Please pray for my husband's family. There is strength in numbers when two or more come together in agreement in prayer. My wonderful mother-in-law is very ill and well, things are not looking too bright at this time.
I know that God can heal the sickness but I also know that He takes away pain and suffering. He soothes the hurting and comforts all of us. He surrounds us with peace and love in His warm fuzzy blanket of grace and mercy.
Right now is hard but God will use this in us to make us stronger. Still, please pray.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Someday, somehow, someway......
I love knowing that someday, somehow, somewhere out there beneath the starry skies.... (sorry, I side tracked) I will be able to have my true heart's desire. Now if you have been reading my blog over time, you might think it is traveling. Sort of true but not completely. My true heart's desire is to take my big 'ol rockin chair to Africa or someplace such as that, plop it down, get comfy, and then rock, hug, and love on the little children of the world. It is my dream to do this. So maybe someday, somehow, someway I will go and rock the little children of the world.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Some things have been happening in my life that I am really not at liberty to go into detail about but because of it, I have turned more to the scriptures. This is a good thing. I have been in the process of reading a book by Lisa Whelchel called "The Facts of Life" She says straight up that this is sort of a biography of her life but not really because she doesn't share everything. This book is basically a testimony of her walk with Christ. It is inspiring because some of things that she struggled/struggles with is some that I am/have also. She continually includes scripture that spoke to her in these times and what a blessing it has been. I am continually amazed at God's timing. God presents scripture that I need to hear, read, etc. at just the time I am in what I call crisis mode.
Lisa talks in her book about how God pruned her, set her straight, showed her direction, etc. All things that I have needed to hear. She talks about listening to the voice of God and how to discern when it is Him and when it isn't. Again, things I needed to hear. For some reason I picked up this book to bring for the weekend rather than the classic novel I have been working on for months. I am so glad I did. The ministry that has come from the words and scriptures in this book have soothed my soul and made me realize so many things.
I was angry and hurt as the weekend started but God has comforted me and spoken to me in some ways that are just not explained with words. I am feeling so blessed by the words that I have had come into my spirit. This has also made me realize that I don't spend enough time in the word and that even though I pray every day almost constantly, it isn't the kind of praying that I really feel that God is calling me to do. I also realize that I will be under attack once I commit to being more into the word and I will have to pray harder and be ready.
The attacks are my weakness because I get compliant and comfortable. God is showing me that this is an area I have to work on.
So you see, out of the bad comes the good and out of this comes God's best. I ask that those who read this please keep me in your prayers that I will be diligent and in tune with what God wants for my life and not what I want.
Lisa talks in her book about how God pruned her, set her straight, showed her direction, etc. All things that I have needed to hear. She talks about listening to the voice of God and how to discern when it is Him and when it isn't. Again, things I needed to hear. For some reason I picked up this book to bring for the weekend rather than the classic novel I have been working on for months. I am so glad I did. The ministry that has come from the words and scriptures in this book have soothed my soul and made me realize so many things.
I was angry and hurt as the weekend started but God has comforted me and spoken to me in some ways that are just not explained with words. I am feeling so blessed by the words that I have had come into my spirit. This has also made me realize that I don't spend enough time in the word and that even though I pray every day almost constantly, it isn't the kind of praying that I really feel that God is calling me to do. I also realize that I will be under attack once I commit to being more into the word and I will have to pray harder and be ready.
The attacks are my weakness because I get compliant and comfortable. God is showing me that this is an area I have to work on.
So you see, out of the bad comes the good and out of this comes God's best. I ask that those who read this please keep me in your prayers that I will be diligent and in tune with what God wants for my life and not what I want.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
All That Has Happened Since Christmas
Well, everyone seems to have posted so much since I have. It has been so busy since Christmas. The Tatums and Ducommuns arrived and we went almost non-stop with Christmas, shopping, and visiting. It was a good visit and I enjoyed seeing the family.
We attended our annual January 1st reunion and got to catch up with family members we only see every 6 months. We missed several family members who were sick. Pictures were taken as usual. I think the kids out number the adults now. There was a time that we all thought that this might not be the case.
The younger two kids and I started back to school and have gotten back into the swing of things. The oldest son had oral surgery in the middle of the week. It started back the Monday before Christmas when he told me that his tooth hurt. The next day at the dentist, we were told that every molar had a cavity. Not only that but a 12 year old molar had been coming in crooked the whole time and as a result, had bumped against the other tooth. The result was the 12 year old molar developed into an abscessed tooth and had to be removed. They did fill several cavities on one side of his mouth but we still have a lot of work to do. He came through the surgery fine but was really grouchy for several days. I know that the pain was a cause but it was a endurance test of patience at times. Our girl came for a visit and she needs to have saint hood on her head for putting up with the boy. She helped out around the house and with the cooking. I really enjoyed having her around. I miss both of them since they had to go back to school.
The other thing that I seem to have been doing a lot of is cooking. I have been really going after it. I have learned to make brisket that the guys around here will eat. The same recipe works with roast. They ate that up as well. I made cookies, homemade bread, homemade salsa, mango salsa, beef stew, stuffed jalapenos, and breakfast tacos. I just find myself in the kitchen and all the sudden I am cooking something. I did watch the movie "Julie and Julia" but not until this week. I would love to do what Julie did and cook my way through a cookbook and blog about it. The problem is that no one here would eat Julia Child style food. I need to find a great cookbook and start doing that. I do have all of Rachel Ray's cookbooks and I toyed with that but.... Something to ponder.
OHHHHH!! I finally finished a whole skein of yarn on a project. The problem is that it didn't turn out like I had hoped so I am toying with what I want to do with it now. It is either going to be the world's biggest pot holder or half a scarf that I need to finish. I was just excited that I did it in 4 days. At the reunion there were 2 little eight year old girls there crocheting and they made a complete pot holder while there. The sad thing was that they had only learned to do that the day before. I learned a year ago and still haven't finished a project. I am so ADD when it comes to crafty things.
Be prepared for an upcoming project. I am going to redo the oldest son's room. I have a great plan for it. I am going to be posting before and after pictures of what I do. I hope to be done in the next month. I am also hoping to be posting finished projects in the next couple of months. Wish me luck.
We attended our annual January 1st reunion and got to catch up with family members we only see every 6 months. We missed several family members who were sick. Pictures were taken as usual. I think the kids out number the adults now. There was a time that we all thought that this might not be the case.
The younger two kids and I started back to school and have gotten back into the swing of things. The oldest son had oral surgery in the middle of the week. It started back the Monday before Christmas when he told me that his tooth hurt. The next day at the dentist, we were told that every molar had a cavity. Not only that but a 12 year old molar had been coming in crooked the whole time and as a result, had bumped against the other tooth. The result was the 12 year old molar developed into an abscessed tooth and had to be removed. They did fill several cavities on one side of his mouth but we still have a lot of work to do. He came through the surgery fine but was really grouchy for several days. I know that the pain was a cause but it was a endurance test of patience at times. Our girl came for a visit and she needs to have saint hood on her head for putting up with the boy. She helped out around the house and with the cooking. I really enjoyed having her around. I miss both of them since they had to go back to school.
The other thing that I seem to have been doing a lot of is cooking. I have been really going after it. I have learned to make brisket that the guys around here will eat. The same recipe works with roast. They ate that up as well. I made cookies, homemade bread, homemade salsa, mango salsa, beef stew, stuffed jalapenos, and breakfast tacos. I just find myself in the kitchen and all the sudden I am cooking something. I did watch the movie "Julie and Julia" but not until this week. I would love to do what Julie did and cook my way through a cookbook and blog about it. The problem is that no one here would eat Julia Child style food. I need to find a great cookbook and start doing that. I do have all of Rachel Ray's cookbooks and I toyed with that but.... Something to ponder.
OHHHHH!! I finally finished a whole skein of yarn on a project. The problem is that it didn't turn out like I had hoped so I am toying with what I want to do with it now. It is either going to be the world's biggest pot holder or half a scarf that I need to finish. I was just excited that I did it in 4 days. At the reunion there were 2 little eight year old girls there crocheting and they made a complete pot holder while there. The sad thing was that they had only learned to do that the day before. I learned a year ago and still haven't finished a project. I am so ADD when it comes to crafty things.
Be prepared for an upcoming project. I am going to redo the oldest son's room. I have a great plan for it. I am going to be posting before and after pictures of what I do. I hope to be done in the next month. I am also hoping to be posting finished projects in the next couple of months. Wish me luck.
Friday, December 25, 2009
My Christmas Thought
This is my favorite Christmas quote:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,"Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host singing, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Enough said.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,"Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host singing, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Enough said.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
My Appreciation for What I Have
I went out to the store today. Yuck!!! It was crowded and people were everywhere. One advantage was that I got to see people and how they treat each other. Mainly, how spouses treated each other. I took a step back and realized one thing.
I am an extremely lucky woman. I know that I whine and complain because I can't travel or spend money like I want to, when I want to but you know what? So what. No one else would ever have put up with me for this long unless they really and truly loved me. Jeff Pipes is the only man I know that can do that. He may roll his eyes from time to time, sarcastically answer me, remind me of the one I don't want to be in an not so subtle way, but he really and truly loves me.
He has had to put up with a heck of a lot from my stupidity over the last 20+ years. He continues to remain faithful and strong even through it all. He comforts me, sympathizes with me, keeps me in line financially (thank you Jesus for that!), and supports me even if it isn't the most solid decision. He listens to me when he is totally exhausted and he allows me to get my 20,000 words a day out that I have this need to get out all at once when he gets home (patience of Job, I'm telling you).
During our Experiencing God class, we had to come up with similarities and differences with our spouses. The differences was easy. Mainly, because we are almost opposites in a lot of things. The similarities were harder. During class discussion, even our preacher's wife admitted that it had been a hard assignment. She put into words what we had all thought and that is we as spouses have grown into similarities together. Meaning that the longer we are married the more we tend to have in common just being around each other. (Side note--I challenge you to make a list of similarities and differences between you and your spouse. Not as easy as it sounds.)
I love my husband more than almost anything and as I stepped back this week I realized that I hadn't really shown him that. I have allowed my "feelings" to get into the way of what I have. I have all I need right here. If it is the only "resolution" I make this year, it will be that I focus more on him than on me. He deserves it.
Before anyone says that I am trying to get on his good side, think again. I just realized that I am a lucky, lucky woman and I am appreciative of what I have. So there :P!
I am an extremely lucky woman. I know that I whine and complain because I can't travel or spend money like I want to, when I want to but you know what? So what. No one else would ever have put up with me for this long unless they really and truly loved me. Jeff Pipes is the only man I know that can do that. He may roll his eyes from time to time, sarcastically answer me, remind me of the one I don't want to be in an not so subtle way, but he really and truly loves me.
He has had to put up with a heck of a lot from my stupidity over the last 20+ years. He continues to remain faithful and strong even through it all. He comforts me, sympathizes with me, keeps me in line financially (thank you Jesus for that!), and supports me even if it isn't the most solid decision. He listens to me when he is totally exhausted and he allows me to get my 20,000 words a day out that I have this need to get out all at once when he gets home (patience of Job, I'm telling you).
During our Experiencing God class, we had to come up with similarities and differences with our spouses. The differences was easy. Mainly, because we are almost opposites in a lot of things. The similarities were harder. During class discussion, even our preacher's wife admitted that it had been a hard assignment. She put into words what we had all thought and that is we as spouses have grown into similarities together. Meaning that the longer we are married the more we tend to have in common just being around each other. (Side note--I challenge you to make a list of similarities and differences between you and your spouse. Not as easy as it sounds.)
I love my husband more than almost anything and as I stepped back this week I realized that I hadn't really shown him that. I have allowed my "feelings" to get into the way of what I have. I have all I need right here. If it is the only "resolution" I make this year, it will be that I focus more on him than on me. He deserves it.
Before anyone says that I am trying to get on his good side, think again. I just realized that I am a lucky, lucky woman and I am appreciative of what I have. So there :P!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Today is my 100th post. It is an accomplishment for me. I really didn't think I would do it this year. It is so exciting!
Okay, so eyes wide open. I was ready for today. Satan tried but I am pretty sure that I handled it well. I was praying on the way home tonight and I was thanking God for blessing us this year for the holidays. It has been a hard road. Jeff has us on a plan to get us out of debt but it leaves the budget really tight. One of the things we are trying to recover from is all my dental work from this past year. Tonight, my oldest son announces that he has a tooth that is hurting and upon looking at it with just a flashlight, it appears that at the very least, he has a cavity but where it is there could be the possibility of a needed root canal. Sigh.... I will make the appointment tomorrow and keep praying for a miracle. I am praying that it is just a simple tooth cleaning that is needed.
I am bound and determined to be happy this holiday season. God does bring the darkness, He brings the joy. If I allow satan to have the pleasure of darkening my life then he has been successful and by durn it! I will not allow that to happen. I want the joy that God provides and I want to be in the light and I will fight for that! It is totally worth fighting for! God's word says that we need to pray against the darkness and I am doing just that.
This is a joyous season and I am determined to celebrate it all the way!!!! So celebrate with me this holiday season (that and the fact that this is my 100th post) :D
Okay, so eyes wide open. I was ready for today. Satan tried but I am pretty sure that I handled it well. I was praying on the way home tonight and I was thanking God for blessing us this year for the holidays. It has been a hard road. Jeff has us on a plan to get us out of debt but it leaves the budget really tight. One of the things we are trying to recover from is all my dental work from this past year. Tonight, my oldest son announces that he has a tooth that is hurting and upon looking at it with just a flashlight, it appears that at the very least, he has a cavity but where it is there could be the possibility of a needed root canal. Sigh.... I will make the appointment tomorrow and keep praying for a miracle. I am praying that it is just a simple tooth cleaning that is needed.
I am bound and determined to be happy this holiday season. God does bring the darkness, He brings the joy. If I allow satan to have the pleasure of darkening my life then he has been successful and by durn it! I will not allow that to happen. I want the joy that God provides and I want to be in the light and I will fight for that! It is totally worth fighting for! God's word says that we need to pray against the darkness and I am doing just that.
This is a joyous season and I am determined to celebrate it all the way!!!! So celebrate with me this holiday season (that and the fact that this is my 100th post) :D
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