New Blog Link to Check Out

I have added a new link on my side bar: The Rebelution by Alex and Brett Harris, brothers of Josh Harris who wrote "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". I heard them today on Focus on the Family and there is to be a 2nd broadcast with them tomorrow. This is my first time hearing of them and I am checking out their blog and links. Sound very interesting, teaching young people to do hard things and make a difference for Jesus Christ. Check it out with me and let me know what you think.

Change of subject: Lori went Christmas caroling with some co-workers tonight. They came here in the middle of their stops and had a bite to eat: "Cum on in an git yerself a bite to eat!" Well anyway, I was invited to go with them to their next stops and it was great fun.

Now I am waiting on my Amish Friendship bread to bake that Julie passed on to me. I wouldn't be up this late but I am overdue on getting it baked. It smells good, but my eyes are dragging. But meanwhile I was able to check out the new link some.

We have our annual Christmas drawing at work tomorrow. I would like to win a piece of furniture. We are so busy and I am thankful for a good job, but dreading end of year/beginning of new year work after Christmas. But for the days I have off I will forget it all and enjoy the blessings of Christmas.

I was so glad to hear from Lady Katherine today through Facebook. Please pray for her as she is recovering from a serious operation.

Middle of the Night Thoughts

I am thankful for the friendship of God. He is truly an anchor that can definitely be counted on when nothing else can. In the quiet times and all down through my life He is there. He shares with me and I share with Him. Wow! That makes a person feel special.

His plan of sending us a Brother and Defender is perfect and really makes you feel super loved when you think about it. Jesus came to us through a Special Birth. Like the song that I have playing here on my blog by Chris Rice "Welcome Holy Child" He came to us to breath our air and walk our sod.

Dear Jesus,

Make yourself at home in my heart. Welcome to our world perfect Son of God.

As I read over the words of my post the joy of the truth of the words are stronger than I can relate through typing. He is my reason for living and my hope in dying.

December 18, 2009 Snowwwwww!!!!!!

Well, we had a forcast for snow today. This time the weatherman was right. It has snowed all day. Our office closed at 1 o'clock. It is 9 pm and my son-in-law is still trying to get home from work. I hear there are wrecks all over the place. The traffic is stopped but thank the Lord he walked close by to a good Christian sister. She gave him hot soup.

I have just been enjoying the snow. I am safe at home and built a lame snowman and ventured outside as it has contintued all day. This is definitely unusual for our area.

Earlier Lori measured 8 inches in an untouched spot. It is still snowing at 9:17. Our weather warning is to last throught tomorrow evening.

Thanksgiving Holiday Pictures

I know I didn't catch everyone in a picture. Love you all just the same.



Me and my big brother



Brother, sister, aunt and uncle


Sister, daughters, brother-in-law


Family



Friends






And a lot more family

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad

Today is Moms' birthday. Saturday was Dads'. Sandy said we should all wear purple today but I haven't been on Facebook and didn't get the message from Julie until I was at work. I dressed Christmasy today.

Happy Birthday!I should have cloaked myself in the dressy, long purple coat I brought home from your closet. It would have been fun. I will get it out and maybe wear it tomorrow. :) But I do have some of your Christmas decorations and I know you loved the holidays. And don't worry, we left a lot for Roger but don't know if he will have the heart do decorate without you. He misses you, too. But we are doing good and appreciating all the things you saved (well maybe not our childhood teeth).

And Happy Birthday to Rick's mom today. Funny that our mothers were born on the same day just a different year. You would be proud of your family, Phoebe. God helped all your children through the experiences of losing their mother in their childhood.

May this Christmas season be Christ filled for everyone and continue throughout the year.

RICH MEMORIES

Well I am anxious to post even though I haven't downloaded any of my pictures from last week, Thanksgiving week. Today I am having withdrawl pains from being with family all last week and "soaking up" Mom again as we sorted through many rooms. Things don't have to be worth a lot of money to stir up RICH MEMORIES. Four of my vacation days were spent with sisters and brothers doing "show and tell" with each other as we discovered what was in a box or drawer. "Do you remember this?" or "Did you know Mom had saved these?"

Waking up this morning with a headache and that washed out feeling, there was also some contemplation time. Still going through some stages of grief, I wished I had spent more time with my mother. May this be a lesson to me and others for the future. I wish we hadn't been in such a hurry when we would travel back home. We always had so many places to go. If I could have sat with Mom longer and learned to sew and crochet and make drapes as good as her. If I could have stayed longer like she wished I would have. If we could have talked more.

You know the thought of trying to do so many things that you're not good at anything? We should try to focus on slowing down, taking time with less projects and spend more time with people like our mothers and fathers. Anyway, I shared with Rick and we had a long prayer for all the members of our families. May God bless those who open up their homes and let us stay for free and made us so comfortable. And those who put up with me, letting me just "dig in" to do some sorting. And each one who has burdens and needs and health problems and situations going on in their life that they need help with.

Well, anyway, we had a good time with so many. The Lord blessed us to spend some time with several we don't usually get to see on our trips north. And our stop in WV to spend a night with friends on our way through and again for lunch on the way home. Meeting unexpectedly with the daughter of someone we went to church with years ago and calling that friend on the phone on the way home. God had lead us through the same path of SPIRITUAL DETOXIFICATION and kept us both in a relationship with Him. I know Rick and I sure have been through a lot in the last twelve years. But as always, the trials worked to make us strong and be able to reach out to others we never knew would be going through the same thing.

The Excitement Builds and God Encourages!

I am excited about being with family next week. We plan on having some of Mom's recipes though she will be greatly missed. Love you Mom! Do you know your grandaughters have been making home made noodles?

The devil has tried to steal my Joy this week but Jesus put up the defence. God knows how to raise a standard when the enemy comes in like a flood with accusations. He likes to appear as an angel of light but God's light is sooo much brighter, it overtakes.

You see, when I was younger, I went through a period of doubts till God taught me how to rise above them. That victory came back to mind today.

And besides that God gave me the BEST husband. He knew we could work hand in hand together. I am so THANKFUL for Rick. That makes me want to shout "Glory". God has always taken care of me and always will.

That reminds me of my favorite Psalm, 27. "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the Strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me I will not fear. Though war should rise up against me in this will I be confident. One thing I have desired, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavillion. In the secret of His tabernacle shall he hide me. ....."

I better go back and read that, my memory is failing me. I do know this, He takes care of me when others forsake me.

I'm Under His Wings

I wrapped myself in the blanket this morning that the Rice family gave me at Mom's funeral. It has a pretty picture and "Under His Wings" printed on it. It was a symbol for me to do so. That is where I reside. Though the tempest has been wild lately, no person can cut my ties from God. Though no healing is offered there is a balm from heaven.

Verse 1

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Chorus

Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.


Verse 2

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Verse 3

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.



Words: Will­iam O. Cush­ing, 1896.

Music: Ira D. Sank­ey

It has been a long time since I posted but I have been busy and not as involved in blogging. The last 2 weeks I have been taking tax classes 3 nights a week to prepare for the new information for the tax season. Don't forget that during the year the tax tables were changed and took less tax out so your paycheck would be more. If you're looking for a big refund it might not be as much.

The Psalm I read this morning was 18. David started out telling God how much he loved Him and listed all the things God was to him. I'm glad I can make that personal in my life.

Thank you today to all the veterans past and present who stand up for us here in America. God bless the families of those who have been taken from them.

Also, I thank God today for a Godly husband and for the victories we have gotten through God. Hallelujah!

I am looking forward to seeing our families for Thanksgiving. Catch you all later.

Saturday Date in the Mountains

Rick and I had a spur of the moment date Saturday. After I came in from my quiet time at the bench in the morning I asked him if he would take me up for a ride in the mountains. He agreed, wasn't that sweet?

One of my coworkers had went last week and shared some beautiful pictures of her hike. The trees up there were starting to turn so it was beautiful. We went up 181 into the Pisgah Forest. Up past Jonas Ridge we went to an old country store, then on to an outdoor vegetable market and up the road for some fresh nuts. We then stopped for lunch at the Italian Pizza restaurant. Never been there before but boy was it good! Headed back down we found the hiking trail at Upper Creek. We hiked for a little while with a promise to go back when we had more time to stay longer. The trail was challenging in the way of finding footing with nothing to hold on to with lots of rocks and tree roots.




These next 2 pictures is a stop by the side of the road at the entrance to a housing development.




This is a part of the old country store. They were making apple butter in a copper pot and I got to take a turn stirring. Also, a taste. Mmmmmm.

Adopted

Recently I heard a radio program where someone talked about adopting 2 toddlers. The toddlers had never been outside their living area. When they were in route to their nice, new, loving home they only cried reaching back to where they came from.Because that is what they were used to. They didn't realize how wonderful their new home was going to be. It was stated how like this we Christians are. We are adopted, just strangers and pilgrims here. But we still have such strong attachments to this earth and our relationships here and have never experienced heaven so it is hard to imagine what that nice, new, loving and beautiful home will be like. We won't be missing anything we have here when we get there.

It reminds me of the residents in the nursing home. They are so accustomed to having their 1 little room and constantly being inside. One time when an outside festival was arranged especially for them just outside their building it didn't please them like we thought it would. Many of them as they were wheeled outside felt uncomfortable to be outside their normal surroundings. Even though there were treats and prizes and games they requested to go back inside.

May I set my affections on things above, not on things of this earth. On my journey to heaven I will take nothing and no one else with me.

Autumn 2009 Show and Tell

Thank you friends for sharing your autumn decor today. It is certainly nice to "window shop" and save gasoline. You just invite me into your homes through Kelli's Show and Tell straight from Texas.Thank you Kelli for being such a wonderful hostess.

In this household the autumn decorations were brought out and the closet cleaned at the same time. :>)

Above is a beautiful piece of pottery made by my friend Maria with leaves and pumpkin along with metal candle tins.

Coffee table arrangement.



Arrangement from Julie's wedding with pumpkin



Mantel arrangement with 2 closeups below. "Give Thanks"




I like this big mum. It reminds me of the beautiful mums sold in high school for homecoming football games.

Basket arranged with various fall foliage in front of the fireplace


Little magnet on fireplace frame


A new gift: white Thanksgiving platter with leaf cookie cutters and ceramic pumpkin



This new little fella is dressed for the cool weather and viewing the fall deco. I couldn't resist sharing him. The doll I brought home from Mom's sewing room. The outfit that Mom made for my toddler son I have saved for a doll such as this. Of course, he is rooting for the Cincinnati Reds like my dad used to.



A couple other things I wanted to share. The embroidery piece I showed a few weeks ago with a new frame.


A little metal bird cage on the shelf above my dresser. Found it at an antique shop last Saturday. I will be keeping my eye out for something I have to add a decorative touch.


I praise God the Creator of all for the beauty of autumn.

Thank you for stopping by.