If I Had Ruby Slippers

If I had Ruby Slippers
Back Home Again I'd be
With Grandma's Fried Potatoes
And Grandpa Teasin' Me
Long Walks Out on the Ridge
Grandpa Fishin' in the Pond
I can almost Feel Beneath my Toes
The Freshly Tilled Up Sod
Yes, If I had Ruby Slippers
Back Home is Where I'd be
So, Please Dorothy if You Don't Mind
Could You Loan Them Out to Me?
written shortly after the farm sold by:  Alyssa Woollard

Enter into His Rest.

Do you ever have days when you just have NOTHIN.  You feel like your in a fog.  exhausted.  And though you think that you have done all that you can to break through still the HAZE remains.  Some days are like that for me.  The last few weeks have been alot of work physically and spiritually and there are days that I just feel poured out.  As if I have given all that I have to the Lord and I need times of refreshing.  Psalm 23 is a comfort to me at such times.  The thought that my Shepherd leads me beside still waters and makes me lie down in green pastures is too wonderful for me.   The Lord has really been doing some major reconstructive surgery to my heart lately.  Taking the old messages that I held true for so long and cutting them away with His skillful hands and replacing long held beliefs with TRUTH.  I HAVE VALUE.  I AM WORTH FAR MORE THAN MANY SPARROWS.  and so are you.  praying that God will work these same truths into your being today.

Unbridled

Several months ago I began a book called Walking with God .  As I began to put into practice the concepts within the book I felt God direct me to Psalm 32: 8-11.  It is interesting to me how many times He has brought me back to this simple passage.

 " I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.  Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"

Little did I know that day how God was preparing me for what was to follow.  The "Spiritual Basic Training" that He has been using to instruct and teach me has been very similar to boot camp.  The stripping of the old identity, the breaking of the will, and the process of rebuilding the woman, transforming me from civilian to soldier.  From one who followed after my own will to one who follows His.  I have been a Christian my whole life, doing the best I knew how.  But until I was completely broken, I did not freely come to my Master on a regular daily basis.  I had seasons of trying to do what I knew I should but had not come to recognize how completely dependant upon Him I was to be. 

 I was like an unbroken horse or mule.  I pray that you are not so stubborn as I was, that you know your master and willingly follow after Him without having to be broken first.  He is a kind and loving master who calls to us through the beauty of His creation every moment of every day.  Through His beauty He call to us to come to Him.  Notice Him today in the beauty that surrounds you

HE is all we truly have or need.  Love HIM and love others through HIM. 

Broken....Alyssa

Rock ON B-Dub!

My Rock Star!!!

And his Mii!!!  LOL

Brown Co Fair FUN;)

DERBY!

Grace was stuck with us most of the time...

Dale singing

I couldn't believe this cake!!!

I think I am going to PUKE 

Whew! Made it!!!!

I do NOT do well on these rides....

OK...This is a GUY!  with a Panda backpack?!  Help me understanc....

Danny Bolender ENJOYING the fair ;)

Samuel and Grace

A few fun pics from the last few months






I am just learning how to do this picture thing so bear with me if there are repeated pics.  I tried to remove them

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ohio river on july 4th



boom, boom, pow



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more rankin hill fun



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Happy "50th" Aunt Stephie

and Happy "29th" Sissy...



My handsome men before Seth & Alana's wedding....





Grace & I before the wedding

$36.00 on 3 lbs (which turned out to be 30pcs) of farm raised shrimp that we had to clean ourselves...they were good but not that good



I have been watching Isaiah on Fridays and lovin it!





Happy Birthday BEN!



And Isaiah!

off course, of course...NOT!

I had a dream last night, of which I remember none except...being on a ship and getting caught up in micro bursts of wind that would spin me one direction then another.   My little ship was spinning around jerking me one way then another. Try as I might I could not break free.  Paddling with all my might and trying with all that I had in me I could not free myself from the chaotic wind currents.  I have thought about that a lot today.  How at times my life feels just like that dream.  I am trying and seeking so hard to find my heading to break away from the confusion and chaos to know what it is that I am to do... today and everyday.  teach? nurse? stay home? get a job?  And then HE says...Be still and KNOW that I AM GOD.

This season of life for me has been very difficult...very different and very necessary.  For the Lord disciplines those he loves and Brian and I were both in need of some major discipline.  Many times, (past) I felt like the guy on the construction business commercial that would change the sticker on the side of his truck and announce, "Today, we do windows." for I would try to make a way to do what I WANTED to do, manipulating currents and forcing my way into some locked door.  And I am learning that is simply NOT going to work. 

This season of my life is about finding my heading and being still to find out what HE wants me to do.  and for now the only clear answer I can get is," LOVE ME and LOVE YOUR FAMILY"  so for those of you wondering what I am doing now...I am seeking HIS FACE and WAITING for his leading.   And learning what it means to allow Jesus to be my everything.  It doesn't pay much ($$$) but the benefits are ETERNAL!