Hope you are having a safe enjoyable weekend celebrating the fabulous country which affords us the freedom to live life as we see it. May it ever be so!
Looking back over the last week, I realize what a whirlwind of activity and blessings I've had!
1. Last Saturday was filled with fun activities. Elissa and Malia went with me to yard sales all morning, followed by choir practice. Then in the evening, we met friends, Wayne and Glenda, to go to Kentucky to hear Jeff and Sheri Easter.
Y'all!
Words fail me when trying to describe the experience. The church was a small Baptist church surrounded by corn fields. These were my kind of folk!
Somebody must have prayed through before the concert. The moment we entered the door, the presence of the Holy Spirit fell on us. I don't know how to describe it other than that. The church was filled with "good ole country folk," and we just felt comfortable there. The Pastor was a bible thumper who didn't need a microphone to tell us how he was "12 years clean from alcohol and drugs." You could feel sincerity in his words as tears traced down his cheeks. The song leader was an older gentleman with a cane who was dressed in crocs and shorts and a tee but who sang with heartfelt conviction with his eyes lifted to the heavens the whole time.
Jeff and Sheri were wonderful, as always. I've seen them in concert several times and always leave feeling blessed. If you ever get an opportunity to hear them, by all means, go! Something that happened this time that touched my heart was this: Before the concert, Jeff had met a young blind woman that had some sort of physical challenge. She told Jeff that her dream was to sing her favorite Sheri Easter song with Sheri. So later in the evening, Jeff had the girl come up and sing with Sheri. The girl knew every word to the song and sang with all her heart. I was a basket case watching it. I was reminded of my blessings and wondered if I gave the Lord as much praise as this blind girl did ...
The evening was just totally spiritually uplifting - my very favorite kind of highlight of the week.
Now, a few mundane highlights:
2. I've now lost a total of 12 lbs. Far from my goal, yet a significant start, so I'm excited. I also had a friend tell me this week that she could actually see some weight loss in my face. Yay!
3. There is a certain type of short sleeve cardi made out of a certain material that I've been looking for at least five years. I found it this week! It's the little things, y'all!
4. Quote of the week:
Randy Alcorn @randyalcornWe need to manage our time, not to fill it with more busyness, but to enjoy what’s important: the Lord, and people He puts in our lives.… seen on twitter
5. Road trip!
Since I had July 4th off, we took Thursday as an opportunity to hit the road. Deciding to go back to Kentucky, we googled names of lakes in Ballard County. We then loaded up the van and the GPS and hit the road. Some time later we found ourselves in rural Kentucky near a muddy lake perfect for fishermen:
On the way there, we saw a picturesque little white church and big old weathered barn:
Since we don't fish, we decided to press on to Kentucky Dam Village.
We put our chairs under one of these shady trees and relaxed. A cool refreshing breeze blew all day. We had sweet tea and bag full of grapes. What more did we need?
We watched all kinds of boats ....
and passengers ....
After awhile, we decided to leave and head to a fireworks display up in Illinois.
As we drove across the Kentucky bridge, God made His own display in the sky ...
I spent a lot of time trying to capture fireworks on my camera. This was very difficult to do! I need a camera with quicker shutter speed, I think. Anyway, I do like this picture. It reminds me of a giant dandelion gone to seed. One quick puff of wind and it's all gone ....
And thus ends another week on the Journey! How was your week? If you'd like to share, you can link up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.
I've heard a lot of good things about the Easter's. I'm so glad you had a uplifting and Spirit filled time.
ReplyDeleteI cannot get consistent with exercise,I guess chasing the boys around and doing other things. I would like to loose at 15 lbs. Yay for you loosing some!
I really like Randy Alcorn!
The road trip sounds relaxing and love all the pictures you shared.
Sounds like a wonderful 4th!
ReplyDeleteI thought I knew just about every Christian singer but I've never heard of this couple!! I am so glad the Lord was in that place....I love when the Spirit moves like that!! And that lake Big Turner Lake!! Awesome (my married last name is Turner :) )It sounds like your week was perfect....i loved all of your photos, too! Have a blessed weekend
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat experience in #1!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on losing 12 lbs.!
I know what you mean about looking for a certain thing for five years - how neat to finally find it!
Sounds like you've had a truly wonderful time both at the concert and on Independence Day. Sounds like a week in heaven.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice week you had. Yard sales are fun. I enjoy them too. A church surrounded by corn fields is my kind of church though I'm not seeing one these days and haven't in the last 15 years or so but your mention of such church sent me dreaming about that. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteHazel
What a pretty spot for a little picnic. It seems like you had a great week.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I have not been to a good old fashioned church meeting like that in a long time. Sounds like it was a wonderful time in the presence of God!
ReplyDeleteYay, for your weight loss! That is wonderful. Keep plugging away, you are an encouragement!
We have had many a discussion on the very topic of your quote. Our society is very much about busyness and it definitely tries to creep into the church too. So agree with Randy Alcorn about managing our time to enjoy what God puts before us.
Your photo of the dog is a good illustration of your quote. He sure looked like he was already to jump onto the shore and NOT enjoying the moment. So like me lots of times (not enjoying the moment).
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your faithfulness to your health and weight loss.
I love it when I find lost items. So glad it was lost and not discarded!
Sounds like a mountaintop kind of weekend! Those are important. They build us up to carry us through the lean times.
ReplyDelete12 lbs may be far from your goal, but it is a significant step in the right direction. I read the 12 lbs and wished I could say the same myself. Just remember, slow and steady wins the race.