The last summer we had tour I met the team in Oregon. It had been a long hot summer. I thought a really long hot summer, until this summer, LOL. The Lord had been showing me about being grateful for everything that we had. All the way down to the noisy window unit air conditioner. I felt like He told me that until I could be grateful for every little thing He couldn't bless me with more. As I listened as best I know how. I realized it's like our own children. Most of the time we don't continue to give them things until they are grateful for what they have. 

If we will be grateful it opens the blessing gate and keeps it open. When we start to complain and not realize how blessed we are it begins to close the gate.

I went to Oregon and shared this with the team. I believe being grateful is a key to success. Its so simple we over look it. I took each young person by the hand and imagined I was handing them a key. I said now what are you going to do with it? Put it in you pocket and forget it or are you going to use it and even share it?

Being grateful isn't hard for me. We weren't very well off when we were growing up. The funny thing is I didn't know it then. When we got something new we were expected to take care of it. We were always clean and fed and well loved. Everything else was extra. So now that I can buy gas, even at these prices....I can have a nice home with a/c...I can buy the groceries I want when I want....I have fresh water....I have a great family....I have wonderful friends.....You see there is no stopping when you begin to count your blessings.  YES I'm more than grateful.......Thank you SIR!!!

Love y'all....have a GREAT day too!!
Carol/MJ
Psm 138:8

I wouldn't wish lonesome on anybody!!

We had just had a family day and everybody had been here. Lu said Mom I feel so lonely.  It almost made me mad... I said how can you feel lonely when we just spent the whole day with all of our family around? I just didn't understand....until Jeff left to be with the Lord.

It is possible to feel lonely in a crowd. 

I knew then how to pray for my Lu and for myself. We have to learn to depend on HIM for everything. To be still and let HIM fill our heart and know that HE is perfecting everything in our lives. I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe that He has a plan for each of us. Jer 29:11 proves it. I'm not saying it is easy or that it doesn't hurt...it does. I'm saying if we will stay close to HIM and trust in HIM to perfect those things that concern us...HE WILL!! 

I'm so grateful for HIS Word and for the people in my life to get thru everyday. Hurt is like a cut...It heals gradually and sometime the scab gets knocked off and it has to start healing all over again. But it does heal, if we let HIM help us.

Love y'all so much!
Carol/MJ
Jer 33:3

It's been almost 6 years ago since I found the scripture Psm 138:8 "The Lord will perfect those things that concern me....."

The first summer I stayed home during the summer was 2006. I had been feeling like I wasn't suppose to go on tour for a couple of years before that. Anytime I would mention it to Jeff, he just wouldn't hear of it. So that summer I just told him I couldn't go. I felt so strong about it. He said if that's how your feeling then stay here.

I went with him and the team as far as Grove, OK and then came back home. When I got there, I found a dead baby colt, the horses had gotten into the hay pen and the bathroom was flooded. That was the confirmation I needed that I had done the right thing coming home.

During my days of trying to run the ranch by myself, haha, I leaned hard on my God! It was during this time that I found Psm 138:8. I printed it out and put it on my bathroom mirror. I wanted to believe that He could perfect those things that concerned me. He proved Himself over and over that summer and continues to today. I'm grateful for God's Word to teach me and live by. I still make a lot of mistakes. I'm sure glad He loves me.......

Blessings,
Carol/MJ

I heard a little joke one time that rings so true in life:

An old minister was headed into the church one morning with his little grandson. As he passed by the offering box at the back of the church he flipped some change in it. That morning the old preacher delivered his message and there wasn't much response. As they were leaving he stopped to check the offering box. All that was there was the change he had put in it. I assume there was a look of disappointment on his face. The little boy looked up at his grandpa and said....If you had put more in it....you would have gotten more out of it!!!

This is so true in everything we do. The more we practice the better we get. The more we love, the more love we receive. The more we give the more we get.

Don't eat your seed. The fruit is always, always bigger than the seed. In Luke 6:38 it says "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you....I'm thinking a scoop shovel might work really good to measure with!!

Have a Great day too!!!  I sure do love y'all!

We lost our ballgame in the 14th inning last night. We can still win the tournament tho. It's gonna take a little more effort, but they have the power and ability to accomplish it! Please pray for strength for our young men. It's so hot out there. Just want them safe.

Blessings!!
Carol/MJ

In the grand scheme of things, I believe family is everything. I'm not just talking about blood relations either. I have friends that are family...very close family. We need to not take for granted those that we love so very much. We should take time to communicate with them and be sure and tell them we love. Don't just assume they know.

I sure do love ya'll!!
Carol/MJ
Psm 138:8

Well we won both of our ball games today! Whoohooo

I can't tell you how blessed I am to get to be a Nannie. I have always told my kids...I don't want to run your lives I just want to be part of it. The Lord has blessed me with 7 wonderful Smiles (grand babies). Steph, Magen, Bec n Jo are Amber's 4 precious daughters. I now have John, Michael and Brittany. Girlie is my son Josh's girlfriend and they belong to her. She so graciously let's me love on them and be a part of their lives too.

The other day John and Michael called me out of the blue an asked me to lunch. I gotta tell you, that made me feel pretty special. You know the babies you've loved since their birth love you. But when the teenagers want to hang out with ya....well let me just say, it made my heart smile.

Don't be afraid to open your heart...to let new people into your life. It pays off in lots of hugs, kisses and Smiles....

Love y'all!! Hope y'all have a GREAT day too!!
Carol/MJ

Well we will be leaving in just a little bit to head to Athens. My Smile's (Michael) baseball team made it the Junior State playoffs. We not only get to watch him play, but we get to stay with Sissy and her family this week. How SWEET is that!

If things go as planned and we keep the winning up, we will be there all week. I'm so grateful for my family!! Thank you Sir!!

Y'all have a GREAT day too and I'll try to keep y'all updated on Michael's success!!

The blessings of the Lord make us RICH and add no sorrow with it!!!

Blessings,
Carol/MJ
Psm 138:8

Don't make your joy a job.......

When I brag, I sure hope y'all know I'm braggin on Him and for sure not me.

A couple of years ago I had finally gotten my little Explorer paid off. I was so excited and thanking Him for all He had done. Then I hear Him ask me, what are you gonna do with it. I thought, I'm gonna keep it and drive it. I hadn't had a paid off vehicle but maybe one other time in my life. I was EXCITED!! He said haven't you been praying for Lu a new vehicle. I said yes Sir...but I like my Explorer  :(  It has a sun roof, it get's good gas mileage, it has a 5 disc cd changer, I can get all my Smiles in it and it's paid for...whoohooo!! UGH! You want me to give away my Explorer Sir?

So I talked to Jeff and told him what I was feeling. He said what are you gonna drive. I don't know. I guess one of the trucks. So we had a staff meeting that day and I got to (GOT TO ....it was my pleasure to) give Lu my Explorer.

It wasn't long till we found a real good deal on a Ford Excursion. I really liked it. Lu said oh Mom look what God did for you. It's because you sowed your vehicle. I said this truck can't be my fruit, cause I had to pay for it.....

Well last year I had a family call me. They said what do you need for your ministry. It was really hard for me to answer that question. I don't like asking anybody for anything except Him. Finally, I said well I'm believing for another vehicle. My Excursion is doing fine, just been feeling like I should start looking for one. They said we will call you back tomorrow. OK..... When they called me back they said, we want to get you a new vehicle, but with one condition. I said ok what is the condition. It has to be brand new.....WOW There was my fruit I'd been believing for. I got to drive a brand new Chevrolet Suburban off the lot completely paid for. It's been a year ago this coming August and I am even more grateful today than I was then. Thank you Sir!! Your WORD works if we work it!!!

You see sometimes when He ask us to give our prize possessions He has something much better in mind for us.  So don't eat your seed or you'll never have any fruit!!!

Please know that I'm sharing these things to show you how real God is. To help you understand that He loves all of us and wants good things for us.

I sure do love y'all!!

Blessings
Carol/MJ
Psm 138:8