Thanksgiving

"Was that a gunshot?"

I was in Kroger at 8:00 last night picking up the few things that I needed, when I began to notice that the store seemed to be primarily inhabited by the male species. It became painfully obvious that these poor lost souls were sent there by their wives/girlfriends/significant other. They were bewildered. At one point it looked as though they were all gathered at the front of the store wondering and asking, "what is marshmallow crème anyway?” I have to admit that I truly enjoyed my shopping experience. The entertainment I received by watching the unsuspecting confused and frustrated cast of survivors was priceless. I know that when they arrived back at their homes and brought in their goods, they were met with much appreciation which made it worth the hunt. I don't know why we think that we should cook so much food on thanksgiving. I mean I have no Indians to invite over and we have enough to serve the entire Indian Nation. We truly are blessed as a nation and even more so as individuals. Our pastor wanted us to remember 7 reasons why we should be thankful. They are as follows:

1. Remember His titles and be thankful for His position.

2. Be thankful for His power.

3. Be thankful for His wisdom.

4. Remember His miracles and be thankful for His ministry.

5. Remember His promises and be thankful for His faithfulness.

6. Remember His parables and be thankful for His words.

7. Remember His presence.

I am so thankful for all these things and so much more. I am thankful for each and every one of you and I'm praying that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

Jamaica

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go, Jamaica

Lyrics for Kokomo by the Beach Boys

Oh my gosh! The water is actually the most beautiful I have ever seen. The deepest, brightest aqua blue. And the foliage…oh man, lush, like a tropical rain forest. The people were very friendly, love their smiles.

Now let me tell you that I know what “no problem mon” means. It means I’ll get you that drink of water in about 2hours. I know that the island life is a laid back kind of life, but get over yourselves. Laid back is one thing but this was just unedited laziness.

We stayed at an all inclusive resort. Sandals at Ocho Rios on Jamaica. There were several restaurants available, but only a few worth eating at. They love to overcook their food, which I like my food cooked, but I actually like to stop chewing it at some point in the evening. We had one absolutely delicious meal, of course it took 3 hours. No! I am not kidding. 3 hours. Of course we were in an air conditioned restaurant overlooking the Riveria, so who’s complaining. The humidity level was at least 123.8%. It did no good to “put your face on”, because the humidity took it right off! Oh and forget the hair! I wouldn’t give up, I continued to curl my hair every night and within 10 minutes you could find the curl on the ground.

One evening we dined on the pier overlooking the Riveria on a moonlit, star bright night and it was the most romantic evening. I even saw a shooting star. The only thing missing was Terry actually reaching over to kiss me. Oh well you can’t have everything. He said he was mesmerized by the water! So go kiss a fish! Guess I should have made a better wish on that star.


I am very thankful that we had the opportunity to go and I was also thankful to finally travel on a vacation with my inlaws (Terry’s brother and wife). I will say that we are all still speaking to one another and I still love them very much. This comes after they told us they have only gone on one vacation with another couple and after they returned home, they have never spoken to one another again.


I am very glad to be home. I suppose I’m getting old, because after 4 days I was missing my bed, after 6, I was missing everything.

God wanted me to tell you...

I received this as an email and it touched me with such gentleness that I had to share it with all of you.

GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU

It shall be well with you this year. No matter how much your enemies try this year, they will not succeed. You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals this year. For the remaining months of the year, all your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance. Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows and pains because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. I knocked at heaven's door this morning. God asked me... My child, what can I do for you? And I said, Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message... God smiled and answered...
Request granted.

Weekly Bible Verse

"A friend loves at all times." (Proverbs 17:17 )

What a comfort it is to be physically or emotionally embraced by a dear friend. As I reflect upon the friends I have made during my life's journey, a sense of warmth, camaraderie, and unconditional love envelops me. I value being a friend to others as much as having friends.
Some of my friends are near in location; others are near in spirit. The realm of my imagination captures the image and voice of each cherished friend, and I thank God for each and every one of them.

I reflect on cherished attributes that make my friends the loving, unique people they truly are. Feelings of love, healing, and gratitude enfold me. I experience the sense of hope and energy that friends bring me. In a spirit of gratitude, I embrace them in my thoughts and prayers.

Cindy and Sandra, I especially want you to know even though I have been lousy at contacting you, I do think of you often. I love you.

Piano Lessons

I’m 46 years old and I’m finally taking piano lessons. I seem to be getting a lot of grief from co-workers. They like to laugh at me and call me the next Liberace. That’s okay; I told them they will have to pay full price for tickets to my concerts.

I am enjoying this so much. I have always had a desire to learn the piano and am so fortunate to be able to finally do it.

My first “song” was Amazing Grace, which just reinforced the idea that I could learn something even at this age. I was worried that my arthritic fingers would hinder me, but I seem to be doing just fine. I received my first star yesterday for reading my first notes. I came back to work proudly showing it off! Man that’ll teach them. They were all jealous. I mean when was the last time they received a gold star. Mine was red with sunglasses. I would have settled for a gold one, but they must be hard to find, because my piano teacher only had ones with faces on them. I think that anyone learning anything should wait until they are older, because I am amazed at the focus I have. I suppose it’s because at this age I can only focus on one thing at a time.

I know it seems that I’m making 46 sound old, but when you are sure that you’re life will end in your 50’s, well then 46 seems to be at the end of life and not the beginning. That’s what pushed me to go ahead with the lessons. I said there were three things I wanted to do before I leave this world and one of them was to learn the piano. So thought I’d better get on it! I’ll let you know how it goes. (You thought I’d tell you the other two, well you’ll have to wait until I start them)

Thank You

Survived the first of several trips. I ended up taking only two bags for three people. I did good, huh?

My blog today is not about my trip, but about the journey before the trip. I had made a commitment at church to take care of Operation Christmas Child and realized two days before I was to leave that I had not done a thing and I was going to be out of town for the next two weekends. The project is to be done by the 12th of November. I was so upset with myself. I am normally in “control” and on top of things, but this really slipped my mind. This got to me and to my heart. I wasn’t sure what to do and I began to have a small nervous breakdown. I have wonderful friends at church and one of them, Debbie, took the reins and rallied the troops. I am so thankful for our church, but more importantly for the love that Christ has put in each of our hearts. Because of this love we do not let each other hurt or fail.

Thank you Deb, you are great! Thank you God for putting wonderful people in my life! We should all remember, but especially me, that we are not in this alone. We just need to ask for help, even if you don’t know what kind of help you need.

To Trip or not to Trip

Why is it that when you are getting ready to go on a trip you drive yourself insane trying to get ready? I’m worn out before I go and worn out when I get back, soooooo, I’m wondering what is the point? Yes most of the time I have a great time and see some wonderful things and experience great joys, but maybe I would see wonderful things and experience great joys right here at home.

I’m thinking if everyone else would go on a vacation and leave me here by myself, say for a week, no make it two, then I would be one happy camper. For this to become my perfect fantasy it would be necessary for them to wash their clothes and get them packed and don’t forget when they get back they have to wash them again and put them away.

When I was young it was nothing for me to hop in the car and take off somewhere. There were a lot of times I didn’t even know where I was headed until I got there. But now, I seem to freak out and try to remember every little thing that I could possibly need and pack it. Four pieces of luggage later for a weekend outing and I’m ready to go! Oh girl, get over yourself! Are you nuts? YES! Last year when I went to Hawaii, I was 1 pound under the overlimit weight for my luggage and I had the maximum number of pieces. All I kept thinking of was what was I going to do with everything I buy over there. I began to make plans with others on the trip with fewer pieces than mine, so I could use their limit.

I have several trips coming up and I need to get a handle on my sanity! I don’t need to concern myself with every little thing. I do want to go and have a good time and have memories that more than likely I’ll forget when I’m 70 with Alzhiemers. I wonder what my hubby would say if I told him I’m not packing anything, we’ll buy what we need when we get there. Maybe put the freaking out on him instead of me!

Weekly Bible Verse

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you." (Isaiah 66:13)

Through every change, challenge, and triumph, God is with me. God is the source of strength that enables me to go on in life and to keep on keeping on.

Every day brings change of some kind. Yet God's presence continually reminds me that through change I am growing wiser. I enjoy learning more about myself and the world in which I live.

No matter what is happening in my life right now--whether I am trying to work through a challenge or experiencing a triumph of mind, body, and spirit--I am always in God's presence, always filled with God's light and energy.

God comforts me and inspires me. I move forward to the greater blessings that are awaiting me.

Women's Dinner Party

I started out inviting women to a dinner party. I had a week to prepare, okay 5 days. I am such a procrastinator that making the decision on what to have took until the night before. Even then I changed my mind three times. I wasn’t sure how many of the women I invited would show up, but at last count it was between 8 and 12. My next thoughts were where I am going to sit them. I have a downstairs den with a table that can sit 6 comfortably. No problem, I’ll fit 8 there and we’ll be “cozy”. If I have more than that, I’ll just set up a card table and call them the kids. You know when you use to go to your grandmothers for thanksgiving and you had to sit at the kids table in the living room. I am so thankful that I did not have to make that decision since I knew by noon that 7 were coming. Thank you Lord for making it cozy.

Okay so now I have to get off work and go to the store. This all started at 12:30. Dinner party at 7:00. This can be done, I mean come on “Martha” does it all the time in one hour, right? Off to the store. I have my cookbook with me and continue to refer to it for ingredients. Did you know you can’t always get what you want when you walk into Kroger? I was sure that they would have everything in my cookbook ingredient list. But nooooooooooo, they don’t have watercrest. Well if I’d know this I could have pulled some from the creek last week. Okay no problem we’ll go with spinach.

Shopping done. I had the foresight to order flowers two days before, so off I go to pick them up at the florist. I get there and the door is locked. No, no, no! I proceed around back to beat on their back door. No one comes. I see two young people come from the front. My first thoughts, they have robbed the store and the people are inside tied up. I wonder if I can still get to my arrangement. They weren’t tied up and the door mysteriously was no longer locked. I got my arrangement.

Home! Unload! What to cook first? Again I think to Martha and decide to prepare my table first. Beautiful! Dessert, it takes two hours to set up, so get her done! No problem. I’m doing good, I’m even cleaning up as I’m going. Then things begin to get chaotic. It is 5:45 and I am just finishing the salad and homemade dressing (so Martha like). The next thing I know I’m actually throwing things in the kitchen. I have a small kitchen and when you are preparing for 8, it gets messy! No longer am I concerned with cleaning up as I go. I just want to go! Guests begin to arrive and I’m not finished cooking. Not a problem they jump in and help. My kitchen looked like a tornado went through.

What do you get when you put 8 women in a room together for dinner? Lots of laughs and friendship. I enjoyed talking and laughing and forgetting about everything else for awhile. I have wonderful friends that pitched in to help and I am grateful to all who supported my attempts at being Martha like. It was a very good meal and even if it wasn’t just like “Martha” would do, it was well worth the effort. I just hope the next time I have a dinner party I will have room enough to invite three times as many women, for three times the laughs.

Death

Death….oh what a subject. Our family recently had a death in the “extended” family and I found it very strange and awkward. We have not seen “these people” in 9 years. What do you say? Glad to see you got the names in the obituary correct. Inside joke! I’m sure she is in a better place. The problem, I’m not sure where she is. Is she in a better place? I don’t know. I don’t know what she believed or even if she did believe.

So there we are wondering what do we do now. The service begins and there is a “pastor” reading the short version of a eulogy and asks us to bow our heads to pray. He begins his prayer and then he stumbles over a few words, which he goes back and corrects, when it dawns on me he is reading his prayer. Then a woman in a wheelchair is rolled up front and center and she starts reading a prepared statement about being in the family for the last 41 years. She then reads Psalms 23 (The Lord is my shepherd…) and reads the Lords Prayer, which she didn’t even finish. She got to “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and then Amen”. She actually said, "and then Amen". She then begins to sing a bluegrassy gospel song and is joined by another woman who appeared out of nowhere. She received several amen’s and was rolled away. The whole time we have two ladies behind us critiquing everything being said and done. (kind of like what I am doing now) After a few more songs from somewhere behind us another preacher approaches the podium. This one has decided that since he has an audience he will let us know where he preaches and what the address is. He really did seem to be a Godly man and has a real passion for reaching the lost. That was his sermon, not eulogy, but sermon. He did warn us from the beginning, he said, “I don’t preach for the dead, I preach for the ones left behind”. I really think that he didn’t know her and was hoping to reach a few who didn’t know Jesus. I am all for that, but it all was so strange.

We decided not to go to the graveside service. I was quick to blame my sister and brother for our unwillingness to go watch this lady be buried beside my father. Yes some would say she was our step-mother, but that would really be stretching it. Again I say, it was all so strange.

I do hope I haven’t offended anybody or came across as judging others; I just tried to recap the events which took place. I want everyone who reads this to know, don’t throw together a funeral for me. If need be keep me on ice until you have all the mourners paid for and all the preachers and singers have had enough time to practice. The preacher is right, funerals are not for the dead, but for the living. So live it up at mine, I will be in a better place, this I can assure you of.

Dinner

Having 20 children, ranging in age from 3 to 14, and 5 adults, ranging in age from I don't tell to I don't care, at your house for dinner can be a real test of faith. I had a ball. Getting ready for the upcoming event was not as chaotic as I thought it would be. Making the choice to have hamburgers and hot dogs and setting up tables in the backyard was nothing but a stroke of genius. I thank my husband for cooking all those burgers and hot dogs and doing it without groaning or simply yelling at our welcomed guests. I was absolutely amazed at the chaperones and their relaxed manner. It reassured me that I made the right decision to have them for dinner (I was the main course in a progressive dinner) and not escort them to dinner. I seem to be too demanding when I am "in charge" of a group of youngsters. I believe I was referred to as Hitler by someone I know who loves me. Don't get me wrong, I truly love kids. Last week when I had the nursery at church, it was said to me "Christie you really enjoy those kids don't you?". And I really do. I seriously could eat them up. I enjoyed watching them eat and run and play. They were all wonderful. I look forward to our next gathering.

Where there's smoke, there's fire!

What are you all looking at?

I want this one next!

I'm so pretty, oh so pretty....

What?

Weekly Bible Verse

"Beloved, pray for us." (1 Thessalonians 5:25)

The request "pray for us" is one that proclaims the faith in and power of prayer. If I ever wonder what I can do to help others or situations, I know I can always pray.

I become still and focus on the holy presence of God that is within each person and every circumstance. My prayer is sincere, open, and affirmative. I respect and honor those I am praying for and know that God's resources are limitless.

My faith is strong, and I pray in faith--knowing that God is the answer to every prayer.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Now that is the question! At first I thought writing down my thoughts so the world could see, okay not the world just the chosen few I have shared my blogsite with, would be refreshing and fun. I have enjoyed the few times I have done this, but am discouraged by the lack of comments I receive from my "world" out there. There is a comment section, did you know that? By leaving comments, good or bad, okay just good, let's me know someone is reading. I thank the one person that did ask me where had I been when I was MIA for several weeks. That encouraged me to write two more. I know it is selfish of me and egotistical and just plain wrong to want the acceptance of others, but I CAN'T DO WITHOUT IT! So if I have appealed to your sensitive side and you care about me, please leave a comment. It is right there below this line, see it. CLICK ON IT!

Daily Bible Verse

"Then he said to them, 'Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21)

A coin held tightly in my closed hand won't buy me anything. It's only when I release the coin that I can invest it or spend it.

Sometimes I may hold a challenging situation in mind as if I were clutching it in my closed hand, refusing to release it. I realize that by not letting it go, I'm not giving it a chance to be anything other than a challenge.

In prayer, however, I release the situation into God's care. I let go of any attachment to outcome or eventuality, and I invest my trust in God.

As I let go and let God be active in my life, I open my heart to the potential blessings of every circumstance. As my prayer life builds, I become proficient at releasing to God the things better left to God, which in turn lets me focus on what is mine to do.

www.unityonline.org

Daily Bible Verse

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Open House or Open Mouth

Yesterday I attended my niece's guitar class, chili supper, book fair and open house at school. Oh and I worked (ok, not all day, but a good portion of it). It dawned on me why I don't have kids. God in his infamous wisdom realized I don't have the energy. I was "plumb wore out". It did not help that as I was about to meet her PE teacher, the last teacher of the night, rudeness showed its ugly head. We, Katie, her Mom and myself, had made the long journey around the school, twice, and stood behind a very talkative couple to meet the amazing PE teacher. This couple went on and on and on, then as we thought they had wrapped it up, they went on and on some more. Not to the rude part yet! As they began to wrap it up, another child entered into the invisible barrier and encroached upon our space. She began talking before the other couple even left, this approach seemed to work, because her mother joined her immediately. We, being the polite people we are, stood in awe. I, of course, have my hand on my hip and am wondering do people have manners anymore. Just as my thoughts were forming, this lady, and I use the term lightly, came barreling past me, running into my extended elbow and begins talking to the PE teacher as if we are not even there. Evidently the PE teacher had recently married (over the summer) and noone could believe it and this particular women had to have all the details. Now this woman was at least in her early 60's and should know better. We again stood listening to their conversation, which I surely thought would only last a couple of minutes, until we had enough. I turned and began to leave and the others followed. Katie wanted to know didn't I want to meet the PE teacher, I said of course I would love to, because she seems to be very popular and has a very interesting life, so much so that everyone wants to talk to her. Did these people forget this is an open house. Meet the teacher, talk about the class activities, get out of the way for the poor teacher to repeat the same thing over and over again. I am sure that most people that were in my path as I was exiting the building, saw my red face and determined walk, because noone seemed to encroach on my space again. I don't like being rude and am always appalled at those who are. I did, however, keep my mouth shut and was thankful that Terry had stayed in the first classroom waiting for us. He would not have been so polite!

Daily Bible Verse

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

Daily Bible Verse

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Daily Bible Verse

"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Friends

I don’t understand why people don’t take the time to see when they have hurt someone. Especially someone they have cared about for a long time. I recently comforted a friend that has been and continues to be hurt by people who are supposed to love her. Are we so caught up in our lives that we are ignoring those around us that have helped us to become the people we are? Are we so oblivious that we can not even see that they are hurting? Well I say stop it! Shame on you! Shame on me! I am thankful for all the friends I have, those in the past, present and future. I know that relationships change over the years. Some grow apart, some get stronger, but every one of those friends have contributed to your life to make you who you are. Even the friends I do not see or talk to very often are still dear to me and have helped to shape me over the years. I do not ever want to miss that I have hurt them in any way. I ask that we take the time to ponder over all the friends we have had in our life, thank God that they have come across our path, and if in remembering we find that one may be hurting, remember to BE a friend!


Friends
A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift,
A friends is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace
And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place.
-Jean Kyler McManus


"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17