January 30, 2014

  • Looking ahead to the future …

    IMG_4575 Aug 2011 wm quote

    Well, this is my last post here, although I’ll still be able to read and comment on your posts.
    I hope to see you all in my new home on WordPress!

    It will be sad to leave Xanga but it’s not like it used to be.
    I’ll always have fond memories of ‘my first blog’, and all the dear friends I met here,
    the stories we shared, the prayers we prayed for one another
    and the encouragement I received over the years.

    Well, it’s not over, and I’m looking forward to continuing on in my new blog home with you all,
    sharing and encouraging one another again!

    Hope to see you there soon!!
    Love and Blessings,
    - Deborah <><

    “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord,
    “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
    plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE.”
    - Jeremiah 29:11 -

  • Moving On, But Not Away ….

    IMG_2465 conner prairie 2010 sig 2

    Hello to my Dear Xanga Friends …

    First, I thought I’d share a little reminder that spring is on the way … eventually!!
    We’re expecting more wintry weather, and this makes me think of Spring … hope it brightens your day, too!

    Well, this may sound like a broken record, and also a bit technical, and somewhat lengthy, but please bear with me!

    As I’ve said before, I don’t want to lose touch with anyone here on Xanga 2.0 when my ‘Premium’ account expires in just a couple of days, on Friday, the 31st of January, 2014.  They told me payment was due ‘before’ the 31st, so I’m not sure exactly which day they will ‘cut me off’, and no longer allow me to post here.

    At this time, I just can’t see paying nearly $50 to do that, especially when the full version of WordPress is free!  I started a site there, and I’m very happy to say that I’ve been able to import all the .zip files they created of my past posts from the ‘old’ Xanga!
    They are now over in the full version of WordPress, and I can tell you, it’s nice having it all there!

    There are lots of nice features there, and they are very helpful with support and tutorials as well. :D

    I was so relieved to know I wouldn’t have to leave behind any of my ‘memories’ from past years on the ‘old Xanga’ …
    they even put my photos and graphics I had used into the ‘media library’! Only wish they could have been able to create files for all the messages I had sent to some very special friends, but all the other memories are there …
    it only took a couple of clicks, and then waiting about 24 hours.
    If only more of my friends were there with me … seems many of them are no longer blogging. :(

    I also found out that once my subscription expires here, all I’ll be able to do is sign in and read your posts and leave comments.      I won’t be able to post to my site, or edit it in any way.

    Here is the link to my new ‘Xanga’ blog home … also known as ‘Threads of Faith’, and it’s over on WordPress.
    I do so hope you’ll come follow me:

    http://threadsoffaith2.wordpress.com/

    If any of you are considering a move to WordPress now, or in the future, and want to import all of your Xanga files
    that you had downloaded, just follow the directions that I found here in this link …
    (and please do let me know if and when you do move, and where I can find you!)

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/import/import-from-xanga/

    Have to say, I am very grateful that at least I’ll be able to come and read those of you who are still actively posting here …
    well, at least the few that have been showing up on my ‘Reading’ list ever since they switched to Xanga 2.0.
    I know I haven’t been very consistent with reading and commenting on your posts, but I’ll be doing better with that!

    Below are the only ones who are showing up as ‘active’ bloggers in my ‘Reading’ list here, and I’m thankful that you all
    are still here!!

    MyHopeIsInJesus
    DanishDoll
    JusticeMom
    ata_grandma
    fwren
    JstNotherDay (*no RSS feed)

    Would love to know ….
    **I am curious, are you seeing many from your old subscriptions showing up with posts on your ‘Reading’ list?

    When I click on ‘Following’ in the column on the left in my Dashboard, it shows I have 150 that I am Following and 162 Followers. Didn’t realize I had that many from Xanga!

    I thought I would spend some time and go to each site, looking for who might still be here, but only found a few sites that were still there … most of the links lead me to that Xanga page telling you they saved your files, and how to get them, and there sure were a lot of those!  It’s just so sad to see their names, to remember who they were, the things you shared with them, the prayers you prayed for them, and then to lose touch, but maybe they’ll find their way here again. That’s why I’m sharing ALL of this information!

    As for the current ‘active’ bloggers, I’ll be able to follow you from my new home on WordPress as I already have you in my ‘Reader’ over there.  Once you post, it will show up and I’ll hop back over here to comment!  And again, I do hope you’ll come follow me, too!

    Now, there’s one more ‘technical’ thing I need to share …
    from some research I’ve done around here, there’s something you need to do in order
    for me, or anyone else, to be able to follow you from any other blog host like WordPress, or Blogger, etc…..
    you’ll need to be sure to have your RSS feed enabled, and it’s very easy to do!

    * Notice that only *one person doesn’t have their RSS feed enabled from the list of my ‘active’ bloggers …
    (and I do hope you’ll enable yours so I can see you in my WordPress Reader when you post! :)

    The rest of you on that list apparently have yours enabled because you’re already showing up in my ‘Reader’ over on WP!
    Again, anyone will need to do this in order to be followed from any place other than Xanga!

    All you will need to do, is to change a setting in your DASHBOARD section …

    1. Go to your DASHBOARD
    2. Go down to the ADVANCED tab on the left and click it.
    3. Go down to PRIVACY and click that.
    4. Check the box that says, ENABLE RSS FEED
    5. Be sure SITE PRIVACY is set to PUBLIC (no lock)
    6. Click SAVE CHANGES

    Now, when I add your sites to the ‘reader’ over on my WordPress Blog, it will show up, and I’ll know when you post! :)
    I hope to see you all there soon, so please, come on over and say hello!

    You, and any others who do find your way here, can find me by going to the ‘widget’ on the right side of my site here.
    There you’ll find links to my both my Facebook page as well as my WordPress site!

    There have been so many memories and friendships over the years … it’s sad that it had to change, but no need to end it here!
    Let’s stay in touch! Blessings to you all, and thanks so much for bearing with me here in this post!!

    Hugs,
    - Deborah <><

     

January 29, 2014

  • Does Yours Work?? Help with Links to Site Names….

    16678_10151396405586085_1547379250_n

    I don’t know about you all, but we’re having a lot of winter around here this year!  I love winter, and the snow, but the cold is just too cold!  Frankly, I’m looking forward to the arrival of spring, but from the way things are going, it may be awhile!
    Anyway, during these long winter day, I find myself still working my way around here and getting familiar with this format, but sadly, my Premium subscription will expire this Friday.  After that, all I’ll be able to do is sign in, read, and comment on your posts here, which I will be doing to stay in touch with those who are still active here … after Friday, I will no longer be able to post, so right now I want to share a tip on how to add a link to your site name where it shows up in the comments that you leave for others. I had noticed that my site name was NOT being linked like other names I’d seen in the comment sections, so after some searching around on here, I stumbled upon this:

    http://donkey-guy-10.xanga.com/2013/09/07/useful-xanga-tip-from-adamswomanback/#comments

    Passing on some important information: Name Link not Working?

    If you notice that names in comments are no longer click-able, and the avatars lead to a ‘not found’ page, do this:

    Top right, of your screen where your cute lil’ avatar is, click it and chose Edit Profile.  Scroll through and look for the space next to Website. Add in your xanga address (eg. http://myname.xanga.com) and this will make it so that your name becomes a clickable link.  It still does not work with your avatar image however.

    Now, I followed these instructions, and this did not work for me because I have underscores in my user name.
    When I changed the underscores to dashes, it started working!

    Try this! It worked for me!
    HUGS!!! :-)

    Well, I hope this helps anyone who doesn’t have a ‘click-able’ link attached to your site name!!
    I’ll be sharing here again, very soon, in order to let you all know where to find me posting after Friday,
    and I do hope you’ll join me!  I find it’s pretty quiet over here, with just a few of you showing up in my ‘reader’,
    and I so hope to hear from some of you before I move! :)

    coffcup

    Blessings,
    - Deborah <><

December 30, 2013

  • an update and a ‘belated’ Christmas card …

    Bar Blog Apple Bow

    okay … let’s try this again … i finally got back into my account!
    i was only able to see sites and comment, but i couldn’t add a post,
    so therefore; i missed the Christmas deadline …

    no bother, i will still share my Christmas ‘card’ with you all anyway …
    come to think of it, i’ve received a few since the 25th myself.

    i would ask, that if all those who do see this
    would just leave a quick note in the comment section saying that you can still read my posts,
    i would be forever grateful!

    it will also let me know how many of my
    followers are still following me here on Xanga 2.0. :)

    Bar Berry and Star Garland

    i do hope everyone had a most blessed Christmas with family and friends this past week!
    we spent Christmas Eve with my brother and his family, then on Christmas Day we were with
    my sister and her family.

    for the most part, it was a quiet Christmas for us this year,
    and a bit sad as circumstances in our family are changing.
    also have to say that things just aren’t the same since we lost Mom Betty and O.P back in 2010.
    doesn’t seem that long ago …
    during this time of year, especially, we pull out the photos of them …
    and still with tears, we remember.

    normally we spend Christmas Day with my hubby’s sister’s family, but not so this year.
    her husband is dealing with some pretty serious health issues that changed the traditional family plans.
    we are hoping to all get together soon, but in the meantime, we continue to pray for him.

    Bar Berry and Star Garland
    *as for our family update:
    my sweet husband has had an issue with his heart
    that some of you may be aware of through Facebook.
    it was a bit scary there, as we found out through the tests
    that he had what is known as a ‘silent’ heart attack …
    we were totally unaware of it when it happened!
    since then we’ve changed his diet, and exercise,
    and thankfully, with much prayer,
    it seems to be making a difference!
    we’re taking one day at a time,
    trusting, and believing for his complete healing!

    as for our son, who i had shared about in the post below on September 18th …
    i want to thank those who stopped in and prayed for them both …
    it was so very appreciated,
    but, sadly, they are getting a divorce.
    it’s what she has chosen …
    and she continues to be in our prayers.
    our son is growing closer to the Lord through it all …
    but still, it is never easy.
    he, too, is taking one day at a time,
    and trusting that God will have His perfect will in his life!

    and now, a belated Christmas card. with much love, to you all …

    Silent Night

    … our son used his iPhone and took this picture of us on Christmas Day.
    i’m thinkin’ hubby may just give Santa some competition come next year,
    wouldn’t you say! :)

    Christmas 2013

    Bar Christmas Candy Canes
    we both pray you have a joyous, blessed, and a very ~

    happy new year
    love & hugs,
    - deborah <><

October 3, 2013

  • Account Question

    Well, I see that it’s still pretty quiet around the new and ‘not-so-improved’ Xanga …
    it doesn’t look like too many on my subscription list have found their way here yet. :(

    I’ve clicked on ‘Following’ on my dashboard, and it took me to the subscription list.
    I went through and clicked on each site, and most of the time it took me directly to the main Xanga page
    that says this ………….

    We’ve saved your blog archives for you!

    Read below for details on how to retrieve your data.

    How to retrieve your data

    We’ve saved an archive of all of your blog posts!

    There are two ways to retrieve your data.

    You can either:

    1. Sign into Xanga and download the archive (for free, of course) from the link at the top of your dashboard, or
    2. Upgrade to Xanga 2.0 and we will upgrade your blog to the new servers using the data in the backup.

    ……………………………………………………

    Then the other sites I went to … they were there, up and running.

    I’m still confused, and still learning to navigate my way around here … I sure hope you’re all doing better than I am!!
    I must admit, I do miss our ‘old’ home … it’s here that I have to say, not all change is good!

    This is basically a stripped down version of the WordPress format …
    I do have another site over on the full version of WordPress with the same name ‘threads of faith’.
    I got that one started in order to get ahead of this ‘move’, but you’ll see I haven’t done much there either,
    although I have noticed there are quite a few features missing from this format compared to that one.
    So what are you thoughts on this ‘new’ Xanga so far?

    Now, can anyone help?!
    I’m wondering how we can see our account information, as we were able to do on the old Xanga site.
    You could see when, and how, you paid for Premium as well as the renewal date.
    I’m actually amazed I’ve still been able to sign on here … I didn’t think I had that much time left on my Premium account.
    I wonder how they let you know this if there isn’t any account information page? Email?
    I do need to find out though, so I can pay when the time for my upgrade comes …

    I do not want this to disappear when my time is up!

    And, I haven’t a clue as to where I can find that information!
    I would so appreciate any help on this!

    I also have another prayer request … this time for my dear husband …
    we found out he may have a heart arrhythmia.
    His heart will skip a beat here and there, and he gets very tired easily.
    He’s had this in the past, and they found out it was caused by his adrenal glands and thyroid.
    Once they got those two things back in good working order, he was feeling better than he ever had.
    I’m praying for a repeat performance and that he will feel better than normal again, soon!
    We are going to the doctor this coming Friday morning, and we would so appreciate your prayers!

    Thank you all so much, and I’ll keep you posted!
    I hope you all have a blessed Thursday!
    - Debi xoxo

    IMG_0374 OCT 13 2012 sig
    I LOVE THIS MAN!!

September 18, 2013

  • two together … two apart

    Well, it’s been a little while since I’ve been here …

    weddings do that sometimes … my great niece got married this past Sunday.

    It was a day I was quite nervous about … I was to be taking their wedding photos with my son.

    The rehearsal went well, and I was confident I had worked with my new camera enough to get a few acceptable shots.

    I was grateful my son was ‘in charge’, and I would follow his lead …
    his dad also had my older camera to capture a few images himself …
    he helped to lighten the load, and I have to say he’s not half bad with a camera in hand!

    It’s going to take some time to go through some 2000+ photos and pick out the better ones
    for their wedding album … so you know where I’ll be for the next few weeks!

    There are three sets of images … his #1, his #2, and mine.
    I’ve only gotten through half of his #2′s photos today.

    Here are a couple of shots our son (his #2) captured of a very sweet couple
    on a very beautiful day …

    _1020969 EDT

    _1020968 EDT

    IAN_1020920 EDT RS

    *I am asking for prayer from my Xanga friends …
    many of you have come to know our son over the years on here as I have shared.
    He has been going through a very difficult time with his wife …
    sadly, they are now separated and their marriage may very well be over.

    He doesn’t want this … and as difficult as things got, he never did,
    but she has chosen to return to live the life he was hoping he had rescued her from …
    he still loves her deeply and
    I only know of one way in which he found the strength
    to go out on Sunday to take photos of this wedding …

    only God’s grace … enabling

    … reminders of his life with her …
    the bride’s dress was almost identical to the one his wife wore on their wedding day -
    the songs they played are what they played at their wedding -
    and her name is also Nicole.

    I could tell it was a very difficult day for Ian – mom’s know these things …
    then there was the hint of tears
    still, he wouldn’t let on that his heart was completely and utterly breaking.

    today he is carrying his pain alone not ready to open up

    My heart breaks for our son …
    he knows we are here for him … always
    please pray that God will bring him comfort in the midst of his pain.
    and please pray for Nicole …
    that God would completely capture her heart
    and that she would truly come to know Him and His free gift of salvation and grace.
    Thank you all!

September 5, 2013

  • About those photos … hope this helps!

    IMG_7340 edt 1 wm

    I’ve shared this with a couple of friends, but just in case others need to know …
    here’s what I discovered about how to adjust the size, and the position, of an image that has already been uploaded into a post:

    1. Go to your post with the image/s, and click ‘edit’.

    2. In the editor, click on the image and you will see two little icons in the upper left hand corner.

    3. Click the one that looks like a little picture, and it will open up a window where you can adjust the size of your image … choose the next size up:
    (my image above is set at 100%). You’ll also notice you can ‘center’ the image there, as well.
    (I also found you can center the image here in the editor by clicking the image on and then going to the bar above,
    where you see the right, center, and left settings … just select the ‘center’ setting).

    4. When finished, click ‘Update’ and that will take you back to the editor.

    5. There in the editor, click ‘Preview Changes’ to check it … if it’s not the right size for you, repeat the steps above and change the size again.
    (Could be a ‘bug’, but I’ve noticed, although not every time, that I’ve had to do this more than once to get an image centered!)
    When you do get it the way you want it, then click ‘Update’ in the editor.

    Sure hope this works for you! I know how frustrating it’s been for me to figure it out!
    There may be an easier way, and if anyone knows, do tell!

    So far, this is what I found that’s worked for me. :)

    Blessings,
    - Deborah

September 4, 2013

  • First Post … Xanga is Back!

    fall_farmsc

    Well, this is just a tad bit different than the WordPress account I have set up. Sure hope to figure all this out soon … my premium is almost up, and I need to find out just exactly when that is, so I need to find my ‘account’ information! I hope I can figure out where to find my friends here too. I don’t see a list of followers … yet! If anyone who knows me sees this, please comment … well, even if you don’t know me, you can still leave a comment, lol! I jumped on here to post real quick to say hi, but after a good night’s sleep I’ll get back to figuring this format out! Not sure I’m liking it either … I’m already missing the ‘old’ Xanga!! Well, one things for certain … we’re all in this together, so at least I don’t feel alone! Oh, and Happy September, by the way!!

    Hugs,
    ~ Deborah

August 26, 2013

  • A Change of Scenery ….

    I followed a few other Xanga friends on over to Blogger, just in case things don’t work out here.
    I shared a bit over there today, and would love for you to come visit my new home …
    hope to see you there!

    Here’s the link:

    Trial By Design

    Hugs,
    Deborah <><

July 29, 2013

  • Xanga-time is almost up ….

    Wow, it’s been so beautiful here! We had such a hot spell, and the cooler weather has been such a relief!
    I also heard that our month of August (one of the hottest of the year) may very well be even cooler
    than what it’s been lately … unbelievable, but I’ll take it!  It is very dry here though, and I’m looking
    forward to the rain that’s expected here in the next 24-48 hours!
    Hope you’re all enjoying some nice weather, too!

    Yes, I am back, but it doesn’t look like for very long!
    None of us are sure as to what things will be like here after July 31st,
    but I do want you all to know where you can find me, if you would still like to follow along.

    Here are the links:

    First, I have a Blogger site that I opened back when I first heard that Xanga was to close on July 15th:
    http://threadsoffaith2.blogspot.com/

    Then once I heard that they were wanting to re-launch Xanga over on WordPress, I opened an account there:
    http://threadsoffaith2.wordpress.com/

    I’ve found a few of of my friends from here who are now on both Blogger and WordPress,
    and am following you there, too! 

    As for the rest of my subscribers, if you would, please leave a comment on where I can find you, too!
    I do hope to stay in touch with you all!
    I do think this change can be a good thing!
    It’s getting me back in the blogging mode again … I have missed it!

    We don’t have long, so I hope y’all will see this soon, as it seems pretty quiet over here!

    I will miss this place … it’s an old familiar ‘friend’ whom I grew to ‘love’ … a place where I felt safe sharing my life.
    I could always count on my close friends here for prayer and encouragement!
    I’ll keep looking for more of you in the next couple of days, and also send this out as a message,
    in hopes of connecting again!

    Blessings,
    ~ Deborah <><

Threads_of_Faith

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quote and verse

Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.
- Andrew Murray -

God often comes to us,
not in dramatic and the spectacular,
but in quiet, unexpected ways ...
In a still, small voice,
a gentle whisper,
God makes known His love.

In quietness and trust
is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

Pleasure, possessions, power, and privilege are ultimately worthless in comparison to the indescribable
joy of knowing GOD!!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5,6

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalm 32:8

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