Grace After Grace

Why I LOVE October...

2011-10-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

1. Pumpkins galore!! Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin candles, pumpkin carving, just plain pumpkin anything.

2. Beautiful weather...nice and cool in the morning, pj's on, curled up on the patio with coffee in hand...sigh...

3. Scarves :) For style or warmth!

4. The way the color of nature begin to change...oranges, greens, yellows, browns...

5. It means the start of all the fun decorating, holidays, and family time.

6. Cooking with pumpkin...did I mention pumpkin in general!

7. Perfect snuggle weather.

8. The kick off to the many festivals that occur this time of year. Greek Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Victorian Christmas...and I'm sure there are more to find!

9. Hot chocolate. With real marshmallows.

10. And of course....the 23rd is our anniversary! My husband is incredible, brilliant, and kind....and he wears cowboy boots...AND he spearfishes :)

Half Nole, Half Snake

2011-07-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Oh and did I mention, I'm officially a Rattler! :) Starting end of August, I will be starting the Masters in Occupational Therapy program! It's been a bumpy road getting into the program but it's finally here and I am thankful.

Sweet Chainsaw Skills

2011-07-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I went out of town for the weekend...and came home to this. My sweet and creative...and seriously skilled husband.

Grocery Store Treasure...

2011-05-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Turns out you can take the green onions you purchase in your grocery store and use the bulbs to grow your very own!

Here's the step by step:

Ta Da! :)

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow...

2011-04-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Paul built me a garden. He's very handy. This is just one of the many projects he is working on. So be on the look out - there is more to come!

Here it is...in all it's glory :) Bell peppers, herbs and tomatoes!

Basil is a must have herb for me! Partly, because it's nearly impossible to kill - no green thumb necessary - but also because it's tastes soooo good!

It Doesn’t Matter How You Say It…

2011-04-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you.

Gracias.

Obrigada.

Grazie.

Spasibo

“Tank who.”

Danke.

What does it mean to be thankful? And I don’t mean, it’s Thanksgiving Day, we’re gathered around the table and we spout of whatever good thing comes to mind. I mean sincerely thankful. Do you live a life characterized by a thankful heart? Do I?

What are you thankful for? Does this list consist of only positive things? Or maybe it entails a few tragic events, but more than likely they are past events and not circumstances you are currently wading through. Hindsight usually brings a thankful spirit that was missing in the midst of the storm. Or for me at least.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” To have a thankful heart is to live a life of gratitude. Don’t get me wrong, this is not something I have even begun to master…I’m not even in the realm of a “mature rookie.” But it’s something I’ve been pondering lately. So often I’m living with a spirit of ungratefulness, so quickly forgetting all the reasons I have to have a heart that says with loud shouts of joy “TANK WHO!”

Are we thankful?

This is the question my husband, who is one of the most thankful people I know, has begun asking before we eat. To some not praying over our meal may seem preposterous…but how many times have I prayed over my meal, “thanked” God for it, but in reality, did not have a thankful heart?

Your closest friends move hours away and you feel left with a blank slate…

A baby is born without sight and hearing…

You lose your job…

You hate your job…

Financial crisis…

Your teenager gets hit by a drunk driver…

Your spouse is diagnosed with a terminal illness…

Life seems like a huge whirlwind in which you can’t keep your feet on the ground…

Do these circumstances sound like familiar Thanksgiving table thanks? Most likely they don't. Are we only to be thankful for the things that go well? And who are we anyway to say if something has "gone well" or not? Our perspective is limited and biased to our own desires.

Colossians 3:15 commands us to be thankful. To have a heart of peace and be thankful. Paul tells us that in Romans 8:28 that “All things work together for the good of those who love Him.” He does ALL THINGS for our good. He remains the same…faithful when we are faithless. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Will that truth ever not be true? If that fact remains true forever, then we have all we need to forever be thankful.

Have I been blessed with an amazing, servant hearted, faithful husband, amazing parents who love me beautifully, the world's sweetest and funniest sister, a church that faithfully serves Jesus, a roof over my head, great friends....yes. But the question I am wrestling with is...if all that were taken away, would I still say thank you?

Life as WE know it...

2011-04-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Last time I wrote, I was a "me" now I am a "we." :)

Like I said when I started this blog...I'm going to try my best to update it and let you in on the life of the Collins Family! More to come but for now...

I have a grateful heart...many days I sit and my prayers consist of nothing more than thank you's.

Another gift of grace from my sweet Daddy...
...my sweet husband.

The faces that make bad days better...

2009-04-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Every job has its good days and its bad days...there have been many bad days that are so bad, I contemplate looking for a new job...and then I go in to work to see the faces that make it all worthwhile.

Check out the hair! :) The picture doesn't even do it justice. He is one of our miracle babies...didn't think we'd have him for this long, every day I am amazed at how far he has come.

My precious Tek...she is an every day reminder that God is in control, not man.

Shellie's favorite thing...the feeling of falling...nothing brings a bigger smile to her face. Too bad I can never catch the smile on camera. Nothing makes me happier than seeing this child laugh and smile.

And here they are...the boys who hold my heart :)

2008-12-22T17:18:00.001-08:00

Hi Family and Friends!

I thought this would be the best way to update you on the things going on in my everyday life without leaving out any of the small, yet oh so entertaining and huge, things that occur day after day. This will most likely become a diary of stories about my kids at work, but alas, that is my life :) They take up most of my time and for sure, energy. I'm not complaining...they are beyond precious...every day they make me smile.

Today, one of my kids at work passed away. His name was Ju'Quarious and he was 4 and a half years old. He is the first of my kids to pass away. I definetly feel very bitter sweet about it - I was able to visit him yesterday and found myself biting my tongue the entire time. I just wanted to say "Just go...let go, go home." I kept praying that somehow he would have experienced Christ's love through those of us at work, praying that though I get no response from him, that his heart was responding to Jesus. I can't say that I feel super emotional regarding JJ's death yet, but I can say that his death has kept me thinking of the day when my precious Teka goes home. I dread that day already. All I have is that God is perfect in everything He does, He loves JJ, He loves Teka and He loves me. Despite crappy circumstances, God is still amazing and days like this I remember why we cling to truth over feelings.

Funny story about JJ...you would think that with a child like this one would need to be extra gentle right? Wrong. Not this little guy. He loved nothing more than to go flying in his wheel chair through the bumpy terrain of the playground! This never failed to bring a smile to his face. One time, I was being so crazy that I spilled his feeding bag and all his formula all over the sidewalk! But he was still smiling! This sweet little boy is now dancing, running, singing and pain free for the first time. He is home with his Maker, His King. There is slight envy on my part. Tonight, Ju'Quarious, is seeing the face of Christ.