BLESSINGS? Yes, I think so...

The Pharis Family & Grandkids

(From left to right, top to bottom)

 Jake Tutor

Buddy Pharis & Weslyn Pharis

Peyton Hardin, Zoe Tutor, Harley Pharis

Ethan Jackson, Brittany Hardin

So, that's my family...my parents, my children, my niece and nephews (and my "sister," the dog, Harley).  They are my heart - well, half of it.  The other half includes my husband, all my in-laws, step-children (and "adopted" children) and my nieces and nephew on Jeff's side of the family.  As we get closer to the day we celebrate the Birth of Christ, I can't help but think about all those men, women and children that don't have a family to celebrate Christmas with, for whatever reason (orphaned, widowed, serving in the military, etc.).  Why am I so blessed so have a family that loves to spend time together, to laugh together, and cry together?  And why are those persons without a family surrounding them at Christmas, or any other time of the year, not blessed the way I am?  I don't know the answer to those questions; I wish I did.  I only know that I'm so very thankful for what I have been blessed with.  And I pray that I can be more compassionate, more patient, more loving, and more attentive to those that have not been blessed in the same way I have...  I also pray that in the coming year, I can learn from those that have overcome situations I cannot begin to imagine. 

I have a lot to learn - about Jesus and His plans for me, about my family (because we are constantly growing and changing), about my friends, and about my church.  I want to be the kind of Christian I am called to be.  (BTW, I am asking you all to hold me accountable to this desire!  And I will struggle because now the devil knows of my intentions...)

Right now, I pray that anyone reading this post already knows the joy that can come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - not just believing there's a God, or a being "out there somewhere that's bigger than we are" - but knowing Jesus Christ!  If you have questions, I implore you - PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS!  Find someone that is willing to talk to you and listen to your comments, concerns, and questions.  But whatever you do, TALK TO SOMEONE!  If you want to talk to me, email me at ghardin72@gmail.com.  If I don't know the answer, I will find out!  Even if I don't know you, email me...it's that important!

Okay, sorry for preaching... :)  I just know that I am blessed - and I believe without a doubt it's because I'm a child of Christ.  The joy that I experience daily through my health, my family, my employment, my service to others, and on and on, comes directly from the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, aka the Trinity.  There is so much to learn and so much to gain...

God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous Happy New Year! 

What Christmas means to me...

It is December 11th and I am getting excited about Christmas!  The gift giving, the music, the memories, the church services; we all know the usual sayings, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season," "Keep Christ in Christmas," etc.  So, at the risk of sounding cliche', I would just like to say that I love every aspect of the true story of Christmas: Jesus Christ!


Earlier this week I had the pleasure of singing at an Insurance Women of Jackson (IWJ) luncheon.  I chose a Christmas medley that included Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and O Holy Night.  I also sang the song Mary, Did You Know?  If you've never heard the song before, I'd like to share the words of the song with you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.


Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God? 


Oh, Mary, did you know?


The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb.


Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy was heaven's Perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.

Isn't that beautiful?  The lyrics are awe-inspiring.  When I hear that song, I can feel what Mary must have felt when she held the baby Jesus!  Mary was the tool to God's greatest gift to us - she was obedient, never wavering, and a most loving mother.  I can only strive to be as obedient to God in honor of the gift He's given me, the Ultimate Gift, Jesus Christ - who truly is the only Reason for this Christmas season.


Merry Christmas to all of you!  I pray that each of you will have a blessed holiday with friends and family and that your New Year brings you joy, peace, and much prosperity!

Peyton, My First Born

This week has been very exciting for us!  For two Sunday afternoons in a row, Peyton has been putting 110% on the soccer field in tryouts for the DII U12G soccer team.  We got the call on Tuesday that she was one of 13 girls selected for the team.  (17 tried out.) 

On Wednesday, Peyton attended her first meeting of the National Junior Beta Club.  :o)  She was invited to become a member based on her outstanding academic achievements and her positive attitude. 

On Thursday, (as I was home sick) I got a text from one of the organizer's for the middle school's Dog Jam event that Peyton needed her music.  While I knew that Peyton had auditioned for the talent contest portion of Dog Jam, I had no idea that over 150 students had auditioned.  To top that off, Peyton was the 1st alternate!  (Or #11 in the long line of auditioners...)  So, to make a long story longer, Peyton was asked to fill a space that was vacated by another act at the tailgate party prior to Dog Jam.  She sang Love Story by Taylor Swift and she did great!  She has a lot to learn, but noting the effort she puts into everything else she does - she's gonna be unstoppable on the stage as well! 

I am so very proud of Peyton!  She is beautiful, smart, athletic, and she gives her all in everything she does.  She loves to learn and she's constantly challenging herself.  I believe she'll be President one day - whether it's President of the U.S.A. or President of a major corporation (hers or an already established one) - she is going places people!  And I couldn't be more excited to see what God has in store for her.

Reminiscing...

So, last week an acquaintance of mine lost her husband in a tragic car accident.  She is now a single mom and widow at a very young age.  Saturday, as Jeff and I watched football, all I could think about was how she must really be missing her husband that day.  And I didn't know him at all... I knew nothing about him.  I really don't know much about her, except that she loves her little boy and she loves her husband.  As I said, we were just acquaintances.  So why is she on my mind so much?  And why does my heart ache for her so hard? 

I realized that over the years, as I've gone through the most awful scenarios in my mind (from losing my husband, to tripping as I walked down the hall with my newborns), that I'm not invincible.  I would NOT be okay if something happened to my wonderful husband and my children - at least, not at first. 

My friend may not understand what her "silver lining" is in the loss of someone so precious to her, but I understand what it is for those of us that take what we have for granted on a day-to-day basis. 

Father God, I have not been the wife and mother You want me to be.  I sin daily and I beg your forgiveness.  You grant me so many blessings that are undeserved.  Before You now, I ask for peace for my friend, Sarah, and comfort for the Payne family.  I thank You for the lesson this tragedy has taught me, and so many others, even as I grieve with Sarah and her family in their time of loss.  I thank You most of all for the Cross!  Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ.  It's in His Name I pray, Amen.

Being a Mom

I can remember the day I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. I was 24, not married, working for an apartment complex, and I had just started dating the father of my baby. (Well, we'd been together for about two months by the time I found out.) I was absolutely MORTIFIED!!! The thought of telling my parents that I was pregnant was disgusting to me... But, I had to lie in the bed I had made for myself.

Anyway, I couldn't figure out why I kept getting sick. My roommate suggested that I take a pregnancy test. "Yea right," I said. DUH! Of course there was a chance I was pregnant... I was a drug user, a drinker (probably close to becoming an alcoholic had I continued down that path, or worse), and I had what I now believe to be a sexual addiction. I was not a happy person. I remember knowing all the jokes and being the life of the party. I remember how much fun I used to have. But I also remember how I would cry myself to sleep at night; I was lonely and I was convicted daily by the Holy Spirit for the sins I had committed. I have no doubt that my pregnancy saved my life; that meeting Jeff saved my life.

The night I met him, Jeff was enjoying a night out for the first time since his divorce from his first wife. It had only been two months or so since the papers had been signed and filed in the courts! He probably wasn't ready for a serious relationship, but I knew when I met him that he was the one for me. As usual, I took things way too fast and I didn't bother to date in the old-fashioned sense of the word. ('Course, Jeff didn't either.) He was just as scared as I was and he even tried to ignore me and avoid me for about a month after I told him I was pregnant. But he came to his senses... :o)

As the old saying goes, the rest is history... We have Peyton and Brittany now and Jeff and I have been married for over 11 years. In that time, I've learned a lot about myself, a lot about Jeff, and even more about the love of God! Children are a blessing, a gift, and we're not guaranteed that they will be with us forever. However, when we are entrusted with such a precious gift, we should want to do everything in our power to care for that gift! :o)

Thank you, God, for the gift of my husband, and the gifts of my children. Thank you for entrusting them to my care and for believing that I am capable and strong enough to do so.