I Can't Remember the Lyrics....

I don't remember the title of the song, or the exact lyric, but this morning on my way home from work, a song came across the radio and one line said something to the effect that God had forsaken His Son on the cross.

And of course, I knew that.

But at that moment, it really sunk in that NEVER will we ever have to experience that same feeling that Jesus did at that moment in time. For the Lord has promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us.

How awesome is that? Think about it. Jesus became our sin. As a result, the Father turned His back on His only Son for one brief moment in time. We never have to know what it's like to have God not be there. Because He is always there. Always. In every situation. Whether we are able to recognize His presence or not. It's not about what we can "feel". He is there. Period.

In all our unworthiness....He is there.
Through all our guilt and shame...He is there.
Through all our fear and doubt...He is there.
In all our failures and frustrations...He is there.
In our lack of faith...He is there.
In our trials...He is there.
In our times of sickness...He is there.
Whenever we feel most discouraged...He is there.
Throughout our times of disobedience...He is there.

God is...there.
And His love - UNCONDITIONAL!

Life's Little Blessings

Last night, I arrived at work to find waiting there a package given to me by my dear friend, Debby. (That's her on the right, along with another friend, Barb and myself.) Apparently, Debby felt the need to gift me with this fabulous pair of red, fuzzy socks, because she and everyone else knows that I NEED more socks! She told me that she was "feeding the fetish!" (I have no idea whatsoever she means by that! ha!) and gifted me with these fabulous, fuzzy, red socks because I had picked up a day of work for her not too long ago. I certainly never expected such a gracious thank you, and it for sure wasn't at all necessary, but...I will NEVER turn down a perfectly good pair of socks!!

I wore them to bed today and my feet were toasty warm and cozy!



This day...I am blessed...with warm feet and good friends and a NEW PAIR OF SOCKS!! Yahoo! God is Good!

The Visitors

The other day, Bentley was outside and all of a sudden he started barking up a storm. I mean...REALLY barking! Non-stop - Ferocious (yeah right, who's he kidding?) barking!

I got up from my chair and looked outside to behold this site:



Our neighbor, Butch, had arrived with his newly purchased team of horses. These two are massive animals! As you can imagine, Butch, being small of stature will have his hands full with these two. He said it takes about an hour just to get them harnessed and ready to work. There are a lot of fallen trees in his woods and he plans to have the horses help him drag the logs to the clearing. Better him than me!





Bentley barked the entire time the horses stood in the driveway....and barked the entire time the horses made the long trek up to the road...and barked the entire time the horses walked down the road toward their home...and barked the entire time Brillo Man spent shoveling up the mess the horses made (of which I'd have had photos had my camera battery not died!)...and barked and barked some more...just for good measure, I'm sure!



(P.S. Did you happen to notice the LACK of mudholes in our driveway thanks to the wonderful gravel which Brillo Man has worked so hard to spread?....That's my Kindle you're looking at...)

You've GOT to be kidding me!

Today while browsing through the military PX exchange website, I found this item:



Bentley will NOT be getting this gadget anytime soon!
Who invents this stuff?

Be Blessed This Day!

---

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.
-Jeremiah 17:7,8

---

Bluebird Bluebird at My Window...

This morning when I came home from work, all was quiet in the house except for this incessant "tap-tap-thumping" up against the living room windows. I looked over and saw a pair of bluebirds trying their hardest to get into the house! I don't know if perhaps they were after the Christmas tree or the strands of popcorn on the tree or what exactly. But for over an hour these two birds just kept flying into the window. Very bizarre! They typically don't nest in trees, so I don't know what about the Christmas tree enticed them so!

They certainly are beautiful birds....and now very tired birds from all their efforts!

Too bad they can't talk and tell me what they're after!

---

But ask the animals,
and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air,
and they will tell you...
-Job 12:7

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My Mom - Leanne

Today is a very special day. It's my Mother's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is today...but I will say that she's still very young.

She means more to me than she ever will know. There are days whenever I may be exhausted from working and caring for my family and Olivia will want my undivided attention. Sometimes, I'm sad to say that I just don't have a whole lot of energy and I may ask Olivia to give me just a few moments to rest. It's in those times when she will pick up the phone and call Grandma for she knows that she can count on Grandma's wonderful made-up stories to entertain her - sometimes for hours!! I often think to myself, "oh no, Olivia's calling Mom again and she's going to drive her nuts." But not so. Mom will talk if she's able and if she's busy, she promises to call back and she always does.

Even though I've told her over and over again how much more I appreciate her since I've become a mother, I don't know if she truly knows the depth of my love and appreciation for her. She and Dad raised four children! FOUR! I can't even imagine the effort that went into that task! I have only one and think that some days I may not make it through to the end.

And Mom always had time for us. She was my Girl Scout Leader and my Missionette Leader and she did them both with gusto! Climbing up and down ravines at camp, taking a busload of noisy 6th graders to Washington, DC, helping to buy and sell countless cookies and craft a bazillion favors for residents in nursing homes! She sewed countless outfits - and even made my prom dress.

She is an exceptional cook. She baked homemade bread and yummy things like cream puffs and date pinwheel cookies. She taught me how to cook...great Italian dishes like homemade ravioli (which I don't think I've made in FOREVER!) and braciole (haven't made that in forever either!) and a myriad of other things to tempt anyone's palette. In fact, I think that cooking for Brillo Man when we were courting was one thing that caused him to hang around a while longer. For after all, they say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I don't do so much cooking nowadays...but that's a subject for another blog!

Most importantly, my Mother taught me about the Lord. She lives her life fully for Him - never wavering in her faith. She taught me at a very young age the importance of placing Jesus first in one's life. And that is the greatest lesson she has taught me. She is leaving a legacy of love and faith of which she doesn't even know the value, I'm sure. Her many sacrifices over the years of raising a family have not gone unnoticed. There's a HUGE crown of jewels waiting for her in heaven...one which she'll need several angels to help place on her head...and then at Jesus' feet.

There are really no words to express how much I love my Mother. She has stood by me and believed in me when I wasn't able to believe in myself. Her love has been unconditional and her heart more forgiving than any I have ever known. I know that there have been times when it might have been easy to turn her back on me, but she never did. I recently found this poem by Helen Steiner Rice and thought that her sentiments could have come straight from my heart.

So today, Mom, I wish you the very best that God has for you. May He bless you in ways unexpected. May He uphold you with good health and meet every need and desire of your heart. And may you have many more years on this earth to share with all who love you!

I love you Mom!...way more than you'll ever know! Happy Birthday!!

A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

-Helen Steiner Rice


Mom with Makayla (great niece), Julia (granddaughter), Conner (great grandson), Maggie (great niece), Rachel (granddaughter) and Olivia (granddaughter).
And this is by no means ALL of the crew!

Brillo Man's New Toy

I suggested that Brillo Man do something about all the burrs that Bentley brings home all over his coat each day. ...the ones that I spend many hours picking out of his fur. Brillo Man's resolution...


....a flame thrower.

....or as he likes to say, "I'm going to make fire!" (as he beats on his chest and grunts. ugh!) ahem.



Most people pull their weeds. Not Brillo Man. "I'm, just going to burn 'em all up!"



me: "So...what about my Daffodils?"

him: "Oh, they'll be fine..."

---

The first angel sounded his trumpet,
and there came (Brillo Man with his flaming torch)
and it was hurled down upon the earth.
A third of the earth was burned up,
a third of the trees were burned up,
and all the green grass was burned up.
-Revelation 8:7
(parenthesis mine)

---

Cycling...

No...not on my bicycle.

I'm talking about my energy level.

At this moment, as I type, I feel so overwhelmed with fatigue. It's as if I've been run over by a MAC Truck. Exhausted. Spent. Done. An effort to even breathe.

This afternoon, I felt wonderful - FULL of enery. Then all of a sudden, I "hit the wall". The fatigue comes crashing in out of nowhere and I literally feel like I haven't the energy to take another breath.

Time to go lie down.

These are the times that I DESPISE this disease called MS that insists upon taking over my being!!!!

(P.S. That's me in that painting above. Really. It is. I was the model.)
Ha. yeah. right.

Sniglet of the Day

ACCORDIONATED (ah kor' de on ay tid)

adj. Being able to drive and refold a road map at the same time.

Example of how used in a sentence: If Dave and Dawna were more accordionated, they may have not gotten lost on their way from the airport to Orange Lake.

Oh, wait, she has a Tom Tom and they STILL got lost for over an HOUR?!!!?? Perhaps if it were named "Dave Dave", Dawna would pay more attention to it and they could get to their destination without driving all over the state!

ahem.

....hope you're having a grand time on vacation guys!

---

...She went on her way and wandered in the desert...
-Genesis 21:14

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The Stand Off

Here is the view this morning from our kitchen window... (Click photo to enlarge.) Here he is...the big bad Bentley dog barking his head off at the geese. Obviously, they're really shaken up about all his noise and ruckus! yeah. right.

---

The noise of battle is in the land,
the noise of great destruction!
-Jeremiah 50:22

---

Bibliophile = Deb

I love to read.

Actually, a statement which carries with it more truth is that I love the IDEA of loving to read. Because I rarely have the time to read and when I do, I rarely ever finish any book that I begin. In fact, I rarely finish anything that I start. But that's a subject between me and my therapist....

Anyway. I love to buy books. I'm addicted to buying books. I could start my own library I have so many books. Do I read them? No. Do I dream of reading them? All the time.

Perhaps you have heard of the fabulous, new, electronic "book" currently being marketed by Amazon.com; The Kindle2. It's the upgrade to the original Kindle and supposedly is better in a whole bunch of ways, primarily because it stays charged longer, has a better viewing screen and actually has a computerized voice which will read aloud to you. (I don't think I would like to have a book read to me by a computerized, electronic, emotionless voice...but whatever...it's an upgrade.)

In spite of the fact that I rarely finish a book that I start, and I own dozens, perhaps hundreds of books that I haven't read, and I go to the library and borrow more and let them sit around the house until they're due, returning them unread... I somehow have the GRAND ILLUSION that if I own a Kindle, I will read more. ahem.

Therefore, I've been secretly earmarking some of our money so that I can buy myself a Kindle2. The problem is, every time I earmark, the thought crosses my mind that the money really needs to go toward something important like paying our property taxes, buying new tires for the van, or gravel for the driveway to cover up the myriad of mud holes that have formed over the winter. We are, after all, supposed to be wise stewards of our finances.... (By the way, the tires on the van are bald because they've spun so many times trying to get UNSTUCK from the muck and mire in the muddy driveway.
Gravel = good idea.
Kindle = frivolity.


Brillo Man, overseeing the delivery.



Brillo Man, spreading the gravel.

I wrote out the check and paid the guy. Goodbye Kindle.

I mean, come on, it's not like we really NEEDED the gravel. Those are NOT huge mud puddles at the edges of those rocks. It's all merely a 'figleaf' of your imagination.

My tires aren't actually completely bald either. Just partially. I'm thinking that if I just drive on the part that isn't completely bald, I'll be okay... And we could pay our property taxes with our income tax refund...I think I should get the Kindle....

Ugh. When you pray for me, pray that I remain wise. Or at least take up a collection and send it my way...I need it for my Kindle! Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?.....ummmm...Brillo Man?...my birthday and our anniversary is right around the corner. I know I've always said, "NO COMBINED GIFTS!" But I suppose it would be okay, if just this once you bought me a combined gift. Are you payin' attention?...I want a Kindle.

---

I have not coveted
anyone's silver
or gold
or clothing
(just their Kindle).
- Acts 20:33

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Another Sign that Spring is in the Air!...

I noticed this morning that our Christmas tree which is still in our living room (Yes, I KNOW it's March --don't ask!) is sprouting NEW GROWTH! Note the Spring Green color!!! Not too hard to see why Crayola named that exact shade of green "Spring Green", eh? It won't be long and we'll be able to plant our tree outside!



And....I saw my first Robin this morning!

Spring is on the way...

I awoke this morning to a symphony of honking. The Canada Geese and the Mergenser Ducks have returned to our pond. And the ice has all melted. Now there's just lots of rain and LOTS of mud!!


Spring is on its way here in Western Pennsylvania!

---

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

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SNIGLET of the day

(snig'lit):any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should

Today's sniglet:

ALPONIUM (al po' nee um) n. (chemical symbol: Ap)
Initial blast of odor upon opening a can of dog food.



Bentley catches a whiff of alponium and he comes a runnin'!!

What's the Rush?!

I'm off today. (Rather, tonight.)

So....I came home from work this morning with a dozen ideas in my head about things that I want to get done today.

Brillo Man and I had breakfast together at The Stone Arch, then we took Bentley to the vet for his shots (he is now a whopping 10.6 lbs!)... Afterwards, I'm thinking, "okay, gotta go to Hurlbert's Hardware and get Bentley a license...gotta go to StuffMart and buy stuff, gotta surf the internet and read all my favorite blogs, gotta eat a PBLoco/Cap'nCrunch sandwich, gotta work on my Etsy orders, gotta read a chapter in the book I'm reading by Beth Moore about the life of Paul...To Live is Christ, gotta clean off my desk, gotta watch last night's Wild Card episode of American Idol, gotta call my Mom and decide what we're buying my niece-in-law for the baby shower, gotta buy and wrap a gift for one of Olivia's friend's birthday party tomorrow, gotta call Dawna, gotta wash my scrubs so that the task is not hanging over my head and they won't be clean for when I go back to work, gotta do our income taxes, gotta investigate the new GoogleChrome browzer that I downloaded from internet, gotta sleep...

yeah. that's it. gotta sleep.

Good night.(day!)

LAX

No, not the airport.

Lax as in "I've been lax in my effort to blog lately." Careless and Negligent - that's the dictionary definition of "lax".

Truth is, I haven't been able to come up with anything profound or funny or even semi-intelligent or entertaining, so I haven't posted. I think it's a combination of things, but the biggest is this new medication that I'm taking - a daily injection of Copaxone. One side effect is aching joints - of which I already suffer - but now they REALLY, REALLY ache, therefore I'm not getting enough sleep which means I'm WAY more tired than usual and my brain is pretty much in a fog most of the time.

While in brain fog mode, I'm pretty much good for mindless things like watching television or surfing the internet and eating. And not much good for trying to write something profound or funny or even semi-intelligent or entertaining.

However, I force myself to write so as not to disappoint the masses. ha. For I know that there are literally millions who read my blog each day. ahem.

As far as eating goes...here's something exciting. I invented a new sandwich today. Great big gobs of PBLoco Banana and Cocoa Peanut Butter along with a handful of Captain Crunch cereal piled high on a slice of TOASTED Oat Grain or Whole Wheat Bread. Be sure to put on enough peanut butter to sufficiently "glue" the cereal to the bread. Gobs. Big gobs. Then fold and squish and eat! As Rachel Ray would say, YUM-O! Of course, this must be served with a glass of ice cold milk. However, did we have any milk in the house today? No. I ate the sandwich without the milk - but it would've been better with milk.

Brillo Man went to the store today and bought milk.

Tomorrow --a PBLoco Crunch Sandwich with milk....I can almost taste it now!