Happy New Year's

I hope that everybody is going to have a fun, safe day today!!  It is a day to reflect on the past but also to look forward to a new beginning.  Every year I have made some of the same resolutions and looking back most of them are still sitting there with no results. This year I am going to make goals.  I am going to make them and remake them as needed.

Looking back over the blogs that I have written this year many of them are about being busy, having too many piles and too much junk in my life.  Even though I have written about this, many of these things are still sitting there.  Here is one goal:  I am going to get rid of my piles, one pile or one piece at a time.  I am going to give myself time and not be overwhelmed with the mounds.  Another goal will have to do with the busyness:  I am going to take a long look at my life and some of the busy will have to go.  I hate to say this but I think one thing might be the hand bells.   A third goal will be about my junk: I am talking about the junk in my heart.  This is the junk that covers what matters.  I am going to began my junk removal with a goal of reading the Bible and praying daily.

What about you?  What are you going to do with this New Year??

Psalm 62:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
   my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Philippians 4:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

The Gift of Time

One of the gifts that I received for Christmas was a mantel clock.  It is fairly large and really only looks right if it is situated in the middle of the mantel.  The only problem with that is the fact that there is a large picture, on the wall above the mantel, of Jesus and this clock hides part of the picture.  I can't see all of Jesus with this clock in the way.

I was pondering the situation when I realized that this is a picture of what my life can be.  How often do I let time  block Jesus.  I am too busy going to ballgames, work, band concerts, handbells, choir, book signings, writing, paying bills, talking on the phone and cleaning that I am not taking time to really see Jesus.  I am letting time block out the essence of Jesus.

Time is a gift and I should use it wisely.  I should take the time to read my bible, pray and feel the presence of Jesus.  I should be letting my life reflect my Savior!  I need to let go of some of my busyness and remember that I need to use my time for the Lord.

What about you?  Is your time blocking Jesus?

Ecclesiastes 3:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

Article I wrote for contest

I am a writer for examiner.com and they have a contest going.  The deadline was December 23rd and that was the day I entered.  The article is 'The unexpected path'. and I am going to try to put a link here that you will be able to use if not you can go to examiner.com under America Inspired or under family or you can check it out on my page on facebook. http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-oklahoma-city/the-unexpected-path     
I wrote about Richard's journey.  The judges are going to figure out the top twenty-five articles and let the writers know the end of January.  I am not sure how they will figure out who is in the top twenty-five but if you would like to read it and leave a comment in the comment section below the article it could only help. 


Then the top twenty-five will go to the people's vote.  Every day between Jan. 7 and the Jan. 29th a person can go in once a day and vote for their favorite one.  The person that the writer wrote about will win a monetary prize and also the writer will win.  To vote in the contest you will have to register with examiner.com with a valid email address.


Also if you would like to follow my articles, you can subscribe to them at the top of any article that I have written.




I am thankful for all that  follow this blog and those that read my article on examiner.com.  Thanks so much!!!

Colossians 3:15

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Merry Christmas

Just thought I would tell everybody MERRY CHRISTMAS today.  I don't know that I will get on here tomorrow and wanted everybody to know that I love you and wish you a Christmas day full of fun and surprises but most of all I hope that you remember what the season is about!!!

It is not about this!!

         
  It is about this!!!

This nativity depicts what happened so many years ago.  A Savior was born to save us.  He was born to rescue us.  He was born to die on the cross.  He was born to rise again.  He was the best GIFT ever!!!
We celebrate a birthday tomorrow.  The birthday of a KING!!

Yes, tomorrow, we may wake to see that Santa has left presents under our trees!  We do need to enjoy those gifts with family and friends, have a meal and take a nap but most of all we need reflect on that gift that was given to us many years ago.  We need to tell Jesus, "Happy Birthday and Thank-You!!!"

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:16-20 NIV

                 

The Day I became the GRINCH

This was a horrible, no good, rotten, terrible day.  Yes it was my day off and I had promised my 13 year old daughter and 8 year old granddaughter that I would take them Christmas shopping.  I had started the day wrapping a few presents while humming silent night, then cleaned the kitchen and dining area.  I was thinking in my mind that this would be a good day.

We went to Hobby Lobby and JC Penneys and by the time we left the last store my credit cards were smoking and the girls were begging for food.  I needed to go to Wal-Mart but told the girls I was going to drop them off at the house first and would then bring them their favorite lunch, McDonalds.  Wal-Mart was getting crowded and people were stopping in the middle of the aisle with no warning.  I left there with a scream stuck in my throat.

My daughter had a dentist appointment at three and that is where I turned into the Grinch.  I was sitting there thinking about my day and that it could only get better. Wrong!  The dentist, who is my dentist, thought I was the grandmother.  Well I am a grandmother but not of my daughter!!  I had smoke now coming out my ears, nose, mouth and horns were growing out of the top of my head.  My lips were snarling and I thought about my low, down rotten, no good day and was fixing to give someone a Grinch speech when I heard the words Merry Christmas.

Those words broke the spell and the Grinch slowly left leaving me with feelings of shame.  What did it matter if somebody thought I was old.  I am old.  What did it matter if somebody stopped in front of me without warning.  It doesn't matter that my credit cards are smoking but it does matter when silly things affect how I treat others.

I do not want to represent the Grinch! I want my life to represent the One who came to save me.



“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:6-7NIV

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What if purple was green and green was purple???

What if purple was green and brown was red and yellow was pink and white was black??? Would the colors still be the same? Would they look different or would purple look green and brown look red and yellow look red and white look black?? I think these colors would still be the vibrant colors they are, they would just have a different name.  I bet these colors are all the same on the inside!!!

When I had childcare in my home one of the things that I had the children do from time to time was make play dough.  It was a fun experience for them and taught them several things from following instructions to using their fine motor skills.  Here is the recipe that I used:
1 cup flour
1cup warm water
2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
1/4 cup salt
food color

Part of the fun they had was putting the food color into the play dough.  They enjoyed the different colors they could make and even sometimes would put 2 or 3 different colors to see what color they could come up with.
My point is the inside was the same.  Even though they made different colors the basic recipe was the same.

I have friends of many shapes, sizes and shades.  They color my life though not because of their outward appearance but because of their insides.  I am the same on the inside as they are. We might have different personalities but my basic recipe is the same as theirs!

God made me and he made you!!! We were made to worship and give adoration to the Lord!!

Do you know HIM????

Psalm 99:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Exalt the LORD our God
   and worship at his holy mountain,
   for the LORD our God is holy.

The Journey Continues: some good news!

Yesterday the Dr. smiled when he saw Richard.  He looked him over and told him that he was looking good.  The nurse that drew his blood had made a similar remark.  She said that he looked like he was getting over the hump, that he looked good and even had a smile on his face.

The Dr. put him on lower dose of the steroids.  Then next week he will go down 10 more mg, and the week after that 10 more.  He did tell him that if he started seeing signs of the graft/vs/host to call immediately.  He doesn't want it to get out of control again.  The Dr. mentioned how puffy and round his face looked and told him that coming off the steroids would help that and the swelling in his legs.

His counts were good and he will only have to get blood work twice a week now.  He doesn't have to go back to the Dr.s until January.  The Dr. said that it was fine for him to have cataract surgery and even offered to do the surgery even though he has never done that kind of surgery before.  Richard passed on that offer. LOL

He did tell Richard that he thought it was his stubborn, bullheaded ways(well he used another name) that helped get him to the point where he is.  I think that could be part of it but I believe that he is alive today because of the prayers.

God has a plan for each one of us and He does listen to the prayers of His children.  Thank-you so much for the prayers!!!

Ephesians 6:17-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me, or will they?  I have seen a lot in the news lately about bullying and I have even written an article or two on this subject for examiner.com.  Bullying can be vicious and leave the victims hurting or worse.  I think sometimes the hurt that words can inflict stay there forever.  I am not sure why bullies become bullies and hurt people but we all say things sometimes that we regret.

I remember a day in the fourth grade when a group of girls let their words loose on one girl.  They called her names.  They called her smelly.  They called her dirty.  They told her that her clothes looked terrible.  It reduced this young lady to tears.  The teacher did impose punishment on that group but I will never forget the look on the girl's face.  She was embarrassed and mortified.  I have a feeling she can remember that day just like it was yesterday.

I even remember one time when I was in fifth or sixth grade when I told a young lady that something was her fault when it wasn't.  I don't remember the exact words I said to her but I do remember the reaction.  She was hurt and to this day I feel shame that I said something that wasn't true and hurt her.  I hope that she has forgotten and forgiven me.

I have had things said to me that I will never forget.  There were times that I wished the person had just hit me and got it over with.  The words that hurt linger long after the forgiving.  Words are so hard to take back once they have been said.

I think the saying should be sticks and stones may break my bones but words will linger forever.

There is ONE that can soothe those hurtful words and calm your soul.  HIS words are a balm to the desperate and hurting. HE can even forgive those who say those words that leave such hurt behind.  HE is the ONE that was broken by sticks and stones and had hurtful, untrue words screamed at HIM.  HE forgave them and HE will forgive you!

Ephesians 1:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

The Hustle and Bustle

This year I really have came to a new understanding of the term hustle and bustle.  This season I have had book signings, dentist appointments(root canal,yesterday), two trips to Oklahoma City, basketball games, choir, extra choir practices, church, Richard's cataract evaluation , trips to the pharmacy, errands on my lunch hour, work, cleaning house and grocery shopping.  I still have another book signing, work, church, housecleaning, laundry, errands, gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, decorations to put up, cookies to bake, basketball games, choir, church, dentist appointments, Dr. appointments, school band concert, flute tryout for all area band(daughters), church programs and more to do before I get to December 25th.

Tuesday I came home from work and a trip to Wal-mart, ate supper and claimed the couch.  I stretched out and promptly went to sleep and slept for two hours.  I woke up, announced that I was going to bed and did.  I slept through the night and didn't wake up until six the next morning.  It felt good to just do nothing.  Sometimes at this time of year it is hard to find time to rest.  I know that amidst all the hustle and bustle I need to slow down and remember what this season is about.  I have become so busy that I am not remembering the gift.

I need to take time to remember and give thanks to my Lord and Savior!  I need to be still and savor the season.  Without this gift there would be no season.  There would be no hope.  There would be darkness and loss.  I need to give thanks to my God for the gift of a Baby born long ago.  Without this gift I would be lost!!

Have you discovered the Gift?

Luke 2:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV

The Journey Continues:Out of the hospital again and back at work.

Richard spent three nights last week in the hospital.  When he went to the Dr. on Wednesday they discovered he had pneumonia.  He had a fever exactly when they took his vitals so they did blood cultures and a chest ex ray.  Since then he has not ran a fever again.  He was also low on potassium, magnesium and most of his blood counts were low.  They pumped him up those three days with blood, potassium, magnesium and platelets.  He also received antibiotics through IV.  Those three days seemed easier for him to take this time.  This might have been due to the fact that there was finally a good report on his pet scan.  There are still spots lighting up but they are much smaller than before the transplant.  The Dr. told him that he was not out of the woods yet but that the trees were getting thinner.

He said he never felt bad the whole time he was in there.  If he had not had that fever at the exact time that they were doing the vitals, they would not have known about the pneumonia.  They said that if he had came home with his white blood counts being so low and the pneumonia  that it could have became really bad.

Have you ever had something happen at just the right time?  I believe that fever was a GOD thing!!! He is the GOD of miracles!!!
What have you had happen that later you realized came from God???

Psalm 77:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
   you display your power among the peoples.