Abundant Blessings; Tears of Joy

I sit, fingers poised over my keyboard, unsure of how to truly put into words the joy and hope I have. I type a few things, then delete them, not feeling that I am expressing myself correctly.

I live a life full of blessings. My cup constantly runneth over. Is my life perfect? No! Am I perfect? Not even close! But Love is in my heart. God *is* Love! He is the perfect Love. And He makes me joyful. I find extreme joy in the little things...and there are always lots of sweet, easily-missed-if-you-don't-take-mental-record-this-very-moment things going on around *each* one of us.

Last night, after an evening visiting with my grandma, sister and some friends and Madelyn returning home from Massachusetts....I just felt overwhelmed and cried. I cried tears of joy. My heart was overflowing with so much joy that I couldn't hold it in. I am so blessed. Life is hard, times are hard, things are imperfect...but if you pull back the curtain of *life* and let God hold those curtains open for you...you have the chance to peek through. Look at the things around you that are easily taken for granted...a gentle hug from someone you love; a breeze, outside, carrying the fragrance of spring flowers through the air; the laughter of children; freshly cut grass; bread baking in the oven; the sun warming your face as you step out from inside; loving encouragement from a friend; playing and laughing with the one you love; cool, clean water as you wash your hands after gardening outside.....the list is really endless. The key is *choosing* to see past the hardships and viewing the blessings that God *has* poured out on you.

I know sometimes, times are so difficult, you don't think you can see anything but the pain. I know the hurt, grief and frustration that can be felt when bad things happen. It's difficult to go through the hard times in our seasons of life. There *is* a time for everything. God said it. So know...if you are struggling with a difficult time, He is there to carry your burden. He will love you and comfort you. And know that He "makes everything beautiful in its time"......

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 (emphasis mine)

I awoke, yesterday morning, early...as I always do. I came downstairs and in the schoolroom....I noticed this:

Chris and I have been trying to instill in the hearts and minds of our children the importance of working hard, doing things cheerfully and without complaining. Chris wrote the above verses on the board the previous night...as a way to encourage our children. In actuality, he encouraged me! Seeing my husband use God's words to encourage our children makes my heart glad! :)

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was doing housework and encouraged the boys to go outside to play! They did, some, but also told me that they wanted to be near to their mama...so they went and got some crayons and paper to sit in the dining room and color so they could be "near me". I thought my heart would burst! I would go in, from time to time and compliment their drawings and try to encourage them. Although when I complimented one....the other thought he *needed* to draw the same thing too. Jaxson drew a butterfly....so X drew a butterfly. X drew a tractor...so Jaxson drew a tractor! ;)

Bread baked on Wednesday....one loaf almost fully enjoyed and another wrapped up, waiting to be sliced, covered in butter or jelly and savored! :)

My knitting basket....I am slowly but surely still working on the afghan for my sister. I have 6 squares done (out of 20). I need to get busy on it...but it is a lot harder to find the time to work on it when the weather is so beautiful out!

And, I find it sweetly amusing. Jaxson told me numerous times yesterday that he was *not* tired and wasn't going to "rest his eyes" during rest time. I told him that was fine...I just wanted him to lay down for a bit. He didn't *have* to close his eyes. I even let him read a book for a bit. After a few minutes of looking through the book, he shut it and set it aside....he laid his little head down and attempted to fight off the exhaustion that was trying to overtake him! Within a minute or two, after setting down the book, he was out! He enjoyed a restful nap! :) **After he awoke...he smiled and informed me that he had *NOT* taken a nap! ;) He didn't realize that I had the pictures to prove that he did! ;o)


A few areas of my home that I wanted to share, before I go, that bring me joy.....

Above, a look into my dining room as the sun rises. It is what I see in the morning as I sit in the living room during my quiet time with God. :)

My kitchen sink...where I spend lots of time! Dishes are washed, drying and soon ready to be put away. :)

And a few cheerful areas in my bathroom. Decorated in a Mary Engelbreit theme. :)

I love walking in, a burst of cheer jumps out at you, as soon as you open the door! :)

I hope you have a good weekend! I appreciate you stopping by...and I pray that I have expressed my joy in a way that maybe you can take some with you. Knowing God and His love provides us with a joy that is best felt...rather than just expressed. I hope you feel it too! I will leave you with this beautiful psalm.......

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

~Psalm 84