The Howell Blessings

This week’s online bible study on Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles, hosted by Melissa Taylor,  has the online bible study group reading the chapter titled “The Silent Killer”.  In this chapter, Tracie shared a study she read that stated that “stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes and other illnesses, Stress also affects the immune system, which protects us from many serious diseases. “ When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I began searching for answers as to why I got cancer when I had no other risk factors besides being Caucasian.  Stress kept popping up in many of the articles and studies that I came across. Just this past February, I wrote a blog where I mentioned my realization about reducing stress and the benefits of giving thanks and trusting in God instead of stressing. Read that article here . God’s timing is perfect.   I “happened” to come across this bible study that is dealing with stress.   It is taking m

Spring is finally arriving. My honey and I went to  F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm   Sunday afternoon.  The trees were blooming everywhere! Lovely It was a cool, but bright day, a great day for a walk. I want these in my yard. I just couldn't get enough of these beauties.

Week 2 of the online bible study Stressed-Less Living-  Finding Gods Peace in Your Chaotic World by Tracie Miles   took me on an emotional roller coaster ride.  Emotions of awe, sadness, frustration, stubbornness and brokenness took their turns on me as I read through chapter two. From the scriptures to the exercise and the reality check of my attitudes that causes some of my stress, I realized how much I try to fix that I cannot fix and how unwilling I am to work on things that are in my control. This week's scripture is Psalms 107:19-21: 19.Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. 20. He sent out His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. 21. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind. We were asked by Linda Kuhar , our OBS leader this week, to write out these verses using our names so to make it personal to us in order that it comes alive in our spirit.  How many time

I began an online bible study today over at Melissa Taylor, Real Hope for Real Life  using the book by Tracie Miles called Stressed-Less Living.  The folks that are participating are encouraged to leave comments so that we can uplift each other, reap from what others are sharing and for me, realizing I'm not the only control freak out there. The comments are beginning to pour into the first day of study. As I read through them, I realize that I am in the same boat as many of the women on this study.  I try to take control over my own life when God doesn't seem to move fast enough for me.  Many of these women are saying the same thing, but in different tones. Overall, we all want to control our own circumstances. We, as women, were created as natural caregivers. The world has thrown us into  roles where we wear multiple hats. We care for our children, our husbands as God created us to do, but we also care about what others think of us in all the other roles we've taken o

Happy ! I realized when putting my Easter tablescape together, how uplifting the spring colors were to my soul!  Even though I love the intense colors of the Valentines Day spread and a few more other tables I have yet to share with you, the light colors I chose for our Easter scape were happy colors! We had no Easter Egg hunt at our house this year (although it wasn't that long ago that we still did that), we had no melting chocolate bunnies on little faces (yet), and this year we had no extended family around our table.  But what we did have was a peaceful day to reflect on what the Lord did for us. Easter day is set aside so that we can recognize and honor that Christ did what He said He would do. He laid down His life to pay for our crimes against God, conquered death and rose again so that all who believe in Him has His promise of eternal life with Him and God our Father!   I praise God that He loved us so much to do this for us. I also praise Hi