Be expectant of God's gifts..

As some of you may have seen my face book post on Saturday.  The day that Jack caught a hummingbird. The amazing thing is that is the second hummingbird that we have caught. I caught the first one at the window in the garage right after Ej passed away. It was when I was really searching for answers from God about the death of our beautiful son. All my life I have adored hummingbirds and finches. To the point that Ej would kid me about the birds. But during this time God sent me a hummingbird to tell me a story. A story of how Ej was with him. Then fast forward six years later while in prayer on Saturday morning, I ask God to show me that Ej has been set free and he did. He sent another hummingbird in the same place. Jack caught it and said I will set you free. The bird was above the same window that I caught the first bird in. Jack handed it to me so I could hold it. It was so symbolic that God handed me Ej for a short while and then it was time to set him free. To let him fly. To walk with God, is the greatest gift. Our hearts miss Ej everyday but wow, I am so happy that we have a God that loves us so much that he died on the cross.  He did not stop there, he continues to give us what we need daily. I fall short of what God has for me, but he keeps giving me what I need.  My friend Donna Loy, said one time that I have dreams of Ej because I expect to have dreams of Ej.  I know that God always gives us a sign but we have to watch for them. We have to be intentional about being aware, about being thankful but most of all knowing that God is always with us. It is a thrill to me to catch a hummingbird and God knows that. So maybe what I want to say is be expectant today. Look for God and look for your gifts from God. That is the great thing gifts, God can give them all day long but if you don't open the package you will not ever see your gift...Love to all<3

And I said why don't we gut the bathroom"

We are well into the bathroom remodel. I have these big ideas and lucky for me I have Jack to follow through with my big ideas!  They say there is someone for everyone. Well my someone is definitely Jack.  We have always done projects but I don't think we have done one this messy before!  The look of us is no resemblance to what they look like on HGTV...lol.
We have mortar mix from head to toe.  Anyway the bathroom is almost done and we are still married.  I cannot even help plan the wedding until the house is in some kind of order.. And speaking of that, why is the entire house turned completely upside down when remodeling one little bathroom.  The funny thing is that tonight while cleaning up the bathroom and cleaning up us, Jack said we need to change the swing of the front door and build a pantry... We can't even finish one project before one of us comes up with another. Oh did I mention Jack is lucky to have me to follow through with his big ideas...Soon as I can figure out how to post pictures, I will post some...Happy remodeling everyone:)

Say yes to the dress:)

Saturday was say yes to the dress..It was a very fun and successful trip to find a wedding dress for my daughter Tiffany. You know God is so into our lives and I know that I preach this all the time, but I believe that we have to be aware of God's presence.. I believe he is always with us but we have to be aware of him and the gifts he shows us..Yesterday, when we walked into the store, I seen a dress and said to Tiffany "how about that one"  I could tell by her face she was not thrilled but after trying on a few dresses she appease me by trying on the one I like..And she loved it, I loved it, Tammy and Ashley loved it..It fit her like a glove and was the right size (just a little hemming) but all was beautiful and so was she..Now that great God part.  We are two hours away from out hometown and we was in alterations. When Tiffany looks at me and says she is from Jamestown (our hometown area).  Anyway here stood this young lady about E.J's age and it was a friend from his from high school and she said I LOVED Ej and he was a great friend.  We shared some stories of Ej and she got alter Tiffany's dress..I mean what are the chances.. God always throws Ej into big events in our life and for that I am thankful..Thanks Jennifer for sharing Ej stories, but thanks mostly God for putting people in my life at special times to let me know that You and Ej are always with us..Say yes to the dress and say thanks to God:)

Gratitude to God

It is amazing how I went through life without knowing how blessed I was even at the hardest times in my life. I was blessed to go on a missions trip this weekend to Eastern Kentucky with Jack.  I am always caught off guard of when my blessings come and for what God shows me about my past life.  We did a remodel for a couple that had two kids. Her husband has worked the same job for nine years. They are in that place where that they make to much money to get help (26,000 per year) but not enough money to stay afloat. They lived in this little house that you could tell she tried to keep it clean and tidy. But the kitchen counter and faucets was HORRIBLE.. The Formica finish was coming off and I don't think it would have held out much longer.  Anyway last night when we got back to camp, I got a message from her of how thankful she was and that all they needed was a boost in life.  The blessing came after I went to bed (bunk bed with a 2" mattress). Anyway I was laying there complaining in my head about the bed when I remember when Tiffany and Ej was about the same age of these kids and even though we struggled in our little house that lots of times needed repairs, it was a beautiful time in my life and for a moment, life stood still. I cried but it was for the gratefulness that I had for what God had always given me, even when I did not realize how much I was given.  Then today I got to share why I like to do mission trips and that I believe that God expects us to be good stew arts with our time, money and talents. Which brings me to another thing that I learned this weekend. God knew that if he made all things easy for me, that I would not give back. He gave me Jack who taught me lots of construction things. He gave me Tiffany to teach me how to be a friend and a listener and at the same time be a fair mom that loves unconditionally.  He gave me Ej to teach me that everything we have on this earth is a gift, that all things belong to God, our time, our finances and even our children.. So I  have been blessed and I am still blessed and I love lessons in life no matter how hard or how I don't understand..My gratitude to God.

Swinging on the Porch swing

Well I got a some response from my so call blog and I was so excited that anyone read it..lol.  I am glad that I am not the only one that has the opinion that our cell phones rule us. My friend Toni added that another thing about the cell phone that I did not even think of is, when we are in other people's company that we text and take calls.  Her rule is no cell phone at the dinner table..That is a great rule. I have been guilty of taking calls and answering text while I am hanging out with friends and family.. Really, I am going to work on that. I know I have lost memories because I wasn't in the moment. So that is what I am going to work on..If you call or text and I don't answer immediately, hopefully I am on the porch swinging with my friends.. On a lighter note please pray for us, we are leaving for a three day mission trip today..We are staying here in our home state of Kentucky. We will be traveling to Eastern Kentucky. Please pray that God will lead, guide and direct us. May your day be blessed and may all of us remember that the most important thing to do is to stay in the moment..Once that moment is gone, we cannot get back...Peace out...

What we are missing

Well if nothing else this should be an interesting process..maybe not for you but for me. I think it is funny how my title of this blog is Porch and coffee. Seeing that these two items became big interest of mine late in life. But when I think of porch and coffee, I can't help but think about my mom and her friends and family sitting on the porch drinking coffee and just visiting with each other. It really was a beautiful time. I think how much they would have missed if they just text one another. My mom and her sisters would really laugh at everything. I can still hear mom, my aunt Carol, my aunt Shirley and my Gran laughing. They gave me a memory that I will carry with me and long for the rest of my life. Maybe that is my attraction to the porch. Which brings me back to the texting part. Yes, I do text but I don't enjoy it. And I can't imagine that as we grow older we will say or what a great memory of my mom when she was texting her friends and family. There is a element of human relationship that is truly missing. This blog is not going to change world views but I hope it gives my friends something to think about or at least be a good enough friend to say you need to stop blogging. I have no idea where this going but I hope you stop by from time to time. And when I say stop by, I mean not only to read the blog but to stop by and we will drink coffee on the potting shed porch..