Just a Tad Bit of Business

Oh hey! I've closed my little etsy shop up for the remainder of June. We're so busy with Summer over here that there's no time! I'll open back up on July 1st, so don't be a stranger!

Go play with your kids!

God is good, all the time!

xxoo,

Joy

The Reward of Obedience

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."

Psalm 36:5-7

In a few short days we will cross the three month mark of finalizing our Kendra's adoption.

Adoption has changed our lives in ways we could have never imagined.

Aside from the extra side of spunk it has brought us, it has also opened our eyes even wider to the bigger picture of how God adopts us into His family.

There are many days that Kendra is more than a handful. Though she grew up from the very beginning in our home she has some natural gifts that were inherited through her biology. Some days I don't refer to them as gifts.

BUT...

She is fearfully and wonderfully made by God!

As her parents, it is our job to lead and direct her and offer her grace and forgiveness on a daily basis. Unconditional love.

This girl has been the tool God used to mirror our relationship with Him. He loves us. No matter what. Unconditionally.

We are not worthy to have been called for this beautiful task of loving this girl. He has blessed us a million times over anyway.

We've been talking a good bit lately about what God may have rescued our girl from. We are careful to be mindful that we did not rescue her. God did that.

He rescued her and we stood obedient to receive her.

God did all of that.

Adoption weighed heavy on our hearts for many years. Having our girl here with us forever is beyond our wildest dreams.

God makes dreams come true when we are willing to set ourselves apart and step out in faith.

Step out, friends. God has the whole plan covered in advance. You only have to be obedient and follow Him.

God is good, all the time.

First Boat Ride

Our Daddy man was out of town on business for four days last week and it carried into the weekend. That left us no choice but to head to Papaw and Nana's house for some Summer fun.

My parents live on the lake. My Dad's job has had him away the last few Summers, so everyone was looking forward to putting the boat into the water and taking it for a spin.

It was Kendra's first boat ride and boy was she excited! 

Tasha, her legs are not ashy, she was playing in the dirt.

She kept saying "take my picture." She thinks she's a celebrity. She has no idea she actually is. :)

This kid will be 13 in a few weeks! Yikes! I am not ready.

Jordan was trying to act cool, but on the inside he was jumping up and down with excitement, I just know it.

Two minutes in and Little Sister was OUT!

We rode over to my Grandma's house to visit for a minute.

Then we headed over to visit some friends. We didn't know they had put in this cool slide. Score!

While the boys had a ball at the lake, we sat on the covered deck feasting on snacks and iced sweet tea. 

I used to put pennies on this track as a kid and wait for the train to ride by and smoosh them.

This was my Dad's parents' place as a child. It was sold nearly twenty years ago. It was neat to ride by and see how it has changed. I spent many Summer nights sleeping on an iron bed on that screened porch.

At the end of the day Kendra-girl gave the boat ride two thumbs up! It was a great way to kick off Summer!

God is good, all the time!

Five on Friday

Welcome to Friday! I'm kicking off the weekend with a few Instagram pics to flashback through the week. You can follow me on Instagram @smalltownjoy as long as you're not a creep. :)

 

1. God reminded me through the pouring rain that He is always enough. Any time I get wrapped up in the things I don't have that I think I need I am saying that He isn't enough.

 

That is a lie.

 

God will always, always, always BE and PROVIDE me with enough.

 

 

2. Speaking of rain... this really happened:

 

Kendra: Oh, hey there little mud puddle. You're so cute!

 

 

3. Have you seen this recipe on Pintrest?

 

Put a Reeses Cup on the bottom of your cupcake liner, then mix the cheesecake dessert as directed and fill to the top. It makes a dozen. Refrigerate.

 

Well, lo and behold, I love Reeses Cups, and I love Cheesecake, but I declare the two together didn't do a thing for me. My kids didn't like it either and my husband never even tried it.

 

 

I'm sort of crazy about my different foods touching, so maybe that was it. Who knows. Try it for yourself.

 

 

4. There is a towel company in our small town that holds a rummage type sale of over runs and rejects several times a year. Huge luscious beach towels for $2.00 each. We went over with two cars full of people and everyone came home with a new beach towel for our vacation. Fun city. Little sister was in rummage heaven.

 

 

 

5. I took these cool cats to the farmer's market and actually talked them into taking a picture. That handsome fella on the left is our small town friend. We like him a lot.

 

Hope your week was grand and you're starting to enjoy your Summer!

 

God is good, all the time!



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Hello Summer!

We're officially on Summer break around these parts. 

It fits us like a glove. 

We've been slow moving today, settling in to a new rhythm. 

We've visited the front yard, the sunshine and the park down the lane.

The big kids made their own lunch and then we took them out for ice cream of the fifty cent variety.

Potty training is kicking into full gear and Lord knows it may be the death of me.

No one has dared say they're bored yet because everyone around these parts know that the word bored means chores and no one is quite ready for all of that kind of fun.

To kick off our excitement, we had a visitor yesterday. Our Daddy man was working in the yard and walked past a pile of something by my back door a time or two. The third time that pile took shape and stood up to strike at Barry! It was a black snake, but a good size and actually did bite into Barry's pants but not the skin. Everyone was under strict instruction not to tell Mama, but one kid let the cat out of the bag. I went out to investigate to find that it had been lying right at my back door! Close enough to come in the house! Have mercy. As I was discussing this with my man a mouse ran out from the garage and down the same path the snake had used. Aha! Now we know why the snake was paying us a visit. Sorry little mouse, you have got to go!

Needless to say, my nerves were rattled the rest of the evening. No snake is welcome at my house. Ever. Do you hear me?

We're counting down the days until our Summer vacation. It's so close that we can almost taste it! 

Welcome back Summer! You've been missed!

God is good, all the time!

Sum, Sum, Summertime

We dipped our toes a little further into Summer over the weekend.

We carried a magazine and a blanket into the sunshine and next thing I knew little sister had relocated everything she owns to the front lawn and deemed it tea party day. 

Who could argue with that?

And the kicker? 

"Mama, take my picture" for the win!

And a smile!

We made our Summer Bucket list over the weekend.

Banana splits, the jockey lot, picnics, swimming, Five Guys, friends.

Would you believe me if I told you I've never eaten at Five Guys?

It's true.

I feel like it should go down this summer.

Have you made your Summer bucket list?

What's on it? I need to know.

God is good, all the time!

BIG BIG Sale!

Happy Weekend to you all! I'm hosting a BIG sale in my little shop this weekend!

All weekend long enjoy 50% off all twine using coupon code TWINE50 when you check out now through Monday night.

I'll be tucking those little dollars into my vacation envelope when you do! :)

So, skip on over and scoop you up some summery twine before it's all sold out!

Meanwhile, here's what we've been up to this morning...

God is good, all the time!