Rejoicing in hope...Romans 12:12

Thanksgiving ABC's

2009-11-21T01:06:00.000-06:00

A~Abba Father who is with me always, loves me unconditionally, and patiently molds me into His image.
B~Brothers and sisters making the effort to stay connected; giving and taking to make it work. C~Crazy about my honey.
D~Doughnut shop which I usually manage to avoid...except every other Saturday...
E~Evenings spent with friends and family, laughing and playing games.
F~Fruit, juicy and sweet. Especially strawberries....yummmmm...
G~Goals marking an accomplishment...hope to reach it soon.
H~Hope. Definition: the expectation of good things.
I~Icicles dangling from the eaves, twinkling in the sunshine.
J~Jokes told by my neices and nephews.
K~Kindness shown by friends or strangers.
L~Lingering over a spinach-artichoke souffle at Panera bread, savoring a visit with a friend. M~Music which expresses better than words at times.
N~Napkins which I like to always have in reach at mealtime.
O~Oven, stainless steel, double-oven. An unexpected blessing after starting our Total Money Makeover.
P~Photos that preserve special moments with special people.
Q~Quilts mulit-colored, hand-sewn by caring hands.
R~Reading which opens new worlds for young and old alike. Forges bonds between the same. S~Shopping for Christmas presents all year long. Finding just the right thing for each person on my list.
T~Talking with a friend, sharing burdens, jokes, experiences. Finding you are both strengthened for the journey.
U~Unicycles which fascinate me, but have no plans to ride!
V~Value. Learning what really matters in life.
W~Water delicious and nutritious to drink. Swimming, tubing, fishing, boating-relaxing recreation.
X~eXamples. Consistent, faithful lives seen lived in front of me. Through good times and bad. Y~Youth camp. Which helped form my belief system, build my foundation, establish friendships. Z~Zoo displaying God's great imagination and creativity.

Random thoughts...

2009-11-16T03:30:00.000-06:00

1) Wingrove Taylor's advice that fits any situation: Humble yourself. (It's so counter-culture ,isn't it?)
2) I am a strange breed, but I LOVE all different kinds of weather--fog, rain, snow, ice, sunshine. I enjoy all of them. Especially if I don't have to scrape my windshield and if Bob will drive me to work when the roads are bad.
3) I have an insane habit of accidentally going in the men's restroom instead of the women's. Happened again this weekend. EM-barassing!!!!
4) 32 years ago I had a gash over my left eye and had to have stitches-left an annoying scar.
5) Saturday Bob and I were playing catch with some foam weight things. The metal end hit me. Gash over the left eye again, exact same place. Thankfully Victoria's a nurse and was able to clean and bandage it for me. I look kind of funny with two pieces of white tape over my eyebrow!
6) Thankful for friends who challenge, share, encourage. Friends you can laugh and cry with. "As iron sharpens iron..." Psalm 27:17
7) Black Friday shopping starts at midnight in Branson. The shopping centers will send shuttles to pick you up at your hotel! No thanks. I would rather be with my family.
8) STILL haven't heard from the dialysis job. It's still not closed in the computer. They are not returning my calls about it. I should hear either way. I am praying hard that I will be able to get off the weekend rotation and to be off night shift. But God's will be done--nights or days I will choose to be content.
9) Christmas shopping is about 70% done and pretty much on budget! Woohoo!!!
10) Really must get on a stricter diet. I have been trying to be careful but it's obviously not been enough. Another reason I think day shift would be better.
11) Can't even think of too much to put on my Christmas wish list.
12) Hoping we get the Suburban back this week--but it will probably be next week. It's costing the insurance company more to fix it than what we paid for it!
13) I doubt anyone will even read or care about this mindless drivel--my Momma! *waving* Hi, Mom!!!!
14) I will copy this to my blog. Some of my blog readers don't do facebook. I am thinking of starting a new blog because my current one won't let me add more photos--not sure why.
15) It was good to get away for the weekend. Jesus said, "Come apart and rest." He could have said, "Come apart and rest, before you come a part." We planned this weekend away a couple months ago. God must have known then how much stress we would have had this past week and made advance reservations just for us to regroup.
16) Thankful for our church family.
17) Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

While I was surfing the internet...

2009-10-26T00:58:00.004-05:00

...I found these links worth sharing. (Ever notice that I just love to do the little "..." thing? Hey, it's my blog, right? :-)
http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/sins.of.old.age.htm
Old age isn't for sissies. Very interesting and beneficial reading for anyone who loves or works with older people. At the bottom of the page is a link for comments, etc.

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Also found this link that is full of interesting information and clean videos, etc. It's like Netflicks. www.christiancinema.com

Perplexed

2009-10-21T03:02:00.003-05:00

about pictures, Picasa, per cent of storage, programs, preferences....

I can't load any more pictures to my blog right now. Guess I will have to investigate.

I was hoping to post a picture of our new (to us) vehicle-a 1997 Suburban. Guess it will have to wait. I do want to say just how thankful we are for this blessing.

Love this quote

2009-10-15T00:26:00.001-05:00

From "One Night With the King" the story of Queen Esther- "Perhaps, instead of asking questions of our trials, our trials are meant to ask questions of ourselves. "

13 Ways to show you appreciate your pastor

2009-09-30T23:33:00.003-05:00

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. So I want to take a minute and say how thankful I am for the remarkable pastors I know. Pastors take on a lot of responsibility--and I'm not talking about cleaning the fellowship hall or plunging toilets. I am talking about the real work pastors are called to do--to teach us of God and how we are to live and to warn us of danger.
So, let's encourage our pastors and their families. Here are a few ways to start:
1. Say it! Thanks and we love you!
2. Refuse to gossip to or about them.
3. Assume they mean well. Put things in the best possible context.
4. Tell them something specific you learned from the sermon.
5. Pray for them.
6. Realize that they are human, not angelic beings. They may say or do things that they instantly regret. Unfortunately, we tend to judge them more harshly than we would others.
7. If you have disagreements with them, handle them in a biblical manner. Go directly to them. If it isn't resolved, go through the proper channels until it is resolved.
8. Don't destroy the positive influence they may have on your children. A few careless words can set a child's opinion forever.
9. Whenever possible, agree to do a task when asked. It is frustrating to try to fill positions.
10. Pay attention in service--you can balance your checkbook or clip your nails later.
11. Don't hold the pastor's kids to a higher standard than you do your own.
12. Put yourself in their shoes. Treat the pastor and his family as you would want to be treated.
13. Show up at church prepared to worship!

So, Jason and Leah,
Charles and Leora,
Darrell and Lizzy,
Chad and Aimee,
Joe and Martha,
Uncle Jerry and Aunt Becky,
Uncle Albert and Aunt Della,
Joe and Susan,
Rick and Margaret,
and so many more....

Thank your for your love and sacrifice and for diligently giving of yourselves on our behalf. May you be blessed abundantly beyond anything you can ask or think!

Kind words and a gentle spirit...

2009-08-16T17:14:00.003-05:00

Kind words and a gentle spirit are two key ingredients of true beauty.
Sis Frankie Goins is a picture of this. She is positive, humble, pleasant and always happy to see you. Who wouldn't like someoone like that? She is loved and respected by young children as well as adults. She has a way of seeing the best in people.

She is a good listener, can be trusted with secrets, and gives wise counsel and encouragement. She was my pastor's wife when Bob and I first got married. Once when I was going through a very tough spot, I talked to Sis Frankie. She became my accountability partner. I have confidence in her prayers.

Unfortunately, Sis Frankie fell and broke her hip the other day. Hope and pray that she is doing ok and that the pain isn't too bad. We love you, Sis Frankie!

In other news, I just discovered that my cousin Luke and his wife Sam have a blog: http://schaperpersuasion.blogspot.com/ . Luke is Steve's son for all of you who are trying to remember our family tree! Drop by and say hello. I know, I know...it's been around for a while I just didn't know about it.

What are you holding on to? (One of my favorite stories.)

2009-07-19T00:02:00.000-05:00

The Pearl Necklace

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

What are you hanging on to?

--- Author Unknown

And the World's Greatest Dad Award goes to....

2009-06-19T21:41:00.001-05:00

MY Dad, of course!

Happy Father's Day to one of the greatest men I know. I talk to people all the time who tell me how much Dad has helped them in various ways. He always does it quietly--and I usually find out by accident! He is one of the most generous and giving people you will ever meet. He cares deeply about others. I'm honored to call him Dad and to continue to be the recipient of that generosity. I love you, Dad!

Why, bloomin' cactus!

2009-05-19T14:33:00.004-05:00

Bob brought this cactus home from Lowe's or somewhere. He had fallen in love with the two little blooms it had. Just as I predicted, they wilted the next day. I sighed a resigned sigh--and figured we would never see a bloom again. Then yesterday it had two blooms open and then NINE today! Aren't they gorgeous?

Landen and Sabryn's Visit

2009-05-19T14:20:00.002-05:00

Saby is quite proud of her latest gymnastics stunt.

Uncle Bob and Saby are shopping for miniature horses. They are still trying to convince Aunt Shar that it is a good idea.
We have been doing some landscaping so we took advantage of the "free labor!" They both did a great job. It's hard to believe Landen is growing up so much.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

2009-05-09T02:34:00.004-05:00

Mom with her four favorite kids!

May 2008

A local radio station had a weekly contest for the "Hardest Working Woman in the 4-States." I wrote this essay about my mom and submitted it. I think it was about the time they discontinued it--maybe she blew the competition away...Anyway, I really do think she is the hardest working woman around--and here is why:

Ruth is the hardest working woman I know. She gives tirelessly or her time, her knowledge, her finances and herself. Here are just a few ways:
1) Her parents are living with her right now due to some recent major health issues. Since Ruth is a nurse, she helps with a lot of her mother's personal care and helps co-ordinate her medical care. This means getting up early to bathe and dress her mother before going to her full-time job. It also means countless phone calls back and forth with physicians's office's and keeping the rest of the family informed.
2) She works full-time for schools from Labette County to the Missouri line. She oversees the care of children with special needs. She assesses what they need to progress, she obtains the equipment and trains the staff for it.
3) She has a 17 year old son at home and three adult children who all live out of state. She is available to help any of them at a moment's notice. When there is a major event going on--someone is having a baby or moving or just needs some TLC, Ruth is there. Her days off are used for her family, rarely for herself.
4) Ruth has a vast knowledge of medical resources available for everyone, but especially children. People frequently call her on her own time to ask about obtaining medical care for various conditions or illnesses. She is never too busy to share information with them.
5) Ruth and her husband have a big house and frequently have someone in need come stay with them for a few days, weeks or even months. These people are usually going through a personal crisis and will require a lot of support emotionally, financially, and sometimes medically. Ruth never hesitates to share her beautiful home.
6) One of Ruth's few leisure activities is shopping. Even then, she rarely buys for herself. She makes note of what others are needing and shops for fantastic bargains. She loves to find a great buy on something that just fits what someone needs. She gives just for the sheer pleasure of giving.
How do I know all this about Ruth? Because I have seen it first hand. I am her daughter and have benefitted from her generosity many times. I am proud to call her Mom and I believe she is the hardest working woman in the Four-States!

Ouch Ouch OUCH!

2009-05-01T01:56:00.002-05:00

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Not-Just-Good-Housekeeping-A-Case-for-Christian-Hospitality-Part-2
My sister Liz linked to this blog. OK, I got work to do!

One day soon...

2009-04-30T03:55:00.002-05:00

....hopefully some morning glories and clematis will be blooming in our yard. Bob and I do not have green thumbs....so we will see what happens......

2009-04-27T01:37:00.003-05:00

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,

for He who promised is faithful.

-Hebrews 10:23

hope: the expectation of good things

Enter to win a Sleep Number Bed!!

2009-04-26T01:59:00.001-05:00

http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-home/win-a-sleep-number-bed-worth-1300/

We have a used Cal King Select Comfort and love it!

More Photos

2009-04-25T23:57:00.002-05:00

Landen dressing up as an African prince????
The little munchkins: Gracie, Sabryn, Darrell Lee, Baby Ian, Landen, Rylan, and Heath.

Darrell Lee checking out Uncle Bob's new boat.

This is from a few weeks ago, Rylan and Sabryn munching popcorn while watching Hogan's Heros.

Aunt Lizzy meets her new nephew Ian.

Rylan hunting Easter eggs.

Family

2009-04-26T00:21:00.000-05:00

It was a special treat to have my family visit last week. We have seven nieces and nephews ages eight and under. Love the fun and chaos.

If you have a teen, know a teen, work with teens...

2009-04-14T15:26:00.003-05:00

...this is a fabulous site. They have a lot of stats that I want to post but couldn't find them to post, I will try to do that later.

www.futureparadigm.com

Bob and I went to a meeting last night about teens and teen safety for our foster parent education. One of the speakers was from The Bridge which is a big youth activity place here in Joplin run by Christians. The Bridge has a full-time person whose job is to scan the internet and do research about current teen trends. They really have their pulse on what teens are doing right now.

I know it is scary and overwhelming, but, let's face it, this is the reality that our kids are dealing with. Heads in the sand won't help anyone.

The speaker ended last night on a positive note. She said that this generation has huge potential--they are more educated, less prejudiced, have more money than previous generations. I wish you all could have been there, but since you can't I'll share this resource and post those stats when I can find them.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T07:44:00.003-05:00

Take a minute a worship with me. The greatest thing in the world is to serve a God who has conquered death and is alive! I am amazed--that He loves me, that He cares. Pardon the Spanish captions, the singing is in English.

I like to be able to read the lyrics, too. So here they are. Have a wonderful, blessed day!

I’m Amazed
No one knew how alone I was feeling
And the emptiness I tried so hard to hide
Through I laughed and said my life was fine without You.

I was covering up the secret tears I cried
Then one day someone told me of Your mercy
And the love You showed on a hill called Calvary
There you died and purchased my redemption
When you broke sin’s power and set my spirit free

I’m amazed that You love me
I’m amazed how You care
Through Your precious blood
I’ve fond pardon
And my sins are washed,
They’re all washed away
All my sins are washed away

It’s true there have been days when I’ve failed You
Lord, You know the many times I’ve gone astray
But I’ve learned that Your love is stronger than my weakness
And you ear is open every time I pray
No one else has ever cared for me like You, Lord
Other friends could never be as close to me
I’m not afraid to face the problems of tomorrow
Knowing You are everything I’ll ever need

I’m amazed that You love me
I’m amazed how You care
Through Your precious blood
I’ve fond pardon
And my sins are washed,
They’re all washed away
All my sins are washed away

I am thankful...

2009-04-11T01:47:00.002-05:00

1. I am able to breathe-easily, on my own, without interruption, without thinking about it. Many people cannot.

2. I am able to grasp my own cup and take a drink of whatever I have chosen from the fridge or fountain. Many people cannot.

3. I can see and hear the most minute things. These are fabulous gifts many people do not have.

4. I have a warm bed under a leak-less roof. Many people do not.

5. I have meaningful realtionships with numerous friends and family. Many people do not.

6. I can go to sleep with a clear conscience. Many people can not.

7. I can express myself through words, written or spoken, or through music or actions. Many people cannot.

8. I have a heart, pancreas, liver, splean, kidneys all which function with no prompting from me. Many people do not.

9. I have a job I enjoy. Many people do not.

10. I have a wonderful Heavenly Father who knows me inside out, the good, the bad, and the ugly--and He loves me anyway. Many people haven't met Him yet.

I have got to be the most blessed person in the world. I am so thankful for the simple things I take for granted every day.

Nope, not a April Fool's joke...

2009-04-01T16:02:00.003-05:00

..we got a boat!!! Yippee!!!! Bob has been searching for months and we have driven all over Missouri looking for just the right boat. It looks like we have found it. It's well kept, will work for fishing or skiing/tubing. AND....it was well within what we had budgeted for it!

Bob and I both love the water. He can fish all day. I can fish/read/swim/tube all day. We have friends and family who like the water, too. We are very excited about our new addition.

We have been doing Dave Ramsey budgeting for the last three years and such luxuries have NOT been in the budget. While we have a tiny bit more to go on Baby Step #2, we decided to take a breather and invest in something we will both enjoy for years to come.

Just one more..

2009-03-30T08:08:00.001-05:00

http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.141.6

One of my favorite things...

2009-03-30T06:08:00.002-05:00

I spent some time this morning reading articles from the archives of "Discipleship Journal." DJ is one of my favorite Christian magazines. Here's a link to an article that was encouraging to me today.

http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.130.11

You can also click on "Archive" on the left and search for different topics. A great place to be challenged, encouraged and enlightened.

2009-03-09T01:53:00.005-05:00

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To hope is to risk pain.

To try is to risk failure,

but risk must be taken

because

the greatest hazard in life