Sack Lunches

I do not know where this story originated.  I got it from my MIL.  Even if perhaps it is ONLY a story, it has a powerful message.  And even if you have read it before, read it again.  Then read my comments at the end.

"I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.  It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read.  Perhaps I will get a short nap' I thought.  Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided to start a conversation.  'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.  'Petawawa.  We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.  As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.  Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.  I'll wait till we get to base.'  His friend agreed.  I looked around at the other soldiers.  None were buying lunch.  I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.  'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'  She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.  Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.  'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'  Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.  She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'  'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.  She turned and went to the front of the plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.  'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.  A man stopped me.  'I saw what you did.  I want to be part of it.  Here, take this.'  He handed me twenty-five dollars.  Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.  When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'  Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand.  With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot.  Once, someone bought me a lunch.  It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'  I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.  A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.  He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.  When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.  Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.  Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.  I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.  'It will take you some time to reach the base.  It will be about time for a sandwich.  God Bless You.'  Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.  As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.  These soldiers were giving their all for our country.  I could only give them a couple of meals.  It seemed so little.

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'  That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'"

My Comments:
I'm reminded of a Savior who, at one point in his life, wrote a check made payable to the Heavenly Father for the amount to cover every one of my sins, past, present and future.  It was signed with His life's blood and stamped "Paid in Full" by the Heavenly Father!  And, not only my sins, but all the sins of every believer, past, present and future!  He gave His all for us knowing we have nothing to offer Him in return.  All He wants is our love and obedience.

Don't dishonor Him by trying to work your way into His heaven!  It is by His grace that you are saved, through faith, which is also a gift of God.  Faith is not found in yourself through working for it by being a good person.  Otherwise, you would be able to boast and take credit for it being your salvation, not God's!  (Ephesians 2:8, 9)  And, if you could get to heaven on your own merits, why would Jesus have to sacrifice His life?  If you are not placing your full confidence in His sacrifice on the cross for YOUR sins, you will not have an eternal home in heaven.

Fewer and fewer people are being taught the truth of repentance and faith for salvation. There MUST be a realization of sin's condemnation and the need to repent (turn away from) all sin.  Romans 6:23 tells us "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" and Romans 10:9, 10 tells us "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Revival Begins with Me

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Lord, send a revival and let it begin with me?"  This is so much better than saying, "Too bad so and so wasn't here because they sure needed that message!"  We all slide away from God every day because sin in our lives breaks our fellowship with the Lord.  And if we don't confess that sin, we keep sliding further and further away.  And I'm convinced that, since God is sovereign over all, He knows how to get the message sent to us that we need to hear that will draw us back to Himself.  Tonight's message was taken from James 1 and focused mainly on the Word of God and what our response to it's instructions should be.  Verse 22 is very clear, "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only."  How often do we listen to God's Word being expounded only to have it "go in one ear and out the other?"  Or while reading it, your mind wonders off in all kinds of directions so that you don't get a thing out of what you just read?  God gave us His Word so it can be effectual in our lives as we live and serve Him.  But, it isn't going to be effectual if we aren't doers after we read it!  I'm so glad He is patient with His children!  The message that was needed tonight will be needed again in the near future, unfortunately!

I worked on finishing up the dress for Abigail that I showed you a picture of in an earlier post.  As it turns out, I'm still not done, even though I have finished the sleeves.  You cannot tell from the picture, but one sleeve (on the left as you are viewing it) has one "scallop" too many, so I'm going to have to rip it out and try again!  But, here is basically what it will look like.  I love it!

 I had not taken a picture of Tim and myself for quite a while.  And the reason I did this one was because Tim is going to be preaching revival in WV in October and the pastor wants a picture to use in a flyer.  I took my glasses off because of the reflection that always is distracting.  I took several with a flash first, but they all ended up with that shadow behind our heads, even though we were standing a pretty good distance from the wall.

 Today we had rain literally all day long.  A nice, steady, farmer's rain as Tim called it.  About 5:00 the clouds finally began to break up and let some sunshine through.  We are supposed to have more rain through Friday before the system moves out.

OK, that's it for tonight.  Love to all.

My Intention in the First Place

I should know better than to continue sewing when I start making mistakes and have to rip the stitching out and re-do it!  ARGH!!  Being tired was the culprit, I'm sure!  BUT, alas!  I DID get Hannah's skirt completed today, from start to finish! 

The weather was overcast today, but it did get warmer.  I could tell it was warmer in the house and really too hot for my sweatshirt and jeans I was wearing!  I had to go out today and get a few groceries and a zipper for Kara's skirt.  So it is finished and boxed up to mail tomorrow!

Here's a few pictures from my day.  Love to all!

I gathered the waist of Hannah's skirt with elastic, but the waist looks big to me.  If it is too big, we will just adjust the elastic.  I did the hem differently than Kara's........I should've stuck with the way I did Kara's as it was MUCH easier!  But, the skirt turned out cute, don't you think?  :D

 I haven't looked into it yet, but I am going to begin a compost pile.  Here's some banana peels, green pepper left overs and potato skins are on the bottom.  I'll let you know how the composting goes!

 Can you see some yellow in the trees?  Didn't take much cooler weather before the leaves began their fall changes.  I LOVE the fall!  Can't wait to see those reds and oranges!

 I took a few pictures of the remains of summer's bounty.  I don't remember what this flower is called, but you can see I didn't interrupt the fly/bee??  I don't know for sure which it is.  All of my flowers are just about gone.  But the LORD is good to give us some beautiful flowers all the way into fall!

 And, here's the last of the veggie garden...3 green pepper plants that had been lost in the bushiness of the tomato plants.  After Tim removed the tomato plants, these started growing again and blooming.  Don't know how much longer they will survive, but they are still blooming!  They got so tall that Tim had to stake them!

More Projects

WOW!  I sure have been getting stuff done lately!  Here's Thursday and Friday's report card :)

Here's a picture of the cold front moving in last night.  We had a high of 60 today.  The temperature stayed @ 72 all day in the house.  I didn't even get hot fixing dinner!  :D

 Here's Abigail's sweater/dress (I haven't decided which it will be yet) showing you the colors in it and how the skirt is going to look.  I am making the pattern my own by changing it up a bit.  We will see how it turns out and I'll let you compare it to the original pattern.

 Tim said last night that since the weather was going to be cooler today that a bowl of chili would be awfully good!  So, I made a big pot and canned 4 more quarts of it besides what we had for dinner and left overs!  Since I was cooking anyway, I decided to make enough to can since I was already in the makings, anyway!  It doesn't take much longer to fix a BIG batch compared to a normal batch.  Will save time down the road!

Liz posted this cute picture of Abigail on FB today, so I just HAD to do a page of it.  What a sweetie!

 Another project I began today was fixing Hannah and Kara some patchwork skirts with some bits and pieces of material that I have around.  This one is done except for finishing up the waist.  This one is for Kara.  I cut the waist to the exact size, which I should not have done because I wanted to make it a stretchy waist with elastic.  Well, now I've got to buy a zipper to put in it since I cut it to the exact measurement of Kara's waist.  But, I think it turned out really cute!  Hannah's will be very similar, but I do intend to make hers a stretchy waist.

That's it for today!  Time for bed!  Love to all!

Busy-ness

I haven't posted much in awhile, so thot I would catch you up with some pictures and explanations to go with them!

Saturday, Sept. 10 - A beautiful day!  We attended a wedding, which was held outside.  After we got home around 3 we decided we would go to Pizza Hut so we could bring the extra home for Tim watching football Sunday evening.  While out, we stopped at Walmart and I took this picture of the sky.  Kinda looks like God used a feather to put the little wisps of clouds in the sky.

Sunday, Sept. 11 - I cleaned up the basil plants that had run amuck and decided to dig for the potatoes.  Remember, earlier in the summer I had a potato that had turned into an "eye" sore?  I cut it in half and planted it in the herb "garden" as an experiment, really.  Well, I either dug them too early, or they were planted too late and were not going to make it anyway.  Not even enough to mess with, so they went into the trash.  I'll have to learn more about them for next year's gardening adventures.............maybe!

Monday, Sept. 12 - I saw these growing out close to the road and got a few good pictures.

We had 3 tomatoes left from the plants Tim planted and they were starting to go bad.  So, I decided to use them to make Chicken Cacciatore since I had a green pepper from our garden, too.  While I was at it, I decided to experiment with cooking brown rice in the crockpot............and since I was going to be using 2 of the 3 crocks, I decided to add the (frozen) veggies, too.  I should've added them to the pot alot sooner because the green beans were way to crunchy!  But, the meal was great!

Tuesday, Sept. 13 - I finally got the sewing machine unburied and did some sewing today.  This is the head to the stuffed turtle I made for Abigail for Christmas.  A lady at church gave me this Sears Kenmore sewing machine as it was just sitting in her garage collecting dust since she had bought a portable one.  I asked her how old she thought the machine was.  She said early 1970s maybe, but her husband thought she had gotten it earlier than that!  It runs beautifully!

 Here's Abigail's turtle.  It was very easy to make!  My kind of project!  Quick from start to finish!  If it isn't, I get bored with it!  :D

 While I had the sewing machine going, I converted this bigger note holder from the thrift store into one that Tim could carry in his shirt pocket.  After I finished these 2 projects, I began a sweater for Abigail.  See picture below.

 Wednesday, Sept. 14 - I told Brad last year that I would crochet him and Ryan some blaze orange vests for their hunting expeditions.  I created a pattern and sent it to Liz for measurements.  She sent me the measurements today and I started and finished Ryan's.  I thought there would be more "give" to it than there is, so I am sure hoping it will fit him!  I'm considering doing Brad's differently because of the fact of it not being very stretchy!  I hate the thot of resorting to knitting as that will take so much longer, but we shall see!

Here's what I have done so far on Abigail's sweater.  This is the yoke of the sweater.  LOTS of counting to do!  It is a mint green baby thread that I got from Tim's mom.

That's it for me as far as pictures goes.  Other scrapbook designing stuff has kept me pretty busy, too.  I'm in a designer contest this month and am still in the competition so far!  Tomorrow morning I'll find out if I move on to round 3 or not..  Go to my other blog if you want to see the free kits.  Love to all!

What's missing..................Faith,__________, Charity

The answer is HOPE!  But, Hope is not missing any longer!  We have another baby added to the Brandenburg clan................here's a note from my sister, Kim, whose daughter, Pam delivered her 4th baby (3rd girl) last night.  If you don't know, the girls' names are Charity, Faith and now Hope!  I got the following note from Kim at approximately 12:55 a.m. this morning:

"Well, Hope was born at 10:40pm (Sept. 11).  She (Pam) almost didn't make it.  She had a contraction and went on her knees in front of the elevator, her water broke.  She crawled into the elevator and then shortly she had her (Hope).  7# 12oz, not sure if they told them how long she was.   Jesse called me at about 10:45pm and said she had the baby and I said what!!  Had the kids get dressed and I dressed Faith and we went to the hospital to see Hope."

At 9:01 last night, Kim had sent me this note:


"Well, Pam has been having contractions.  So it looks like Hope will be here by tomorrow (Sept. 12).  They were going to induse her Monday morning at 6:30am, but looks like they will not have to.  She was wanting to come on her own.  So she and I both have been praying that if it was the Lords will, let her come without being indused.  I'll let you know the out come tomorrow sometime probably.  I'm off work tomorrow and Tuesday for grandma duties."

CONGRATS, Pam, Jesse and family!  Now, that's MY kind of baby-delivering!  :D  Thank You, LORD, for a safe delivery!

AND..........Happy Birthday, Christmas, etc, etc to me...................

I was in Penney's today and saw this marked down 50%...............so I got one!  Let my children come home now!  :D  Sorry it is small..................I got lazy and used a picture from the internet!

My new Triple Slow Cooker Buffet & Serve.  I can use one pot or all three!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my WONDERFUL M-I-L

All because of you (and God, of course!) I have my WONDERFUL husband!  And he is so wonderful because of your guidance!  Hope you have a WONDERFUL day!  Love you!

Baby Blues

I finished the baby Jones blanket, all but tying the loose strands where I had to add more yarn.  But that won't take long!  I talked to Jessica today and told her it was almost done.  The only thing I want to try to do to it is add a soft receiving blanket to the side that will be next to baby as this is acrylic yarn and not meant to caress a baby's soft skin!  Hope you like it, Jessica!  I love the pattern!  Love, mom!

What Does Christmas Have in Common With Canning?

NOTHING............other than that is what today's post is about!  :D

I get a newsletter from AC Moore (craft store for those of you who may not know) with a 60% off one regular priced item for Saturday, September 3rd, between the hours of 9 and 11 am.  Since I have started my Christmas shopping.............................(I'll wait for those of you who need to pick yourself back up after that amazing news  :0) ...........................I knew what department I wanted to head to in the short amount of time I had for shopping on the first Saturday of our Fall visitation program.................the kids' department!  And, I found the perfect gift for Ryan (and his dad).............only, it will be for his birthday, not for Christmas.

AC Moore price - $39.99.  My price after coupon - $16.00!  CHA-CHING!


 I am wondering if my kids remember me reading the Bobbsey Twins books to you as children?  Well, I found 7 books from the set (of I don't know how many) at AC Moore for $1 each!  I asked the clerk if they had the others or knew anything about getting them.  She said it was just a random shipment and they stuck them on the floor to sell!  Anyway, I need the moms of the grandkids to let me know if these would be something that you think the kids would be interested in for Christmas gifts.  If not, I'll keep them for when they come to visit.  There are no pictures in these books, btw!

OK, that takes care of the Christmas portion of this post.  As far as the canning is concerned, I did some canning today while fixing lunch!  My, how industrious I have become lately!  :D  Actually, the reason I did it was because I was thinking about going to Jessica's house when the baby is due and I want to fix some things ahead of time for Tim to heat and eat while I'm gone.  So, that is how today's canning got started!

I fixed a big pot of chili for lunch and decided to save some of it for Tim to be able to heat and eat while I'm gone in November.  Can you believe I'm actually thinking that far ahead?  2 Quarts for future use!  :D  I LOVE IT!

First Christmas, now this!  WHOA!!  I think Jessica D is behind all of this somehow!  JK!  :D  Now if  I could just get her behind cleaning up my computer room!  :D  My problem is I'm too ambitious................I work on too many projects all at once!  So, I hate to keep putting things away when I know I'm going to be dragging them out again sooner than later!  So, they get piled............er, stacked!     Oh well!

Off to WV

Today we are headed to WV to the Preacher's Fellowship.  It is raining this morning here at home.  I have lots of computer work, so I am hoping it is totally CLOUDY for our trip today!  Other than that, it is almost impossible to use my laptop cuz' the screen reflects so badly!  Have a blessed day!

The way I like to can.................

I remember when mom would spend HOURS upon HOURS, DAY after DAY in the basement canning green beans and tomatoes!  I don't really remember that she canned anything else, but I'm sure she did!  Well, that just isn't my idea of fun and it's probably about as cheap these days to just buy the canned green beans from the store!  But, I have enjoyed canning the few things I have this summer.  3 1/2 quarts of sweet refrigerator pickles, 3 1/2 quarts of salsa and now 3 quarts of green beans.  And Tim was the one that snapped the green beans last night while watching TV, which made it even nicer!  Who knows!  Maybe next year I'll even can some cucumber soup!  Just kidding!


These were the cleanest, un-bug-eaten green beans I think I ever remember seeing!

 I had just a few that I dared not squeeze into the jars, but put them in the fridge.  Don't they look pretty?!

I have to admit, however, that even these green beans did not escape my burning touch!  sigh!  I don't know what it is about me and green beans, but I have to burn every batch I cook for some reason!

I am trying sooooooooooo hard to keep the top of this stove looking brand new!  So, I have found that this Soft Scrub is my new best friend!  I don't know how long we will be chummy, but for now this is my cooking buddy!  I'm even getting rid of my cast iron skillets!  Why?  Because the instructions tell you specifically to not use them on this glass top!  I know that is why the stove at Buffalo was messed up because the cast iron skillets were Tim's favorite skillets to use!  He LOVED the way he could brown foods in them.  Me.....#1 they are just too heavy and #2 I can get a nice "brown" in any skillet.............or pan, for that matter!  Just look at the picture above if you don't believe me!  :D