Personal Provisions

New Direction.....

2010-12-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

CHICKEN CRANBERRY TRIANGLES

1 cup cooked chicken, finely chopped

2 tablespoons coarse mustard

½ cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley

¼ cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

¼ cup pine nuts

1 clove garlic, pressed

1 package puff pastry

egg

Kosher salt

Mix all ingredients together in medium mixing bowl except for puff pastry. Lay out one sheet of puff pastry. Cut into 9 squares. Place one Tablespoon filling in the middle and fold over to form a triangle. Crimp edges with fork. Brush with egg white. Lightly sprinkle with Kosher salt if desired. Bake at 400 for 12- 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown

Yield: 18 appetizers

Newspaper Going South

2007-05-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has let go of one of the best columnists.....ok the ONLY one that's worth anything! We're not at all happy about that! Thank heavens for the web....we'll still be able to read him~

To cancel your subscription,
call (612) 673-4343 or 1 (800) 775-4344

The image is from Freedom Dogs

Read Hugh Hewitt's Rant

You've Gotta See This!

2007-04-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

Reliv Minnesota
Welcomes
Jim and Marge Rodgers
Reliv Presidential Gold Ambassadors
From Chicago, Illinois

Bring everyone you know to learn about this fantastic company and business opportunity that is changing lives! Hear live stories at this no obligation, fun event!
Come learn how Jim and Marge became one of Reliv’s highest income earners by helping others achieve their dreams
Opportunity Presentation Business Training
Friday, May 4, 2007 Saturday, May 5, 2007

Hampton Inn
10420 Wayzata Blvd. Minnetonka, MN
952.541.1094
Northeast side of I-94 and County Road #73 (Hopkins Crossroad)
I-94, exit North on #73 to Wayzata Blvd. (North Frontage Road)
East ½ mile to Hampton Inn

Nutrition Made Simple!
Life Made Rich

Reliv is a 19 year old company, publicly listed on the NASDAQ and recently featured in Business Week, Fortune, and Forbes magazines.
Reliv is currently expanding in the Minnesota and Western Wisconsin area.
You’ve been invited by: Ruth and Sam Moser Phone Number: 651-398-7494

New Year's Thoughts

2006-12-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

Pearl S. Buck
The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

Every year at this time, I get excited about the possibilites and challenges that lie ahead in the new year. I anticipate somethings to be wonderful and somethings to be not so wonderful. By the time February 15th rolls around, the excitement of new beginnings wears off and it's just life as it was last year. This year my desire is to keep the newness all year long. Yes, I'd like to get those horrible mid-life, post baby pounds released from my body, exercise everyday, you know the drill! You probably have some things that you've vowed year after year that THIS will be the year that you will release those old habits, feelings or whatever plagues you!
2007 is a year that I will strive for excellence in all areas of my life. I might make a Squidoo lens about "Why I Am Not Coloring My Hair".

POWER!

2006-12-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit! About 11 years ago, the angel in the back row (3rd from left-standing to the right of the male angel) told me that I should'nt believe the Bible because it wasn't reliable! I just prayed for her! Fast forward.....she's now a firm Bible-believing person!
Are you?

"Evermore the Law must prepare the way for the gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the Church with false converts . . . Time will make this plain."

- Charles Finney

Desert Angel

2006-12-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

Desert Angel

Cool, very cool!

How the Japanese Fold Shirts

2006-12-19T13:48:00.000-08:00


How to fold a perfect shirt. You have to love it! "Before He furnishes the abundant supply, we must first be made conscious of our emptiness. before he gives strength, we must be made to feel our weakness." - Arthur W. Pink

What a great picture!

2006-12-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

I Stand Amazed!

2006-11-30T04:22:00.000-08:00

"It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout well done to the Christian man."- Charles Spurgeon.

Do I need to say anymore? That quote has really spoke to me! My prayer lately is that if there is anything wicked within me that the Lord will help me to correct it! Well, here it is! My soul laid bare!

Missing!

2006-11-25T04:31:00.000-08:00

"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words with out a heart." - John Bunyan

Wednesday, the boys came bursting through the door! "When are the cousins getting here?!" "HUH?!" I didn't mean to sound so dumb but what were they talking about?! When I told them the cousins would be in CO for Thanksgiving, they were so sad! We are all going through our Wiegand withdrawl in different ways. I miss the busyness of it all (although I do relish the quite and the ability to work without interruptions) I miss Demetrius when he is being such a ham! I wonder if his mom and dad have agreed to that certain hairstyle? I love watching him lead the football games! There's great responsibility in being a leader, Bub! I miss Seb when he's eating Saltines and half of the cracker is going on the floor (no worries, Seb! You can use the little broom and dustpan when you're finished) I miss reading Seb's history conclusions of the days lessons! He's got a great mind for writing and I hope that he can see that and use it! I miss baking with Kana! Although we didn't do much, those were special times! I miss watching Kana do her school work! She does it so well that I think she should be in 1st grade! I miss watching Ali being a princess/mom to her Care Bears! Her little pink princess costume swishing around as she gives directions and holds court! (You CAN be a princess when you grow up, honey!) I miss seeing Gabri everyday! Her ability to push through the pain and hard work of rehab is an inspiration! God will take that talent and use it for His glory someday! I also miss her hilarious laugh! I miss baby Kate! The chubby little face that lights up when I come into the room! Oh, I know....she thinks I'm Grandma Wiegand! I'll ride on Grandma's glory as long as I can! And Naomi....I'm crying just thinking about missing her! Mother to my nephews and nieces....I love you and love your ablility to keep focused on what your real mission is! (Just take that compliment and go with it, Naomi! Don't think about all the times you fail!)
It was destined by God that they would spend this time with us! I hope we can focus on what was good and forget the times Aunt Ruth's hormone levels rose to the danger zone!

Mark Steyn

2006-11-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've never heard of Mark Steyn but you need to know who his is!

He's a transplanted Brit on the East Coast who writes about American and English politics with a quirky sense of humor!

Here's his latest......of telling "how it is"

Sweetness Defined

2006-10-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

Let this picture say it all!

Faith

2006-10-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

“Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?”
Numbers 11:11
Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.

2nd- 3rd Grade Class Photo

2006-10-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

Ethan's class. Isn't he cute?

Words from a modern day saint (in my humble opinon)

"The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger" - Elisabeth Elliot

Play It Again, Ray

2006-10-04T04:32:00.000-07:00

Read This! This article could shake you up! I love the truth it presents!

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C. S. Lewis

A Bit Sassy- But Funny

2006-09-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

I am sorry... but after hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Spanish

-- enough is enough.
Nowhere did they sing it in Italian, Polish, Irish (Celtic,)
German or any other language because of immigration.
It was written by Francis Scott Key
and should be sung word for word the way it was written.
The news broadcasts even gave the translation -- not even close.
Sorry if this offends anyone but this is MY COUNTRY -

I am not against immigration -- just come through like everyone else.
Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head;
have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules
AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past .
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Get Out Of Jail Card-kind of

2006-08-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Download these, cut out and hand out !

What a House says about you

2006-08-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Click here to see what your drawing says about you!

CAN....

2006-08-21T18:07:00.000-07:00


A glimpse of the remarkable father-son bond of Dick and Rick Hoyt, and their inspirational journey together in a triathlon and life itself. Music: "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me Video produced by unknown person(s); passed on by Tom C.

What You Can Learn In School

2006-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

This video is a sad commentary on fellow Americans. It's hard for me to belive that it's true, but...if all you think about is your little world...why would you know the answers to these questions? By the way, I do know all the answers! Just in case you're wondering!

Pathetic Americans

Old photos

2006-08-10T04:47:00.000-07:00

I was rummaging through my photo folder and found some cute ones. Enjoy!

1.) My brother Jake and his daughter
2.) Ethan's first grade photo
3.) Ali (the summer of '04)

Stephen Bennett

2006-08-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, I was introduced to a man who's a former homosexual! (That's not a typo- I did mean to type "former") What a powerful story he has of being redeemed! He's happily married and has a passion for sharing salvation and redemption with other homosexual people!

He's taking a team to Jerusalem this month to witness and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jerusalem is hosting "WorldPride".

Stephen and his team would like to arrive in Isreal debt-free. If it is within your grasp would you consider calling them and giving to this very good cause? You can reach them at 1-800-832-3623.

2006-07-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

Here I Am To Worship - Restored

I love sign language singing! This is just awesome! The guy in white at the end who's pretending to be Jesus is a bit wierd.
The message is repent for sins and trust in the Lord and be saved!

Cell Phones

2006-07-08T04:32:00.000-07:00

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones.

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets... What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it.... What if we flipped through it several times a day... What if we used it to receive messages from the text... What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it... What if we gave it to kids as gifts... What if we used it as we traveled... What if we used it in case of an emergency.... What if we upgraded it to get the latest version....

I was thinking on my way home, got touched by the spirit, so I wrote this...it's just something to think about . Something to make you say hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, and by the way, where is my Bible?
--Anonymous

Being a Blackberry (Fruitful)

2006-06-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

"The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people." - G. K. Chesterton

"And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" - Luke 5.31-32

Read Rachel I like what she says about fruit!

Young Wiegands

2006-06-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
- Ephesians 2.8-9

Back Row: Ernie, Glen, Ben
Middle Row: Nathan,Rachel, Jake,Regina Chuck, Norm
Bottom: Me with fuzzy hair being blown by the wind (an interpertation by my son as to why my hair is so big!)

We've come a long way, guys!

Some Wisdom on Committment-or Why I Drink Coffee

2006-06-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating – in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. " -- Anne Morris, a New York Starbucks customer

Coffee makes you smart! It makes you ponder the deep things of life! Who needs wine to inspire philosophical feelings? Don't you love the truth of this quote?
Sunday, we had the Placzek family over for dinner. The Placzeks are deeply talented artists who work day jobs until the art pays! Melissa created the illustrations for my "someday" cookbook. Jeff created Northwoods Kitchen. As we sat around the kitchen table, I was reinspired to commit to working on my cookbook. I am going to test and reformat 3 recipes a week. I am also going to spend 30 minutes a week getting queries ready for publishers to review.
My mothering commitment is calling.....the kids need breakfast!

Hard To Find Foods- Found!

2006-06-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

I found this site that has all kinds of foods, candies, and drinks that are still made but hard to find. Hometown Favorites is the place to find delights as CoCo Wheats Hot Cereal, Maypo Hot Cereal, Fiddle Faddle, and Crush Grape and Orange Soda.

Tomorrow is Ethan's last day of school! The school year went so fast! Amazing that he's going to be a 2nd grader!! The Wild Flower Academy will attempt to open up June 5th, once again! The teacher (that would be me) tended to get very side-tracked last summer. Hopefully, with only swimming lessons to do, we can get our nose to the grindstone!

Sunday we are serving the lunch at church. Today, I need to run around the city gathering up bread, meat, and any other goodies. We are going to smoke pork loin. I am also going to bake some Almond Fudgies, Carmelitas, Rice Krispie Bars, and Special K Bars.

You Have To See This

2006-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

What a mission! What can your body do when it is properly nourished?

Reliv International has the products that nourish your body so you can achieve the best possible health!

Crackers

2006-05-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

This is what occupied my husbands time one evening. He got the idea from Timbu

Maybe if you're bored one evening you could make your name out of crackers!

"The man who does not know the nature of the Law, cannot know the nature of sin" - John Bunyan

This was going to be a photo

2006-05-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is what my husband did in his spare time! Well, maybe another day I'll show you as I can't seem to upload any photos at this point!

Yup..that was me!

2006-05-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

YOU WERE A GIRL IN THE 70S IF...
You wore a rainbow shirt that had half-sleeves; the rainbow went up one sleeve, across your chest, and down the other.
You made baby chocolate cakes in your Easy Bake Oven and washed them down with snow cones from your Snoopy Snow Cone Machine.
You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.
You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.
You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.
You thought Gopher from the Love Boat was cute! (Admit it!)

Deep Thought for the day
"We can only know God well by knowing our iniquities... Those who have known God without knowing their wretchedness have not glorified him, but have glorified themselves." - Blase Pascal

Happy Birthday to Me

2006-04-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

"At this very moment you and I are either committing [selfishness], or about to commit it, or repenting it." - C. S. Lewis

Chocolate Bunnies Have Feelings, Too!

2006-04-10T19:39:00.000-07:00

This tweaked my somewhat wierd sense of humor! (Sorry, Mother!)

New Life

2006-03-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world, Katelynne Rose! God knew you before you were formed! My brother is a father again, for the 6th time! Their dinner table will never be empty! I have to share this picture of Katelynne and her happy daddy! Notice the trademark chubby cheeks!
I think the following quote fits her daddy very well as his whole endeavor is to follow the path of the Savior.
"Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only." Thomas Kempis

Revolution!

2006-03-24T05:32:00.000-08:00

As a teen, I was in the middle of the sexual revolution. I really bought into that "freedom to express yourself" bull! Years later, we now know that this freedom of expression can lead to STD's, unplanned pregnancy, and broken hearts; all of which have lasting consequences. If you escaped any of these consequences, you probably didn't participate!

Read this and weep at the sad progression of "freedom".

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." - Acts 3.19

SNOW!

2006-03-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

"Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan." - John Bunyan

The worst snow storm of the season is upon us! It's been snowing since 9pm last night. That makes almost 12 hours of snow! It's slated to stop at 12noon! The snow is heavy but before it hits the ground a mighty wind is blowing it hither and yon! It took my husband over an hour to get into work. Every school in the area is canceled and children all over the Twin Cities are rejoicing! My boys are planning a day of playing in the snow! They are so excited!
It really is glorious to see the snow clinging to the evergreen branches!
I think I will bake banana chocolate chip muffins and oatmeal cookies. It's the perfect day for soup and fresh baked goodies!

How Strange!

2006-03-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool sidewalk art! (I was reading a little news from Hugh Hewitt )

My friend, Jan Markell, has a great subject for her Saturday radio program. You can listen anywhere in the world! The subject matter is Green Christianity and PBS is filming this radio show for a fall '06 special. Her show is live 9am-11am (CST) Saturday mornings. You can also podcast her show.

How about this quote! (lest you get too caught up in this life!)

"Our places will be empty soon. Cheer the aged, console the desponding, help the poor, for they will soon be beyond your reach." - Charles Spurgeon

Conflicts

2006-03-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

"I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I've met."
- Dwight L. Moody

I was the "feared" lunch lady at school today. Twelve 4th and 5th grade boys were having a basketball game. There's one boy who's an outstanding athlete. It appeared that 2 other boys, not so outstanding, were ganging up to make his life miserable. They were calling all kinds of fouls, charging, ect on him. Things started to really go south when it was time to go back to class. I actually had to intervene and now the 2 not so outstanding athletes, have a different opinion of me. My voice is hoarse, but I think they got the point! (no, no, I didn't yell!) I am praying for those 3 to work it out! God, help them!

Are You Ready.....

2006-02-23T04:37:00.000-08:00

For The Lions? Take the time to read this!

"Christ died for you; therefore die to sin." - John Wesley

Can You Be Serious?

2006-02-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

It's really no secret...I have been a Bush fan....up to this point! He had to know about the port security sale! I am livid! He's just sold us down the river and honey, we don't have paddles to get back! We all make bad decisions but this one is without excuse! (I never thought I would ever agree with Senator Schumer.)
Jan Markell's commentary on this issue is clear and concise so I won't write any more.

Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY- Or Singles Awareness Day as my sister Rachel says

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER
BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." John 3:16

*~He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay!~*

Something New

2006-02-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

No quote for the day....

Stop by my new Weeknight Menus site on Squidoo
Can you think of any kitchen tools, recipes, or cookbooks that have made your menu planning easier? Drop me a line ruth@northwoodskitchen.com

I can't resist putting up this photo! This was taken by my brother, Ernie of Ernie Wiegand Photography! Look for him in National Geographic someday!

Self-Worth

2006-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

"Without God man has no reference point to define himself. 20th century philosophy manifests the chaos of man seeking to understand himself as a creature with dignity while having no reference point for that dignity." - R. C. Sproul

Sunday, I had the opportunity of sharing the gospel message with a visitor to our church. This is a woman who suffers from depression secondary to lack of self-worth. Sharing the truth of God's love and salvation through Jesus was like pouring water on a thirsty, dying plant! I pray God will take the watering given to Zena's soul and make a beautiful flower bloom!

On a side note, I've just discovered that I can upload photos! Here's a great one of my neice, who will never lack self-worth because she understands that she's been created for praise!
Her mom and dad are teaching her that real value comes only through Jesus!

HACKED!

2006-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

"Everything is a trifle to a man who is a Christian except the glorifying of Christ." - Charles Spurgeon

Last week, a new age pirate took it upon themselves to hack into the cooking forums of my Northwoods Kitchen site. The first pirate left some rocking street music and dropped the f-bomb. This second pirate, just totally took away any semblence of a page. I am feeling a bit violated but I need to remember that this is something that will fade away...in the end. As of now, we are trying to figure out what to do. It is easy to say, just get new software and have your web guy update the entire thing. Easier said than done when one is on a very limited budget!
Through this entire violation, I need to keep the Cross at the fore front! I am letting this verse be my prayer!
"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." - Isaiah 55.2

Worth Thinking

2006-01-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

The most destructive habit.....................................Worry
The greatest Joy...................................................Giving
The greatest loss...............................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work............................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.............................Selfishness
The most endangered species...............Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource...........................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome............................Fear
The most effective sleeping pill...................Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease.......................Excuses
The most powerful force in life...................................Love
The most dangerous pariah.............................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer.................The brain
The worst thing to be without.................................. Hope
The deadliest weapon....................................The tongue
The two most power-filled words............................"I Can"
The greatest asset................................................Faith
The most worthless emotion..............................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire.....................................SMILE!
The most prized possession............................. Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication.......Prayer
The most contagious spirit..........................Enthusiasm

Inspiration

2006-01-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

"God often takes a course for accomplishing His purposes directly contrary to what our narrow views would prescribe." - John Newton

Today, my sister Rachel ran in a Half Marathon. After, talking with her, I got an inspiration to walk in a similar event. What I think I am doing here is...declaring to all the world that I am about to begin training. What kind of training tips can you give me?

Life does begin at 40! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Where Are You?

2006-01-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

This quote from C.S. Lewis really hit home. I had to share it with you!

"At this very moment you and I are either committing [selfishness], or about to commit it, or repenting it." - C. S. Lewis

The New Feminism

2006-01-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

"This change is radical? It gives us new natures, it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved," - Charles Spurgeon

The feminism that we now see played out in the public is a far cry from the original intent. And that's all I'll say for now.

Maureen Dowd, columnist for the New York Times, is a prime example of this new feminism. What I would suggest for this impoverished woman, is a good dose of The Law. Maybe then she can start to enjoy life and the wine Joel Stein keeps sending her.

No Regrets

2006-01-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

I received this from Flylady todayand I must share it with you! Maybe there is someone in your life that needs to hear from you?! I can think of a few in my own! I will start with my husband and boys! "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." - Luke 19.10

Dear FlyBabies,
Don't ever assume that you have all the time you need. You don't .
Don't put off what you can do today.
I lost my step-dad a few days ago. I found him in the position that
he died. This is not a pleasant fact. I will constantly be thinking
"Maybe I could have done something".
Do not assume that you can tell those you love what you need to tell
them tomorrow. TELL THEM NOW. Make it a point to get your words to
them as soon as possible. It may not help them but it will help you.
My parents were going through a divorce and my allegiance was
naturally on the side of my mom. This did not diminish the love and
respect I had for my step-dad, it simply skewed my vision. There were
times that I could have simply called him, or made time to spend with
him, but I Did not. For that choice, I will have to deal with the
repercussions.
Please make sure that your family comes first, plain and simple.
There are no caveats, no excuses, nothing. MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY
COMES FIRST. You can deal with the extraneous stuff after the fact.
You never have the chance to get back time lost. You never have the
chance to get back loved ones lost. You can only do what you can do now.
Please take these words to heed. They will serve you well.
FlyLady's Web Dude Lee
*****************************************
FlyLady here: Lee and all of us can learn an important lesson!
Don't sweat the small stuff; what doesn't matter just doesn't matter.
Laugh every day; even if it is at yourself.
And here is the main lesson.
Love like there is no tomorrow!
This love is not just in words but in actions. Show your family you care in simple ways; Pick up the phone, fix a meal or just go visit. Your actions will speak louder than words.
Remember nothing says I love more than your presence in someone's life. My sweet darling has a routine for calling his Mother every week. She expects his call. Robert's sister calls on or about the same time too.
Is there someone you have not talked to in a while? Send them a note, give them a call or just show up at their home. You can start the love flowing again.
{{{HUGS}}} to Lee. It is not easy to lose a loved one at any time especially during the holidays.

You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?
Simple Routines Do the Trick in 2006!
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Called Up

2005-12-22T04:29:00.000-08:00

"Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only." - Thomas Kempis

Yesterday, my friend Lorraine, got called into active duty. Her orders are to report to Fort Benning, GA on Jan 15, 2006. Her time would be 545 days in Iraq.

If her circumstances were different, I would be encouraging her to go and support freedom. The issue here is she's a stay-at-home mom of 2 children, ages 3 and almost 1.
Before she had children she did serve in active duty with her husband. They have done time, so it's not like she got her free education and is backing out of her side of the bargain with the government.

She's applying for a deferment because she has no family in MN to care for her children while she's in the desert. My constant prayer is that she will be granted this so that she alone can care for the children God has given her.

Mothering is a selfless profession, just like the military. When did the line become so blurred? Is there no respect for the profession of mothering. Is this where women's rights and freedom from male opression have taken us? Apparently so.

The Refiner's Fire

2005-12-19T04:46:00.000-08:00

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." - John 14.21

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat, As he watched by the precious ore, And closer He bent with a searching gaze As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test, And He wanted the finest gold To mold as a crown for the King to wear, Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire, Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay," And He watched the dross that we had not seen, And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright; But our eyes were so dim with tears, We saw but the fire - not the Master's hand - And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shown out with a richer glow, As it mirrored a Form above That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us, With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleased His loving heart To cause us a moment's pain? Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong and sure, And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat Than was needed to make it pure.

--Anonymous

Weary

2005-12-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

What a week! My husband was gone on business and both vehicles broke down! As I type this I don't have a vehicle that is reliable to pick him up at the airport tomorrow night! I am weary with this battle!
I am feeling a bit stranded! If times were different, if the grocery store was a few blocks away, if the post office was just down the street, if, if if......
I feel a rant coming on so I will just stop and leave this in the hands of my Creator God!

"Most of the verses written about praise in God's Word were voiced by people faced with crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other difficult situations." - Joni Eareckson Tada

The Next Survivor Series

2005-12-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
from Judy Boliakis

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment . He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation). He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

There is only one TV between them, and a remote with dead batteries.

Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themselves either while driving or making three lunches.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they
grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me".

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

English- American Style

2005-12-08T04:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a little quiz that will tell you what kind of English you speak. Do this when you're bored or want something to talk about at your next party. This is my linguistic profile. (the 5% Upper Midwestern is from living in Minnesota for 8 years!)

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

15% Yankee

5% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

First Things First

2005-12-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

"Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God. and a scourge for Satan." - John Bunyan
When I am faced with an crisis in my life, I often forget to first get on my knees. I am quick to get opinions from all of my friends. If I could only remember to PRAY first and then seek out human comfort/advice.
I have just started getting up at 5:30 am to do 30 minutes on the treadmill. I feel so awesome from that early morning work-out! I have been using this time to pray for people and for my own family.
I am busy getting the cookie ingredients, recipes and a plan layed out for my cookie make and take this weekend. I am "teaching" this through our community service program. I find this is a great way to make connections within my community!
I have groceries in the truck waiting to be put away. If only the little elves would do that job for me!

When Will He?

2005-11-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

When will he pop the question? No, not to me! To my sister! We get to meet the "Man" this Thanksgiving! We are so excited about meeting Terry! He has been very good for/to my little baby sister.
He's been in IL for 2 whole days now! I'm wondering what he thinks of the family?! There are 5 of the 10 siblings for him to meet!
I am thinking that it would be totally romantic for him to propose to her in front of us and over the turkey! What?! You think that sounds fruity? Ok, maybe just a little!

Changing the subject a bit. My oldest son has his friend over tonight. There isn't any school tomorrow, so it's the perfect night to stay up past the normal bedtime. I can hear that my younger son is getting left out of the playing but wait....older one is resolving the conflict! This is one of those mothering moments where you think you might have done something correct!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-19T04:24:00.000-08:00

"Human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and can't really get rid of it." - C. S. Lewis

Curious enough, there is a certain 7 year old boy in my house is having trouble with certain behaviors. (lying, cheating) He's having these problems in school. He's only done each thing once but it is very interesting because he's not normally like that at home. Yes, he is always trying to negotiate his way out of trouble. But the lying and the cheating.....?! When he gets caught at school, it seems like he doesn't want to confess because then his esteemed teacher will know he's failed. So, he lied but got caught. He cheated on his math paper. Why did I read him the book, "The Real Francine "? It's an Arthur book where Muffy cheats off of Francine's math paper and then lies when she gets caught. In the end, Muffy confesses so that Francine can play the softball game. Maybe if I discuss losing trust and other issues, it will hit home.
Our thought (my husband's and mine) is that if we don't address these issues in a big way now, he'll have other major issues later in his life. We love him so! Any other ideas out there?

Late Remembrance

2005-11-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

"100 per cent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased." - C. S. Lewis

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

Real Life

2005-11-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

Before you read the following little ditty, I have to post a disclaimer. I do really love being married! But....being in love is...well, different! Having "romance" in your marriage is hard work and sometimes we're too tired! But don't let that scare you off! I found this on another blog and I'm sorry I don't remember where!

Love and Marriage- (pre-children)

Love: A romantic candle-light dinner for two
Marriage: 4 McDonald's Happy Meals . . . to go

Love: Giving your love some candy
Marriage: Scraping the kids' candy off of the carpet

Love: Sex every night (within the marriage, of course!)
Marriage: What's sex?

Love: A night out at the symphony
Marriage: A night out at Sesame Street On Ice

Love: French perfume
Marriage: "The baby needs changing. . ."

Love: Lending your jacket to your love when he/she is cold
Marriage: Your teenaged daughter has borrowed all of your jackets.

Love: Long drives through the countryside
Marriage: Long drives with the kids screaming in the backseat

Cravings and Cures

2005-11-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

I found this when going through some old emails. Good "food" for thought.

If you crave this...Chocolate

What you really need is...magnesium

And here are healthy foods that have it:
Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets
Chromium
Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken

Paris Burning

2005-11-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Is this about a religious idology? Is it about being poor? Can France dig their country out of this hole?

Read this article giving a bit of history. http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/10235

Is history repeating itself?

Roasting Hot Dogs

2005-10-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

"Jesus Christ has changed my life, and He will change the life of anyone who sincerely turns to Him in faith." - Billy Graham

Tonight we are having about 25 kids and adults over to roast hot dogs over the fire pit. One of my friends is bringing s'more that are made with peanutbutter cups and marshmallows. I will have to try those. I don't care the ordinary s'mores! Is it because they're just ordinary?
Most of the kids are boys, ages 5-12! The neighborhood will be rockin'!
One of the dads is a man who has turned away from serving God and I want to know why! I am praying that God will open the door for me to walk through! I think he's gotten confused with church tradition and taken his focus off the Holy One!

Ding! Subject change!
I am reading the best book, Thorn In My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs!

Company's here!

The Answer Is...

2005-10-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

The question in the previous post was.. "Who made this statement?"

"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

The statement was made by one our founding fathers, John Adams.

Can You Believe It?

2005-10-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Who made this statement? What did this person really know about the constitution?

Who would be so bold as to say that the American constitution was only for a moral and religious people?

Post your guesses!

What's Your Experience?

2005-10-07T05:17:00.000-07:00

"Real conversion by the Holy Spirit is as distinct and radical a change as though an old man were placed in a mill and ground young again." - Charles Spurgeon

Does this sound impossible? I'm living proof of the old being changed into something new.

What's your experience?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2.38

Be Careful What You Pray-Ray Comfort

2005-10-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Be Careful What You Pray - By Ray Comfort
Be careful what you say to God. Experience has taught me that He often answers a prayer, even if it's mumbled. One day I muttered, "Lord, I know I have been preaching the gospel every day to groups of unsaved people, but I really need to do some one-to-one."
Later that day, I was in our call center when I noticed two temporary signs for our ministry. We had had them made while were waiting on a permit to create a special "Living Waters Publications" sign, incorporated into a waterfall.
I grabbed the signs off a table and decided I would tie one of them to the back gates of the ministry, so that at least delivery drivers would know that they were in the right location. I didn't realize that our ministry manager had asked one of the employees to hang the signs.
As I picked them up, Danny (the employee) asked a friendly, "What are you doing with those signs?" I was his boss, so I just smiled, put them behind my back as I walked away and said, "These are the signs that follow those who believe."
As I tied the sign to the fence, a man across the alley called out, "What's that? Living Waters?"
"It's a publishing company."
"Oh."
"We also produce a TV show called 'The Way of the Master.'"
The man, in his early fifties, began to walk toward me. "Oh yeah?"
"It's a Christian program. Do you have a Christian background?"
"Catholic."
"Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"Where do you think you will go when you die?"
"Heaven, I hope."
"What's your name?"
"Fred."
"I'm Ray, Fred. There's a little test you can do to see where you are going. Want to try it?
"Sure."
"Are you a good person?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever told a lie?"
As we went through the Commandments, Fred admitted to lying, stealing, and blasphemy.
I then explained that lust was adultery in God's sight and asked if he had ever lusted after a woman.
"No."
"Huh? Are you a homosexual?"
"No! Oh, I see what you're saying. Yes, I have."
He was very concerned that if he died then and there he would end up in Hell, so I explained the gospel to him, took him into our lobby, and gave him a copy of my book What Hollywood Believes.
When I stepped back into the lobby, Duane Barnhart, our TV program director and producer, was standing with a man I had never met.
"Ray, I want you to meet Jon. He's a television editor."
"Jon, nice to meet you. I like your T-shirt." His shirt read "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."
He said, "I collect T-shirts. I have one that says 'I've forgotten your name already.'"
That made me laugh. Even though I make an effort to remember, like most people, I have a hard time with names.
"So, what have you worked on?"
He then named a few TV programs. We were looking for a Production Assistant, and I presumed that's why Duane was introducing him to me, so I asked, "Are you a Christian?"
"Yes. Kind of."
Duane made himself busy with other things so that I would feel at ease talking with Jon, something I appreciated. I gave Jon a book and asked, "What do you think happens after someone dies?"
"I've been thinking about this stuff lately. I don't know."
"Do you consider yourself to be a good person?"
"Yes."
Over the next few moments, he too proved to be a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. He was concerned about the fact that he would go to Hell, so we went through the cross, repentance, and faith.
He was awakened to his plight but not alarmed about it, so I said, "See if you can guess how many people die every 24 hours."
"Worldwide? A few thousand?"
"150,000."
"Wow."
"And 42,000 people are killed in the U.S. every year in cars. The next time you get into a car, you may just be getting into a coffin. Think about these issues, Jon. It's not easy for me to talk to you like this, but I have to. It's so important."
He then left, and I went back to hanging the sign.
As I was about to tie it to the gate, two obvious gang-bangers walked down the ally. I said, "Hey, guys, did you get one of these?" I quickly grabbed two tracts from my pocket and handed them one each. As they read the tracts, I said, "There are Christian tracts. Have you had a Christian background?"
One of them answered, "No."
I asked for their names and tried to log them into my memory.
"What do you think happens after someone dies?"
"I haven't thought about it much."
"Where are you going?"
"Heaven, I hope."
I then went through almost exactly the same wording as with Fred, and walked them back to the lobby to give them "What Hollywood Believes" CDs, as they didn't read books.
"What are your names again?" (I should have been wearing Jon's T-shirt.)
They then told me their names (again), and I said, "Those are unusual names."
"Yeah. They're gang-banger names."
"Can you remember my name?"
"Keith?"
"No, it's 'Ray.'"
I spotted EZ, our manager, as we entered the lobby, so I called him over and introduced him, explaining that he used to be a gang-banger. After EZ shared his testimony with them, I gave them some material and said, "If someone puts a gun to your head and pulls the trigger, it means Hell forever. Can we pray for you guys?" The talkative one said, "Sure. Pray for this homeboy."
I did pray for them, thanking God that they were open, asking that He would remind them of their sins against Him, and give them understanding about what we had spoken about.
I then went outside and finished hanging the sign, and walked back into the lobby. While I had been witnessing to the gang-bangers, I noticed two people talking to my wife in the packing room. One was an attractive blond, the other was a gentleman in his early twenties. As I entered the building, he was seated in the lobby.
"Hi, I'm Ray. What's your name?"
"Ryan. I'm from Pitney Bowes. I was just checking your postage machine."
"Did you get a free book?"
"No."
"Oh. I'll get you one. It's called What Hollywood Believes. Have you had a Christian background?"
"No."
"What do you think happens after someone dies? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?"
"No. You just die."
"Are you an atheist?"
"Yes, I am, actually."
"See this building? How do you know there was a builder? Isn't the building proof that there was a builder, even though you have never seen him?"
"Yeah..."
"Same with a painting and a painter. The painting is proof that there was a painter. When you look at creation, that proves there was a Creator."
Amazingly, Ryan nodded in agreement and quietly mumbled something about the complexity of life forms.
"Do you consider yourself to be a good person?"
He did, but as I was about to take him through the Law, the door opened and the blond returned from the restroom. That made the situation a little awkward, so I gave her a book, signed it, and asked, "Do you have a Christian background?"
"I was raised a Mormon, and have just started going back to church."
I didn't want to get into a debate about Mormonism, so I explained to her (I've forgotten her name) that I was talking to Ryan about a test to see if he was good enough to get into Heaven. "Listen in. It's interesting. Ryan, there are four simple questions. Are you ready?"
He nodded.
"Have you ever told a lie?"
After we went through the Law, Ryan admitted that if God judged him by the Ten Commandments, he would end up in Hell.
"Does that concern you?"
"Not up until I talked with you."
I then took him through the cross, repentance, and faith, talked about the importance of getting right with God that day, and they were on their way.
Wow! I thought about how, in thirty minutes, I had witnessed to six people face to face, and how faithful God is to bring prepared people to us if we are prepared to speak to them.
Then I remembered what I had in my pocket. It was a new tract that read: "Here's my phone number. Give me a call the day you are going to die, and we will talk further about eternity." It brought home the truth that we don't know when we are going to die, so we had better make peace with God today. I should have given each of these six people one of those tracts! I consoled myself by mumbling, "Never mind. There will be other times."
For Evangelism Resources, please visit LivingWaters.com.

An Act of Sacrifice- Gift of Love

2005-09-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Would you have enough inside you to place your baby that you've carried for 9 months in the arms of an adoptive mom? The courage of Chrissy (name changed) has changed my life!
The labor was intense, the baby got stuck in the birth canal and needed to be helped along, the pain was more than she could've ever imagined and yet, she courageously placed the new life in the arms of the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents shed tears of joy and immense gratitude when they heard the news...."you have a little girl"! The new daddy watched over his little girl as the doctor checked her out, already guarding her. Her new mommy said, "How do you ever thank Chrissy for the gift she's given us?" They stated their thanks to her in the best way they could, but they felt any expression was just not enough!
Chrissy never held her baby because she wanted her to bond with her adoptive parents. I could tell that this was hard for her at times, her arms aching to hold and love the child she had given life.
Have you been blessed by such a gift? Could you place your child into another mothers arms? Only by the grace of God can this be accomplished!

Psalm 136:26
"O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever."

How It All Started

2005-09-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

We got the call from the Pregnancy Help Center asking us about housing her until her baby came in September. This just felt right! She came to live with us on June 6th. Sam had just started a new job that day. He had been downsized 5 weeks prior. But having another mouth to feed wasn't even considered because we knew that God wanted us to provide for her. What we didn't expect was that we would come to love her as a part of our family! She was very shy at first. The director of the center, she and I sat around the kitchen table talking about expections, and her pregnancy. She shocked me by saying that she didn't even want to know the sex of the baby or even to see the baby after birth. "WOW", was my thought! Her pregnancy was a result of being taken by a smooth talking, non-working, bad attitude guy. Because of her simpleness, she did not know how to get out of the situation and now she was in MN far away from the security and comfort of her home and family. Her parents, sensing the need make her safe, moved her out of state. It wasn't their guilt and shame that made them decide this, it was concern for their daughter's safety!
All summer long, she attended soccer games, swimming lessons, days at the beach, church, camping, and all of our family events. Our neighborhood took her in and invited her to softball games, and zoo visits. At home, she baked cookies, cookies and more cookies! Her talent is children. Children of all ages were drawn to her. She would color with them, play board games, water games, ghost in the graveyard, volleyball, you name it, she was there!!
You know, you can never fool children about what what's really in your heart. Her heart is pure innocence and fun! I am convinced by the evidence of the children's response to her.
On the day she went to pick out the parents who would adopt her child, I had a simple prayer. "Father, you know she can't handle complicated decisions, please make this simple and very clear to her." Faithfully, God honored that prayer. She was so excited when she came home! She showed me their profile and talked excitedly about them. (By this time, I knew that when she was talking, I should shut up and listen!) A young couple who loved outdoor activities, shared the same faith, and had a supportive family. It was perfect!
I have always been very pro-adoption but my experience with the adoptive parents on the birth day gave me a new insight into the process.
I have to close this post because daily duties are starting to call my name. I will write about the birth day for my next post.

Acting Royal

2005-09-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if you were the king/queen of a country, how differently you would act, train your children, interact with the world around you?
We had a sermon on Sunday that will not leave my head! The sermon was on our own royalty that we receive when we repent and put our trust in Jesus. Lately, I've been thinking that the way I'm acting is not really 100 % pleasing to The King. I really could not put my finger on a certain behavior but maybe it was the thoughts that fly through my mind! Acting royal, representing the King of the Universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is not a hard feat to accomplish! But to maintain, you need to stay immersed in the Word, have accountability, and focus on training your mind to think differently!
Here are some questions I posed to myself. Am I training my children to be royal? Do they see that their mom is a part of the royalty because I treat everyone with dignity? (including them?!) Do they know their dad is also part of the royal priesthood by his actions?
What a challenge! Staying close to the Word can be a challenge when life's busy schedule keeps us going from morning to evening!

Go Serve Your King! (from Todd Friel)

Talking The Walk

2005-09-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

As you can probably guess, I am an avid supporter of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron's ministry. http://www.wayofthemaster.com

Here's a link of a new adventure for them. http://www.ttwministries.com/wotmr.htm

Todd Friel is from the Twin Cities and has a program called Talk The Walk on http://www.kkms.com everyday from 3pm- 6pm.

Sampling Tea

2005-09-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

So far, I've only written about personal happenings in my life. Food and drink are two of my other passions! (how many can a person have?!) I found this site where you can register to receive tea samples and then create recipes with those samples. My mind is flying with ideas. Chai Amaretto Cheesecake with a Toasted Almond Crust? The possibilities are endless.

If this sounds like something you want to try visit http://www.teachef.com

Not Everything is Logical

2005-09-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

There are times in my life when I can't be logical about certain subjects. I really don't like that because I like to think things through to a logical conclusion. I was reminded of a Bible verse that speaks to that. The Creator of My Soul made me to be "unlogical" at times!

Proverbs 30:18-19 (New International Version)
18 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.

Love is not logical! It happens, you can't think straight, you marry, you have children, years later, you can still be "non-logical" when it comes to your soulmate! I am still in love with the husband of youth!

Watching

2005-09-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

With all that is happening in the South, it's a good time to remember to watch. Does that sound strange?! Yes, I said watch! As believers we are called to be witnesses for Christ. Now is not the time to point fingers, place blame or anything else negative. Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon.

"The sins of disciples of Christ are a thousand times worse than the sins of unbelievers, because they sin against a gospel of love, a covenant of mercy, against a sweet experience and against precious promises." - Charles Spurgeon

I am humbly reminded to watch my words and guard my thoughts!

Tugging the Apron Strings

2005-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

When he was born, seasoned parents would tell us, "Enjoy these times, it goes by so fast!" Through the fog of my sleep deprived eyes, I could only nod and try to restrain my urge to scream! It's hard to be reasonable when you've not had a decent night of rest for months!

Today, he started first grade! Ok, I admit, "it" did go fast! As I unpacked some crayons and school ecrutement I neatly arranged them in his desk and told him to keep it this way! (I know it lasted until Miss Doherty said "open your desks"!) He sat down in his seat and observed his new classmates. I stood behind him wondering if I should leave or stay. His brother stood out in the hallway, scowling. I kissed him good bye and told him I loved him. His look said, "I'll be fine!" I was in a slight daze for the next few hours because my first born just started all day school! I tried to get his pre-school age brother to articulate that he was missing his brother too. All he could say is "I'm hungry". (He was scowling because I made him leave the house before he finished his breakfast.)
I feel like I've entered into a new phase! What the phase is, I'm not sure! It's new. The apron strings are not so tight.

Wild Flower Camping

2005-08-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

When the invitation to join in on a neighborhood camp out came, we rsvp'd "YES" immediately. Six families from our neighborhood joined in the fun! The days were filled with fishing (none caught), swimming (sunburns caught), volleyball and of course great food! A cribbage tournament was held by the adults, the winner is still yet to be determined. The tournament went into the night and was played by the light of a Coleman lamp. Ghost in the graveyard kept the kids busy for awhile. Around the campfire was heard many a scary ghost stories (funny how the same stories that scared me as a kid are still being told by today's kids). Burnt marshmallows, s'more's, charred hotdogs, and some really tasty breakfasts were had from the campfire.
We'll do it again next year!

A Tempest

2005-08-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

When you read about physcopathic people and their acts, you can sigh and say "What is the world coming to?!" When it happens in your own family, the violation you feel is intense.
My brother, wife and teen age daughter live in the middle of an Illinios cornfield. Last Thursday morning, about 5:30 am a loud kaboom rang out from the attached garage. The sound woke my sister in law, who hurried to open the garage door. Smoke billowed into the house. While cleaning up the mess, they discovered a home made bomb stuck into the gas tank of my neice's car. What?!!? Later on in the day, my brother found yet another bomb stuck into the mailbox. Apparently, a young man who was turned down by my neice (she has standards) was still angry.
By the grace of God, their house did not burn down and the mailbox bomb did not detonate. Yes, it can happen to your family. Nothing of this nature has ever occured in my family before and it has struck us to the core.

Isaiah 54:16-17 (New King James Version)
16 “ Behold, I have created the blacksmith, who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,”Says the LORD.

This is part of the passge that my brother had read in his devotional time the morning before this horrible incident. To God Be The Glory!

Spring

2005-08-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

She was just 2 years old when he came into the world. By his second summer, they were fast playmates.
In his third summer, he informed me "Mama, she's my girlfriend!" Ok, I thought, "What does he know about girlfriends?"
His fourth summer, they played hide and seek and performed plays on the backyard picnic table.
Now in his sixth summer, she's almost 9 years old. He's almost 7. Her idea of fun is getting dressed up in Brittney Spears-type clothing with make-up. As she wiggles and dances her way around the neighborhood, he's wondering "What happened to my playmate/girlfriend?!" His reaction to the difference is "You need to get some clothes on!"

"Dear boy, I explained today, "she wants to play girl things like Barbies, house, and dress-up." His deep chocolate eyes peered into mine, he had no words, no understanding of this new development. He's trying so hard to understand. "It's not about you", I say.

How do I explain? Lord, give me strength to walk my child through this life change!

Winter

2005-08-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

To every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today I started a new job or should I say, my calling has been heard and answered. I am now a proud member of CAREgivers for Home Instead Senior Care.
My first assignment was for 3.5 hours. The aging husband and wife live in assisted living. Many thoughts went through my brain as I considered what my task would be. Would they be happy, confused, grumpy, mundane....? My first hour was uneventful as they had full bellies from lunch. I woke the husband because the previous CAREgiver had told me that he needed to go to the Cookie Social that afternoon. As I waited for him to slowly crawl out of bed, I noticed a photo of a 1968 Camero on the wall. I had to ask, "Is that your baby?" You all know what the answer was....YES! That's the fastest car on the road. Followed by the technical stuff about the car. His wife came back from her afternoon stroll and joined our lively conversation. We covered the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, salmon fishing off the Sound in Washington State, sports, and other points of interest.
We never made it to the Cookie Social but we had a social of our own! I could tell that all the talking had tired this former Winter Carnival King Boreas.
Though the minds aren't as sharp, wonderful memories of day past filled our present.