I heart Etsy and ALL it’s inspiration!

For over two years I have been doing some shopping on Etsy…..and I love it!!  I have found the cutest things for my kids, our home, and myself. 

Last year I found these pennants on Etsy and I just had to have them…..but I talked myself out of them! ugh! I usually do this.  I told myself that if I still wanted them for the next year’s birthday parties that I would get ‘em.  Well the parties were getting closer and I really wanted to get these.  I was talking to my MIL about them and she was convinced that we could make them.  So after figuring out how much I would save I COMPLETELY agreed!!

I had lots of fabric left over from all sorts of projects and outfits I had made for the girls (I don’t ever throw away scraps of fabric…I love to recycle them ;) ).  Plus all the ribbon I had in my stash would be perfect to attach the pennants together. 

It was a great team effort.  I made a template and then cut out all the pennants and my MIL did the sewing…I DO NOT SEW!!  So like I said it was a great team effort!  AND they came out TOO cute!!  I was so excited to see the results hanging on my porch banister.  It added so much to the party decor.  I can’t wait to use them again.

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Not only was I inspired to make the pennants but also the cupcakes and the cupcake tower.  I think it all turned out pretty cute for our “Fish Fun” birthday parties! 

More pics to come soon of our summer fun and the kid’s birthday party!!!

God is good………ALL the time,

~jct~

Blessings…..BIG and small

This week was filled with LOTS of blessings.  Some are those blessings that are easily overlooked sometimes, and others were blessings I have been praying for.

  

We started out our week with a fantastic black-light production from our church and children.  The kids did a great job!  In fact, it was so awesome that the members of the church are asking for another performance tomorrow night.  Who are we to turn down the Lord’s request? Right??  So another exciting night at church is coming and I couldn’t be more proud of our kids!

For the past several summers our family has participated in my BIL and SIL’s church’s VBS.  What a blessing this has been to our home!  My kids ABSOLUTELY LOVE going to their cousin’s church to learn more about God.  We have made life-long friends and life-long commitments during our visits to Pine Level.  We are very thankful for the open arms and love shown every time we return!  I especially enjoyed this year’s theme…..Kickin’ It Old School!  It was so much fun!  My Whitman really came out of his shell, soaking up all the songs and stories being taught.  My Cora Jane loves Bible Story time and loves to share with EVERYONE the lessons learned each evening.  My Vera Kate’s passion this week was…don’t get me wrong this chica loves to sing and play games…….but when she heard about the CONTEST….. it was on.  This is one competitive lil girl!!  She had to make sure that the girl’s brought enough money in for the Missions Contest……for the Mission but also so her sweet Ms. Lora didn’t have to get a pie in the face!!!  My VK has a heart of gold!!!  Too bad the girls lost though :(

 

If putting on the armor of God every night this week and Kickin’ it Old School wasn’t enough, we played hard everyday!  Swimming with friends and family, working in the yard and garden, putting up vegetables (one of my favorite things to do), and well just being summer babies!!

I had a HUGE answered prayer this week!  One of my nearest and dearest friends had shared, a few weeks ago, of a possible lump found.  MY JESUS came through…..our prayers were answered!!  Her test results came back beautifully!  Just goes to show you what can happen when two or more are gathered in HIS name, PRAISING HIM for HIS BLESSINGS and presenting HIM with a THANKFUL heart!!  MY GOD ROCKS!!! 

Not to mention the rain my JESUS sent us this week….RAIN is a necessity in our line of business!  Especially right now on our fields.  We are so thankful for the rain HE is going to send our way….HE knows our NEEDS!!!

So very thankful for all the many blessings…BIG and small…..my GOD has placed in my path this week.

God is good……ALL the time,

~jct~

When Nothing Goes Right

I know its been awhile but to be honest I just haven’t found the desire to blog.  I’ve been too busy living life with my husband and our active children….thank GOD!  It seems like spring came and went, and before I knew it school was out and summer started!  WOW!  Where has the time gone??

I want to blog again….I really do.  I’m just gonna have to make the time and effort to do it!  Hopefully it will be a little easier with summertime here!  Maybe I can find the time to do what I do best…..share our family, our lives, and our faith.

Every morning I try to privately indulge in my devotions…..just me and God.  TRY being the operative word…ha!  It seems once the kids are up there is just no such thing as private time….anyone else know what I’m talking about?  Well I try and share something, from my time with God, with my friends on facebook and today I want to share it with you too.

The author is a local woman whom God graced with ability to share His word in a beautiful way.  I really liked this devotion today.  Locally, our community has been going through major crisis’s and beautiful miracles.  Personally, it has brought up some issues that re-occur from time to time.  Well my God gave me this devotion because only He knows the internal wars that I struggle with and well He loves me….despite the ugliness of these struggles!  Anyhoo….I pray that this may help someone else out the way it has helped me.  Hope you enjoy!

Thursday, June 9, 2011
Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was NEEDFUL for me to write unto, and EXHORT you that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
    When you hear the words “contend for the faith,” what do you think you are fighting against?  Often we feel like we are supposed to fight against outside forces that try to tell us, pass laws against, or convinces us that Christianity is a myth and we are a group of nuts that will be stopped.  At times we should fight and other times we should leave it to the Lord and let Him handle it.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,7,8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
    The deeper meaning of Jude1:3 is that the Lord KNEW that there would be an intense battle within each of us from time to time.  Let's be brutally honest today: for real Christians, it isn't always EASY to keep up our level of faith (confidence) in the promises of God.  There are times we pray (and even fast) for someone we love who is sick, yet they die.  We pray for a job and the unemployment money runs out.  We pray to have loyal friends, yet we walk alone.  We pray for our own health and things get worse.  This is where the FIGHT is!  Common sense says, “just give up” but for some reason you can't!  Paul understood exactly what this feels like:
Romans 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
    Why would God allow this kind of war to happen within US?  In order for us to progress forward, we must go through a growing process.  Our faith must be proven by being put under pressure.  There is GREAT blessing coming, if you don't give up.
What are we supposed to do when we are so hurt, fighting anger and can't express it to anyone?  You praise Him while your spirit is broken, praise Him while you are still sick, you praise Him while depressed, frustrated, confused.  Cry yourself to sleep and then get up and go to church and worship the Lord. “Why?! I don't feel like it and , frankly, I don't WANT to!”  Where else are you going to turn?  Nothing else you do will help.  Keep moving toward God by praising when the feeling (desire/want)  is dead and gone!  Cry out to God, praise Him anyway... and KNOW that you are not alone!  All other Christians pass through these agonizing trials and Someone else is helping you too:
Romans 8:6,7 “Likewise the SPIRIT also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses and failures): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And HE that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God.”
Hebrews 13:15 “By Him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name.”
    Today, you may be at the bottom, agonizing to keep your faith going.  Don't give up, don't stop.  You are passing THROUGH a trial from Hell itself.  But you are still here, therefore, we know that God has a plan for you.  Contend - fight HARD -by continuing to praise the Lord.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
    Make this your Thursday to dwell on and praise God because - no matter what is happening, how it feels, how long it takes to get through - God (the Creator of all things) loves you and He has a great plan, designed exclusively for YOU!  =)
Teresa Gaskins ~ 
Jesus really does 
love YOU!!

Real Quick – Where We’ve Been

 Cora Jane, Whitman, and Vera Kate

Things have been kinda crazy around here since we got back from Disney this week.  We were so blessed to be able to attend a Farm Bureau Young Farmer’s conference at one of Disney’s resorts.  Part of the time we were in sessions and the other part we were enjoying the parks.

Cory and I got to see Epcot with friends one night..without kids!!  WOW, was that fun.  Before we left the conference, my parents brought the kids to WDW and us so we could take them to the park.  All and all it was a great trip and I can’t wait to share ALL the details with you.  But for now there is laundry backed up a mile long, homework coming out my ears, and well the day to day ways of life are piling up on me.  Sorry blog your gonna have to wait…..the children and dirty household are calling my name!

God is good……..ALL the time,

~jct~

Whitman’s World

It seems like life has gotten extremely busy with all the demands of school, the girl’s activities, church, home, the farm, etc.  I forget to mention and show ALL the good and fun times my little man is having.

Whitman loves to go ANYWHERE with his Daddy.  He may be a little fussy at the thought of leaving his Momma….he is a Momma’s boy….but as soon as he gets going with his Daddy there is separating them.

Whitman loves his Woody!  And he loves to watch Toy Story with Woody on their horse while yelling, “yee-haw”!  He is so cute and fun!

He is also loves his Da and Papa!  No matter if one is around or both he is going to make sure he has their undivided attention.  Haha!!  The picture on the left is at one of the many basketball games we’ve been too.  Whit was so glad his Da was there.  The picture on the right is of Papa and Whit gathering wood for our fire.  He had to be right there helping Papa out!  He is definitely a man’s man and loves to spend time with his Daddy, Da, Papa, and his uncles!  He is a mess for sure.

So this is his favorite place in the house…..his room.  Before, in the old house, he didn’t have a room of his own.  His toys were in the living room and his clothes in the girl’s room.  Now he can be found in his room with ALL his toys spread throughout the room…..the train on one side, the farm butts up to that, and then the tractors are all over the place!

I found this old tractor at an antique shop in Blackshear last summer.  I watched it for about three months and then made an offer on it…….$30!!  It is made out of ply board and has some excellent details to it.  I was going to paint in red….we like red tractors around our farm….but I couldn’t. It looked so good all worn around the edges…I like that!

I looked for months for a tractor quilt or comforter and finally stumbled upon this one at overstock.com…..I love this store!!  Its a precious quilt with all the colors I had imagined for his room.

Within time I’m sure I’ll have his curtains up and the rest of Whit’s favorite place decorated and just like I want.  But for now I don’t think he minds! :)

God is good…….ALL the time,

~jct~

Upward Cheerleading and Basketball

 

This year the FBC of Alma started the Upward program in the community.  We are SO excited to be involved in this program!  For the first time they are offering cheerleading for the girls and basketball for the boys.  And in the spring they will offer soccer.  We can’t wait for soccer to get here!

What a blessing to be apart of a positive, encouraging, Christian, athletic atmosphere.  The girl’s have coaches who are not only teaching them Christian characteristics through cheerleading, but are showing them these characteristics in their lives.  As a Momma, I couldn’t ask for a better situation. 

Both Cora Jane and Vera Kate enjoy cheering on all their friends who are playing the game.  And they are encouraged to cheer for everyone….not just one team. 

Needless to say its a great asset to our community and I really look forward to seeing how God is going to use Upward Sports in our area.

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As you can tell, there is lots of fun…..lots of noise……and lots of friends at our games.

Cora Jane, Trey, and Vera Kate

 

We look forward to a lot more games this next month!

"Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people."
   Psalm 3:8

God is good……ALL the time,

~jct~

Southern Charm

I haven’t showed any pics of our house during the Christmas season and I just love how it turned out.  So here we go.  I have always wanted a home with a big porch (like ours now) so I could drape garland on the railings, and big wreaths on the windows…..that southern charm that you find all over Georgia this time of year.  I know the landscaping isn’t anything to look at but it will be one day….one day!  Other than that I was so thankful for how the look came together.

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So many of our decorations came from some special people.  The topiary trees were set up on my porch, all lit up, one day..to our surprise!  Come to find out some very good friends of ours were the little elves on that drop off….we love us some Cotherns’!  And the ribbons on our wreaths and mailbox were just “dropped off” by our sweet neighbors….Ms. Sarah Miles.  I’m telling you, God is so good!  Everything I could have wanted to put our home together for Christmas was given to us.  The pre-lit garland was another porch find that my Mom left us before she went back home one weekend.  Blessed.  Truly Blessed!!

Our Christmas tree turned out beautifully.  I was so excited to find this “feed sack” garland at our local florist.  In fact, two sweet friends gave us a gift certificate to the store where I purchased the decor….another God thing!!  My Mom and Dad replaced the kid’s ornaments that they had been giving them for years.  Cora Jane’s are angels, Vera Kate’s are crosses, Lila Rae’s are hearts, and Whitman’s are Santa Clauses’.  The tree was full and just gorgeous….again we are so blessed…..its exactly what we wanted!

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I tried to use the garland and ribbon throughout the house.  I love my china hutch and the way it turned out.  I saw it somewhere online, took a picture to a carpenter, and here you go.  Then the decor on it just made it!  I hearts this!!

I can’t wait until next year to put all out again and add too it!

God is good……ALL the time,

~jct~