Idaho!!! part two

I, like Mrs. Mac, did NOT take enough photos!!
Here are a few!

Welcome to Idaho!!



Sunset the first evening - turning Lake Coeur D'Alene into a pool of silver...



I believe this is the oldest building in Coeur D'Alene....Mrs. Mac, correct me if I'm wrong! A beautiful church - now used for weddings, I believe - but not for regular church services.



On Day Two, Mrs. Mac treated us to a lake cruise! What a wonderful time - and the scenery - stunning at every turn!



Cheryl, Cathy and Pat on the pier - heading to the boat...



The photo doesn't do it justice...the view was spectacular! God's beautiful creation - created just for us to enjoy at that moment in time!!



There were a couple of guys on jet skis showing off their skills! I'm thinking that the water was way too cold to be riding a jet ski!!



Stay tuned for more!!

Idaho!!!

I haven't looked through my photos yet from our fabulous, wonderful, fun Scarf Sister reunion in beautiful Coeur D'Alene, Idaho....but I DO have this one of a water tower...taken using my phone from the front seat of Mrs. Mac's van...as she chauffered us all over God's lovely creation!



I will be sharing other photos soon (even ones with REAL PEOPLE in them!!)

For now, suffice to say that I had the most wonderful time! Oh! The blessings of friendship - hearts knit together in God's love! As Pat mentioned in her blog - there are no adequate words to describe the weekend. It was stupendous!! ...a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Mac for all she did to make the trip the best ever! Love you Mrs. Mac!!

Playing Catch Up

Looking back over the Summer, there are many things I could have posted had I been in "blogging mode." Many weeks ago - in the beginning of June, we spent a week in the mountains of Virginia at a Massanutten Resort. One of the things we did was take a trip through the Luray Caverns. Brillo Man and I had been there nine years ago during our Honeymoon trip. The caverns are even more dramatic than I remembered them! Perhaps because the first time we toured, I was too busy looking at my new husband and paid less attention to the stalagtites!

Here we are - some of my family. We had a great week together!



back row L-R: Brillo Man, Me, Sister-in-law Colleen, Mother-in-law Bonalee aka Bonnie, Father-in-law Chester, front row L-R: Daughter Olivia, Stepdaughter Kelly, Cousin Jessica

Notice how bright we were in our tie-dye shirts! Couldn't have lost us in that cavern had you tried! Although I think they tried....My father-in-law and I spent way more time than the rest of my family - in fact, they finished their tour an hour before we did! It was worth the extra time - got to enjoy Dad's company. I thoroughly enjoyed his great appreciation of God's creation deep in the depths of the mountains! In fact, as we were packing to go home from our week's trip, Dad commented that the whole trip was worth it because he got to see those caverns!

As for the brightness...I'm thinking that I will bring my entire wardrobe of brightly colored, tie-dye T-shirts to the Scarf Sister's Reunion! That way no one will be able to lose me along the way...just in case they try!

M R Ducks

M R Ducks
M R Not
M R 2, C M Big Wangs?...

Okay...so Olivia has raised these two Mallards. (Once upon a time, there were three, until the neighbor's dog intervened, but we're not talking about that...)

These Mallards have quacked their way into our hearts.

We love the Mallards.

Not so much.

Do you see where they are?
Right in front of my studio door.
And when they're not in front of my studio door,
they are in front of the FRONT DOOR!

Needless to say - stepping over the duck droppings as we enter the threshold of our home is not my idea of fun. For one thing, Bentley isn't quite as careful as we are and is quite incapable of wiping his feet.

As I type this, the Mallards are tapping on the storm door and quacking.
I know that if I opened the door, they would waddle right on inside!!



Oy Vey!

I suppose I should be appreciative of one thing. They do match the house.

Tuesday Tidbits...

Borrowed from Kell's Monday's Musings!

1. what is your current obsession?
can't tell you...yet...but it involves earning lots of money and being blessed beyond belief!

2. what are you wearing today?
currently jeans and a tie dye t-shirt (what else?)

3. what’s for dinner?
no idea. no plans just yet. got to go root around in the freezer.

4. what’s the last thing you bought?
pink glitter tennis shoes for Olivia.

5. what are you listening to right now?
Bentley shaking and scratching.

6. if you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
somewhere in the mountains, near a lake.

7. one thing you wanna change about yourself?
be less negative.

8. if you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
italy. (but I would have to stay longer than an hour!)

9. which language do you want to learn?
italian.

10. what’s your favourite quote?
"faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark."

11. would you cook for me?
um...no. who are you?

12. what is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
just avoid them. and pray for them.

13. what are you afraid of the most?
dying before I see my daughter grow up.

14. who do you want to meet right now?
all my scarf sisters!

15. what is your favourite color?
i like all the colors. i can't possibly choose one.

16. give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
i don't even use a hairbrush...style? what's style?

17. what is your dream job?
artist.

18. what’s your favorite magazine?
Birds and Blooms.

19. if you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
i'd put it toward airfare to somewhere....

20. what do you consider a fashion faux pas?
sandals with knee socks.

21. who according to you is the most over-rated writer?
son't know.

22. what brings a smile on your face instantly?
my daughter.

23. a word that you say a lot?
pitiful.

24. what are you going to do after this?
eat lunch.

25. what do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
sleep.

26. what makes you go wild?
what's wild?

27. what are your favourite movies?
tootsie, the sound of music, lord of the rings

28. what inspires you?
good art. good music. good people.

29. what do your friends call you most commonly?
Deb

30. would you prefer coffee or tea?
tea. (preferably earl grey or peach chai latte) i don't like coffee.

31. which other blogs do you love visiting?
TNTC (too numerous to count)

32. favorite dessert/sweet?
it's a tie between chocolate cake with chocolate icing and peach pie - depends on my mood.

33. how many tabs are turned on in your browser right now?
i have no idea.

34. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
i slept long enough and STILL have dark circles under my eyes...perhaps it's true that they are brought on by allergies...

35. favorite season?
spring, without a doubt.

36. one wish that you really want to see it come true?
can't tell you - then it won't come true! ;)

37. what breaks your heart?
the state of our nation and where it seems to be headed.

38. what's one thing you really want to do in life?
leave a legacy for my daughter.

Blessed Beyond Belief

Okay - so you all want to know where I've been and what has been taking up so much of my time that I don't blog very often anymore....

...wish I could share it with you!...I will....someday!!

In the meantime, suffice to say that I have been blessed beyond belief! In a way that that I never thought I would!

And I'm still here...just doing a lot of lurking!

Bark

I picked up some bark today while walking through the woods.

I'm thinking it will soon become integrated into a work of art...

Once Again...

...sitting here looking at the blank space on my screen where I'm supposed to be typing great words of wisdom, or truths, or funny anecdotes. Blank. The page and my mind.

So...I defer to my reading list - Currently reading June Bug by Chris Fabry. It's an interesting story - one which has kept my attention - which is very good these days...

...about a girl traveling with her father in an RV. They are parked in a WalMart parking lot for several weeks as they wait for a part to come in for their vehicle. During the three weeks when they are parked there, June Bug sees her photo on the the missing persons wall and learns that she isn't really June Bug, but rather Natalie Edwards...and so the story goes. Her father, really isn't her father, although he loves her and treats her like a princess. ...as the story unfolds, little pieces of the puzzle are revealed. I won't give any of it away... just in case you may want to pick up a copy of the book. I have two chapters to go - and then I'll begin another of Chris Fabry's books which just arrived from my Paper Back Swap Club., Dogwood

And since I have downloaded June Bug into my Amazon Kindle and iPhone...I am just now noticing the cover of the book while retrieving it online to post here on my blog. There is a quote by Publisher's Weekly which states, "Fabry's retelling of Les Miserables is a stunning success"....hmmmm...now I may have to read Les Miserables...I've never read that one...nor have I seen the play or the movie...

Storm

Storm moving in over the Allegheny River...photo taken on the way to my in-laws house....

to blog or not to blog?

that is the question.


I just can't seem to get my act together these days to blog.

I would like to blog.

Really.

But just never seem to work up the motivation to do so.

Here's something...poor Bentley had a little accident - won't go into details - but just suffice to say that he had to have a few stitches....so now he's wearing what is humorously referred to as the "cone of shame" (reference the movie: UP)

Poor Bentley....

yesterday...the eggs...

today....a turtle!


Upon leaving the house this morning, I almost drove right over this snapping turtle as it crawled across the driveway. Quickly, I called Brillo Man on my cell phone - knowing that had I left the scene, the turtle would be gone! Brillo Man wrestled this guy (or more than likely a gal...as it was far, far from the pond - probably just laid eggs someplace!) into a bin. And there it sat until he and Olivia took it later this afternoon to Riverside Park - whereupon it will probably wind its way through the river waters...right back to our pond!

This was a small one - the shell only about 14" in length. Somewhere lurking the murky waters of the pond are the monster ninja turtles! Beware of those! They can snap your toes right off! Brillo Man put the handle of an ice scraper in the bucket and WHOA!! you should have seen this gal go crazy!! Snapping every which direction! I wouldn't want to encounter one of these in the pond...for sure!! Did you notice the claws?! Ugh!

Eggs

While Brillo Man was excavating a new "road" through our property today he unearthed several nests of snapping turtle eggs. While it breaks my heart that all these little turtles have come to the end of their life cycle, it makes to happy to know that we will not be hatching any more snappers into the pond! We have enough of them already!

There were approximately 25 eggs on the surface - many more underneath the dirt. Each slightly smaller than a ping pong ball and laid over 100 feet from the edge of the pond. They will make a nice dinner for the resident skunk or the raccoons or an o'possum...

Hempfield Elementary Annual Art Show 2010

Paving the way....

Last week we did this:




So that Olivia could FINALLY learn to do this:



She learned in just two days! And don't worry - she didn't get hurt in the crash, and in fact began to laugh when I told her that I would probably have to send the clip to America's Funniest Videos! She got right back on and started to ride again!

Next week....roller skates!

Felisol said it best...

when she recently commented that it's difficult to express oneself in one-liners. And then Connie encouraged me (in the words of Led Zepplin no less! ?!?) to "Ramble On"...
So...ramble on, I shall...

That brings to mind a favorite line from a comedy album released in 1978 by commedian Steve Martin in which he says, "I'm a ramblin' guy.... R... A... M... B... L... I... N...... apostrophe.... RAMBLIN'" If I had a dime for every time I've quoted him with that line, I could take a vacation. In fact, I just used it the other day when rambling all over my friend's answering machine with my extremely long message. Of course, had she picked up the telephone and taken my call (and she knows who she is!) then she wouldn't have had to listen to my ramblin'!

Somehow this all connects somehow to a life lesson....give me sec and I'll think of something....

....

....

....

....

Okay....still working on it....

....

....

Come on Lord, I need something profound here...

ah ha...got it!....Had I not rambled on and on while talking to my mother this morning, I may not have learned of a new surgical technique which my aunt's friend recently experienced which may be something that will tremendously help someone I love make an important decision about an upcoming surgery.

So...rambling is a good thing!

Okay. I'm done.
Off on a mini road trip this afternoon to my sister's house. My niece is performing this evening in her very first high school musical! Bye Bye Birdie? Can't recall for sure...but I hear that whatever it is, it's an awesome show! More on that later!

"Be oblong and have your knees removed...
Go into a closet and suck eggs...
Criticize things you don't know about...
Live in a swamp and be three dimensional...
Get all excited and go to a yawning festival..."

(more quotes from the aforementioned album! It never ceases to amaze me what is stored in the deepest corners of my brain!!)

Okay. I'm really done this time.

Have a blessed day everyone!

The following has nothing much to do with the post...but it does feature Steve Martin:

Breaking the Silence!

This is me, shouting....I HAVE BEEN SILENT FOR TOO LONG!!! THE TIME HAS COME TO BREAK THE SILENCE!!! LET THE SHOUTING BEGIN!!

Whew. There. It's now out of my system.

I don't know why I haven't been blogging. A combination of a whole bunch of things -probably most of my computer time has been spent over on my Facebook account where I have managed to connect with dozens and dozens of friends from my present and past.

But I am finding that I am missing my blogging and the ability to just ramble on and on about nothing in particular. You see, in the world of Facebook, you can update your status with a short statement. I think you're limited to 500 characters or something....but here in my blog world, I can ramble on and on and on and on and there's virtually absolutely NOTHING that you can do about it! I will not get a message when I publish this post that says, "your message is too long, please limit your comment to 'x' number of characters"...or something along that line. You'd think I'd know what it says, because I certainly have seen it enough times. In other words, I have tried to be my long-winded, rambling self on Facebook...but those who administer that page just don't seem to appreciate looonnnnggggg ramblings. humph! whatever!

So...we have much catching up to do...what has happened? Let's see...we went to Myrtle Beach on vacation and we got a new driveway... those are two big deal things...maybe I'll post some photos for those of you who don't "do" facebook and missed those photos...

Olivia started taking piano lessons and has her very first piano recital on Sunday afternoon! I will FOR SURE post something after that event! Although she is in the very beginning of her lessons, her piano teacher has commented to me that "Olivia has been given a gift in music...not all my students have that gift, but Olivia does. And musical ability IS a gift." And of course, there I stood, bursting from the inside...remembering that Word from the Lord before I was even married, when someone said to me that the Lord was showing her that "rivers of worship would flow from my belly..." At that time, having just stepped down from the worship team, I believed that it had something to do with that...but since then, the Lord has revealed to me many times over that the Lord was speaking to me about the future - when I would give birth to this little person, who would love the Lord and LOVE to sing and play any musical instrument she can get her hands on (including the harmonica recently purchased from our local Good Shepherd Center Treasure Store.) Olivia, FOR SURE, is a worshipper! She makes up her own songs to sing to the Lord and she sings ALL THE TIME! Only time will tell...perhaps she will lead many to bask in God's presence as she worships our King!

In the meantime...back to blogging!! You can look forward to more and more ramblings from me in the near future! I'm excited! Let the blogging continue...

Stay tuned!

MUFA!!!! (rhymes with loofah!)

So....I open up my email this morning and glance at the subject line of a 'junk' email received from Prevention Magazine: The Cherry Chocolate Cake that Melts Belly Fat! Ah...an advertisement for the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook - filled with over 200 luscious new recipes in the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook, "the only eating plan that integrates MUFAs into every meal and harnesses their newfound power to reduce belly fat....Drop up to 15 pounds the first month...Eat foods you love and never go hungry...Get a flat belly without doing a single crunch...Protect your health and ward off a host of ailments...Start losing stubborn belly fat from day one...Every recipe is packed with a special kind of fat called MUFAs (rhymes with loofahs). It stands for monounsaturated fatty acids...MUFAs are the good fats you find in foods like peanut butter, olive oil, avocados — even chocolate! And even better, this new research demonstrates that: MUFAs actually seek out stubborn belly fat and help melt it fast! Quite simply, it's the most astonishing weight loss discovery ever!"

I don't know about you, but anything with cherries and chocolate mixed into a cake sounds divine! (unless you don't like chocolate---you know who you are!) But THEN when they claim that eating this delectable dessert (and other equally delicious foods) will actually melt my belly fat?!....well, I'm on it!!

Ha. Yeah right. Call me a skeptic, but I'm thinking that the only thing that's going to melt my belly fat is eating less and exercising more. ...or maybe lying in the sun on a hot, sunny beach in the Bahamas...

....I think I'll go check on airfares....

Snow Bounding

This morning I let Bentley out the door and stood outside as I watched him attempt to bound over the snow. Trudging through 15" of the fluffy white stuff isn't so easy when the depth of the snow almost exceeds the depth of the dog!

He jumped and leaped and plopped and jumped and leaped and plopped some more until he reached his destination. He then came plodding back toward the house before being distracted by a scent and then he was off!...bounding through the snow again, this time in a different direction and before I knew it he was clear on the other side of the pond, snuffling through the woods, hot on the trail...of what? Who knows? Point being - he was nowhere near the house. I knew that no amount of calling and whistling and yelling at him was going to prevent his new-found cavorting. So instead, I came back in the house, trudged out to the garage, got in the van and proceeded to drive up the driveway.

Every time Bentley hears the van (or the truck - or even the tractor, for that matter!) he will come charging from wherever he is in time and space to ensure that he gets to ride along!

However, this morning, his 'charge' would better be described as a 'footslog', plugging along in the fluffy white stuff which exceeds the depth of the dog!

Finally, he rallied and was safe and warm and heavily panting in the van! I drove back into the garage and we came inside where he is presently positively pooped out and sleeping at my feet! Exhausted. Spent. Ah, if only he didn't have quite so much of the fluffy white stuff through which to plod. Perhaps had he stuck to the paths made yesterday by the wheels of the tractor or the boot tracks made by Brillo Man, instead of schlepping through the 15 inches of fluffy white stuff that is deeper than the dog, he would have had an easier time!

Coincidentally, (or not!) I reached for the morning paper and noticed the Bible Thought printed on Page 4 which reads:

Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet,
and let all thy ways be established.
-Proverbs 4:25, 26

When we travel through our day, how much easier it is to stick to the path that has already been established for us. We know that the Holy Spirit goes before us to prepare the way; to clear the path, so to speak. Trudging and schlepping on a path not prepared is just as difficult as trying to bound and leap through a lot of fluffy white stuff that is deeper than the dog! Even though the white stuff looks beautiful, it's not easy to walk through. If someone hasn't cleared a path, we end up plodding and plopping, instead of dancing and prancing.

This day, I choose to fix my eyes on my Jesus and follow the path which He has prepared. I intend to prance - not plop! How about you?

Note: The dog in the above photo is not Bentley, although Bentley is indeed a Schnauzer, he looks nothing like that pooch!

Our Signature Scent

Isn't it amazing how scents can bring memories to the forefront of our brains? The smell of crayons, wood burning in the woodstove, homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove...all transport me to places in my past and bring to mind people and places held dear to my heart!

There are celebrities who have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. I read that Ladies Home Journal Magazine published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them - the idea being that every woman should have a specific scent associated with her.

The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord. The people were forbidden to use this scent for anything but worship.

Then the LORD said to Moses,
"Take fragrant spices—gum resin,
onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense,
all in equal amounts,
and make a fragrant blend of incense,
the work of a perfumer.
It is to be salted and pure and sacred.
Grind some of it to powder and place it
in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting,
where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves;
consider it holy to the LORD.
- Exodus 30:34-37
Under the new covenant, instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His "signature scent" to the world.

But thanks be to God,
who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
-2 Corinthians 2:14-15

The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought. A life lived for God has a pleasing aroma.....what does your "signature scent" say about you? May you spend so much time soaking up the presence of the Lord that others can't help but recognize by your "aroma" that you've been in the presence of the King!

(thoughts inspired by my daily devotional - Our Daily Bread)

The Cloud-Rider

First of all, let me begin by saying that throughout most of my life I read from a King James Bible. Just because that was the version with which I was raised and the one that was read from the pulpit in church. Whenever they started coming out with all these other versions, I was quick to point out that, "oh my gosh...you better be careful, they may have lost something in the translation...you could be missing a key word..." Eventually I broke down and bought a NEW King James Version. ha! It's basically the same except they've changed "Thee" and "Thou" to You. ...Making it a tad easier to understand.

This year - I've REALLY broken out of my comfort zone. I have chosen to read the Bible through this year using THE MESSAGE! Gasp! The Message?!...is that even a real Bible?! Easy language for easy understanding and interpretation and application. Sounds good.

This morning I read this from Psalm 68:
"When the righteous see God in action
they'll laugh, they'll sing,
they'll laugh and sing for joy.
Sing hymns to God, all heaven, sing out;
clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.
Enjoy God, cheer when you see Him!"

I don't know about you - but I thought it was kinda cool that Jesus is named Cloud-Rider! I think that's a pretty awesome descriptive name for the One who is going to return riding on the clouds!

...Behold He comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, at the trumpet call, so lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee, out of Zion's hill Salvation comes!

I'm thinkin' I'm likin' this Message version!

Check List

Dinner prepared for whenever Brillo Man and Olivia decide to eat. (BBQ Spare Ribs, Mashed Potatoes and Veggie of their choice.

Snack prepared for the WOW (Women of Worth) Meeting at church tonight. (Haystack Cookies - Super Simple - Chinese Noodles - Butterscotch Chips - Chocolate Chips - Peanuts - Melted together for super sweet deliciousness and spooned onto wax paper to set up.

200+ burrs removed from Bentley's fur.

Hair fixed (Mine, not Bentley's), Make-up Applied.

iPhone charged and ready to take with me MUCH to the dismay of Olivia who wants to use it for playing games!

Heading out the door for a fun night of fellowship with my church peeps!
(That is the first time in my life I have EVER referred to anyone as a "peep.")

Break

Okay - I've been on a break from blogging.

No reason - other than I just can't seem to get my thoughts together for more than a few lines at a time.

I post on Facebook - only need a sentence or two there - in fact, you're limited in the number of characters that you may post in a Facebook status - so that's perfect for me when I'm having trouble putting more than a few words together at a time!

I've been reading all my friends' blogs - and lurking (taking lessons from Pat - when she's on Facebook, you never know she's there unless she suddenly pops up with a comment.) I, on the other hand, am always logged on to that page - even though most of time time I'm off doing something else. People are always trying to chat with me and I'm really not there - even though they think I am. I think perhaps I should block my chat status and become a "lurker" there too.

Nothing special happening here - spending some time working on a writing project - more on that in the future - which is another reason why I'm spending less time writing here, I guess.

I just wanted to post to say that I'm still here!

Now I'm off to StuffMart to buy some toiletries for our troops in Iraq. My dear friend Dawna's son is stationed there, working as a medic. He has requested some supplies for his comrades. If you're interested and would like to help, they're in desperate need of: Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Men's Underwear and Women's Sports Bras.
Items may be packaged and sent to: Donations Coordinator: TSgt Amanda Gross 332 EAMDS/CASF APO, AE 09315-9997

Okay --I'm off! (In more ways than one!) Oh, and that grapefruit photo has absolutely nothing to do with this post. I just liked it. ...think I'll pick up some grapefruit at StuffMart too!

Apron Giveaway

Click here to enter a giveaway for this cute apron!

No Two Alike

"Olivia, did you know that no two snowflakes are alike?"

"Not true, Mom."

"Yes, it is."

"How do you know, is it in the Bible?"

"Well, no...but scientists have figured out that no two are alike."

"Mom, they would have to look at every single snowflake to know that. They can't do that - so it's not true."

"Yes, Olivia it is true."

"No it's not."

"When we get in the house, we'll research it on the internet."

"Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true."

"You're right, but it IS true that no two snowflakes are alike."

"It's not true. Have YOU looked at all of them?!"

"No, Olivia."

"It's not true. It's not in the Bible..."

"Okay Olivia, whatever..."

---

He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth..."
-Job 37:6

---

Happy New Year

2010. Wow.

I can remember being in elementary school thinking ahead to the year 2010 - knowing that this would be the year that I turn 50. And I remember thinking..."wow, that's really old!" Now, not so much!

It's here. 2010. And I'm not so old. In fact, in my heart, I still feel as young as that child I once was.

We toasted the New Year with a bottle of Sparkling White Grape Juice which Brillo Man had chilled in the snow outside - then I lit a couple fireworks while Olivia lit some sparklers and danced around doing a Happy New Year dance - filled with excitement and life - bouncing and bubbling all over the place!

Brillo Man watched her dance and commented, "oh, to be seven again..." And then he promptly went to bed!

I'm still here - dancing - if only in my heart!

Happy New Year Everyone! May the Lord fill this coming year with blessings. And may you walk ever closer to His side, recognizing His faithfulness and love which He bestows upon His children in abundance!

Movie Monday - Give Me Jesus

Christmas Eve

Art Drawing for Santa.....check

Cookies for Santa....check

Hot Cocoa for Santa....check

Carrots and Celery for the Reindeeer....check

Olivia tucked into bed fast asleep....um....nope.

The Silent Monks Sing

Freedom

The other night, I caught the end of an interview on FOX News with Annie Laurie Gaylor, the Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. During this interview, they showed a spot in a public space which displayed a Christmas Tree, a Nativity Set and a placard sign which read, "At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. - Placed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation on behalf of its State Members"

Wow.

I wish I had seen the entire interview. Obviously, the sign was a big part of the story. Ms. Gaylor shared that she was a third generation "free thinker." She was proud of the fact that her parents did not "indoctrinate" her with with religion. My, oh my....she has no idea what she is missing.

When the interviewer asked if she could pray for Ms. Gaylor, she replied, "You can pray, but it would be a waste of your time because there is no god who is going to hear or answer your prayers." The entire interview was disturbing. I found myself weeping for Ms. Gaylor. She is deceived...and doesn't have a clue. And then I thought about the many people who are influenced by this Freedom From Religion Foundation and then I got angry.

If you're reading this...and you're a Christian, say a prayer for Annie Laurie Gaylor.

Ah ha...I found the interview on YouTube:



Unbelievable.
Pray. We all need to pray - more than we do!

The Majesty...in the details...

This morning while I was spending some time with the Lord, I happened across the following video. As I watched, I was especially impressed with the last two photographs. From the intricate beauty of the flower to the majesty of the stars in the heavens, He created it all. Created for His glory, for us to enjoy. It reminded me that He is a God of details. He cares about the smallest things in our lives, yet is the Keeper of the Stars! Oh, how blessed we are to be called His! Glory in the Highest!

Movie Monday - The Story of the Birth of Jesus

Fun in the snow!

After Olivia made this huge snowball (the beginnings of her snowman), Brillo Man started up the tractor and pulled her around the property on her sled. She had a blast! She told me that her Dad is "The Best Dad in the whole wide world!"

Click on the Image to Read....

The Greatest Gifts....

This morning I woke up and donned my Christmas sweatshirt in anticipation of joining the elementary students at Olivia's school for what I hoped would be a morning full of fun and shopping at Santa's Workshop. Honestly, I wish I could say that I was looking forward to the experience with a joy-filled heart...but I must admit I was dreading it just a bit. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect, having never volunteered at Santa's Workshop in years prior.

When I arrived, the tables were filled to overflowing with gifts for every age group. Bibs and bobbleheads, screwdrivers and ice scrapers, crayons and candles - even a huge stack of T-shirts proudly printed with the Pittsburgh Steelers logo which Wendi, the elf-in-charge, had managed to snag from a JCPenney's sales rack at a mere $1.99 each! (Marked up to $2.50 for the sale - the school makes a small profit and there will be a lot of happy Steelers fans on Christmas morning!) I was amazed at the large variety of items that had been donated and watched quietly from my post as "Elf-in-charge-of-wrapping-breakable-items-to-insure-that-they-survive-the-bus-ride-home" as the children streamed in with excited exclamations!

"Wow!"
"Cool!"
"Look at all those toys on that table, do you think I can buy something for me too?!"
"This is going to be super!"
"My Mom HAS to let me wrap these presents because I'm the one doing all the shopping!"
"I can't wait! How much am I allowed to spend?!"

....those were just a few of the things I heard as the kids got their first glance of the huge array of gifts spread before them.

As the minutes ticked by and I wrapped dozens of breakable ornaments, candle holders, coffee mugs and picture frames, I was blessed by the conversations I had with each child who visited my table. One young boy handed me a Christmas mug with its matching ceramic coaster and said, "I'm buying this mug for my Grandma Sue because she gets up very early every day and has a cup of coffee and reads her Bible."

I stopped and looked up from my wrapping as he continued to name each person for whom he had chosen a gift and shared with me the reason behind each purchase. I don't remember any of the other gifts or any of the other reasons, because I was so struck by his comments about his beloved Grandma Sue. And I wondered if Grandma Sue is aware of the awesome legacy she is leaving in her precious Grandson's heart...teaching him the importance of God's Word through her actions. I wonder if she knows how a simple cup of coffee and time with God and her Bible is touching lives around her. Not just the lives of her family, who see her devotion, but also the lives of others...like those wrapping up breakable items at the school's Santa's Workshop!

Grandma Sue reminded me to pay more attention to the legacy that I'm leaving my daughter, Olivia. I pray that Olivia recognizes, as she observes me, the importance of serving the Lord. I'm afraid that I fall far short in so many more ways than I care to think...

So Lord, thank You, for this reminder to pay more attention to the legacy that I leave behind, for that indeed, is the greatest gift I can give my daughter.

---

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely
so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen
or let them slip from your heart
as long as you live.
Teach them to your children
and to their children after them.
-Deuteronomy 4:9

---

Movie Monday - George Winston - Carol of the Bells

Movie Monday - Dancing Dog

My Niece - The Violin Virtuoso

My sister's daughter, Rachel (age 14) playing a solo in the Stow Youth Symphony Orchestra in Stow, Ohio. Lori tells me that my other niece, Julia (10), has been invited to play her guitar with the orchestra as well and will begin rehearsing with them in January. I'm almost as proud of them as their Mom and Dad!

Movie Monday - Underdog

Happy Thanksgiving

There are no words which are able to express my Thankfulness to God.

Today I am thankful for so many things, for my family and friends, my home, my health, His provision for my every need...and the list goes on and on. But most of all I am thankful for God's amazing grace in the gift of His Son.

My prayer today is that you recognize His bountiful blessings in your life and pause for some time, amidst the hubbub and busy chaos of the holiday, to give God thanks.

Have a blessed day my friends - I love you all!

Movie Monday - George Winston - Thanksgiving

Movie Monday - MisterRogers pt. 2

Keep On Coming

I was reading my Bible this morning and came across this verse:

Therefore, also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored.] Rend your hearts and not your garments. (Joel 2:12-13 Amplified)

I am reminded once again of what the Holy Spirit continues to impress upon my heart....that God has so much more for us. He desires a pure bride - a spotless church - a holy life, fully consecrated to Him. I think that perhaps most of us don't even fully understand what that means.

In Revelation when Jesus is speaking to the seven churches, He says to each one of them, "I know you by your works." That's not to say that we aren't His children because of His grace alone - for no man can be saved through works. But I say to you today - do not take His grace in vain!

Recently I heard a teaching by John Bevere. He used an illustration which I thought was so appropriate to showcase the somewhat apathetic attitudes of us Christians. There was a man who lived at the base of a volcano. The news was spread that this volcano was about to erupt and that anyone who was within 150 miles of its base would be destroyed. The man is panic-sticken, because he has no way to get away from the volcano! His SUV is in the shop and if he started walking right now and didn't stop there is no way that he could get 150 miles away within the next 24 hours. Shortly, there's a knock at the door. He opens it to find a man standing before him holding out a set of keys. He asked about the keys. The man told him that he was giving him a brand new vehicle. Wow! Are you kidding! This is awesome! But why are you doing this? Just because I care about you and love you so much and I want you to be able to escape from the destruction of the volcano. Wow. He thanked him and then immediately got on the phone and started calling all his friends. Can you even believe this? This guy just GAVE me a set of keys! I have access to this vehicle and it's going to get me far away from this place! I'm saved! Do you believe it? I'm saved!! When he finished telling the story to one friend, he called another and then another. Pretty soon he realized that 23.5 hours had passed and he had been so busy shouting about how he had been saved that he hadn't bothered to get in the vehicle and drive to safety. He would die.

Those keys are just like the grace of God. We have been given this wonderful gift of gace. Grace to empower us to live the life that God's truth demands. What are we doing with that grace? Remember what Jesus said to the churches in the Book of Revelation. "I know you by your works." We must continue to persevere - to reach the lost - to draw nearer to God - to work for His Kingdom. He has so much more for us to do - and so many more blessings to give.

It is we who hold the keys. What are we doing with them?

---

They would spend the night stationed around the house of God,
because they had to guard it;
and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.
-I Chronicles 9:27

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
-Matthew 7:21

---

Sheakleyville

Tonight is my talk at the Sheakleyville Nazarene Church (women's meeting...all women are invited - 6:30pm.) I'll be sharing the story of my life.

One really cool thing is that at various times in my life, the Lord just drops a scripture into my lap - one which always pertains to my situation and speaks directly to my heart. I'll open up His Word at some random spot and bam...there it is...speaking directly to me.

Recently, while praying about tonight's meeting, and feeling a little nervous (don't know why...never been nervous before when I've shared my story...but at any rate...) I have been having some problems with my MS lately - one of which is clarity of speech. I lose words in the middle of a sentence and at times have trouble finishing my thoughts. Cognitive issues. I'm hating it. So...I was praying specifically that the Lord would allow me to speak to this group of women with flawless speech - that the words would not get lost in my head somewhere, but that I would be able to bring His Word without faltering. Also, I've been battling a sinus infection and would very much like to sing at least one song tonight. So I prayed about that as well. After I finished praying, I opened my computer and went to Pat's blog where I read this verse:

---

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth
and I will fill it.
-Psalm 81:10

---

God is good! I'm trusting that He will fill my mouth and what comes forth will be to His glory!

If you're close by and can come tonight, I'd love to see you there. If you're far away, I covet your prayers!!

Movie Monday - MisterRogers

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Brillo Man!

I love you with all my heart!

Movie Monday - MTM