In a world of social media, let’s not substitute in-person contact with a text or email. We ALL need love, hugs and touch! Please visit people in person! Especially people who are hurting or living with chronic illness and pain.
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Are you following me on Social Media? What are you waiting for? Follow and SUBSCRIBE! Thank you, everyone!
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How interesting! I was searching for a radio spot from Joni Eareckson Tada about my book, “Not By Sight – Ministering to Believers Living with Chronic Illness and Pain.” I came upon this blog of “Great Christian Quotes” on Conviction of the Holy Spirit.
They listed my quote, “If we could CONTROL God, HE would not be God, WE would be God and WE ARE NOT God!” – Sherri L. Connell
Wow! Look closer! My quote is surrounded by A.W. Tozer, Oswald Chambers, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon and more! Of course, I am certainly not a prolific writer they are, but it was quite a fun surprise!
Not By Sight is available through Where is God Ministries or on Amazon! Check it out!
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Are you following me on Social Media? What are you waiting for? Follow and SUBSCRIBE!
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We are BEYOND grateful to have spent CHRISTmas with these AMAZING peeps! Thank you all for letting us be part of your family Paul, Lisa and all of you incredible, loving, FUN kids!
We LOVE and ADORE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOOK at what we got from my BFF Patti for Mother’s Day! Yes, I am a mom! I am a mom to the 2 most amazing “kids” ever!
GRATITUDE OF THE DECADE!
I can’t believe we were finally able to go see my family in Illinois!
We had to purchase a very rare all fiberglass trailer, which is extremely hard to find, then we
had to make lots and lots of repairs and changes to it, as well as many other challenges had to be addressed. The whole process took ten years! However, WE FINALLY GOT OUT THERE!!!!
Wayne and I enjoyed our first stay in an RV park in Salina, Kansas at the KOA! We got the end spot right next to a pond! The park was a delight! It had lots of trees, a gravel road, two ponds, cabins, a pool and of course, no chemical sprayers in the restrooms (air fresheners). We LOVED this place!
Our landing spot in Illinois was OK, but it was hard to love it after the first stop (LOL). I got to know the owner and he watched out for me every day (it wasn’t in the best of areas near St. Louis).
We had a GREAT time visiting with my dad (Ron), mom (Nancy Jo), brother (Marty) and grandma (GG)! We had planned on doing all of our visiting on my dad’s infamous deck, but my dad really wanted to get out and show us a few sights! He is such a warrior, pushing through the horrific pain he has been in!
We went by my childhood home, my best friend’s house, my old favorite place to swim (where I lived in the Summers), my mom’s childhood home, the fire station where we had annual
picnics, Dad’s old school (where he taught band), his church and the “Angels of Hope” where my dad had a brick laid in memory of my brother.
Dad also surprised me by taking me by the house 
where we lived when I was born! It belonged to my grandma and grandpa and I had never seen it in person (besides when I lived there when I was one). The people who bought the house after we moved still live there and they were home! They invited us in to see that some of the same furniture, lighting, doors and radiators were still there! I don’t remember any of it, but it was so fun to see my grandma and grandpa’s things!
Wayne and I also made a quick stop at the St. Louis Zoo. I couldn’t go all the way out there without at least taking a peek. This place is one of my fondest memories with my dad, family and cousins as a child. It has the coolest train! Unfortunately, I couldn’t ride it because of the exhaust. But it was fun to see it!
All in all, it was a wonderful trip of a lifetime! We were sad we couldn’t see everyone due to schedules or living out of town. But, I am so thankful for the precious time we had with family we were able to be with! We had great conversations, lots of laughter and hugs! It was just so wonderful to be able to sit on their deck, surrounded by trees, Cardinals and my dad’s amazing garden!
I have missed them all SO much over the years and wish I could just hop over there anytime to visit or have pizza night with them. It is so hard being so far apart! Nonetheless, I am so very grateful to have had this time with them and I will cherish it forever!
Please keep my dad (Ron) and mom (Nancy Jo) in your prayers for healing and much, much less pain, as well as my grandma (GG) to find new friends and joy in her new (and very nice) assisted living apartment.
Sherri
You’ll ALWAYS Be My Daddy and I Will FOREVER Be Your Little Girl!
Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! I Love You!
? Number Three
Chip and Joanna Gaines are a nice, easy-going couple who live in Waco, Texas. They are a dynamic duo, as she is a designer, he is a general contractor and they are the owners of the Magnolia Market. Their lives were busy before, but now it has exploded into the limelight as the Hosts of the hit TV show, Fixer Upper on HGTV!
People are flocking around this couple and are thoroughly enthralled with this show! But why did America fall in love with Chip and Joanna? What makes them so special?
Well, in addition to their undeniable talent and work ethics, they are open, real and giving souls who love one another, their family and people. Chip and Jojo strive to help others, have integrity and have fun!
“There are so many inspiring qualities in Chip and Joanna Gaines. They are truly a couple worth admiring. The world needs more bright-shining beacons of hope like Chip and Joanna Gaines. And America could use more wholesome family shows like Fixer Upper!” RAZC.
The Gaines’ give great hope to us all, that there are still people out there who are not full of anger, criticism and hate. And they are role models for all of us who are married, as they endeavor to build their marriage on love, respect and quality time together!
Their adoration for one another as they banter back and forth in an playful way, is refreshing and delightful. Even with their recent fame and fortune as stars of this incredibly popular television show, Chip and Joanna remain humble and live a very nice life on a farm, that is not full of ego and opulence.
“In a world obsessed with portraying a picture-perfect image and putting on a show, the Gaines strive to be authentic and genuine. And as many Magnolia clients will attest, the Gaines are the same people in real-life, and on TV” RAZC.
Chip and Joanna are not perfect. I hate to break it to you, but nobody is. And they will be the first to tell you that. Nonetheless, their lives are built on the simple principles of loving one another, family and others. Thus, it should be no surprise to us that they get these principles from their faith and walk with God.
In this world today, it is easy to become bitter, angry and selfish humans who focus on material success, accolades and step on whomever gets in our way. Chip and Jojo are doing their best to follow God’s Word and that is not a bad thing, people. It is a good thing! All that is good in this universe is from God.
Thank you, Chip and Joanna, for stepping into our lives and reminding us that there are still people on this earth who live their lives to care for one another, their family and others. Though most of us do not have a platform such as being on a television show, we can all set a stage in the show of our own lives. And we can choose to set that stage with love, sincerity and compassion.
RESOURCES:
CBS News. May 22, 2016. View More: TV News|Entertainment News|Live News|More News Videos
RAZC. Chip and Joanna Gains are Changing America and It’s Easy to See Why. QPolitical.com. May 2016.
My great niece finally made it out for a visit! We lived like fish in the water for days!
I am so proud of my hubby, Wayne Connell, for writing another amazing blog for Disability.Blog by Disability.Gov. It’s amazing! Read, Like, Share and Tweet it!
Flying HIGH after having an INCREDIBLE Christmas week with family in Wyoming!!
Had such a great time with Wes, Melanie, the boys and Melanie’s sister and kids!
Thank you all for using fragrance free laundry and showering products!! What a beautiful time with all the kids and your sister and family!! Love you all SO much!! And thank you, Deb and Bree for house and pet sitting!!
Wait! I have more news! Wayne and I spent New Year’s Eve with family and friends and not home alone as usual! We had a great time laughing and playing cards! It was SO good to see the people we love again!
Praise God I was able to stay (usually too much chemical fragrance) and enjoy the evening! Been down with fevers and welts in my throat since then, but at least I was able to be there. Thank you everyone!! I have missed you all SO much! It has been WAY too long!
