… To a very special person…
Someone who is kindhearted and generous…
Someone who supports me in everything I do…
Someone who has shown me a wonderful example of a godly young man…
Someone who I am blessed to call not only my friend, but also my brother…
Today is his big day, and I just want to take this brief moment to say “Happy Birthday” to an amazing young man. May God immensely bless you today and always, Tyler! I love you! :)
“Now therefore, Our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.”
~1 Chronicles 29:13~
As we delight in a wonderful meal, share memories and laughter with the ones we love most, and give thanks for all that we have, may we remember the One Who gave us all of those precious and wonderful things.
May you and your family have a very blessed Thanksgiving!
I would like to share something very exciting with you all today. Mrs. Fuentes, over at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, is hosting a wonderful giveaway on her lovely blog! Vision Forum has generously decided to give away three gift cards for their online store to three blessed winners. I certainly encourage you to head on over to Mrs. Fuentes’ blog, and enter for a chance to win.
Vision Forum is a great company, and their online store is filled to the brim with products such as Christian books, videos, audio tapes, homeschooling resources, and even toys for the children in your homestead. I have been blessed by several of their products, and I am sure you would be as well!
The giveaway for the gift cards ends on December 3rd, so be sure to enter soon!
Have a blessed Monday!
I must admit… I have not been the best blogger recently. It has been a busy season here at our house, to say the least. With a full school schedule and the holiday season approaching, I have not been able to put much time in on the computer. Though it is always nice to take a break from such things, I have to say that I have missed y’all.
Before I go on, I would like to say “Thank You” to all of my readers who left a sweet birthday note on my Sweet Sixteen post. They truly made my birthday all the more special! :)
I would also like to say “Happy Anniversary” to my dear parents. Today, they celebrate 22 beautiful years of marriage. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful parents, and pray that God will continue to bless them in the years to come.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
~1 Corinthians 13:4-7~
NIV
Several days ago, I found out that I was nominated for Best Encourager as well as Best Photo Blog on the Homeschool Blog Awards website. I am so thankful for this amazing honor, and would like to thank those of you who have voted for me!
Voting ends tonight, and if you have not yet voted, you can click the link below. There are so many wonderful nominations!
I will leave you with this encouraging Bible Scripture…
“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
~John 1:16~
NIV
May the Lord pour rich blessings upon you and your family this coming week!
I am still speechless, just as I was when I walked out our back door and saw this beautiful sunset… God is SO good!
In celebration of my 16th birthday on the fourth of October, my family and I went on a Caribbean cruise. It was such a blessed trip and one that I will never forget… Great memories were made, indeed!
Our first stop was Key West, Florida. We didn’t plan any excursions at this port, although we did visit the beautiful Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.
As we entered the large conservatory, we saw hundreds of gorgeous butterflies fluttering around, all from various places of the world!
This little fellow was in another section of the conservatory… He and his friend wore the most vibrant colors!
“O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of your possessions-
This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both great and small.”
~ Psalm 104:24-25~
After Key West, we visited the Grand Cayman Islands, and then went on to Ocho Rios, Jamaica the following day. The above photograph was captured in Jamaica. I must say that Ocho Rios is incredibly beautiful! Looking out my window the morning we arrived, I saw lush hilltops and blue water… My jaw dropped, to say the least! :)
This photo was taken on our way back home. God’s creation is so magnificent, isn’t it? He never ceases to amaze me!
I am so thankful we had the opportunity to go on this cruise. It was certainly a very special and memorable “sweet sixteen!”
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
~2 Corinthians 9:15~
I find photography contests to be quite fun! That being said…
I have decided to enter Miss Raquel’s “Book Bliss Photography Contest”. I was very excited to see that the focus is on books… There are so many creative ways to capture a book and it’s beauty. If you would like to enter this sweet contest {and would like the chance to win one of three lovely prizes} click on the button below!
Here are my two entries:
“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”
~Proverbs 30:5~
I pray that your day is blessed with His great and miraculous love!
“And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation.”
~ Psalm 35:9~
Yes, unfortunately it’s something we all do and something none of us can avoid…
“For in a way, sin is like the layers of an onion: when one layer is peeled off, there are always more layers beneath.”
{Quote from The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel}
I find this quote to be so true. Sin can be a real stumbling block in life, and there is no way around it. There’s always going to be a new one entering our lives.
Facing our sin is a real challenge. Satan finds the perfect time to tempt us, and then our human nature says “That sounds wonderful!” It may sound “wonderful” in the beginning, but as we continue to deal with what is actually sin, we find that we were very wrong.
Realizing our wrongdoings can be very discouraging, but aren’t you glad that we have a Creator Who is there for us… A God Who loves us… A Savior Who died for us? I know I am!
I sometimes find myself wondering where I would be without Jesus Christ in my life. I think about how blessed I am to call Him my Lord. Because of Him, I have been forgiven! Because of Him, my sins have been washed as white as snow! Because of Him, I am FREE!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
~1 John 1:9~
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
~Psalm 103:12~
Last week, Jessa asked Tyler if they could go horseback riding together. Tyler gladly accepted, and I was quick to grab my camera and follow!
Here are a few of the photos I captured…
Miss Fanny May
Tyler’s such a great big brother! :)
… Enjoying every single minute of her ride!
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the LORD.”
~Proverbs 21:31~
{I wanted to thank those of you who left a comment on my last post… The sweet birthday wishes meant so much to Jessa!}
To my sweet and beautiful sister,
For such a long time, I dreamed about you and prayed that you would come. It’s truly amazing how God orchestrates everything in our lives. After much time of waiting…
And waiting…
God blessed our family with you ~ A beautiful, intelligent, and sweet little China baby!
The first time I saw you, my heart was filled with so much happiness! Finally… I was blessed with a little sister! Each year, I have become more and more grateful for you. We have spent so much time together, and the memories are so sweet!
Now today… You’re 5 years old! {May I add that time flies!}
It’s been almost four years since those elevator doors opened and I saw you for the first time. As I sat looking at photographs of you last night, the memories started flooding my mind… I was reminded of God’s love, and how He gives blessings to those who are patient.
{Jessa at 5 years old; photo taken today, September 8th}
Being your big sister has been one of the greatest things in my life, dear, and I will always love you… with all of my heart! ♥
Love Your Big Sis,
Jenna
The other day, Little Miss Jessa read Go, Dog, Go! {a 64-page beginner book} to me! As she read each page, her face lit up with excitement!
Her words were filled with such enthusiasm… What a great accomplishment for a four year old!
I had to share the big news with you all…
May the Lord bless you on this lovely Thursday!
Miss Kelsey, at Flip-Flop Farmgirl, is hosting a photography challenge and giveaway over on her sweet blog. The theme is flowers, and I have decided to enter the following photograph…
If you are interested in entering Miss Kelsey’s photography challenge, you may click the button below!
{The challenge ends on August 24th}
I pray that you are having a very wonderful and blessed day, dear readers!
In early June, my family and two sweet friends visited the beautiful state of Georgia. We had a very blessed time together, hiking, swimming, visiting the zoo, and so much more!
Here is a little glimpse of our week in the mountains…
displayed the beauty of our Lord’s creation!
The beautiful Amicalola Falls
Visiting the Atlanta Zoo was a lot of fun! For those of you who don’t know, they have panda bears there {which happen to be my favorite animal}. Seeing pandas for the first time was such a wonderful experience!
and his mother…
We also visited the giraffes…
They have the funniest personalities!
{Cottonmouth Rattlesnake}
Our last stop was my little sister’s favorite…
A *very* happy little girl with her favorite animals!
Our vacation to Georgia was such a joy, and I am so thankful to God that He enabled us to go and visit!
“He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
And the everlasting mountains were scattered,
The perpetual hills bowed.
His ways are everlasting.”
~Habakkuk 3:6~
