Fun at The Zoo!!

The Ascent to the Zoo


Moon Jellyfish


Posing with the giant polar bear statue.
We didn't get the statue though...don't ask.


Some kind of sparkly fish.


The Rhino


At the Waterfall


Polar Bear


Their paw prints sure are big!


The Bear Trap


One of two new baby elephants...
...eating her mother's fresh dung...
yum!


Posing at The Aquarium


One of the many gorgeous varieties of flowers


Popping up in the center of the stingray tunnel.
They crawled through and looked at the rays swimming all around.


One of many rays they saw.


His Regal Highness...


Inside The Elephant House.


Dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse

My Recent Adventure

SO....I'm on my way to work last night....feeling not so good...having some achy, tightening, chest pain going on...with a lot of soreness in my neck, arm and shoulder on the left side. Mmmm? What to do. I'm on my way to work...supposed to work at 10 hour shift. I had called of the night before (something I rarely do - have only missed two days this year....) Now what?

I picked up my cell phone and called Dawna. Since she's a nurse and I didn't want to worry my sister (also a nurse) and my Mom (former CCU aide - with masterful knowledge of the workings of the heart due to her former job and life experience with Dad)...I called Dawna. I was hoping she would say that it was probably just gas or something. I knew better. But I was counting on her to lie.

Nope.

She said, "I'll meet you in the ER." - and she hung up and that was that.

I arrived at work and told Sandy in registration (one benefit of working in a small-town hospital - you know everyone) that I was having chest pain and that I was just going to run upstairs to the lab to tell them I was going to be late while they checked me out. Nope. Sandy said, "SIT."

Within 30 seconds, they had me headed toward triage...and before I could take two steps, in walked my friend, Dawna. How she managed to get there so fast, I'll never know. She must've dropped everything when I called and out the door she went.

After the initial assessment, they wheeled me into a room and Renee wired me for sound - Jim started my IV and then some very sweet woman from radiology came and took me for chest x-rays. (wow...someone I didn't know...) I got some morphine for pain and some benadryl for the reaction I had to the morphine, And I even got an oxygen cannula for my nose...which I promptly put in my mouth. (don't ask.)

3 1/2 hours later, they wheeled me into my room in MAC (Medical Acute Care) and wired me for more sound - telemetry for the night.
In those 3 1/2 hours, I tried to phone Brillo Man at least 20 times. He wasn't answering. His cell phone must be out in the truck and he went to bed so he won't hear or see the house phone flashing that a call is coming in. I wanted to call my Mom, but didn't want her to worry - because I knew she would - but I also knew she would pray - but I also didn't want her to worry....ugh. I realize now that I made a mistake in not calling her - she is, after all, the one person in this world who cares about me more than anyone else ever will. I love you Mom, and I'm sorry I didn't call. Truth be told --I really didn't want people to worry and deep down inside was thinking that I'm not worth it - don't worry about me - there's more important things and people to worry about. Now there's a therapy topic for my next session with Lucy....

Anyway - Dawna and I spent 3 1/2 hours, laughing, crying, talking and just being the best of friends...having the kind of friendship that comes along very rarely in this lifetime. There was a time when I thought that we'd drifted apart for good - we took a "sabbatical" from our friendship for over a year. And now God has brought us back together - for reasons that are so clear - just as the reasons we drifted apart are so clear. Suffice to say that God's timing is perfect.

At 1:08am (I know it was 1:08 because I'm weird like that - and notice stupid, little details...) when they wheeled me into my room, Dawna left (without getting my my IPOD from my jacket pocket even after she said that she checked the van over for anything else I couldn't live without after I sent her out for the THIRD time to retreive stuff for me!) (What's up with that?!)

Jim, my ER nurse and friend, took both my hands in his and said with such sincerity that I cried (of course), "Deb, it's been a pleasure to take care of you and God Bless You." I was now in the capable hands of Amy and Sara. (Ironically the same names of two other awesome nurses I know but don't know!)

I still was unable to reach my husband, so I tried without success to sleep. I read my Bible, I prayed - not for me - but for my friend Dawna, for my coworkers who were covering my shift, for my caregivers, for my husband, my daughter, my Mom and the rest of my family. I had a wonderful time enjoying God's presence in the quiet of my room.

This morning, I was informed that while my heart remained in normal sinus rhythm while resting, it went up to 125 whenever I got out of bed to walk to the bathroom - a mere ten feet away. As a result, I will be undergoing an adenosine stress test first thing Monday morning. I'm not looking forward to that. I've had one before. Since I'm unable to walk on a treadmill for as long as I would need to do so (because of the MS and the stupid heel spur in my left foot), they will inject me with medication to simulate the conditions of intense exercise.

I'm trusting that it will all be good. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

The chest pain is gone (99% of the time). Praise God. The racing still continues. Praise God. The fatigue remains. Praise God. ...I have learned in whatever state I am in...
...Praise God.

Thanks for all your heartfelt and continued prayers!

Tomorrow ---the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium awaits! The animals will be having an early Thanksgiving feast with pumpkins, gourds, yams and more!

Olivia is excited! Mom is concerned..."are you sure you should be walking around the zoo?"..."I'll get a scooter, and besides, if anything happens, I'm closer to the hospitals in Pittsburgh which is exactly where I would go if anything serious happened here."

...And I will be thankful, along with the animals, for all God's blessings, for all His faithfulness, for His gift of a true friend, and for the healing yet to come!

The Mack Truck

I have a cold.

A miserable cold.

A sinus infection cold.

I hate it.

I feel so crappy that I actually called off work last night - something I never do.

MS and colds don't go together. When you have MS and you get sick, it totally drains all your energy and you feel like you've been run over by a Mack Truck.

Today, I think I feel worse.

Today is a Mack Truck day.

My nose is dripping and stuffed and dripping stuff.

Constantly.

And I'm tired of having to get up from where I am just to get a tissue - which is always where I'm not.

Therefore, I have come up with an inqenious creation. I'm thinking of selling them on my etsy site. What do you think?! (Don't put it past me to wear it to work tonight...)





By the way...I covet your prayers!!

---

And the prayer offered in faith
will make the sick person well;
the Lord will raise him up.
If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
-James 5:15

---

Funny you should mention....

....cleaning.

When I as a kid, one of my chores was to (every Saturday morning) scrub the kitchen and bathroom floors. And it wasn't good enough just to slop a mop over the mess. I had to sweep the corners out with a broom - vacuum the floors - and then get down on my hands and knees, wash AND rinse the floors - one section at a time.

To this day, I don't consider a floor clean unless it's cleaned the "proper" way. We have lived in our home 4 1/2 years and my kitchen floor has never been cleaned properly by me. Brillo Man cleaned part of it that way once not too long ago....but I've never been on my knees in this kitchen for the purpose of cleaning the floor! There have been other occasions when I've been on my knees in the kitchen, but that usually involves tripping on a crayon or other such wayward toy...

Last evening, I looked at the table which butts up against my computer desk. It was piled SO HIGH with STUFF that I had to crane my neck to see beyond the junk into the living room. So, at 2:00am I started sorting through the junk. At 3:00am, I called it quits and went to bed. A few moments ago, I asked Brillo Man if he had noticed that I began to clean off the computer desk/table. ..."oh yeah, the pile that was two feet high is now only six inches high..." I said, "Didn't you see the huge bag of papers and junk that I set by the front door to be thrown away?" "uh, I saw a small bag of junk..." He just doesn't get it.

Seriously, I have been under GREAT conviction to get my house in order and be the best homemaker that God created me to be. Albeit almost impossible since I am working full-time hours. I will be cutting my hours back at work --probably shortly after the holidays. I'm not sure how well that will go over at work --but it's either shorter hours or no hours because I will have to quit if they won't grant my request. This full-time job has been for a season....and the last time I checked, the seasons were a-changin'! If I'm every going to live up to that woman described in Proverbs 31, I have a LOT of changing to do!

---

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
-Proverbs 31:27

---

Veteran's Day

Today, join me in honoring all the men and women who haved served or are serving in our armed forces.

We are proud of your commitment and honored by your sacrifice. I think of Brillo Man and my brother, Rob, both of whom served proudly in the US Army.

But I especially think of my Dad. He served in the Marine Corps and was the most patriotic person I have ever known. He erected a flag pole in our front yard before it was 'fashionable' to do so. Every morning he would raise the flag and every evening he would lower it - always before the sun set.

One day, I came home to see that he had added the USMC flag below the American Flag. So now there were two flapping in the breeze. And I remember how proud he was to fly those flags which represented to him all the good for which America stands.

Ironically, Dad was buried on Veteran's Day. Recently, on November 7th, we marked thirteen years since he has been in heaven. Thirteen years since those flags flew over his earthly home. Seems like only yesterday...yet seems like forever. He was honored at his funeral by a color guard, the playing of taps, and a 21-gun salute. I know he stood at attention in heaven that day as he observed that honor given him.

I miss you Dad.

...it won't be long...'til we'll meet again.

---

In a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
-I Corinthians 15:52

---

Gas, Liquid, Air, Solids

Olivia started a new science unit in school.

Some solids are pointy,
Some solids are bendy,
Some solids are twisty,
Some solids are smooth,
Some solids are hard,
Some solids are flat.

Name a solid that's:

pointy
bendy
twisty
smooth
hard
flat

That's all. I have nothing else today....due to the fact that my BRAIN IS FRIED!! THE STOVE HAS HEATED OUR HOUSE TO 80+ DEGREES!!! It snowed here today...the windows are open, the ceiling fans are on. We're thinking of hosting a Hawaiian Luau...

I said to Brillo Man, "So how do we regulate this heat?"
His response, "We open the window."

Then he went to practice his fire twirling...

---

He ordered the furnace heated
seven times hotter than usual.
-Daniel 3:19b

---

THE STOVE

After working the midnight shift last night and coming home and crawling into bed, I was awakened mid afternoon by the smell of buring wood. Ah...Brillo Man has completed the wood stove project in the basement.

Last week, with the help of some neighbors, a chimney was erected which houses the stove pipe---up, up past the peak of the roof. Thank the Lord for neighbors who can climb ladders as Brillo Man is unable to do so due to his hip problem. We are blessed with neighbors who are more than willing to lend a hand to help with whatever needs done. God is good. And I am so grateful to Bob and Butch for their help with this project. Not to mention Brillo Man...who has worked so hard to provide this awesome treat for our family.

The stove was purchased for a mere $200 --what a steal! Another blessing. It will save us a lot of money this winter as we will be burning wood instead of propane. Brillo Man has been cutting wood for weeks. A little at a time. He has several piles --not yet stacked --I'm wondering if it will ever get stacked. But it's cut - so it's burnable. It will fit into THE STOVE.

I've decided that we can't talk about THE STOVE without referring to it as THE STOVE. It's a monster. But a warm one! We still have to cut out some more of the carpet --and clean off the ashes which have already accumulated on the front. Then it will look a little better. Right now, THE STOVE is keeping us warm.

And we are blessed.

Now whose job is it going to be to tend this beast?

---

The fire must be kept burning
on the altar continuously;
it must not go out.
Leviticus 6:13

---

Illustration Friday: Vacant

My illustration for Illustration Friday is an old, empty chair.

Vacant, but full.

Full of memories of years gone by...

Of stories told to young children as they snuggle on laps.

Of cats curled on the cushion
as the midday sun shines through a nearby window.

Memories of days before there were TV remotes
and you actually had to get up off the comfy chair
to turn a knob on the television.
And then you adjusted the rabbit ears
and twisted the aluminum foil
and asked a child to 'hold it right there'
because that's where the best reception was.

Memories of crocheted doilies and cups of afternoon tea
shared with friends who dropped by
while pots of homemade soup
simmered on the on the stove awaiting dinner time.

Memories of giggling laughter as
as kids gleefully pounded on the cushions
to release the shimmering 'diamonds' of dust
long hidden between the threads of the upholstery
to dance in the streaming sunshine.

A place to rest at the end of the day,
put your feet up on the ottoman
and reach for your book on the side table.
Books read by the fireplace on a cold, wintry night.
Mysteries and Suspense novels,
Sagas and Romances,
Historical novels and books of poetry.
Poe and Hemmingway,
Dickinson and Shakespeare.

A place where the carpet is worn
on the floor in front, where many times,
knees were placed while prayers were said.
Where hearts were changed and folks talked to God.

A vacant chair? I think not.

Ruby (Tuesday) Thursday

I decided to join the ranks of those who are posting red photos on Tuesdays and include some recent photos. In some, you may be hard pressed to find some red...but I'm sure it's there somewhere!

This first one is Olivia jumping in the jumping castle at our church's recent Harvest Party. The mesh was red, her jacket is red - I think that this definitely qualifies as red!



Next is Olivia and Miss Gracia at the Harvest Party. Miss Gracia is the teacher for the King's Kids at church - ages 3-5. Even though Olivia is now in Kids on the Move, she still runs to find Miss Gracia every Sunday so she can get a big hug. In fact, everyone who knows Gracia runs to her for a hug - even us grownups. She is filled with God's love and is always willing to share!



Barkley and Olivia at the Harvest Party. Olivia has no idea that Barkley is really Miss LuAnn in disguise!



This next photo is one of some of the kid's singing and signing Our God is An Awesome God. Olivia is to the left of Alvin, the Chipmunk!



Here is one from yesterday. Each year, the sixth grade classes from a local school take a ride out to our land and are presented with a talk about Great Blue Herons. Bordering our property is the largest Great Blue Heron rookery in the state of Pennsylvania. Warden Chapyn informed us that last year, the Game Commission counted 550 nests in the treetops. That's a lot of birds! Of course, not all the nests are in use - some are old, abandoned nests. And some are 'extras'. Apparently, the male heron starts building several nests and the female decides which one she will use and then they finish it together. If you look closely, you will see the red tie back in the girl's ponytail right in the center of the photo. I think that qualifies for the "red" requirement...



There they go...hiking around the pond on the way to find the Heron nests. I asked them to return in the Spring when perhaps they'll actually get a glimpse of the birds themselves. Not a day goes by when we don't see them fishing in our pond. At this time of year, they've flown south to warmer climates. (If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you will see that there is some RED in this one too!)



And finally, here's something fun I painted recently. I'm thinking that this "Sister" is going to need one, big, wonkin', long scarf if she joins The Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf!

The Clock Ticks

I started my journey of blog reading this afternoon with a post by Louise. I am reminded lately from every source in my life that we, as Christians, are to be salt and light. The hour is coming when no man can work...with each day that passes we are one day closer to the Lord's coming.

There are so many people with whom I cross paths on a daily basis whom I know do not know the Lord. There is the cashier at the coffee shop on Tuesday mornings, the women who work the counter at The Good Shepherd Center, the produce guy at WalMart...not to mention dozens of coworkers and friends. What am I doing to impact their world for Christ?

When I'm prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak a word to someone, am I listening? Am I walking in obedience? Not always. Sure, there are times when I follow the lead and I open my mouth and the Lord always fills it with words of wisdom. And I am always blessed and humbled at the outcome, knowing that God has just used me to speak into someone's life something that may impact their decision to change their eternal destiny.

Other times, I'm left kicking myself as I know I have balked in my fear or just plain have been lazy and not done what I know I should have done. May God forgive me for those times. And may He quickly choose to use someone else to take advantage of the opportunity that I missed to encourage a lost soul to make the greatest decision of their life.

I have prayed, just like countless others, that God's will would be done regarding this presidential election. I am not happy with the outcome. However, I must trust that God's will has been done. For whatever reasons, He has allowed this 'change' to take place. Just as Louise has said, the results of this election didn't take God by surprise. He has known the outcome for eons.

Our responsibility, as Christians, is going to be to stand firm whenever issues come up that go against every fiber of our core beliefs. And the issues will come up. This morning, while Olivia was getting dressed for school, she actually broke down in tears when she learned that Barack Obama was our new president. This precious six-year old child said to me, "Mom, I don't like Barak Obama. Grandma told me that he kills babies in Mommy's tummies. I don't think he has Jesus in his heart." Now, I'm sure that those are not the exact words that my Mother used whenever this subject came up between the two of them. I'm still scratching my head as to how or why the subject came up....but at any rate, our precious daughter's heart is hurting because she knows on a very basic level that Mr. Obama doesn't stand on the same side of the issues that we Christians feel are of monumental importance.

We need to continue to pray for this nation - and for our upcoming president -praying more fervently than before. I think God is calling us to step way out of our comfort zone and get serious for Him. The hour is short. The sand continues to slip through the hourglass. How much can we do to impact our world for Christ in the days ahead? I challenge you to BE the salt and light that God has commanded us to be. You will reap the blessing. Trust me.

---

"Behold, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone
according to what he has done."
-Revelation 22:12

---

The Voting Place

Brillo Man and I had a very long wait. There were EIGHT people in line before us at 8:10 this morning in the little township of Sugar Grove. The place was hopping! (wink)

I have purposefully kept the TV and radio turned off today. My spare time instead has been spent praying that the Lord will turn the hearts of the voters to vote His will in this election. Whatever that will may be. (I think I know what His will is...but then again...)

Our God reigns. He will be on the throne of the nations no matter who is on the throne of ours.

---

In the year that King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord seated on a throne,
high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Above him were seraphs, each with six wings:
With two wings they covered their faces,
with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
At the sound of their voices
the doorposts and thresholds shook
and the temple was filled with smoke.
-Isaiah 6:1-4

---

Happy Birthday Brillo Man!

We drove to the hearing. On the way there, Brillo Man asked me to pull off the road because he wanted us to pray. We stopped. We prayed. We drove on.

We arrived in plenty of time to stop at DQ for a quick lunch.

When we got to the hearing, we were searched for hidden weapons and were found to have none. Whew! What a relief. We were allowed admission into the courtroom waiting area.

After some time, I looked at the clock. I was beginning to feel nervous. I had read the same paragraph in a magazine ten times and still hadn't comprehended one word...I looked at the clock. 1:40pm. Take a deep breath, Deb, they'll be calling us in any minute. Deep breath. Sigh...calm....much better. (When I got home, I read an email from my precious friend, Dawna which said, "It's 1:39pm and I'm praying for you NOW.") God is so good.

They called us in. We bumbled around with our suitcase full of medical records- literally hundreds of pages. The CD which they had provided us containing the files of all the documents they already had entered into evidence wouldn't read in any computer. The judge asked that someone burn new copy. ....fidgeting...waiting....more paper bumbling....dropping stuff on the floor....me thinking that we looked like quite a pair of bumbling bozos. The judge said, "It's just me and I don't bite. I understand that you're nervous. It's okay..."

She asked Randy several questions which he answered at length. Then she proposed a hypothetical situation to the vocational expert who was present to validate or not validate our claim. "Miss X, Consider that you have a 50 year old male who is unable to stand except for a total of one hour in any given eight hour period. He is able to sit for no more than 15-20 minutes at a time before he must get up and walk around. He must lie down for 15-20 minutes every two hours. Is he capable of performing the work that he previously performed?" Miss X's response: "No".
Then the judge asked: "Is there any job that he would be able to perform given the aforementioned conditions?" Miss X's response: "No."

The judge said, "Randy, I hope to have my decision submitted by the end of the week or early next week. I will be ruling in your favor. Happy Birthday."

I just wanted to hug her! God is so good. His timing is impeccible...for this is the last month that I will receive a disability payment as my "trial work period" has ended. I have decided that I'm going to continue to work. As Brillo Man said, "Deb, you can do what you want, but I think that when you're working, you're happier." And he's right. I am happy to be back at work - doing what I enjoy. It's nice to now know that the pressure is off to work full-time hours and I will be able to work less...but still get out of the house for a change of atmosphere.

My disability pay stops. His will begin. Originally, the SS office told us that his hearing would not be scheduled until May of 2009. How would we make it financially without that needed income from November to May? Guess what? They moved the hearing forward. God's timing.

And today....is Brillo Man's 50th Birthday.

Happy Birthday Honey! I love you --so much more than you will ever know!

---

"Therefore I tell you,
do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body,
what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
-Matthew 6:25-34

---

Hearing

...thanks for all your prayers as Brillo Man and I attend his disability hearing today!

I'll keep you posted!

Praying for the Upcoming Election

My aunt sent me the following email which I thought too important not to share. I appreciate that each point is backed by God's Word and that we are encouraged to pray for the person of God's choosing to lead our nation. Read on...

Patrick Joshua is the Director of the National Prayer Network and a father figure to the prayer movement in India. Because of a special burden for our nation, he visited the United States twice in recent months. Patrick believes the U.S. is at a very critical time in history, the impact of which will be felt around the world.

During his visits, Patrick told the story of God's intervention in India in 2004 in response to the fervent, united prayers of His people. At that time, political forces had mobilized with the intention of turning their nation in a direction that would make it almost impossible for Christians to share or practice their faith. Those forces had the momentum and the numbers as the Christian population in India is a minority - by some estimates representing only 6% of the 1.1 billion people in the nation. The situation was desperate. Many thought it was impossible. So they turned to the God of the impossible and began to pray.

In cities and states across their nation, a movement of united, fervent prayer arose but with a unique focus. They weren't praying for particular candidates or political parties. Instead they were praying for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, to be elected in every elected office.

Right up until the day of the election every poll and pundit predicted the election would be a landslide for those who were opposed to the gospel. When the votes were counted, however, the results revealed a different story. In district after district those candidates and political allies who opposed the gospel had been soundly defeated. At a national level they were out of power. Needless to say the press and the pundits were stunned. No one saw it coming.

So what happened? It seems God heard the cries of His people and touched the hearts of the voters as they went into the voting booths. Some believe a corporate conviction came upon the people and they indeed voted for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing. This was seen most dramatically in the states and regions where prayer was the most concentrated and fervent. In one of those states, laws that restricted the advance of the gospel were immediately repealed.

While our situation is certainly different, Patrick believes we are at a critical crossroad. He has encouraged us to follow a similar pattern in prayer for our upcoming election. Here's the pattern for prayer as we approach our election.

Prayer Guide for the Election

Begin with Heart Preparation:
Come into God's Presence with Worship.
Thank God for his great mercy and many blessings.
Ask God to extend his mercy to us and to our nation.

Pray for the upcoming election -

For those running for office nationally:

Instead of praying for specific candidates or political parties,
pray that the person of righteousness,
the person of God's choosing,
would be selected in every congressional district,
every senate race and for the office of President.

Righteousness exalts a nation
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
-Proverbs 14:34

For those running for office at the state and local level:

Pray that the person of righteousness,
the person of God's choosing,
would be selected in every elected office
at the state and local levels.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2

For those voting:

Pray that each person voting will be convicted
to vote for the person of righteousness,
the person of God's choosing, in each elected office
and in each ballot initiative.
Pray for God's Presence to overshadow each person
as they make their decision.

The Spirit of the Lord will be upon him -
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord
- and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears.
-Isaiah 11:2-3

For those involved in the election process:

Pray that every official involved
in the election process would serve with
honesty and integrity of heart.

The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
-Proverbs 11:1

For those praying:

Pray that God would empower intercessors
and people across the nation and
around the world to call out to Him
day and night in extraordinary prayer
during this season.

And I will pour out on the house of David
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
a Spirit of grace and supplication.
-Zechariah 12:10

For the Church:

Pray that the Church would be fully awakened,
engaged and empowered during this critical season.
Pray that we would understand the urgency and
importance of this election and the implications
for the advancement of God's purposes
in our nation and around the world.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
-Isaiah 9:7

For our nation:

Pray that God's plans and purposes for our nation
would be established during this election season.
Pray that we would be a nation who follows
God and is a blessing to the nations of the earth.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
-Matthew 6:10

---

If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14

---

Lady Liberty

Ever since we announced to Olivia that we were going to visit New York City and The Statue of Liberty while on vacation--she was SO excited! She just could not wait to see the statue. It was one of the major highlights of our trip for her and for us as well!

We had decided while on the Liberty Island Ferry that she was going to dress as The Statue of Liberty this year for Halloween. Of course, there are no creepy costumes allowed in this house...so The Statue of Liberty was a perfect choice.

Last week, I thought it high time that I get busy and make her costume. I left the house with the intention of stopping at my very favorite store - The Good Shepherd Center - our local "mission" store. What perfect timing - they were having a bag sale that day....everything you could put in a bag for only $2.00. Anyone who knows me knows that I am an expert at packing and boy, can I stuff lots of things that I probably don't need into a bag! However, right in front of me sat the prize! An old curtain --in precisely the color of the patinaed copper of The Statue of Liberty. Quick! Stuff it in the bag! Then over to another shelf...and there were patterns - Simplicity pattern size 6-8 for costumes....and on the front was a little girl with a witch costume....guess what, the witch just became the statue!

I was blessed to get the fabric and the pattern and a WHOLE BUNCH of other stuff that I probably didn't need for only $2.00. Now to dash home and start working! The crown was easy - just some old oaktag file folders - cut and glued and taped and colored - Wha-la! A Crown!

My plans to construct this really cool torch were thwarted, however, when Olivia came home from school crying that they were not allowed to carry anything in their hands during the parade - no wands, no swords....no Liberty Torches. She was so disappointed. "But Mom, how can I be The Statue of Liberty if I don't even have my book and my torch?!" I told her that I would come up with plan 'B'. Plan 'B' turned out to be a fabric and felt 'torch' sewn onto a glove which she could wear on her hand. Technically, she's not carrying anything and Lady Liberty gets to keep her torch!

This afternoon at the Halloween Parade at school her teacher, Mrs. Redfoot, told Brillo Man and I that Olivia was receiving a lot of compliments on her costume. When Olivia came home from school she told me that she received "at least probably 900" compliments on her outfit! Wow - that's a lot!


Olivia and some classmates in the Halloween Parade.

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Lady Liberty with her torch raised high!

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Lady Liberty and Brillo Man - about to leave to go trick or treating.
Brillo Man wondered if we should have built her a pedestal.
The old rusty stool worked well!

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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
-Emma Lazarus

graven on a tablet
within the pedestal
on which the statue stands.

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Movie

I just watched Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont using my Netflix 'watch instantly' feature.

If you haven't seen the movie, rent it. It's a movie about which one might say, "they just don't make movies like that anymore." Captivating. Sensitive. Moving. Heart Wrenching. Full of love. I give it Five Stars.

Crunchy, Yummy Goodness (I think.)

I just went online to Callie's Pretzel Factory and ordered some pretzels.

We went there on vacation and bought a bunch of stuff. Now I'm addicted.



They make an "Everything Pretzel" which has garlic, onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and salt. Very strong, flavorful, yummy and crunchy!

While there we also sampled some tasty buttermilk ranch pretzels (hard pretzels). Delicious. Brillo Man and I searched the "showroom" for the coveted pretzels. Aha! Found them! ...into our basket they went! I opened the bag when we got home and ate two of the tasty nuggets. Olivia had two as well. Then I went to bed because I had to work that night. After I got up and jumped in the shower, Olivia comes busting in the bathroom...

"MOM! Dad ruined the meatloaf! He put beans in it! I hate beans in my meatloaf!"

Brillo Man, who is usually a pretty good cook, put a can of baked beans on top of the meatloaf. No problem Olivia, we'll scrape the beans off. I dished up the meatloaf and started eating. Interesting...there were these gloppy, doughy, doughball things in the meatloaf. What in the world?!

Later, I'm packing my lunch for work....
"Randy, where are those ranch pretzels?"
"I put them in the meatloaf."
"WHAT?!" (that explains the doughball things....)
"Why in the world would you put them in the meatloaf?"
"I didn't think they would get eaten."
"I JUST OPENED THEM FOUR HOURS AGO!!" ugh.
Olivia started crying..."I really, wanted those pretzels Mom...and Dad ruined the meatloaf..."

The next day....I get up from having slept after working all night. Something smells good. "Randy, what are you cooking?"
"I rescued the meatloaf."
"What?"
"I rescued the meatloaf and made some (cream of doughball) soup."

The soup was actually really good and the the doughy-pretzel-doughball things tasted just like doughballs --perfect in the soup --not so good in the meatloaf.

...but I can't wait until the UPS driver shows up at my door with the pretzels! I immediately will be hiding them so they don't end up a mystery ingredient in some new-fangled dish!

Prayer Request

Hello all my blogging friends....

As some of you may know, Brillo Man had his hip replaced in 2006. The surgery failed - i.e., he will have to have revision surgery. Because of other problems in his spine and neck, he has been unable to have the surgery.

His orthopaedic surgeon encouraged him to apply for SS disability. We have to attend a disability hearing on November 3rd --just one week away. Ironically, that is also Brillo Man's 50th birthday.

I ask that you would pray for us - for wisdom and clarity of thought and speech as we present his case to the judge. We will have no legal respresentation, so we need all the prayers we can get! Also, please pray for favor so that this claim will be approved. Anyone who knows my husband knows that he is in constant pain and in our opinion, should qualify for disability benefits.

We covet your prayers throughout this upcoming week and especially on the 3rd.

Thanks!!

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Praise

Thanks for all your prayers for Grant!
He is doing much better. It appears that he will need more skin grafts, but will not lose his leg. God is good!

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So he, leaping up,
stood and walked and
entered the temple with them
—walking, leaping, and praising God.
-Acts 3:8

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Go ahead...I know you want to...

...go ahead...keep on poking...
you'll beeee soooorrrryyyy....

Prayer Request

Hello all my blog buddies and prayer warriors!

I have an urgent prayer request...

There is a little boy I know, his name is Grant. Grant is 3 1/2 years old.

On Friday, Grant darted in front of a riding lawn mower and sustained serious injuries to his leg and knee. He now battles infection and it is uncertain (according to the medical community) whether or not he will be able to keep his leg.

We all know that we serve a God who is bigger! A God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think! I ask that you would pray for Grant and his family. His uncle Dan is dealing with all the emotion of having been the driver of the mower and is obviously devastated. Please pray for his Mom, Tammy, as she carries the burden of seeing her little boy suffering so - and for Grandpa Rodney.

Also please pray that God will use this tragedy to bring them all closer to His side and that Grant will be healed to bring glory to God.

Thanks!

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But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
-Malachi 4:2

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Underwear....and socks

So, I went to StuffMart the other day to buy new socks. While there, I decided to buy some new underwear as well. I knew the size I needed, but when I looked at the package, the back sizing chart indicated that I should be buying the next bigger size. I knew that they probably would be too big --but I bought them anyway because I didn't want to "go against" what the package said. Now I'm sitting here with underwear that goes practically up to my boobs --which isn't as high as you may think because my boobs are a whole lot lower than they should be --but it's still way too high to be considered properly fitting underwear.

And the new socks, while they look great, are too tight and leave trench marks in my skin above my ankles - due to major fluid retention -- probably because I've been binge eating a whole bunch of salty snacks. So now, I must go buy more socks.

And by the way, my sister actually suggested that I use my forlorn socks to make into catnip happy cat toys for wayward cats in animal shelters. She thought it might be a fun project for my Girl Scout Troop. Yeah, right, like I'm going to give up my socks to some hairball hacking cat only to discover the sock's mate in a bin in my garage in the year 2010. What?!..is she thinking?!

The end.

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"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
-Ecclesiastes 1:2

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Things that brought me freedom today:

1.) Discovering that I indeed can have good support in a bra without it being a pinchy, jabby, underwire.

2.) Walking into my appointment with my very own cup of Raspberry Chai Latte and not worrying about who was going to be offended by it.

3.) Painting with abandon.

4.) Enjoying a Reeses Peanut Butter cup not caring how many layers were being added to my hips. (one day soon, the miniature Halloween Candy will all be a thing of the past!)

5.) Knowing that I am loved by God - Unconditionally. Realizing that when I mess up (and boy, did I EVER mess up today) that He loves me. He's there with His arms wide open, ready to embrace me and comfort me and tell me that it's all going to be okay as long as I continue to trust in Him. (sound familiar Dawna?) There is absolutely NOTHING that I can do or neglect that is going to separate me from His love. He - is awesome.

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
-Galations 5:1

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Neighborhood Hayride and Bonfire

oops. We got a flat tire. Had to change wagons in the middle of the ride.



Iva - our wonderful neighbor, hayride driver and hostess of the party!




Like father....



...like daughter.




Some scenes along the way:







Olivia gave an ear of field corn to one of Iva's horses when we returned from the hayride.



Laughing with friends.



Butch, chief chef extraordinaire and host of the party.



Olivia enjoying the day.



The burning embers.



We had a fun afternoon and are blessed to live in our little part of the countryside with wonderful neighbors whom we call friends!

55 and counting...

No....not my age, but rather the number of socks that are presently on the floor next to my side of the bed.

What's even more ridiculous than having 55 socks on the floor next to my bed is that NONE OF THEM MATCH to make a pair!

In my dresser - another DRAWER FULL OF MISMATCHED SOCKS!

In my closet - TWO pull-out closet organizer baskets FULL of socks.

At the foot of my bed - a small laundry basket full of socks.

In my garage / studio / catch-all space - a large Rubbermaid container FULL of socks.

90% of them do not match another.

I have socks from as far back as high school. Tube socks with the number '78' printed on the side, just under the green stripes. Tube socks. They don't even MAKE tube socks anymore.

After spending five minutes sorting through the pile at the side of my bed and not finding two that matched, I decided that I was going to head to Wal-Mart to buy MORE SOCKS! The only reason I did not was because I called my friend, Dawna, and told her that I was coming over - I was in the middle of a sock crisis - "I'll tell you more when I get there"....

Dawna is just so sweet --she told me that if properly cut and dissected, all of my socks could be crocheted into tote bags, then gave me the pattern to crochet said bags. Then she took off her shoes and modeled her own fabulous socks and instructed me on where to buy them. Six pair for $7.50 at StuffMart (a.k.a. WalMart).

I love it! I'm going to go get some really, soft, comfy, arch-supportive, non-binding socks....and my friend loves me just the way I am...socks and all!

P.S. Don't ask Brillo Man what HE thinks about all my socks!
And if Dawna actually believes that I'm going to CUT UP my precious stash of mismatched socks and turn them into totebags??!?!?!....She's got another thought coming!

Television

Tonight, I was flipping through our satellite television guide, looking for something interesting to watch.

And I discovered that Obama actually has a CHANNEL all his own. The OBAMA CHANNEL. Unbelievable.

I didn't tune in.

I rarely talk politics unless I know where others stand on the issues. And since I don't know where all my blog readers stand on the issue, I have not brought up the presidential election at all in this space.

But tonight, I was pushed over the edge. Obama has a channel. How pitiful is that?

Are there any other McCain/Palin fans out there?! I truly believe that Sarah Palin is like Esther - placed in her position by God for such a time as this. God has a plan. And it's bigger than what any of us can imagine.

I believe that it's our responsibility as Christians to be interceding for our nation. In case you haven't noticed - our country is facing some pretty tough issues right now. A friend at work mentioned that she just lost $6,000 from her retirement fund. Our neighbor lost $25,000. Then there's the coworker who contributes 30% of her pay towards retirement....I'm sure she lost way more than anybody else I know.

Trust in God. That's the answer to all of the turmoil and panic about our economy. It doesn't matter how much money you have or you don't have. It's not really your money anyway. It all belongs to God. That ticker on the NYSE is just a number on a digital screen. Up. Down. Up. Down. We should not be placing our trust in those numbers and stressing over the economy for "who of us by worrying can add a single hour to our lives?" (Matthew 6:27)

Whoever wins in November...It really doesn't matter. Whoever wins will be there because God wants them there to fulfill His purpose for this nation. That doesn't mean we stop praying.

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I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
-Psalm 37:25

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