The End Of Another Year

Each year it seems like the year goes by so much faster than the year before. It just seems like it was January of 2011.

In our family we had a lot of good things happened and a scarry things happen also. I was in the hospital for four days not knowing if something was wrong with my heart. I am thankful that there was nothing wrong with it but just that it was beating a little fast. It was in the stomach area that I had the problem and they did a bio and it came out fine.

As I look back over the year I see how the Lord has been in all of it. The good and what seem like the bad. And I learned many things through the trials and the good times and that is how good the Lord is to me and my family and to all those that know Him. I am so thankful for this.

I hope is that you discovered the same thing.

Happy Birthday Our Dear Gabrielle Renee

Most times birthdays are a happy occasions. We just celebrated the birth of Christ and this was a very happy event. December 12th and 13th were birthdays of my grandson and my son. But today's birthday of our granddaughter Gabrielle is both happy and sad.

My daughter and son-in-law found out in August of 1999 that Gabrielle had the same condition that her cousin had and that she had no brain. But our daughter and son-in-law decided to carry Gabrielle to her birth date and letting God decide what would take place. Life or death.

Well, God chose life. Gabrielle was taken by c-section and she was born alived. But hearing the screams of our son-in-law and being in a different room we were not sure. So my husband and I waited to see if we would be seeing our granddaughter. When the doctor came in with Gabrielle we could not believe what we saw. She was beautiful! With this kind of condition she could have been very deformed. Actually she was, but I didn't see it because they had  put a cap on her head. My son-in-law saw her when she was born and the cap slipped off enough so my husband saw it, but the Lord sparred me of seeing the top of her head.

We all got to hold her. Her dad sang to her and we all told her we loved her. She hated her bath, she drank some milk, she did everything a normal baby would do but cry.

The next morning around 6:30 my husband called my daughter to see how things were going and just as he called Gabrielle's heart stopped pumping and she went to be with the Lord. She died in my daughter's arms.

We know that she is in a better place and someday we will see her again. But even though it has been twelve years now we still miss her. Her name means courage and that she had. And so did my daughter and son-in-law. To carry her full length and not knowing what would take place was what I call real faith.

Enjoying One Of My Gifts

I wasn't expecting anything from my husband for Christmas as we decided to get ourselves a new video and cd player so that we can play the things that we like. So when I started to be handed all kinds of gifts on Christmas Day from my husband I was overjoyed.

Right now I am listing to one of the cds he gave me. I got six in all. Then I received a gift certificate to Barnes and Nobles, a poem written by him and then recorded on tape for me.

I also gave him a gift also so I didn't feel to bad that I received things and he didn't get anything. I know him to well and thought that he would give me at least the poem.

I really believe that the Lord put my husband and I together. We are completely different kind of people. But we get along very well most of the time. It is only when we actually try to do something together that it doesn't work out. But if we are working on a project and doing different things it comes out nice. The Lord knew that we needed each others strengths and that we could help each other in weakness. We have been together now for 45 years.

Hope all have a great New Year. It will be exciting to see what the Lord has for all of us to do.

Christmas Day Is Over

To me it is almost always a let down after Christmas Day is over. But this year the Christmas season was totally different. It was the first time in a long time that it was calm. The decorations that were up appeared very pretty. And we had a lot of nice music to listen to.

Our three children were able to come to our home this year. And it was nice that the boys brought their girlfriends and our daughter and son-in-law and our three grandchildren were all here. So we had a very full house. Many wonderful gifts were exchanged and a great dinner was prepared by many hands.

But Christmas is just the beginning of the life of Jesus here on earth. And so as the months go by there will be a lot of time to get ready for Easter. And Easter is when we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. So I will be talking more about Easter as time goes by.

I hope that all of you who read this had a good Christmas. I know that some may have had a sad one because of a loss of a loved one and my heart goes out to you. I hope and pray that the New Year will bring happiness to you.

Also now you can get this blog through your e-mail. So hope you will do that or can sign up here. Love to hear from you.

Christmas Shopping Done

I thought I had all of my shopping done but found out there was one more person I needed to buy for. I stood in line and got what I went for. The line was a little long but not to bad.  I can not imagine going shopping on Friday or Saturday and glad I got it done today.

It is fun to give gifts but I wonder if what I get the person is something they really like. Have you ever wonder this? There are two gifts that I received that were very special to me. The first gift I received that was very special to me is my husband asking me to marry him on Christmas Day 1965. He gave me his school ring and then on Valentines Day 1966 he gave me the official diamond. The second one was a lava light. I still have it and it still works. The best thing about these two gifts is I still have them both. And they both are doing fine.

Short Quiz

I thought since this is Christmas week that it would be fun to see how many people you can name that are involved in the Christmas story. If you need too you can look up the answers. But see how many you can put down without looking.

Games

I like to play games. I like board games, playing marbles with my grandkids, Jenga, and all kinds of computer games. I don't seem to get to play them as much as I used to but I still enjoy playing them. Actually they say it is good for your mind to play games. It helps your mind to stay sharp. Boy-I need all the help I can get. Between some of my illnesses which alter the chemicals in my brain and getting up in years. No, I not going to tell you how old I am. I am still a child's heart as far as playing games. A good way to enjoy life from time to time.

Boy Am I Tired!

I might have mentioned already that I have been trying to make up a Christmas card from one of my husband's paintings. We got a new computer and the program that we used last year we could not use this year. And I tried the program that is on our computer now and just couldn't get it to work. Then we went out and bought a program that is suppose to do what is already on the computer which doesn't really make any sense but we were desperate.

Finally, this evening,  I got the card made! Actually I got two made and now my husband can not decide which one he likes better.

I am so glad that the Lord gave me the kind of temperment that sticks to something untill I get it and I don't give up. Some people would call it being stubborn. That may be the case also. But whatever you want to call it I have it.

What Is Between The Dash?

I was just thinking about a neighbor of mine who just died this week. He was a very popular man and was involved in our community and politics and had many talents. There have been TV programs about him. Today they showed part of the funeral. 

He lived a very full life and since I have known him since I was eight and he died just before his 70th birthday there are a lot of things I know that other people might not know. I spent many hours at his home with his parents, brother and sisters. And then when he was married he lived across the street from me next door to where I grew up. So was able to see his family grow.

I am not sure if you ever heard the saying what counts in your life is not your birth date or your death date but the dash inbetween. How true. Some people have a lot be told and some maybe not so much. But you know what? We are all important!

Received A Blessing Today

Our church is looking for a new Pastor and today we had one come to speak to us. What a blessing he and his wife were to me. I learned so much just in two hours of (morning and evening services) then at any other time. His wife did not preach to us by words but by action. She showed me that she truly loved her husband (they held hands) and she supported her husband by listening to him and she was very good with talking to total strangers.

In the morning service the Pastor spoke on John 1:1-5. God spoke-Jesus did the work. In creation God spoke-let there be light and Jesus brought on the light. All the way through Genesis 1 and 2 what God spoke Jesus did. We also see the Holy Spirit in Genesis also. In two places in Genesis 1 and 2. He hovered over the face of the waters. And the other verse would be Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...".

2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This was the evening message and the Pastor was talking about revival and that it has to be in ourself first. The verse above shows us what we need to have revival in our lives.

Love Booksales

My husband and I hit the jackpot today as we got to go to three booksales. We didn't buy to much, but it was fun. My husband got me some dvds he knew I would like which was great! I also got a few stained glassed pattern books with nice patterns in. I also got some Christian books that look good and helpful information in them to help me grow in my Christian life.

Then after the booksales I finished up my Christmas shopping. So now I just need to gather everything together and wrap them all.

Where Is My Camera When I Want It?

Today as my husband and I were going to go clean the church that we clean together each Thursday when we both commented at the same time, "It's to bad we don't have the camera." I have one on my tracphone but have nothing to connect the pictures with to the computer. What we needed was my regular camera.

The picture that we wanted to take was the hillside of trees all covered with snow. It was a like snow, but it was just a glorious winter picture. The beauty of the season of which God has made.

Four Birthdays in December

December is one of those months in which our family have a lot of birthdays. I have a grandson's birthday on the 12th. A son's birthday on the 13th. My Aunt's birthday on the 23th.

Also on December 25 is the birthday of Jesus. As a family, we have a birthday party for Jesus. And I personally give Jesus a special gift for the following year. I have a small box that I put down what the gift is. I have been doing this for a few years. After all without Jesus' birth we would have no Christmas. For He is the reason for the season.

A busy month, but a happy one even though everyone is getting older which means that I am getting older too. But that is just part of life. I am going to enjoy the time I have left here on earth.

How Time Flies

If I don't get to the computer first thing in the morning or later afternoon I just don't seem to get my blog done. Of course some days it is easier to write something than other days. Like yesterday. I can share it now but it was a hard thing to deal with yesterday.

I was suppose to be at a meeting at 11:00 and I never checked my calendar and left my home around 11:00 and got to my meeting late. I felt so bad for I am usually early when I am suppose to be somewhere. I just had it in my mind it was for 11:30.

Then at the meeting I received some disturbing news and I was grouchy the whole day which isn't like me. I am usually very happy, easy going person--but not yesterday. I was so upset I couldn't even settle down to sleep.

I kept praying "Help me Father!" I finally got up and came to the computer and wrote out everything that was on my mind. That helped then went back to bed and slept for a few hours then had to get up to go to work.

Once to work I was able to talk to different people and the Lord worked everything out and what I was so concerned aboutwas not going to happen and I was so happy. I then said to my Father, "Thank you Father, I knew You would work it out."

Love Your Enemies

Tonight as I sat listening to my Pastor giving the message on loving your enemies all the time he was preaching I had a person in mind. And I tried to see if I did as the Scriptures said to do.

Luke 6:27-31
1. Love my enemy-I thought about this and I can honestly say I did love my enemy.

2. To good to those that hate you-Again, I could say I did good to this person.

3. Bless and pray for them that curse you and despitefully use you. I did pray for this person and I did try to do good things for this person.

4. The next part was the hardest to do and that was to stand by and allow my person to hurt me with words and actions. Not physical abuse but mental abuse and words.

5. We are to treat our enemies the way that we would want to be treated.

My enemy is no longer here on earth but I still love this person very much even though there were times of hurtful acts and bitterness.

So think of these verses in Luke 6. And love your enemies and do good to them.

Almost Left Behind

Yesterday I worked and after work my husband and I went grocery shopping and then I had a doctor's appointment. Instead of going home and coming back I had my husband drop me off at the doctor's office. He went home put the groceries away and then came back for me.


I arrived forty-five minutes early but had a good book to read while I waited. Three people went in ahead of me. The nurse called my name and took me to the room and got all the information that was needed and said that the doctor had one patient ahead of me.

I wasn't sure what time it was when I went in as there wasn't a clock near by. So I took out my book and started reading it. I heard people in the hallway and also my doctor. So put book away and was waiting for him to come in.

All of a sudden I was hearing nurses saying goodnight to the doctors that were still there. Which mine was. I was getting a little nervous. I was about ready to go to the door and the doctor came in. He took about maybe ten minutes at the most and everything was fine. It was a follow-up visit from the being in the hospital.

When we were through we went out to the hallway. The doctor asked if the waiting room was closed and it was and so he took me to another door near where we were standing. "By the way did you have anything in the waiting room?" the doctor asked me.

I said, "Yes, my husband is in there."

"Well I guess you better go and get him. Just go to the door and he can come out but the door is locked so you won't be able to go in." So I went to the door and my husband look my direction and he got out ok and we went on our way home. I asked my husband what time it was and he said 5:30.

Again, I just never know what is going to happen to me in a day. I still say God has a sense of humor.

Dreams

For many years I had the same dream over and over. And each time I would have it I would scream. So when I was about to be married my mother warned my husband that I screamed in my sleep.

It was our wedding night and many things had happened just before we got married. My grandfather died three days before my wedding. That meant a funeral should have been taking place on my wedding day but my grandfather told us before he died to go ahead with the wedding. The funeral was the next day.

Right outside our bedroom window was a fire escape. That was scarry enough but just a week or so before our wedding someone was killed in a near by town. So all I could think about was someone climbing up the fire escape and getting into our bedroom.

I soon got over that but not until after going to sleep on our wedding night. For in the middle of the night I let out with a scream that woke up the people that lived over us and those who lived on first floor of the apartment building.One person ran outside to see if something was happening out there. The people upstairs we could hear moving around a lot. It was not to long after we moved in they moved out. I wonder why?

I no longer have that dream which I am so thankful for but as a writer I wish that I could write down some of the dreams I have now. Most are not as scarry but they sure are full of action-packed adventure. I usually remember my dreams but writing them down doesn't seem to be as good as the real thing. Maybe should think about making movies instead. No don't think so.

In the Bible, God worked in ways that people would have dreams and the dreams would come true and that is how He talked to the people He wanted to talk to. I'm glad we have the Bible to read now as that is how He talks to us today.

I don't think God is talking to me through my dreams which is a good thing. I think I just have an over active imagination.