Blessed Beyond Words

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
   • Refrain:
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
     
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
   And you will keep singing as the days go by.

                  Refrain:
                 Count your blessings, name them one by one,
                 Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
                 Count your blessings, name them one by one,
                 Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
A portion of the hymn written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897

I honestly fail miserably at this!  I get started and then get overwhelmed!  My cup overflows beyond my greatest dreams!!  I have a God who sees to my every need, I have a husband who spoils me rotten (he took over where Daddy left off  nearly 20 years ago*cheshire cat smile*), I have children that truly are a blessing to me (not to say I don't want to snatch them bald now and then - why pull my hair out right?) I have wonderful relationships with my family both close and extended, a wonderful home filled with way more STUFF than I could ever need (but enjoy having), sweet friends I hold close to my heart, and above all under all through all there is LOVE.  A dear friend of mine when asked "how are you" almost always replies "Blessed Beyond Words"....I think that sums it up nicely! 
May you experience the moment by moment blessings that happen in your life, those ordinary miracles of finding your keys before it's time to run out the door and hearing a baby giggle in the next aisle over.  May you see, hear, feel those precious whispers of Love from God as He wraps His arms around you.  Accept His peace.....and LIVE "Blessed Beyond Words"

HOME Retreat

It was nothing short of an amazingly blessed time!  This is the first women's retreat I have even been to and now I'm hooked!  The winter storms that blew threw earlier in the week kept some people home but the way was clear from here.  The food was almost all totally cooked from scratch, made with fresh ingredients ....all healthy and tasting like it was made by a gourmet chef!! (Of course I'm spoiled and get to taste that food every Sunday at Church! )  The speakers each gave us "nuggets" to take with us in our hearts and helped us to think, and maybe to see some things in a different view.  There were young girls there who blessed us by making sure our every little need was prepared for, older girls who formed the Praise Band and were guides to the younger ones.  The music was wonderful!  They did such a great job leading us in our Praise time!  It wasn't all just serious though, there were plenty of laughs, comedic relief, and time to just chat and enjoy one another!  Nights were of course short on sleep time as we stayed up to get the most of every minute.  But sleep can be had at home when there's not dozens of other moms to share our hearts with in the same room!  So here are a few fun pix:
Here are the Helpers in the adorable matching outfits.  What's great is that all four of these blessings are great friends so they had a wonderful time together!

Friday night during our Pajama Tea Party we were honored with a very unique style show.....
This first young lady is in Hawaiian attire....her STRAW hat (made from drinking straws), TUBE top (an innertube), a hula (hoop) skirt of leis ...no lays chips!

This sweet model is wearing bib OVER ALLs

Here we have the latest is executive wear with a SLIP on dress and a large BREIF case (undies on a hanger)

The JUMP suit....sure to give  you a charge to get you through your day

The HOUSE coat complete with door and windows

An elegant BALL gown with 14(inch) CARROT earrings

For the more casual we have this lovely TEA(bag) Shirt with MATCHing pants

And finally for those that are into the latest trends, this model is showing off a SHARP hairstyle PLUNGING neckline, TATTOOS(as in pix of Tattoo from Fantasy Island), and there was something funny with her belt too, but I can't remember.....didn't write it all down shucks! 

Anyway, this is just a brief glimpse of the fun and blessings we enjoyed over an incredible weekend!

Can Anyone Tell Me...

What this white stuff is?

I know these aren't great pictures, but I took them with with my phone through the door windows.....I am NOT going outside!  Here is West Texas we just don't get enough of this stuff to remember what it is from one time to the next and no one EVER learns to drive in it properly!
The fireplace is going, will be cooking and baking today, and I plan to use the Wii fit for exercise today so that I don't have to go out to get to the other building.  The back porch is icy!  I am so thankful we do not need to get out of the house today and are so blessed to have a nice warm house to cozy up in!