Just Fellowship

So for the last couple of years, once a month I put together a ladies lunch for the women at my church. I love it! I love the time each month that I get to sit down with no kids, sometimes I have to bring them, and enjoy a meal with a wonderful group of ladies. Most the time I don't have a clue who is going to show up or not, there are a select few I can always count on and that is always the joy in it. The ones I can count on and new faces. Sometimes this is the only time I get to speak to some of the ladies, which is sad since we all go to church together. But that happens when you have more than one service and I am trying to make sure where my four kids are at and what they are into. These ladies have shown me strengths, struggles, joy, pain, hope, kind words but more than anything have shown me Christ. They help keep me on the line for him. Sometimes I will put together a devotional that I have wrote but most times I read something that has stood out to me since the last time we were together or sometimes we just chat. The most important thing is we come together for a common thread, that's our love for God. God designed us for fellowship with him first and foremost but he also wants us to have fellowship with each other. And through fellowship is when he gets  to shine. I believe when we go eat together in public restaurants others get to see us outside of church with a common goal. Often times as I am reading the devotion the other tables near us can hear what I am saying. And just maybe what is being read is something they may need to hear. They also hear the prayer before we eat and sometimes,  I have seen others join in with lowering their heads or even stop eating or talking. I pray that they may be joining in but who knows, only God does, it' at least a sign of respect. And maybe it makes them think did I pray for my meal? When others get to see a group of women or men together praying, talking about God and having a time of fellowship I believe a seed is being planted. Are we not called to be planters for Christ?

Not only do these lunches me the world to me but in the last year, every Thursday morning, I join in with ladies throughout our county and surrounding counties in a morning bible study called Community Bible Study or CBS. This past year we have been reading the book of John. Have I ever read it before this study? No, just bits and pieces through my life. The last few lessons we have studied about the last few days of Jesus Christ life and how he was preparing his disciples. He was letting them know that he his time is short but the Father was sending another counselor in his place, 

John 14:26 states, 

 "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

I have read this verse before as well as bits and pieces of all the Gospels but the last few weeks a light went off. I know that their is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit or the Trinity but what stood out to me was I have Jesus completely inside me. In the past I know that I have treated my Holy Spirit as that, a spirit or as just my consciousness or even my momma in my head. But guess what that's not the case, that is Jesus inside me convicting me on my actions. How many times I have I just brushed it off. So when I brush it off it off in reality I'm brushing Jesus off. Boy did a light bulb go off in my head, DUH Kim. The Holy Spirit is a person, as opposed to being just an influence,  He "walks the earth" through the men and women who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Knowing that I am LOVED that much for Jesus to live completely inside my body, heart and mind, WOW.  I need to stop, pray and listen. He is right there with me all the time.

We are made for fellowship with Him and through Him to have fellowship with others. We are made to bring glory to him through our lives. He is living inside all who believe in Him. So this brings to my mind how can I listen more to His Spirit and make God Famous.

Our God is Alive

Easter

I love Easter! The reason behind the celebration, knowing that I am as well as the whole world is Loved by a Wonderful God.  That Jesus died for my sins so that I may live forever with him. How awesome is that. Our tradition is to start Good Friday with Resurrection rolls and read the Easter story from the bible. Then we have a weekend full of family and friends. Egg hunts, Sunrise service, church and family meals all wrapped with the the love that God has for us. So here are some pictures from our God filled weekend.

Church

egg filled games

 Isaiah looking for blue eggs only

on the hunt for the Big egg

Isaiah got a few other colors and Laura Mae did pretty good

Found the Big egg. A great way to end hunting eggs with the younger kids. Next year it's onto the big kid egg hunt at night with flashlights.

cupcakes fro the farm

Carter and I made colorful deviled eggs

Easter basket

hunting eggs at the farm

checking to see what numbers are on the eggs.

Depending on the number on the egg depends what activity you have to do for a prize or some pocket change..... say a bible verse, hug an Aunt, count to 100 and so on.....

Pulled out my Granny Farless, Ella Mae's china. My daddy bought this along with the china cabinet for his mom. She passed it onto me as a wedding gift in2001. This is probably only the 2nd or 3rd time I have eaten off them.

The beatuiful sunset from the Farm. Our God is a Alive!

Resurrection Rolls

He is Risen!!!

 For the last several years I wanted Easter to be a bit more than just egg hunts, bunnies, candy filled baskets. I wanted to make sure our kids knew the true meaning of Easter. That our Savior Jesus died for us ALL. I am a hands on kind of person and love visual ideas to get a point across. So I was thrilled a few years ago when I ran across Resurrection Rolls on a blog. They were a hit the first year we made them as a family and have become a family tradition for Good Friday morning. They are quick. easy and yummy. While the rolls are baking, we read the Easter story from the Bible starting with the last few days of Jesus' life. This is a great way to reinforce Jesus' death. When these rolls are finished baking they are empty just like Jesus' tomb!

You will need only 6 items:

crescent rolls

marshmallows

 sugar

cinnamon  

 butter
Bible

Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll.
                   This represents the tomb.

Each child takes one marshmallow.
                     This represents the body of Christ.

Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

                This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed

                 with upon burial.

  
Lay the marshmallow on the dough and carefully wrap it around the marshmallow.

 Make sure all seams are pinched together well. It will look like a ball. 
(This is a REALLY important step! Otherwise the marshmallow will “ooze” out of the seams)

Bake according to package directions.

Isaiah carrying them to the oven

Cool.
Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there!! 

Celebrate God’s love!

" But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

Bee of Good Cheer: Giveaway!!

One of my Wonderful Crafty friends is doing a Great giveaway. Go check her out and enter.

Bee of Good Cheer: Giveaway!!: What's that you say? You fancy a giveaway? Well it's your lucky day! Today i have for you a completely customizable b...

Jewelry oh Jewelry

 Love times I can be crafty. And it's extra special when I can make something for someone I love. For the last few years I made something for my mom for her birthday. Last year was a rose scarf made out of felt and this year I made her matching earrings, necklace, and a bracelet out of......................... Washers. 

Yup you read that right. Washers from the hardware store. I've seen several around the web and thought why not. They are really easy to make and didn't take that long to put together. The hardest part was waiting for the finger nail polish to dry. The earrings aren't reversible, that was the only downside. So here is a few pictures....

the supplies: nail polish, jump rings, washers, earrings

painted one side and flipped it over after it dried and then painted the other side black

starting the bracelet

The red side finished

the black side finished

finished bracelet

Ten Years Old

Amos Jarrett

Laid back, Joker, Big Heart, Smart, God Lover, Happy, Our Politician

My first born son. Life with you is an enjoyment.We are so Blessed that God gave you to us. We thank God every day for you. You are the most laid back of all our kids. Maybe that's because while I was pregnant with you I was too. I enjoyed being pregnant for the first time. I ate everything while I was pregnant, maybe that's why you Love food the way you do. I was in labor with you All day on the 19th of March. And ALL the family was in the waiting room too. There was no room for anyone else. Momma Pat was in the room with me and your Dad as my coach. Everyone in the waiting room was glued into the TV because of the crazy weather we were having and the President was on too. Tornado's had touched down in Cookeville and we were kept up to date thanks to Daddy Tom, he was working out in the mess. They had a tornado that actually went right in front of his and Pat's house. But we were all safe in Nashville. Just lots of rain. And of course I had no clue what was really going on I just wanted to see and hold my baby boy! I wanted so bad to have my children natural but thanks to my epidural coming out i wasn't able to. Because it had come out it made my progress stop and could have put us both at risk. So Dr. Hamilton decided the best course of action was to have a c-section. This was a hard thing for him because he had told us from the get go, he did not like to do them unless it was a have too. When he came into the room he had tears in his eyes because he was going to let your Dad catch you. Daniel had be in scrubs All day waiting for that moment. But our main focus was a healthy baby and mom, so off to have a c-section. At 8:46 pm Amos Jarrett was born weighing in at 8 pounds and 21 inches long. Healthy as can be with a Great set of lungs! Also at that time was another important thing that happened in the world. Our country had been attacked on September 11,2001. And on March 19, 2003 our President and his staff decided to drop a bomb off at 8:46 in Iraq. All the family was out in the waiting room watching the news. Life was changing for our country but all I cared about was holding onto the bundle of joy God had put me in charge of. And I still feel that away. Life has been more joyous since you arrived in our lives. 

     Amos, you bring happiness every where you go. You have brought so much happiness to our lives.We are so proud of the boy you are and the man you will become. We call you our politician because you have never meet a stranger. You are the first person at church to go up to someone new and introduce yourself and make them feel like they are at home. You are growing into a wonderful little man. I pray that you always seek God and keep your focus onto him and do everything for his glory. God has great plans for you. I pray you always know that we Love you very much!

We Love you Amos Jarrett and Happy 10th Birthday! 

What a wonderful adventure these 10 years have been!

Enjoy these pictures of you through the years.  I think these pictures show your personality. Most of your pictures are printed and not on the computer :( 

One years old 

practicing for  t-ball 

If it wasn't fire boots you were wearing it was cowboy boots

you wanted a mohawk for the summer after kindergarten 

one of many pictures of you driving the fire trucks at the station

being a Shepherd for the Live Nativity at church

showing your new glasses off

you loved getting on any type of motorcycle 

at Warren County fair

one of my favorite pictures 

working on a hiking trail at Lighthouse Christian Camp on our family /church mission trip

playing flag football with Upward

your Birth in Christ, Mr. Allen baptizing you

the day Laura Mae was born, you are a Great big brother

being an Indian during school spirit week

was principle for the day

helping cook breakfast

playing in the snow

Life

LIFE

Crazy. Hard. Easy. Stressful. Full. Fun. Active. Struggle. Lovely. Tear filled. Laughter. Hurts. Regrets. Promises. Joy. Cheerful. Dark. Lonely. Lovely. Scary. Busy. Slow. Loss. Gain. Blessed. Love. Up. Down. Roller coaster. New. Light.

So many of these words can describe Life at our house the last few months and year. And I can add and subtract these words daily. Some days are filled with each one of them and some days maybe only one or two. But I know Life goes on. I know I have to look at each day with a new outlook or in this case a new word. I have to keep my eyes on God when I don't I go down a a spiral and then it's hard to climb back. But I know through Life I belong to a King. He feels Everyone of these words and more as I feel them. He holds and carries me through them. And if I didn't have my faith and trust in God I wouldn't have nothing. I question and get mad at God. I wonder and believe. I know these struggles in my Life can be used for His glory. And when I question and get mad, He listens and lets me choose to trust him or not. He lets me feel because he knows my heart and knows that I love Him. He gives me a verse to read, a story, someone else to put my mind on, something to do, a shoulder to cry on, a ear to listen, a person who is dealing with the same, a study to grow, He lets me choose Him. 

Diabetes at 8

Parents ups and downs

Brother 

Family

School ups and downs

Change of friendships

College

Dating

Marriage

Becoming a Mom four different times

Child having surgery

Friendships

Children starting school

Sunday school teacher

Leading Ladies devotional lunches

Home Bible Studies

Sports

Family Vacations

Neighbors

Gardening

Birthday Parties

Meals that are prepared

Sickness

Being healthy

Cancer

Heart disease

Meals outside of the home

Hiking

Camping

Holidays

Church Family

Friends

Loss of my Daddy

Loss of my sister friend Pat 

Each one of these can be described with a word from up top. I could choose where I went with them or where to go with them. But the main ingredient in each of these words is God. He is what Life is about. He is what holds Life together.  He is where I need to keep my focus. He is what I choose. He is what keeps me going.

God = Life

at least at the Snyder house

hugs and prayers~ Kim