"Let go and let God"

"Let go and let God."

I used to not like that saying.
My reasons for this was because it sounded to easy,to nonchalant, to simple .
But I see this saying is true because of its simplicity.  God himself says to cast our burden on Him. To cast means to lay down,to let go,to let Him carry it and care for you.God is personally caring for you as an individual.
I think that truth at times is hard to accept and embrace because it's simple and we as "grown-ups" are past simplicity. We want complicated  stuff to mull over and hash out. But what  wonderful ,simple truths of God's love &care for us we miss when we forget to have a "faith like a child ". We miss out on the joy &peace  when we believe and have confidence in God when He says "Come to me,all who labor and are heavy laden  and I will give you rest...You will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy,and my burden light." (Matthew 11:28,29b-30)
We need to lay down our burdens,climb into His arms and cling to Christ as a child clings to their father and rest in Him. "Let go and let God", yes  Abba,  Father here it is ,it's yours.

I made a skirt!

It's been sadly awhile since I made ,and fully completed a sewing project. So  the other day I sat down a made a  skirt from start to finish in one day !
I had so much fun,and it brought me so much joy to hear the hum of my sewing machine once again! This skirt is probably my favorite skirt ever. It's a full circle,it has a pocket in it (and we girls know how awesome it is to have pockets in our skirts ! ) :) .
Will be making many more like this soon!

His will alone

It's been awhile since my last post. Life has been busy these days. Sharing a little bit of what's been on my heart and mind these days! 

The deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by his letting us have our way in the end, but by his making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what he taught his disciples to pray: Thy will be done.” -Elisabeth Eillot 

 "Thy will be done ".

  I believe that is about the hardest prayer to life up before the Lord. It goes against our "I really want my way" human nature . But it's never really been about our, it's always His way,His will because His way is the truth and light. Our own way will never lead to the joy ,peace and happiness we imagine . . . . . . "Your way,O God is holy...." Psalm 77:13a "Teach me to do your will, Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. "Psalm 143:10

Hello October! !!

Hello my favorite Autumn month! 

I agree with Anne, I really couldn't imagine a world without the Month of October! 

And because I'm such a poetry junkie here's another (and this won't be the last time) poem about the beauty of Autumn. 

Enjoy,and cheers to a joyous October to you all! 

The Beautiful Changes

By Richard Wilbur 

One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides   

The Queen Anne’s Lace lying like lilies 

On water; it glides 

So from the walker, it turns 

Dry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade of you   

Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes. 

The beautiful changes as a forest is changed   

By a chameleon’s tuning his skin to it;   

As a mantis, arranged 

On a green leaf, grows 

Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves   

Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows. 

Your hands hold roses always in a way that says   

They are not only yours; the beautiful changes   

In such kind ways,   

Wishing ever to sunder 

Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose   

For a moment all that it touches back to wonder.

Happy birthday Lucie!

Is it really possible that this little girl is now two years old?! I remember the day you were born , my how time files by so fast!

So thankful you came to join our family little Lucie. Your name means Light and what a sweet little light and joy you are to our family. You make me laugh, you cheer me up with a hug whenever I need it, you are my camera buddy and partner in silly picture shots. :)

 I know that God has great plans for you ,and you are such a blessing to everyone.

Continue to grow into a lovely little lady for Christ,  big sis will always love you! 

Happy birthday Lucie Eleanor Joy!

Happy Autumn!

To Autumn

John Keats, 1795 - 1821

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, 
  Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless 
  With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, 
  And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; 
    To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells 
  With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees, 
Until they think warm days will never cease,
    For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? 
  Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, 
  Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep, 
  Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
    Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep 
  Steady thy laden head across a brook; 
  Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
    Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? 
  Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, 
  And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn 
  Among the river sallows, borne aloft
    Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; 
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; 
  Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
  The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft, 
    And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Starting off the first day of Autumn with a favorite Autumn poem  of mine by Keats! Hello Autumn,  I'm so glad you're here at last!!!!!

Sweet Memories

I I stayed at home today from church with baby Lucie who isn't feeling well .

It's so peaceful in the house as she naps quietly in my arms. She is getting so big and busy now ,she doesn't like to sit still for too long unless she's sleepy or like today not feeling 100% great.

I'm sorry you don't feel well little girl but holding you in my arms like this will never grow old and will always bring me joy. :)

Fall in love with Fall inside, not out (yep I made that one up! ;) )

"Fall in in love with Fall inside not out"..... sounds like  another one of my Ashley-isms that make only sense to me, so let me explain.  Fall baking means so much to me. Spicy, warm,cozy and a million & one other yummy adjectives are used to describe fall baking.Its September and that means cooler fall like weather ,right? Nope, not so where I live. It's still here but hey that's ok, Fall weather will surely come knocking our doors soon!  

Well the solution to the not so very fall-ish weather outside here is to create fall inside with the warm and cozy baked goods you whip up during this season.  So today I did just that, first fall dish of the season and first rate cure to "wishing for Fall outside" blues,my mom's Pear Cake.  

Yummy is all I can say about this . It was so easy to whip up, and soon filled the air with sweet ,spicy  ginger ,and buttery smells that just says "Fall is here!"

Because I'm gluten free I could partake of  the yummy pear cake so, I made a pear crisp, which was a first for me (I usually make apple crisp), I just made this up without a recipe  and the topping finally came out crisp!  I love it when my Gluten Free experiments come out good! Will be making this again soon!

So this kicks off my fall baking days, more to come soon!

Here's to Falling in love with Fall inside not out (but I hope to Fall in love with it outside soon!)

May it be a yummy filled  season ! :)

Autumnal Bliss

So September has come at last, yippee! 

That means fall is coming ,my favorite season for soooooooo many wonderful reasons! One of those reasons has something to do with food. Yes you guessed it, it's fall baking that I just simply look forward to each autumn season.  Who doesn't love the warm ,sweet spicy scents and flavors of fall ? Fall baking is everything cozy and delightful, I can't wait to get started! 

Cheers to autumn,I welcome thee with open arms (and mouth! ;) )

Snapshots of Summer

Summer is ending,it went by so fast, I can't believe it!
Sharing some only a small fraction  (and very random) pictures of what took place these past three lovely months of summer !

Kicked off summer with our first 4th of July party with dears friends of ours! (I just love how festive dessert looked!)

August came and we as a family with another family put on our running shoes and ran for Myanmar!  These kiddoes did such a great job! 

My sister and I made a new friend this summer . This sweet and lovely lady from Ketucky came over to our home while visiting CA for a tea party and a great time of fellowship!  Deryn we just loved having you over and getting to know you, miss ya already! :)

Yummy food, pretty table decorations ,great fellowship. 

It got hot,  very hot,I believe the hottest was 115 this summer but I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of that so I snapped a picture of a breezy, balmy 111 degree day . Yes this is accurate.  :)

We took  a road trip down to Laguna Beach  for my cousins wedding.  Smile everyone, your big sis is taking another picture for the millionth time in the car (brother in the background thinking "seriously Ashley,another picture?!"):P

The groom  ,my new cousin,  he's so awesome! 

The bride ,my sweet cousin,my twin, she is so pretty and awesome too!

The lovely couple dances away

This is my favorite picture, my cousin with my sister. We laughed and cried so much, it was a great wedding!

Oh yes,there was also a lot of dancing ,and I had a great partner!

We need to be professionals in this dancing  business!  I love my little brother! 

I caught the bouquet. .  ... well ok so I caught half the bouquet! Olivia caught the other half (if you ask me I really caught it first! :P) but  hey better catch half than not at all ,right?

 Wonder if anything will happen  now,does this mean we might both get married at the sametime?! ;)

Lucie and I serious goof ball camera sessions this summer.

Got to meet this lovely gal in person after keeping in touch via instagram.  Lily is such a sweet godly woman, and her vintage style is superb and lovely! It was so nice getting to see you face to face, can't wait to do it again!

Then came the big,

the bad,

but beautiful garage sale!

It was so nice to par down, to clean out and kiss excess things good bye! 

 Such a wonderful feeling to have breathing room again !

This is a picture of the almond orchard I live near. This is a picture of the orchard that makes my allergies go crazy during the recent almond harvest. This is a picture of the the almond trees harvested. The almond trees are such a huge part of summertime, because you know once they start harvesting in mid august, you know summer is coming to a close and Autumn is coming (my favorite season! !).

This is me ,in my very goofy,summery ,Chinese garden hat, I love to wear outside . The neighbors finally stopped asking me if I was of Chinese descent while I  worked outside, I think they're used to my corky hats now! ;)  

And that's all folks!

My summer was a blessed one, I'm so thankful for each season God brings , there is something lovely and wonderful about each one !

So goodbye dear summer, hello lovely soon to be officially Autumn (my favorite season! )

Hope your summer was a blessed one, let's get ready to celebrate autumn! :)

The two peas in a pod strike again

So baby Lucie and I are nuts, and we love to goof off in front of the camera in private (we thought we were alone but somebody was spying at us in the back ground. We see you Olivia!; ) ) We are two sillys , we are best friends, we are sisters and I love her dearly. Just wish you could stay little lime this forever Lucie goosie! :D

Miles 4 myanmar

It was a wonderful race today!
  Our family teamed up with the Jones and walked or ran tonight in our neighborhood to raise money for the country of Myanmar.
It was hot and a little muggy outside but that didn't stop us from our race ! Each person made it to the finish line  with flying colors!

Thank you to those who sponsored our family for this wonderful cause,
to God be the glory !

Great verse to end the week with! Wishing everyone a blessed Sunday! (Photo taken while running one lovely morning .)

Walking with a purpose

On Monday, July 25th,

My family  along with others will be doing a 4K fundraiser walk//run to raise funds for the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma)?  Our church has been supporting a local pastor who runs an orphanage (around 15 kids) and a Bible seminary (around 12 students) out of his home.  An organization called, Mission to Myanmar is organizing 4K runs though out the world in a effort to raise money for the ministry there.  The funds we are attempting to raise will complete the building or an orphanage and Bible seminary and fund the work of Jesus Christ.

Last year the people of Myanmar were devastated by natural disasters.  Many of the people survive on $5/day.  Last year after the flooding, there was an entire village that had resolved to die due to the devastation and no food.  The Pastor that we are working through was able to get to them deep in the country with a truck load of food and supplies.  He literally saved an entire village with the funds that we were able to send.  This is just one, of the many stories about what God is doing in Myanmar. 

I am asking you to take a few minutes and explore the website and consider giving to the life changing work being done there.  You are not supporting our families to go on a walk, you are investing in an active, God-honoring ministry that is truly changing lives. 

Here is the link to make a donation, http://miles4myanmar.com/sponsor/ There are two ways to make a donation. 

• As an individual you will need to enter YOUR first name, YOUR last name and YOUR email.  MY racer ID (746), the  name BRIAN MARSHALL  (our family is registered under this name ) and the amount you will give. 

• As a corporate sponsor http://miles4myanmar.com/org-sponsor/ choose the CA - Modesto > Del Rio M4 race and enter in the info requested.

There is a youtube channel with videos from Myanmar and the work that is being done, feel free to watch the videos here: https://www.youtube.com/user/PastorMarkRob/playlists

We hope to raise over $3000 for our race and over $75,000 over all.  The winter months are coming and the projects needs to be finished.  Our church will be matching every dollar we raise for our race, please be as generous as possible as the money has a huge impact on the people and will be doubled!

Thank you for your support.
To God be the glory !

-Ashley

Seeking and living for what's important

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Fun,Food, Fellowship,Fireworks and a call to Revival

I love Independence day ! Our family had such a  wonderful time celebrating independence day with dear friends that are more like family than friends to us! The day was perfect , the food delicious , the large unorganized game of badminton, consisting of 17 players ( that ended up looking like a war zone ), was funny, and the fireworks at the end of the night was a perfect way to end the evening! So many people are greatly distressed these days over the state of our nation. We have strayed far from the right way according to God's law . We are tempted to be discouraged, to be anxious  , to not be a proud American. I read Ronald Reagan's words on independence morning that spoke volumes to me as I reflected upon the state of our country  . "The time has come to turn to God and to reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America...... our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal......." - Ronald Reagan It's time for repentance, humilty, turning away from sin, seeking justice and peace, refusing to remain silent when lies are being taught as truth, praying for a God given revival. It's time for churches around America to rise up, be bold , to pray for the leaders of our country  to bow their knees before God , and seek to do His will and uphold  His law on earth . We as Christians need to proclaim the gospel to eveyone, the gospel that declares true peace,  and liberty in Christ alone . True freedom lies in Christ, because only he sets those in  bondage free from darkness . Everybody needs to hear this. Times of difficulty should not make us anxious but should cause us to turn our hearts to God and seek His will. These times should cause us to be more zealous and bold for His truth to be known . May revival happen first in our hearts and may it spread from one end of our nation to the other . May we as a nation rise up and say , and truly mean " One nation under God " someday. " If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 "Where the spirit of the Lord is ,there is freedom. " 2 Corinthians 3:17b " For God who said ' Let light shine out of darkness ' has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

Tea with Emily

"This is my letter to the world ,
   That never wrote to me,
  The simple news that Nature told ,
  With tender majesty.
   Her message is committed
   To hands I cannot see;
    For love of her, sweet countymen,
    Judge tenderly of me!"
  

-Emily Dickinson-

Tea+french macarons +poetry = wonderful !
:)

"Tale as old as time "

"Once upon a time " there was a boy whose name was little Lord Thaddeus who decided to mix up three different kinds of puzzles into one big pile and then went to bed. Leaving his big sister Lady Ashley to piece it all back together again.

Let us hope and pray the her sanity remains "happily ever after " intact!

So ends my story of a three year little boys antics.

The end  

When your AC breaks

   The current tempeture in the house. 

         A very warm 91* and climbing.

    When your AC breaks down in triple      

     degree  weather keep calm and think       

     "cool" thoughts.

   Think of ice water, snowcones, eternal winters( with Christmas! ;) ) , the movie  

  frozen,

 Antarctica , ice skating, the Midwest in the winter, snowmen, Rudolph the red nose Reindeer, a white Christmas, Christmas carols ,ice cubes, ice cream, icebergs, iceberg lettuce,ice anything, the ocean, 

 the freezer, Popsicles, icicles, snow, "walking in a winter wonderland", ice cold watermelon .

I can't think of anymore "cool" thoughts. I'm headed to the refrigerator for that ice cold watermelon that's calling my name. I think I'll imagine myself in a winter wonderland while eating it. If only that was truly possible at this moment! :D

    Hello beautiful,

     I'm so thankful to have you!

               

Hope your summer day is cool at this moment. If not do join me in thinking up some "cool" thoughts, and enjoy some watermelon too!  :D

Sunrise

      

          "And God said 'Let there be light'

              and there was light. And God

             saw that the light was good ."

                                       Genesis 1:4-4 

     

      I take the rising of the sun for granted each day.  Have you ever asked yourself "what if the sun doesn't rise tomorrow"?

 But we don't ask this, it's an unthinkable thought, of course the sun will rise in the morning , it always has , it always will!

   Why are we so certain of this ? Can we always be certain that the sun will always shine upon us each day? 

  God spoke the sun into existence , formed by His voice into the bright , warm rays we enjoy and are certain to have each day. He commanded the sun to be formed with NO uncertainty ,and He declared it as "good" He causes the sun to shine on us , to give us the continuation of the glory , beauty , warmth and light we receive from the  sun each day . 

   There is no uncertainty concerning Gods creation . Nothing was created by "random chance ", or by accident . Our world isn't spinning out of control, it's not given over to chaos, it is sustained and upheld by God the creator of all we see.

   He is Soveriegn , He is true, He is the only thing we can rely unpon and be certain of in this  life .

  Assured are we of the sun in the morning , then we can be assured and certain of Gods care for His people each and everyday.  

~Amen~

      {Doxology}

1. "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
   Praise Him, all creatures here below;
   Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
   Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

       "From the rising of the sun to it's 

          setting, the name of the LORD

            is to be praised!" Psalm 113:3

   

Take time for tea

       Well everyday is an adventure for me and I do enjoy taking a little break from the adventures that happen each day and enjoy a cup of tea!

  So I'm going to stop, pause , think and sip on some delicious tea this afternoon before heading back into the adventure . Please join me, I promise you'll love it! ;)

          Wishing y'all a happy afternoon 

            (Include a cup of tea with it too!) 

Summer sunshine & Blue sky

Maybe it's just my imagination or maybe it's a fact but I think the sun shines brighter and the sky seems bluer once summer comes ! :)

   Even if it's just my imagination , the sun and the sky is still ,and always will be beautiful know matter what season I'm in!

   

     

It's the simple things

"Ce sont les choses simples de la vie"

   It's the simple things in life

 

   Simply enjoying the Lords day with tea & berries, Bible, John Calvin, and poetry! 

Summer Strawberries

     It's just simply wonderful to live five minutes away from a strawberry field ! Summer has hit California! 

:) 

Finding True Rest

Psalm 62 by 

Stuart Townsends & Aaron Keyes

 

My soul finds rest in God alone,
My Rock and my salvation;
A fortress strong against my foes,
And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse,
And lies like arrows pierce me,
I'll fix my heart on righteousness,
I'll look to Him who hears me.

O praise Him, hallelujah,
My Delight and my reward;
Everlasting, never failing,
My Redeemer, my God.

Find rest, my soul, in God alone
Amid the world's temptations;
When evil seeks to take a hold
I'll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go,
Don't set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.

I'll set my gaze on God alone
And trust in Him completely;
With every day pour out my soul
And He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath,
A sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever.

Stuart Townend & Aaron KeyesCopyright © 2007 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)