I think I can handle missing this year.  Oh the joys of having a daughter with her driver's license!)

You should know something about me...I love chocolate!  When someone does something good I often say, "You deserve a Hershey's kiss.  Of course I don't have any because if I did, I'd eat them."  Well, one Sunday at choir practice I asked if anyone had listened to the choir music on their CD that week.  To those who raised their hands I said, "You deserve a Hershey's Kiss.  Of course.... (You get the picture.)"  The next Sunday I actually brought some kisses and tossed them to those who had practiced during the week.  The next week, before practice began, someone said, "I listened to my CD this week!  Where's the chocolate?!?!"  I haven't missed a week since.  The choir has grown  (by the grace of God), but I often joke and say, "My choir will sing for chocolate!"

Bear with me...

A little over a week ago our homeschool group went to Harry the Potter. (Don't leave me Harry Potter comments.  This place has nothing to with sorcery or books, it's just the name of a ceramic/pottery shop.)  All my creativity left me as I saw all those blank, ceramic surfaces longing to become beautiful works of art.  I finally chose a mug, because I love mugs. (Especially ones filled with hot chocolate or French vanilla cappuccino!)  Perhaps it was the thought of a chocolate delight, but I did manage to come up with something I think turned out quite cute. 

Drum roll please.....................

Now I'm afraid to use it!  I don't want it to break!

I don't know why I wait until I have something profound to say...(Well, perhaps "profound" is a little strong :-) at least something I consider worthwhile to say) before blogging.  Some of my favorite blogging posts to read are those that just give a glimpse into people's lives.  With that in mind, I don't promise to do better, but I'll try. 

I'd really like to post pictures of my favorite ornaments and/or Christmas decorations.  The house is nearly completely decorated.  I wanted to get it done ASAP because I plan to host a cookie swap here for our church ladies on December 7th. 

I'll just confess here, the last time I took one of those spiritual inventory test thingies, I scored lowest in hospitality!!  How does that sound coming from a resident of the Hospitality State??? Oh, and God does have a sense of humor.  Remember that foreign country we went to as missionaries for two years?  Guess what they value.....hospitality!  Those folks put me to shame!  Now, it's not that I don't love people or that I don't love having them over. My problem is that the whole thing totally stresses me out.  Cleaning the house, making sure every thing is in place, planning food, etc is hard for me.  Then I worry that people won't have a good time.  I asked the ladies at church to please let me know if they plan to attend so I can let everyone know how many cookies to bring.  So far five people have signed up....DD16, DD12, a mother and daughter from the church, and myself.  Do you think they all know hospitality isn't my gift and they're afraid to come?  I'd think they'd want to come just to see how it turns out! LOL!

I'll keep you posted.

While some of David's men may have taken credit for the victory against the Amalekites, David clearly realizes that it was God who handed over their enemy. He also realizes that each man had a different role to play. Some went into battle, but some needed to watch the supplies. It was the "evil men" and "trouble makers" who didn't have sympathy for those in need.

I'm making lots of cool boxes for Christmas this year.  (Click here to read more.)  Now I will tell you what I plan to put in each one. 

WARNING:  IF A MEMBER OF MY CHOIR IS READING THIS, STOP NOW OR THE SURPRISE WILL BE RUINED FOR YOU!

Our church has an awesome choir that I am tremendously blessed to direct.  Here is a picture of them after our patriotic musical.  (The children were flag bearers.)

I want to give each of these special people a gift for Christmas, but, as you can see, it could be quite expensive to buy so many gifts. So I'm going to give them the gift of prayer.  Here's how it works.  I flipped through my Bible and gathered together some Scriptures I wanted to pray.  I typed them up turning them into prayers using each person's name.  For example:

God,

Please don’t allow _____________ to walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But let her delight be in the law of the LORD. May she meditate on it day and night becoming like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in season and whose leave does not wither. May whatever she does prosper.

Amen  (Based on Psalm 1:1-3)

Dear ________________,

Inside this box all tucked away

Are prayers I prayed for you today.

I went before God’s throne of grace

Seeking out the Father’s face

For mercy, joy, guidance, peace,

For blessings that will never cease,

Protection as you go your way

And strength enough to meet each day.

For zeal to always live for Him

And never let your light grow dim.

I pray you’ll always know it’s true

God’s loving hands are holding you.

Inside this box all tucked away

Are prayers I prayed for you today.

May this gift remind you of

The Father’s ever present love.

(c) 2007 Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat

Love,

Drewe Llyn

Date I prayed for you:

Then I date it and add it to the box. 

Here is a list of Scriptures I used:

Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 51:1-2, Romans 15:13, 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17, Ephesians 1:17-19, Ephesians 3:16-19, Psalm 91, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 1:1-3, Pslam 19:14, Psalm 20:1-5, Philippians 4:4-8, 13 & 19, Numbers 6:24-26, and for those with children Deuteronomy 5:6-7.

I'm also including a short, handwritten, more personal prayer.

If anyone would like to use this idea along with the poem, feel free.  I only ask that you include the copyright information with the poem.

Be blessed! 

Well, since I was giving away a Christmas goodie, the Christmas spirit hit me so I decided to give two "Heartprints for Christmas" away instead of one.  The winners are:

Laaneworld and Libertystarfarm

Congratulations!

Update:  Instead of drawing tonight, I'll draw tomorrow, November 4th.  Today is the last day, so that means you may still enter until midnight tonight!  Don't forget to leave me some kind of contact information.  Good luck!

***Click on the logo for more info.PLEASE NOTE: The Fall, Y'all! Giveaway is for bloggers only. Companies interested in participating may do so only if they have their own blog and can host the giveaway from there.

I've entered lots of give-a-ways, but I've never hosted my own.  So, here I go!

Leave a comment  with your favorite thing about the Christmas season.  (You can be brief using just one word such as "candles", "caroling", "presents", "special church services", etc.)  I'll put all names in a bowl or something and draw one out.  I must ask only contiguous U.S. residents to enter.  I almost forgot to mention the prize!  Last year I collected all the Christmas stories, poems, and the like that I've written over the years.  I enter mingled them with my favorite Christmas read-a-louds, and recollections to create a 124 page hodge podge of Christmas goodies.  Included is my story "Struck by Lightening" which was a runner up in the Homeschool Blogger writers' contest last year. 

I'll draw a winner on November 3rd and post the winner here.  Please check back on the 3rd.  If I can't get in touch with the winner I'll have to draw another name.

Good luck!