Some thoughts on life

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T19:40:00.002-04:00

Mother's Day is always a bitter sweet day for me. I am so thankful for the fourty years that I got to spend on earth with my mom. Let me tell you a little about her. She was a very unassuming lady. She was a self-made woman. She worked from the time she was 13 years old, put herself through college. Many people comment about the lack of money they had growing up, but she truely had nothing, thus the reason she begain working a job at 13 years old. She almost graduated from college, but I was the reason she never finished. (She was only one class away from graduating, as I understand) She never wore make-up. She was not concerned about her outward appearance. She taught me the importance of being beautiful on the inside. She worked tirelessly, when we were growing up to make ends meet. She had the capability to make a penny seem like two. She rebated and couponed like no other. She could have wrote the book on living frugally. She was the youngest of 8 children. (one sibling died at a young age) She lost both her mom and dad when she was in her late twenties. She went to work full-time outside the home when it wasn't popular to do so. She loved Christmas and listened to Christmas music year round. She was truely tone deaf, unfortunaely she loved to sing. She loved to hear me sing "special music" when I was visiting. (Something I should have done more of) She was a pack rat. I get it honestly. She was a terrible cook when my parents married. She learned to cook, but more importantly, she learned to bake. She passed on her cookie baking abilities to me, which many people are thankful for, including my family and friends. She loved her grandchildren. Mine are the only grandchildren she had. She was not outgoing, but cared for the people that God brought into her life. She taught Sunday School.She taught VBS and did the crafts for VBS for many years. We make some really cool homemade crafts for VBS. Mostly, she loved her God and her family. Those are just a few things about my mom. I miss her. I am so thankful I will see her again in heaven. Love you Mom!

It's all about doing what is right

2011-05-02T22:35:00.002-04:00

I only share this story to encourage all to do what is right, even when it seems like a small thing and could be easily dismissed. So here is my story:

On Saturday, Andy ran his first half marathon in Mt. Clemens Let's Move race. Gabby and I went to watch him start and then patiently wait for him to finish. It was a brisk, windy day. We saw the group start the half marathon and decided we would go to the finish line and wait. Once there, we got to see all the 5K runners finish and many of the walkers finish. It was a lot of fun to watch people come across the finish line. We still had another 45-60 minutes before we were expecting Andy to cross the finish line. Gabby had wanted a snack and I thought it would be nice to get out of the wind and warm up a bit. We went in a little Coney Island Restaurant and ordered something to drink and Gabby got some ice cream. (Yes, I win mother of the year for letting my 10 year old eat ice cream at ten o'clock in the morning.) We finished and went to pay for our order. I then saw the sign that said they only took cash and no credit cards. I got a little flustered because I wasn't sure I had enough cash on me. I actually had to dig out of the bottom of my purse a couple dollars to cover the bill that was a little over five dollars. I paid the bill and went on my merry way. We got to see Andy finish in under 2 hours. He was very pleased with his time.

Sunday morning while I was getting ready for church, I realized I forgot to leave a tip for the waitress on Saturday. I have never stiffed a waitress in my life. I was horrified. God really began to speak to me that I should fix the situation and return to the diner to try and find my waitress and give her the tip I forgot to leave on Saturday. It seemed like such a silly thing, the tip would have amounted to a mere dollar. Really, should I go back for just a dollar. Yes, for sure. I had to make this right. To make matters worse, I had worn my two word story hoodie on Saturday. What kind of witness had I left with the waitress or had she even noticed. It didn't matter if she noticed, it was time to do the right thing.

Monday afternoon, I was able to go back to the diner and find the waitress and give her the tip I had forgotten. I would love to tell you I was able to witness to her and tell her the plan of salvation right there and then, but this did not happen. I explained what had happened and told her about God prompting me to return to give the tip. She said thank you and told me I didn't have to do it. I told her I did. She said thank you and I left. I don't know if it makes a difference in her life or not, but sometimes it isn't about that only. It is about remaining faithful to the prompts of God, even when it seems like such a silly thing.

Uncle!!!!!!!!

2011-04-19T18:41:00.002-04:00

This is how my body is feeling with this weather. I am one that likes all four seasons, but this is getting a little rediculous. I am so done with cold weather. I want to see my roses start to bloom. I want to see my little piggy toes peeking out from my sandles. My skin desperately needs some color. It needs to be warmer for me to get out and run. (I am a fair weather runner.) I want to go to Erma's without freezing my hinny off. I'm crying uncle on the weather!

If I ask nice, will it get warmer. Pretty please...pretty please with sugar on top!!!!

A sign of Spring

2011-03-28T15:12:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am even over this cold weather! I do enjoy the snow, but I have enough! I am supposed to be training for a 5K race I am planning on running at the end of this month, but I can't seem to get my body out into the cold. My tolerance cold weather running temperature is about 38-40 degrees. Anything less than that and I have a hard time breathing. I have been out a couple of time in the past couple weeks, but not consistantly like I need to be to be able to do the race. So hopefully soon.

The other reason I run is so I can enjoy my favorite summer tradition: ERMA's Custard!!!!! I have been counting down for a while now and it is only a few days away. Just another sign of spring, Erma's is open again for business on April 1st! Just a few more days! We are usually there most every Sunday night, so I hope to see you all there!

Isaiah 43

2011-03-21T11:15:00.004-04:00

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3"For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place. 4"Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. 5"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. 6"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back ' Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, 7Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
8Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
And the deaf, even though they have ears. 9All the nations have gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled Who among them can declare this
And proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified, Or let them hear and say, "It is true." 10"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11"I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. 12"It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. 13"Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?"

16Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17Who brings forth the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty man (They will lie down together and not rise again; They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick): 18"Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. 19"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. 20"The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people. 21"The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.

25"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. 26"Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right.

I posted this scripture in October 2008. I needed to hear this again this morning. I hope it speaks to you and ministers to your soul! God love you!

A Song to share

2011-03-08T09:41:00.004-05:00

I wanted to share a song that I have been hearing on KLOVE for the past couple days. It is written and sung by Laura Story and is the title track for her new cd coming out on April 12th. This song has really ministered to my heart and I hope it ministers to your also. You can listen to the song on her website:

http://www.laurastorymusic.com/

Here are the lyrics:

Blessings by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
But long we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

My visit to the Vampire

2011-03-01T12:11:00.004-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with my Vampire, more commonly known as my Oncologist. Sometimes even admiting I have an Oncologist is a little unnerving. It is a club I didn't want to belong to. But every three to four months, I get to see him. He would remind you of your grandfather. He is an older gentleman, very kind. It has now become my new norm. I used to pass out just thinking of someone taking blood from me, but now it is a regular routine. The appointment usually last only about 10 minutes, but within 10 minutes, my world could change drastically. It could go from one of normalacy to one of chaos. It tests all that I believe in and all that I hold dear.

When I was first diagnosed with colon cancer, it was very surreal. Everything happened quickly. Tests, more tests, waiting, scheduled surgery and more waiting. During that time, I had to come to grips with whether or not I really believed God. Oh I definitely believe in Him, but did I believe Him? Did I believe that if the worst case happened would everything be alright? If I die before I thought I should, would my girls be okay? It was a matter of trust for me. Trust in a God that has been faithful and continues to be faithful through some pretty difficult things at times. It was a matter of pride at times. Pride that said that God couldn't really take care of my children like I could. Most would just write that feeling of as being a good mom. I couldn't. I had to search deep down, uncover some deep insecurities and let God take control.

So every time I go to see my Vampire it is a reminder of the surrender that had to happen in my life to really Believe God and not just believe in Him.

Seasons

2011-02-21T09:36:00.002-05:00

I am a warm weather person. Anyone that knows me, knows I spend most of winter freezing with many layers of clothing on my body. I love the sun. I love spending time with the family during Summer break. I love to vacation and day trips with the family, things we don't normally have time to do when school is in. I like taking bike rides, fishing, swimming, outdoor BBQs, lazy days and trips to the zoo and Greenfield Village. All the fresh fruit and vegtables that are more available in the summer. I love Summer!

I also love the snow. We live in Michigan. It gets cold and snowy here. I love Christmas! I love getting ready for Christmas. All the planning, all the cookie baking, the present finding, the decorations and the family gatherings. I love fresh fallen snow. I don't even mind driving in it. I love unexpected snow days when life seems to come to a stop for a day amidst our normal busy schedule. I love the winter!

I also love the freshnest of spring. The flowers poking their heads through the hard ground. I love when the leaves just begin to come out on the trees. I love watching my rose bushes coming to life again. I mostly like rainy days during spring, because it makes everything so green. I love Easter! The promise of eternal life and the sacrifice that happened to make that possible. I love Spring!

I also love the fall! The beginning of a new school year with all the anticipated excitement that goes along with a new school year. I love getting back into a regular schedule. I love all the harvesting, canning and baking that I do in the fall. I love going to pick apples and pumpkins to make yummy things later. I love the changing leaves, the beautiful colors. I love fall!

I guess what I am trying to say is to embrace each season when it is here. I know we all long for days that are in the future, but may I suggest to live and appreciate the season that you are in currently and embrace the beauty of that time.

So for today, I love snow!

Time to do some dusting

2011-02-15T16:09:00.002-05:00

I have been thinking about blogging again. I'm always impressed by the blogs I read. So many are great writers and deep thinkers. This has never been one of my strong suits. I am a very simple person. I believe things people tell me as true. I am very trusting. I am a no-nonsense person. So if your looking for deep thoughts, they probably won't be posted here. Just a simple woman who has a simple view on life. Time to blow off some dust and start again. Welcome back old friend.

March is Reading Month

2009-03-02T10:50:00.002-05:00

If you have a child in the public schools, you are aware that March is Reading Month. I have never been a voracious reader. I like to read, but it really has to be something that interests me. I have always regretted this fact in my formidable years. I do read, but it is not at a very fast rate. I wanted desperately to make sure my children had a love for reading. Both daughters have been read to from birth. They both were read chapter books from the time they could understand a story line. Both daughters enjoy reading. My oldest will read on an average of 300-400 pages a day. We spend a lot of time at the library and going to bookstores. I have scoured garage sales to find appropriated reading material for both daughters. My youngest daughter is just beginning to to love to read. It is an exciting time for her.

Reading is such a fundamental element in your life. When you read, so many opportunities and knowledge are opened up to you. There is no end to the knowledge that you can acquire through reading.

So why would a pastor's wife write a post about reading? God has chosen to tell his story primarily through his written word. This isn't just any book, but it is the one book that gives us life. His word is alive and never changing. Let me encourage you to take time to read, not only the many books that talented and gifted writers have written, but read the work of the Ultimate Writer.

A Passage to reflect on - Isaiah 43

2008-10-20T12:33:00.003-04:00

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3"For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place. 4"Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. 5"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. 6"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back ' Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, 7Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."
8Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
And the deaf, even though they have ears. 9All the nations have gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled Who among them can declare this
And proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified, Or let them hear and say, "It is true." 10"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11"I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. 12"It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. 13"Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?"

16Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17Who brings forth the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty man (They will lie down together and not rise again; They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick): 18"Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. 19"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. 20"The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people. 21"The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.

25"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. 26"Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right.

I really love this passage. God has said this to you. Read it, meditate on it, absorb it. How deep the Father's love for us.

Sign Saga

2008-10-09T23:50:00.002-04:00

I finally put my McCain sign out in the front yard on Tuesday. This is the first time I have ever placed a sign in my yard, so I think it is a big deal. Wednesday morning while taking the girls to school, I notice that the sign is now in the side yard. I think, ah someone was messing around with my sign. After I return from taking the girls to school, I go over a pick it up. Lo and behold, the sign had been set on fire. SET ON FIRE!!!!!!!!!! Now this freaks me out. Someone took it upon themselves to light a fire in my front yard. I called the police and they wrote up a report. This whole situation then makes me a little irritated. I'll show the people who burned my sign, I'll just go get another one or two. When I show up at the McCain office, there is a sign that says you should remove your lawn signs at night. I'm thinking, "Are you kidding me? What is this world coming to?" I am happy to report, that the new sign has lasted through one night.

My little saga just proves to me the need that people have in their lives. They need Jesus. No matter who wins the election in November, God is still in control and people need Him. No matter who burns my sign, God is in control and people need Him. We need to get this right. No matter what is going on financially in our country, God is still on the throne and He still is in control. When life gets crazy, God is in control and people need Him. He is still on His throne whether we acknowledge it or not. Let's keep God in His rightful place. He is in control.

Vacation

2008-09-03T10:03:00.003-04:00

We were down in the Smokey Mountains for 8 days a few weeks ago. Great vacation. We did a lot of hiking, went to a water park, saw a lot of beautiful sites and spent some good family time together. Even though we were very active during the vacation, there was something to be said about the slower pace of life that we enjoyed during that time. We even went and picked almost 7 pounds of blackberries, most of which I have frozen in my freezer. It was a great reminder to me that sometimes I am just in too big of a hurry to just soak in the moment. I really want to try to soak up every moment. Again the verse that comes to mind is, "Be still and know that I am God."

I was lamenting the fact the girls were going back to school for a couple different reasons. This summer was really a very slow summer schedule for us. Probably not as fun for the girls, but I really enjoyed the non-planned and restful summer. I will admit though, that I do look forward to the fall because of the discipline I tend to throw out the window during the summer months.

Every day I have a reminder that life is short. I know we all know this, but somehow we seem to forget it as we get caught up in our business. The scar on my body reminds me life is not certain and it can change in an instant. I am renewing my commitment to acknowledge and seek after God every day. I know there have been days that God has been an after-thought. Oh yeah, I need to talk to God today! But I want Him to continue to be ever in the foremost part of my heart and brain. Maybe you need to reorder your priorities. One of the things that I love about God is that He is the God of second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and infinite chances. His mercies are new every morning.

Queasy feelings in the hospital

2008-06-30T15:42:00.002-04:00

During my surgery, they had to place a drainage tube in my stomach to take out the additional fluids that my body was producing after surgery. Now anyone who knows me, knows I do not have a strong stomach for that type of thing. (I passed out watching a movie about giving blood when I was a senior in High School.) So everyday I would ask the surgeon when she would come in and check up on me, "When can we take this thing that is hanging out of stomach out?" To which she would reply, "After you have tolerated solid food and had a bowel movement." Okay, something to work toward. I am a goal oriented person. I can do this. So we started down that long road. I'm thinking, "how long should this take? I should be able to breeze through this process one to two days tops. Besides, I have been the model patient, doing what they tell me to do." Yeah. Well, it takes a llllllllllloooooooooooooooottttttttttt longer that I think it should and my patience with this thing hanging out by stomach is really starting to bother me. Then it occurs to me. Heah, I wonder how they get this thing out. I promptly ask the surgeon the next morning to which she replies, "Oh, we distract you." This gets me to thinking, I wonder how they distact me. I'm thinking I would notice my mid-drift laying bare and someone towering over my body to pull a tube out. Maybe they say, look at the little birdie with their hand up in the air mimicking a bird. Maybe they tackle you in the middle of the hallway and yank it out as you stroll by. Maybe they hit you somewhere else so as to not notice the pain coming from the abdomen. Well when all was said and done. The pain was short lived and I didn't faint. This is a plus for me. Of course Andy had promptly left the room when this little procedure was going on. I am just thankful and happy to not have to deal with the tube anymore.

Home from the hospital

2008-06-27T13:13:00.003-04:00

I am home. Yeah!!! I had wonderful care at Henry Ford Macomb, but I am so happy to be back at my own house. I was able to get a shower, wash my hair and shave my legs. Life doesn't get much better than that at the moment. I had a few humorous experiences during my week long stay at the hospital that I will blog about a little later. Just thankful to be home and all is well.

Going quiet for a while

2008-06-19T19:03:00.002-04:00

For the thousands of people who sit at the edge of their seats waiting with baited breath until I post again, you will need to wait at least a week or maybe even longer. I am going in for surgery and will be in the hospital for a while.

This is all new for me. I am not usually sick. It will be a good time to take it easy and be blessed by those around me. The elders of the church had a prayer time with Andy and me last night. What a great experience. I love the church here at Macomb. These are my friends and my heart is knit together with theirs. It is a humbling experience to be lifted before the Father. Our God is good!

Love ya.

I am a Ballet Dancer

2008-06-11T21:12:00.003-04:00

Yes, believe it or not. I take ballet lessons. Here's the funny part. Until last year, I had never taken a ballet class in my entire life, all 43 years. Last fall, my daughter's dance studio had a poster up for an Adult Intermediate Ballet Class that meets during the day. I have always dreamed of taking dance lessons, but certainly I am way past my prime. Did I tell you it also said you should have experience. So I ask at the desk if watching my children dance for the past 9 years counts as experience. The girl was sweet and said,"sure go for it." Well I contacted the teacher and she said I could come and try out one class and see what I thought. So I borrowed my daughters dance slippers and off I went to my first ballet class.

Can I tell you what I did that first lesson would not be what I would call ballet. The hippos from Fantasia definitely were much more graceful than I was, but I was hooked. I love ballet. So I jumped in head first, I bought my own tights, ballet slippers and even picked up a leotard at a mom to mom sale, so I could look authentic.

When I have told friends I decided to take a ballet class, their reactions are humorous. Quite a few are like, "way to go! I have always wanted to take a class." Others ask if I am going to participate in the recital, because they would pay money to see me in a tutu. My oldest daughters best friend's reaction is probably my favorite. She has told her mom that she (the mom) better not do what Aunt Denise is doing to Danielle. The horror of it all, that her mom would even think about doning a leotard and be seen out in public.

I have so enjoyed this past year taking the class. The teacher has been fantastic and encouraging. She always finds at least one thing that I have done during the 1 1/2 hour class. That was quite a feat, because for quite a while, I was only doing one thing correctly. The other students are all experienced, most have been dancing for years. Yet, they encourage me and explain things when I don't quite get it. I love it.

The other reason I love it, is that they have accepted me with all my inadaquacies. My clumsy moves and my lack of knowledge and grace. But they encourage me to press on and continue the quest of becoming a ballerina. Isn't it that way with God. He accepts you right where you are. With all your shortcomings, but He doesn't let you stay there. He builds strength and endurance through your lifetime of challenges.

So next time you see a ballerina, think of me, but more important. Dwell on how God has accepted you and moved you beyond what you thought you were capable of handling.

Waiting

2008-06-09T22:46:00.002-04:00

This is not one of our finer quailities as Americans. We barely wait for the stop lights to change to green. We inch forward, until finally the light turns green. We all hate to wait in lines. We have express lanes, fast food and even fast track passes at Disney. We do not like to wait. We want to the information now and even yesterday.

Sometimes it comes down to a pride thing. We think so highly of ourselves that we think we are more important than everyone else so we zip though traffic light or pass on the left at the last minute to get into the line of cars. Other times we are waiting for important information, but the waiting is painful. We get anxious about the future possibilites.

God tells us we need to wait on Him. That thought at times seems difficult. It's a surrender that reminds us of who is control. When we wait on Him, we are ultimately reaffirming God's sovreign control.

So how do you wait? Are you trying to hurry up the process or hurry God? I will admit, I don't always get this one right. God's still working on me.

Confessions of a Garage Sale Junkie

2008-05-15T12:09:00.003-04:00

O.K. I am one of those fanatical garage sale people. I schedule my Thursday's around what Subdivision in the area is having their sale. But alas, today I sit manning my own garage sale while others are basking in Subdivision Garage sale heaven.

I have on many occasions called friends when I have found something I think that they can't live without and had to leave messages such as, "Where are you, don't you know it's Thursday and I am out Garage saleing. I need to know if you want this item that I know you can't live without because it's so cheap. CALL Soon before I move on to the next. " I have also been known to speed back to one I have already checked off my list to get that something that I or someone else just can't live without.

I find it intriguing and somewhat amusing to see all the different types of things sold at sales. Some are brand new, still in the box; others are gently worn and still others really should get acquainted with the garbage pail. For me the fun is in the searching for that one thing that trumps all previous finds. I now have a list of items that friends are searching for at garage sales. I also have friends cell numbers in my contact list, just in case I find that item they can't live without.

So think of me today, as your out looking at all the wonderful finds out there in Garage Sale land!

Refurbished Mother's Day

2008-05-11T20:39:00.002-04:00

One of the things I have always loved is old things, generally antiques. I found this awful looking vanity that needed some tender loving care. For Mother's day, Andy and the girls are refinishing the vanity. It is not quite done, but close. I love when something can be reused and refurbished to live along. It is so like how God works. The world used and abuses us, casts us aside for newer better things and sells us cheaply. God bought us with a price, and then not only refurbishes us; but renews us and rebuilds us. God gives us a new purpose.

I can't wait to see how it turns out. I also can't wait to see how God will renew and refurbish those around me for His purpose.

Celebrating 20 year in Ministry

2008-05-06T13:57:00.000-04:00

A week ago, the church Andy and I minister at surprised us with a celebration of our 20th anniversary at Macomb Christian Church. The surprise part didn't quite work, due to some funny circumstances, but what a wonderful evening. It's hard to believe we have been here at the same church for 20 years now. We have met alot of wonderful, God-fearing people along the way. Some who are with Jesus now and others who have moved on to minister at other places. This is our family. Our hearts are forever knit with the body of believers that call Macomb Christian Church their home. The evening was such a testiment to our two girls about the power of changed lives through faithfully being obedient to God's calling and purpose.

There have been some great times and some not so wonderful times. God has been faithful and continues to be faithful. I am so every greatful and thankful for the blessed members of our family at Macomb Christian Church.

Blogging plunge

2008-02-11T00:19:00.000-05:00

Well, here goes. I have now entered the world of blogging. Seems a bit strange to me, but I am willing to give it a try. Not sure how frequently I will post, but thinking it will be about once a week. I hope and pray in the process, someone finds my thoughts helpful. God Bless.