The Olive Tree

I have been reading through Psalms this week and have found so much comfort in the words of David. David, a man who truly had a love relationship with the Father. Oh how I too want more of that! Not just to read his word and to pray to him, but to be crazy in love with my Lord.

In Psalm 52:8 David refers to himself as an olive tree. His comparison was to the strength and fruitfulness of the olive tree and how God was it's source. There is no true strength without God. We will only bear fruit if we have a relationship with him through Christ. Just as an olive tree is beautiful, so will be the fruits shown in our lives through serving him.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever;

I will praise you forever for what you have done;

in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 52:8-9

Blessing to all,

Another Day at the Beach

Here we are at the beach! Leaving here for date night and a trip to my favorite restaurant Mikee's Seafood. It was wonderful as usual.

This is Kaleb and Brandon digging...



and digging. I think they were looking for China.


The were upset later in the day to see other kids playing in their hole and very disappointed when I told them that the tide would come in tonight and remove all their hard work.

We are having a great time. Hope to have more pics before we leave. Sure wish my the girls and Adam were here too. I miss them a lot.

Blessings to all,

Retreat at the Beach

Vacation! Oh how I love the word and the reality of it! We have been at Orange Beach since Saturday afternoon. There is no vacation I love more than being at the beach. God's power and awesomeness is so obvious here. I could sit all day and watch the ocean waves crashing on the shore.

I have left the condo property only twice. Once to eat out and one trip to the store. We aren't running all over town, just enjoying the beach and the water. I got too much sun the first day and stayed in and read yesterday. I was perfectly ok with that! As long as I can see the ocean I'm okay!

The porpoise are abundant, like I've never seen before. They have been jumping out of the water and really putting on a show. I have been going to the beach most of my life and have never seen them play like they have this week.

My father-in-law has led us in devotion every morning and it has been really special. Kaleb and his friend Brandon have been a big part in reading scripture and praying. I am thankful to have family that loves God!

Pictures. Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.

Blessing to all

Better Late Than Never

Sorry if you hate cliches, but this is really the best title for this post. As much as I love my new job I am still struggling with the change in schedule, which is crazy since it's such a great schedule. Go figure! I suppose it will all work out eventually.

Okay, to the post. Amanda, the youngest of the two most wonderful daughters in the world ( sorry ladies but my daughters totally rock and are the best LOL) had her 20th birthday on July 3rd. I can't believe it. I remember when I was pregnant with her, so many people were so sure I would have a boy. I knew better. No I didn't have an ultra sound with her, but in my heart I knew I would be blessed with another girl. She was a momma's girl from the start and is still.

We did some shopping on her birthday and celebrated with Eric's family on the fourth. We enjoyed the cake she made for herself. It was unbelievable. An Alabama football helmet. See for yourself at www.thedessertfairy.blogspot.com. I bet she will get some orders for that during football season.

So here is a BIG but belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my daughter Amanda Leanne. I love you!!

Blessings to all,

No I've Not Fallen of the End of the Earth!!

I'm sure many of you are tired of checking my blog only to find the very long ago written post. I can't believe it has been almost a month. Well I've never been real good at change, so when it shows itself in my life, I tend to struggle a while trying to adjust.

I started my new job at the Health Department on June 8th and I love it. I will be in training for a few more weeks. Although I've been a nurse for 10 years, the states charting and coding is so much different than anything I've ever done. They have a long orientation and I am thankful for that.

Bible School was also the same week I started work and as you can imagine my mind and body were exhausted by Friday. Amanda and I taught missions, which is what we love, and enjoyed it so much. Of course there were those very undisciplined children that we struggled with. I always said, " If I can make my children mind, why can't everyone else." Amanda was raised to mind and she also expects that from children. Well, sometimes you just have to suck it up and bear it.

This is just a catch up. I promise I will be back on a more routine basis again. I've missed this crazy form of communication we call Blogging!

Blessing to all,

The Dessert Fairy..."Crafty Fairy"

My girls have always amazed me with their craftiness. Christina has always been so neat and a perfectionist at whatever she does. She has a great knack for scrap booking and I hope she finds time soon to start back.

Amanda has tried to make something from almost nothing all her life. She was one of those kids who always wanted to invent something and always wanted to make money selling some little dooflachie she had made.

Well now she is at it again. Amanda is making the cutest gift tags and planning on other items such as cards and invitations. Check out her button to the left and you can see some of what she has on hand now.

If you would like to add Amanda's button to your blog leave a comment on her blog and she will email you the information.

Have a great June 1st and enjoy another beautiful day!

Blessings to all,

The End is Only the Beginning

While watching television last weekend, I briefly caught a commercial for one of those reality TV shows. What caught my attention was the statement of a contestant. She said, " The end is only the beginning." Now I don't have a clue what she was talking about, but I instantly thought of our life as a Christian.

We have been given so many wonderful blessings and promises from our loving Father. Knowing that the end of our life here only leads to the beginning of our life with Jesus forever almost makes my heart burst.

We have hope for so many things in our lives. We have hope for heeling's, hope for opportunities, and hope for new beginnings. The hope of an eternity with Christ is the best of all. Even if we may suffer on this earth, we find comfort in our hope for the future.

The end is only the beginning!! Thank you Lord!!


For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

The Verdict !!

The verdict is in and God has chosen for me....... Job # 1. Yeah!! I am so excited. This is the RN position at the health dept in our neighboring town. It will be about a 35 min drive, which is less than I have driven in years. Get this..... 8-4:30, no weekends, no holidays, and we get off for some of those federal holidays like the school system and post office.

I am so ready to go back to nursing and so glad it's not in the hospital. Working here at XMC has been a privilege and a real blessing. It has been fun to see how the Xerox world and my husband work. Being able to do Bible study in the mornings when I first get here has been great and one of the privileges of working for a manager who loves God.

While I won't be able to do bible study at the health department, I will have another Christian manager. Sherri goes to church with me and has become a good friend. She is our Judith and Sharlyn. LOL LOL She can keep those kids in line. ( You'll have to be one of my homies to understand that one.)

Waiting has never been one of my best qualities. I usually jump into things out of excitement. That's my Sanguine personality! This time I can say that I truly waited. I wanted God to handle things and not me. He knows what is best for me!

"Be still and know that I am God...." Psalm 46:10

Talking to God

In my devotion this morning the author told the story of a boy who came home from college after his first semester. His mom asked, "Why have you not written or called us since you've been gone?" He replied," I haven't had time." His mother then said, "Then you are too busy."

Is that the way it is with our prayer life? Does God tell us if we can't find time to pray then we are too busy?

Just like this mother missed and desired to communicate with her son, God desires to communicate with us. Isn't it awesome ,that the God who created the universe, wants to talk with us and misses us when we don't pray.

Thank you Father for loving me and desiring communication with me. Help me to come to you with love and praises and not just an agenda of needs.

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Job Interview #2

I interviewed for another job today. This one is also with the health dept and is a state job. It is for a TB coordinator position. If I get this position I would be the coordinator for 6 counties. My office would be in my town. It is very interesting and I think I would like the challenge. I Should know something next week.

The other position is still out there. They are waiting for the state to process the other nurse from a county to state position.

I guess I will just keep praying, keep interviewing until God picks the right one for me.

Blessings to all,

Surgery

Eric's mom had to have surgery on her ankle this morning. When she followed up with the orthopaedic yesterday, he discovered that the break was bigger than they originally thought and would have to put in 2 screws. He did that this morning and it went well. She was really slow to wake up, but we knew to expect that with her.

Eric's dad is much better today. He is still having some difficulty with the cracked ribs but seems to feel a lot better.

We were so excited when we went back to Pre-Op to see Liz before surgery. Dr Thomas said he didn't like to go into surgery without praying. He led us all in pray. It was awesome. It made us all feel better.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the mercy and protection you have shown us this weekend. Thank you for Christian doctors who are not afraid to lift their patients up to you. Amen

A Scary Day and Crazy Weekend

Eric called me Friday at 2:15 and told me to get home (from Nashville). His mom and dad had been injured in a wreck while traveling through Tuscaloosa. His mom had called him from the car. All she could tell him was that she was hurt and his dad was bleeding bad.

We rushed home, threw some clothes in a suit case and left. There is no fast way to get there. We knew it would take several hours and it felt like an eternity knowing that we needed to be there and couldn't. Thankfully Eric's aunt lives in Cullman and was able to get there in about an hour and a half. They kept us posted as we traveled.

Liz has a broken ankle and a cracked sternum. She is in a lot of pain and it is very difficult for her to move because of the sternum. She is of course very sore all over. Kurt bit his tongue very bad and had to have it sutured. Thankfully that's where all the blood was coming from. The tongue is very vascular and bleeds like crazy. He has a cracked rib which is very painful and also is sore all over.

After two nights in the hospital we were able to get them back home last night. We had to get a hospital bed and wheel chair for Liz. Normally they would have taught her how to use crutches before living the hospital but because of the cracked sternum she can't use her upper body. It's going to be a very long recovery for her. This woman is almost 68 but looks much much younger and acts my age. She will be stir crazy in a couple of days. Kurt is an ER doc and is determined to be back at work for his shift on Thursday. We are worried about that. He works in Mississippi and has Liz to drive him back in forth. He gets sleepy very easily and we're not comfortable with him driving that far by himself. We have a lot to figure out. Eric's uncle, aunt, and grandmother are with them some this week and eventually I will be out of work some to stay with his mom.

We are so thankful to God that there are not injured worse. They usually drive their Toyota Avalon but the tires needed to be balanced. Thank God!! Instead they drove the Nissan Armada which is very big and very tough and it will surely be totalled. They would have been hurt a lot worse in that car.

Please keep them in your prayers as they recover.

Blessings,

Prayers of Praise

Father I approach your throne with praises! You are so worthy of more praise than I could ever give, but please accept what I am able to give and know that it is given in love and adoration for you.

You are the one true God. The creator of all and all that is good. You love like no other can. You sacrificed more than anyone could. Your love is boundless and your strength is mighty.

You made it possible for me to love even when I'm not loved. Your strong arms embrace me and provide comfort when I am hurting. Your wisdom is never ending and I desire to hold to it and live by it.

Thank you Father for who you are and all you have done and all you will do.

Interview Update

My interview on Wednesday went very well. Thanks to the prayers I was calm and felt a sense of confidence. For someone who is normally a very anxious person under pressure, it was pretty amazing.

The clinic has nurses whom are hired by the state and some hired by the county. The job itself is exactly the same, same pay only the state benefits are a little better. I was interviewing for the vacant state position.

I received a call from the hiring manager that night. She told me she had intended on hiring me, but that a nurse their in a county position decided she wanted the state one. Since she is internal they have to give it to her.

The good news is that now her county position is available. They will have to post the position and then interview again. I will not have to actually go for another interview. So if it's God's will I will get the county position.

I've done what I feel is my part and now it is up to God. I am thankful that I can leave it there and be at peace with it.

Blessings,

A New Job if it be God's Will

Let me start today by catching some of you up on my recent career changes and introducing them to some of my new friends.

I was very blessed ten years ago to receive a degree in nursing. I worked Labor and Delivery for a few years then went to Postpartum and Nursery with occasional shifts in L&D to help out. In September of 2006 I accepted a management position in L&D, not knowing that a few months later I would meet Eric and relocate.

I loved working as a nurse especially in the OB field. Management was quite an eye opener and a 24 hrs job. I don't know that I would do it again but I'm thankful for the great experience I received from it.

I moved to a Nashville hospital when we married. It was very similar to the unit I had worked on for years in Chattanooga. I became more and more unsettled in this job and was experiencing a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. This led to my decision to leave the hospital.

Before leaving I began online classes and soon received my state insurance license. It was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. The relief of not going to the hospital was amazing. Just after the first of the year when the economy worsened it became obvious that nobody was buying insurance.

In February I received a call from Eric saying that their Administrative Assistant had quit without a notice. My wheels were turning and I told him I would do it. Now I am no Administrative Assistant and I made that clear, but I can answer phones and do some computer work. His manager said be here after lunch and so I was. It was supposed to be for 2 weeks and well 10 weeks later I'm still here.

I believe with all my heart God placed me here. I have had the opportunity to work for a Christian man who delights in the fact that I do my Bible reading as soon as I get to work. I am also thankful that I have had that opportunity.

Now to get to the point. (I know it took a while) Tomorrow I have an interview at a local health department. It would be a great job with really good benefits and of course they are closed for every holiday and no weekends.

Please pray for me tomorrow at 10am as I interview. Please pray that I will get this job if it is God's will. I have tried too many times to do things in my will and I want this if it is in his will.
If it doesn't happen then I know for now I can continue doing what I'm doing .

Thank you for praying for me!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Happy Birthday Hayden!!

I can't believe Hayden Tilley is 14 years old today. I remember being at the hospital waiting on him to be born and thinking he would never get here. Sure enough the doc had to go get him.

We loved the little crazy haired fat baby boy. He was almost 10 lbs which is so funny if you know him now. One of my favorite memories is when he was laying on the changing table and almost pee'd (or may have no one knows for sure) in his paw paw's coffee cup. Of course the funniest was the look on his paw paw's face as he looked in his cup and then went to pour it out!

Hayden has entertained us often over the years, mostly with his preaching. He would stand on the hearth at his maw maw's house and preach away! The best of all is when we were at the lake house and he was outside preaching to Lillie:

Leslie: Lillie come on we've got to go.
Hayden: (preaching, never stopped his sermon, look at Leslie and said) She ain't going with ya "praise God". ..

...and went right back to preaching! It is one of the many things I wish we would have had on video. Unfortunately Hayden never would let us film the preaching.

He has grown up to be such a sweet guy. We praised God for his salvation only a short time ago and we know God will someday use his talents.

Hayden loves sports, hunting, and music and is good at them all. He is very gifted.

Hayden, I love you and I am very proud of you. Continue to follow God in all you do and always put him first.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Le-Le

Sister Where Art Thou???

Where oh where are you tonight? Why have you left me here all alone?
I searched the world over and thought I found true love, you met another
and (tongue thing) then you were gone!!

Okay if you didn't grow up on Hee Haw you will not understand the whole "tongue thing"

Where are all my long lost blogging sisters. I'm missing everybody!

Healing Words for the Depressed Soul

*We say, "it impossible, there's no way, I'm not equipped."
God says, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27

*We say, "I'm too tired."
God says, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28

*We say, "Nobody really loves me."
God says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

*We say, "I can't go on."
God says, " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

*We say, " I can't forgive myself."
God says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

*We say, "I feel all alone."
God says, "...never will I leave you: never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5


Depression is a terrible thing. It affects millions of Americans. It is so misunderstood by anyone who has never experienced it. The worst thing for me is when I am ask, " why are you depressed." You see the worst thing about being depressed is not having a reason.

When tragedy happens, depression is expected. But when your family is healthy and you are loved by your family and friends you should be happy. Right?

I have dealt with depression for many years. Thankfully it comes and goes and I now I have a lot more time without it than with it.

My heart goes out to anyone who suffers with this most misunderstood condition. It can be very debilitating and cause a lot trouble in one's personal life. I am however, thankful that I have a God who understands it and will love me through it. He has provided for me a great number of instructions in his word that gives me hope of overcoming each episode. I know it may never go away for good, but I do know that I won't go through it alone. God has promised me that!!

Thank you Father for your love, your strength, and your support!!

This post is dedicated to a very sweet lady at my church who is really suffering from depression.

Blessing to all,

Chemotherapy

Not long ago Donna Giles (new friend at church) was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last month she had a double Mastectomy and reconstruction. Today Donna takes her first chemotherapy treatment. Donna is a beautiful women with two teenagers. She is a wife,dedicated church member and believer. I know she must be very nervous about the treatment. Please remember her in your prayers today.

Lord I lift Donna up to you today. I pray she can feel your arms around her today as she takes her first chemo treatment. Father we know that you are in control of all things and for whatever reason you have allowed this, we pray that you will receive the glory.

Thank you for your prayers!

The Crown

I don't watch the news, except for the weather of course. Because of this fact I'm always way behind on issues others are discussing. (I get most of my current events from my sweet friend Deedra at Down on the Farm lol)

I've been hearing about this "Miss California" thing, so today I googled it and watched the now famous "question / answer".

All I can say is that girl may have lost the Miss USA crown, but there will be a more important crown waiting on her in Heaven!

I know the liberal world hates it, but I am glad to see that God and the good morals of his people got national coverage.

May someone make a change or have a new opinion because of her bold statement!!!

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:22

Blessings,