Heart Choices: 2009-09-27 -->

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Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ How Great Thou Art


It's Then Sings My Soul Saturday when I link up with Amy of Signs, Miracles and Wonders. I encourage you to come along with us on a blog hop of worship music this morning. I know you'll be blessed. I've discovered new artists and songs and enjoyed singing along to some of my old time favorites. I think you'll find there's something for everyone.

My choice for today is an old favorite hymn "How Great Thou Art". But I love how Alan Jackson sings it in his country music style. The images remind me of how awesome a Creator I serve.



QuickEdit

Over The Top Award


I was honored to receive the Over the Top blog award from Heatheroz of Oswald Cuties. Heather is a new blogging friend of mine and I'm just getting to know her. She's a mom of four and has such a beautiful face.

I loved reading Heather's answers to this fun quiz as it helped me to get to know her better. Thank you Heather! BTW, I hope you'll go to visit the Oswald Cuties. They really are too cute!

Here are the rules (I hate that word; LOL):

  1. You can use only one word!
  2. Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
  3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
  4. Have fun!

So, here goes:

  1. Where is your cell phone? Hiatus
  2. Your hair? Blonde
  3. Your mother? Heaven
  4. Your father? Home
  5. Your favorite food? Salmon
  6. Your dream last night? None
  7. Your favorite drink? Coffee
  8. Your dream/goal? Writer
  9. What room are you in? Office
  10. Your hobby? Blogging
  11. Your fear? Failure
  12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Traveling
  13. Where were you last night? Bed
  14. Something that you aren't? Singer
  15. Muffins? Tops
  16. Wish list item? Watch
  17. Where did you grow up? NY
  18. Last thing you did? Type
  19. What are you wearing? Sweats
  20. Your TV? Big
  21. Your pets? None
  22. Friends? Many
  23. Your life? Stressful
  24. Your mood? Determined
  25. Missing someone? Mom
  26. Vehicle? Lexus
  27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
  28. Your favorite store? Online
  29. Your favorite color? Red
  30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
  31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
  32. Your best friend? Helen
  33. One place that I go to over and over? Bathroom
  34. One person who emails me regularly? Noreen
  35. Favorite place to eat? Postino

And now I get to pass this award to 6 of my favorite bloggers:

  1. Nananor of Life's Blessings
  2. Kim of Homesteader's Heart
  3. L-Jay of My Little Norway
  4. Mary of Pile of Smiles
  5. BP of Raindrops & Rainbows
  6. Charlotte of At Home in Scottsdale

I have lots of other favorite bloggers but I hope you'll visit a few of the ones I chose today.

It was actually fun to participate in this one. But it was hard to always come up with a one word answer. My husband says I'm a woman of many words so I'm thankful to ...be able to blog.


QuickEdit

In Other Words Tuesdays ~ Trust




It's In Other Words Tuesday and Jennifer of Scraps & Snippets is hosting this week. Jennifer chose the following quote for us:


“Believer . . .banish your fears; cast out all doubts; lift up the happy head; clap the exulting hands; rejoice; give thanks. Your heavenly Father cannot set you in wrong place. Your loving Savior cannot lead you in wrong paths. All is well.”
by Henry Law


When I think about banishing my fears and casting out all of my doubts, the subject of trust comes to mind. Because there's no way I can do this ...without trust.

As a believer, the object of my faith and trust is Jesus. I know that He is trustworthy. Even if people may have let me down in life, Jesus never will.

When I consider:

  • He loves me
  • He formed me in my mother's womb
  • He knows me better than I do
  • He knows my innermost desires
  • He knows what's best for me
  • He has my best interests at heart
  • He's more interested in my character than in my comfort

So, I can rejoice and clap my hands because I can trust Him wherever He leads me. His path is good and right. So, all is well!


QuickEdit

How To Experience Autumn in Phoenix


Autumn has always been one of my favorite times of year. I remember the crispness in the air, the changing of the leaves and school starting. After all, I grew up on Long Island in New York.

But since I now live in Phoenix, I need to choose to be more creative.

Did you know we have to wait until about November before it feels like fall weather here? But I have to say that I don't miss the cold winters in NY. That's when I remember why I've grown to ...love Arizona.

There are ways to experience autumn while living in Phoenix. Did you know we can drive two hours north and experience the changing seasons in Flagstaff? And it can be done in a day or a weekend very easily.

Greg and I used to own a home in Flagstaff and made the drive every weekend for about 8 years. We loved lighting our fireplace and cuddling under our down comforter. But then we'd drive back to Phoenix, returning to warmer weather for the week. It was a great mix while it lasted.

But now I enjoy decorating my house for this season, even though I still have the air conditioning on. I unpack the candles and arrange a centerpiece on the kitchen table. I especially love the scented candles that smell like fall.

Have you ever made Paula Deen's recipe for her Pumpkin Gooey Cake? It's so delicious but ...oh so many calories.

I love to pull out some of my favorite photos of friends. BTW, today is my friend Jamie's birthday and this is a picture of four of her kids. She now has five.

Happy Birthday Jamie!

As a blogger, I get to visit many friends from all over online. Some of you may already follow Beth in North Carolina of I'm Heading Towards My Destiny.

But did you know that she and her husband have a corn haze? I may not be able to visit their Green Acres in real life but ...I can visit online.


I'd get lost in that corn maze! I told Beth it would make a great jogging trail. If I lived closer, I'd be by for some fun and a visit. But thanks to the internet, I can almost experience a personal tour.

So, no matter what's going on in your life you can ...choose your response.

It may still feel like summer in Phoenix, but I'm choosing to still get into the spirit of fall. Apples, pumpkins, scented candles.

How about you? How do you experience autumn?


QuickEdit
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