Have you counted your blessings?

I'm playing the piano for a Christmas program in a few weeks, and at the practices, one of the songs in the line up is called "I Fall to Sleep Counting my Blessings" or something like that.  It is one of the sweetest songs ever, and the young man singing this song, sings it better than Bing himself.  True story.
But, have you counted your blessings?  Or are you counting your troubles, woes, trials of life, and miseries?  Everybody on earth has their own battles they're fighting, and if you fought them from faith instead of in the natural, you'd be an overcomer and a champion!!  (Read Mark Hankins book "In Christ"!)  You do not have to live as a down and depressed human being.  God did not create you for that!  The Bible says to "Rejoice in the Lord always"!!!  Why aren't you rejoicing then if the Bible says to do it? Philippians 4 - check it out.
Sometimes it is so easy to get distracted by the things of this world, the bills, the money - or as my pastor, Pastor Carl Benton says it so eloquently, LOL, "We all have 'opportunities'(to trust and believe in God) when the paycheck comes in and there's more month than money!" Or your kids aren't acting right, and trying to leave God out of their lives, or you have that one co worker that drives you insane, or your spouse isn't living right and is making life unbearable, or you're so alone you're depressed and lonely. Maybe your health is failing, and your worried.  Just STOP.
Count your blessings!  Your immediate thought was "I don't have any blessings".  Yes, you do!
Did you eat? If not, I can hook you up!!
Did you sleep in a bed with a blanket last night?  Did you watch tv today? Did you read? Did you take a bath/shower and have a toothbrush to brush your teeth with?  Do you have a roof over your head?  Food on your table?  We have so many blessings, but many times we choose - we make a decision - we set our minds on - what we dwell on and choose to dwell on - are the bad/negative things.  Yes, those times come, but what you do with it says a lot about you!!  You can dwell on the negative, or dwell on the Word of God!!!
I am so blessed.  I have a husband who loves me (even when I look like Witch Hazel in the mornings - or act like her! LOL
I have had 6 precious children!  They bring such joy to my heart and my life. I see such potential in each one of them.  Isaac has reached his max potential though, as he went to Heaven already!  I have this blessed HOPE!!!
I have a house to live in.  It's warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and I am grateful for it.
We have clothes to wear, we have food to eat, and we have a few luxuries.  I am thankful for each one!
It's your decision to make.  Count the sheep or the Blessings?  I choose Blessings!!

Click this link and listen to this precious little song!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qmMaPTuTEE

Thanksgiving 2017

I have had such a lovely Thanksgiving Day with my precious family.
I didn't get any pictures! LOL
But feeling so very blessed this day after Thanksgiving!  Looking forward to my daughter, Destiny's, birthday!!  Hopefully we'll get plenty of pictures of her celebration around December 6th!!

Peace on Earth and good will towards men...

Tonight was "date night".

Every Friday night, our adult daughters, one or the other, babysits for us, and John and I hit the town!

Tonight was so fun!  John came home from work around noon.

We got the boys some of their favorite fast foods, came home, took a nap, and then John and I left.

We went to Olive Garden for supper.  It was good, and the service was really good.

I had eggplant parmigiana (sp?), and Zuppa Tuscana soup.  John had plain old spaghetti and meatballs! LOL  He enjoys the salad so much.  I enjoy the green peppers and olives out of the salad the most.  

Then we went to Hobby Lobby so I could get some fabric.    Then we went to Dillards so we could see Lydia.  John spoiled me tonight though.  I fell in love with one of the holiday dish sets. Oh my. So elegant and beautiful!

After Dillards, we went to Barnes and Nobles where we found my niece's books she's written.

You need to go to Barnes and Nobles and get your children these books!

They'd make excellent Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, or even "just because I love you" gifts!

http://www.thetinytraveler.com/

And the Young Historians series.

There's nothing like walking into the local B&N store, and finding your niece's books!  I would like to see our B&N get The Tiny Traveler series in.  I looked and looked, but didn't find them.

If you'd like to order them, just go to

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

and do a "search" for these books.

Your babies, grandbabies, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, church friends all needs to have copies of these books in their personal home libraries!  :)

It's been a fun day.  I hope your day has been good.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner....

and I am so excited about it!!!

Thanksgiving is next week! It's so hard to believe the Holidays are HERE.

I've been sewing Christmas stockings for the family.  I got more fabric from Hobby Lobby tonight to finish that project.  I also need to make a Christmas tree skirt.

Lydia and I might make a few more Christmas ornaments for the tree.

Plus finishing homeschooling for this week so we can take next week off.  Cleaning.  I mean C L E A N I N G!  Then getting all that laundry done.

Have you compiled your Thanksgiving menu yet?  I have.

Turkey and dressing

ham

giblet gravy

mashed taters

broccoli/rice casserole

green bean casserole

rolls

green stuff (it's pistachio pudding with stuff in it LOL)

chocolate pie

plain chocolate cake

and whatever other desserts they...THEY...all want! LOL

Then we'll go deep into our turkey coma for a few hours.

Then who knows.....Can't wait!

I love this time of year!

Hark the Harold Angels Sing...

The angels didn't just sing praises to and about Jesus that one night so long ago.
They've never stopped. 
We shouldn't stop worshipping and praising our Savior.
Not a day should go by that you're not loving on Jesus.
He's done so much for us, and He. is. so. good.

The Holiday Barn: To sew or not to sew

The Holiday Barn: To sew or not to sew: Well, I will wait to sew until my sweet Lydia gets off work. This evening at 6:00 PM. That is a long time to wait, but I'm sure I will ...

To sew or not to sew

Well, I will wait to sew until my sweet Lydia gets off work. This evening at 6:00 PM.
That is a long time to wait, but I'm sure I will be able to fill my hours with plenty to do.
I have plenty of school to do,
I have plenty of laundry to do,
I have plenty of Cinderella duties to DO.
I have plenty to do, but I just want to sew! LOL

My current sewing projects are (but aren't limited to)  Christmas stockings for our family.
The ones we've had are years and years old, and when I washed them, they started falling a part.
So this year, I am making everyone their favorite character stockings.
John's is to be determined.  Does he want a camo stocking? A fishing themed stocking? Star Wars?
John-Andrew's stocking will be Star Wars themed. 
Lydia is making her own, and I will let her share what her theme is for her stocking.
Nathan's stocking is his favorite gaming character, Sonic the Hedgehog.
Hagin's stocking is Star Wars.  He. is. stoked.
Mine would be a sewing themed fabric if I could FIND sewing themed fabric that wasn't over $10 per yard.  But, I'm still looking.  I need to just go to Joann's and look.  Hobby Lobby didn't yield the coveted fabric. 

Are you sewing? What's "under your needle" currently?

Dear Sutherland Springs, TX -

Our hearts go out to you.
Just know there are people that really care about you and all you've been through on this day.
Hugs and prayers...

I never thought this would be me....

I am now a coffee drinker.  Let me rephrase this.  I am now a hooked coffee drinker, like a fish that has swallowed the hook down it's throat hooked. Yes. Me.
How did this even happen?  I know how it happened.  John Reddoch, the man I married and had 6 kids with, got some bulletproof coffee.  The real deal.  I tried it once and was HOOKED!!!
I can even drink Folgers now.  BUT - I don't add sugar.  I put SweetLeaf (that is stevia for those of you scratching your heads over that), heavy cream from the farmers market (its been slightly pasteurized but not all the way), a tsp of MCT oil, and a tsp and a few drips of sugar free salted caramel extract.  Lord have mercy it's so good and I think about this coffee before going to bed at night, and then upon arising from bed.  That coffee is the first thing on my tastebud brains.
Then sweet bliss once it touches these lips. hahaha
It's also delicious with a TABLESPOON of butter, and a TABLESPOON of coconut oil.  Then I flavor it sometimes with pumpkin spice extract.  You have no idea the yummy goodness until you try it.  I sometimes let it cool down a little and then put it in my ninja to mix it really extra well.
Either way - b l i s s.

Hey all yall!!

Just wanted to remind you that there are only 52 more days until Christmas!!
Has anyone started their Christmas shopping? I've got a few gifts on my radar!

52 more days people!