Hard or Soft Hearted?

Ok, here's how it went down. Already once today I blogged about making homemade liquid detergent (see below). It took me forever, since I am just beginning to learn how to do the text with pictures. I thought one blog per day was PLENTY. However, lessons must be taught and pictures must be appreciated - by you, my reader. So.....

While deciding what to fix for dinner tonight, I had a thought: Mike works so very, very hard, why don't I surprise him with his favorite potato salad? I thought it was such a grand idea-of-love that I went to the pantry, reached down and lugged up that 10-pound bag of taters, and got busy.




The peeled potatoes were all chopped to the perfect size for a fork-sized bite, and I was just carefully adding the eggs, when I began to wonder if I should blog about the lesson I once got on boiling potatoes and eggs. Hmmmm..... should I? shouldn't I? While I was contemplating, the phone's brrrriinnnnnnngggggg snatched me from my mini dilema.



It was my friend that I just love, Lish (don't worry, I love you, too!). When I told her what I was doing - placing the eggs in with the potatoes - she said, "Really? I've never heard of that."
See, in my deliberating, I had wondered if everyone knew about mating that couple in the pot, or not. That settled it - right then and there I knew there was a cooking trick & a neat lesson to be learned!



The trick is so simple it is a treat-of-a-time-saver! All you do it boil the potatoes and eggs together! Only one pot to clean, not two! Yay!!! (Hey, don't roll your eyes! It saves time!)


(I was so busy typing this blog that I forgot them and almost let them boil to a mush!!!! But, thankfully, they were rescued just in time. See all the lovely steam? They had a hot time in that pot!)



And now, the lesson.

What happens in that pot is very strange. The eggs harden; the potatoes soften. When you are in a hot, fiery trial, and your patience is in a rolling boil, does your heart become hardened or softened? We know that everything that comes into our life has first passed through the loving hands of God. If it's in our life, He has already nodded approval, for whatever reason. Job passed the test, Abraham passed the test, Jesus passed the test (think of the Garden of Gethsemane and sweating blood), and you will pass the test - if you let the hot-pots of trials soften your heart to the things of God. Some people harden themselves against God and His sure word when the heat of a trial lasts too long. They get all steamed up at God, and many walk away in rebellion, before He can ever produce a delish potato salad out of that boiling trauma.

So, the question is: In your current boiling circumstance, will you be an egg or a potato?

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Pete 5:10-11.

Love That Laundry Soap!!!

Have you ever heard of Ed Begley, Jr? He is a movie star gone green. And when I say green, I mean that He has a TV show called Living With Ed, that teaches all us un-greens how to live environmentally correct. His wife costars and they are quite a normal and funny couple, with some things that are really helpful. I'm thinking of sending them this blog!

Anyhoo, I found a recipe for homemade liquid laundry soap on a darling blog called Little Birdie Secrets, and knew I had to try it - and record it as I was doing so with my Christmas-present camera!

So, here we go! I condensed all the pictures and directions onto one cute page (right) for you guys, in case you wanted to copy and paste and print it up for easy use in your kitchen. For the longer and more fun version, keep reading!

First, three simple & inexpensive ingredients are needed; four, if you count plain ol' tap water. You can see them in the picture to your left. Don't confuse the washing soda for baking soda. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME, AND CANNOT BE EXCHANGED FOR ONE ANOTHER!

* 1/2 cup borax
* 1/2 cup washing soda
* 1/2 bar Fels-naptha soap (This soap has been around since 1893. That's a long time to prove your worth! It is a lovely, soft orange; it makes me happy. The texture reminds me of a crayon - dandelion.)

All three of these products were available & cheap at Winco. Von's only carried one of them, and it was $1.50 more. ( Sorry, Von's... lower your prices & stock your shelves!)

Oh, you also will need a large bucket & empty & clean containers. I used cola bottles, Mona-Vie bottles, Gatorade bottles, Clorox bottles, and my favorite glass one - an old Tequilla bottle.

(These are filled with the fruit of my detergent-making labor!)



What you do now is grate the half bar of soap into a big pot with 3 cups water. Heat until the soap is melted; it doesn't take long. (In fact, start-to-finish, this whole endeavor takes @ 30 min, and that includes clean up.) Now, add your measured Borax and Soda (no! not baking soda. lol). Ta-Da!!!

Pour 8 cups water into a large bucket or pot.( I used a rinsed-out 5-gallon bucket that our pool's chlorine tabs came in.) To this, add the liquid detergent. STIR like crazy. Pour in an additional 28 cups water. Stir. It's ready!




Now all you do it grab your funnel and pour this beautiful lemony-colored liquid into your containers. It does get foamy as you pour, so you might set aside some as you pour into others, and let that foam settle down a bit, then fill it full. Let this set for a day, to get thick. When ready to use, shake really well, and pour 1/2 cup into your regular-sized load.

This batch should make 2.5 gallons of liquid laundry detergent, which equals out to @16o loads of laundry! All that for the cost of about $2! Can't beat that!

Oh, and what great gifts this would make for

...new brides...
...your kid's first apartment...
...a friend in need... HAVE FUN!

Economical Fun!

When times are tough, the tough get smarter!

One of our local Von's grocery stores was having a re-opening (I didn't even know they were closed!). So, my mailbox was flooded with coupons, ads, and a 10% off Von's card.

My BFF, Susan, and I armed ourselves with our lists, circled items from ads, and coupons aplenty. Oh, and, of course, our lattes!

In we marched, women on a mission to save, save, SAVE! And we did.

She saved $109 and I saved $68! Believe me, that was the best stimulus plan ever!!! We are going back this afternoon!

The top right picture displays the wonders of what $24 dollars got me. Yep, all that for only two tens,a few ones, and a little planning and coupon clipping. Hoooray!!! Obama should learn from us!

That Was A Clothes Call!

These neat stacks of fluffy towels are special. It took me six whole days to make them such...

Would you like to know the secret to making your towels stand apart from the rest of the absorbent crowd that gets folded atop kitchen counters everywhere?

OK, come in close and be prepared to be shocked and amazed (literally) - This set of towels got washed six times in a row. Oh, what? That's not shocking enough? Well, don't you wanna know why they got washed that many times, hmmm?

The story began on Monday. Being the gung-ho little (fine! not so little) housewife, one of the first things I did was gather in my arms all towels scattered about the house. It was a smallish pile, so I tossed them in wash. Well, as it so happens, lots happened to distract me that day and I never returned to the freshly washed terry.

Tuesday: Realizing Monday's neglected towels needed today's attention, I gathered the array of soiled kitchen towels, added them to the wash, and let 'em go for another ride.

Wednesday: What again? Rats! Gathered previous day's hand towels, added them in, and figured third time would be a charm.

Thursday: Third time was not anymore charming than the first or second washes, so I knew, just knew!, that the fourth time would finally do the trick. I mean, how many distractions can there be??!

Friday: Thank God it's Friday! Bible study, long lunch with the girls, and no chores; yay, it's the weekend!

Saturday: Shoot! These towels stink! I better wash them!!! Once again, I collected all the kitchen and bathroom towels (oh, I guess they would be from those two rooms, wouldn't they? I never have heard of living room or bedroom towels. lol) and headed to the laundry room. I raised the lid of the washer, and when the soaked and stinkin' towels saw yet more buddies were gonna be shoved in there, they were none too happy. Quickly, I pushed them in and slammed the hood.

What you see on my kitchen counter are the cleanest towels in the whole, wide world! Isn't that special?

As you know, Mike rides his bike all week, and by Sunday those smelly jersies need a good, hot bath! So, that was a clothes call that I got that one load of towels done before then; he just wouldn't understand about distractions! :)

P.S. This was my record. I'm thinking about talking to Guiness about this; possibly there's some recognition in this for me!

Messy Room, Messy Mind

This is my room. Mine all mine, and I love it! Mike has his own room, which originally was going to be another "Mine all mine" room. The moment Noah moved out, I cleaned, painted, made a darling ruffly valance for the big windows, and then got to enjoy that room for, oh, about a minute.

Then, as I was sitting admiring it, thinking of alllll the sewing projects I would accomplish in it, the Lord spoke (no, not audibly), "Make this room a surprise for Mike."

What?!!!!!! Did I just do all that work for him? I don't think so. Or....I hadn't thought so, but you know how the Lord's thoughts are not ours. The Lord was thinking that Mike would be blessed with his own room. So, I yanked off the girly valance and made a plaid, manly valance. I put up pictures of fishing boats and stashed all the pink stuff.

After I obeyed God and put all my stuff away, I saw the pure selfishness of my heart. What a messy mind that was only thinking of me, moi, I! Did'nt Mike deserve part of this house? LOL. After all, for all our married lives he has diligently worked to provide us hearth and home. I guess I can share it with him.... :) I'm glad the Lord swept in and cleaned me up!

So, his recliner, and old toss-off from my BFF (cozy darn thing, too), sits in the corner of his room that is catty-corner from where I sit at the computer in my room. It's cute to see him sitting there reading the paper, real homey-like. I'll look over at him and it is one of those "ahhh" moments of contentment. I'll bet ya that God knew this would happen and that my heart would be blessed. God knows everything!!!

I'm happy Mike has his own room. Can you imagine if that room was still mine? You can see in the picture what my room looks like right now...imagine if I had two rooms to do this in?! Ach!

The Heavens Declare His Handiwork!

I took this picture while standing in my living room, looking through my dirty window. I really gotta get in there and wash them!!! But not right now, because I gotta write! :)

Do you see the brilliant reddish-orange tree? I can't think of what kind it is but it is one of my favorite trees, and you are looking at the reason why. I told my husband, "They are so gorgeous in the fall, you simply must plant one for me!" And he did, though it's not always that simple to get him to do things for me...

So, I took this picture for you! I wanted you to share in the beauty that I get to gaze upon every single day, that is, till winter comes along and leaves this poor tree naked as a jaybird (are jaybirds really naked????).

When walking last Sunday with my friend and her beautiful, young daughter, we passed by many trees with leaves that were showing off God's handiwork. Lyn said, "Did you know that science can't prove why leaves don't immediately drop after the sap leaves the tree for the winter?" (That might not have been her exact question, but it was something like that.) She said, "I believe that it is because God just wanted to give us a treat, and show off how artistic He is." :) I liked that 'beleaf' of hers!!! Don't you?

Everyday God is out back showing off for my enjoyment, and I love it! His handiwork is perfect!

I love Fall!

Here is my verse at this noon hour, something for us all to feast on, marinate ourselves in, digest & get nourished from, and actually make use of in our tiny little craniums ~ "My meditation of Him shall be sweet" Psalm 104:34.

This morning my meditations were not of anything sweet, but things quite sour. That does not a happy camper make!!! So, after seeking the Lord about that, this verse came to mind, though I had to Google it to find the address.

Sweet meditations about Jesus are abundant, if we will choose to open our Word and take a peek. Like, "You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty" and "He causes grass to grow for the cattle". I mean, if He provides for cattle, then we know He'll provide for us! "He appointed the moon for seasons." He appointed! Cuz He is God and big and powerful and in authority and control! Of the moon, and of you and me and all our stuff. (Not stuff as in stuff, but stuff as in circumstances. Thought I better clarify...) :)

Anyhoo, it's a strong temptation for me to dwell on the sour stuff of life, but don't ask me why cuz it sours my whole outlook, which sours my mood, which sours my day. Dang, how much smarter to think of the sweetness of our Savior! It just brightens the heart!

So many wonderful sites.

The internet certainly has its share of trash. Like a huge dumpster sitting idle in some dark alley, waiting for a beggar's hand to reach in and relieve it of some of its load, so does the internet offer a lot of trash to those begging for trouble. But, there are a lot of wonderful things to behold and learn from on the net, too.

Right now I am reading a cute blog from Suzanne, the owner of my favorite Bakersfield Quilt Shop. Strawberry Patches is darling-er than darling, and lots of my dollar bills are helping to piece together a blanket of comfort for her nest egg. I just can't say "NO!" to myself when I'm in there; everything is too cute and inspiring! Yesterday I spent waaaaaaay too much. But when the gray clouds became a bed for the blue sky, and the breeze picked up like a ceiling fan, well, I chimed in and reveled in all the fall fun by encircling myself with the quilting magazines and books I bought. Such fun ideas.

Yep! And now it's time to get in there and create some of them! Happy Fall - Liz

Spaced Out, Oh MY!!

It was crazy! Upon my return from Disneyland, there were three e-mail request: So and So wants to be added as a friend to your myspace. What? Myspace? Do I have a myspace?

And why were they all of a sudden, out of the clear-blue sky, asking at the same time? It was crazy!

So now, thanks to those two friends and one niece, I resurrected my space on MySpace and am now a crazy space-cadet, if you know what I mean. Even my youngest son got pulled into the space fray when he came over yesterday with his girlfriend. He thought he'd dash in, pick up the sought-after goods, then be back on the merry path to his own life. Wrong.

He knows oh so much, and well, I didn't even remember having a myspace, so you know what I know about it.... Anyhoo, he actually let those fingers of his fly across the keyboard and turn myspace into something fun. I like it. I'm addicted. I'm spacing out, wasting time, having a blast. Oh my!

Since breathing life back into that old space, I've had more friend requests (sorry, Hunkman with Hatchet....I don't know you....delete), and am almost up to ten!

This blogging, spacing (I'm sure there's some hip, cool, rad, ????, name for it, I just haven't learned it yet) is fun! So, what do you think about all this???? Am I too old for such things? Do you have an tips for me? How did you learn it all?

More of Jesus

You never know what you'll find when you step into the musty realm of a Goodwill store. Sometimes treasures are sitting on that shelf, hoping your keen eye will see them for the gems that they once were (before becoming someone else's trash). Yesterday, I happened to find one - a book by Anne Graham Lotz that I had never even heard of called I Saw the Lord. Have you ever heard of this one? Have you read it? Did I buy your copy from Goodwill??! :)

Anyhoo, the purpose of her book is to wake up the hearts of God's people, the hearts and mind in our once great nation, and to revive our hearts with their long-lost fervor for Jesus.

In one paragraph she is talking about how she slept through opportunities to be with Jesus, and said, "That's when I most need a wake-up call - a jolt that pushes me to seek out revival of the passion that began as a blazing, empowering fire but somehow tends to die down to a comfortable but weak, ineffective glow." Hmmmm....

I think revival comes when we are wanting more of Jesus than comfort, money, fun, pleasure... What do you think? Share your thoughts with me on revival. Or, do you need to be revived? Is your heart barely beating for the things of God?

I, for one, need more of Jesus in my life and less of Liz. Yep, I must decrease and He must increase. Less of me, more of Jesus. I do want my passions blazing again with an empowering fire stoked by the Holy Spirit of God.

If you feel like this, too, then go to Jesus and let Him strike the match! :)

Party On

You wouldn't believe how cute it was going to be! I was so excited!!! Pinks and whites, little bottles of lotion with sparkly crowns as the lids (I know! who but the Lord could have had me find those perfect party favors?), and dual-pink tins that said, "Princess Box" on the bottom, that were going to be used for Scripture cards I was wanting to make. So perfect for a party of Peeps, and you can imagine how I was clapping my hands when I spotted them. When my friend who was helping me decide about the brunch's details (such as, she talked me out of renting that huge round table and umbrella that our local place rents) saw them, it was cute how excited she was for me (and the gals). I prayed many times what to serve, what He would want me or anyone else to say (He did want me to ask a friend to share) and for the girls to feel welcome, blessed, encouraged, filled with joy, as I pray for all my brunches (not that I have many anymore). Don't you just wanna put on your shimmery-pink tu tu and crown and come on over?

Well, don't don that party outfit yet, because sometimes these things get taken out of our hands, and we can't do anything about it.... except decide how we will respond....

Pout? Check. Pray. Check. Bundle up the boxes and lotions, add some pink razors and darling little pink purse notepads, and call up Courtney, who is soon going to Swaziland, and hand them to her for some of the girls she will be ministering to? Check & Yay!

This morning's Bible reading had me in Ephesians. "But God, who is rich in mercy...." I love those "But God's" in the Bible. No matter what happens to us, those powerful two words remind us to consider who He is, what Jesus went through, and who He did it for - us! Dead in our trespasses and sins, indulging in the lusts of our flesh, walking in the course of this world.... that was us - Ellas in the cinders of life - until the fabulous riches of God's mercy came and crowned us with lovingkindness and swapped our rags for royal wear (so much better for twirling).

So, you know what? Keep your tu tu ready, because soon we will be going to a party in heaven! I don't know if there will be pink and white, but I do know that it will be shimmery (all those glistening gems, ya know)!!!

See you there!!!

Dang!

Yea, I said it! Dang! There are just too many things in life that make me say 'dang'!

When my girlfriend, Debbie, emailed that her doctors mentioned cancer, in association with masses on her lung, I said to the Lord, "Dang! We need her around. Who else will write your books and go around the world proclaiming the good news and your greatness?" (It ended up being calcification, which is totally non-cancerous...dang, that was a close one, and yay that God is not finished with her yet.)

And then today - sew day, with my best friend Susan - I told the Lord, "Dang!," when I listened to her singing operetta in my kitchen while fixing us Diet Pepsies, and, having mercy on her dear Casie, who misses all this fun, prayed that He would open the doors for her to move to Minnesota, where that beloved daughter of hers lives. It causes deep wells of tears to bust out when I think of that day coming. And then, to have to be unselfish enough to pray such a dreadful thing (for me), well, all I can say is "Dang!" That's a door I'd like to bar with steel upon steel. But that's pretty selfish of me, cuz she and her daughter are also best friends. Yay they are best friends and dang that i might soon lose mine!

Amy came over and fixed a problem with my computer today, and then she said, "I met a man." So far so good. "He lives in Canada." Dang! My mind took off on a zippity sprint into the unknown future, where I had her marrying the man and leaving me forever. Maybe it will happen and they will marry. But maybe she'll get married and he'll willingly move here....dang, I hadn't thought of that!!! (They haven't known each other very long, so you can see that this 'dang' might come to nothing.)

Anyhoo, you get the picture. There are so many things to say "Dang!" to. And then... God comes close and says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Dang, finally something secure!

(Lyn, if you're reading this, I often say "Dang!" to the Lord about a war that has your son on foreign soil. Thankfully, Jesus never leaves nor forsakes him, either." Yay and dang!)

Amazingly Thankful

It amazes me what can turn my idle thoughts into overflowing thanks.

All I was doing was slicing pickles. Old ones, at that. But those salty green burger enhancers made me realize that many people in the world don't have these 'extras,' let alone burgers to put them on.

That one thought, that tiptoed in while from slicing four little pickles, has me praising God that I am here in America, with pickles and garden tomatoes and onions to add zest to my burger (which I am also grateful for)!

Thank You, Lord, for reminding me about Your sweet provision!

YIPPPPPEEEEE!

Part of James 4:2 says, "You do not have because you do not ask."

So.... ask!

I did!

And take a loooky-looooooo...... www.reallifeblog.net !!! Yahoo!

Here's how it happened... My friend Emily, who has aspirations of writing (and will definitely reach that mountain peak!) showed me her submission to RealLifeblog.net. Her enthusiasm, excitement, and anticipation to have a chance to be a guest on this blog was darling. After reading what she wrote, I got up from my computer chair, and began painting the guest room a darling cottage blue, praying for Emily to be accepted, the whole time (ok, well, my mind did wander to other things quite a bit. I need a thought lasso, because my thoughts sure do like to wander off!!! Can you imagine? Cowgirl Liz??!!) . And she was!!! Thank YOU, Lord!

So, the next morning, I took a stroll through RealLifeBlog and loved it. It got my author juices flowing! Though the deadline was the night before, Friday, and this was very early on Saturday morning, I took a chance - I asked!

I asked, "Your deadline was last night.... But, God's word says "you have not because you ask not." So, could you use another submission? I have this one attached, just in case. It was fast, but if it's not too late, and you like my style of writing, I would love to try to get a guest spot."

And she wrote back, "Liz, I would like to use your post, thanks for contacting me. You're right about the asking!"

Which means that James was right about the asking. Which means God was right about the asking, because all Scripture is Spirit breathed and inspired by God. Which means it is right to always ask.

And then.... leave the answering - 'yes' ~ 'no' ~ 'maybe so' - to God! :)

Little Pleasures are Big Fun!

Most days, I hop on my bide (no, that's not a pic of me, silly! That's a boy! And wrong era. lol. I may be old, but not that old. I got this picture from a site that came up in Google, under vintage bikes. I've since gone back to find it, but can't. Cute, huh!), face it towards the street and maneuver it out of the garage, then I circle round the quiet cul-de-sac (quiet because it's early and the troop of young kids on the block are still in pj's watching cartoons), head down the street towards the beautiful green barley fields, take a sharp right onto the sidewalk, and in approximately 20 yards, I'm there - our mailbox!

If I have mail to ship out, then this little pleasure ride is done twice, in one day. That's double the pleasure.

No matter what kind of mood I'm in, how bad or good life is at the moment, once I hop onto the seat of my bike and get my legs twirling in a circular dance, everything's pure pleasure for those few carefree moments (or longer, if that's my exercise for the day). Fun!

Again and again, I am learning that if I open my eyes and really look, in all of life's highs and lows, there are snippets of blessings waiting to be plucked and enjoyed. But we have to look for them.

Once upon a time, I did not look for them! Oh, no. Instead, if a day was bad, then, by golly, I just sat there and moped...sad. Really, if you've ever experienced that kind of living, then you know what a dreary existence it is.

So, now, I choose to find these little pleasures in my day, and turn them into big fun by enjoying them with thankfulness to God. It's like a B12 shot in the arm!

Open your eyes and see what little pleasures you can turn into big fun!

Hannah Bo Bannah

Since my Bible doesn't give Hannah's last name, I've dubbed her Hannah Bo Bannah, in keeping with my silly mood this morning (hey, it's better than being grumpy!).

This particular last-nameless gal is on my mind because last night I was reading the first two chapters of 1 Sam, where she had said of herself, "I am a woman of sorrowful spirit..."

Okay. So far, I think we have all been in her sandals. But...here's the part that got me - "I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have POURED OUT MY SOUL BEFORE THE LORD." (Caps added by moi.)

Mrs. Bo Bannah didn't try to dilute her sorrow. In complete helplessness, she dropped down before her God and told Him all about it. Good idea!

Do I do this? Well, yes... eventually. Most times, though, I confess that I'm guilty of complaining or running away to the movies or shopping, trying my best to avoid the pain. What about you?

After reading Hannah's biography, I see that avoiding the pain moves us from God, not towards Him. God is an ever present help in times of trouble, but I double it outta there when trouble comes, not sit at the feet of Jesus and see what He wants to teach me through the sorrow or find comfort in His care.

And besides all that, just think of what gets delivered to us out of our sorrows! For Hannah, it was Samuel, who was used greatly as God's prophet. Jack Hayford said, "Hannah could not know that her intense intercession for a child was moving in concert with God - bringing her a son, but also bringing forth the will and blessing of God for a whole nation. As she entrusts the longings of her heart to God (I like that!), He moves on her behalf, but also advances His larger plan through her at the same time."

To think, our sorrows give birth to God's ultimate plans, for our good and for those around us. So, in these sorrows, we really can "consider it all joy." And that's not silly at all!

Father's Day!

Just think of how much time and money we spend honoring our Dads! We load them up with lots of love and gifts and devote the whole day to them. Early this morning, I slowly rolled out of bed, groggy from not enough hours in Slumber Land, tried a half-hearted yoga stretch that Dr. Oz says is a must-do, then padded into the kitchen and got busy with the routine motions of making coffee for my husband, the dad of our three kids. The aroma alone was enough to perk us up (well, sorta)! And just now, the oven is beeping, calling me to come check on his favorite homemade apple pie. Tonight, it's more favorites of his - burgers and potato salad. With the kids out of the house, it's mostly up to me to do all of this honoring business, but I love it. He deserves honor.

Even though we've been through 27 of these Father's Days, today, while preparing the pie's crust, I was all of a sudden thinking of our Heavenly Father. What about Him? How much time do I spend honoring Him, the Almighty Sovereign God who sent His very own begotten and beloved Son Jesus, just so that through Him - His death on the cross and resurrection - we could believe in Him and find the way to call this One True God, Father. It's amazing! It's amazing grace!

Anyhoo, everyday is a day to honor our heavenly Father! :)

Procrastination

You've heard the question, Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?

We all know the answer to it - because "today" we'd rather do something else...or perhaps, nothing at all. For me, Princess Procrastination (originally, I typed in 'Queen' instead of Princess, but it smacked of older than, and even though I am 'older than' I didn't like it), what I need to do today I will often put off till tomorrow because I simply do not FEEL like doing it today. Tomorrow sounds more hopeful, like, maybe, I will feel like it then. And sometimes I do.

Here's the drawback - all my tomorrows slam into one another in the most long and windy traffic jams. You know how irritating it is to be stuck in traffic, inching our way slowly forward, like a 99-year-old man pushing his walker one inch per second. All you want to do is MOVE! To be free and able to zoom ahead at will. Well, that's the drawback to procrastination. All of the things I put off are still facing me, waiting to be done, holding me back from zooming off into the day with fresh joy and vigor for that day's happenings and doings and enjoyments! Procrastination is a thief... and I invited him in!

And then, oh, then, I become stressed and overwhelmed, and maybe a little self-loathing, leaving me pining to be a more disciplined person than I am, and wishing I did not have this snake-like list wrapping around my life.

It all could've been avoided, too, if only I had answered the above question with the correct answer: Indeed. Why put it off, when I am capable of doing it today?

It's never too late to begin anew! The Bible says that the righteous fall seven times and get back up. Those 'seven times' cover each day of this past week, but guess what? I'm getting back up! My daily planner is splayed across my desk, and with my smooth-flowing favorite fountain pen, I am going to take this piled-up list of to-dos and assign them time spots on next week's calendar pages. This might sound like more procrastination, but actually it is realization - that all my loathing, pining, and wishing will accomplish nothing but discouragement. Planning will help and is positive, a step in the right direction.

I might have made bad choices last week but I'm not today! Ahhhh.... God's mercies are new every morning!

Just Like the Weather

Life can be just like the weather - with various seasons and day-to-day changing forecasts. Sometimes, like today, the sky is blue, the blossoms are boasting of their happy charm, and the birds are singing like they're auditioning for a role in Disney's Cinderella film. These are the days when we swing our arms, sing our songs, and make big plans.

Then, other days, the sky is overcast and gray. Dismal and not perky at all. These are the days of waiting and wailing. The moments in life when we want the trial over...quickly...and when, if it hangs around too long without any sunshine, we are tempted to just sit and be depressed. At times like these, all our big plans get a bit of a test, not to mention, our faith.

Still, then there are those tsunamis or earthquakes or tornadoes that catch you by surprise and upturn your whole life. Days like this shake our foundations. They let us see if we are standing on sifting sand or the sturdy Rock of Ages.

Myself, I prefer the sunshiny, warm days. The days where you just want to put out your arms and twirl around in circles, like when you were a carefree little girl. On second thought, all those sunny days do tend to make me spiritually lazy. I can see why we need all the other seasons, too.
But for today, I am happy it's nice outside. Mika and I had a great walk! There is a season for everything!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

No matter what this time of year throws at you, or who you might be dreading to see at the family gatherings, we can still offer to God the sacrifice of joy. Like King David did in the tabernacle of the Lord (Psalm 27:? nkjv). We can sing instead of be sorry for ourselves. Imagine that! Merry AND JOYOUS Christmas wishes!

The First Christmas Carol

Last night at church our Pastor spoked on Luke 1:46-55. It was very inspiring! He made the comment that, really, Mary's song is like the first real Christmas carol. Kinda cute take on it, I thought. Anyhoo, the whole message was wonderful, but the reminder to magnify the Lord really challenged me...

Lately, I've allowed my problems to be magnified, which makes God seem really small. But, nay - He is Almighty. His power is tapped when we pray. And faith causes our mighty God to flex that power on behalf of men. Let that sink in!

Mary was expecting the Son of God to show up, in due time. Let's be expecting the same, in each minute of our lives! Take that trouble, all of the them, each one of them, and expect God to deliver, in due time!!

"My soul magnifies the Lord" (Luke 1:46). Psa 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let usexalt His name together.

Got Joy?

If not, get in the Lord's presence - there is fullness of joy there! "...in Your presence is fullness of joy..." Psalm 16:11. Oh, and to get in His presence, just show up. Open your Bible, feast on it, think about it, pray it....talk to Jesus. Ta da! :)

Watch Those CHOICES!

Fall's happy greetings to you! Can you believe I actually forgot that I had a blog?! Good thing Amy and Noah bought me Nintendo's DS lite for my birthday. Now I can wake up my brain with Brain Academy and Brain Age 2 (still need to buy Brain Age 1; anticipating Brain Age 3).

Anyhoo, this morning I was reading in Genesis 16. I've begun reading through the Bible, and today I came upon Sarai, running madly to Abram with her request for him to go visit Ms. Maid Hagar for a little hoop-la, in hope-la of getting a son. She could've patiently waited for the Lord's promised son to arrive, but nope.... waiting is too hard.

So, for whatever reason, Abraham agreed. Perhaps he was in the mood for some sexual variety, or maybe he was sick of waiting, too. And what the heck, why not get a little hooky-la in the meantime? Not too many men would or could bypass such an incredible offer!

We see that Sarai chose not to wait on the Lord. And likewise, Abram chose not to wait on the Lord (or take the leadership role and encourage/admonish his beautiful wife to hold on to her hat, cuz surely God's promise, though sloooooooooow in coming, would come, nonetheless). And those hasty choices brought on lasting trouble (the Arab nations, Ishmael's descendants, still war with Israel, today).

How often we get ensnared in the waiting room! It's hard to wait. Yet, the consequences of NOT waiting - and taking matters into our own hands - are sure to deliver trouble. For ourselves and others.

So, next time you are in God's waiting room - watch those choices! They'll place blessings or cursings into your arms. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Cluck, not suck.

I am in charge of coaching someone in the discipline of not laying around moping (though there's a valid reason to), but instead, of getting up and out to a productive life and day of work. To make it a bit more fun, I sent this devotional to her office. Though silly, it's helpful....

It’s true! All discipline seems to suck at the time we are called to suck it up and get with it. Dieting, exercising, quitting something unhealthy for us (mentally, spiritually, or physically), or beginning something we don’t want to face—all of it can seem quite sucky. Till… the afterwards.
Afterwards, when a diet loss has won us a healthy body, or exercise has stopped our arms from flapping after we’ve stopped waving, or we’ve quit our habit of moping and there’s a non-stop flow of joy, or we’ve faced the unface-able and have that priceless sense of accomplishment, then it’s so worth it. And that doesn’t suck at all!
So, one day, you will look back on all this discipline and cluck its praises—the training will have paid off!
Your day’s motto—cluck, not suck. (I know, I know, it’s very clever.)

Cluck—Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all my iniquities; who heals all my diseases; who redeems my life from the pit; who crowns me with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies my years with good things, so that my youth (yahoo) is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:1-5.

Suck—Discipline, before the benefiting, joy-generating afterwards.

Rich in Jesus!

Do you ever have one nagging deficiency? Something that you wish was different in yourself? Or some thing you wish you had that you don't? I have plenty of them!

For instance, confidence. I desire to kick my insecurities out of my life forever, but each day, there they are. Could it be that God is letting it hang around for a reason? Perhaps to show me that He is my confidence, even when I haven't an ounce of that sparkling trait?

This particular lack shines its brightest when there's a social gathering. So, on the way to the party, I ask the Lord to get my focus off of me and onto others. I ask for the gift of gab. And guess what? He provides!

What I am learning is that my lack of confidence (or any other deficiency) is a handy tool for the Lord's skill to be displayed. It's amazing what He can do! So, let's let Him use our deficiencys to display His whole array of skill and splendor!

You can lead a horse to the water trough.....

.... but you just can't make him drink! You could be Mr. Atlas, with muscles bulging from every crevice, able to use your might to push the horse's head into the water, but you could not make that horse stick out his tongue and draw in long droughts, if he had a mind not to.

And neither can Christians force someone to believe the truth in God's word. We can lead them to the truth, show them how to drink it in and find refreshment, and teach them how the Living Water would cause them to thirst no more, but we can't make them slurp it up in belief.

That is the Holy Spirit's doing. We just lead them to the trough of truth (God's Word), and He hands them the cup, offering them a way to drink it, if they've a mind to.

It's their choice. And it's nice that God lets us choose... just hard when we see that someone chooses to walk away parched. But fear not, as I was reminded twice this week - God's word never goes void "without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

It's all in God's hands!

Testing

This is only a test! This picture is in my backyard, and it's probably from our last Easter celebration. The picture is not the subject of this day, though. I am simply trying to learn how to put a picture into my blog. So many of my friends have them, and you know how it is.... we always want what others have. LOL. So, let's see if this works!

Let Us Pray! :)

There's a gal I pray for, via almost-daily e-mails. This morning's prayer I read again and again, praying it for myself, too. So, I thought to myself, Self, why not put it on your blog, so that others could pray for themselves and their friends, too? And you can see that I did! :)

Dearest Father, our Almighty God, our Abba, who loves us to the utmost. For you, we offer this day. For every task, fill our hearts with joyful willingness. For every vexing, give us your patience and mercy. For all thoughts, let them be sweet and glorifying. Holy Spirit, check our thoughts today, and make us aware of the idle ones that slip in without our being aware, that are not pleasing to you or uplifting to our well-being. Turn our sighing into choices to sing. We'll need your help with that, for sure, 'cuz you know the pull to pout is ever present. Bring to mind those we can pray for, and along with that, let us know the exact thing to pray for those persons. I know this: praying for others derails our thoughts off our own self and stuff, so we want to be doing lots of that today. Let us serve you in that capacity. Teach us your will and direct our feet into it. This is a new week, a new, clean slate; let us do that which comes to mind, not putting it off or deferring it (as I read in Steams in the Desert today), so that we can lay our head peacefully upon our pillows and sleep soundly through the night, with no regrets, but only with that wonderful, calming sense of accomplishment. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' powerful name. Amen. xo

To Be or Not To Be

Is there a way you'd like your husband to be, or not to be? Seriously ask yourself this question: If I could change one character trait of my husband's, what would it be?

Not having many unfavorable traits, I had to really think about what I would like changed in Mike. Then, an unusual word - one that is not normally in my vocabulary - came to mind --- reticent.

Of the four definitions I found on dictionary.com (I love this site, 'cuz if I spell the word wrong, which I did, it gives suggestions), one hit the bullseye:

the trait of being uncommunicative;
not volunteering more than necessary

There is so much wisdom in being reticent, since it would keep you from putting your foot in your mouth. On the other hand, to a wife's heart, it can be a form of abandonment.

It was eye-opening for me, and also gave me wisdom how to pray, without any judgemental or angry feelings . I'm excited to see the Lord answer this one.

Now.... perhaps it's time to ask another question: What character trait could be changed in MY life???? :) Happy changes to you!

Fuel up Your Prayer LIfe

From Spurgeon's devotional Morning and Evening, were these words: Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications.

Get alone with God and just start talking! :) Talk about your lack of zest, your loneliness, your marriage, your kids, the things in government that frustrate and scare you, terrorism, our soldiers in Iraq, that neighbor that irks you, the trial that seems so endless, the joy that seems depleted, the fears that are robbing your faith, the friend who doesn't know Jesus as Savior and Friend, and whatever else is on your mind. Talk about the goodness of God that you appreciate, His many benefits, that we don't ever want to forget, and also, talk about strongholds and sins that you need deliverance from. (Deliverance by man is in vain - Psalm 60:11-, so, of course, we will need to talk to our Deliverer about these.)

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.

Let's be the ones that will stand in the gap, so God can destroy the enemies of the souls of men!

Merrily, Merrily Through the Snow

Okay, Christmas bells aren't ringing and there's no snow to merrily glide across. However, imagine that you are living back in the midwest, it's winter and the sky is dark and dreary. No clouds are single, but all married to each other, forming one big family of gray. Blizzards are howling and clawing at your door, for three long days, until finally they're over and have left you a visual reminder of their presence with drifts of white, glistening snow, six feet deep. And, you've got to walk a mile to town... just like Laura Ingalls...

Sometimes, our problems and circumstances are so long and deep that walking through them is just like pushing through that soft, deep snow. Trudging, one step at a time. Will frostbite set in? Will your legs hold out? Will you ever reach your destination, where a warm fire awaits to relieve and revive you?

God has given us a safe assurance that the answer to all of the above is a resounding 'yes'! Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

And that's why we can go merrily, merrily through the snow - no matter how packed it is!

Ooops, I alway do this

I will write a title and then tell a story that has nothing to do with it. LOLOLOL!!! Okay, here's the popcorn Christianity story --- When we live by faith and not by feelings, God's grace and the Spirit's power just pop us out of our downcast, doubting, double-minded mood and out pops joy in its place. ta da... the end. :)

Popcorn Christianity

I was just sitting here reading my last blog, and guess what???? I could've written the exact one, all over again! I guess being a slow learner is better than being a fool who refuses to ever learn, eh? And as long as I'm sharing my shortcomings, I think you might like to know that I have the hardest time dealing with disappointment. My girlfriend laughed at me when I mentioned that to her this morning because she has noticed this in me, too. Drats and double drats.

However, let's not stop with those, because it doesn't end there. Oh, no! The good news is that when we become aware of our sins and failings, we just march our little selves right up to our jumbo God and ask for mercy and help. Now, I hadn't thought of this till I was just now typing, because, well, I was living by my feelings! Yep, I was weighed down with feelings of failings. (Does that make any sense?) But... smile, smile, smile... not anymore.

Nope, the burden has been lifted by our strong God. The blood of Jesus washes all scarlet sins white as snow, His power is perfected in our weaknesses (the more we have, the more His power is on display), and He makes our feet like hinds' feet, causing us to finally be able to flit right past our feelings onto the Rock of our faith - Jesus!

So, as you can see - even our failings and feelings can give way to faith, when we remember the truth in our Bibles!

Up and Running Again!

Whew! What a fiasco to get back on this blog site! They said it's all new, but it sure looks the same to me? What do you think???

Anyhoo, want to hear something interesting? Well, I was reading through one of my 2001 journals, and I had some of the same pleas then that I do now. One of them - "Restore to me the joy of my salvation." You know what conclusion I came to when I read that? - I need faith!

See, faith overrules feelings. Could it be that all these days I've been basing my joy on how I feel, and not on what I believe is real in my life -- that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life, that thanks to Jesus dying on the cross and rising again, I am accepted in the Beloved, called a child of God, brought from darkness into His brilliant shining light, and have lavished grace upon me, day by day?

So, there's just one more reason why journaling is beneficial - it does help your walk! Hey, had I not seen the same ol' questions and prayers repeated, I might've been a broken record in 2007, too!

But now, I can sing a new song and give thanks and praise to God! And who knows what interesting things I'll be able to tell you when I look back in this year's journal in 2008!

Here I Am!!

Shoot, it's been so long since I've blogged that it took me a while to figure out how to get to this page. Now, that's pretty bad. Not only this, they now have a new and improved version.... To get that, though, I would have to sign up with Google, and I really don't want to do one more sign up...not yet, anyway. So, I will stick to the familiar. :)

Now that spring is making an appearance, I've gotten back on my bicycle. I rode 8-9 miles on the bike trail on Saturday. Remember how sunny and warm it was (unlike today)? It was awesome. In the River Walk Park lake were miniature sailboats. I am assuming they were remote controlled. How I wished I would have had my camera with me, because it would have made a beautiful and fun picture for my sister's newsletter. Mabye they'll be out there on the next sunny and warm Saturday.

Let's see, what have I been up to since my last entry, which was two months ago??? Hmmm.... I finished my second quilt for the Quilts of Valor. My last one went to a male Marine, but this one will go to a gal soldier, since that's what the Lord told me. For some reason, I like making them for the men and I fought the Lord on making this one for a woman. However, the Lord always has the last say, and when the quilt turned out very feminine-looking, I flew the white flag. I should have it back from the longarmer (the gal who quilts it on a huge machine) tomorrow and then it will be on its way to cheer some wounded soldierette.

Well, I need to quit typing here and continue on with my Old Testament kings research. Talk to you tomorrow (or whenever lol). xo

It's beginning to look a lot like 2007!

I've got a secret!

And the secret is.... drum roll..... feelings don't have to dictate your life! Now, mine do, but yours don't! Hahahahahaha! Case in point: After getting my brows (ok, and face) tweezed at the pro shop, then working a bit, then returning home to a big, fat mess (I should find me a new maid!), I was really doubting that I would hop-to and whip this place in order. However, I prayed and then just moved one step at a time, one room at a time. Prayer worked! God answered! Not only is the home fire kindling softly its welcome, but while ironing a two-week pile, I memorized a verse in Daniel. Now, don't ask me which one, cuz i memorized the words only. Wanna hear it from memory??? (And I'm not cheating cuz my Bible is still by the ironing board.) Here goes - "Let the name of God be praised forever and ever. Because all wisdom and power belong to HIm." Quick, go look in the first chapter of Daniel and see if I'm right! :) Anyhoo, my computer room is still waiting for its turn, but I just had to say 'hi' first. Back to work! P.S. Holidays are nice but they sure do throw a routine around!

Sewing Saturday

Busy sewing today. But now I need a nap (my mantra these days). Perhaps a quick snooze, then back to sewing!

A Slow-Go Monday

Hi there! Even though the list of to-do's are longer than the paper (thankful am I for the back sides), here I sit, avoiding all of it. How can this be??? I did take Mika for a very frustrating walk. Clearly, she thinks she is Boss. I about whipped her neck off as I pulled her around this one time, and after that, she bowed to me, the Queen. She's such a sweet and loving dog, but oh.....

Mike and I have begun to plan our 27th anniversary trip to the coast in September. The dates aren't certain, but we will be gone for at least 3 nights, maybe more. When Mike first mentioned a trip, I was in shock, to say the least. Gosh, I thought, he's gotten so romantic. Then, as we got some plans on paper, it all became clear that he was in love with fishing! One full day of our trip will be so he can fish. In fact, all other plans are working around that one trip. I am beginning to see the light, and it's shining over a boat, not me. Drats!

Let's see.... what else? I've been quilting some, and that's been fun. In fact, that's what I'd like to do right now. However.... that list of chores is still waiting. Ta ta!

Jill Brisco Conference

This conference was awesome! I've heard Jill speak twice before - delightful both times - but this was totally heart-changing. It was very obvious that it had been covered in prayer, and the Spirit was doing His sweet convicting and encouraging through Jill, Anne Barbour, our worship leader, and the many who served us. If you've never heard of NEWIM, it was through this avenue of Jill's, trying to encourage those in ministry. And to think, I almost changed my mind and didn't go!

A fun day!

Ooops! lol Can you see what my mind is like these days? It's gotten so scary that I've begun doing all the little freebie games in the daily newspaper, in hopes that my mind will get flexed again. I am really depending on the Lord for sanity!!! See, He keeps us close to Him, one way or the other!

Noah moved back, did I tell you that? Well, it's been just dandy!!! Already, he has taken me to the movies - at night, normally my bedtime, and I actually kept awake the whole time! lol Then yesterday, mike, me, noah, kyle, all went to Stockdale and played golf. Now, those silly young bucks were just pos they could 'take' mike and I, so they bet us pizza at Plumberries. Well, Mike kept saying all night long how his back hurt from 'carrying' me during the golf game ( I golfed the worst ever). However, Mike played pretty darn good and we won!! Yep, those boys had to cough up the dough for the pizza dough. It was great! We actually ate AT THE RESTAURANT and OUTSIDE, my fav!!! See, it is a good thing Noah moved back, cuz he's getting mike and I out. Hooooray!!

Having to hang a billion garage sale signs today for theresa's Oaks neighborhood fling, I decided to ride my bike, and since amers got her a darling new bike, she came along....good thing, too, cuz i got too much sun and was not in good shape, till we pit stopped at jamba juice and the infused b vits hit my veins, then all cylinders were running again. It's fun to have a daughter!

Anyhoo, as you can imagine on this hot day, after being the sun for hours on end, floating int he pool with a mag felt mighty fine. yep, mighty fine. Oh!! I almost forgot to tell you - guess what I picked from our garden today??? Our very first crooked neck squash and zuchhinis. Now, hurry up tomatoes!!

Write me! xo

A fun day!

In the Good Ol' Summertime!!!!!

Let the fun begin!!!! It's summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime!!!

What sealed the deal for me, and changed my mindset from spring to summer were two things: 1> Shannon and I spent a whirlwind day at the coast yesterday. Zoom, zoom, zooom in fun! and 2> I cleaned out the pool and patios and pruned and raked and washed down the deck. Oh, and had bought two brand new noodles and two floating lounge chairs.

Now can you see why it's the good ol' summertime?? :) We are bbqing burgers tonight and playing cards with my sis, and maybe....jumping in the pool! Oh what fun!

But, before the fun, I must clean the house. During the week, i pretty much have a routine of upkeep with the house, wanting mike to come home to a welcoming peaceful haven. but then, on the weekends...well, it's party mode my mind slips into and the house goes to pot - when he's here all day. go figure. so, am cleaning it right now and then he can wallow in wonderful enjoyment. me, too. :) have a fun day, and get your flip flops on - it's summertime!!!!

Mom to the Rescue!

We have a beautiful Chineese Elm tree in our front yard. The other day, Mike pointed out the robin sitting in her nest. Good thing he did, too, because Tippers, kitty-o-mine, was inching her way up the tree just a bit ago. Before I could get out there and call her down, that mommy robin was out there dive-bombing that threat! It reminded me of how protective moms are, always coming to the rescue of their kids. That's all. Just thought I'd share that little story with you. Tippers is now sleeping on my bed, and Ms. Robin is singing from her nest, though I bet her heart is still racing!

Mom to the Rescue!

We have a beautiful Chineese Elm tree in our front yard. The other day, Mike pointed out the robin sitting in her nest. Good thing he did, too, because Tippers, kitty-o-mine, was inching her way up the tree just a bit ago. Before I could get out there and call her down, that mommy robin was out there dive-bombing that threat! It reminded me of how protective moms are, always coming to the rescue of their kids. That's all. Just thought I'd share that little story with you. Tippers is now sleeping on my bed, and Ms. Robin is singing from her nest, though I bet her heart is still racing!

There is Hope!

Something momumental just hit me this morning - God helps our weaknesses!!! I had been spending so much time on the computer, goofing off, basically, and had been neglecting (to ignore or disregard -check; to fail to attend to properly - check; to leave undone - gulp, check; lack of proper care - yep, check) my ministry/job at home. After reading Webster's this morning, I really can see why I had begun to call on the name of Jesus for help with this issue.

There were several ways the Lord gave help, most of them through varying situations, but the most obvious was writing this Bible study. There's just no way in the world to concentrate on this study and goof off on the computer at the same time! And, there's no way I could concentrate on this study with this house in unpeaceful dissaray.

So, with the Lord's prompting, I spend all of Monday, from early morning till late at night, getting this house in working order. What peace, I'm telling you! The fun part is that now it only takes a short amount of time first thing in the morn to whip this place in shape, and then.... my brain has been free to write. Had I not felt prompted to write this study, I'd still feel as useless as ever, wasting time at the computer. See how clever the Lord was to help me in my weakness!

My Favorite Day of the Week

Did you know that Wednesday is my favorite day of the week? Well, now you know. Monday's hump is over, Tuesday's day is work is done, and Wednesday is free. After that, Thursday rolls around and then - thank God, it's Friday - party day!!

The house is quiet and I am going to spend this day with Jesus, listening to His Spirit for words and directions for the last two chapters of Enduring Love. I'm getting excited to see what the Lord will do with it this summer.

The Riverlakes flyer, announcing the summer studies, came in yesterday's mail, and hoooooray - got my first sign up! There are three studies on marriage, and I found it interestng that they all seem to complement one another, none the same. Neat! Something for everyone!!

Oh, did I tell you that we are officially a couple again? Yep, Amy moved into a great-paying live-in situation, helping a commuting mom keep an eye on her two teens. It's just Mike and I now, with our furry and sweet 'grandchild.' Wierd, but good, too. Life changes and doesn't miss a beat. Have a fun Wednesday! (Oh, send me a card or a letter, would you? My mailbox needs some fun!! lol)

I've Missed YOU!!!

I don't care what anyone says - time DOES fly! Pigs don't, but time does! Have you given up on checking this blog? Who can blame you! It's been weeks since I've written, but I do have a very good reason --- I've been working on this summer's five-week Bible study. Here's the title...

Enduring Love Persistently Loving Till Death do You Part

Just yesterday, the Lord confirmed that title, and now my fingers are clicking away at the keyboard. I am getting so excited! My prayers are being kept in my journal for this study, because I want to be able to look back and exclaim over our God when faith becomes sight, by the end of the summer. Hurrah, I say... and will say then.

For those of you waiting for May's Encourager, well, you might receive a copy of the study, instead. I'm just one woman! LOL

Be sure to leave your windows down when driving, so that you can breathe in spring! We'll praise God together, over this delight!

Fast Food Frenzy Forsaken lol

I don't know how it is with thin folks, but for me, when I am hungry.... I am hungry NOW! Clicking furiously on the keyboard, there was no time to stop for lunch today. This editor had a printing deadline for my sister's newsletter. So, by the time I left work at 5pm, my stomach was sending me a stream of instant message!

From sheer pride, I will not share the mulitude of places I considered pulling in and winding my way through the drive-thru. However, I will tell you that I DID NOT consider JBX's chicken brushetta for more than a nanosecond. Wanna know why? Ok, I'll tell you - it has 50 grams of fat, according to somethign that said so on the net. Isnt' that shocking? I found that out one day AFTER I ate one. Cholestrol, ldl, and mayo...oh my!

But don't panic; I have my healthy salad and chicken right next to me as I write. God is powerful, even when I'm not. Pray for me, though! I need addiction-to-food healing, and I mean it!

Yawn!

It's a new beginning! Me, getting up early, that is - yawn. I can hardly stand it! Of course, I only have to do it on Fridays, but here's the reason for this too-early madness: I'm switching my office hours to the wee morn hours, because our little square is getting crowded with too many of us in there at one time. But that's not the only reason I've beat the sun up, today....

See, yesterday I wrote an article for the homeschooling newspaper. Guess what it was on?- Procrastination! It's the blind leading the blind, for sure, but I did pray and felt the Lord gave me some great ideas. So much so, that I started living them right after the article was sent off! yay

With Susan and Amy confirming I live in stress these days, I knew that my procrastining ways were heaping stress upon stress upon stress, among other debilitating things. So, enough, I say! I'm up early to attack my small to-do list, before I traipse off to work. yay for a new way of living!! I love new beginnings - and it's not even jan 1st!

Such Joy!

Such joy is ours when we are hearing the Lord speak to us! Yahoo, I say! In case I forgot to tell you, Riverlakes called a coupla weeks ago and asked me to do a summer study. After much prayer, I felt led to not only do one, but -eek- to write the study! Now that takes praying upon praying....and lots of sitting still and listening. Not an easy task for this ADD heart! Yet, with God nothing is impossible!

And this morning that truth was proved yet again, as I sat on my bed waiting on the Lord for the first chapter. His faithfulness faileth noteth! :) I have five pages of notes that I am now going to turn into five days of lessons for chapter uno. I'm so excited and such joy has filled me.

Off to write!

Quiet on the Home Front

Ahhhhhh.... peace and quiet. I like when those two are dating. There is a quiet that has no peace, but today I have the pleasure of both. I'm very thankful. This day is reserved for spending time in prayer and listening, so that I can get the summer study written. Can't wait to see what the outcome will be!!!! :)

Happy Easter!!!

Hoooray! it's Easter!!! Jesus did not stay in that grave but rose up with salvation for all who would believe! And believe I did! Have you? Do!

This cloudy morning, I drove to Starbucks (of course they'd be open!) and got a fun coffee, so that when I pulled in front of the little Bakersfield lakefront, I could read my Bible with my usual java. He leads me besides still waters.... before me, looking out at the gentle wind-rippled water, and then in my heart.

It's a day to celebrate! God so loved the world that He did send His only begotten Son to die on the cross, and with it, put to death the penalty of sin we so deserved. Aren't you glad? Me, too! We'll rejoice together all day long! Thank YOu, Jesus!!! Happy Easter!

A Homebody Gone Bad.

Normally, I prefer home sweet home to just about any other place on the planet. However, here it is almost 8pm, and i just got home 20 minutes ago! Whew! a long and fun day (two in a row, go figure!) Do you want to know what I did, hmmmm??? Okay, I will keep you in suspense not one second longer --- I ran errands (ooo fun lol), worked, then got to meet Susan and Casie for lunch. yep, Casie is back in town and it was very fun yakking with her again! But that's not all I did... Oh, no! I went and bought another scooter - another brand new one, and I hope this one lasts. lol I pray big time for safety, as you might imagine. anyhoo, to me, this one looks like a motorcycle. when i said that to noah, (who sweetly went with me and brought it home for me), he laughed and laughed. :) It's got him craving one, though. then, back to work, walked with karen and randy and brandon. I got to push the stroller and having brandon laugh and be jolly with me was great auntie fun! So, another nice, long day, and I am home sweet home and needing a bath and a book...and pjs. So, sweet dreams, ya'll!

Summertime, Summertime....

Okay, it's not really summer yet, but it is sneaking in! Shan and I were supposed to play today, but by the time she got my message, I was already pedaling along Old River Road, enjoying every roll along that 10-mile trek. I'm surprised at myself, really, because I could've wasted the day pouting for messed up plans. But ya know, I was already in party mode, so why waste it? Bike riding is enjoyable and slows down the hurried pace of life, and that's what happened while I sat upon that bicycle built for one - I took time to sniff the fragrant blooms, sang praises, prayed, got a bit sunkissed, and well, it sure felt like summer!

And then, Lyn and I got to put the beautious touches on the surprises she is giving out in Bible study. We were going to do it tomorrow, but this worked out just perfect. Such yummy fun and fellowship! Hooray for good, honest friends! (She sure does call it like it is, which saves my fanny from getting singed from sin!)

Then, after that, like a glutton for punishment, I called Karen to walk. We took Jayme and her darling Brandon, and then my darling Amy and Mika. Now, Jayme is young and hyper. She challenged me to run, walk, run, walk - for two whole miles! Imagine what I must've looked like barreling and bouncing and jiggling down the roads. Well, nix that. It's just not a pretty sight, but it felt marvelous!!!!!! I honestly didn't know my body would still jog! Surprise! In fact, lots of surprises today, a new one around every corner! We plan our steps, but they often get washed away in the ocean's flow, leaving new ones.... like riding a bike in the summerish sunshine! Thank YOU, Jesus! xo

So Glad!

Okay, now I'm really glad that I pushed past my lack-o-motivation! Here's why: "Poor is he who works with negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." OOOOOh, I do not want to be poor, but rich! (Proverbs 10:4.)

How happy I am to have not used a slack hand today, or been remiss or careless in my work. Some days I am. What happens then is that everything seems to get slack. I'm destitute of joy on those days, and the rich, full peace of God's that I have in ample supply when I work diligently, is void. I want to be rich in those things of God, don't you?

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..." Ecclesiastes 9:10

I Must Be Part Ocean

Wanna know why? Because my mood ebb and flows along with the changing weather! Like right now... I should finish cleaning this totally messy place I call home, but the sun and my motivation both disappeared at the same time. Yep, all that water in me is sloshing around in laziness, right this very minute!

Anyhoo, I learned a lot about discouragement today and will pass it along in the Encourager, probably in May's issue, which will be soon, since April is already half over!

Okay, motivation or not, vacuum, here I come!

The Heat is ON!

Wasn't today gorgeous? Thankfulness to the Lord has been pouring from my lips all day, because that Easter egg hunt was bathed in sweet sunshine! Yay - rain did not reign! I had to set that thing up all by myself today, since no one else showed up (well, Theresa did in time for the start, and Tim the Bunny showed up half asleep and not willing to do the job right....). So, I got plenty of exercise as i carried four bags of 1,500 stuffed eggs around that huge Pin Oak Park! All that bending down to reclose opened eggs made me have one sore bootie! But, the day was perfect, the hunt was the best one ever, and it's over! Yay, oh, yay!!!

I was soo tired from all this Easter hunt madness, that I came home and napped till 4!! Thinking I was done in for the day, I slipped into pj's. But you know what? Who could waste God's provision? - Mika and I went for our two-miler tug-o-war. Another thing to be thankful for - a huge dog that needs exercise! I've walked more since I've had her than I have in five years. Maybe I won't be so huge in a few months!

Anyhoo, Easter vacation has officially been proclaimed and frolicking is in the air; a celebration of the death and resurection of Jesus, for us, yahoo!! And that's what I'm most thankful for!! :)

Yay, the Sun is Up!!

The sooner the sun dries out my soppy backyard grass, the better! Every time I walk out to paint the pool house (hut?), my feet just squish, squish, squish across the grass, and it makes a mess. Hurry up summer heat!!

Being out there by the pool has me very excited for summer swimming. Nothing tones better! And it's fun, to boot! Wanna come swim and loll by the pool with me?

Amy just told me this morning that she is moving out in May. All of a sudden, I will have two rooms to clean and use.... My little darling is moving across town to Carolyn's. Carolyn has two teens, and while she works out of town wishes for someone to be around. That someone will be my Amers. Room and board, a gas card, and $100 per week were a beautiful lure, and Amy bit! (But she still gets to come home and mom-sit when Mike's outta town. Good daughter!! lol)

So, the seasonal weather is not all that's changing!

Call Me The Scarecrow From Oz

....because I need a brain!!!! Below, I meant NOAH, not Abraham!! hahhahahahaha, thanks, Emily, for pointing that out. I was really just testing you guys. hahahahahahaa

Raining and Hailing and Thunder, Oh My!

Mika and I sat on the front porch bench and watched it pour. Of course, I thought of many things...like, wondering what is was like for the folks of Noah's day to see rain for the first time. And how yukky and just their punishment was (thank You, Jesus for saving us who deserve the same!). I bet Abraham was sick to death of rain, after all those 40 days and nights! It's only been four days and I'm already begging for that spring sunshine!

I also thought of how the voice of the Lord sounds like thunder. Revelation 14:2 says, "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps." With nation rising against nation, even here in California (think recent protests....), can the end be far when we will Jesus say, "Yooo hooo!" ?

And then, naturally, all this led to Hosea (that sweet - and hard - story of love) 6:3, where He will come to us like the spring rains. What Mika and I just saw was a torrential gush -- just as God's love pours over us - yipppee! So, let us press on to know the Lord!

Oh my Garsh!

I just peeked, and March 18th was my last blog entry! Garsh - time does fly!!! I guess I've been flying around, too, doing a little of this (housework) and a little of that (writing)...and wondering what you've been up to!

Little Mika is not so little anymore. That dogger grows 15 feet a day....well, maybe that's an exageration. lol

Mike asked me what my Saturday plans were (last Sat) and I told him I was finally gonna empty out Tim's room. Well, oh happy day - he went right in there and began before I ever got up!!! Hoooray for helpful-husband day! He's a fast, non-distracted worker, so it got done lickety-split... if you call three hours lickety-split! However, alone, it would've taken me three weeks, so yay! Now all I've got to do it is pull the staples, spackle the holes, buy the paint, paint, shampoo carpet, find a bed, make the curtains, get the bedding..... and have Tim move back home. LOL - just kidding!

I can't decide exactly what I want to do with that room. A bed will go in there for sure, unless Amy moves to her friend Carolyn's. But, should i make it a sewing room? EXercise room (though it'd rarely get used, then), a quiet time room, a room to escape when I'm mad at Mike? hahahha
Well, I know that I am painting the ceiling and trim a soft white, and the walls a cape-codish Laura Ashley blue. I have a handmade quilt that we bought years ago at the MCC auction (which is this weekend at Fresno Pacific) that should be quite darling in there. But, fiddly-dee...I'll think of this later. :)

For now, I need to think of work and get myself flying around this place; I hate coming home to a messy house, don't you? It's so... so uninviting. Actually, kinda repelling. I know that some really don't mind messyness about them, but I love the peace and order and welcome I feel when I've done my inside job before my outside job (which I need to get to!). So, off to fly about my day - tootly-ooo! xOxoX

The Middle of the Week

Nothing too exciting going on, but it is sunny and that is always like a party to my spirit! I walked Mika today, or should I say: I dragged her? Funny dog! But, on the way home, she knows we're close and then she's raring to go - and drags me! Funny owner! :)

Good Morning!

Miss me???? Until Emily taught me a new trick for this site (you can actually get comments sent to your e-mail! Here's how she said to do it: Go to your dashboard and click settings, then comments, then scroll down and enter your e-mail address) I had forgotten all about it! But here I am, and I will explain my absence this week...

To begin with, hormones are making my brain spin like Fred Flinstones feet when he's revving up to go in the car (remember?). Add to that a multitude of to-do's - and, a new PUPPY, well, life is just chaotic. But, today is supposed to rain, and I hope it gets grey and just pours, so I can pour over my stack of unread magazines! If it's nice outside, Mike will be panting to get out and go. :(

Now, the puppy.... Mika (pronounced meeka) is work! Lots and lots of it; just like having a newborn. So, that's my reason for not blogging. There's only so much brain space left in this 49-year-old braino - and she's taking it all! :)

No Comparison

I'm sitting at my desk, which gives me a whole panoramic view of the goings on of the neighborhood. The ever-changing seasons bring variance to the landscape, and nothing is ever the same; but it's always delightful, as I get to watch the blooms stretch out into the sun, or at other times, watch the fall leaves say good-bye to the loving arms of the trees. Just now, I got to see a sight better than these ---- my husband, decked out in his sexy bicycling outfit.

As he pedaled across my view, I thought of how sexy, handsome, smart, and disciplined that man of mine is. Then... I thought of me. Umm, I need a little more work in some of those areas! I'm not exactly any of those four descriptions, but I am always striving to be more disciplined (man, that takes a lot of work! not exactly my forte).

Then, I thought of the one thing that matters most - salvation! I'm saved, saved, wonderfully saved, and if I'm never ever any of those other things, well, it will be okay. Belonging to Jesus and having purpose in Him, outshines everything else by comparison. Glad the Lord looks at the heart!

Cloudy with Warmth

It was supposed to rain today, and the sky tried its best to put on a scary face. However, it ended up being the perfect day for preparing for spring -- pruning, raking, spraying off the pool deck. I just can't wait till I can play Scrabble with Susan by the pool, and jump in, in between turns. Pretty soon!!

Another treat today was being able to hang a small load of clothes and watch them sway in the breeze. I've always loved that; and the way the clothes smell at the end of the day -Yum!

How was your Sunday?

Oh! A happy Wednesday, indeed!

Wanna know why? Cuz after that blog I just posted this morning (see below) I went to read two comments, which to me are like fun packages, and one of them was from Shannon! Hello, Shannon! I prayed for you this morning. xo

Greetings!

It's been a while since I've written because Mike was home on a mini vacation. When husbands are home, a wife's life gets totally topsy-turvy. I like the topsy of fun (like golfing together), but am not fond of the turvy (routines ruined and home in a harried mess).

So, here it is Wednesday - my favorite day of the week - and I am playing catch-up. The list of to-do's is tall as a giant redwood, and my brain is leaning like that famous tower. However, as our days so shall our strength be; that's what God tells us in His word. So, gonna just nestle in the Lord's strength and not wrestle with any anxiety, as I keep doing the next thing, one thing at a time. Happy Wednesday! :)

Happy Saturday

Good morning! Having been up since 5 a.m., these four cups of coffee are keeping me awake. This last one I made had half non-fat milk, half strong coffee, bits of candy cane, and a few white chocolate chips - stirred, not shaken. Quite yummy, I must say! If only it was calorie-free; I'd drink it all day long!

Oh, and this too --

I had four moles removed (what a Valentine's gift!) today. No freezing them off. Oh, no. I had to be poked with a dang needle - four times - to deaden them so she could cut them off. Not that I looked. No, like a kid my legs were wiggling and my fists were covering my eyeballs. But, I made it, thank God. Afterwards the doc says, "I'm proud of you." But she didnt' give me a sucker! Darn being grown up!

The Big 5-0

No, not my age.....a few more months before that scary milestone - but it's the number of blogs I've posted. Wow!

So, Happy Valentine's to all your friendys! Mike and I went to Logan's for a steak Valentine's celebration. It was good. Today he's been gone, but he'll be home way later. My Valentine today was the Lord Himself. I was supposed to walk with my sis, then hit Curves with Susan. Instead, the Lord was gently calling, so I finally cancelled my to-do's and stayed home with Him. He showed me many things I did not know, but have been asking Him about. Sweeter than a box of chocolates!

And now, it's time to wash my face and get ready to switch the channels between American Idol and the Olympics. If you were disappointed in this day of love, then look to Jesus and let God's Love overwhelm you! Ta Ta.

Olympic Mania

I am loving watching the Olympics. I do have one gripe (of course lol) - my peepers wanna quit peeping around 10:30, and all the best stuff is on after that! Amy is going to have to teach me to record on video!!!

Anyhoo, I love the three-week mania. My only hope is that tomorrow when American Idol is on, the Olympics are showing something I don't like. But drats, I think I like it all!

Michelle Kwan's not being there has freaked my grooove, and the Tomatoe Man winning the pipe stuff was something to cheer about, even if I didnt' seen his last run. Darn these peepers of mine!

shallow hal?

Forget Hal! I'm pretty shallow myself, these days. I'm reeeeeeealy hoping it's menopause, but I can barely remember anything, barely eek the right words out, and am just about as shallow as an ant pool (how do people find interesting things to talk about?)! How did this happen?!

But~! Wanna know the fun of it???? Grin grin grin. I'm not easily disappointed! Nope, I just float through life enjoying the smallest of the small things. Well, not ants, though. They still bug me. Mike has told me for years that simple minds are easy to please, and thank God it is true! Every day is a party!

I might be as shallow as Hal, but I'm as happy as Cinderella, so who can find anything wrong with that? And by the way, i love comments!!!

Huffing & Puffing

No, I'm not trying to blow down any houses; my lungs and heart are just pounding from my 7-mile bike ride. It's been a while... too long of a while! Let me just say that I have a spare tire - and it's not for my bike!!!! In fact, now that I think about it, it's not for anything! You know what just hit me? The idea that it's like a spare room, or the trunk of the car. All the extra gets thrown in those spaces. Yikes, like the excess food I've eaten over the years. Ok, so no wonder I'm huffing and puffing so much!

Earlier today (and get ready, cuz this is true confessions time) I actually strode right into the kitchen and stood there gobbling fish while making Mike and I fish tacos for lunch (I know... since I ate one standing, I only ate one at lunch...gulp...big gulp lol). And do you know why I did all that stuffing? Because I looked in the mirror, saw an oldish woman who had tons of weight to lose. Now, for a normal-thinking person, this would make you get on the treadmill. For me, it sent me to the treadmill of eating to stuff down those yukky feelings. There, a little insight into the mind of an overeater.

Ok, so later, I had to ask myself, "What is the truth, here?" Well, "Self," I said, "The truth is that this can be stopped, fixed, healed." Amen. And then I hopped on my bike. :)

Huffing & Puffing

No, I'm not trying to blow down any houses; my lungs and heart are just pounding from my 7-mile bike ride. It's been a while... too long of a while! Let me just say that I have a spare tire - and it's not for my bike!!!! In fact, now that I think about it, it's not for anything! You know what just hit me? The idea that it's like a spare room, or the trunk of the car. All the extra gets thrown in those spaces. Yikes, like the excess food I've eaten over the years. Ok, so no wonder I'm huffing and puffing so much!

Earlier today (and get ready, cuz this is true confessions time) I actually strode right into the kitchen and stood there gobbling fish while making Mike and I fish tacos for lunch (I know... since I ate one standing, I only ate one at lunch...gulp...big gulp lol). And do you know why I did all that stuffing? Because I looked in the mirror, saw an oldish woman who had tons of weight to lose. Now, for a normal-thinking person, this would make you get on the treadmill. For me, it sent me to the treadmill of eating to stuff down those yukky feelings. There, a little insight into the mind of an overeater.

Ok, so later, I had to ask myself, "What is the truth, here?" Well, "Self," I said, "The truth is that this can be stopped, fixed, healed." Amen. And then I hopped on my bike. :)