I am always so happy to see my Columbine each year. So dainty and so lovely. Enjoy!

I just had to share. I absolutely love my new red and green walls.

Last week, three of my very dear friends were here to help me paint my kitchen an olive green, which is so lovely. I couldn’t be happier with the color, but I have to say it was hard for me to stop there. I had planned to freshen the paint in the family room as well this summer (which I still plan to do) but in the mean time I had to add some drama. So my dear friend, K came by today and we did this!!!

Isn’t it an amazing transformation? I just am so happy with the new look.

I was out in the yard today and was captivated by this weed.  Don’t ask me why.  Just a perfect creation, yet more evidence of our amazing creator.

Have you noticed how many hair care products there are out there these days? Which one is really the best for my hair and the best for my wallet? Who has time to read the ingredients on each bottle? If you are like me, you are very picky and you only buy the products that are on sale. If you are really lucky you get a great tip from a friend or hair dresser. But, most of the time it is hit or miss.

The last time I saw my sytlist, (who also has curly hair), told me about a book all about how to care for curly hair. Wow, how I wish that my mom had had this book when I was a teen! ha ha!! Would have saved me a ton of grief. But, now I hope that as I learn to care for my hair, I can make it easier for my daughter to love her curls.

I tried one of the recommended hair care recipes recently and love it! I am sure anyone can use it. I love it because it smells good, conditions our hair and adds a shine to our hair. Also, since Gigi and I both need a gel sprtiz we go through it very fast, now I am able to have a few products on hand and can make my own when needed.

All you need is: Clear hair gel, water, Lavender oil and spray bottle. Mix to your liking and viola. A gentle hair gel that smells so pretty and tames the frizzies!

Practice! Practice!

The Diamondbacks are doing very well this year, the team has great coaching and a really fun group of kids. It is fun that H is #17 as it is one of my favorite numbers and and he was born on the 17th. I have to brag a bit about my little boy, I am so impressed by his strength. When he connects the bat to his ball he can really hit. I can just tell how much joy it brings him when he hits a good one. Just so precious!

Yes! Yes! O live it. Isn’t it a lovely? It has been 8-10 years since we painted the kitchen and I was really itchin’ for a change. So me and three of my buds got together to transform the kitchen from Drab to Fab! he he!!

We went from Lulled Beige to Tate Olive. The white cabinets sure do look nice against the green, it is amazing what a little paint can do, isn’t it?

In all of their glory, dads get so much love and so much respect. Don’t they? Maybe not as much as they should, but we do love them so very much. We love that they protect us, love us, honor us, work hard for us and provide for our earthly needs.

I hope that you all celebrate your Fathers in a very special and honoring way as we did today.

This morning was so special that we served daddy a couple of yummy, toasted, cherry flavored Pop Tarts!  As you can imagine Kip was thrilled to have a warm breakfast.

On our most recent visit to the hospital to see Nanna we got to see the Flight-for-Life Chopper land. I don’t think they were actually airlifting anyone so it was kind of fun to watch.

Could summer be any more fun?

I love that my kids are perfectly happy just hanging out with friends. H is so lucky that his best friends live next door. My heart often breaks for G, as she doesn’t get as many play dates due to geography.

This year both kiddos have really gotten stronger and more confident in riding their bikes, scooters, driving their motor vehicles and ball sports. I just love how they wake up with thoughts of playing outside and their sweet little heads hit the pillow after one last ride around the block.

Bumps, scraps and bruises aside this mom is loving the chance to watch her babes create some super summer memories.

Throughout history Christians have come under attack, not only from their peers and leaders, but more fiercely from Satan. He does not like having his territory threatened, or to see us growing God’s Kingdom.

We see this in the sufferings of God’s people every day.

Sometimes as we witness all of this suffering Satan will cast fear and anxiety in our hearts, distancing us from God. Sometimes it is a personal struggle we are fighting that separates us from our Heavenly Father.

We must always be aware and able recognize these attacks as just that, attacks.

The observer in me has been able to witness so many of these attacks not only in my own life but in the lives of so many of our friends.

Sadly, my first instinct when I come under attack it to retreat and not serve God’s people. However, even if there was a place I could run. The resulting sense of security would be both false and temporary, wouldn’t it?

So what must we do? How and when should we shield ourselves?

I have spent a lot of time in reading about this this week as I definitely feel that my family and I are under an attack. Sickness, fear, anxiety, stress have all plagued our lives in the past few weeks and have left us sad, desperate and angry.

Have we been taking the proper measures to shield our faith?

Our first defense should be knowing that, as Christians, we are fully covered by the protection offered by our Lord. Here are some scriptures which tell us where we stand as Christians : Psalm 91, Psalm 18:2, 1 John 4:4, Col 3:1-3.

When we do become uncovered from his protection the first step, simple but not always easy to do, is to confess our weakness, doubt and sin and to allow God’s mercy and grace to cover us again.

Once we are protected by the armor of God, we must wear it fully, all of the time. (Ephesians 6:11-18).

We must also Praise and worship God. Why?

Because the devil cannot tolerate it for the following three reasons; Praise proclaims the name of the Lord Jesus, praise is the result of the Holy Spirit working in us (Hebrews 13:15) and because God inhabits our praise. (Psalm 22:3)

Finally, God intentionally does not place us in situations where we are ministering in total isolation from other Christians. We must praise Him that he created us with sufficient weaknesses to need each other.

Have you ever met the completely equipped Christian who is able to minister effectively as a one person church? No. God’s plan for the church is that we need each other (Romans 12:4-8, 1Cor. 12).

Part of the devil’s attack is to use our inadequacy against us, so that we are too scared or anxious to ask for help. Yet, it IS when we are struggling that we need help the most.

In my reading I realized that I in fact was in the midst of a spiritual attack. I felt isolated from God, feeling a little down and anxious about the situations in my life at the moment. My armor had been insecure. I was unprepared and isolated from God and from friends. I was able to recognize this and to repent and ask for God’s grace. He covered me and shielded me once again, through the love and prayers of a few friends and family.