A Momma's Heart

Isn't she sweet? This is my oldest at her birthday celebration. She's 17 now, but still wanted to go to the park. I just love her!

At the park, there was plenty of visiting with friends...

...hanging around....

...fast movin' merry-go-rounds...

...three-legged rollerblading...

...pretty princesses on their scooters....

...the ups and downs of teeter-totters...

...more fast moving...

...oh, yeah, plenty of eating...

AND THEN....

There was

*drum roll please*

SUPER EVIE

This momma's heart is happy to watch all her family and friends having a good time.

Take care,

Elizabeth

TRUTH

We watched a movie this past week and both the beginning and the end had this quote:
"Truth is in the mind of the teller." We thought it was rather funny at the time. But through the course of this week, as I have really thought about this phrase, I realized the great fallacy in the statement. It plays right into the modern thinking that says "truth is all relative."

I will grant, that in some cases, the perspective and the views of many individuals watching a singular event may vary in degrees of accuracy. But, in life as a whole, truth is not relative. Let me repeat myself. Truth is not relative. Only perspective can be relative.

I guess my concern with this statement comes from my experience of the week. See, as the Lord has been allowing difficulties into my life, I have gotten to see how "relative truth" can be so destructive. "Relative truth" can destroy people. "Relative truth" can tear apart families. "Relative truth" is no truth at all.

In the midst of my deep sorrow this week, I was reading my Bible and happened upon these verses:

I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set my heart on your laws.

I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;

do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.

(Psalm 119:30-32)

There is absolute truth. It is found in the Word of God. There is absolute truth and God knows what it is. You can deny the truth. You can pretend the truth doesn't exist. You can say that the truth isn't really a part of your life. Ultimately, you're wrong. Whether you deny Truth or accept Truth, it exists. It's not a matter of your feelings, your perspective or your knowledge. It makes no difference how many degrees you hold or your position and title that you bear. Truth is truth.

In another movie, Mary Poppins, Mr Banks is quoted as saying: "Madam, kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with facts!" I experienced that this week. And for the time, evil and lies seem to have gained the upper hand. But, look at verse 32 again, that last phrase:

"For you have set my heart free."

Where there is truth, real truth, there is freedom. No matter how you perceive life, no matter what your perspective may be, when there is Truth, you are free.

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

(John 8:31-32)

There is nothing so sweet in this world as having this freedom, freedom from a guilty conscience, freedom from judgement, freedom from having to remember who you told what to, freedom to live and serve and love in complete joy and peace.

Jesus Christ is the author of this Truth. Without Him, there is no truth. And if you follow His truth, you can experience the same benefits. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Elizabeth

*all pictures were taken at Cathedral Falls, WV.

Funny Faces!

So, this past weekend was Cari's 14th birthday. Next weekend is Amanda's 17th birthday. We took the girls up to an old football field and played frisbee and later basketball a little further down the road. What a day it was. We got sunburned, worn out, scabby knees and bloody noses. Well, okay, there was no bloody nose, but Mary did get hit in the nose. It could have bled.

This is Laura's idea of how fun frisbee is! It made her a little crazy. The whole concept of throwing a round disc and trying to get it to go in the direction she was looking just didn't fly with her, no pun intended.

Of course, Evie thought the concept of family members standing around the edge of a field throwing a frisbee was too boring. She decided this was a great way to play "monkey-in-the-middle". She, of course, was the monkey.

I am so thankful for the opportunities we have to be able to play together as a family. You know, today so many people get bogged down with "important" things to do, families end up going in 8 different directions on any given day. God is so good to me, that we can take our 6 girls, ages 5 - 17, and go play and have fun together. Cari stated that this day "was a lot of fun!" What a blessing.

Please continue to be in prayer for our family as the road we are travelling gets mighty bumpy at times. There are events going on this week that need to be covered in much prayer for His strength, power and truth. Thank you.

Speaking of travelling, how about this shot?

As you travel your road this week, keep your focus on the end, the prize, that goal that we are aiming for, "well done, you good and faithful servant."

Take care,

Elizabeth

The Three Little Kittens and then some

So, when I got home this morning from taking my handsome husband to work, I came up the steps to the house and found our three little kittens asleep on the table on the front porch. Not only were they sleeping there, but they had somehow managed to move the table to the middle of the porch away from the wall where it had been.

Then, this little guy decided to follow me around to the kitchen door and I noticed how colorful he was. Again. I was starting to think that he likes sidewalk chalk like most cats like catnip, but then.....

I happened upon Fiona. She had absolutely rolled in it. She was a lovely shade of blue-green on her usually shiny black coat. One front leg is completely green.

Poor, poor Fiona. Somebody drew pictures on the back porch in her favorite sleeping area. I am just glad to know there is nothing mentally wrong with the cat.

In other news, I read this amazing poem this morning in my devotional book, Streams in the Desert. I just thought I would share it with you. Something to think about over the weekend.

Be Strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.

Shun not the struggle; face it.

'Tis God's gift.

Be strong!

Say not the days are evil - who's to blame?

And fold the hands and acquiesce - O shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely,

In God's name.

Be strong!

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long,

Faint not, fight on!

Tomorrow comes the song.

---Maltbie D. Babcock.

Interior Designs Extraordinaire

This first picture is my idea of what a kitchen window should look like. Simple, tastefully done. Enough decor to draw your eye to the window, but not too much so you can look out of the window to see the beauty beyond it. Not too much to allow the sunlight to come through. Not too much that you have to clean or worry about. Just really, not too much.


On the other hand, there are other "eyes" for decor in my home. Like, for instance, Evie's eyes. You know the world through the eyes of a five year old is very different than the world through a momma's eyes who is not five. So, to Evie, this is a great example of how a kitchen window should look.

All done up in fuzzy scarves, littlest pet shop animals and chalk stencils. Not to mention the colored pictures and plenty of all of it.

Evie loves to decorate. In fact, this fine example took her the better part of an afternoon to complete. It just had to be so. Don't move anything. It's just right.

If you think this is fun, you should see my living room. But that's another post.

Take care,

Elizabeth

Just Wanted You to Know

Isn't this little guy a cutie? I mean, have you ever seen a cuter wooden pull ducky?

This little guy is currently available at our Etsy shop. Now, I am not trying to be a cheesy over-the-top sales gal, but who wouldn't want one of these little fella's for that special little one in their life? Did you know that Christmas is just around the corner and there are only a limited number of these duckies? Once they are gone, they are gone. So, just to let you know, you can link directly to our Etsy shop on the right side of this blog, or better yet, here is the link for you:

www.sewelizabethplumley.etsy.com

Now, I know his picture is already on the side bar, but today is "Little Yellow Ducky Day". Sure it is. It is. I just know it is.

So, in that ongoing effort to not be the cheesy-over-the-top-sales-gal, I'll not beg you to go check it out. Oh, and that price you see over there? It includes shipping. Yes, I am serious. It really does. You couldn't do that well at Wally-World. No, you couldn't.

So, whatchyagonnadonow? *subliminalmessage....gototheetsyshop....gototheetsyshop....gototheestsyshop*

Have a great day,

Elizabeth

In Case You Didn't Know...

Have I mentioned how beautiful WV is? I mean, this morning, my husband stopped at a local gas station to pump gas. I, of course, had to jump out and start snapping a few pictures. How many people get a view like this while pumping gas? Am I the most blessed girl you know, or what?

Yep. That's three crosses out there on that little island. In our family, when we drive along and see three crosses put up together we yell "pilgrims"! Of course, I am not sure why we yell about the pilgrims, because these crosses aren't that old, but we yell it anyhow. We try to see who can spot them first. This particular set of crosses has been called out of bounds, however, because we pass by here many times a week. (It gets a little mundane yelling "pilgrims" over the same three crosses again and again.)

I expect the girls and I will have a great time on our trip to North Carolina this weekend, though. I know there are multiple sets out there between where we are and where we are going.

I am thankful that we live in a nation that still believes in the cross and still recognizes our Saviour. Maybe we can't publish the Ten Commandments in our schools anymore, but there are still enough believers out there, donating a chunk of land to stand up and say "we believe".

If you are some of those people who have crosses on your land, thank you from our family.

Happy Pilgrim hunting,

Elizabeth