I Have Been Tagged

Thanks to Karen at Karen's Korner I have been tagged to tell you 7 random things about myself. Also, I was to tag 7 other individuals, but I have forgotten how to link to their blogs. So I will do part of the tag.

1. I attended Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln. Illinois in the late 60's and met my hubby there.
2. Thirty some years later I decided to change my life and went back to college and took 8 years to obtain a diploma from Purdue North Central and now waiting for God's answer for a job.
3. Hubby and I were married about 10 years before our two daughters were born.
4. I was 31 with the first daughter was born January 23, 1979 and 32 when the second daughter was born August 27, 1980 and they are 19 months apart in age. Figure that one out.
5. I am a very social person and I am finding another social group of individuals I may never meet in person in our life times.
6. I hate to clean the house. I would like to be doing anything else.
7. I love to eat out in restaurants and let someone wait on me. Also, I love travel and the opportunity to stay in motels.

Sorry Karen, I have not linked to anyone, but the ones I would I know will not be able to participate because of other obligations this week. I will have to learn how to put the links on my post so others can get to them.

This is New Year's Eve and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Years. I pray that if you are planning to be one the roads tonight that all will have safe travel and a good time where ever you go. We are going to a party at out Church and munch all kinds of salty and sugary snacks and watch movies to welcome in the new year.

Lord Prop Us Up

LORD, PROP US
UP On the Leaning side!

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed,
"Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side."

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he
prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, "Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn out
back. It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's
gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still
standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got
some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old barn.
I've been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's storms, I've
withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times,
and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time
to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause
I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times."

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning
toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that
we shouldn't, so we need to pray, "Lord, prop us up on our leaning side,"
so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.
(Author Unknown)

This was an e-mail from a cousin of mine. What a thought to take us in the the year of 2008. We do need to be propped up when we lean toward what is not of the Lord. Only the Lord can prop us up to stand straight and tall and when we are we can glorify the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A V 8 MOMENT

Plans have a way of changing on what I wanted to say on this post. I want to thank everyone who make comments to what I have to ramble about. Wonderful words concerning my graduation and looking for a job, as well as other words of encouragement. One blog friend commented that maybe God had plans for a ministry. I could have put it off but that comment is the third stated to me by different individuals in different situations. Each time I state yes sounds good, but I have a large student loan to pay off. What a lame statement on my part. No thought that God will find the funds, which He can and will as soon as I ask Him.

Then another beautiful women said, pray for the boss I would have when I found a job. That hit me on the head just like the V8 commercial. The concept had never entered my mind. I then began remembering other bosses and realized that I am compelled to pray for a person I have no idea who it is. Pray has no boundaries. I begin today.

This past fall I realized to stop praying about what I wanted and say "Your Will Not Mine". My pray now is God what you want me to do I will do it and know that You will be with me through it all. I know the answer to my pray of 14 years ago is still being answered and I can not wait for what you have in store for me. The year 2008 that is a few days away is the beginning of the rest of my life. All my blog friends please pray that I keep my eyes on God and not of this world we live in. Thank You

This and That Friday

Hello to all. I am looking out my front room window and see that it is snowing and the temperature is 31. So glad that I don't have to talk today. Last night hubby and I attended a Holiday tournament at our High School. Both girls teams played Argos and had the fight of their lives. Sorry to say they lost, but they did the best they could do with poor refs. I yelled like I was running livestock and lost my voice. Tonight the boys play so tomorrow I won't even whisper.

Head us on a give away. Go done to my most used links and press Laced With Grace and enter.

As I said in another post we gave Matt and Michelle a set of china for Christmas. Long story short I bought an 8 piece set of English china at a house hold sell last summer for $30. Wednesday night Michelle decided to go on line and try to date the set. She found out that they could be worth $300 and about 80 years old. I guess the dishes are going to set on a shelf and be looked at, but not used. I just liked the pattern of the dishes. Who knew.

Thankful Thursday, December 27, 2007

As I was checking what was going on with a few blog friends one reminded me what day of the week it was. I do not know if it is age or that life is so busy that I as a person forgets what day of the week it is. Five days left in the year 2007. I can remember what happened 50 years ago, but can not remember what happened yesterday. Well, enough rambling.

Today is Thursday and I am thankful for life. The year of 2007 was the fist year I can say I was in the best health I had been in a number of years. Praise the Lord.
God has been so good to me in His plan to keep me living through good and bad times.

Patience I can say is not one of my good points, but God is teaching the lesson to me, as I wait for Him to lead me to the next period of my life. I have the faith to know there is a job out there for me so I wait on the Lord. The waiting began May 19,2007 on the day of graduation from college. At times it is so hard to know what God wants, but as I look back I see His plan. To wait is not so bad.

Blessings come when we least expect them. Carrie on Christmas day asked all of us to write down our blessings for the past year. She then rolled them up, tied them in beautiful ribbon and put them on her tree. Next year she said we will open them as we write down our blessing for 2008. My blessings consist of good health and graduating from college.

This is the last Thursday for the year 2007. In our lives what is the last of for us? The years are flying by and 2008 will be another surprise in my life and I for one can not wait to see and experience what is ahead for me and mine. Until Thursday January 3, 2008 keep warm, healthy, happy, and enjoy life from a woman who is still a Creation In Progress.

The Day After

What do you do on the day after Christmas? For me, it was spent on travelling leisurely home from Rives Junction, Michigan. John stopped at 2 different implement lots and stopped to ask questions about a tractor He recently acquired. Christmas day travel was sun shine and no snow. Sorry for those of you that wanted snow. I am so full of food that I will not eat until tomorrow. Carrie had a brunch of sausage gravy and biscuits, fried potatoes, and bacon which we shared near noon.

I have a daughter who loves Christmas and opening presents. We held her off until 3:00 PM. John and I were surprised with tickets to a Pacers's basketball game. The game is for March 28th so you will hear about it when the day comes.They decided on that date because that is the end of John's selling season and the paper work that is done for selling Crop Insurance and right before Spring work begins in our part of the state. Michelle and Matt received from us an 8 piece set of English china and a bird house. We surprised Carrie with a sweatshirt from the University of Michigan. She is a graduate of Purdue so I made her promise to send a picture the first time she wears it, if she will ever wear it.

Christmas dinner's menu consisted of Barbecued short ribs in a sauce, mashed potatoes with the skins on, green bean casserole, corn, and Christmas cookies for desert. The rib sauce consisted of a bottle of barbecue sauce and a can of apple pie filling and cooked all day at 200 degrees. They were so good. The ribs had an apple taste and the apples had a rib taste. Try it if you like.

Christmas Eve

While sitting looking out my front room and looking at the wind blow the pine trees and thinking I am glad I do not have to go outside in a cold blustery day. Procrastination is a word used to describe that presents have not been wrapped. Presents to wrap is number one on my list of things to do before we leave for our oldest daughters home in Michigan for our family Christmas. Also, I have been pondering what to say to my friends I have met while blogging. First I want to wish all who visit a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If any of you are traveling please have safe travel.
I found a poem written by Charles W. Swisher, a former resident of Medaryville and I want to share it with you as my Christmas Card to all.

A CHRISTMAS WISH
The store today was crowded
With the rush that always comes,
When the first snow of the season
Sends the shoppers on the run.
The music of the carols
Could be heard above the sound
Of the hustle and the bustle
Of the crowds a-millin' 'round.
The line kept growin' longer
For the one they'd come to see,
Some a-laughin'-some a-cryin'
As they sat there on his knee.
Then I heard one little feller
Turn to Santa Claus an' say...
"Could Christmas Eve be every night
An' Christmas every day?"

I got t'thinikin' what a world
It'd be for me an' you,
If the wish this little feller had
Could somehow just come true.
If everybody...every day
Would be as good an' kind,
An'think o'other people
Like we do at Christmas time.
If all the people 'round the world
Could only have an' share
The love that came at Christmas
In the little manger there.
Then wars an' such would be no more
An' peace would come to stay...
"If Christmas Eve was every night
An' Christmas every day."

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD DAY"

I AM NOT ALONE

Yesterday was a day that I have ever so often. Here we had a lot of fog and could not see to the road. I was feeling like the only human being alive. I started feeling lonely and in pray my words were to the effect that the feeling had to leave. The TV was on to a PBS station and the Gathers were showing one of their Home Comings. All the music was an answerer to pray. God and His Holy Spirit were in my presents healing me of the loneliness. One song that stayed in my heart was sung by Natalie Grant by the title of I Am Not Alone. Sharing the words with you which I found at christianlyricsite.com.is a joy to share.

Natalie Grant - I Am Not Alone
You're Here
In My Heart
You're the Light
That Guides Me Through The Dark

You Walk Beside Me
The Night Seems Cold
Each Time I Fall
Your Arms Are There To Hold

Chorus:
You Walk Beside Me
Giving Strength I've Never Known
I Am Not Alone
You Walk Beside Me

You're Here
In My Mind
I talk To You
And All My Fears Unwind
I Know I'm Loved For who I am
You Make Me Wanna Be The Best I can

Repeat Chorus

And I rely on your patience
When I face the unknown
and because of you
I am not alone

In the sun, In the rain
Through the good times and the pain
I reach out for your hand
I know that you understand

Awards

I want to thank Karen from Karen's Kroner for two more awards and to Hootin Anni for one. Ladies I really am thankful for your thoughtfulness.

Christmas Pageant

All of us have been and will be at Christmas Pageants some time in the next 5 days. We will attend as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and friends of the family. I heard this story on the radio last year and just today received it as an e-mail from a friend a felt like sharing it with all. Enjoy, try not to cry while reading it. All of you have good times at any or all Christmas pageants you will attend this year.

"The Christmas Invitation"

It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall.
It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. It's an especially big
deal for the children in town -- they get to try out for the roles in
the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part.

Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in
the play, too, but he was - well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid.
The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew Harold would be
crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up
the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the
innkeeper - the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to
be born. He had only one line - "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no
one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's
Christmas.

The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. The Christmas
story unfolded according to plan - angels singing, Joseph's dream, and
the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of
the Bethlehem inn, looking appropriately tired. Joseph knocked on the
inn door, and Harold was there to open the door.

Joseph asked his question on cue - "Do you have a room for the night?"
Harold froze. After a long pause, Harold mumbled his line, "I'm sorry
we have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The
directors heaved a sigh of relief - prematurely. As Mary and Joseph
disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again and
the door opened. Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment
that folks would not soon forget, Harold went running after the young
couple, shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Don't go Joseph. Bring
Mary back! You can have MY room!"

I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas
better than anyone else there that night. How can you leave Jesus
outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for
you this Christmas. What will you do with this Son of God who came to
earth to find you?

Jesus is the One who trades a throne room for a stable, and the praise
of angels for human mockery. This is the Creator who gives Himself on a
cross! The Bible gives us the only appropriate response: "The life I now
live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for
me." (Gal. 2:20) You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that
cross, and you say those life-changing words - "For me."

Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a
long time. Maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life
even the events of the last few months - have been to prepare you for
this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. Don't leave Him outside
any longer. Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot keep You
out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room . . . my life."

A Pray for A Child

I pray that - James - be given the gift of joy. Let the spirit of joy rise up in his heart this day and may he know the fullness of joy that is found only in Your presence. Help him to understand that true happiness and joy are found only in You.

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

A Thankfilled Thursday

First I want to thank Karen of Karen's Kroner for my very first blog award. I am thankful that she sent me instructions on how to move the award. I am surprised in myself that the job got done and you can see the end product.

So any of you have to go over the day, the day before, and tomorrow before you can fall to sleep at night? Well, I am one of those and I was deciding what I would post today. Now I can't remember what I decided. So here goes with what I am thankful for on this Thursday 5 days before we celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ from the top of my head. To begin with I am thankful for the birth in a stable, death on a cross, and resurrection from a burial cave of my Jesus. Then I am thankful for a pray being answered 41 years ago and that was that I would meet the man Jesus wanted me to marry. Next, for having the help from wonderful women in my church to help me raise 2 beautiful, intelligent, daughters who have the Lord in their hearts. Then I am thankful to the Lord for saving my life twice in the past 3 years. And I am very thankful for meeting so many wonderful individuals through my blog adventure. For all the fantastic comments from those people who stop by from all over the world. There are many more things I am thankful for and they will be talked about in the future.

Please if you have the opportunity tell someone about Jesus and what He means to you. Pray for chance to meet someone who if you had the chance you would walk past, but be willing to stop and say something, even if it is only Hi. Pray for military individuals by name. Pray for the good things and the bad things that are happening at this time. Know that I am as human as you and what I have just written has to be done by me also.

A Thanksgiving For The Birth Of Jesus

Six days until the day we wish for, plan for, pray for, give thanks for, get panic stricken for, loose sleep for, and on and on. What does December 25, 2007 mean to you? I will be honest with you and say that Christmas was not one of my favorite holidays as it was celebrated in my home as a child. Even in my early married life it was not a favorite, then 11 years ago I saw Christmas in the eyes and sound of many young children and their Moms and Dads that was held in my In-laws home that we were renting to a young couple with young children. My husband, daughters, and I, as well as, another young couple with children were invited to celebrate Christmas in the home my husband was raised in. The attention of all who were present , as the story of the birth of Jesus read by our oldest daughter was a healing of my heart and the first time to be heard by the young children. For me, that was the beginning of knowing what day it was and how through small children Christmas how the blessed day was to be thought of and celebrated. In the 11 years since, the children have grown into teenagers, but the story is now read in that home by parents who are learning who Jesus is and what He can do for them in their lives. I give thanks to the living Jesus who can heal a heart even if I did not know it needed healing. In my home our daughters are grown and on their own and our Christmas Day will be spent in the home of our oldest daughter. My heart is soaring and so happy I can celebrate with a heart that loves the day and what that day means to my family.

I pray that the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus will be a blessing to all and a day that memories are made to be remembered for the rest of our lives. Merry Christmas to all of you.

In Other Words For Tuesday

"Don't blame suffering in the world on the anger of God. He's not mad; he didn't mess up. Follow our troubles to their headwaters, and you won't find any angry or befuddled God. But you will find a sovereign God.
Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end -- the glory of God."


~Max Lucado, It's Not About Me~

This is the quote for In Other Words for Tuesday. As a Christian I can not in my mind blame my suffering on the anger of God, who am I kidding. God took it and took it from me for 11 years as I grieved over the death of a child I had wanted for 5 years and lost on her 8th days of life. I blamed God, hated God, cried feeling God did not love me anymore. The baby girl was an answerer to pray. I ask why to a number of Christians and over the 11 years got wonderful answers that God would forgive me for hating Him, for blaming Him, and for thinking He did not love me anymore. God loved me so much He waited through my grief to say to me in an almost audible voice that I was loved and He cried with me each time I cried in grief. I should have realized He cried because on the way to the hospital in an ambulance on the night of Lynn's death, it snowed. On the 12th year God helped me forget the day of Lynn's birth and the day of her death. In fact, I did not remember anything about it for over 2 weeks. God is sovereign and I now do not blame Him for any of the problems I have had in the past 22 years. God answeres prayers and when we allow it He heals us.

What a gift God gave us by allowing His Only Begotten Son to be born a baby in a manger in a cave with animals as witnesses. God loves us He does not hate us or disciplines us in anger. Love Love Love that is all there is.

Old Music for Christmas

Good morning all. Sitting here trying to stay warm and found an old English song on www.carols.org.uk and want to share it with you. I do remember hearing the song, but many years ago.
"The origins of I saw three ships are unknown but it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era. The theme for I saw three ships is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus lines of I Saw three ships ensure that the carol will be well remembered. Author of the lyrics and composer of the music for I saw three ships is unknown."

I SAW THREE SHIPS

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ship come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three.
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three.
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells, on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring.
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing.
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing.
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again.
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Sunday Birthday For Jesus

I am sitting here at my computer and looking out my living room window and marveling at a large flock of Canadian geese. They have no idea there is 10 inches of snow on the ground and the wind is blowing the snow all over the place. What a beautiful site to behold. Across the road there is a group of pine trees covered in snow and just breathtaking. How remarkable is God when He slows us down to see what is before our eyes. The county I live in has been shut down and most all Church services are cancelled for today. I praise the Lord that we still have our electricity. Our road is know being plowed so my husband has shoveled our drive to take a drive to our other farm to check on the livestock and the family who lives in the farm house. Today is a day of turning on the oven and putting in a pork roast and smelling the aroma of cooked pork and enjoying the heat of the oven.

A lot of women love to burn candles and I have a few tips on candle burning which I found in Country Woman Christmas, 2006 page 7 and want to share with you.
1. Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch from the top of the candle.
2. Light and then immediately extinguish candles when using them for the fist time. They will light easier and burn more evenly when lit the second time.
3. To extend the life of decorated pillar candles, place a tea light in the hollow of the candle and burn the tea light instead.
4. Space taper candles at least 2 inches apart to prevent side wall burnout.
5. Keep wick trimmings, matches and foreign objects out of the candle wax.
6. Use a candle snuffer to put out candles to avoid spattering hot wax.
7. Store candles in a cold, dry, dark place. Candles will fade if left in strong light for an extended period of time.
8. Store tapers flat to prevent warping.
9. Wrap stored candles in waxed paper to prevent color transfer and sticking.

I hope these tips will help you extend the life of candles you use in your home.

Birthday Celebration Party for Jesus

According to www.californiamall.com "Christmas is Britain's most popular holiday and is characterized by traditions which date back hundreds of years. Many Christmas customs which originated in Britain have been adopted in the United States." I come from an English background and one of the traditions I remember is a pudding made by an Aunt and was the main dessert. As I recall, I never tasted this pudding. It looked like mud to me and did not smell appetising. Following is the recipe and is a tradition from England. My great-great-great brought this recipe with him in 1876 when he migrated to the United States and became an indentured servant for 7 years near Chicago.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING

This pudding dates back to the late 19th century. This pudding should be made well in advance, but it is possible to make it on Christmas Eve.
8 oz. currants
8 oz. sultanas
8 oz. stoned raisins
8 oz. Barbados sugar
4 oz. grated beef suet
4 0z. fresh breadcrumbs
4 0z. ground almonds
4 0z. blanched almonds, chopped
4 oz. mixed candied peel
6 oz. cooked apple, peeled and finely chopped
8 oz. plain flour
Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
Finely grated rind of 1 orange
2 tbsp. lemon juice
3 fI. oz. stout
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 oz. ground minced spice
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
5 tbsp. brandy

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl with 2 tbsp. of the brandy. Pour the mixture into a greased 3 1/2 pint pudding basin and cover with a double layer of greased, greaseproof paper or aluminum foil--pleated in the middle to allow for expansion. Tie string under the rim and across the top to make a handle. Place a trivet in the base of a large saucepan. Lower the pudding into the saucepan and fill with enough boiling water to come two-thirds of the way up the sides of the basin. Pour in more boiling water if necessary.

When the Pudding is cooked, pour the remaining brandy over the surface and re-cover. To reheat, boil gently for 3-4 hours.

For our tradition one pudding was made without the brandy and one with the brandy. My Aunt would save about 1/2 of the brandy and 2 Aunts and my Mother would share the brandy in a little room off the kitchen of my Aunts house.

Another Birthday for Jesus

The day around here is sun shiny with a temperture of 26 and the propect of snow later tonight with 2-4 inches. It will make our area look a lot more like Christmas.

I would like to share with you something a friend sent to me, please enjoy.

God grant you the light in Christmas,
which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is love;....
the belief in Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a great New Year!

Happy Birthday Jesus, Day 1

I would like to share a poem with you from Charles W. Swisher who was born and raised in Medaryville and is the Author of "Reflections in Verse for my first Happy Birthday to Jesus. Enjoy as you read.

I WOULD LIKED TO HAVE WALKED WITH THE SHEPHERDS

"I would liked to have walked with the shepherds
To Bethlehem that night,
And shared in their watching and wonder
As the walked toward that heavenly light.
Cross the hills and the plains of Judea
To the star in the East as it led,
And stood over Joseph and Mary
And the Saviour in His manger bed.
I would liked to have heard from the heavens
The words of the angel, "Behold!
This day a Saviour is born unto you",
The birth that the prophet foretold.
As oft' as I read the old story
And think of their joy and delight,
I would like to have walked with the shepherds
To Bethlehem's manger that night.

I would like to have walked with the shepherds
And yet, in the scriptures I see,
As the light from the Star guided them on that night
The light of His word guided me.
A star in the night, a light to my path,
A lamp to my wandering feet,
Then follow I will, thought the valley and hill
And someday my Saviour I'll meet.
Not as then will I see Him, is swaddling clothes
In the manger that welcomed His birth,
But on high, where He sits at the right hand of God
And rules over heaven and earth.
I would liked to have walked with the shepherds
But now, with His word as my light,
I can walk with the Shepherd of shepherds...
Who was born in the manger that night."

I Am lesson eight

1. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to 'go back' to a place of shame or ridicule? Yes How did that make you feel? Afterwards I felt relieved and blessed from the experiences.

2. Is there any circumstance in your life that still has you running for cover? Share if you feel comfortable. Sorry, I can not at this time.

3. When is the last time you felt like an overcomer? August of 2006, after being diagnose with congestive heart failure and knowing that God saved my life.

4. If you have not yet taken the serpent by the tail, are you willing to stop running, take hold and trust God to transform it into a tool for wonders? For me I stop running the second I realize the lie that the serpent is trying to get me to believe, but I know the serpent is a liar and all it wants is to take me over, but it is not going to happen. I do trust God to transform me into a tool of wonders.

5. I would like for you to write down this statement based on 1 John 2:14 somewhere you will see it often this week: "I am strong, the Word of God abides in me, and I have overcome the evil one." Memorize it. Say it over and over until you believe it. Will you do this?? Most of the time, there are no right or wrong answers, but on this one, I'm expecting a 'yes'! Oh, yes I will. I know I am strong with God abiding in me and I have overcome many things.

This or That

This will be a this or that day. A lot of rambling. First, my birthday meal happened at lunch time because of the country roads were not the best from an ice storm on Sunday. I did not get the prime rib, but had a delicious New York steak which I could almost cut with a fork.

Second, check out the Birthday Party for Jesus button and if you feel like participating go for it. I found it on my daughters blog. As creative as she is her blog will be spectacular to behold.

Third, I want to tell you about Youth Haven. It is a camp for at risk children, who many of them, live in Foster homes, single partent homes, or in homes with abuse going on daily. Many of their Moms and Dads drink or take drugs. There are gangs in most of the cities they live in. These children more than likely get their meals at school only. They come from many towns and cities of Michigan and other states. Youth Haven by it's name is a place where children can come, be safe, and learn about God and that He is a haven for them any where they are. Children come for free from donations from Churches and individuals. The camp does not get any funding from any government agency. There web site is: www.youthhaven.org, feel free to check it out and if you feel led tell others about it and your church. The camp runs year around with a staff of individuals who love kids and love what they are doing.

Finally, I want everyone to have the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To know Him as a friend everyday, every night, and every where and forever.

Tuesday

Good Afternoon, Tuesday again. It is 36 and raining and not melting any of the snow and ice. When the temp drops we will be getting ice. I am praying for those who are still out of electricity because of the ice storms this past weekend.

Here is a quote for Tuesday In Other Words.

"Be such a person and live such a life,
That if every person,
Was a person like you, and every life a life like yours,
This Earth would be God's Paradise."
~Phillips Brooks~

I read this quote and my first thoughts were please do not have any one else like this sin stain woman. Then I read a couple of blogs and my thoughts began to change. I have been working to become a women according to Paul as He talks to the aged women in Titus 2:3-5

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers not given to much wine, teachers of good things: That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed." (KJ version)

I saw these words in two wonderful women in the Church I attend, who were my mentors. One taught me how to cook, clean, and love my husband more and more each day. The other lady assisted me in raising my 2 girls into adulthood. As I have aged I have helped out a few young women as my examples taught me and from what Paul had to say. Can I become a women who can assist in making this earth God's Paradise? Yes, I can and will continue to each day of the rest of my life.

What A Weekend

To begin! Where? At the beginning I guess. At 11:45 AM we picked up 2 young people and started a 3 1/2 drive to Youth Haven Camp in Rives Junction, Michigan. A camp for at rick children in a 200 acre woods in near the center of Michigan. The words were good and we arrived safely at our destination. (Only one stop at Mc.D's for lunch)We arrived at 3:30 PM, unloaded the car and said good by to my husband who was turning around to make the trip back home. My daughter is the cook at the camp and I was going to spend the weekend watching and listening and working and crying for 70 kids, from the age of 7 to 12, who needed a safe place, if only for a weekend. I boned 4 turkeys, stirred chili, washed many, many, pots and pans and most of all watched my girl in action. I was so proud of her, for I know she loves the kids and has a passion to make it easier for them and to tell them about God and the haven He is in their daily existence.

On Friday evening during chapel I heard praises going upward to the God of us all. One song I want to share with you. It was the last song and I cried when I felt the Holy Spirit in Holy goosebumps. The song for me is a prayer and after they sang it many times I could not help but cry. I hope it will be a prayer for you.

Come and make my heart your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through
Until my heart becomes a home for You
I Home for you Lord
A Home for you Lord
Let everything I do, open up the door for You to come through
that my heart may be a place that you want to be.

The staff put on a skit for 5 Chapel services on the birth of Christ in the setting of a news broadcast.

Saturday night the 70 young people enjoyed a full Christmas meal, with white table cloths and green and red place mats. The surprise I heard in their voices made all the preparations a piece of cake. To know that most of them will not be getting a Christmas meal on Christmas Day brought a lump in my throat. The four turkeys and all the fixings were devoured and enjoyed by all.

Sunday they received donuts and milk in bed. A treat. After lunch the children were taken to what is called the Hay Loft on the camp grounds for a Christmas party. There they sang Christmas songs, quoted scripture, heard the final story about Jesus, and were given a huge shopping bag of Christmas gifts. I heard one little 7 year old boy say "Is all of this for Me" Again the tears were flowing.

We arrived home to ice, but the trip was good. The 2 young people we took was in heaven on the way home. I could hear their chatter all the way home. Arrived home at 8:30 PM.

My daughter has help from LIT's (Leaders In Training) for serving and clean up from each meal. I met and fell in love with 5 of the most adorable boys and girls who want to give back to a place where they had attended as a younger child. Their sweet personalities won my heart. The hugs were heart felt as I said good by to each of them and wished them a good life.

Now for the birthday. Turning 60 was not the end of the world after all. My family played it very low keyed. My other daughter and her husband surprised me at the camp on Sunday morning. They gave me a plant in a box. It was so good to see them and see them jump in and help clean the kitchen so the cook could be at the Christmas party. The cook gave me my most favorite candy, sugar free taffy. Today my husband is taking me out for my most favorite meal of prime rid, backed potatoes, and the most melt in your mouth roils in an inn along the Kankakee river.

This is the end. Love and Hugs to all who sent birthday wishes to me.

Two Days

Two days and I can start getting discounts to eat out. I have a short time before we leave to go to Michigan. Carrie called and asked if we could stop at a Gordon's and get 2 gallons of milk and 2 packages of potato pearls and 4 turkeys. She has done this before to ask her Dad to stop for something that she needs when we are coming up. She knows Dad will do anything for her. In fact, He is bringing her car home to change the oil for her and bring it back on Sunday when He comes to pick me and the kids up. What a Dad. The Lord has blessed this trip and made it possible to have dry roads for a safe trip. On Monday I will tell you all about the weekend.

Happy Birthday

This is 3 days early, but I will be out of town and I want to celebrate a little. I am going up to help my daughter, who is the Camp Cook, at Youth Haven at Rives Junction, Michigan. During the month of December the camp has Christmas for as many at risk children as they can. The children are introduced to good meals for the weekend, play time on snow covered hills,lessons on how Jesus is a haven for them, the story of Christ and His birth, and a well filled garbage bag of Christmas gifts. My husband and I are taking 2 young people up from our area and I am going to stay the weekend and help in the kitchen.

About my birthday. I will be 60 years old. This Sunday is the day and I always feel that this day is more special to celebrate then any other day of the week.

Candle Give Away

Hello all, another blog friend invited me to enter for a candle and I would like to pass the invitation along to those who are interested. Here name is heather and I have a link to her site on my favorite links. She has an interesting site.

Christmas Meme

For the holiday season,Hootin' Anni has started a meme. "The Twelve Questions of Christmas" If you'd like to participate, I'd be honored to have you to go down to the Over 50 list and join in the fun. Here are my answers

1. Christmas is. [fill in the blank with ONE WORD] Children

2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past? When I was 11 my parents bought us a record player and each went out to buy records and came back with the same ones. The one set we gave to cousins of ours for their Christmas.

3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what] Christmas as a child was not one of my favorite holidays. I was scared of Santa and ran when I saw one.

4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both? For us when the girls were home they got to open one on Christmas Eve and it usually was the one from an older lady who had adopted them as grandchildren and the ones from us on Christmas morning.

5. Is there something you make each and every year? [craft or recipe] Not really, I am not a crafty person

6. What is your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns?
1. Silent Night
2. O Holy Night
3. Ring The Bells
4. Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowery
5. We Three Kings

7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days? While the girls were at home we set aside Christmas Eve day as a day to make no baked treats to give to friends and family the evening of Christmas Eve.

8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. [whether it's across town or across country]
This was across town. (Three brothers married three sisters, one set were my parents) All three set had Christmas with the rest of my Dad's family and my Mom and Aunts would have to make English pudding that took a brandy sauce to go over the top for the desert. I remember my mom and her sisters going into a room off the kitchen of my aunts house and they would finish off the rest of the bottle during the day. My Grand Father never caught on what his daughter-in-laws were doing. We cousins always had fun making up a play to present in the afternoon after all the adults got done playing cards. This happened for many years as we were growing up.

9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day? Not really.

10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap? Yes, we have many pictures of our girls setting on Santa's lap.

11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year? On one will be angles. On another will be all the ornaments that the girls made at school or Sunday school. and one will have an English theme

12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas? No, for many years we lived in a basement home in the side of a hill and in the last 10 years are living in the upstairs that we built over the basement.

Answering these questions brought back some very pleasant memories and I hope you will go to Hottin' Anni's site and read hers and maybe do something like this on your blog. All have a very blessed Christmas.

Fun Was Had

I finally have time to tell all of you about the romantic weekend my husband and I had. It was a Christmas party for the insurance office He works out of. Dick, His boss treated us to a two day visit to Shipshewana, an Amish community in Northern Indiana which began on Friday. We stayed in Home Stead Inn and what a beautiful room we had. On Friday evening we were treated to an Amish home style dinner of a garden salad with home made dressings, fried chicken and roast beef, home made mash potatoes and gravy, home made noddles, green beans, and for dessert a choice of 5 different kinds of pies at the Blue Gate Restaurant. The restaurant was decorated for Christmas and was breath taking. After a delicious meal we were entertained in the Blue Gate Theater by David Pendleton, a ventriloquist from Urbana, Ohio. I wish I could relate a few of his jokes and stories told by 4 different wooden figures, but sorry I can not. His figures consisted of a young man named Otis, Aunt Tilly (who was designed and made after his 95 year old Grand Mother), a sad-eyed dog named Buford, and a very rude vulture named Vern. I watched David closely and it was impossible to detect any movement of his lips as he skipped deftly from one voice to another. After the show we were to take a carriage ride, but it was to cold to bring out the horses so we have a ticket that can be used in the next 7 months. Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast as a group at the inn and the rest of the day could be spent in shopping in downtown Shipshewana. They have one building that is built with a live tree as their center and goes through the roof three stories high with a basement. We did not do much shopping since we are in the area many times during the year. Driving home was enjoyable and we made it home as it began to snow. On Saturday night we had snow then sleet then ice. I recommend any one to take a vacation in the area. There are events that go on year around and what ever you are interested in you can enjoy. Feel free to search on the Internet and see what is available.

Marriage Monday

What makes a marriage Christian? My husband and I have been working on our marriage for over 38 years and it takes 24/7, 30 days a month, and 12 months a year to make it work. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. (my words) That verse has kept me in line for the 40 years I have know my husband. I am a sinful person who only by the grace of God makes it in the day to day existence. It takes both partners in a marriage to make it Christian. For me it helped that my other half was also a Christian from the first day we met.

For the past 2 months God has convicted me to study the 5th chapter of Ephesians and especially verses 21-27. The word submitting was a bad word for me in the past few years. I was getting hooked on the worlds view of a women being free to be free, to be able to do what I wanted not what we wanted. I praise God that we were led to a Small Group Bible Study on marriage in the past few months. My other half had no clue what I was thinking so to tell him was eye opening and healing for me. Through God I am coming back to a true partnership of a Christian marriage and working on submitting to a man who loves God first and has put God at the head of our house hold.

I am not perfect and God has and is there to put me back on track. Our marriage is not perfect and I don't want anyone to think it is. Work has and is being done to make it what God sees as good.

For all I believe in a Christian marriage not the shack up kind of living together. It takes work and the prize is eternal life.

Hope

This was suppose to be a Sunday Seven, but this morning during our Church service, the person who gave the Communion meditation gave a testimony of his past year and the verses that keep Him smiling through it all. The verses filled my heart and I feel I need to share them.

1Jo 2: 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jo 2:16 For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.

1Jo 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (NIV)(Blue Letter Bible.com)

He particularly spoke on 1 John 2:17 that it dose not matter what the world presents to us, what makes all the difference is when a man does the will of God we will live for eternity in a place we can not imagine and dream of. This is the HOPE all of us has and what a HOPE. All we have to do is not to love anything of this world we live in. How simple is that? Can I achieve it? I do not know. I am working on it, but it is so hard. We all have to face it on our own.