Today's the day!!! Today is the day that my Christmas present from my DH is redeemed!!
I'm on my way to Gatlinburg with my DD and my Mom!!
I am so excited and so blessed to have this chance and so thankful to my DH for giving it to me.
While I won't be participating in Random Dozen this week, I've scheduled a few posts for while I'm gone so make sure and check in with me!!
Have a blessed week!!!!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Worship Him
"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock, in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my Place of Safety."
Psalm 18:2, NLT
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Very Special Day!!
In place of my usual Created to be His Help Meet, I've decided that today I'm going to share a very special story.
About 25 years ago, I realized that it was going to be very hard for me to have a baby. There were many issues, the biggest being that I wasn't ovulating as I should.
A trip to my OB/GYN later found me using a Basal thermometer with sex on demand--not as wonderful as you might think (even for you men...ask DH), fertility drugs, more fertility drugs, higher doses of fertility drugs.
This was all mingled in with test upon test to see if I was pregnant. Each test resulted in a pink minus sign.
DH and I finally decided after 5½ years that enough was enough and began the process of adoption.
Not long into that process, my body just started doing these.....weird things. Not anything that made me feel like I was sick, mind you, just weird things.
After a week or so of pleading from my best girlfriend, I finally gave in and bought yet another pregnancy test. This time though instead of a dark pink minus sign....it was the faintest shade of a positive sign!! Maybe? Could it be?
I called that 1-800 number on the back and the lady on the other end of the line assured me that if I could even make out the faintest plus sign, I was most likely pregnant. An excited call to my Dr. and a quick trip to his office confirmed it.....after 6½ years, I was going to have a baby!!!!!!!!
I was blessed with a wonderful pregnancy and only 37½ hours of labor introduced me to the most beautiful little girl I'd ever laid eyes on in my life!!!
Her name is Beth and today she is 19 years old....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY AND MY MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
About 25 years ago, I realized that it was going to be very hard for me to have a baby. There were many issues, the biggest being that I wasn't ovulating as I should.
A trip to my OB/GYN later found me using a Basal thermometer with sex on demand--not as wonderful as you might think (even for you men...ask DH), fertility drugs, more fertility drugs, higher doses of fertility drugs.
This was all mingled in with test upon test to see if I was pregnant. Each test resulted in a pink minus sign.
DH and I finally decided after 5½ years that enough was enough and began the process of adoption.
Not long into that process, my body just started doing these.....weird things. Not anything that made me feel like I was sick, mind you, just weird things.
After a week or so of pleading from my best girlfriend, I finally gave in and bought yet another pregnancy test. This time though instead of a dark pink minus sign....it was the faintest shade of a positive sign!! Maybe? Could it be?
I called that 1-800 number on the back and the lady on the other end of the line assured me that if I could even make out the faintest plus sign, I was most likely pregnant. An excited call to my Dr. and a quick trip to his office confirmed it.....after 6½ years, I was going to have a baby!!!!!!!!
I was blessed with a wonderful pregnancy and only 37½ hours of labor introduced me to the most beautiful little girl I'd ever laid eyes on in my life!!!
Her name is Beth and today she is 19 years old....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY AND MY MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
AARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SO frustrated right now!!!!! If you'll come a bit closer to the screen, you should be able to see me jumping up and down, beating the keyboard and steam rising from my head!!!
I'm screaming too but I was kind enough to turn the sound off so you couldn't hear it!
Here's what's going on......
I have got some of the best folks in the world reading my blog. They leave the sweetest, funniest, kindest most encouraging comments I've ever read in my life. I even have a folder on my computer where I store several of the comments so I can look at them when I'm feeling down or defeated and they are sure to lift my spirits.
BUT.......
I have attracted some................"spam" commenters who are just having a field day commenting stupid stuff and stuff that totally doesn't belong in print, much less my blog.
ANYWAY.....
I have had to go to comment moderation.
NOW I'm pleading that you all will continue to leave your comments. I love them. I NEED them. Just now, thanks to some butt heads (sorry) you have to be approved before they can be posted.
I'm screaming too but I was kind enough to turn the sound off so you couldn't hear it!
Here's what's going on......
I have got some of the best folks in the world reading my blog. They leave the sweetest, funniest, kindest most encouraging comments I've ever read in my life. I even have a folder on my computer where I store several of the comments so I can look at them when I'm feeling down or defeated and they are sure to lift my spirits.
BUT.......
I have attracted some................"spam" commenters who are just having a field day commenting stupid stuff and stuff that totally doesn't belong in print, much less my blog.
ANYWAY.....
I have had to go to comment moderation.
NOW I'm pleading that you all will continue to leave your comments. I love them. I NEED them. Just now, thanks to some butt heads (sorry) you have to be approved before they can be posted.
Random Dozen
Time to share a bit about myself by linking up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen. I really love participating in this meme. The questions are fun (although sometimes the answers can be tough) and it's great to read how others think about the same things.
Click here to join us!!
1. When was the last time you craved a food--what was it, and did you crave?
This past Saturday..I hardly ever fry chicken anymore, partly because my hubby's on cholesterol meds and partly because I want us to eat healthier....but DH and I decided to go out Saturday and I just NEEDED some fried chicken!!! It was really good too!!!
2. M & M's or Skittles?
M & M's all the way!!
3. Have you ever read the Bible completely through?
Sadly, no. I've tried many times, but as of yet, I've not been successful.
4. How long does it take you to really wake up in the morning?
Within just a couple of minutes I'm ready to begin the day. My family hates me.......
5. Have you ever been on a cruise? If not, would you like to?
Nope and I have no desire to either.
6. Who is your favorite actress?
Ummmm.....don't really have a recent favorite because I can't stomach a lot of today's movies..sooo....total blank.....
7. ______ is something that I will just never understand.
The ways of people.....
8. How much of a technology junkie are you?
I can turn my 'puter on, surf a little, turn it off. I can turn my cell phone on, call and text a little, turn it off. I can turn my DVD player on, press play, turn it off. Get the picture??
9. Do you enjoy selecting greeting cards for people, or is it more of a cultural "have to" for you?
I LOVE cards!!! Sending a receiving. I love taking the time to pick a card that fits the person I'm sending it to. I honestly believe that this is an area where the internet has failed us. A physical card is so much more personal and thoughtful.
10. When was the last time you got a new style/haircut?
Got a trim about a month ago...new style......1985?????
11. What do you enjoy shopping for most?
I enjoy shopping. Period.
12. What's the last thing you think of before you leave the house?
I am notorious for my mental checklist: Purse? Phone? Keys? Shoes?.....(The shoes is a true story...one I should tell very soon....)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Love of a Friend
Think back in time to that night so many years ago when Jesus met with His disciples in the Upper Room. It was the night that Jesus would be betrayed and arrested.
That night Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples to eat. He told them that this bread represented His body which would be broken for our sins.
Then He took a cup of wine, blessed it and shared it with the disciples telling them that this represented the blood that would be shed by Him for the remission of our sins.
He told of one that would betray Him and I'm sure that no one there but Jesus understood the meaning and the depth of what was going on.
I wouldn't have understood it. I'm sure that I would have been confused and feeling the need to ask more questions that Jesus could answer at that moment. I'm also sure that the significance of everything would have flown right over my head.
Fast forward to this past Sunday night. Sanctuary Church of God where my family and I go to church. We are having communion service and this is the first time that my family has shared in this service with this church since joining a few short months ago.
We enter the sanctuary and in the front is a table. It is lined with white linen table cloths. There are silver candelabras with blue and white candles in them.
There are four trays set up, 2 with bread, 2 with grape juice.
There are six chairs to one side and six chairs to the other side and one chair in the middle....this one is draped in purple. On the table in front of that middle chair lays a Bible, a crown of thorns and a dove.
The lights are low and service begins.
There are songs of worship and praise. There are many tears of love and adoration to our Savior.
The evangelist for the night begins to tell us the significance of the things before us and he also shares what we must work out within ourselves, with Christ to be ready to partake of the meal.
He speaks with authority and compassion. Even the babies are quiet.
He asks us to stand and in his hands he holds a trumpet.
He shares that when a king is ready to make an entrance, a trumpet is blown. He tells us that as he blows the trumpet, we will welcome the King to the meal. He then tells us it is customary to applaud as the King makes His way to the seat of honor.
He blows the trumpet and the Spirit of the Lord descends like I've never felt Him before.
We begin to applaud. I can't see anything. Partly because of the tears and partly because I feel unworthy to even look upon the place where He 'sits'.
As the applause dies down, the evangelist then starts at one side of the church taking groups of 12 to come sit at the table with the King and partake of the meal.
Yes, this does last for quite a while.....and still, even the babies are quiet.
It comes time for me and my family to take our turn. As I sit at the table, I still cannot bring myself to look at that middle chair draped in purple. I feel so filthy and so unworthy. As I partake of the bread, I can hardly breath, much less chew and swallow. The grape juice, which should bring some relief to my choking throat, I barely feel go down.
Still, all I can do is softly cry and slowly I come to a very tiny bit of a realization of how awesome the sacrifice of my Savior was for me.
Across the church, from the front to the balcony, the groups of 12 come, pray and partake of something bigger than we are....a meal with the One Who gave up everything for us and just wants us to give up everything for Him.
Is He asking too much of you?
Is He asking too much of me?
That night Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples to eat. He told them that this bread represented His body which would be broken for our sins.
Then He took a cup of wine, blessed it and shared it with the disciples telling them that this represented the blood that would be shed by Him for the remission of our sins.
He told of one that would betray Him and I'm sure that no one there but Jesus understood the meaning and the depth of what was going on.
I wouldn't have understood it. I'm sure that I would have been confused and feeling the need to ask more questions that Jesus could answer at that moment. I'm also sure that the significance of everything would have flown right over my head.
Fast forward to this past Sunday night. Sanctuary Church of God where my family and I go to church. We are having communion service and this is the first time that my family has shared in this service with this church since joining a few short months ago.
We enter the sanctuary and in the front is a table. It is lined with white linen table cloths. There are silver candelabras with blue and white candles in them.
There are four trays set up, 2 with bread, 2 with grape juice.
There are six chairs to one side and six chairs to the other side and one chair in the middle....this one is draped in purple. On the table in front of that middle chair lays a Bible, a crown of thorns and a dove.
The lights are low and service begins.
There are songs of worship and praise. There are many tears of love and adoration to our Savior.
The evangelist for the night begins to tell us the significance of the things before us and he also shares what we must work out within ourselves, with Christ to be ready to partake of the meal.
He speaks with authority and compassion. Even the babies are quiet.
He asks us to stand and in his hands he holds a trumpet.
He shares that when a king is ready to make an entrance, a trumpet is blown. He tells us that as he blows the trumpet, we will welcome the King to the meal. He then tells us it is customary to applaud as the King makes His way to the seat of honor.
He blows the trumpet and the Spirit of the Lord descends like I've never felt Him before.
We begin to applaud. I can't see anything. Partly because of the tears and partly because I feel unworthy to even look upon the place where He 'sits'.
As the applause dies down, the evangelist then starts at one side of the church taking groups of 12 to come sit at the table with the King and partake of the meal.
Yes, this does last for quite a while.....and still, even the babies are quiet.
It comes time for me and my family to take our turn. As I sit at the table, I still cannot bring myself to look at that middle chair draped in purple. I feel so filthy and so unworthy. As I partake of the bread, I can hardly breath, much less chew and swallow. The grape juice, which should bring some relief to my choking throat, I barely feel go down.
Still, all I can do is softly cry and slowly I come to a very tiny bit of a realization of how awesome the sacrifice of my Savior was for me.
Across the church, from the front to the balcony, the groups of 12 come, pray and partake of something bigger than we are....a meal with the One Who gave up everything for us and just wants us to give up everything for Him.
Is He asking too much of you?
Is He asking too much of me?
"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
John 15:13, NLT
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