Friendship Friday!

Thank God for Friendship!!

God created us to be in relationships with others 

and with Him.

 We visited our friends Gordon and Lynn this last week in Paso Robles.

Here is Gordon while we visited Cayucos Beach.

This is Lynn, his wife and I.

We have know Gordon and Lynn for about 10 years. 

We lived next door to them for about 4 years and became good friends.

Their children are about my age 

and 

their grandchildren are about the same age as my children.

When we first moved next door to them,

Gordon wasn't the most approachable.

He'd sit in his garage, with a cigarette and a cup of coffee and 
watch the neighbors come and go.

One day, as my little ones got out of the car, they ran over to him as he was sitting there.

I thought, "Uh oh- gulp".
I wasn't quite ready to meet our new neighbor.

As I approached his garage, with my kids playing with anything they could find in there, 

he got up from his chair and walked into the house.

"Come on, you guys", 

I said to the kids, so we could get out of there before he was angered or upset.

But before I could gather the two little ones,

Gordon walked out with one hand in a fist.

He wasn't smiling, 
but I was.

(nervously)

"Oh my gosh. Am I in trouble!",

I thought.

He came closer and opened his large hand towards me

and in it...

were 4 gummy bears!

He asked me if he could give them to the kids 

and

we have been great friends ever since.

I speak on "Friendship"occasionally, and I talk about Gordon and Lynn,

but mostly Gordon.

It would have been easy to keep waving and walking,

never stopping to chat,

engage,

or

exchange a word of two,

as

that's what most of us do.

What would a 60-something, retired, wood-floor-laying man

want

with a

30-something, retired-teacher, new-mom-of-two?

Friendship!

We LOVE this couple and their families 

and make an effort to visit them every year.

They have shared their wisdom, guidance, support, love, honesty, 

fun & a lot of laughs!

Proverbs 17:17 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (NIV)

It would have been easy for me to have not risked 

and

kept my distance, 

but I am 

SO GLAD

that I didn't.

I count each one of my friendships as blessings-
every single one of them.

What about you?

Is there a friendship in your life that came as a surprise to you?

Have a FUNtastic Friday!

"

Yay, Friendship Friday!

I hope you have been having a FABULOUS week!

Today's Post is dedicated to all of our animal friends, 

especially to KOBE

who is my Aunty's golden lab,

who's a little sick right now, but we are praying that he will be healed

so he can get back to working 

with the elderly to 

offer lots of Licks (kisses)

and lots of

LOVE,

and Ele,
who my friend Dean M had to say "Goodbye" to. 
(cyber hug)

Dogs are more than animals.
They are friends,
confidants,
loyal,
and 
true.

I hope something here helps to comfort both of you and gives giggles to anyone who just loves animals, 
especially their 
dogs and cats.

That book is really working!

HI...

One more reason why I never let a dog lick my face...

Look at this dog...

the BEST flyer ever...

The difference between cats and dogs...

The reality...

And to all you cat lovers out there...

Yeeeees?

 Hello, Kitty!

Help...

Is that you, Batman? 

OH, It's CATman!!!

What are YOU?

Are you a dog lover or a cat lover?

I never thought I would be either one,

but we did have two cats when we got married

and after our daughter begged and begged and begged,

we got Lilly,

AKA, "Lil, the Pill".

Lilly isn't that bad,

but it is like having an additional child.

So, I hope you enjoy all of God's living creatures today and look for the blessings they add to your life.

"A house is not a home without a pet"- Anonymous

"A house is not a home without a pe"A house it

If you don't have one,

if you could,

which would you have?

A Dog

or a 

Cat?

Or would it be something completely different?

God cares for the animals (1 John 4:16).

Love & Blessings-

Tickle Me Tuesday

Some girly giggles to start your day!

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (ESV)

For my writer-friends...

for my animal loving friends...

for my friends from the gym...

for my friends who have little ones...

for my friends who love Star Wars...

 for my friends who love coffee...

for my friends who blog...

and finally, for my friends who are married...

Have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY!!!

Motivational Monday!

Happy  Monday!

Everyone LOVES Friday because it is the end of the week and the start of the weekend,

 but I must admit that I do 

LOVE me 

my Monday!

Why?

I love my Monday because it is the START of the week!

Whatever happened last week-

done,

gone,

poof!

I love my Monday because it is the day that I get back into a routine again!

Saturday and Sunday are somewhat routine,

but -

the kids stay up late,

there are parties,

get-togethers,

playdates-

over it!

I love my Monday because I take Sunday off from working out-

to rest my body.

I go to church to-

fill my soul,

and it is the only day of the week I give myself permission to sleep in.

I REST!

So I AM READY for MONDAY!

(can anyone say, "Gentlemen, start your engines?")

I pray for strength for the week,

and

I thank God for the last one,

I pray for guidance and wisdom,

and

I thank God for His blessings,

I pray that I would be JESUS to someone, 

and

I thank God for any opportunity He is going to give me to do that!

How about you?

Do you look forward to Mondays or is there another day of the week that is your fav?

My friend Mary does this for me, and so, I will do this for you!

Father,

Thank you for today, Monday!

Thank you, that I CAN DO ALL THINGS I'm supposed to do today

in YOUR strength,

through YOU.
I pray for this reader, my friend,
that they would have a great start to their week, and that they would feel Holy Spirit filled as they turn to you for YOUR guidance,
YOUR strength
and
that they would make time alone to hear YOUR still, small voice.
Thank you for your LOVE,
FORGIVENESS,
and 
thank you that there is NOTHING in this world that can separate me 
from YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen!

EVERYTHING

EVERYTHING

What if God asked you for everything?

"EVERYTHING?",

you ask.

Yes,

everything.

Guess what?

He wants it!

In Mary DeMuth's new book, due to be released in October,

she helps us as believers SEE,

see that yes,

God

does

want

EVERYTHING.

He wants ALL of us.

Everything that we think,

everything that we feel,

everything that we do.

He wants our minds,

our hearts

and our actions to be 

HIS.

Curious?

(I hope so!)

Here is a quote to entice you!

I am one of 100 very blessed people.

I have NO idea why I was chosen,

but I was!

I get to be a very special part of a very special team:

Mary's Launch Team.

So, as I read through the chapters I will share little nuggets 

from this pot o' gold!

Back to the question:

What if God asked YOU for everything?

What would you struggle to give Him?

I do struggle, right this very minute to give Him ALL of me,

 thankfully,

 I've seen it all too clearly through reading this book.

I've given Him my faith,

my relationships,

my family,

and my life,

but not ME,

my heart and soul-

in my entirety...

But the Lord calls us to-

He calls ME to.

 “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” 

Gal. 5:25 nlt.

In Chapter 3 Mary writes:

"He wants all of us, all the time, our minds and hearts deeply engaged with His so we will joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for us."

I yearn to joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for me,

how about you?

Thoughts?

Hope you are having an absolutely wonderful week!