Long time

Well it has really be a long time since I have posted any adventures of Jake & Jo.....  I'm not sure why I have not been able to write, but hoping this will get me started again.  The last couple of months have been very hard, but with God's Grace & Help I am getting going again.  I will be moving in the next month so there is much to be done.  I will be moving to Waco and I'm so excited.  I am anxious to start on yet another journey on this path called LIFE.  This past year in Shreveport has been a very hard lesson that God felt I needed to learn and I have learned so much.  Mostly I have learned how hard it is to be away from my family & friends and how much I truly do need them all in my life.  I have also learned that nothing is possible for me without the help of God.  He has taken care of me and helped me to get through this time of learning in my life.  I thank you God for always being there to help!!.

It's a COLORFUL world out there.....

Journey's of Jake & Jo

Jake and I braved the heat today for a walk around the apartments.  We are just about to run out of inspiration for our pictures.....we are going to have to go somewhere else to walk.  Anyway...... today we found some pretty yellow flowers that reminded me of my sister.  The other day she sent me my very own "BOX OF SUNSHINE"...... she had no idea how much that made me smile. 

Journey's of Jake & Jo

Jake and I went out for a walk this afternoon, but before we could get to the end of the sidewalk 'we' were sweating..... needless to say, Jake decided it was much to hot to walk.  Jake decided that a ride in the car would be much better.  As we are driving around I am noticing some trees that are in bloom.  I don't know what kind of trees these are and I asked Jake but he didn't know either.... maybe you can tell us, anyway, they are just blooming everywhere and come in many different shades from white, pinks to a dark dark red.  God's beauty is so awesome to see.

Doodles

Doodles help me to meditate on God's wishes.

Pink

Well obviously I haven't kept up with the picture challenge but today Jake and I FINALLY went for a walk.  I found some beautiful PINK flowers for those in my family who have and are battling CANCER.  It is such a vicious ugly disease totally opposite of these flowers that part of GOD'S ARTWORK!!!

I Love Doodles

Catch up

I have had computer issues this week so I am playing catch up on my pictures.

This mushroom was in my backyard.  Notice the drops of dew on the mushroom and the grass blades.  I am fascinated with mushrooms.....they just appear after rain.  You don't see them growing or anything....they are just THERE.  Amazing things that God created.

Tree in the cemetery I toured yesterday.  Just thought it was cool looking.

God's canvas (sky) was beautiful yesterday.  I wish I had been in the coutry where I didn't have buildings in the pictures but oh well I had to capture the sky.

Elvis' first public performance was on the Louisiana Hayride.  This was the building it was housed in and this monument is in the front of the building.

They also names the street in front off the building after Elvis.

Oakland Cemetery Tour

I went on a tour of the oldest cemetery in Shreveport.

Oakland Cemetery.  It was extrememly interesting.  The tour guide was very well informed and told us a tremendous amount of Sheveport history.

This headstone was one of the oldest & story goes they wanted to make sure everyone always knew how killed him so they had it put on his headstone.

There are a lot of ornate iron fences in old cemeteries.  They tell of different time periods based on the type of iron.  This one was interesting because a tree had grown all in this fence.

This monument showed a hand pointing up and represents assending into Heaven.

But then we came across this hand pointing down.....not what you think....LOL

This represents God's hand reaching down to take this person to Heaven.  (Not sure I would want this hand pointing down, just in case)

These hands were on a grave cover that  indicated there was a husband and wife burried here together.

This was a very pretty monument.  According to history the bigger more ornate the monument the more money the family had.

This was a "grave cover" the was from the Victorian age.  It was made of solid cast iron.  There are 5 in this cemetery and are very valuable.



Tapestry with Zebra Purse

Cowgirl step stool

 

 

 

 

 

The ROCK

These rocks are on the drive to my apartment and I just love them. 

They always remind me that God is my ROCK

As much as I love the rocks.....Jake did not like having to sit on the rock for my pictures.

2 Samuel 22:2 - The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 

The God of my strength, in whom I will trust.

Lilies

Jake and I found a new park to walk in today.  It was such a pretty place.  As we were walking I came upon this really neat little sitting area and all around the benches were these Lilies.  They are probably one of my favorite flowers and these were such a beautiful color.  Much more of God's Artwork.

Dreams

Everyone has dreams....some might be the dreams of your heart that haven't shared with anyone or maybe you think they are to big to even dream about.  But our God is an awesome God and there is nothing to big for HIM.  God puts these dreams in your heart and He is perfectly willing with your help to make those dreams come true.  God makes dreams come true in His time, not ours and that is the very hardest part.  But to me that the part of the process and one of the most important lessons God teaches.

God wants your faithfulness and trust.  He may be sending you small things along the way for you to show him your faithfulness and trust.  Always keep your eyes and ears alert for ways to serve God.

But most of all you have TO HAVE A DREAM!!! and once you give it to God you must BELIEVE it will come to you.  Live your life with trust and knowing that He will make your dreams come to pass.  You have to BELIEVE in your dreams.  If YOU don't believe in your dreams, how can God?

If you are like me you have had many times in your life when you thought you were living your dreams only to realize it was not the path God wanted you to travel or maybe it was to prepare you for a better path.  As Alexander Graham Bell once said  "When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the new ones which open for us"

As I said before, God puts these dreams in your heart and if you will follow His path He will open the doors for you.  God wants us to be happy.

John 5:30 says:  By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear and my judgement is just for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.

SMILE & BELIEVE

Day ????

Well as I figured I was wrong on what day we are on....LOL  So today I am not even going there.  Jake and I took our afternoon walk, but as you can see from the clouds a storm was brewing and we didn't stay outside long. 

Jake & I walking



Luckily the storm wasn't too bad.  We lost electricity for a while and have gotten some rain, but no tornados as predicted and no hail thank goodness.

Live Where You Live

My friend Sally sent me an inspirational message that really made me think alot about how things are in my life right now.  It started with a Bible verse from Philippians so I looked up the verse to see what else it said and it lead up to my favorite verse so I am including it also.

Philippians 4:11 & 13  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.  I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

I have let myself live in limbo here for almost a year now and I am sure that is a big part of why I feel so restless.  I still have boxes that are not unpacked and I have just not made this apartment a home.  I tell people on a daily basis that I want to move asap, that I just don't want to be here.  For me this message was from God telling me to be content where I am!!!  I should have unpacked and made myself happy here.  I realize now that I am blocking God's will by trying to force the issue of being able to move. 

"LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE"

As much as I want to be in Texas and closer to my family, it is time to make my apartment a home.  Hang pictures, unpack boxes and learn to LIVE in the present and not trying to be in the future.  I have total faith that God has a plan for me and will reveal it is HIS time.

Life Shines Through

First and most important I send my prayers to the people of Oklahoma. 

I am always amazed that when something dies there will be more life come back.  I am not sure if I am saying this the way I mean it as my words are not always right.  But as in these pictures, there are two different dead trees and in both trees you see life.  For me this is just one more way God lets me know that there is a life after death.  It is a life like nothing we can dream of on earth.  A life with HIM.  That give me such peace.