Blog Hop Giveaway....Just Because I Like to Give

The recent Blog Hops have been so much fun and a great way to meet new bloggers. I am working on the Christmas post with all your answers and had not planned to post again this week..or at least until I could finish it. As you can see below I am working on Christmas....and it is 2000 degrees in Louisana, so not quite weather to put you in the holiday spirit.

But I cannot pass up a chance to do a GIVEAWAY! I love to send surprises. Here's the deal on my blog (and nothing against those blogs that require you to do multiple things) but for my giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment. That's it!!!! I will draw on Sunday night...or maybe Parker will draw, maybe even 2 winners. If you have been here before you know I have a hard time stopping at one person.
THE PRIZE...I just returned from market yesterday and have a so many new things. THIS PRIZE will be a $100.00 Surprise Box filled with all kinds of fun things....and INCLUDING a special CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT....

My only request is that if you read my encouragement post earlier, that you go back and read the paragraph I added. I never want to come across as someone who has it all together. I have had some hard days, but I have also had a VERY blessed life...

TERESA

Encouragement

****After reading all the comments, I really feel like I need to add a line or two. I did that post late one night in a hotel room..had not even planned to post this round of the blog hop..When I looked at the list of all the times the "Peace Speaker" had shown up BIG in my life, I felt like I was looking at someone else's life. Wow, I got through all that and am still OK!...and my husband has been totally fine for the past 15 years after quadruple bypass. Never had another sick day...If my kids have read it, they would tell you I do good in the Big Things...I do a little less than Great in the little things....so just did not want you to think I sail through life with no stress...Talk to me on a day I have 3 houses to decorate for Christmas and you will know THAT PEACE does not always manifest itself. All that said...I am so thankful for that supernatural, God breathed Peace that has come in everyone of those hard times.

This weeks Blog Hop focuses on a favorite quote, bible verse or saying and why it's meaningful to you....I have so many, but will just share a couple....
One of my favorite scriptures that has proven true over and over in my life is ......

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 (Amplified)

This scripture was true when my husband had a heart attack at 48, when my beautiful daughter told us she was pregnant her senior year of high school, it was true when my son went through a hard divorce, it was true when my parents suddenly died three months apart to the day, it was true when Baby Jack almost died from spinal meningitis, and it was true again recently when little Grayson was born. I know that peace and it is unexplainable.

For one of my very favorite quotes.....
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."
I don't know about you but I want many moments that take my breath away....and grandbabies DO THAT over and over again.

Christmas is Coming

A collage of our Family this past month as we welcomed sweet Grayson

I am working on the Christmas post! I think I ended up with 65 questions... I am debating doing a separate blog for the holiday decorating tips, pictures and stories. But know it will never take a backseat to my grandkid stories and pictures.

That is my heart!

Give me some feedback on that? Do you think it is a good idea to separate my family blog and the holiday stuff? Or would you be more likely to read it if it was all on the same blog? Remember I am just 6 months into blogging and I have lots to learn....

I am in Dallas for market, getting some great new ideas for trees, buying trees, and generally working HARD. It has to be 200 degrees outside, so not exactly weather that makes you think about Christmas.

YOU KNOW I CANNOT END A POST WITHOUT SOME SNAPSHOTS OF MY HEART!

2 Brothers Checking Each Other Out. Austin and Grayson 5 weeks old!
THE REAL JACK!!!!

PARKER OUR TWEEN....Where have the years gone? Seems like yesterday he was Grayson's age!