The Spring Garden Within

Some of these thoughts were originally published in a post way back in 2008!

I love Spring {I know, you think it's Summer because we had Memorial Day weekend, but official Summer starts in June} with all the fresh starts, new growth, cleaning, organizing, and beautiful sunshine. I know many of you have planted gardens. We did plant a teensy bit of a garden, but I haven't done much tending to it, other than watering. Sometimes I forget to tend to our little garden and sometimes I forget that I also need to tend to the garden of my soul!

Sometimes we need a little help to keep on growing!

When I spend time in the Word, the sun begins to shine into the garden of my soul - bringing back to life the sleeping fruits and flowers of faithfulness, joy, and love, and making clear to me the weeds of sin that grew in the darkness so that I can tend my garden.

I love to see sunshine in the morning - it makes me feel refreshed and renewed. I know that the garden of my soul needs a lot of tending and I can only see to work in it if the light of God's Word shines in. My garden needs to be refreshed and renewed every day!

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

I hope you feel motivated to let the Son shine in this week so you can tend to your own garden!

Have a blessed Spring day today friends!

Keeplets ~ Wear and Keep God's Word {Review & Giveaway}

**Giveaway closed.**

I get to share a little more about one of my May sponsors with you today - Keeplets! 

Keeplets are bracelets, key fobs, and key fob wristlets that hold small cards with Scripture verses. They come with a set of Scripture verse cards so that you can swap them out whenever you like!

Jennifer from Keeplets blessed me with a bracelet and key fob wristlet to review. And she sent me pink, which just so happens to coordinate with my blog. :) They are both well-made and the bracelet is adjustable with the snaps, which ended up working great for my small wrist. It's a very comfortable bracelet and it's simple to put in a favorite Scripture verse card. I decided to start mine out with Galatians 6:9 to encourage myself not to weary in homeschooling for these last couple weeks! :)

The key fob wristlet is definitely a great help for a busy mom with her hands full. Keep your keys on your arm so you don't lose them while keeping your hands free for all your other mom duties! Of course you don't have to be a mom to find a great use for Keeplets! The bracelets are also a great idea for homeschooling  kiddos, youth groups, VBS and more to help each child memorize Scripture verses.

Guess what?! I get to give away one set of a Keeplets bracelet & choice of wristlet or key fob - winner chooses the print for both!! So one of you will get to try these lovelies out for FREE!! Thank you to Keeplets! But you don't have to wait - you can purchase your own right now and take advantage of the 1 of Each Special {Get a key fob AND a bracelet for just $18!!}!

**Giveaway Closed.**  How to Enter:

 ~ Stop over at Keeplets and come back to leave a comment telling me which product ~or~ print ~or~  pack of verse cards are your favorite.

Extra Entry {optional & maximum of 1 extra entry}:

 ~ Share about the giveaway using your favorite form of social media and come back to leave 1 comment letting me know.

Giveaway will remain open through 9pm PST Thursday 5/24. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Be sure to "Like" Keeplets on Facebook to hear about current offers and specials {no extra entries given, but maybe virtual hugs - LOL}!!

Disclosures:  Keeplets is currently a sponsor on my blog. I received a free Keeplets bracelet and key fob wristlet in order to provide an honest review. As always, opinions are my own!


Have a blessed day friends!

Rejoice ~ He Is Risen

Matthew 28:1-10

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

10 Then said Jesus unto them, "Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."
~ Verses from King James Bible

Have a blessed Resurrection Day!

Thinking Out Loud

Is it Monday already? School starts for us tomorrow so today will be all about getting the supplies together and in the backpack and figuring out what to pack for a lunch! Here's what my son looked like last year after the 1st 4 days of school:

We'll see how this year goes! LOL!

Thank you to those of you who answered my questions the other day (you can still comment and answer!)! I will have a Fall theme week, but am still deciding what to do. Being the sort of people-pleaser that I am, I'm thinking of combining pumpkin, apples & even cranberries and making it a Fall Fruits Week! Hey - pumpkin is technically a fruit 'cause it has seeds. I looked it up on the internet so it must be true. :) What do you think of that? I could have link-ups available almost every day - 1 for apple posts, 1 for pumpkin posts, 1 for cranberry posts, and 1 for the fruit of all seasons - chocolate! Isn't chocolate a fruit?? It should be...

I think I'm going to start a couple of new things that I'll blog about. One thing I want to do is work on my homemaking skilz and use my blog to help me. I want to take on one new thing each week - mostly things I've never tried before or things I haven't done in years. For example - making homemade yogurt, making a master grocery list, making homemade peanut butter, making a menu plan - things like that. I hope to actually do them on Mondays and then post about them (whether or not I was successful) on Thursdays or maybe Saturdays. What do you think? Can I do it?

I also would like to start putting our children's catechism questions on my blog - possibly on Sundays. I would list 1 question with the answer and Scripture references each week. They're very simple, but great for children (and adults!) to memorize and great for family discussion. Thoughts?

I do appreciate your feedback my friends! Have a great Monday!

He is Risen

Matthew 28:1-10

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

10 Then said Jesus unto them, "Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."

~ Verses from King James Bible


Have a blessed Resurrection Day!