20 Fun FREE Date Ideas

20 Fun FREE Date Ideas

Sometimes, life gets busy and money gets tight.  Having a list of 20 fun free date ideas can help keep the romance alive.  From going to the library to having a backyard bonfire, there are so many fun ways to spend time together that don’t break the bank.

1.Go to the Park

This idea is kind of a three in one idea.  You could have a simple picnic if you’d like a more intimate and relaxing date.  If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could go hiking or biking.  We love hiking at our favorite local parks and exploring new ones in nearby cities.  Fresh air, exercise, beautiful scenery, what’s not to love?!  Well, maybe bugs.  Don’t forget to wear bug spray!

2.Movie Night at Home

There are so many ways to watch movies at home now!  Browse through your old DVD collection for an old favorite.  Check out Netflix, Amazon or Hulu for something new if you have a subscription.  Go to the library to check out their selection.  Snuggling up to a good movie is a great way to relax together after a long day.

3.Board Games

We have a lot of games, but we don’t often get to play them.  Back when we were first dating, we loved to play different games together,  like Scrabble for example.  Taking the time to have a game night can give you something fun to do while allowing you to have a playful conversation.

4.Go to the Library

The library is a lot of fun with the kids, but it’s also a lot of fun without them!  Browsing the books together, picking out a fun movie, laughing over the music section and reminiscing, browsing through the exercise equipment, even if we don’t pick out anything (how can you not?!) the library is always a blast!

5.Puzzles

I LOVE puzzles!  Whenever I get a new one going, the whole family loves to spend time tackling it.   Spending time alone on date night working on a puzzle is a fun challenge!  I find puzzle nights are great for the times when you don’t want to say much.  Puzzles can be a stress reliever.  So if you’ve had a rough day/week/month, this might be a great way to tackle some of life’s anxieties by doing something you CAN solve.

6.Video Games

If your spouse loves video games, but you are not a fan, it might put you out of your comfort zone a little at first.  Playing together can be a lot of fun though!  If you’re not into violent games, like me, there are so many other fun ways to play.  Many game systems have physically active games that allow you to get up and move, like Fruit Ninja.  If you’d rather sit down, Tetris is always a fun challenge.

7. Take a Walk

Sometimes, a simple walk around the neighborhood can be a lot of fun.  It’s just you and your sweetie, walking, talking and getting some fresh air.  I find a simple walk can take the pressure off of date planning and allow you to just relax.

8.Cook and Clean up Dinner Together

I’m usually the one who cooks at our house.  Sometimes, Nate will take over for a night if I’m not feeling well.  Cooking together though, makes the work go faster and is a lot of fun!  Cleaning up together means that no one is stuck doing the dishes alone.  If cooking dinner is too intimidating, try making a simple dessert or appetizer.

9.Museum

We have a lot of museums in our area.  Many of them have free days or free sections.  Most history museums have a fee to help pay for upkeep, but sometimes they have a free day.  Often, you can get a free pass at the local library.  Many art museums are free.  A few of the bigger ones do charge a fee, so always check before heading out.

10.Window Shopping Downtown

Our town has a cute little historic downtown strip.  It’s full of antique stores, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants.  It’s a lot of fun to check out all of the unique items in the antique stores and window shop some of the newer boutiques.

11.Backyard Bonfire

Summer doesn’t last very long here in Minnesota, so bonfires are only optional a few months a year.  We love to take advantage of this time to sit outside and enjoy the warm night air, under the stars, cuddled up next to the fire.

12.Tea/Dessert on the Porch

If you have a porch, like we do, it’s nice to sit out early or late on hot summer days.  Taking a little time to enjoy the quiet solitude that comes with dawn and dusk with a nice cup of tea or a shared dessert is a lot of fun!

13.Fishing/Boating

Here in Minnesota, we have over 10,000 lakes.  (11,842 lakes of 10 acres or more.  21.871 if you count the lakes under 10 acres!) We also have 69,200 miles of rivers which gives us many opportunities to enjoy some time on the water.  We’ve gone fishing as a family, but fishing as a couple can be fun too!  If you are vegan or don’t like to fish, sightseeing is also a lot of fun!  Don’t forget to take binoculars for a little bird watching!

14.Study the Bible Together

There is nothing else like putting God first in our lives.  Spending quality time together, with God, is one of the most important things a couple can do together.  God can help draw a couple closer and give peace and contentment.

15. Go Through Family Photo Albums

As the years roll by and memories add up, it can be a lot of fun to look back on some of those favorite experiences together.  Sometimes, this can inspire new plans for the future, so keep a notebook and pen handy!

16.Play Cards

Playing cards can be as easy as Go Fish, Speed or even a little more challenging, like enjoying a game of poker.  If you don’t know how to play any card games, you can easily google how to play!  Even better, there are a lot of videos on Youtube showing you exactly how to play!  Cards are simple, cheap and can lead to a lot of laughs.

17.Build/Make Something

Is there something fun that you’ve always wanted to try?  Build a birdhouse?  Make a garden?  Make a Chalkboard?  Hang up some framed family pictures?  Make a fun date of it!  If you don’t know how to do any of these things but want to, check out community education classes, your local library courses, or ask a friend who’s more experienced to help you plan the basics before getting started.

18.Exercise together

I’ve already mentioned hiking, biking and taking walks, but breaking out a workout DVD or pulling up a workout on youtube to try together can be a lot of fun!  Just make sure to take it slow if you don’t work out on a regular basis!

19. Read Together

Did you find an awesome book at the library or do you have a favorite you’d love to read again?  Make it a date night book.  Take turns reading chapters out loud (or pages if the chapters are long).  No cheating and reading without your partner on non-date nights though!

20.Pamper Each Other

Put on face masks, file each other’s nails, or paint them if you’re feeling adventurous!  Take a relaxing bath together, if your bath is big enough!  If you don’t have a big enough tub, have a detox foot bath.  Give a nice back or shoulder massage.  Both men and women love to be pampered!

I hope these 20 fun free date ideas have inspired you for a date night of your own!  What is your favorite thing to do on a date night?  Have you given any of these a try?  Let me know in the comments!




Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do

Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do

What are your dreams? What are you doing to achieve them?
 
This has been my motivational quote this past week. I have my dreams, I want to get there, but I’ve got to do the work. All the planning in the world won’t matter without action. Work, good hard work is the only thing that’s going to push a someday dream into a NOW reality. Procrastinating, little time wasters, self-indulging, self-doubt, these are the things that slow progress. 
What else is holding you back?  What else can you do to move forward?
I love lists, I am the queen of list making in our house.  All the lists in the world won’t matter without action though.  They help organize the action, yes, but they are just a tool.
I have all of these desires, dreams, projects, but until I take action, they are mere whimsy.  They are an idea.  They are a someday.  They are imagination.
You have a goal in mind.  You have this burning desire.  You ache for the fulfillment of this worthy goal.  How bad do you really want it?
Are you willing to take action?  Are you willing to do the work?  Are you willing to take the necessary steps and MOVE FORWARD?

Ask Yourself These Questions

  • What is your end goal?
  • What are the big steps to get there?
  • How can you break those big steps down into manageable steps?
  • Is this dream in line with God’s way of thinking?
  • Can I picture Jesus doing what I plan on doing?
  • What is the FIRST thing you are going to do to get started TODAY?
  • Is there something you don’t know how to do that is preventing you from moving forward?  Google it!  YouTube it!  Pray about it!  Bible it!   Research it like crazy until you get it!
  • Is fear holding you back?  Pray, pray, pray, every single day!  Ask for bravery, ask for motivation, ask for God’s wisdom, ask for forgiveness, thank him for His guidance.  Ask to be molded to his ways and to reflect his good qualities.  Jehovah is a God of action.
Now most importantly, get to work.  Get up, get moving, take steps, big or small.  Every. Single. Day.
Believe in yourself.  You can do this.  You’ve got it.
Dreams don’t work unless you do.
 

Rocky The Squirrel Visits Grandpa

Rocky The Squirrel Visits Grandpa

My Grandfather is an incredible man.  For as long as I can remember, my grandparent’s house was a place of sunshine and happiness.  It was a safe place in a hard world.

My grandparents were kind, patient people.  They loved creating things, growing things and exploring.  They would take me on walks or show me their garden.  My memories of my Grandparents are among some of the happiest in my life.

My Grandmother passed away in July 2012.  She had Alzheimer’s, so we lost her mind before we lost all of her.  It was really hard to watch her lose most of who she was.

My Grandfather also developed Alzheimer’s, but he was not as bad as my Grandma.  He still had his personality and could remember a lot of things.  He would mainly get confused and sometimes seem almost like a child.  Thankfully, we could still talk to him about his memories and joke around with him like always.

Recently, my grandfather got sick and ended up bedridden.  My Dad told me that he was extremely dehydrated.  A few days later, my parents told me that Grandpa had been put on Hospice care.  They expected him to only last a few days.

My Grandpa hates the pain medication.  He firmly tells the staff he doesn’t want it and for them to GO AWAY when they try to give it to him.  Other than that, my Grandfather is a sweet and gentle man.  I only mention this, because you can hear him in the video below when we’re singing to him.

My grandfather is in his early 80’s.  I always knew that someday, we would lose him, as we lost my grandma.  Still, I never expected the day to come.  The kids and I started visiting him almost every day.  He truly did not look well.  I prepared myself mentally for the worst.

My children did what they could to show him he was loved.  They colored him pictures, sang him songs, Cat played her ukulele and Cupcake played her flute.  We wanted him to know he wasn’t alone.

There is a woman who works at the home that has a pet kitten.  She often brings her kitty for Grandpa to hold and love up.  My Grandpa loves cats and used to rescue strays from the neighborhood.

I’ve seen pictures of a pet squirrel they used to have as well.  My sister Liz brought her pet squirrel Rocky to visit and snuggle with Grandpa.  Rocky took turns cuddling with all of us.  Princess LOVES Rocky and is always so excited when Liz lets her hold him.

When I was sitting down, Liz put Rocky on me and he climbed into my shirt to take a nap.  Thankfully I had an undershirt on too, his little claws are sharp!  He is such a cute squirrel though.

After we left Grandpa, we stopped by the grocery store for a few things.  I got 2 new pots that were on sale.  It was hard to pass on the beautiful succulents, but I’d have nowhere to put them!  I’m trying to only buy plants that are helpful in some way in the future since I have accumulated so many plants.  Anything that is medicinal or edible is preferred.

Once home, I set about putting away the groceries, cleaning the kitchen, feeding the family snacks and making dinner.  I have been dehydrating fruit to make fruit strips and chips for camping.

We have reservations to go camping soon.  I’m worried about my Grandfather while we’re gone.  We won’t be in cell range.  I’m hoping my Grandpa will be well enough to hang on for longer than expected.  I can’t delay the trip because school will be starting soon and it will also be fall and too cold for camping.  I can only hope and pray and see what happens.

 

 

 

Hastings Rivertown Days 2017

Hastings Rivertown Days 2017
Every year we go to Hastings Rivertown Days.  One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go to The Dime Carnival.  The kids play games to their heart’s content and win tickets to pick out fun prizes.

Every year, it always seems as though it’s on one of the hottest days of summer.  Since the carnival is in a parking lot, the heat is reflected up off the asphalt, making it feel even warmer.  This year was no exception.  Not about to let a little heat ruin our day, we enjoyed the carnival and hid out inside the prize area to cool off when needed.

Princess has always loved picking ducks in the duck pond.  Mr. Awesome loves the jumpy house.  Cupcake loves all the games.  Cat is starting to get to an age where the carnival is too young for her.  She loves helping the younger kids play the most.

After cooling off at home, we went to the library to drop off some books and pick up some more.  As soon as I walked into the library, my eyes started itching.  Cat said “Oh look Mom!  A beautiful dog!”  I turned to see a huge white dog near us walking across the library.  It must have been a therapy dog.  Unfortunately, because of my allergies, I left the building while the kids had fun picking out books with Dad.  Outside I enjoyed photographing the library’s beautiful garden.

We stopped at Walmart for a few necessities and I got a contact case and solution so I could take out my contacts ASAP.  My eyes were burning so much I could barely see.  After I removed them, in the middle of the aisle at Walmart, I felt such relief.  Although I was now blind.  I had to hold Nate’s hand through the rest of our Walmart trip.

My vision is -8.50 for contacts.  I’m not legally blind with my contacts (legally blind is a legal term used to sort out those who can apply for medical benefits.  Anyone who can not see with corrective lenses after a certain point is considered legally blind.  I am very thankful that corrective lenses work for me.  I will never be able to have perfect vision even with them, but it’s still a blessing I am thankful for.).  Without them, I am blind.  I can’t see definition, I can only see basic blurry shapes.  I can see colors, dark and light.

What You See
What I See

As you can tell from the image above, I can not see very well.   We stopped to get the kids ice cream at our local dairy co op, then checked out the craft fair at the LeDuc mansion across the street.  Since I couldn’t see, Nate took my hand and led me around.  He described what was around us and what was in each booth we passed.

I heard a familiar voice call out to me.  My friend’s Katie and Dusty from our Kingdom Hall were there!  I got a chance to check out an amazing card booth with them.  The cards opened up into intricate pop-up scenes all made of colorful paper.  One was a ship, another a camera, others were scenes of various places around the world.

Although I am blind from a distance, I can see up close.  I mean extremely up close.  Whatever I’m looking at must be a couple of inches from my eye.  What I do see from that close is detailed almost microscopically.  I can see the tiny details that the normal eye can’t see.

With the cards, I could see the fiber of the paper, the tiny cuts and details.  It was like stepping into a new world where fantasy and reality collide.  I intended to go back and purchase some cards after I got my contacts in, but sadly that was the last day.  Perhaps I’ll get the chance to see them again next year.

We purchased some sheets from a vendor and then went home to enjoy pizza and family night.  Thankfully I was able to put in a fresh set of contacts to see.  After that, we walked down to the river to enjoy the Hastings Rivertown Days fireworks.  It was a busy and fun day.

Check out the video of our day!

 

Oops, We Mixed Up the Date!

Oops, We Mixed Up the Date!

It was a hot Saturday as we drove a little over an hour to Community Park in St Francis, Minnesota.  We drove up to meet my parents and sisters at the Great American Farm Tour Minnesota Meetup.

There was a lot of major road construction along the way, and thankfully Nate was driving.  I get anxiety driving in unknown places with a lot of traffic.  Add detours to the mix and I might have gotten us lost.

As we neared the park, we saw a bus heading toward us.  Nate asked me, “Is that them?”  as he pulled the van over to the side of the road.  The bus had slowed and turned onto a dirt road.  The kids were hopping in their seats in excitement as we saw the Great American Farm Tour logo on the side.

We debated if that was the turn to the park, since we were so close, but decided it was a private farm.  We thought they were perhaps running behind and had just gotten to their host’s house and they might be a bit late to the meetup.

The park was mostly empty when we got there.  There were only 3 other cars in the parking lot.  My parents greeted us and let us know that only two of the people were also waiting for the farm tour.  I let them know that we had just seen the bus and perhaps they would be a little late.  The children played at the park and I caught up with my parents.

As time wore on, I began to worry, was this the right park?  Was this the right day?  The other car waiting for the Rhodes left without saying anything.  I began to look for the meetup information on my phone.  My Dad was the one who let me know, but since I was behind in watching the farm tour, I personally hadn’t seen it yet.

It took awhile to find the info because I couldn’t figure out how to pull it up on my phone.  I watched the youtube video to find out the date and I laughed when I realized we were indeed a day early.  I could tell my Dad felt awful about it, but it honestly didn’t bother me.  I called it our planning prep trip.  Now we knew about the road construction and detours and we also knew exactly where the park was.  Sunday, Nate would be a work and I would have to drive up instead.  Plus, I got the joy of seeing my family two days in a row, a rare treat!

We hung out awhile longer, playing with the kids and enjoying our family time.  Cat ended up going with my parents to spend a night at their farm.On the drive home, we stopped at Aldi’s for some snacks before dinner.  It had been a fun day and we looked forward to returning to the park again on Sunday.

Have you ever gotten a date wrong that ended up being a blessing instead of a disappointment?

Check out our video!

What’s In My Bag?

What’s In My Bag?

As someone with severe, life-threatening, airborne allergies, I need to carry some things with me at all times.  This means that whatever I carry must be light and easily accessed.  In addition, I need others to be able to find my emergency information fast.  I also need a way to alert strangers to my allergens should I become incapacitated.

Inside this little purse is a lot of necessities!


Top row, left to right: iPhone, pretty rocks, Vogmask, spare change, checkbook, pens and sharpie, essential oil roller bottles, Badger lip balms, Redmond Bentonite clay, Frozen tissues, hair binder and bobby pins, whipped eczema body butter, and wallet.
Middle row, left to right: allergy alert paperwork, backup star face mask, epi-pen, albuterol inhaler, and coin purse.
Bottom row, left to right: purse organizer, allergy tag, EpiPen tag, purse.

Allergy tags I use:


I keep both my lip balm and Cupcake’s lip balm for when she needs it.  Next to that I keep my essential oil roller bottles.  I usually have a couple more than what’s pictured.  I normally carry an anti-anxiety blend, first aid blend, Cat’s sore wrist blend, and Mr. Awesome’s ADHD blend.  Behind that, I tuck my tissues into one of the pockets.

My phone has medical alert information for emergency personnel.  My wallet has my insurance cards, my ID, my bank card, and membership cards.

I keep both face masks in a zipper pouch to keep them clean and safe from dust and other contaminants.  I take them out and use them in dangerous places where I might potentially be exposed to airborne allergens.

I put my checkbook into the other zippered pouch to keep it clean and safe from damage.  Yes, I still have a checkbook.  The DMV and the kid’s schools are pretty much the only time I ever use it.

The kids and Nate are always bringing me pretty rocks.  I stash them in my purse till I get home and put them in little bottles or on shelves.  I’m a rock nerd.  🙂


I keep my eczema cream in a little jar.  I also keep bentonite clay in a little container for emergency use.  Bentonite clay can help absorb toxins, it kills viruses and bacteria, reduces swelling and helps to reduce allergy symptoms from accidental internal exposure(eating allergens by accident).  It can also be used for bug bites.


My inhaler has saved my life many times.  I’m not a fan of most pharmaceuticals, but when it comes to asthma, I don’t mess around.  Thankfully, I rarely have asthma attacks anymore since I cut wheat from my diet.


My epi pen still scares me, even though I’ve had it for years.  I’ve taught my family how to use it should I ever pass out.

What do you keep in your purse or bag?

The Only Covered Bridge In Minnesota!

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 3, Day 3
2nd Convention Day, Covered Bridge Park

The second day of the “Don’t Give Up!” convention was great!  I felt bad for the people next to us because the kids had to get up and go the bathroom in alternating shifts.  I suppose that’s typical with kids.  Since my kids are all getting older, they sit pretty well except for the bathroom breaks.

After the convention, Princess wanted to go all the way to the top of the parking ramp.  I brought us up and parked the van so the kids could take in the view.  It was a beautiful and windy day in Rochester.

On the way home, we stopped in Zumbrota to see the covered bridge.  I have always wanted to go check it out.  It’s really beautiful and in great shape!  I’m so glad we got a chance to visit!

We took a walk along the creek and then stopped at an amazing wooden park.  It reminded me of a park that used to be in Burnsville called Skyland.  It was torn down to put in a modern park several years ago, which has always made me sad.  I loved playing at Skyland when I was younger.  I’m really glad the children had the chance to enjoy this park.  They want to come back every time there is a convention.

Park Info: http://www.ci.zumbrota.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=F8BD36E0-EA64-410F-B42C-3C819352F226&DE=05948FF6-7AB9-4FDC-996C-29FBF2FD779B&Type=B_BASIC

Have you been to the covered bridge in Zumbrota or do you have one near where you live?  I’d love to hear about it or see your pictures!

UPDATE: I made a typo!  It turns out that it was advertised as the only remaining “original” covered bridge in the state.  There are other “non-original” covered bridges.  I did find a list of all of the covered bridges, check it out!  http://www.dalejtravis.com/cblist/cbmn.htm

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 3, Day 2: 1st Convention Day, Rochester
Next Week: Week 3, Day 4: 4-Year-Old Adventure

Enjoying A Lovely Day In Rochester

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 3, Day 2
1st Convention Day, Rochester MN

Today was the first day of the “Don’t Give Up!” convention.  We really enjoyed it!  We left right before lunchtime.  Every time I’ve tried to stay for the second half, I’ve had an anaphylactic attack from airborne food allergies.  The last time, I had to have my dear friend Karen drive me home because I couldn’t walk, much less drive.

I could have gone to the E.R., but I usually try to avoid it if at all possible because there’s always the potential that they could do more harm than good with corn allergies.  Hospitals are full of corn derivatives.  In the severe allergy support group I’m part of, I often hear stories about how the ER accidentally gave them something that made them worse because they didn’t understand what was safe and what wasn’t.

This was the first time I left during the final song instead of after.  I think this was also the only time I’ve ever left not gasping for air or incredibly dizzy.  From now on, I’ll always leave during the final song before lunch.  I always wish that I could stay, but I’m thankful that I’m at least able to attend the first half.

My favorite part of the conventions is hearing the singing of thousands of people.  I love the Kingdom songs and hearing that many beautiful voices always brings tears to my eyes.  Seeing everyone work together to pull off such a large event is always another of my favorite parts.  There are always so many smiles, helpful people and a feeling of love and unity that I haven’t found anywhere else.

After leaving, the kids and I enjoyed a walk along the river in Rochester.  It was a beautiful day.  When we got home, Cat and I stopped by our local health food store for gluten free tortillas, then made a quick trip to the library to return books.

I’ve challenged Cat to read four classics over the summer.  She really enjoyed Romeo and Juliet during school.  Hopefully, she’ll learn to love the older classics as I have.  Lately, she’s been into learning about Japan and learning more about drawing.

Have you attended the “Don’t Give Up!” convention yet?  What was your favorite part?

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 3, Day 1: Hastings Riverwalk
Next Week: Week 3, Day 3: Covered Bridge Park

Hastings Riverwalk

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 3, Day 1
Hastings Riverwalk

We started off week three with a walk along the river in Hastings, Minnesota.

Before leaving for our walk, Princess enjoyed checking out our lilies at home.  This is the third year since we planted them and they’re doing great!  I can’t believe how many came up this year!

We’ve enjoyed walking Hastings Riverwalk many times.  This is where I took the kids pictures a few years ago.  The Hastings Rivertown Carnival is also hosted here every year.  Earlier this year, Cat and I came here for our 52 project, cold.

Along the trail, there are a lot of interesting things to see.  There are giant vine woven orbs hanging in the trees as part of an art installation.  I got the privilege to see the artist creating them since his studio is not too far from my house.  There is a great view of the new Hastings bridge.  There’s a spot on the side of the trail that has a piece of the old Hastings bridge.  Along the trail, there are signs with bits of history of the area.  There are a lot of beautiful wildflowers everywhere too.

At one point when we were exploring the edge of the river, Nate found a tiny, baby frog.  As it turns out, they were all over the place!  They blend in so well with the ground that it’s difficult to see them, even if you’re looking right at them!  I really hope we didn’t step on any of the little guys!

After our walk, we went to pick up a desk for Cat’s room that we found on Craigslist.  We got to travel quite a ways into Wisconsin and explore an area we’d never been before.  After that, we picked up pizza at Papa Murphy’s for the gluten tolerant side of the family.  Then we came home and made gluten free pizza for Cat, Princess and me.  We watched Enchanted for family night while eating in the living room.  It was a great way to end a fun day!

Have you been on the Hastings Riverwalk?  What is your favorite part?

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 2, Day 4: 2nd Plank Challenge
Next Day: Week 3, Day 2: 1st Convention Day, Rochester

52 Project, Week 14: Favorite Scripture

52 Project, Week 14: Favorite Scripture

This is my first chalkboard creation!  My daughter Cat usually makes me beautiful art on the chalkboard that Nate made for me.  Since this was my challenge, I thought I had better give it a try myself.  I didn’t think it was fair to give Cat such a complicated project.  (She insists she could have handled it.)

Drawing with chalk is a lot harder than it appears!  Chalk is thick and flattens with each use, The edges are unpredictable with swirls and curves, unlike using a pen or pencil.  I have to give Cat credit, she makes it look so easy!

Choosing my number one favorite scripture isn’t an easy task.  I have a variety of favorite scriptures.  Actually, I have a book of favorite scriptures!  Narrowing it down to my top two was a little easier.

When I was studying the bible with my mentor, she often helped me find scriptures for life’s problems or questions I had.  As we read through different topics, Isaiah 48:17 occasionally came up.  Karen always mentioned that it was her favorite scripture and it’s not hard to see why.  It’s a great reminder of what’s important in life.

Jehovah is teaching us to help ourselves through his inspired word in the Bible.  The Bible is our guide to life and it can help us with every situation in life.  With daily study and personal, heartfelt prayer, we’re developing a relationship with God and training our consciousness in the way we should walk.

I love that scripture, but I also love the one that follows.

17 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. 18  If only you would pay attention to my commandments!  Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

I love the visual of peace and righteousness.  It soothes and comforts me.  By listening to God and applying his word, peace will be our reward.

Psalms 91:4 is my current favorite.  The wording is a little different, depending on which Bible you use.  My Bible has a more literal translation in an attempt for accuracy.
With his pinions, he will cover you, And under his wings, you will take refuge. His faithfulness will be a large shield and a protective wall.
Personally, I prefer the new international version, with the word feathers instead of pinions.  A Pinion is the outer section of a bird’s wings.  Although a pinion is very specific to what part of God’s wings will cover, pinion is not a regular part of my vocabulary.  

I love this scripture, because of the thought of being protected by God.  I love the visual of being safe, tucked under his wing, like a baby chick.  Conjuring this image in my mind brings tears to my eyes.  It’s like getting a hug from Jehovah.

Do you have a favorite scripture?

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