Fall IS in the air

beautiful view of the lake

 The warm summer days are SLOWLY dissapearing. We like to make the most of them until they are gone. Fall will be here on Saturday.I do love summer. I love spending the day lounging by the pool. I love the water. I love fresh veggies from the garden. It's sad to see it all go until next year, I dearly LOVE the new season FASTLY approaching.

Thursday, I spent the morning cleaning and clearing the flowers that I had in the planters. They are almost all gone. I plan on planting pretty mums and maybe some pansies next week. I took the ''summer decor'' down. This included butterflies, and flip flops, etc... I will put out fall leaves, pumpkins, and one of my favorites, sunflowers..  I just look at these plants, and become instantly happy... I have also some new decor pieces this year also... I will share them later.. I got my first ''fall feel'' a few weeks ago, and got the ''want to'' to bake some apple bread..yummmm.. look forward to doing this again maybe next week.  Saturday, I think is the first day of fall!!!

I spent the day  friday, with a group of ladies from my church. My mother asked me to go with her and some friends to Chimmney Rock for the day. I had just went there 2 weeks ago with my hubby. He was working, and so I did not want to spend all day alone, so after some thought,, I agreed to go with them. I am glad I did.We had a great, fun time looking in all the shops,had a great cup of coffee, a delicious cone of ice cream.. It was a fun time. We stopped in at this cute little fruit stand. It had fresh tomatoes, and all kinds of jams/jellies. Mrs. Doris bought Charles some green tomatoes.. She said he loves them!! We stopped for a late lunch b4 returning home.It is a great thing to be with the older ladies. You really can learn so much!! They are such great Christian women to follow.

Titus 2 :3-5 The aged women likewise,that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

When I returned home, hubby asked me to come eat supper with he and the guys. We talked about what we would do on Saturday. We had a fun day planned together. We went to a state park, and had a grill-out picnic by the lake, and then went out fishing for the day. We did not catch anything, but had fun trying. They were having a horse show also there this weekend. We got to see some pretty horses.Wow!! I love these fun, special times together. We left the lake and went by our favorite mexican place for supper!! We had a fabulous day!!

 horses on the banks

 yum.. hotdogs

 

Love your special times together, It could change INSTANTLY!!

Lending A Hand

My MOTHER called me last friday and asked me if I wanted to  go to a nearby store with her. I really did not feel like going. I was really having one of those sleepy days. After dozing off again, the phone rang. It was hubby, asking me to meet him and the guys for mexican lunch.... hmmmm... I said yes..after all, I was about to starve, and I very seldom turn down mexican food!!!
 I called my mama to find out if she still was going shopping, she said yes.. She said she would meet me there after our lunch. We shopped around there for about an hour. We left and went our separate ways. I decided to go back by our local library. I try to go at least once a week.It is wonderful ME time, and I love to sit and read cooking magazines, do my devotions and writing for this blog, or just get some quiet time. I can chill with my Starbucks, and a comfy chair. It was NO accident for me going there .. God had a plan.

There is a man I see there almost every time I go. He is usually LOUD, amd rather stumbly.. He does not get around good.. I found out today, he is 96, and STILL drives!!!!! YIKES!!! He is really loud to be in a library, but today, I noticed he was not as loud.He kept getting up and down out of his chair, and getting different magazines. I was sitting in a chair next  to him, looking at the newspaper. He got up and was returning a magazine to it's shelf, and FELL,he passed out, and hit his head and arm on the shelf. He finally came to, after I was shouting at him. He was bleeding from his arm, and was wollering on the floor. He had wet his pants.. I felt extremly bad for the poor man.He was barely responsive. I quickly ran for help, at the front of the library.The library manager and myself got him stable. We called 911, it seemed forever before they arrived. In the meantime, the librarian provided me with medical supplies and I cleaned his arm ,and stopped the bleeding.I dressed it also.
The man was checked out by the paramedics, and he refused to go to the hospital. I really disagreed. I felt like he should have went to checked out at the hospital. I felt really bad for the poor man. The librarian told me that the man had NO immediate family. I thought about him all night, wondering how he was. After he declined to go to the hospital, he said he just wanted to go home.. YIKES, x 2!!! How was he going to drive himself home??? After trying to tell him NOT to drive home, he  insisted on leaving. I felt helpless, but could NOT make him stay... I did stay and watch and make sure he got to his car ok.. I watched the news that night for recent wrecks, I did not hear of any... Praise the Lord!!!. I was glad to be able to use my skills to help him, and lend him a hand. I really feel I was at the right place at the right time. Where the man fell,  he was in the back of the library. Had I NOT been back there next to him, IF he had fallen, he probably would not have been seen for awhile. God knew all this was going to happen.
I am glad He puts us where we are needed, and where HE wants us.I was glad to help the poor man, but  was even more relieved he was NOT seriously injured!!! Praise the Lord!!

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Adventure Fun?? YES!!

Having FUN can be an adventure!!!!!! I like having No plans!!!!Sometimes, we rarely have days where we don't know what we want to do for the day. I kind of like those days...NO plans..just kind of a lazy day.. We kind of had one of those days Saturday.... After many ??? of ''What do you want to do today??'', I told hubby I really did not care.. just did not want to stay home on a beautiful day.... We chose to ride toward  Chimney Rock... AND lake lure for the day...
We had such a fun time just walking through the town area, and exploring all the fun quaint shops... We had done this before, but it is always fun to do it again.. We had a fun lunch right on the little river, with a great view of the rock!! We went on a little trail walk, and then went to a cute little antique shop.. this was a little Heaven on Earth for me..... I loved looking at all the things, and they had all kinds of stuff I liked.. I even bought a few things I had been looking for, and some wonderful smelling candles....Mmmmmmm!!!!

We came by the Lake Lure and walked the trails there and even witnessed a beautiful wedding ceremony about to happen... It was fun to be nosy behind the bushes!!!!

 We were being nosy looking at this pretty wedding about to begin!!

 pretty view of the Lake

 LOVE  these

 YUMMY CHEESEBURGER

PRETTY VIEW OF THE ROCK!!

We had a fun filled day..and that was what I liked about it... NOT really knowing what we were going to get into..just as long as I was with my sweetie!!!

Comfort: We need it!!!

COMFORT IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED. We need to feel it from time to time. It is always great to feel ''everyhing will be alright'', when what we are facing tells us it may be different.

2 Corinthians 1:3 KJV Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

Sometimes the comforting of someone is NOT enough. HE comforts anyone who calls upon HIM in time of need. Some people blame God for what has happened to them, that they overlook Him, right there ,wanting to help them through whatever they may be going through. HE is very near when HE COMFORTS US!!

We go through times in our lives, when we don't feel the closeness of God.We are not as close to God as we need to be.He is always near. I can relate to this, personally. This also helps us to comfort others. It gives us a sense of encouragement to help others with the problems they are going through. I face this every day. If I can help someone, medically, physically, spiritually then I feel that God used me for His honor to comfort someone... EVEN when I feel like ''it's NO use!!!'' Sometimes, just lending an ear to someone who wants to share their problems, and burdens can be a great comfort to others.. YOU don't have to say a word, just BE THERE..

I like the book of Psalms. You can ALWAYS find COMFORT there. 

Psalm 23:4 KJV ''Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou are with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.''

glad to know HE comforts me when I am weary, eases EVERY pain, feels my deepest longings, time and time again!!

The comfort of HIS love,

Helps the struggles along;

Praising the LORD above,

In words of joyful song.

Angel's Landing Camping

my catfish i caught.it weighed about 9 pounds.

 my hubby and I, along with my mama,sister, and nephew just returned from a little R&R. we went camping at a''HOLE ON THE WALL'' place, we just kind of ran up on. we had fun cooking, fishing, and camping and lots of laughs and good times. we cooked some yummy hotdogs with homemade chili, wonderful waffles, and even some fried catfish.

our view from our campsite.

the campground..

while we were there, drake met a new friend. his name was hunter. he was there with his grandparents. drake and hunter hit it off.. and they were inseparable after that. they had a blast fishing, riding bikes, swimming..you name it, they done it.. they really liked being together. on sunday night, myself, hubby, drake, hunter, and pop-pop(hunter's grandpa) went night catfishing with a man, Mr. Ritchie..this man was a trip!! he knew how to cafish.. we caught 3 in a short time. drake caught this one, it weighed 19 pounds!! he was reluctant to holding it to take a pic, this is the closest we got him to it, but he was still all smiles!!

yes!!this is real!!! there were several around the campground..this little guy lingered at the drain pipe where you clean the fish.. when you cut the water on, the water runs to the end of the pipe, into the lake, and he sits at the end of the pipe.. it ws really something being that close to the gators.. and scary too.. and they were fun to watch...

my mama bought me a new waffle iron.. and we had a fun time making waffles for breakfast, one morning.. they were delicious!!

we had a great time, and it was so good to be with family, and have fun times together.. we look forward to going back there, soon!!

Priorities?? Where do YOU stand???

Mark 8: 36-37 KJV  For what shall it profit a man . If he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

PRIORITIES????? WHERE DO YOU STAND???

I tend to get my priorities out of order from time to time. I feel like I neglect my housework,ALOT, from time to time.. I can really tell it, when I go to the linen closet to get a towel for my shower, and there are just a few washcloths in there.. OR when I go to the sink, and there are dirty dishes in  there, that I said I would load in the dishwasher ''in a little bit''. but got off track, and some ''other priority'' took it's place.. That is when I have to regroup and prioritize what is more important??? clean clothes?? OR tv show?? clean dishes?? OR SHOPPING!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I LOVE TO SHOP!! hmmmmm???? lol.. In several areas in our lives, priorities have ''their place''....

A young Preacher/ College boy in our Church, preached a message a few weeks ago on, ''Standing in your Place.'' It was a wonderful, challenging message.. He said in his message there were 4 things we could conquer if we ''stood in our place''.. 1) faint- not getting tired, Remember strength?? It is made perfect in weakness. 2) fierce- don't be scared.. lean on THE EVERLASTING ARM. 3) fatigue- we will get tired, but keep on keeping on, and  4) fear- don't be afraid o show your faith. have FAITH in Him..

I think still, one of my favorite things to remember is JOY. JESUS, OTHERS, YOU..

IF you have them in this order, how could anything go wrong?? To get our priorities in order, I think we need to die to self DAILY!!! this is the true ''WILL OF GOD''..give each day  to HIM, for him to  use you..WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PLEASE HIM TODAY?? Don't ever think you can do anything by yourself.. YOU WILL FAIL!!  OBEY His Word, and live in the center of His will..This ought to make you STAND IN YOUR PLACE, more everyday..It is vital. Judges 7:21 And thy stood every man in his plac round about th camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

have you ever really thought about WHO is  expecting YOU to stand in YOUR PLACE?? wow, that is really something to think about!!! and very''humbling'' too, i might add... someone is watching you stand, and watching your actions when troubles come, and trials.. how YOU handle them??? 

this brings me to a conclusion... We need to get our priorities in line and order, and don't let the devil take ''OUR PLACE''..The Lord stood for us , why can we not stand for Him??  If we put our priorities in order, according to The Word of God, He will bless us, and we will have JOY, knowing we are ''Standing in our Place''!!

family fun time

 

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.. A VERY COOL PLACE!!

*****FAMILY TIME-***** ENJOY EVERY TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, WHILE YOU CAN!!! YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT COULD BE YOUR LAST TIME TOGETHER!!

 my family and i like to do fun things... we had never been to a zoo together as a family, so, my and hubby and I planned a fun ''family field trip'' to the zoo... not everyone in the family got to go, because of jobs, or previous engagements, but the ones that went had a ball..and look forward to going to another one ,soon. we started the day with breakfast at bojangles, then a 2 hour ride to the zoo,,,.. we had soo much fun looking and watching the animals..... some really amaze me. i could sit and look at them  for hours....... we had a delicious ''picnic/tailgate'' lunch on the grounds.. it was so fun too.... it was a very fun day filled with laughter, and excitement, and LOTS of walking... and we even saw a family from our church... imagine that...lol.. we finished up with a great meal at O' Charley's..... it was a great day!!!!

 Have you ever thought???? black on white?? OR white on black??????? these animals are simply gorgeous!!! And they are so very smart!! i think these are a definite favorite!!!!

 nephew, Drake and his daddy!!.. on a monkey??

i love him!!!!

the seals..

 choot em!!!!

looking at the alligators!!!