Happy Thanksgiving

I’m Thankful for You
Thanksgiving is the appointed timefor focusing on the good in our lives.In each of our days,we can find small blessings,but too often we overlook them,choosing instead to spend our timepaying attention to problems.We give our energyto those who cause us troubleinstead of those who bring peace.Starting now,let’s be on the lookoutfor the bits of pleasure in each hour,and appreciate the people whobring love and light to everyonewho is blessed to know them.You are one of those people.On Thanksgiving,I’m thankful for you.Happy Thanksgiving!
By Joanna Fuchs

Nicholas Landon Jewelry giveaway

Visit http://nicholaslandonjewelry.blogspot.com/ to enter

we are giving away ONE of our nautical code necklaces to celebrate our new store!
here's how to enter,
1-first entry, leave a comment of a neat way that you celebrate the Thanksgiving season or share a sweet blessing that you have received.

2-second entry, blog about the thanks-give-away…

3-third entry, follow as a treasure...

...thanks-give-away will end at midnight on November 25th...and is open to the world!
...everyone has a place that they treasure in their heart…perhaps the location of a wedding, a proposal, favorite vacation, birth of a child or homeland…now you can wear that treasured place close to your heart in nautical code…so it can remain as special and unique as you remember it…

Book Review- The Noticer

I just finished reading a fantastic book I want to recommend to all of you. Its called The Noticer, by Andy Andrews. Andrews does a fantastic job of interspersing real life advice through this story of an older gentleman named Jones...not Mr. Jones, just Jones. Jones makes his way through Orange Beach, Alabama, showing up unexpectedly when people seem to need him most. His kind words and practical advice fix many problems, including saving marriages, getting homeless young guys moving toward a positive future, and helping a dying man to make peace with his life. It was a great book, a fast and easy read...but with very good advice about dealing with people. Jones reminds us that our circumstances are a matter of perspective...we be down and out, or we can see the challenges we are facing as the valley we walk through before we climb the next mountain.

The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective by Andy Andrews soon to be published by Thomas Nelson is a quick read that packs a powerful punch. I had not heard of or read anything else by Andy Andrews, but it will not be long before I read more of his books.

Packed within the pages that tell the stories of these characters are some thought provoking one-liners. Andrews uses the characters to reveal these one-line truths about life and the perspective we should all have. A few quotes that were most memorable to me included: * Worry... fear... is just a misuse of the creative imagination that has been placed in each of us. * Remember, whatever you focus on increases. * Many of life's treasures remain hidden from us simply because we never search for them.

Once you pick it up you won't be putting it down. - go get it today!

Wordless Wednesday

How God used Craigslist

Since Aaron has outgrown alot of his stuff we have been selling things on Craigslist.
Julia's old toddler bed has been sitting in our garage for over a year and Marco decided hey we should post that to- so he snapped some shots and i posted it. Within minutes I had 2 people emailing me about it. I told the person who emailed 2nd that someone emailed right before her and I would let her know if he took it.

Well I felt that I really needed to let her have the bed. so I waited for 45 minutes and when the person didn't respond I emailed her and we set up a time for her to get it Sunday.

Sunday her and her family (husband and kids)show up... She said her daughter just started climbing out of her crib and she said it was strange she really felt God leading her to go look at Craigslist so she did and there was my post. She said "God is so amazing- this is such a blessing"

Now ok- we hadn't talked about God- she didn't know I was a Christian and walking.

Next I felt this overwhelming reminder of - "oh I have sheets and a comforter for that bed also"
The bed is a disney princess bed and the sheets/comforter Disney Princess. She said we have to pay you for them- I said No - No you don't - it's just another blessing.

That just made my day- how God orchestrated all that and how we were able to bless a family during this economy and he just showed them how much he loves them.

God uses all things for Good.

Fall is Here

There is a certain excitment in the air when you know fall has arrived.
Things start changing, colors POP, there is a shift in how we act.
I have noticed people start pulling things in closer to home, preparing to hibernate for the winter months. Nothing like spring and summer where windows come flying open and everything is set free. Just make sure everything is back by Sept...... for FALL!

Can't wait to visit the pumpkin patches- harvest festivals.

What is a favorite fall memory- is it the smells, the flavors, your favorite coffee comes out, the kids in school, pumpkins, jumping in the leaves, puddle jumping.

HOPE

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.[1] Hopefulness is somewhat different from optimism in that hope is an emotional state, whereas optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude.
When used in a religious context, hope carries a connotation of being aware of what Christians see as spiritual truth; see Hope (virtue). In Christian theology, hope is one of the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and love[2]), which are spiritual gifts of God. In contrast to the above, it is not a physical emotion but a spiritual grace. Hope is distinct from positive thinking, which refers to a therapeutic or systematic process used in psychology for reversing pessimism. The term false hope refers to a hope based entirely around a fantasy or an extremely unlikely outcome.
In some religious contexts hope changes from being a verb to a noun. For instance, when Christians say they have hope in God they are not saying they hope God will give them good things and make their lives happier but that God is in fact, their hope.

That is what the WIKI says about Hope.

The past week Hope has been a theme that has played over and over again. Either a song, scripture, a show, a devotion.. the word Hope is what remains constant. In the past it has been Faith, Grace, Mercy, trust but not this time. So I wonder what is Hope and what does it look like, Feel and how do we have Hope when we struggle.

I always thought I needed to have Faith in God and my walk with him but I am finding I need to have Hope.