Introducing 'Sunny's Delight'

I have been working on my new blog for the past few weeks and now I have published my very first post. There is still much I'd like to do to it and with it, but here it is in the meantime: 

(click the picture)

Come on over for a visit!

Keep up by email

As "Anonymous" requested, I added the option to receive my blog posts by email. It's down on the left under the CS Lewis quote. So feel free to sign up!

Toto, We're not at Star Hill anymore...

I am definitely still Sunny but I'm not at Star Hill anymore. So, I'm thinking it's time to rename my blog. Or retire this one and start a new one. Anyways, I need a little help coming up with some ideas. I have thought about "Blessed Bliss" ;-) or something about Sunny D. I am open to suggestions!

A Word From the Other Side

Hello. Mrs. Ducker here.

 To any of my followers who might still be checking my blog from time to time, your faithfulness will be rewarded! Brandon and I now have internet access and my fingers are getting itchy. 

I am so excited to share wedding pictures and to talk about the blessings of marriage. Me and Mr. Ducker, after nearly 4 weeks, are happy as clams and two peas in a pod. The Lord has smiled on this union. 

So stay tuned...there will be exciting things coming up! Okay, okay. Here's a little peek:

Wretched Sister

First things first: I know I have been a terrible blogger as of late. I didn't realize just how distracting becoming engaged would be! So, until things calm down (I'm not sure when that will be) don't count on regular posts from me. I do hope to be a little more active in the blogosphere in the near future, so don't give up on me totally!

Okay, so today, Blane Jr. shared his talents of recording and editing with us, so that Nathan and I could share our talents with you. This song is so very special and we performed it in memory of our brother Jed 2 weeks ago, right before the 10th anniversary of his death. See more about him here.

I hope you will be able to see past the imperfections and listen to what the song is saying.

Here are the lyrics:

VERSE 1 It is not death to die

To leave this weary road

And join the saints who dwell on high 

Who’ve found their home with God

It is not death to close

The eyes long dimmed by tears

And wake in joy before Your throne 

Delivered from our fears

CHORUS 

O Jesus, conquering the grave

Your precious blood has power to save 

Those who trust in You

Will in Your mercy find

That it is not death to die

VERSE 2 

It is not death to fling 

Aside this earthly dust

And rise with strong and noble wing 

To live among the just

It is not death to hear

The key unlock the door

That sets us free from mortal years 

To praise You evermore

God bless! (and thanks Blane!)

A Very Over-Due Announcement

What is it they say? "One picture is worth a thousand words".

Well, what does this one say to you?

The 'thousand words' to follow in the next few days...

Thoughtful Thursday--Nothing But Yarn

Who would think it would be so time consuming to shop for yarn online? Well, it is and that's what I've been doing this afternoon. I took a long break from knitting (6 months) and now I'm building up my supply for Star Hill Baby Knits again. It's exciting to be getting back to it, looking at new yarns and new pattern possibilities, but doing all this ate up my "Thoughtful Thursday" time. So, I'll give you a Psalm I read recently to chew on:

Psalm 20

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support from Zion!

May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

May he grant you your heart's desire

and fulfill all your plans!

May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving might of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

O LORD, save the king!

May he answer us when we call.

And a song that speaks to me:

Thoughtful Thursday--It is Not Death to Die

In the words of a dear friend, my blog has gotten "cobwebby". So, I didn't want another Thursday to slip by without a post.

My precious grandmother, 'Guh', who has suffered from Alzheimers disease for the last 15 years or so, is very near the end of her earthly journey. It is amazing how good her physical health has continued to be for so many years, but now she is rapidly deteriorating.

Thoughtful Thursday--Sunlight and Dust

I was at work the other night, when the Lord reminded me of an important Truth through a very simple illustration. Sunlight and dust.

Thoughtful Thursday--Walk with God

C. H. Spurgeon is providing my thought for this Thursday:

The Daily Spurgeon: You can walk with God

Be blessed!

Thoughtful Thursday--"Years"

I feel like the three main lessons of my life have been learning who I am, who God is and how to be patient.

Learning to wait. A lesson in which you need to have patience in order to learn it. I'm sure you all have had the experience of waiting for something. As a child, waiting an hour seemed like an eternity. Thankfully, I have learned a little patience so that an hour is no longer a challenge. But days, weeks, months, years?! Still hard. And the more you focus on the thing you're waiting for, the longer it seems to take. Like the watched pot that never boils.

Freedom Friday--Taking Grace for Granted?

I titled today's post Freedom Friday because, even though I have set the precedent of Thoughtful Thursday, I am free to miss a day, to skip a day, and write some other time. So, I trust my readers will give me grace.

Grace.

Now that is something the Lord brought to my attention a couple nights ago...

A Song From the Sons of Korah...

There seems to be a theme here recently. God is so very good!

Thoughtful Thursday--Desire

    

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;

     dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

 Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the Lord;

     trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:3-5

This is one of the most comforting passages in Scripture...of which there are many. It's so good to know that our God is trustworthy, isn't it? The author of the Psalm says to trust in the Lord, because we can! He has proven Himself again and again, throughout Scripture and throughout the lives of people around me, that He is worthy of trust. By His very nature, which is perfectly good, He cannot be anything but trustworthy. If He were not, He would not be God.

Thoughtful Thursday--More Important Things...

Well, here I sit, trying to get started on an interesting, impressive post. The dogs are sleeping, mom is getting groceries and Natalie has been playing nicely by herself. That is, until I started typing. This happens almost every time, and I get irritated at it. But for some reason this time, I'm reminded that she is more important than the deadline I've created for myself in writing Thoughtful Thursdays.

People are more important than any 'good thing' we may be trying to accomplish. When we seek to push them aside, we are being selfish and losing proper perspective.

So, while I realize it's Friday, and I missed last weeks post, I just don't have the time this week for a nice complete post. I'll be at the beach next week (YAY!) and that sounds like a good time to do some writing...maybe I can get more than one post prepared?!

Until next time, I was blessed by Psalm 86 recently. Give it a look!

Forgetful Friday--Feelings

In preparing something to write today, I went back and read last week's post, A Reflection of Me. It got me to thinking about my attitude last week, that while it was wicked and sinful and rooted in discontentment, there was another factor to consider: how I was feeling.

Thoughtful Thursday--A Reflection of Me

Through different circumstances today, my Lord has held up the Mirror of His Character to my soul and has shown me where I have been falling short recently and why.

Thoughtful Thursday--Oops!

Sorry, everyone. Thursday came and went before I blinked!

Will try to make up for it... : )

Here's a pretty picture to think about in the meantime:

Thoughtful Thursday--Not-so thoughtful

Well, it has been quite a week so far. We got back home from our Florida trip Sunday night, after a long, but smooth, drive.

The visit with friends and family was so great. I am very thankful we were able to make the trip. More about it on the family blog...

So we got back home late Sunday, then my dad and brother got up Monday morning and drove to Wake Forest to pick up our new Puppy, Titus II. He is so precious, and I think Nathan already shared some pictures on his blog, but here's a video!

As Nathan said, Titus is doing wonderfully, but our other dog, Adrian, is having a hard time understanding why we have a strange dog in our house. All it is really, I think, is his skittish-ness. He has always been very skittish with people in the past, and really hasn't been around other dogs. So when Titus lunges at him to play with him, Adrian takes that as aggression.

We've figured out that the best way to let them interact is for Titus to be on the leash, so we can control his lunges. Then Adrian can move around as he likes, without Titus jumping in his face. They both do really well when my dad is around. He must be the alpha dog : )

I think we are seeing progress, though, in each 'socialization session' and we are hopeful that they'll get along eventually.

Thursday is almost gone, so I will sign off for today...

Thoughtful Thursday--The Privilege of Abiding in Christ

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 ESV)