I may have written about this before, or mentioned it in some conversations with some of you, but I was reminded about it again... so... :)

It was a sweet moment early one morning before we started our lessons, or even before we ate breakfast... it was while we were sitting on the couch(es) "waking up" and talking-- me and the children :) We were all still a little 'drowsy', the living room windows were up... and in the distance was the beautiful sound of a dove <3 I LOVE birds and the sounds and songs of birds~ I'm always pointing it out to my children (always have, since they were very young)... and I thought *I* was the only one that heard it that morning, and as I was lost in my thoughts {quietly smiling to myself at the 'coo' of the little dove}... my youngest son said, "Did you hear that dove, Mommy?" :) That's something a lot of people would miss, not even hear or notice-- but Cameron's ear has been "trained to hear" what others don't. [I've heard it's the same musically, but I haven't got an ear to hear music the way musicians can-- so I don't know] 

That morning reminded me of another incident that happened awhile back... My family was driving down the road on a beautiful day with the windows down and the radio on and different children singing, talking, and laughing-- wind blowing and traffic passing; a LOT of "noise"! :D Yet, in the midst of all of that going on... my ear caught the song of a Meadowlark from a field we were passing <3 The song of a Meadowlark is one of my FAVORITE bird 'songs'! :) I pointed it out and asked if anyone heard it... NOPE, not a one (who could have?? in all that noise!) but *I* HAD :) I wasn't even "trying". I wasn't even expecting it or waiting for it or looking for it... I just HEARD it. My ears are "trained" to hear it :) It sang... and I heard :) Among everything else going on... I heard. When no one else did, I heard. When it "spoke"... I heard. :) 

From these two examples, it may sound like I put too much silly emphasis on 'hearing birds' :D But it's what I could see "IN" these two examples that I'm really talking about... not just hearing birds. It's the "hearing", it's the being "tuned in"... not to birds, but to what is important. I want to have an ear to hear YHWH. I want to be tuned in to HIS Spirit. To HEAR and OBEY, learn, and be blessed. When others can't or don't or won't... I WANT TO. When there's too much going on in "life"... I want to HEAR. When there is excitement, commotion, or noise... I want to HEAR. When it's still, small, or "in the distance"... I want to HEAR. I want to be "tuned in"... I want my ear to be TRAINED to HEAR :) I want to hear YHWH :) 

Friday, April 20th, was Brenton's competition in Clarksville, Tennessee... he did *GREAT* :) Unfortunately, only about 4 acts got to compete before getting RAINED OUT!! :( They are going to re-schedule the event for sometime in May. We had a very good time and Brenton got a little more experience, so we don't consider it a loss-- although somewhat disappointing. It was so much fun to watch him perform and see the audience recieve him so well :) The judges were very kind and complimented his performance, which I thought was nice of them... it certainly encouraged Brenton <3 He is playing guitar and singing an original song he has written... I think this "trial run" will help him to feel even more at ease in his perfromance the next time! *YEAH, BRENTON!!*  ;) 

P.S. Many Many Thanks to Paula Haynes for letting us know about this contest last year (this was Brenton's 2nd year trying out) and to Bobby Hamilton for working on a background soundtrack for Brenton!!

We went to Clarksville, Tennessee, this past Sabbath for our son to audition to be a contestant in a talent show... and while we were there, we had a very nice pic-nic at a park. Here are some pictures...
(P.S. Brenton *WAS* selected as a contestant!! :) He was one of about 25 chosen out of about 1,000 people over a month of auditions. *YEAH, Brenton!!*)

This morning as I was hanging out my laundry, the weather was a little cool and the breeze brought a fresh fragrance... partly from my clean-smelling laundry, and partly just from the fresh clean air! And as I was enjoying the moment (complete with birds singing:) it occured to me how BLESSED I am. Blessed to be able to be alive and healthy, blessed to see and hear, blessed to live around trees and birds and flowers, blessed to live in a "free" country... on and on and on!!! (Could we EVER list all our blessings??) But I feel an extra sense of thankfulness for the "small" things today... like being able to be at home with my family and  hang out my laundry :) I *so* enjoy hanging out laundry :) It's a silly simple pleasure I enjoy... like cleaning house with the windows open and the curtains fluttering in the breeze :) Or spending the day working in the yard mowing, weeding, and "fixing up". Things that aren't considered "fun" but, yet, bring enjoyment or pleasure. I'm especially thankful for those things today :)    { Thank You, YHWH!!<3 }

*A JOYful thought~ If we *LOOK* for the good in our circumstances... we can find it :) If we *CHOOSE* to enJOY our life... our life will be enJOYable ;) And if we cultivate *JOY* in our heart... it will grow! *BE BLESSED* 

 

Snow Flurries??...NO--*Spring Flurries*!! For the past few days I've been watching the breezes blow pear blossom petals in flurries and flurries of "spring snow" :D It's been BEAUTIFUL! It seems everywhere we look, front windows, back windows, the front door, the back door... petals blowing in the wind :) *So So Pretty* :) They swirl and blow and flutter in the breeze~ so carefree. It gives you such a *dreamy* feeling, like watching the clouds floating above. I'm so glad YaHWeH made different seasons :) I love each one, in it's own way. Beautiful Beautiful *Spring Flurries*... and guess what? I finally saw my first *bluebird* of the season! *YEAH* What could be any better? ;)

I TRIED to capture some pictures of the blossom petals, but they don't show up very well...

Here are a few spring pictures from my little spot in the world :)

I've been working on this website for awhile... reconstructing it and adding to it. I've, now, finally "completed" my "A Few Of My Favorite Things" page :) It's taken me awhile, and I'll probably add a little more to it from time to time... but it's basically completed. Whew! Now, on to my *Spring* pages :) *Yeah* I love everything *spring* :) I'll be working on them as I can... "free" time is limited for me. But I do hope to get the "Passover" and "Unleavened Bread" pages completed BEFORE the feasts actually arrive!! :) It's a goal... we'll see! :)

Here are a few of *MY* favorite things... what are some of yours? Try writing them down, once you put some thought into it and take your time really considering "yourself", you just may be surprised ;) It's fun! Try it! :)
(To view a few of my *favorite* things, go to the dropdown tab below "About Me")

Let's not forget Julie Andrews~

*WHAT A DAY!!* The weather was SO BEAUTIFUL today!!! We just HAD to have a "work day" sprucing up our little cottage yard after the winter (if you wanna call it a winter;) We were outside ALL DAY LONG... racking leaves, pulling weeds, mowing...cleaning the garage; You name it--we probably did it! It was a good good day:D But, OH, I am SO SORE!!!!! :D Ha!Ha! I wonder... will I be able to MOVE tomorrow?? I hope so, because tomorrow I plan to give the *inside* of our little cottage a good *spring cleaning*--complete with quilts hanging out to dry :) Calendar or not-- *Spring* has *sprung* at my house!!
 
I can hear the frogs singing, and it feels good to have things neat and clean outside :) I still have to decorate my porch (the funnest part!--is that a word?)... but everything else is just about done--and that feels good! :D I'm also pleased to say that my flowers that I planted last year are coming back!! YEAH!  I'm still awaiting my first glimpse of a bluebird~

Spring has... Spring~Sprang~Sprung!! :D

Have you ever done anything spontaneous and cRazY and *FUN*?? When I was about 7 years old, my family and another family were "just visiting" one evening... but found ourselves on the road-- driving to the Smokey Mountains-- by nightfall! What an exciting adventure for a seven year old (and her 6 year old best friend)!! It is something I have NEVER forgotten :) It was TOTALLY unplanned. We just *DID IT* And it is STILL one of my favorite childhood memories :)

Well... this past Saturday, our family was enjoying a beautiful day driving and talking and having a "Sabbath pic-nic" in our vehicle (because we couldn't settle on 'the perfect' pic-nic spot... and was getting rather hungry ;) [hee!hee!] And amidst our eating--which the kids thought was very unusual and *fun*-- they thought we should do it more often!! [I have different ideas about that] but it sparked conversations of different "eating in the car" memories from James and myself... ususally on long roadtrips to the Smokies :) Well, you know I had to share my "Spur Of The Moment Smokey Mountain" story with them!! And can you GUESS what THAT led to?? YES!!! OUR *very own* "Spur of the moment" UNplanned SMOKEY MOUNTAIN trip!!!! Yep! We *DID IT* We just took off and spent two nights in the Great Smokey Mountains! :D We had such a wonderful time... I'm sure our kids will NEVER forget!

Sure, it will take some "juggling" and "sacrificing" financially... a Smokey Mountain trip was NOT "in our budget"... but we don't LIVE a life "above our means" always wasting our money on frivilous things, and the "bills" are ALWAYS going to be there. Our "KIDS" are growing up and growing "away"... it was Worth it to create these "once in a lifetime" CraZy "spur of the moment" memories with them :) It is something I will ALWAYS remember and ALWAYS cherish... I hope they will too!

So... have YOU ever done anything spontaneous and cRazY and *FUN*? Maybe you should! :) Make some memories for yourself and those you love <3