After an extensive and grueling (jk) random game played by my computer and two full minutes of generating names a winner has been chosen!!!
DRUMROLL
PLEASE…….
THE WINNER OF THE
WATKINS LOTION AND
GRAPESEED OIL IS…
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ready?
Krystal Belmont
Congrats!
This weekend I took some time out and enjoyed my family and the beauty of Nature. My niece and nephews were with us for the weekend. I set aside one on one time with each of them. My purpose was to spend quality time capturing the beauty of their individuality. No set props, no specific clothing, no special attention to hair detail or shoes. Just their natural beauty---so I grabbed the camera and here are my favorite pictures of each of them!
~The oldest~
~The Youngest~
Actually, my favorite of her is below---but you cant see her pretty eyes in it.
Here are all three
Next, I took a walk around my home and captured the beauty of God’s creation. When you take the time to look, that beauty is EVERY where. His majesty is displayed.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Today, I encourage you to take a walk around your yard or neighborhood and absorb all the beauty God has given us. Kneel down and study the bloom of a flower. Look in the trees at the birds. See what you can discover.
my toes in the sand
seagulls nearby
an ocean sunset
The annual beach trip for our family is nearing. I am getting very excited. Time with the ones I love most, sun, sand, and relaxation. It really can’t come soon enough.
God really moves me during this time. I feel in awe of His majesty and love for me. I am completely blessed.
I am dreaming of walking on the sand and smelling the salty air. So excited…
What are you dreaming of today? How about some free stuff?
To celebrate my happiness I would love to spread the love. I am giving away two GREAT items to a random lady.
Watkins Mango Body Lotion & Watkins Grapeseed Oil.
If you haven’t ever heard of Watkins, you must check them out. They are the first all-natural company!!! Click Here
All you have to do is leave a comment below by June 30th. Your name or “Pick Me” or your answer to “What are you dreaming of today?” will enter you to win.
Winner will be announced on the site by 9:00pm June 30th. From there I will get the winner’s information and ship it her way.
Please share this with your family and girlfriends…give them a chance to enter and win some cool stuff.
farmers market & grilling
So with yummy produce just begging to be cooked, we ended our evening with a great summer meal. Thanks to the farmers market and their wonderful produce, we really enjoyed it!
Shucking the Corn
Prepping the chicken (looks kinda yucky)
Finished Product w/ peas, corn and tater salad
Can you tell I like zipper peas? What about the butter? Paula Dean would be proud!
Finally, dessert
Yummy Peach Crisp
Today was a great day. Celebrating Summer with my Honey; relaxing, taking it easy and enjoying life.
(For all you local gals, check out www.moregoodiesgalore.blogspot.com for information on how to order this pie for your next gathering)
a day at the farmer’s market & by the grill
Take 1
After four days apart, the hubs and I wanted to spend some much needed quality time together and celebrate Summer!!
We began by taking a trip to the Farmer’s Market located 20 miles from our home. Something so simple and down to earth proved a delight. It didn't hurt either that it was such a beautiful day out.
~Browns Farmer Market~
Cool Watermelon Bird House
Little Mr. Chickie Resting
Zennia Garden
$0.10 a Stem
More Chickens
Thirsty?
Syrup, Grits and Corn Meal…Oh My!!!
The absolute BEST peach Ice Cream
Brought peaches home
Pretty Bouquet
It really was a fun little trip. It was very inexpensive as well. In a few hours we will fire up the grill. Tonight to continue the summer celebration it is grilled chicken, corn-on-the-cob, zipper peas (from market), potato salad, and peach cobbler.
Check back later for Take 2!
What are some fun and inexpensive ways you can celebrate summer with your family? Are any attractions close to your home? Share with us what you can do.
It has been hard for me the past few days. My hubby has been gone from home 3.5 out of 4 days. I have found myself becoming lonely and bored. I have worked, cleaned the house, watched movies and tv shows, read, cut the grass, cleaned off the porch, had lunch with a friend, and even gone out of town.
However, a void has still been in my heart amid all those activities. I have MISSED my hubby. I have missed seeing him, hugging him, kissing him, talking to him, and working together on things with him.
Loneliness is not any fun. Mix with it the fact that I am not 17 anymore and cant just call up my girlfriend for a 4 hour conversation.
Why?
All of my girlfriends have husbands, children, and busy schedules.
Also add to it that I have no children. My poor doggy has had to take over that role. (I’ve even been cuddling him like a baby and talking ooey gooey to him) Sanity Check
On the flip side…
I have enjoyed the house remaining clean.
I have enjoyed eating only what I want to eat.
I have enjoyed having a king size bed all to myself.
I have enjoyed quiet time with the Lord.
So how come I have been lonely?
Okay, I am not a man obviously. But this verse definitely applies to me lately. My husband is my helper. He helps me by listening, counseling, sharing, laughing, talking, working, resting, and sleeping.
I have learned that the high I get from being able to do all those things I mentioned above is quickly replaced after several days of alone time. I begin to desire my hubs companionship and his nasty clothes strewn on the floor.
We need someone to walk through life with who inspires us, challenges us, helps us, and loves us in a different way from the rest of the people in our world. For those of us who are married, it should be our husband. (For those who God does not design a marriage for, He replaces that void with another form of companionship)
It is not good that we should be alone…I have learned that. And no, man is not good without woman…that is why God made us beautiful creatures…but I have also learned that just as I am my husbands helper, my husband is my helper.
How do you deal with loneliness?
I have another guest contributor today; Rachael Sumner. She sent over an awesome devo about the fruits of the Spirit. Enjoy this good read and great reminder!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:21-26
Fruit salad is so refreshing. All of those different kinds of fruit, which are good on their own, are delicious and sweet when they are mixed together. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Fruits of the Spirit and what a difference it makes when I consciously apply all of them to my life. It's like making a fruit salad. Take any one of those traits by themselves and it is a good thing, but put them all together, and life is sweet; refreshing. That refreshment comes from the Holy Spirit when we are walking in the ways of the Lord.
I once heard someone say that love and self-control are the bookends of these traits. It isn't easy to have joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness without love and self-control. When we love others, so many times that love manifests itself in ways that demonstrate joy or peace or kindness. And if we don't have self-control, it is difficult to show the other fruits as well.
The Message translation says, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." We are treating others the way Christ would have us to treat them, living a life of integrity with Christ-like principles, and God rewards us for it. He brings gifts into our lives and blesses us beyond measure.
It isn't always easy though. There are times when I am not patient or kind and I don't always show self-control. I am a work in progress but it has to be a conscious decision on my part to demonstrate these traits. It doesn't come all at once and God doesn't ask that we do it alone. He is there to help refine us and help us to become more like Him, if only we ask. Today I choose fruit salad. I choose to ask God to help me show others the sweetness and refreshment that can only come from Him.
Rachael Sumner has a wonderful blog where she shares her love for her family and for Christ. Check it out Here.
