Come On Over!

I’ve gotten a few comment moderation requests lately, which shows me that somehow people are still finding this blog.  While I simply don’t have the time or energy to keep this one up anymore (oh, how I miss it!), I did start a different blog that focuses more on my card making and online shop.  Please, I welcome you to come on over and see if you like it!  Just go here!  Come on over!

She Still Exists!

Yes, I am still around. No, I’ve hardly even thought about blogging again until recently. Yes, I’ve missed it. No, I haven’t even been reading other people’s blogs like I used to. Suffice it to say that all heck has broken loose for me and my family, starting around the middle of February. I will catch you up. It isn’t pretty. My blog will be taking a new turn in some ways. I want to keep up with some of what I was doing before but I also need to talk about what is going on for me these days. Some of this will not be fun to read at all, but it is reality. And part of my journey, so it belongs in the blog!

More coming soon, I promise. In the meantime, the Lord be with each of you today and every day. He surely is with me!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

 (Click on photo to see it better)

Well Versed: A Remembrance

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

One of my best friends died early this morning. It was not a surprise; she had been in a coma and on a ventilator for 3-1/2 weeks and her health had been gradually failing for months and ultimately for a couple of years. But knowing it is coming does not lessen the pain. The one thing that eases the pain is knowing that Susan is with Jesus now. She loved the Lord with all her heart and looked forward to being with Him at some point. I’m not sure she knew how soon that might be. Oh, the joy, knowing Susan is in Heaven, free of pain and suffering, full of joy, looking down on us and hoping we’ll celebrate her life, not mourn her passing! So celebrate, I shall.

For more than 2 weeks I have been making a list of things that mean “Susan” to me. These things may not mean much to most people but to me, they are Susan.

• Her love for the Lord, first and foremost
• Jacqui Velasquez
• Playing Quiddler and Zilch endlessly
• “I Love Lucy” (and boy, did she ever!)
• Pepsi Floats (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it)
• Each day is a blessing full of blessings (NEVER forget this! It is always true, no matter what.)
• Her witty, dry humor
• “Deal or No Deal”
• NO coffee!!! Of any sort!
• Koolaid in her water bottle at night
• “Mama’s Family”
• Figure skating
• Newsboys
• Instant messaging for hours
• Her love and concern for her daughter
• Smoking in the bathroom (before she quit)
• Her devotion to reaching out to others with Spina Bifida

I am honored to have known Susan and can’t imagine my life without having known her. I don’t know what to do without her. It will take plenty of time for the hole in my heart to close up. I wish you could have known her!

 (Sorry, couldn’t get the pic to show up full size.  Please click on it so you can see her glorious smile!)

Lyrically Spoken

Life is filled with challenges for each of us, some large, some small, and some in between. Some of my challenges right now:
• One of my best friends is dying and I can’t even be with her
• Living with the Complex PTSD, as ever
• Not having enough time with my boys, who are quickly becoming men, and I will soon see even less of, I’m sure
• The little wrenches fibromyalgia throws into my days (especially the fatigue)
• Our kitties have tapeworms and won’t eat the food that I mixed their medicine into
• The laundry, which for just two people, seems to multiply like bunnies in the night…

So you see, some challenges are bigger (One of my best friends is dying! And I can’t see her!). Some are smaller (Ah, laundry, laundry. But hey, at least we have clothes to wear and money to wash them with.) Some are in the middle (One word: fibro-fatigue.)

But through it all, God is here. He has been here since the beginning of time. He was there for Adam and Eve. He was there for Jesus. He was there when Johannes Gutenberg printed his historic Bible. He was there when the first British came to America so they could worship the Lord in their own ways without persecution. He was there when the Declaration of Independence was written. He was (is!) there through the trials of every war we Americans have fought. He has been with us through all those larger things and all the smaller things as well, from misplacing one’s keys to forgetting to thaw the meat for dinner.

And this is where the song comes in: Ancient Words. The words that have been here since the beginning of time. The promises God has made us since He created the world and us. The words that helped and soothed people in 2500 BC and 30 AD and 2008 AD and every year in between. I hold on to the promise of these words. I need the promise of these ancient words. Without these words, I am nothing, I cannot function. Thank GOD for His ancient words!

(Song written by Lynn DeShazo; sung in the video by Michael W. Smith.)

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
O let the ancient words impart
Words of life
Words of hope
Give us strength
Help us cope
In this world where’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home

Chorus
Ancient words ever true
Changing me and changing you
We have come with open hearts
O let the ancient words impart

Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
O let the words impart

(Repeat Chorus)

                                                Photo of the Gutenberg Bible, courtesy AllPosters.com

Humorous Annoyance (or is it Annoying Humor?)

Certain mother buys her children bottles of body wash for Christmas stockings, as it has become a tradition/joke.

Said mother has gotten used to children checking bags when they fly to see her.

Said children opt for just carryons this time around.

As you know, the TSA says you can only take 4 ounce bottles of liquids in carryons (in the one-quart ziplocks, of course).

Said bottles of body wash are 12 ounces each.

Said children admit that if said mother gives them money to simply buy new body wash in their hometown, it really won’t happen.

Said mother ends up spending $5 to ship said bottles of body wash that cost a total of $2. Said body wash has now cost $3.50 a bottle–a price said mother would never have spent in the first place.

Said mother is rethinking the body wash idea for next Christmas.

Sigh…

 The nasty troublemakers

                            Or is it them?

Well Look At That, She Hasn’t Fallen Off The Face Of The Earth!

Hi! Welcome “back” to any of you who have waited patiently for me to write again. I do plan on writing more but will not be blogging as much as I had been, unfortunately. I love blogging but have to keep my priorities in proper focus. One of those priorities is to list my work (cards) on eBay at least twice a week this year, more for special occasions (such as Valentine’s Day, which I need to jump on now). But the blogging is very important to me so you’ll still get some of me. Lucky, lucky you! (No, actually, lucky me, because I get to express myself and share my life with you. What a blessing!)

In case I don’t get to this in the next couple of days: Happy New Year! I pray you each will feel the Lord’s love and presence in every part of your lives throughout 2008. Sometimes I find it dismaying to meet a new year with the Lord not having come back for us yet, but He also gives us all we need to get through each new year. He is just so good to us! The Lord be with you this year!

Hiatus, and Happy Birthday Jesus!

So, so sorry I haven’t been around!  I know I keep saying that.  There is a lot going on around here: making cards and selling them on eBay, working on Christmas gifts, being in a moderate fibro flare, dealing with mental health junkiness, preparing to have my boys in a couple weeks, the usual daily things…  I am officially going on hiatus until after Christmas, possibly after the first of the year.  I may post before then but am not planning on it because it has been so hard to even think about writing right now.  I really miss my blogging but other things have been taking precedence.  Can’t wait to get back to all of you!

Have a blessed Christmas and don’t forget the reason for the season.  There may be debate about the true date of Christ’s birth but Christmas is when we celebrate his coming into the world.  A wonderful thing to celebrate, indeed!  And to remind you just how important His birthday is, check out this song and video.  I just love it!

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday, dear Jesus
Happy Birthday to You

Happy birthday, Jesus
I’m so glad it’s Christmas
All the tinsel and lights
And the presents are nice
But the real gift is You.

Happy birthday, Jesus
I’m so glad its Christmas
All the carols and bells
Make the holiday swell
And it’s all about You
Happy birthday, Jesus
Jesus, I love You!

Meal Plan Monday

Oh my, it’s been two weeks since I posted my last meal plan! So sorry I haven’t been around much lately. Things have been hectic, even downright chaotic at times but I think it’s all settling down some finally. Just in time to possibly be going into a fibro flare, ugh! I’m praying not. I never want a flare but this is an especially bad time with Christmas coming and all. I have quite a few plans but have learned over the past 6 months that flexibility is clearly of the utmost importance for me, emotionally and physically. God always gets me through each and every day though, of course. He is so, so good!

Sorry for no recipes this time, I simply can’t do it right now. I’m hoping to have a section just for recipes sometime after the first of the year, but can’t promise that quite yet. Pray it happens! If you’re just dying for a recipe, please leave a comment asking for it and I’ll either send it to you or post it.

Monday: Tofu Spinach Balls (not as bad as they sound, even the hugest tofu haters have loved these!)
Tuesday: Fried Potatoes & Chicken
Wednesday: Crystal’s Soup, homemade rolls
Thursday: Turkey Burgers, oven fries
Friday: Spaghetti, French bread
Saturday: Stir Fry over brown rice
Sunday: Chicken, homemade stuffing
Extra: bread & rolls (of course), apple muffins, rice pudding, ??bagels

Don’t forget to visit our lovely host for other great menu ideas!

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

I suppose some of you have seen this before.  I came across it awhile ago and printed it.  While finally shoveling through my disaster of a desk today I found it again and decided to pass it on to you.  I can’t say who the author is, although s/he sure is wise!

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say “No,” to projects/activities that won’t fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K. M. S. (Keep Mouth Shut.) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.    (I think the author wrote this one especially for me!)
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a CD while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Everyday, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud.
24. Don’t wait until its time to go to bed to try and pray.
25. Make friends with Godly people.
26. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
27. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you Jesus!”
28. Laugh.
Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more (see #14).
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

Thursday Thankfuls, A Day Late

Sorry for being away for so long and posting this late. Things have been wacky lately and sometimes something just has to go. Unfortunately, blogging has been the biggest thing that I’ve let go. I miss it, though! I’m hoping to post at least twice a week in the next few weeks. Pray that it happens!

This week all my thankfuls are about my sweet husband. Here are eleven reasons why I love Cory…
1. He saw something in me nearly 2 years ago that made him want to know me.
2. He was so sweet that first evening we spent together (not that he isn’t still sweet, mind you!).
3. He loves me.
4. He is committed to me, no matter what.
5. He deals with all the fallout from my abuse, which sure isn’t easy on him.
6. He’s gone to see my therapist with me to learn how/why the abuse still affects me so much and also how he can better deal with the fallout from it.
7. He smells like, well, him. You know what I mean, I know you do.
8. He has a quirky but endearing personality.
9. He’s so stinkin’ handsome!
10. He loves my cooking.
11. He is enthusiastic about Christmas, which makes it even more fun for me.

Oh heck, I have to list at least one more: 12. He’s great to snuggle with.

 Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks so…

Thursday Thankfuls

  (AllPosters.com)

Blessed Thanksgiving Greetings! How wonderful that Thanksgiving and my Thankfuls fall on the same day! It reminds me that I have so much to be thankful for, each and every day. So, without further ado…

1. My God, the ultimate love of my life

 (drawn by Hayden at age 5)

2. Cory, my sweet love

 (This pic evokes too many feelings to mention.  It epitomizes my sweet Cor.)

3. Hayden & Isaac, my wonderful guys

 (Back when they would ham it up…)

4. The United States of America, the greatest nation on God’s green earth (as Michael Medved says)

5. Bouts of feeling okay in the midst of this storm

6. Family and friends

7. Kammie, George & Abi, who help keep me sane these days

          (Without kitties, what is life?)

8. Good music to lift me up

Michael W. Smith
Leigh Nash
Mannheim Steamroller (this album is quickly growing on me; if you know Mannheim, think older stuff)
Cusco

9. My friend Susan is home after a brief stay in a care facility

10. Cardmaking, which has also saved my sanity lately

        

11. Crisp but sunny autumn weather

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I wish you a truly blessed day, full of Thankfuls.