Day 31 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

First of all, let me correct something from yesterday's post that my sister brought to my attention.  Mom would be 78 after her birthday yesterday, NOT 82!  I told Kim I thought 82 sounded older than I thought she was and told her I needed to work on my math skills by using the calculator from now on!  :D  Kim also told me if mom were alive and I wished her a happy 82nd birthday when she was actually only 78 she would've given me one of her famous (to us kids) aggravated LOOKS!  I can see the look now!  :D  Sometimes the "look" meant, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it!"  At other times the "look" meant, "I'll slap you into tomorrow if you don't straighten up!"  Sometimes the only "look" you saw was the back side of her hand as it landed on our mouth!  OUCH!  Mom was not a big woman, standing in at 5'4" but she could handle herself quite well!  We knew not to cross her!  I can remember one punishment like it happened yesterday.  I don't even know what I had done.  All I remember is being outside in the yard when we lived in a farm house in Union, KY out near Big Bone Baptist Church.  I was running in circles around mom as she had hold of one of my arms with one hand and was whipping my bottom with a switch that was in her other hand.  My dog, Snowball, growled and barked at mom the whole time!

Anyway, I know it is probably hard for some of you to believe that I would EVER deserve such severe punishment, being the angel that you know me to be!  :D  And my siblings' opinions don't matter in this!  :P

OK, on to more important items of business!  Today was about 20 degrees above the normal temperature for this time of year.....as in winter!  We went to the nursing home to visit our oldest member, the one who broke his leg awhile back, if you recall my mentioning that.  They have called the family in, so if you think to pray for the Wheeles family, pronounced Wheel-less, please do.  But we were talking about the warmer-than-usual weather with the daughters that were there and they mentioned their crocuses and daffodils coming up already.  So as soon as we got back home I checked to see if any of my tulips were up yet.  Sure enough!  They are up a good bit!  I'll have to check the church tomorrow to see if anything is coming up over there.

Today's declutter item is an old visor that I haven't worn but maybe once or twice since we have been in NC, so into the trash it goes!

Until tomorrow..............

Day 30 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

I did finish the book I was reading, Papa's Wife.  Tonight I will begin reading, The Devil in Pew 7.

Today's activities included changing out the church sign, putting dishes away, regular e-mail stuff, finally plugging in the 2TB EHD that I got for my birthday and transferring all of my pictures and miscellaneous files to it, working on a top and hat for Abigail, fixing pulled pork BBQ, baked beans and seasoned potato wedges for supper and running to the store to get more lace for Abigail's outfit, second trip of the day, LOL!  Now, I'm ready to close down the computer and do some reading.

Here's a picture of what is done so far on Abigail's top and hat.  The reason I had to make another run for lace was because when I read the length of 3 feet on the first roll, I was thinking 3 yards!  So, needless to say I ran out of lace very quickly!  This is a summer top that is open in the back with 2 straps that button to hold the back together.  I'm fixing it slightly longer than the pattern calls for so she can wear it with some leggings.  I don't know if the hat will fit her or not since the Days and Brandenburgs all have big heads!  I plan to make a headband out of the material, too!  I was hoping to have enough material to make some little bloomers to go over her diapers, instead of wearing leggings, but I didn't have enough material!  Might have to crochet something instead!  It is kinda hard to see against the ironing board cover.  The material has little white hearts as the pattern.

My clutter item for today is this purse.  I used it for awhile to carry my camera in, but there's just not enough room by the time I add keys, wallet, etc.  So, back to the thrift it goes, from whence it came!  :D

Until tomorrow.................

Day 29 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Have you ever wondered if we will celebrate birthdays in Heaven?  I kinda doubt it because eternity is going to be a loooooooooooooooong time!  And, what would the point be?  To celebrate a birthday means you are celebrating another year of life God has allowed you to live.  All of that will end once we cross over into eternity.  There is no death in heaven, so we won't have to celebrate the gift of another year of life.....vs the alternative!  Heaven won't be about us, anyway!  It will be about praising God for the gift of eternal life through the forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood of His precious Son and we will worship Him forever!  WOW!  It is just hard for this finite mind to even imagine or comprehend!

But, that being said, today mom would have been 82 years old.  Living 82 years is even hard for me to imagine!  I'm sure mom is not concerned about today being her earthly birthday!  But, in case she does know what is going on down here on earth, I at least want her to know she isn't forgotten.  I miss her and want to say, Happy Birthday, Mom!  I love you and can't wait to see you again when we are reunited in eternity some day!

Today being Sunday, there was no decluttering done.  Not much computer work other than some free downloads and taking care of e-mail.  But I did lots of reading this afternoon and this evening.  And plan to do more before going to bed.  So, that being said  I leave you with a picture of the book I am just about to finish!  I'm on a roll!  My goal is to read at least 1 book a month this year.  This is my 2nd one!  The next one I plan to read is, "The Devin in Pew Seven."  That ought to be interesting!

Until tomorrow........................

Day 28 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Yesterday, I mentioned that I had a couple of frames that I was getting rid of as part of my decluttering adventure.  Then I got to thinking about one of the frames and a picture I painted that I had stuffed behind a cedar chest.  The frame on it is one that I had picked up at a yard sale Y.E.A.R.S. ago and it was about to fall apart.  So, I decided to make use of the two frames I was getting rid of.

Here's the picture with the badly worn frame.

 Here are the 2 frames I had for the decluttering.  The blue one had no glass.  The brown plastic one had a thin plexiglass type of glass.

I took the thin plexiglass from the light brown plastic frame, combined it with the blue frame, washed up the painting a bit and, Voila! now I have the painting hanging in my laundry room, until (or not) I think of a better place to hang it!

Here are the items for today's decluttering.  5 bars of Bath and Body Works Cotton Blossom Moisture-Rich Cleansing Bars.  They normally sold for $3.50 (back in the day) but I got them for a buck apiece when the fragrance was discontinued.  I had them in my dresser drawers but the fragrance was L.O.N.G. long gone!  As in gone before we even moved to NC 3 1/2 years ago!!!

No!  This fine specimen of a man is NOT part of my decluttering!  And that isn't a spaceman outfit, either!  I don't know what you call it, but I got it at Goodwill last year for catching the hair as I give him a haircut!  Best piece of plastic on a wire hoop you would ever buy!  :D  Sure saves having to sweep the floor of all the hair after the haircut!  Tim just walks outside and takes it off!  Then I dump the hair into the ditch between the church property and the field next to us.

Until tomorrow................

Day 27 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Yes, I am still alive!  I have just been EXTREMELY busy catching up on my Digital Scrapbooking Kit creations!  I'm finally at a breathing point!

It's a good thing I have already gotten rid of ALOT of clutter because I have not done any of that since we went on vacation back on the 12th!  I do have 2 frames and a decorating item that I found today to get rid of, but I don't have a picture to show you.  I know none of you will want them, anyway, so off to Goodwill they go!

And since it is very late (or early depending on how you want to look at it, lol.....1:17 a.m.) and since you know I am alive and well now, I shall say.....

Until tomorrow........................

Day 18 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

It has been one week since I posted a note for all of you.  Only because I did not have my google password to be able to log in on Kim's computer.  Guess I better get that password written down and carry it with me!

So, we left the house at 4:30 a.m. last Thursday, January 12th and arrived in Kim's area of FL at around 2:30 p.m.  She wouldn't be home til around 5:40, so we went to the beach at Cocoa because Tim wanted to go to the Dinosaur store there to look at their fossils.  We spent about an hour on the beach and then headed towards Kim's as we searched out Goodwill stores on the way.  It ended up that we met Kim at a Goodwill near her work and then went to her house for a delicious dinner of stew that had been working in the crockpot all day!  She took Friday off so we went to some more thrift stores and then Pam and Jesse and the kids came over to eat chicken lasagna.  Saturday morning Pam and the kids came to Kim's and we headed to a Bible conference/fellowship meeting at Jordan Baptist Church and came back home after eating lunch there.  Then we went to Pam and Jesse's for pizza.  Sunday, we attended church with Kim where Tim preached.  Sunday evening we went to the Bible Conference at Park Ridge Baptist Church in Gotha, FL.  This conference was our reason for traveling to FL in the first place.  Sunday evening we traveled the 1 1/2 hours back to Kim's to spend one more night with her before we headed back to Gotha for the rest of the conference and Kim went back to work.

The Bible Conference was great!  Really enjoyed listening to the Bluegrass Boys sing once again!  The preaching was great, too!  Tim has been invited to preach next year, so, Kim......I imagine we will be spending some more time with you next year!  :D

We left the Bible conference after lunch today and headed back home.  We are in Savannah, GA tonight and tomorrow night before making the rest of the trip back to Winston Salem on Friday.  Tomorrow we have reserved tickets for a Trolley tour of Savannah, GA.  It will be chilly in the morning, but the temp is to warm into the 60's.  A trolley will be picking us up right in front of the hotel we are staying in.....Hampton Inn.

Here's some pictures from the past week.  Until tomorrow.......

One kind lady offered to take our picture while at Cocoa Beach.

We visited Pam and Jesse and the kids early Friday afternoon before they came to Kim's for chicken lasagna later in the afternoon.

Kim was given a love bird and every once in awhile, she gives her a chance to bathe in a bowl at the kitchen sink.

Charity is writing down our address so she can write us a letter.  She is an EXCELLENT reader!  Pam is home schooling Charity and she has started working some with little Jesse.

Kim with 3 of the 4 grandchildren.....Jesse Jr., Charity and Faith.  This was the first time we had met Faith.  She was totally afraid of me at first!  By the time we left, she had warmed right up to us.

Hearing that Tim and I were going to be attending services with Kim on Sunday, her pastor invited Tim to preach, which he gladly accepted.

A group picture before we left church.

Kim and I in her computer room.

I took this picture on the way back to the services at the Bible Conference yesterday evening.  I commented to Tim, "tomorrow we leave the palm trees behind."  The weather was beautiful while there.  Too bad we didn't have more time to spend at the beach!

While waiting for the ladies to get lunch put out, the preachers attending the Bible conference gathered in the front for a picture.  15 men of God under one roof!  What a blessing.  Afterwards, they all sang, "Amazing Grace."  And it really IS amazing!

Day 11 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Not much to report today.  Since we are taking a trip, I worked in the laundry this morning while I cleaned up my e-mail.  Around noon, after eating lunch, I went to the post office to mail pictures to the girls (the Christmas pictures that were taken while they were here on 12-27 at JC Penney) and various other things and then I stopped at Walmart (what a surprise that is, huh?!) to pick up some things for the trip, filled the car with gas for the trip and then went back home.  I was burdened about having to run around in the rain, so I prayed that the Lord would see fit to, if not stop the rain at least slow it down when I had to be out of the car.  I'm happy to let you know that He answered my prayer!  The downpour had slowed considerably by the time I got to the post office (I took my mail in Walmart bags to keep it dry) and even though I still needed the umbrella, I felt doubly blessed because I also got a parking spot pretty close instead of having to park at the end of the mall parking lot.  And I hadn't even prayed for a close spot, just a drier walk!  It was the same at Walmart for the rain and the parking spot!  By the time I got done in Walmart, it had stopped raining for a bit.......so I was able to get gas without getting wet!  Thank You, Lord!

Helen Steiner Rice puts it this way:
No day is too dark
And no burden too great
That God in His Love
Cannot penetrate.

Today whatever occurs, whatever burden you shoulder, keep steadfast in your trust of God.  He cares about the seemingly insignificant things in our lives, too!

After I got back to the house, I worked on packing the suitcase and picking out my dress clothes I'll be wearing to the conference, and finished up the laundry.  After church I washed up the dinner dishes and did some more packing and the last load is in the dryer.  Now I'm packing up my stuff that will keep me busy while Tim drives and while in the hotel room in the evening.  I probably won't be doing much computer work, even though I'm taking my laptop and my EHD.......just in case!  But I'm taking a book to read and some crocheting/knitting to do.  Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch somewhat but I don't know what internet access we will have, if any before next Wednesday evening.

So, I pray each of you have a blessed rest of the week and weekend!  Until next time.......

Day 10 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

The only thing I got done around the house today was the dishes and I mopped the kitchen floor tonight.  We spent the day on the road. 

I was up until 3 a.m. to finish this book.  I got to within 16 pages and just could not focus on any more words.  But I finished it this afternoon, so instead of the book becoming clutter, I will pass it on for others to read.  The first one to re-read it will be one of the ladies who shared in the giving of the gift to me for Christmas.  And, since I've been gone most of the day, I don't have a layout, so this picture will suffice for my decluttering today.....but I have to say that I don't really consider this sort of thing as clutter!  But, I'm happy to share it!  I've always known it, but after reading her story of going through the communist prison camps, witnessing the whole while, and the suffering she went through as a Christian Romanian Jew.....and her husband.....we American Christians are soooooooooooooo soft!  We wouldn't survive what she went through!

That brings me to today's quote by Helen Steiner Rice:
Show me the way, not to fortune or fame,
Not to win laurels or praise for my name...
But show me the way to spread the great story
That Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

"To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary."  Psalm 63:2
Today concentrate on ways to spread the Good News.


Our weather for Wednesday is supposed to be rainy, so while we were out making our shut-in and sick visits today, we decided that today would be our thrifting day since we are leaving town on Thursday for a Bible conference in FL.

This picture is most of the clutter I've decluttered this week and last, except for the few items Liz wanted and Kim, my sister wanted.  I also added the 2 mops you see (aqua and green handles).

I found some material bargains today that I could not pass up (even tho I just said that I needed to NOT buy any more til I used what I had)!  This material will be used for some of the items I make for Liz's shop.  Those packs of neatly bound "fat quarters" would have cost me $12 at AC Moore.  My price.......$1!  Now that's what you call a bargain!  It is flannel material and I am hoping to make some cute gowns and pjs with it.  Haven't decided what I'll do with the other materials yet.  One is a DIY quilt kit with lots of fat quarters in it, too.  Lots of blues, so I'll have fun creating with it!  I paid more for it than I probably should have, but since it was brand new and had never been opened, I was willing to pay the $5 for it.  The other piece of material is probably 3 yards of material that I got for $1.  Also, 2 5x7 frames, brand new and still has the plastic cover on them for .99 cents each.  So, what you see cost us $10.

This evening we were invited to the Martin's house for dinner, members of our church.  It was in the 60's today and he grilled steaks for dinner.  They were delicious and we brought a doggy bag home!

Tomorrow I will be doing laundry and packing to get ready for our trip.  Until then.....

Day 9 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

I signed up for a newsletter from "My Simpler Life" and received a Declutter Calendar.  Not sure if that was a special deal when I signed up for it or not, but maybe you can check it out if you want.  It is an Adobe PDF file that includes 12 monthly calendars and each is set up with a daily decluttering item.  I won't be following it specifically, but if I get stuck, I thought it would give me some ideas for items to declutter.

Today's clutter came from my kitchen cabinets:  a 2-qt beverage container, 2 drink bottles,  crystal candle holders, decorative pumpkin dish, fall decorative simmer pot, citronella candles and 2 sets of picnic tablecloth holders. 

Once again, family, if you want any of it, first come, first served!

Well, we ate the last of the pumpkin pie tonight.  I told Tim that since the pie was gone, he might as well eat the rest of the whipped cream, too.  He took me at my word.......

Until tomorrow.....

Day 8 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Stop wishing for things
You complain you have not,
And start making the best
Of all that you've got.

says Helen Steiner Rice!  I think the "have nots" is what gets me into CLUTTER trouble!  I have to confess that when I was paper scrapping, I bought "stuff" just because it was cute!  Did I use it in my scrapbooking?  Very little of it did I actually use!  Mainly because I switched over to all digital.........but the DUMB thing was that I still bought the "cute" stuff!  Go figure!  So, when we left Buffalo I gave a TON of stuff to one of the scrapbookers at Buffalo Baptist.  I'm talking paper boxes full!  I sure hope she has been able to put it to good use!

And now that we hit the thrift stores every week, I am buying yarn, material, yada yada yada!  I need to STOP doing that, too.............at least until I use up what I already have!  Liz is going to have a shop for kids stuff that I am going to start working on making items for that will use up some of the yarn and material!  So, that will take care of that portion of my clutter.

Yesterday's clutter came (mostly) from the laundry room.  Here's a layout I did of the "little" pile of stuff.  And, by the way, I'm storing this decluttered stuff on my bench in the dining room until we can make a run to Goodwill.....I may have to make 2 trips!  :D  I've done pretty well this week, so I'm taking today off from my decluttering!  Day 8 page is at the bottom.  Until tomorrow.....

TODAY be happy with what you have - not discontent with what you don't have!

My pile consists of unused baskets, frames, a sun visor, wire hangers and a small tote bag.  I was hanging laundry back up in the bedroom and spied a couple pairs of flip flops that I decided to add to the pile.  I don't think I have to worry too much about anyone wanting any of this, but if you do, just let me know!

I will now show you some of the yarn and material I have to work on to get rid of!  Tim's mom donated alot of it and I have used lots of what she gave me, too!  But, I've added probably as much as she gave me.  Here's some of it that is stored not only in the laundry room, but my computer room.  I've been printing patterns galore to work up for the shop, Liz!  Now, to get started on them!  :D


Yarn in the computer room closet and material on shelves in the laundry room

More yarn in the laundry room in totes, on shelves and in drawers!  I've got my work cut out for me!  :D

And, here's my decluttering page for today.......a different kind of decluttering!  I used my "Love, the Greatest of These" page kit.

Day 7 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

The first week of the year will be over after today.  The weather is absolutely beautiful!  It is to be 65, the sun is shining and the sky is beautiful!

I told you yesterday that I was taking on a new 365 project this year of Decluttering.  Here is the blog you can visit if you are interested:  365 Less Things.  I have a designing friend, who has since retired from designing so that she can work in a ministry with her son's family.  I read her blog and she is the one that I got the 365 Less Things blog link from.  Take a look at her blog sometime.  It is Living Real.

So, for my first day of decluttering, I was in the kitchen fixing dinner to put in the oven when I "discovered" my first project.  Here is the layout I did.  I'll post the pictures below that and give you a run-down of the items in the piles.

Credits:  Bits and pieces from "A Fresh Start" kit, sampler and add-on

1st picture:  glass snowman cake plate and serving knife and a biscuit basket underneath
middle picture:  3 metal picnic "tents" to keep the flies off your food, 1 pizza "stone" and various metal serving trays
3rd picture:  punch bowl, cake plate, cookie plate, big Christmas serving tray.....all of these items are glass as you can see

So, if you have any interest in any of these (I'll save them for family til I see you next.......otherwise you will have to pay for the shipping) let me know and I'll save them from Goodwill for you!

One last picture to share with you.  This is how Tim likes to eat his pumpkin pie.....a little bit of pie with a WHOLE LOT of whipped cream!  :D

Today is laundry day, so I'm thinking my clutter will come from that room for today's decluttering!  Until tomorrow.......

Day 6 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Today I begin a new adventure through 2012.......decluttering one item a day from my "stuff."  I'm taking the challenge from Colleen's blog.  I will share the declutter item here.  If you want it, speak up before it goes in the trash or to Good Will!

My heart is heavy for my daughter today.  I have a special quote from Helen S Rice for her as she is troubled about having to leave her babies and go back to work because she wants to be a stay-at-home mom so very badly.  Her husband is out of work and has been for almost a year, so she has to go back two weeks earlier than she had planned.  Please say a prayer for her when you think of her.  Pray the Lord will see fit to give her husband a good job so she can live her dream.....all of this, if the Lord wills.

Trouble is only a challenge
To spur you on to achieve
The best that God has to offer
If you have the faith to believe!

A verse:  "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  Mark 9:24

The man in this verse had a son that had been demon possessed since he was a child.  Can you imagine how hard that would be to watch your child go through?  He would foam at the mouth and go into convulsions.  He would fall into the fire and into the water as the demon tried to destroy him and claim his soul.  No wonder this father cried out in tears.  He wanted to believe the Lord could heal his son but think of all the doctors this man probably had taken his son to and they couldn't do anything.....the disciples couldn't do anything even though Jesus had given them power to cast out demons.  All of this would cause doubt that your child would ever be healed, no matter what you had heard about how good your next prospective doctor (or Healer, in this case) was.  As long as your child is alive, you never give up hope that something might be done some day to cure whatever ills they have, be it troubles of their own making or some dreaded sickness they had no control over. But the longer you go without answers to your specific prayer, the more doubt there is that creeps in.  The good news to this story, the Lord came "just in time" to heal the child!

The Lord understands our concerns and our human limitations, that's why he didn't rebuke the man for his unbelief!  I told my daughter to "cry out" to the Lord and then wait on Him to work things out in His time.  He is never too late!  Obviously it is not His will for her to be at home just yet.  I'm praying that the Lord gives her peace and contentment in her circumstances of the moment.  Will you pray with me, asking the Lord's will be done?


It is to be 60* here today!  I thought I would share some "warm" pictures with you as I know some of you who will be reading this have much colder temps than that.......even snow!  Until tomorrow.......

My "pinks" are blooming again!  Look how green the plants are!

 I haven't taken any picture of "us" in awhile, so here ya go!  (I'm kind of hoping the only snowflakes we see this year are the ones on my sweater!  However, I would not be upset with ONE good snow!  That means 2-3 inches collected on the ground AT MOST!  :D  )

 Our garden is still growing!  These are onions!  Even the frosty nights have not hurt them!

Day 5 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Guess what today is?  Time to put the Christmas decorations and tree back in storage.  My snowmen will stay out for quite awhile, however!  I love snowmen.  They will never have as much character as the crafted ones, which are the ones I love, anyway!  You can keep the real ones!  I prefer to look at mine and enjoy them in the warmth of my home where they can't melt all over the place!  They have been my inspiration for some of the snowmen I have created for my digital kits, too!  I'll have to share those with you someday.

Since Tim and I will be traveling to FL next week, we are going to eat lunch here today before we head out to our thrift stores.  There are some things you just can't give up!  Thrifting is one of them!  :D

Those of you who are interested in knowing, the man who almost lost his leg earlier in the week is going home from the hospital today!  Praise the LORD!  Thanks to all who prayed!  God is gracious to sinners and He is gracious to His children!  I know I am sure thankful that He shows His grace to me every day!  And He doesn't hold grudges!  He completely forgives and throws our sins into the depths of the sea!

Helen Steiner Rice puts it this way:

We are all God's children, ***
And He loves us - every one,
And completely forgives
All that we have done.

***If you are saved, you are God's child, spiritually speaking.  Those who are not saved do not belong to God's family, so they are not His children.  They belong to their father, the devil.  But, He does love each and everyone of His creatures, just not the sin of His creatures.  Aren't you glad He forgives us when we ask?

Until tomorrow.....


What do you see in the reflection?

Ready to be boxed up and stored for yet another year, which will pass quicker than the last!

Day 4 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Woke up with a headache today (so what else is new?!)  It hung around most of the day.....just a dull ache.....just enough to be aggravating!  But, since I took my tylenol PMs (generic brand) it has finally gone away!  Just in time for me to go to bed!  At least I should be able to go to sleep with no problem!

Today I worked on a digital kit, the elements portion, of a collaboration I'm doing with a fellow designer from Digitals.  She is a super sweet lady!  Lives in Louisiana.  She lost her husband not too long before Christmas last year.  Very sad to lose a spouse anytime, but right before the holidays must really be tough!  But, there is a purpose in it, even though we cannot see one!  Today's quote from Helen Steiner Rice is:

We love the sound of laughter
And the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
If we never shed a tear.

I never thought of a good reason for the need of tears before!  I could still do without them on numerous occasions!  I hate when the emotions are running on high gear and I can cry at the drop of a hat!  Oh, well!  Some day we will not shed anymore tears!  What a glorious day that will be!

Today appreciate the importance of both laughter and tears.

Until tomorrow.....

Day 3 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

I have one of those perpetual calendars that just has the days listed and no year.  The one I have happens to have quotes from Helen Steiner Rice and a scripture for each day, along with an inspirational "action" to be taken.  I love it.  I believe a Secret Sister when we were at Buffalo Baptist Church got it for me.  Anyway, I think after this year I will get a new one of the same type as the quotes and verses are very inspirational to me. 

Today's quote is:

Games can't be won
Unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered
Unless they are prayed.

The verse is:
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight."  Proverbs 15:8
(The verse is not always KJV but I usually look up the KJV as I think it is beautiful and that's what I grew up and continue to grow up with.)

The inspirational "action" to take:
Today pray with a sincere heart.  Pray earnestly and constantly.


Yesterday we spent all afternoon in the hospital with a family from church.  Long story short, the father was possibly going to lose his leg.  The doctors had many options they wanted to try with amputation being the last resort, of course.  We had started the church prayer chain earlier in the day.  After 2 hours in surgery, a stint was inserted and blood-flow began again to the lower part of the leg, PRAISE the LORD!  Normal color and warmth began to return to the lower part of the leg.  Tears of joy and a prayer of rejoicing was offered to the Lord!  Praises to the Lord were offered as I notified those who had been praying throughout the day.  Today the only difference between the man's 2 legs are the X marks the doctor made on the "bad" leg for whatever purposes.  Praise the LORD!  The LORD's will was done as He delighted in our prayers.  Did our prayers change His will?  No.  It was His good pleasure to save the leg.  It was our good pleasure to depend on Him alone to save the leg.  In that total dependence, we were His delight!  When the doctor talked to the mom to tell her the surgery was a success, she said aloud to the doctor, "Thank God!"  The doctor replied, "Yes, thank God!" 

So, today, if you have a need, PRAY!

Day 2 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Thirty two years ago today, Tim and I became parents.  Nothing has been the same since.  The object of our new, unconditional love, was Jessica Ann.  She came into our world in a BIG way!  Weighing in at 10 lbs. 7 1/2 oz. it was love at first sight!  I remember dad stopping by to see me and his first grandchild on his way home from work.  He cried at the joy and the miracle of it all.  I didn't know how he felt until Jessica gave us our first grandchild.  I cried, too!  And, I cry now just remembering.  The pictures have the journaling below, except the comparisons between Jessica and Thad.

 I remember Tim being surprised that Jessica had her eyes open "already" like she was a puppy and shouldn't!  She is 2 days old.

 3 days old and a little more alert for her first "professional" photo shoot.

 The night before bringing her home, we had a big snow then ice on top of it!  We could not get up the driveway, so I had to walk this mess when we got home!  Tim carried Jessica and Tim's dad walked me up the hill.

4 days old...what a great sleeper she was/is!  :D

 Look at this handsome, young man holding his baby daughter!

 Here is one proud grandpa!  She was 5 weeks old and dad stopped by after he got off of work at the airport.

  This picture looks like Thad to me.....what do you think?  Thad is below.  Jessica was 6 weeks old.

Here's another one of Jessica that reminds me of Thad somewhat.  Taken March 30, 1980

We didn't get many pictures of mom.  And when you got them, she usually was not looking directly at the camera!  This was taken March 23, 1980.

And, 32 years later, Jessica is busy with raising her boys and husband (I meant to say it that way, LOL!  Love ya, Terry!  :P )   Mom and dad would be proud as dad and I are and I/we love you very much, precious baby girl!  Wish they could've gotten to know all of their great grandchildren!  I know they loved all of their grandchildren very much!  This picture below was taken 12/28/2011.

Until tomorrow.....