Come Taste and See

Hippy beads and conversations....

2012-01-25T15:24:00.002-05:00

.....Today I spent 1.5 hrs in a bead store. I had started this bead bracelet thing for each of the granddaughters birthdays back in July 2011. Needless to say, life got so busy that I forgot the December birthday bracelet. So off to town I go, to the Hippy Bead Shop. Inside you can smell incense burning, the Beatles softly playing in the background, the cuties little dog and a very nice employee. She was so warm and friendly on a very cold Ohio morning. I asked forgiveness for my public singing of these familiar tunes...b/c I just had to sing along. We both went about doing our thing. I searched high and literally low for the right beads to emphasis the bracelet for our KK.

Then I sat down to start threading the (very curly) wire with the right mix of beads. I am not sure how our conversation got onto drugs and addictions but it did. I confessed certain wrong judgments I made as a young 19-21 yr old. She confessed her own stupid decisions of life before 30. One thing she said she never did was get hooked on drugs or alcohol. I agreed with her on that subject as well. She then proceeded to tell me that her parents were hippies in the early 70's and b/c of their years of addictions she made her mind up to not go that route in life. However she shared that her parents started going to church about 10 yrs ago and the addiction stopped. This employee emphasized that she believes that there is a God but she also believes that other gods of peoples choice is not wrong as well. The typical wordage of "Who am I to judge" mindset fell from her lips.

That is when God impressed upon me to say "The Bible says there is only One True God and that is God-creator." She nodded her head and said, "I think we can worship God anywhere, we don't have to be in a church to do so." I nodded. She doesn't like to be around those who worship on Sundays and act differently the rest of the week. I nodded again.

Then she spoke about religion. I had to speak. I told her that my view is: I also hate religion! This statement shocked her b/c I told her my husband was a pastor. I continued. I hate religion but love a relationship! Religion puts God in a box that only allows Him to comes out in worship...but a relationship makes God as big as He really is. I explained that where her dad is in his walk as a believer is a different level than I am. It is relational to where we are in life and where God wants us to be. She nodded then said "wow, I have never heard it spoken like that before. I like that!" I continued sharing my testimony and began to checkout. She then invited me to come back anytime to just talk. As I was leaving she said, "it is so refreshing to talk about God with a person who is not judging or combative."

I left the store praising God for sending me there today of all days...and for giving me the words to speak. Ya'll this witnessing thing is NOT AS SCARY as you may think. I invited her to church, she invited me back and we both left thinking about God!

ps...I wonder how many other people out there do not share their views b/c they feel they will be met with hostility and non-compassion? What are we as believers showing the world, in which we live, about this "God-thing?"

pss.....one more thing, this morning I needed to confess to God a wrong doing (attitude) I had at another store. He is gracious to forgive and then gave me an opportunity to redeem myself at the Hippy Store. WOW, God is awesome!

Decisions about time.....

2012-01-25T14:45:00.001-05:00

....I had no idea my blog was so NOT updated. I do however know that my time has been crazy wild, like a roller coaster since September 2011. Lucky for anyone reading this, I am NOT going to recap the past 5 months.

It is now 2012! Yeah! Life is different now b/c we are sharing space with our daughter, husband and 4 beautiful grands! No more quiet morning cups of coffee b/c now you can hear the patter of feet coming down the stairs every morning! Fridays use to be a nice long day but these days you will hear Steve say, "Kitchen's Open" to which you can hear the girls reply, "I want scrambled eggs please." Time use to find me reading a good book in the afternoons but now I am enjoying time with my daughter b/c I don't know how long I get to enjoy these days. God will be moving them one day into their own home so until God decides, we are going to enjoy every day He gives us with our family.

Steve and I also made a decision to move me to my mothers condo until! Just until! Her body is deteriorating, her mind is deteriorating, but her spirit continues to live day by day. I live 5 of 7 days with her in another town and it seems to be doing her good. So as long as God decides I am enjoying every day He gives me with my mom.

So this is all the updating you will find of the last 5 months. Moving onto 2012.

Role Reversal....It does a soul good!

2011-09-29T14:52:00.001-04:00

As you know, I spend time each week with my mother in another town. She is up in age and suffering from a myriad of organ dysfunctions.   My momma will be 81 in just a few short months, and we have had the best times together.   As our church goes thru The Story (an NIV orderly version of the Bible) I am reminded that The Upper Story (God) placed us here in Ohio (the Lower Story) just for our parents. Getting the chance to spend time with Steve's dad before he passed away and enjoying Steve's mom as she continues good health was and is a blessing. Being here for my momma is a personal blessing for me. Watching her go down hill these past 4 yrs has not been the blessing any child would wish upon another.

I just came back home after spending Wed/Thur with my momma and we had a ball, from watching TV court shows together to going out to get the perfect hair cut from her favorite hair stylist, we live each day together laughing and hugging.

Last night we were watching TLC Extreme Couponing marathon when she had a spell of sickness that took the wind out of her sails. She felt best laying on the dinning room floor (close to the bathroom) so realizing that this would be a loosing battle to get her into her bed I sat there. I started running my fingers thru her beautiful silver hair and prayed for Jesus to stop the sickness in her stomach. I realized that the role had reversed. So many times she sat with my head on her lap and took care of me. So many times she went without so I could have what I needed. So many times she loved me thru bad times so I could feel encouraged. Now I am doing the same for her...WHAT A PRIVILEGE! It is so worth time away from my husband or the countless gallons of expensive gas, or mileage on an already older model car to be there for her.

Above my relationship with God and my husbands, she is next in line for ALL of my attention. My memory continues to fill with all sorts of funny things and fun times and jokes and patience as these prayerfully years with my momma continue.   I watched her do the same with her parents and her in laws. She is my example of a loving daughter.

Today on the morning news they asked for people to Facebook, Tweet or email who they would love to have morning coffee with.. The top 2 answers were: President Obama and Bill Clinton. I was shredding papers for my momma and thought ....my answer would have to be my mom. And God has granted me that opportunity every  week! If having coffee with a famous historical person is good for you, then having one more cup of coffee with your parent has to be BEST. So if you have parents still alive ...take them out for coffee...bring it to their home..add a donut to the date and just laugh! It does a soul good!

Leviticus Chap 3....PEACE....

2011-08-03T15:50:00.002-04:00

...Peace offering background goes as follows:
*could be a male or female animal (except for birds) *Offering from any herd had to be w/o defect *animal was to be slain by laying the hand upon the head of said animal, in front of the doorway of the Tent of Meetings * the blood was sprinkled around the altar by Aaron or one of his sons. * the fat around the entrails (or inners) of animal was to be smoked by fire *must include within the fire offering, 2 kidneys...lobe of liver and all the fat surrounding these organs IF offerer used a lamb then the only exception was the lambs tail and all the fat around it was to be offered up as well. *IF a bird was to be offered, it had to be a male and a female w/o defect.

This offering was to be offered up in smoke for a "soothing aroma to the Lord."

V7 "It shall b e a perpetual statue (or law) that throughout all your generations, you shall not eat fat or blood."

This offering was the only offering that could be eaten by both the priests and the offerer. The priest received the breasts and right thigh, the remaining meat went to the offerer. BUT this had to be eaten by the 2nd day...if left to eat on the 3rd day, this offerer would be cut off by his people. Every time a person wanted to eat meat , they had to offer a Peace Offering.

Peace Offering was for one of three reasons....1-Thanksgiving 2-a special vow 3-freewill (you had to be specific with your animal sacrifice in order to participate in a Peace Offering. What was your motive for offering?
NOTE: Before Moses, Israel was offering peace offerings as a form of heathen worship b/c before Moses came down from Mt Sinai w/God's instructions people were giving this offering as a way to (simple stated) party! NOTHING WAS DONE OUT OF SACRIFICE. The meaning of peace is WHOLENESS. Israel became one w/God and was complete. They became (thru this offering) accepted by God. Unlike the Burnt and Grain Offerings, the Peace Offering brings the offerer closer to God and he receives something in return. (meat to eat)

For ME? it's Christ. He is my Peace Offering. being born apart from God I needed my own peace offering so I could connect w/God. In 1974 I first committed myself to Christ for the forgiveness of my sins. You could say that it was my Special Vow part of the Peace Offering. I then became complete, whole for the first time w/God and with myself.

Before Christ, I was no different that Israel waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain. I went thru the actions of "church" and really loved it, I tried to do the right thing (make wisdom decisions) I ate and I partied.
Since Christ I worship w/a true heart, I struggle with my old nature and I am complete thru the sacrifice of blood of Christ. Once and for all times. I don't have to "offer" anything again, it is done, on the cross. BUT I DON'T TAKE this cross offering for granted. I treasure it. I come to Him anew many times with a Peace Offering of Thanksgiving or a Freewill spirit.

more from God on offerings....

2011-07-11T23:18:00.001-04:00

....I have moved onto chapter 2 of Leviticus today. I prayed myself to a place where God would reveal how my relationship with Him can be seen through the list of laws that He sent forth for His chosen people. After all, I am a child of the King and therefore all parts of the Word are given for instruction and obedience. So I dived into "The Grain Offering."

* it must be a finely grained flour. It shall have oil and frankincense poured over it. A handful to be offered on the altar with the remainder given to Aaron and his sons, the priests.

(Frankincense is an oil from the Boswellia tree which has to mature from 8-10 years before you can harvest it's resin like oil. It is such a hardy tree that is has been found growing out of solid rock formations. It is an edible perfumed oil that has also been used for medical usage.)

These are the verses and the instructions that were given:
V1-3...uncooked grain V4-10....various cooked grains V11-13...ingredients to be or not to be used: leaven (which was refused) and salt (which was required) V14-16....early grain offerings

As with the Burnt Offering the Grain Offering also produced a "soothing aroma to the Lord"

These two offerings were most often performed together. But since the Grain Offering did not require blood, it was not a part of atonement. Grain was hard to come by in the middle of the desert so having grain, oil and frankincense was a SACRIFICE for the offerer.

What was it purpose? WORSHIP. The act of this sacrificial offering praised God for His provisions daily. (get it, daily) It was a combined reminder of how the offerer needed to obey and please God out of his sacrifice not abundance.

As I read my Bible and gather biblical scholars views on these offerings I see where this takes me in 2011. It takes me to a simple list of "must be's"....my worship must be: authentic...pure...sacrificial...and personal. (Note: this offering was to be done daily as the Burnt Offering was to be done)

Do I daily offer up to God my complete needs?

Do I sacrifice time , money and self so I can minister to others in their need?

Am I pure in my thoughts and motives?

AM I always reaching upward for that personal one on one time with God?

And since I have to answer honestly, I have to say, not always. But after today's study I realized I have to get better at this. Already The Book of Law is revealing to me my shortcomings and ways I can keep a "soothing aroma to the Lord" as a way to offer the best of ME to my God.

2Cor. 9:10 states " Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed and increase your harvest of righteousness."

The Book of Law...

2011-07-07T13:12:00.004-04:00

...after a question in small group the other night, my sweet husband challenged me to find the answer. It was brought up that the Talmud laws were ones that man made and they far out weighted the original laws that God gave to the Israelites. The question? How many laws are in the book of Leviticus? And so I decided to compare them to what we are doing today as believers, not Jews but Christ believers. This will be my record of each law.

Leviticus 1: The Burnt Offering (1 Astrix = the offerer 2 Astrix = priest)
*unblemished cattle, sheep, goats or turtledoves/pigeons---the very best of these were to be offered
**Priest would bleed out the animals and sprinkle blood upon the altar
**Skin animal, lay head and parts upon the altar of wood
* washes out the inners of animal then gives these as well to the priest for the burnt offering

As it burns V9 states it is a "fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord."

This Burnt Offering was a personal/private offering between man and God.

It was: the first altar you saw as you entered the tabernacle, the most common of offerings, to be observed daily (am /pm), purified the offerer, the only offering that was totally consumed. (other offerings helped to feed the priest), to help the offerer understand his need for atonement ( reconciliation of God and man) not so much for forgiveness (willingness to forgive) , to symbolize O.T. faithfulness in God and the intention to love God with his heart, soul, mind and strength.

So if I could take away anything from this first law it would be....

My need: to have a daily personal time with God especially when I wake up and fall to sleep, to remember I need to be pure and unblemished before Him b/c He is a Holy God, to be totally "sold out" to this relationship b/c of what God sacrificed on the cross in my behalf, to recognize my need for my Savior, to give my all to follow Christ with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, to keep this FIRST in my life (and all else will fall into place)

Sounds pretty hard to do, can it be done? I am an imperfect soul who accepted Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins.....past present and future sins. I am so glad that I do not have to work out my salvation in the sense of always trying to stay on Gods good side..I work out my salvation b/c I want others to know of His great love for them.. I am free in Christ! I am no longer in bondage and I hope what I do daily is a pleasing aroma to the Lord!

Cruise, recital, VBS, baby boy makes it all complete....

2011-07-06T15:56:00.000-04:00

...but not enough time to capture it all! In a nutshell, we became grandparents AGAIN! And this time it is a beautiful baby BOY! After 4 grand granddaughters, who are the sparkle in our eyes, we were blessed with a boy....and the sparkle gets brighter with a tint of boyish blue!

After I was blessed to babysit the granddaughters while momma and dad went on a cruise for their long awaited 11th anniversary, I got back home to find us leaving again for the girls dance recital. Oh how I wish we could of been there the week before to watch the Gymnastic recital of LB but time is a hard thing to work with when you live 14 hrs away. Both recitals went well, LB is on her way to the Olympics one day on the uneven bars, with KK and AA finishing up to loud applause after ballet n jazz. Of course we can not wait to see little EG finding her place in the creative art or sports venue world.

After the recital weekend we arrived back home and started working on VBS. VBS was so different this year and I am so proud of Steve for taking it out of the box. He wrote the lessons this year and had a fabulous staff to carry everything out to the inth degree. (can't say enough for volunteers) The kids enjoyed a sports/drama/art/techie VBS week and many kids made decisions to accept Christ. Plus there was so much fun being made in the process. I was stretched to organize drama tract (b/c I knew I would be in Georgia during this week) God gave me the words to create a video drama skit that I have never before done IN MY LIFE! Thank you Jesus!

We received the call we had been praying for on June 6, 2011. "Mom, she is in labor." And with that we were packing for Georgia! It was a long week but so worth it when we saw how God planned Jill and Warren's family. This little one is so pretty! (can you say that about a boy?) But there are no other words to describe him, he is a pretty baby. I was so fortunate to stay for 3 wks and 4 days! My arms still miss this sweet baby falling asleep. My nose misses the smell of baby lotion and the feeling of softness of his skin on my fingers. But I can deal with these small things. Why? B/C my heart carries him with me, my minds knows that God revealed His choice for our daughters family and we will have these memories to share forever!

So I tip my prayerful heart to a loving God who gave 2 faithful people hope in a family unit. Little Baker is now apart of our family forever. I say words of praise to God for protecting our granddaughters and giving them experiences they will treasure in their hearts. I am thankful that even though a job was taken away from our son, God is AT WORK providing another one for him. I have ahusband who is not afraid to climb out of the box to make things right for kids and volunteers to enjoy and In all these things I leave my trust! And that dear friends makes it all complete!

Poll Day elections and Protection...

2011-05-07T11:29:00.002-04:00

...kinda funny that this hit my thoughts on election day, but here goes....

Protection: a word divided into 3 sections, for sure not dictionary approved but for blogging and my minds eye here is what it is worth.

Pro-as in professional

TECT- as in knowledge

Ion- as in active

Funny how this word conjures up: experience, knowledge and action. So many different thought also flood my mind, negative thoughts of protection. The act of covering up or smothered, observing, private times, caution. Then you can say well, positive thoughts are the act of caring, real love, liberties, freedom to express and abilities.

Growing up I had a mixture of both but I mainly focused on the negative. Our parents were very protective of us three kids, to the point that many times I felt (just like our girls did) that I could not be trusted to make good decisions. I felt that my desires to try new things always were conditioned to safety and monetary issues. Of which the later was usually the first on the priority list. Yet still as a young girl my desires to be on the drama team or join Girl Scouts were never about money, but ran alongside my mothers schedule. You see, she had the bulk of raising us kids and since I was 7 n 8 yrs older than my siblings, she was tied down to other responsibilities. Of course I didn't "get that" until I was in my 20's. I understood that they loved and cared for me.

Then I suddenly felt the negative side of protection slide away. I became a parent at the age of 22 and started the same path that my parents took with me...PROTECTION. I also knew that I needed to change the way I protected our children. I had just gave Christ my whole life, complete surrender so I knew that FAITH IN HIM was the key to protecting my children. How do I protect yet not smother them? Steve was so much better in "letting them go" with little increments of trust and faith and when it deemed right for the occasion. I on the other hand, wanting to do what is right, would find myself fighting inside over the "what if's" that never came! i.e. our youngest going to a Texas Ranger game with her sweet friend Jessica. Steve assured me that her parents would watch her closely...yet my tiny 1st grader was (I assured myself in fret) going to get lost in the sea of thousands of people. I had her face on the 10 o'clock news before she ever left the house!

For along time I so worried about things that I realized I was missing out on experiences and would relay that to my children. Life almost stopped for me, short of living life to it's fullest with a large dash of wisdom thrown in I almost missed out. That is when Christ revealed to me my long time issues on TRUST. I had to trust Him in all areas of life. I am afraid that my negative feelings of protection transferred to our daughters to some extent. For this I apoligize girls.

Jesus said "do not worry about tomorrow while it is today." I started heeding that advise. Now when I think of PROTECTION I first see God. I see the positive side, why? Because God to me represents: love, trust, truth, strength and forever. I remind myself that this is real protection, yet sometimes I throw ole Mr. What-If into the mix and almost always he really never shows up!

Easter Sunday as I led my 1st graders into telling me their favorite stories of Jesus, they had all forgotten the story of Jesus and the little children. I said, "remember all the kids wanted to be near Jesus and the disciples started shewing them away, yet Jesus said (1st grade version) "Whoa, wait one minute, let the children stay with me." One sweet little girl very boldly said "that's because Jesus is never to busy for anyone."

And she is right- never to busy to deal with my worried thoughts of "what-ifs", never to busy to hear and heal cancer patients or broken marriages, never to busy to stop and hear us complain or praise, never to busy to watch over our military or cover a car with His protection so an accident does not occur. Never to busy for me....now that is PROTECTION PERSONIFIED!

A Happy Way to start a New Day....

2011-04-06T10:19:00.004-04:00

...was when I opened up my email and saw a note from India! Yes, India....while living in Albany, Georgia in a spacious apartment, our upstairs neighbors were from India. We were privileged to meet their parents and then in the summer meet some more family members. We shared so much of each others culture during our stay in Albany. It was a true blessing! But that summer I got to spend time with their niece who was 15. She is a jewel! We use to sit outside on the porch , sip sweet tea and I would listen as she explained the history of India. To hear a 15 yr old talk about her country's history was amazing. I have never heard an American student talk with so much passion about this country. We both shared our beliefs of God without discourse. I ate her food and she ate mine. I so enjoyed getting to know this beautiful , passionate teenager. They spent 8 wks in the states and when they got back from a trip to Disney World, we went out looking for a scrape book for her to remember her trip to America. The time came for them to leave and go back home. We shared tears of joy and tears of sorrow. I was gonna miss this sweet person. Before they got into the car she told me that I would always be her American Grandma! WOW!~ So today I received a email from my adopted granddaughter from India and as she explained her busyness and school exams and holiday....I couldn't help but notice the very large print at the bottom of the page..Love to my AMERICAN GRANDMA ! She still remembers the last time we spoke...awesome, my day has started out well. (maybe this is how we settle peace around the world....just sincerely adopted one another, love changes all)

Hovering n stones......(sounds heavy to me)

2011-04-05T13:04:00.003-04:00

.....I listened in Joyce Meyers this morning and had to write down what I heard. You now how we can read scripture many times and according to what we are dealing with in life, things just pop up? Well today was one of those days for me. She started out reading Genesis 1:1-2, easy right? "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void and darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." Wait, I had to read it again...the Spirit of God was hovering? WOW, really, how long have I read this chapter to myself and to the children I have taught over the years yet did not notice that the Spirit was hovering? Some translations say "moving," but hovering caught my attention. God hovers over us just waiting for us to join Him. Do angels hover over us just waiting for us to get to work for His glory? Am I lazy, because I am sure many times God hovered way to long over me. I am so thankful that He never tires of me. That His love is so deep, He never gets impatient waiting for me to recognize what He has in store for me.

Ezekiel 37:2-14 talks about dry bones, very dry bones and how the Holy Spirit revealed to Ezekiel the Prophet, to tell Israel to "Come Alive." Am I hearing God right? When I feel that hope is gone- hear God, (He's hovering) COME ALIVE. V-4 says that God will put His Spirit in me, He will settle Himself within me, this is my victory...I am alive in Christ. But do I show it? No amount of sitting in a pew, listening to a pastor or watching an instructional video will take me to the level of victory alone.

I found out that Mark 4:24 says that the measure (of thought & study) I give (to the truth of God's word) will be measured (thru virtue and knowledge) back to me. So how big is my measuring cup? Hint: satan will always try to steal that victory from me. When I fill myself daily with God's word, meditate on it, tell myself that God is hovering over me in love, then satan cannot take it from me.....the measure I use will be given back to me!

Romans 4:17 (God) "who gives life to the dead & causes things into being that do not exist" Like: promising Abram that he will be the "father of the nations"....a boy named David promised to be King.....Mary a young teenage girl promised to carry the Son of God.....my life that was full of blemishes and pain......your life! Life! Stones/boulders that block God from hovering is our choice. Hovering over my life has been stones of sin, hurt, trust issues, esteem, fears. I have to consciencely give God my faith, my love and trust. It can't just be said like repetition, it must be shown, acted out each day that I fight these issues.

I decided to change the particulars of hovering ...I chose to have the Spirit hover over me. Quoting Joyce Meyes: "Jesus had the habit of telling the crippled to get up, of telling the blind to go......Jesus tells us to do the unseemly impossible in order to see if we are willing to trust Him. Putting faith, that we say we have, into action. Stop complaining and roll away those stones. satan is the thief..he is disguised as procrastination! I will not allow satan to hold onto whatever those stones represent in my life. God is hovering over me, waiting to reveal purpose, love, direction for all my days. I do not want to waste any of them . So grateful Lord, thank you.

Just me.....

2011-03-23T01:11:00.003-04:00

....being a pastor wife, I am me, JUST ME. At Walmart, volunteering at school, cheering at sporting events. I am me, when I am teaching children (my passion) at church or singing in the choir. (w/same passion) I am me from the very first time we meet.

I believe that I do no more than any other wife would do to support her husband in their positions in society. I am no netter than the working family who goes to our church and has to pay for their Wednesday family meal ticket. I do not take a free ride just b/c of this position that God ordained for me since the day I was born. I am not privy to anything new b/c although I am a pastor's wife, I am also a church member in a community of believers who serve in this community together. I love the fact that my husband takes great care in protecting me from news I need not know so that my perspective of others is not shaded.

I laugh, I cry and yes I make mistakes. I helped raise 2 daughters on a shoestring budget. I cook almost every meal for my family and also cook for others in need. Our home is a home not a museum, so if you are looking for perfection you must go somewhere else. Our doors have been opened to teenagers who ran away from home all the way to businessmen from Japan and missionaries from Germany.

I cannot sing like Sandy Patti nor can I play a piano, however I can give time to be president of said choir. I cannot give a dramatic line by line performance in a Easter program, but I can imagine what Mary the mother of Jesus felt like and act with my whole heart. I can build any set you want for any program from PTA to VBS.

I taught our daughters to serve others w/o expecting anything in return. I told them numerous times to always remember to be a friend first. ("if a person who has mistreated you was on fire and you had a bucket of water, you had better be the first to douse the flame.") Now these young ladies are pastor wives as well. At one church interview our daughter was asked if she felt she could handle the job as pastor wife, her response, "I only know that the examples I have before me is Jesus and my mother and so my answer would have to be, I am very assured of my calling as a wife."

I am inspired that God knew who I was to become before I took my first breath. I am encouraged that my Lord has never given up on me. I am inspired by the 7 churches we have served in and know that I held my head up high, did my best to listen to God and not man and helped others who were in need.

Carpe a Diem....

2011-03-18T16:42:00.005-04:00

.....just got back from 3 days with my momma and have to journal my thoughts. Listening to a CD arrangement of encouraging music sent with love from my staff wives, song #8 was "Seize the Day." I love this quiet song....Seize the day, seize whatever you can, cause life slips away just like hour sand sand, seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand....then nothin will stand in your way...seize the day.

As I was singing at the top of my lungs, I realize that I just "been there, done that" with my momma this week. After spending 3 days with her, I seized whatever I could. We laughed alot, talked even more, WalMarted, ate homemade chile, watched alittle TV and slept less. Gave blood for more tests and had a doctor visit to attend today. We were exhausted from a long day on Thursday but was grateful for a full nights sleep. Seize the day!

"Grace from God's hand" He gave us some memories to enjoy. I love serving my momma so I cleaned her home from top to bottom being grateful for the time I can share. Nothing stood in our way, not even the lady in the drive thru at the bank yesterday. We were both so tired...the lady in the truck beside us had a cigarette hanging from her lip and I said, "I think that is very unattractive for a lady to hang a cigarette out of her mouth." (just a personal opinion) Mom said something and I said, "shhh, she might hear us and want to beat us up." My momma said, "Yeah, I know she could beat me up." I said, "yeah she could probably beat us both up while never loosing the ashes from her cigarette!" Mom started laughing so hard...we just sat there in the drive thru with tears in our eyes. I know it's not that funny now but at the moment and being as tired as we were....it was hillarious. Seize the day!

"Life slips away just like hour glass sand" None of us are guaranteed tomorrows breath, yet God have choosen to give me 3 more fun days with my mom. I am blessed. I have to make sure that I pay attention to all those moments with those that I love. I would hate to think that I missed it b/c I was selfish or lazy. This thought is not only for my mother but my 2 awesome mother-in-laws, my husband, our children, grandchildren and the strangers who come to the Open Table at our church. Or what about those strangers whom you meet on the street? Seize the day!

Everyday I want to be reminded of this song...looking into a beautiful sunrise , may I remember that I must take advantage of the day God has given...I cannot waste time on fear of the unknown or what I am not able to do. Seize the day!

"One thing that I noticed whereve I wander, everyone's got a dream he can follow or squander. You can do what you will with the days you are given. I'm trying to spend mine on the business of livin." Seize the day!~

P.S. Had a awesome lunch this week with old school friends..3 of us were friends since kindergarten! Beth Charlotte and I went to school since kindergarten and Debi Long came into my life in 7th grade. Long time friends were have been seperated by almost 43 yrs came together and acted like it was just another lunch date. So fun...we really did CARPE A DIEM!~

Slave or Free.....

2011-03-14T13:04:00.002-04:00

...well of course we all would pick "Free!" But according to God's word we choose "slave." Reflecting upon myself I have to admit that at this moment in time I am a captive to my weight. As I pondered more on this slave/free thing, I am a slave to being overweight, not tons, just 25 lbs. My health is relatively stable, no BP problems or thyroid issues. I eat healthy, no processed meats, lots of veggies and a new taste for oven kale. My main failure is the lack of exercise. That is my slavery issue.

EXERCISE...yuck! Who wants to exercise? I do not know of anyone who really "loves to exercise" yet I do know that it is an essential part of being healthy. Just like drinking water is important to our health so is activity. I can be active but the thought of a daily regimented exercise just turns me off. In the Bible today, it talked about being a slave to self. Humm, how could that be? As I read I saw myself in the very words of God and Oswald Chambers. Chambers said, "Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in any human life" The Bible says "His servants ye are to whom ye obey." Romans 6:16

Yielding for one day in exercise last week made me weak enough to yield every day since. My reason for delaying this process was a dentist visit that kicked my jaws....then having to go back the next day to re fix the problem.

We yield in all sorts of ways...."I must have that" or "just one" or have you ever said...."it won't hurt and no one will know", how about "I can give that up any time." Sound familiar?

I am at blame because I yielded way back last Monday and now here it is 7 days later and I still have not got back into the groove. I became a slave to self. But if I obey God, I do so because I am yielding myself to Him and not self. THEREFORE I AM FREE! It sounds pretty redundant, to obey is to be free, but it is the only truth we have to cling to. If you think about self, we become slave to what has captured our attention or pleasure for that moment in time...But God gives us freedom to be ourselves, in Him! That my friends is very freeing!

Then I read today in James 1:14-15..."But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is fully grown, it gives birth to death."

I got it God, I am starting back into my dull routine of exercise this afternoon! Promise!

By this we believe...

2011-02-28T14:54:00.004-05:00

John 16:30-31 was my verse for the day...then I read a devotion that went along with it. "By this we believe, Jesus answered, Do ye now believe?"I responded quickly in my heart, YES, yet do I?

DO I? do things out of a sense of duty as a believer.
DO I? have my own agenda
DO I? feel I have grown enough spiritually to make the right
decision every time.
DO I? think of myself as superior
DO I? think with robot precision on godly things
DO I? quickly pray w/o a burden like items on a grocery list

Jesus knew that a time would come when his disciples would leave Him alone and He knew that we would as well. YES~ I have done all of the above at one time or another in my journey as a believer (I cannot lie)

I HAVE~ served b/c I am a pastor's wife and it is what is expected, my duty.
I HAVE!~had my own hidden agenda before. If I do something will there be some kind of recognition in it for me.
I HAVE~felt that in some areas the old quote "I arrived" so I didn't need to attend "that" Bible study, boy was I ever wrong.
I HAVE~never felt superior....really!~ But the word inferior has claimed my thoughts and actions many times. They are both wrong. Both make you believe that the job or service or ministry cannot be done by you. Maybe you are the very person God has in mind for the deed or idea to get accomplished.
I HAVE~been robotic in many decisions. I am speaking of the small ones here, b/c "I can handle these and leave God to other bigger issues." Yet I know God wants to be a part of my daily mundane life.
I HAVE~quickly prayed w/o compassion or urgency or burden before, only to find God convicting me later. ( I have to be honest here)

Jesus knew I would try this on my own. But he stands ready and willing and lovingly to forgive my unbelief and show me how to live this life in full belief. Every one of the 'I HAVES" I have done...learned my lesson ....moved on. But sometimes I fall back into old bad habits. Oswald Chambers has a quote "We have put our sense of duty on the throne instead of the resurrected life of Christ."

My words: when I do "believer things" w/the attitude of duty then it is always backed w/a clear defense. When I do "believer things" w/the attitude of obedience then there is no defense. It is all about faith in the cross, the power of the cross.
In this present week (2-28-2011) I need to claim the power of the cross. Not for just belief (b/c I do believe) but to trust God's perfect will in the decisions that must be made....w/my mom's health...Steve's book....our home in Tennessee....Billie's job....Jill and Warren and a baby.

"HELP MY UNBELIEF" Mark 9:24

Absolute certainty....

2011-02-22T16:11:00.003-05:00

...been going through some hard weeks lately. The defination of tenacity: the quality or state of being. Well, my state of being has been tosseled alot these past few weeks. But today in my quiet time I see the "state of being" as described by Oswald Chambers.

"Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire."

So to drink this statement up I have got to be certain of life and all the variables it encompasses.

#1. My mother and her health. We found out that surgery was not going to help her kidneys because they are shrinking, dying. Her function level is 26% at this point in time. and with the knowledge that dialysis starts at 15% , decisions are being made with absolute certainty. With absolute certainty my mother decided to not have surgery on a 5cm anerisum. With tears in both our eyes we know with absolute certainty that a ticking time bomb is within her.
#2. Our daughter/son (youth minister) is without a job in this ecomonic season. With 4 children and a home that needs to sell they have absolute certainty of quiet a few things on their plate.
#3. Our youngest daughter/son (small group pastor) knows with absolute certainty that God will start their family through adoption, yet when the call came for a newborn baby girl, that certainty was dimished by the birth mother.

Please note that all 3 concerns in my life are composed of facts! Just facts! Stats from a talented surgeron....decisions of others that was beyond their control. Absolutes for sure and because of the information given, very certain. But Chambers went on to say that " then comes the call to spiritual tenacity, not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately on the certainty that God is not going to be worsted." We must have the spritual tenacity to know with absolute certainty that God will work thru the struggles to refine us and bring praise to His name.

"If our hopes are being dissappointed just now it means that they are being purified. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God. Because thou has kept the word of my patience."

With everything going on these weeks in my life, I found comfort in these words. I am happy to be dissappointed because that means God is purifing me. I welcome strains of life or what I call storms, because God knows what is happening and He delights to give me the desires of my heart. I now that doesn't make sense but through God's bet for my life and the lives of those I love, I know He will give us the desires of our hearts....because our hearts desire to learn, grow and love the Lord more.

So, Bill and Shana...hang on with spiritual tenacity because God thru this storm is protecting you and your family. He will provide at the moment it will bring Him glory. (not thy will but God's will be done) I am so proud of how you have handled this storm...your faith is sustaining your family.
Warren and Jill.....God has directed you to start this precious family through adoption and adoption will happen. And when the call comes and you see your child, you will know that "for this child" you waited on. God will receive the glory for the patiences you both have shared. Your child will hear this story every year on it's birthday and God will become a permanent friend in the childs heart for eternity.
My momma...her health is ebbing but her humor is strong. Her will is strong. I am focused on absorbing everyday with laughter and memories of the old days. I remind her daily of God's love for her and that each day is a gift from God. I appreciate more things about my mother every week I get to have her in my life. God is praised for the certainty that we have each other for one more day.

Absolute certainty/spiritual certainty, I think I choose spiritual certainty! "Tenacity is the supreme effort of a man refusing to believe that his hero is going to be conquered."

My hero is God, who is yours?

Stuck vs Unstuck....

2011-01-10T10:03:00.001-05:00

Acts 2:42-47
Believers devoted themselves to a daily teaching and reading of the Word of God. They made time for fellowship and set aside time to pray regularly. As they did this they were witness to many signs and wonders from God. Selling their possessions as was needed for the good of the entire community they never went without a need met. Daily they got into a habit of worship, eating together with gladness and of a simple mindedness. These believers praised God everyday and everyday God added to their community of believers.

Stuck vs Unstuck....

2011-01-10T10:02:00.003-05:00

Sometime we get STUCK, stuck in programs, stuck in the ritual of busyness, stuck in health issues, stuck in managing our own little world thinking that “we have this covered”, God can use His time on someone else. So many times I have felt stuck but never when it traveled parallel with God. Only when I choose (for whatever reason) to take the vertical direction did I find myself stuck.

I am reminded of a story long time ago when I was 6 years old. We lived in a trailer court. (The PC word in 2011 is Mobile Home Park) but nonetheless it was a place where trailer living had you “parked” on a piece of ground and you paid rent to keep your trailer parked there. A rather nice community of people who believed that the “American Dream” had not but one day would occur for them. (I digress a bit)

Stuck vs Unstuck....

2011-01-10T10:01:00.001-05:00

I was best friends with Bonnie Gabanny; her dad was paid to manager this trailer court. The neat thing was they lived in the only house on the “court-land” so I enjoyed the spacious life of a house everyday as we played.

The best part was we got to play house with our dolls in vacant trailers. With peanut butter, wonder bread and a plastic knife in tow we enjoyed our imaginations. One day Bonnie’s dad left the large ladder propped up against the maintenance garage so we decided it would be fun to climb to the top of the garage and see what was on top or as we like to think, the wonders of the world. Bonnie went first b/c she was not as afraid as I was to get in trouble. Next it was my turn. Getting up the brave heart to start the climb I got have way up then decided to look down, my first big mistake. My fear froze my actions. I was STUCK!

There are many kinds of stuck-ness w/the God. Pastor Tom described them this way: Fear: (Jer 4:19-20) that overwhelms us. Fatigue: (V21) so very tired of whatever has been consuming us. Foolishness: ( Jer 2:25 & Jer 5:21-22) the ignorance or selfishness we determine to be “our own” and not God’s. So caught up in the world and forgetting that God said “Be in the world and not of it.” Faking it: (Jer 5:23-24) giving God mouth service and not heart service. There are times where we just go through the motions tipping our hat toward God 1 hour a week.

Stuck vs Unstuck....

2011-01-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well on that ladder I was full of fear and fatigue. I started crying, Bonnie started screaming for her dad and as hero’s always do, Mr. Gabanny came running around the corner. He pranced up that ladder in two shakes, grabbed my waist and the next thing I knew I was standing on green grass. I was UNSTUCK. Yeah me!

Pastor Tom shared how we can get un-stuck. Read Jeremiah 6:16. It says that we should ASK for help (I did) Listen and abide by that very help (or what I wrote in my journal) DO IT. In that minute I find REST.

Ask by looking to the wisdom of others who have gone before you…”the old godly way.” Attain wisdom that comes from God’s word and believers who have already walked that path. Don’t just give lip service but actually do what they/or God tells you to do. And only then will rest find you, find you standing on green grass, feet firmly planted in a safe place.

Stuck vs Unstuck....

2011-01-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

Today after worship I found Pastor Tom and told him that I was stuck in Fatigue, so tired of many things that have occupied my heart and my mind. There are personal struggles that allowed its ugly head to have a stronghold over my life. There are tired days of doctors and my mother’s health, days of struggle w/relationships that I so want mended but know it is out of my hands.

I have asked for wisdom from God Himself and wise believers. Just like screaming for help as a child on that ladder, I’m flat tired. Today I started resting. Today I am UNSTUCK. Like the rungs on a ladder, I use them as a measuring devise for my believers walk thru this world. Some days I climb high enough to see what God has to give me and some days I freeze on a rung, standing still for a while only to finally realize that I need help. So I ask, do it, and rest again.

I am so glad God’s grace is pouring over me daily. I am so glad God never gives up on my poor soul; He never tires of rescuing me from me.

Timing is Everything....

2010-12-15T17:01:00.003-05:00

....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

2010-12-11T11:52:00.001-05:00

Classic Red Square Christmas Card

Personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

my favorite things about Christmas....

2010-12-01T11:50:00.018-05:00

....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...

2010-11-13T23:53:00.010-05:00

..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...

2010-11-11T16:35:00.002-05:00

...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.....

2010-11-11T01:48:00.003-05:00

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.....

2010-11-08T13:47:00.003-05:00

..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....

2010-10-11T14:04:00.003-04:00

...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...

2010-10-02T15:58:00.003-04:00

...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.

Nationwide Insurance - On Your Sideline

2010-09-28T18:44:00.000-04:00

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Questioning Pride...

2010-09-27T15:35:00.003-04:00

...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....

2010-09-22T15:34:00.005-04:00

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.....

2010-09-14T13:44:00.003-04:00

...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....

2010-09-11T17:26:00.003-04:00

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.....

2010-09-11T17:16:00.006-04:00

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....

2010-09-07T23:05:00.003-04:00

...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.....

2010-09-04T22:51:00.027-04:00

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."

2010-09-04T22:42:00.004-04:00

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.

2010-09-04T22:23:00.011-04:00

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

My newest mantra...

2010-09-04T17:46:00.003-04:00

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????

2010-09-04T01:06:00.003-04:00

?????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

2010-04-07T20:45:00.004-04:00

..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

2010-03-03T16:35:00.006-05:00

Snow days...

2010-03-03T14:31:00.003-05:00

...I do not remember having seen so much snow since I was a child. It is beautiful when it falls at night. I love to stand outside and just listen to 'NOTHING." The perfect view of this white fluff gently falling to earth conjours up songs of Christmas...Silent Night, White Christmas, Noel, you name it. But to watch this amazing event in February, makes no sense to me!

Driving to my mothers one day I noticed how the sun (yes, the sun was out that day) refected on each crystal of snow. Then I thought about how each flake is totally different than the others. Not unlike us as humans.

The field I noticed was like a diamond covered blanket of white....untouched, perfect. Driving along God spoke to me, this was a picture of what He desires w/us, His creation. A relationship that is pure, perfect, good, untouched/untarnished and new. The "each day" kind of new. You know the days. The ones you had a hard time sleeping for, the excitement of what is going to happen when you wake up kind of days. Some of my days w/God are like the week we spent in Disneyworld (Christmas 08) w/our kids and grands...late to bed, early to rise, not wanting to miss out on anything. Then somedays are like going to a dentist...pulling and tugging all the way. Glad I got there and then kick myself b/c I should of gone sooner.

Then He drew me to the sparkle of the field. A reflection of Him in us. Not so we should be seen but rather so others see Him in us. I know that some days the reflection of God is not entirely being seen in me. Days were I feel less than normal, days of anxiety, days of so much work (for Him) that I forget the little actions that could make a huge difference. How many times have I missed opportunities b/c I am to busy "doing?"

I need more of these R's in my life....the funny thing is, they are always before me. ALWAYS! I just need to choose "Whom this day I will serve." Who am I but a speck in this universe, yet God wants to live w/me every day!

(like the song states) "Not b/c of who I am but b/c of what You've done. Not b/c of what I've done but b/c of who You are." I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I 'm calling, Lord You catch me when I'm falling and told me who I am. I am Your's!

Happenings...

2010-03-03T14:20:00.003-05:00

...."people come n go so quickly around here." (quote fom Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz) This is how life has been since Jan 12,2010.

I have missed my daily or weekly thoughts on here, why? B/C it helps keep me accountable to myself and it reveals to me where my strong and weak points are in thisbusy life. (You just happened to read in on it all.)

We lost our dad on Jan 31st this year, but are assured in our hearts of his home-going. Homer, Steve's dad's life finally ended in this world and now he is eternally new! It was a hard week but the unit of this family gave support to our mom and to each other, which is another example of God in us, the hope of glory. The graveside service started w/a beautiful snowstorm. And the snow remains one month later. We all are doing well, Annie (mom) is of usual strength, having had to say goodbye in this life to her husband of 34 yrs. And what we know is GOD IS GOOD!

Stability....

2010-01-12T14:13:00.002-05:00

Israel's stability/my stability...Psalm 125 (the 6th step in the Song of Ascent)

V-1 states that those who TRUST in the Lord will be like Mt. Zion-never shaken-forever standing. And just like the mountains surround Jerusalem so God surrounds and protects us forever. He is our Father, we will always be His children.

Do I think of"protection forever" as being in solitude from all out side forces? Protected like a mother hen protects her chicks? As a parent I did protect my daughters, yet they (at times ) were in negating situations, some b/c of their own choosing & sometimes not.

God does not want me to live in solitude. He gives us freedom to choose & when we choose poorly (& we will) He makes available a way out-But do I always recognize the way out? If I keep my relationship w/Him open then the Holy Spirit reveals the way. God knew that we would forever be fighting the "old nature" so I believer the Holy Spirit/ God Himself is forever protecting me.

V-4 is a plea to God to "do what is good" to those who focus on Him. The Israelites quoted this psalm on the 6th step leading to the Temple doors. ...One voice united simply stating that God is our rock, our protector, our stability in a world filled w/evil.

So I answer my question this way...No , God does not want us to live in a protected solitude. We do not develope our faith in a protected shell. We cannot rightfully witness of His salvation if we are inside a shell. The Bible states that we are to be doers not hearers only of His Word. He desires us to live each day under His blessing of grace & His hedge of protection. And when times get tough, we need to call out to Him for guidance, love, wisdom, forgiveness daily. Although I am a sinner saved by grace (God's unmerited favor) I still sin. Not huge sins b/c there is no measure of sin, it is not plural. But some days when I fail in my quiet time or have a wrong attitude or choose not to help someone in need or carry a bad witness, I sin.

That is when I accept my failures, ask forgiveness, pray for wisdom & start a new day. Looking toward the future -forgetting the past.

God my protector- my theme for 2010.....Peace be w/Israel-Peace be w/you and I

Commercial Break....

2010-01-06T19:59:00.003-05:00

...Christmas post for 2009 was not forgotten. I wanted to post some pictures BUT my laptop went "ker-plunk" and now all my pictures are stuck inside and can't come out...so I sit tonight typing on our "old" computer desktop. I was complaining about this ancient thing but I am glad that we still have it and that it works.

I love the convenience of my laptop. I can take it anywhere, type anytime. Being w/o it this past week has been hard. Not having the access to a computer gave me withdrawals...(not really) But the point is: we are so accustom to the portable computer for everything, yes, even the one we talk on, that when they fail us, we complain. (note: Steve's phone even has an app to 'DROP BREAD CRUMBS" so you do not loose your way in the mall parking lot!)

I want a large flat screen monitor for this desktop. I want a newer upgrade laptop....but what I need is to be content w/what I do have. A warm house to sleep in, a desktop that actually works, health, family an so on an so on!

A friend once said "When life gives you lemons hand them back and ask for Chocolate!" I like that quote, but "make lemonade" is a better attitude about ones life.

Announcing 2010...

2010-01-06T19:22:00.003-05:00

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ "2009 went so quickly" What happened to this year gone by? What major life changing events took you to where you really didn't think you would be going? What ever happened to "I've got time!" Because now we are starting 2010...omgoodness!

When I was a young child I remember watching this really neat cartoon that premiered on Thursday nights...."The Jetson's" (George, Jane, Judy, Elmo and their dog Elroy) Remember this show came on television in the era before laptops and cell phones the size of your palm. Computers were so 'OUT THERE" back in the 60's. Well, actually computers were these monster machines that took up at least 500-600 sq. ft. of space. This sci-fi cartoon was simply that, way to far fetched for us to even think life could be as simple as the life we lived in the 60-70's.

We bought our first computer for $650 (a Commadore 64) in 1984 when Steve was in college. It was a huge investment and served us well...then the explosion of computer companies emerged. And here we sit, 2010, holding affordable cell phones, I-Pods, and a sundry of tech-no geek machines that can do even more than that monster of a computer back in 1972.

Our grands love the computer world, and enjoy listening to hundreds of songs on their IPods...learn phonics w/their LeapFrog's (yes, we bought them all one) and play bowling w/their parents on their Wii. I wonder what their children will have available to them for fun and learning?

I wonder what our friend Mr Bob in Mississippi thinks about walking into 2010 when he remembers being dropped behind enemy lines in Normandy! I remember Mr. Tyler in NLittleRock, Arkansas, who was born in 1900, got to experience the first flight of the Wright Bros., and also got to watch a man land on the moon. He told me he was amazed at the ability of man but was not surprised at the availability of God to give the ideas in the first place. I remember my DeeDee telling me that their first and only home only cost them $17.00 for 10 yrs then their last few payments rose to $25. In 1953 a baby could be delivered for $28.95 but today the cost is outrageous.

One day when I am old and gray (well.. sandy blond) I too will sit back and tell my great-grands about the time before color TV, cell phones, computers the size of a garage and cars that got 28 miles to the gallon or the fact that I had my babies in the military for only $25.00 each!

Will the future be easier for those kids b/c of technology in let's say, 2040? Probably not, b/c life is a cycle of ups n downs. All given to make us stronger as a person. No matter if we end up like The Jetson's we are still going to need one another to survive this beautiful life.

I pray that 2010 gives you time to give and receive joy....time to give yourself to others unselfishly...time to not worry about the next tech-no geek item that will come around the corner. (usually every 6 mos)....time to roll around on a grassy slope and enjoy "smelling those roses." I pray that 2010 helps you reflect on God's purpose for your life. Focus on Him this year. Although this time next year we will all say the same thing, "where did the time go?", we will be able to say 2010 was a grand year full of life's blessings and sorrows...but we made it thru to only start again fresh!

I am thankful for another opportunity to walk 365 days in the arms of my Savior and hand in hand w/ my husband! I wish the same for you and yours!

33 yrs ago tonight...

2009-12-22T23:11:00.005-05:00

..I married my husband! This day is almost over for another year....another year to start off w/my true best friend. WOOHOO! It took me a long time to find him but finally we met...kissed and that's when I melted like butter. I tried for months to talk MYSELF out of love w/this guy but I kept coming back to my gut feeling that this was the right one for me. After all the other upsets in this area of love n trust....I didn't want to get hurt again....but something kept pulling at my heart.

I didn't know then but 1.5 yrs later I figured out that GOD was tugging at me to follow my heart this time. I am so very glad I did. Steve is simply the best for me, not for anyone else...but for me he is the best. I am so thankful for his desire to keep God first in his life, thankful that he always treats me as a fine princess at the ball. When we are in a room of people, I only have to see his face and he makes me feel like I am the only one there. It was wonderful to have children with this man of God. We parented as a team and many times he took duties of the household from me so I could "just rest." We have never had lots of money but we are so rich in the areas of trust, love, confidence, family and now a couple w/adult children and being grandparents together. What a blessing!

The bumps of life along the way has only given us more of the together-strength. Loosing a child, 7 straight yrs of schooling for him, raising teens, a couple back surgeries for me, making sure we were there for every grandchilds birth, every dance recital of our own girls and now granddaughters. Cars, jobs, moves to the many states we have lived in...I could go on and on.

It is a blessing to be able (in this era of marriage life) to look into your spouses eyes and honestly say "You have always been the one. I have always been true to you."

God if You sees fit, please give us 33 more yrs together! And may all the glory go back to You. For You are the reason we are together. We will keep that triangle tight w/You at the helm.

I love you Lord and I love you Steve.

A favorite part .....

2009-12-21T22:27:00.004-05:00

..of the Christmas Story for me is located in Luke 2:25-35

NIV starts out like this " There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was upon him."

All we really know about this man was that he was a "man of God" and possibly up in years. We also know that he listened to God quite often b/c he could quote the prophets of old. He was a man "in touch" w/God so much that God's Holy Spirit told him that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.

In my imagination, I think that he was a gentle man, rough large hands, maybe tall and lanky, but carried himself in such a way that others gave their respect and their listening ears. Some may have always looked at him as a crazy old man who never stopped talking about the coming Messiah....but he always knew better!

I like to think that he loved children. I don't know why but when I read V28 "Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God" I can see the love in his eyes for this child he was holding. How he carefully handed this child back to His mother, letting her know that she was the mother of The Messiah. Smiling at Joseph with tears streaming down his face, knodding his head b/c he was so grateful to have held The Messiah!

V30-32 states "For my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all people, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel."
V34-35 Simeon blessed them all and told Mary "Indeed this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed! A sword will pierce your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

I love to think of being a shepherd seeing the tiny babe...I admire the patience and travel time the Magi took to lay gifts at the feet of a small child....I so respect 2 young people in love for facing the insurmountable odds of 9 mos when they did nothing wrong in that situation all b/c they knew God was working thru them.

So when I read about Simeon, I am amazed! He had been waiting for this Messiah, this Savior for many years. No doubt many parents went in and out of the temple to perform what was customary to Jewish law...but Simeon knew the child at first glance! He scooped Him up into his arms and praised God for the Messiah revealed! He knew that his life could end that very minute b/c he finally got to see what God had promised all along!

What I can take from this? Well, I love babies, I love to give gifts (small or large), I admire anyone who perserviers thru trials and hard times....I understand the shepherds, Magi and being a couple in love-facing trials....BUT I CAN ONLY HOPE TO ONE DAY BE A SIMEON!

The true hope is: I don't have to one day be a Simeon, I have the Word in front of me, I have seen the child! I see Him in the kids we help at the schools near our church, the trailer court we support w/food, my small group of 4th-5th graders, my mother and Steve's father who both are ailing in their older years. The cashier at WalMart or a single mother trying to handle life w/an autistic child. I don't want to fail to mention our military. All these lay under the cross of The Messiah , including me.

Am I Simeon? Never will be but I am a believer of The Messiah, and have the Holy Spirit within me so may I never stop seeking and telling and helping others to know of the hope of the light of revelation for salvation giving all the glory to God.

Merry Christmas!

Traditions...

2009-12-08T21:55:00.003-05:00

are such memory-keepers aren't they?

Our daughters told us their memories of Christmas: putting the manager scene together one piece per night, then finding Baby Jesus somewhere in the living room on Christmas morning & putting Him in His proper place...reading the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve...buying a small family present for each other and opening them on Christmas Eve....knowing that daddy alway enjoyed buying the stocking stuffers...Christmas stocks....Happy Birthday Jesus cake for b'fast BEFORE opening presents.....watching all of the old Christmas movies starting 2 wks prior to Christmas.

Tonight Stve n I watched a memorable movie "The Charlie Brown Christmas". How much better does it get when (My fav character) Linus takes his thumb out of his mouth, hangs onto his blankee and says "Lights Please" then he starts to recite the real Christmas story. I love his lyspe!

Our first Christmas tree as a married couple was a "fuller brush" artifical tree from a grocery store(Piggley Wiggley) in southern Texas. BECAUSE to get real trees to southern Texas, they were shipped in refrigerated train cars and they cost A MINT~! The only one we could afford (real that is) really did look like the Charlie Brown tree, really! So we purchased our artifical tree for a whopping $10. (and kept it for at least 5 yrs) So $2 per/yr was a great deal!

While stationed in Va.Bch, Va....I was taking this tree down and one of the "fuller brush" branches was stuck, so I sat my sweet toddler on the couch and proceeded to pull, I got it unstuck but it went into my left eye!OUCH~!

But really, I would never take any of that back for a bigger, better tree or gifts or home. The laughter Steve n I went thru trying to pick out the perfect tree on an E2 paycheck, we were so proud of our little 5' tree.

Now we have a 10 footer but while living in an apt, can not put it up. And w/my vertigo, not much is going up anyway! The neat thing is: CHRISTMAS WILL STILL COME, we will celebrate w/family memories of yrs past, gifts that didn't work,Operation Christmas Child, batteries that were forgotten, knowing we helped needy families in our town, blessed w/lots of food to eat, and most importantly: the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus!

PS...I may not get all the decorations up that I want this yr, but I promise I will take down the harvest wreath and take "the sure to be ripe" pumpkins off of the patio table!

The Lord our Protector...

2009-12-04T22:17:00.003-05:00

V1-I raise my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? V2-My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

My "be still" moment today was in the 2nd step of the Psalm of the Accents-Palm 121. I pondered on the parts where it states that God is our Protector. He never slumbers not sleep. He is a shelter for my right side, the sun does not strike me by day nor the moon by night. He will protect me from all harm. He will protect my coming and my going.

That kept me still for most of the afternoon. I facilitated the Psalms of the Ascents by Beth Moore, I tried to find my study guide but it's to high up in the closet for me to read what we discussed. Protector by definition means: to cover, to keep from harm. Yet I know of many who believe in the great God of Creation and have suffered loss, was not protected, was struck down by the sun. I have even experience the same things in this life. So what does it mean? Then I took time to read a blog of a mother who lost her son to cancer this past spring. It does rain on the just and unjust ....so what about this protection thing? After I read her comments today I thought differently on the subject of protection.

I know His protection is not always around us yet He is always around. The verses talk of Hm never slumbering or sleeping. Meaning He is ever awake and watching us. We want to think of protection as the exact definition but I think God wants us to know His protection is that He is ever present, ever awake, knowing and walking thru ever minute of our lives.

Read this Psalm and tell me what you think it means.

No Letter...

2009-12-03T22:14:00.005-05:00

this year!! Every year I write out a letter of events from that awesome year God allowed us to share together. All the good, bad and the ugly of life. But this year I am not do that. Now one thing my family has to put up with is the "Olan Mills Mother" that comes out of me when I know we will be together.. It may be a theme picture or color coordinated and every person has a smile on their faces! Now the guys of my family usually smile on cue b/c they are so NOT into standing around in strange areas for "just one more picture.' However for me, this is a treasure!

This year was a clarion call to wear fall colors. (easy right?) We tried indoors then went outside and those pics looks more "normal & relaxing" for us. We do have a wonderful family photographer, namely Shana....so we made sure that we got some of their family.
I already have next years theme thought out in my mind,but it's a secret, a good plan never fails!

Thanksgiving feast, which we are all blessed w/in this country was filling, so filling that we forgot to bake the Mrs. Smith Pumpkin pie! (we never even missed it) the guys watched football on a 52" screen while we girls prepared all sorts of good stuff. A sweet family came over b/c they lived states away from their family...we had so much food and I came away w/a great Corn Casserole Mexican style!

The grands made gingerbread teddy bear cookies, and also some sugar cookies. Sir n I was able to watch them put up their Christmas tree. Funny thing is their Christmas list wasn't very large this year, just onething "American Girl". We brought Christmas to them so I know that each day they see those presents, they are really itching to peek.

Shana took a wonderful picture of Marley that could win a contest! We went to Turtle Park in Albany, Ga and took some rustic pics in an alley and by the rail road station. Had to bribe Marley and the grands w/snacks n gum....teehee!

After doing all things the holiday traditions have required, the pastor at Jill and Warren's church made this statement....Jesus responds to us in the middle of our busy-ness and says "Be Still & Know that I am God." Jesus wants to spend UNHURRIED TIME w/us on a regular basis.

Throughout the week together w/our family I thought often of Jesus and what He desires of us...and then the pastor spoke it: UNHURRIED TIME.

So may I encourage you to spend some unhurried time w/Christ before we celebrate His birth. IF the last holly does not get up in time or the wrapping paper doesn't match or you run out of bows..or you don't have enough money to spend, or our home doesn't have that "martha stewart" look, so what! Our relationship w/Christ, family and friends is what really matters during the most stressful time of the year.

These are the things that will be remembered!

When we say we have everything...

2009-11-15T13:10:00.004-05:00

...we need, but Jesus is not at the top of the list. He is deeply offended.Self-sufficienct disracts us from prusuing the things we really need that only He can give us.

IF YOU'D rather have cash than character
IF YOUR credit cards are maxed
IF YOUR righteousness is mininized
IF YOU'VE become smart but not wise....

Then you have been shopping in all the wrong places. Jesus offers commodies that are far better. He knocks at our heart, let Him in and He will give you all that you need.

REVELATION 3:14-22 (The Daily Bread-Oct/Nov09)

As the country song repeats: Looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love into many faces.......I blessed the day I discovered of what I was dreamin of... JESUS~

Ohio State Buckeyes....

2009-11-14T19:16:00.005-05:00

...are going to the Rose Bowl~ Close game today, Iowa played an amazing game, great competition and no one was hurt. We are the Big Ten Champs-5th year in a row! woohoo!

LAURIE..wish we could come out to the game b/c I woul love to see you...

As of Wedneday, November 11, 2009....

2009-11-13T17:53:00.005-05:00

we officially became grandparents AGAIN!~ The courts in Etheopia made it legal...our granddaughter is now Ellegrace Hiwot (Hay-wot) Dantzler! Hiwot means life, how awesome, b/c we have been praying for her life for 3 yrs now! I can now share a picture of this little brown eyed gem. She is going to walk into such a loving family and extended family. Her sisters are beside themselves, Steve n I are beside ourselves....everytime I look at her face on my table, I have such a feeling of love, joy and just want to kiss her cute cheeks! I know Mom n Dad get first kisses and I know that I will be overjoyed, tears will cloud her face from me but I will get my turn.

Our natural born children are nothing less than a miracle to us as parents. Having babysat a few adopted children in the past, I have always rocked them to sleep, praying that One Day they would understand how special they are. Now I get to hold my own adopted granddaughter and pray that prayer over her. Our family has now forever changed b/c Shana n Bill decided to take that leap of faith, that tug of their hearts and become obedient to God as He placed everything in order.

More on this sweet child later, like January later....b/c we will be there waiting for that plane to bring her into our lives! Until then we celebrate....Christmas presents to be bought, the bed is in place, she has her own dresser and a most of all a place in our lives!

Today I cried...

2009-11-12T15:17:00.003-05:00

The Bible says that tears are cleansing to the soul....today I cried but it didn't cleanse my soul. After 13 days with acute vertigo I am at the end of that rope that is hanging off of the cliff. My legs are giving out on me, I am dangerous w/a knife and tomato, can't fill the dishwasher w/o doing a 2-step.

Part of me is anguished b/c I am plain tired of feeling like I am in a drunken stooper, not in control of my body, my head still feels like it is a helium balloon that if I left go, it will never come back down to earth.

Another part of me feels so ashamed to be complaining over such a minor thing as vertigo when I know of so many who are struggling w/ more serious illnesses or financial issues. So I continue to cry. Is it desperation b/c I have so much I want to be involved in? I miss my kids at small group, I missed adul small group last night. I haven't enjoyed an evening w/my husband for 13 days now, even the Buckeye game last week was no fun. I really miss not taking care of my mother who has been so ill lately. I have Christmas to buy for before Thanksgiving, and Operation Shoe Boxes to complete before Nov 15th. So I cry!

But I just finished reading Luke 4:1-13, it talks about the temptations of Christ. After 40 days of fasting, satan revealed that He as Christ could turn the very stones into bread.....the answer: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

HUMMMM, satan thinks again. taking Jesus to the highest point to show Him the kingdoms of the world and assures Jesus that all of this will be His if only He would bow to him....the answer: "Worship the Lord your God ,and serve Him only."

Well than , satan thinks again. Just jump off of this temple and surely God's angels will not allow your feet to hit a stone.....the answer: "Do not tempt the Lord your God."

Finally satan in V13 "had finished every temptation , he departed from Him for a time."

So I stopped my crying. I must live by the Word of God DAILY. I will WORSHIP God and SERVE Him only and I want to keep my eyes OPEN to temptations of satan. V13 warns us that he (satan) will return to tempt us.

BTW: my sweet husband came home when he heard my cries, fixed me lunch, and then told me that tomorrow he was taking me out to get my hair washed and styled!!!! Now that dried my tears. Also, I got a phone call from Peggy, a dear friend, who is bringing over fru-fru coffee (that's what Kelly calls it) at 4pm today! I look terrible but coffee w/a friend , who cares what I look like! ( I mean I have enough oil in my hair to fill a frying pan.)

God answers prayers in the most unusual ways. And I am so glad He does! Well I gotta get off of here b/c my turtle caramel coffee w/whip cream is on it's way! Thanks for listening blogworld.

Can this be called Coffee for the Soul?

Growing Up Ogle...

2009-11-11T22:01:00.005-05:00

Our pastor asked Steve n I to help lead a discussion w/him and his wife directed toward our youth parents while their teens were in group session called EPIC. One of the things he wanted us to do was to talk to our daughters about what they took away from "Growing Up Ogle."

So Steve emailed them both and within 2 days their responses came back. What we were shocked about was that they both had the same list, maybe worded differently but still the same. I had to make a family crest from these 4 items: Compassion, Integrity, Obedience and Trust. It really wowed us to know that our daughters felt the same way.

They always heard the defination of Integrity: doing what is right even when no one is watching. Did they always practice that, no, but they heard it and saw it in action thru their parents.

Obedience/the Word, they said was something they saw us diving into and praying about and reading it to them when they were in a decision making situtation. Giving our obedience to God first.

Trust was something that was earned in our home....and if was stolen then it took a long time to get it back. We would take many positions on different situtations but lying was a deal breaker.

Compassion was acting out LOVE and the neat thing is to see them w/their children acting out love in service toward others...just like they did as children. Jill n Warren volunteer so much of their time in their community and that does my heart good.

Did we do many thing wrong, yes we did. If we could have do-overs that would be great. I tell my daughter who is a mother that she is a GOOD MOM never GREAT b/c we all have room for improvement. Maybe to you that sounds harsh but it's the truth, we are good moms who love our children unconditionally.

FAMILY AND TRIPS...THIS CONCLUDES MY SUMMER!

2009-11-11T21:06:00.004-05:00

no this is not a real man but it sure looked like it, hair folicals and all

this was titled The Blue Lady

Monet, my favorite artist

the beach in Honduros and Pastor Deago and wife Sandra

Family again! (Can't get to much of a good thing)

2009-11-11T20:57:00.004-05:00

Steve, his dad and Annie and a best friend Mary Lou

GIGI buttoning up AA's sweater w/frail hands- my fav photo....

Mothers Day 09 and the guys going into Barnes n Noble with the girls

Family....

2009-11-11T20:48:00.003-05:00

Dance Recital 09

Pick up our grands! People just looked and looked! WE HAD ALOT OF FUN!

my baby brother and my sister!

Golfing w/Steve's mom! That was so much fun!

Great times w/Family n friends...

2009-11-11T20:30:00.007-05:00

Steve, his sister Beth and Neice Aprille...

Old schoolmates of mine Mike/Sandy..it's been since 1972..omgoodness, we look so good! :)

Patty and I after 24 yrs...we started our husbands into college at the same time n were neighbors....great connections.

Our small group-woohooo! looking up and eating!

2009-11-11T20:17:00.003-05:00

The first tomato..Pirates, friends and laughter!

2009-11-11T20:05:00.005-05:00

Steve told me that IF the lonely tomato plant on our patio would produce red tomatoes then I could have a garden when we buy a house...well here's proof of the very first one!

I had to be a pirate for larger group in KidsQuest, things I do for my sweetie...I love it! Dinner out w/friends at Cheescake Factory- blessings and a night of laughs w/friends at a John Panette comedy gig. Yes, I saw him outside taking a break and asked to take a pic. He was so nice! Notice the Leggo Store at the mall...so cool!

More Candid Shots....

2009-11-11T19:49:00.003-05:00

It was Veterns Day/Senior Citizens Day at the Deleware County Fair, Steve got in for free an I had to pay 2$. Not so southern sweet tea, great friends, a friend who's goat took a prize and a ribbon for her sunflower, home of the Little Brown Jug races and watching a good friend triple roll his truck in a dirt race (he had 1st place till that accident)...never again will I watch him do that again. But we had some Fun!

Smile, your on Candid Camera..

2009-11-11T19:46:00.002-05:00

Amish Country Mini Vacation 09

Just Forget It....

2009-11-11T19:11:00.004-05:00

It is now November and I am still not caught up. In 3 wks Thanksgiving will be here and then Christmas. I refuse to add more stress into an already stressful life called: "It's a Wonderful Life."
So I will start anew. Starting fresh is very stress-less. Starting fresh is freeing! So here I go.

After dealing w/my mother's health thru the months of Sept and Oct, including a wk stay in the hospital, things got better. My mom is slowly healing and is at this very minute (Just got off the phone w/her) much better. I am so thankful to God for answered prayer.

Reading in James 1:3-4, the Bible states, "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do it's complete work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

So many times we say we are enduring but are we really? Then to read that endurance must do it's complete work so that we can be mature, complete, lacking in nothing! WOW~ my Lord wants me to lack for nothing. Lack for nothing in every situtation I may find myself in. I felt that way one morning in the hospital at 3am....sitting in the chapel on the CCU floor, reading and listening.

For the past 12 days I have found myself reading and listening again...but this time it is in my own bed struggling through an acute bout of vertigo. Another test? Maybe...so I pray and wait w/endurance for this to be over.

My life is a cup running over w/love. I am so very blessed to be right where I am at this moment in time. I have a loving husband who is faithful n every way. I have grown children who desire to be faithful and walk w/God. I have grandchildren who call me "just b/c they got out of dance class." I wait for the phone call to drive to Atlanta to meet our newest granddaughter, whom we prayed for an loved for over 2 yrs. I have a mother who is healing from a scary situtation. My inlaws are the joy of my heart. I have reconnected w/cousins and close christian friends from over 24 yrs ago. I am watching my husband's dream come true. (more on that later) I have the privlege to learn from teaching my 4th/5th graders at church. It is a wonderful life! SO I WAIT W/ENDURANCE b/c I want the blessing of maturing to completion so I lack nothing this world will place before me.

I hope the same for you.

We Pause for a Commercial Break!

2009-09-14T19:33:00.003-04:00

Today, an email went out to an adoption agency that will start the process w/the court system in Ethiopia for a 'little gem' of a girl to start living life to it's fullest w/all rights given to her as she becomes the 4TH GRANDDAUGHTER of ours. Shana & Billie and their 3 daughters will welcome daughter #4..sister #3 to their home IN THE NEAR FUTURE!!!!!

We actually have a picture to go w/the name of Ellagrace. For every grandchild we have prayed...for this grandchild we have prayed for 2 yrs now. For wisdom in the right agency, for the exact time God had for her to be born, for paperwork connections from one country to the other.

I wish I could show you her eyes, how they sparkle when she smiles. So if you are reading this plse pray for the court hearing to finalize everything on the first try. Pray for her ability to adjust to so much new-way of life. Pray for our granddaughers, her sisters, to adjust. Everyone has been waiting and praying for this divine appointment..AND IT'S ALMOST HERE!

What is today?

2009-09-12T16:26:00.002-04:00

Well although today is September 12, 2009 I am only on the month of June in blog world time! So I will start w/June and hope to get to July tomorrow. If not, I will be posting September in November…aughhh, pressure on!

June saw me rarely. I mean rarely ! My sweetness of a husband asked me to do just 2 things for the upcoming VBS09. Just 2 things, I can do that. What are my job descriptions for this year of VBS dear? Decorations and Registration said the Minister of Children, my husband. I was in charge of decorating the whole church for VBS and then chair the registration ladies, who knew very well the ins and outs of this job…they didn’t need me! Decorations however took on a life of its own. Our theme was Museum @ 12627. Not in Night at the Museum, but a real museum.
I do have pics on these from my facebook, so I will post them. It was the best of times and the worst of times. I had some awesome help by 4 great teenage girls and one very talented mother.

The vision started in the entry area w/ Insects of South America which included spiders, large brown ants, stinger less bees, and silk caterpillars.

Walking into the huge area outside the worship area you found a Dinosaur hanging from the ceiling, dinosaur bones in a dig area of sand, a knight from Medieval times, an ancient Bible area, Egypt which included Pharaoh, pyramids, ancient jars/pottery and mummy in tact.

Down the preschool hall you traveled back in time to see a 6’ steam locomotive, airplane parts, a mini antique gas tank, etc.

On the far hallway you find yourself entering the art section of the museum. We had Monet, a Jr. Picasso, pop art and other famous artist of centuries past.

Every area of the museum was roped off, had docents and had information cards for your personal leisure. VBS ended up w/an average of 152+ in attendance and our total numbers for the week had us at 192 children enrolled.

For 3-5 wks my sweet husband put up w/frozen dinners or deli sandwiches (which we never eat) we had to have dessert so it consisted of Toaster Strudels.

I was also helping my mother in the month of June w/a civil law suit (furnace guy not the cable guy) Just doing all the paper trail and filing papers kept us busy for a few days.

This ends June in a nutshell… love nuts but I really love this ‘nutshell’ of a bible verse:
2 Timothy 1:7…For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (HCS)

I am never gonna get updated..

2009-09-09T19:16:00.003-04:00

...if I don't get busy! My time in Georgia in May 09 was even more fun when Steve got down for a week's vacation. Of course, we were not going to miss the biggest event of the season...Dance Recital! I mean, as long as we have breath in us and enough gas for the car and no elderly parent in the hospital...WE WILL NEVER MISS OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS DANCE RECITALS.

This year was themed as Aladdin and our little grands were part of the fruit stand scene and also in the ballet. They were so excited. This was KK's 2nd recital so she was the pro..but LB...well now, she was so very excited! We were quite impressed by LB's love of the stage (well, ok not that surprised, she loves acting, singing anything that has to do with the arts) Both grands held their head, hands and position of feet exactly the way they were taught. Now (Sept 09) the new year of dance has started and KK goes into her 3rd yr of dance but our LB really wanted to take on gymnastics. Again we are not surprised! That's our LB...always trying new stuff. Well if I am allowed to brag...both girls have been promoted in their classes already!

I so wish I had the pictures of the recital and the day event...but sad to say...I don't . The camera of my mind has it embedded in my memory though. That's the neat thing about living life w/your children and grands....memories- WOW!~

After the recital, that family took a quick vacation to Mississippi to see their other grandparents...and we headed back to Jill n Warren's for a few more days.

What fun we had, just the 4 of us. Playing Uker, Wii and just talking about everything and anything was such a pleasure. We also worked on a new cushion set including pillows for Jill's front porch wicker set. Even Steve got into the sewing details..(small problem, I forgot to bring my sewing machine and although Shana gave me hers, we all forgot to get bobbins) It was way to late for a trip to Wal Mart so I did what I love to do best....sew by hand! Yes, and the cushions look great! Steve did pretty good on his hand sewing venture, I was proud!

It became time to leave Georgia for Ohio all the while knowing that the next time we would be together would be Thanksgiving. And I am already counting down the weeks till November...and guess what? It's already September.

A New Week in a Different Place...

2009-08-19T20:57:00.002-04:00

Time was going by way to quickly, I missed Steve more and more but yet I hurt knowing that I had to leave Jill, and I still don’t know why I felt that way. Did you ever feel like you were suppose to be somewhere at a certain time in your life? That’s what I felt at Jill’s.

(“Holy holy is the Lord Almighty holy holy”, Chris Tomlin) I was allowed to spend so much time w/the ones I love…how awesome is that. He is Holy, we serve a mighty God!
“How great is our God, sing w/me how great is our God. And all will see how great how great is our God”

For the next nine days I was going to be in what I will call ‘GRAND HEAVEN.” Of course I would be amiss if I did not report that I was looking forward to some mother /daughter time w/Shana as well. I love my girls, they are women I really want to emulate! (Typing w/tears is not an easy thing to do; the water tends to distort the keys)

The month of May was half over; I missed my husband so much and was thankful to a loving God that I had this opportunity. I just thought days went fast at Jill’s! I was in DeeDee overload and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

The first full day was spent just “getting use to DeeDee being there”. We read every book, colored and taught her (DeeDee) how to play more Wii!

Excuse me, had to stop and sing (Chris Tomlin)….”Everyone around the world, hear the joyful sound, see the heavens open up and hear the music comin down.. Nothings gonna separate us from the Fathers love. If God is on our side, who can be against us, If God is on our side we won’t be afraid, though the mountains may fall and the sky will crumble there ain’t nothing gonna stand in our way.”

Back to my time w/Shana n Bill n the girls. It was a week filled w/all things fun! We gave mommy and daddy a night out for their 9th anniversary. And after dinner we created a cake just for them! Of course I already recorded that activity, but may I remind myself, we had a blast and Shana/Bill was really surprised! On Thursday I gave Shana a day off. Once time on the phone she had told me that she really would love a day to JUST PLAY. You know, a day to not be mommy! So she got it! I did my housemaid routine and loved it…while she played all day w/her girls. I enjoyed listening to the music of chatter in the playroom so much. This is one thing I will always remember from this trip to Grand Heaven. Shana and I got a movie date also and enjoyed some ice cream together. Now my Billie-D of a son always gets my giggle going! He is the sweetest dad and loving husband! I am so glad God blessed us with great men for our daughters!

We took a trip to a strawberry farm and picked those little scrumptious delectable berries till 3 baskets were full. The girls even remembered my motto from picking berries a few years back “pick me, pick me says the red ones, No no no don’t pick me I’m not ready yet, says the green ones.” So we chanted for awhile as we laughed and remembered. We took some crazy pictures as strawberries for all to see, played on the playground that was close by and left for home. Another ending to a busy, memorable day…still missing Steve-o…talking to him everyday but it doesn’t help the loneliness from setting in especially at night.

A New Addition....

2009-08-19T20:52:00.002-04:00

Well, Marley became a member of the Gorman family that week. She is such a well mannered dog. It is amazing that someone would leave her behind. I heard from a dog kennel friend that in Albany over the past year (all the plant closings-economics) there were around 3500 pets left on the streets. How sad! Marley seemed to attach herself to Warren and would jump at loud sounds. She started tugging at my heart strings. The vet check up was good and she got shots needed for the moment. We figured that she had just had babies for obvious reasons and the vet agreed.

We played Wii and cards a lot! I stepped into the bedroom, every Tuesday as they entertained teenagers at a weekly Bible study in their home. I worked on my quilt, enjoyed loving on my kids and continued to be a housemaid out of pure enjoyment! Jill and I did a few mother/daughter things like: a movie, cooking at "A Pinch of Thyme", and taking the granddaughters to a pottery place to make things for Father’s Day.

Yes we babysat the grands while Shana had a photo shoot for a wedding on a beach in Florida. It was a busy weekend…and as everyone knows, I always have lots of stuff to do while babysitting. We even took the girls to a friend’s house that had children the same age and played in the huge waterworks they had set up in the backyard. We had Boy scout pancakes for b’fast and root beer floats for dessert that night. Mommy was back on Mother’s Day so after church we had a nice lunch presented to us and crowns from the grands and Auntie Jill.

Marley didn’t know what to think of all these people but I have to say she continued to be so well mannered.

First Stop in May.....

2009-08-19T18:49:00.002-04:00

My first location was Albany w/Jill & Warren. Saturday started off well and I found out we were going to a fashion show for a charity event in town. Another sweet couple w/their sweetness of a baby girl came over and w/the guys babysitting, we three girls got dressed up and went downtown for the event. I was so glad Jill wanted me to go along w/her and Ashley. We got back home and “little sweetness’ was still up, although wanting to go to sleep. I asked permission to take her back to the bedroom and rocked her gently to sleep…oh I was in heaven! How wonderful to remember the smell, panting breath and small hand on your chest as a baby sleeps in warm soft pajamas. I rocked and prayed for about an hour…the best time w/God was always w/my babies in the rocking chair.
I know “little sweetness” and myself worked out all the problems of the world that hour.

Sunday was filled w/church, good dinner and afternoon naps. It was good to see some faithful friends at church. Great to worship w/my children and enjoyed a sermon from the new pastor. Monday came and I was destined to surprise Jill by preparing dinner so she did not have to when she got home from her stressful job. So I cleaned (which is one of the things I love to do) did laundry and prepared dinner. End of another day…still missing Steve! The week went fast I was going to have 9 days w/Jill n Warren then moved onto Shana n Bill’s.

On Wednesday we went to church and supported Warren as he spoke to the youth. He can really get the message of Christ out to teens in a way that really makes them think. Then after church we went to a friend’s house that just happened to have a white lab show up on their doorstep. He had hung around for a few weeks and since J&W was thinking of a dog, well we got to meet Marley. Though not it’s real name but that’s who she looked like, Marley, from the movie a very gentle, calmer version of the movie dog I should add. We get back home and start convincing Jill that she would be a good dog to have, as long as no one has claimed her. Warren and I did a very good job of putting on the Ritz for Marley’s case!

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I had lunch w/dear friends. Let me introduce you to Roxanne, Karen, and Denise, great women of faith, encouragers, and strong ladies whom you can turn to in times of storms. I had so much fun with you all…thanks for the cherished memories!

Just finished listening to “Believe Me Now” by Steven Curtis Chapman. That’s all that God wants from us, a relationship that calls us to just believe…believe that God is in control, that God truly has out best interest at heart. Some days these are hard to comprehend…but we must listen to that still small voice that calls our hearts to His side.

Ready Set Go~

2009-08-19T18:38:00.002-04:00

I am just sitting here listening to Selah singing “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Such a calm assurance isn’t it?

I look at what I need to do to get self back on track w/my blogging and the task seems daunting enough but this music should sooth my soul and allow me to journal my thoughts once again. So I start with the last week of April 09… The biggest issue is NO PICTURES, our computer had a near miss w/a Trojan horse virus so when we cleared everything off of the computer, we thought we got every last picture off before we wiped it clean....well, that didn't happen so all of my 09 pictures are gone into cyberspace...eternal! I will not faint, OR get mad at technology!

Taking a trip w/Steve is always a pleasurable thing for me, so driving to Atlanta was refreshing. As Steve took of for his myriad of meetings at Orange Conference, I stayed put in the hotel room, secluded w/my Bible, current novel, journal/pen and the T.V. remote I started basking in quiet! Now this is vacating!

Two days of solitude and evenings w/my best friend, then Friday came! Our daughters were driving up to Atlanta so we could go shopping at IKEA. Never been there so I was looking forward to just window shopping, or so I thought. It is a huge store, w/greater prices on nice things. (Vern Kipp, gets all of his stuff for home décor there.) I bought drapes for our living room window, a bamboo plant, things for the grands and had a great lunch w/my girls. We had so much fun together!!! We came out of the store with 2 big palm trees for the girls and other sundry items they needed. I really needed that time w/them. We spent the day there (yes, it’s that big) then headed back to a Crackle Barrel to meet Steve for dinner.

I made a big deal of the picture b/c it was the first time in a long time that we ate just with our daughters. Now grown, married women, Steve and I are so proud of what they have become. After dinner, I kissed my dearest friend goodbye and started off for southern Georgia w/my girls! Jill and I arrived in Albany around 11pm and I was greeted by my sweet son, Warren, only 3 more wks till I see Steve again.

Starting Fresh...n catching up!

2009-08-15T13:22:00.004-04:00

I have needed to get back into my journaling for months now..so my first goal was to get a FRESH background! I love this background for a few reasons, it fills the theme of what I will be doing over the next week ~ filling you in on life over the past few months. (I think I left off the first of May) I also love me some college football so with my favorite colors being scarlet/gray well, this was the best choice. And finally I will post photo's from the past so I have a journal entry of all that has happened.

I will start with the most recent "dates of happenings" and that way IF you are interested, all you have to do is log in and understand why I have not blogged of late.

Today is Saturday and a very relaxed one at that. Steve was in Honduras this time last week so I was really missin my BBF, my companion, my sweetie. The trip for the team was filled w/tons of work (up n down hillsides) worship times, serving times, a day of relaxation at the beach, times of sorrow and times of blessings. I don't think I have yet heard all the stories and experiences but of what I do know, the momma in me wants to go there and fill all the needs of these children. The woman in me wants to go and help these women in their homes, their spirutal lives and their own interests. We have it so great in America. Although I cannot do "all these things," I can pray fervently for the people of LeCeiba, Honduras. God was good to our team as all were safely brought home to those of us who waited w/our signs at 11:30 pm for them to walk or run into our arms again.

Words 4 thought...

2009-05-20T11:30:00.002-04:00

Empty me of the selfishness inside.

Every vain ambition and the poision of my pride.

Any foolish thing my heart holds to.

Lord empty me of me so I can be..FILLED W/YOU.

(Chris Sligh)

I remember the first time I heard this song, it captivated me so that I was crying out loud. WOW! After explaining this chorus to my oldest granddaughter today, the words once again helps me to keep focused on what is pure and right and godly. Selfishness is so powerful and empty and useless. Joy!~

FYI..Ace of Cakes, MaryAlice and Duff

2009-05-19T11:50:00.007-04:00

We call ourselves the Kids of Cakes! Established May 18, 2009

Yo Duff,

We had fun making this cake for our parents 9th anniversary. This cake is really cool! It's about all these bears that are having a swimming party. We used gum for surf boards and the diving board with white icing as the glue. I wish your people were on the cake (the people that you make for your cakes) We hope you write back to us and when you write back I hope to see a picture of you and your crew. If we come to Boston, can you call and give us directions. See you later. From Kids of Cakes, Chef JennahKay (age 7)
This cake was fun to make and it has beach balls that are made from blow pops.Teddy Grahams were very hard to make their bathing suits but it was so much fun making it. How do you make your cakes? Do you have fun like we did. We are sending pictures and you would have fun looking at the pictures. We hope you write back and we hope to see you. From Kids of Cakes, Chef Lorahbeth (age 5 1/2)
I liked to decorate the cake. I love you. I want to go with you. I want my DeeDee to come with me. I liked the people on there. I want you to get some glasses. Goodby, I like you.
From Kids of Cakes, Chef AudreyAnn (age3 1/2)
Mary Alice, Chef Duff and crew...(above notes were typed as they recited them to me, the fingers at the computer)This email and pictures were from the fun memories we made today while my granddaughters parents were celebrating their 9th anniversary. My grands love your show and so we thought you would love to see their version of your fantastic cakes. I only get to see these great girls a few times a year since they live in southern Georgia and I in Ohio. Thanks for being a positive role model for young children thru the avenue of television.
Joy, DeeDee , JennahKay, Lorahbeth & AudreyAnn

I will seek your good....

2009-05-03T19:19:00.001-04:00

Deciding to read once again The Psalms of Ascents (chap 121-132) I read Psalm 122 today:

IT IS a song done as a prayer for Jerusalem . So to me, my Jerusalem is Columbus , Ohio . So I prayed over Columbus , that she will hear the call of God. That churches who name the name of Jesus will 'get out' of their comfortable boxes. Reach toward the lost, poor, broken spirits that live in this city.

THERE is a family in Columbus who has done just that: sold their suburban home, moved to the inner city and lives Jesus to broken spirits-wow! Amazed after few years the crime rate has drastically reduced in that neighborhood.

Anyway back to my thought....V3-4 talks about a city who is solidly built so people can go and give thanks to the Lord. Pray for your city to be built like this!

V6-8 TALKS about praying for peace to envelope your city, my city, Jerusalem . Peace for your walk, prosperity within the protection of your city.
V9 is what stuck my heart today...."because of the house of the Lord our God, I WILL SEEK YOUR GOOD."

As I live and breathe everyday, do I seek the good of others? I say I do, my actions show I do...but do I breathe it everyday? Do I breathe it BECAUSE of the Lord my God?

What would happen to our cities if we did what this family in Columbus did?? Not necessarily move into the inner city but live like we are in the inner city...REACHING OUT OF OUR WELL PLANNED, DESIGNED BOXES OF WHAT WE THINK GOD DIRECTS US TO DO AND REACH INTO A LIFE (or 2 or 3) "because of the house of the Lord our God, I WILL SEEK YOUR GOOD."

Okay then..food for thought (at least for me)

Last Monday, as I was walking out of WalMart I saw a mother w/her infant and a huge cart of groceries plus a giant package of TP under her arm. We giggled about growing another arm when a baby comes and walked to our cars. After I emptied my cart I went over to her and told her that I wanted to take her cart back to the corral for her. She looked shocked but said thank you, I really shocked her, by giving her $2 to buy a coke or milkshake as a treat from me. She refused kindly, I told her that I had to give it to her b/c if I didn't I would not be obeying the Lord. So I said "Please, enjoy on me." She shyly said "ok, thank you" and I walked away.

I did not share this to brag on self...but after reading Psalm 122 and remembering this family's life change, I thought that maybe that is ONE WAY I can reach into another life.

Let's see if any of you out there in blog land can come up w/other ideas to REACH INTO A LIFE..."b/c of the house of the Lord our God."(V9)

Calling all Prayer Warriors...time to fight

2009-04-30T12:16:00.003-04:00

PRAY FOR...(see my blog favs on right side)

Laurel-mom of 13...flying to Ghana w/an adoptive mother to pick up her daughter..Comfort, age 6, in desperate need of medical attention for her heart...PRAY THEY GET HER BACK TO SEATTLE FOR SURGERY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. God's timing is everything and He always meets us at our point of need.

(not on blog favs yet) A dear friends grandson (twin- boy and girl, girl is doing remarkable well)....Ethan age 2.5 wks old...need of heart surgery to fix many a complicated issues surrounding his heart. Again God's timing.. for weight gain, health, wisdom.

Thank you so much!

HOME.....continued

2009-04-29T19:07:00.013-04:00

We spent Tuesday night w/close friends in TN. (please see my entry below on home) Thanks so much MaryB and Ken for opening your home to us. Thanks for taking timeout of your weeknight Dennis, Beth, Raye, Becky (almost mother w/baby #5) Haliegh, Abby, Levi, Emma (sweet cheeks). Thank you McKenna for giving us your princess bed for the night. Bailey thank you for all the hugs- I will require more the next time we get together...and James Russell, you are an awesome teen, I am so proud to call you my friend.

From top to bottom:

Becky (mom of soon to be #5) being mom.... to Abby and Bailey (Missed you Jimmy-sorry you had to work)

The mark of true friendship....a Vol, a Buckeye and a Tiger all in the same room (Steve, Dennis and Ken watching sports)
Me & McKenna .....posing in her princess bed w/our PJ's on!(a promise is a promise)

4 Amegios.... MaryBea-the talented one, Beth-the social butterfly, Me and Becky-a mother of 5 need I say more! I can always count on these 3 ladies for anything)

Haleigh and baby sister Emma....or other wise known as sweetcheeks

Raye, Hailegh an MaryB....what's a little burgers and dogs among friends!

Where is your home?

2009-04-29T18:15:00.003-04:00

Your home, where you were born? Is this the same home you now live in? You say, you no longer live where you were born? Huh, me too! So where is your home? The plaque states that home is "where your heart is." My dad use to say that "home is where you hang your hat." While others say that "home is where family lives."

The Bible tells us that home is where we will live eternity w/God if we have accepted the free gift of eternal life that comes from Jesus and his death, burial & resurrection from the cross.

What does your home look like? Is it larger, new, old, small, traditional, modern? Does it have a pool in the back yard, a 1,2 or 3 car garage, a rusty swing set or bikes in the grass?

Home, where I was born looked somewhat like the above. Home when I married looked quite different from where I grew up, mainly b/c we were constantly moving.Never in the same town or state for more than 6 yrs...we would pack up and move yet again. Our girls did a rather stealth job of adjusting to their daddy's job.

But if I had to do it all over again...I WOULD! B/C we have had some awesome homes! Never w/the view of the descriptions you may pick from the above list...but from the opportunities to make new friends! The experiences our children received were most rewarding.

We have lived in southern and northern Texas,Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and now full circle back to Ohio. Many homes that were filled w/love....laughter/sadness....victories/defeats. Crowded w/people, runaway teens, SS parties, open houses, internationals eating dinner w/us, bringing neighbors together for the first time, you name it our home pretty much experienced it. (notice I said home -not plural)

So although a home is where the heart is, and any house will be home if you live there w/family....IT'S REALLY NOT A HOME UNTIL YOU OPEN IT UP TO STRANGERS. Then after you do, those strangers are no longer strangers but FRIENDS!

WE are so blessed to have friends! You are so blessed to have friends! They are our richest asset, the wealthiest commodity we could ever hold onto. So hold on w/all your might! Sing a song of joy for your friends.

Gameday,88 degrees, lacrosse fun, celeb's & sunburn

2009-04-25T20:07:00.009-04:00

(from top to bottom) You've seen this guy on ESPN....TBDBITL! ....Mr. Ghee, President of OSU...football and the flag. We live in a great country!

Correction to spring has sprung...

2009-04-25T08:54:00.002-04:00

....please forgive me for a type-o.... MaryB & Ken are awesome friends and HUGE LA. TIGER FANS not UT fans. So here is a GEAXU TIGERS! cheer for great friends!
GO BUCKS! GO UT VOLS!

This is brought to you by "fair and balanced" college sport nuts. Because at the end of any given game, good friends are by far better than any ole ball game.

Spring has sprung...

2009-04-24T21:31:00.004-04:00

weddings let us know that spring is in the air....(this is my neice and her new husband)

everything blooming lets us know that spring has sprung... (and affecting my allergies)

Flowers galore definately let us know that spring has arrived...and a few tomato plants in the back...(thanks Annie, I had so much fun w/you today)

lunch out w/good friends & awesome family let's us know that the cold has left us and we get to enjoying 80 degree weather... (Steve, John and Annie)

A SWEET HUSBAND BUYING YOU A GREAT Spring weather OSU SHIRT
...(as a treat) (picture later)

...The BIGGEST clue of all is purchasing 2 tickest to the Ohio State Buckeyes Spring Football game!

(and know that you get to watch NotreDame play the Buckeyes in lacrosse)

NOW... this can only means that the regular season for collegiate football is almost upon us!

(Let me hear a cheer from Erin & Chad in Mississippi, Shana/Bill, girls, Jill & Warren in Georgia, Mary B & Ken in Tennessee.)

GO BUCKS!

What is wrong w/this picture...

2009-04-21T08:34:00.006-04:00

..in January our President was trying to get us to understand that the budget cuts (8 billion dollars) Republicans were asking for in his first ever budget was very small in comparison....AND NOW our President is trying to get us to understand how much a 1oo million dollar cut that he is calling for is important.

So let's see how important 1oo million dollars is in this NEW BUDGET. (not last years budget) It is 0.0027% OR in lam ens terms it equals to 1 latte coffee ($6) for one family for one day!

...Murtha, from Pa. built an airport in his district w/our money for $197 million. The best thing to this story; it's flight plan: to DC 3 times a day.

....what's with our President thinking it good politics to let everyone know our interrogation methods? Six CIA officials told him it was not a good idea, even Panetta the present CIA director, told him not to do this.

Now I am fair and balanced...the Tea Parties that were held on the 15th is the exact reason we the people are ticked! BOTH PARTIES are spending out the wazoo! It's time it stops. It's time our govt understands that cuts mean CUTBACK...STOP SPENDING LIKE A CHILD IN A CANDY SHOP. That is what we do in our own families when it gets tough. Reality will come to those in DC in 2010.

ok, I need prayer...

2009-04-20T15:00:00.002-04:00

...funny how scripture can be read to fit any situtation...well, (over to the left side in my Ponders of my Heart) I chewed on these words throughout the weekend from Saturday...then it hit me today! Something happened to me today that has caused these words to dive deep into my spirit.

Something someone has said to me has been so vile and hurtful that I need your prayers. Prayers to forgive this person...prayers to understand...prayers for wisdom in how to deal w/it.

Have you ever been there, so hurt that you are sick? So hurt that the one thing (anger) that would come out doesn't? That is the spot I am in right now. So please pray for God to give me guidance...maybe He just wants me to stay silent, and in this case that silence would be a forever kind of thing. But that's not a bad thing, to keep silent. God knows my heart and God will deal w/it.

Thank you! Joy!

Oh the faithfulness of our Lord...

2009-04-19T19:57:00.004-04:00

Go to one of my favs on the right side of my blog, 3/4 of the way down.
Click on Katie and Kids!

Read her story from April 8th.....makes me wonder why I don't see God working like she does. Think about it. What is different? And now what can I (or you) do to make our daily lives connected like Katie's is.

* Willingness/obedience/country~she was willing to go into a strange country b/c she was listening to the Voice of God
* Connection w/God~ her daily walk (although I am sure to falters at times) is so in tune w/Him that she hears His voice speak.
* Prayer~ time spent in communication w/God like best friends invest time together.

Katie encourages me to be better at this 3 points....I hope and will pray that after you read her journal entry, you will be encouraged to make a difference in your neck of this great big woods.

3 of a kind....

2009-04-18T16:02:00.003-04:00

ok, everyone say "AUUUHHH!" (this is a kodak moment for when they are in their teens and pulllin each others hair..OR chasing each other thru the living room and kitchen w/the mop and the broom when the parents are out! ~ RIGHT Shana & Jill)

A simple napkin.....

2009-04-18T14:36:00.003-04:00

....that all it was, a folded napkin placed ever so gently on perhaps a stone ledge in a cold tomb. Friends in somber faces approach the death tomb and realize that the huge rock has somehow been taken from the front of the cave. Who would have, could have moved such a heavy rock? And when they looked inside, their best friend was missing. Who would of stolen a corpse? Of what use would a dead body be to anyone? Still in shock and wonder, the friends stand inside the cave, confused. You can imagine the thoughts that were going on in their individual minds!

The friend who was loved more, was so confused. The gauze wrapping that prepared the body was tossed onto the stone ledge, but wait, what does he see? A folded napkin. Then he totally understands what has taken place. Then he remembers the conversations he had w/his now dead friend.

His mind wanders back to the servants in his home as a young child. Their job was to set the table for meals. His father would have a unusual signal for the servant that signified the end of each meal. IF the Master was finished with his meal, his would simple stand, wipe off his mouth, beard, and hands then throw the napkin onto the table. The servant would know to start cleanup and prep for the next meal. IF, however, the Master would wipe his mouth, beard and hands then FOLD his napkin and place by his plate, the servant knew the Master would be returning. In other words the Master was coming back. So the servant waited.

The friend who was loved, then knew his loving friend was returning. Thus the folded napkin!

This story is of course the Empty Tomb scene, the victorious scene of Christ rising from the grave found in John chapter 20. The story told by John who was "the one whom Jesus loved." (grave where is your victory, death where is your sting)

Our pastor told the Easter Resurrection story in such a picturesque way that for the first time in many a years, this year was very personal. Maybe b/c of things that have taken place in my life, or just that w/a new pastor, it was fresh and anew! DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? We hear these stories every year, we witness all through out the year, but sometimes we NEED TO HEAR THE STORY, THE OLD OLD STORY OF JESUS AND HIS LOVE, anew!

Pastor Terry did not finish there.....he continued about the personal relationship God desires w/us. Then he talked about the marriage feast...you know, the one in Revelation, when the bride groom will come for His bride (the church)

Then Terry said "I don't know if it will happen like this or not b/c the Bible is unclear...but picture w/me if you will... We are all at the feast, praising God in song, then Jesus stands wipes His mouth, beard and hands as we watch Him in awh! He looks to the Father and back at us, He throws the napkin on the table... It is done!"

At this point in the service I got chill bumps all over my body. And when I told my daughter on the phone a few days later, she said the same thing. "Mom I so have goose bumps right now."

Pastor Terry said, When Christ said, "It is finished" on the cross, He meant the one time sacrifice was finished, no more! But the folded napkin meant that for redemption sake, He was coming back just like He promised.

Now our job to is make sure that when Jesus returns, He will see that the folded napkin was not folded in vain....may we tell others the good news of the FOLDED NAPKIN, may we be an example toward others about the good news of the FOLDED NAPKIN. Just a simple napkin!

(disclaimer: the Easter sermon notes are my own wording, yet the scripture and examples came from my pastor)

I remember the minute...

2009-03-31T12:03:00.003-04:00

..the nurse said...."IT'S A GIRL" The emotions were mixed at best. B/C my husband, the father of this precious baby girl was sitting on the USS Eisenhower in the port of Norfolk, Va. The next thing I thought was, I am so sad to know that he was not here yet he was not going to see her for 6 wks. Then my next thought went back to this baby girl! I kept thinking throughout my pregnancy that I would have a boy this time around. I mean I had 2 girls so this one has to be a boy, right? Psyching out on boy clothes, boy names, boy toys didn't help. God had already chosen to give us another girly-girl! And I was very glad inside! No, overjoyed is a better word. Her name is Stephanie Jill!!!

As I was rolled out of the delivery room, the nurses station said that a call had came in for me...so right there in the hallway, my awesome godly husband was calling me! That totally made my day! I remember that the nurses all grinned when I was admitted w/labor pains of 3 mins apart, b/c most of them had seen me in the nursery area that very afternoon, visiting a friend who has just given birth. At that time I was 7 days overdue and looked every minute of those 7 days ...CAN WE SAY "ate a watermelon?"

Thanks goes out to my sister who being newly married, became my labor coach. She got to hold our baby girl right after she as born. I didn't scar her for life b/c she went on to have 2 children of her own! Thanks goes out to my parent, they were awesomely supportive to me thru the 10 wks Steve was on the ship. Thanks goes out to my brother who missed work that night to babysit Shana (age:2.5 yrs) Of course I think he secretly liked calling off of work that night!

The interesting fact about my girls, is that they were born on 2 different aunts birthdays....Shana on her late Aunt Dawn's...Jill on her Aunt Beth's!

Jill, you are a one in a million daughter. Our lives were blessed when you were breathed upon by God's design. You are everything I secretly desired 'way back then' and my expectations for your future will be everything I desired as well...b/c "for this child we prayed"....so I know your future is brighter than ever! May you breath in each and every day expecting a full portion of God's best for your life! May other see the character qualities in you and be encouraged to draw near to God.

Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We love you Jilly! When you were born our family became complete!

Email thing-ez...

2009-03-26T14:34:00.006-04:00

The other day I noticed my email "in"box was alittle strange. There was a few items of interest all in a line, one right after the other. I started laughing and then wondered how many weird thing-ez come into my email. So I made a list today and here is what I got:

Burn it... (you want me to do what?)
Loose it.... (oh, I've lost lots of things!)
Find it.... (yep, then I found them all)
Please confirm....(what, why?)
Hi Debi....(do I know you?)
Make $ the easy way....(is this a oxymoron statement)
Found it-Loved it ....(good for you, but what's that got to do w/me?)
Burn Quick......(again w/the burn thing!)
Always a Southern Gal....(I am in heart)
Match dating....(is this like The Memory Game?)
Global Nutrition Specialist.....(my husband would say that this was my

title, I always try to get others to eat healthy)
Goodbye Yellow Teeth.....(auh shucks, I like yellowish/greenish teeth)
Secrets to a Sound Sleep....( easy- ear plugs and a Tylenol PM)
Booking Buddy.....(does this involve the Mafia?)
Drop 20 by April 1st....( this is either an ad for the Marines OR a weight loss promise)
Blazing White Smile.......(FINALLY! but is blazin the same as smokin?)
Can’t pay IRS?....(talk to Geightner and the Obama Staff in DC)
Massage Therapy....(I'm game)
Love and Seek Christians.....( is this a run off of Lost It-Find It?)
Susan’s Anti-aging Secrets.....(sign me up)
Someone thinks you are dumb.....(shoot, it has taken me years to overcome this one)
All Natural Body Flush.....(all natural and flush in the same

sentence, where are your manners?)
Uncle Sam JR.... (Uncle Sam had a child)
Max Colon..... (Is this a new name for a baby boy or do we name our colons these days?)

I hope this Thursday is a wonderful addition to your week! Joy to you!

They say a picture paints ...

2009-03-25T22:42:00.009-04:00

a thousand words! Well taking a look at these 3 pictures I have to say that each one screams so much more!

One shows tranquility thru a water fall or what I call "fresh water", just the sound of it gives way to calmness.

One shows promise thru the sunlight reflections in the pond outside my house in the early morning hours, giving hope for warmer days.

One shows joy thru friendship and just the promise of God's word. (thanks Tina- I love & miss you)

My heart is torn by some prayer requests of people who are hurting tonight. One who is getting ready to face radiation/chemo for 6-7 wks....One who has not so celebrated the anniversary news of her child's cancer reality....One who is expecting a baby girl but was told the ultrasound was not what it seemed and she has already sent 2 of her children to heaven in the past 3 yrs.....One who lost her child last summer and her husband in the fall....One who is left w/3 children after her husbands battle w/cancer.

I know my part in their lives is to pray! And I do, but ya know sometimes it just doesn't seem fair? All the hurting, all the pain.

I thought about my prep time today for Sunday worship w/our kids at church. It is on John 14:1:11 "Don't let your hearts be troubled, Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many mansions, if it were not true I would of told you so. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away to prepare a place for you then I will come again and received you to Myself, so that where I am there you will be also." "Lord, Thomas said, "we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru Me. If you know Me, you will also know the Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."

"Lord, said Phillip, "show us the Father and that's enough for us." Jesus said to him. " Have I been among you all this time without you knowing Me Phillip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and He is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believer because of the works themselves."

This scripture brought me back to fairness. I remember screaming UNFAIR when we were told our daughter had died. Unfair b/c a neighbor was doing drugs and yet her son was born healthy...unfair b/c this was our first, and I so wanted to be a mother. I am so glad God understood my screaming fit back then! He totally got it, b/c He lost His Son also.

Words like: believe....know.....told you....I am.....Father...comes....prepare....receive....you will be.

Promises of God! In a world of uncertainties, unfairness, pain and sorrow...we can count on a HUGE God to walk beside us, lift us up and carry us thru. I am so glad my Father is available 24/7!!

Signs, Signs ...

2009-03-20T20:32:00.011-04:00

....every

where a sign,

blocking the scenery, chasin my mind....do this don't do that, can't you read the signs?

Well, that song from the 60's came to my mind when I started finding small post-it notes and coloring pages all around my house. I found them in the smallest and largest of spaces. So I had to capture them on film, how amazing is life when those small imprints of another being leaves you wanting more! Oh, yeah, the fingerprints are still all over my coffee table. Not b/c I am sick but b/c I love to look at them and remember the sights and sounds of their visit.

The small notes are as follows: (top-down) "I love you and I'll miss you"...feeding instructions for the fish....a picture of LB (I think?)

A Blogger-Friend Award goes to....

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"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers."When you pass the award along please include these guidelines.
The definition of self-aggrandizement is thus--"an act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own importance". I have got to say that most of the blogs I read totally lack self-aggrandizement.

Here are a few of my favorite bloggers who totally lack self-aggrandizement. (Don't ya just love that word?)

...5 choice Blogger-world friends of mine.

#1 Shana in Georgia - b/c she is my daughter and friend: after all blogging helps us stay connected better in an age that can take us literally all over the world.

#2 Alexis in Japan - b/c although we are new-blogger friends I feel that IF we lived close, we would be friends.

#3 Laurie in California - b/c she must be my older sister in life. OMGoodness, we have got to meet one day!

#4 Erin in Mississippi - b/c simply stated, we are old friends even if she is my daughters age. And our husbands share ministry together.

#5 Stephanie in Mississippi - b/c she is such a witness and I love her strength and smile! (and b/c her mother and I shared the births of our granddaughters just 6 days apart)

subtitles of the 3 discussions last weekend...

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I tried to transition these 3 sayings into my 3 speeches. So I painted them up (my rendition) and then had free giveaways. Now granted, the 3 ladies who won them can use them as they see fit, i.e. in the kitchen, in the basement or in any garage or attic...Tina, my great friend from LifeWay, wanted to see them so here they are....

Beyond Measure....

2009-03-20T10:40:00.002-04:00

....Today I am going to try and express my thankfulness to Yahweh for how He showed up at the Spices of Life Retreat last weekend. The Bible tells us that we are to “work as if working for the Lord.” We are also to take seriously the task of teaching others. We must pray b/c everything is depending on God. Thru this whole process of preparation for this retreat, I have grown in my faith walk! This excites me! But how do you show homage to someone who was your constant encourager? How do you say thank you to the person who pushed you forward when you told yourself you were not the right choice, not worthy?

Henry Blackaby (author of Experiencing God) says, “We must see God at work and then join Him.” I am here to say that I knew God wanted me to walk this path, even though I did not want the same. I knew I was to follow this call and I am so terribly glad I did. I have noticed that I do have the stamina and intelligence (not a pride thing but rather a humble item of life) to apply myself to something so daunting. I fought off some very old self esteem issues and gave God His due glory! I recognized once again that what I may have thought were trials in my life really broke open to new blessings! I know that because of the seasons I have been through, I can say PRAISE GOD and know it in my soul! After stretching myself these past few weeks I can say w/humbleness of heart, my God is the God of Creation, God of Peace, God of Healing, God of Salvation, God of renewed Grace! And I am thankful that He saved a wretch like me.

Last Thursday, March 12th, I had a surprise at our front door. A knock came on the door as we walked in from the garage from small group….and when Steve flipped the door wide open a chorus of “SURPRISE” was standing on the porch! ALL OF OUR KIDS! Yes, every one of them. They drove up from southern Georgia so my daughters could go w/me to the retreat! That was awesome in and of itself….but for our sons to take a Sunday off of work (both boys are in the ministry) was PRICELESS! And yes, the granddaughters were the cherry on top of this gals hot fudge sundae!!!! I gasped, and then ran to the bathroom! Thank you my dear children. I am one joy filled mother! Thank you Steve, you are my everything!

My best friend, Steve, worked all of this out….3 wks worth of work. I am told that even the room role at church was a FAKE ONE just in case I saw it on any given Sunday morning. I mean how many times have you heard, of over 50 people who knew of this surprise (most of them ladies) and no one let the preverbal “cat out of the bag?” Amazing! Thanks ladies, you are a great bunch of sista’s!

Do I want to do this kind of thing again….no! If God said that He wanted me to do this again…..yes!

BTW….There were 6 adults and 3 kids in this tiny apartment for 4-5 days (well, the guys had the grands for 2 of those 4 days) There were pallets and air mattress’s all over the floors of this place. (see pics below) Memories of FAMILY rallying together for no other reason but to say “We believe in you, we support you, we love you.” I am blessed beyond measure!

Pictures of a Weekend...

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(eyes to the right) the reason
I am quarantined in the house
this week...
...PINE allergies.

My Girls! I felt like this past weekend was a Mastercard commercial.... guest speaker at a retreat-$100.00 ...amazing view w/a fireplace-$75.00....your daughters driving 14 hrs to surprise and support you - PRICELESS~!

A view at the resort! This lake was huge!

My 3 cups are back on my kitchen counter!!!! YEAH! (of course we had juice and Krispie Kreme donuts for a healthy breakfast)

A family of 9 living in a 2 bed/1bath apartment for 5 days! Boy was it all worth it!

Just move everything to a corner and pile it high! Life is good.

Today I about lost...

2009-03-11T18:02:00.002-04:00

...my mind! As I sit here in my pajama's (it's pajama party night )waiting for Awana to begin at church, I am totally exhausted. Where has this week gone? I feel like Kate on Jon & Kate + 8. I felt that if ONE MORE THING needed to be doneI was going to crash from the pressure.

My mother's furnace is still a big issue.....I am 2 days away from the women's conference....I have practiced my speeches for a week now and still can't get the timing right.....My Hyatial hernia has really been bothering me lately....no reflux, just pain.....after the women's conference I must start on VBS decorating meetings (Night at the Museum~if you have any ideas I am open) .....new small group literature for the childrens area being introduced.....must I go on?

I want to find within the next week some peace and calmness. I know God is there, and will go before me. I want to practice Phillipians 2:
encouragement, sympathy, complete joy, being unselfish, looking toward the interest of others, having the mind of Christ, that my tongue will confess Jesus as Lord,knowing God is at work in me, doing all things w/o grumbling, trying daily to shine my light, hope in Jesus.

So I leave now heading into my sweet little 3rd grade girls and help them put to application the verses we will memorize. And knowing that as I help them I will also be helped in the reading of the Word of God. Isn't He amazing???? Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above, in wisdom, power and love, our God is an Awesome God.

Seeing dots...seeing ....

2009-03-04T08:35:00.003-05:00

...girly girls all dressed up for Easter.

Walking around TJMax Monday in search of a serving tray, I bumped into these adorable/affordable dresses for "the grands." So of course I called Shana to see if she had already gotten the girls their Easter dresses...and since MawMaw bought them their fall smock dresses, I thought that it was my turn.

A dear friend of mine, Erin in MS, is telling of some fantastic frugal ideas she is applying to their family...so this is my contribution to her FFI's. I bought 3 dresses for < $50!

We (Shana, Jill & I) love to see the girls dressed as triplets! So even though these are not identical, Shana agreed that the 'theme' was the same. My momma saw the dresses yesterday and she loved the one in the middle. Her words were "It reminds me of a skirt I had when I was younger."

Shana, I hope you love them..perfect cotton dresses for hot summer southern sundays!

The eyes have it....

2009-03-02T21:55:00.002-05:00

....my eyeball cookies were a huge success Sunday! I made 88 sets and came home w/12 sets. woohoo!

Thought you would like to see a pic from the day!