Remembering

Isaiah 43:12 says "Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past."

As we yet come to another end of a decade this is what my New Year resolution is going to be...I have been asked already what do you want to change in 2010? Didn't really know exactly what it was until now...we always want to lose weight (which I still do) but I also wanted to do that before Jan 1 and couldn't get motivated and so didn't...my goal a couple of years ago was not to go shopping so much and stay home more...well that really didn't happen either...be more organized....

I have a tendency to always want to look back...not necessarily wanting to go back but wishing that I would have done things different, not said the things that I said, not did the things that I did...but as I sit here blogging no matter what I do, or think, or try I can not go back..not even for a moment..why then do I forget when I know that I can still mess up...and then look back and think oh my word...why did I just do that or why did I just say that???

The last 10 years have brought a lot of changes into my life...8 grandchildren were born..oldest granddaughter got married and moved to Chicago added 2 more grandchildren to our family...Everett retired..our president was a first for our nation...the threat of our safety has been a real issue, gay marriages, on and on...the fall of the banks, auto industry..but you know if we look back is it really any different...the depression, the dust bowl days..W.W. 1 and W.W. 2 ask our veterans how it was back then...Vietnam..

There are things that we will always remember and there are things we would all like to forget..but the Bible says we should not dwell on the past...but march forward..keeping Heaven in our sight at all times if we are believers...that is how I want to start living my life...totally..pressing on...persevering keeping my eyes on the prize...

Now the next 10 years will again bring many changes...one being sometime in the next 10 I will be retiring...right now it kinda scares me...but I know when the time comes I will be ready...

Now one other thing I have to work on is my blood pressure...went back to the Doc yesterday and it was up again and has been....I inherited this from my Mother...
I have to get motivated and get to excising again...when will it be warm???

So looking ahead...putting the former things behind...I am going to press onward...

Happy 2010

When???

When do all the changes take place? When do we all of a sudden change our views on things, when do things that use to excite us,excite us no more? Does it happen during the daytime hours or does it happen at night when we are sleeping.

How can one day we be young and full of energy and full of hopes and dreams for the future and trying to decide what we want to do with our life and hope that all turns out for the best striving along and hoping that tomorrow will be better or different from today and then tomorrow comes and is it??? Do we start off each day believing that maybe today is the day our dreams might come true whatever those dreams are...you hear people say..one of these days...or you know right now I am so happy I can't even imagine anything going wrong...or changing..

You know seems like yesterday I had those same dreams, dreams of the future what they had in store for me...dreams of peace and contentment...happy to be where I am, kinda just settling down and taking it easy for a change instead of trying to keep up with everything and everyone else...well you know what??? When you get here, and that being where ever here is it doesn't happen...well life is easier now for the most part...but still there are things that still don't feel totally settled..and I don't think this side of heaven ever will...and for that I am thankful knowing that someday..it will be perfect...

I can look in the mirror and wonder where did the time go and when did all this happen...and then I ponder on and thank God for each day that He has given me and all the blessings.....this Christmas season I want to remember Baby Jesus and what His life meant for me...and take the focus off of me and put it on HIm the one who saved me....

BELIEVE

How many times a day do we use this word and what does it mean?
We can hear something that is being said and we say "Oh yea I BELIEVE that"
Or we can be talking and someone can tell us something, what comes to my mind and when I hear of someone passing away and we say "Oh no I just can't BELIEVE that.
Or when someone is getting a divorce we might say "Do you BELIEVE that, they have been married for 25 years..
Or perhaps we might hear of someone on the news that maybe had 6 or 7 babies and we say "WOW can you BELIEVE 6 babies"
Or someone says " I have lost 30 lbs...but maybe we might look at her and think to ourselves "I don't BELIEVE 30 lbs maybe 20....
Or maybe just maybe something terrible has happened...like a terrorist attack or maybe a bad car wreck...so someone really sick or been diagnosed with cancer and we have a really hard time BELIEVING that...

Now then those of us that are born again believers that confess that Jesus is Lord and that He was born of a virgin (which we are now going to celebrate) and that He died for our sins and was buried but rose again on the 3rd day...and we say that we believe..how many really BELIEVE????

WE can believe..but the real test comes when we put all our trust in HIM...ALL our TRUST....not just for our eternal life but for our day to day life here and now..that we can count on Him to take care of ALL our needs ALL our concerns!

When friends and people let us down we know that if we BELIEVE with ALL our hearts, soul and might...that Jesus NEVER WILL let us down....

This season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and that is what this time is all about...not about the presents that we give each other but it is about the present that God gave us in His Son...if only we BELIEVE!!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who so ever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life...

Where Oh Where

Where oh where does the time go?? This is a question I ask myself alot lately..and it scares me to be honest....sometimes it scares me alot...just in the last couple of weeks...we went to Branson seems we head out and before I can blink we are on our way back...just a few days ago I was looking forward to 5 days off and now I am down to 1 day and then back to work...

Sometimes I think that we wish life away..at work we look forward to quitting time, then by Tuesday we start looking forward to the week-end now in Dec I will be looking forward to the Christmas shutdown..when oh when may I ask will I be happy in the right now and not looking forward but being content with it being now..why do I always look ahead...(better ahead then behind I think)...it won't be to long and my life as I know it won't be anymore..the older we get the more everyday things change, I know they can change when your young too, health, accidents etc..but we don't expect them as much then as we do when we get older..not that I am old yet, but getting closer each day...but now having said all that I do thank God for each and every day that He has given me and also the health that Everett and I have..I really don't mean to sound ungrateful because I am not...just thinking about how fast everything goes by....

Reminds me now of some sayings...

Only one life and it will soon be past..
Only what's done for Christ will last...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life...

Cherish each moment we never know when it will be our last...

This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it...

There is no time like the present...to tell someone you love them...lend a helping hand...or to just sit at the feet of God and reflect on what He has done for you...

This Thanksgiving I am so filled...Thank you Jesus for what you have done for me!!

Excited

Recently my oldest son called me one morning and asked me what was the most exciting moment of my life...at the time I could not pin point one thing in particular aside from marring Everett and when each of the children were born and all of the grandchildren.

I think that when I was little it had to be Christmas eve...Christmas eve is the most wonderful time of the year...the anticipation all the beautiful gifts and wondering what in the world could be in them...that was more exciting then opening them up...when the children were little and they would be down at 4am and I was so excited to see their reaction to what we had bought them...sometimes great disappointment..not getting that special something that they had been hoping for...sometimes really, really excited because they did get just what they wanted...

A couple of years ago our oldest granddaughter got married in our back yard that was such an exciting time for me and such a honor just because she wanted to have her special day here at Grandma's house...and such an exciting time for her and Jeff..

Taking each of the grandkiddos to Branson now each year...each one getting their turn to go with us to our special place that we love to go and sharing that with them...no parents just us doing what we want to do...so much fun....

The twins being born...how exciting...two little ones..what a blessing they are..(along with all the others grandchildren too...)

Now each year starting 3 yrs ago we take everyone to Great Wolf lodge in Kansas City for a week-end...right now this is one of the most exciting times for them...they start talking about this in the fall....family time together...so much fun for them..

Now as I ponder all of this, the most exciting time in our lives should be when we accept Jesus as our personal savior..resting in His gift of salvation because He loved us so much that He bore all the sin of the whole world and took it all to the cross and shed His blood for us...and HE was buried..but didn't stay in the grave on the 3rd day He rose again and is sitting at the right hand of our Father...but we must be born again...confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus died and was buried and rose again..now that IS something to get excited about!!!

Focus

The question I have been asking myself lately is "What am I focused on?"

Am I focused on things of this world...my job...my position in life..what do I look like, my house, now that Christmas is coming up will I be consumed with all of that..
am I focused on caring if others like me, totally on my self and trying to satisfy what I want...

I could answer yes to all the above...but in my heart none of the above is what I want my focus to be on...

Apostle Paul said it best when he said in Romans 7:19 For the good I do is not the good I want to do, no the evil I do not want to do....But then in Philippians 4:13 Paul states I can do everything through Him who strengtens me..It has to be of God and listening to the Holy Spirit and being in God's word or we will not be able to overcome these fleshly desires that we all have...

Hebrews 12 is about running the race and not letting things of this world hinder us..we must not look to the stands to see who is watching nor should we look behind and let our past and our failures slow us down in this race that we are in but must keep our eyes on the finish line and there is our Savior Jesus Christ...we must walk(run)everyday of our life with our eyes toward Jesus..it is when my eyes come off of Him and I want to start letting things of this world take ahold, many things may not even be bad but they are hindering me from looking ahead...is when my focus is on the wrong place...

I am thankful this Thanksgiving season that I live in a country where I can still express my love for the Lord and go to the House of Worship in freedom..but it is also something that we should never take for granted, one day it may not be possible to do this even here in the great USA...God please bless America once again!!

November, 10 1986

I remember it like it was yesterday...my little girl was about to have her first baby. I had just gotten to work when Randy called and said that Steph was going to the hospital..that's all it took off to Mac I was...waited and waited...so excited, so scared, so worried that everything would be alright...then around noon here she came the most beautiful baby I had ever seen....so perfect, so precious, couldn't get enough of her...I stayed at the hospital all day came and got Everett and went back to the hospital again...had a horrible headache when I came home from all the exctitment...could hardly take it all in that I was a grandma....loved it...when I was sad I thought of that little baby and she cheered me up...
I stayed at your house for a whole week, helping with you, your mom would come and lay you on my tummy after your 4 o'clock feeding...you would sleep like that until the next feeding...you have been such a blessing to me...I love you my first born grandchild...you have truly grown up to be a beautiful lady...college graduate on to getting your Masters...have so enjoyed watching you grow, being a part of all your life, swimming team, debate, music programs...prom dates...staying at my house..and then you chose to have your wedding in my back yard...what that meant to me you will never know...
Have a great birthday Abby Jo...I love you now as I loved you then...so pretty, so sweet, and oh so precious!!
A gift from God...thank you for Abby's life!

SING

My Granddaughter who by the way is an art major at K-State painted on our dining room wall last year "Sing as if no one is listening"...

Recently one of my friend's and former co-worker's husband got sick..really sick..he is now in the hospital in ICU in a drug induced coma...has been for now over a week..my friend sits there day in and day out by his bedside faithfully awaiting for his body to heal...I went to see them last night..made me think alot today and since this has happened to how my life is being lived and what am I doing now..while I am in good health and also Everett...what is my life reflecting...if this was to happen to me am I ready, ready to leave this world into eternity, I don't want to sound morbid here but that is where we are all heading..and I ask myself what really matters now...not what I want it to be like someday when I may think that I have it all figured out(because I will never live that long) but how do I want my life to be now..I think that most of us could actually look around us and we should start right now, and Thank God for what he has given us and the blessing He surrounds us with everyday of our life...when I want to grumble I am so ashamed..I know it is human nature, to complain, look around and compare, thinking that others have it so much better then we do..but you can always find a whole lot more people that have it so much worse...I want to live my days that God grants me from here on out being thankful for what I do have and not focus on the could of beens or what I don't have..He has given me so much...I could never thank Him enough...we are entering a season (even though it should be everyday) of Thanksgiving...let's start looking at what we can be and should be thankful for and not what we don't have and live each day to the fullest....and remember to watch what we say..words hurt...especially to those that are closest to us, we never do know when they will be the last words they hear us say...now then...
"SING AS IF NO ONE IS LISTENING"....

Not Complaining merely stating facts!

It is Friday morning 10 am. I am still in my jammies...can not get going...I have gotten some things done..but now I am at a stand still...
It is cold outside...thought the sun was going to shine...it's not...
I am not sick but have not felt well all week..my body hurts...it takes me awhile to get up off my chair and onto my feet....when I walk down the stairs I have to take one step at a time and really hang on to the rail..and I mean really...my ankles hurt..my back hurts..my state of mind is good it's just my body...

Now 4 days a week I am up and at em...at 4:45am...off to work by 6 working four nine hour days...love it...love having Friday off...but this week has been busy and crazy..love it too, just wished my body didn't hurt so bad...when you get to be my age though things affect you that didn't affect you before...like the weather, carrying babies for a hour or up and down the steps or getting on the floor with them etc...

Ok now I must confess the truth...it hit me a little while ago what has happened to me...you see I have put on a little (ok a lot) around the waist of my body...so I got out my twist board that I have and did a little twisting...but instead of it getting off my middle..it has done something else...and oh boy..has it ever...I think the twist board is going back down the basement for the kiddos to play with it because they love it and it doesn't do this to them...

House of Worship

Today I had lunch with a very dear friend...from the church that we just left...it was such a special time..sitting talking about the things that bonded us together, about happenings...and about parting, not in friendship, but in what brought us together in the first place...the House of Worship...that particular church..

In my life time I have attended only 4 different churches..counting the one I have now been attending for the last 3 mos. It is very hard to change churches..some say it is like a divorce...you build friendships, you get plugged in to the activities to the order of worship etc...then boom...something happens and things change...not always for the worse sometimes for the better, but this time it just happened to be major enough for us to find a different place to worship and try to use our time and talent that the Lord has given us...at a different church...after much prayer and searching God's word..we felt it was time to move on...it has been bitter sweet..we love the new place we are going...the people are friendly...the hymns are beautiful the preaching is awesome..so for now there we are content...I realize there are those that never change churches...never...no matter what....that's ok...it is a very hard thing to do....

Now having said this...I miss my friends from the other church....but the ones that I have truly developed a strong friendship with, we will still keep in touch..we are after all sisters in Christ...We all need to follow God's lead...go where He wants us..and that might not always be where we want to be...but He will work it out...

Lamentations

Was reading this today...

Lamentations 3:19-26

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope.
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassion's never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself,"The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him."
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks Him;
It is good to wait quietly on the Lord.

Lament means to mourn...to grieve greatly

This book of the bible is about Jerusalem and the temple...ends in repentance...

That is what we are to do...mourn, grieve over our sin and repent...

God is merciful...and patient and if we seek Him we will find Him...

Family

I love my family. God has blessed Everett and I so with ALL our kiddos...
Sam had a soccer game this morning so we told Chad and Sarah we would come in watch the twins so that they wouldn't have to take them out in the cold...so then after the game Sam has been wanting to go to the pumpkin patch so we told them to go then shortly after they left Sarah called to see if I would put a ham in the oven and cook some sweet potatoes for supper and I said sure...they got back home we carved the pumpkins and we were going to go home and Sarah wanted us to stay for supper. She was going to go to the store to get marshmallows for the sweet potatoes and Steph was walking over...asked what we were doing and Sarah told her so she said if you have marshmallows you can come over and eat with us..then Tal called and I told Sarah to have him get some buns and come over for supper..so we wound up having almost a Thanksgiving dinner minus the mac and cheese...it was so good...Ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples and bananas in cool whip , mashed tators and gravy..and dinner rolls..yummy...the little ones did a spook maze in the basement we all had to go down one by one with a flash light in the dark to find them...they had so much fun....sat and talked...wonderful day with wonderful people...
Thank you God again for your many, many blessings...I truly am blessed!

Tuesday

Tuesday used to seem like such a strange day...stuck in there between the first day of the week and the middle of the week..now that I only work 4 days a week means that when I come home at 3:30 my week is now half over..(at work at least) and this makes for very fast weeks...the count down comes, come Tuesday...I always seem to get busier because there is always so much to get done before quitting time on Thursday..today when I got my schedule for the 1st of Nov...we have gone up in production...yea...maybe now that just means I will get busier..but that's ok...just have to really keep on a schedule..but I have great help so it should all work out..

Now going back to Tuesday...it is a very wonderful day..my first child was born on a Tuesday...what does the saying go..Tuesday's child is full of grace...so that was a blessed Tuesday...

On another Tuesday I was in a really bad car wreck...almost got killed, but God wasn't done with me here on earth yet so thankfully I am still here..that was not so good of a Tuesday....

WE always have band practice on Tuesday..why I really don't know just worked out for everyone I guess..but that means most of my Tuesday evenings are full...when we start playing I love it...the guys in the band are so much fun and easy to visit with we have a lot of laughs on Tuesday evenings...good Tuesdays doing that...

Everett has been helping with M.O.P.S since the twins were born..last year he worked in the nursery..this year he takes care of the twins while Sarah and Henry go to M.O.P.S (not many papaws could handle that) and that is every other Tuesday Mornings in the winter...and that was today...

There's a restrauant named Ruby Tuesday....there is a store called Tuesday Morning...
and I am sure there is more about Tuesday that I could blog about but I think that I am now finished...except for one more thought...

The old needle point tea towels...with the days of the week on Tuesday was always ironing day...my mother always ironed on Tuesday we didn't need a calender at our house...my mom washed on Monday, ironed on Tuesday, baked on Wednesday...Thurday bought groceries, Friday cleaned...Saturday prepared for Sunday...made a roast, baked some pies always made a salad of some sort...prepared for the day of the Lord..got all the clothes ironed and hung so she didn't have to do that on Sunday..
Oh to go back one week...and watch her, smell the aroma in her home...eat one of those Sunday dinners...I miss my mom I loved my mom and she loved me...

I love Tuesdays because they were created by God for us.....Thank you...

My Devotions Today

So many times I become anxious and become feeling like I just can't get everything done or do anything right...Sometimes I fret...

Don't think of the word fret much...I know Everett talks about the frets on his guitar but myself never much thought about being fretful...

But Psalms 37:1 Says "FRET NOT"
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those that do wrong;
For like the grass they will soon wither like green plants they will soon die...

Just like our cold snap that we are having all of the plants and flowers are dying..so will all of those that do evil...and how many times do we admire those that are evil.....the Bible says they will wither....

Definition of Fretting: Made rough on the surface...Rub or worn away...and a peevish irrational, fault-finding person not only wears himself out, but is very wearing to others...

OVERHEARD IN A ORCHARD

Said the Robin to the Sparrow;
"I should like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so?"

Said the Sparrow to the Robin;
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me"!

Revival Meetings

The Webster dictionary that I have defines a revival
1. return to life, use etc.
2. emotional religious meeting

A few months ago Everett and I started attending this little independent Baptist church. We love it...it is so different from what we had come out of...maybe because he and I were brought up more conservative and really like singing from the hymnal and having the organ music along with the piano and not having a praise band and singing from a screen, or maybe it's the quiet format...whatever it may be right now it is home for worship for us...

We just came off of a 4 nights of revival type meetings..they were so good and really brought a lot of things out in my life that left me feeling very spiritually fed...the word of God...we don't really need much more than that except the fellowship with His people in worship and for encouragement...how blessed I feel to have been a part of that...several people came forward on an alter call...Heaven seems so near...and that is what this life is all about...preparing for our eternal home..we each have one or the other...there is either hell or heaven 2 choices...and 2 choices only and there is only one way and that way is Jesus...John 14:6 " Jesus says: "I am the way the truth and the life NO ONE comes to the Father except through me" If Jesus said it (and He did) then I believe it!!

37 years ago...

Thirty seven years ago today I gave birth to my baby boy..he came 2 weeks early and was as beautiful as could be....(AS of course all my children were). He was the last of 3, when Everett went to Grandma's and told Tal and Steph that we had a new little Talmage, Tal went running up the stairs crying he didn't want him...do you still feel the same Tal...how you two have always been (I think) best friends..doing everything together..I am so proud of all of you how you have all turned out..you are all amazing...God has blessed dad and me so....
Now here you are with you own family of 4 doing a terrfic job..
So "Happy Birthday baby boy" and many, many more..after all it is going to be your job to take care of your dad in me in our golden years...so be prepared!!!

Sometimes....

Sometimes it seems as if whatever I do it is never enough...sometimes I feel like I do all the giving and try so hard to keep everyone happy but it sometimes never seems like it is enough...sometimes I feel like I can ask someone to help me but they seem to be to busy...sometimes I feel like only when someone wants something..sometimes it seems as if things that I have done have been forgotten...sometimes I wonder if people really care...sometimes I wonder if anyone really cares how I feel...how sometimes I feel left out...how sometimes it is so hard..that I wonder why???

Now I did write this but it could have easily been written by Jesus...I think this is sometimes how He must feel.....

Just for fun

There was this elderly couple (no not Everett and I) that were getting a little forgetful...so they went to the Dr and asked him would they could do to help them remember better.
So the Dr gave them several suggestions one of them being they should write everything down...so one night they were sitting in the living room and the husband said that he was going into the kitchen for something to eat, so the wife asked him if he would bring her back some ice-cream. He said yes and then told him he better be writing it down and he said "don't worry I won't forget" but then she added to please put some chocolate on it and he said fine, and she again reminded him he better write it down, but again he said he wouldn't forget, and then she said please put some peanuts on top too, and write it down..and he said he was fine...he was gone in the kitchen ever so long...finally she started to get up to see what the problem was and he was coming into the living room and there he had some bacon and eggs...and she said " Honey where my toast?"

Even though we do not know
What the future has in store
There's one thing that is for sure,
If we put our trust in Christ alone..
Most assuredly Heaven is our home.
For we are saved by grace,
And not of our own
Jesus paid the price God's only Son!!


If you're saved by grace,
Show it on your face.

everett's note today

Ask the Holy Spirit today what you need to put off
And put on in your life...
So you can be more like a child of God....

Beautiful

Went for a bike ride tonight and I don't remember a more beautiful evening....the sun going down, closing this day forever, no more to be...went riding through the park about 6 or 7 people out on their lawn chairs with their jackets zipped up fishing, people out strolling, walking the dogs...little boys on their bikes..skate boards...chill in the air...all the mums in bloom, fields all ready for the fall planting...you can smell the fall in the air...the fresh turned dirt...new lawns coming up...doesn't get much better then this here on earth...

Makes you wonder what Heaven will be like...it has to be beautiful...more than we can possibly imagine...

"Called"

As a Christian what is our calling?
To sit back and watch others and criticize and pat ourselves on the back that we aren't like that...to turn away and pretend that we are so much better then they are and no matter what I would NEVER struggle with anything like that not on your life, because I have so much more self-control, self assurance, self worth then that...

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God

Or is there no compassion because we may not have ever had to struggles with the same problems that a friend or someone you know may be going through..so you may wonder I just don't understand how they can let something like that bother them..why can't they just let it go...???

If we would happen to pass by an auto accident and see someone in desperate need of help but didn't think that it would matter if we would stop to get them help because there wouldn't be anything I could do...it wouldn't matter anyway, it would probably be to late..to save them...what would be the point of stopping and trying to help??

If we know someone is lost, doesn't know Christ...but don't think that we could convince them that Jesus came to save, that He died and was buried but rose again on the 3rd day and now sits at the right hand of our Father in Heaven..and if we believe and put our trust in Him that we may have eternal life...do we (do I) just turn my back and walk away...and say it would be of no use anyways, they won't listen to me....

John 3:16 For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life....

It must have been a really a sad, dark and awful day for our Savior that day, when He was forsaken...when everyone left Him, and He took upon Him all the sins of the world, so that we could all have the free gift of salvation if only we would believe and put our trust in Him.

I will lean on the "one" true friend that we can have...and that is Jesus...
Hebrews 13:5 says "Never will I leave you or forsake you"

Perfect Fall Evening

WE have been having the perfect weather...I don't remember when we have had so many perfect days in a row...our days and evenings are just amazing...God is showing His beauty in His Creation...
About 4 weeks ago Everett bought him and I each a new bike..so this is our new thing every evening that we can we ride anywhere from 8 to 10 miles and we are loving it.
Good exercise and just very enjoyable...

Tonight we came back from our ride and started a fire in the chiminia and had some coffee...such a nice time with the sounds of nature all around us..makes you wonder where they all hide and how they come out at night to make all their sounds..there are so many it is hard to tell what is what....frogs, crickets, birds, locusts..and many more I am sure...then and oh yes the mosquito's, which now my legs are covered with evidence that they too, were sharing the beautiful night with us...oh how I hate those little creatures...there are some in my family they don't like, but then there are those rest of us that they love...

What have we sacrificed today?

God gave His only begotten Son to come to this earth, be born of a virgin, live a perfect live in my place and then take ALL the sins of every person that has ever been or is,or will be; upon Himself and went to the cross for a perfect sacrifice for my life, a price that I could NEVER pay, for as hard as I try I cannot be the person of perfection that our Father in Heaven requires for me to one day enter into His presence ....God sacrificed His one and only Son and His Son Jesus sacrificed His life for me...what I have given back to HIM???

What did I sacrifice today??? Did I give some of my time to someone who needed help or did I say, no I don't have time to help, I have stuff of my own I want to do??? Even though that person may have done something for me at one time or another, all though is it really sacrificing when it can become repayment??? Have I given to someone who has less then me, or have I taken the extra money that I may have and hurry to the store to buy me something???
Did I stop to talk to someone who may have looked like they were having a bad day? Did I say "HI" or give someone a smile..did I open a door for someone who had their hands full..did I offer any of myself today that wasn't required of me to do but did because I want others to see the Love of Jesus in me??? These are tough questions..but ones I think are very important...we can get so wrapped up in our lives, our stuff, our time, our money, that we totally fail to do as believers what God has called us to do and that is give....give...give...share...help those in need...to put others before ourselves....this has really been on my heart today..me searching my own heart to see where I have failed...(and I have) and to truly want to do what God has called me to do....WE have but one life...and soon to pass...and only what done for Christ will last....

Everett's note today:
There is a hardware store that uses the slogan
"DO IT BEST"
As Christians we need to use the slogan
"DO YOUR BEST"

What's going on?

I haven't blogged for awhile so let's catch up on what is going on in my life.

A couple of months ago we felt like it was time to change churches, that is a very hard thing to do, it was harder for me then it was for Everett. I seem to get attached to things easier then he does, I don't know if it is a woman thing or that is just on way him and I are different. Anyway things were going on in our church that we were attending that we started to disagree with. Tried to sweep in under the carpet so to speak and then just couldn't do it anymore. So we have started to attend a Baptist church with about 50 people. We like it alot, but just don't know yet where we might end up at just going to wait for God's leading on this.

Work, has been busy..which is good..so that has been happening.

Labor day week-end upon us can't believe it is here already, spent a few days in Branson, the Southern Gospel Festival going on at SDC and it was really good..had lots of fun there...spent Saturday morning biking (that is our new thing) rented some bikes and went on a beautiful biking trail that we actually went into Arkansas a little bit... had a beautiful picnic with all the kids last night...

The season is changing..I love fall...getting out the sweaters..opening up the windows..it doesn't get much better then that...football games, chili cooking on the stove...bond fires...each day that passes I am one day closer to be retired with my hubby..then I can have a holiday every day of the year...as the seasons of the year..spring with all it's flowers and budding of the trees, the grass getting green the smell of the fallen rain, then summer with all it's activities, baseball for the kids, vacations, swimming, etc. then comes fall with the changing colors of the leaves, coolness in the air....cutting milo, planting wheat preparing the fields, then comes winter, snow, the beautiful snowfalls, cold, bundling up to go out, Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior, Christmas lights glowing all around..for us a trip with all the children and grandchildren to GREAT WOLF LODGE for a week-end of fun and making memories...The seasons of life are like that too, each season has it beauty, the youth has it's fab times the 20's are searching times, what do I want, children, etc..then comes more middle age when we realize if we don't do it now it probably won't happen then the 50's kiddos leave home, empty nest, how do we cope, then the 60's, retirement or just plain tired...but this to, is beautiful...really beautiful...pick up and go, do, or just don't whatever...I am learning to love it...God is good...life is good...

Before you can even blink

Seems to me that things today change faster and faster. Sometimes it seems I have just blinked my eyes and things before me have changed...I look in the mirror and wonder when did all this take place? Seems like only yesterday I was 30...Cell phones, computers, cars, on and on...I can't keep track...and oh yes people..people that you think will be in your life forever poof and they are gone, maybe not dead but up and out of your life...as we go along and the older we get we start seeing things differently..stuff that matter so much before some of it doesn't seem to matter as much anymore...life is very fragile...and becoming more so everyday.

One thing that never changes and that is Jesus...His Word says that He is the same yesterday, today and forever...what a comforting thought...

Courage

Courage: Boldness, bravery; valor
Valor: Heroic courage

Many times I would hear my mother say "I have lost my courage or I don't have much courage today," I never really knew what she meant by that. Courage what was courage...and how could someone loose it?

Here is some of what the Bible says about courage:

Deut. 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. KJ

2 Samual 10:12 Be of good courage....

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord

I Corn. 16:13 Be on your guard: stand firm in the faith be men of courage: be strong.

There are so many verses in the Bible where God talks about courage and that we are to have courage, stand firm, be strong. We are to be strong and of courage. I take it then it is up to us to have a mind set of courage and not let the things of this world get a hold of us and discourage us.

Today I posted on facebook that "I am trying to hang in there"..now that may have sounded negative...and maybe when I posted it I meant it that way..but really in all honesty isn't that what we do??? When things look bleak, or things seem to take a hold and want to overwhelm us (and they can) isn't that what we should do...hang in there, be strong, be of good courage??? I didn't say " I give up" I said "I am trying to hang in there". I don't want to let the trials of the day or the situations of the world take a hold and discourage me... and they can..I want to look up to the one that is in control...and He is in control..and be strong, take courage, and move forward....

Today

I was just thinking (that is itself is scary) is this the day that I was worried about a few years back??? Maybe a couple of weeks ago??? Or maybe just yesterday..if so what am I expecting to happen today..not being able to pay my bills??? maybe being sick??? maybe not having my job??? maybe not having Everett anymore??? maybe having been hit by a tornado??? But none of that has happened..I still have my job, Everett is still here, I can still pay my bills, buy groceries, go out and eat, have all my teeth..no deadly disease (that I know of) my children and grandchildren all still healthy for the most part...celiac...but we can live with that...so why pray tell do we waste our days worrying about the future..today is the future from yesterday....I am going to quit...I have gotten better...giving it all over to God trusting Him to take care of things, who knows better then He does anyway..I can't think of anyone..everyone that I have ever known doesn't know everything..only one does and that is our Father in Heaven...

Back in the Swing of Things?

Well vacation for another year is over..it was so good to have 2 full weeks off. Everett and I had a really wonderful time..but saying that where did the time go.
When today I think of 2 weeks from now it seems like an awfully long time...can't even imagine going there and being there...when I think of yesterday doesn't seem like it was yesterday a lot of the times seems like it was a long time ago..one thing is for sure, that no one can reach into tomorrow nor can they go back to yesterday..we can't even return to a minute or second ago to do something over, if we have said something to hurt someone, or maybe slipped and said a cuss word by mistake..or numerous other things we can't go back..we may think at the time it makes us feel better to lash out at someone in anger or an unkind word, but in all reality it doesn't make us feel better just worse and the other person worse too..I will confess I have done it way to many times...but I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to control my tongue when I want to use it to hurt someone...I want to live today with no regrets....now having said that I too, know that I am only human and still here in this stinky old flesh...but I am aware of my weakness..wish only that it would have happened a long time ago..but I do thank God that He is working on me.
Back to work...thankful there that I have a job even though some days are tough...but I will look to Him for my strength...
All of this reminds me of the song...
One day at a time sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of you..just give me the strength to do today what I need to do...yesterday gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never come, so show me today...sweet Jesus

By the way Everett's note today:
Don't worry about tomorrow
God's already there!

Vacations happenings and feelings

We have been gone from home since Saturday and I feel like I have been gone for a month. Sometimes when I am gone time can go really fast, which I know that it is now too, this is just a different type of vacation and we usually are not gone as long as we are this time. This has been a more relaxed time maybe because we have things so planned out. Sunday we went to 2 church services, one in the morning and one in the evening,then heard a really good Gospel quartet. Spent one day at Silver Dollar City, one day at Eureka Springs Ark. Now we are at Lebanon Mo. tonight starts the Brumley Southern Gospel Song fest.
We are so looking forward to 4 nights of good ole southern gospel music by such as the Chuck Wagon Gang..the Blackwood Brothers, The MaCamey's, Jeff and Sheri Easter
on and on, each night different groups....can't wait...

Now then we have met some really nice people since we have been gone..the other night at our motel we were eating ice cream and some blueberry cobbler and talking to this couple from Indiana and we telling them where we live and lo and behold she has a cousin living in Moundridge..it doesn't matter where you are seems as though a lot of times someone knows someone that you know. Then of course almost all of the time they have heard of the Grasshopper lawnmower so I tell them that I live in the town that is the home of the Grasshopper...and of course about the wire harness's..

So we are having a great time..missing all the kiddos at home..but so glad that we have the opportunity to do what we do. Another one of the many blessing God has so enriched my life with.

Beauty of the Summer: Family, Sunsets and Rainbows

Recently my granddaughter and her daughter came from Chicago for a long week-end..we all got together for supper and an evening of visiting...the blessing of all of them takes my breath away..each and everyone of them I love so much..they are so much fun to be around..Thank you Father for each one of their lives...

This week-end we spent an evening with our youngest son at Marion lake and this was the sunset..it was simply breathtaking...never have I seen any so beautiful..God's creation is incredible...

A couple of weeks ago we had a summer storm, knocked out our power for about 28 hrs the night of the storm this was the rainbow, the promise God put in the sky for us that He would never again flood the whole world..you can't really tell it but it was a full rainbow and again it was breathtaking.

We all need to look around at God's creation, His blessing..looking at what He has given us instead of wasting so much time thinking of things that we don't have and wish that we did!!

I can feel His hand

Vacation started for me yesterday at 3:30 pm...I am off until the 10th of Aug. I have looked forward to this for so long. It has been at least 20 years since I have had 2 full weeks off of work. This is wonderful...sometimes I feel like the anticipation is more exciting then that actually time off...not really, but sometimes it can seem that way..the day before shut down is kinda (like one of my sons said) Christmas eve...there is something about it..we had worked very hard at work yesterday to get everything done...we cleaned like crazy, the girls did a great job in putting forth all their effort to get things cleaned up, blinds were washed, ceiling fans cleaned everything wiped down fridge cleaned out,old food thrown away so that when we come back everything will be nice and clean and fresh..

Now those of you that read my blog, know that I am going to turn this into something else, it is about our life..and how when Jesus comes in he wants us to clean out the heart, our mind and our lives...we must get rid of the old garbage, our old way of thinking, our sinful habits, in a nut shell...The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. So when we meet Him someday, and we all will, we will be cleaned, pruned, and shining for Him...

Now having said that, when God calls us to do His will here on earth to follow Him, what are we to give up..the Bible says EVERYTHING...to hand it all over to Him..surrender...ALL..not just part but ALL...it can be so hard...to let go..of familiar, comfort, friends, places, and things if that is what He is asking us to do..
Things that seem so important...we need to release them to Him...
He is moving me right now..I can feel His hand...

Crazy

Sometimes life seems to be just a little bit crazy..I know it really is not, just seems to be at times...we need to sit back and reflect once in awhile what really is important and what is not and don't fret over any of it...life taken one day at a time seems the best to me..but how do we get there...
Saturday I was really tired..we had to work Friday because of missing Wednesday because of the electricity being off and that put me back a day and I think it still has only in reality it hasn't...Saturday for 3 hrs my hubby and I sat on the front porch and drank ice tea...the best time...talked, quiet for awhile, talked again..loved it...should do that more often. Then later on in the evening we went in the back yard started a fire and did smores...ever so good...

Then came back to real life..decisions to be made...in 2 days I am getting ready at work for shut down for 2 weeks...crazy so many things to do...want everything done up that is possible to do up, don't want to leave anything hanging so to speak...

Then we have birthday parties for the grand kiddos..that's always fun, all of us getting together..the whole family..love it...

Wonder sometimes how many decisions we make in a day...sometimes they are made for us and we don't have to decide...I sometimes have trouble making decisions, getting better though the older I get..so there is hope..things that use to seem so important are not quite as important any more...Life is good..we need to embrace each and every day and make the most of it..it is going by WAY to fast...

Darkness

Ephesians 5:8 says: For you were once in the darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. The Bible talks about Hell and how there will be no light and it will be dark as night...

Tueday night we had a storm...straight winds blew 20 utility poles down and our lights went out about 7:45 pm and did not come back on until about 28 hours later. The whole town was out, so let me tell you when night came it was dark...unless you lit a candle or a lantern..we could see nothing in the house...total darkness...I had to think about living that way for eternity..and it puts the fear of the Lord in you..if you really think about it...total darkness forever and ever...but oh how happy we were when our lights came back on...it made such a difference in our home in our life..we could see..where we were going, what we were doing, it was cool again..we loved it and it made us appreciate all the comforts that we have here on earth that we can forget about...that we take for granted...
So is our life w/o Christ...we live in the darkness and when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord and receive His free gift of salvation..the lights come on...His word says "He Is The Light of The World..in Him there is no darkenss"....So let us as believers let our light shine in this darkened world that seems to be getting darker every day....so maybe someone else in the dark may have light.

Continuing the Drama of Change

Another change in our life is about ready to happen..I know that it will all work out.

I have had off all week and it has been crazy..we once again helped one of Everett's cousin clean out the home of one of his 3 uncles that died within 45 days of each other. We spent 2 days there going through material things that he had accumulated in his 94 years of life..things that seemed so important to him I am sure..most of which went to Salvation Army or into a dumpster..it seemed so sad to me and really put things once again into perspective...the things of this world that we think are important..(material things) are not..it is families, relationships, friendships and whether or not we have received Christ as our savior first and foremost...that is the most important...yet at humans we can get all caught up in things that have no value.
That is the human side of us all...accumulation....what can we possess, me right up there...but then I saw 94 years of stuff in 2 days time gone..things worked for, shopped for etc....but that is what we do here...it seems to be the more we have the more successful we look to others and the more satisfied we try to become...when the peace in contentment of the heart comes from above and not of this earth.
This is the lesson from this week that I want to learn...
Had a great week off now back to work on Monday for 2 weeks then we have 2 more weeks off!
Summertime....love it!

Life Changes

As we grow older along with body changes other changes take place too...for me those changes can be hard....or easy..depending on what they are...Everett's retirement was an easy one for me...once I realized we really could live on my income..and really didn't have to change a whole lot that was ok..
The Bible has a lot to say about money..the love of money is the root of all evil.
Not money itself but the love of money..and He does promise to take care of all our needs..I rest in that...

It almost bothers me more when someone I know retires or after living somewhere for all long time all of a sudden moves...far away from family..that happened to my sister just recently..moved to a retirement home far away from family..made me sad for her, I think it bothered me more then it did her..

Just today another one of my friends husband announced his retirement...seems strange, that I am in that generation..where it could be me soon..

Years ago we felt we needed to change churches, that was really hard..but really we need to go where the Lord wants us..maybe not to our liking at first, but if it is of Him He will provide us with the peace and the ability to adjust...

Life is good right now...can't get to settled in though because there is always another change awaiting us just around the corner....

Family Reunions

It seems that summer time in our family tends to bring with it family reunions.
Last Sunday we had the 5 Boese brothers and family reunion with a dinner at my youngest sons home...this week-end is the Giesel reunion with that consisting of all my Mother's side of the family...now my Mother and all of her siblings are gone..so that leaves children their children's children and their children's children on down the line..most of these I have never met...we are going today and tomorrow..I could be a little apprehensive...I am not the type of person that likes to go where I don't know many people..but I am sure when it is all said and done I will have had a good time...my sisters and one brother do not really get together much..it makes me sad but that is just how it is..our own families grow and life just seems to get busy..and I believe that things just change..the older I get..(and that is happening fast since I just again celebrated another birthda for which I am thankful for)..things seem to not be as they once were..some for the better and some not.

But for today I am thankful that I come from a family that still wants to get together and someone has put forth the effort to make that happen...
Happy 4th to everyone as we celebrate our independence here in the land of the brave and so far the home of the free!

Boys Little Adventure

Papaw and all of his Grandsons (except baby Jack) enjoyed a wiener roast and hike at Harvey County park one day last week. All had a great time!! Another blessing God has given us!

Memories of my Childhood

There seems to be certain things that can bring back memories of one's past...a smell, an item, or seeing someone you haven't seen for awhile, maybe a song on the radio can trigger some memories of yesterday..the one that triggers it for me is summer..the harvest..the hot weather, watermelon, and the long days...I love to watch wheat trucks come into town...I love to see them all lined up at the elevators..it gives me a sense of security...don't laugh...I will explain.
As a child of 10 or so I would head off to Oklahoma the first part of June. Usually I would stay with my sister and husband and 4 children 2 weeks..in those 2 weeks they would be harvesting..I would watch the little ones while my sister took food out to the fields...then in the afternoon my sister would let me have some friends over that I had made there and we would play...usually at this time in the evenings she would make home-made ice cream...I would love to go to town with her and shop..play with the little ones and then all at once I would get really homesick..I would get a letter from my mom..(people didn't just pick up the phone and call back then it was to expensive) and she would tell me what was going on here at home..oh it made my stomach hurt..they had watermelon for supper the night before for the first time...I missed them...
Then I would come back home and go to my other sister, and help her with her 4 children while we were in harvest here..she would take me out to the field with her when she fed the hungry harvesters..oh that was so much fun...we would butcher chickens, watch them flop all around after cutting their heads off...dump them in a pail of hot water, pluck the feather, cut them up and fry them for supper...nothing in this world was better than that...after I was done helping her, I went on to my other sister just north of her for a week or so too...she had 3 small children it was fun there to, but we were in town..so it was different...I loved summer time with my sisters and family....Back at home my mom would be canning pickles, green beans, peas and putting up corn..I loved the summer...
One day too, we will reap what we have sown..it will be time for the harvest..are we ready..do we have all our equipment (our hearts,our lives,) ready for the harvest??
Our Master is coming to gather in His crop...His Church...it will be final, there will not be another chance...We must plant seeds of love, goodness, kindness, faithfullness and gentleness and only in Him is where our security must come from.

A little town A whole lot of fun

Sunday evening Blackkettle Gospel Bluegrass traveled to Delphos Ks. Before we were asked to play there I had never heard of the place before. It was a quaint little place, and the gazbo and park were right in the middle of town...I think all of the town showed up carring their lawn chairs and eating the ice cream floats that the youth were selling. It was an evening called Getting to know your neighbor. To take time out of your busy schedule to sit, relax, visit and listen to some bluegrass gospel before the business of harvest started. The Lord provided us with a beautiful evening, it couldn't have been better and the people there were so nice and so hospitable. I am thinking more communities need to do that too. What a way to start off a summer. Thank you Delphos!

Garage Sales, Camping and Baseball

It just doesn't get more summer then this, and this is exactly what we did this week-end. Went to tons of garage sales, spent the an evening out at the lake with our youngest son and it was beautiful. The camp fire, the smores, the hot dogs, nachos, coffee over the fire, the beautiful sunset, the beautiful water, the company it doesn't get much better than that for a Friday evening....

Friday afternoon and Saturday morning we spent the afternoon and morning going to garage sales...with our daughter...then we went to some more garage sales...will maybe just one more..the precious jewel might just be at the next..I did get me a really good deal on one item...I was excited about..really wasn't looking for anything special....but it was sure fun...and sitting on your front porch drinking tea..

In between on Saturday we went to 3 of our grandaughter Shanyn's baseball games..We watch these 5th graders...(excuse me 6th graders) play their hearts out...in the heat in the afternoon..they did a great job and it is a joy to watch her play...it reminds me of the time my own were little and they played ball..where oh where does the time go?? Enjoyed so much sitting their with my oldest son and wife eating sunflower seeds and thinking ours is the best out there...It was a BEAUTIFUL week-end and I am sure glad that I had children and grandchildren so that they could entertain us all week-end...My family...God has blest me so much with each and everyone of them...Thank you kiddos and grandkiddos for the wonderful week-end!!

P.S. Thanks to my hubby for doing all my house work that I can run around all week-end and enjoy these finer things in life....

Recent Branson trip w/ Syd and Abe

We had so much fun!! Thanks Syd and Abe

Battered old Suitcase

We can carry a battered old suitcase along..
Wondering then what is going wrong.
When we come to Christ and are born again,
We must repent and turn from our sin..
But it is easy to hang on and on,
To our old way of life and habits so long..
That is gets harder and harder to make that new start..
Unless we get in the Word and pray for a renewed mind and heart..
My suitcase I have taken to the Cross..
Wanting to go in the world and be a light to the lost..
Lord help me along and stay close by my side..
I want this to be a very joyous ride..
You are there and promise to be my Guide..
Please take my hand and lead me your way..
Because by myself I am sure to stray..
Thank you Lord Jesus for what you have done,
And thank you Father for sending your Son!!

Doing the Right Thing

Why is it in life doing the right thing sometimes is the most difficult thing to do.
Then I am reminded about how Jesus had to die for our sins and how horrible that must have been..to be taken out of my comfort zone for me is a dreaded thing...all of the time though I find out when it is something that He calls me to do there is always a blessing waiting right around the corner...if it is easy, anything for that matter, then most of the time it is not worth much....but comfort is what we all want..to be comfortable...what really is comfort...but knowing that you are doing what you are called to do and depend upon HIM who is doing the calling and He will see us through if we only ask Him to!!

Happy Birthday to my oldest # 1 Son

Sorry this is one day late...
But to tell you how proud of you we are I couldn't wait...
You have been so outstanding in all that you have done..
And along with that have provided us with so much fun..
Your talents and gifts that God gave you..
Your sense of humor and love for us too..
Has made having you such a joy...
Couldn't believe it when you were born and they said...
"You have a BOY"

Hope you had a great day and we are wishing you many, many more!!
Love you so much...

What's Going On?

When tell me please in life do we get to the place where we have it all put together?
I have lived well over a half a century and when I was in my 20's I thought that where I am now that I would have it all put together along with having more time. More positive respective of who I am and defiantly since I became a Christian that I wouldn't be so wishy washy at times...does that ever happen or is it my personality??

Why do I try to analyze EVERYTHING and thinking wow what if...I'm done, as of today I am going to go forward..take care of the moment...pray for discernment...ask only for God's guidance and of those that are close to me that I know have a caring heart for me and not just someone telling me what they think....trust that is what it takes..trust not only in the Lord but trust those around you to believe...that they really care..and those that know me and love me for what I am and not for what they think that I should be...to correct me if I am wrong and still be there for me...we can get in such a habit at looking at everyone else's faults that we totally fail to see our own...I don't want to be there....like I said in my last post, I want to remember what a lost soul I was when God came and took me in His arms and said "Evy come unto me and I will give you rest"

Raindrops on the Roses

I have a beautiful rose bush in the front of my home..I love roses..any color..they are so pretty, have you ever looked at a perfect rose to see how the little tiny bud starts out all covered and as the days go by it opens up little by little until it is finally a beautiful rose..and where does the smell come from? I don't like the scent of a rose candle..nor do I like the scent of rose hand lotion but oh how I love the scent of a rose...tonight we had a shower I went out on my porch and looked at the raindrops on my roses..how beautiful, had it been a hard rain my petals would have been laying on the ground..the rose would have been broken..but the roses need the rain to grow..not only the sun..
Aren't we like that..starting out we are closed up in the womb of our mothers...there safe and warm until God is ready to brings us out and open us up into this world that He has given to us..we start out fresh..like my twin babies now..pure...beautiful and soft and oh so Innocent..then the rain starts at first its just some drops but as we go on the storms come and soon we are all crumbled to the ground...and we need to be picked up, cleaned up and saved from our doubts, fears, insecurities and our sin...and oh how wonderful to have a Savior, the same one that created the perfect rose...the tiny precious babies...to come along and pick us up and love us and show us the way if only we let Him...I want His raindrops to fall upon me gently..just enough so that I don't forget what a sad state I was in before He came to give me new life...that I may too, forgive as He has forgiven me..

This and That

Parking your car in a handicap parking space doesn't make you handicapped.
Having a fish emblem on your car doesn't make you a Christain.
We must repent...you will know those that are His by the Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22

Our sermon today was on Memorials..the reason for memorials...to remember, to remember those that have gone on before us...those that have died so that we may live in a free country...We put up memorials to remember those we love...

God also sent us reminders so that we too, can remember. He sent the rainbow to remind us that he promised never to wipe out the world again with water...

Memorial stones...we do this in the grave yards today..

The Lord's supper, to remember our Savior's broken body...and His blood that was shed for us that we may have everlasting life...if we repent and accept Him as our Savior...

So let's remember today what is important and what He has done for us and remember those that have gone on ahead...knowing that we too, will meet them again if they had received Jesus as their Savior...

Mother's Day Present...

My beautiful birdbath from my beautiful children...Thank you!

Handy Dandy Man

My hubby has now been retired a little over a year...Our home and yard has never been kept so nice..he is forever working on it keeping it all trimmed and mowed and fertilized and watered..along with the house..keeping it clean and just basically really make life easier for me and it not being quite as hard getting up at 5am and going in to work by 6am knowing that when I get home I don't have that much to do.
Even though sometimes I feel like I really don't have that much more time, it sure is nice and I am really enjoying it tremendously and thank God for him everyday..
Last night I was working on the deck arranging flowers and benches etc. when I mentioned to him that a little bird house would look good sitting on this bench, when I got home today there it was all hand made and painted by him..it is soooo cute. Thank you Everett!!

Abby's Graduation...Chicago

We went to Chicago last week for our first granddaughter's college graduation.
I cannot believe that I am old enough to have a granddaughter graduating from college.
WE are so proud of her and her accomplishments...way to go Abby, but I am still wondering where in the world the time went..

We had so much fun last week seeing Ab's apartment, hanging out, eating out, shopping and then shopping some more...eating some more...it was so much fun being with them...

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter

44 years ago today you were born..
It seems such a short time ago..
You are still as beautiful today as you were then...
Everyone had to come up to the nursery to see you..
The nurses had a fit over you..
You were so tiny and perfect and still are..
You have brought much joy into our lives..
I thank God for you everyday..
And love you more everyday...
Thank you for being who you are..
Going after your dreams, your creativity..
Your beautiful smile...
And your dazzling personality!
Have a beautiful birthday and many many more..
WE LOVE YOU!!!
(Can't wait for Chicago)

Kneel At the Cross

Blackkettle Gospel Bluegrass

WHAT is wrong with me?

This is a question I have been asking myself again lately, and today for sure..ever since I have booked our hotel for Chicago I have changed it 3 times to be exact..I can not make up my mind. I have talked to Abby and she has laughed at me..and I told her I am getting to be like my mother...she had to practically go in the room and lay on the bed before she would ok a stay there...I used to think what is the big deal..now I am the same way..I started reading reviews, that was my first mistake..because usually those who write those complain about everything anyway..

So this morning I had 3 different hotels booked so that I could use a few days to make up my mind..now how foolish is that???

I think that I have made up my mind now and did cancel one but I still have 2..just in case...I want to change I have till Tuesday to decide..I will read some more reviews and consider the driving distance...and really we aren't even going to be there that much..just to sleep..but still I want a nice quiet, clean smelling room that hasn't had pets or whatever in it..I know it won't be home, and really why am I so picky??? It'll be alright..I know for sure...once I have made my decision...I will go on and not change it...:) maybe???

Decisions and Choices

Do you ever count in a day how many decisions and choices that we have to make?
I just started to think about that this morning. Each day we get up that is the first choice we make..to get out of bed..then what to wear..what to have for breakfast...what to make for lunch...should we go for a walk..or read a book..call a friend...sit at the computer for awhile...did we do our devotions first thing or put them off to do something else...clean out the fridge that we have been putting off..
At work, there is a list of things that need to be done..which do I do first, I have to make a choice which is more important..I use to have a guy working for me that would start one thing before it got even half finished he was off to doing the next and day after day he did this..it always made him look very busy but nothing ever got completed...I walk by some houses, people start working on their lawns and flowers, gun ho...so excited to get things looking good, but some half way through just seem to quit...then by the end of summer, weeds have taken over, flowers need to be watered and everything just looks very unkept...we get tired of doing and keeping things up and make our choice to give up, because it overwhelms us or other things catch our interest..

Is that what it is like with our Christian walk with God too, we start out on fire..that's all we want to talk about, share with others, so much joy fills our hearts..can't wait to go to church to hear about Jesus, sing about Jesus...then what happens..somehow we can lose interest..lose our joy, and the cares of this world take over again...but we MUST seek Him and stay close to Him so the weeds of this world do not over take us and we become again the faded dead flowers that we once were..we must bloom be bright and cheerful...so others may see the beauty of being a child of the Kings...so let's keep watered and weeded and pruned by being in His word daily and in pray...

More then I hoped for

I really don't know why I titled this blog today "More then I hoped for" other then right now I feel very peaceful....even with all the turmoil that is going on in the world my heart is at peace...real peace...the peace the Bible talks about...I have been at peace within for sometime...I am a struggler usually...wanting to do everything right...want everyone to be happy..but don't we all want that?
I think so...but to have the peace that the Word talks about..is different...

Our Pastor had such a great sermon today...he could have just preached the words of the last 10 minutes and it could not have been better...

He spoke about what it really meant to be a Christian....to be in Christ and not just believe about Him....that our lives should be transformed if we are living in Him....we should not be living as the world lives we should be different..
He used a parable about marriage...his wife was from Oregon...and he said had they gotten married and she would have become Mrs. Quillan but stayed in Oregon and kept living the same life and in the same house and the same job and not moved here with him and became his wife...there would be no difference whether they were married or not..just like us if we say we are Christian and live as everyone else in the world lives what is the difference???

I recently read this saying..don't know if it has anything to do with this post or not..but to me seems so true...how many of us are really REAL are we whom others vision us as...or are we fake?

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you're not.

4 in 5

We have had four deaths in our immediate family in 5 mo...
An uncle and sister-in-law both died Dec 5.
Another uncle died 2 weeks ago..
His brother that was 94 died last night.
We will miss them all...

Slimmer and Slimmer

No not me, as much as I wish it were, but what I am talking about is at work..
I am down to 3 employees and 2 part timers...just not to long ago there were 11 of us here full time...Production cut in half...hours staying the same..
God has been so good to me..I haven't had to lay off and day after day He just takes care of every little detail..to say that as a believer we may want to think some of our problems seem mighty little next to everything going on in the world.. and they are, but His word says he cares even for the fallen sparrow and how much more are we....to Him..
Kali one of my girls is leaving for Jamaica next week to get married she will be gone a week and a couple of days...we all have our certain jobs that we do and one of the girls just makes specials which are just the extras that they put on a mower like a hydraulic deck lift, snow blower or whatever. We usually send 75 to 100 out a week, I got a call yesterday from the main plant saying that 2 of these they had a overstock out there that somehow was overlooked????? So probably enough to last them a month or so....I see this as God taking care of me again...short handed for awhile frees up another here to step in and do something else...problem solved...not by me but one mightier than me...again Thank You Lord...

He has Risen

Purple robe my savior wore,
Oh what shame for me He bore...

He has risen, He has risen indeed...
He came and died to set me free!!

Thank you Father for sending your Son
Now it is finished and victory is won...

On the Road again

There is an old country and western song by Willie Nelson..my very favorite country singer...called ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

That is me...we are just getting things taken care of with Uncle Melvin and now my sister fell and broke her hip...she is in Hutchinson hospital, surgery last night..everything went really well she just will be laid up for awhile...and her hubby is laid up too, with 3 broken bones in his heel...poor sis....

Now just a little bit ago I got a call from Everett's aunt that his Uncle Allen in Wichita that is 94 has a broken hip and is in the hospital again...WHAT?????

We have a great big old trailer hitched to our pick-up as I write getting ready to haul all of Uncle Melvin's furniture to Wichita..pray that we have a safe trip...Everett is driving...

To all my children and grandchildren...you all stay well and safe you hear....I got the older ones to look after right now...Leviticus 19:32 "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
I am almost there...kiddos..

Life

Just 3 short weeks ago we moved Everett's uncle Melvin into his brand new assistant living quarters here at our local care home. We hung pictures, mirrors, beautiful cabinet in the bathroom, he got a new bed, dresser, and chair..everything put away and we anxiously awaited for his recovery for him to see it..if you remember he got sick and went to the hospital the day we moved him into his brand spankin new apartment...Monday this week was his funeral...last night Everett and I went and packed everything up, took everything off the walls that hung there for 3 weeks w/o Uncle Melvin ever seeing what it looked like...it made me really sad....made me ponder....made me want to live everyday like it might be my last...but each day we can get so caught up in the routine things of the day..we forget..we go on...we always think oh there is always tomorrow, if we don't call those, visit those, or tell those we love, that we love them...then one day it's all over...
Uncle Melvin's daughter got up and talked about 20 minutes about her dad and what his life meant to her and what kind of man he really was...yes everyone has faults, sins to be forgiven, lots of times we make the wrong choice, but all the same the choices that each of us are given, and it's what we do with those choices that eventually will determine what others will say about us when our time here is up,and where we will spend all eternity...the choice is ours...no one elses just ours..
Uncle Melvin made his choice and he chose Jesus..he told us that the night before he died...
This being Easter week..let's reflect on what Jesus did for us..and what that means for us that have received Him as savior
John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the light NO ONE comes to the Father except through me...

I Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him
Because he cares for you

Quiet tension is not trust
It is simply compressed anxiety

I wonder why I'm tired...

First before I get started on the story about wondering why I am tired..here is how I feel right now..
I am drinking from the saucer because my cup has overflowed...
God is so good I just can not praise him and thank him enough for what He is doing in my life...for showing me so many things..and I want to thank Him!

Tonight we went to a classic country and gospel concert in Salina thanks to our oldest son Tal for giving us the tickets...I can not express how I was blest and how awesome our God is..there was a gospel singer there I had never heard of before. His name is Jamie Coulter..he is literally 3 feet tall and cannot walk and came on stage sitting on a skate board singing "I saw the Light" When he got done singing the first words out of his mouth were "If you are thinking about feeling sorry for me don't this is the way MY GOD made me". And the songs this man wrote and sang were such an inspiration...I was so ashamed...how I knick pick at things, like if I was just taller, skinner, prettier, had thicker hair, how we can go on IF ONLY...we had more...a better house, on and on we can go..I am going to be more aware of what I have and not look upon what I don't have and Thank God for it..

Now for being tired, Everett was saying when we got home, have you thought about all we have done this week, since Sunday..
Sunday, went to church, got groceries, went to see Uncle Melvin then to Mac to Tal's for family night..
Monday, Everett rode in the ambulance to Wichita with Uncle Melvin and stayed till I got out of my appointment at 5:30 after I had worked 9 hrs and picked him up went and got a couple of shower gifts..and came home...
Tuesday, Invited out for supper and then had band practice..late night..at one of the guys in our bands parents house..
Wed. Took off early went to see both Uncles that were laid up and spent time with the family..late again
Thurs. Worked, then had Sam's first soccer game, then to the DQ for his 6th birthday and had icecream..
Fri..Had a luncheon bridel shower here at my house for one of my girls at work...then later headed to Salina for the concert..on top of this I did work every day going in at 6am..
NOW I know why I am tired tonight.
So pleasant dreams to you all and may God bless and good night!!

Gone Home

Uncle Melvin sweetly passed from this life today at 5:25 pm into the arms of Jesus.
We will miss you..your kindness and gentleness..I have learned a lot from him..

Who's in Charge??

Things have been happening pretty fast lately it seems.
These days just keep going by at a rather fast pace for me.
Days turn into weeks, weeks into years and years keep mounting up.
Don't get me wrong that's perfectly fine, I would at this point rather
get older than the alternative, and really like this season that I am in except for a few of the aches and pains doable put none the less are there. I am not complaining really just commenting.
Everett and I have been in the presence for quite a while on a regular basis with the really older generation as you that read this blog know.
I have learned a lot from them, more then I think I even realize. Two of them now are about ready to be received into the arms of Jesus. Until last night I have never really told anyone good-bye here as I did him...I have been with my dad and
Everett's mom near the end but neither one of them were aware and able to speak. So last night I experienced something totally different. Even though none of us know the exact hour I do believe as others that these 2 are very close to the end of this life....what a blessing to know to really know where you are going to spend eternity.
Last night when we were with Uncle Melvin his daughter said " Dad what are you thinking"? He replied "I wonder what it will be like over there"? We know for sure that with Jesus it will be beautiful beyond our comprehension!

Everett's note today
Read Label and Follow Directions to:
THE BIBLE

Goings' On

Haven't blogged for awhile, seems like a lot is going on, but then on the other hand seems like maybe I have just been not having a lot to blog about that would be of interest to any of you.
I'm not sure that I want to think of my life as not being of meaning or interest and really don't think that it has been but maybe God is using this time in a way that I don't see yet. Which I am sure that is what He does all the time. I have always felt like when we are doing for the Lord we really don't know it all the time. That we need to do what we feel called to do right away and not sit and ponder on it waiting for it to be the right time for us. His timing is always the right time..

Things are still slow at work...but we are holding our own..and this down time has been good, I think it has made all of us stop and be more thankful for our jobs and not take everything for granted. It is good to have to depend on others more..reach out and help when we see a need, share what God has provided for us...

Everett's note today was:
It's not what we have that matters
It's what we give away....
God wants us to be cheerful givers, helping those in need...praying and being discerning...we are so blessed..

Our plans are all made for Chicago..I am so excited to see Abby's little apartment and spend time with her and Jeff and Stella. My very first granddaughter graduating from College...can't believe it...a Bible college at that, how awesome..we are so proud of you Abby Jo!

"Love your Enemy"

Everett and I were in conversation this morning about who is our enemy?
His note to me today was "Love your enemy". He told me to really think about the word enemy. The dictionary describes enemy as a person that wishes another harm.
So as Christians we should not be an enemy should we? But we are, to some aren't we.
Are we looked at by someone as their enemy? Shouldn't we forgive our enemies as Christ forgave us. Why is it written in Scripture if it isn't an issue. But it is an issue..we have lots of enemies...our nations has lots of enemies, people that are jealous of us or don't like us are our enemies...but we are to love them. It is a command by God to love those that wish us harm.
Sunday in our sermon the preacher said, are we commanded to love Sodom?? We are, we are called to forgive....to love and when someone takes our cloak we are to give him our tunic too...that is what Jesus says "LOVE" your enemies.