My JOY Jar

JOY is just popping up everywhere-

literally and figuratively.

Someone invited me to prayer time yesterday.

You know how we women are.

I am the I-don't-meet-a-stranger kinda woman.

I can enter in most any conversation,

but in certain "Christian" women groups, 

well, let's just say, I pull back.

Especially when the group is already established

and I am the outsider. 

I know, I know, there are no outsiders in Christ, 

you understand what I mean. 

If you don't, don't judge me.

You may find yourself there at some time or another. 

Annnnnyway.

I give reasons as to why I don't think I can stay.

Blah, blah, blah.

And my friend says, 

"Oh, you are just letting the devil defeat you."

With some people I have nerve enough to be myself

and I say, "Really???"

I go on to insist that I pray and it has nothing to do with the devil.

Really???

Another person invites me,

a not-so-close friend.

Eeeek.  

I don't want to go! I can pray just fine by myself!

Nudge, nudge, nudge from the Holy Spirit.

Another eeeek!

Okay, okay, okay.

Around the room, need for prayers expressed.

Bonnie???

Yes????

Okay, okay, I'm getting it, Lord.

I ask for prayer for the spiritual warfare that I have been in for a year.

You know, the kind where you are slandered and your name has been trashed

and your witness has been tarnished by the words of others?

The kind where the Lord said, 

"I will fight for you, you need only to be still."

And you've let Him fight it, but you're tired.  Really tired.

You want it to stop and it only gets worse.

A very godly lady whom I have the utmost confidence in asks me, 

"Have you lost your joy?"

What??? Where in the world did that come from???

Lost my JOY?

I said, "No, I have joy.  I'm just now getting it back."

"Really?" the Lord is whispering now.

Really?

The rest of the story will have to wait.

So, I've made myself a JOY jar.

I'm asking God to give me JOY in every circumstance, 

when I'm torn down or lifted up, 

when I'm accepted and when I feel rejected, 

when I laugh and when I cry, 

when I have faith and when I'm in fear.

Lord, help me to choose JOY.

Harper's Dreamland

Yeah, I'm still stuck in Babyland-

mentally, that is.

 

 

The nursery is now complete.

I thought I'd share Harper's dreamland.

 

 

Harper's daddy did an awesome job of getting the room ready in time for her arrival home.

The frames in the wall collage and the changing table

were painted with Southern Honey Chawk Paint.

 

A pencil art of the sea, a framed photo

of the fortune cookie that read, "It's a Girl,"

and a mirror reflecting the bed make up the collage.

 

 

The "H" was made by my daughter in law

and used at Christy's baby shower.

 

A photo of Harper will go in the other aqua frame.

 

 

This is my favorite wall because the shelves are lined with books.

When Harper's mom was just a tiny tot, I could read 20 books

at a time and she never wanted me to stop.

She was saying nursery rhymes by the time she was 18 months old.

 

 

The room's color and theme was actually inspired

by the wall hanging of the cranes.

The art is hand made and was purchased from a vendor at

the Nashville Flea Market.

 

 

Another framed print of her name hangs over the crib.

 

 

Aunt Tina had the rabbit made especially for Harper's room.

 

 

 

All these pretties, but guess who's the prettiest of them all.

 

 

 No, not you, Charlie. (He wanted to dress up too!)

I must say he IS cute, jealous yet protective.

He has a verocious growl when strangers come near.

He will probably be her best friend.

 

Thanks for visiting. 

Hope you'll return again soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Joy in the Morning

My body is tired, but my soul and spirit are rejoicing.  

JOY!

God keeps saying to me that this is my season of JOY,

yes, in all circumstances. 

What should have been a 6-hour trip, 

turned into an 11-hour trip home.

I kid you not!

Clean-up of hazardous waste from a tractor-trailer accident

on I-24.  It took me 2 hours to go 7 miles.

Still rejoicing?

YES!

...in a long-awaited miracle.

(In this photo, Christy is holding our miracle for the first time.)

What's an 11-hour trip compared to a lifetime of dreams?

Oh the JOY of little ones!

I told someone the other day, 

if your heart is not big enough for them all, 

then your heart is too small.

Rejoicing in all!

Thank you Lord, that Joy comes in the morning. 

Today, I'm thankful for the morning. 

(Thanks Linda at Simply Linda for the siggy:)

Harper is Home

I'm still in Nashville with our new little one. Harper came home early at just 3 weeks. We had anticipated a 6 week hospital stay.  Here she is ready to go home.

She left the hospital weighing 5 pounds 11 ounces. 

This picture barely catches the emotion of the moment. Holding her for the first time was truly sacred.

Mommy spent some time loving on her fur baby before introducing them to each other.

Everyone is adjusting nicely.

This is one little bright eyed baby. In just a few days she was checking out her new home.

Some of my friends who have walked with us through this journey made her a prayer quilt. Each knot and square was prayed over. Oh how I love these people!

Due to a low body temp she wore several layers.

The cap was knitted by Providence UMC Care team members.

Can you believe that she is a preemie?  She is now turning her head from one side to another and lifting her legs and arching her back almost to the point of flipping on her side. I honestly kid you not!

Baby girl cousins meet for the first time.

Cora was all about it. Connor gave her a kiss and was on his way.

I can't begin to express what I feel. Maybe when I'm home and all is quiet I'll be able to better articulate what is in my heart.

Thank you for allowing me to take a break. I'm a little busy right now.