Happy bithday Jess!!!

"If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child."   ~Linda Sunshine

"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.  She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child."  ~Barbara Alpert

"I smile because you are my sister, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it!"   ~ Author Unknown

"To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each others hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time."  ~Clara Ortega

"Sisters don't need words.  They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief.  Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling."  ~Pam Brown

"In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips." ~Author Unknown

"Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply..."

 ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

"A ministering angel shall my sister be."

~William Shakespeare

Happy 19th Birthday Jessica!!!!

"There is no better friend than a sister.  
And there is no better sister than you."  
~Author Unknown

In which I come up with a book list

I have been encouraged by several friends to get a book list for the year.
I realize it's almost February, however I must start somewhere!

Justification and Regeneration - Charles Leiter

The Family - J.W. Alexander

Assumptions That Affect Our Lives - Christian Overman

The Bondage of the Will - Martin Luther

Revolt Against Maturity - Rushdoony 

Lex Rex - Samuel Rutherford

Economics in One Lesson - Henry Hazlitt

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God - Jenny Chancey and Stacy McDonald

Rebels Keep - Douglas Bond



The Road to Serfdom - Friedrich von Hayek

The Real Lincoln - Thomas DiLorenzo

Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens

Pollyanna Grows Up - Eleanor Porter

So Much More - Ana Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin


*Things I am currently reading are in italic

Most of these are must reads. That really doesn't sound like a lot, but I am sure that I will be reading more that aren't on here. :-)

My Goals

For those of you who don't know me that well, I am a terrible writer.
There, I said it!  ;-)
For a while, I really didn't have goal for this blog. It was kinda just there for me to post things I found interesting.
So now I would like to put down on "pen and paper" my goals for this blog.

1. To learn how to express myself intelligently. I have the outstanding tendency to say what I didn't mean, and leave unsaid the very thing I meant to say (while at the same time turning the listener in so many circles they bewilderingly to ask about the weather...).
2. To be encouraging to those who read. To date, I have just "been here". Not encouraging in anything bad, per say, but then again, not encouraging in anything good. I have recently come to the understanding that NOTHING is neutral. So even though I haven't shared "bad" things on this blog, just not being bad doesn't make it good.

With that being said, I pray that whom ever stops by in the future, will be challenged to higher things!
To God Alone Be the Glory!

I've been Awarded!!

A while back my dear friend Mallory awarded me the  Favorite blog award and I am just now getting around to posting about it! (Sorry Mallory!)

This award includes a tag as well:

            1. Do a post about the person who awarded you, and their blog.

            2. Give an award to 5 of your favorite blogs, give a reason, and leave a comment telling them why they have been rewarded

            3.Give us ten scripture verses/passages that are especially dear to you

            4. Have fun!

Mallory: I met Mallory 3-4 years ago but it wasn't till the last year that I really got to know her. I am so thankful that God brought our families together! It has been such an amazing path!!! I am very grateful for the encouraging friend Mallory has come to mean to me. Love you Mal!!!

 

As to the awarding other people...

I have only chosen 1 or 2 that people since most of the people I know have already been awarded!

I would like to award Jessica Lima at Jessica's corner... 

Jess is a very dear friend of mine. She is currently expecting her first and I am SOOOO Happy for her!!!

 

I would Love to award Jeni but alas she used to have a blog which is no more... But I did want to mention her because while it lasted I was greatly encouraged by it.

 

I would also like to award Jessica and Jeni's sister Janalee at Jana's Jubilance.

Right now Jana is at collage so I realize that she won't be able to post but I still wanted to award her and let her know how much I love her!

And who ever else would like to join in is most welcome to!

Now to my favorite scripture passages!!

A big one that has greatly impacted my life would be;

Romans 12:1-2

 ¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
 ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 11:33-36
 ³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
 ³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
 ³⁵Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
 ³⁶For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

1 Peter 1:18-19

 ¹⁸Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
 ¹⁹But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
 ²⁰Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
 ²¹Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.


Now this next one is rather long, but I love it because it deals with the consequences of unbelief as well as how we can enter into rest.


 Hebrews chapter 4

 ¹Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
 ²For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
 ³For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
 ⁴For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
 ⁵And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
 ⁶Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
 ⁷Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
 ⁸For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
 ⁹There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
 ¹⁰For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
 ¹¹Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
 ¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
 ¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
 ¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
 ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
 ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.


Deuteronomy 6:1-13
¹Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
 ²That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
 ³Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
 ⁴Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
 ⁵And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
 ⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 ⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
 ⁸And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
 ⁹And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
 ¹⁰And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
 ¹¹And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
 ¹²Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
 ¹³Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Psalms 127:1
¹Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalms 37 :23-24
 ²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
 ²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

 Psalms 119:9-16
 ⁹Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
 ¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
 ¹¹Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
 ¹²Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
 ¹³With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
 ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
 ¹⁵I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
 ¹⁶I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

 Proverbs 2:1-15
 ¹My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
 ²So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
 ³Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
 ⁴If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
 ⁵Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
 ⁶For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
 ⁷He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
 ⁸He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
 ⁹Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
 ¹⁰When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
 ¹¹Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
 ¹²To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
 ¹³Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
 ¹⁴Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
 ¹⁵Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

 Proverbs 8:32-36 (speaking of Wisdom)
³²Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
 ³³Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
 ³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
 ³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

 ³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

FF Challenge: day five

Yesterday we went ice-skating so I needed to wear something I could easily skate in and not be afraid of it coming up if (or should I say when ;-) I fell. So I decided to wear a paisley shirt, brown skirt, and my boots.

(Did I happen to mention I LOVE my boots?!)

FF Challenge: day three

I decided to match with Jessica and wear the tiered skirt she made me, along with a white shirt.
Since it was a day around the house I wore my favorite flip-flops from Brazil.

FF Challenge: day two

For the Lords day I wore a brown skirt, white shirt, and my faithful black boots. :)

Since my hair was curly (because of being braided yesterday) I pulled it back loosely and left the rest down.