Country Patch Apron

Isn’t this the cutest apron? It is April’s newest creation from Jumpinbloomers.com . She has a whole bunch of new creations and I am STILL working hard to get the makeover to the site done, there will be lots of great new stuff on it, including this Country Patch Apron, that can be YOURS HERE FREE!

We are live with the makeover for the site, and I just couldn’t wait with this giveaway. It is time for another apron giveaway from www.jumpinbloomers.com !

The most coveted prize of all my giveaways, APRONS! from jumpinbloomers.com and just in time, so you can create with country girl style! Most of the items from Jumpinbloomers are custom made.

I will be adding this apron to the jumpinbloomers site and you can get it in any fabric.

This contest is open to US mailing addresses.

This contest will end July 22 at midnight and a winner chosen and announced that Friday.

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What is the secret place? Well, it is the time that you talk with the LORD. Not just talking TO the LORD, but talking WITH the LORD. No, I don’t mean the LORD will talk audibly to you, but I do mean that He will speak to us through His Word and our quiet time with Him. When is the last time you had quiet time with the LORD? Psalm 91:1-2 tells us “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.”

I know my quiet time can use some revival. I have good intentions, but sometimes, I just get busy and put other things before the Lord. But PRAISE THE LORD, He is always there just waiting for His children to come to Him. He wants and desires for us to dwell with Him in the secret place and have our quiet time with Him.

Psalm 95:1-7 tells us “O Come, let us sing unto the LORD, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. To day if ye will hear His voice.”

So do you want PEACE and JOY today? It all starts with Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Here is a recent devotion from Dr. Paul Chappell on PEACE. EnJOY every moment and dwell in the secret place TODAY!

Peace Be Unto You

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

Luke 24:33–39

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace.

The resurrection of Christ is the most beautiful picture ever painted, the most beautiful song ever sung, and the most beautiful sunrise ever witnessed. It is the embodiment of everything our world strives to portray. Hollywood seeks to produce the ultimate good-triumphing-evil story, but that story has already been told in the Bible. Singers seek to compose a song that touches the depth of a person’s soul, but God’s song of resurrection has already accomplished that. Artists seek to move people’s emotions through art, yet the picture of the empty tomb moves more than paint could.

How glorious is the empty tomb! It is the symbol of victory. It is the finisher of salvation. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55–57, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Death no longer has power over the saved. The grave is powerless in the life of the saved. Death no longer means the end, but the beginning of a new life with Jesus.

While many religions look somberly to the death of their leader, notice the gift Jesus provides us through the empty tomb.

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Fear was running rampant among believers after Jesus’ death, yet as Jesus appeared to His apostles, He greets them with a reminder of peace, “Peace be unto you.”

Jesus’ resurrection quieted the doubts and fears of those watching His ministry. He offered peace to those troubled by the uncharted waters they were facing. He promised peace to those worried by the chaos in the world. He extended peace to those trying to make sense of confusing events in their lives. His resurrection offered peace.

Our Lord no longer lies in a tomb. His ministry didn’t end at His death. Our God is alive and reigning in Heaven right now. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.

Jesus offers you peace today through His empty tomb. You don’t have to worry about the future or stress about the unknown. As Jesus told His apostles, so He tells you, “Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

The apostles wondered at their fate so much that they locked themselves in a room and refused to let others inside. They were frightened by the Lord’s death. But as Jesus showed them His resurrected body, He quieted their fears and reassured them that He was very much alive and still in control.

Why are you troubled today? Do you believe Jesus is alive and in control of the world? Don’t allow the world’s problems to worry you, but remember that because of the empty tomb, you can know God is in control.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
2 Chronicles 13–14 | John 12:1–26

Sometimes I wonder if I am glorifying the Lord with the tears I shed for missing Josiah. It’s been 10 years. When does grief end? I know He cares. His word tells me that He captures each tear in a bottle.

Psalm 56:7-9 (King James Version)

⁷Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

⁸Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

⁹When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Dear Lord, I want to be fit too!!! Thank you for bringing special ladies into my life that know my heartache too and always remind me to keep my eyes upon YOU! Thank you for Josiah and for Your perfect plan!

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What for my next post that includes great Homeschool Affiliate Links! EnJOY every moment!

You can also try looking up Yahoo groups for your specific wants/needs. There is one for ACE School of  Tomorrow, Saxon Math, Math-u-See, Sonlight to name a few.

Daddy and Josiah

Ten years ago today, in the late morning, I felt my first labor pains for my third child. It was around 11 a.m. and I called my husband at work, but he was not available. I told his boss that I didn’t think I needed him to come home yet. I phoned my best friend who was also unavailable as she was at her local library for story hour. I was receiving my pre-natal care from Dr. Ian Grable in Boston, MA. They assured me that there was no time to make it to Boston and please call the ambulance to get to Women & Infants in Providence. They assured me all my medical records would be fax’d over to the hospital before my arrival. I began to panic as this was not the way things were supposed to happen. It’s not how I had envisioned the delivery process of this precious child that we had prayed for so diligently all these weeks. But our loving Father in Heaven had it all planned out. His timing is perfect and His ways are always perfect. He knew exactly what I needed for this day to be a sweet memory for our family. I had my 6 year old go to the next door neighbor to help with him and his almost 2 year old brother.

It was a beautiful day with the sun shining, much like today. I knew that I could not handle this alone and phoned my church to ask for a prayer chain to get going.  It was then that I realized that the LORD would carry me through this with His strength and grace.  As my best friend raced to my home to be with me and my husband started the half hour drive home, I felt reality setting in. Was I scared? Oh yes! We didn’t know whether this child was a boy or a girl…all my other pregnancies we knew the sex of the child and called them by name from around 20 weeks in the pregnancy.  We knew from 19 weeks in this pregnancy that our child was not expected to live. We had picked out the names Josiah for a boy and Grace for a girl. We knew the LORD had a plan for this child and we wanted the child’s name to show our dependence upon Him. As my best friend, my husband, and the ambulance all arrived within minutes of each other, I felt peace. God’s peace that passes understanding. I also felt strong…it was weird. My first two pregnancies did NOT have easy deliveries. Somehow I knew this one was going to be different and I was not afraid. It was the prayers of the brethren and loved ones that were covering me. God was going to take care of me and I knew that. And oh how the LORD has taken care of us! Not only during the pregnancy from 19 weeks to 34 weeks when our child was delivered, but also during the delivery, and during the journey of grief that we have been on ever since.

I am grateful to the LORD for the many sweet memories I have of that day. I was alert and able to take much of it in and have been able to keep the memories clear in my mind these 10 years. They are good memories. They are sweet memories. They are profitable memories. My husband and I have grown closer to the LORD and each other through this journey. Through His grace and strength, we have been able to help minister to other hurting families and share God’s comfort with them. This journey of grief has been a time that I would not trade for anything in the world.

So today on this gorgeous sunny day, we are remembering our precious Josiah and thanking the Lord for the time we had with him. We have plans to make a cross and plant a tree when the weather warms up in our yard. We will look through his scrapbook and open the heart-shaped box with roses on it that the hospital gave to us with his hat and blanket and clothes that all still have his scent on them. We will make the trek to RI to visit his grave and leave some flowers there and praise the LORD that his soul is in Heaven. Sure, we may shed some tears today, but be assured that the tears are bittersweet. God’s ways are perfect and we rest in His promise that we will one day be reunited with Josiah in Heaven. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

His Perfect Plan

Ten years ago, my life was changed in an instant

that moment that I held you in my arms

will never be forgotten.

God formed you perfect in His image for His purpose

a purpose that we may never fully understand

this side of Heaven.

My sweet little Josiah, so perfectly created by the

One who knows the plan.

Your fingers, your toes

your sweet little nose.

He knows my every heartache

and captures every teardrop…

your brief life here on earth was not for naught.

The journey of these past 10 years

have been filled with grief and true JOY.

God knew exactly what He was doing when

He gave you to us.

It may have only been for less than 2 hours

but through those mere minutes

we felt His love and power.

Over the past 10 years,

He has covered us in comfort,

a comfort that brings true JOY.

The folks that have “met” you through His perfect plan

will forever be touched

and I praise the LORD for bringing you

my precious little boy.

Continue on my precious child,

I look forward to the day we will be reunited in Heaven

according to His perfect plan.

Love you forever,

Mama 3/8/2010

Happy 10th Birthday Josiah Thomas Morrison!

It is my “sad week”. I always get very emotional and sad the week(s) before the anniversary of my precious Josiah Thomas‘ early graduation to Glory. On Monday, March 8, 2010, it will mark 10 years since that day that changed our lives and helped to mold us into the people we are today because of God’s mercy and lovingkindness. It has been 10 years, but the memories are like it was yesterday. I can still remember the panic and disbelief as I started to go into labor and could not get a hold of my husband or my best friend. I can still remember standing in our living room with my husband as the ambulance was waiting to take me and tears of pain and fear flowed down my face. I can still remember only being in the hospital for mere minutes and the delivery process began. I can still remember the burning sensation right before he was born and the nurse gently telling me not to scream, but to push!!! I still remember talking to my best friend on the phone after they brought Josiah into the room and telling her how big he was! I remember thinking how big and beautiful he was in that little incubator and asking if I could touch him. I still remember the JOY and hope I felt that he might be able to make it. I still remember the amazement at how “easy” the delivery was and how alert I was. I remember the special time they gave to us to hold and love on him when the doctors felt Josiah’s time left here was short. I remember the nurse who kept asking if we wanted him baptized. I remember feeling bad for her that she believed he needed to be baptized in order to get into Heaven. I remember Frank and I holding him and telling him all about Jesus and how he would soon meet Him. I remember Josiah passing from this world in my arms and entering into Heaven in Jesus’ arms. That fact right there gave me such JOY! It was such a peaceful transition. It still blows my mind that God decided to choose our family for this journey. His timing is perfect. If this had happened just 2 years prior, the outcome would have been VERY different. You see, we were newly saved by His grace. Our faith and dependence upon Him had only just begun on April 14, 1998, when a special couple shared the gift of God’s salvation with us and we accepted the gift. Praise the LORD that He had planted us in a Biblical New Testament church (Greater RI Baptist Temple) that would help guide us through the journey. I prayed specifically and asked my church family to pray for us specifically that we would not get bitter during this journey. Oh how that would have changed the outcome of Josiah’s short life here on earth. The Lord also guarded our marriage. So many folks end their marriage after the loss of a child. I didn’t want that to happen to us and I prayed specifically for that protection. The LORD has blessed us so much through this journey. Over these past 10 years, I have truly cemented in my heart and mind that my JOY comes from Jesus Christ and Him alone. That Truth alone is worth all the tears and all the attacks from Satan during my “sad weeks”. Satan may try to question the “what ifs” or badger me with the “why haven’t you accomplished this yet?” But I can boldly tell Satan to get thee behind me…my God is bigger than you Satan! Paul Chappell’s devotional “A Restoration of Joy” (see below) was a timely reminder from the Lord that my JOY is true! Praise the LORD for His word which is True and His lovingkindness and mercy which are REAL and everlasting. Jesus is my JOY!

A Restoration of Joy

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

Psalm 51:8-9

Sin provides temporary pleasure but steals lasting joy.

Have you noticed that our world seems bent on finding joy or pleasure in life? Sports, hobbies, new gadgets, more possessions, bigger and better things seem to be the pursuit of many looking for happiness. “If I can get that job, with the higher salary, I’ll be happy.” “If I had this possession, I’d be happy.” “If I lived in that city, I’d be happier.” How often people look to things to bring them joy.

A look back through history shows that this trend is not new to society. Men and women have searched for joy and happiness in many places. Some have lived riotous lives, hoping to find happiness. One such man, Lord Byron, realized that joy is not found in such living, “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.” Some have sought happiness through money, yet Jay Gould, a millionaire, refuted that idea when he said, “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.” Joy cannot be found in fame or success, as Lord Beaconsfield reported, “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”

Another person who can attest to the unsuccessful pursuit of joy and happiness is King David. Yesterday we saw his fall into adultery. We witnessed his failure, cover-ups, and eventual confession. King David teaches us that true joy cannot be found in the satisfaction of fleshly desires.

Often, we are told that in order to be happy, we must be satisfied. The world teaches that if your flesh wants it, do it. If you desire it, go for it. Why not satisfy yourself? After all, satisfaction of flesh is the only way to experience happiness.

The world is right that a satisfaction of flesh will bring happiness and pleasure, but that joy is temporary. David gave into his desires, sought to satisfy his flesh, and walked away a train wreck of failure. I’m sure he enjoyed his sin at the time, yet afterward he faced the consequences of his sin.

Sin provides temporary pleasure but steals lasting joy. Notice David’s prayer of repentance, “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” David lost the joy he had enjoyed while he was walking with God. The joy of the Lord had left his heart, and David desperately wanted God to restore that joy in His life.

True joy comes from walking with God, obeying His commands, and following His path for your life. No circumstance, possession, pursuit, or person can give you joy like God can give. He is the source, provider, and facilitator of joy. If you truly want happiness and joy in life, you can find it by walking with God. David realized that God held the key to a joyful life, and he had lost that joy through seeking happiness on his own.

Do you have joy in your life? Joy doesn’t mean being happy at all times, but being content knowing that God is in control. Have you lost your joy? Following fleshly desires brings temporary happiness but leaves a joyless soul. Seek joy in Christ. Look to Him for the satisfying, soul-filling joy that a life lived for Him can bring. As you travel the Christian journey, times of failure and loss of joy will come, but like King David, repent of the sin and seek the restoration of God’s joy.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Numbers 23-25 | Mark 7:14-37