tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13669919859614750652024-02-18T22:27:29.660-05:00Titus Two Friendsmentoring, passing along wisdom, bearing each other up Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-90873040478949173702019-05-15T11:30:00.000-04:002019-05-15T11:30:00.145-04:00Summer Vacation<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In only 11 days we'll put this school year in the archives; students will head off to summer vacation, parents are scrambling to make childcare arrangements; playgrounds & pools will echo with laughter and shouts of fun; backyards will morph into forts and castles and hide-n-seek spots; swing-sets & sandboxes will get a work-out; grills will go to work on dinner and barbecue; lakes will hum with fishing and boating enthusiasts while swimmers will splash from the docks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer vacation calls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a blessing it is to look forward to these easier days. I'm sitting right now in my living room, windows open and listening to the sound of a few robins calling back-n-forth with the low hum of insects providing a cozy backdrop of sound. Some evenings there's the sound of the softball game at the field across the street, while children of spectators tear around on the playground nearby--shouts from the field announce exciting plays, shouts from the playground when kids escape from the pirates or It. My cat lolls on the back of the couch and watches me type. It's all rather cozy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This evening I picked the first of the asparagus, and some of the stalks are fabulously thick--they will make a tasty pan: a bit of butter to saute, a clove of minced garlic and some salt. Maybe some parmesan sprinkled on, too. I pulled weeds while I was out there, still dressed in my work clothes (a dress and sweater!), and I felt a bit naughty "working" in my "good clothes" as we called 'em when I was growing up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love these nice days of late spring--before the heat of summer rolls in with humidity and mosquitoes. I love the tulips and bleeding hearts in my front flowerbed and the lily-of-the-valley along the back of the house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past weekend I noticed a female oriole at my jelly feeder that hangs from the end of the clothesline. The female is so dull compared to the male (radiant bright orange!). It happens every year when I see a "blackbird" in that feeder--and I think, "why is a blackbird eating grape jelly?" and then I pause to look closer, and my heart does this little jump of excitement, because I realize "They came back again!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Feeding birds is kind of an act of hopefulness. Like with orioles or hummingbirds....you have to put the food in the feeder BEFORE you even see the birds--the food has to be there when they arrive, if you want to keep them coming back to your yard. Don't ask me why, I just know that on the years when I "forget" or "put it off another week" . . . and the birds arrive without the welcoming feeder waiting for them, the birds seem to be "not as active" at my feeders even if I keep them replenished after the arrival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Orioles & hummingbirds remind me of my childhood because they seemed like such exotic birds, not like the ordinary and so-common robin that is everywhere. The first time I ever saw an oriole nest I was so worried for those baby birds, suspended so precariously (it seemed!) in that long dangly nest; I wondered what happened when they wanted to shift around and stretch their baby legs! My grampa loved taking us kids out into the woods; he knew so many trees and wildflowers by name; he started me on my nature-study-journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another summer my dad gathered all of us children around a small cedar shrub growing near our front porch; he gently pushed aside a branch to show us the tiniest nest I've ever seen in my life: a hummingbird nest, with FOUR EGGS! They were so small it was incredible. Once we knew the nest was there, it was so tempting to check on the little family but we knew it could also hurt the baby birds, so we stayed away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've never seen another hummingbird nest since then--and 50 years is a l-o-n-g stretch. I've seen the general direction they head from my feeder, so I know there's a nest "over there" somewhere (pointing toward a big pine tree across the street), but where?--no idea. So I content myself with watching them dart in & out around my feeder by the kitchen window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This summer when your kids are starting to get bored (probably Day 2 of vacation, right?), do me a favor. Head to the local hobby store with the kids, and pick out some spiral-bound sketchbooks (they go for about $5--or less if you watch for the sales--but worth every penny!), grab a mechanical pencil because it's always sharp--and take a few minutes to teach your kid how to write with it (so the lead doesn't break); put on a hat, take an old blanket and go sit in a spot at the local park or in your backyard. Sketch a tree in your yard--and follow it through the seasons (it's pretty cool!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sketch some dandelions. Show your kids how to draw without lifting their pencil from the paper (check out Sketchbook Skool on Instagram for ideas). Label the drawing with the date and description. Look at the sky and note the type of clouds overhead; check your phone or read a thermometer for the local temperature. Sketch a simple cloud bubble or a shining sun (circle with rays going out) or a partly sunny day in one corner (make it about 1-inch by 1-inch). In another corner note the temperature. In the third corner note your location. If you wanna get fancy start by putting a simple frame around the page (like a half-inch in from the edge). Make it a little squiggly so it doesn't look perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tomorrow or the next day, wedge in some more time doing some nature study. If you make it a part of your daily or weekly routine, you will be forming a lovely layer of memories for your children. Don't FORCE them to be artistic, keep it simple. Bring along a picnic lunch. If they want to sketch a picnic table (geometric shapes are often easier than nature-y things--at first), that's fine, too. If they're into it, let them use watercolors to illustrate their sketches (practice on other paper first, please).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And Mom, this assignment is for you, too. Children, especially young ones, will see you having fun and will want to copy you. Don't say "I can't draw." I don't care, just try. Learn along with your kids and model the habit of TRYING something new, and doing it with enthusiasm--you don't have to be perfect. Just try. And don't give up--you'll never get better if you give up after the first failure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are a lot of nature-journaling people on Instagram and Facebook, posting pics of their journals & sketchbooks every day (search on these hashtags: #naturejournal #nature #naturestudy #naturestudylessons). Gather ideas from them. Or check out my other blog: w<a href="http://www.naturestudylessons.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ww.NatureStudyLessons.blogspot.com </a>.... there are TONS of ideas in the sidebars and articles. I haven't posted much there recently as I no longer teach that class, but the info is still valid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Head to a secondhand book shop and see if there are any nature guides for sale. Find a bird guide and a wildflower guide or one for trees. Keep these handy. Identify all the trees in your yard, or the flowers along the edge of the hiking trail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another thing you can do over vacation, with your children, is teach them some homemaking skills. Do they know how to use a bread machine to make pizza dough? Or <a href="https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/grammas-old-fashioned-cinnamon-sweet-rolls-208445?ic1=suggestedAsset%7Cgramma%27s" target="_blank">cinnamon rolls</a>? You're saying, "I don't even know how to make bread--how can I teach my children?" Well, if you can read this blog, you can read a recipe. If your children can learn to spell or do math, you can learn bread-making. And it is FUN to do these things together!! So get your apron on, girl, and pull out the flour and get making! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img height="179" src="https://img.sndimg.com/food/image/upload/c_thumb,q_80,w_562,h_316/v1/img/recipes/24/11/39/picEutQlS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's my Best-of-Show ribbon!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're planting a garden, put in some cucumbers. I always planted mine in long rows (two seeds about 2 inches apart kind of side-by-side, the next two seeds about 6-inches away). My favorite cuke seeds for making dill pickles were called "Homemade Dills"--I don't remember how long it takes for them to get to harvest-able size...but I usually planted (in WI and MN) around the end of May or beginning of June and usually had a decent crop by mid- to late-August. If you're in a warmer zone, you can put those seeds in already now and harvest sooner. Here's my all-time favorite <a href="https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/blue-ribbon-dill-pickles-241139?ic1=suggestedAsset%7Cdebber" target="_blank">dill pickle</a> recipe--and I really did win "BEST OF SHOW" with this recipe at the Trempealeau County Fair in the open class Food & Nutrition Department for canned food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a sandwich-making contest once a week. Pick one or two ingredients that the kids have to use, and tell them they get points for being creative for today's lunch. Winner gets to do something special (you know your kids & what makes them get on-board). First time out something like "peanut butter + one other thing" (think banana, honey, nuts, whatever you have in the cupboard or fridge). Cut everyone's sandwich into smaller pieces based on the number of kids participating. Make rules like "no help from Mom (because she's the judge)" and "it has to be edible" and "you have to eat your creation" and you have to try a bit of what everyone else makes, too. I'd also have a rule about a clean working spot (teach CAYG pronounced cagey "clean as you go" techniques). Mom would judge sandwiches based on tastiness, creativity, & whatever else your group decides.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Host a family "star gazing evening" out in the country; pack a special night-time picnic (use a star-shaped cookie cutter to make fun-shaped sandwiches) OR pop popcorn to toss in a paper shopping bag and make something starry to drink or just water with star-shaped ice-cubes or just call it Star Gazers Telescopes or Midnight Slush. Before you go add the <a href="http://en_us/" target="_blank">SkEye</a> app on your phone--point it skyward & learn the constellations. OR purchase a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Products-MPC40-Millers-Planisphere/dp/B005J0XSUA/ref=asc_df_B005J0XSUA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167132310900&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6037010325675390116&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019815&hvtargid=pla-310154724617&psc=1" target="_blank">planisphere</a> which is a cool gadget to study the night sky BEFORE you go outside (some of them have fluorescent markings to be used outside).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Planisphere<br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">THINGS TO DO:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go to the library once a week, explore different stacks each week. (Mom, look for "summer art projects" or "field guides" or coffee table books that may be interesting for kids--you never know what will trip their trigger!) Unless you have a "very good reason" let them check out "as many books as" (fill in the blank: they want & think they might "read", or that they can carry, how many can you read in a week, are willing to pay fines on, etc). I always made my kids pay their own fines from their own money--it bites much more & increases the likelihood of learning a lesson when it "hurts in the pocketbook." I also didn't let my kids dog-ear pages OR lay their open book facedown (bad for the spine); I actually charged "fines" for that at home, 25-cents a time--it was a money-making venture for awhile there til they learned "Mom means it!" Teach them about book marks AND one day you might want to do this project: make Summer Vacation bookmarks--use the SPECIAL MARKERS for this (ones they don't otherwise get to use). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go to a different park each week. Tell the kids you want to find The Secret Hollow or that they'll need to find The Perfect Spot. Wear your SuperMom cape! Have fun!<br /><br />Wear hats, play dress-up, make a tent over the clotheslines. If you don't have a clothesline, drag out the real tent--"tonight you get to sleep in the tent!" Read books out there. Build a fort.<br /><br />Have a tea party out in the lawn under the trees. Your daughter can invite three friends (just enough to fit cozily around the cardtable), "bring your favorite doll, too--oooh, and wear your prettiest dress." Let your 8-year old plan this affair, from making the finger sandwiches to brewing the tea. The rule for a tea party: you must have some savory food and some sweet food. Pickles, fresh bits of veggies, crackers & cheese, some small slices of deli-meat---those are some savories. Sweets can be cupcakes or chunks of donuts. Arrange on pretty plates (break out the good china--well, don't actually BREAK it). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Set up a daily routine. Stick to it. Have a one-hour "quiet time" right after lunch; nap, read, draw--everyone "be quiet." Limit screen time. If they say they're bored, say "Good that'll help you be creative, now go outside and play unless you want to help with some cleaning chores." I kept a list of "special chores for bored children" (post it on the inside of a cupboard door), add to it as the week goes on. It can include real chores (load/unload the dishwasher, clean the toilet) but also boring chores (dust the woodwork in the whole house, etc)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn a new hobby as a family or one-on-one with a particular child. Sewing, crocheting, bottle rockets, gardening, tending the neighbor's chickens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Host a neighborhood barbecue or picnic or game night or fire-pit evening. Play "after dark" games WITH the children--I mean like, "Mom, you're It." Flashlight tag. Hide-n-seek. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Read aloud from an exciting book. Explore new authors. Keep a list of all the books read. Set a "reading goal" for the summer (let your child pick--they're often more rigid than you would be) which may be x-number per week or count pages/week or chapters. If you have a kid who likes to draw ask her to sketch "what happens next" after you read a chapter. It will be fun tomorrow to see if it turned out like she thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go on a bike hike. Or a hike hike. Take up geocaching or letterboxing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn calligraphy (call it spy-writing to make it fun for the 9-year old boy). Incorporate it into your nature journal. Make scrolls and do proclamations!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go on a scavenger hunt. Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Go on a field guide scavenger hunt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rainy day fun: movie & popcorn. OR What happens to X if you put it in the rain? (Flour, construction paper, cotton balls, etc)--but be scientists about it and make a hypothesis (educated guess). What are your findings? OR bake a Rain Cake. I don't know, do something fun inside: watercolor painting (get it?), wash all the mirrors in the house, watch home videos from a couch cushion fort. Coloring books with Mom's Special Markers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Press leaves & flowers. Once they're flattened, add to your nature journal, along with the Latin & common name, also the place where collected and any memories of that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Play travel games while driving: 'I Spy. . . " or the "ABC Game" (make up tricky rules to add twists for older children & to keep them interested if you have a wide age-range)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn about road-side geology or geography. Have a magnifying glass handy. Collect rocks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Create a "genius box" or "genius kit" (fill a shoebox or bin with junk drawer remnants: screws, twisty ties, popsicle sticks, bits of yarn or string, googly eyes, wire, small scraps of lumber, glue, tacks, marbles, whatever dibs & dabs that are laying around unclaimed)...let your children MAKE SOMETHING magical from it. You might have to get them started, but my two boys LOVED when I pulled that thing down for them and went off on their own to make something. Be sure to ooh & ahh over it when they show it to you later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Limit screen time. I know I've said it already, but it's important. Mindless scrolling turns your brain into mush (I used to say this to my kids if they wanted to watch TV). "Go read a book." Even if they howl "I'm soooo bored." Don't give in. Stand your ground, you are raising a child who needs to use his imagination. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pick up roadside trash in your neighborhood as a "family community service project." Get out and meet your neighbors. Have a bike parade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have fun with your kids. Recall the memories you have of the lazy summer days--don't fill up the days with TOO MUCH planned stuff, assign chores tied to a fixed/meaningful deadline ("this needs to be done before baseball practice or swim lessons or lunch"), let them roam the fertile fields of their imagination, too! <br /><br />Summer isn't about putting a lot of miles on the car and stress on the whole family. Let your days roll by in a blessed haze of happy days--<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>There is a time for everything,<br />and a season for every activity under heaven:<br /><br />a time to be born & a time to die,<br />a time to plant & a time to uproot,<br />a time to kill & a time to heal,<br />a time to tear down & a time to build,<br />a time to weep & a time to laugh,<br />a time to mourn & and time to dance,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to scatter stones & a time to gather them,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to embrace & a time to refrain,<br />a time to search & a time to give up,<br />a time to keep & a time to give away,<br />a time to tear & a time to mend,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to be silent & a time to speak,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to love & a time to hate,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"><b>a time for war & a time for peace.</b></span><br /><br />Ecclesiastes 3:1-8</span></div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-86096942338123912302018-06-05T10:00:00.000-04:002018-06-05T10:00:02.076-04:00Dancing in the Rain<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">I was recently asked to give the opening devotion at a Christian women’s one-day retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Is there a theme passage for the conference?”</i> because I thought, I
can poke around on that a little bit, do some word-study, go off on a tangent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But was told “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nope, no theme
passage</i>.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, you know me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not a problem for Deb!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I can
always find something woman-y, encouragement-y to talk about, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus I know how God drops little nuggets in
my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
next morning, I was getting ready for work and was already thinking about the
conference title “Dancing in the Rain”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A few minutes later I sat down to read my morning devotion, and the
reading for that day was Psalm 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I read through the psalm little images
popped into my mind as I thought about King David (or even myself!) in these
various predicaments:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little white
face looking up from the bottom of a dark & dank pit or crawling up from a
musty, horrible grave!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined
God’s hand reaching for me and how I’d feel secure and safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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As I got to the end of the verses—oh my! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wonderful heavenly Father was reaching for
my hand and there I was twirling around like His little princess, in a beautiful
frilly dress—and it goes flying out in ripples—and oh! my dress is the color of
JOY, and out of my mouth comes this impossibly beautiful song that no way! can
I keep it in:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my heart is overflowing, I just can’t keep
quiet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Look what He’s done for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://c8.alamy.com/comp/KAPKBH/silhouette-swirling-in-the-setting-sun-in-the-beautiful-woods-of-the-KAPKBH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="the color of joy" border="0" height="400" src="https://c8.alamy.com/comp/KAPKBH/silhouette-swirling-in-the-setting-sun-in-the-beautiful-woods-of-the-KAPKBH.jpg" title="Impossibly beautiful!" width="247" /></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I
knew that this last verse (in green below) was just perfect for the opening
devotion for this conference. NOTE: I left in the divisions where we read
responsively at the conference. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 30 </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
psalm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the dedication of the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of David.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
exalt you, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for You lifted me out of the depths<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and did not let my enemies gloat over me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> my God, I called to You for help,</span></b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A+B:</span></i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and You healed me.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, brought me up from the realm of
the dead;<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A+B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
spared me from going down to the pit.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sing the
praises of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, you His faithful
people; praise His holy name!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For His anger lasts only a moment, but His
favor lasts a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing
comes in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
when You favored me You made my royal mountain stand firm;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but when You hid Your face, I was dismayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To you, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
I called; to the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord </span>I cried for
mercy:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ALL: “What
is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the dust praise You?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hear, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
and be merciful to me;<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ALL: <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, be my help!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">B:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You turned my wailing into dancing;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You removed my sackcloth <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A+B: and clothed me with joy,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">L:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.</span></b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">ALL:
O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> my God, I will You thanks
& praise You forever!</span><span style="color: #00cc99;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g8yeUiiD_LTVCUKxNklwuSXvf2QWnZdcw_KidvQgsWKZv1xLiefoW0QiiKqgpnPaaw7HTizM6XKrKuyvIAPDsVUCug3Jz8BlQQf2-PXROzIoq6-nMJtHKtDvmJqnUqE-nN2U9rtpvEQ/s1600/Girl-Rain-Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clothed with joy" border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g8yeUiiD_LTVCUKxNklwuSXvf2QWnZdcw_KidvQgsWKZv1xLiefoW0QiiKqgpnPaaw7HTizM6XKrKuyvIAPDsVUCug3Jz8BlQQf2-PXROzIoq6-nMJtHKtDvmJqnUqE-nN2U9rtpvEQ/s320/Girl-Rain-Dance.jpg" title="Dancing in the Rain" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You
might have a lot going on in your life right now. Dusty windowsills. A dirty toilet bowl. A pile of laundry. Too much to do and not enough time to do
it. Fear. Sadness.
Sorrow. My dear! He knows exactly where you are and what’s
going on. Sure, there are times when He
lets you flail around, but would your faith ever grow if it wasn’t tested and
prodded to mature and grow? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You
might be standing at the bottom of a very deep pit right now, looking up,
wailing miserably, wondering if God has any clue, if He’s even listening
because it sure seems like you’re talking to an empty room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Certainly
there are times when it seems our prayers are unheard, but you are His
daughter!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He NEVER stops listening—He
hears every syllable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than
anything He wants to have a lifelong, eternal conversation with each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You
might be going through a really rough time, maybe you think God is hiding His
face from you to punish you for sins in your past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sister, please remember He loves you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s already healed you from the worst thing
that could ever happen to you—He couldn’t imagine spending a single moment
without you, so He sent His son to Calvary to pay the price for all the sins
that are weighing you down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took the
drab prison clothes and draped you with a magnificent gown of the most
exquisite fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ is right now in
heaven working on YOUR room in his mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">REMEMBER
this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when we place our confidence in
the Lord and what He is doing through us—we CAN praise the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can dance in the rain because the Lord is
dancing there with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of every
woman you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one has gone or is
right now going through some kind of trial or trouble or struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us will go through MANY trials before
we get to Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
Lord has put us here, together, at just this time, at just this place as part
of His magnificent plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christian
sisters—today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home, in our
churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To minister to each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And <u>for</u> Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord is sending showers of
blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our heavenly Father has
clothed us with the Joy of His salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In
our lives--sunshine or rain--we can sing for joy and not be silent because with
our eyes focused on Jesus, letting Him lead the way, our lives will be filled
with praise and we can dance in the rain! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Praise the Lord!" height="640" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1523693916903-027d144a2b7d?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&s=deacbfcaefe1b060a3f9ca875ff2e544&dpr=1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80&cs=tinysrgb" title="Sing for joy" width="480" /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Dear Lord, thank You for bringing us to this moment. Thank You
for each woman reading this prayer, with whatever burdens she is carrying. Lord, help us to drop all our burdens and
cares on Your shoulders and to trust You even when we’re walking through a dark
valley. Walk with us, Lord, through
difficulties. Lift us when we
stumble. Carry us when we just can’t. Rain Your blessings on us, Lord, and help us dance
in the rain and sing Your praises daily.
Send your Holy Spirit to be with us each day, bless the words from our
mouths that we might encourage one another; give us courage in whatever role You’ve assigned us, to be better disciples and and
wives and mothers and daughters and sisters and friends. Lord my God, let us praise You forever! Amen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 107%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Other articles you may enjoy:<br /><br /><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-home-with-christ.html" target="_blank">Family Devotions</a> <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/06/bible-time-with-god-and-baby.html" target="_blank">Babies & Bible Time</a> <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/05/" target="_blank">Busy at Home</a><br /></span></div>
<br />
</div>
<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-62777214368141138142018-01-02T21:00:00.000-05:002018-01-02T21:47:43.732-05:00The Truth is Out - Time for a Change!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">January. The time of resolutions. Time management, goal-setting, reviewing last year's accomplishments. Being honest.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsSidV0vYYql0jjDOx3IV71U2rSGyVjXxlrN23dEDPTC_CdtUBxjh0PAay32MpLMRKrEoUf8Sm9GpSeCQKEYI8Eop-JW__OlNdzWmH5h7dEFSht1iuVN4-VZa4mc4LUyNTut3-1wKym0/s1600/Goals+%2526+Truth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Honesty in blogging" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsSidV0vYYql0jjDOx3IV71U2rSGyVjXxlrN23dEDPTC_CdtUBxjh0PAay32MpLMRKrEoUf8Sm9GpSeCQKEYI8Eop-JW__OlNdzWmH5h7dEFSht1iuVN4-VZa4mc4LUyNTut3-1wKym0/s320/Goals+%2526+Truth.png" title="Goals & Truth about resolutions & accomplishments" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll go first: I started this blog in September 2010. If it was a child, she would now be half-way through 2nd Grade--reading little books, reliably spelling high-frequency words like <i>the, at, Mom;</i> probably mastering a two-wheel bike and made her parents proud this past summer playing shortstop in peewee softball.<br /><br />The truth is that the mother (me) of this "child" has been terribly (and often) negligent during these past seven+ years. And while I've had many good intentions, quite honestly I've been busy doing many OTHER things (teaching, quilting, moving [twice!], recuperating from cancer & chemo, working full-time)--these are all pretty good as excuses go.<br /><br />To be fair: there was a span where I couldn't get INTO my blog (because I'm a nitwit sometimes!) so the poor thing languished for months--and I kind of lost my mo-jo. Another span of quiet-time took place in 2014 after we moved, the cancer thing happened and I started working full-time. I was tired and brain-dead. <br /><br />The truth is that I've been a poor manager of my time...actually my "evening time". I'm a morning person and bounce out of bed at 5:30 (happy & cheerful--don't hate me!) so that I have time to read my Bible before I head to work at 6:45 (to be there by 7:15-ish). When I get home at around 4:30, I'm toast. <br /><br />So guess what I do? I'm usually home alone (hubby's a truck driver) so I get my supper going, turn on the TV/Netflix/news, read my personal email or check Facebook, and usually fall asleep before the bad guy gets caught. I wake up around 8:00pm, somewhat refreshed but my rear-end is glued to my chair and now it's "too late" to really get anything done. I look through Instagram or Pinterest--<i>"Oh look at THIS cute idea!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>The rest of the truth is this: I've taken for granted the wide-reach my blog has. Just recently I FINALLY did a project I've wanted to do for y-e-a-r-s on my blog: make a list of all my blog titles. As I was rooting around on the back side of my blog, I was STUNNED (stunned, I tell you!) to see that SOME of my posts have had hundreds and thousands of eyeballs on 'em--and I never even knew! AND there are even COMMENTS on some of my posts! When did THAT happen? Why didn't I know? My settings were supposed to send me notifications whenever that happened. <br /><br />So . . . it's time for me to own up to my negligence. And to apologize to all of you. It is SO <i>not me</i> to ignore people--and I certainly am humbled by this evaluation of my blog-situation. <br /><br />Your loyalty to this blog and to me is much appreciated and I promise to strive to do better (that shouldn't be too difficult since there's really nowhere to go but UP, right?!). <br /><br />Also, I want to thank those of you who have left comments in the past. I hope you'll understand--just like you (busy wife & mother), I am too. <br /><br />Here is a list of the most popular Titus Two Friends posts I've written (other than holiday related):<br /><br />10 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/10/leaving-godly-legacy.html" target="_blank">Leaving a Godly Legacy</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 9 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-times-are-in-your-hands.html" target="_blank">My Times Are In Your Hands</a><br /> 8 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/05/project-prompts-for-prayers-praises.html" target="_blank">Project: Prompts for Prayers, Praises, Promises</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 7 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/02/birthday-cards-in-mail.html" target="_blank">Birthday Cards in the Mail!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 6 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/03/seven-secrets-to-family-harmony.html" target="_blank">Seven Secrets to Marital Harmony</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 5 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/11/fill-your-plate.html" target="_blank">Fill Your Plate!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 4 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2015/03/two-things-about-life-your-legacy.html" target="_blank">Two Things About Life & Your Legacy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 3 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-home-with-christ.html" target="_blank">At Home With Christ</a> (How to do Family Devotions)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 2 - <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/12/de-clutter-your-gift-giving.html" target="_blank">De-Clutter Your Gift-Giving</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and firmly in #1 is <b><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/04/motherhood-being-submissive-wife.html" target="_blank">Motherhood & Being a Submissive Wife </a></b><br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last spring I delivered a keynote address at a homeschool conference. The theme verse we focused on was this one from 1Thessalonians 5:11</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Encourage one another & build up each other,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>just as in fact you are doing.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I started blogging seven years ago--right down to this very day--it has always been my intention to inspire you to be a godly woman, an excellent wife, a devoted mother, and a dear friend to those who are blessed to know you. To help you see the blessings God has showered upon you, to give you a pep talk when you need it, and do it in a way that brings glory to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>REQUEST</b>: I'm re-setting my settings, so that I get notifications whenever someone comments on any of my blog posts. Would you do me a favor and when you read something, leave a little comment--maybe tell me what you liked or (dis) agree with, what pricked your conscience or raised a question. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>REQUEST #2:</b> If you like this post, please grab the URL and share it on your fave social media so others have a chance to read it, too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks, friends, for helping me revive this neglected little blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a couple of other posts that deserve attention, too:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2017/04/god-works-so-does-prayer.html" target="_blank">God Works - So Does Prayer</a> <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2015/03/snow-day-biscuits-mixture-of-thoughts.html" target="_blank">Snow Day Recipes</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Find me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/debberlynn/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-10461433959999099442017-04-08T09:30:00.000-04:002017-04-08T09:30:09.755-04:00God Works ~ So Does Prayer<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">P.S. Another late arrival
on the blog page that was languishing in my Drafts Folder. However, it's still timely because prayer is always, well, fitting! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
Do you think God is at work in your life? Have you ever felt His hand on
your shoulder or His breath on your cheek? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
*know* that God is working in my life. This weekend was another example
of the awesome way He works in our lives and answers our prayers.<br />
<br />
We’re making plans to move back to the Midwest which means selling our home in
WV.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Monday
last week, the realtor came over and we signed on to have him sell our house.
Tuesday he came to take pictures. Thursday our house went
"live" on the MLS. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Between
Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, we had FIVE showings of our home.
And Sunday evening, the realtor came over to present FOUR offers that came
POURING in.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There
have been other times in our life ~ life-changing times, head scratching times
~ when we have turned it over to Him, and all we can do is just sit back in
slack-jawed, open-mouthed amazement at the way God works these things out.
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Years ago we were contemplating a move from Washington (the state)
to Wisconsin. We prayed with the children the night before we flew out
for hubby's interview, "Please God, let us know in a big way if this is
the thing you want us to do." </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
read something recently about miracles. Jesus did miracles for people who
had<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>problems</u>. Who
came to Him for help. Who trusted that He would help them. He
didn't do miracles for the boastful or the arrogant or the unbelievers. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Within a two-hour window, my hub was offered the job { boom! } AND
our offer on a home was accepted { Boom! } AND our home back in Spokane had not
one but TWO offers ABOVE our asking price. { BooM! } </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He
was letting us know in an undeniably BIG WAY: Yes, this is what I want
you to do! He said--and meant it--"I will be with you."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
STILL blows my mind, <i>"Look what God is doing in our
lives," </i>gives me goose bumps, makes shivers go up and down my
spine. <br />
<br />
Think about it. The God who created the entire UNIVERSE (!!!) can and
will take an active role in >>your<< life. You. The
girl you see in the mirror every morning. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There
are three answers to our prayers: { YES! } and { No. } and { Not now, dear one.
} </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
don't always get the answer we (think we) want. That doesn't mean God
isn't listening. I assure you, that's not true. He listens and He
hears every time we pray. Every word we say. Even when we're so
confused we can't string two sensible syllables together. The groanings
of a believer's heart--He totally gets that.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes the { No } ends up
being the best thing that ever happened in your life. Doesn't look that
way to begin with, but that's where TRUST comes in. You don't see
the whole picture the way God does.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When we
got married, I looked forward to having babies—expected it would be no time at
all till we had a full quiver. I prayed
fervently to get pregnant with a baby girl.
I was pretty specific; I had this vision of pink frills & ruffles
& lace. (Remember I grew up with
five brothers—so didn’t have much pink frilly stuff growing up!) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">After five
years and no babies we decided to adopt waiting foster children. Two boys (ages 10 & 11) joined our
family. We had one day to prepare for
their arrival. We were by then exploring
what might be preventing us from getting preggers—but nothing showed up on any
of the tests. Three years later we added
two more children (boy 9, girl 6) and were very happy with our growing
family. <br />
<br />
Our oldest son once asked how old Mom & Dad would be when the youngest
graduated from high school, so we figured it out: 42 & 43 years old. Hmmm.
We joked that we’d sell the house & all our belongings and buy a
motorhome & travel the country. Our
daughter would graduate in 2000, and we’d be footloose & fancy-free. Sounded like fun.<br />
<br />
Just a few months later, I found out I was pregnant—the same day that I was
offered a teaching job in northwestern Montana.
What?! And they wanted me to be
head-coach of the high school girls’ volleyball team. Are you kidding? <br />
<br />
I turned down the job, because I couldn’t imagine all that AND a new baby. A few days later I had a miscarriage. My heart was broken, devastated beyond words
but after all those years of waiting I was THRILLED that I had FINALLY gotten
pregnant! A glimmer of hope! <br />
<br />
My mother-in-law encouraged me to contact the school to find out if the job was
still available. It was—we moved (again)
and boy-oh-boy, that first year of teaching and coaching was incredible. Summer vacation came along, and almost to
the day—found out I was pregnant again!
Incredible. <br />
<br />
This time I prayed for a healthy pregnancy and secretly hoped for a baby girl,
so I was briefly disappointed when I saw the ultrasound—but then rejoiced to
see my son wiggling around joyously! Oh
the love, the love, the love! <br />
<br />
He brought so much delight to our lives, and when he was only 13 months old, I
found out I was preggers again—no kidding.
A decade of barrenness and suddenly I was pregnant a THIRD time—unbelievable. Anyone who knew me and how much I longed for
a little girl was surprised when I told them I now wanted another little boy so
they could be buddies the way my five brothers are friends. And what a wonder, God answered that prayer!<br />
<br />
Our little boys were four and six years old when I got pregnant again. When anyone asked me what I wanted—boy or
girl—I told them I wanted a healthy human baby, no kittens or puppies, just a
healthy baby. So what a wonder and
blessing when our daughter was born.<br />
<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The bossy, know-it-all “prayers” from 17 years earlier were NOW
answered. And then I realized what a
BLESSING it was that God did NOT listen to me when I was ordering Him
around. <br />
<br />
He knew—all those years earlier—that there would come a time in my life when I
would be going through ovarian cancer and would need a lovely daughter by my
side, to give me back rubs and friendship, to be my joy and delight. <br />
<br />
If God had listened to me, my daughter would’ve long before been gone from
home. Instead here she was—at JUST the
right time—just as God knew all along.<br />
<br />
When I reflected on God’s “long-range planning” done on my behalf, I was
humbled and ashamed of my bullying and selfishness. And amazed, too! Once again—AGAIN!—I am a witness to God
working everything out. What once looked
like a { No } was simply my Abba saying { not right now, Dear Deb }. <br />
<br />
It is a challenge at times, when we are faced with difficulties or sorrow, to
see the actual blessing that may be a ways off, distant, or even “not on the
horizon” . . . but IF we say we believe God when He says “your times are in My
hands”, then we must TRUST in His timing.<br />
<br />
The other half of this whole issue is believing that even in bad times, there
is some good that will be worked. Our
whole thinking is very self-centered, that if we don’t get what we want, (1)
God isn’t listening, (2) God isn’t very smart, (3) God doesn’t care, (4) then I’ll
do my own thing outside of God’s will for me.
And when we do THAT, then we whine & moan when consequences roll
over us and our families. <br />
<br />
My advice: wait on God’s plan. He DOES have a plan—better than your frail
little human mind can conceive, dear friend.
Way better! <br />
<br />
If you're not feeling God's hand on your shoulder, perhaps it's time to review
the path you're on. How far away have you wandered? If you think
God is silent, maybe you're ignoring His answer. Could it be that
you're wresting control from Him thinking you know better than He what's right?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
"For I know the plans I have for you--<br />
plans to prosper you and not to harm you<br />
plans to give you hope and a future.<br />
Then you will call upon Me<br />
and come & pray to Me,<br />
and I will listen to you.<br />
You will seek Me and find Me<br />
when you seek Me with all your heart.<br />
I will be found by you," declares the Lord.<br />
Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reflect on the course of events in your
life. Develop a thankful attitude even
when things appear to be out-of-control and sorrow knocks at your door. Live what you believe. <br />
<br />
QUESTION: <i>How has God answered your prayers?</i><br />
<br />
You might enjoy these somewhat related (and entertaining) posts:<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/07/Plans-God-Knows-Best.html">Plans? God Has One!</a> <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/06/Save-the-good-stuff-for-company-coming.html">Save
the Towels! Save the Dishes!</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-7726980627608540902017-04-06T19:00:00.000-04:002017-04-07T14:25:58.091-04:00Losing + Eating = Healthy <div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">P.S. Apparently I never published this article, I just found it in my blog DRAFTS folder. I know, I know! A bit dated, because we're nicely settled in our new-to-us home in Minnesota now--I wrote this while we were in the throes of moving from West Virginia in mid-2014. The info is timeless so is still helpful!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br /><br />I started off this year by winning a "biggest loser" contest with some other homeschooling moms (whoohooo! I lost 12 pounds!!).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ51cYCdDQmjHqrJr0Qk4SoJi8JAD5dzv3Isg5lg8Md1HiC1Wl9WAv86ASAiAGHWyji_opK00aGElXx6cSQXCDNIbNpHbO2xYUb2fDODKK_NjQHOwPGU61KNhyjTbTN-TQcSuoAA_YaQ/s1600/Green+Bean+Goodness.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ51cYCdDQmjHqrJr0Qk4SoJi8JAD5dzv3Isg5lg8Md1HiC1Wl9WAv86ASAiAGHWyji_opK00aGElXx6cSQXCDNIbNpHbO2xYUb2fDODKK_NjQHOwPGU61KNhyjTbTN-TQcSuoAA_YaQ/s200/Green+Bean+Goodness.JPG" width="148" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So, I was pumped to keep up my losing streak. If you know what I mean. Unfortunately winter weather and cold temps kind of hampered my exercising efforts. As my attempts at getting out and walking fell off, my willpower kind of faded away, too. And with that fading, pounds re-appeared. No longer lost, but found. And not in a good way. Accccch!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So. Here I am { one-third of the way through summer and } staring at this flubbery belly of mine and disgusted with myself and how quickly I fell back to my old habits. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">On top of this in-active lifestyle, my schedule changed AND we're staring straight into the barrel of "moving" cross-country (again!). I guess if you're going to mess things up, that's one way to do it! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaGbGahwwm9pZYFnnJZ6iQYwrbPipEnFkKhiQ6CfQYDo-muLEKKlkChTzY6AmHnqnNzNGvfj8dL21L9gZDDXuwSW-vQXbpSlB3xBe0LIAchSY4zjXIGZMEz6993bvjF7X-CIw43zq4bM/s1600/Onions+Love+Hearts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaGbGahwwm9pZYFnnJZ6iQYwrbPipEnFkKhiQ6CfQYDo-muLEKKlkChTzY6AmHnqnNzNGvfj8dL21L9gZDDXuwSW-vQXbpSlB3xBe0LIAchSY4zjXIGZMEz6993bvjF7X-CIw43zq4bM/s1600/Onions+Love+Hearts.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Moving (again!) means I'm doing another decluttering sweep through every crevice and closet in our home. I've already weeded through my cookbooks (oh no!), but this morning I tackled my recipe files. This is where I file magazine-clipped recipes. I came across a few treasures during this "exercise" which really tie into my DETERMINATION to get back to my healthier choices for eating and exercise.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So, permit me to share these little treasures. I don't know about you, but I need these kind of reminders at eye-level (on the fridge) where I/eye can't miss seeing them and being REMINDED (daily or hourly) when I go foraging! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_REb3cQ6NTgKFwytCMsKDLpeCjUEDUIglojmazfsM92bA-zyQem7f0eI8gDv8iAKO5Dtvn7y-yNrCwkaFwM1OFrXAExMQyaCQpmaksTO_AI2lnqb8B7DWNEzsNyOjV3vTwIl16JdjB-U/s1600/Peppers+for+Pep!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_REb3cQ6NTgKFwytCMsKDLpeCjUEDUIglojmazfsM92bA-zyQem7f0eI8gDv8iAKO5Dtvn7y-yNrCwkaFwM1OFrXAExMQyaCQpmaksTO_AI2lnqb8B7DWNEzsNyOjV3vTwIl16JdjB-U/s1600/Peppers+for+Pep!.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I'm putting this in the "Printable" tab up top ^^ for your use and linking it right >> here << . { If I could figure out how to make an Excel worksheet into an image I'd insert it--and I just might do that (check the bottom of this article for updates). } Anyway---I might not leave it posted forever, so print or save it now while you have the time/chance. Feel free to share and use whenever you go shopping! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The first ten foods on the list are considered to be the Top 10 Healthiest Foods*. They are or may have/be . . . </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR06YDaPgf5gf9CgLymPJnFp_4MUtC71C6GrHBhlmtgs9q3Pox27G8xLe1tqP0DnaZFDhNSuxhUii_hD11zy2fttlBtF0QSz44zaaUi2yaCV31MyHlHHfwbr2AGFvE7FpafzaAWEsptII/s1600/Strawberries+for+Healthy+Living.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></a>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR06YDaPgf5gf9CgLymPJnFp_4MUtC71C6GrHBhlmtgs9q3Pox27G8xLe1tqP0DnaZFDhNSuxhUii_hD11zy2fttlBtF0QSz44zaaUi2yaCV31MyHlHHfwbr2AGFvE7FpafzaAWEsptII/s1600/Strawberries+for+Healthy+Living.JPG" width="149" /></div>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">good/excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, minerals, nutrients </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">high in phytonutrients & anti-oxidant compounds (Vit A & E & beta carotene)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">low in calorie density = larger portion/fewer calories</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">readily available</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions</span></li>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">*this info came from our health insurer's monthly newsletter (circa 2009) - remember I mentioned I clip magazine articles? Franciscan-Skemp Hospital, La Crosse WI</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The second part of the list includes seasonings or sauces that help to jump-start your metabolism--so don't forget to spice things up a bit! That list came from our Biggest Loser group facilitator.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Then you'll find the "<a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_30.html" target="_blank">Healthy Eating Shopping List</a>." Cut this part off and laminate it to keep with your shopping coupons as a REMINDER of what to put in your shopping cart--prevent last minute shopping brain strain! I compiled this list over several years and from sources that are lost to the mists of antiquity! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Last but not least ... some words of wisdom about "food" from the ultimate source of wisdom: God's Word. These are all from the Old Testament book of Proverbs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>[S]he who works [her] land </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>will have abundant food. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">12:11</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Do not love sleep </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>or you will grow poor;</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>stay awake </i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">and </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">you will have food to spare!</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">20:13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>In the house of the wise </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>are stores of choice food and oil.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">21:20a</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>[The wife of noble character] </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>brings her food from afar...</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>She gets up while it is still dark</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>and provides food for her family.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">31: 14 & 15</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you loved this article ... you might also like these:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/06/snack-time-caramel-apples-dip.html">Apples & Dip</a> <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-much-can-you-get-done-in-2-minutes.html">Challenging Yourself</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgFSizukCakrdXkO1Y-38fZ5XxXcOAAxLCnRHRPFDN5av6nos1EyV2z0VqBSrCCtZHqiwYIyNpGowVAP33lCSdifY6KYBso93F6XlHnDjeOMMmWBNSqLyxcEH3ab9bxtDE6-fzVihhSE/s1600/Hey+Friend!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgFSizukCakrdXkO1Y-38fZ5XxXcOAAxLCnRHRPFDN5av6nos1EyV2z0VqBSrCCtZHqiwYIyNpGowVAP33lCSdifY6KYBso93F6XlHnDjeOMMmWBNSqLyxcEH3ab9bxtDE6-fzVihhSE/s1600/Hey+Friend!.jpg" width="172" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Are you a Titus Two Friend?</b></span><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: right;">Deb Hofland is a Christian wife of many years</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i>and a mother to seven ... laughing at the days to come! </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i> She loves encouraging young women and </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i>sharing her love for the Lord.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i> When she's not writing Titus Two Friends blog
articles, </i></div>
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<i>you'll find her quilting, crocheting, sketching </i></div>
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<i>or dabbling with flowers and photography. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Connect with her on </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Titus2Friends">Twitter,</a> <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/titustwofriends/">Pinterest</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/titus_two_friends">Instagram</a>, too!</i></div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-20319945742919830162015-03-23T18:54:00.000-04:002015-03-23T18:54:00.050-04:00Snow Day Biscuits: A Mixture of ThoughtsToday was a snow day for most of the schools in eastern MN and western WI--I'm sure the last one of the season. At least I hope I'm sure of that! Hmmm...the weather report doesn't sound promising for the next few days: freezing rain, possibly more snow, and then MAYBE this mess will melt and we'll be into spring. <br />
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I work at a Christian elementary school and at the church as the administrative assistant; I've only worked there since late October 2014, and I loved it right from the start. Of course, I work at home, too, as the supervisor of domestic operations. It's a job I love and have enjoyed nearly every day of my (so far) 36+ years of marriage.<br /><br />But today was a snow day, so I stayed home. What a treat! <br />
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I spent the whole morning puttering around the house tweaking things, putting up the last few wall things, and digging through the old trunk where all the doilies are laid out in lacy perfection. <br />
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And I just now finished making a batch of Quick Mix. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUxVAxKLSBfH1Ma-kwbVoKYbnRFHo_lpMmmPIEx1nHxBqERGWMUu2BH1OO3UQLs0LovfvAtQS-rhOhGEi_ZbHWsfuDGIJfa8SUArpOWLmelBdSKp5B1aJvNiT-cpqDyVQERq7K4wPPGE/s1600/Making+Quick+Mix+is+a+snap!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUxVAxKLSBfH1Ma-kwbVoKYbnRFHo_lpMmmPIEx1nHxBqERGWMUu2BH1OO3UQLs0LovfvAtQS-rhOhGEi_ZbHWsfuDGIJfa8SUArpOWLmelBdSKp5B1aJvNiT-cpqDyVQERq7K4wPPGE/s1600/Making+Quick+Mix+is+a+snap!.jpg" height="320" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to make Quick Mix!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc1giv8e9gySSgHAuGKT_4RO_4S2SSrcrr1e0Ktz0kVFNjJn-v6dpFwwCz8XnEgr0BoZG3xSVpTepaorHAU3uPnE-JWVCQoDdwVOnsjQhRpxVOAqoVj6IUy-F2kfehV0ZOnLTUturBP8/s1600/Dry+ingredients+and+shortening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc1giv8e9gySSgHAuGKT_4RO_4S2SSrcrr1e0Ktz0kVFNjJn-v6dpFwwCz8XnEgr0BoZG3xSVpTepaorHAU3uPnE-JWVCQoDdwVOnsjQhRpxVOAqoVj6IUy-F2kfehV0ZOnLTUturBP8/s1600/Dry+ingredients+and+shortening.jpg" height="320" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry ingredients & shortening</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc96t3V_Xprx09juoNoOlHVHV0Vw6mjRyeg2g82_Vm5XmBhyphenhyphenfiAoSyeAtyKBr_AbBrIzXLz2Q64T2DcLbkCiBO-2ptRyASOJ8FIXCtLhJ4GmSdFb1KyJUtQgULy9JH8T2DZ4w0k5xY1I/s1600/Cutting+in+the+Shortening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc96t3V_Xprx09juoNoOlHVHV0Vw6mjRyeg2g82_Vm5XmBhyphenhyphenfiAoSyeAtyKBr_AbBrIzXLz2Q64T2DcLbkCiBO-2ptRyASOJ8FIXCtLhJ4GmSdFb1KyJUtQgULy9JH8T2DZ4w0k5xY1I/s1600/Cutting+in+the+Shortening.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting in the shortening</td></tr>
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<br />The mix is easy to make and much nicer than store-bought! This is enough to fill a gallon jar. <br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">This is the frugal homemaker's version of Bisquick. I've been using this mix for years (three decades!) to make quick biscuits for strawberry shortcakes and chicken & dumplings. Dear daughter makes cheesy biscuits (the kind you get at Red Lobster!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These recipes come from the "Make A Mix" cookbook by HP Publishing, c1978. I've found several of these large, old paperbacks at secondhand stores. You can find them on-line, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWoHlXTqfo9MMQgH3rcO0lrfb9iDnupQXecoP7n-GQ7lheQXwmTym4ay45BWQlwAyo1pgXm3TZ4X6kT9dEp839DdD-FACeoBTLqyql1XuTN3Kwx6G39UUZDbClXShJayDtMnhLdNVPkk/s1600/Quick+Mix+ready-to-go+and+just+a+bit+of+a+mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWoHlXTqfo9MMQgH3rcO0lrfb9iDnupQXecoP7n-GQ7lheQXwmTym4ay45BWQlwAyo1pgXm3TZ4X6kT9dEp839DdD-FACeoBTLqyql1XuTN3Kwx6G39UUZDbClXShJayDtMnhLdNVPkk/s1600/Quick+Mix+ready-to-go+and+just+a+bit+of+a+mess.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only messy part is putting it in the jar!</td></tr>
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<b>QUICK MIX FOR FRUGAL HOMEMAKERS</b><br /><br />8 1/2 C. flour<br />3 T. baking powder<br />
1 T. salt<br />
2 tsp cream of tartar<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1 1/2 C. powdered/dry milk<br />
2 1/4 C. shortening<br /><br />In a large bowl, sift all the dry ingredients OR dump dry ingredients in bowl and whip with a whisk to fluff it up. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the shortening until it resembles coarse crumbles. Spoon into a large jar with a tight-fitting lid. Makes about 13 cups dry mix. <br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now...here's the BEST part.....the recipes that use the Quick Mix!</span><br />
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<br /><b>DROP BISCUITS</b><br /><br />3 C. Quick Mix<br />
3/4 C. milk or water<br /><br />Preheat oven to 450; grease a baking sheet (drop biscuits only). Combine mix and liquid; stir ONLY until liquid is blended -- do not over-stir. * Drop by large spoonfuls onto prepped pan--12 lumps. Smooth the tops a bit so there aren't any pokey pieces sticking up (they burn). Bake for about 10 minutes until the tops are golden brown. <br />
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<b><i><u>Variations:</u></i></b><br />
<b>Cheesy Biscuits</b>: Add 1/2 C. grated sharp Cheddar. <br /><b>Dumplings:</b> Make as directed but drop the biscuits (carefully!) into a pot of boiling soup or stew -- cook 10 minutes UNcovered; then cover & cook 10 more minutes.<br /><b>Citrus Biscuits:</b> Wash an orange and a lemon, then add the zest to the dry Quick Mix, replace part of the liquid with orange juice; then add the liquid to the dry ingreds and bake as usual. <br />
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<br /><b>ROLLED BISCUITS</b><br />
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3 C. Quick Mix<br />2/3 C. milk or water<br />
<br />
Proceed as above to the *. Let dough sit for five minutes (don't skip this step). On a lightly floured countertop, knead dough about 15 times, then roll to 1/2-inch thickness. Use a floured biscuit cutter to make 12 biscuits. Place them on an UN-greased/buttered pan; bake for 10-12 minutes (golden brown).<br /><br /><b><i><u>Variations</u></i></b>:<br /><b>Cinnamon Biscuits</b>: brush rolled dough with butter, sprinkle with brown sugar & cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll fashion, then slice into 1/2-inch slices. Bake 10-15 minutes. Glaze<br /><b>Pizza Rolls:</b> Divide dough and make two "pizza" crusts. Top with your fave pizza toppings.<br /><b>Pot Pie</b>: Use as a top crust for your fave meat or chicken pot pie.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><b>BREAD STICKS</b><br /><br />1 C. Quick Mix<br />1/4 C. cornmeal or flour<br />1/4 tsp salt<br />1/4 C. milk<br />Seasoning<br /><br />Preheat oven to 400; lightly grease a baking pan. Combine Quick Mix, meal/flour and salt. Add liquid to form a dough. Knead about 12 times until dough is smooth. Divide dough into 6-8 chunks; roll out and transfer to prepped baking sheet. Bake about 15 minutes (longer if you like them brown & crispy). <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<br /><br />
<b>SHORTCAKES</b><br /><br />3 C. Quick Mix<br />2 T. sugar<br />
1/4 C. butter, melted<br />1/2 C. milk or water<br />1 egg, beaten<br /><br />Preheat oven to 400; set aside an UNbuttered baking pan. Combine mix and sugar. In a small bowl, combine liquids and egg. Add to dry ingreds, stir with a fork until barely moistened. On a floured countertop, knead 8-10 times then roll out to 1/2-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter to make biscuits. Bake for 10 minutes (golden brown). Cool<br /><br />Top with sliced strawberries (add about a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar for a really neat flavor!) or blue- or black- or raspberries that have been LIGHTLY macerated (that is very lightly mashed) with a few teaspoons of sugar. Add a dollop of home-whipped & sweetened cream. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<br /><b>INDIAN FRY BREAD</b><br /><br />oil for frying (start heating right away)<br />1 C. Quick Mix<br />
1/2 C. flour<br />1/4 tsp salt<br />1/3 C. milk or water (scant)<br /><br />Heat oil to 375* in a deep skillet. Combine dry ingredients. Mix well, then add enough liquid to make a soft dough then knead it 10-12 times. Divide into 8 balls, roll each out to about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut in half, then dip into hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes until brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve IMMEDIATELY. Great with homemade chili spooned over the top or for a different kind of taco salad (tear bread into bite-sized pieces, add lettuce and all the taco fixings you usually enjoy). <br />
<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
There! </div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that hits the spot at dinner the way it does around here. </span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlxl2S0HZuQVpUM4jzKFg5FngKO4k1H8EAWtLS0k7wNboooAvT7mD-IV7UhuktXW1BvMTz5m5LoIQrNAUxuI9XBVDeTVH1dXk_BLxUpSColYdWwEfn7CTncD5mGlaFhyphenhyphenvM1DxvdVdR6E/s1600/Quick+Mix+for+frugal+homemakers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlxl2S0HZuQVpUM4jzKFg5FngKO4k1H8EAWtLS0k7wNboooAvT7mD-IV7UhuktXW1BvMTz5m5LoIQrNAUxuI9XBVDeTVH1dXk_BLxUpSColYdWwEfn7CTncD5mGlaFhyphenhyphenvM1DxvdVdR6E/s1600/Quick+Mix+for+frugal+homemakers.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick Mix for Frugal Homemakers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For just a few minutes' work, I've just made about six dinners or side-dishes (depending what I make). I like making things from scratch. And I like the feeling of thriftiness that comes from making things myself and experimenting with old recipes to give them a new twist. <br /><br />I think King Lemuel's mother would approve. She told her son what kind of woman to marry in her famous description of a godly wife called "<i><b>The Wife Of Noble Character</b></i>" .... in these verses from Proverbs 31:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The wife of noble character .... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sees that her trading is profitable; her lamp does not go out at night,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
can laugh at the days to come ....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
watches over the affairs of her household,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
doesn't eat the bread of idleness.</div>
</span><br />
<br /><br /><br /><br />
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<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-15831449982181909372015-03-11T11:30:00.000-04:002015-03-11T11:30:02.350-04:00Two Things About Life and Your Legacy<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
While going through my recent bout with ovarian cancer, I spent many moments thinking about our friend Job. And what-all he went through all because
Satan was jealous of Job’s love for God. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Job inspires most Christians. We sit back and discuss his patience. And –oh
my!—his faithfulness! He's a remarkable person. All his friends blame him for what's happened. Even his wife gives up. He’s
alone in the fight. His only comfort is
a broken piece of pottery to scratch his itchy skin.<br />
<br />
But LOOK at the ripples on the pond of Job’s life! He lived THOUSANDS of years ago, and we are
STILL looking at his example of trusting in God—no matter what!<br />
<br />
Another person worthy of consideration is Uncle Mordecai. His niece/cousin Esther (queen of Persia) is nervous and waffling on her duties and M says, “how
do you know that God didn’t put you here at just this time for this exact
reason?” Obviously Mordecai is aware of God working in the lives of the Hebrews. <br />
<br />
And King David—hunted down by his predecessor or later on when his son attempts
a coup—writes psalms crying out to God, wondering if God can (or will) hear his
cries for mercy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1opIrkvaDS9Xaa0YwYxnFG-kp25b-hhW9tr7jjCaHzN-M5iTn2l34isL5WsP_QgStXLtN7ttvnLIbmSunKye_hL1iv-kGRkXG2GexOla2TknncbCYSwEBsssf0F3y2aq_nME9baStNA/s1600/Ripples+on+the+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1opIrkvaDS9Xaa0YwYxnFG-kp25b-hhW9tr7jjCaHzN-M5iTn2l34isL5WsP_QgStXLtN7ttvnLIbmSunKye_hL1iv-kGRkXG2GexOla2TknncbCYSwEBsssf0F3y2aq_nME9baStNA/s1600/Ripples+on+the+Pond.jpg" height="188" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripples into Eternity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I used to say I was glad that my life was so unremarkable that it would
never be recorded in a book like the Bible, where millennia later people would
be dissecting my words and actions the way we do the patriarchs. <br />
<br />
And then I catch myself, because there ARE ripples on the pond of my life that
will (I hope!) go out forever into eternity.
<br />
<br />
How do I know that I’m not just like Esther and that God has given me this
cancer for “such a time as this.” I don’t
know God’s purpose in this.<br />
<br />
I don’t know what it’s like to have a king put a price on my head and be hunted
down like a rabbit, like our brother King David. But
as surely as he wondered, so have I: <br />
<i> “Are
you there, God? Did you hear my cry for
mercy?"</i> <br />
<i> “Of course You heard me, because You're God
and You know my thoughts." </i> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And
that's followed by a sigh of relief, <i>"I know that You have me in the palm
of Your almighty hand."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I’m so thankful God prompted David to write his psalms and also that He's gifted me with the ability (and desire) to write, too, for certainly reading how others have handled stress and challenges encourages others, too. May God use my words to bring hope and balm to your soul, too. <br />
<br />
I want to point other people to Jesus.
Through my words and actions.
And boy, that isn’t really very difficult when thing are going along
swimmingly.<br />
<br />
The true test is in the battle. And
then you have to really suck it up. I
mean, a battle for your faith. Like kill
or be killed. Because that is essentially what Satan is after. He wants to kill your love for the Lord and
take your soul eternally—prisoner. <br />
<br />
This is life or death. Satan's in it to win it. He's putting everything he has into making you his eternal prisoner. A temptation here. A slippery slope there. Doubts. Aspersions. Beckoning.<br />
<br />
Well, not this girl. <br />
<br />
Some years ago, I commented to my Sunday School class and held up the Bible: “these were real
people.” Look around boys and girls: they were flesh and blood like you and me. They laughed and cried, cuddled with their spouse, got fed up with naughty children and irritated by slackers. <br />
<br />
Real people. On display for eternity. The foibles. The false starts. The stupid choices.<br />
<br />
So think about that for a second. Jacob—four
wives—12 sons and a daughter. Think
there was some household fighting going on?
Real people. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And David. Sure, the dude could write some awesome
poetry, but come on: he’s a class one
adulterer, conspired to kill his lover’s husband, had a son committing incest
and another son committing fratricide and another son leading a coup for David’s
kingdom. And an infant son who died not
long after birth. Real people. Real heart aches. <br />
<br />
Our friend Job and his un-named wife. They had 10
children. Each one dear to their parents in ways we can surely understand. Every one of them. Wiped away in one day. Nothing in my family laundry can compare
with the agony that must’ve been to Job and Mrs. Job. Her sorrow must've been overwhelming! “Curse God and die.” Those were children she had surely nursed and
changed diapers; I used to think she was just a heartless witch to say such a
thing to her hubby, but she’s a real woman, her heart had to be broken. We can’t imagine losing ONE child, and they
lost all ten—in one day. How do you deal with pain like that?<br />
<br />
And yet these people—their lives, their foibles, their sins—held up to us many
millennia later. And how they handled
these sorrows and aches and stupid choices inspire us one way or another and
give us hope and help us SEE GOD’s mercy and love for us.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
How does my life stack up? What if people a thousand years from now read about me the way we do about Bible people, and they were discussing how I walked through this valley of cancer? Will they consider me an example of unswerving faith in God's goodness? Or will they shake their heads in disgust at my pathetic fear and worry?<br />
<br />
My life IS a book to my family and friends: they read me as surely as we read about Tamar or Rahab or Bathsheba. Surely there are people in my life who are
affected by the choices I’m making in how I handle myself through this
cancer-journey I’m on. They notice if I do or don't trust God as the source of my hope. My life is an example to them. It's quite easy to mouth the words "I trust in God"--it's quite another thing altogether to actually LIVE like you believe what you say. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I know that God has a plan for my life, and it has boggled my mind to
think of the Creator of the Universe is using me for some part of His
plan. Me? Little ol' me? No kidding:
a friend wrote a short message when I was first diagnosed; she said, </div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i>"Deb, THIS is a part of God's plan for your life."</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
If that doesn’t stop you in your tracks—nothing will. It sure did for me. Wait. A. Minute. THIS is part of God’s plan? CANCER? <br />
<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>"Oh but Deb, trust Me.” </i><br />
Over and over in the Scriptures God says this to His children. And we modern-day Christians shake our head in disbelief at their stubborn refusal to do so. How could these ancient Hebrews witness the parting of the Red Sea, walk through there while it was held back (for petesake!!!), watch the sea close over Pharaoh's army a few minutes later and then a couple days later whine and moan about cucumbers and onions back in Egypt where they lived in slavery? <br />
<br />
Hovering overhead is the pillar of cloud and fire. God's visible presence. Should've been reassuring to them and a CONSTANT reminder of Him. Right. There. And yet they complained.<br />
<br />
And I've thought pretty high thoughts about myself. "Well, I would NEVER be so dumb. If I saw the Red Sea part like that, I would for sure be thankful and NEVER complain ever again."<br />
<br />
Oh really?<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Would you stop and think about that for a second. We always (!!) think when bad things, this couldn't
POSSIBLY be part of our Lord's plan, that somehow God let things slip up when
(after all) we had this hand-shake contract (ie, “I’ll believe in You, God and
You’ll just only send really great things my way = money, success, no problems,
etc”)—what? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
ALL THINGS HAPPEN . . . ALL.
ALL. ALL. All things happen for the good { Good Good
Good } of those who love Him who have been called according to His marvelous
plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
God says, <i>"My dear child, this is good for my plan, let Me take
care of this." </i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
On those nights when my legs were aching and twitching in pain, I
thought of our friend Job. And I. Was.
Refreshed. I was refreshed by HIS
STRUGGLE. By his FAITHFULNESS. <br />
<br />
Cool. Job's faithfulness helped me. But never forget Job--a real man, a father, a husband--lived through the real agony of losing everyone and everything. Do not for a second think it was easy just because his faith remained strong. He hurt. His spirit was crushed. He loved those kids!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Here I was whining because of some pains in my legs THAT I KNEW (!!!)
was short-lived (that evening and maybe the next). And here was our friend
Job....his children DIED!!! My pain,
lasting a few HOURS, compared to that?
What did I (really?) have to complain about? It seemed so small in comparison.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And THEN . . . . heart-stopper . . . . then I thought of JESUS. He was completely innocent. Separated from his Heavenly Father and the
glories of heaven, come to Earth--because of Me and my selfish, sinful
choices!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
How could I even THINK of complaining in the face of those facts? If
Jesus didn't curse his accusers or the soldiers nailing him to the cross--and
he was completely innocent of any wrong-doing--how in the WORLD could I lay
around and whine about anything? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Not that suffering is fun or thrilling or in any way/shape/form
something I want to go through again (ever!), but when I think of what Jesus
did FOR ME—well, this is where Paul says “consider it pure joy….” that I have a Savior who loves me that
much. <br />
<br />
TWO THINGS FOR CONSIDERATION:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
1) Having a c-a-n-c-e-r diagnosis made me pause and evaluate how I'm spending my time, where I'm putting my effort. Suppose I only had five years left? Or a year? What do I want to spend my time doing? What is the best for God's kingdom? Does it bring glory to God when I write on my blog? I'd like to think so, but really: I don’t know. Is there any value in these articles I
post? So, please, let me know.<br />
<br />
2) The other thing is that I want to encourage you to make a conscious and
well-thought out effort to consider the legacy you are leaving behind
someday. Will the ripples of your life
make a difference the way King David has every time we read the psalms? The way Paul does whenever we read the
epistles? The way Tabitha/Dorcas did when she made coats
for the poor?
<br />
Ripples don’t happen on their own.<br />
<br />
Get out there. Get in the water. Splash. Dive in!
Or stand on shore and throw
stones into the water. But start DOING
something. You can’t make ripples on a
pond without stirring up the water. Some
way. Some how. <br />
<br />
Go! Share your life and while doing so,
share your faith. <br />
<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijauSRC4tNiJlmC1yWMuJu60sFOQir-pylCqSbWlgmFVHGwsDPHUTYLIztoK2q5KpMtJbNMX8hKklawcIjDmeZD1CV7mjJt3ItrpgK5yPLewestiyWJeWPe0nSlpFQvArEHOtbvJXU5_w/s1600/My+Life+is+a+Pond+and+Look+At+The+Ripples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijauSRC4tNiJlmC1yWMuJu60sFOQir-pylCqSbWlgmFVHGwsDPHUTYLIztoK2q5KpMtJbNMX8hKklawcIjDmeZD1CV7mjJt3ItrpgK5yPLewestiyWJeWPe0nSlpFQvArEHOtbvJXU5_w/s1600/My+Life+is+a+Pond+and+Look+At+The+Ripples.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add some ripples that bring glory to God!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-77297315082471268832014-12-09T11:00:00.000-05:002014-12-09T11:00:06.893-05:00Year in Review<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<b><i>How's your year been going? </i></b> That was the question a friend recently posed to our homeschooling group. That got me thinking about how we set priorities. New year. New calendar. Time to plan. Make changes. <br /><br />Here's my answer. Granted. It gets a bit preachy at the end, but consider it as mentor-y. Because that's what I do.<i class="_4-k1 img sp_t-8-gleovb7 sx_53eedd" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yv/r/nYbXUeVDx2c.png); background-position: 0px -7999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"> </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG35tZJoEBHKhDY75zoHM2H4LtbwsEpam4Z4IERz7ebBPLzma8G-VzLxEbC4VedimMjpAGDcEUyOuKP3LJVIa08F-O50BWZIRHH9m25Jn1rbgcCifQ_boQ4_cIS726_2oxIeBN_urkZUY/s1600/Isaiah+40+v+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG35tZJoEBHKhDY75zoHM2H4LtbwsEpam4Z4IERz7ebBPLzma8G-VzLxEbC4VedimMjpAGDcEUyOuKP3LJVIa08F-O50BWZIRHH9m25Jn1rbgcCifQ_boQ4_cIS726_2oxIeBN_urkZUY/s1600/Isaiah+40+v+11.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A promise you can count on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">My YEAR? hohoHaHoHaHoHahahahahhaah!</i></div>
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<b>January 7</b> - hub tells me he wants to quit his job & move back to Midwest, become a truck driver</div>
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<b>Spring</b> - declutter the house; start job hunting & re-writing my resume - ugh.</div>
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<b>June </b>- graduate our youngest from homeschool high school</div>
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<b>July</b> - find a buyer for our house (four offers out of five showings), finalize the deal, inspections, packing in earnest</div>
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<b>August</b> - get the graduate ready for college, move all our household goods to storage in WI, move in with hub's sister in MN, drop DD at college & hub off to truck driver training in CO</div>
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<b>Sept</b> - continue job hunting & interviewing, gallivanting all over WI for interviews & visiting family; not feeling very good; stressed out with hub cross-country from me & DD at college, flying solo = ugh.</div>
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<b>October</b> - more interviews, but wait! What is this? A new job at the end of the month (yahoo!); hubby starts a local delivery truck position after other driving things in TX and WI fall through</div>
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<b>November</b> - house-hunting; the vague discomfort I've been feeling in my tummy graduates to being painful; turns out to be a gigantic tumor (large grapefruit size--no wonder I feel like I'm preggers!), a couple days later I have a 9-inch incision down my stomach, and it's ovarian cancer! And we're buying a house.</div>
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<b>December</b> - recuperating, waiting to start chemo in a few days, writing my Christmas card, looking at all our blessings; waiting for a closing date to get into our new home.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Yeah. That's our year in review. Not very homeschooler-y-ish, but perhaps a good "lesson."</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJYHBDL9zAGaNGpgNIqkRFd7oShNy1PCY1oZI4Wfcij4DYoyyPws8gDQBj1mEfzMvmj7jEdZDqDMfepwdEwPomH34l-XIAi0F91RY8dqNou_Wbg644JvcRUhT2d7MToow0CPSBiwE3sc/s1600/Wisdom+from+Proverbs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJYHBDL9zAGaNGpgNIqkRFd7oShNy1PCY1oZI4Wfcij4DYoyyPws8gDQBj1mEfzMvmj7jEdZDqDMfepwdEwPomH34l-XIAi0F91RY8dqNou_Wbg644JvcRUhT2d7MToow0CPSBiwE3sc/s1600/Wisdom+from+Proverbs.JPG" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wisdom from God's Word - guaranteed!</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">When I consider the many lessons I've taught over the years, along with the Bible studies and Bible WORD studies I've dived into....I am SO THANKFUL for knowing the Scriptures as they have provided me with SO. MUCH. COMFORT.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px;">Really. Comfort. The kind that ONLY God can give. </span><br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">"Praise be to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">the Father of compassion and the God of all COMFORT, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">who COMFORTS us in all our TROUBLES, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">so that we can COMFORT those in any TROUBLE with the </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">COMFORT we ourselves have received from God. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">so also through Christ our COMFORT overflows. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">If we are distressed, it is for your COMFORT and salvation; </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">if we are COMFORTED, it is for your COMFORT, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">And our hope for you is firm, because we know </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">that just as you share in our sufferings, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">so also you share in our COMFORT." </span></i><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div>
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2 Corinthians 1:3-7</div>
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So...ladies, my CHARGE TO YOU IS THIS: In the midst of your day--be sure (be SURE--yes, I'm YELLING that word at you) BE SURE to include Daily Bible Reading. For you. For your children.</div>
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I don't care HOW you manage it. But DO IT! </div>
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* * * * * * * * * *</div>
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Look DEEP into the Scriptures--more than just a quick overview or survey. Savor it.</div>
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With your children, strive to see the sweep of God's hand in history as you read the "history" books of the Old & New Testament, and how God has laid it all out--according to His plan. Strive to see the wisdom of His plans. Strive to see the blessings and the promises FOR YOU, for YOUR MARRIAGE, and YOUR CHILDREN. </div>
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So: <span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> FIND. A. WAY -- if it's not already part of your daily routine -- MAKE it a priority. </span><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">As a homeschooler, you can use it for spelling, grammar, handwriting and reading. And history. Poetry or literature. And rhetoric. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">You will NEVER EVER EVER regret the time you spend in God's Word.</span></div>
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That is a money-back guarantee.</div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-14596186143950461472014-07-20T12:30:00.000-04:002014-07-20T12:30:00.174-04:00Plans? God Has This One<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4BYTn_BTrnTTFjcrFjwZH3Us3VWmryegIhef0OrqXyq5tndOg5d4BmIC29LCOu81Ic0GGargBkcakKRmwhhr3OIQj66ovGafd8JsBahGZfzMkCpdsnL9h9AAyrVSHN7wGoi1aMKn1Q/s1600/IMG_7105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Let the earth praise the Lord!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4BYTn_BTrnTTFjcrFjwZH3Us3VWmryegIhef0OrqXyq5tndOg5d4BmIC29LCOu81Ic0GGargBkcakKRmwhhr3OIQj66ovGafd8JsBahGZfzMkCpdsnL9h9AAyrVSHN7wGoi1aMKn1Q/s1600/IMG_7105.JPG" height="400" title="God's creation - mountains & valleys" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God's country - mountains!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We serve a great God,
and it is always amazing to see His hand moving mountains in our
lives. His plans are incredible and I
stand (bow, kneel, grovel) in awe of what He can do. <br />
<br />
I told someone recently that although I'm teary-eyed over the impending departure of my college-bound daughter and our own cross-country move in another month (which means leaving so many dear friends), I am very excited to be standing on the
threshold of the open door before us.
What new things will God have waiting for us? New friends? New challenges? New experiences? How will He stretch us and use us and fashion
us? <br />
<br />And then to consider how God laid the groundwork for this moment--maybe an eon ago? For
me. For me? <br /><br />King David once said something like this: <i>"It’s just too amazing, mind-blowingly amazing, to think about.” </i> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(see note 1 below)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I get it--what David meant--because wrapping my head around this whole deal in my life today is just head-shakingly, speech-defyingly amazing. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">David had another one where he said something like: </span><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“What
am I? A worm of a man? I’m nothing, and yet God—who created this
whole universe and everything in it—God is thinking about me? He’s thinking about how much He wants to be
with me?” </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(see note 2 below)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NiJnSs-oln5Z_TrKsSo_d3gThb2srsIqFuOpFI1ZVfbALtzRjMcRwDNkcOXvEp2vW9cl_4SghUqSl2_jqk7C16vWihn8cJ7bmV81IBhWf_G1Hd1GStoXXxFs2XzXoQSyCLJU46y6OlE/s1600/IMG_7301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="He's in the tiny details, too" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NiJnSs-oln5Z_TrKsSo_d3gThb2srsIqFuOpFI1ZVfbALtzRjMcRwDNkcOXvEp2vW9cl_4SghUqSl2_jqk7C16vWihn8cJ7bmV81IBhWf_G1Hd1GStoXXxFs2XzXoQSyCLJU46y6OlE/s1600/IMG_7301.JPG" height="400" title="God's creation - flowers & photosynthesis" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of God's creations - flowers & photosynthesis!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br /></i>If God could figure out the physics of throwing the universe together (and He did!) and the chemistry to create flowers that function via photosynthesis, then <u>I trust</u> no matter what's going on in my life or yours, today or tomorrow, a year ago or a year yet to be, He has it <u>all</u> handled. </span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">No matter how "it" turns out. He's got it.<br /><br />Trust Him. He has this one.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>"For I know the plans I have for you,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>plans to prosper you & not to harm you,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>plans to give you hope & a future.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>THEN you will call upon Me</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>and come & pray to Me,</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>and I will listen to you.<br />You will seek Me AND find Me</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>when you seek Me with all your heart.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>I will be found by you."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><i><u>NOTE 1: David's words from Psalm 139:5-6, 14b</u></i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><i>"You hem me in--behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. </i><i>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.... </i><i>Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.</i></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><u>NOTE 2: David's words from Psalm 8:3-4</u><br />"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>~~~~~~~</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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If you liked this article, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
then you might also like this one on </div>
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<a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-is-he-dwelling-today.html">Earthy Aspects of Christ's Birth</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
or this one on <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-lifestyle-choice.html">Thankful Living (No Matter What)</a></div>
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~~~~~</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HGaN6qF-MOfhoom2qjBJcOqvYgLgDT9D8_DbYp94b_B5J4Pk5Gb6rZWDDIEV8IWg6AuoWDJFGwgdgi8P8mkqpRN3P8dT5c74FquX3L549cT94o5hRrYJDLctxzRCv-sJq0J038j4r4/s1600/Hey+Friend!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Titus Two Friends" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HGaN6qF-MOfhoom2qjBJcOqvYgLgDT9D8_DbYp94b_B5J4Pk5Gb6rZWDDIEV8IWg6AuoWDJFGwgdgi8P8mkqpRN3P8dT5c74FquX3L549cT94o5hRrYJDLctxzRCv-sJq0J038j4r4/s1600/Hey+Friend!.jpg" height="200" title="Greetings friend!" width="172" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Deb Hofland is a Christian
wife of 35+ years </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">and a mother to seven ... laughing at the days to come! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> She loves encouraging </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">young women and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">sharing her love for the Lord.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> When she's not writing Titus Two Friends blog articles, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">you'll find her quilting, crocheting, sketching </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">or dabbling with flowers and
photography. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Connect with her on </span></div>
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<!--[endif]-->Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-63006879836127344752014-06-30T11:59:00.000-04:002014-06-30T11:59:00.088-04:00Bible Time With God and The Baby<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWLgLFvvTsKR7P_Mst_K2uEg5lT1m46eiGMbpJj1QIzkc_3E2_xPMl-UIAHmm9lAcXcgz-S-o3x4ilE0fL4hb5MnvBm0mgDrwCx6nOZqVer4dnBb5vzPpEexnQevi1XML6nb3EXDwuVI/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWLgLFvvTsKR7P_Mst_K2uEg5lT1m46eiGMbpJj1QIzkc_3E2_xPMl-UIAHmm9lAcXcgz-S-o3x4ilE0fL4hb5MnvBm0mgDrwCx6nOZqVer4dnBb5vzPpEexnQevi1XML6nb3EXDwuVI/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deb & Baby K - ain't we cute?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Even with warnings that "things will change" once Baby arrives, there is nothing like on-the-job training to find out what It.Is.Really.Like. That cute little bundle is such a blessing, but my-oh-my there is just not enough time in the day to get stuff done. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Making dinner while holding a Baby should be an episode on </span><i style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Iron Chef </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">or on </span><i style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Chopped! </i><span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /><br />So the former routine of reading the Bible first thing every morning quickly becomes a thing of the past, a regret and a sigh. It's noon before you realize it, the breakfast bowls are still on the table, never mind even being carried over to the dishwasher! Plus. Hubby expects to eat dinner when he gets home and,<i> oh dear!, I forgot to take the meat out of the freezer when I thought of it while nursing the baby this morning</i>. ARrrgh! <br /><br /><i>SO!</i> The dream of being the perfect little Christian wife and mother, the happy home-maker who would keep a tidy & pretty house and make every meal from scratch and create some cute little craft projects in her spare time, maybe write a DIY blog while the Baby napped in the afterno------<i>screeeeeeech! </i></span></span><i style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> </i><br />
<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br />Of course, we certainly expected that things would change when Baby arrived. Like we're not going to get eight hours of sleep at night. And the diapers. And the laundry. But wow. We just don't expect things to change THIS MUCH! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Like doing everything one-handed. Like how TIME changes when you have a baby. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: #3f4549; font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">God doesn't expect us to neglect our children or husbands in order to study His Word. He also doesn't expect us to give up on spending time with Him either, but He *has* given us a job to do. We're wives. Mothers. Keepers at home. When we do the job He's given us, we're serving Him.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3f4549; font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">Review (for just a moment) these words from Titus.....they are your Marching Orders:</span><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">"Older women should train the younger women</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"> to love their husbands and children, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">to be self-controlled and pure, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">to be busy at home, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">to be kind, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">and to be subject to their husbands, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">so that no one will malign the Word of God."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br />Here are a few ideas I've figured out over the years.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">1 - This period of life is a "seasonal" thing. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">When you have wee ones at the breast and under-foot, your challenge is different than it is when they are older and more inclined to want to stay in bed half the morning! So. <b>You must adapt. </b> That is, adapt your schedule. Adapt your expectations. <br /><br />2 - Consider that NOW <b>your role has changed</b> from "student" to teacher, from eater to feeder. Of course you will ALWAYS be a student of God's Word and will ALWAYS be sitting at Christ's feet. However. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Instead of moaning over <u>missing out</u> on quiet time with the LORD, consider that reading a Bible story from the Old or New Testament OR sharing a simple devotion with one or two Bible passages is EXACTLY what your children need. When you teach someone else, you learn more than your students. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br />3 - <b>Lead by example</b>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">When I taught third & fourth grades, it was standard practice to encourage parents to model reading at home: studies show that children of readers become readers. Doesn't matter if it's a book, newspaper or magazine--as long as the parent gets engrossed (you'd say something like, <i>"Oohh, I'm at the good part, can you wait a second?"</i>), the child most likely will see the benefits and want to copy her parents. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">I'm convinced the same is true of Bible reading: if your children (from tiny on) see you eager and excited to read God's Word ("<i>can't get enough!"</i>), they will soon be doing the same thing. Little ones are very QUICK to copy their parents! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">First thing in the morning, read with your children. Last thing at night, say prayers with them. You are creating life-long habits. <br /><br />4 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><b>Change your thinking </b>about what you're satisfied with when you DO get to sit down and read or study God's Word. Instead of regretting you didn't get to read/study for an hour, be thankful you got one minute! Besides: even just short passages are beneficial; remember, the LORD tells us <i>"My Word will not return to Me empty."</i> Your whole perspective changes when you read with and to your children. Passages and concepts that you NEVER noticed before will POP (!!!) off the page at you. Studying or reading for one minute is better than no minutes! Be GLAD for what you DO get to munch on each day.<br /><br />Sign up for <a href="http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Bible Love Notes</a> - seriously, they're ONE MINUTE long to read...but they are spot-on and so uplifting! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ETPpOnhg1KQ_pk9dtyDKq5qTqKLQkvbT_lOxzvMDTGaWi3gKpA48Rq2BDMl_riVh5yvy0ytkkX48ZewPxJZlXszV8MqQT3H52CUABMQRaCn9PvaXEMxffARL5huWkaTJFsI_cDuSY6o/s1600/IMG_6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ETPpOnhg1KQ_pk9dtyDKq5qTqKLQkvbT_lOxzvMDTGaWi3gKpA48Rq2BDMl_riVh5yvy0ytkkX48ZewPxJZlXszV8MqQT3H52CUABMQRaCn9PvaXEMxffARL5huWkaTJFsI_cDuSY6o/s1600/IMG_6200.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my sketches - shared on TTF Bible Reading Buddies</td></tr>
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<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">5 - Wolves don't eat three meals a day. But, whoooo! when they DO make a kill, look out (!)--they chow down on a banquet. <i>Eat up, Junior, we don't know when we're gonna eat again! </i>Gut-busting FULL from that one meal. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">So, too, when the chance presents itself in your day (or maybe only once a week); <b>gorge yourself </b>on God's Word when you can and then mull it over and over all week long. And realize = you might be on this kind of diet for a few years. But don't worry--there will be time later for lingering and leisurely lounging through God's Word. But for now....<b>make do with what you get</b>! <br /><br />Yes, it's good to have priorities, and most days--as the children get older--you will find a way to work it into your routine. But when the schedule gets sacked, be GLAD you've committed a few passages to memory--and feast or nibble on those!<br /><br />6 - <b>Hook up with like-minded friends</b> on Facebook or via email or real life (imagine that!). Agree to send each other timely Bible passages, share what you HAVE had time to read, and encourage one another. I have a Facebook group for just this purpose (we're following a chronological reading plan through the Bible); click here if you'd like to join us: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleReadingBuddiesTTF/">TTF Bible Reading Buddies</a> (TTF stands for Titus Two Friends). <br /><br />Encourage your sisters who aren't as far along the path as you are. Remember what it was like to be a new mom, tired and discouraged. And if you're the discouraged new mom....take heart--it is ONLY for a season. Smile and thank GOD for the sweet blessing in your arms. God will give you what you need--He says when we ask in His name, He hears us. <br /><br />7 -<b> Use the technology you have available</b>. Set up your smart-phone to send you daily Bible passages. Get one passage to come in about 1 minute after your alarm clock is set to start your day. Have another come in around lunch time. Another in the afternoon or evening. OR whatever time you seem to notice your need the spiritual snack. <br /><br />I don't have little kids, and these are such Day Boosters it always makes me reflect on my blessings. So. TREASURE those little tidbits. God is sending you JUST WHAT YOU NEED at that time. Soak it up. There are a ton of these apps available; here are the ones I like:</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youversion.com/" rel="nofollow">YouVersion</a><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-alert-daily-bible-verses/id416931540?mt=8" rel="nofollow">iTunes "Word Alert"</a><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daily-bible-inspirations/id494789758?mt=8" rel="nofollow">iTunes "Daily Bible Inspiration"</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">8 - <b>Treasure up God's Word in your heart. </b>Print uplifting Bible passages on card-stock and stick one on your bathroom mirror. Read it every morning, while you're brushing your teeth--let it set the tone for your day. While you're washing your hands later in the day, close your eyes and recite it to yourself. Just think: </span><i style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> God is with you. </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: Helvetica Neue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">Here is a list of </span></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2009/05/the-100-most-read-bible-verses-at-biblegatewaycom/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px; text-align: center;">100 Bible verses</a><span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px; text-align: center;"> that are worth printing and committing to memory. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r2DxqjyqsqCbJ89XyvDm1YjDuRnbLfQajItEKsB6WVpBkzdk83-0FtomOjCwknoIYxidTvwiMOOk06imxamwjNlcBAE71hTksHNcmMGsjXzvBmL_Lx49nITJ0BkJe07nM308mCGz4-M/s1600/IMG_6224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r2DxqjyqsqCbJ89XyvDm1YjDuRnbLfQajItEKsB6WVpBkzdk83-0FtomOjCwknoIYxidTvwiMOOk06imxamwjNlcBAE71hTksHNcmMGsjXzvBmL_Lx49nITJ0BkJe07nM308mCGz4-M/s1600/IMG_6224.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep! We just made YOU smile!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"> * * * * * * *<br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">Hopefully these ideas will help you put things into perspective for making time for Bible reading and caring for Baby without neglecting either one.</span><br />* * * * * * *<br /><br />If you liked this article, you might want to check out this one <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2013/09/time-passages-song-title-noun-and-verb.html">about Time & Priorities</a> or this one about <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-home-with-christ.html">Bible Time</a> with the family.</span><br style="color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4549; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;"><br /></span>Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-38001630412810535972014-06-23T13:00:00.000-04:002014-06-23T13:00:00.885-04:00Save the Towels! Save the Dishes!My mom "saves" the good kitchen towels for when "company" comes. <br /><br />For Christmas one year, I gave her a couple sets of new matching dish cloths, hand towels and hotpads--I was a young single woman just a few years out of high school, and I had ideas about how to spiff up Ma's farm kitchen. <br /><br />About 15 years later, I was digging through her towel drawer (again!) looking for one that wasn't so thin you could read a newspaper through it. Ah-ha! <i>The ones I gave her!</i> Still with their original creases--<i>oh, for pete-sake!!</i><br />
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"Ma! Why don't you use these?" I held them up, a bit incredulous and somewhat accusatory. <br />
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"I'm saving them for good," she explains as if I'm still three and gives me this look that says something. <i>Surely my education has been lacking if I don't know this already--and by that time I'd finished four years in the Air Force and had graduated from college with high honors as well! </i><br />
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"Oh, and are we not good enough to put them out?"<br />
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Her explanation, born from growing up during the Depression and WWII, I've heard before, certainly made sense back in the days when my five brothers and I and my dad were trucking in and out of the kitchen on our way to or from the barn and the outside chores. We didn't mean to, but eight pair of hands can turn a clean towel dirty, soggy and unappealing in no time flat.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">. . . . . </span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MD5n4NkflAb6W4pwrKcJc8bpZlEc7e062hmcmvRNW4aaYNJw2yTsxnsHZQ-DM6Dv3dUXD88VwMUSsSl2Yej6jzTmCxwRqdd6Y-3hqI8qJw75Ad-Gmojldi4HtdPyAxrNxkN3lJYW-wQ/s1600/Good+Dishes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MD5n4NkflAb6W4pwrKcJc8bpZlEc7e062hmcmvRNW4aaYNJw2yTsxnsHZQ-DM6Dv3dUXD88VwMUSsSl2Yej6jzTmCxwRqdd6Y-3hqI8qJw75Ad-Gmojldi4HtdPyAxrNxkN3lJYW-wQ/s1600/Good+Dishes.JPG" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "everyday" glasses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
She gave me the good china a few years back. I warned her that we would be "using" the good dishes--and not just for company but for <i>spatial</i> family dinners, too. <br />
<br />
"What if you break one of them?" she worried. I could almost detect her hands moving into a protective mode ready to take back the heavy box.<br />
<br />
"Well, then we break one and I'll be sad," <i> And I would be, because breaking a dish from someone special is like giving up a little piece of them!</i> "...but at least we're using them and enjoying them--much more than if they just take up space in a cupboard." <br />
<br />
She pauses and thinks about this new-fangled notion. But not convinced.<br />
<br />
"And I'll think about you and Gramma every time I pull them out." <i>And I mean it. Sincerely. </i><br />
<br />
"Oh, well. Then I guess it's okay." <br />
<br />
Oh, well, then I guess I passed that test.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>. . . . . . . </b></span></div>
<br />
My 2nd brother once wrote how our generation was <i>standing on the shoulders of giants; </i>how we benefit from the sacrifices our parents and grand- & great-grandparents made, and what a sure and solid and steady foundation they've given us. <br />
<br />
I've always liked that analogy; it reminds me of being a little girl, and that feeling of connection with the people whose warm hands picked me up and lifted me high into the air with a joyous bounce and a great big hug. <br /><br />A legacy and a heritage. What am I giving my children? What will they remember from their childhood and teen years? Who will I be to them? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rDLMeMwzTfsYXbqwtVMiRdT86Sl8dccnI5-nTQ6pjSaCZbOO5FKQ_MQpVqZVRIz_hpAuTwn1NJizqtB-Rm2nZhi7sYLdExY7FS9_rUz9_ngsLcLTj9C8Mq7ncyVEJA5ZyxAVdxG_-10/s1600/Let's+use+the+good+dishes!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rDLMeMwzTfsYXbqwtVMiRdT86Sl8dccnI5-nTQ6pjSaCZbOO5FKQ_MQpVqZVRIz_hpAuTwn1NJizqtB-Rm2nZhi7sYLdExY7FS9_rUz9_ngsLcLTj9C8Mq7ncyVEJA5ZyxAVdxG_-10/s1600/Let's+use+the+good+dishes!.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our generations: one down, one up - squeeze me in between!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We're eating off the good china and remembering dinners in Gramma and Grampa's kitchen, when (it seems) life was more carefree and the future stretched out into forever.<br />
<br />
And we'll use the "good" towels to clean up afterwards.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>He has given us ... an inheritance that can </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>never perish, spoil or fade--</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>kept in heaven for you....</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>Therefore, prepare your minds for action;</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>be self-controlled, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>set your hope fully on the grace </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>to be given you </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>when Jesus Christ is revealed.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>....Live your lives as </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>strangers here in reverent fear.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>For you know that it is not </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>with perishable things</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i> such as silver or gold that you were </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>redeemed from the empty way of life...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>but with the precious blood of Christ.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>....Always be prepared</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i> to give an answer to everyone </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>who asks you to give the </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>reason for the hope that you have...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i>1 Peter 1, 2 & 3 NIV<br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />You might like this post <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/07/just-picked-up-book-from-library-with.html">Motherhood 101</a> or this one <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-catchy-theme-teach-train-and-carry_14.html">Mothers of Giants</a> (I just realized how poorly titled most of my posts are--how do you like these new titles?) </i></span></div>
Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-22898821464236724932014-06-20T16:26:00.002-04:002014-06-21T12:03:41.581-04:00Snack Time! Apples & Dip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03vxBQ0MAGVe_wTq7oPT70B18ZfdGshPeQHGmV2m4o5mhDdia0aBTxt6d0HxJ-Yowa-yC77GNhAstHrBbLZfxfScISedwwrRg_xfBj-MJOOAtdGlZf00e5hwKerAeqwbVpXq9swIhCO8/s1600/Apple+Slices.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03vxBQ0MAGVe_wTq7oPT70B18ZfdGshPeQHGmV2m4o5mhDdia0aBTxt6d0HxJ-Yowa-yC77GNhAstHrBbLZfxfScISedwwrRg_xfBj-MJOOAtdGlZf00e5hwKerAeqwbVpXq9swIhCO8/s1600/Apple+Slices.JPG" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's a quick and easy recipe for summer-time--or really anytime you need a good treat! I used to make this all the time when my children were in 4-H ~ the kids would scarf this down in no time flat.<br />
<br />
Also great to take to church fellowship or potluck dinners! Makes a great treat for a lunch box or at a summer picnic in the park with the kids OR fancy enough to serve the ladies when you get together for Bible class.<br />
<br />
Cut up a mess of apples (that is: core & slice - leave the peel for more fibery-goodness!) and DO make a double batch of the dip. Seriously, just trust me on that. <br />
<br />
Also, this dip looks a LOT like those peanut butter dips, so I always make a little sign from a 3x5 card folded in half. Then diners or snackers with allergies are good-to-go and everyone is happy knowing they're getting a sweet treat!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sliced Apples and Caramel Apple Dip </span></b><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese (I use neufchatel, lower calories!)</li>
<li>1 C. brown sugar</li>
</ul>
<br />
Whatchewdoo:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUThy7oHEE2W3_glgZwDeZQqxzi2I36n47Z8mny11O3-2pgsthUx9pIXe0vxW3F2a1_Z0IFFkP9h5pUtna-L53_V3yXhbr5vWFe2W-18k6J9s1LzrYe3mfECa5nT1rMCWyUYwbCNvMdNE/s1600/IMG_6610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUThy7oHEE2W3_glgZwDeZQqxzi2I36n47Z8mny11O3-2pgsthUx9pIXe0vxW3F2a1_Z0IFFkP9h5pUtna-L53_V3yXhbr5vWFe2W-18k6J9s1LzrYe3mfECa5nT1rMCWyUYwbCNvMdNE/s1600/IMG_6610.JPG" height="200" width="148" /></a>1 - The cream cheese should be room temp/soft. <br />
<br />
2 - Dump softened cream cheese into your mixing bowl with beater; begin beating it.<br />
<br />
3 - Add the brown sugar and mix for about 3 minutes until well-blended (which means you won't see ANY sugar crystals); the mixture will be very smooth and fluffy.<br />
<br />
Serve with sliced apples or pears or chunks of banana or stalks of rhubarb (allow for double-dipping on individual plates/bowls!). >>>>><br />
<br />
The original recipe listed a dash of vanilla but we like to taste the brown sugar flavor! <br />
<br />
NOTE: I use a firm and tart apple (Braeburn, Cameo, Pink Lady) which is a nice contrast for the sweetness of the dip. My daughter likes this dip with Granny Smith's, too. Or mix Grannies with Red Delicious for a holiday buffet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>She watches over the affairs of her household</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>and does not eat the bread of idleness.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>Her children arise and call her blessed;</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>Her husband also, and he praises her:<br />"Many women do noble things,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><b>but you surpass them all!"</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Proverbs 31: 27-29 NIV</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_40ovbd_6kYowVQpF5ylcnY4_q2tN2O2rtbsBbtHJnhW_m5SFjQQ5pTeR6YgL0L98RL1QTv8GO6gYKM8q35gpvMB8xFNxt4_f8Fuz3sgyQASSH1gocvFelNo2dDqQQ5YfvgWx13HQGRs/s1600/Apples+Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_40ovbd_6kYowVQpF5ylcnY4_q2tN2O2rtbsBbtHJnhW_m5SFjQQ5pTeR6YgL0L98RL1QTv8GO6gYKM8q35gpvMB8xFNxt4_f8Fuz3sgyQASSH1gocvFelNo2dDqQQ5YfvgWx13HQGRs/s1600/Apples+Sliced.jpg" height="151" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a page you might enjoy featuring <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/p/kitchen-stuff.html">Kitchen Stuff!</a><br />
<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-1455594382477555522014-05-31T14:39:00.002-04:002014-05-31T14:39:48.762-04:00Project: Prompts for Prayers, Praises, Promises<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSDK_xo9H2UZBycvAFb3N_fF2x8lACpfAtkFHmMQ7gJc-dPiVMmsVlztADzRvwRdjUtAZ2vYHnZJ9XeYe-_yunhG9QT9i3VpCReBzGM2wB_GWpq0cz4b_abbflUeZ16EWmTDf_77jc5E/s1600/Praises+&+Prayers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSDK_xo9H2UZBycvAFb3N_fF2x8lACpfAtkFHmMQ7gJc-dPiVMmsVlztADzRvwRdjUtAZ2vYHnZJ9XeYe-_yunhG9QT9i3VpCReBzGM2wB_GWpq0cz4b_abbflUeZ16EWmTDf_77jc5E/s1600/Praises+&+Prayers.JPG" height="400" width="355" /></a>One of the GOOD things about down-sizing is the need to declutter one's belongings. The BAD thing about that project is that you have to go through everything with this suspicious look at everything you own and ask yourself: "Do you really wanna pack this up and move it {again}?" <br />I don't like the aspect of looking at my {our} stuff and wondering: "Is this worth packing?" It's like saying, was this ever worth the effort or money? Why did I keep this? Ugh.<br /><br />But today I came across a little bright spot in this down-sizing project on a shelf in my family room, next to my desk where I work and write. <br /><br />Back when my kids were small and we were homeschooling, we had this daily thing: family prayers and praises. {We still DO family prayers, just differently.} What I came across today was this little decorative box where I store all these little slips of prayer prompts.<br /><br />Our family used to dip into this box each evening, pull out a family member's name and one of the lilac ones, and that would be one of our prayers. After we were done with our evening devotion, the ones we just used would go into a little snack-size zipper bag; the box would get tucked away into the basket where our other devotional materials were stored in the living room.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You might also like these articles about </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/04/family-devotions-pray-for-me.html">f</a><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/05/blessings-prayers-quivers-oh-my.html">ulfilled prayers, </a> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-home-with-christ.html"><i>family devotions</i></a></span></div>
<br />I thought you, dear reader, would like to create something similar for your little family. <br /><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Prompts for Praises & Promises & Prayers</b></span><br />
<br />
<u>Whatcha Need</u>:<br />
A small box or basket or cookie tin <a href="http://www.lang.com/botanical-inspiration-decorative-boxes.html" rel="nofollow">(like this one from Lang.com)</a><br />
Scissors, to cut them apart after printing<br />
Colored paper or cardstock*<br />
A set of the prayers & praises prompts (see below)<br /><br />
*I made mine with two different paper colors: white for family members' names; lilac for general prayers. See this article for <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/04/family-devotions-pray-for-me.html">family & others to include</a><br />
<br />
<u>Whatcha Do</u>: <br />
Cut-n-paste this list into your word-processing program. I format mine to pile these into three columns on a page, and I like a larger font than the one on the blog. Then (here's the putzy part) I went through the list and added three or four spaces between each item. <br />
<br />
Print the list, then laminate (optional), cut down the columns first, then between each prompt. Dump them into your cookie tin, little box or basket. Stir them up a bit to mix them thoroughly (sounds like we're making cookies!). Add a little zipper bag and you're ready to go! <br />
<br />
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<ul>
<li>We praise You for every blessing. </li>
<li>We praise You for keeping Your promises.</li>
<li>We confess we are lost without You.</li>
<li>Have mercy on us.</li>
<li>Awaken us to the opportunities You give us to proclaim Your message of love.</li>
<li>Be gracious to all who are in trouble.</li>
<li>Be our comfort & hope.</li>
<li>Bless each of us.</li>
<li>Bless our family.</li>
<li>Bless our home.</li>
<li>Bless those who love us.</li>
<li>Bless those we love.</li>
<li>Bless our future spouses.</li>
<li>Bless our local township or village government.</li>
<li>Bless our county government.</li>
<li>Bless our state government.</li>
<li>Bless our national leaders.</li>
<li>Bless our federal government.</li>
<li>Bless our travels.</li>
<li>Bless our work.</li>
<li>Bless us abundantly.</li>
<li>Bless the fields with an abundant harvest.</li>
<li>Bless efforts of establishing peace so that the Gospel may flourish.</li>
<li>Bless our church with workers willing to proclaim Your Word.</li>
<li>Bring us to glory everlasting.</li>
<li>Bring us to heaven to stand in Your light and glory.</li>
<li>Cheer the discouraged.</li>
<li>Cheer the lonely with goodness.</li>
<li>Comfort the dying with Your presence.</li>
<li>Comfort the dying with hope of salvation.</li>
<li>Comfort those who mourn.</li>
<li>Continue to send Your holy angels to guard & protect our loved ones & us.</li>
<li>Defend us with Your mighty power.</li>
<li>Direct the eyes of Your people to Your son.</li>
<li>Direct our eyes to the skies to eagerly await Your return.</li>
<li>Enable our leaders to govern with wisdom, honesty, courage & justice.</li>
<li>Enable us to work for the common good.</li>
<li>Encourage the fearful.</li>
<li>Encourage believers who face ridicule and persecution.</li>
<li>Enlighten unbelievers.</li>
<li>Fill our lives with Your grace.</li>
<li>Fill our lives with Your peace.</li>
<li>Fill our lives with the message of Your peace.</li>
<li>Forgive us for our sins.</li>
<li>Free those deprived of their liberty.</li>
<li>Fulfill our desires according to Your wisdom.</li>
<li>Give children wisdom to regard parents as Your representatives.</li>
<li>Give courage to those who have lost heart.</li>
<li>Give Dad's boss a sense of fairness toward his workers.</li>
<li>Give Dad a sense of pride in his job.</li>
<li>Give hope to those in despair.</li>
<li>Give us parents who are committed to their families.</li>
<li>Give our pastor grace to reflect Your love.</li>
<li>Give our pastor grace to shepherd Your flock for deep concern.</li>
<li>Give strength to the weary.</li>
<li>Give success to students to read, think & communicate.</li>
<li>Give understanding and recovery to those who mourn.</li>
<li>Give us teachers and students who pursue truth and excellence.</li>
<li>Give us young people who are eager to follow in Your footsteps.</li>
<li>Give us occasions to serve and to be served.</li>
<li>Grant healing to the sick.</li>
<li>Grant prosperity to our endeavors.</li>
<li>Grant success to the spread of the Gospel.</li>
<li>Grant us civil servants worthy of honor & respect.</li>
<li>Guard us from calamities of nature & accident.</li>
<li>Guide us in the use of all You've entrusted to our care.</li>
<li>Heal the sick.</li>
<li>Hear our private petitions.</li>
<li>Hear us as we pray for ____ whose faith is weak.</li>
<li>Hear us as we pray for ____ who does not know You.</li>
<li>Hear the prayers of all who call on You.</li>
<li>Help me to be ____ (patient, joyful, hopeful, encouraging) to/with others.</li>
<li>Help children to show respect to their elders.</li>
<li>Help us to love others as You have loved us.</li>
<li>Help us to find satisfaction in a job well-done, to Your glory.</li>
<li>Help us keep Your name holy.</li>
<li>Help us see Your face in theirs!</li>
<li>Help us speak boldly the Good News to those walking in darkness.</li>
<li>Help us to faithfully do our work.</li>
<li>Help us in our work.</li>
<li>Help us focus our minds when we worship You.</li>
<li>Help us persevere to run the race You've marked out for us.</li>
<li>Help us to say uplifting things to others.</li>
<li>Help us conduct ourselves with gentleness.</li>
<li>Help us to be kind.</li>
<li>Help us to speak the truth in love.</li>
<li>Help us to keep our thoughts pure.</li>
<li>Help us to be self-controlled out of love for You.</li>
<li>Help us to deal tenderly with those around us.</li>
<li>Help us to use our blessings faithfully.</li>
<li>Help us to think thoughts that please You.</li>
<li>Help us to provide hospitality to reflect Your love.</li>
<li>Help us to rejoice in our blessings.</li>
<li>Invigorate our schools with Godly principals & superintendents.</li>
<li>Keep all your workers & their families in Your care.</li>
<li>Keep before us the vision of all the redeemed at Your throne.</li>
<li>Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.</li>
<li>Keep our economy strong.</li>
<li>Keep travelers safe.</li>
<li>Knit our lives together with love.</li>
<li>Lead our young adults to assume responsibility.</li>
<li>Lead us in thankful living.</li>
<li>Lead us to love one another.</li>
<li>Lead us to love one another as You have loved us.</li>
<li>Let me show high esteem for others by being punctual & timely.</li>
<li>Let me be enthusiastic in response to Your love.</li>
<li>Let me be joyful in my salvation.</li>
<li>Let me be a good steward of my time, talents & treasures.</li>
<li>Let our neighbors be cheerful.</li>
<li>Let us bring good news of hope to those around us.</li>
<li>Let us delight in Your cross and our Easter triumph!</li>
<li>Let Your kingdom come!</li>
<li>Let Your peace rule in our hearts.</li>
<li>Let your message of ____ be proclaimed in all the world (peace, love, gospel, hope)</li>
<li>Let the Good News of salvation be heard in the remotest corners of the Earth.</li>
<li>Listen to our cries for mercy.</li>
<li>Live in us that we may live in You.</li>
<li>Make us instruments of Your peace.</li>
<li>Make us willing to obey the law--all of them. </li>
<li>Move us to support missionaries with prayers and offerings.</li>
<li>Open our eyes to the beauty of Your world.</li>
<li>Open our eyes to see the opportunities all around us.</li>
<li>Open our lips to speak Your name to those around us.</li>
<li>Prosper the work of Your missionaries.</li>
<li>Send the Holy Spirit to show the Way to unbelievers.</li>
<li>Preserve our liberty.</li>
<li>Promote an honest and informed citizenry.</li>
<li>Protect those who serve in the military.</li>
<li>Protect those who are in combat.</li>
<li>Protect those who face enemies.</li>
<li>Protect those who protect us.</li>
<li>Remind us that what we see in the world tells us about You.</li>
<li>Remind us daily that nothing can separate us from You.</li>
<li>Restore our spirits each day as we serve others.</li>
<li>Restore our faith when we are weak.</li>
<li>Rouse us from spiritual apathy.</li>
<li>Send Your guardian angels to protect soldiers in battle.</li>
<li>Set our hearts on fire as we work for You.</li>
<li>Spare our land from disease & epidemic.</li>
<li>Spare us from the stress of deadlines.</li>
<li>Strengthen the faith of those being persecuted.</li>
<li>Strengthen the faith of the sick.</li>
<li>Strengthen the faith of the dying.</li>
<li>Strengthen our family.</li>
<li>Strengthen other families in our country.</li>
<li>Strengthen the homes of our nation.</li>
<li>Strengthen Your church in all the world.</li>
<li>Strengthen our determination to do what pleases You.</li>
<li>Strengthen believers to be firm in their faith.</li>
<li>Strengthen those who care for sick and dying, to bring the Gospel.</li>
<li>Sustain or faith when we are tired or crabby.</li>
<li>Sustain those who suffer pain.</li>
<li>Teach us to cast our worries & cares on You.</li>
<li>Teach us to trust in Your divine providence. Daily.</li>
<li>That Your kingdom may come!</li>
<li>Use our offerings to extend Your hope and healing.</li>
<li>Use Your Word to shatter our pride.</li>
<li>Watch over our future mates.</li>
<li>Watch over our loved ones that they may remember Your salvation.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>For honest leaders.</li>
<li>For justice among nations.</li>
<li>For love among our family.</li>
<li>For endurance.</li>
<li>For hope.</li>
<li>For joy.</li>
<li>For patience.</li>
<li>For those who are depressed.</li>
<li>For those who are poor or needy.</li>
<li>For those who care for others.</li>
<li>For those who carry heavy burdens whether sick or depressed or lonely</li>
<li>For those who comfort the hurting.</li>
<li>For those who feed the hungry.</li>
<li>For those who stand beside and help the dying.</li>
<li>For young people to do & say what is right in the face of peer pressure.</li>
<li>For missionaries who live in countries where Christians are being persecuted.</li>
<li>For all who go to bed tonight with hunger.</li>
<li>For those who face terrors.</li>
<li>For those who are lonely.</li>
<li>For those who are sorrowing.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Prompts for Thankful Living or Thanks Giving</span></div>
<ul>
<li>Thank you for sending Your son to destroy the work of Satan.</li>
<li>Thank you for our Savior's life, death & resurrection.</li>
<li>Thank you for the treasure of the Gospel.</li>
<li>Thank you for giving us prayer so we can talk to You.</li>
<li>Thank you for Christian ____ (parents, friends, children, neighbors).</li>
<li>Thank you for those who love us.</li>
<li>Thank you for giving me a family of believers.</li>
<li>Thank you for enabling us to serve You without fear.</li>
<li>Thank you for the grace of Your promises fulfilled.</li>
<li>Thank you for our pastor who proclaims the Gospel so clearly.</li>
<li>Thank you for all our opportunities to worship You.</li>
<li>Thank you for opening Your hand & providing all that we need.</li>
<li>Thank you for Dad's job to provide what we need.</li>
<li>Thank you for our supervisors at work.</li>
<li>Thank you for all the work we CAN do.</li>
<li>Thank you for those who give us approval of our work.</li>
<li>Thank you for those who work at night to keep us & others safe.</li>
<li>Thank you for the morning greetings we receive.</li>
<li>Thank you for the energy to do our work.</li>
<li>Thank you for our food.</li>
<li>Thank you for the food that nourishes our bodies.</li>
<li>Thank you for electricity.</li>
<li>Thank you for the roof which shelters us.</li>
<li>Thank you for water.</li>
<li>Thank you for rain/snow and the water cycle which provides our drinking water.</li>
<li>Thank you for the forests which provide lumber, shade & oxygen for us to breath.</li>
<li>Thank you for the sound of bird song.</li>
<li>Thank you for the beauty of flowers & plants.</li>
<li>Thank you for the land-forms that grace Your world. </li>
<li>Thank you for the ____ (plains, rocks, mountains, clouds)</li>
<li>Thank you for the ____ (lakes, rivers, oceans)</li>
<li>Thank you for our ____ (friends, family, home)</li>
<li>Thank you for farmers who provide us with food.</li>
<li>Thank you for our personal blessings.</li>
<li>Thank you for making me a blessing to others.</li>
<li>Thank you for the marvels of medicine & technology.</li>
<li>Thank you for clothing to protect us.</li>
<li>Thank you for the projects we do.</li>
<li>Thank you for our nation.</li>
<li>Thank you for this beautiful world.</li>
<li>Thank you for the wide open skies.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Personal Prayer Prompts</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These last ones are personal prayers (first person point-of-view, that is). You may wish to use these for your own daily prayer time:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>All I have comes from You. Help me use it properly.</li>
<li>Bless those who are praying for me.</li>
<li>Comfort me with Your word.</li>
<li>Comfort me when I am sad.</li>
<li>Correct the mistakes I make.</li>
<li>Enable me to use my days in Your service.</li>
<li>Enable me to use all my days in grateful praise to You.</li>
<li>Fill me with zeal to keep You first in my life.</li>
<li>Forgive my many sins.</li>
<li>Give me the ability to make difficult decisions that please You.</li>
<li>Give me compassion to help heal the hurts of others.</li>
<li>Give me confidence & boldness to do & say what is right.</li>
<li>Give me courage to share the Gospel.</li>
<li>Give me courage to speak boldly about Jesus.</li>
<li>Give me many opportunities to care for others & thereby care for You.</li>
<li>Give me self-control to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.</li>
<li>Give me inward strength to withstand stress, so I can accomplish Your best!</li>
<li>Give me strength & willingness to say "Your will be done."</li>
<li>Give me vision to see beyond my own needs, to help others.</li>
<li>Guard me from temptation.</li>
<li>Help me approach my duties with creativity & wisdom.</li>
<li>Help me avoid words, actions & attitudes which bring about undesireable consequences.</li>
<li>Help me be attentive to others' needs & less of my own.</li>
<li>Help me be aware of what is going on around me so that I can give right responses.</li>
<li>Help me be more like You.</li>
<li>Help me be sensitive to others.</li>
<li>Help me love the lost.</li>
<li>Help me put the needs of others ahead of my own.</li>
<li>Help me recognize & do what needs to be done before I'm asked or told.</li>
<li>Help me realize that You have provided everything I need for my present happiness.</li>
<li>Help me remember that You are fair and just.</li>
<li>Help me schedule & plan so that I may serve others</li>
<li>Help me trust You for everything.</li>
<li>Help me to accomplish Your goals on Your schedule, not mine.</li>
<li>Help me to act in harmony with Your will.</li>
<li>Help me to be diligent in my tasks.</li>
<li>Help me to forgive those who have hurt me.</li>
<li>Help me to be obedient and dependable.</li>
<li>Help me to be sincere and responsible.</li>
<li>Help me to be thoughtful and wise.</li>
<li>Help me to know and do what You need done.</li>
<li>Help me to see Your loving hand even in times of terrible trouble or sadness.</li>
<li>Help me to thank others and You.</li>
<li>Help me to be truthful & honest.</li>
<li>Help me be more cheerful to those around me.</li>
<li>Help me recognize that You are responsible for the achievements in my life.</li>
<li>Help me yield my rights & expectations to You.</li>
<li>Keep me from offending others with rude talk or actions.</li>
<li>Lead me through the dark days.</li>
<li>Let me be generous & remember that everything comes from You.</li>
<li>Let me be more organized so that I have more time to serve others & You.</li>
<li>Let me be use difficult situations to Your glory.</li>
<li>Let my life reflect the virtues of excellence and purity.</li>
<li>Make me cheerful & trusting to bear up under whatever happens.</li>
<li>Make me faithful in my daily life so that my life may bring glory to You.</li>
<li>Make me willing to use my intelligence to Your glory.</li>
<li>Overcome my rash words & actions with a more cautious & thoughtful attitude.</li>
<li>Relieve the burdens of my heart.</li>
<li>Remind me to help those in need.</li>
<li>Remind me of Your love daily.</li>
<li>Remind me that each task I do is an assignment from You.</li>
<li>Remove the mental roadblocks that make me contentious at times.</li>
<li>Renew my spirit so I will pardon others.</li>
<li>Rid me of selfishness.</li>
<li>Save me from doubt.</li>
<li>Send Your Holy Spirit to comfort me with Your Word.</li>
<li>Structure my life around that which is eternal & cannot be destroyed.</li>
<li>Use difficult situations to demonstrate my commitment to You and my family.</li>
<li>Use me, Lord.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>listen to my cry.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Give ear to my prayer--</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>it does not rise from deceitful lips.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>I call on You, O God, for You will answer me;</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Give ear to me and hear my prayer.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Show me the wonder of Your great love,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>You who save by Your right hand</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>those who take refuge in You from their foes.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Keep me as the apple of Your eye;</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>hide me in the shadow of Your wings.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Psalm 17:1, 6-8 NIV</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Titus Two Friends</i> is also on </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends">Facebook,</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
and <a href="https://twitter.com/Titus2Friends">Twitter.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Titus Two Friends </i>also has a daily <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleReadingBuddiesTTF/">Bible reading </a> group.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you'd like to join, check us out!</div>
Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-25853678370531576282014-05-28T19:57:00.000-04:002014-05-28T19:57:54.447-04:009 Obvious Signs You're Wise Enough to Give AdviceBig days on the horizon for my little family. Darling Daughter will be graduating from homeschool high school in 12 days. I bought the frame for her diploma today, along with some crafty fixings so her party guests can leave her some Words of Advice. (see PS at bottom for more on this)<br /><br />As is my usual <i>modus operandi </i>I came up with this Words of Advice idea while wandering around in one of my favorite <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" rel="nofollow">craft stores</a>. And while this idea was percolating in my brain, I got kind of teary-eyed, to think of my darling daughter who just yesterday (it seems) was being born and toddling at my feet. <br /><br />I've been giving her advice ever since she was born actually, so graduation advice is really just a continuation of what we've been doing all along. But still, it seems <i>monumental</i> in one of those awed, hushed-tones sorts of ways. We should have some succinct, important things to pass along to her. <br /><br />But what? <br /><br />Well. God has a way of working out things just perfectly. I came home from my little jaunt to the store, and finished (hahahh!) sorting the various piles and files I've been working on for the past week or so. And nestled in the LAST PILE (of course!), what appeared to my wandering eyes? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ybocczKr4jhsxOsbY1EIUeqJhgqTTwoswVl3_q_J21NcKVahS_ufxEtw0dE3axM_c57chA1f-G6f9zNPzSqdtj2OhlvlO8DW0Ph4MW4-7IlkIck3qttnLBj4XQB6u25xi4qKgeud_dI/s1600/Graduation+Advice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ybocczKr4jhsxOsbY1EIUeqJhgqTTwoswVl3_q_J21NcKVahS_ufxEtw0dE3axM_c57chA1f-G6f9zNPzSqdtj2OhlvlO8DW0Ph4MW4-7IlkIck3qttnLBj4XQB6u25xi4qKgeud_dI/s1600/Graduation+Advice.JPG" height="320" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock book-box, cardstock paper, stickers & words of advice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />A pink piece of paper in an old ratty and stained page protector--this used to hang on our fridge back when the kids were little. It's a list of the Fruits of the Spirit--that neat list St. Paul wrote in chapter 5 to the Galatians. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>"...the fruit of the Spirit is </b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,</b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."</b></span><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-small;">Galatians 5:22 & 23 NIV</span></b></blockquote>
<br />
As is my mom-ish way of doing things, the kids and I had done a word-study on the list and come up with our own definitions for each of those spiritual fruits.<br />
<br />
It occurred to me today--while going through this stack of filing--that these spiritual qualities and our old homeschool definitions make a perfect "Advice to the Graduate" list. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Advice for a Graduate</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God always gives the best advice! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Bible is His book, and it's chock-ful of excellent wisdom.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When you have time, read the Old Testament book of Proverbs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are 31 chapters (one for every day of the month!) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
outlining wisdom and foolishness, rules for marriage,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
raising children, getting along with your neighbors & enemies,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and even treating your animals properly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Likewise, the New Testament has loads of sage wisdom</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from Jesus himself and from the apostles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course, as Christians, we want to follow all this guidance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because we want to live our lives to God's glory.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In fact, there are several spots where we're told that a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christian will produce fruit in keeping with principles God has outlined throughout His Book. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The New Testament book of Galatians specifically outlines a </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
short-list of spiritual qualities we all should strive to achieve.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some years ago, my three children & I attempted to define these nine qualities.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's what we came up with:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Joy</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>a very glad feeling, happiness, great pleasure, delight</li>
<li>anything causing such feeling or the expression of showing such feeling</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Love</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>deep and tender feelings of affection or attachment</li>
<li>devotion to a person, an expression of one's affection or feeling of brotherhood and goodwill</li>
<li>strong liking or interest or passionate affection for another</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Peace</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>freedom from war, treaty or agreement to end war or threat of war</li>
<li>freedom from public disturbance or disorder, public security, law & order</li>
<li>freedom from disagreement or quarrels, absence of mental conflict</li>
<li>harmony, concord, undisturbed state of mind, serenity</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Patience</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>the state, quality or fact of being patient</li>
<li>the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint</li>
<li>steadiness, endurance, perseverance in performing a task</li>
<li>bearing or enduring pain or trouble without losing self-control</li>
<li>refusing to be angered as by an insult </li>
<li>calmly tolerating delay or confustion or inefficiency</li>
<li>waiting calmly for something desired</li>
<li>steady, diligent</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Kindness</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>the state, quality or habit of being kind</li>
<li>kindly treatment, feelings, affection & goodwill</li>
<li>sympathetic, gentle, friendly, tender-hearted</li>
<li>generous, cordial, loving affectionate</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Goodness</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>the state or quality of being virtuous</li>
<li>excellence, kindness, generous, benevolent</li>
<li>the best part, essence or valuable element of a thing</li>
<li>suitable to a purpose, fresh, unspoiled</li>
<li>virtuous, honest</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Gentleness</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>refined, courteous</li>
<li>noble, chivalrous, generous, kind</li>
<li>easily handled, kindly</li>
<li>sincere, patient, pleasant</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Faithfulness</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>maintaining allegiance, constancy, loyalty</li>
<li>marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility</li>
<li>conscientious, steadfast adherence</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Self-Control</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>control of one's self or one's own emotions, desires & actions</li>
<li>ability to set aside one's own needs</li>
<li>restraint</li>
<li>making disciplined choices</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
These nine spiritual qualities stack up neatly and build upon one another. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They work best when they are working together. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And if you stop to think about each of these "fruits" you'll see that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they don't all grow at the same rate! In some cases, a fruit will</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
grow easily, while another needs careful pruning to reach full ripeness.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It takes a lifetime for these "fruits" to develop.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some only develop under stressful circumstances.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Others depend on the development of other fruits, first.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Keep going. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prune, water, fertilize, nourish, grow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
St. Paul, the writer of this list, goes on to say</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">"Let us not become weary in doing good, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">for at the proper time we will reap </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">a harvest if we do not give up. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Therefore, as we have opportunity, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">let us do good to all people."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">Galatians 6:9-10 NIV</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep growing!</span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />P.S. Here's my idea for guests giving Words of Advice to the graduate:<br />purchase a book box (looks like a fancy-schmancy book, but it's hollow)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">and some card-stock paper and stickers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Before the party, cut the paper so that it will fit inside the box.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Provide a pen or marker, stickers and rubber stamps & ink pads.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">(I'm going to set out some little alphabet stamps, too.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><br />At party time, ask guests to write some </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Words of Advice </span><span style="color: #ea9999;">or Encouragement to the graduate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Urge them to </span><span style="color: #ea9999;">jazz up their little "card" and personalize it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">The cards go into the hollowed out book-box,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">and then the box is tucked into the grad's College Stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Once she's settled in her dorm room, she will have these</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">lovely sentiments in a handy-dandy, portable, easily-stored and cute container.<br />When homesickness hits (missing Mom's cooking </span><span style="color: #ea9999;">or Dad's silly Dad-jokes)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">or missing the home-routine or hanging with "old" friends,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">our Darling Daughter can open the book-box and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">fondly remember and be encouraged.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">You might also like this post about <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2013/09/food-for-thought-loyalty-trust-good.html">loyalty,</a> or this one about <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/10/faithful-instruction-is-on-her-tongue.html">faithfulness,</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> or this one about living (yes, I said LIVING) <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/01/job-rating-time-for-annual-review.html">advice in your marriage.</a></span></div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-17178542673867665432014-05-27T16:58:00.000-04:002014-05-27T16:58:41.610-04:009 Things to Do to Become (or Be) an Awesome Mom<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">Being an awesome mom really can't be reduced to a list of 9 things, but here's a start. <br /><br />1 - <b>Read, sing, and listen to your children</b>. Starting from the first day they're born--pause when you talk to your baby, and she'll learn the give-n-take of conversation. And PLEASE--please!--teach them how to properly interrupt when Mom is visiting with an adult. (hand on arm, wait quietly to be addressed)<br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">2 - <b>Count your blessings</b> - be optimistic - smile. <br /><br />3 - <b>Learn from and laugh at your mistakes</b>. Help your chicks to do the same thing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">4 - When you have to, <b>say the following</b> (right away!):</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"> "I don't know" (but I'll find out!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"> "I made a mistake"<br /> "I need help"</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"> "I'm sorry"</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">5 - <b>Say it like you mean it</b> - <u>quit being wishy-washy when giving directions</u> - <u>be consisten</u>t. You're NOT their "friend" -- you're their mother. Don't get the two mixed up. Kids will have LOTS of friends, but only one mother. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">6 - <b>Keep your priorities straight</b> (husband, children, everyone else). Of course, God comes FIRST on that list--that's a given. Work on your relationship with your hubby first, you're a team! <br /><br />7 - Children won't die if you say "no" or make them do chores or miss a birthday party because you told her to do her chores and she decided not to. <b>Seize every opportunity to teach life lessons</b>! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">8 - <b>Tell your kids you love 'em</b>. Every day. And give hugs. And "tickle treatments." </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">9 - <b>Spend time with your children, </b>particularly time in church and take time to teach them manners, life skills (how to--), and that the whole world doesn't revolve around them. Sounds rough, but it's true. They're part of a family--something greater than themselves. Do things for others.<br /><br />Okay, I have to add one more, because #9 flows into this one. <br /><br />10 - <b>Teach them how to get along with others</b>, particularly their siblings. If they would rather fight with each other, punish both children equally. Don't allow tattling unless "blood & guts" or doing something dangerous. My aunt used to spank the tattler and the tattled-on--because my three girl cousins were very competitive. They grew up to be very loving and protective of each other.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">There's no time like the present to <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/10/leaving-godly-legacy.html">leave a Godly legacy</a> and <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2011/11/your-heritage-as-mother.html">establish your heritage</a>! And if you're an <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/08/older-women-listen-up.html">older woman</a> you can help the next generation (the young mothers of today) by sharing your experience in a tender and loving way.</span><br /><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trust in the LORD with all your heart</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and lean not on your own understanding;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in all your ways acknowledge Him, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and He will make your paths straight.<br /><br />Do not be wise in your own eyes;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">fear the LORD and shun evil.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This will bring health to your body</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and nourishment to your bones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"> Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV</span></div>
<br />Check out the Titus Two Friends <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Titus2Friends">Twitter</a> or our <a href="http://instagram.com/titus_two_friends">Instagram</a> pages. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>QUESTION: What one thing do you or did your mom do that could be added to this list?</b></span>Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-79795103076725171532014-03-15T08:00:00.000-04:002014-03-15T14:12:12.726-04:00Seven Secrets To Family HarmonyHere we are at <i>The Back Door</i>--the way <i>IN </i>and <i>OUT</i> for family and close friends.<br />
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Access to and from the garden, backyard, barn and chicken coop, the driveway or garage via this friendly portal. Makes a certain noise when someone we love arrives or leaves. Decorated with a variety of grimy prints around the doorknob perhaps. <br />
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What makes <i>The Back Door</i> of your home so important that I'd start a blog series here?<br />
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The <i>Back Door</i> is where your family often starts and ends a busy day. The hubster heads to work and kids to the school bus via this door. And they come home here, too. It's where home begins for most of us. And when we head off, it's often the last of H.O.M.E. for awhile, too. <br />
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For many of us, leaving home is fraught with last-minute racing around, trying to get our stuff together and chicklets trying to get THEIR stuff together (or not!). <br />
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Is it a mad dash as the hubster is heading out? Are you often LATE because someone couldn't find the keys, a permission slip, the sunglasses or GPS? <br />
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Chasing stuff down at the last minute. Great! Now we'll be late! Helping the kids turns into yelling at the kids. <i>"Get. Your. Lunch. Now!"</i> Which of course involves tears or huffiness and i.r.r.i.t.a.t.i.o.n! Lovely. Now we're all miserable. Perfect! <br />
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No. That's NOT how we want things to go as they head off to work or school. <br />
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The <i>Back Door</i> is i.m.p.o.r.t.a.n.t. and it affects our family harmony. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Seven Ways to Improve Family Harmony </span> </span></b><br />
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Organize things so that you and the hub and the chicklets CAN get out of the house, on the road, on time. No tears. No yelling. No irritation. Try these seven tips:<br />
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1. <b>Clear a landing zone near the door</b>. Use countertop or a table next to the door. Set things out that need to go with you (or the chicks or the hub). Lunch boxes. Coupons for shopping. Wallets. Add a tray or shallow basket to keep the mail in one place. Maybe the GPS.<br />
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2. <b>Hang a key rack near the door</b>. Avoid those thrilling and heart-stopping last-minute key-hunts. Hang your sunglasses here, too. And the dog's leash. <br />
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3. <b>Set up a bench or stool nearby</b>. Great place to set back-packs, purses, bags. Line up boots and shoes underneath. <br />
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4. <b>Add a cork- or magnetic board</b>. Schedules and permission slips. Post reminders and notes. Shopping lists with coupons. Hang a memo-pad & pen here. Mail that's ready to go out to the mailbox. Programs and calendars. Use a <b>chalkboard</b> to leave messages or post shopping lists.<br />
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5. <b>Rig up a charging station on a counter</b>. Hand-held mobile devices, iPods. Easy-to-find on the way out the door. Get one with a small drawer for keeping postage stamps or letter openers. <br />
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6. <b>Hang a coat rack even if you have a closet there</b>. Hang cloth shopping bags after unloading, ready to go back to the car on your way out the next time. Your apron. Train the kids to hang their backpacks here, too. <br />
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7. <b>Set a wicker laundry basket on the bench or on the floor. </b> Toss in mittens, driving gloves and hats. Garden gloves. Sun-hats. Scarves & mufflers. Sunscreen. Bibs. <br />
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As much as we want our Front Door to project a warm welcome to our guests who enter there, how much more should the dear ones who come and go via the <i>Back Door</i> feel blessed and loved? <br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">"Finally, [sisters], good-by. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">be of one mind, live in peace. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">And the God of peace will be with you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Greet one another with a holy kiss. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">All the saints send their greetings."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Next up: The Laundry Room . . . whiter whites and brighter brights. </span><br />
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<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-14099162264778567792014-03-13T11:30:00.000-04:002014-03-13T11:30:00.664-04:00How Much Can You Get Done in 2 Minutes & 30 Seconds?<span style="color: #660000;"><b>Do you ever challenge yourself? </b></span><div>
<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I don't mean mind-boggling challenges like <i>"solve the problems in the Middle East" </i>and I don't mean financial challenges like <i>"get my checkbook to balance to the nearest penny"</i> and I don't mean waist-whittling challenges like <i>"do a 30-second plank without my arms trembling like a little girl." </i></span><div>
<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Nope. I mean FUN challenges, the sense of accomplishment! Like the thrill of wishing for Spring and five minutes later seeing a robin in the front yard! Or racing to get the pots-n-pans washed before <i>The Amazing Race"</i> tv program starts!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span><span style="color: #660000;">Yep. Now you know. I'm a speed demon. I love games like <i>Boggle</i> and <i>The 5-Second Rule</i> and trying to beat my record at <i>Sudoku</i>. </span><span style="color: #660000;"><br /><br />So. My challenge every morning is to<b><i> empty the entire dishwasher BEFORE the microwave beeps</i></b> with my cup of water for tea or coffee. Two minutes, thirty seconds. Two racks and a silverware basket. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Not much quality control happening at that rate, but I figure if I don't catch a smudged glass or gritty bowl when putting away, surely we will when we set the table. Plus, it's clean grit, right? It just came out of the dishwasher. <wink!> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">So there I was this morning, minding my own business. Emptying the dishwasher, racing the microwave beeper, and with my split-second eagle-eyes noticed that some of my bowls are kind of tomato-y stained. Again. I thought to myself, <i>As soon as we get a good sun-shiny day, these bowls are getting a sun-bath on the deck rail.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Now that may seem like a really random route to take: racing to empty the dishwasher and putting bowls on the deck rail. But there IS a method to my madness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">You see, in a previous lifetime, I was a Tupperware consultant so I've known this little trick for years, that sunshine will bleach plastic bowls--it only takes a few hours; they look as good as new (unless yours are as elderly as mine then they just look "better").</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwafw-By77hPfSPxMjVdVvDT_UAs0Uhe3Qm1gAoMD-0gVsTBn7lRBDW8861MJRtp5Bz4jG6fb7vTUtcjI7OIccQKj1SdTNH568MI_Xprd7Om8yTVfqVzxMUbPVq8XC1Q3a9ByG1OnnzcQ/s1600/Empty+Dishwasher+woohooo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwafw-By77hPfSPxMjVdVvDT_UAs0Uhe3Qm1gAoMD-0gVsTBn7lRBDW8861MJRtp5Bz4jG6fb7vTUtcjI7OIccQKj1SdTNH568MI_Xprd7Om8yTVfqVzxMUbPVq8XC1Q3a9ByG1OnnzcQ/s1600/Empty+Dishwasher+woohooo.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a><span style="color: #660000;">That thought hadn't even evaporated yet when another popped into my head. <i> "Aren't you glad you know stuff like that?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Which THEN made me remember that there was a time in my life when I didn't know that kind of stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">And THAT thought led to me scolding myself soundly for having my blog sit here silent and barely alive for so many months--when in fact I have SO much I want to write and share with you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Yes, i</span><span style="color: #660000;">n less time than it takes to put away four water glasses and three cereal bowls, I had thunk all these thoughts and even lectured myself. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">So, starting today<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <pause for a crescendo of inspirational music></span></i><b> I'm determined to get back on track with TTF</b>. And to do so <b>with renewed purpose</b>. And getting back to my roots of why I wanted to do this blog in the first place. <br /><br /><i>Older woman teaching a younger woman.</i> Household affairs. Tips for home-making and -keeping. Little tricks you learn along the way either by sheer luck or trial-n-error. Ways to organize and be efficient. Loving the hubster and the chicklets. Keeping busy at home. A few recipes? Maybe. Basic standard operating procedure according to <i>moi </i>(because I'm the boss of this blog).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Yippee! Nothing fancy, so forget the bells and whistles--just some tips, tricks and wisdom for running your home. Since the Mind-Meld Machine broke down, we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way: writing it in words on paper (well, kind of). Maybe a few printables if I get my act together. <strike>Maybe</strike>, okay--<b>definitely </b>some lists.<br /><br />Now. </span><span style="color: #660000;">Since we're family and friends here, meet me at </span><i style="color: #660000;"><b>The Back Door</b></i><span style="color: #660000;"> tomorrow. And we'll begin. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br />Until then, ponder these words from Proverbs 31 and consider how they "challenge" you to serve the Lord in your home:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><b>"[The wife of noble character] </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><b>speaks with wisdom, </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><b>and faithful instruction is on her tongue. </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><b>She watches over the affairs of her household </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><b>and does not eat the bread of idleness."</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm serious: tomorrow. <b><i>The Back Door</i></b>. Don't be late.</span></div>
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>>>>>You might also like this page from my side bar / tab: <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/p/kitchen-stuff.html">Kitchen Stuff</a> <<<<<</div>
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Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-25229256889596468962013-12-09T15:22:00.002-05:002013-12-09T15:22:45.624-05:00Muddy Waters: Santa vs Savior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Chiming in on the debate over whether or not Christians should perpetuate the notion of Santa Claus. Here's <u>my opinion</u> and a few examples. Not meant to be legalistic or an indictment against those who make other choices. But to offer some choices and insight (I qualify as an "older woman") and perhaps raise your awareness of the consequences of choices you make when your children are young. <br /><br />
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First off, a question: <b><i> Why do parents--in particular CHRISTIAN PARENTS--think that the having of "fun" associated with Santa is <u>more important</u> than the understanding of the WONDER of God-come-to-Earth?</i></b><br /><br />My three youngest children grew up knowing their Savior's birth is what we're celebrating in December--and we spent <u>all</u> of Advent in preparation and anticipation, and also into January (6th - Epiphany = Christmas for Gentiles!). That is to say: Santa never came to our house. <br />
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TRUE STORY #1: My youngest daughter knew that Santa was a fairy-tale. As the Sunday School children were lining up for the children's Christmas Eve service one December 24th evening, my daughter and a little friend were having a discussion. They were around five or six years old. The little friend excitedly mentioned that Santa would've visited by the time her family got home after church. My daughter sweetly told her that Santa wasn't real, that it was a made-up thing. The little friend was aghast at this news.<br /><br />Overhearing this exchange, I quickly pulled my daughter aside and whispered that it wasn't her job to tell her little friend about this. There was nothing we could do to fix the situation, and the little friend soothed her ruffled feathers by stating that when she got home from church that evening, Santa would too have visited their house. I told her mother as soon as church dismissed, and hear later that this was no more than a blip on the radar. <br />
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TRUE STORY #2 (which took place many years prior to True Story #1): I grew up loving the Lord and knowing Jesus' birthday was what we were celebrating on December 25th. After all, my family attended and I LOVED the Wednesday evening Advent church services which focused on Christ's birth. The Advent Wreath and lighting one more candle each week was exciting! Every Saturday morning throughout the month of December, we Sunday School children rehearsed for the service we would lead on Christmas Eve--every recitation and every song memorized BY HEART! And when the big tree went up in church--oh man!--the anticipation was almost too much! All of this, to my little girl heart, signaled the arrival of--<i>Yes! You guessed it!</i>--Santa!!! Oh, and as an after-thought, Jesus who was born in Bethlehem. <br /><br />Santa came to my childhood home on Christmas Eve every year, while we were at church. And so, while I <i><b>loved</b></i> our little Christmas Eve services where we children recited the whole Christmas story (from memory!) and sang all those lovely carols and loved the candles and the banners and the marching in and out--oh my dear!--my sinful little-girl-heart was MUCH MORE interested in getting DONE with the program (<i>if only those little kids would line up quicker so we could get DONE sooner!!!</i>), getting the bag of fruit and ribbon & raspberry CANDY from the usher when we marched out, and urging Daddy to drive home as fast as conditions allowed, so that me and my five brothers could get IN the house and SEE what Santa had brought. <br /><br />I wasn't a greedy, selfish little girl. Indeed. I was (and still am!) the oldest of six children born within an eight-year span to an average American couple. Simply put, we didn't get presents at other times in the year. My parents had enough money to pay the bills and not much else. We weren't starving or poor or needy, but we did NOT <u>ever</u> get gifts at other times of the year. So Christmas in my childhood years was a HUGE deal to me. It didn't matter that me and my five brothers always knew we were going to get some new replacement underwear and socks and brown work gloves and new knit hats & mittens, we would also get a nice present, too. And we spent all of December anticipating THAT!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr45u12LtXwOxgAVdwza5prnpVfuijkq2vCmRyTfrnU3KUeA3e2uNBI-3Qkplw7YT9puUp1iOu2PUn7vrMsgjDb6KdhikELAAUc7LWq9e2eVop8w6E6-Me-ej5n-T98QwjwUYtnW2RLRc/s1600/Christmas+Majesty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr45u12LtXwOxgAVdwza5prnpVfuijkq2vCmRyTfrnU3KUeA3e2uNBI-3Qkplw7YT9puUp1iOu2PUn7vrMsgjDb6KdhikELAAUc7LWq9e2eVop8w6E6-Me-ej5n-T98QwjwUYtnW2RLRc/s320/Christmas+Majesty.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />That was how I saw it as a child--and I would bet I was like probably 99.9% of other American children in Christian homes then <u>and now</u>, where Santa was/is the deliverer of gifts on Christmas. I'm sure my parents thought they did a fine job of telling us about Jesus's impending arrival, in fact I even knew at a rather young age, that December 25th wasn't "really" Jesus's birthday, but a date that some church guys a really long time ago decided on. But whatever. The important part is that (from what I remember) Ma & Pa perpetuated the myth of Santa! Yes, it was fun! Yes, it was delicious to anticipate! Santa's watching to see if I was being <i>good or bad</i>. <i>Up on the roof-top</i>. <br /><br />Sure, I could recite all of Luke 2 from memory (still can!). And just as I could sing from memory all about mangers and angels and shepherds and silent nights and the little town of Bethlehem, I could also recite "Twas the Night Before Christmas," knew all the reindeer names, and could easily sing about Rudolph, Frosty, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire and all 12 verses of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In my little childhood brain, Jesus was a side issue (he was born!) and Santa was the real deal (he brought presents: visible, real, wrapped presents!). <br /><br />In my little girl world, I knew that Jesus was more important than Santa Claus, because Jesus IS God after all and all that dying on Easter business was very serious, too--my parents had made that clear. But I still thought Santa was the cool guy for bringing presents. <br /><br />Then the conflicting stories at school, from kids who said there was no Santa (horrors!?!!) and others who said Jesus brought the presents. (What?) Well, none of that lined up with what my parents were saying or telling me. <br /><br />And it didn't make sense with what little I knew from the Bible either (because at that point, as a six- or seven-year old, my Bible knowledge was basically limited to the highlights of "Sunday School stories"). How did Baby Jesus bring me presents? I had five little brothers; I'd seen first hand how helpless they were as babies. How could a baby get down a chimney? OR carry a bag with presents? And how could a BABY know anything when I'd seen that all they could do was eat, sleep and poop their diapers? It didn't make sense that Baby Jesus brought presents. <br />
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CONSIDER for a moment: we do our children --especially if we are calling ourselves <i>Christian</i>--a GREAT disservice by muddy-ing the waters with Santa Claus. It breaks my heart to see young Christian parents rushing around to all these "secular" events (checklist: take kids to get picture with Santa Claus; attend annual community tree-lighting, for example) and totally MISSING the opportunity to read various Bible scripture verses having to do with Jesus' birth and boyhood and so many of the prophecies. <br /><br /><b>Your children believe what you tell them or lead them to believe</b> (up until about age 11 or so). You really ARE muddy-ing the waters of their understanding when you introduce a fairy-tale (like Santa) side-by-side with Christ. Little ones in particular are very "concrete" in their understanding of things unexplainable. Black and white. Pause now and consider which one is more "visible" (and therefore more "real") to a child: the red-garbed, white-bearded Santa ho-ho-ho'ing at the mall or the baby Jesus in your ceramic nativity scene? <br /><br />It's MUCH easier to "believe" in something you can see, touch, feel, hear. You know that, yourself! Have you ever fondled a corner of fabric to measure its weight? Or said, "you have to see this!"? Seeing is believing. Thomas--one of Christ's disciples--was a firm believer in that policy! Children are believers in what they can see, touch, feel and hear, too. <br /><br />And children are MADE to trust their parents. So if a parent says, "Santa Claus will bring presents," a little one will believe that's the truth. And if you later amend that to <i>"Santa brings presents but Jesus is the REAL reason" </i>or you inject "<i>Jesus brings the true gifts"</i> your child will take you at your word, but parents please UNDERSTAND this fact: because the REAL presents are under the tree--Santa is going to get the credit, and whatever you said about Jesus is--<i>sure, whatever you say, Mom</i>. <br />
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<br />My dear friends. Please consider this: Satan is having a heyday as we dilute our celebration of the MAGNIFICENCE of Christ's birth by "dashing through the snow" and "Rudolph's red nose" and "Frosty's escapades around town." Satan enjoys our false busy-ness with baking and making and taking, because anything that keeps us from reading God's Word and knowing Him is a victory for Satan. Muddy waters? How lovely. <br /><br />We profess to care so much about making Christmas "fun" for them, meanwhile our children have NO or very little comprehension of the Old Testament pointing to the coming Savior--prophecies galore! Satan is clapping his sticky paws with glee when we snuggle up with our little ones and make a big "tradition" out of watching "Home Alone" and "The Grinch" while our Bible languishes in a dusty heap somewhere on a shelf. <br /><br />Many times I've heard moms say "<i>we read Luke 2 on Christmas morning</i>"....and I wonder, did you read all the prophecies that lead up to Luke 2 and Matthew 1 and John 1--and show your children the stroke of God's pen throughout the sweep of history? Or is reading Luke 2 just a little check mark on a long Christmas To-Do List? <i>Whew! That's done. Let's eat Christmas cookies and drink eggnog now. </i><br />
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Parents! Do NOT discount the ability of even <u>very young</u> children to be in absolute AWE of the simplicity and majesty of the "Christmas Story." Children are MUCH more cognizant--even before they can speak coherently--of the spoken word than most parents will give them credit for, thus parents vastly ignore the "sponge-like" ability children have for soaking up EVERYTHING in their world. And if some of the details of the Christmas Story go over little ones' heads, that's okay. Someday the details will soak in and make sense. Just like they do when you're an adult and something "dawns" on you.<br /><br /><b>Since when is having "fun" the central purpose or activity of our lives as Christians? </b> Most mothers wouldn't dream of feeding their children a full bowl of sugar and calling it a meal! Yet how many will present their children with Santa, arrival via chimney, gift deliveries at midnight and yet fail to point out the much more SIGNIFICANT arrival of GOD IN THE FLESH and the way <u>that one birth</u> changed the course of history (past, present and future) and our eternity? <br /><br />The "magic" and "fun" of Santa Claus compared to the "majesty" and "sacrifice" of God-With-Us. Magic is an illusion. Fun is fleeting. <br />
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Eternal consequences actually hang on the <i>God With Us</i>. <br /><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.</span></b></i></div>
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<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-87992236577483910932013-10-30T21:27:00.000-04:002013-10-30T21:27:56.091-04:00Pond Ripples & New Friends<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Talk about an amazing little ripple on the pond!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This past Tuesday was our homeschool co-op day. I teach first period <i>US Geography</i> for 4th - 6th graders and third period <i>Artsy Journaling</i> for 6th - 12th graders. Second period is my free period but now that we've started this Biggest Loser And Beyond (TBLAB) contest, ladies are streaming in and out of my room for their weigh-in. (So much for it being my "prep" period but I don't mind because I'm a loser, too!) Fourth period is <i>Teacher's Toolbox</i> which I organized, host and lead; fifth period is the highlight of my day: I lead a ladies' Bible study for the moms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So. I dreamed up <i>Teacher's Toolbox</i> when some of the homeschooling moms (several years ago) asked if those of us with professional teaching backgrounds would be willing to mentor them. They needed hints on things like classroom management and organizing and lesson-planning. Last year I offered a few sessions on these topics during my free period. Since that turned out well, I went head-long into it for this year and loaded the calendar with nice juicy topics!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This past Tuesday my friend, Vanessa, was leading a </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Toolbox </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">session on </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Working At Home</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and was covering all sorts of interesting topics related to this. She mentioned business opportunities, service opportunities (assistance or administrative), direct sales and multi-level marketing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">During that last one (MLM) she gave several examples, and then added, "If you're a good writer, you could do a blog and then monetize it." She pointed out that I have a blog (this one!) and that I've chosen NOT to monetize it because I consider this a ministry of sorts. She mentioned the name of my blog. She also mentioned that one can use </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/debberlynn/boards/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pinterest</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to link your blog and get more visibility. And that I had done this, too, with my blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />From across the room, my new friend, Julie, who is the helper assigned to my <i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/debberlynn/boards/">Artsy Journaling</a></i> class, raises her hand and says, "Deb, you have a blog? <a href="http://www.titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-really-matters.html"> And your husband was hurt in a motorcycle accident last year?</a>"<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yep. That's me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then she says, "</span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/124974958380490256/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I knew you looked familiar</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh. My. Gorsch! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So. Here's the rest of the story. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />Julie and her family moved to this area (eastern panhandle of West Virginia) from Seattle this past summer. Talk about a cross-country move!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoTuRrKhbqpdNttGIlL0Rt500Cnx1ql71cACrw2xofkmsoUE_wNQkh_hyphenhypheniFq0dj7qGJyWKZhxVk8QWgqqZsScReVQvCZGsI9eqbCb3BJn3X9un8iR-RVGbySPEBlL_IlhcflZNTk1q5E/s1600/USA+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoTuRrKhbqpdNttGIlL0Rt500Cnx1ql71cACrw2xofkmsoUE_wNQkh_hyphenhypheniFq0dj7qGJyWKZhxVk8QWgqqZsScReVQvCZGsI9eqbCb3BJn3X9un8iR-RVGbySPEBlL_IlhcflZNTk1q5E/s400/USA+map.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seattle to the eastern panhandle of West Virginia - now THAT's a cross-country trip!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyway, before they moved, like any good inquisitive homeschooling mom, Julie did a little internet searching and came across one of my Pinterest boards that has </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/debberlynn/homeschool/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">homeschooling stuff</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on it. (Of course she fell in love with my</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/debberlynn/boards/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OTHER Pinterest board</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">s, too, because I'm just that cool.) O</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ne thing led to another and via Pinterest Julie came across things I'd pinned in my </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/debberlynn/titus-two-friends/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Titus Two Friends"</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> board, and that's how she found my blog! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just think about this for a second....because to me, this is so hugely enormous and just so God-like randomly & perfectly planned: Julie in the Seattle-area, looking straight down the barrel of a cross-country move, types a few letters into the search bar. Up pops a few bajillion "relevant" findings, she clicks on one of them which takes her on a little journey. She digs around for a bit, and idly drops into the TTF blog. Reads a few articles and thinks, "hmmm, this is interesting." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Months later (after all that packing, a long move and unpacking), she registers her children for a few classes at this sweet little homeschool co-op. Part of the deal is she has to be a helper and gets assigned to this whacky-doodle class called <i>Artsy Journaling</i> with a teacher who is all over the place! Julie finds out there's this other session during 4th period she can attend (for free!). Some of the ladies are slightly crazy, but she's new here and hoping to make friends, so she attends a few sessions and also signs up for the 5th period Bible study, too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5d8iHP0KVADRGAhLjoo3tWK4MC0GAs1JwznN2HG9ph7Ty7cvPXKMWwm9Uu6MpwFT6v9MBGnZ1CX-uWSVdQQ1RpVnmHGJoosbpWbhHpxwfbJxFL_yJAo3QHgn64ODCinWQoaq6-Ik7ow/s1600/Ripples+on+the+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5d8iHP0KVADRGAhLjoo3tWK4MC0GAs1JwznN2HG9ph7Ty7cvPXKMWwm9Uu6MpwFT6v9MBGnZ1CX-uWSVdQQ1RpVnmHGJoosbpWbhHpxwfbJxFL_yJAo3QHgn64ODCinWQoaq6-Ik7ow/s400/Ripples+on+the+Pond.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Ripples on the pond may bring a new friend into your life!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fast forward to Tuesday. It's late October. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And the ripples on the pond from that long-ago search of homeschooling in West Virginia and the blog article about the guy in the motorcycle accident are an unremarkable, almost forgotten, ordinary part of an ordinary day months ago when preparing for a cross-country move. Until a chance remark brings it all clearly into focus! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sure, we don't always meet the people who read our blogs or the people who write the blogs we read. My point is how amazing our God is, that He puts us in just the right place, at just the right time, and how He uses us for the glory of His kingdom. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Gosh, this lady looks familiar, but WHERE did I see her before?</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KnOl6koWSaY8oGZE7IR2vTEscfkWeACFq-zdSvfD0yj90T2K29QBQbSRjoSB5tIudWXzlHHJSrgeBoiwZHKNptS967flJfd5d8pXW_dyLwANM0nZ7dZsZMidq5ZzqxAr0EICdHSK2iE/s1600/Bible+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KnOl6koWSaY8oGZE7IR2vTEscfkWeACFq-zdSvfD0yj90T2K29QBQbSRjoSB5tIudWXzlHHJSrgeBoiwZHKNptS967flJfd5d8pXW_dyLwANM0nZ7dZsZMidq5ZzqxAr0EICdHSK2iE/s320/Bible+class.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">At Bible class, talking & baby-holding---love it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our times are in His hands, remember!? So, to me this is another reminder that I'm where He wants me, and He's (again) reminding me to do the things I do--that's He's laid out for me to do--and to do them to His glory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yes, God DOES work little miracles in our lives. Daily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just like that. <br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>You might also like this post <a href="http://www.titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-catchy-theme-teach-train-and-carry_14.html">about friendship!</a></b></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~ DEDICATION ~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I am dedicating this article to all the moms who have ever faced a move</b> to a new place, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
whether across the county or the state or clear across the country. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Picking up stakes, leaving all the beloved friends and family, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and facing a new adventure takes courage and faith. </div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've been there, I've done that, and I know what it's like to have to start over from scratch. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've stood in the middle of a new grocery store and cried because I missed my old store. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've felt the fear of not knowing if the road I was on would take me back to my new house. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've walked into a room full of strangers and not known a single soul and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">bit back the tears of missing my old friends so much and wishing I could be transported back to them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I know how long it takes to make new friends, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">and how long it takes before a new place feels like "home". </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Before this place IS home.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>And I'm dedicating this to the not-yet-friends</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">who need a reminder to invite the new gal or guy to join the group, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to get to know them, to include them in your little circle of conversation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">To invite them over for dinner. To light up with a smile when you see them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">To offer a hug and a shoulder when home-sickness bears down. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">For it does. And it's hard to feel friendless. </span> </div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span>Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-57042669916306665652013-09-27T15:52:00.000-04:002013-09-27T15:52:56.877-04:00Food for Thought: Loyalty, Trust & Good-Doing<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I ran some errands this morning and stopped at a fast-food joint for lunch.
As I ate my lunch and diddled on my iPhone,
I overheard the conversation of a 30-something couple in the booth n</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">ear my table. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br />He complained about his
wife to the woman across from him. He
didn’t like that she was hanging on to her old sports’ trophies and family
mementos from her childhood. That she
wouldn’t combine her bank account with his until just recently—he
admitted to his lunch companion that he had been bankrupt. He complained about the way his wife did things
at home, about her job, about her education. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He also explained to his female companion what a great man and father he was, and how lacking the wife was as a home-maker and as a mother. H</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">e covered a LOT of ground in the short time before they left the diner.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">I felt physically
sick throughout my quick little lunch, as I listened to his litany
of complaints. I warred within myself
because I really wanted to ask him what he would think if his wife was
meeting a man for lunch and speaking about him the way he was speaking about
her. I wanted to ask him why he married her in the first place? AND I wanted to upbraid the young
woman stoking his ego by egging him on and handing him more ammo to lob against his own
wife. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">I wanted to, but I didn't--even if he was young enough to be my own son. Instead I said a prayer for his wife.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">As I left the restaurant, I spied the man and woman near my car.</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">She got into a van with a stick-figure family on the back window.</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">He got into a sedan with a car-seat in the back seat.</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />
While driving home, I had time to reflect on my own marriage and how THANKFUL I
am for the trusting relationship I have with my husband (of almost-35 years!). We have our ups and downs, but one thing I
know: </span><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i> I trust him to <u>always</u> have my
back.</i></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> How blessed I am to have a
husband who wouldn’t DREAM of running me down—never mind going out to lunch
with another woman to do so! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vAYpxhjD2iQdDsPeuswslWhr-PiIpYfAPTdMxuusHg-t36bRJuY6qeqibl5j942jhBbyloV0jRVvR9EXdavbTvJ3__elZGYyTe-wkiuVYzAXIi_pe3hdQFDr_asuZxUZdQ_7_m2URAA/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vAYpxhjD2iQdDsPeuswslWhr-PiIpYfAPTdMxuusHg-t36bRJuY6qeqibl5j942jhBbyloV0jRVvR9EXdavbTvJ3__elZGYyTe-wkiuVYzAXIi_pe3hdQFDr_asuZxUZdQ_7_m2URAA/s400/IMG_0971.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
There is, among women, a tendency to think that “sharing” with girlfriends and telling them
about hubby’s less-than-stellar moments, well?-<i>-that isn’t really gossip because (don't you see?) “we’re just
having a heart-to-heart talk to get advice</i>”—after all. Really? </span><br /></span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This is a “heart issue” which goes back to our <u>motivation</u>.</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Is the sharing
really done out of love for the man or to get pity from the friends and make ourselves feel better? When are we crossing a line from "sharing" into "gossip" and disloyalty? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
Certainly it can be very helpful to get another’s perspective and helpful
advice for a problem we’re having at home. However: better to be very selective about
the friends we consult. Definitely not in
an open group, not in a restaurant with volume on “High” for all near the
table to hear, and certainly NOT with a friend of the opposite sex (I don’t
care HOW GOOD of a friend he is!!!). <br />
<br />
St. Paul wrote to Titus that the older women should be the ones to teach the
younger women to LOVE their husbands and children and by word and example show
them how to run their homes in a God-pleasing manner. AND all of that with the express purpose of
<u>giving glory to God</u>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">So then. If we follow the logic of Paul’s words, it
would make sense that when we need advice, we would consult with an older,
wiser and more-experienced Christian woman.
Expecting your “same-age” (or
life situation) friends to be able to give solid, God-pleasing advice is like
11-year-olds giving each other advice on how-to-drive a car. Think about that one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJJwutcbMjzzn2PHCIr4cJ6DT9IdlfJanIRPlhnDFoO9IcC0Pbt_ihmxjdvFmPOWJS2WJyJL7gZhG3YJkz1ObCM1E2uW9O59Sn9a79kEqksvd6Tt4gtl9S_XGOThxSqG5viLaDbFRC6w/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJJwutcbMjzzn2PHCIr4cJ6DT9IdlfJanIRPlhnDFoO9IcC0Pbt_ihmxjdvFmPOWJS2WJyJL7gZhG3YJkz1ObCM1E2uW9O59Sn9a79kEqksvd6Tt4gtl9S_XGOThxSqG5viLaDbFRC6w/s400/IMG_1946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
Loyalty to your husband should be your first thought and putting the “best
construction” on his words and actions whenever you get into an argument. Running to girlfriends and “tattling” on him
is back-stabbing and not the “good” we are to do him all the days of our lives—and
it adds drama to your life that hurts your marriage.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
Proverbs 31 outlines our relationship with our own husband: “doing him good all the days” of my
life and doing my work so that my hubby’s name is exalted rather than my own. Genesis 2 explains that I was created to be my husband’s helper (not the other way around as
the world would have us strive). Titus 2 explains that maintaining self-control and being kind are also part of my "job" description as a wife. Harder to do, but worth the effort, especially where our relationship with our own husband is concerned. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A wife of noble character who can find? .... </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">She brings him good not harm ALL the days of her life.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">.... Her husband is respected at the city gate, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">where he takes his place among the elders of the land.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">She is clothed with strength and dignity; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">she can laugh at the days to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">She speaks with wisdom, and </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">faithful instruction is on her tongue.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">She watches over the affairs of her household </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">and does not eat the bread of idleness.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Her children rise up and call her blessed; </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">her husband also, and he praises her:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <i> 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'</i></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">...a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Give her the reward she has earned, and </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">let her works bring her praise at the city gate.</span></span></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">Proverbs 31:30 - 31 NIV</span></span></div>
Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-41947334380277357622013-09-20T14:34:00.002-04:002013-09-20T14:34:09.326-04:00Time Passages (A Song Title, A Noun and a Verb)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you who have wondered <i>"Where has Titus Two Friends been?"</i> I'll tell you. Back at the end of 2012, I had this BRILLIANT (I thought) Idea--yes, capitalized because it seemed to be that important!--that I should update some things on my blog--earlier in '12 I had changed the blog-look on the advice of a young friend. AND I wanted to fix a few problems I had on the back-side of the blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seemed like an innocent Idea. <b>At the time</b>.<br /><br />So, <cue the eerie music that foreshadows horror & disaster for our brave heroine> I went to work behind-the-scenes and started my little "fixing" stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tweak. Click. Zip! Zing! Pow! Click. Tweak. Mmmm? Yep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, there I was with things "fixed" (or so I thought) and a few more left to do. Several days later I "tried" to go back in to write a new blog-post and --<i>what is this?</i>-- I couldn't get "in." <i>Knock! Knock!</i> I mean, I couldn't even FIND the little button that blog-owners use to get IN to their own account. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02UGss-UnE4wkxvKKth-VNVLbERG84-C2vxnCWMTIavQoBkl3M-zbDEei8TlhdiETsBnHb6zWXsoBElZM1lvi7vsYgoBkiRUudPSJPdikKFRhhyphenhyphenUhOkHArdKfbiEnkJEj4pxyaUl32p8/s1600/Broken+Screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02UGss-UnE4wkxvKKth-VNVLbERG84-C2vxnCWMTIavQoBkl3M-zbDEei8TlhdiETsBnHb6zWXsoBElZM1lvi7vsYgoBkiRUudPSJPdikKFRhhyphenhyphenUhOkHArdKfbiEnkJEj4pxyaUl32p8/s400/Broken+Screen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello!?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That was irritating, but oh well, I was in a hurry to do something else, too, so I got side-tracked, and each day went by and my blog fell further and further behind. I "meant" to get back to it--but real life has a way of intervening with "more important" stuff like meals and laundry and family responsibilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Time. It flies. </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd catch myself thinking <i>"I should write about this,"</i> and then remember I was stuck outside the door without a key and <i>oopsie daisy</i>--real life again would call: <i>YOOOHOOO!</i>--and I'd forget about it again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then just recently, I got an email from Google mail, and--<i>what is this?</i>--miracle of miracles! <i><b>Hello?</b></i> I completely forgot that I had changed the email associated with my blog-account. Well, that explained why I couldn't even SEE the back door knob, never mind having a KEY to get in! HA! <i> I can be SUCH a nitwit at times. </i>Short memory, too. But that's a whole other topic!<br /><br />Anyway...I am working now to restore things to what I used to have on my blog--no more sleek, trimmed to the lean look. That's not me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But restoring the pages and gadgets <b><i>takes time</i></b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And TIME is what I wanted to talk about today. Somehow when I was younger I thought <i>I'll have MORE time when I get older. </i> But no, that hasn't been true. If anything I feel it rushing away, between my fingers, much faster now than ever before. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXQrluqV-tUP8SmJeJ1J5JwCKT4v9dmVjbLhFiGcvYQArjpDIDsYBGK-XEltOttO7MvwXB4FxX-vhSvJtizmZFQxyX-O2KowsvVGEyBHDyLxEfxS1sWv3vjSu5FRRoK1UaVCqbKplxfk/s1600/Clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXQrluqV-tUP8SmJeJ1J5JwCKT4v9dmVjbLhFiGcvYQArjpDIDsYBGK-XEltOttO7MvwXB4FxX-vhSvJtizmZFQxyX-O2KowsvVGEyBHDyLxEfxS1sWv3vjSu5FRRoK1UaVCqbKplxfk/s320/Clock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rushing to do this. And that. Hustling between daily chores that really aren't <i><b><span style="color: red;">URGENT!</span></b> but feeling like I have a TIME CRUNCH bearing down on me! </i>Being irritated when "little" things prevent me from getting done with a boring chore, because there's something else I'd RATHER be doing instead. And then biting off the head of a loved one because I'm irritated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Compounding and pressing in on all sides. </b> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some (most!?) of my busy-ness comes from the bushel-basket of activities of my own making. All of them "good" and even mostly "meaningful" in their own right. Plus I work part-TIME. And that's a necessity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But a LOT of busy-ness comes from getting carried away and<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">forgetting my PRIORITIES</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span> When I feel the most harried and harrassed by TIME nipping at my heels is when I stupidly 'allow' myself to get side-tracked with silly-ness. Like playing too many games-in-a-row on my iPhone. Or caught up with social media-izing on Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest. Ad nauseum. Total fail. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Actually? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been pretty good about sticking to my resolution to continue my daily Bible reading each morning. But honestly? On the days when other stuff crowds in and I fail to sit down in the morning to read my Bible? I feel like I've been cheating on God--the lover of my soul. Almost without fail, the remainder of my day is marred by pushing God away. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Would you DREAM of saying this to Him? <i>"Hey, God. Not today. Okay? Because my other stuff is more important than this half-hour with You. And seriously, God? You expect me to get up even EARLIER so that You can talk to me through Your Word? I'm too tired for You. I need to sleep much more than I need some wisdom from You. Go away."</i><br /><br />I won't say THAT (^above) because I actually LIKE getting up in the morning! AND I really LOVE my morning routine (brush teeth, dress, cappuccino, Bible reading, then GO!). But I HAVE let some pretty inane stuff push Godly living OFF my list a few times in the MIDDLE of my day! I don't even want to tell you how bad it can be sometimes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />So. Whatever it is for you or me, we all could use a sort-of<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">mid-year</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>kick in the britches reminder: <b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjywN-7UZBr-CiS3XppElGUWzgJwCimhG3BCu3ILvTHEPaMzPkbr9xE83mvvpHem_9FvBItPIh8EhmiwPN62Cp-hjcmCkdpeNisizng9r-esEXnGp2i0JA4yZRhVsyhhOykdhu-NALXg0/s1600/Calendar+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjywN-7UZBr-CiS3XppElGUWzgJwCimhG3BCu3ILvTHEPaMzPkbr9xE83mvvpHem_9FvBItPIh8EhmiwPN62Cp-hjcmCkdpeNisizng9r-esEXnGp2i0JA4yZRhVsyhhOykdhu-NALXg0/s320/Calendar+2013.jpg" width="268" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">keep those priorities straight.</span> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li>If <i>"make good food for the family"</i> was on your PRIORITY list on January 1, and you're not doing that, figure out what IS stopping you. Fix it. </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li>If <i>"get more exercise"</i> was the goal, then cut out a half-hour of sitting & watching TV or reading blogs (but not mine!) and go walking. </li>
<li>If <i>"read my Bible daily" </i>was on your New Year's Resolutions, add it into your schedule, your "To Do" list for the day. </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Re-resolve to </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>STICK WITH THE PLAN</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ask God to bless your daily work. Because He LOVES to bless His children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>And You--my dear friend--are a Daughter of the King. </b> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>There is a time for everything</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>and a season for <u>every</u> activity under Heaven:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to be born and a time to die,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>a time to plant and a time to uproot</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to kill and ... to heal,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to tear down and ... to build,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to weep and ... to laugh,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to mourn and ... to dance,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to scatter stones and ... gather them,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to embrace and ... to refrain,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to search and ... give up,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to keep and ... to throw away,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to tear and ... to mend,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to be silent and a time to speak,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... to love ... and to hate,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... for war and ... for peace.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Eccelsiastes 3: 1-8 NIV</span></div>
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<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends">Check out Titus Two Friends on Facebook!</a><br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-31540879459035593352012-11-16T13:21:00.000-05:002012-11-16T13:21:12.375-05:00Fill Your Plate!Thanksgiving is just a week away. Recipes are popping up everywhere for pumpkin pies and cranberry sauces and mashed potatoes and the perfect lump-free gravy. Grocery store shelves bulge with ingredients for the perfect meal. Time to talk turkey!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZULJ6Gxr72eU32fx-HY2PWWuw61Qom5nOYbdj0Bc9yrYj_OSKzRPePpySl95_OApHQhGkJYFwtNY6r66-RDnI4XRnm6d8L0jxpfb6qRelyG3LpWe64Vr22gC1BnxwIaBZ9dJFNKC3Gc/s1600/turkey+on+the+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZULJ6Gxr72eU32fx-HY2PWWuw61Qom5nOYbdj0Bc9yrYj_OSKzRPePpySl95_OApHQhGkJYFwtNY6r66-RDnI4XRnm6d8L0jxpfb6qRelyG3LpWe64Vr22gC1BnxwIaBZ9dJFNKC3Gc/s1600/turkey+on+the+table.jpg" /></a></div>
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Do you eat three meals a day? Do you get enough fruits and veggies to fill your daily requirements? Are you careful about calories, cholesterol, carbs, and fiber? Do you pop a vitamin to be sure you have all your alphabetic needs covered? Do you make sure that your body is well-nourished? <br />
<br />
Would you consider it realistic to put yourself on a diet where you only ate one meal a week? Or only took one swig of water a day? Would your body suffer from such a regimen? Would your ability to make decisions be affected?<br />
<br />
Personally my ability to think clearly is affected if dinner is<b> an hour</b> late never mind only one meal a WEEK! Spare me! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeDKtAxUD_K0hvmPu8JcykLIDutYFjnbuNU7K3JFfa6PDP26E7ewVUZLACjcDCscE0t_HAPW3Fv4v7HYSO55j-rKxok5_L1SwR06gvNp20eykHT9MCYzcEA_wXjdtuUyov93JNz9ym6Y/s1600/crying+toddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeDKtAxUD_K0hvmPu8JcykLIDutYFjnbuNU7K3JFfa6PDP26E7ewVUZLACjcDCscE0t_HAPW3Fv4v7HYSO55j-rKxok5_L1SwR06gvNp20eykHT9MCYzcEA_wXjdtuUyov93JNz9ym6Y/s1600/crying+toddler.jpg" /></a></div>
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One missing meal and our stomach turns into a whiny toddler--growling, grumbling, cramping with pain: "Feed me! I'm hungry!" It's hard to ignore, and becomes a driving need to fill that empty belly. To fuel our tank.<br />
<br />
So, let me ask you this: Do you nourish your spirit as carefully and as regularly as you do your stomach? Do you take any spiritual vitamins? What are you doing to make sure your spirit's daily requirements are met? How do you keep your spiritual tank topped off?<br />
<br />
In other words: Do you read your Bible every day? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPleb29V7o2lmIP00qXB451Fp8q1VZFyGArd7tFjZAGmgDlkoStUMSctXJj21Anzh0-PQpPNtp4cCvA0J-cSDaMWdXJt_HAUbGNU9sfeOqlDQ00p57uMmkblUvDrnPp3mdqNIGgPcQWgI/s1600/dusty+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPleb29V7o2lmIP00qXB451Fp8q1VZFyGArd7tFjZAGmgDlkoStUMSctXJj21Anzh0-PQpPNtp4cCvA0J-cSDaMWdXJt_HAUbGNU9sfeOqlDQ00p57uMmkblUvDrnPp3mdqNIGgPcQWgI/s1600/dusty+Bible.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /><u><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><b>Are you starving your spirit?</b></span></u><br /><br />
The signs of an under-nourished spirit are manifested in your daily choices--are you numb to evil? Desensitized to sin, accepting of immoral behavior, and unperturbed by lascivious living? <br /><br />Does graphic violence or repulsive language make your cringe? Do sexually explicit lyrics or humor cause you to change channels? Do you tell or pass along dirty jokes? Do you tolerate behavior that once made you wince with disgust?<br /><br />A starving soul will believe that whatever it wants, it can have. Skipping church or not sticking around for Bible class or ignoring pleas for help with church projects--YOUR stuff is much more important, so you slap on an excuse and walk away. <br /><br />An under-nourished or starved spirit sees nothing wrong with wasting money or time on ungodly activities. Never mind tithing or surrendering to the Lord's will.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lord, help me change!</span></div>
<br />As important as eating is to the physical health of our bodies, so, too, is nourishing our spirit and our faith with good solid Soul Food, the kind that is only available in the Bible. <br /><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the spirit of the season, here is a recipe for feeding your soul:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Find a quiet place to read and <u>minimize distractions</u>.</li>
<li>Ask God to send his Holy Spirit to bless your reading of His word</li>
<li><u>Read through a section with your mind engaged!</u> If you go blank or don't understand a section, re-read it. Make an effort!</li>
<li>Answer (or try to!) the following questions:</li>
<ul>
<li>Who is the writer? To whom is this passage directed?</li>
<li>What do these verses tell me about God? about myself?</li>
<li>What does the passage <i>really</i> say or NOT say?</li>
<li>What does it tell me to believe or stop believing?</li>
<li>What does it tell me to do or stop doing?</li>
<li>What ministry does this passage urge me to have with others? </li>
<li>How can I apply this to my life? </li>
<li>How does this equip me to work in God's kingdom?</li>
</ul>
<li><u>Pray again</u> and ask God to help you live out what He has shown you here.</li>
<li>If you like, jot notes in your journal of specific points to remember or ponder.</li>
<li><u>Live out</u> the principles the Holy Spirit has revealed; <u>get to work</u> in God's kingdom!</li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FEED YOUR SOUL</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>regularly</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>nutritiously</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>and often!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXUMpx7Xq4MM3gc0c7ZySzA0c3lcEVbuv4TNWEQdJ6Zb2YwOFu829W8oJYAz3aWWBlBmO1gU-qWtNHSfHONIBThxvs5MW9yy1PITeLHg0QofC5PsS0GCUwHBMkh_vZq07FtUhDIQf-L8/s1600/place+setting+for+you!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXUMpx7Xq4MM3gc0c7ZySzA0c3lcEVbuv4TNWEQdJ6Zb2YwOFu829W8oJYAz3aWWBlBmO1gU-qWtNHSfHONIBThxvs5MW9yy1PITeLHg0QofC5PsS0GCUwHBMkh_vZq07FtUhDIQf-L8/s320/place+setting+for+you!.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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Four verbs from St. Paul (with a bit of cheerleading from me) explain this best:<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">read, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mark,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">learn,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and inwardly digest</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />(get the book out, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">highlight or journal, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">p</span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">ractice and do, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'til God's Word becomes </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a part of what makes you YOU)</span></div>
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<br />Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-36355427742324553282012-10-21T21:20:00.001-04:002012-10-21T21:37:23.132-04:00Faithful Instruction is On Her Tongue<span id=".reactRoot[73].[1][2][1]{comment3671751794979_3596833}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]" style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Friends....</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">It's been awhile since I last wrote. And I apologize for neglecting you, but I think I have a good excuse.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">My dearly beloved wrecked his motorcycle (no other vehicles involved) in early September. Ten days later our youngest son and his girl friend were side-swiped by a panel truck, totalling our vehicle. The end of that week, my dearly beloved found out that once his disability/recovery period is up, he will likely join the ranks of the unemployed (two other guys were let go the day after his accident). <br /><br />Hubby's last "follow-up" appointment is mid-morning on Monday. Tomorrow. He has to visit his supervisor afterwards....and will find out if he still has a job or not. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">I could put off posting this article until after his appointment tomorrow--when we know for sure, but I honestly think there's a greater lesson than "moving."</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHfUc0SGW48mAm9zewOAhBSlHfikHWoh5c-4sBmRViX8QWMmwaL4GqJYuYgJAVi98tqcgiIbeVwDqfnBRa5dY7GmFGcVYMCnhCy41gSlaTihMmF9_SQeJlALr7OuLGNfxyOBaAmbDir8/s1600/Country+Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHfUc0SGW48mAm9zewOAhBSlHfikHWoh5c-4sBmRViX8QWMmwaL4GqJYuYgJAVi98tqcgiIbeVwDqfnBRa5dY7GmFGcVYMCnhCy41gSlaTihMmF9_SQeJlALr7OuLGNfxyOBaAmbDir8/s320/Country+Lane.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">We are conflicted. We'd love to stay here. We have a nice home (thank you, Lord!), an excellent church, and great neighbors! I love our homeschool co-op, and I love the ladies' Bible class and the Teaching Tips class I'm leading. Most of all, I love the people the Lord has brought into my life here in WV. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Honestly, I'm not afraid of moving. Since we've done it MANY times over the past 33 years, I know there's an adjustment period. What I hate is the stuff that has to be done BEFORE the move takes place. Sorting through all our stuff. Getting rid of stuff. Getting boxes to put stuff in. And packing stuff again. Ugh. Again. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">On the other hand, every move we've made has been a pleasure (after the initial culture shock subsides, that is). Every place we've ever lived (Montana, Washington, Wisconsin, and now West Virginia) has been a wonderful excursion of Life. The Lord has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams. Plus the new people He has brought into our lives.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Interesting to think about the circle of my friends between church, square dancing club and homeschooling co-op. There are a few women who are "older" than me, a handful who are my age, and a LOT who are younger. Given that I'm 55 y.o. that makes sense. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfRKlVOVUBgTPbUCokRbEg2aMo_ni4VCcJoH0CEPrJm8YuaH2OwQIaVxQqpYZCZW4CQv6MMHvVkW__8eEkGaatnNsLboSODGyNAaBxb0h3XD1T7SYgeKOCrkSzIgKt1MtKa93f7hSDvw/s1600/Rambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfRKlVOVUBgTPbUCokRbEg2aMo_ni4VCcJoH0CEPrJm8YuaH2OwQIaVxQqpYZCZW4CQv6MMHvVkW__8eEkGaatnNsLboSODGyNAaBxb0h3XD1T7SYgeKOCrkSzIgKt1MtKa93f7hSDvw/s320/Rambling.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Anyway, when I shared with my gal pals here in WV that there is a strong likelihood that we may be moving, these dear ladies--ah, to have friends who will miss me!!!--expressed their sorrow to think of me leaving them! </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br />Oh, my sweet friends. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">I hope you know the feeling is mutual! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">And how honored I am when you ask for my advice. Really. When you say you "need" to pick my brain or when it's MY shoulder you want to lean on or MY hand on your shoulder---ah, you honor me with your respect and love. I am truly TOUCHED by your affection.<br /><br />One thing I've learned is that each of us is building a legacy. It cheers me to realize that God has bound our lives together in such a way. Even though you're all grown women, I still want to gather you like my own children and hug you close and never let you go. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa3xVqEWO5beTMrcrTM3YaKqoWZm28SY3ZAKOzAPz5Wt79QoBtiXTfJj0pQ_RZBsA-e1YW-suoc2ZgoPj9aAjsiB5giqDiH2k7951KUxWP3Nq8YTkCQWrmr4z0nY21S3ZM3C_9ITa454/s1600/Farmstead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa3xVqEWO5beTMrcrTM3YaKqoWZm28SY3ZAKOzAPz5Wt79QoBtiXTfJj0pQ_RZBsA-e1YW-suoc2ZgoPj9aAjsiB5giqDiH2k7951KUxWP3Nq8YTkCQWrmr4z0nY21S3ZM3C_9ITa454/s320/Farmstead.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /><br />But I know from experience that God wants us all to become spiritually mature, too. And that is part of our legacy as mothers: we train a new generation. We leave a legacy. Of one kind or another.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">I had been happily sitting at the feet of my mentors many years ago when hubby's new job took us half-way across the country. I despaired of finding someone else to replace these Titus Two Friends. And ooh, there were a couple of very lonely, mentor-less years for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">BUT.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br />I found out that I COULD learn to stand up on my own. Ah, yes. Wobbly. Baby-steps. <br /><br />AND...looking back from a space of years, I can see THAT is when my faith put on pounds!!! In a good way, of course! <br /><br />So, that to say, The Lord sends blessings sometimes in very strange little packages. My blessing FORCED me to start looking at "my own ministry" in my own home and also at church. And I noticed that God had plunked me right down in the middle of a field and given me the tools and told me, "Get to work!"<br /><br />I was always busy. Up to my eyeballs in family stuff with homeschooling three kids and cooking healthy meals and canning vegetabls from our garden and raising animals on our little farm and hanging out laundry and being a wife & mother and juggling a 4-H club and coaching softball and volleyball and teaching Sunday school. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeu8mp1idQvTATeJQ4nQNaZu44EY6CLFSEXUZreWcTRfxsYMxsvfYgQ_rKSSItTLFBHgPcW48Ygvj5gtXNSigN3M9xgdYWeC8ajfMg1-p2grcIT6dB3h4WYed0l3rtaOjM5EO6TEyKWc/s1600/Winding+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeu8mp1idQvTATeJQ4nQNaZu44EY6CLFSEXUZreWcTRfxsYMxsvfYgQ_rKSSItTLFBHgPcW48Ygvj5gtXNSigN3M9xgdYWeC8ajfMg1-p2grcIT6dB3h4WYed0l3rtaOjM5EO6TEyKWc/s320/Winding+Road.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">And one day I woke up and realized I was mentoring young women! Very scary, the first time someone ASKED ME FOR ADVICE. Kind of like, you look around to see who she's talking to, then looking back at her, "You're asking ME?" And this young fresh face with the eager eyes gives you this look like, "Well who else would I ask?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Ah, but there's the blessing in disguise, too! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">You know...that whole "prayer of Jabez" thing fits in here, too. God has increased the circle of my influence tremendously. In ways I'll never know until I get to heaven. Sometimes, when I get an email from a young woman who reads my blog or FB, I am astounded at how far away the ripples on the pond truly spread. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span id=".reactRoot[73].[1][2][1]{comment3671751794979_3596833}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[9]" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span id=".reactRoot[73].[1][2][1]{comment3671751794979_3596833}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[9]" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px;">God is doing this in your life as well. One day at a time. One life at a time.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">My encouragement to each of you...whether you know me personally or are readers of my blog: I've been</span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> in your place--sitting at a mentor's feet--and the feeling of having the rug pulled out when I had to leave that comfortable spot when God moved us across the country for hubster's new job(s). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">He will give you the tools, He will give you a field to harvest, He will give you what you need at exactly the right time. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Take heart--the Lord does not leave us alone. Friends may come and go, but He is always with us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">"She is clothed with strength and dignity; </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">she can laugh at the days to come. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">She speaks with wisdom </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">and faithful instruction is on her tongue....</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised....</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">Give her the reward she has earned</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: #990000;">and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Proverbs 31:25, 30 & 31</span></div>
Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-49172659133576567322012-09-28T10:28:00.002-04:002012-09-28T10:30:39.986-04:00What REALLY Matters?<!--[if !mso]>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The month of September 2012 will probably go down in my personal history book as the most extraordinary month of my life. Un-bee-leev-ah-bul! Hubby crashed his motorcycle at the beginning of the month; the bike is fine, the hubster was life-flighted to a DC-area hospital and ended up with five broken ribs, a broken scapula and a lacerated spleen. Owweee! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm9tbnbLCjBj2aLxO1mmFUGS4p54aqU3u89Q4E5EihTYE_cLpDSujs3k6OPDMJWPcz2aPkatWTiL0hyBDgQM-vmUFMOv-6dUdI1pH0v4PqV7nkVuTCFXKAb9HgC6zaY-sMiNjIDmW6N4/s1600/100_9322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm9tbnbLCjBj2aLxO1mmFUGS4p54aqU3u89Q4E5EihTYE_cLpDSujs3k6OPDMJWPcz2aPkatWTiL0hyBDgQM-vmUFMOv-6dUdI1pH0v4PqV7nkVuTCFXKAb9HgC6zaY-sMiNjIDmW6N4/s200/100_9322.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ten days later, our youngest son and his girlfriend were side-swiped in a hit-n-run (the cops caught the guy!); the car was totaled, the son had amnesia, the girlfriend whiplash. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Five days later, we learned that Hubby might be out of a job once his disability time runs out. <br /><br />And the month isn't quite over as a I write this blog post. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So...as you can imagine...I've been feeling just a bit overwhelmed--with a recuperating hubby at home who is chomping at the bit over this enforced "down time"--and I've added a few extra hours to my work schedule to help with the finances.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On top of homeschooling my youngest daughter and my son's girlfriend, I work as a virtual executive assistant to a CEO in Austin, Texas. The main thing I do is read all his email and set up tasks for him based on the emails. Oh. And I file his emails all neat and tidy. Every day--not one single email left in his inbox. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvbehR5y3RgyicFDfkASFDXV1rh6W34EbgHlFCnZujLHCCWrNqyZSf_PKX9Vtm4oRG57iK7LvnvARxw7Sm8hnBCc32e5TovZBlPP764aqif96dETXD_8baX1c_zTbHOCf-AVhEYivpTM/s1600/email1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvbehR5y3RgyicFDfkASFDXV1rh6W34EbgHlFCnZujLHCCWrNqyZSf_PKX9Vtm4oRG57iK7LvnvARxw7Sm8hnBCc32e5TovZBlPP764aqif96dETXD_8baX1c_zTbHOCf-AVhEYivpTM/s200/email1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So, you might think "Wow, she's so organized!" And I am. Except with my own "personal" email. A few months ago, I tasked myself to be as ruthless with my own inbox as I am with the Boss. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And I was actually making headway. Until September hit. Then there was all this OTHER stuff going on. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Guess what? I didn't feel overwhelmed so much by the 100-mile trips to the hospital to visit Hubster--altho' DC traffic can be daunting! Nor was I overwhelmed by the all-nighter in the ER with my son and his girlfriend. Nope. Because I know that God has our times in His hands. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Where I feel stupidly overwhelmed is in the little things that have fallen by the wayside, and my email is like this big NEON sign: <b><span style="color: #45818e;">PAY </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">ATTENTION</span> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">TO </span><span style="color: #741b47;">ME</span></b><span style="color: #741b47;">! </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHkH9TI0gwdePjgSu2b1GZo84QsaejnY99N2wIAi1Hg0gcFCVZY6z0MpAXvfY4nSH5Zrgtt6tSz9CN-MtEE7_A_AZ0tEXzSc8U34T494FmbUD2Ixulq92v_11xibFuh9OeMbTqbYbet0/s1600/100_6697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHkH9TI0gwdePjgSu2b1GZo84QsaejnY99N2wIAi1Hg0gcFCVZY6z0MpAXvfY4nSH5Zrgtt6tSz9CN-MtEE7_A_AZ0tEXzSc8U34T494FmbUD2Ixulq92v_11xibFuh9OeMbTqbYbet0/s200/100_6697.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And technically <wink!> I know that email is waaaay down on the list of things that <i><b>really</b></i> matter. <b>But it bugs me.</b> Mainly because I've always enjoyed correspondence, writing letters and greeting cards. And letting things sit and simmer is just NOT my personality.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">All THAT to share with you a Reminder List that arrived in today's email. As I was reading through it, I felt this weight lifting--it was such a good reminder to me of "What Really Matters." </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uPeuH6R0KNmOJje1DG8Dajl_Z3T7ktZevc7I1O1LCfTKEAkjgo70UNL8_7_7-TUiijUa8dOGpkJYDF1t8dHKz-lOItYPvEHuZWsTB2oZYrUNijgkNcFKPZQax7z0OVWAdEhFK5oBkjo/s1600/100_7986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uPeuH6R0KNmOJje1DG8Dajl_Z3T7ktZevc7I1O1LCfTKEAkjgo70UNL8_7_7-TUiijUa8dOGpkJYDF1t8dHKz-lOItYPvEHuZWsTB2oZYrUNijgkNcFKPZQax7z0OVWAdEhFK5oBkjo/s200/100_7986.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;">So...here is the list--with a few tweaks and edits to personalize for <i>moi</i> and to make it Titus Two Friends friendly.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Remember What Is Really Important</span></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1. Pray continuously.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2. Read my Bible daily.<br />
3. Go to bed and quit falling asleep on the couch.<br />
4. Get up on time so I can start my day un-rushed.<br />
5. Say "No" to projects that don't/won't fit into my time schedule. Even if it's something "fun." Get OFF the computer.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6. Delegate tasks to capable others. Train the kids! Let them do it their way.<br />
7. Simplify and un-clutter my life. New stuff in? = Old stuff out!<br />8. Allow extra time to get things done. Quit missing deadlines & making excuses! It's so lame. I'm NOT a lame person. Plan ahead!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVkj0dNljbT5F-tiWkyuVe2CRyuyuFKfVep3dc3Q17zecrZ3b-i3GsuCsgRiL5w_l7IFMt_FwPjEpgyOALZSSxL2FrIpZFqmyU20wuukJWvI-0AJvXX2Jnu3yv_xOW1rL1RoZeQA9A9U/s1600/Clock+and+calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVkj0dNljbT5F-tiWkyuVe2CRyuyuFKfVep3dc3Q17zecrZ3b-i3GsuCsgRiL5w_l7IFMt_FwPjEpgyOALZSSxL2FrIpZFqmyU20wuukJWvI-0AJvXX2Jnu3yv_xOW1rL1RoZeQA9A9U/s200/Clock+and+calendar.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">9. Allow extra time to get to places. No more being late! Five minutes is usually all it takes. Geeze!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">10. Spread out changes and projects over time (break into smaller chunks). Baby steps!<br />11. Take one day at a time. God has Tomorrow handled. And Yesterday, too, for that matter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">12. Separate worries from concerns. Read my Bible and pray. God will make it clear. If I can't do something about a situation, then forget it.<br />
13. Live within our budget. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">14. Have a backup plan and important "extras" like a car key tucked in my wallet, a house key in the garden, extra stamps, cash on hand, package of toilet paper, see?<br />
15. Keep my big mouth shut! Having the last word or being "right" isn't always the most important thing. Listen more!<br />
16. Do something fun everyday - look forward to it! Motivation, too!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">17. Carry a book to read while waiting in
line or stuck in traffic. <br />
18. Eat right. Eat more veggies. Don't be tempted to bring junk food home from the store!<br />
19. </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Write down thoughts and inspirations. Have a "capture" book handy.</span></span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40mNbw1pXLojDFsbMinVGtY-y-a2rR2ZDlbL7A9BxrSBVpPCmfOlO4vHeK4GJMvX092MzwAe0Wz-p8f9t3WpPakKgbXxQEeYgdl-xqp897p6jHNiaGPFoRHayAWbctzUArfU1iMJw2qY/s1600/Journal.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40mNbw1pXLojDFsbMinVGtY-y-a2rR2ZDlbL7A9BxrSBVpPCmfOlO4vHeK4GJMvX092MzwAe0Wz-p8f9t3WpPakKgbXxQEeYgdl-xqp897p6jHNiaGPFoRHayAWbctzUArfU1iMJw2qY/s1600/Journal.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">20. Listen to uplifting books or music while driving or exercising or working.<br />
21. <span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: black;">Get organized so everything has its place. Set aside time daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">22. Make friends with Godly people. Stay in touch with them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
23. Keep a notebook of favorite scriptures on hand.<br />
24. Laugh.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Often. Heart-felt. Uproariously. Giggle. Smirk. Chuckle.<br />25. Take my work seriously - but myself not so much!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">26. Most people are doing the best that they can. Be more forgiving. Let it go.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">27. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Be kind to unkind people. My children see what I'm doing and are learning from my example. <br />
28. Sit on my ego. I don't need to brag. My life is visible to others.<br />
29. S-l-o-w down. Waaaay down. I am NOT the general manager of the universe.<br />
30<span style="color: blue;">.</span> Every night before bed, think of one thing I'm grateful for that I've never been grateful for before. Thank GOD!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Now may the Lord of peace himself </span></span></i></b></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">give you peace </span></span></i></b></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">at all times and in every way. </span></span></i></b></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Lord be with all of you." </i> </span></span></b></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #990000;">2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TitusTwoFriends?ref=hl">Titus Two Friends on Facebook</a></span>Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1366991985961475065.post-36115644626170232952012-09-02T16:38:00.001-04:002012-09-02T16:38:56.332-04:00Exercising on a Slippery Slope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJyONzYVhkRZeRHSbewM9BiHU-hhwZCrirokdX5Kl1tJ-bUdx48r6yDCuV1RWUj7IkPCQWWV6TByAiggaZUh4EWJ6M1XVoz-paLWIe2qg5Lgo9AivHhjU7nqGGUXspEQupn2cNlM1TYc/s1600/Lion+Killing+Prey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wo2fm75_H2e_sGGO-K2281gBcMNP1e7K_WjcigmEJ4iCfc5bXQtnMG1PnvoY4QalnXH5GX6CZJmxzxSEVEAMY1d6eC26IscXXK9Cf-7NGZKC99ME-O-B7ERWNqYw0xgoksTmJpMGgWI/s1600/Lion+Cub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wo2fm75_H2e_sGGO-K2281gBcMNP1e7K_WjcigmEJ4iCfc5bXQtnMG1PnvoY4QalnXH5GX6CZJmxzxSEVEAMY1d6eC26IscXXK9Cf-7NGZKC99ME-O-B7ERWNqYw0xgoksTmJpMGgWI/s200/Lion+Cub.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #7f6000;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">I have a lovely young friend who is a strong Christian, a good wife and mother, and she is very big into healthy living and exercise. In fact, she used to be so <i>into</i> exercise that she became a yoga instructor. That is, until she started digging deeper into the philosophical ramifications of yoga. She recently asked her Facebook friends to follow a link to a Q/A article about Christians participating in yoga. <br /><br />Many friends left comments. The really interesting (to me) comments came from "Christian" friends attempting to defend their participation in and enjoyment of yoga. Their explanations included "there's nothing wrong with yoga as long as you steer clear of the religious aspects." Others theorized that instead of meditating or emptying their minds, they focus instead on a Bible passage or "only" do yoga for the healthful aspects of good exercise. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;">M</span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">y friend was right, and she was out-numbered. And you know me well enough by now. I HAD to get into the discussion. So.<br /><br />Here is the (slightly edited) response I added to discussion. My dear friend told me she would like to give me a TRIPLE "like"--because my response hit home. Others were offended. I do come off pretty strongly, I'll admit that, but then I believe St. Paul came off pretty strongly in some of his letters, too, and I'm betting that God gave him a TRIPLE "like" too. <br /><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * * * * * *</span></span></h3>
</div>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Dear People,<br /><br />If you are a
Christian and if you know your Bible, then you know that we are told to FLEE
from all things that are not OF GOD. We are also told that we are IN
the world but not to be OF the world.<br /><br /> ANYTHING--N. E.
THING!!!--that is NOT directly from God is from the world. Don't get
trapped in thinking, "Well, this is an </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/february-1992/adiaphora">adiaphoron</a>." <br /><br />People, we're not talking
about women being ushers or what color the altar paraments should be.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNKDVkzy-8nzE9mnSrgxu0krNW5Vjm149mlnR2p3HBbFly2RdJCwszrxsv9LnqMG767kcZO-ns9omgZzy6XYu84G8liIEme0Ni66yU9xlqQj0bS9GoTQOKi7Npmcfkwn8CjROfWLvirM/s1600/Paraments.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNKDVkzy-8nzE9mnSrgxu0krNW5Vjm149mlnR2p3HBbFly2RdJCwszrxsv9LnqMG767kcZO-ns9omgZzy6XYu84G8liIEme0Ni66yU9xlqQj0bS9GoTQOKi7Npmcfkwn8CjROfWLvirM/s200/Paraments.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B0QFP84PaRkhFwDvYaAsfOM9zJ0FrtQG3KTLfs3ZXmtxS5llgeFXRwv67GvaeFJFSQHOsbog9TJLwpjfj-shhYOwkRh7_ENErzdeBN7yI09dnZD4AhZ0ndfof5ZmGDTWMr9Py7L8dqk/s1600/Lion+Running.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B0QFP84PaRkhFwDvYaAsfOM9zJ0FrtQG3KTLfs3ZXmtxS5llgeFXRwv67GvaeFJFSQHOsbog9TJLwpjfj-shhYOwkRh7_ENErzdeBN7yI09dnZD4AhZ0ndfof5ZmGDTWMr9Py7L8dqk/s1600/Lion+Running.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> Hello? How is yoga and the
practice thereof an adiaphoron--negotiable? So what if it is "good
exercise"? Sex outside of marriage feels good, too. Since when does "it makes me feel good" or "it seems harmless" hold weight with a Christian?</span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /><br /> God is
clear in His word that the </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/november-1985/great-chapters-in-bible-psalm-1">road to Hell</a> is wide and heavily traveled.
The road to Heaven is narrow and sparsely populated.<br /><br /> Spin this any way you like, but we Christians -- Christ followers --
should abstain from, resist and tear ourselves away from ANYTHING that
cannot stand up under God's scrutiny. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B0QFP84PaRkhFwDvYaAsfOM9zJ0FrtQG3KTLfs3ZXmtxS5llgeFXRwv67GvaeFJFSQHOsbog9TJLwpjfj-shhYOwkRh7_ENErzdeBN7yI09dnZD4AhZ0ndfof5ZmGDTWMr9Py7L8dqk/s1600/Lion+Running.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B0QFP84PaRkhFwDvYaAsfOM9zJ0FrtQG3KTLfs3ZXmtxS5llgeFXRwv67GvaeFJFSQHOsbog9TJLwpjfj-shhYOwkRh7_ENErzdeBN7yI09dnZD4AhZ0ndfof5ZmGDTWMr9Py7L8dqk/s200/Lion+Running.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /><br /> You don't get a pass because YOU say, "hey, this is an adiaphoron." </span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /><br />NO, IT'S NOT!!! This is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga">Eastern religion</a>, humanistic, and mystical. <br /><br />
Why would you want to test such things? Why would you take the chance
that you are leading your children astray with the things you are
involved in? Why would you callously disregard what Jesus said, did
and died for (on YOUR behalf), when God's Word is clear that we are to
have </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/5-11.htm">NOTHING TO DO with the sinful world?</a></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3b5Ec8KvESrn2WSfamzfuomsj90_nusn0AA5mLhT4mGYiBPGvNXFYHy6tuWyKmNPX6QYgYDAsMNzR5asbLPM6kxMVus-yQG8Vu6N5on5YTWhh8vepMyehXLdrEQC-Irwip_xE6FC1ug/s1600/Candy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3b5Ec8KvESrn2WSfamzfuomsj90_nusn0AA5mLhT4mGYiBPGvNXFYHy6tuWyKmNPX6QYgYDAsMNzR5asbLPM6kxMVus-yQG8Vu6N5on5YTWhh8vepMyehXLdrEQC-Irwip_xE6FC1ug/s200/Candy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">So, yeah. </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-celebrations-especially-if-youre.html">Toss out the trick-r-treating</a>. Give your kids a bag of candy. Let them dress
up in play clothes and pretend to be pirates or whatever without
participating in something that glorifies Satan.</span></span></div>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"></span></span><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Toss
out Santa Claus and every holiday decoration or tradition that
reeks of the gimme-greedee stuff--focus on <a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-2-whose-birthday-are-you.html">CHRIST's birth instead</a>--totally. </span> </span> <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Get rid of the Easter Bunny, too, and remember the sorrow of Christ's death and the joy of His resurrection. Your faith will grow so much when you get rid of the GARBAGE that drags you down. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">When Christians participate in these sorts of </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-saintsall-hallows-eve-october-31.html">holiday festivities</a>--which do NOT give glory to God--we are WORSE than unbelievers because we
KNOW BETTER!!!! And our participation can lead someone of weaker
faith to the wide and paved road that leads to Hell. Do you think THAT
is not a sin?</span></span><br />
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<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> </span></span></div>
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * * * * * *</span></span></span></span> </h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq3wL32vTzhum-ObVlQ7BgS1iwDbAYVgh-YzjLW2jtAw7ZnVGAPypa4jkNXIIlAUnVHqmXiYK90HJH_VzTa829CqebrP2TiUnzZtbH7i5KTd1nLIUaE1ZBl6OcbuHf3OxT5wF6NxXPMs/s1600/Slippery+Surface.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq3wL32vTzhum-ObVlQ7BgS1iwDbAYVgh-YzjLW2jtAw7ZnVGAPypa4jkNXIIlAUnVHqmXiYK90HJH_VzTa829CqebrP2TiUnzZtbH7i5KTd1nLIUaE1ZBl6OcbuHf3OxT5wF6NxXPMs/s200/Slippery+Surface.jpg" width="148" /></a><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">S</span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">t. Paul's letters are LOADED with many warnings. He reminds us that as we grow, our faith should mature, and that we should leave behind the things of the world. Remember, too, that as our faith matures we carry more responsibility for the way we
live our life. </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> Rid your life of the things that are not
GOD-pleasing! We have a commandment--it's </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/september-2009/first-commandment">the first one</a>. LOVE GOD
above everything else. If you STILL think there's nothing wrong with
participating in Yoga because your faith is just so strong you can resist temptation, and you
don't "get into" all the religious aspects, then you are ignoring your
own sinful nature AND --more importantly-- you are DILUTING the rest of
your Christian witness. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJyONzYVhkRZeRHSbewM9BiHU-hhwZCrirokdX5Kl1tJ-bUdx48r6yDCuV1RWUj7IkPCQWWV6TByAiggaZUh4EWJ6M1XVoz-paLWIe2qg5Lgo9AivHhjU7nqGGUXspEQupn2cNlM1TYc/s1600/Lion+Killing+Prey.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJyONzYVhkRZeRHSbewM9BiHU-hhwZCrirokdX5Kl1tJ-bUdx48r6yDCuV1RWUj7IkPCQWWV6TByAiggaZUh4EWJ6M1XVoz-paLWIe2qg5Lgo9AivHhjU7nqGGUXspEQupn2cNlM1TYc/s200/Lion+Killing+Prey.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Other people--with weaker faith--are watching
you...and when YOU (supposedly a "strong" Christian) delve into
something KNOWN to be un-godly, then YOU, my dear friend, have a <a href="http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/october-1994/looking-out-little-ones">millstone chain</a> already wrapped around your neck. You just haven't been tossed
overboard yet. </span></span><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> </span></span><br /><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> Unwrap that chain which </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A8&version=KJV">Satan is looping around your neck</a>, one link at a time. You are SILLY to think that
YOU--somehow--have SUCH a strong faith, that you couldn't stumble.
WORSE, you, by your pride, are perhaps leading WEAKER ones to believe that
"a little bit is okay."<br /><br /> Still not sure? Check out this </span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://titustwofriends.blogspot.com/p/special-brownies.html">recipe</a></span></span>Deb http://www.blogger.com/profile/05075536265028086261noreply@blogger.com0