Keeping up with the Hills

Mothers, daughters, and silly pictures....

2013-05-14T20:25:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day

2013

Just Be Scared....

2013-05-05T21:00:00.001-04:00

My new favorite quote!

I challenged my kids to do this every single day last week.

Get your heart racing, be BOLD, be courageous!

Walking, Talking, and Drinking.....

2013-05-02T19:02:00.002-04:00

I just took a walk. It was after dinner, and my soul was craving time with the Lord. Outside, walking, in the beauty of His creation.

My head was spinning, I needed to hear His Voice.

We walked together, He and I. I talked, I shared my heart, I thanked Him for all that I saw. From the birds nest hanging delicately from the pine tree, to the tip top of a tree that had broken off and was just pointing heaven-ward.

I noticed the neighbors dog walking in front of me. Gleeful and playful was she. Not a care in the world. Blissfully unaware of danger or worries, or anything really.

I was jealous for a moment. Lord, why did you make us humans with this brain and all of the complexities? Why do we have the capacity to worry and to be shaky in our Trust and Faith?

No answer. Just birds chirping.

I kept talking, sharing my heart and claiming my stake at the Cross. The stake that He gave me when He died for me.

"I will walk forward, Lord. I will lead women to You through Your Word. I will not look to the right or to the left, but straightforward. I will walk strong, arms by my side, not walking too fast or too slow. Just straight forward. I will lead women to Your Word. You have called me, and I will answer the call. I will not shrink back when I see the snake in the grass {the enemy} hissing at me to stop in my tracks. Telling me lies, and telling me danger lies ahead. I will not listen to him when he tells me to be safe, stay where you are. I will keep walking. In fact, I will step on his head and wipe him from my shoe. I will keep walking, strong arms, strong legs, strong heart beating for You. Beating for You."

I said these words to Him. I vowed these words to my Lord. He spoke these words through me to be spoken aloud to Him.

I then turned my face upwards to the heavens and felt the lightest rain falling on my face. It sprinkled my skin and even tingled.

"Drink of me, daughter. Drink of my Goodness. Take as much as you want, it's always there. Feel Me on your skin. Drink of my Love."

My eyes burned with tears, a lump formed in the deepest part of my throat, and I surrendered to Him.

I will drink, Lord.

I thought of the manna that He sent the Israelites. While they complained daily, He still fed them, nourished them. Dare they complain that it wasn't enough?

Dare I complain that He's not enough?

I surrendered the steering wheel that I never had control of. I pictured myself a child in the back seat of a car with a fake steering wheel. Actually believing that I was driving the car.

It's false. I never was driving the car. He has been all along.

The Blessed Controller of the Universe.

I'm safe.

He created me for His Purposes. I will live in His calling and His purposes for me. I will not shrink back in fear of what is to come, but I will walk tall, leading, eyes straight forward. My armor is impenetrable. His armor protects me.

Perfect love drives out fear. Fear is the opposite of faith.

I look around and see the Glory of my surroundings. Getting a glimpse of what the dog sees. Just pure bliss. Bliss.

I turn the corner to walk up the drive-way up to the house. I see something out of my peripheral.

It's beckoning my attention.

I turn to the left, and see a yellow flower, all alone, standing tall in the ground.

Surrounded by nothing, but grass and weeds, this yellow flower.

Yellow, my favorite color.

Standing tall, among the weeds of the world. Vibrant. Brilliant. Glorious.

I took my gift. My gift from Him.

And thanked Him.

Easter Love.....

2013-04-11T20:05:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter 2013!

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people"

Matthew 27:50-53

I'm an Addict....

2013-03-26T21:28:00.000-04:00

I have a confession:

I am addicted to God's Word. I am. It's true.

Since giving up coffee, which I treasured like an addict would treasure their chosen drug of choice, I have been finding replacements for that addiction.

I think I've hit the jackpot.

Afternoon carpool was my favorite time to sip on this drug. It made me happy. It just did.

However, since detoxing from my happy drug, I have a new carpool routine.

I turn on my youversion bible app on my phone. This superior sounding British-y guy reads me the Bible in His perfectly polished accent.

I let the words wash over me like a spring rain. It's the most exhilarating thing that I've ever done. Truly, it is.

Something about God's word being spoken over you....there are no words to describe.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Romans 10:17

We are reading Numbers right now in the Bible. It's fascinating. Moses had some stellar faith. He heard from God. A lot.

I found myself questioning why the Lord did not speak to us audibly? Why did He choose to deposit within us the Holy Spirit instead of showing up in a burning bush and talking? Hmm?

After the thoughts left my heart, the answer rang in my ears.

He speaks every day. Every minute. Every second.

Not only that, but we can hear Him as much {or as little} as we want to.

How?

When we read HIS Word.

Hello.

goodbye caffeine--hello TRUTH,

jill

Empty.....

2013-03-21T21:21:00.000-04:00

I know I have some readers that are not SHINE subscribers, so I wanted to post this here on this site.

This subject has been on my heart for weeks, and I knew the Lord was leading me to write about it. It was a hard post to write. Only because it's so personal. Sometimes it's hard putting a mirror up to your soul, because you don't always like what you see.

But, if we don't see---we don't know change is needed. The Lord shines the light on the places that need revealing---and healing.

Thursday SHINE:

Happy Thursday, SHINE sisters! Is this week flying by, or is it just me? Maybe it's because Numbers has picked up the pace a bit. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE all the words in the Bible. However, some stories just take a little longer to get through, you know?

I've never been big on numbers, anyway. Numbers in the numerical sense. Counting, adding, anything math-ish....blah, blah, blah.

Just not my thing.

So, when the Bible speaks of the number of sacrifices being made in explicit detail, I get a little lost. A little distracted.

My mind wanders to other things--i need to call the dentist, i need to go to the gym today, wonder what I can scrape up for dinner, did I wash Lem's underwear, i desperately need a pedicure, Oh, and my fingernails--yikes! where's that cute nail polish, did i leave it at the beach....

{The Lord knows this is how I operated, He made me this way.}

Moving on.

So, our memory verse has had me thinking, pondering, and praying ALL week.

Am I hungry for Him?? Am I really hungry for Him?

Oh my, how the Lord knows how I have in the past filled my heart with everything but Him.

I would cram everything into this God-sized hole thinking it would fill that void that only belongs to our True Love, The Father.

For me, it wasn't a substance, but it was a a lot of other things. Things that I would literally crave, because there was such emptiness there.

Since I'm prone to being an open book, I will just share with you what those things were.

Approval. Being liked. Being sought after.

Oh, yeah. That was me.

I looked high and low, in every dark crevice I could find to get an approval fix. It's true.

My desparation for approval only drew me further from Him. I would go on approval binges, seriously.

For me this is what it looked like: Calling the friends I knew would tell me what I wanted to hear. Getting on social media and blowing it up with "please, please look at me!" phrases and such. Oh, yeah. Let's just let it all hang out, shall we?

The fix would come. I would be on a high. Then guess what? I would crash and burn. Every single time.

Maybe you don't have an approval addiction. Maybe it's something else that you fill that hole with. {Oh, and trust me I have many more things I've tried to stick in that hole, we will just stick to this one today.}

Friend, let me tell you from personal experience, there is NOTHING in this world that can fill you up, and satisfy that void, like Jesus Christ. NOTHING.

When the Lord showed me, after much misery over my crashing and burning, that I was looking in all the wrong places--I then had a choice.

I could believe Him, and start filling that gaping hole with Him. OR, I could believe Him, but not really trust Him with that hole.

Not trusting Him with that hole for me looked like this: Continuing to go to the places I knew I could still get my fix. Just in case, He didn't show up for me.

Oh, I'm cringing now. The truth hurts.

I've learned {after many failed attempts of not trusting Him} to trust Him. Believe Him.

Instead of devouring the world and the many things luring me to get my fix, I started to allow my heart and my mind to be lured by Him.

Girls, there's nothing else more satiating.

There is a verse that keeps popping up everywhere I go. I love when He does this. It's His reminder to me that I desperately need Him. No matter how far I think I've come, I'm just a "fix" away from being back in that empty place.

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9

Do me a favor and read that verse again. Let it sink in.

Friends, where are your hearts?

Are you hungry for Him?

What is the first thing you crave each morning? Is it Him? Or is it everything but Him.

Do you just go to Him when you have tried everything else and realize it's not filling you up?

Or, are you maintaining your heart by a daily dose of filling that empty space with His Word, and His Truth.

Did you know that physiologically speaking we often mistake thirst for hunger? Yes! Often times, we are feeling the craving for water, but instead go straight to food. Meanwhile, we are dehydrated and don't even realize it.

It's the same way with these "fixes" we get ourselves into. We choose the wrong thing to fill that hole--and end up dry as a desert.

Let me just shoot real straight.....

We often go to others for this filling or this fix. We go to Pinterest, to Twitter, to Facebook, just looking for that cozy scripture, or that perfect inspirational quote from someone we admire. We long to find someone who can give us just the "spring" we need to get us feeling good. To get us back on track. To get our "fix."

The enemy will use any tool, even seemingly innocent ones, to draw us away from seeking The Father. When we start to use these tools as a "replacement" for our time spent with Him and His Word--the enemy wins. We lose. Every time.

Can I just be real?

Let's quit looking to be inspired, and let's start looking to get infused.

Infused with His Word.

Infused by Him.

Oh mercy me! I think we will stop here. I think I've given us enough to chew on today.
{i may choke!}

stepping on my very own toes,

jill

Bragging Rights...

2013-03-20T21:54:00.000-04:00

This school year has been exciting!

Presley's art work was on exhibit at the Morgan Cultural Center! :)

We are so proud of our little budding artist! Those creative genes did NOT come from her maternal side, I am here to tell ya. ;)

Presley's art work!

a doggie :)

Now, we celebrate Joseph! He was inducted into the National Junior Honors Society tonight. He wore his finest little attire, and took the NJHS oath for all to see. So very cute.

Nana Terri, Danny and Presley cheer Joseph on

Nana, Papa, Danny & Joseph

Maw Maw and Paw Paw and Presley Jane

Joseph gets inducted!

His candle blew out too early...so funny!

Shaking Mrs. Norburg's {the principal's} hand.

Signing his name in the NJHS book

Celebrating Joseph!

The whole crew

Thought this was so cute...Lem, Joseph, Danny

So proud of all three of these kids!
Thank you, Father, for sending these angels our way.

Hearing vs. Listening.....

2013-03-13T17:25:00.000-04:00

Day three at the beach. I could totally live here. I really could.

Of course, I would never get anything done. Except for the occasional blog post. ;)

I've done a lot of praying here. I am needing some major discernment over some things coming up through my SHINE ministry. Like major.

I know that God is not the author of confusion, because His word says so. At times, I feel confused, but then, I know that He just wants me to trust Him. Completely.

I am learning that He calls us and can re-direct us at any point. It's not the re-direction that is the main thing, it's the hearing Him call you on a different path. You know?

It takes a whole lot of sensitivity to His voice in order to not miss the gentle call of His voice.

Life can get noisy. And I just don't mean in the physical sense.

It can get noisy when I have too much on my plate, spend too much time on the internet, worry over a conversation that didn't go well and play it over and over and over in my head, feelings of guilt for a reaction I may have had to one of my children {this one can really trip me up}, wondering what others may be thinking of me, wondering what Lem thinks of me.

Yeah, my mind can get noisy.

All that noise playing in my head keeps me from hearing Him at times. If I am entertaining all those things in my blonde little brain, there is no room to hear the Only Voice that matters. His.

It would be much easier if He could just pull me aside and look me in the eyes and speak what He wants me to do. However, I think that negates the personal relationship I have with Him. Right? He wants to know that I am hearing Him, because I am choosing to listen for Him.

I don't want my kids being forced to hear me, I want them to listen for my voice. Anticipate it.

When I talk to my kids, I want them to listen to me. Not just hear my voice echoing.

Everyone with ears can hear. But, can they listen? It takes discipline to listen. It does.

I think that's what He wants from us.

It's a daily thing. To try to stay in tune with Him. He's always, always there waiting to talk, to lead, to direct me. But, am I waiting for Him to? Am I clearing the cluttered path for Him to come in to my heart and truly listen for Him?

learning to listen,

jill

A Big, Big Day.....

2013-03-05T20:46:00.002-05:00

Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 MSG

This verse was the verse of the day on Biblegateway.com. It was THE verse that convicted me several years back. It convicted me to talk, teach, and LIVE God's word out daily to my kids. Yep, that's the verse.

So, when my Presley Jane gave her heart to Jesus on Easter 2 years ago, it was one of the best days of my life. The story is here.

Since that time, she has been wanting to get baptized. Sunday February 24th, she took the plunge.

It was a beautiful sight. Of course, like all mommas, I was very emotional. I prayed as she was being dipped into that cold water she would stay straight on this path. That her heart would stay tuned to His Voice.

I'll let the pictures do the talking for the rest of this post.

We love you, Presley Jane. More importantly, God loves you sweet girl.

Pastor Scott Moore baptizes Presley

Lem and I looking on...

Paw Paw and his girl

Maw Maw hugs her girl

Anna-Joy and Presley loving on Maw Maw and Paw Paw

Royce, Tyler, Audrey (Audrey's friend--not sure of her name),
Presley, Sloane, Anna-Joy, Joseph, Jasmine and Johnathon

Same kids plus Danny and Gabby!

Paw Paw gives Danny some lovin' as Missy looks on

Jason & Jenny Strantz, Lem, Tyler,
Jessica, Rob, Jane, Danny, Presley, Jasmine, Johnathon,
Joseph, PawPaw ,
Anna-Joy,
Mary & Chad Balicki, Audrey, Sloane, Gabby,
Angela & Lee Crowe, me
Missy is taking the picture! :)

Mommy Jane & Presley

Missy & Presley

Our family

Joseph and Jasmine

Anna-Joy & Presley

Audrey & Presley

she loves her daddy!

my favorite girl

Presley gives Jasmine a ride

Johnathon, a sweet boy who has my heart

long time friend, sweet Mary Balicki and her Gabby

Paw Paw & Presley Jane

Great friends! Danny & Johnathon

i LOVE these people

a heart cake by Momma Jane.
{because Presley gave her heart to Jesus}

a special chocolate request from Joseph--made by Aunt Angie

And of course--a special performance by the STAR!!!

one proud mommy,

jill

Angels among us....

2013-02-26T14:24:00.003-05:00

I only have a few minutes before I leave to get my children from school...

But, I just had to share. I just had to let you know...

This morning on the way to school I had a long discussion with my kids about angels.

This stems from something Presley told me a couple of days ago.

I wrote about it on SHINE this morning. You can read it there, I don't want to repeat myself.

I was telling my kids, reassuring them, that angels were surrounding them. Presley said she could feel the devil taunting her and making her feel bad.

My mind envisioned angel armies encamped around her little body. As soon as I envisioned this, I quickly shared this mental picture with her.

Presley, Satan can NOT harm you. He will try to deceive you and trick you, but you are surrounded by God's angels.

"For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm 91:11

We read Psalm 91 every single morning. Every morning.

It never dawned on me to explain it like this to her before.

I had always told her Jesus is with her. Because He is.

However, this time, today, she needed to know that she is always protected not just by Jesus but by His angel armies.

I have chills writing this.

This is a revelation of sorts to me today.

I mean, I knew this. But now, today, something turned on inside of me. A Holy Light and Truth that has been there all along, just for some reason I could not connect it to my {wavering} mind.

Here's the way God works, friends:

I got home from dropping my kids off at school. Soon after I receive an email from my dear friend telling me that she has been praying for Presley all morning since reading the SHINE entry.

She told me that she was reading a book on angels, and she wanted to tell me to reassure Presley that angels were surrounding her, daily.

Here's what it said exactly:

Presley has been on my heart and mind this morning. Please tell her for me that I am praying for the Lord to send her an angel to minister to her when she feels scared. I am reading a book about angels right now, and this is what I just found for her: Angels Protect Saints "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm 91:11 Angels protected Daniel in the lion's den and closed the mouths of lions. And angels delivered Peter from prison twice. I also read that angels are men. Strong like Jesus and her Daddy! And Jesus is with her always of course! "The Lord is with you wherever you go." Praying for her! Just wanted to share since she was on my heart!

Y'all! I couldn't control the emotions. God was reaffirming the short few minutes I had in the car with my babies telling them they were protected by God's angels.

This is no coincidence. Only God.

Are you struggling with fear today?

Oh, friend. Know that you are protected. Know that He has an army of angels surrounding His precious son or daughter.

Maybe your children need to be reassured by this?

I'm praying right now that anyone who reads this post will have that same light turned on. That you will not just know, but believe.

Picture those angels around you right now.

It's almost too much to take in, His love for us.

A Beautiful Mess.....

2013-02-23T20:18:00.001-05:00

I'm starting to see how loving like Jesus can be real messy sometimes. Like big time.

I used to think that loving like Jesus and asking God to give me eyes like Jesus would make things oh so neat and pretty.

Oh, on the contrary.

That's worth repeating: Oh, on the contrary.

Many may disagree with me, and I am so ok with that.

Loving like Jesus and really trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus--is pure Joy, and Happiness, and Abundance, and Blessing! {or so many will say}

I do not disagree that it certainly brings those things.

However, truly letting Him open our eyes to the hurting, the suffering, the lost, the lonely, the mother-less, the father-less...

Oh sweet Jesus, it's almost too much to bear.

We have the absolute pleasure of keeping two foster children in our home this weekend.

They are angels.

But, it is hard.

They are not hard. The situation is hard.

I just finished tucking them in, knowing that this may be their last stay with us.

They may be adopted soon.

Which is wonderful news.

But, I ache for them.

I ache for them to have to start all over again after being in a foster family for over 2 years now.

I ache for their future.

I ache for.....my loss. Of possibly not seeing them again...ever, after they are adopted.

Lem and I have grown attached to these little love muffins.

They are the two children God sent our way 2 years ago while vacationing in St. Simons.

Our good friends were fostering them and we fell in love with these two darlings.

They are the reason that we went through foster training.

They are the reasons that my heart is aching.

It's so messy. This loving thing.

It's never easy, or simple, or pretty and neat.

I often wonder why I am so attached to the...for lack of a better word--unlovables in this world.

I think I have found the answer.

I can relate to them.

I can relate to their desire to be loved. To be wanted. To be pursued.

Can't we all?

My friend Mary was asking me today how it was going having the extra kids in the house this week.

I smiled and honestly said that it was so natural. Yes, it was harder, but it just felt right.

Isn't that just perfectly God? To make something so hard, so tiring, so sad....to make it feel just right.

Life is messy.

It is.

However, God uses those messes to bring beauty. Beyond the world's brand of beauty.

Godly beauty.

Heavenly purpose.

Let me encourage you. If you are facing something hard, there's beauty to be found there.

There's purpose beyond your understanding.

Rest in the mess.

"Jesus never said it would be easy, but He said it would be worth it"

Matthew 7:13-14

neat is over-rated,

jill

Do what you love.....

2013-02-22T17:19:00.002-05:00

I love to write.

It's just in my blood.

If I have some extra minutes {like right this second}, I sit down, inhale, let out a big exhale, and write.

It's taken a long time for me to get back into the habit of doing what I love to do the most.

Probably because for a long time, I was in denial of my passion for writing. It was something I did when I needed to let off some steam, relax, or heal from a wound.

I think my maternal grandmother was a writer. My momma has shown me some letters and notes that she penned in her beautiful form.

My momma is a writer as well. Her cards and notes convey the sweetest portion of her heart. Every single word is a glimpse of that heart.

I was just telling the Lord yesterday how thankful I am to live in this day and age. I thanked Him for choosing this period of time for me.

I'm glad I live in a day and an age where I can type. It's cleaner. Neater. No white-out required.

My hearts desire is to write a bible study or devotional. It has been for a long, long time.

SHINE is the closest thing I have to fulfilling this dream for now.

I have so many thoughts that I think: "I need to jot this down. I need to remember this."

You know, those God moments where He is teaching and revealing and you can barely absorb the awesomeness of it all. Yes, those moments.

For now, I will just keep blogging my little heart away.

If you are reading this, I encourage you to do what you love. Do it as often as time allows.

God has given us these desires and these gifts for His purposes and plans. When in use, they set into motion the perfect harmony of His orchestra.

I imagine Him smiling every time I sit down to write. Giving back to Him what He has so generously given to me.

Are you fulfilling your hearts desires? If not, what's stopping you?

sharpening my pencil--er, i mean charging my laptop,

jill

I'm good with the small.....

2013-02-09T18:22:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl and day-dreamed after day-dreamed of being a Mommy, I never realized just how hard it would be.

I envisioned aprons, flour on the countertops, pigtails, braids, baseball caps, clean smelling kid laundry, and all the fine things that come with being a Mommy.

Never did it cross my mind the emotional ties that children would have on your tender little heart.

I really don't know how people parent without calling on Jesus day in and day out. I really, really don't.

As much as my marriage has caused me to seek Him more, my children are what bring me to my knees to Him.

Perhaps it is because i feel so responsible for them. It's a huge thing. Huge.

I know that God is control of their little lives, but I have a big role in their lives too.

I must teach them. I must pray for them. I must pray with them. I must show them how to live, by how I live my life. Whew.

I take this job very seriously.

When I say "I", I mean "we". Lem and I.

I used to be very concerned about what my purpose was in life.

I would ask the Lord, day in and day out. Day in, day out. Day in, day out.

Now, it's crystal clear.

My purpose is being Lem's wife and Joseph and Presley's Momma.

It's never been more clear.

As much as I love SHINE, and the ministry that comes with it--it's just a cherry on top to my real purpose in life.

My desires have absolutely changed. In just this past year.

I used to want to change the world.

Now, I just want to be the change for my children to see. My children are the ones that will be most affected by my life and my ministry.

My ministry in my home is the number one thing.

I can say that without hesitation.

My heart is content with small. Small things and small people. :)

It's funny how we look for our purpose in life, all the while, it is right under our little noses.

Sometimes the smallest things are the hardest to see.

We search high and low, and lo and behold, it is eye to eye and face to face, and cheek to cheek.

cherishing my {not so small} purpose,

jill

Sunday Sunday....

2013-01-20T12:56:00.001-05:00

Hi! It's Sunday. We are in the mountains with family.

It is glorious.

Nothing to do.

No laundry.

No cooking. (Mama Jane handles all of that)

Kids playing.

Adults eating.

And eating.

And sleeping.

And eating some more.

Lem has agreed to take me into town to look around.

I'm a little giddy to have some QT with my man. It's been too long.

I love this time with my family. I am cherishing it. Every second.

Hope you are enjoying your day too.

Okay, gotta go. Falcons play at 3:00.

Gotta be on the couch by 2:30. Or so Lem tells me.

Rising up!

[Not really. I'm really lying in a comfy chair. Hee hee. :) ]

Happy Sunday!

Girl Talk.....

2013-01-08T21:24:00.001-05:00

Let's talk some girly talk, shall we?

I love beauty products, I do. Some people spend money on purses, jewelry, home decor, etc. I spend my money on products.

My friend Lisa and I just had this conversation about what we like, and what floats our little girlish boats.

If I could spend a whole day in any store it would be Sephora. Or Ulta. I'll take either one. See, I'm not picky or high maintenance.

Something about the idea of transformation {via beauty products} inspires me!

I've tried most products. I have come to the age where I pretty much know what I like and what I don't. HOWEVER, I discover new products on a weekly basis. Seriously.

My sister and I will find ourselves in hours of conversation about new products we have discovered. Oh yeah. It's true.

I love talking to my girlfriends about what they like and what they use and LOVE!

So, I have made a small list of my favorite things right now.

Let me know some of your faves. Share the good stuff, will ya?

gets the frizzy frizz out of my hair.
LOVE this stuff!
plus it's sulfate-free.
if your hair is really oily...
don't try this stuff.

my friend, Danielle, recommended this mascara.
it's a HIT.
thanks, Danielle!

long time winner of best eye make up remover.
there is no other choice, people.
this is IT! :)

Okay, perfume smells different on different people. I get that.
BUT, this is good stuff. It's my fave.
I get it every year for Christmas.
With the exception of this year?
Hello, Lem?
So, any close relatives reading this...
you know what I want for my closely approaching birthday.
(this is a gift set. under 50 bucks.)
i'm worth it, right?

Friends, Family, and the Flu.....

2013-01-02T20:40:00.004-05:00

What a memorable Christmas this has been.

Sick the week before Christmas. Not just sick, but flu sick. Gross.

Just when I start feeling better, Lem gets a stomach bug on Christmas Eve. Double gross.

As I look back, fully healthy now, I see a small purpose in it all.

I see how God used that time to slow me down. To hear His voice. To have compassion for the sick. (Like, big time.)

He saw me going 500 million miles per hour and He wanted to slow me down a bit. Show me some of His goodness.

He showed me a husband who is loving.

Children who are healthy.

Friends who bring chicken soup and butternut squash soup. And lots of love.

Sisters who arrange for my kids to be picked up from my house and be swept away for a fun day so that I could lay here and be miserable on my own. Truly she worked a miracle. Still not sure how she arranged all that, but she did.

Momma's who go to their granddaughters school Christmas party because her baby girl was crying and sick in the bed. I will never be able to thank my Momma enough for this act of sweetness. It was so hard for me to NOT be at her Christmas party on the last day of school. SO HARD.

However, I have such peace because my precious Momma was able to fill in that gap for me. Oh, and Presley enjoyed every second with her. Perhaps, even preferred her Maw Maw to be there. I am so okay with that. :)

I was also able to spend some one on one time with my Joseph. He was sick as well, not with the flu, thank goodness. We watched movies, talked, laughed, and laughed some more. All in between our moanings and groanings.

I'm so grateful for good health. Lord knows I have a new perspective on a healthy body after the last few weeks.

I'm so grateful for my friends and family.

I'm so grateful that although our Christmas was a little different this year, it was all about Christ. His Love, His Mercy, His Grace. That was the focus this year. More than any other year before.

I have a new appreciation for things.

For that, the flu was worth it.

getting that flu shot next year,

jill

Out with the old, in with the new.....

2013-01-01T10:14:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year Friends and Family!

May this year be FULL and OVERFLOWING

with God's BEST in your lives!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!”

(2 Corinthians 5:17

a glimpse of our party animal selves. ;)

Kitchen talk......

2012-12-29T21:28:00.000-05:00

I was just sitting on the couch poring through my Better Homes and Gardens cook book.

It's a huge pink, special edition, cook book that my Momma gave me a few years ago. It's hardly been touched. Not because it's not a great book, but because I have dozens of other books on the same shelf with it that get picked up because I am a little more familiar with the recipes.

A little unknown fact about me: I love reading cookbooks. Love.

The more pictures the better. I hate reading a recipe that doesn't have a picture attached. I have to have a visual so that I know what the dish will look like.You know? Say yes. :)

This post all stemmed from me trying to make some Russian tea cakes this afternoon. I was in the mood to cook or bake. So, baking it was since I had the ingredients for this yummy treat. When I say yummy, I mean YUMMY.

My neighbor, Kelly, makes them every Christmas. She gives me a big plate full of them because she knows they are my favorite! These little devils are the reason my pants won't button come January 2nd. Seriously.

Anyway, I decided to make them on my own. I was craving some comfort food.

Not sure what happened, but they ended up falling apart. Completely. Every last little ball of them.

I remember Kelly's famous last words when I asked her if they were easy to make: "Jill, you could make these blindfolded."

Ha.

Wrong.

As I looked at the little crumbled cookies in the pound of powdered sugar they were supposed to be rolled in, I felt a wee bit sorry for myself.

I thought: "Seriously, Jill? Can you do anything right?"

Not kidding. I had these thoughts.

My mind was spinning at all of the things that I did not excel in. The enemy was having a hay day with me.

Actually, I give him no credit. My flesh was having a hay day with my mind. Yep, that's it.

After sweeping up the crumbs and powdered sugar, I sat down with my cookbook. The one mentioned above.

I'll try another recipe tomorrow was my exact thought. I will make something really new and yummy. I will. I will. I will.

I was determined to make something good to make up for the failed Russian tea cakes. I never liked Russia anyway. Too.darn.cold.

This same time one year ago, I heard the Lord calling me to draw closer to Him in His Word. I could literally feel Him pursuing me like never before.

It was then and there that SHINE began. It all began with His pursuing, my reacting, and His faithfulness.

Funny how a year can change you.

I've been sifted and molded and sifted some more this past year.

All in His timing of course.

My heart is in a new place as the old year ends and a new year begins.

Last year it was an anticipation, a longing.

This year, it is more of a settled peace. A Holy Contentment. Not contentment in the fact that I am where I need to be in my faith journey...because I have such a long way to go. Like, millions of miles.

More like a contentment with who I am, where I am on this journey, and who He created me to be.

Just like my baking disaster from today, I know that perfection is not an option. It never will be.

However, when I do fail--like with the tea cakes--I will get back up, sweep the floor, and try again.

With each failure, I will learn something new. I will be more equipped for the next journey.

I am learning that it really is a day by day journey with Him. If I try to skip ahead a few pages, it never works out. He wants every moment to be accounted for.

He uses each second as a teaching opportunity. To grow me in the areas that are too tiny for me to even see. He wants every crevice filled. Every last one of them.

looking for a new recipe,

jill

Lessons learned in 2012....

2012-12-29T09:53:00.002-05:00

A few things I have learned this year in 2012:

less really is more.
life really isn't about me. and it never was.
humble people are rare.
but, when you find them, you know it and your life is changed.
people want notoriety and they want to be noticed.
rare is the person that chooses to stand in the background and push others forward to shine bright.
i have a few of these people in my life and they are true jewels.
friendship is about quality, not quantity. this has been a long, hard lesson for me.
i am not the girl that i used to be. and that's okay.
i am much more comfortable in my own skin than i was even a year ago.
it's okay if others are not comfortable with who i am. (this is huge for me)
i cannot make everyone happy. this one is worth repeating.
my job is is to live out God's plan for me, not what other people expect from me.
your true friends will love you even on your off days. they will even love you more.
my family knows me best. and i love that.
it is rare to find someone that gives without wanting recognition. but they are out there. i have recently met a few.
i am not as hard on myself as i used to be.
i want to make others feel better after spending time with me, not worse.
i am learning to be interested in others, instead of trying to be interesting to others.
i prefer myself blonde. although, i like experimenting with color. i always go back to blonde.
it's fun to take extra time to look a little better when going out in public. i used to think it made me seem selfish.
of course, i am also learning to be fine when i don't look the greatest.
it's okay if my house is not immaculate. we do live here.
i am learning to cherish the little moments. and not be distracted by my phone, the computer, etc.
my children are always watching me....always. what am i doing that they will pick up on?
if i don't teach my kids about God, who will?
the things that seem hard to me now, i will miss one day. i know this.
i need God every single day.
i am okay with Him being a crutch for me. i cannot face day to day decisions without Him.
i believe He made me like I am, so i would depend on Him more. seriously.
lem likes when i help him. he is a side by side partner. it makes him happy when we are working together.
i like encouragement from him. i recently told him that was really all i needed from him. just tell me i am doing a good job. :)
i trust Lem more than ever. i respect his decisions.
i have learned to not go against him because i will always regret it.
many people do not understand this. they think it's weak. little do they know it takes more strength to do this than to go against our men.
lem and i are very different, and it is a good thing.
God honors obedience to our husbands. every single time.
if i could tell wives one thing, it would be to respect and honor your hubby. period.
i get tired sometimes and want to hide away with my family for awhile.
then, i am ready to emerge and be social again.
i think it's normal to be this way. at least normal for me right now.
lem is much more social than i am, and i am learning to appreciate that about him.
i love people, but love being with just my 3 the most.
i have a thing about traditions. but i am learning to be okay if they don't always pan out.
my children are growing and changing. i am starting to embrace this instead of holding onto the past.
i am okay with my kids not being happy with decisions that lem and i have to make that are best for them.
it used to kill me when they were unhappy. now i know if it's best for them, then it's best for them.
happiness does not always equal what's best for them.
i am learning to be wiser with my time. it's something that i can never get back.
i am learning that some things can wait, and some things just cannot.
i am learning that it is okay to not be able to go to every function. this year has been a year of me missing out on a lot of things with my friends.
this used to be hard for me. but, now i see that it is the Lord wanting me to be okay whatever and wherever He has called me to be.
my mission at home is the most important thing in my life.
if He calls me outside of my home, then it is only because my home is stable and i am ready to be used in another area.
sometimes we get this backwards. we want to minister to the world, and all the while our hubbies, and children get neglected.
i often ask lem: how am i doing? can i do anything to improve being a wife to you or a momma to our children?
if Lem is feeling happy and cared for, i feel good and i feel i am right where i need to be.
i am starting to see that God calls us to the little things because they mean the most to Him. big things are good too, but we must get the little things down pat first.
He trains us in ways that we don't even realize to make sure we are ready for what He has next for us.
obedience to God is the key to life.
nothing brings His blessings and His peace like obedience.

I think I will stop here. Presley is beckoning me to watch her dance upstairs. :)

Merry Christmas....

2012-12-25T21:22:00.002-05:00

From our family to yours....

Let's Skate on Eight.....

2012-12-16T22:19:00.002-05:00

Presley turned 8 on December 1st.

I still can hardly believe that my baby girl is 8.

Here are some things about my Presley:

finished first grade
learned to roller skate
lost more teeth
took gymnastics
cheered for the first time
still loves to cook
learned to ice skate
she loves writing notes (just like her momma!)
her favorite thing to do is play school after school!
she loves make-up (not sure where she gets that from) ;)
she loves camping
she is my side kick in life!
she can braid her own hair. really, she can.
she has the cutest feet ever. like, ever ever.
her hair is so thick. i am so envious. :)
she loves Jesus!

Okay, I could go on...

Like, forever.

Presley has been wanting to have a roller skating party since her cousin Anna-Joy had her party back in July. So, our town just got a new skating rink several months ago, and we had the party there! Yay!

Here are some pics from her fun party!

having some snacks

melissa and her sweet james

playing some roller skating games!

Artazia and I

Jenny and Tyler so sweet!

The birthday star!

Anna-Joy, Presley, Cali, and Karoline

Graham

favorite friends: Karoline, Presley, Andrea, Annabel

Danny and Rob

sweet Thomas

Maw Maw & Presley

can you believe Wal-Mart did this cute cake? less than $30 bucks!

beautiful Anna-Joy

presley and andrea held hands almost the entire time! so cute!

annabel, karoline, anna-joy, cali, presley, andrea, and ashley

good friends, ava & presley

my favorite girl!

i love her face!

make a wish!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Princess Presley!

You are the most thoughtful, sweet, kind, compassionate, loving and BEAUTIFUL girl in the whole world!

I love you always and forever,

Mommy

Give it away....

2012-12-02T08:02:00.002-05:00

I met a lady while our church fed a local homeless shelter. She is precious. She has 8 children. All boys.

She told me bits and pieces of her story, which were laced with Joy, Hope, and Faith.

I told Lem that I would be curled up in a ball on the floor sucking my thumb if I had been through what she has been through.

Long story short, she is now my friend. My SHINE friends donated over 100 bottles of laundry detergent to her shelter after she expressed that her children's clothes often could not be washed. (heart breaking.)

A couple of friends and I took the detergent to the shelter and we got to speak to my new friend again.

I left the shelter and the song, "Give this Christmas Away" by Matthew West came on.

My eyes spilled over with tears and i could feel my heart melting. I felt the Lord tell me to help my new friend this Christmas. Not just me, but to ask my friends to help her as well.

I envisioned my cozy, wonderful Christmas and Christmas eve with my family. Then, I envisioned her and her boys at that shelter on Christmas day.

On Thursday, I sent an email to some friends asking for small donations to help my friend this Christmas. I prayed all day that God would just rain in the blessings on her family.

It's Sunday, and already, the donations have been pouring in. I am literally in awe. I had NO idea that God had THIS kind of outpouring in mind.

There's more to this story, but I cannot share at this time. I will just say that truly the Lord loves my new friend. He loves her ABUNDANTLY.

If you are reading my blog, and you would like to Give some of Your Christmas Away, contact me. If you feel led to donate even a few dollars to my new friend, it would be much appreciated. My email is lemandjill@gmail.com

I asked my new friend what she wanted for Christmas. She told me all that she ever wanted was a picture of she and her boys to frame for their OWN place one day. She said she wanted them to see how they ALWAYS were together. No matter what.

A friend of mine, whom I JUST met last Tuesday, has offered to take their pictures for this family.

What!!?? Really, God?? This SAME friend has a clothing donation center and said this family could come and get whatever they needed.

I am still in SHOCK at God's timing and His people working hand in hand to help others. He sends just the right people at just the right time.

My heart is so changed and so raw. My eyes have been peeled open in a whole new way this year.

I never want to be blind again. I never want to "not see" again.

Will you take this challenge with me? The challenge to give this Christmas away?

You will be so glad you did. YOU will be the one blessed. Guaranteed.

eyes wide open,

jill

What if I told you?

You have the power

To give someone hope

Far beyond their wildest dreams

What if I told you it's right there in your hands?

In your hands

It's hard to imagine

How something so small

Can make all the difference

Tear down the tallest wall

What if December looked different this year?

What if we all just

Give this Christmas away

If there's love in your heart

Don't let it stay there

Give this Christmas away

And your life will be changed

By the gift you receive

When you give this Christmas away

It's feeding the hungry

It's serving the poor

It's telling the orphan

You're not forgotten anymore

It's doing what love does

Even when no one's watching you

Give this Christmas away

If there's love in your heart

Don't let it stay there

Give this Christmas away

And your life will be changed

By the gift you receive

When you give this Christmas away

For God so loved the world, He gave His only son

So we could be His hands, His feet, His love

His love

From us to you.....

2012-11-22T21:42:00.003-05:00

Getting by with a little help from my friends....

2012-11-20T20:33:00.001-05:00

Wow. Is all I can say.

I am lying in my bed next to my Presley girl literally worn out and exhausted.

This past Sunday we had our first SHINE Mission Project. It was a big success!

Many, many donations later, my garage was filled to the rim! I am not exaggerating.

I was thrilled! But, I have to admit a little overwhelmed by the monstrosity of it all. If you know me at all, you know that I do not like clutter if I can help it. In fact, I tend to "throw things away" just because I get tired of looking at it.

My garage being so full with stuff would have made me go crazy a year ago. I mean CRAZY.

It's truly amazing how the Lord changes our hearts!

Seriously, I never ever would have taken on such an endeavor even a year ago. If you know me, you know this is true.

Today, I had three incredible friends come over and help me to sort out the donations. We thought it would be very helpful to organize the items for the shelters. Little did we know what we were signed up for! Oh my!

Mary arrived first. Her face said it all when she saw my garage.

Tiffany arrived next and walked in and smiled her big beautiful smile and started laughing. It was a sweet laugh mixed with "oh my heavens".

Danielle arrived last. She turned the corner into our garage and gasped. Seriously she did.

At this point, my heart started racing and I could feel panic and nausea coming on.

How in the world were we going to organize all this stuff??

I wanted to RUN. FAR FAR AWAY. I wish I was kidding.

How could we ever make sense of it? My mind was racing, my heart was pounding. I prayed right then and there that God would give me peace.

I knew this is exactly what He had called SHINE to do as a group. I knew it was of His leading, so I knew He would get us through this day.

And, He did.

My eyes are spilling over with tears as I think of my precious three friends. They stayed for 3 hours and we finished.

Kids were running around everywhere. We were tripping over bags. But, we did it.

The Lord somehow enabled us to finish this project within a decent time frame.

I am not kidding when I say this, but during the whole 3 hours I asked myself if i would have helped my friends out in this way?? Would I have spent 3 hours doing this for someone else??

Yikes.

Today, I can happily say I would. I am so indebted to these girls and their sacrifices of their time, their gas money, their energy...everything.

To say that I am grateful is a complete and utter understatement.

Words cannot describe my gratitude.

Proverbs 20:6
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

Proverbs 17:17
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Not just for these precious three, but for all the families that donated, prayed, and encouraged this
whole Mission Project.

Thank you.

The SHINE donations before our organizing :)

God bless these little working hands

DONE!

really DONE.

hitting my pillow,

jill

Serve with us....

2012-11-10T09:21:00.003-05:00

If you read my blog and you want to serve this November...go to my SHINE website and see how you can help us!

I would LOVE for you and your sweet families to participate in such an incredible way!

Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus, friends.

A little on our part, can make a HUGE impact in the lives of many others!

Bag up some clothes, clean out your pantry...and come see us on November 18th!

Details on the SHINE blog.

love your hearts,

jill