CREATE JOY Joy's my blog.....

It's all hard. From trying to keep our dishes under control so we can eliminate our obvious ant infestation, to mounds of laundry, going to work and getting everything back in working order week after week, dealing with grief and family, AND all of my obligations at church.......which are numerous. Trying to be sensitive to everyone's needs and feelings and keeping control of my own, not being harsh or cruel by telling people what I really think.....It's all hard. So how do we possibly do it all AND have a good attitude. Give yourself some grace. To get it all right every time isn't going to happen. To get it right even some of the time is a blessing..... Soooooooooo, Have the coffee, listen to your favorite song, fall in love with Jesus everyday. Take a bath, floss your teeth, put on your wig and try your best.😀 That's it. Everyday.  I love you. jackie 

Having children in your home, no matter what age they are or for that matter,  you are....is one of life's biggest challenges,  also one of the most important.  YOU are writing on the heart of that child with every word spoken,  every minute spent, every action taken. Yes. It's that important.  Many times you will have to repeat instructions and admonitions,   it's hardly ever convenient,  it's almost always an interruption.... It's worth every minute.  Enjoy your children,  help them grow in the Lord.Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Love jackie 

Having boundaries doesn't mean you dislike someone. It simply means you deny access to your heart when someone in your life creates confusion, chaos, or constant criticism.  It doesn't mean you don't love them, it means you are confident your God is working on your behalf to work out a situation that is beyond your control.  You give space and time for God to work.  We can't fix or change people, or make them behave a certain way. It's ok. When Adam and Eve broke the law that had been established. God moved them out of the garden and he placed angels there to keep them out! He didn't stop loving them. God IS big enough to handle your problems.  Let Him. Love Jackie 

  but let your moderation be known to all men.... Why in the world would we want to be known as "the one who freaks out"?  LOL, still somehow that often seems to be our first reaction! Can't you just hear Jesus as we meet Him at the pearly gates...."man you really  needed to chill out a little bit."   In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ for you!   Hey, let's define moderation:  restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses; temperate. I don't know, maybe that just doesn't sound exciting enough for some.   I tend to think life has enough excitement without me adding to the chaos.   Let's try this.... breathe.  Let God have his perfect work as we continue to do our work.   It will all be ok.  He promised us it would! Love jackie

Christmas Season for me, is all about highlighting the things of Jesus I love the most.  Trying to bring to life the very story of Christ in His birth, burial and resurrection. One of the ways we can do that is to bring the different scents and lights of Christmas right into the story, take the time and allow your children to experience the different scents and enjoy the lights they will always remember.  *the Legend of the Candy Cane  *the Gifts of the Wise men *The woman with the alabaster jar.... Talk to your children about how we are lights in an ever darkening world.  How each child has their own fragrance and light they are meant to share. I love you so much, Enjoy the Holiday Season. Jackie