Gateways to Joy

Hi ladies! Today I have two videos that I want to share with you.  The first is from our Bible study leader Courtney over at the Good Morning Girls blog. Courtney is going to share with us her reflections of this weeks reading via Youtube. You may silence the music by going to the side bar, clicking on the button in the middle :-) I'm one of the ones who will be catching up this weekend.  I am doing so many things.  One in particular is learning about graphic designs and typography, while also trying to understand different software that designers use today in the industry.  Let me just say this week I've been a bit perplexed :-/ Yesterday while roaming about on the web I came across a video that quickly became dear to my heart.  In this video I saw my dream being lived out and became very inspired. Take a look and you'll understand. Also my dear ones, I ask that you pray for a family friend. Her name is Fannie, she's our CPA and my husband...

H e loves me right?  I don't feel loved.  I wonder:  Why are things so hard for me?  Why can't I have a few of my heart desires?  Sure, He cares for my basic needs:  food, shelter and clothing, but can't I have just a little more?  Can't I see what the other side is like?  You know over there.  Can't I have a few of the things that ... has? "Lord forgive me for a heart so ungrateful and foolish.  I don't mean to be.  I just want more and wonder why I can't have it?" Am I simply meant to be a wife, mother who homeschools, and blog?   Just be a keeper of the house, clean and take care of the laundry, cook ...?  Be the one to point others in the right direction?  I love it, don't get me wrong.  I just want more.  I think. Is that bad— me wanting more?  Is it too late for me—have I become to old?  After all I'll be 45 in May.  Are all my dreams and goals just that?  A th...

G ive Him thanks! Giving thanks for all things is making a tremendous difference in my life. I wrote this article sometime ago, way before I learned about Ann Voskamp's blog: A Holy Experience and her Gratitude Community.  Maybe, now, some of you understand why I'm so drawn to her.  She speaks my heart—my language, and she has a lot of kids just like me! I thank God for giving me the opportunity to blog and to share with you my heart-felt and most convicting thoughts.  One thing that has really drawn me to participate in this Gratitude Community  is that as I go about visiting your blogs I see a lot of me in you.  We are like minded you and me.  I'm beginning to think of you all as friends—my "kinfolk."  Realizing this makes me feel comfortable, and relax in your midst, ready to share. Today, I share a piece of my heart with you, and I thank you in advance for allowing me to be so...

I wasn't going to participate in this:  writing about "The practice of marriage." as Ann asked.  Why?  It's too hard.  There are so many hurts that run deep.  But after sitting back thinking, I've come to realize, as I always realize:  My husband is my friend.  My best friend. We've struggled a lot along the way, and even after 20 years it seems like we still struggle.  It does seem as if it is a little easier now, oppose to when we first began our journey.  Even though times aren't perfect I can also say that, "I can't imagine my life without him."  The man I began dating at 16. What helps me?  Remembering what Ann always says: "All is grace." God bestows grace on us...our marriage, our family.  My husband bestows grace on me, and I on him, and we keep moving.  Keep breathing.  Keep trying to work it out and figure out how to be a success in this thing called marriage and family.  We...

"W hen there is deep misunderstanding which has led to the erection of barriers between two who once were close, every day brings the strengthening of those barriers if they are not, by God's grace, breached.  One prays and finds no way at all to break through.  Love seems to "backfire" every time.  Explanations become impossible.  New accusations arise, it seems, from nowhere {though it is well to recall who is named the Accuser of the brethren}.  The situation becomes ever more complex and insoluble, and the mind goes round and round, seeking the place where things went wrong, brooding over the words which were like daggers, regretting the failures and mistakes, wondering {most painfully} how it could have been different.  Much spiritual and emotional energy is drained in this way—but the Lord wants to teach us to commit, trust, and rest. "Leave him to me this afternoon, is what his word is.  There is nothing else that I am asking of you this ...

J esus what can I say to you that you don't already know? First, I want to tell you what I'm taking part in with Ann & Holley (and some other lady bloggers).  We're calling ourselves "Word Girls." Each Tuesday each of us Word Girls are linking up to Ann's blog: a holy experience and sharing our series of letters about loving you with our words. So dear Lord, how do I love you? INSTANTLY sadness befalls my heart.  My heart knows that I don't love you like I should. BUT ... You love me— even still. The next question that comes to mind is ... Do people see your love displayed through me? Not often enough. Last week Holley's letter to Ann was titled: "Why You and Your Words are More than Enough." I've been thinking about that—pondering on the truth of that statement.  Is it true Lord?  Are me and my words enough? It is true.  "Just offer what you have.  I will make up the difference."   That's wha...