The Beauty of Fall

This morning I was on my way to a friends house for our womens small group from church and was just overwhelmed by the beauty all around. The trees are turning and it was a chilly overcast autumn day. I just love this time of year and living in the Northwest. There is such a beautiful canvas of colors all around. 

 "that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!"                  Psalm 30:12

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!

marianne

Celebrating a Remarkable Women

Today we are celebrating a very special lady, she is a remarkable, loving, creative, smart, gifted woman. She loves her family and would do anything for them. She loves the Lord and compassion is her gift. She is my best friend and some one I look up to. I'm so thankful for the relationship that we have. I know I can come to her with anything and she is there to listen. I love to watch her and Awbrey, they are so funny together. What an awesome relationship they have. Thank you God for blessing our family with her and for letting her be my mom!!!!! We love you mom aka mimi :)

Happy Birthday

marianne

Swimming In The Rain

Yesterday was such a beautiful rainy autumn day!!!!

Unless you had to be at a swim meet. Oh man it was so cold I have no idea how those girls pulled it off. It was freezing cold and rainy and oh did I mention outside. I asked some of the girls if the water was heated and they said no...there is no way...they are brave!!!! All in all everyone did good. Below is Taylor being her cute self and Awbrey's feet are so cold they are cramping :(

Good times, have a great rest of your day!

marianne

How Our Thoughts Can Change The Direction We Intended To Go

This is from one of my Proverbs 31 devotionals that I get daily. This is a good reminder and one that I know I really need to work on. The power of our mind can totally end up separating us from God if we are not focusing on him. If we focus on the negative and the what-ifs then we are not relying on God and asking him to fill our thoughts with what he has intended for us. I am guilty of this and in the process of changing this about me. I want to be confident in myself (with God’s direction of course) and use my thoughts in the proper way. Just think how AWESOME it would feel to have thoughts that are not destructive to yourself, your loved ones and those around you.


“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7a (KJV)

If we spend time thinking about how our boss does not appreciate us, our thoughts will take us straight to a bad attitude at work and possibly poor performance.


If we focus on how much we do for others and how little we feel appreciated, our thoughts will take us to a place of resentment, with lack of patience and love.


If we spend an entire day fuming over something our husband or kids did, and mentally practice the harsh words we plan to say to them, those thoughts will lead us into a place of arguments, hurt feelings and damaged relationships.


If we dwell on why God has allowed certain problems in our lives, we will transport ourselves into a state of insecurity and unhappiness as we stop trusting God.


If we focus our thoughts on money, career, success and pleasure, we will find ourselves in the land of the lost—feeling frustrated and discontent.


Our thoughts are powerful and require great self control. If we allow them to run rampant, focusing on things that lead us away from God, then we will wind up at a destination we would never deliberately choose.


In today’s key verse, God shows us why we should choose carefully what we think about, because our thoughts determine who we are and how we live.


How are your thoughts directing you today?

Marianne