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My Quiet Time with Jesus!

The other day I was driving and I was chatting away with my mom on my speaker. I was passing by the airport and it seems when that happens, the line cuts in and out. For the next few minutes we are both saying, “Hello! Hello! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Hello, can you hear me now?” Once the line cleared up, we started laughing because it sounded just crazy with all the hello…hello…hello!

As I was doing my devotions this afternoon while the house was quiet, I kept thinking how thankful I was that I finally figured out something that was working for me at this stage of my life in meeting with my Savior each day. Granted, there are days that it just doesn’t happen and it weighs heavily on my mind when I don’t take the time to sit down and just spend time with my Jesus. I may be the only one that happens to, but, it is what it is.

I put my faith and my trust in Christ when I was 14. That was 46 years ago! Wow! Yes, I turned 60 this year. Yes, I’m struggling with that thought! Back to my main reason for writing today….

Church was the main thing in my life the day I accepted Christ as my Savior. I was there every time the doors were open. I was in Sunday School, special teaching classes, choir, visitation, every teen activity, church camps, you get the picture. Reading and studying God’s Word was new to me. I knew it was important and I read it because I was taught that you needed to start reading your Bible. So many things I didn’t understand, but, I kept reading it anyway. I didn’t even have a Bible of my own for the first several months of my new life in Christ. We had a large Children’s Bible that I would read out of and my mom had a Bible that I would read. I did get a Bible for Christmas later that year. I still have it and I love going through and seeing all the verses that I underlined and little notes I made.

Since then, I’ve had several different Bibles and I do have one main one that I really like to study out of. I place Bibles around my house. I just love having one near at all times. I even carry one in my car.

Over these 46 years I have sat under many different preachers and teachers. I have heard many different ways of studying your Bible and ways that people have their personal quiet times each day. I know you have heard many different ways, too. Yes, I’ve even been convicted because I didn’t do it like someone else or I tried and just couldn’t do it. Such as get up at 4 a.m. and read and pray before my husband and babies woke up. I tried, but it wasn’t happening! I eventually would find my own way to spend time in prayer and Bible reading. It even has changed many times over the years.

I recently found myself struggling with getting my three chapters read each day in order to reach a certain goal. It wasn’t meaningful to me as I was just hurrying up and it was like it was a ritual or something. I felt like I was missing out.

One of my favorite preachers made a comment one time when I was with he and his wife, “If you want to know who God is, read His Word.” Sounds very practical, doesn’t it? That’s because it is practical. I found myself, reading to meet a deadline and a goal and reading books on different subjects, but, still was hungry just to sit in peace and read and let God speak to me. I want to know everything there is to know about God. When you are hurrying or just reading to be reading….you might miss out on a few things.

Several months ago, I said to myself…”Okay, Beverly, it’s time to slowly go through your Bible and just be quiet and still and let God speak to me.” I am a planner, so I stuck with my pattern of how I read the Bible, but…this time, I’m going slow and I am loving it so much! I’m not trying to meet a deadline to have my Bible read through by the end of the year and get so many verses a day read.

This is how my “quiet time” goes….

I begin with a short prayer of asking the Lord to speak to me through His Word. If there is anything that He wants me to know, to make it very clear for me to see. I want to know everything about Him. Now….if you are anything like me, your mind goes a million miles a minute and you think about so many things at the same time as reading and even praying. I have to get still and quiet and I don’t begin until my mind has calmed down. I even keep a notepad close that I jot things down that is on my mind to do. Such as, while you are reading a thought pops in your head….go to the store to get milk….just stop, write it down and move on. Again, I might be the only one that struggles with things like that.

I have an Our Daily Bread Devotional for women that I read. It is very short and to the point. I love this devotional as it always has something that I need to be reminded of. Then….

I began in Genesis and only read one chapter. With reading one chapter, I take my time…I make notes, I memorize names, place and events. I’m not worried about checking anything off. I’ll move on through each book of the Old Testament.

I then move to the Book of Psalms. I read one chapter…same thing…slowly and make many notes. When I get to the end of Psalms, I start over. I’m always going through the Book of Psalms.

Then I go to my favorite, the Book of Proverbs. Whatever day of the month it is, that is the Proverb that I read. October 6th…I read Proverbs 6. When I get to Proverbs 31, I start over. I’m always going through the book of Proverbs. It’s amazing how any things speak to you differently each month.

I then go to Matthew…..one chapter a day and I move on through Mark, Luke and John. When I finish John, I go back to Matthew. I’m always reading in the Gospels.

I then go to the Book of Acts….one chapter…..I keep on moving all the way through Revelations. When I’m through with Revelations, I will start over in Acts.

I have to tell you that I have really enjoyed it! There are days, where I can’t wait to sit down to read the next chapter in each book to catch up. I’m hungry for more.

Being hungry for the Word of God is a very good thing! Are you hungry for God’s Word?

Also, as I read, and God speaks to me, I pray as I read. I apply everything I read to myself. I’m not worried about how someone I know needs this or I hope so and so reads this today…..This is all for me! I’m not studying for a lesson to teach or to fill in a workbook for a study of some sort. It’s just me and God….

That’s what a “quiet time” is to me.

I end with focused prayer. Prayer is my personal conversation with my Savior. I don’t keep up with making sure I spend an hour or 5 minutes in prayer. I pray for however long it takes. I cover everything. Trust me!

So, I hope you have settled in to what works for you in your season of life that you are in right now. Do you need to make some adjustments? If something isn’t working, figure out a way that it will work. Make it a special time for you and your Savior…..not just checking off a box of what you read for the day. But, hey….if checking off the boxes is what works….yay! I did the box checking for a long time.

I only share this to encourage you and hopefully inspire you to make sure you have that time each day or as often as you can.

If you are struggling with any area, feel free to email me and I would love to find a way to help and encourage you. Don’t leave Him out of your daily life.

Do you find your faith wavering…..get in the Word! Fill your life with people of faith. Listen to people of faith. Sometimes, when your faith is wavering…it could be because everyone and everything around you is anti-God. Trust me, there is plenty of that and always has been. Just read…..read for you…..not to prove anything to anyone…..just read and ask for wisdom and discernment. Tell God you need to hear from Him. He loves us so much and wants to spend time with us. I know you’ve heard this before; Our Bible is His love letter to us! He has so much He wants us to know about Him. Don’t take anyone else’s word for it…..you read and study for yourself and learn all you can! Let Him speak to you!

Until next time…

Beverly Goes To Vegas!

Never Say Never!

Are you as shocked as I am? For those of you that know me well…..I think you are really shocked!

I’m the one who said that I would never go to Las Vegas! Ever! I even said on my tombstone, it would say, “She never went to Vegas!” I said that because I felt like I was the only person alive who didn’t want to go to Las Vegas. It seems everyone I know goes on a regular basis and loves it! I almost went a few years ago when I was invited on a “girl trip” to celebrate my mother in law’s birthday. Something came up where I was needed, so I had to cancel. That was as close as I came to going.

What Was It That Made Me Change My Mind?

Yep! Donny Osmond! I mean Donny and Marie! I was a huge fan as a young teen of Donny and have loved watching Marie in all of her endeavors as well. We have been to three of their Christmas shows and I’ve always wanted to see them doing a regular show. But, I didn’t want to go to Vegas to see them. But……I read that they were retiring from there show after 10 years. November will be the last show. I got online and ordered tickets before I knew what I was doing. I talked our favorite traveling couple into go with us. They weren’t fans, but were willing to go for it. Jim…..he’s always a trooper and agreed to go! When I ordered tickets the main floor was sold out plus the tickets were around $300.00. Crazy! But…I did get tickets in the balcony and the lady on the phone assured me they were great seats and I would be able to see really good! Remember that last line.

The show was in a place called, The Flamingo. You have to walk through a casino to get to the showroom. Such a busy place. Anyway…here is the good part of the story…..

When we got to our seats in the balcony……we could not see the stage at all! There were two screens that you would have to watch. I thought, I could do that at home. But, what can you say. Not to mention the chairs we sat in were regular chairs that you would see at a dinner table. Jim leaned over and said he would be right back. He had gone downstairs to see if we could upgrade our seats somehow. They told him to go to the ticket counter on other side of building, but an usher stopped him and led him down front to a table with a couple at it and 4 empty seats. No charge! Well, in the mean time the three of us were in the balcony waiting for Jim to get back. We heard some clapping and we all looked around thinking something good must have happened downstairs. We didn’t see anything. I happened to look over at the stairs and saw Jim waving like crazy for us to come to where he was. So we jumped up and followed him down to the front to our new seats. I was in shock! Now…the reason we heard people clapping was because Jim had got up on the stage and was waving and yelling for us to come on down. But….remember, we couldn’t see the stage so we never saw him. An usher escorted him off the stage! People then clapped for him. A lady even came up to him after the show and told him that she enjoyed watching him waving around on the stage before the show. Sooooo embarrassing, but, that’s my Jim!

The couple that we sat with at the show were friends of Donny. They shared a few stories with us about him. How fun was that! By the way…..it was a great show! Loved every second of it!

I did my best to take pictures, but, I was so busy, I didn’t take the time to take very many. Selfies aren’t my expertise! As you can tell!

We were there from Friday to Sunday evening and we tried to see and do as much as possible. We went through The Belagio and the Wynn hotels. Everything is decorated over the top. I was speechless! These are the only pictures I took. I was too busy gawking at everything.

Of course, I’ve always heard the shopping is great there! So, we hit a few shopping centers. Most of it was high end shops such as Dior, Gucci, Chanel, etc. Everything was beautiful and fun to look at. I saw a scarf in one store and thought how pretty it was and maybe I should get it for a souvenir. When I checked price it was $850.00. I passed. Then I inquired about a certain belt that is the rage these days….$700.00. I guess Dillards and Stein Mart is my place to be.

The guys found a resting place while we shopped!

Jim had made reservations at a couple of places to eat that were delicious! Joe’s Seafood and Capital Grille.

We stayed away from the Las Vegas strip. We were about 20 miles or so in a town called Henderson at the Hilton at Las Vegas Lake. It was really nice. We got a suite that was beautiful and comfortable. I wish I would have taken a picture, but here is a link if you want to check it out. It was peaceful, clean, friendly, decorated nice and has a wonderful golf course that the guys really liked! The restaurant was really good, too!

On Saturday night, Jim got us tickets for a water show that was at the Wynn Hotel. Levre I think was the name of it. We had front row seats. The seating was in the round and went down as the center was all water and divers, swimmers put on a show. We were splashed a little bit, but not too bad! All I can say is, it was amazing! Interesting story they were telling, but, the acrobatics in the water was incredible.

Time to head home! I absolutely loved seeing the terrain from the air and seeing the desert mountains around the city with palm trees. I just love that look!

It was a fun weekend! We love our traveling friends. This was our third or fourth trip with them and they always make it fun!

There you go….Beverly’s big trip to Las Vegas! Yes! It was waaaaaayyyy out of my box, but I did it. Saw some interesting things and saw some sad things. Will, I go back? I’m not sure……NEVER SAY NEVER is now my motto!

A Girl and Her Doll

I love this picture! Our sleepy little girl and her baby! Tired little mommy!

When I was about 6 years old, I got a baby doll for Christmas. We were living in Ft. Stockton, Texas and we were in the middle of moving. The night before the big move to a new town, my family went to some friends of my parents home for dinner. I took my brand new baby doll. The next morning we were on our way out of town and I remembered my doll. I had left it at the house we were visiting the night before.

When I told my dad, he said that we didn’t have time to go get it and he would get me another one. I remember sitting in the back seat of the car and was extremely sad. I felt sorry for my doll. I missed her. But…life goes on.

I didn’t have many dolls growing up that I remember. When I was 3, I got a Susie Smart doll for Christmas. She wore a red plaid jumper and had a school desk and chalk board. A year or two later, I got a Candy Fashion doll for Christmas. She was a fashion doll and had mannequins that you could put clothes on since she was a model. I’ve always wondered what happened to those dolls. We moved quiet a bit when I was young, so no telling where they are.

This picture was recently found by my cousin. I had never seen it until recently. And look, I have a baby doll! I love this picture!

As life went on, I helped take care of my two younger brothers. I was 9 years old when my youngest brother was born. I was really too busy with a real baby to worry about baby dolls. I carried him around every where I went. I remember getting in serious trouble from my father when he was disciplining my brother and he came running to me and I hugged him as he was getting in trouble. I could tell millions of stories about my brothers and I growing up as I was a miniature mommy to them. My parents had divorced and my mother worked around the clock, so I was the babysitter and housekeeper. Back to the doll stories….

After the loss of the doll in Ft. Stockton, the only doll I remember having after that was when I was in about the 5th grade. She was called Crissy. She had short red hair and when you pushed a button on her tummy and pulled her hair….her hair grew down to her waist. I really liked her, but, I didn’t really have anyone that played dolls around. I fell into the trap that I was too old for dolls. I kept her for a long time and ended up giving her to a younger girl that I knew.

When our daughter was young, we always made sure she had baby dolls to play with and she so loved her dolls. She would even dress them up and take them to church. I always loved looking at dolls and seeing all the different ones available when shopping for her baby dolls.

Now that we have two granddaughters, we have bought several dolls for them as well. Matter of fact…recently, we took our youngest granddaughter on a birthday trip and we ended the trip with a visit to The American Girl store. I always love going in that store. It’s all I can do to not buy everything possible.

We each picked out a new doll and accessories!

It took me a while to unpack my doll, but, today was the day.

As we were picking out our granddaughters doll, I told myself….”I’m getting me a doll as well!” And I did! I picked Mary Ellen. She is from the 50’s. Each of the dolls from American Girl has a story of a certain time period. They have books and of course lot’s of accessories. Mary Ellen had all the extras such as a pearl necklace and bracelet set, a poodle skirt with oxfords, a sundress, the cutest Christmas punch bowl set and of course a juke box that really works! Yes, I fell for it all!

I’m sure my granddaughter will love playing with her when she is here. I have 4 sets of clothes and changed her once for pictures. I was too tired to change her again…so you will have to settle for just the two pictures of her change of outfits.

Isn’t she the cutest! I loved the retro punch bowl and Christmas deer set. The juke box came in today and it really works. Oh, how could I not get the little dog! I think I need a leash, though. And, look at her little gloves and pearls!

There she is, ready for the sock hop! I think that’s what they called it!

I so hope that parents are still allowing their girls to play with baby dolls. What fun it would be to have all your dolls from your childhood and pass them on to your daughters.

On my Pinterest, I have a board called, iLove Things From the Past. I have found pictures of the dolls I had as a young girl. They look just like I remember them. Except the poor baby doll that was left in Ft. Stockton. I don’t remember what kind of doll she was. I just knew that I missed her and cried for her..that’s all I remember.

Do you have memories of special baby dolls?

She’s loved American Girl dolls for a long time!

I am linking this post with A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.

Fall Vignettes Around My Home

I love the word, vignette! Sounds sort of elegant, doesn’t it? I actually looked up the meaning to make sure I knew what I was talking about. It basically means a small grouping of objects that creates a pleasing focal point.

Remember yesterday… I confessed my procrastination? Well, I didn’t have any procrastination problems. Maybe confession is really a good thing. I actually had a burst of energy yesterday and accomplished quiet a bit.

Here are a few photos from around our home. I hope it inspires you to put some “vignettes” together around your house today. Someone told me that my decorating made them tired. I hope you don’t get tired browsing around. I guess you can take a nap afterwards. -smile Thats to let you know that I’m not taking it serious. I’m actually smiling almost laughing when I think of that statement.

*Welcome to our home! Can I offer you some vanilla iced tea?*

You know I have to have glitter on the pumpkins, right?

*This is a banner that I bought a few years ago, very pretty and hangs on a ribbon. I never know where to put it. I have it hanging on a hook in the laundry room.*

*I had a passel of velvet and glitter pumpkins. I put them in a bowl by the back door in laundry room.*

*I change out this curio for each season. Makes me smile when it’s done.*

*I loved this sign and the pumpkin dish is what I use when I make a pumpkin dip. Maybe I need to share that recipe with you.*

*My island in the kitchen. I love this rhinestone rooster I found when traveling.*

*I had to take a pic with my sparkle app. His tail opens and you can store treasures in it. Like a diamond ring or something????*

*This is a mantel above my stove or should I say range. Anyway…..I put these elves up there. I’m not an elf fan, but…..they had glitter and bling on them….I couldn’t help myself!*

*See, isn’t he cute in sort of a strange elf way? See his velvet and bling? I may have to go see if they have new ones this year!*

My chef wears a different apron each season. She decided to wear her candy corn apron for now. She has a couple of other fall ones waiting. Notice she always wears her pearls and bling while cooking!

*Our entry way! I couldn’t’ remember what I did last year on the console…so, I put velvet pumpkins and filled my domes with sparkles. I forgot to take a picture of the other end.*

*A few pumpkins on the hearth in the master bedroom.*

I found these birds at a boutique when traveling somewhere…couldn’t resist. They are carved wood. So cute. This is in our patio room. We glassed in our patio and it is now our t.v. room. It’s where everyone lands when they come over it seems.

*I found this glass acorn a few weeks ago. This is in our living room.*

*There it is…the great leopard pumpkin. I think it’s ready for a new arrangement in it….but….I’ll think of that another day.*

*I love this glittered bird with a crown. You would think I love birds, wouldn’t you. I think I like birds that don’t mess up our outdoor furniture and porch.*

I always do a fall tree. I thought about skipping it this year. But, I felt so empty without it…so I decorated one last night on the patio room. This is a new tree and it is a skinny tree. I’ve never had a skinny tree like this, so, I had trouble decorating it….but, it is what it is.

*Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!*
HAPPY FALL!

Happy Fall – 2019

My favorite has finally arrived! We even have a bit of a cloudy morning with a chance of rain….maybe….or maybe it came during the night. In West Texas, any sign of clouds and a chance of rain is a blessing.

I always loved cloudy days growing up and even more so now. I have a few friends who don’t like cloudy days as it makes them sleepy and a bit depressed. Me? A cloudy day gives me energy. I want to cook, clean and create. It’s always funny to see how different we all are in our thoughts. I guess the best news in that, is knowing how we accept one another in our differences…..even the cloudy day thoughts.

Well…remember when I last wrote that I was going to do a newsletter instead of a post each day? That is on hold for now. My days go by so fast! So much I want to do and see. I’m also a procrastinator. I can put things off and dance around what really needs to be done. Sometimes I will find myself working on a project and realize I’m doing that to keep myself from doing what really needs to be done at the moment. Do I get an amen from my fellow procrastinators? I don’t like being a procrastinator. I’m still working on changing my ways. Oh, well, I’ll worry about that tomorrow! See….I told you!

Back to my main reason for writing today. I just wanted to say, “may your fall season be the best ever!”

I will post a few pictures tomorrow (see another procrastination) of my decorating that I did around the house last week. I told my Jim that I was a bit bored with my decorations and that I was going to scrap everything and go buy new as I was tired of everything. I was half teasing….I think he was glad I didn’t really mean it. But, then again, I might surprise him.

I’ll talk with you tomorrow! I’m going to take my pictures right now…unless I see something that needs to be done on my way to get my camera!

Have a fantabulous day and enjoy your weather whatever it may be for you today!

My Quiet Time with Jesus!

Beverly Goes To Vegas!

A Girl and Her Doll

Fall Vignettes Around My Home

Happy Fall – 2019

On The Road Again….Hilton Head Island

National Beer Day!

Do You Bounce The Ball Back?

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