SHMILY!

See How Much I Love You!

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

Micah 5:1-7:20
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” Micah 7:8

Well folks, it’s that time again! Sunday SHMILY! 😀 (SHMILY=See How Much I Love You)
Here are my pics from this week.

I know I’ve already shared this photo with you, but I just HAD to include it in my SHMILY post. He loves me enough to put me through 9 months of… well, there are no real words concise enough to describe what these last 9 months were. I KNOW that part of that time was spent to make sure I completely understood the importance and magnitude of what would come next. THIS is what came next, the job I’d been dreaming of! This week was my first week back in the classroom and I could not be happier about it!

The student – faculty basketball game at my first homecoming pep session at Sheridan! 😀 (a faculty member tore his Achilles tendon and is having surgery this week and could use some prayers too.)

Yup. If you look closely (on the top shelf) those are two of my books available in Capstone Bookstore in Northview Church in Carmel! 😀

A heart chicken nugget at lunch.

I unearthed a cute little smile after I cleaned the kitchen table off.

My daughter is a genius! I told her to rinse the grapes off and then let the water drip off of them for awhile. I was busy putting groceries away and didn’t notice what she had done for quite awhile. I turned around and saw that she had hung the bag over the faucet so it could drip. So smart! I have never thought to do that in all the years of cleaning grapes so I had to share!

Categories: 365 Life, Micah, Season 3, SHMILY! | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

Matthew 16:21-20:16
Matthew 18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

It feels like forever since I’ve done a Sunday SHMILY post! So I figured now was as good a time as any for one. 😀

Categories: 365 Life, Matthew, Season 3, SHMILY!, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Job 11:1-15:35
“Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer.” Job 12:4

Anna VOLUNTARILY reading! AND Enjoying it!

Gabe wearing the Lord of the Rings dwarf costume I designed for him… mostly comprised of MY clothes! I have discovered I’m a dwarf!

Categories: 365 Life, Job, Season 3, SHMILY!, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Jeremiah 44:1-46:28

“For this is the day of the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies” Jeremiah 46:10

Oh my friends! I had the most wonderful birthday!!! It actually started the day before my birthday. On Friday my husband gave me the best gift he ever could have given me, public praise and support of my writing. I bawled like a baby when I saw in on Facebook, and even now I’m getting choked up again. That meant more to me than ANYTHING he ever could have bought for me! I hadn’t asked for it, and I doubt that he even meant for it to be a gift, but it was. I’m sure you wives know what I mean. His accolades mean so much more to me than a thousand screaming fans ever could.

On Saturday morning, I woke up to the glorious sun shining, and it hasn’t been lately. I got dressed and ready and actually liked what I saw in the mirror staring back at me – for once – I felt like I looked *good*. The kids and I jumped into the car and grabbed some donuts for breakfast and then ran off to Staples to pick up a few things I had ordered for the book signing, along with a new fine-tip pink Sharpie to sign those books. There were NO problems with my order, Hallelujah! Although I had been prepared in case there had been problems with it. ‘Cause, you know, I’ve been there and done that already and am wise enough now to know to be Boy Scout prepared. 😉 Then we zipped off to Living Truth where there was a sweet little table all ready for me sitting right next to a shelf FULL of my products!!! It was so awesome to see it all together and displayed so neatly. I was a little impressed with myself, I’ve got to admit.

Anna and I got all set up; she was my sweet little helper for the day. (Gabe was in a tennis tournament all morning.) Once we got settled in we, OK I, meandered back to visit with the other two authors that were there for Living Truth’s Anniversary Celebration. We had a GREAT time “talking shop” and getting marketing ideas from one another. I was stunned to find out that of the three of us, I had been writing the longest at five years.

We ended up having a great turn out for the book signing and I ended up selling/signing more books than I’ve ever sold/signed at any of my book signings before. Maybe even all of them combined even! I got to talk to people about my books and they all were genuinely interested in them. I got to give my testimony and minister AND I actually SOLD BOOKS! One of you even came out to see me, which TOTALLY made my day!

After the signing my husband took us out to my favorite Chinese restaurant… right next door to the bookstore! Which is a good thing too because my feet were killing me from standing in those heels for so long! After dinner we came home and Anna made me the cake she had been begging me to make all week.

That’s a stick family in red icing. The same stick family that she had sketched on her notebook earlier this week when she was planning my cake!!!

Watching her decorate this cake with such meticulous care was such a gift to me! She worked so hard on this cake, and you can taste the love in every bite too!

That says, “Mommy”. The blob of sprinkles in the middle of it was my fault. I totally messed up her design. Oops!

While Anna was decorating, Gabe made me a paper crane. He’s very into paper folding and is getting pretty good at it. He made a crane because they’re supposed to be good luck.

After taking as many pictures of the cake as I could possibly take, I dug in! And

OOOOHHHH

MMMMYYYYYY

GGGGGOOOODDDDDNNNNEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Duncan Hines Triple Chocolate Cake with coconut pecan frosting in the middle layer and classic chocolate frosting on the top and sides, OH! That is one GOOD chocolate lovers cake! And one VERY happy Mommy!

And wouldn’t you know it, what would my little eye spy in red frosting as I finished licking my plate?

A red heart of course! Yes LORD, I have seen how much You love me today! 😀 I am so very blessed indeed!

Thank you all so very much for your prayers! They mean the world to me and I could CERTAINLY feel them throughout the entire day on Saturday, but especially during the book signing. There was one point in particular, I think it was around 1 EST when people just started pouring in the door and I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that it was all because you had prayed for them to come. Thank you for that!!! Getting to talk to people about my story and actually get to see their reactions was such a tremendous blessing to me, words can’t even come close to describing how that felt. It was a dream come true. God is good. So good. And I want everyone to know it! He is so good to us!

He is SO GOOD to us!!!

Thank you for praying my friends. You mean the world to me! 😀

And here are the rest of this week’s SHMILY pictures!

Categories: 365 Life, Jeremiah, Season 3, SHMILY!, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | 2 Comments

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Hebrews 9:1-12:2

Hebrews 9:12-14 NLT

“With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 9:12-14

A kiss!

Categories: 365 Life, Hebrews, Season 3, SHMILY! | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Daniel 10:1-12:13

“He will stir up his courage” Daniel 11:25

We got to meet Randy Frazee the author of The Story today at church! I’m still TOTALLY geeking out about it! Like on a level I never would’ve expected! Of all people for Sean and I to meet, this was PRETTY HUGE! I just wish I could’ve taken a better picture!

A smile on the way out of church. God is GOOOOOOOD to us!
I emailed Randy a copy of our book True Intimacy today, I would love for you to pray with me that he a) actually gets it and b) actually reads it then c) really loves it!

Categories: 365 Life, Daniel, Season 3, SHMILY! | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY Report

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalm 80:1-87:7
“Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise!” Psalm 84:4

Happy SHMILY Sunday folks! Here are this week’s SHMILY’s:

Someone’s plate after dinner.

There’s nothing like a heart in your yarn stash!

My baby girl reading ALL BY HERSELF! This has been a major struggle for us this year.

That’s one bold outfit!

One happy puppy.

A rainbow on the way to a monumental service at church.

My very own daily planner all for myself! SO EXCITED! Click here to get one of your own!

Sean’s plate at lunch smiling at me.

Hee hee new floor here we come!

Knochel TEAMwork!

11pm last night, it’s starting to come together!

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, SHMILY!, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Two Cents

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalms 17:1-21:13

“Show me Your unfailing love in wonderful ways.” Psalm 17:7 NLT

“Wondrously show Your steadfast love” Psalm 17:7 ESV

Now normally I try to avoid the verses I’ve already written about in order to give you fresh manna. However, I came across something today that I just HAD to share with you!!!

Over the last few weeks I’ve been doing a SHMILY Sunday post. I share pictures from my week where God has shown me His unfailing love in wonderful ways. (If you’re curious where the name SHMILY came from, here is my original post where I explain in detail, but in short it stands for See How Much I Love You.)

Today as I was juuuuust dipping my toes into the Living Water of today’s Word of the Day I came across a footnote that blew me away. I mean, here is a verse that has literally changed my entire life and the lives of several others and I learn something NEW about it???

The first time I came across Psalm 17:7 I read it in my NLT pocket Bible, with no footnotes or commentary. Today I found it in the ESV that translates it much like the NLT except for the order of the words, but that’s where the footnote comes in. The phrase, “Wondrously show” can also be translated, “Distinguish me by”. Making it possible to translate Psalm 17:7: “Distinguish me by Your unfailing love”!

To demonstrate God’s love distinguishing us, I immediately thought of what happened to Sean yesterday at the gas station. And so I asked him to write this one up for you. 😉

“I went into a gas station to get a fountain drink. My daughter went in with me so I decided to get one for her too. We approached the counter and the attendant rang us up. The total was $1.71. I handed her $2.00 and said I had a penny, thinking I would get less change back.

Well before I paid her, another gentleman came up and started talking to her. I don’t know if she was distracted by the other customer, or didn’t understand what I had given her, but she only gave me $.28 in change. She shorted me $.02!

Since it was only two cents, I wasn’t that worried about it. However when I turned around, I saw two shiny pennies, laying on the floor just inside the door. So I just bent down, scooped them up and continued on my merry way.”

SHMILY!

Sure, it’s only two small pennies, but it SHOWS us that God cares about the little details in our lives. I mean, you want to talk about attention to detail, fingerprints, hair count and numbered steps! (See “What is Man that You are Mindful of Him“) We certainly could have lived without those two pennies in our pockets. BUT GOD wanted to show us that even those two cents we had been shorted, He could, was willing to, and would restore. And really, if you think about it, if He can, is willing to and will restore two pennies then would He, being God – the Creator and owner of everything seen and unseen, not also restore to us the much larger amounts that have been shorted us if we ask? (And trust me, I have been asking lately!) Especially since He knows we need them (Matthew 6:32).

The first time I found Psalm 17:7 I was wowed by its concept and prayed it for myself. I loved the idea that God is willing to show me His love in a way that was unique and special to me. That verse taught me that Jesus loves ME and He wants to show me that love, not in an ordinary way, but a WONDERFUL way. And right then and there I prayed, “Lord, show ME Your unfailing love in wondrous ways.” And later that morning I got an apple with pink swirls and a heart at the core (see Unfailing Love for pictures and the whole story).

So today, reading it again with fresh eyes and new meaning I am realizing that not only is He ready and willing to show ME how much He loves me, but He’s ready and willing to distinguish me from the world by that very same love. He wants to show the WORLD how much He loves.

He wants to show YOU how much He loves YOU!

He wants to set YOU apart from the crowd and show them how much He loves YOU.

So I think that it’s only fitting that like my first time, we pray the scripture. Shall we got boldly before the throne and ask so that we may receive? (John 16:24 James 4:2)

“Lord, please distinguish me by Your steadfast love. I know that you do it every day, but I pray that You would do it in a NEW way today, one that is special and unique to ME. And I pray that You would open my eyes to SEE IT and recognize it for what it really is when it happens. In Jesus’ name. Amen!”

(Maybe this will be a new recurring theme for our little blog. 😉 )

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, SHMILY! | Tags: 365 Life, apples, blessings, heart, love, SHMILY, unfailing love | Leave a comment

Steadfast Love: Sunday SHMILYs

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Psalms 9:1-16:11
Psalm 13:5-6 ESV “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord , because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

It’s Sunday and that means SHMILYs! This week started with

Pancake batter and

Crumbs on the cutting board. The next morning there was a bloody nose

And a heart leaf as we were getting ready to leave.

At lunch with the ladies from church, God showed me how much He loves me from a heart on a lamp shade.

Some spring cleaning bright a smile to my face…. even if the tossed boxes didn’t approve. 😉

One afternoon after school we went for a walk with Skippy, that seemed to bring out a LOT of smiles!
When Sean got home I noticed a typo on his shirt! He’d been wearing it all day!

(This is NOT Zach!)

On my way to Greek class night I even got to keep my sunroof open! But then the next day brought THIS!

Where did all that color go? Thankfully it didn’t last long. Whew!

Night I got a two for one special, a smile in cheese

and a single drop of water that fell into the shape of a heart! I have to admit this may be an all time favorite for me.

A smile in the melting snow greeting me on my way to work Thursday morning.

This Apple was a special one because it’s not mine it’s Anna’s! She bit into it, saw the heart and yelled, “mommy! mommy!” As she ran across the room to show me. I delighted in the excitement of her discovery.

I laughed at how God had led me to pull out a pie on pi day (3.14), I do so love His sense of humor!

Mmmmm…… a “Hearty” Saturday morning breakfast of praline biscuits. Then onto some long awaited painting getting finished!

As I was cleaning up I found this!

If you look closely in the bottom hand corner you can see it in the picture before this. The roller had started slipping off the end on the handle so I had used the bag on the floor to straighten it, twice. Then when I was getting ready to close up the paint I took off the spout and tossed it over by the bag. I came back later and saw how it had fallen.

Ahhhhhhh! The view from the couch with everything, well mostly everything back where it goes. (All the stuff under the window is new flooring, the next step in the spring project list.)
Well, that was my week in review! 🙂
So what were your moments this week where God showed you His heart or smiled at you? Did you take a walk in the spring air? Did you see a face smiling at you from the melting snow on the ground? Let’s sing of His steadfast LOVE!

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Psalms, SHMILY!, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Leave a comment

Sunday SHMILY’S

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

Proverbs 14:1-17:28
“The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.”
Well folks I am officially without a computer for the next few days. My brother the computer guy has taken it to see what he can do with it, if anything. So it’s just me and my phone for the moment. Oh how I will miss the tap of those keys under my fingers! It is such a bliss to me.
Anyway today is Sunday and that means a review of those great pictures God gave me this week. Moments that spoke His love for me through the faces I hold dear. 🙂
Like this one, Anna learning that she can roll her tongue.

My sweet Skippy dog sunning in the window.

A heart shaped potato skin.

And some MELTING snow in the shape of a heart.

An attempt at patching Anna’s pants with crochet that failed miserably, but it made me laugh.

A smiley face.

Hmmmm….. Maybe not quite smiling, but a face nonetheless. 😉 with a heart for an eye!
The GORGEOUS sunset on my way to Greek class Tuesday night. The streaks through the sky started to look like an eagle in flight after awhile. So I just had to stop to take a picture even if it meant being a little late for class.