Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

Today looks to be a potentially soggy day again. I checked the weather on my phone and it was a muddy puddle. This brings me to my funny story for you today.

Yesterday, my husband and I had a meeting with our VA lawyer in a new town. Because of all the storms and flooding issues, the crowd was much smaller. We actually got to ask a couple of questions when we sat down with him. We did not feel rushed. As good as that was, it was not the highlight of the trip. While waiting for our turn, we met some new friends. Two of which just happened to be authors. One of which just happens to run a podcast. Hmmm. Any thoughts on why we went to ‘this’ meeting with the lawyer and not the meeting place? I wonder if Someone knew who we were going to meet.

One of these two individuals’ spouses has memory issues. The other is applying for their survivor’s benefits with the lawyer’s help. I wonder Who designed this meeting?

Since I have been retired, I have been hyper-focused on making sure that I take care of my husband and keep his medical stuff straight and on track. I have been hyper-focused on keeping our lives as smooth as possible. So hyper-focused that when my littles from across the pond arrived, I was not the fun American grandma. I was grumpy grandma. That changed yesterday.

On our way home from the lawyer, I was thinking about all this rain, the flooding, and then I thought about the muddy puddles in my yard. I decided on the way home that we were going to play in the muddy puddles. God gave them to us, why not play in them? So, when I got home, I changed into shorts, kicked off my shoes, and challenged the grandkids to a splash fest. I do not know how long we played, but we all needed showers when it was over with … and that is after washing off with the garden hose. I even got the other grandma to play in the muddy puddle. We all were muddy puddle winners.

Too often, the enemy gets grown-ups to think they have to be adults all the time. When in fact, Jesus tells us that we are to come to Him as children. In all these storms, there have been ugly skies, so dancing in the rain has not been possible … however … splashing in the muddy puddles … well now, that is an awesome stress reliever.

Today is His day. Today we are going to his house to worship him, whether in a church or a prayer closet. Today we are going to thank Him for his blessings and for the trials. Today, we give God the glory and enter His presence as children. Will you join me on the heavenly playground of muddy puddles?

Be blessed.

**And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

So, you know that when the barn hit my house, I got some interior damage as well. Estimates are in, and we are going to start the process of repairing that room before my kids get here in like 13 days. (no pressure). Yesterday, the littles and I moved all that we could out of the room and I swept. With the exception of the hole in the ceiling, it looks really good. Haha. Made me think that I am going to reallocate space and relocate stored items so that it looks more like a guest room. Look at me trying to be all 1950s June Cleaver … haha.

Today I think that we are going to move outside to the shed where I intend to store and forget about this stuff that I do not want to throw out. Then I will gather my empty totes and start that process, but also, not wanting to be a fuddy duddy Grammy, there are brownies in the making today. I slept very well last night, so I am up and ready to be a child today.

Yesterday we laid to rest a prominent and strong woman of the community. She was an active volunteer, and though she was in a battle of her own, she pressed forward to help someone else who was in their own severe battle. That is the kind of example we need to set for our kids, grandkids, and the rest of society.

Today, I fear that the enemy has twisted the concept of our Mental Health into a self-serving, forgetting your neighbor’s ails, issue. Yes, I need to make sure that I am taking care of myself; however, there is a difference between looking out for myself and helping. It is not one or the other, necessarily; you can do both. There are boundaries and prayerful considerations, but they both can be done. My fear is that he has created this umbrella to give excuses to ‘not help’ our neighbor. Thus instituting this idea that if we just all focus on our own stuff, then everything else will work out. If we do not give two hoots for your sadness or sorrow, your struggles, your need for compassion, then somehow it will all go away. But the reality is that we need each other. WE need each other’s shoulders and ears. We need the fellowship to refuel, to regenerate, to reignite our flame. Most of the time, we just need to vent and see our issues being heard by another human being, just so we feel heard; then we can go on.

The Holy Spirit places each of us in certain circumstances on purpose. Most of the time it is for just that reason, to help someone work through a struggle. They are in a place where they need a sounding board just to release the stress that is building up within. Nowhere does it say that you have to accumulate their burdens and make them your own … what you are supposed to do is listen, love, pray … then you take their burdens and release them into God’s hands and allow Him to take over. You are just the vessel to help get them to peace … even if it is only for a few moments.

There is a balance between assuming someone else’s burdens and guiding them to the Father. Sometimes it can seem like a tightrope, but it is doable. The key is to have a good prayer life. With a good prayer life, you can sit with people, listen, absorb, offer particular assistance or guidance, and when you have finished the conversation, take on His yoke … give Him yours … and keep your peace. The key is Him. The victory in beating the enemy’s schemes is a relationship with Him. Knowing Him. Communicating with Him. Trusting Him. Loving in Him.

Today, as you go about your normal business, do not discard a neighbor in distress … no matter how you may feel, they need an opportunity to be heard, and then you cast that burden to God the Father. AS the church, let's come together and help each other.

Be blessed.

**Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15

please pray for me and my grandkids to be protected from so many people around us who are being used by Satan to stop my grandchildren from being raised biblical

Your kids or grandkids can learn the book of Acts while they color. Scripture on each page.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTGSZZR2

Happy Father's Day.

And as with most holidays, I know today lands a little differently depending on who is reading this.

For some of you, today is easy. You get to call your dad. Maybe you'll have a barbecue. Maybe you'll sit around telling stories that have somehow gotten slightly more dramatic every year they've been told. Maybe you'll laugh about old family memories and roll your eyes at the same dad jokes you've heard for decades. Those are gifts. Don't take them for granted.

For some of you, though, today hurts.

Maybe your dad is already Home. Maybe Father's Day means remembering a man whose voice you can still hear in your head even though it's been years since you've heard it with your ears. Maybe it means wishing you could ask one more question, hear one more story, get one more piece of advice, or just sit across the table from him one more time.

And for some people, Father's Day is hard for a completely different reason. Not because your father is gone, but because the relationship was never what it should have been. Not everyone has memories filled with support, encouragement, and safety. Sometimes Father's Day can feel less like a celebration and more like a reminder of what should have been but wasn't.

Then there are the men who desperately wanted children and never had them. The fathers who have buried a son or daughter. The grandfathers who miss the grandkids who moved away. The stepdads wondering if the children they helped raise really know how much they love them. The foster dads who opened their homes and hearts knowing goodbyes would eventually come. The men who became father figures simply because a kid needed somebody to show up.

Many of the most important things fathers do aren't the big dramatic moments. They're the thousands of ordinary ones.

It's getting up and going to work when you'd rather stay home. It's fixing things nobody notices unless they break. It's carrying burdens quietly. It's teaching a child how to work, how to keep their word, how to treat people, how to pray, how to keep going when life gets hard.

It's being tired and showing up anyway.

A lot of fathers don't get thanked nearly enough.

The funny thing is that when we're kids, we assume our parents know everything. Then we become adults and realize they were figuring things out as they went, just like the rest of us. They made mistakes. They worried more than we knew. They carried responsibilities we never saw. And somehow, despite all that, many of them kept putting one foot in front of the other and doing the best they could.

So today, if your dad is still here, give him a call.

If he's already Home, spend a few minutes remembering him.

If Father's Day is painful, know that you're not alone.

And to all the dads, grandpas, stepdads, foster dads, adoptive dads, and father figures out there: thank you.

The world changes because ordinary men choose, day after day, to love, lead, provide, protect, teach, and show up.

That may not always make headlines.

But it matters more than most people realize.

written by Farmers Girl

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

Yesterday was a beautifully designed day to test my peace. There were a multitude of obstacles that required me to be on my computer or phone all day. None of which favored working on my book. There were moments where I needed fresh air, but not the air where I am playing with my littles, but centering myself. By the end of the day, I was just shaking my head and looking back. Some of the frustration could have been avoided had I just listened to the voicemail from HR instead of skimming the text in the voicemail.

After writing about which side was giving me a ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ each night, and my proclamation to only receive the one from my Father, the enemy got his feelings hurt and came at me hard. Not like hurting me or my family, he knows my faith is strong, but hitting me with stupid. He knows I do not do well with stupid. I tend to lose my peace when stupid begins. I tend to show a lot of boldness and stubbornness when stupid arrives. My compassion and empathy pretty much hide under the bed.

Snippets of yesterday. I may or may not have a spot in the International Food thing in Lafayette at the fairgrounds. I have paid quite a bit of money promoting themselves as associates with this venue, but two more showed up yesterday claiming I had been scammed. After a long day of ‘prove it to me’ or ‘give me my spot and then I will transfer the money when I get there Sunday morning.’ One gave up … the other I thought had given up, but tried one more time and then left me alone. The one gent even sent me a picture of his desk where he was working to prove he was with the venue … nothing could be verified … but it was a nice setup. By the end of the day, he had wished me well and told me to have a nice day. I dropped it. Then a couple of hours later, he started again. By the end of that conversation, he called me a liar and told me he was calling 911, and sent me a picture of his phone (haha). So I told him to show me where I lied, sent him a picture of my front view from my house and told him that I would wait right there for the police, and I would have the coffee waiting.

Reflecting back to that conversation, my insides were never in turmoil. I calmly typed each message. I did not even have the desire to cuss. That in itself is a miracle. And when he threatened the police, I laughed very loudly. My husband was on the phone and looked at me as though I had lost my mind. Then I showed him the text, he told me to quit making so many friends.

This morning, I am well rested. My coffee is hot. I will still show up on Sunday and see what happens. I may or may not have a spot. I have no idea. If not, then lesson learned. If I do, then lesson learned. God is in control, regardless of what I can physically see. If I do not have a spot, then I guess I will spend the day with my mommy. What a horrible consolation prize … NOT.

My friends, I lost valuable time with my grandkids yesterday because of these people and my choices on how I responded. I cannot get that time back. Nor can I get the potential influence I put on them because of my frustration with these people. Our choices affect everyone around us. Whether we think that they do or not. Our choices impact scenarios. Our choices set standards. Our choices plant seeds. If our choices are not from God, what seed are you planting, what example are you setting?

I was lucky yesterday. I do not have days like that very often, and my grands know this. The way they handled it … with the hugs of God. Periodically, they would come in and ask for a hug. I don’t say no to them for hugs. They are heavenly and magical.

Today, as the stupid raises its ugly head, choose Light, choose Peace, choose Grace. I will be making up yesterday the best that I can with my littles today … we will have a great day … they go home tomorrow … so today will be awesome.

Be blessed.

***Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. – Jude 2

Hey friends i very seldom get on here But praise God i had a great Birthday today. Spent time with my wife and some of my kids and grandkids.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

I had a very productive day yesterday in finding my home office. I have one tote and two small boxes of filing to complete, and I will be complete. I think that I may move to the next room, whichever one that one is once I am done with this one. I am no white-glove Susie homemaker, but I do prefer being able to see the entire floor of my office and not just a path to my desk. The worst part is that I will forget where I put everything when I am done. Haha.

Grey’s Anatomy was the chosen show for last night. The sneak peeks and such were just what they needed to make me want to see the season finale…unfortunately … what I thought was going to happen and how I thought they would end it … well … let's just say I was not happy with the ending. I told my sister that maybe I needed to start writing their sets … haha.

Today is the last soccer game for my grandson. I saw his first one, one or two of the middle season, and I will make it to the last one. He is growing up so fast. In my social media memories, pictures pop up of cuddle time. I miss cuddle time. I do not remember signing the permission slip that allowed them to grow up. Haha.

I wonder if the Father ever looks at us with the same curiosity that we do other things. Such as, ‘I don’t like the way yesterday ended, maybe I should write tomorrow’s ending for them … oh wait … I did, but they did not talk to me or ‘cuddle’ with me so they did their own thing.’

Yes, I know that He is not curious because he already knew my actions; however, let's put this in our eyesight. The way we look at our kids and grandkids. We want cuddle time with them to share our love, to share thoughts, and to share our wisdom. We want cuddle time to help them sort out the ‘mess’ they have. We want cuddle time to help our ownselves heal from something that we are involved in or avoiding. We want cuddle time to receive their love as well.

When we cuddle with the Father daily or spend time with Him daily, He imparts his love and wisdom on our souls to help us find the path that we are seeking. When we decide to do it all on our own, well, our outcome is not as peaceful as it could have been. Today, I encourage you to have cuddle time with the Father. Seek his wisdom. Seek his encouragement. Seek his unconditional love. You will be amazed at how much better your day is.

Be blessed.

** The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:1-3

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

Yesterday I was invited to a promotion ceremony. It was wonderful. She was completely surprised and elated. Family and coworkers all gathered and nearly caused her a heart attack when she walked through the doors. It was a building full of love and reward.

Afterwards, I verified the venue for an upcoming fundraiser for a person who has always put others first. Who would, in the middle of the night, go sit with someone who just needed a friend. A person who is the epitome of being a child at heart. Then had a ME-type conversation with them to let them know that they do deserve this kind of family love.

I was asked recently if I miss my work. I do, and I don’t. I do to the extent that it was my routine, and I knew what to expect. I do not because while I was working, I could not do what I am doing now, and for me, this is far more important. To be honest, when I felt the push to go a month earlier than planned, I was scared. I had a plan, and my mind told me that the plan was solid. It probably was. My plan gave me a sense of control. But I am not in control, if I truly believe that He leads my life.

Today I prepare for an event, work on a couple of loose ends for the fundraiser, hug my grandkids, and do the dishes. Oh, yeah…probably should do some laundry … I am out of pjs. Haha. This life is far different than what I am used to. Three weeks in and I am still adjusting. But the sleep that I get and the refreshness in the morning … I had peace before but following Him in this manner … it is something completely different.

What step has He urged you to take that you warry of? Which person is He asking you to reach out to, that you are holding back on? What direction is He pointing you to that you are scared or unsure of? He will not lead you down the wrong path. He will only lead you down the path that He has designed and designated for you. He knows what you are capable of, and He wants you to grow in Him.

Be blessed.

**Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. –Psalm 23:4

From; Brenda Walsh Ministries
Broken Families.

There’s no such thing as a “perfect family.” All families are broken, even God’s family. Imagine how God felt when Satan rebelled and took a third of the angels with him. All throughout the Bible, you read about broken families, even those who claimed to love God the most. It’s important to note that just because you are “family” doesn’t give you license to hurt each other. Someone once said, “Most of the scars on people’s hearts weren’t left by their enemies. They were left by the people that claimed to love them the most.” And, oh, how true that is. Only the people that you love have the power to hurt your heart. Sadly, too often it is your own family members that inflict the pain. Over and over again, you hear of siblings who don’t speak to each other, parents fighting with their adult children, and grandparents prohibited from seeing their own grandkids. Oceans of tears have been shed because of pain that was inflicted . . . all in the name of “love.” But as much as you want your family to change, only God has the power to heal hearts. You can’t “fix people,” not even your relatives! Pray for Holy Spirit guidance, and if you’re the injured party, forgive those who have hurt you. If you have hurt someone, make it right and ask for forgiveness. There are some family units that are so toxic that the best thing to do is forgive but love them from a distance. Do not let the behavior of others, even if they are “family,” destroy your inner peace. Families you “choose” are sometimes closer than those related by blood. The Bible says in Mark 3:33-35, “ ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’ ” In other words, if you are united with Christ, you are family with fellow Christians. Even if your family is broken, God won’t abandon you. He is there ready to heal broken hearts... and broken families too. Text: 1 John 4:20, Exodus 20:12, Psalm 133:1, Proverbs 17:6