One Texas Mama

Dancing With God

2011-03-08T18:49:00.003-06:00

When I meditated on the word "Guidance", I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back, or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person, and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word "GUIDANCE". When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "U" and "I".

"GOD", "U" and "I"...DANCE

GOD, YOU AND I DANCE!

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead you through each season of you life. There is no cost, but many rewards, So let's continue to pray for one another. AND I HOPE YOU DANCE!

UNKNOWN AUTHOR

I'm Back

2011-03-03T10:55:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I'm not so good with keeping up with this lately. So to update, on January 5th I had surgery. I thought for the next two weeks, things were going smooth. I got to the Dr.'s office to find out that the stitches had come out. So, same day, we go back in for more stitches. One week later, I go for another check up. Stitches were dissolving too fast, but everything looked ok. For the next 4 weeks, I was on restricted everything. I could ride in the car, but had to sit once I got to wherever we went. Any time I did go or do anything, I was exhausted by days end. But, I did just as the Dr said, so that I would heal and be able to move on. Fast forward the 4 weeks. Check up time again. Dr said that things didn't look good. At least not how she would have liked. Stitches all came out too soon and healing was very slow. She decided to everything alone and let it heal as it was. But, I'm still on light duty. I can now drive and go for walks, but no lifting more than 15 pounds, no exercising, & resting as much as possible. And that is until the next check up in JUNE!!! I'm really struggling with much of it, just because I feel good. I don't hurt, and I have plenty of energy. But I'm still listening to the Dr. because this too shall pass and I don't want to prolong it any further than it has already gone.

Because of all this, I had to let go of my job at the preschool. But on the bright side, a friend was returning to work after having a baby. Now I get to care for Sweet Josie. She falls in the weight limit and she is as precious as can be. I'm really enjoying my days with her and I'm learning all things happen for a reason.

2010-12-22T18:21:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Halstead Family

I hope your Christmas is filled with faith, love, hope and family. And your New Years is Blessed.

Baking for a Mission

2010-12-03T12:33:00.003-06:00

Since just before Thanksgiving, I've been working hard in the kitchen. To help us raise money for our Haiti mission trip, I've started selling baked goods. Everything from pies, cakes, cheesecakes, fudge, layer bars (a popular item), banana-nut bread, zucchini bread, pumpkin spice cupcakes and the list goes on.... I so enjoy it and I'm thankful for those who have chosen to help us in this venture. It is so appreciated. Brian, Joseph and myself are very excited to go to Haiti. Here is a picture of the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes that were a hit yesterday. Have A Blessed Day!

'Tis the Season

2010-11-30T14:40:00.004-06:00

Where has this year gone? Didn't we just start school? Didn't we just dress up for Halloween? Now, Thanksgiving is past and we're focusing on Christmas and all that goes with that. I did have a wonderful, but quiet Thanksgiving. My son Brian and his wife Ashlynn came in from San Antonio, but they spent the holiday with her family. (Which was pre-arranged, because Christmas is our holiday.) I only cooked for my husband and two sons and of course myself. Like I said it was quiet, but well worth it, and very enjoyable. We had tons of food leftover, but it has gone to waste. On black Friday, Ashlynn and I took off and went shopping. We left at 1:00am and returned at 9:00am. We hit two stores and Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then came home and took a NAP!!
I now have most of my Christmas shopping done, but a few things left to do. But, thankfully, I get to focus on the holiday rather than stressing over making sure everything gets done. I hope you too get to enjoy every minute of this Christmas season. And let's not forget the most important reason for this season. Here's my favorite cartoon clip to help us remember. Enjoy and God Bless You

More Squash

2010-10-06T19:59:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple more squash recipes. This was the first acorn squash that I ever tried and then became a fan. It's so good. The second is for butternut squash. I like to serve it with some meatloaf or in place of potatoes.

Craisin Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients
3 medium acorn squash
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons butter
Directions
Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash cut side up in two 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray.
Combine the cherries, brown sugar, lemon peel, nutmeg and salt; spoon into squash halves. Sprinkle with lemon juice; dot each half with 1/2 tbls of butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until squash is tender.

Iserve them in the shell. 1 per person. If you have people like my dad that don't like to try new things, you can always scoop out the contents of each shell and mix well in a bowl. The first time I made these, my dad wouldn't try them. The second time, I put them in a bowl and he loved it. I guess it's all in the presentation for some people.
Next, Garlic Butternut Squash

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. During the last 5 minutes, sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Then serve and enjoy. Again I use this in place of another starch on the plate, such as potatoes or corn.

Fall Recipes

2010-10-01T17:28:00.003-05:00

Wow! I can't believe we "just" started school, but hmmm, now it's already October 1st. Time is just flying by. I really Love this time of year. It gets a bit cooler after a long hot summer. And all the fall veggies are available. I love squash. And I've tried a few new recipes with acorn squash in the last couple of weeks. Here is one of my new favorites. I'll share more later. Enjoy!

SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash
1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions
Cut squash in half; remove and discard seeds.
Crumble sausage into a large skillet; add onion. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. In a large bowl, beat egg and milk; stir in the spinach, bread crumbs, cranberries and sausage mixture.
Turn squash cut side up. Stuff with sausage mixture. Bake in oven on 350 for 55 minutes.

Getting Ready for School

2010-08-24T14:08:00.002-05:00

The past two days, I've been cleaning, organizing and decorating my room for pre-school. Here are some pictures of the finished product. Can't wait to get the kiddos tomorrow.

The Last Hurrah!!

2010-08-23T07:23:00.003-05:00

School has now begun! But, before it did, here are a few things we did. On Thursday evening we spent a wonderful night out at the local vineyard visiting with friends and listening to some good music.

On Friday afternoon, we left home for San Antonio with our first stop in Spring Branch. There, we met up with some friends at their house for some bbq and visiting. What a beautiful place they have. We watched the deer come up to the feeder in the back yard. Saw a jack rabbit and a few bullfrogs.
Leaving their house around 11pm we headed to our son and daughter-in-laws house, getting there around midnight. We talked with Brian for just a few minutes, then went to bed.

The next morning (Saturday) Ashlynn and I got up and headed off to North Star Mall. That is an Awesome mall! We got there early and found up front parking!! We went from one end of the mall to the other. We spent most of the day there. Didn't find as many deals as we really wanted, but what fun we had spending time together.

On to Saturday evening. After all day shopping, we got home changed clothes, picked up the guys and off to the River Center Comedy Club. Ashlynn had the directions, new exactly where we were going. We got to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club right on time. Only it was the wrong club! We got back in the car, raced to downtown, got parking and got to the right club just as they were closing the doors. We got seated before the show started. The first comic was not good at all. The second was a bit better, except for his language was horrible. The headliner, Justin Worsham, was so funny! He was worth the price of admission. We all had a good time listening to him. You can check him out on www.youtube.com The majority of his comedy is about his family.

We got home about 11 and went to bed...at least Ashlynn and I had gone to bed. Brian, Sr and Brian, Jr and maybe Joseph not real sure what did, stayed up and watched the rest of the Steelers preseason game, which they had recorded.

Sunday morning brought church. We tried out a new church with Brian & Ashlynn. They wanted to go to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Oak Hills is where Max Lucado preaches. That is one LARGE church!!!! The message was good, but I was a tad disappointed that Max wasn't the one preaching this week. Although he was there and he opened and closed the service. The preacher was Randy Frazee. He was very good. So not disappointed at all about listening to him. He taught on the importance of living out Christ in you own neighborhood, to your neighbors. Building relationships with them, so that when the time comes you can help in what ever area necessary. At the end Randy mentioned the tv show Worlds Strictest Parents that is put out by the BBC. They applied and were accepted as a strict parent family. The are getting 2 British teens to live with them for, I believe, 10 days. They are to try to turn these kids around by showing them a different way to live. They are evidently teens that are into things that they shouldn't be. That will be neat to see the show when it airs here.
After church, we packed up our car to head back home. We left around 1pm got to the house, to drop off Joseph, at 5. We left him here and went on to our small group Bible study. They are an aweseome group of people, so we didn't want to miss even one session. Got home around 9 and pretty much went straight to bed!
So that's it! Our last hurrah before school. It's now Monday morning, Joseph is off to his first day as an 11th grader. In just awhile, I'll be off to the pre-school to get my classroom in order. Pre-schoolers arrive on Wednesday!
So long summer, it's been great!

Summer Vacation Is Done

2010-08-19T09:24:00.003-05:00

Wow! It's always amazing to me how fast summer vacation goes. School is starting next Monday! My son Joseph will be in 11th grade. How time does fly.

As the summer ends (we're in Texas, it doesn't really end) and school begins, I start to think of Fall. While at the grocery store I found the first of the fall squashes out. I then got excited to make dinner that night. So here is the menu of the fall dinner I made with recipes to follow.

Harvest Pork Chops
Garlic Butternut Squash
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Biscuits

Harvest Pork Chops (this is for 4 chops, if you have more, double the amounts)

Seasonings:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4 boneless loin pork chops (1/2 inch thick)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, sliced

Directions

Combine salt, pepper, paprika, sage and thyme; sprinkle both sides of pork chops.

In a skillet, brown chops in oil for 1-2 minutes on each side. Place chops in 9x13 baking dish, top with onions, cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 450° for 25 minutes

Garlic Butternut Squash

Ingredients
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Ingredients

12 Portobello Mushrooms
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed
3 tablespoons green onion
1/4 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

Remove stems from caps. Cook Caps and stems in oil on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, turning only once, until mushrooms are tender.

Transfer to shallow baking dish. Mix the next 6 ingredients together. Spoon mixture into caps. place stems on outer edge of pan and cover with any remaining mixture. Sprinkle top with Mozzarella cheese. Bake @ 375 for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Family Vacation

2010-08-09T16:19:00.010-05:00

Our family vacation this year took us to Quitaque, Texas (pronounced kitty quay) to Caprock Canyons State Park. It was a beautiful place.

We tent camped for the week. All of the family came except for our middle son Jeremy. He had to work that week. He was missed. I know he would have had as much fun as the rest of us did.

We saw a lot of different critters during the week. Our first critter was a rosehair tarantula. He was on the edge of our campsite. I was startled when I first saw it. I was not expecting to see a tarantula. But I think he was even less excited about seeing us, as he vacated the area.

We also saw a couple of snakes, some mule deer, turkeys, roadrunners, a painted bunting, a golden eagle and skunks! Ashlynn and I had been at the lake with guys while they were fishing. We went to the restrooms and on the way back, we smelled the skunk on the trail. The next thing we saw was "pepe le pew" running from the left side of the woods, down the trail, and off to the right side of the woods. We then decided to take the long way back to the lake. Just in case.

The canyon was absolutely gorgeous! Here are a couple of pictures, but they just don't do it justice.

We also spent a bit of time at the lake doing some fishing. We caught a few fish, but all were too little to keep. But it was relaxing. In the first picture, they were catching bait. There was an insane amount of grasshoppers around. So several were caught and used to catch the fish.

We spent one day up at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas. It too was beautiful and had a lot of hiking trails.

It was an awesome vacation and we will remember it for quite a while. Here are the last pictures we took. One of our final sunset on the lake, and the sunrise of our final morning. Truly beautiful and for me breathtaking.

More Summer

2010-08-09T15:55:00.006-05:00

June - We went to Denton, Texas for youth camp. That was a wild and crazy week. It's only about 5 hours or so from here, so much closer than last year, going all the way to TN. Runks Runkles was our speaker and he's the most ADHD person I've ever met! But he was an awesome speaker. Our worship team was Branch. They are some amazing singers and players. We had a lot of fun with our rec team too. They dressed up as nerds all week and kept things interesting. The games they came up with were so much fun. We had a few practical jokes too. Some boys turned off the water heaters to the girls cabins. So in retaliation, we cut the breakers to their a/c and stole their thermostats.

It was a beautiful camp as well. Here are a few pictures.

Our Cabins

The Lake

Relaxing in the shade

Playin' some putt putt

SUMMER!!!

2010-07-09T11:37:00.012-05:00

What a busy summer this has been so far! And still more to come! Memorial Day Weekend...we had lots to celebrate. First, My niece graduated from 5th grade. She's now on to Junior High this fall. Second, My son Brian and his wife Ashlynn celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary. Third, My Dad FINALLY was able to retired after many years of Truck Driving. And last but not least, My youngest son Joseph and his friend Logan share the same birthday, they turned 16 on May 31st. Here are some photos of our celebrations from Memorial Weekend!

There were so many of us that we would have been sleeping all over the floors, so we opted to bring our camping gear for the weekend and set it all up in My mom's side yard.

All this for Memorial Weekend. We had a lot of fun! My parents live way out in the country, so they took the guns out in the woods for a little practice shooting, we did lots of grilling, eating and laughing. Having a great time all together.

They blew up a bottle

Logan

My three boys

My brother John and his granddaughter Kadence

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

2010-07-04T13:34:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone! I hope this National Holiday is finding everyone happy and healthy. We are having a quiet celebration. Joseph is making lunch for us (inside) not grilled this time. Sometime after lunch we will go to Bicentennial Park for town festivities and fireworks. Just a reminder to all: Remember those who have fought for our freedom. Those past, present and future. They are the reason why we are able to celebrate today. Enjoy and have Safe and Happy Independence Day!!

Spring

2010-05-18T10:35:00.004-05:00

Haven't posted for awhile, thought I would share our most recent trip to San Antonio. My son Brian needed some help with his car, so dad to the rescue! Ashlynn and I went to do some house comparisons. I love looking a model homes to get decorating ideas and just to see what's out there. We checked out several housing subdivisions, but the ones we checked out weren't really any better than what they have. On Sunday we went out for a photo shoot. Brian and Ashlynn's 2nd anniversary is on the 24th, so I wanted to get some really cute photos of them. Got some of me and my honey as well. Enjoy the pictures!

These were all taken in a field near their house. We had several people drive by and blow horns at us. Kinda funny. We then went in search of another location. We found some tracks. Here are some of those pics.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

2010-04-26T19:26:00.003-05:00

My sister-in-law Lori posted on facebook that she was making Baked Chicken Parmesan and cheesy garlic bread. And how wonderful her house smelled. I asked for the recipe and she shared it with me (thank you Lori) and now I will share it with you.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/4 lbs)
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs (I only had plain in the cabinet, so I added my own Italian seasonings in it.)
1 jar (26 ounces) marinara sauce
1 cup Kraft 4 cheese Italian mix

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Dip chicken in egg, then bread crumbs, coating well.(I put some cheese in with my bread crumbs)

In a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, arrange chicken.

Bake uncovered 20 minutes. (time dependent on how thick your chicken breasts are)
Pour the marinara sauce over chicken, then top with cheese.

Bake an additional 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.

Make a box of linguine noodles. So that the noodles would not stick together, after they were cooked I added 2 tbls of EVOO and for added flavor, some garlic powder.

I bought a box of texas toast and baked according to pkg directions, but on 4 pieces I added mozzerella cheese.

Your house will smell wonderful and your family will love it! I know mine did!!!

Happy Cooking

A Day Out in Nature

2010-04-16T09:09:00.015-05:00

Yesterday we, my friend Billie and I, spent the day looking for birds and other wildlife at several places. We started out at the Bird Sanctuary in High Island, Texas. There were several different kinds of birds, but it was hard for me to get really good pictures of them because of how far away they were. A bigger zoom on my camera would have been helpful. Here are a couple that I did get and a few pretty scenery and flower pics.

When we left the bird sanctuary we went over to Smith Oaks where the Rookery is at. I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

We also saw a couple alligators, walked along some trails and saw a downy woodpecker and a few other birds.
We left here and went to Rollover pass to see the shore birds. We saw gulls, sandpipers, brown pelicans, and terns.

After having lunch, we started the trip back home. We stopped at the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge. On the road in we saw a rat snake. We jumped out of the vehicle to get a good look and a picture. But he slithered off too fast for a picture. He was about 3-4 feet long. We saw again a lot of birds, ducks, turtles, and several alligators. Take a look at these...

We then headed home. It was a long day. By the time I got home, I was ready for a nap but I stayed up till about 9:15 which is really early for me to go to bed. We had so much fun. Can't wait for the next adventure day.
I've got more pictures on my facebook page in the Wildlife album if you'd like to see more.

It's Summertime...or so it would seem in my Kitchen

2010-04-13T17:53:00.003-05:00

When summer hits, I usually get a break from the kitchen. My grill masters take over the preparation of dinner. Normally, it was not every night. However, now with Joseph learning the "grilling ropes", I haven't cooked at all in a few days. We've been enjoying Ranch Burgers, Cajun Burgers, Spicy Catfish, and tonight Chicken...not sure what seasoning. I'm enjoying the break, but really planned on cooking the chicken tonight, but Joseph took over quickly. I'll enjoy this while I can, too soon, it'll be over and the boys will be off on their own.

Spaghetti

2010-03-31T17:36:00.001-05:00

It's just a regular Wednesday night, and we are having Spaghetti. But to make it a little more interesting, instead of plain old hamburger meat, I've added Hot Italian Sausage. It gives it just a little more ummph! The family loves it, but, they also like things on the spicy side. Add your garlic bread and a side salad with some ranch dressing to cool things back down. Try it! You may just like it!

Happy Cooking!!

The "Knots" Prayer

2010-03-09T12:18:00.000-06:00

I recently got this from a friend and thought I would share.

Dear God,

Please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,
may nots, and
mights nots that find
a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,
would nots and should nots'
that obstuct my life.

And most of all, dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind
my heart and life all of the am nots
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that I am not good enough.

Amen.

Irish Beef Stew

2010-03-08T16:18:00.004-06:00

For your Saint Patty's day, a hearty beef stew

Ingredients

* 1 pound beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
* 1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
* 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
* 12oz dark beer
* 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
* 2 tablespoons medium pearl barley
* 1/2 onion chopped
* 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, dill weed, black pepper
* 1/2 tsp salt, garlic powder or squeeze 1 clove garlic

Directions

* In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine all the ingredients.
* Cover and cook on low for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours or until meat is tender.

To finish this meal add some Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

* 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 eggs
* 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
* 3/4 cup raisins

Directions

* In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, caraway seeds, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins.
* Spoon into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing sides of pan. Cut into wedges; serve warm.

Happy Cooking!

The Trials of being a Mom!

2010-03-03T17:22:00.001-06:00

ENJOY!

Chicken Noodle Soup

2010-02-25T17:40:00.002-06:00

Around here, there have been A LOT of sick people. It's no wonder with the weather bounces back and forth between warm and cold. Spring is trying to emerge and winter is trying to hold on. With my youngest son being the most recent casualty of sickness, I'm posting my Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 to 2 pound fryer
8 - 10 cups water
4 medium carrots
4 stalks celery
1/2 onion
2 tbls parsley
1 bag egg noodles

Directions

* In a large soup kettle or Dutch oven, add Chicken and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until juices run clear, skimming the surface as foam rises.
* Remove chicken. When cool enough to handle, *remove meat from bones; discard bones. Cut or tear meat into bite-size pieces; set aside. add the carrots, celery and onion to the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
* Add noodles and chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 6 minutes. Cook for 2-4 minutes or until noodles are tender.

**shortcuts** Use a rotisserie Chicken and equal parts of canned Chicken broth and water. Start recipe from the asterisk and go from there.

Stay Well Everyone
And Happy Cooking!!

What's it called?

2010-02-22T18:54:00.002-06:00

I don't know, you give it a name...I just threw things together.

1 pkg Italian Meatballs
2 pkgs frozen stir fry veggies with noodles (kroger brand)
1 jar alfredo sauce

I first sauteed the frozen meatballs for about 10 min, then added about a tbls of olive oil, added the stir fry. Cook until broccoli is tender. Add the jar of alfredo sauce or pick a sauce of your choosing...or not. It was so good and I forgot to set something out this morning. I normally would have thawed something quickly in the microwave, but after looking in the freezer, this is what happened. And guess what? NO LEFTOVERS!!! It was a hit!

Happy Cooking!!!!

Yummy Chocolate Cake

2010-02-19T08:46:00.000-06:00

Here is an easy way to impress your guests with an awesome cake.

1 chocolate cake mix
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar caramel topping
1 tub cool whip

Make cake according to pkg directions. When cake is done, but still hot, poke holes all across the top. Then pour sweet milk and caramel topping all across the top. When cake is cool, frost with the cool whip. You can decorated the top with sprinkles, nuts, etc. Easy, yummy and you won't have any leftover.

Chicken, Avocados, and Cheese, Oh My!

2010-02-04T18:22:00.003-06:00

My new Favorite recipe... A chicken Avocado bake. Here we go...

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup butter, cubed
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, marjoram and thyme
* 1-1/2 cups milk
* 1 cup half-and-half cream
* 8 ounces medium egg noodles, cooked and drained
* 3 medium ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
* 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
* 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

* In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and seasonings until smooth. Gradually add milk and cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish, layer half of the noodles, avocados, chicken, white sauce and cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5 minutes longer or until bubbly.

If you buy pre-cooked cubed chicken, this recipe is put together fast. If you prefer to use fresh chicken breasts, make sure they are skinless and boneless. Also press out any grease from cooking your chicken.

*substitutions...for the white cream sauce, you may switch the milk and 1/2 & 1/2 for Evaporated milk.

*additions, the second time making this recipe, I added mushrooms for something extra. Just add in like the avocados.

What will you add?
Happy Cooking!!

Good For A Cool Rainy Day

2010-01-29T10:13:00.002-06:00

I love soup on a cold rainy day. And What's better than Chicken Soup! So here goes... I'll put in the recipe for the homemade version, than add the shortcuts if you're pressed for time.

Ingredients

* 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 3-1/2 pounds)
* 2 quarts water
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 1 cup diced carrots
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
* 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

* Place the chicken and water in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for 1 hour or until chicken is tender.
* Remove chicken from broth; cool. Skim fat from broth. Remove meat from bones; discard bones and skin. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; return to broth. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.

*** If you're pressed for time, but really want homemade chicken soup, here are my shortcuts. Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and canned fat-free chicken broth in place of the water.

*** If you want to make this a chicken & vegetable soup, you can add a bag of frozen corn, peas, and/or green beans.

Changing It Up!

2010-01-26T17:36:00.002-06:00

By now, anyone who was following my blog, has realized I quit writing for awhile. I didn't know what to write about any more. Then a friend said, "write about what you know, and you know about cooking". So I will now start writing about recipes that I've tried and hopefully post an appetizing photo.

For our first recipe, I'm going to share my Sausage Asparagus Fettuccine. First off, you will need:
1 pkg Johnsonville Italian Sausage (hot or mild) I like to cut them into pieces and mix them into the fettuccine, but you can cook them whole and serve fettuccine as a side dish.
8ounces uncooked fettuccine
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon butter

cook fettuccine according to pkg directions (My favorite is Buitoni, in the refrigerator section of the grocery store) Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the asparagus, onion and garlic in butter until tender. Here you can add a jar of Alfredo sauce or make your own. If you use the jar, add alfredo sauce to asparagus...heat through. If you choose to make your own sauce, you will need:
4 ounces Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese - fresh, not powdered
3 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

once asaparagus is tender, add remaining ingredients to skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sauce is blended. Drain Fettuccine; toss with asparagus mixture. Add in your sausage. Make sure to drain grease off sausage.

Enjoy!

2009-10-06T09:23:00.004-05:00

This is a short, cut to the chase, version of a story I would tell my pre-school class about God and being a Christian and relating it to Jack-o-laterns. Hope you enjoy it.

My Child asked, 'What is it like to be a Christian?'

I replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.'

God picks you from the patch, brings you in,

and washes all the dirt off of you.

Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and

puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

I hope during this season, You let the light shine that God has placed in you, for all the world to see! God Bless and Happy Fall Y'all!!

PECANS IN THE CEMETERY

2009-08-12T09:36:00.000-05:00

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

'One for you, one for me One for you, one for me,' said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.'

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

'Come here quick,' said the boy, 'you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls.'

The man said, 'Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk.' When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard , 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.'

The old man whispered, 'Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord.'

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, 'One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done.'

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the kid on the bike.

SMILE, God Loves you!

Look Up

2009-07-14T11:44:00.006-05:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on here. I got a bit sidetracked with facebook.

I thought I'd give you a little lesson on a bat and a bumblebee.

A bat, when on the flat ground, can't go anywhere. He will not be able to fly away. He will flounder until he reaches a slight elevation. Then he can take off and fly as he was meant to do.

A bumblebee, when caught in an open glass jar, will continuely bump against the side. Trying to find his way out through the side. He is unable to fly straight up.
He will continue to try, until he is all used up.

All this to say, don't we try to do the same thing with our problems. All we would have to do, is look up. But what we do instead, is to keep trying on our own to solve the problem. We talk to our friends, read books or articles or just sit and wallow in our problem and never move from it.

What our first response should be, is to look up. God is the one who can handle all our problems big or small. We just need to give them to Him. He is the only one with ALL the answers.

The solution is simple. The application....well, I guess now that's up to each one of us individually.

God Bless

The Christmas Spirit

2008-12-12T08:46:00.006-06:00

I have been happily amazed this Christmas season. I took over the Angel Tree ministry at our church when my friend Krista moved to Colorado. For those who may not know, Angel Tree is a prison ministry. Prisoners sign up their children to receive gifts from them through us. The plan was to hand out tags for two weeks after both services. On our first Sunday out, and after our first service, every single tag was taken. I was blown away! I had people coming up still wanting to get an angel, and giving me their number in case we got any more. During the next week phone calls were made and we got a few more names. Again, as soon as those tags were out, they were gone. And, the generosity of those that have bought gifts is also touching. I've seen a few of the gifts, and I know two little girls who will have the prettiest, warmest coats around town!

And for more Christmas Spirit is my niece Haley! She has got her hometown buzzing with giving to others for Christmas. Here is the article written about her and her Christmas wish. And if you would like to see the toy drive you can go to the news website at www.kswo.com Look for Haley's Holiday Hope.

By Sgt. 1st Class STACY NILES
214th FiB PAO
There are at least two times a year when children are asked the all important
“what do you want” question — at their birthday and at Christmas. For 9-year-old
Haley Moore those two dates are less than a week apart, and she said all the toys
make her feel a little overwhelmed. So, this year for her birthday the daughter of
Sgt. John Moore, the training NCO for 696th Forward Support Company, will donate
the toys she will receive at her birthday party Sunday to the children at the
J. Roy Dunning Children’s Shelter, Inc. in Lawton, OK.
“I get a lot of toys (for Christmas and my birthday),”said Haley.“I want to help
people who can’t afford toys or can’t get them right now. “People should think of other kids as their own kid and buy them a toy for Christmas,”said Haley.
Haley said she hopes people are inspired by her efforts to help other charities and
eventually this spirit of giving would spread throughout the county and people would start giving all year long. Locally, Haley’s wish is coming true with Haley’s Holiday Hope toy drive today at the Lawton YMCA from 5-8 p.m.“She wants kids to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to children who would otherwise do without,” said
Haley’s father.“She wants to make sure that someone who wouldn't get a present gets one this year.” The toy drive is the first of its kind to be held for the J. Roy Dunning Children’s Shelter by someone as young as Haley, said Theresa Alf, assistant
director of the shelter.“What a wonderful, compassionate little girl,” said Alf.
“Children do things for the shelter all the time, but not to this extent. Not the whole birthday thing. “We see kids every day, but rarely do they do something like this to touch us,” said Alf. “We are tickled pink. This is absolutely marvelous.”
“Haley’s always had compassion for people and animals,” said Moore of the aspiring
zoologist. “This makes me feel like I did something right in raising her. “I’m very
proud of her selfless attitude in putting others first instead of herself,” said Moore.

Haley said her goal was 300 toys. The toy drive(which was held Dec. 11)exceeded her expectations and monetary donations were also given to total around $1400. Way to go HALEY! And to the people of Lawton, OK! Merry Christmas

Snow? Here? Absolutely!

2008-12-11T11:10:00.007-06:00

Let it Snow!

Here are some of our SNOW pictures! We had a lot of fun!

The first traces of snow

A little more...

It's getting deeper....;)

Our house looks pretty...ready for a white Christmas!

Buddy ran the puppy 500 until he couldn't run anymore!

Neat picture of the snow coming down

Joseph building a snowman on the tractor seat

Snow covered tree...

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Poem

2008-12-03T13:05:00.002-06:00

This is Dedicated to my brother, John-U.S. Army, my son, Brian-U.S. Air Force, and for all serving in the our military -- Whether they are stationed at home or over seas. Love you Guys!

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Author Unknown

Thanksgiving Holiday

2008-12-01T10:29:00.003-06:00

Being Thankful...

I was very thankful this year to have my family at my house for the holiday. My son Brian, and his wife Ashlynn came in on Wednesday night about supper time. I made Brian his favorite Spinach Lasagna as requested. Dinner was ready when they arrived and I texted My other son Jeremy, that dinner was ready and Brian was near. So he also came for dinner. Joseph, son #3, still lives with us...he's still in high school, he helped me to get ready. My husband, unable to leave work, joined in the visiting later in the evening. We had a nice meal together, talking and so on. It is nice as the kids get older to have this "friend" relationship with them.
Brian & Ashlynn spent all of Thursday with Ashlynn's family. We chose to have our Thanksgiving on Friday, so we wouldn't be splitting them between two families and meals in one day. My parents came down on Thursday afternoon. Mom and I did all our sweets baking. Friday morning I did do a little bit of Black Friday shopping. Can't tell you where in case a certain someone reads this. Then we got back to the kitchen for our Feast preparations.
We sat down to eat around 3:30 or so, and everything was great! Loved having a full house.
I began thinking of the feeling you get when someone says thank you. Sometimes you don't even know you've done something to be thanked for. But, it makes you feel good inside when you're appreciated. So, I would think God also likes to be thanked for ALL HE provides for us. And it also reminded me of a story in the Bible where the one healed Leper returned to say Thanks. God Bless you All!

Luke 17:11-19

Ten Healed of Leprosy

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Why Your Printer Doesn't Work

2008-11-18T10:27:00.001-06:00

Funny Cat Video...Anyone with cats can appreciate their curiosity. Enjoy

Tomorrow...Is Veteran's Day

2008-11-10T12:07:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Without our Military we wouldn't have the freedoms that we have. They give up a lot and endure a lot to serve their country. Sometimes with little or no thanks from the rest of us Americans. Just remember the price of freedom is not free. Thank a service man or woman. They help to keep America the Land of the free, and home of the brave.

Thank You To ALL of our Armed Forces...God Bless You and Your Families.

After The Election

2008-11-06T09:22:00.002-06:00

Thankfully, the elections are done. Now the hard part begins for those christians who did not vote for the president-elect. Like it or not he is our next president and as Americans and more importantly, christians, we are to do as follows....

Good Morning!

With over 112,000,000 votes being cast, Senator Barak Obama was elected 44th President of the United States of America .

For those who voted for Senator Obama, be humble in victory. For those who voted for Senator McCain, be gracious in defeat.

For those who follow Christ, our instructions are clear.

We are to pray for President Elect Obama - Whether he was your choice or not, we are to pray that God guides him.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

We are to Support Our Elected Leaders and Do What is Good - Out words, attitudes, actions toward our President , towards all authority, is a direct reflection upon our walk with God. Be respectful.

I Peter 2:13 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men."

Titus 3:1 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and to be ready to do whatever is good."

Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [2] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. [4] For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

We are to Conduct Ourselves in a way to Allow God to Bless America and Our Community.

Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

To adapt the imprecation of Stephen Decatur: May President Obama always be in the right, but our President, right or wrong.

Finally, my hope lies not in an elected office. My hope lies in Jesus Christ - He holds all King's heart - He guides the History of all Nations and He is never up for Re-Election!

God Bless America - Still the Greatest Nation on Earth.

Dr. Mark Redd

Where Would We Be Without Each Other

2008-10-30T10:32:00.008-05:00

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another , 'Let's fight together,'
Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.

So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,

Thank God for the women HE has placed in your life.

Thanks to all the ladies in my life, for being in my circle.

Where God Ain't

2008-10-24T11:49:00.002-05:00

I got this poem in an email and thought that it said quite a lot in just a single sentence at the bottom.

AIN'T

He was just a little boy, on a week's first day.
He was wandering home from Sunday School,
And dawdling on the way.
He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He even found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
So wisely placed up so high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

'I've been to Bible School ,'
He said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
'I've learned a lot about God.'

That's a very fine way,' the neighbor said,
'for a boy to spend his time.'
'If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime.'

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
'I'll give you a dollar, Mister,

IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHERE GOD 'AIN'T'

God is everywhere... There's nowhere you can go to get hide from Him and there's nowhere you can go where He won't be right beside you. God is always there, in your good times and your bad times. All you have to do is reach out and talk to Him.

Caffeine Test

2008-10-22T09:33:00.000-05:00

Gotta have that coffee in the morning!! How caffeinated are you?

Created by OnePlusYou - Free Online Dating

Are you an Invisible Woman?

2008-10-22T09:14:00.002-05:00

Are you feeling like the invisible woman in your home? Then watch this video clip.

God Bless

Meeting A Friend

2008-09-29T08:49:00.009-05:00

After the hurricane, and clean up, we still did not have power. So, my son and d-i-l that live in San Antonio invited us to come stay with them a couple of days. Brian had to work to Joseph and I took off on Thursday afternoon. One of my blogger friends also lives there, so I sent her a message that I would be in town and would love to meet her. After a crossed wire, and the aid of another blogger(thank you Shonda) we finally met up at Chacho's Mexican restaurant on Friday afternoon. It was like meeting up with an old friend that you just hadn't seen in awhile. Kindred Spirits - another friend of mine called it. We sat and talked liked we'd been best friends for a long time. I really enjoyed our visit and she picked a great place to eat. I hope to meet more blogger friends - Shonda, that means you. And I know with Jesus as our link, we will pick up our friendship as though we have known each other all our lives. Thanks to Marina for being a bright light for us on Friday. You really shine girl! I loved being around you!

Thanks goes to Brian and Ashlynn for giving us a place to get away from all the storm stuff for awhile. It was nice not being reminded every minute. Although, they really need a coffee pot!!

And a big thanks to the power company for finally getting our lights back on Sunday morning. They had and have a HUGE job to do and everybody wants to be first on the list. I know they have their priorities of who gets power first...Hospitals, fire houses, nursing homes, utility companies, etc... and homes are at the bottom of the priority list. But two weeks and a couple days was enough time for me to be without power. We were blessed though to have a generator for more than a week of that time.(Thanks to Roger & Cindy) And God was good to give us cool weather. We opened our windows and let the cool air in and it was not bad at all. Other friends were there to welcome us over for BBQ more than once. We spent an evening eating and watching a movie together when they got power. All-in-all we all made it through just fine and maybe even got a little closer. Without the power, we stopped all the busyness of life and slowed down and talked to each other. It almost makes you not want those things that held your attention, not to come back. But what it should do instead, is now that we have realized this, we can make an effort to not let things or busyness take over what's really important. Family and Friends - and spending time together. Those of you who read this, who were not affected by the storm, my suggestion to you would be this: Make dinner, turn off the lights,TV,etc... light some candles, and have a powerless night with your family. It can be quite fun! We even played games by candlelight. Just my thoughts...

Hurricane Photos

2008-09-22T13:02:00.020-05:00

Here are some photos of our house, the neighborhood and around my mom's house 70 miles from our house. Thankfully, our house only had minimal damage. Others in my neighborhood did not fare as well.
Our House

The tree that hit the house

Lone lily in what's left of the garden

Backyard photos

Neighborhood photos

My friend, Tricia's house

My Mom's neighbor's patio area

The tree lifted the picnic table up, but didn't damage it.

Experiencing God

2008-09-03T12:34:00.002-05:00

Since I'm unable to go to Houston for the Beth Moore Semester (she's taking a group of young ladies b/c of the renovations at FBH)I am with a group of ladies here and we have begun a study series called Experiencing God. It's been two weeks so far. During the first week, that Sunday, our teacher at church spoke on the Voice of God. It was kind of funny to me how the lessons from Experiencing God and his lesson for the week were tied together. The book and our teacher both used I Kings, the story of the prophet Elijah. In chapter 18 Elijah (the only remaining prophet) challenged the baals. Each was to make an offering to their god and the one true God will be the one who responds with fire. Elijah allows them to go first. After hours of chanting, prayers, slashing their bodies, etc... the finally stopped and it was Elijah's turn. He had his sacrifice dowsed with water many times till it was soaked. Elijah prayed that God reveal himself, to let it be known that He is the one true God.
1 Kings 18:36-39 (New International Version)

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"

Elijah was on the mountain top of spiritual experience. However, when you're on the mountain top, satan is sure to try and find away to bring you down. And he succeeds with Elijah, through Jezebel. In Chapter 19 she threatens Elijah's life. She was not impressed by what he'd accomplished on Mt. Carmel. Ahab, the current king of Israel has shown either an unwillingness or an inability to reign Jezebel in. Elijah stumbled into the "pit" of fear. He ran for his life and after 40 days & nights, he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. He found a cave and spent the night. Elijah's fear drove him into a cave, a place of hiding. His "fear" was not unjustified. All the prophets before him had been executed. Jezebels threat was real. But, instead of trusting in God, whom he had just proven was all powerful, he gave into the fear and fled. How often have we had a mountain top experience,(retreats, camp, conferences) only to come home and be driven into a "cave" or "pit" of fear, worry, doubt, or even depression. Elijah was there! Fear and depression had gripped him.
1 Kings 19:9-11a

9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The LORD Appears to Elijah
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

God doesn't want us to stay in the darkness. He's calling us out into the light, and truth.
1 Peter 2:9 (New International Version)
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
God called to Elijah..
I Kings 19:11b-13
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
God had been preparing Elijah to hear him. All the noise of the wind, earthquake, and fire had been his preparations. Then in the stillness, Elijah heard God whisper.
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Why is it important to be still in order to recognize God's voice? If you have all the noise and distractions (tv, games, homework, dinner to fix) going on all around you, it's hard to hear just one of your own kids, let alone trying to hear from God. He wants our undivided attention. Find yourself a quiet place, a quiet time, and be still. Meditate on the word, you will hear God's voice. You will Experience God.

Forty & Fabulous

2008-08-29T11:45:00.005-05:00

Ok, Yesterday was my 40th birthday. And no the world did not come to an end. It was actually a pretty good birthday. It started off with a sweet poem printed out by my son Joseph, entitled MOMSTER. Here's the poem:

Momster

Mom, you amaze me with all the things you do.
Is it the eyes you have in the back of your head?
Do you have as many arms as an octopus?
Are there rockets in your shoes?
Do you keep a giant pile of cue cards in your pocket, with all the right things to say?
Do you strap heating pads to your arms, to make your hugs extra warm?
Can you slow down time with a magic clock, to fit all your tasks into one day?
Whatever your secret is, it's safe with me. All I know is I'm the luckiest kid there could ever be! Happy Birthday MOM, I Love you. Your Loving son Joseph

What could start a day better than that! Then I received flowers from my parents. A beautiful arrangement with yellow carnations, purple daisys and lots of other summer colors.
I did a little window shopping, then went Brian's office. He took me to lunch at a favorite BBQ place near work. After lunch, I did a little shopping at Hobby Lobby until Joseph was done with school. When we got home, I checked emails and had several email birthday cards. I also had received several phone calls with birthday wishes as well.

I ended the evening with a ladies Bible study. They brought in a beautiful Birthday Cake. Instead of a lot of frosting ( which some love ) It was covered with whipped cream, then fresh fruits all over the top. It was gorgeous and delicious. I was also given a honeysuckle candle, angel pin and some beautiful Yellowy orange Roses. That smelled heavenly. It was a really good day. It continued this morning when I arrived at work and found another beautiful flower arrangement on my desk with a hazelnut cream candle. And lunch today was provided by my son Jeremy. A grilled chicken wrap and Cherry Dr. Pepper from Sonic. Who could ask for more?!

Moving Day!!!!

2008-08-21T08:37:00.010-05:00

I guess we all dread the day you get the phone call or in this case the email, where your friend asks you to help load the moving truck. Well, I really didn't mind so much, because she was asking for men(my husband)and for the ladies promises of poolside with margaritas. Well, needless to say that was not the way it worked out. Only 3 guys showed up. So the ladies, of course, helped. It had been a rainy day, so no need for the pool, but the margaritas would have been nice. Although probably not too helpful.
The rain had subsided so there was no hindrance there. However, Krista's house was on the inside bend of the road so the trailer was parked across the street and down a ways. So it wasn't just a quick trip to the driveway. Tina and I stayed in the sauna like trailer to load and arrange boxes. And I must say we at least started off really good. Then odd pieces kept coming in and not everything fit so neatly anymore.

The best way to look at moving is with laughter. And I'll tell you, I don't think we ever laughed so hard while moving anyone. We had blond and blonder trying to move one end of the metal framed bunk bed. Not too difficult, or so you think. Get blond and blonder on each end and let the laughter begin. Remember now, they had to come downstairs, through the garage, down the drive across the street and into the trailer. It wiggled and wobbled and dropped!! Then to top it off, my 14yr old son had the opposite piece, carrying it with one arm through it, behind the blonds and passing the blonds with no trouble whatsoever!!! The view from the truck was priceless, if only there had been a video camera!!!!!

I think there had been a shortage on boxes, because so many things came to the truck with no box. Some things we stuffed into a box that was not quite full, or not taped shut. I tried every way possible to not pack Jimmy's TVs but they did actually make it on the truck. Nicely packed with bubble wrap, pillows and curtains for as much padding as possible. I offered to drive them up in my car, but Krista thought they'd never make it to Colorado. Hmmmmm.
Well, we finally left about 9 or 10, I think... and there was still more to do. So much for Krista's time table of "let's get it packed in 2 hours" Hahahahahaha
We drug into church on Sunday. Everything was sore.
It's amazing how much you don't use certain muscles!! When we were finished in Sunday School, I looked at Krista and said," I don't think I can lift my Bible bag!" After church, Krista bought lunch and brought it to her emptied shell of a house. We all sat on the floor eating our burgers. I think the little ones thought that was great that we were sitting on the floor. James had to sit right between me and Brian. And share his gravy with me. He's so cute!!
We started up again and worked from 1 till about 3:30 with all but a couple of things left to do. Cleaning mostly, and I was the lucky recipient of some potted plants, and unpotted plants.
I guess one of the funniest moments, was when we were at our most tired. Brian, my husband, was at the back of the truck and occasionally would disappear into a "rat hole" to find a place for something else. Krista had seen him at the back of the truck, so she went to the side of the house to get something else to put in the truck. As she came up to the truck, she didn't see Brian any more and thinking he had gone into a "rat hole" she starts "singing" "Where are You?" And he Says, " Behind you!" We just laughed.
The packing may not be the fun part of the whole ordeal, but the people we were with and the laughter that was happening quite often, was so worth the time and effort.
We left about 3:30, got cleaned up and were at our small group by about 5:30. When we left our Bible study, we went back for more. Did a little bit of cleaning, a little bit of shoving,(things in the truck, not each other)and a lot of playing with the kids. Actually, just the boys...Kaylee was hanging with her bff. I think Joseph really made friends with Jagger(3)and James(5). They were on him the whole time. Jagger was kinda pouty, Joseph looked at him, Jagger instantly came out of his pout, and said, "wanna fight?". Joseph said, "Yeah, let's fight, so off they go to wrestle in the living room and all you hear is more laughter.
So, in the end, we were sore,tired and sad to let a friend go, but the laughter will remain as a great memory of the time we shared packing the truck. Have a great life in Colorado Jimmy & Krista! We will miss you here.

Farewell To My Friend

2008-08-08T09:15:00.006-05:00

(Krista in Purple)

My friend Krista will be leaving us in two weeks, to start a new chapter in her life. She and her family are moving to Colorado. I haven't known Krista for very long, but she has been a light in my life. She gives you straight forward answers to your questions, but she's not a harsh critic. She is a friend that can be counted on in a crisis and a defender when her friend is wounded. She lightens things up where ever she goes and you can always here people around her laughing. Especially at bunco!! She's a friend that will be truly missed, but we know this is the plan God has for her. Someone in Colorado needs her brand of friendship. Our love, support and prayers go with Krista and her family. And since we have a tool like the Internet, (oh and that thing invented by Bell) she won't be so far away. God Bless...

What are you?

2008-07-14T09:06:00.004-05:00

I have a couple of topics that I think I can tie together. My first questions is, Are you an Eagle or a Duck? Ducks quack and complain all day. Eagles soar above the crowd. When you wake up in the morning, do you automatically assume that you are going to have a bad day? "Ohhhh, it's monday, this is not going to be good." If you believe you will not have a good day, then you are going to notice every little thing that will confirm that original thought. But if you CHOOSE to have a good day, then the little things that would have irritated you will be less noticeable. Your circumstances won't necessarily change, but your attitude can. You are in control of you attitude. So, again I ask, Are you going to be a duck, quacking and complaining all day, or are you going to Choose to change your attitude and outlook and be an Eagle that soars above the crowd? Change is my second thought for the day. I teach a high school sunday school class and Change was our topic yesterday. We've been studying Joseph. How he went from a favored son, hated by brothers, to sold into slavery. Everything changed for Joseph. He could have given up right then to self pity and been a duck the rest of his life quacking and complaining about how everything went wrong. But Joseph was a man of God. He trusted that God would bring him out of all this trouble. I'm sure he had his moments, he was human after all. Who wouldn't be a tad bit angry, sad & scared? But he chose to be an eagle, and soar above the crowd. He made his way into Potiphar's house, but ended up in prison. Again I'm sure all those feelings came up again. But, he kept his faith and attitude right and God used him again to interpret the dreams of the king. Now he was where God had told him he would be in those dreams so long ago. Do you think Joseph would have been as usable if he had given in to being a duck? Quacking and complaining about everything? Who would have listened to him? Joseph had several major life changes and even though he may not have understood the "why" of them, he soared like an Eagle above the crowd and God used Him in a mighty way. Are you open to change? Are you a duck, but would like to be an eagle? Try it for a day or two. What have you got to lose? Others will notice the difference.

A Poem...The Old Paths

2008-07-10T08:44:00.002-05:00

The Old Paths

I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home & Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!
Crime did not pay; Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave.
Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite.
Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; And children looked decent.

People loved the truth, And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!
Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal;
And crying sounded sincere.
Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful; And God was welcome!
We read the Bible in public;Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible; Singers sang from the heart;
And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!
A new birth meant a new life;Salvation meant a changed life;
Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!
Laws were based on the Bible;Homes read the Bible;And churches taught the Bible.

God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; And the Holy Spirit was respected..
Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's day,
rather than in the garden,on the creek bank, on the golf course,
Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

"The Old Paths" was written by a retired minister who lives In Tennessee.

Happy July 4th

2008-06-26T12:56:00.003-05:00

Yes, I know it's still June, but I, along with others, are planning July 4th picnics, parties and BBQ's. Deciding where to go to watch fireworks, and so on. But I want to pause all the planning for a moment to remember the people that keep us Free to plan these parties. Yes, I'm talking about our Armed Forces. These men and women who willingly serve their country. They serve for a lot of reasons, but the biggest is to keep our country safe. They don't get high $$ paychecks. They do get benefits, but not equal to their tasks. Most put their lives on the line, daily. At any moment they can be called away from their families and friends. So, no matter how you feel about the war, our soldiers deserve our respect, as they are defending our rights and our freedoms. As you go about your holiday planning, say a prayer for our soldiers. Remember, freedom isn't free. Someone has paid a price. I hope you all have a safe and happy JULY 4th!!!

Fireproof - The Movie

2008-06-19T09:20:00.003-05:00

Another movie from Sherwood Baptist Church that produced Flywheel and Facing the Giants. This one features Kirk Cameron. It's due to release to theaters in September. Check out the trailer. It looks good!

Dinner

2008-06-19T08:54:00.004-05:00

As you know, I have 3 sons. One thing I wanted them to learn, was how to cook. That way when they were on their own, if they ate nothing but mac-n-cheese, or ramen noodles, it would be because of choice not necessity. So, last Monday, my youngest son Joseph decided to make dinner. He looked online for some recipes and here's what he came up with.

Balsamic Chicken
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Rice

Balsamic Chicken
1 pkg Chicken Tenderloin (tenders - raw, unbreaded)
garlic salt
1 tbls Olive Oil
4 tbls balsamic vinegar

Heat Olive oil in skillet,add chicken to the pan, sprinkle with garlic salt(lightly)
sear on both sides about 2 minutes each side. Remove chicken from pan, add 2 tbls balsamic vinegar. Return chicken to pan and flip it over to coat chicken on both sides. Vinegar will evaporate quickly, so as needed add the other tbls of vinegar. Cook chicken on each side for five minutes, or until completely cooked. Serve Hot!
Then, while Joseph was working on the chicken, I stir-fried some veggies and made some rice. We served the dinner with 3 chicken strips, a pile of rice with the veggies on top of rice. It was wonderful! Good Job Joseph!!!!

A View From MY Window

2008-06-17T10:05:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures of some birds and squirrels that like to visit my front yard. Probably because I give them food to eat. I enjoy watching the birds fly in and out, and the squirrels running up and down the tree, around the yard and so on... Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Weekend Photos

2008-06-11T12:29:00.005-05:00

Summer is here and we enjoyed a weekend with friends. The kids enjoyed the Swimming!!

Transparency

2008-06-03T09:58:00.002-05:00

To be transparent. This is a picture of a Glasswing Butterfly. It comes from Central America and is found from Mexico to Panama. It is not an easy butterfly to spot because of its wings being clear. A natural camouflage.

Imagine if you would, being completely transparent. Not for the sake of camouflage, but for honesty and truth. Would we want our true heart to shine through? What would we see if we did let out our true heart? Would we show Jesus? Or would it be selfish motives, jealousy, and discontent?

Rivaling the refined beauty of a stained glass window, the translucent wings of the Glasswing butterfly shimmer in the sunlight like polished panes of glass. Are we a refined beauty, that shines Jesus Christ, through our actions? Through the way we live our lives? Are we transparent?

To live a life of transparency, means to open yourself up to scrutiny. People will notice and criticize. They will judge your motives and wait for you to stumble and fall. However, that is what Christ has called us to do. To live a life that reflects God. To see through me to Christ who lives within me. Not an easy task to undertake, but one that we are not alone in doing. We have Christ who gives us strength the fellowship of other believers to keep us motivated and to hold us accountable. Let us all strive to live a life of Transparency.

WEDDING PHOTOS!!!!

2008-05-31T20:07:00.006-05:00

HERE THEY ARE....

Wedding Update

2008-05-28T08:50:00.003-05:00

Sorry there isn't any wedding pictures up yet. I used my digital camera to take some before pics and the battery started flashing. So, I plugged it in thinking the battery would charge by the time I needed it again. Well, it may have, but I never went back to check with all the stuff going on. I used my mom's digital camera and our photographers took plenty of great pictures too. Although she still has her memory card with her, so I can't get any of the pics just yet. The camera is new to her and she's not yet familiar with how to load them on to the computer. Saturday is Joseph's birthday and she will be coming here, so I'll make sure she brings the camera so we can load the pictures and then I'll share them with y'all. Thanks so much for your interest in the kids wedding. It went very well, it was beautiful. There were a couple of minor snags, like our orchestra. The gentleman and his wife that we chose to play was Brian's high school teacher. He grabbed the wrong music that morning. For us, it was not the music that was being played, but the ones who were playing. The kids didn't have any specific song they wanted played, It was just special for them to have his teacher their playing for him. I could tell he was slighty flustered, but it was great and like I said, it was the people, not the songs. Also,the white runner...the cord was too short and would not roll properly. The poor groomsman struggled with it all the way down the aisle. They were embarrassed, but it wasn't that bad. And then the poor preacher. This was his second wedding and you could tell he seemed a bit nervous and he was dealing with a pesky fly that would not leave him alone. It would buzz, buzz, buzz around his head, then land on an ear or near an eye. He tried very hard not to twitch too much, but still try and rid himself of the pest. Ashlynn was Beautiful and Brian was so handsome in his uniform (as usual) and they were very happy. Other things could have happened that would have been worse. You've seen them on the home video shows. Brides or Grooms passing out, veil catchin fire, my cousin reception...we had ceiling tiles falling because rain got in and soak the ceiling. All in all, it was wonderful...pictures to follow soon!

Simply Funny

2008-05-22T10:25:00.005-05:00

This was in an email I received and had to share.

Mom was minding her own business doing the laundry when she heard her kids yelling,

"Mom, come look at the kittens we found!"

Joseph's 8th grade banquet

2008-05-19T10:15:00.006-05:00

Here are some photos taken of Joseph, just before his 8th grade banquet. He's my last one in Jr. High and now this school year is almost over. Their banquet was formal, so everyone dressed their best. Some boys got tuxedos, but Joseph opted for the semi-formal look. They had a dinner catered from Antonio's, music, dancing and some door prizes. It lasted from 6-10, then they went to a friends for an afterparty in the pool. A great way to end the Jr. High years.

Anger

2008-05-13T11:39:00.004-05:00

How many times in the course of a day do you lose your temper? Or say something hurtful to the ones you love? They are an easy target, because you know them well enough that they will probably forgive you. But harsh words still hurt and even though you may have received forgiveness for your loss of temper or angry words, they still leave a mark. Once uttered they cannot be taken back. Let's remember to think before we speak. Here is a story about a bad tempered boy and the wise advice of his father.

NAIL IN THE FENCE

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, and the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when he did not lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy
now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails
were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence
will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Proverbs 29:11 (New International Version)
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Proverbs 12:18 (New International Version)
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The Lighthouse

2008-05-12T10:13:00.004-05:00

This is from my friend Jackie. And I thought it good for all moms to read. May we never be too busy with stuff that we put our children second to “things”. And if we do, hopefully this reminds us what is important. I know it is a good reminder to me! Forget the dishes, go play baseball with the kids or kickball. Much more fun! We have been blessed with the best job there is, yet most challenging-motherhood! I like this line: If you are going to be there: be ALL there-mind, body, and soul. Hope you had a blessed Mothers Day

Moms Standing Guard....by Sharon Jaynes

"She watches over the affairs of her household..." (Proverbs 31:27 NIV).

Friend to Friend

I have always seen a mother as a lighthouse, or beacon in a child's life. Think about it. A beacon is a landmark that her children can always count on. She shines the light of Christ at night and she serves as a landmark by day. She is watching out over the sea of faces to protect her tiny fleet. Like the Proverbs 31 woman she "watches over the ways of her household." She is present. She's available. And she's on guard. The words "watch over" mean "to hedge about as with thorns," much like a mother bird might do to protect her young. These same words are also used in the Bible as a military term, such as to watch over a city. Can't you just see it now: the lighthouse standing tall, not tossed by the surf, guiding her children safely to shore? But this beacon watches out for more than the physical safety of her fleet. She watches out for their spiritual and emotional needs as well.
Her gaze is not a casual glance. She doesn't just give her children a "once
over" before they rush out the door to make sure their hair is combed and their socks match. This mother actively guards, protects, saves, guides, and attends to
those precious to her. When children approach adolescence, they desire Mom to be less visible. However, they want to know the sentinel is still available. Being available for that teen after school is paramount. They need a refuge, a safe harbor after a day of social combat. Who will they turn to? Whoever is available and willing to listen. If it is not you, it will be someone else. And just who that someone could be is a scary thought. Studies show the highest time of sexual activity among teens is between three and five P.M. and it occurs not in the back seat of a car, but in the teens home before the parents get home from work.
Being physically present is not the mother's primary goal. Having the greatest possible impact on her home is. You can be physically present and still not make a positive impact. You can be there, but not be all there. You can become so wrapped up in other pursuits, so focused on relational struggles, so preoccupied with keeping the castle clean and checking items off your "to do" list, so engrossed in television or a good book, that you are oblivious to the chubby fingers tugging on your skirt or the teenager who has become withdrawn and sullen. If you are going to be there - then be all there - mind, body and soul. Being a landmark doesn't end when a child goes off to college. The farther a ship goes out to sea, the more important the landmarks become. One day in the Sunday school class I attend, 150 parents of teenagers sat with an air of foreboding filling the room. Just the day before, many of them had seen their children off. It was the Sunday after many students had made their exodus to that wild, frenzied world of academia,
experimentation, and freedom -- their kids had gone off to College. Grown men were weepy, sharing their battle wounds of dropping their baby girls off at tiny, stark dorm rooms. Moms were unashamedly crying,and many were speechless for the first time in their lives. Nancy and Bill Hall were there that day. Their son, Jordan,a rising sophomore,was visiting our class and witnessed these blubbering parents.In an attempt to encourage everyone, our teacher asked,"Jordan, since you haven't gone back to school yet and already have one year under your belt, can you share some words of wisdom with the class about what you feel your parents did right during your first year of college?" With that, Jordan rose, faced the class,and replied," I would like to take this time to publicly thank my parents for the strong moral upbringing they gave me. I want to thank them for the way they gave me my freedom when I went off to college. But more importantly for the way they let me come back home. They were always available when I needed someone to talk to,and they've left the lines of communication open. They have been great parents and I like to publicly thank them for all they've done." When Jordan sat down, everyone was crying, even those who did not have children leaving for college. He had risen and called his parents blessed. His mother was a beacon. A faithful landmark that kept her light shining, welcoming him home, but directing the way so he could leave and sail out to new horizons. Their childhood goes by so quickly yet we can never turn back the clock as this poem expresses.

My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your clothes.
I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And asked me please to share your fun,

I'd say, "A little later son."
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.

No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play.

No good-night kisses, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands once busy, now are still
The days are long and hard to fill.

I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.

(Author Unknown)

A How To...For Life

2008-05-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

How to live a life with purpose. I received a copy of Rick Warren's interview and thought I would share this with you. You think Oprah, or those who have chosen to follow her lead, might read this? It's worth a shot.

Rick Warren (REMEMBER HE WROTE 'PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE')

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren,
Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be
with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body -- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self- centeredness,'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. (passages in full at end)

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

SCRIPTURES MENTIONED ABOVE...
2 Corinthians 9
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Sowing Generously
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a] 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Psalm 72
Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will [a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.

3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.

4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.

5 He will endure [b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.

6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.

7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]

9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.

11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.

13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.

16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.

17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.

19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

Your Love Language

2008-05-06T10:58:00.002-05:00

The book - The Five Love Languages - has been out for quite a while. I, however, have just started reading it, it's our study this time around in our home bible study group. It's interesting to know that people give up their marriages, most times unknown to them, because their "love language" is not being spoken to them. One man in the book was on his third marriage and things had again fallen apart. He didn't understand why. He was always telling her that she was beautiful, did good at her job, always praising her. Yet she was growing more and more negative. Problem being, he wasn't speaking her love language. Words of affirmation are nice, but if your love language is quality time, then you're missing the mark.
We learned this last week of keeping your "love tank" full. And that of your kids. A question was asked, how many problems with our kids could be averted if their "love tank" was full? Kids need attention and they will seek whatever kind is available. Positive or negative. If we as parents keep their love tank full and give them the positive attention needed, then we can keep the negatives to a minimum.
It's not that hard to figure out a love language. People speak their language to you. If your child always wants your attention, maybe his/her language is time. If they make or give you things, it's probably gifts. If they do for you, it's probably acts of service. We know our own love language, we "speak" it daily even if we don't have a name for it. Watch, pay attention. What is your child or spouse giving or doing for you? That is their language. Speak it back, by giving or doing for them. Fill each others "love tanks" and we can have much happier homes. Relationships with our spouses and our children will be better if we take the time to understand each other.
The five languages of love are:

Acts of Service - doing something for them
Words of Affirmation - Build them up, praise for a job well done
Quality Time - spend time with them, doesn't really matter about what you're doing
Gifts - doesn't have to cost, children like to pick flowers, that counts
Physical Touch - holding hands, hugs, a kiss, sitting close on the couch

What's your Love Language?

Update

2008-04-25T10:35:00.002-05:00

I have been off for just a little while. My poor d-i-l to be fell and cracked her head as she was getting out of the shower. She received four stitches to the back of her head. She had slight bleeding on the brain, but thankfully it stopped rather quickly. She's been having headaches since it happened (which was last saturday)and is to be expected, but they got worse on wednesday. I got her back to the ER and it was due to dehydration. I have her staying with me now, and we have gotten her well hydrated. She is off the major pain killers and only taking the ibuprofen. We are having her wedding shower this saturday and one of my friends told her she had to get better or I was going to have all the fun opening her presents and not her. She said, "I'll get better, I wanna open them!" Please pray for her continued recovery. Thanks and God bless Karen

So Deceived

2008-04-08T10:05:00.002-05:00

Matthew 24:4-14

4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,'and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:23-24

23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

God is NOT jealous OF us, He is jealous when we worship false gods, and not HIM. For HE is the ONE TRUE GOD. There is NO other god. So yes, God is jealous when we worship THINGS instead of worshipping the only one worthy of worship, which is GOD our Heavenly FATHER.

Exodus 20:4-6

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Exodus 34:10-17

10 And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. 11 Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.
17 “You shall make no molded gods for yourselves.

Plain as day -- there is ONLY ONE WAY to heaven and that is through the sacrificial blood of JESUS CHRIST.
John 3:16-20

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

John 10:9-11 (New American Standard Bible)

9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 14:6

6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Track Meet

2008-04-04T10:28:00.010-05:00

Joseph's track meet. I got a couple of pictures of him doing the triple jump and the long jump. Just thought I'd share.

First try at the triple jump...they get 3 all together

Landing on the third jump. Too many people in the way to get a pic of jump 2

On Your mark...ready for long jump

Running for the long jump

In the Air...

The landing!!!

He didn't place in this meet, but he makes good pictures!!!

Picture Meme

2008-04-02T10:39:00.005-05:00

I got this meme from Girlfriends in God blog. It's kinda fun, here's the rules.
1.Go to www.photobucket.com
2.type in the answer to the questions in the search bar.
3.Use the pictures in your blog to answer the questions.

What is your current relationship status? Married

What is your current mood?

Who is your favorite band?

What is your favorite movie?

Where do you live?

Where do you work?

What do you look like?

What do you drive?

What is your favorite tv show?

Describe Yourself

What are you doing today?
Taking Buddy to the Vet

What did you do last night?

What is your name?

Just Because

2008-04-01T10:15:00.005-05:00

My oven has been out on my stove since about September last year. It was so old that it wasn't worth fixing, so we were just going to buy a new one. Well, we started on the journey to find the "perfect" one. I looked at Lowe's, Conn's, Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, and any other store that sold ovens. The stove top worked, so I fixed food that could be put on the stove top, or cooked in the crock pot. Then I also figured that some of my small (very small) pans could fit in my toaster oven. So I did some things in it, not much though. I kept putting off buying an oven because my kids are rarely ever home anymore, and so cooking was in small amounts. I got out of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Mom took care of those. Although I did miss it a little. At Christmas, my grandma gave us $50. We bought a convection toaster oven. A bit bigger. I could fit a bundt pan, loaf pan or 9x9 in it. It was working well for what I was doing. Only problem was when my son Jeremy wanted enchilada casserole or lasagna and it doesn't work well in a 9x9. We had the $ for it several times, but put other things, (more important in my mind) ahead of it. For instance, we had the foundation repaired, fixed the transmission on the truck, bought my son a (used) car as a wedding gift, spent money on their wedding stuff, getting new cabinets for the kitchen - a section at a time. The little oven was doing it's job, and I was okay with that for the time being. Well, two Sundays ago we had our bible study meeting and I baked a blueberry cake in my toaster oven. Not one piece was left over. Unknown to me, my friends started talking and said, "If she can do that in a toaster oven, what could she do with a "real" oven?" They conspired against (for) me. One friend sent me an email saying she was thinking of replacing her appliances with stainless and knew I had done some research on ovens and what did I find that I liked. Fully plausible in my mind, so I emailed her back with the two I liked best, but mine were in black, not stainless. So, on Friday, off I go to our ladies retreat in Giddings, Texas. My friends had been unable to go because of opening baseball weekend for their kids. On Saturday, my friend calls me at the retreat needing my husbands cell #, her husband wanted to get in touch with him. Again, fully plausible, no need to think anything was up. He called my husband and said they were bringing something over for me and would he be home? yes he would, so they came.
I came home on Sunday about 5, just exhausted from the weekend. It was good, but you come home tired. I walk in and set some stuff down, walked in the kitchen and threw some things away and back and forth I went. Then I noticed everyone kept looking at me with this weird look. My husband finally said, that our friends had brought me a gift. He turned me toward the new oven, the one I had sent in the email, that I had walked past 3 times, and not noticed. Of course, I cried! I was so overwhelmed by their generosity. Just because, was the answer on the reason why. Just Because they love me. So, this Sunday at bible study, I told them I was cooking dinner for everyone. Thank you my Friends. God Bless you!

Retreat

2008-04-01T09:01:00.003-05:00

I just spent a relaxing, but emotional weekend at our churches ladies retreat. Our topic for the weekend was "Freedom in Christ". It was amazingly simple as one speaker put it. The church (in general) has added to it, but Christ said "Follow Me". So, first we follow...second, after we've seen His work, we Believe, then last, we obey. That's it! Simple. But for some reason, we get stuck on the "obey" part. That's where things get messed up. We heard about some getting "freedom" from their addictions, once they let God have them. We heard about "financial freedom" by "giving" in the right order. God first, savings for you future is second, bills third, and then you get the balance. We get that part messed up by trying to move ourselves up to the #1 slot. Our last speaker spoke on "letting go, and letting God". No matter your problem, if you don't let it go for God to handle, then it'll won't get better. We can't fix it, not without God's help. We talked about anger and forgivness. And how forgivness is freedom. If you can't forgive, then you are the one being hurt. It turns you into a bitter, angry, sad, or lonely person. The unforgiveness usually only hurts you, in most cases the one you aren't forgiving, doesn't even know they need or want your forgivness.
So, all that to say, live a life of true "Freedom", unshackle yourself from the bonds that hold you. Whether it be addiction, money, unforgivness, or something else. You can find your Freedom in Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New International Version)

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.

To Ashlynn and Her Dad....

2008-03-01T12:00:00.002-06:00

This is dedicated to our "soon-to-be" daughter-in-law and her dad. We love her so much, she's already an important part of our family.

Captivating

2008-02-28T13:00:00.002-06:00

Instead of making the trek into Houston on Tuesdays to listen to Beth Moore, I've been attending an at home Bible study. The title of the book is Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. It has been wonderful, informative, eye opening and heart wrenching every week. I have learned that every little girl and boy comes into this world with a question on their hearts. A girls question is this...Am I captivating, do you notice me, do you see me? How many little girls play "dress up" and want to know if they are pretty? Or "look at me dancing". A boys question is more like this....Am I enough, am I a hero, am I the real deal, a man? How many little boys want to be "superman" or the star athlete...the hero, the one who saves the day. These questions are answered early in our childhood, even when the question hasn't been verbally asked. It is generally not answered in a positive way. Little girls can be physically abused and the answer to their question is ugliness. Or by a parent saying they weren't wanted, so they are always looking for someone to want or notice them. Then we have major hurdles to overcome. We (men and women) take our questions to the opposite sex to have them answer, and the truth of it is...they can't do it. The question can only be answered completely by God. What we can do for our partner (my husband) is to allow him to be the "hero". Even if it is something as simple as allowing him to help me with something, even when I can do it myself. Allow your husband to BE a man, play to his strength, bring it out in him by being a woman. Not pretending to be weak, don't insult him, but let him know he's needed and wanted. To be honest, I like when my man is the hero for me. A year ago I got a flat tire on the highway. Thank God for cell phones! I called my husband and I felt relieved when I saw him driving up to "rescue" me. I was the princess in the tower and he was the prince riding up on the white horse. It was actually a white work truck, but you get the point. That was a good day for us both. I would recommend reading the book captivating. There is a study to go along with it, but if you can't do the study the book is enough. For your man (if he'll read a book) get him Wild At Heart by John Eldredge. It's the guys version. It could save marriages which are at an all time high for divorce. God bless you and your marriage or if you're single your relationships.

Funny Cats

2008-02-19T16:38:00.001-06:00

This just made my day and thought I would share...enjoy

Be Warned...Matthew 24

2008-02-05T09:14:00.000-06:00

I received this email and felt it needed to be shared by more than just a forward. I have copied the content of the email here. Please be warned by what you read. It's a sign of our times and what Jesus warned us about in Matthew about false teachers. I know this is a fairly long read, but informative on this matter. Start here with scripture, the truth, and then read on...
Matthew 24:4-8
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ

By Warren Smith

November 2007

See also Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel

Oprah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, "Oprah & Friends" will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles.

1 A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook." For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that "God is in everything I see."2 Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation "I am the light of the world."3 Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe "My salvation comes from me."4

By the end of the year, "Oprah & Friends" listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the Course in Miracles Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is "in" everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life. The Course Workbook bluntly states: "This is a course in mind training"5 and is dedicated to "thought reversal."6

Teaching A Course in Miracles will be Oprah's longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson who also happens to be one of today's premier New Age leaders. She and Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance in 1997, that later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders, that changed its name again in 2005 to the Peace Alliance. This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that they are now referring to as a "civil rights movement for the soul."7 They all agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly articulated in A Course in Miracles which is fast becoming the New Age Bible. So what is A Course in Miracles and what does it teach?

A Course in Miracles is allegedly "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus" who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman.

One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes."8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as "Jesus." A Course in Miracles was quietly published in 1975 by the Foundation for Inner Peace. For many years "the Course" was an underground cult classic for New Age seekers who studied "the Course" individually, with friends, or in small study groups.

As a former New Age follower and devoted student of A Course in Miracles, I eventually discovered that the Course in Miracles was in reality the truth of the Bible turned upside down. Not having a true understanding of the Bible at the time of my involvement, I was led to believe that A Course in Miracles was "a gift from God" to help everyone understand the "real" meaning of the Bible and to help bring peace to the world. Little did I know that the New Age "Christ" and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles were everything the real Jesus Christ warned us to watch out for. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned about false teachers, false teachings and the false "Christs" who would pretend to be Him.

When I left the New Age "Christ" to follow the Bible's Jesus Christ, I had come to understand that the "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles was a false "Christ," and that his Course in Miracles was dangerously deceptive. Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles:

"There is no sin. . . " 9 [See note]
A "slain Christ has no meaning."10
"The journey to the cross should be the last 'useless journey."11
"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"12
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."13
"God is in everything I see."14
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."15
"The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power."16
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."17 Most Christians recognize that these teachings are the opposite of what the Bible teaches. In the Bible, Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross of Calvary was hardly a "useless journey." His triumph on the cross provides salvation to all those who confess their sin, accept Him and follow Him as their Lord and Saviour. His victory on the cross rings throughout the New Testament. It has been gloriously sung about in beloved hymns through the ages and is at the heart of our Christian testimony.

I found the Jesus of the Bible to be wholly believable as He taught God's truth and warned about the spiritual deception that would come in His name. The "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles reveals himself to be an imposter when he blasphemes the true Jesus Christ by saying that a "slain Christ has no meaning" and that we are all "God" and that we are all "Christ." It was by reading the Bible's true teachings of Jesus Christ that I came to understand how deceived I had been by A Course in Miracles and my other New Age teachings.

I was introduced to A Course in Miracles by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky's book Love is Letting Go of Fear. Jampolsky declared in his easy-to-read book how the teachings of A Course in Miracles had changed his life. As an ambassador for A Course in Miracles over the years, Jampolsky has been featured not only in New Age circles but at least twice on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. While Schuller introduced Jampolsky and his "fabulous"18 Course in Miracles-based books to his worldwide television audience, it was Marianne Williamson's appearance on a 1992 Oprah Winfrey Show that really shook the rafters.

On that program, Oprah enthusiastically endorsed Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Ironically, all of this was happening after I had left the Course and the New Age. In fact, I was doing the final editing on my book The Light That Was Dark that warned about the dangers of the New Age and in particular A Course in Miracles.

After being introduced to the world on Oprah, Marianne Williamson has continued to grow in popularity and, as previously mentioned, has become one of today's foremost New Age leaders. Williamson credits Winfrey for bringing her book about A Course in Miracles before the world: "For that, my deepest thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Her enthusiasm and generosity have given the book, and me, an audience we would never otherwise have had."19 In her 2004 book, The Gift of Change, Williamson wrote:
"Twenty years ago, I saw the guidance of the Course as key to changing one's personal life; today, I see its guidance as key to changing the world. More than anything else, I see how deeply the two are connected."20
Thus the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles are about to be taught by Marianne Williamson to millions of listeners on Oprah's XM Satellite Radio program. Listeners are encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course. An audio version of A Course in Miracles recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas is also available on compact disc.
Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.21 Williamson's New Age colleague, Neale Donald Walsch, said his "God" stated that "the era of the Single Saviour is over"22 and that he ("God") was responsible for authoring the teachings of A Course in Miracles.23
Meanwhile, Gerald Jampolsky's Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.24

At this critical time in the history of the world, the New Gospel/New Spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its New Age teachings and its New Age Peace Plan. But this New Age Peace Plan has at its deceptive core the bottom-line teaching from A Course in Miracles that "we are all one" because God is "in" everyone and everything. But the Bible is clear that we are not God (Ezekiel 28:1-2; Hosea 11:9).
Ezekiel 28
A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.

Hosea 11:9
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man— the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. [c]

And per Galatians 3:26-28, our only oneness is in Jesus Christ not in ourselves as "God" and "Christ."
Galatians 3:26-28
Sons of God
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

What Oprah and Marianne Williamson and the world will learn one day is that humanity's only real and lasting peace is with the true Jesus Christ who is described and quoted in the Holy Bible (Romans 5:1).
Romans 5
Peace and Joy
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Oprah Winfrey's misplaced faith in Marianne Williamson and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles is a sure sign of the times. But an even surer sign of the times is that most Christians are not taking heed to what is happening in the world and in the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 1).
Jude 1:3-4
The sin and doom of Godless men
3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
It is time for all of our Purpose-Driven and Emerging church pastors to address the real issue of the day. Our true Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care. If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to also warn them about who He is not. There is a false New Age "Christ" making huge inroads into the world and into the church. The Apostle Paul said that "it is a shame" we have to even talk about these things, but talk about them we must (Ephesians 5:11-17).
Ephesians 5:11-17
11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you." 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

If people want to follow Oprah Winfrey and the New Age "Christ" of A Course in Miracles they certainly have that right. But let them be warned that the New Age "Christ" they are following is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly and authoritatively presented in the pages of the Bible.
Warren Smith is a former New Age follower who at one time was deeply involved in the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. He is the author of these insightful books:

Deceived on Purpose: http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/01743purpose.htm

The Light that was Dark: http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/01743light.htm
Reinventing Jesus Christ (2nd edition which is posted online): http://www.reinventingjesuschrist.com

Note: Philip Pullman's trilogy (starting with The Golden Compass) illustrates this occult context. It calls for the destruction of Biblical authority, which defines sin and thus generates guilt. To reverse the consequence of "the fall" in Genesis 3, the 12-year-old heroine Lyra must become Eve, be tempted, choose immorality, and free humanity from God's moral law and boundaries. See The upside-down world of Pullman's "Golden Compass"
Endnotes:
1. http://marianne.com/book/index/htm
2. A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume (Glen Ellen, California: Foundation for Inner Peace, 1975), (Workbook), p. 45.
3. Ibid., p. 102.
4. Ibid., p. 119.
5. Ibid., (Text), p. 16.
6. Ibid., (Preface), p. ix.
7. Neale Donald Walsch, Tomorrow's God: Our Greatest Spiritual Challenge (New York: Atria Books, Simon & Schuster, 2004), pp. 262-263.
8. Robert Skutch, Journey Without Distance: The Story behind "A Course in Miracles" (Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts, 1984), p. 54.
9. A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume, (Workbook), p. 183.
10. Ibid., (Text), p. 425.
11. Ibid., p. 52.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid., (Teachers Manual), p. 58.
14. Ibid., (Workbook), p. 45.
15. Ibid., (Text), p. 147.
16. Ibid., p. 125.
17. Ibid., p. 237.
18. http://www.hourofpower.org/interviews/interviews_detail.cfm?ArticleID=3079
19. Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles A Course in Miracles (New York: Harper Perennial, 1996), p. ix.
20. Marianne Williamson, The Gift Of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004), p. 5.
21. Wayne Dyer, "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem," Public Broadcasting System broadcast in 2001.
22. Neale Donald Walsch, The New Revelations: A Conversation with God (New York: Atria Books, 2002), p. 157.
23. Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God: an uncommon dialogue, Book 1 (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996), p. 90.
24. http://www.rethinkconference.com (See also WorldNetDaily.com 10/30/07 "What is Robert Schuller 'rethinking'?" by Joseph Farah and "Rethinking Robert Schuller" by Warren Smith. See also Herescope: "Rethinking Culture" and "Rethinking and Reinventing" (10/30/07)

Warren Smith's insightful books:
Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church
The Light That Was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace Reinventing Jesus Christ

Oh No!!!

2008-01-29T12:25:00.001-06:00

Well, I couldn't believe it when it happened, but my Mustang Convertible got hit by a pickup truck last week. My car was parked at a new home subdivision. I was checking out the model homes. The realtor and I had just walked into the model home, when she said, "oh, he just hit your car!" My heart sunk. I walked out and the builder had been in a hurry and said he wasn't used to cars being there and just didn't look. He hit at the edge of the driver door and the quarter panel. Thank God I was not in the car at the time. The driver of the truck however, didn't have insurance. So, I had to turn it into my insurance. It's now at the body shop and they told me yesterday that it would be done by February 11th. So, now I'm in a rental (which is nice, by the way) until then. It's a 2008 Grand Prix with all the bells and whistles. So, there's more than one silver lining to this story. One...I have insurance and that's why we have it. Two...I've been given a nice car to drive while mine is being fixed. Three...No one was hurt!(that's actually #1) Four...After the accident and I talked to him, He was amazed that I wasn't yelling, screaming or showing any kind of anger. I feel that maybe my reaction was a witness to him in some way. Bible says God can use anything. How about a situation that could have been volatile? After he hit my car, he was very apologetic and sorry. If I had yelled, screamed, or been angry, all that would have done is made him feel worse than he visibly already did. And what would that have accomplished? I'm not saying that I didn't want to cry over my poor car, but I tried to keep a cool head. Well, that's my story for now.

HAPPY 20 YEARS TODAY

2008-01-23T09:02:00.000-06:00

Today marks a very special day for me and my husband. We have been married 20 years!! I have been anxiously awaiting this day since new years. It feels like Christmas to me. Brian and I met in an unusual way. I lived in a suburb outside Chicago and Brian grew up in a farm town in Pennsylvania. My older brother John went in to the Army in July of 1985, and was to do his basic training in Ft. Dix, New Jersey. Brian also enlisted and was sent to Ft. Dix at the same time. They met during basic and teamed up together to help each other make it through basic training. Since Brian grew up on a farm, summer vacations were spent working the farm. He became very homesick, and was not receiving any mail from home. He was thinking of leaving, but my brother asked my dad and I to send him some mail. He needed some encouragement. So, that began our relationship. We started writing letters in August of 1985 and continued on through his AIT in Maryland and his overseas assignment in Germany. Then he said he was coming home on leave for 30 days. I had never even spoken to him on the phone, but as soon as I knew he was coming home, I arranged for 30 days off from work. I flew to Pittsburgh airport to spend two weeks with him at his family's home. Our planes came in the same day, but mine was first. I met his entire family before I "met" him. His plane came in a couple of hours later. It was like a movie...the second I saw his face..for real..not a picture..I was hooked. After only 3 days of being together he asked me to marry him. Obviously, my answer was yes! At the end of the two weeks, we both flew to Chicago to spend another two weeks with my family. We bought my engagement ring and he picked out what he wanted in a wedding ring..and that started the wedding planning. Now all we needed was a date. He had 6 months left in Germany, but didn't know his exact leave date. As soon as we knew, we scheduled the wedding for two weeks after he came home. January 23, 1988. The rest now is our history. I have been blessed with an awesome husband. Sure there have been a few rocks in the road, but we're the better for them now and they have made us stronger. We have been blessed with 3 remarkable sons as well. Our oldest son is now engaged to a precious girl Ashlynn. I pray for them to have as wonderful a marriage as we have. Not that it's all sunshine and roses, for anyone who lives in the real world knows that it's not. But, to have a partner that you can lean on or to be the post for when things don't go as planned. For when the world comes crashing down. But then also to have the partner that is their to rejoice with you when all is right.

Set Me Free

2008-01-03T11:35:00.001-06:00

John 8:31-36 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Truth Shall Make You Free

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T10:32:00.000-06:00

This new year started out a little differently than in years past. No party to go to and didn't stay at home. (At least I didn't) My son Brian had to go back to base. So, Brian, Ashlynn, Joseph and I piled(literally)in my car(Mustang) and headed for San Angelo. We left on Monday Dec.31st. We arrived around 9pm got checked into our motel on base. Boy was is COLD there. We get to the room and the magnetic card key doesn't work. Oh, how I miss real keys!!! We had to drive back over to the main registration for the motels and get the "key" to work. He apologized and asked if we would like a room with a "real" key, they were having troubles with the new magnetic system that they had. I, of course, said yes. Well, in doing so they upgraded our room. Instead of a room, we had a suite. It was a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath. Very nice, too bad it was only one night. We stayed up till midnight, said Happy New Year!! Called my Husband, Jeremy called me and we wished each other Happy New Year! We took Brian to his room, told him goodnight and we all went to bed. We got up slow, picked up Brian, ate breakfast in town at IHOP. WOW!! was it crowded! After we ate we took Brian back to base, said our goodbyes and started the 7 hour journey back home. We arrived back home at 7:45pm. It was a fun trip, but would have liked to stay longer.
The Happiest of New Years to all of you! I will be praying for all of you to be in God's Will as well and to be open to hear from Him. Love to All Karen

BOOK MEME

2007-12-31T08:55:00.000-06:00

I didn't become an avid reader until my mid twenties. I first got started on Danielle Steele novels. They always seemed to have a happy ending. But, I furthered my interests and here's what we've got:

1. One Book That Changed My Life: I don't know if it changed my life so much as it changed the way I think. They are fictional books, but it's one mans way of seeing spiritual warfare. That author is Frank Peretti and his books "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness". They give you a visual of how this (invisible to us) spiritual battle is going on around us. I had to really take my time and read these books, that are not speed reading material.

2. One Book That You Have Read More Than Once: I read a Purpose Filled Life by Rick Warren twice. Both times it was a church wide Bible study. It is a good book though. The Black Opal, I don't remember the authors name. Again, Fictional reading and this was a romance, but not the smut filled, clean romance novel set in late 1800's or early 1900's, I dont really remember,(you'd think I would remember given I read it twice) but it started in America and then later moved to Australia.

3. One Book That You Would Want With You On A Deserted Island: I think I would need a "how to" book. Especially if I was alone and not deserted with my husband. I would need a book entitled "HOW TO MAKE A FIRE, BUILD A SHELTER, FIND FOOD, BUILD A BOAT TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND"

4. One Book That Made You Laugh: Most Childrens stories. I was a Preschool Teacher for awhile and a lot of the childrens books will even make adults laugh.

5. One Book That Made You Cry: The Diary of Anne Frank

6. One Book That You Wish Had Been Written: I like Annie's Answer with God's Phone Number. That was good, but you've already got it sister. It's Jeremiah 33:3 Look it up and tell me I'm not right. How about a parents manual. You get an instruction book with everything except for your kids. I know there are a lot of books out there about raising kids, but each child is so different. I have 3 sons and it's been different with each of them. They each needed something different from us.

7. One Book That You Wish Had Not Been Written: I don't like books directed at children that send them messages that it is okay to not believe in God, or that two mommies or two daddies is normal. I'm not a fan of anything Michael Moore either.

8. One Book You Are Currently Reading: Beth Moore: Get Out Of That Pit Frank Peretti: Monster. Sorry, reading more than one book at a time

9. One Book That you've been meaning to Read: That last book in the Left Behind Series. I devoured the first books, but got behind and just haven't picked it up yet. Maybe this will be the year.

10. Now tag 5 people...well, I've recently started this blog and don't know many people who do this so... I'll have to skip this part. Feel free to leave books on the comment page for anyone who might read this.

The Best Present Ever....

2007-12-27T11:44:00.000-06:00

Christmas was a joy with our family this year. My dad, a long distance truck driver was able to be home. My grandmother from Indiana flew down to Texas for her first visit, and I went out to San Angelo & brought Brian Jr. home for the holiday. That was a trip in itself. If you read the last blog you know it was a turn around trip. We got to San Angelo around 8pm and left again around 9pm. We made it to my mom's south of Livingston around 5am. Oh were we ever tired. We slept about 4 hours, got up again, so that Brian could visit with his Great-Grandma. We stayed until 1, then went home where we thought we were going to get some more sleep. WRONG! Jeremy wanted me to take him to the bank and to the mall. He said Josh was bringing his check and would be there about 3:30. It was then 2:30 and I didn't think one hour would be enough so I waited for Josh to show up. He didn't get there till 5:30.:( I took Jeremy over to the bank and mall, then had to get ready for my husbands work Christmas Party. It was at 7:30. Needless to say, I was more of a zombie than anything else. I ate some, but didn't socialize like I normally would have. I fell into bed, FINALLY, around 10pm. The rest of the weekend was active, but not too bad. I had to work for half day on Christmas Eve. I had been trying to find a puppy for Joseph for Christmas. Since he had lost his lab two weeks ago. I ran into a friend at the mall and she new someone that had one little puppy left. So after work on Christmas Eve, I went and picked him up. Then we had to sneak little puppy in the car all the way to Grandma's house hoping he would make a sound and if he did, Joseph wouldn't hear it. He was a good Christmas Present and stayed quiet the entire trip to Grandma's. We snuck him into Grandma's room where he stayed until the next morning. It was hard staying out of that room too!! He's so cute you can't help but play with him. After all presents were opened, I told Joseph I forgot one of his presents in the bedroom and I didn't wrap it. He was wearing a Santa hat so I asked to borrow it to hide the present in it. I came out with puppy in hat. Joseph looked and instantly had tears in his eyes. (and so did mom and gram and great gram) He didn't hardly put him down the rest of the day. He named him Buddy. Here is a picture of Buddy as we came home from Gram's house. He is a mix of Chihuahua, Beagle and weenie dog.

And so it begins....

2007-12-20T10:03:00.000-06:00

Last night (Wednesday 12/19) My mom and I drove to Hobby Airport to pick up my Grandmother. She was flying in from Indiana. It was her first flight. They left the Louisville airport on time, then went to Birmingham where they were delayed about 40 minutes. Then on in to Houston. This is also her first trip to Texas. After she arrived we made our way through baggage and on the way home. (my house) When we got there, there were several hugs and hellos to be had. Nanny had not seen my boys in awhile. They have grown a lot since then. We ate some pizza, showed her around my house and then off she and my mom went to mom's house. They didn't get home till eleven or so. And now it's my turn to be the traveller. I'm leaving this afternoon to go get Brian from San Angelo. He told me that since he's not the driver, he can leave after classes today. Anyone who is driving their own vehicle, has to wait until 6am Friday. So, 7 hours out there to get him and turn around and drive 7 hours right back. I'm tired just thinking of it, but I'm pretty excited to see him and to have him home for Christmas. And so the journey begins....I'll try to post again before Christmas, but if not Merry Christmas to all who reads this. Here is one of my favorite Christmas cartoons. Enjoy

It's Christmas!!!

2007-12-18T12:32:00.000-06:00

Here it is, December 18th !!! 6 more days till Christmas!!! I remember being really excited as a child and not being to go to sleep. The excitement is a little different now. Instead of waiting for "Santa" and what I would get in the morning...Now I'm excited about my son coming home, my Grandmother coming down from Indiana, and what I'm giving to the ones I love. To see their faces when they open the gifts. I'm also excited about having a "daughter" for this Christmas. (Brian & Ashlynn are getting engaged!!!) I had so much fun shopping for a girl! I hope she likes what I got for her. I've been trying to pay attention when we've gone shopping. Making mental notes of what she says she likes, wants or needs.
On a sad note, Joseph lost his dog this past Saturday(15th). We were out at my parents house, in the country. All the dogs have the run of the property. Her house is down a dirt road. There are only 7 houses on this long road. Someone drove past and hit Gracie. They didn't even stop to let us know. My dad saw her lying down and the other dogs around her. He told Joseph and they went out to see if it was Gracie, and it was. She was scratched up quite a bit, and she couldn't walk. I didn't think there was anything we could do for her, but Joseph was quite upset and begged us to take her to the vet to check her out. My husband, dad and Joseph went to the vet. They took x-rays and determined that her back legs were both out of the sockets. There was a possible surgery, but no guarantees it would work. Then, if it did work, it would be months of rehab afterwards. The vet recommended that the best for all would be to put her down. Joseph went back in the room with Grace, loved on her for awhile and said his goodbyes to her. It was precious and awful all at the same time. Joseph didn't want to leave her there, so my dad said we'd bring her home to bury her on the property, so he would know where she was. He has asked if he could get another dog. So we've been looking for a small, female puppy. We may have found one. A man here said he had a chihuahua mix at his deer lease, and if one was a female he'd bring it down on Friday. I will take her to my mom's house and she will keep her till Christmas. I really hope he would like a small dog. Gracie was a yellow lab mix. We just really don't want another large dog in the house.
As for now until Christmas....like all of you, I'm going to be really busy. I've got to finish house cleaning, Grandma comes in on Wednesday evening:) Mom and I will be getting her at the airport. Then on Thursday afternoon, Ashlynn and I leave to get Brian Jr. and bring him home. We will get home on Friday afternoon. Saturday I've got baking to do, Sunday we have church and a Christmas party in the evening. Christmas Eve, I'll work half a day and then head to mom and dad's house. Busy Busy...but fun and so looking forward to it.
I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!! Enjoy the day and the family and Remember that if not for Jesus it would just be a day on the calendar!

Battles

2007-12-07T11:53:00.000-06:00

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."-e e cummingsUS poet (1894 - 1962)

I got this quote from another blog. After recently completing the Daniel Study it seems quite accurate. Here we (christians) are living in "Babylon" and trying not to be of the world. But it's literally surrounding us and bombarding us daily with all its temptations. So what indulgences are off limits? Daniel chose not to eat at the kings banquet table. It was not only the food that was off limits to him, but the idea of eating off the kings table was to accept him and his ways. We don't have food that if off limits to us, but we can eat too much of a good thing. And often do. And it is too easy to just go get what you're wanting. And all the commercials and advertisers play to the sense that "you deserve it". And it's not just food, but stuff. You can never have enough. And if you can't afford something, then it's perfectly acceptable to charge it and pay it off later. But then you fall into debt. The more you do this, the more debt you acquire and the things don't satisfy for long. The bible says this Proverbs 22: 7b ...And the borrower is servant to the lender. As Christmas is approaching, a lot of people go into some major credit card debt to be able to "afford" Christmas. I have fallen into this pit before, but now, we have no credit cards. We set up a budget for Christmas and that's it. Banks have Christmas club accounts that you can start and be able to pay cash for your presents. Then you're not paying interest to someone else for your purchases. There are more trappings that we can fall into other than food and debt...and you know what trappings might be snaring you. I would just like you to keep this in mind...

It's a battle thats never over, a battle we will always fight, and a battle we will lose if we take our eyes off Jesus for one second.

Our Soldiers

2007-12-06T09:54:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know, that may not know, you can help our troops with morale by sending them letters, cards, and care packages. There are many sites, but the one I chose was http://www.anysoldier.com/ . You can select up to two soldiers per day to receive their address and a lists of needs (most are small) and how many soldiers are in his command. I selected two names. One has 4 men under him and the other has 8. You can choose which branch of the military to send to and select men or women. Mostly they need letters from "home". While on the anysoldier website, I started looking at some of the other soldiers. One of them (and probably more) has his own blog to keep us updated as to some of the things they are able to do. It's very inspiring and humbling. His blog address is http://shazdoc.blogspot.com/ I highly recommend you checking this out. It's amazing! Also, there has been an email going out and most of you probably have gotten it. It is the address to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. To send those recovering a card. I have participated twice now with this. Once with my office, then again with my family. The address is: A Recovering American Soldier
C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
Since my son is now in service, and most every male relative I have has served or is serving in the military, I know how important it is to these service men and women to know that they are supported, cared for and remembered. Just a thought for today... Think about what you would want if you were the one in their shoes. God Bless You Karen

Catch up

2007-12-04T11:44:00.000-06:00

Wow! I couldn't hardly believe that it's been almost a month since I posted something. We have been busy. After Brian's graduation we got ready for Thanksgiving. We drove to Lawton, OK. It's about 7 hours from here. It was such a wonderful weekend. They made some good food. John deep fried two turkeys.
I have two brothers. One older, one younger. I have not been close to either of them for some time. Brian and I moved to Texas 10 1/2 years ago from the Chicago area. My younger brother, Bob, still lives there with his family. John moved back to the Chicago area at the same time we moved away. The distance seemed to affect the relationships. The phone calls became less frequent, however unintentional it may have been. John, then rejoined the Army. He is now stationed at Ft Sill in OK. The time spent with my brother John and his wife Lori was good. John married Lori after we moved to Texas, so we've never had a really good chance to know each other. Lori and I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time. We did a lot of talking and shopping and just had a fun girl day. I got most of my Christmas shopping done that day. It was such a blessing for me to spend that time with her. The day we left, it started to snow. It was fun to see it again, just glad I don't have to live in it any more. We stopped for the night at my Mom's house in Shepherd, TX. (just south of Livingston) As soon as we got there, I brushed my hair, put on some make-up and went with her to a Christmas ornament exchange with the ladies of her church. That was fun. Some of those ladies are just too much!! We drew numbers and then picked a gift or stole someone else's gift. There were about 30 ladies there. It went on for some time, but oh what fun it was! We spent the night with my parents and on Sunday helped my Mom deck her halls. We put up the tree and decorated it. Since I had helped her, she said she would come to my house and help me with my tree. She came down on Wednesday and we got my tree up and decorated. I think this will be a new tradition with us. It was fun decorating our trees together. We ended the evening with some Mexican food for dinner.
In other news... My oldest son, Brian has proposed to his girlfriend Ashlynn. They plan to be married on May 24, 2008. I am happy for them. They make a good pair. I have from now until then to wrap my brain around the idea of being a "mother-in-law". You never hear good things about a "mother-in-law". I hope to change this with Ashlynn. We have a good friendship so far.
We have joined a new small group at our church. Small group is another name for Bible Study. We do weekly at home bible studies in place of most Sunday school classes. We have gotten into one that really seems to fit us. In previous groups, my husband is usually only one of a couple of men that attend. And he really needed one with more men. Each member of the group has something we can relate with. One mom is starting to home school her boys...been there. Another couple is having real trouble with their son...OH have I been there!! Another has a sibling that will be having a valve replacement on their heart... My niece Ashley has gone through this several times. And yet one more couple has a teenager that has moved in with them and relating with her and her parent...again we've had some teenage boys stay with us when they were having troubles with their parents... Is God all over this or what?!! It has been a blessing to us to get to know these families and to be apart of everything that is going on..good and bad..and to see God work in all situations.
God Bless You
Karen

Graduation

2007-11-07T12:27:00.000-06:00

It's been more than a week since I've posted, but I've been enjoying visiting my son for a long weekend in San Antonio. He graduated from Lackland AFB Basic Training on Nov. 2ND. Ashlynn (girlfriend) and I drove out on Halloween night. We got to the motel around 8pm. The morning started at 5:15 am. We got ready and were on base at 7:15 for a family briefing at 7:30. At 9:00 we went outside for the Airman's run. It was a 1.5 mile run that went past the families. We then had time to kill until 1pm when the coin ceremony was to begin. The coin ceremony is where they give the airman a coin that signifies the change from trainee to airman. We had perfect seats in the bleachers. He was directly in front of us. After the ceremony we spent the rest of the day together. We had lunch, went bowling, had supper and just hung out together. Friday morning brought the graduation. 9am we were in the bleachers at the parade field. They were in their dress blues. The marching past the bleachers of people and officers signified their graduation as well as taking their final oath. It was impressive. Friday we were able to go off base. Brian had been so tired from the 6 1/2 weeks we went to the motel and just let him rest, watch TV and talk about his experiences. Saturday we had the entire day from 9-7:30. He's been very hungry, so he asked to go to a buffet. We found a Golden Corral off 410. He ate until he was tired of putting food in his mouth. I don't know where he put it all!!! My husband, Brian, and Sons Jeremy & Joseph came Saturday morning. We visited for awhile, then went to the Alamo and Riverwalk. On Sunday we went to church with him. It was a little different, but we enjoyed it. After church we had to hit the buffet one more time. Later we walked around the Parade field and looked at all the old air planes from times gone by. Joseph really wanted to go bowling, so we did that again too and had a lot of fun. It was really a great family time. It was hard to say goodbye on Sunday evening. We had to say goodbye around 6pm. Then drove home. He left for Goodfellow AFB the next morning at 3:45 am. (yuck) I got a call from him this morning and he loves the routine of the new base. He's says it's so much different than that of basic training. Now just counting down the days until he can come home for Christmas!!! :)

What A Weekend

2007-10-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

What a weekend I had!! It was wonderful. I spent saturday with my mom shopping and having a good time at DeerBrook Mall. I was looking for an outfit for my son Brian's Air Force Graduation. Found some good deals at JCPenney. Then went looking for shoes. Payless really didn't have what I was looking for, so on we went. We left the mall and decided it was lunch time. We went over to Red Lobster, mmmmm, the Talapia was excellent, and the lunch portion was just the right amount. After lunch we hit Home Depot and found some beautiful mums. I got 2 yellow, red and orange mums and some Pansies. Now back to the shoe hunt. Oh, but wait, lets run in Wal-mart real quick. We looked at a couple of things and then left. Only bought 2 25cent sodas on the way out. Now over to Kohl's for the shoes. They had several pairs, and most on sale. Got a real cute brown pair, and comfortable too. By then it was close to 6pm, time to end the day.

Sunday I got up and went to church. We were having something different. We have been doing a study on Faith In Action. So to finish up on this study on Sunday, we did service projects in place of regular sunday services. Our group picked up trash, trimmed trees and bushes, mowed and weed eated along one of the city feeder roads. We worked for about 3 hours and picked up loads of trash. It is unbelieveable what people will toss out onto the road. After 3 hours of bending and picking up trash, I was starting to feel it in my legs and back. However, I bought the pretty flowers the day before and they needed to get in the ground. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get to it before wednesday. (We leave for San Antonio for Graduation) So, now I'm already a little sore, so why not make it worse. It wasn't a simple task of just putting some mums in the ground. The flower beds had leaves and pine needles covering them. So get the rake, rake 'em out, pull the little weeds that popped up, then plant the flowers. By the time I was finished (4:30) I was sore everywhere!!! I went and soaked in a hot tub with some lavender bubble bath. ( Best part of the day) Today I can tell you that I'm not moving very quickly. I guess that means I'd better do more exercising so as not to be so sore when doing yard work. Or at least to not do an entire day of yard work. But the bright side is I have some pretty color in the front yard and it was a gorgeous day to be outside. I did enjoy it, even if my muscles are screaming now!!!! Thankfully, with my job, I get to sit at a desk :)

Hope all you had a wonderful Fall weekend too.........
Karen

Grateful

2007-10-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Grateful may sound like an odd title for this post, but it actually fits. Last friday, while no one was home, our house was robbed. "They" broke in from behind the garage, used a screwdriver to wedge open the inside door. Then proceeded to take things from the house that could be easily pawned. They only took about $1000 worth of stuff. Things that can be replaced. We filed a police report, just in case anything were to turn up. I suspended service to my sons' cell phone. Brian had the insurance coverage, so for the $50 deductible, it will be replaced. And, since we reported it stolen, if anyone tries to get new service on it, it will be confiscated. Needless to say, every door is now double checked to make sure all deadbolts are locked before leaving. Yes, I am upset, but also grateful that no one was home and no one came in on anybody while they were there. You never know how an intruder would act if "caught in the act". I am normally home around 2pm, but this day I had a hair appt. My sons got home together around 4:30 and I came in around 5. I do believe God was watching out for us during all this. Please pray for those that did this. That God will meet the need in their lives.

Patience

2007-10-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

Who here is patient? Not me... In our instant society patience is not expected. We want everything now. From instant food to instant messaging. Waiting 60 seconds on the microwave, or for our computers to boot up or switch pages, we sit there tapping, saying "you're taking forever!!!!" In our Esther series we are learning that she was patient and waited for just the right time to make her request of the king. At the end of the first banquet, she did not make her request know to the king. She invited them back again for another banquet. Tomorrow, I'll let you know my request. Now, if you had your sworn enemy sitting at your table, and the king asked you what you wanted, would you be able to wait, have patience for the right timing. God had prepared her a table in the presence of her enemy. It would have been so easy for her to ask for Haman's head on a platter. Did she wait because she was suddenly afraid to ask, or did she wait because God told her too, or did she wait because she wasn't sure of what to ask for? It doesn't say why Esther chose to wait for one more day, but she did and it proved advantageous to her. Haman's ego had not reached it's full height at this point and the King still regarded him as a trustworthy man. God tells us to wait for different reasons. Sometimes, the timing isn't right for us. Sometimes, we are ready, for something to happen, but others may not be ready. Patience isn't easily obtained, especially in a "get it now" society, but maybe that's why it is a virtue. It is something we need to seek daily. And if you're a mother of small children or even teenagers, your patience gets tested daily. Do we pass? Some days I would say yes, but most days, probably not. So what's the answer...God, of course. In Isaiah he says he will renew our strength. We lean on Him and He will give us what we need in any situation.
Lessons learned so far from Esther: Make the most of your situation-Being taken from her family to be put in a beauty pagent for the honor of Queen. Do not be afraid- "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?". Courage-" I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Patience - wait till the timing is right.

A Beautiful Day

2007-10-12T16:36:00.000-05:00

I must say, from the moment I went outside today, It was hard pressed to keep me there. It was a gorgeous, Autumn day here in SE Texas. It was about 64 degrees when I left for work. I work in a small office and we left the door open and the window up until about 1pm. That's sayin' something for here. We don't easily turn off our air conditioners! I do have a convertible and as soon as I was off work, the top went down(on the car). It has been a beautiful day to be outside enjoying. And it's not over yet. I'm about to leave for my mom's house, with 2 thirteen year old boys. She's about an hour north of me. It should be fun for the end of a great day.

"This is the day that the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

Hungry Hearts

2007-10-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

I chose that title because I really believe we need to have a hungry heart. A heart that wants to dig deeper, learn more, love others more...really have a heart for other women and meeting their needs. I have been going to Beth Moore in Houston on tuesday nights and have invited others to go along with me. Some have and for various reasons, some have not been able to come. So, what do we do for those not able to be blessed on tuesdays. My friend and I started a thursday night study for ladies to come and dig a little deeper, to get some knowledge, to get some healing, insight, whatever it is that they are needing. We've got some hungry, hurting and interested-but-don't-know-how-to-get-started, ladies right in our own churches, friendships, workplaces...etc... All it takes is a willing heart to get things started. If you use a dvd formatted study, then the author does the teaching, you facilitate...get things started, keep them on track, and provide a safe environment for women to reach out to each other. We provide coffee, tea and maybe some chocolate and a lot of love. This time around we are using Beth Moore's "When godly people do ungodly things". In January, we plan on doing "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge. Right now we have about 14 ladies participating. Next time, we may have more, may have less. The point is, we are there and will continue to be there as long as we are needed. Space can some times be an issue. Talk to your church if you get to be too big, or break off into smaller groups at homes. There is a real need for women to connect. This past summer, after Beth finished Proverbs, I was not ready to stop Bible Study for the summer. I had her Daniel study, so I invited some friends and ladies at church to join me. We had a wonderful time learning together, but more importantly, we were there for one of the ladies at possibly the worst point in her life. If we had not been meeting in my home, I don't know that she would have called on us at that time. It was summer and you just kind of live in your own moment with your family. ( And that's good, we can't neglect our families either.) But, it is very possible that we would not have known until the entire situation was over. Then we would have lost a very important opportunity to minister to her and her children. It has made us closer and stronger friends. Just wanted to share a little piece of my heart this morning. Hope you all have a God Blessed day.

Refresh

2007-10-09T12:13:00.000-05:00

Today, as I was working on my computer, I went to hit the "refresh" button. I began to think about that word "refresh". How often do we have a rough morning, day, week and wish we could hit a button and refresh. I then went to scripture to see what God has to say about refreshing ourselves. I found many!!! Here are just a few:

Jeremiah 31:25 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."

Exodus 23:12"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.

Psalm 68:9 "You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Proverbs 25:13"Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

My favorite place to go to "refresh" is the beach. The sound of the water, the smell of the salt water (sometimes dead fish, not as appealing)just melt away my stresses. My other favorite place, where I can go more often in my mind than in person is the mountains. This summer we went to Silverton, Colorado and spent 10 days in the mountains. It was awesome!!! God's creation!!! I can't always go to one of my favorite places to "refresh" my soul, but God is always with me and His Word is always there for the "refreshment" we need everyday! God Bless you today

One Proud Mama

2007-10-08T11:56:00.000-05:00

Let's start with my oldest son Brian. He graduated h.s. in May 2007. He is now in the Air Force. I can never remember the title of his job, but it is something in communications. He is currently in Basic Training in San Antonio. He is scheduled to graduate from BMT on November 2.
My second son, Jeremy, has been homeschooled since 7th grade.(y'all know different kids need different things) He has been doing so well, that this wonderful 16 year old boy, finished his studies and graduated over the weekend. October 7th to be exact. He got a job over the summer which was originally going to be a summer job. But he excelled so much in this job, they were planning to keep him part time through the school year. Now that he has graduated, he's working full-time. He's doing such things like welding, painting, metal cutting, using a forklift and so on...He plans to save his money to pay for the Tech school. What a kid/Man he has grown up to be!!!
My third son, Joseph, not to be left out, is certainly another source of pride. He is also growing into a special young man. He has become the "bicycle fix-it guy" in the neighborhood. He seems to always be fixing someones bike. Putting chains back on, adding brakes or adjusting brakes. I guess he's got the mechanical gene just like his brothers and dad.
I was told at church the other day in the jr. high youth, that Joseph lifts his brother Brian up in prayer every Sunday, to help him labor through his basic training. I work in the high school group, so I don't know what happens in the jr. high. It's good to know how much they really love and care about each other, even when it's left unsaid most of the time.

On another note... I got a call from Brian on Saturday!!!! It made me feel so good to hear from him. He's doing well, a bit home sick, but good. It's so hard having him gone and not being able to at least call him. Writing letters is okay, but nothing like hearing his voice!!!