You never know what you'll find...

Spring is in the air... it’s 72 degrees here today and a beautiful day.

Closet Shopping...

We are still “de-cluttering” and I have been going shopping in my closet. This has been great for my pocketbook. In digging through all the green plastic bins and the back of my closet, I have found clothes I’d forgotten I had and still are quite fashionable with adding a few accessories. Some of course are WAY too small and I really don’t have a hope of ever getting back into them. But some I’m very close to wearing again and should be able to in a few months. Since I’ve been sticking pretty closely to my ADA diet, I’ve lost a few pounds. I just need to get serious about the walking and the exercise!

Bud carried off 6-HUGE bags of clothes to the thrift store Friday and we still have a lot to sort through. I promised myself if I dropped it in the bag, I couldn’t take it back out! So far so good! Now we need to start on his!

Bud’s next project after he’s through setting up the canoe as a bog garden/fish pond is to clean and reorganize the garage. Although, our garage does not even begin to look like some in our neighborhood. We are in a subdivision that was built in the late 70’s & early 80’s, so most of the kids are off to college or married and the garages are so packed you cannot even walk through them. I know, I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Ours isn’t quite that bad, yet! I hope never. We do have some of our kids stuff in the garage and under the stairwell in the basement. But you can (carefully) walk through our garage.

To give you an idea of how we classify as genuine “packrats”... I have a bonnet hair-dryer in A-1 condition from when I was in high school. I kid you not! I still have my Brother Word processor with the black screen and bright yellow font! Again, in A-1 condition. Know anyone who would like to acquire these items? Please let me know! I just might get up enough gumption to part with them (and more). Bud just purchased a book and when he got home realized he had the original 1936 version. I can’t say too much to him as I’ve done the same thing and bought a book twice. We are so bad! They change the book covers on you now and republish the same book with a different cover and supposedly an “updated” version.

I have (kind of) promised our kids that we would sort through all the clutter and OLD PAPERS so they wouldn’t have too when that time comes. I’m afraid they wouldn’t go through all the bins and boxes and would just set a dumpster in the drive and start chucking. Although, I do believe they realize some of the “stuff” has value, monetarily and as family heirlooms/keepsakes.

Well, we will keep plodding along on the de-cluttering process. But it will have to wait until I get through my CE study and exams for my State License renewal. Then I have to take my companies BANK course and exam. All this before our Tennessee District Ladies Conference March 19-21! I’ll be ready for a break and a time of REFRESHING!

I want to be outside digging in the flowerbeds getting my hands dirty and feeling the soil sift through my fingers.

Have a blessed weekend and enjoy...while I go back to my studies!

Technorati Tags: Clutter,Decluttering,family,springtime,stuff,closet shopping,garage,reorganize

Bless the LORD, O my soul...

 

I woke this morning with a heavy heart and "my spirit" was downhearted.  Not totally aware of the reason for my downheartedness, I worked through the morning, being careful NOT to let my spirit reflect outwardly.  

At 1:30pm I jumped into my car for my hour lunch break thinking I was going to run some errands like I usually do.  I soon found myself  parked in a parking lot just down the street from where I work, asking myself "what am I doing here?"  I soon discovered the reason I had parked.

Grabbing my Bible out of my satchel, I opened immediately to Psalm 103... these words jumped out at me: (the underlining is my emphasis)

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

I then read on:

Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Read all the verses... but then again beginning with vs.17:

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children.

To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all.   (Read on...)

The last verse of Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.  Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Well, needless to say, after reading this chapter... my heart was once again refreshed and full of God's love and mercy and my faith and trust in His will was strengthened!  How could I ever have doubts about His will?  After all these years.... you'd think I'd have learned to trust Him in ALL things, right?  Be honest though... you have your moments or days too.  But WE Don't STAY there!  We press on toward the prize...

I still am not totally sure what the heavy heart was all about... but I know that when He is ready to show me, He will !!  One can always find just what is needed and required for the soul through prayer and His precious WORD! 

I have never been disappointed in God's response to my prayers! 

My afternoon was much better than my morning!  I was re-assured of His love and mercy and so thankful for His longsuffering!  God is Good ALL the time!

I'm thankful I have that hour during the middle of the day to "touch base" with Him when the morning quiet time just wasn't long enough!  He is so gracious to "reach out" and meet me there!

 

Technorati Tags: Prayer,Soul,Musing,thoughts,Mercy,THE WORD,Bible,Psalm 103

It's Here...2009!

I'll be quite honest, when I was young, I never thought I would see this year, let alone 2000.  It seemed so far away, a distant realm never to be reached.  Whew, it has sped toward me like lightening streaking from the heavenlies!

Bud and I celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary December 24th and while we didn't do anything special yet, as we were in Missouri with Fred's family, we will plan something.  My boss always gives me a gift card to a local restaurant for Christmas to use for our anniversary and we enjoy that, especially since it's free!  :)  

This past year has in some ways been an unusual year.  Bud was busy with trips to Illinois caring for his mother and then her death on Easter Sunday.

My parents moving in with us in April and adjusting to each of us no longer having an "empty nest".  We've both had some health issues... mine has been ongoing, but so far I've been blessed each time with "cancer free".  Then just before Christmas Bud's younger brother Fred lost his battle with metastatic renal carcinoma.  He fought hard to maintain a normal life right up to the end!  So, this has been quite a year for us. 

I'm "missing" my grandkids today!  I would love to see all of them and our great granddaughter, Chloe.  She's two now!!!!!  They are all growing up so fast.  Our oldest(Tim's son), Brian is 21 years old!  And Jason's son,  Brock will be 16 in April!

And Kailee  our precious granddaughter will be 15 on February 3rd.  I'm not ready for all this growing up!!!  I did get to see Micah and Gavin (Marc's sons) last week.  Micah is to my shoulder now and I'm 5'7".  He's only 10.  I think he's going to be tall like his daddy.  I hear he can play some mean ball. He's a good student too!  Little Gavin... he's my "munchkin".  He is full of little words of wisdom!  He's Papa Bud's boy... Granny Pam gets hugs, but he loves his Papa Bud. 

Oh by the way, if any of my dear sons or daughters are reading this... I NEED some photos of these dear grandchildren... school pix... please!

 

We had our Watch Night service last night.  Started at 8pm with a break around 10:15 for sandwiches and coffee & dessert.  All our ministers spoke and then pastor spoke last with it ending right at midnight with prayer.  All spoke from their hearts.

My thoughts for the New Year:

I've been thinking about resolutions and goals.  Some people are very goal oriented almost to the point that if their goals aren't met within their allotted time they become depressed.  I am a list maker.  I do like to set goals.  However, I am not "stuck" to those goals.  Some might say... "I wouldn't even write down any goals if I had that attitude about them."    I've found that "the best laid plans of mice and men..."  :D   We have to be open to change.  God never changes, but we have to be open to change for Him.  This can be really difficult for some; to make plans and then have them totally changed.  As I mentioned, I am a list maker.  I have lists for everything!  I occasionally misplace these lists!  :D   I don't like going to the grocery store (Sam's club) without my list.  I like to get the items on my list and then, "I'm outta there".   Shopping is not one of my favorite things to do anymore!

Back to my thought... the LORD gave me this scripture in Philippians 3:13-16 for the New Year:

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (emphasis added)

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (NKJ)

I love the way the Amplified reads:

13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

After all... whatever goals or aspirations I have for this coming year... they should revolve around "the main goal".  "Keeping the main thing, the main thing" as Bro. Tenney's book title states.  I can't undo last years mistakes or things not accomplished, I can only begin again.  It's a new year and a new day in the LORD... I want to press/strain toward that higher calling!  He is calling us.

The "unknown" of 2009 can be daunting!  But when I was first diagnosed with cancer this came into my possession, I don't remember how or when, but I know it was during a dark, alone period of time:

"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,

Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

I've never looked to see who the author was, but the words soothed my soul and they still do! 

I'm looking forward to whatever 2009 holds... I do know it has put me closer to His blessed returning, maybe sooner than I realize!

Have a blessed NEW YEAR with Jesus!

 

 

Technorati Tags: family,2009,gandkids,thoughts,musing,church,God,new day,new year

True Meaning of Christmas...

 

Technorati Tags: God,Santa,Christmas,Pastor,Church

Are we really a Civilized Nation?

Wal-Mart Stampede... and we think we live in a civilized nation.  When times get tough... look out.  If we'd run over someone to get a "bargain" and save a few bucks, what do you think we'll do when the economy has hits rock bottom and we don't have what we consider to be the necessities of life.   WATCH OUT! 

Remember this is a CIVILIZED NATION and we're a CIVILIZED PEOPLE. 

Link to story:  Wal-Mart Stampede

 

Technorati Tags: Civilized Nation,Stampede,Wal-Mart,Bargain,Economy

Officially Here????

I received my Venti Skinny Hazelnut Latte in this cup today!  Does this mean the Christmas season is officially here?  :D

God and Country or Starbucks and Country?   Just joking!

 

Technorati Tags: Starbucks,God and Country,Latte,Christmas Season

This WORLD is NOT MY HOME...

This World is Not My Home...I'm just a passing through...

Remember that old song? I remember singing that song all through my childhood and young adult life. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard it. It was brought to mind recently.

Let me preface this post by saying, “I am proud to be an American”, and I enjoy living in the United States of America with all the privileges that includes. I was born here, grew up here, and I’m still here! I enjoy living here.

BUT... THIS WORLD (USA included) is NOT MY HOME!

This country was birthed on the HOPE of religious freedom. And while this freedom may have been interpreted beyond our forefathers intent – none the less, it is a freedom many other countries do not allow.

However, I do believe that the “Christians” freedoms will be slowly and subtly removed. While we are required to be tolerant of stated Biblical sins, we are not recipients of that same tolerance by “others”. I believe this is only going to escalate as time marches on.

The recently elected President is by the “people’s choice”. There is a generational change taking place. Our world as we have known it is soon passing. We don’t know what changes await us. I do not FEAR these changes. I personally know the one who is in ultimate control.

My concern is not in whom our country VOTED in as President, but my concern is if WE, the CHURCH, are ready and how WE the CHURCH will handle this change.

I am concerned for our YOUTH—Church and World. We must not let down our standards, give up teaching our doctrine, or compromise our beliefs in any way.

We must not lose our HOPE of a better place, greater than this world that’s being prepared for us (and I’m not talking about a mansion filled with “possessions”).

This change is going to precipitate the “sifting” of the Church like never before. We will be tried, tested, and persecuted. We will learn where our true priority lies. We will learn what is MOST important to us. I pray it’s not our homes, cars, clothes, and all the extra trappings this World throws at us as necessities.

I do believe there is coming soon, a time when we won’t give those “things” a second thought or glance. The TRUE BELIEVER will have risen above the materialist greed this World offers.

We will find that simply gathering together in small or large groups for prayer, praise, and worship of the MOST HIGH will provide our JOY and will be our greatest priority.

Oh yes, I know... We are in this world (but not of it). I have to go to work to pay bills and feed my face and buy gas for my car... but these are only for my earthly, fleshly existence.

As one grows older and sees the changes taking place and reviews the changes that have already taken place in their own life span... then you begin to realize, this is truly HISTORY in the MAKING and you begin to contemplate what the future has in store.

That’s when PRAYER becomes the only solace for the heart. We travail for our children, grandchildren, family, church family, and the lost of this world. Only true intercessory prayer is going to SAVE the LOST of this generation. The “pull” of this world is both subtle and strong at the same time. PRAY for OUR CHILDREN, they are and will face a World we’ve never known.

I leave you with these scriptures:

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 & 17-18
• 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
• 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
• John 15:19
  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
• John 17:14
  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
• John 16:33
  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
• 1 John 5:4
  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
• 1 John 2:15
  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• John 9:5
  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

(This was written in the wee hours of post-election morning. I was unable to post it online before leaving for work.)

Technorati Tags: Bible,Prayer,future,beliefs,God,Church,WORLD

My puny GRIPE for today...

Technorati Tags: BAM,Books A Million,Barnes & Noble,Books,GRIPES,Browser unfriendly

Question: Has anyone visited their Books A Million store recently? Were all the coffee tables removed?

In our city the BAM store has removed them. I didn't get a chance to find out if this was a permanent removal. So, now BAM is becoming "browser unfriendly" again. Hubby and I never used to shop BAM stores because there weren't any chairs except around the coffee shop area to sit with your coffee and check out your chosen stack of books and magazines and decide which ones you were going to purchase. So, we frequented Barnes & Noble only. Then Barnes & Noble removed their chairs and most of their tables. So, we quit going there as BAM had put in comfortable chairs and coffee tables in front of the chairs... So, now what's up?????

We walked into our local store today (hubby needed to get out of the house after almost 10-days of hibernation due to illness) and went back to obtain seats in our favorite section of the store... and to our dismay there weren't any tables to set our books and coffee on. Needless to say, we didn't buy coffee and within 15 minutes we had left the store without buying anything. Now I won't tell you how much of our money we left in BAM during the past month... but I'm secure in saying it was worth the price of a coffee table! We won't be back if they become "browser unfriendly" again. Really they need to keep the "regulars" as we do SPEND money there. But we are getting a brand new larger Barnes & Noble... so, unless it's unfriendly too, BAM beware! We won't be back for a looooooong time!

Anyone else run into this? Want to complain? Call 1-800-876-4510 M-F

Technorati Tags: BAM,Books A Million,Barnes & Noble,browser unfriendly,GRIPES,disappointment

Who's Your GOD?

Again, I refer back to my Sunday School class last week and the lesson for that day.

"Jesus Loves you and wants to be your God"

In teaching the lesson to my young students I was again reminded of what's important from the simple lesson I was teaching.

All week I've been mulling over in my mind the lesson title and realizing that is really all God wants from us, is to be our GOD.  God with a Capital "G".  We have many gods (lower case "g") in our lives.  They can be all encompassing gods or as trivial as a "Starbucks" latte.  It all depends on our attitude. 

Can you "take it or leave it" or is your life "upside down" if you don't have it? or do it? or buy it? or wear it? 

I remember a time many, many years ago, hubby had ben laid off from his job and there wasn't any money coming in.  NONE!  We had two infant sons at that time and didn't have any money to pay the gas bill.  It was disconnected!  Oh me!  I thought the world had come to an end.  I was very young then and pregnant with our third son...  :D   Life changed drastically for me for a few days!  It was winter and cold.  I went into a "pity party" attitude.  We finally got a small electric heater and put it in our bedroom and that was the only warm room in the house.  We lived in that room for several days.  Cooked on a hot plate and ate in the bedroom. 

Needless to say, we survived!  At the time I thought life was awful  :D.  Whew, has my perception of life changed.  After 37 years.... YES, Praise God, it has.  God has a way of giving you a NEW outlook on LIFE. 

Even what we think of as necessities can become "gods" or "idols" in our lives.  Not everyone in this world has the luxury of "flipping the switch".

In spite of all the above... all HE wanted was to be MY GOD through whatever came my way. 

I feel that the United States is spiraling downward quickly and not just in morals, etc. but in the way we live and consume.  I feel that eventually we're going to be covertly "owned" by China.  My son's plant just closed down because of China.  We get everything from China.  Oh my, I won't get on that soap box.

Do I live the simplest life I could?  NO!  Do I still consume? Of course!  But I'm trying to learn not to buy needless junk... stuff I find that once home I never use.  I really NEEDED it didn't I?  I am trying to eat healthy and eat more organic (without additives and hormones added, or genetically grown) foods!  It's hard to change. 

I'm not doing away with change or learning new things or even technology in general... but hey, let's LIVE LIFE and not lead a life fed to us by the MEDIA or Hollywood.  Our individual time span on this earth isn't very long.  Let's make the most of it.

CHOOSE GOD to be your GOD!

Almost time...

Well, I've not done as much to the house as I anticipated doing. With working full time and not being able to devote a WHOLE day to a project, it's rather difficult to complete them.  I'm in the middle of several!

I'm off this Friday or Saturday morning early (3:30am) to drive to Missouri and move my parents into our home. Thankfully, hubby is all for this. We both (us and my parents) have some trepidation about how this is all going to work out... they not wanting to feel like they're giving up their "independence" and us giving up our "empty nest". I know it will be challenging, but if we keep our attitudes in adjustment... it will work out. They will be 83 this July and I know they do not want to live in a nursing home and I can't see them in a nursing home as active as they are in mind and body. We cannot afford an assisted living apartment... my mother-in-law lived in a beautiful assisted living apartment until she could no longer take care of herself. She refused to live with any of us and later went into a nursing home where she had been the recreational director when she was much younger.

I request your prayers for me on this trip... there and back. I will be driving a BIG dullie pickup truck with a huge camper and pulling a small trailer. I find that just a little intimidating... the trailer pulling part! Because with the camper I can't see the trailer I'm pulling. I'll have to make sure I do all "pull throughs" so I don't have to do any backing up :).   I will take photos along the way and post them later. 

I know this is very difficult for my parents.  Giving up their home sorting through all their belongings and moving to a different State at their age.  Please pray for them.  Pray for a SAFE and uneventful trip. 

Technorati Tags: prayer,parents,moving,trucks,campers,trailers,attitude adjustment

 

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Procrastination Guilt...

Technorati Tags: procrastination,flowers,yard,excuses,family,decluttering

Today has been a typical Saturday morning. All the intended plans have been forsaken for impulsive or should I say spontaneous activities. I guess spontaneous sounds more exciting and a little less dysfunctional.

The day was supposed to be totally spent doing decluttering in the house and garage in preparation for my parents coming to live with us in TWO weeks! Instead, Bud (hubby) took my car to have a wheel bearing replaced. So now I have a perfectly good Ford Tempo to commute back and forth to work in and no excuse to buy another vehicle! On the other hand, his Buick needed more than a front end alignment and new front tires... it needed another $250.00 worth of work that will have to wait until the end of next week.

Instead of working in the garage, Bud is out planting azaleas bushes and a rhododendron bush and just fooling around outside. I was tempted for a few minutes and trimmed my fern and another hanging plant that I've forgotten the name of. Then the guilt set in and I wandered back inside. However, I have yet to settle down to one particular project! This is my downfall when it comes to decluttering. The mess before the decluttering just about does me in! Choosing the place to start is another one!

Now don't write me and tell me to read all these books on decluttering, organizing, cleaning, and simplifying... I've got shelves full of them. They're all excellent! It's the implementation of the principles that is difficult!

As you can surmise... this blog is just another attempt to stray from the job at hand... so, off I go... I'll try again!

Musing...

Good Saturday afternoon,

It's cold again. After the 80 degree weather we had for awhile it feels extra chilly. Hubby built a fire in the wood stove last night and has one going again this afternoon. A wood fire is so warm and cozy.

The cold weather shriveled some of the grapevine leaves :( they were so pretty and green. I think the itty bitty grape clusters are ruined too. We had covered the other plants up with leaves and they're fine. Hubby forgot to put the sheet over the grapevine out front. The one in the back is OK. The hydrangea bush looks sad. I know it will come back, but the first green growth looks pathetic.

I'm trying to do some much needed de-cluttering... we have just accumulated too much stuff. I don't think we've disposed of much in our 39-years together. We are both into books and those will stay (we will sort through some of them). But the other "stuff" we plan to have a yard sale or give to the YOUTH group for their Sheaves for Christ yard sale this year. I just need "energy" and determination to get this done.

Well, enough of that... looking forward to church services tomorrow. Just knowing that He is resurrected and in my heart is worth it all.

Have a blessed weekend ~