Eight Words That May Have Changed My Life {is that really all I have to do?}

alli and her granny playing piano years before we moved home

 It was after calling the piano teacher, yet again, to say we weren't going to make it, that my heart leaped and soon settled in to rest; all within the same moment of time. 

I thanked her for grace and told her I'm sorry, again-- explaining to her, for the one-hundredth time how I'm not always this scattered brained and I really do have my things in order every now and then--

It was then when she simply replied, "We're all in this together. We just need to lean on Him more." 

And I took a deep breath and let those little words sink deep.  

Is that really all I have to do?

We just need to lean on Him more.

 I thought, "Well, that may have just changed my life. "

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, 
leaning on the everlasting arms; 
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, 
leaning on the everlasting arms.


Leaning, leaning, 
safe and secure from all alarms; 
leaning, leaning, 
leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, 
leaning on the everlasting arms; 
O how bright the path grows from day to day, 
leaning on the everlasting arms.
 

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, 
leaning on the everlasting arms?  
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, 
leaning on the everlasting arms.
 
Elisha A. Hoffman, pub.1887
ref. by Anthony J. Showalter, pub.1887

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Loves,

Getting In The Dirt

A few weeks back, the kids and I went on a little journey-- spending the afternoon at our friend, Mrs. Mildred's home {one of our sweet Eleos people} We spent the afternoon trying to help her "feel pretty to the town"

At least that's how she put it.

The weeds went deep. Like many of our own weeds, they had been there for a long time. 

So, we started off slow... 
 

 

...deciding what was good and what was bad.

We trimmed and pruned away years of mess...
 

 ...trying to find the hidden beauty.

Then, when we finally found it...

 ...it was as it always is.

 

We had found another piece of ourselves. 

Jesus said,  “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13: 31-32

So there we have it, yet again.

The truth of our sweet Jesus.

Something {some.one} as small as a mustard seed?

Becoming the largest of garden plants? 

Birds come and call it home?

So, He uses faith the size of a mustard seed, builds His Kingdom out of something small like a mustard seed--

"Perhaps He uses some.one small like little 'ol you and little 'ol me to do little 'ol jobs that show His love in a big way?"

Oh, the wonders of His hands.

May your hands feel the dirt and grime of His love today, friends.


Getting dirty right along with you, 

She Loved Us Back.

  We made our mail lady a little bit of love in a box...

Then, the next day you will never guess what! 

She loved us back ; )

 

We think she liked it. 

What's your mailman or lady's name? Click here to find out how you can get to know him or her better!

Having Fun,

 


{Yes, yes, thank you! the email feed is fixed! To all those of you who have missed having it tip toe into your inbox, it is fixed! However, you have to re-subscribe... stink those technical difficulties! Enter your email address above to re-subscribe.} 

I Have a Secret For You...

There's this little thing we do,

and it's kind of a secret ; )

It all starts around the table where we gather most. Sometimes it's over piles of pancakes before the day begins; other times it's after a day full of hard work over heaping mashed potatoes. Here at the g.tribe home, we like to refer to it as, Secret Servant.

We all get to pick someone to serve, but it's all a big, fun secret. 

Daddy writes everyone's names on the back of a post it note and sticks them on the wall in the hallway. One by one, we leave the table, walk into the hall, and walk back with a sly smile on our face... Judah always has the biggest smile. =)

You dare not tell who you're serving and you try real hard to catch whose serving you throughout the week. Last week, Alli admits: 

"I like to serve everyone here and there,
making sure they see me;
just to throw them off."

At the end of the week, we gather again guessing who might have served us and then the truth comes out. 

"i.served.angus."

"i.served.mom."

"i.served.jordan."

The little ones usually always put away shoes from the front door. If your shoes have mysteriously found themselves into your closet, you probably have Judah or Jordan. If your laundry was washed and put away, or the house vacuumed for no reason, you probably have Alli or Angus. If the kids were put to bed and you got to read a book, you probably have Daddy. ; ) 

They're looking for ways to serve.

And.it's.working. 

So, I breathe deep and smile little sly smiles when I come out of the hallway each week.

...OK, and I do a little happy dance, too... he, he. 

Loves,

We Never Thought It Would Be Any Different

Young and crazy when they first met;

 now their boys share the same excitement.

They were totally in love with Jesus, fishing for men...

...ready to take on the world.

Carpooling to early class, both sharing struggles and troubles.

Holding each other accountable, struggling through ministry, "stuff".

They ask each other then,  "Why didn't we do this more when we were close?"

 

And they agree... "We never thought it would be any different." 

 

...  "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. "

 1 Colossians 1:9-14

Blessed,

Just A Day In Pictures.

Two girls LOVING the new clothes someone brought to our house today. What a blessing their overflow was in our lives today. Their twins had outgrown TWO BIG BOXES of name brand, modest, beautiful clothes.



It made our girls' day.


A little boy saying "My turn mommy, my turn. " "Ok, honey... say cheese..."

"Cheeeeeesssseeee..."


A garden with chickens we love to watch.




Seeing God's hand at work. Cucumbers to harvest.


Tomatoes we are anxiously awaiting to enjoy.


The fresh basil I love.


Wonderful flowers that help fill our home with beauty,

and our yard with joy.


A little girl and cucumbers.


A little girl's first time to do a little part of daddy's job on the fourth of July.



A little boy and his father playing a sweet little game.




A big sister to plug a little brothers ears while watching lights in the sky.


Simple little pleasures to enjoy once a year.





A momma sitting to enjoy it all.


Just a simple day in pictures.



Related Posts:
It's The Way We Do Things
It's Such A Lovely Life

.