Month: February 2008


  • yahoo little pup color


    ~ MARY AND HER DOG LUCKY ~

    A true story of a dog and the one he loves …

    Anyone who has pets will like this story.
    You’ll like it even if you don’t, and you may even decide you need one!
    But first … here’s a poem I saw in a veterinarian’s office framed on a wall.

    ~ God – Spelled Backwards ~

    When God had made the earth and sky,
     The flowers and the trees.
    He then made all the animals,
    The fish, the birds and bees.
     And when at last He’d finished,
     Not one was quite the same.
     He said, “I’ll walk this world of mine,
     And give each one a name.”
     And so He traveled far and wide
     And everywhere He went,
     A little creature followed Him
     Until its strength was spent.
     When all were named upon the earth
     And in the sky and sea,
     The little creature said, “Dear Lord,
     There’s not one left for me.”
     Kindly the Father said to him,
    “I’ve left you to the end.
    I’ve turned my own name back to front
     And called you dog, my friend.”

    Author Unknown

    Bar Flower Vine

    Mary and her husband, Jim, had a dog named ‘Lucky.’  Lucky was a real character.  Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a week end visit, they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.  Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.

    Mary, or Jim, would go to Lucky’s toy box in the basement, and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky’s other favorite toys.  Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

    It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.  Something told her she was going to die of this disease … in fact, she was just sure it was fatal.  She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.

    The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky.  A thought struck her … what would happen to Lucky?  Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary’s dog through and through.  If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought.  He won’t understand that I didn’t want to leave him.  The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

    The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated, and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks.  Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

    Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital.  When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn’t even make it up the steps to her bedroom.  Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.  Lucky stood watching Mary, but he didn’t come to her when she called.  It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

    When Mary woke, for a second she couldn’t understand what was wrong.  She couldn’t move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.  But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem.  She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!  While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. 

    Tiny Tag Rose White He had covered her with his love!!

    Mary forgot about dying.  Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day.  It’s been 12 years now, and Mary is still cancer-free.  Lucky?  Well, he continues to steal treasures and stashes them in his toy box, but Mary remains his greatest treasure!

    Remember … Live every day to the fullest.  Each minute is a blessing from God.  And never forget that the people who make a difference in our lives, are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.  They are the ones that care for us.

    Tiny Tag Rose White If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours!

    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose Live simply.

    Tiny Tag Rose White Love generously.

    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose Care deeply.

    Tiny Tag Rose White Speak kindly.

    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose Leave the rest to God.

    “In the shadow of His hand He hid me.”  What a beautiful picture of the loving, nurturing care with which God surrounds His children.  It is as though the hand of God were cupped over each of us, forming its protective shield against all danger, affording us shelter from the blazing heat of adversity. 

    Because we are hidden in the shadow of His hand, no foe can alarm us, no harm can befall us.  Under His protecting hand we are safe from every evil that would assail us.  The shadow of His hand affords peace and rest.  For Jesus’ sake, the hand that casts the shadow removes from us our every burden of guilt and shame. In the shadow of His hand we find spiritual refreshment, for there we feed on His Word, and there we are blessed by His Spirit, who restores our souls and renews our hearts.  Isaiah 49:2   ~ Anonymous

    Tiny Tag Rose White In the shadow of His hand, He indeed covers us with His love!   Be blessed!  Hugs … <><


    Bar Flower Vine

  • ~ THANKFUL THURSDAY ~

         

        the sower matt 13 mark 4 

     


    HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

    Tiny Tag White Rose Cultivate
    a thankful spirit! It will be to thee a perpetual feast. There is, or ought to be, with us no such thing as small mercies; all are great, because the least are undeserved. Indeed a really thankful heart will extract motive for gratitude from everything, making the most even of scanty blessings.   ~ J. R. MacDuff

    Although I don’t have a garden of my own and I am certainly not a farmer, I believe I know enough about the concept of cultivating to be confident in stating emphatically: cultivation requires work. A smattering of an occasional handful of seeds tossed onto the surface of untilled soil will not result in much of a crop no matter how well intentioned a momentary impulse to sow a good seed might be. I have several friends who have lush beautiful gardens, which is no easy feat in North Central Alberta. Through out the year I overhear their conversations as they speak of tilling, composting, seedlings and planting, weeding and harvesting. Every step along the way demands their complete attention and conscious involvement in order to see that harvest come in, whether that harvest is a bounty of fresh vegetables or a plethora of beautiful flowers and shrubs.

    And so it is in developing a truly thankful heart. Good parents instill in their toddlers the importance of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. As their preschoolers grow in their development, a thoughtful parent adds to this foundation by introducing the concept of thank-you pictures to send to gift-givers and graduates this education further to thank-you letters, meaningful phone calls or emails. This is an important first step in understanding the concept of gratitude but I believe a thankful heart goes beyond merely giving thanks for the gifts we receive.

    Truly grateful hearts see reason to give thanks in all things and all seasons no matter how dark and dreary those seasons may be on the surface. A grateful heart can see with eyes of faith the goodness that surrounds them or that is yet to spring forth from the long dormant days of spiritual winter. Such grateful hearts belonged to the Ten Boom sisters, Corrie and Betsie. Because of their determination to protect innocent lives during World War 2, the middle-aged Christian sisters were thrown into an infamous concentration death camp. Conditions were deplorable, disease and vermin were rampant. Housed in the barracks that had the worst reputation of all; being invested with fleas; it was impossible to sleep in the cramped quarters and the prisoners lice-covered bodies were ridden with fleabites. When the sisters cried out to the Lord for grace to endure the hardships, the Lord reminded them to give thanks in ALL circumstances and they did so, in child-like obedience. It wasn’t until much later that Corrie came to the realize one of the reasons why she was able to share the gospel freely in her barrack and lead nightly bible studies without the interference of prison officials. The very fleas that plagued them kept their enemies at bay …the guards refused to enter their hut unless ordered to do so, in fear of being infested themselves.

    Corrie and Betsie would not have been able to bring good out of so much evil around them if they had not been able to give thanks out of hearts filled with faithful and faith-filled gratitude to their Loving Heavenly Father.

    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose My prayer is that I will cultivate such a garden of praise and thankfulness
           myself so I can partake daily of this perpetual feast of gratitude.  ~
    Katherine Walden

    Strength, rest, guidance, grace, help, sympathy, love – all from God to us!!  What a list of blessings!  ~ E. Stenbock

    Thank you all for your prayers, and sweet comments!  Schedules changed, and my in-laws moved a day early!  My DH, who was there most of the day with them, called and said that it went very well … Mom has already met some of the ladies who are in the ‘Red Hat Society’, and she’ll be joining that group … I want to buy her a red hat!  She is such a ‘hat lady’, and loves to have tea, so I know she will love that … she will be just fine … hmmm, I wonder if they have a men’s ‘Top Hat Society’ for Dad to join!! :o)  After being there with them today, Lewis thinks they’ll adjust quite nicely!  They stayed the night at my sister in law’s house … she  lives just minutes from where they’ll be living.  They’ll spend the day there today, hanging pictures, making it comfortable, then be ready for their first night in their new home!  I can’t wait to go to visit!  I’m thankful that things went well … and thankful for all of you! 

    Have an awesome day, and be blessed on this ‘Thankful Thursday’! 

    Tiny Tag White Rose Hugs,
             ~ Deborah <><

    Thankful thursday 2



    mom and dad 1 rt

    I wanted to share a photo of my in-laws … O.P. & Betty! 
    Now, tell me, doesn’t she look good in red?!!


    Smilie CameraOh, and, if you haven’t already … be sure to check out all the great
    photos at
    Betsafly Gallery
    !

    Tiny Tag White Rose   Tiny Tag White Rose   Tiny Tag White Rose

  • CREATIONS BOOKS 3


    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose The Lord Looks At the Heart
             ~ by Max Lucado

    “God does not see the same way people see.
    People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
      II Samuel 16:7

    Seven sons pass.  Seven sons fail.  The procession comes to a halt.

    Samuel counts the siblings: one-two-three-four-five-six-seven.
    “Jesse, don’t you have eight sons?”
    A similar question caused Cinderella’s stepmother to squirm. Jesse likely did the same.

    “I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.” 
    (v. 11)

    The Hebrew name for “youngest son” is haqqaton. It implies more than age, it suggests rank.
    The haqqaton was more that the youngest brother- the runt, the hobbit, the “bay-ay-ay-by.”

    Sheep watching fits the family haqqaton. Put the boy where he can’t cause trouble.
    Leave him with woolly heads and open skies.

    What caused God to pick him?  We want to know.  We really want to know.

    “The Lord does not see as a man sees: for the man looks at the outward appearance,
    but the Lord looks at the heart”
    (v.7)

    Those words were written for the haqqatons of society, for misfits and castouts.
    God uses them all.

    Moses ran from justice, but God used him.

    Jonah ran from God, but God used him.

    Rahab ran a brothel, Samson ran to the wrong woman, Jacob ran in circles, Ruth ran to a distant land, Elijah ran into the mountains, Sarah ran out of hope, Lot ran with the wrong crowd, but God used them all.

    And David?  God saw a teenage boy, serving him in the backwoods of Bethlehem, at the intersection of boredom and anonymity, and through the voice of a brother, God called, “David! Come in. Someone wants to see you.”

    God saw what no one else saw: a God-seeking heart.  Others measure your waist size or wallet.
    Not God.  He examines hearts.  When he finds one set on him, he calls it and claims it.


    Tiny Tag White Rose  Thank you all, again, for you sweet comments, and prayers!  I am feeling a little better.  I will ask for your prayers this week as my in-laws are moving closer to us, to an assisted living care facility.  My sister in law is in town taking care of all the details, and the movers will be there to move them on Thursday.  My DH was there today helping to pack … I would have been, but they thought it best not to go around them right now … they were going to move this past weekend, but there was a flu epidemic there at the home, so they postponed it for later this week.  It will be a bit of an adjustment for them, but they are needing round the clock care, and living alone is not an option at this point in their lives.  Dad seems to be adjusting well enough … but Mom doesn’t want to leave her home, and it is a bit harder on her.  I can totally understand how she feels!  She is looking forward to all that her new home will offer her, though … they have many activities to choose from, and we’ll be just a short drive away.  Please keep them in your prayers for a smooth transition, for comfort and peace, and for good weather, as well.  We were supposed to get a winter storm here today, but nothing much came of it in our area.  That’s Indiana weather for ya!  Well, you all have a blessed day, as you set your heart on Him!

    Tiny Tag White Rose Hugs,
            ~ Deborah <><


    Smilie Camera Be sure to check out BetsaflyGallery for this week’s theme on ‘people doing something’
    I have one of my favorite photos in there this week … I took it at a living history museum called
    Conner Prairie.


  •     
    Sepia~ Estate-Tulips-Posters
     


    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose PRESSING ON
                   ~ Philippians 3:10-21

    So often things of the past can hold us back. Often the issues that haven’t been dealt with can be a stumbling block and a hindrance to what God can do in us now. If only we can see beyond the here and now. If only we could see what God can do in and through us, we would desire to press on through.

    As Paul says here, he hasn’t already attained this, but he presses on – forgetting what lies behind and strains forward to what lies ahead. We need to have a more ‘eternal’ way of thinking. We know that this world is not our home. We can’t even take our human body with us when we die. Everything will be changed. Everything will be new. Our homeland is in heaven with Jesus. Our home here on earth is only a temporary residence. If we could truly grasp this – we would realize the unimportance of so much in our day-to-day life. This can be a hard concept – because none of us can really understand what heaven would be like. None of us have been there. We haven’t seen it; touched it; smelt it; experienced it in any way. We may get small glimpses now and then – but that is nothing in comparison to what it would be like. I believe if we could just see what has eternal value in what we do and say, it can be transforming. Knowing this can help us to ‘press on’ with God. To ‘press on’ to receive the breakthrough we so desire. To ‘press on’ to be more Christ-like. To ‘press on’ despite the odds stacked up against us. For nothing else the world has to offer is as important as pressing on in God.   ~ By M.S.Lowndes

          Tiny Tag White Rose Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. 
          Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth;
          do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? 
          I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.   
                                                                           ~ Isaiah 43: 18-19


    Help me Lord to press on through
    No matter how hard it gets
    Let me see what has ‘eternal value’
    And press on to what lies ahead.
    In Jesus name, Amen.


    Pic Bible Rose Tea



    Wedding Ring Adria 8396
     

    Thought I’d share another photo from Rodney & Adria’s wedding …

    ~ A symbol of Everlasting Love ~

    ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with loving-kindness’
    ~ Jeremiah 31:3 ~

    Tiny Tag Dk Pink Rose

    Thank you all for your sweet comments … and I didn’t make it to church yesterday,
    woke up not feeling good, so I just spent the day resting, sleeping, & eating soup …
    ya know, I’m a little bit tired of this vegetable beef soup now! 
    Oh, I don’t mean to complain … I’m very blessed to have the food, but … 3 days in a row?! 
    It was a big pot!!  I’ve often wondered how the Israelites managed with the manna!
    They had to have gotten pretty creative with their dishes!
    Manna casseroles, mannaloaf, grilled manna sandwiches, manna quiche,  
    manna salad, mannacakes, maybe even …. manna soup?!
      Well, I’m happy to say that the soup is almost gone now, anyway!
    My sweet husband did bring me home some fresh organic vegies to have for today …
    When it’s available, we try to buy organic every chance we get,  
    and it’s really hard to find good fresh organic produce this time of year
    in our area, but he did find some at a local grocery store yesterday … 
    it’ll be a nice change from the soup, to have fresh crunchy vegies and dip! 
    He likes his steamed!  Talked to a friend from church yesterday,
    and she is also sick … she didn’t make it to church either …
    she has it pretty bad, and was on her couch most of the day …
    I’m praying for you Kim !
    So much of this flu is going around here … I don’t recall it ever being this bad!
    Anyway, we both missed the Dave Ramsey seminar today, but our hubbies went.
    It was the initial meeting, so we didn’t miss too much … I’m thankful for that!
    I was able to visit a few of you yesterday, and I’ll be around more today. but for now,
    I’m going to go rest for awhile, but I’ll be around to check in on you a bit later …
    … you all have a very blessed Monday … we all must ‘press on’ together! 

    Tiny Tag White Rose Hugs,
                     ~ Deborah <><

  •  

    FLOWERS Sepia 3 flowers 2

     
    A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago.  They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner.  In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.  Apples flew everywhere.  Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding.

    ALL BUT ONE !!!  He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

    He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight.  Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

    He was glad he did.

    The 16-year-old girl was totally blind!  She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

    The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.  As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

    When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, ‘Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?’ She nodded through her tears.. He continued on with, ‘I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.’

    As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, ‘Mister….’ He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.  She continued, ‘Are you Jesus?’

    He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered.  Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: ‘Are you Jesus?’  Do people mistake you for Jesus?  That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life, and grace.

    If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.  Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.  It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

    You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall.  He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.


    Be warm and merciful and let no one go from you empty-handed.
    The least you can offer is your time and patience, your affection and your prayer.  ~ Anonymous 

    Bar Lace Stitch Divider

    I’ll be back soon to catch up with you all … haven’t been feeling real good, and I know many of you out there, don’t either!  I hope you’re staying warm … here it’s been pretty cold, with freezing rain and some snow … there have been accidents everywhere, and my car is coated in ice … no worry, I’m not going anywhere, until tomorrow for church, that is, if I’m feeling up to it!  Also, our Dave Ramsey seminar starts later in the afternoon tomorrow, so I’m hoping to be able to go … my dear hubby will if I don’t, but, I really don’t want to miss it!  So to help me get better, I did what my mother used to do for me and my sister, when we were sick with the flu … I made a big pot of homemade vegetable beef soup yesterday!  It really seemed to help get us on the road to recovery!   

    As you can see I’ve been making some changes here, so for a little while, you’ll be in the ‘construction zone’ while I figure out what to add!  I was wondering if anyone knows how to get the music on the new Xanga themes page?  I’m still going to keep the old theme here, but I have another site I’m playing around with for my photos, and it’s much more difficult to figure out … it’s like you have two sites in one … the old page, that only you can see, and then the new one, do you know what I mean!?  I went to the comment page on the new Xanga themes, and not too many people are happy with them.  Is there an instruction page I could go to?  I remember when they first started it, there was a how-to video, but I can’t seem to find it now.  So those of you who switched to the new theme, what are your thoughts on it?! And, if anyone who has the new themes can help me, that would be so appreciated!  Anyway, I’m still working at getting photos loaded from Ian’s visit and the wedding, so I’ll be sharing more of those soon.  He’s back in California and busy as ever … I so appreciate your prayers for him, for God’s perfect will in his life.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend … stay warm, healthy, and well! 

    Tiny Tag Rose White Hugs,
    ~ Deborah <><    

  • animated candleROSE IN HAND animated candle 

    Bar Curly divider

    The Most Beautiful Flower

    The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
    Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
    Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
    For the world was intent on dragging me down.

    And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day,
    A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
    He stood right before me with his head tilted down,
    And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

    In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
    With its petals all worn – not enough rain, or too little light.
    Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
    I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

    But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
    And placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise,
    “It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.
    That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”

    The weed before me was dying or dead.
    Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
    But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
    So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”

    But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
    He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
    It was then that I noticed for the very first time
    That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

    I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
    As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
    “You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play,
    Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

    I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
    A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
    How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
    Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.

    Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
    The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
    And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
    I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate every second that’s mine.

    And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
    And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
    And smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand
    About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

    -Author unknown

    sigtaglight


    I choose kindness…
    I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
    Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
    And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

    ~ Max Lucado ~

  • Worship Wednesday ~ Your Love Oh LORD ….

      


    “Your Love Oh Lord”
    (Psalm 36)

    “Your love, oh Lord
    Reaches to the heavens,
    Your faithfulness stretches to the sky.
    Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    Your justice flows like the ocean’s tide.
    I will lift my voice
    To worship You, my King
    I will find my strength
    In the shadow of your wings”


    Bkg Blog Valentine cddvalbearbg3Bkg Blog Valentine cddvalbearbg3Bkg Blog Valentine cddvalbearbg3


    I am graven on the palms of His hands. I am never out of His mind.
    All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me.
    I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me.
    He knows me as a friend, One who loves me;
    and there is no moment when His eye is off me,
    or His attention distracted for me,
    and no moment, therefore, when His care falters.

    ~ J. I. Packer ~


    There is nothing we can do to make God love us more,
    there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.

    ~ Philip Yancey ~

  •         

    Valentine's Day PM 2-08 jpeg rs

    I had to share this photo of a beautiful Valentine’s evening
    spent driving with my son in the country!  This is my favorite time of day!

    I hope you’ve all had a good weekend!  Thought I’d share with you a summary of this past week.  Having Ian home has been fun, but the time is soon coming to an end, and he’ll be flying out tonight around 6:30PM, for California.  I would so appreciate your prayers for his safe journey, and for God’s will to be done in his life.  We’ve had some good times together while he’s been home, and I hope you don’t mind if I share a few highlights from the week:

    *Filming, taking photos, and enjoying Ian’s good friend’s wedding … Rodney & Adria … here is the adorable couple! 


    Rodney & Adria Together rs


    *Going to church together again, as a family, last Sunday.  

    *Ian was able to spend some quality time with his close friends … he was missed.

    *Lewis had to work on Valentine’s Day, but he got away long enough to have dinner out together at Carrabba’s Italian Grill … notice the  shaped chicken?  Lew and I had that heart shaped herbed chicken, with lemon brocolli, and garlic mashed potatoes … Ian had their steak, and we all had the best salad, with hot bread dipped in herbed olive oil … it was a delicious meal!  After that Lewis had to go back to work, so Ian and I just took a drive in the country … {*see photo above of the beautiful night that we had here!}  


                          Carrabba's Salad rs Carrabba's Chicken dinner rs

      
    *Dinner with Grandma & Grandpa’s on Saturday … {it was the last time in their condominum that we can do that, as they are moving to the assisted living apartment this next weekend.  They will be much closer to us, so we’ll be able to see them more often without driving almost an hour away!}  We had a wonderful dinner … ham, sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, homemade coleslaw, a pineapple/cherry fruit dish on the side … and brownies for dessert.  Ian enjoyed every morsel, and so did we!  We cleaned up the kitchen for them while they sat and visited with Ian.  Here Ian is getting ready to enjoy that delicious meal that Grandma and Grandpa prepared!


    Ian at Grandma pa's 2  2-16-08 rs


    Out of all of their grandchildren, Ian is the only grandson who will carry on the family name, so you can imagine how special he is to them!  Grandma sat down with a box of family pictures and we enjoyed going through those!  Here are a few photos from that night, and a ‘photo within a photo’ of both Ian and his Grandparents … this is their wedding photo … Ian was 6 or 7,  {I’ll have to check on that to be sure!  I should know that, now shouldn’t I?!! 


    Photo within a photo 2 2-16-08 rs


    And, I have to share a smile in this photo here!  The ‘Lewis of today’, is holding up a photo of when he was in highschool, and also a photo of our family back in the mid 80′s!  I still don’t think that’s really him in the highschool picture … so, what do you think?!!    Remember those oversized, gargantuan glasses that I was wearing … boy have things changed … thank goodness!!


    Before, After Before, & Now! 2 2-16-08 rs2


    *On Sunday, yesterday, Ian had to take a trip up to Granger Community Church to a meeting on how their video communications program worked and will take the information back to the church in California … Granger is a ’mega’ church north of us here in Indiana, and I’ve never even heard of it until Ian told us about it.  They have an extensive website
    , one you could get lost in!  Lewis said you could get lost in the church as well!  Dave Ramsey’s seminar was going on this particular day … they enjoyed that, and learned a few wise tips about finances! {We’re starting ours at church next Sunday … good stuff on how to get debt free!}  Well, during the course of the meeting with Ian yesterday, they said they needed more help in that department … so that may be a future possibility for him … (at least it wouldn’t be 2500 miles from home … only 3 hours away … I could handle that!)  Lewis went with him yesterday … I definitely would have, except, (sigh) I’m feeling like I’m getting the flu, you know achey and chilled …  so we thought it best that I stay put! 

    *Finally, just spending time here at home with him, cooking together, movie night, and also a little shopping together … just being able to be a mom again to my son, was the highlight for me!

    He spent most of the time here with a bad head cold, so we didn’t do as much as we had planned … but he is hoping to come back in May for another friend’s wedding.  He was asked to film that one also.  He wanted to come back in April as well, in order to work with the youth at the Children Conferences at our annual homeschool convention.  That’s where all of this started … about a year ago!  It’s been hard adjusting, as a mom of one son, but God has grown me though it all, and I’m learning to trust Ian to Him!  

    Well, today, I’m feeling a little better … I’ve been working on getting Ian’s clothes cleaned and packed before he heads back this evening.  He was at a friend’s house most of the day yesterday after they got back from Granger, and I haven’t seen much of him today, either … he had some errands to run with Lewis, but we are all going to The House of Toyko for lunch together … he’s been wanting to go there since he’s been here.  They cook the most amazing tasting Japanese food right in front of you.  I’ll get some photos!  After that we’ll come home and finish the packing, and then head for the airport.   I really thank you for your prayers for him, and for a safe journey back!  I’ll be around to see you all soon … things will get quieter starting tomorrow, and I’ll be back with more photos to share.  Have a blessed Monday, everyone! 

    Hugs,
    ~ Deborah <><
     

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    Blog Button Valentine Heart LeftGod hedges in His own that He may preserve them, but oftentimes they only see the wrong side of the hedge, and so misunderstand His dealings.  It was so with Job (Job 3:23).  Ah, but Satan knew the value of that hedge!  See his testimony in chapter 1:10.  Through the leaves of every trial there are chinks of light to shine through.  Thorns do not prick you unless you lean against them, and not one touches without His knowledge.  The words that hurt you, the letter which gave you pain, the cruel wound of your dearest friend, shortness of money — are all known to Him, who sympathizes as none else can and watches to see, if, through all, you will dare to trust Him wholly.

    Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
    Streams in the Desert



    trust lord gail eads

  •     

    Valentine 

     A Thought for Valentine’s Day  

                                                  He still puts the stars to bed
                                                  And plants each tiny seed;
                                                  Puts every petal on each flower,
                                                  Provides our every need.
                                                  Yet He who knows our future paths

                                                  Veils our eyes here below;
                                                   Although we strain to see ahead,
                                                   Love says we must not know.
                                                   Eternal Wisdom planned it thus ~
                                                   No human comprehends,
                                                   The child of God must learn to trust
                                                   In faith, what our Lord sends.
                                                   No matter what the future holds,
                                                   Entreat your soul to rest;
                                                   Secure to know, 

                                                   Day 
                                                   After day,
                                                   Your Father does know best!



    “For I know the plans that I have for you,declares the Lord,
    plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
    (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB)

    Valentine Cats


    Blog Button Valentine Heart Left Valentines Day Bar writing Blog Button Valentine Heart
     

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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HOW TO FIND ME … I HAVE MOVED!

I HAVE MOVED!!

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