Timing is Everything....

....people say this all the time but do they really mean it? Do you believe that you are in the right spot at this appointed time of life, even if it is a crummy situation? I mean really, sometimes timing is crap-ola. (there is really no other word for it)

Just this week our daughter and family was ALMOST to gymnastics class and got rear-ended bad! The 2 older girls sitting in the back of the van got the brunt of the shock from the suburban. A few years ago we were excited about serving alongside our other daughter and her husband in Georgia but 10 mos later we find ourselves searching for employment. A friend and his wife have gone thru some unsettling life experiences over the past few years, still together and strong but what they have gone thru , no one should have to experience so young.

Yet in each situation ( some in the present some will have to be in hind sight) we can/will see TIMING come into play.

Today I awoke with only 5 hrs sleep, drove to Newark to take my momma for more tests. After 2 hrs we hit McDee's for lunch on the go and I took her back home. I really wanted to stay awhile but my head was hurting and I was getting tired fast. I decided to get her settled and left with a hug, kiss and my cheeseburger. Half way home I called Steve to "pray me home" b/c I was so tired. I could of closed my eyes and fallen asleep driving down the road. As I get to a town w/a larger Kroger store, my mind goes to a Starbucks....maybe they have one in the Kroger store! Well my fire went out when I drove into the parking lot ....no Starbucks and I refuse to have a McDee's coffee in the middle of the day. (their coffee always taste burned)

So I drive to the end of the strip mall to turn around. I noticed an elderly lady by the trunk of her car, wailing her one free arm in the air, packages and sacks all over the pavement. I pulled up and stopped. Her fingers were caught in the trunk of her car and she said the key lock was frozen, she could not open it. I tried to pry it open but to no avail. I noticed she was going into shock so I called 911! She was 73 yrs old and her pupils were so dilated that they were as small as pen points on a page. Long story short, the EMT's came, we got her hand out, no broken bones but very very bruised. So relieved!

Timing WAS everything to her today. I am so very glad that I was tired, didn't fall asleep at the wheel, stopped for a coffee on the left side of the road instead of McDee's on the right side. So glad I didn't find a Starbucks in the Kroger store and drove all the way to the end of that strip mall. I didn't spend more time w/my mom today, b/c I was suppose to be there searching for coffee just for that ladies sake.

So the next time I find myself throwing a pity party over a unusual situtation or mad at the world for something that happened when I was NOT AT FAULT or maybe just living life as it is given to me..I want to remember this lady and the way God planned for me to be there at the right TIME.

ogledantzlergorman card 2010

Classic Red Square Christmas Card

Personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

my favorite things about Christmas....

....are cards from family and friends. Having lived most of our married life away from family AND all the moves we have made thru the military and ministry we have connected and reconnected with so many thru each Christmas season. I have done Christmas newsletters with pictures for about 30 of our 34 yrs of marriage in many different forms. It is hard to correlate a years worth of living down to one page, but after many days of working thru my lunch hours I always managed to edit down to one page what I call "a wonderful life."



I am thinking that since I love this movie and I love to say to others "It really is a wonderful life" that this will be my choice for 2010.

...my favorite thing about receiving Christmas cards are the pictures that are the surprise gem inside each card. Over the years I have placed these pictured treasures into my albums with dates and ages. I love going back each year looking at their faces, remembering the life we spent together. These treasure will not rust away for they are safely tucked into my memory reminding me of those who touched our lives in such a way that we become who we are because of their addition in our lives. Love Hope Joy..these things remind me of faithful family and friends..

Love this Top Ten List...

Now who would not love to get this gem in their mailbox????

My motto is JOY, my favorite verse is John 15:11 "I have told you this so that My Joy will be in you and that your Joy will be complete."

perfect color combination...and up close pictures

this one I dubbed "Lilly" because we have a friend who's child would look so good on this card!

this one gives you the option of writing a little letter of events....love it! But after much wavering (b/c they are ALL awesome ) I have decided on the first choice....scroll back to top of page.

Shutterfly.com has amazing prices also...most are going for .90 per card. Can't beat that! So instead of a generic , but pretty Christmas card this year you have time to try SHUTTERFLY!

For your Christmas cards selection just click on:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/christmas-cards

For your Christmas PHOTO cards click on:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/christmas-photo-cards

For the perfect Holiday card click on:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/holiday-cards

PS....I have to add that our anniversary is just 3 days before Christmas, our birthdays are exactally 10 and 7 days prior to the happy holiday...so Steve and I do not go big on presents to one another. For our 30th anniversary our daughters pulled pictures together for a SHUTTERFLY PHOTOBOOK. Oh my, to this date...my favorite present! But now I need a newer one...we have since added 2 more granddaughters and a grand dog!

PSS......

Don't forget to look at the array of gifts SHUTTERFLY.COM can do for those, "what special gift can I get Uncle Gene", moments.

GNO...

..And off we go to Ohio Wesleyan University to watch a concert of...The Vienna Boys Choir!~

What an awesome opportunity. Just 6 of us neighbor gals went out to enjoy an evening of relaxed amazement. Had alittle catastrophe before we left, that Steve had to come to our rescue.... One lady's shoe tripped her as she was walking down the stairs. Her heel came loose and Steve got out his hammer and played cobblesmith to help her get on her way. For once it wasn't me who had the accident. After getting to the university and standing in line to get our RESERVED tickets for what seemed like 45 mins...yes it was 45 mins to be exact. We found our seats in the balcony where we had a better than a birds eye view of the stage. No pictures were allowed of the choir but my mind will never forget the minor cords, pure notes and staccato breaths of these young boys. They sang music from all periods of time.... the oldest being around 1697. They sang in 3 different languages. One song has such high notes that my ears were ringing like someone had a tuning fork against the back of my ear.

Audience participation was encouraged at one point and left us all laughing at how hard it was to have one section of audience clapping on the beat and our side clapping on the off beat. The 38 young boys showed us who was capable of doing that while singing just to throw us a curve.

Some of these little boys were not bigger than my oldest grand. Their voices were so natural and pure...no vibrato...just developed vocals. One song they sang had 5 boys dancing and I wondered if the Von Trappe Family would come out around the corner singing. Most of these boys were from Austria with a few from as far away as Korea and Hungary. The choir master was raised in Lima, Peru.

Great nite out with very nice ladies. Hope we can do this again sometime.

The journey continues...

...and I am loving it! Could not sleep last night so I did my Thursday quite time at around 2am.
First question in study....What did you hide from as a child? (Fear) Where did you hide? (in my mind) How can a hiding place become a prison rather than protect you? (my mind made me feel safe from all the outside attacks and self esteem issues. It made a safe place for me to enter in and feel protected BUT after some time, it trapped me and instead of facing the stronghold, I automatically went to this spot of presumed safety. A place where no one knew and where I found myself to be very alone.)

The verses in 2 Cor 10:3-5 talk about these strongholds as "waging war." In a raging battle the enemy will always attack the weak first. In a spiritual war that weak spot is always our minds. Only when we strengthen our minds in Christ do we aim at the enemy and finally fight back. I am finally fighting back! I have to remember that these spiritual wars of negative strongholds were already won at THE CROSS. I realized that I have to first choose to face and acknowledge the fear within w/the truth of Christ.

The next question , How eager am I to head into battle without any weapons? (never, very silly right, of course I would never enter battle w/o protection) But many times over the years since childhood I did just that. Ephesians 6:14-18 talks about 2 powerful weapons we must take with us...the Bible and prayer. The only way I can destroy strongholds is thru God and prayer. This is not a new thought to my Christian life but it is being brought to me anew!

The over riding principal is this: to keep my focus on God and His power will prevail. Sounds so simple but that stronghold will continue to dig into the trenches and try to overpower me. I will prevail thru God.

So I am keeping my mind on Christ to the best of my human ability...standing firm in His salvation and grace. Living Free!

The Christmas Elf.....

is hard at work... By golly it is November, just 2.5 wks away from Thanksgiving, my husbands favorite holiday. The kids and grands are all coming to our home this year (imagine a giant smile on my face) so I had better start up my sewing machine.

So today I started into a sewing frenzy. First some twirlier things for the grands to enjoy. Then I started on mattresses for 4 sets of bnk beds for 4 little girls American Girl dolls. Next on the list is blankets and pillows. Then onto sleepbags for their dolls. Lots to do and not enough time to do MORE.

Lemons or Lemonade.....

..that is the question. Before October many times (not all times) I would choose lemons. Do you pick and choose? Why do we do that? Well to be honest, I rather liked the thought that in the action of "eating those lemons"I could compare/or understand my life w/others, I could be heard and/or noticed. I mean think about it: "Look at her, she just ate a whole bag of lemons, never made a weird face and now she has seeds growing in her belly." (sounds weird doesn't it?)

But I have done that very thing....when a hardship comes my way, I focus on it. I try to fix the problem so I can move on. I focus on it and a little pride starts to grow inside my belly. All around others say "Wow, she is so strong." Or how about this ..."No plse don't pray for me because there are so many others who need it worse than I." (sometimes humbleness is not attractive) It's not humble pie but humble pride that eats away at us.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11 talks about God raising us from the dead, how He delivered us. And because He delivered us we are joining together as believers to pray for each other. (v11) "you are joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many."

Since October I am actively choosing lemonade. Why? because I am learning that it is easy to drift from the focus of Christ through a stronghold. It either pulls me to focus on the problem more OR focus on satan. I cannot allow satan to hold my focus on the stronghold whereby strengthening himself. And then he creates another stronghold.

I choose lemonade for another reason. Some strongholds break quickly but my mental transition to adjust takes longer. Ever notice how it's a constant battle w/some strongholds? It breaks, it comes back..over and over again.

So I choose lemonade because of Rom 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
I choose lemonade because of Phil 4:8
"Whatever is true...noble...right...pure...lovely...admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."

And I can end on this note by Beth Moore: GOD IS FAR MORE INTERESTED in my relationship w/the Deliverer that w/the delivered.

Strongholds....

...of my own making? Some! See verses: Ps 27:1 Samuel 22:2 Joel 3:16 and 2 Cor 10:3-5.

Strongholds can be negative or positive in our lives. They can be of our own making or a situation that falls onto us for no reason except it just life. David said in Psalm 27 that b/c God was his stronghold he never had to be afraid.

God is a positive stronghold, fortress, refuge in times of trouble. I have called out to Him many times in my life and as always, He answers. Just recently I called out to God as I laid face down on the carpet in my bedroom. Praying the fear I was experiencing would be washed away in the light of His glory and grace. (no, I am not about to strike out with song) After 15 mins of praying on the floor completely embraced and free w/God I got up went to bed and that ugly head of fear, unknown, spite, hurt, emptiness VANISHED!
"The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid." Ps 27:1

A definition of a negative stronghold is anything that exalts itself in our minds, pretending to be bigger and more powerful than God. (Beth Moore, Living Free)

WOW!~ I do that every time! Every time a stronghold takes possession of me, I allow it to be bigger than what I KNOW GOD IS! When B.Moore used the word PRETENDING it really woke me up. That is all these negative strongholds do....they pretend! And if their pretending is successful enough then satan (not a type-o, I never cap his name) is victorious!

So my job is to remember the God of Israel who gave me power over negative strongholds. May He be victorious!

Found a poem, picked it up...

...found a poem I wrote about my momma during one of her Emergency room/hospital stays this past spring. I want to journal my thoughts as I get them so I don't forget this journey, called Alzheimer's we will be on. (so plse endure my bad-poetic license)

YET: (4-29-10)

What do I do? What can I say?

Yet, how to respond, protecting her so fray.

She is frail , yet strong. She is kind and soft.

And she will always try to right a wrong.

Her mind is like mush, yet maybe only for a time.

It hurts my heart to see her decline.

"I know that girl." yet my name she does not recall.

I'm scared to think this might be the start of it all.

Two more children is her mark in this world.

Yet as I watch her drift, she struggles to uncurl.

Uncurling from the twine of yarn n her head.

Yet, knows when to laugh as she lay in her bed.

What happens next we are not so sure.

Yet, her three children trust in God who does lure.

He holds her in His arms tonight.

Yet, it is He who offers her life.

What do I do and What can I say.

Yet to once more give her to God,

it is the only way.

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Questioning Pride...

...Luke 10:18-20 Jesus said, "I watched satan fall from heaven like a lighting flash. Look I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your name is written in heaven."

Do I steer clear of pride issues or do I relish in them? The honest answer is no & yes! At least in my life. I struggle with pride from time to time. Picturing times where I was completely in charge of a successful volunteer service at my daughters schools or my 50 hr a week (times 6 wks job) of set preps for VBS. Sometimes it has been a duet or trio song of praise in worship or a project completion at work.

I am proud of my marriage to my husband of 33 yrs, 2 gorgeous daughters, 2 awesome godly sons and those 4 precious grands! I am proud of the churches we have served in b/c their ministries truly shown light in the community. I am very proud of my Ohio State Buckeyes, although I know they are just a football team that don't know me from Adam. I am proud of our home. Very proud that my husband is a published author. I could go on and on but I will stop here.

I think this verse hit me today, b/c I had never thought much about Jesus watching satan fall to earth. It reminded me that Jesus always has been. What a safe thought. But when He started talking to the 70 men He had sent out to teach and bring in the harvest...He caught my attention also.

They were bragging about the demons who submitted to them in Jesus name. And Jesus (I am guessing) in a still voice told them to stop being so proud. He gave attention to the fact that He had given them every ability to handle anything that came near them. Nothing was going to harm them. They were bound to succeed b/c He gave them the directive. He caught them in their pride. I can see them standing around Jesus and bragging on all they had done, as buttons popped off their shirts or maybe as the knots in their robe ties came undone.

I've been there and so have you. It's a dangerous spot to be in. Usually I can say "oh no" before I am waist deep in my sinkin-stinkin pride. Knowing that PRIDE REALLY DOES COME BEFORE THE FALL. I know my sin and admit my failure..asking for forgiveness and desiring to NOT do that again.

Pride brings anger and selfishness and that only leads me to a life of unfilled desires and self-centered-ness.

Living this Christ-life for over 33 yrs I have learned the hard way many times...how best to deal w/pride. What makes me happy about these 2 verses is the fact that Christ does have my name written in the Lambs Book of Life and b/c He does I have the power to deal w/pride.

I am still proud of my family, home, church, and how God gives me strength to get through all the volunteer hours but that is BECAUSE my perspective has changed over the years.

It is not b/c of me that all these things are accomplished...it's b/c of Christ Himself. That He allowed me to partake of each event, service and joy is the blessing of living this life.

For that I am very PROUD!

Handwriting....

Day 22..."To have a master and a teacher is not the same thing as being mastered and taught. Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who KNOWS me better than I know myself, who is CLOSER than a friend, and who UNDERSTANDS the remotest depths of my heart and is able to SATISFY me fully. Someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties and problems in my mind."
Matthew 23:8

Oswald Chambers goes on to say that "the Lord never MAKES me do what He wants." But I have to admit, just like Paul, (the things I want to do I don't, and the things I don't want to do, I do) I wish sometimes He would! I told a friend the other day that I so wish sometimes I would see that proverbial handwriting on the wall...so I don't miss what God wants of me. Life when difficult, would be made so much easier if we could just have enough faith to say....Which way God? Then bingo, He would write the directions on the wall before our eyes. Is He capable, yes? Then why doesn't He? As for me, I know if I saw the written directions on the wall, I would take it for granted so much so that I would not act on my faith.

Steve was always good at helping our girls understand algebra. I mean he took major math classes in college not b/c they were prerequisites but b/c it was FUN! (AUGHH) So b/c they knew daddy loved math , they trusted he would guide them thru the formulas. What IF they just expected him to do their algebra for them every night? Their grades would be great, their piers would think they were geniuses, but where would they stand on exam day?

Same with me. My faith has to be exercised daily in order to know His will for my life. Life will give curves, slowing us down, challenging us and use us. I don't want to rely on a honest to goodness handwritten message. I want to have faith to trust NO MATTER WHAT COMES....I can handle it w/God.

Chambers suggest that God wants us in a relationship with Him were he is so easily our Master/ Teacher that we have "NO CONSCIOUS AWARENESS of it." Kinda like breathing. We breath O2 all day every day..for me that equals 20,699.5 days so far. and maybe I could count on on hand when I was even aware that I needed O2. (1 wk in hospital w/pneumonia and this past spring w/allergy attack)

What is God writing on your wall?

An hour or 2 at the Library.....

...got my library pass and now I am in a reading frenzy. The librarian took me to the designated spot in the huge building to where only about 12 books sat. Then she showed me another spot in the "medical" section where I found another 5-8 books. The first one I pulled down started with my humor: Alzheimer's for Dummies. I laughed and started flipping thru the pages. I found it very interesting yet thought I needed something more on the premise of Alzheimer's background and function first. Start with the basics of this disease.

My mother, age 79, was just diagnosed w/this disease in June and I am already noticing her mind getting worse. Not real bad but a gradual notice of irritation, distress and lack of clarity. Her minds changes so fast these days. It's almost like Dorothy said in The Wizard of OZ , "My everyone comes and goes so quickly around here." Or maybe this one, "We're not in Kansas any more Toto." My momma is not like this every day, but I have noticed her swaying to "Oz" from time to time.

So I caught a note in one book from Patti Davis, President Reagan's daughter...and knew I had to have something light to read about this journey my mom will be taking. Then one book hit me between the eyes. So much so that as I skimmed it's content, my eyes became foggy with misty tears. The pages were blurry, yet a tear did not drop. It was revealed to me standing in the isle by myself that this is where we will one day be. No longer able to just sit and joke or talk about the news , grand kids or the great grand kids she has. No longer to see her be so independent and strong willed. Right now she is NOT THERE. But as I said before she is going to get there one day.

I pray that day does not come for a few more years. I pray that God gives her time to adjust but as I skimmed the pages of the books, I noticed one common area... It does happen, and it happens when you least expect it.

I want to educate myself on this regeneration or what the author calls "re-birthing" b/c I want to be the best advocate for her as the years tumble by. God has been dealing with me on the issue of being still. Learning to take Proverb 17 to the next level. Understanding that peace comes sometimes from saying nothing. I have had times to exercise these truths this spring/summer, but today I realized that God is also preparing me for what is to come w/my mother. So I will continue to listen to God through reading His word and praying. I will continue to read everything I can concerning Alzheimer's. And I will continue loving on my mom even when it gets hard. Trusting that God, who made her and loves her will provide for her every step of the way. Praying that mom will see the best place for her is to live w/me.

Another date to remember....

Today, 34 years ago at 7 pm, this couple were making their engagement announcement to the world. It was also the day his father got remarried. We were only 19 n 22 years of age! Still quite wet behind the ears, hardly knew one another, yet our hearts could not stay apart. In this picture we are 53 n 56 years of age and not so wet behind the ears...with 2 grown married daughters and 4 grands! He is the best man for me, he says I am the best woman for him....we are faithful to one another and words like: committment, love, trust, joy, honesty, tough times, God, Jesus, praise be to God, honor, respect, may come out of our mouths at any time. See we are leaving our children and grandchildren a legacy. So that one day they will know that intergrity is not a 10 letter word to throw around freely. So that they may know we follow the God of Creation and try hard to listen to His will for our lives. So that they may know what real support, and honesty means to a relationship.
Two men came into my life and gave me self worth....Jesus and Steve, in that order. I love this man with every beat of my heart. Hugs an kisses darling!

Dates to Remember.....

About a year ago we were walking in Walmart. Steve got a text message from our daughter in Ga. Along with the picture on the far left. Thisi s our newest granddaughter. We stood in the parking lot and just kept touching the screen...our newest granddaughter. To us she was perfect (like all the other grands) The journey to Ellagrace was really starting to go forward now. I shared (w/tears) about our news to a mother in the store...she cried also.

What a difference a year makes...see photo to immediate left. She has been in the states for a little over 5 mos now and has acclimated beyond our imagination. God has comforted those unsure, non-trusting eyes. God has given her sisters who love her, parents who care for her, grandparents and auntie's /uncles , friends at church...and one day He will help her understand the free gift of salvation. I can not imagine how our lives would of been lived out if she was not a part of it. Praise be to God!

Doing Something wonderful....

...God is doing something wonderful in our family. Although it is sad that our youngest daughter and husband has not been able to conceive God is preparing them for their own adoption journey. And this spills over into our entire family.

For just like w/Shana and Billie and their journey to Ellagrace, we now face another journey of FAITH that God will bring the exact child to Jill and Warren. We are a praying family and believe in a God who wants to give unexpected gifts of joy.

So we start praying and dreaming again of a child to love. A child to hold. A child to spoil. A child to bless. A child who will one day walk into a knowledge of that Amazing Grace that comes from the free gift of salvation.

One day soon, I will be screaming "I'm a grandmother again!"
Keeping our focus on the source of our hope!
Check out her blog at: http://www.warrenandjill.blogspot.com/

a Jam -packed life.....

from hospital stays w/my momma, to children camps, to Master Gardener's meetings, to coffee w/long ago friends in quaint towns to art exhibits, to reunions, to VBS set preps, to remodeling a home, to visits w/the our kids to vacations and beach baptisms, to a husband's published book...Life has been jam-packed for us, yet thru it all GOD IS FAITHFUL. He has provided for every need.

Psalm 99:6 "Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

This lady, our daughter, followed God's calling and took the amazing steps to bring a true orphan into this country and our family. We supported and prayed her all the way. There were times of distress w/paperwork not getting to where it should be , timelines that needed to be held w/percision and alot of money. Thru it all Shana never faltered in her faith that God was preparing a child for her family. After hearing the story of little EG, our Ethiopian princess, we knew that God indeed planted before time began this child in Shana's heart. For this we are grateful. For this we are thankful she never gave up pursuing this call. EG's life would of never been the same. And our lives would of never been the same if we could not call her our grandaughter. Thank you sweet Shana! Thank you Billie for listening to your wife's hearts desire and being obedient to the same call! Your a good man.

The trip to DC was so much fun! We ate some, walked ALOT and laughed much!

My newest mantra...

First of all, Laurie in California....I am ONE of your biggest fans...so let's shake on that one. See ya in the blogworld.

Secondly....

Giving up doesnt always mean your weak, sometimes it just means your strong enough to let go

........................................................................Also Proverb 17:1- a dry morsal!

Rumplestiltskin????

?????I think I answer to that name. Life went into a tailspin after we got back from the AWESOME JOURNEY of seeing for the first time our newest granddaughter. Washington DC was a fun filled week w/family, and family was why we were there. To stand for 1.5 hrs at the international check-in and watch a ba-zillion people from all over the world meet their families, waiting to welcome our EG from Ethiopia was well worth our time.

India, China, Russia, Africa, Middle Eastern families reuniting, some maybe for the first time in years! The word family, in any language means the same. My heart cried happiness for them all! If I could I would of hugged every person and welcomed them to their individual family units. But I would of been hauled off to security and made the national headlines..."Woman hugs people to death" (or something like that)

Many languages, many tears, many smiles, hugs and kisses were exchanged and I didn't need an interperter. It made the wait for our granddaughter that much more important. See, we were not only meeting our 4th granddaughter but sharing in other peoples lives for that brief moment in time. What a privilege!

I stood w/video in hand, ready to record every minute of our first meeting w/this little Ethiopian princess. As I stood waiting, I was thinking "How does this relate to God?" Well that should of been an easy one, but I had to dig deeper into what that experience said to me about my relationship w/God.

Remember when God gave the people different languages? That meant before that time, everyone understood each other. So they got a committee together, debated and voted on building the Tower of Babel. (not really, but if they were baptist, that could of been the scenario) When God saw what they were doing, badda-bing, He created languages!

So here I am at Dulles International Airport, listening to all sorts of languages, yet I understood everything they were saying! The heart never lies. To see tears told me they had missed their families. To watch young children run thru the crowd to get to a family member told me they were in for one huge happy reunion! To observe the TONS of luggage, told me they were staying for a while and there may be presents involved. I heard no complains of long flights or waiting to get thru security measures or how much plane fares were. NONE OF THAT MATTERED. FAMILY MATTERED.

My take on this observation became quite clear, God really doesn't care about ALL THIS STUFF we carry with us...i.e. our volunteer spirit, how many years we have taught Sunday school, or how many labels we can make for ourselves. He cares about the heart. How happy am I to meet with Him daily? Do I share my minute day to day life w/Him? Am I wanting this reunion to only last a week or do I plan on spending each day as if it was my last w/Him, the Creator? Do I complain of the little tidbit items every time I meet w/Him or do I forget about "me" and concentrate on "us?"

There are days in this life where I focus all my energy on the tidbits. My eyes are not centered on God and His grace for the day. Will I ever learn to STOP doing that? Probably not on earth. ...I'm human and I fall. I do hope I am attentive enough that God knows of my love for Him and my desire to walk w/Him daily. Remember God never leaves us but rather we leave Him. Yet I wain in my desire, (confession is good for the soul) and somehow I always come back! And the amazing part is: He takes me back!

So I am back, back from a hectic life of doctors, hospitals, nursing my mother back to health. I am back from VBS set prep, visits to our children's homes, recitals and remodeling a house. And I am back to journal in the blogworld. I am going to document w/pictures life since March 2010 so I will try to catch up. If you gave up reading my blog, that's fine I would of given up on me too. If you came back , thank you.

I think I will NOT change my name to tossled Mr. Rumple....I will simply sign off as always n forever DeeDee.

In the News....DC OR BUST

..a lot has happened since that wintry mix & 29 inches in the month of February. Our family got news the middle of Feb. that our newest granddaughter would be flying into Washington DC around the 19th of March. We were so excited but kept praying for the court date of her visa to be approved. The approval came in on March 10th! So we busied ourselves as we made prep for a DC trip. I was already in Georgia helping Jill recover from surgery so I made plans to drive up to DC w/Shana, Bill and the grands. We headed out on a Monday night , after dance rehearsal of course, and spent the first nite in S. Carolina. We arrived into DC on the 17th, but before we got to rest our tired heads on any pillow, we drove another hour to Baltimore, MD.

Have you ever got lost in downtown Baltimore at 8pm? It's a beautiful city and we agreed that we were in love w/the many "out of the way" eatery's plus the bay front nightlife was very romantic. The reason we went to Baltimore was to see the outside structure of CHARM CITY CAKES. You know, Ace of Cakes Chef Duff! It was 8pm when we finally found it, and they were taping a show inside. We just wanted to take a pic of the front door and sign when a producer came outside. We told her how far we had come to see the shop and she asked if the girls would like some stickers? Billie said "SURE." So she went back inside to get some and came out with Geof, Chef Duff's sidekick & best friend. We all love Geof! He came outside and took pictures w/us. We were impressed! We stood outside watching the filming for some time, dark-not a safe part of town, God protected and we made a great memory! Now back across Baltimore and onto DC and our nice soft beds....Day 1 n 2 of trip over!

Pictures of the White Stuff....Feb 2010