tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27706894088213094902024-02-19T01:37:11.271-08:00 Suzanne SchafferLife is hard but God is goodSuzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-34739969654413193542023-04-25T07:39:00.000-07:002023-04-25T07:39:00.379-07:00Front Row Seat <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2fhAUci0XSFYF9lfKAxFoZT4gmYptqmd9l1HlUDpZ7WIv-cszPQuuTCCHM6_1I0YJCetBoQnJwqkAcxP75kCK_UZe1CjLV5JwcsUcXUCFhLK4xCpi6HGzH99Gd12eomJUlSmSzLwPZB1JwKKBo6KJgSgknQ1cZFeW5RfaHZnIshfdNJ7GIFHTm1PUg/s600/My%20project-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="600" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2fhAUci0XSFYF9lfKAxFoZT4gmYptqmd9l1HlUDpZ7WIv-cszPQuuTCCHM6_1I0YJCetBoQnJwqkAcxP75kCK_UZe1CjLV5JwcsUcXUCFhLK4xCpi6HGzH99Gd12eomJUlSmSzLwPZB1JwKKBo6KJgSgknQ1cZFeW5RfaHZnIshfdNJ7GIFHTm1PUg/w587-h335/My%20project-1.jpg" width="587" /></a></div><p style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you've been around me any length of time, you'll know I love having a front row seat when possible. Church. Concerts. Comedy shows. Auctions. I want to be front and center, where the action is, so I don't get distracted and miss something. I want to be part of the event and front is where it's at. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lately I've had a front row seat to some things that I wish I could unsee. My mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis and the last year and a half of watching her slow and steady decline into a world of unknowns has taken a toll. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I tend to hold every emotion inside. Always have. I've learned -these past fifteen months or so- that this is bad for my health. Stress levels are impacting how I feel. Palpitations, and a diagnosis of "harmless" PACs, have left me trying to manage this stress. It's gotten easier but, I'll admit, I still have things shoved down inside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then along came CDH. A diagnosis I'd not heard of before it was given to grandson #3. "A hole in his diaphragm," is the easiest way to describe it. Organs move up into the chest in utero. Testing. More testing. Deciding whether to operate before or after birth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">He arrived on April 19th. World CDH Awareness day. How apropos. Little guy was immediately taken for observation and testing and stabilization. Seeing pictures of a days-old infant attached to tubes and wires and machines is not the normal welcome into this world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My front row seat isn't as enjoyable right now as it has been. Tears trickle out most days now. Daily updates make my heart pound. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">God is still good. It's during these moments that I have a choice. Do I run to Him and place my hopes and fears in His hands or do I let anger rule my thoughts? No, it's not fair. But what part of life is fair? It's in these times we need to remind ourselves that God is faithful, always has been and will continue to be. My crisis does not affect who He is. He is still God and is still in control.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_yWosTv46qR-zunt7mw6J03EbMoRjTltq_iElB74MSzzPgSj8s1UU8fDG0fNZBFzeZlojLYjZJC61kwAMrbF0eKwzzPXDHNVdho5EpFD8bLSxIB8DanlEBfyQNN68DMJek19d_dn1tji3olEEMWgCZvS0XddAlGRJG1Vtqe1mW0lD7rd69bCz4i_XA/s701/343301644_950758962628279_2034069691293050775_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_yWosTv46qR-zunt7mw6J03EbMoRjTltq_iElB74MSzzPgSj8s1UU8fDG0fNZBFzeZlojLYjZJC61kwAMrbF0eKwzzPXDHNVdho5EpFD8bLSxIB8DanlEBfyQNN68DMJek19d_dn1tji3olEEMWgCZvS0XddAlGRJG1Vtqe1mW0lD7rd69bCz4i_XA/w321-h428/343301644_950758962628279_2034069691293050775_n.jpg" width="321" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> We got to FaceTime the little one last night. Shortly afterwards he had some issues and a team of doctors tended to him. His surgery is scheduled for this Friday - they will open his chest and move all of the organs (including his heart) back to where they should be, and then close the hole in the diaphragm. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reality of my front row seat shakes me these days. The seat is uncomfortable and it doesn't seem to fit me. I want to trade it in for a seat that doesn't leave splinters and bruises, but it's the only one around for now....</span></p>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-61565308916952343602022-12-23T05:12:00.003-08:002022-12-23T05:12:42.826-08:002022 Favorite Things <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I missed last year but have compiled a list that is for 2021-2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of these things are edible ha ha. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUFSeKjW1Pk652cup1SScYN0V9r0StT6qYrFVNBXcKU2RTLRkx77UqKEGzBNw9g7xTYxlMkmHIBz_uviqgHU7q_WUrwcsZGMO9a6Q5e1iPVAllNgpw13F8MYd9EGkieCXf8G_KyaS4K7G/s1032/IMG_1379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUFSeKjW1Pk652cup1SScYN0V9r0StT6qYrFVNBXcKU2RTLRkx77UqKEGzBNw9g7xTYxlMkmHIBz_uviqgHU7q_WUrwcsZGMO9a6Q5e1iPVAllNgpw13F8MYd9EGkieCXf8G_KyaS4K7G/s320/IMG_1379.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Magnesium is something that most of us are lacking. This Calm Creme by Lemongrass Spa (Yes, I am still a consultant but I don't do parties anymore) is an excellent way to get magnesium. I was making my own magnesium lotion until they came out tight this. It is available in the lavender/vanilla scent or peppermint. Use on feet, legs or anywhere with sore muscles or cramps. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPfa74-Ggm6E0fg0wIOhwsVLgsiMvEaZ4iw7T3N0jFTFWAc61pe0kU9Yl01lE70_8jeJEd-fHLLqHcYVXGFqumx5DNDYJ7pamm1lYrsiR6piLYAXLLHUxxgTA9C8-RIeoOjMFNypcj0lj/s2048/IMG_1390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPfa74-Ggm6E0fg0wIOhwsVLgsiMvEaZ4iw7T3N0jFTFWAc61pe0kU9Yl01lE70_8jeJEd-fHLLqHcYVXGFqumx5DNDYJ7pamm1lYrsiR6piLYAXLLHUxxgTA9C8-RIeoOjMFNypcj0lj/s320/IMG_1390.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I actually found this stuff in 2021 and have since forgotten about it. Milk Street coffee sugars. They have several different varieties but we liked this one best. Really good in tea (or coffee, if you're into that....)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVmwkwxrktZ3yrD3XrkNWQCwXJtlKejN7nqFBsgxwPlA9vHGXPcHg3TVMmlJk5Ma3AyvIOx0zj-a4_h0Oi_kS6SeGLbqg5BoD3gJrl3J8NmB7Ztji-Cz8r7ebwuDzuYMWbSW8QBoeeh26RQ13tSgtXBp8ktD-aqWevj2XDboI3q0fmVPaJw3u4gNvvg/s1170/IMG_7107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1170" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVmwkwxrktZ3yrD3XrkNWQCwXJtlKejN7nqFBsgxwPlA9vHGXPcHg3TVMmlJk5Ma3AyvIOx0zj-a4_h0Oi_kS6SeGLbqg5BoD3gJrl3J8NmB7Ztji-Cz8r7ebwuDzuYMWbSW8QBoeeh26RQ13tSgtXBp8ktD-aqWevj2XDboI3q0fmVPaJw3u4gNvvg/s320/IMG_7107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Savannah Bee Honey. Whipped Cinnamon. I have tried other brands of whipped cinnamon honey (trying to save some money because this stuff is $18 a bottle) but they cannot compare. These people know what they are doing and this stuff is amazing. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nkpt9STLXSBevJfZ0ZBssNYtXVLY9Ce7JeZfgVuyB8yOlLxSCHNZMAv1zJUybTGx6RUBklongEl_CY2b2LTSAoxhn2VXlgKyhMDS5qpa0TR6jt8yMcjccV8q21Csf0IK46BVgBSbn9ft-ARHpGw3zzmfzXTt3zOvFZ66srws8hA3rU4yPmtA5sOV7A/s1170/IMG_7108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1170" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nkpt9STLXSBevJfZ0ZBssNYtXVLY9Ce7JeZfgVuyB8yOlLxSCHNZMAv1zJUybTGx6RUBklongEl_CY2b2LTSAoxhn2VXlgKyhMDS5qpa0TR6jt8yMcjccV8q21Csf0IK46BVgBSbn9ft-ARHpGw3zzmfzXTt3zOvFZ66srws8hA3rU4yPmtA5sOV7A/s320/IMG_7108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Uh yeah. They make it in chocolate too. This, along with the Prana Chai (see below) makes for a fantastic chocolate chai. I am not the same after using the Savannah Bee whipped honey. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0cap16OKSPzOib2WjN2SnK7SeXwkwIS-QECITE4piPgJZtzMZk3riVoW35xzVIaVs9mPrM6GWQp5Lp0Z1Ho5vRxdaQbzC8k9PTIa8cCMs_jFtrhUa0OWKCKACoAImq1BK4hh61aSdsPgah2l1HUtgNldKkU2RuSPu4eqbO9t-sKskajXtA_CwlnjKw/s1142/IMG_7110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="734" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0cap16OKSPzOib2WjN2SnK7SeXwkwIS-QECITE4piPgJZtzMZk3riVoW35xzVIaVs9mPrM6GWQp5Lp0Z1Ho5vRxdaQbzC8k9PTIa8cCMs_jFtrhUa0OWKCKACoAImq1BK4hh61aSdsPgah2l1HUtgNldKkU2RuSPu4eqbO9t-sKskajXtA_CwlnjKw/s320/IMG_7110.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>Due to the stress of 2022 I have given up caffeine. A decision I do not recommend. However, it send me on a search for a good decaf chai. My favorite of decades, Tazo Chai, puts chicory in their decaf (I hate chicory) - so that was not an option. I had to go to Australia (figuratively) to find Prana Chai. Their decaf blend is perfect for me. Discovered this brand at a coffee shop in Donegal, PA. Researched online and am now a fan. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2-Ejjmk7uz2SqcIRsBloU1ck3QpjGhx_0bOLSCnf-GdWilPP4zePetM7On85B9Ejw9auUVyu2aQpu1i-ZYr-RrCc37vRgt8PavBIm5SUq9zwKrfyMcda6CKgWpf7TGw3FFfonsfLNLOzbJEtgm4sHigFBox826Kt5Yw9V_ze5pHPXzZB4fYtMCN9Bw/s1139/IMG_7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1139" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2-Ejjmk7uz2SqcIRsBloU1ck3QpjGhx_0bOLSCnf-GdWilPP4zePetM7On85B9Ejw9auUVyu2aQpu1i-ZYr-RrCc37vRgt8PavBIm5SUq9zwKrfyMcda6CKgWpf7TGw3FFfonsfLNLOzbJEtgm4sHigFBox826Kt5Yw9V_ze5pHPXzZB4fYtMCN9Bw/s320/IMG_7111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ashwagandha. This herbal supplement is good for lowing cortisol levels and helping to reduce stress. I take it daily now. Over time it has really helped. It isn't one that works right away (though hemp oil or gummies do!), but takes time to regulate. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5DVBtIBxh0IzdqDp9PHeT2kWgYkvZwM_O8xJfMlYkiDO8lSI7Qm7T0EL5nTLh74qWBiL8hvGsv1apYZMpp4RVeJS3sE2h-1-DHz3srtR7qQhv1jkWxOR0ONZdJDK78_g_PWVqyab8cD9VjJuu6lrYNtHYGsKGCibMYIVPbZdYIdBQTTzQOxLO6JyEw/s909/IMG_7112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5DVBtIBxh0IzdqDp9PHeT2kWgYkvZwM_O8xJfMlYkiDO8lSI7Qm7T0EL5nTLh74qWBiL8hvGsv1apYZMpp4RVeJS3sE2h-1-DHz3srtR7qQhv1jkWxOR0ONZdJDK78_g_PWVqyab8cD9VjJuu6lrYNtHYGsKGCibMYIVPbZdYIdBQTTzQOxLO6JyEw/s320/IMG_7112.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Lemon balm tea is very calming and soothing. Need a stress/anxiety relieving tea? This is it. Tastes like lemon. Really good on its own or with some honey. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-J9XailIAfVA7icDR58UaflY4br8NG9TnKEyjaZYv2M-R0Q_8_g5wGpAcWElaNUcph7gjh6Ai7NHwTIlhCvOEVpLMdQbof29fiBOt5vVbiM2wtJov6UVFgEn2or_LgsroWlbs_WrFRc8IaIKGPb7vFCPzXKRC0_7mxu_10Es4UHgskAQbXn_KE8zMQ/s1025/IMG_7113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1025" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-J9XailIAfVA7icDR58UaflY4br8NG9TnKEyjaZYv2M-R0Q_8_g5wGpAcWElaNUcph7gjh6Ai7NHwTIlhCvOEVpLMdQbof29fiBOt5vVbiM2wtJov6UVFgEn2or_LgsroWlbs_WrFRc8IaIKGPb7vFCPzXKRC0_7mxu_10Es4UHgskAQbXn_KE8zMQ/s320/IMG_7113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These little maple candies are the size of a mint and are so yummy. Just a little treat to myself. My three-year-old grandson often asks for one of my special candies. He enjoys them too. Natural ingredients. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCrgkbtnyoaFkHpRVAAcWaa5E5DvP1YsrYtct6Mk2TtrBgYgs64LsB-Pk4T41X4CnKipwQonhcimcdTOFSsFwA0SR4HPiLHD4DDU3rc39sKxc9Y5MKYPH5Y2NDElYi1NfkWjddr_Sf0BEmGv36j-AoDwJBxXRIQvvjVDXkDCkYNRS8YEBs7wYTzKBuA/s1192/IMG_7142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCrgkbtnyoaFkHpRVAAcWaa5E5DvP1YsrYtct6Mk2TtrBgYgs64LsB-Pk4T41X4CnKipwQonhcimcdTOFSsFwA0SR4HPiLHD4DDU3rc39sKxc9Y5MKYPH5Y2NDElYi1NfkWjddr_Sf0BEmGv36j-AoDwJBxXRIQvvjVDXkDCkYNRS8YEBs7wYTzKBuA/s320/IMG_7142.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Speaking of maple....these Quinn Maple Almond Butter Filled pretzel nuggets are perfection in salty pretzel goodness. Quinn pretzels are mostly natural (some seed oils) and are so crunchy and satisfying. This flavor though. Nothing like it. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMk06Jyx3MioQrOkPgEH-opdcGZwVPXURy3WxrChA6MUpsdnD7DrHIpK2ODJAQhvlUSBDT8GPUyFfDr0DB_26Xvb3aEyoe7kwFmQz7o2hSh8oRe9XfSKhBgIvDfarSiCpkvFaSWCqY0IiiMMnVHkQDmgtyMKFsAyny2y8lGM5QJM9o-YKZpZWP9wS-w/s909/IMG_7143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMk06Jyx3MioQrOkPgEH-opdcGZwVPXURy3WxrChA6MUpsdnD7DrHIpK2ODJAQhvlUSBDT8GPUyFfDr0DB_26Xvb3aEyoe7kwFmQz7o2hSh8oRe9XfSKhBgIvDfarSiCpkvFaSWCqY0IiiMMnVHkQDmgtyMKFsAyny2y8lGM5QJM9o-YKZpZWP9wS-w/s320/IMG_7143.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've actually switched over to Quinn pretzels in general. They are really good and good for you. I find them on <a href="http://thrv.me/3MSc2B">Thrive Market</a> or <a href="https://www.iherb.com?rcode=FVE2729">iHerb</a>. Crunchy pretzels with great flavor. Love them. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAH-4Wv0uaRERg0prZ6KdV_PfPUkkxTbMLMSC6QYJ_gdmBVcHCkqpTJDN1PRGLROakYbcoR7KdFNffdjloZ5-6VpPRvTBallYhzfrp4RE2HeSCd1LWOwSHhiOIbclXGyQPS4EgNBHXK-Rote9jRHw3hI-UJHvw_2kZOLHB9BD0FrZMRgW9d58u3t4bDg/s4032/IMG_7179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAH-4Wv0uaRERg0prZ6KdV_PfPUkkxTbMLMSC6QYJ_gdmBVcHCkqpTJDN1PRGLROakYbcoR7KdFNffdjloZ5-6VpPRvTBallYhzfrp4RE2HeSCd1LWOwSHhiOIbclXGyQPS4EgNBHXK-Rote9jRHw3hI-UJHvw_2kZOLHB9BD0FrZMRgW9d58u3t4bDg/s320/IMG_7179.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Counterfeit Kingdom</i>. Digs into the NAR movement and shows how deceiving it can be. People, read your Bibles and learn truth so you can discern what all of this stuff is. Biblical Christianity is all we need. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hope you enjoyed my list. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Merry Christmas! </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p></div>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-17850482774770270472021-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:002021-02-23T07:49:12.471-08:00Don't Go Breaking His Heart <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xlht7pStRR-GVc8tyoYoHUJOpbPFp2Yh8YMcDCF-sh3tVydEEtTHBUbcYzVlB23X1cdie_voEjkcahuKrPnU7kxxYUWxTsQFID0wbKXY7unQA9L658m8sI0SEPKdq_OpuHxg-bkuqeoM/s2048/pexels-photo-3731878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xlht7pStRR-GVc8tyoYoHUJOpbPFp2Yh8YMcDCF-sh3tVydEEtTHBUbcYzVlB23X1cdie_voEjkcahuKrPnU7kxxYUWxTsQFID0wbKXY7unQA9L658m8sI0SEPKdq_OpuHxg-bkuqeoM/w475-h316/pexels-photo-3731878.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Years ago I spent some time disguised as the church secretary. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know, you're trying to picture it. Trust me, it was rough. While my husband may be my dream man he was definitely not my <i>dream boss</i>. Nor was I a dream secretary. Being self-employed is what I was created for. Well, that and the ability to make really good apple cake.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On one of these days the church door was left unlocked and I was alone in the building (which takes on a creepy edge when you're alone there, just saying) and in wandered a sobbing woman. Being the one to see who entered (read: since I was alone) I met her in the entryway and she fell into my arms. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I sensed she needed to talk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We sat in the sanctuary and she poured her heart out. She'd just found out her husband was cheating on her. She was devastated. She cried and talked for a long time and I encouraged her as best I could. I prayed with her and thought that was the end, but she started regularly attending the church and I got to know her. She was fun and bubbly and broken. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I found I really liked spending time with her (let's call her Jenn). Jenn kept me updated on what was happening at home and what evidence she had of her husband's cheating. Over time the ache became less but she was still bruised. One Sunday she came to church, excited to tell me that she met someone online and was going on a date with him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I stopped her right there, "You're still married." Her questioned look assured me my words, hadn't registered. "Jenn, you're still married, you have no right to be going on dates. <i>You're doing the same thing to your husband that he did to you</i>."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She didn't see it that way. I don't remember much about her after that, she didn't confide in me anymore because she didn't like what I had to say. I've found that people generally don't want to be faced with the truth of their sin. It looks better on others than it does on ourselves. Painting ourselves as victims of sin results in a prettier image than seeing ourselves stained with it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Bible has plenty to say about adultery and other sexual sins (including fornication, but that's another topic for another day) but I think one of the main reasons it teaches so much about it is because the marriage covenant is held in such high regard. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reasoning in ourselves will tell us that God wants us to be happy, yet nowhere in His word does He concern himself with our happiness. He wants us to be holy. Obedient. And filled with the fruit of the spirit. Following His word will result in deep joy, which is different than happiness. Happiness is fleeting, joy is steadfast. We get too caught up in emotions and in our present that we overlook or negate His desire for our lives. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If Jenn was more eager to chase the Lord than she was to chase a relationship with a man she would have been fulfilled. That man she met on the dating website, if he was who God intended for her, would still be there after her divorce was final. This little compromise, while acceptable to the world, breaks God's heart. We cannot be held responsible for the actions -sins- of others, but we are responsible for how we respond to them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you're in this situation I urge you to be steadfast and true. Cling to the word of God and who He is. If you're broken, allow Him to mend you. Be still. He isn't through with you yet. Don't allow yourself to fall victim to the lies of the world. Her ways are different than His. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I haven't heard from Jenn in years. Rumor has it she met a man on a dating site and is living the dream on his farm. I'm currently living the dream in my home office where the only person I have to answer to regarding my job is myself. ;)</span></p><p><br /></p>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-42321128818727741032020-12-26T10:35:00.006-08:002020-12-26T10:36:43.892-08:00New Year, New House, New You? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoDfnhrlmoX27L-WiS8pAb6uupFHJdhH6sTdTOlIvJJNBEzmrqqWQ5iJF3WPW1YBUM2OxeIzYGZO3Ef_TUD3BdA6MH9NxOzUDGy-iJOCsOTNaiw0g98cU-tM0nqoJ_lsntHvwl7IoD6S/s960/house-1407562_960_720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoDfnhrlmoX27L-WiS8pAb6uupFHJdhH6sTdTOlIvJJNBEzmrqqWQ5iJF3WPW1YBUM2OxeIzYGZO3Ef_TUD3BdA6MH9NxOzUDGy-iJOCsOTNaiw0g98cU-tM0nqoJ_lsntHvwl7IoD6S/w575-h383/house-1407562_960_720.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the course of my nearly twenty-nine year marriage I've moved to different houses fourteen times. At the onset of nearly all of those moves I thought about how the new home would make everything better. That being in different walls would solve all of my angst. It wasn't until the past couple moves (the last one being nine years ago) that I realized the only thing that was going to change was my address because I'm a human with issues and I take those issues with me everywhere I go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Life is a little like that though. We observe others and compare our lives to theirs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"If my house was bigger I could _____ just like they do." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"If we had more room we would get along better." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"If our house was newer it would look better."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The truth is that rarely does changing our surrounding change anything else. We are still the same messy person we were before. We still have the same marriage issues we had before. We still struggle with our diets. We still don't have the time to exercise. We still waste time. We still can't keep up with housework. We still don't read our Bibles. We still can't control our children.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because the problem isn't the house. The problem is us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year we make promises as to how life will be better in the new year. And looking at 2020 it may be easier than ever to resolve to make next year better, but unless we change ourselves nothing in our lives will change. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I read a few books this year that really dealt with a lot of deep issues in the church. They had different perspectives but all pointed to the same solution:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Get your Bible out and read it. You are not the center of the universe. Your happiness is not what's important in life. Get over yourself.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Bible has long been the standard of truth for Christians and it's time some of us return to that. Instead of listening to people telling us to do what makes us happy,<i> we need to get back to doing what makes God happy.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If we aren't living for Him here what makes us think we will spend eternity with Him?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Galatians 6:8 "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A new year, a new house, will not make a new you. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Romans 12:1-2 "<span class="text Rom-12-1" style="font-size: 16px;">Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.</span><span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-NIV-28248" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><i>Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. </i>Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What the world teaches is wrong. Which is why we are advised to not act like the world. You will only find true change and a new you when you allow God to be first in your life and allow Him to change you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are the problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">He is the answer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-53947265015320481952020-11-16T05:32:00.002-08:002020-11-16T05:32:23.386-08:002020 Favorite Things <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2020 has been the craziest year. I decided to release my favorite things list a little early, not that it's important to anyone but me ha ha. These are things that impacted me over the past year -- in a positive way. I could easily do a least favorite things list for this year, as I'm sure could you. It was hard to find positivity in 2020 but there is always something to be thankful for. The sun still rises and the tides still sweep across the shores. We are still free -for now- in the USA. Read on to see what I enjoyed this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jDzCaNXTuS0pem7qQ2m9Z8wiag8PQUbblIZELY-Zt0VFv8HVVqRkyOWNiWiyBCOGyIgmWME6CxTklJXJfMHokn5UU2EH8Vai3F9YT0iV1YSmK-Aax2su07hWrIussqMmofBVboz20Yi-/s1600/il_fullxfull.799364873_av6j.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jDzCaNXTuS0pem7qQ2m9Z8wiag8PQUbblIZELY-Zt0VFv8HVVqRkyOWNiWiyBCOGyIgmWME6CxTklJXJfMHokn5UU2EH8Vai3F9YT0iV1YSmK-Aax2su07hWrIussqMmofBVboz20Yi-/s320/il_fullxfull.799364873_av6j.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="" style="text-align: left;">Silk pillowcases are on my list of new favorite things. For the past ten years or so I've found it hard to sleep on a rough pillowcase. They almost feel like they burn my skin, some can be very abrasive. I've taken to using the old pillowcases, the ones a few washes from the trash can, the old cotton tends to soften. Until silk pillowcases came my way. *Cue organ music* So luxurious</span><span face="" style="text-align: left;">. Apparently there are legit reasons to use these (no sleep wrinkles, they are good for your hair and skin, etc), but all I need to know is that they are soft against my skin. I'm a fan. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLkSS19z5TBjMJZDir_er9MaOTPJgmJsUZvNrAr11_z0Ox52_ZVsb5UYjwaqHKhjmAC008KKTjS0wQdBHASWUaXh1WwSJhj0M0ra-_tATk2dEvIo5tW0RNG-26RuSxkn2C_TBLnpoTQOq/s1600/IMG_6255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLkSS19z5TBjMJZDir_er9MaOTPJgmJsUZvNrAr11_z0Ox52_ZVsb5UYjwaqHKhjmAC008KKTjS0wQdBHASWUaXh1WwSJhj0M0ra-_tATk2dEvIo5tW0RNG-26RuSxkn2C_TBLnpoTQOq/s320/IMG_6255.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Usually when I mention a food item as a favorite it's something sweet. This tomato wrap from NewGem Foods is a mind-blowing idea. The ingredients are pictured below. So easy to use these, you close them just like you'd seal a spring roll wrapper. A little water on the end, roll it, and it seals. These are perfect for people who want sandwiches...and fries. They also come in carrot and mango, but why? The tomato flavor is the only one you'll need. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtm0zWslp_6Pa4HstQDrss7KQ_s3gLgVgNDslmvkPVyKQIB39YlA_n9TQ40sBUwbBaNhe4SBL6H5WfaHgZpMBrfDgaL8QaTltHccLF4rzhe_KNF-S7yBGyvJOrOor4jorbIsvx3hEqhWt/s1600/IMG_6256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtm0zWslp_6Pa4HstQDrss7KQ_s3gLgVgNDslmvkPVyKQIB39YlA_n9TQ40sBUwbBaNhe4SBL6H5WfaHgZpMBrfDgaL8QaTltHccLF4rzhe_KNF-S7yBGyvJOrOor4jorbIsvx3hEqhWt/s320/IMG_6256.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aiYwqHjAgCSGP21hhjjdq2SY71h94aXB-A_F68fcDQcVXCSD93cCTyYmQN5lzjq4iA0tUZGVriXP48z_aG_enCC6BZcSCv1_9BTFz5aM8_pF3_X4-5hEJHh5wfupi0pWSHr9jV3a3WDu/s1600/IMG_6257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aiYwqHjAgCSGP21hhjjdq2SY71h94aXB-A_F68fcDQcVXCSD93cCTyYmQN5lzjq4iA0tUZGVriXP48z_aG_enCC6BZcSCv1_9BTFz5aM8_pF3_X4-5hEJHh5wfupi0pWSHr9jV3a3WDu/s320/IMG_6257.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkwBypxhxMi5RvxD_QD976GIXDbVYI1c5QcncU6Io0M7DDtdFU7Vz9TPlNhzMgaQpWe3D4BU9DYWZR8_DWnuKoInItW9HfJsauCgAzenNNjKpYRfMTyBGUifghOQNvqsJPvJCzLCnwFyC/s1600/61WHlwYDBaL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1500" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkwBypxhxMi5RvxD_QD976GIXDbVYI1c5QcncU6Io0M7DDtdFU7Vz9TPlNhzMgaQpWe3D4BU9DYWZR8_DWnuKoInItW9HfJsauCgAzenNNjKpYRfMTyBGUifghOQNvqsJPvJCzLCnwFyC/s320/61WHlwYDBaL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0xySmXTFf7PPpaPdhvitOig4wngiVExm81BwRP3Kcj7f8CjQX172EB7S05oAyVU2urbrIjK8MST195NA_ho9tRPuR09f5uGAJjwQ-picKEN1zh_UqoMyT4UAxR6XK5kq4tY5i8XEY7Pj/s1600/51kAcuPHeDL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1500" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0xySmXTFf7PPpaPdhvitOig4wngiVExm81BwRP3Kcj7f8CjQX172EB7S05oAyVU2urbrIjK8MST195NA_ho9tRPuR09f5uGAJjwQ-picKEN1zh_UqoMyT4UAxR6XK5kq4tY5i8XEY7Pj/s320/51kAcuPHeDL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R1875R3">kai rose body buffer</a>. This thing. Oh my goodness, people. If you treat yourself to one beauty item this year, let it be this. These come with two in the package. They are heavy sponges filled with rose scented soap. I mean, like the soap company unloaded all of their soap into these two sponges. They last forever. I use mine a couple times a week and I've been using it for months. The sponge exfoliates and the rose soap cleanses. Paraben, sulfate, phthalate, phosphate, and gluten free. Just beautiful rose fragrance in a tough sponge. </span><br />
<span face=""><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>
<span face=""><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvZ9feOkJTfenz2cXRjs2uDWGjg1WgzFmqwM2EfV40qkxkI_E3WzcxZ3eq3TQTqp62DtXHkyCHed2msiWbe63re91iGpV6s_AgdOs-9lFgzfg6u74z21CZOEcbRf2-wBNEcleMYJCkTSb/s1600/3__24186.1511984697.600.600.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvZ9feOkJTfenz2cXRjs2uDWGjg1WgzFmqwM2EfV40qkxkI_E3WzcxZ3eq3TQTqp62DtXHkyCHed2msiWbe63re91iGpV6s_AgdOs-9lFgzfg6u74z21CZOEcbRf2-wBNEcleMYJCkTSb/s320/3__24186.1511984697.600.600.png" width="287" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The Bethlehem Bar. I can't believe I haven't told you about this treat before now. I discovered it a few years ago at Wegman's in State College and it's pretty much changed me. Made by <a href="http://www.thegranolafactory.com/">The Granola Factory</a> in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, I'm not sure if it's sold nationally or not, but they do have online ordering available. And if you'd rather not have chocolate chunks with roasted pecans and salted caramel....they have a raspberry bar with raspberry, white chocolate, and roasted almonds. I haven't tried that one. I see no reason to when I can't get past the original. Sigh. Wish I had one right now. I only buy them once or twice a year, to make sure they always stay special to me. And to make sure I can still fit in my pants. </span><br />
<span face=""><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi4Ftt6eFno9NwcegspwyYsUM4ulzZWudI9FFo_7B5xooa7ZiQ9DDP07TIdYSnIG98SqZ9ctyzkAzYeRl0LpyxmYl7gO5Z01y7yNDgC856IDsu-3w4OTbSPwJ06LVXIA490EjDu2-sM8h/s1600/00078522060307_front_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi4Ftt6eFno9NwcegspwyYsUM4ulzZWudI9FFo_7B5xooa7ZiQ9DDP07TIdYSnIG98SqZ9ctyzkAzYeRl0LpyxmYl7gO5Z01y7yNDgC856IDsu-3w4OTbSPwJ06LVXIA490EjDu2-sM8h/s320/00078522060307_front_1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span><font face="verdana">This Apricot Scrubble by Jason is one of the best face scrubs I've ever used. I stumbled upon it at TJ Maxx (my favorite place to stumble upon things....) and have fallen for it every time I've used it. And it's called a Scrubble...how cute is that? I started using apricot seed face scrubs back in the 80's when there was one simply called <i>Apri</i>. This one is so much better because the scrubbing seeds are smaller. It rinses well and leaves my skin soft and exfoliated. </font></span><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDo272pszoEsTkL4RXXva_GPR7vjt3cPePcc8-FmUHLB-4yq8j4th-Xfnfz12yah32NVhLaxowcgwAiX2OXHJXxI8RxiJ5Ro6lw4lbklQrP3_wYPMZJoPvzZSt8sd2XqKlXx0wZiJXx8M/s2048/IMG_2748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1038" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDo272pszoEsTkL4RXXva_GPR7vjt3cPePcc8-FmUHLB-4yq8j4th-Xfnfz12yah32NVhLaxowcgwAiX2OXHJXxI8RxiJ5Ro6lw4lbklQrP3_wYPMZJoPvzZSt8sd2XqKlXx0wZiJXx8M/w254-h500/IMG_2748.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes. It's toothpaste.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I kinda have a thing for toothpaste. I don't buy the normal Crest, Colgate, Close-Up (do they even still make Close-Up?). I look for natural ones without all of the junky ingredients I try to avoid (fluoride, sodium laurel sulfate....)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Found this gem in an Avon catalog and I love it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First of all, it's in a pump. Genius!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Second, pink salt. No, it does not taste like salt. It's minty fresh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Third, IT'S IN A PUMP.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only problem is that my Avon lady quit selling. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEndyy9rYdcGwVENS-BGCHfIjkMJCkoPV1iPWMlLgx2uSUFrwcoi22Ri20oGhmBbxKLhmk-Z-gYY7_jdgFwVQTMCXH1R_sQ9CHSf80CYrf97vspr5lAYHLUlNS-yl6bMuShAKAdOCXeqiQ/s2048/IMG_5672.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEndyy9rYdcGwVENS-BGCHfIjkMJCkoPV1iPWMlLgx2uSUFrwcoi22Ri20oGhmBbxKLhmk-Z-gYY7_jdgFwVQTMCXH1R_sQ9CHSf80CYrf97vspr5lAYHLUlNS-yl6bMuShAKAdOCXeqiQ/s320/IMG_5672.jpg" /></a></div><br /><font face="verdana">Paromi bourbon vanilla tea. Oh. My. Tealovinggoodness. I'm always looking for a new black tea. I'm very picky with the tea I like. I like chai, vanilla, English breakfast, and a very few others. This vanilla is incredible. I was a little afraid to spend $9 on this glass jar with fifteen teabags in it, but am glad I did. I've already scoured their website to see if they will have other teas I might like (they don't ha ha). But I will get this one again. </font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF55mfM3gyx15x0mFvxVBTlNdyi2k8juoZxXBfTApX1V18_PsvLOOzmIYiHJsofxNSxUk7FTsOAscYO6osbGgyzWoRr-1qSNmXZnHyPdBW9wSxMXrnYACVMWgm0RYjn0fonXQa_QUoKdo/s450/9780593083840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmF55mfM3gyx15x0mFvxVBTlNdyi2k8juoZxXBfTApX1V18_PsvLOOzmIYiHJsofxNSxUk7FTsOAscYO6osbGgyzWoRr-1qSNmXZnHyPdBW9wSxMXrnYACVMWgm0RYjn0fonXQa_QUoKdo/s320/9780593083840.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The world constantly tells us that we are enough, and that goes against Biblical teaching. <i>you're not enough (and that's okay)</i> by Allie Beth Stuckey is one of the best books I've read in a long time. She shares myths that the world teaches and reshapes them into what the Bible teaches. If you're looking for a self-help </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">book from a Biblical perspective, then grab this little volume as fast as you can. And if you're on social media, I urge you to follow Allie Beth on all of the platforms. She's my favorite conservative. Smart. Practical. And sometimes sarcastic. Love her. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-RJ4bdSvtGLLO-y4XM2_x-sJ2JrGGBRiROkD9zjWR_hF_W4Cuh3vlILJ2uR-42T8EQmFqUvCb8Q5PxzxtgmcxcIwVbxzpp4G0fBplTBf0GWwDEs7EuB5ZktpPjh2ed_Ywi1AtQTENtbW/s1280/Another-Gospel-Alisa-Childers-1280x640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-RJ4bdSvtGLLO-y4XM2_x-sJ2JrGGBRiROkD9zjWR_hF_W4Cuh3vlILJ2uR-42T8EQmFqUvCb8Q5PxzxtgmcxcIwVbxzpp4G0fBplTBf0GWwDEs7EuB5ZktpPjh2ed_Ywi1AtQTENtbW/w493-h247/Another-Gospel-Alisa-Childers-1280x640.png" width="493" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Another Gospel?</i> by Alisa Childers is an answer to my prayers. Unassumingly, over the past couple decades, the church has been dismantled by those within. This shouldn't come as a surprise, the Bible warns that false teachers will arise from <i>within</i>. Social media has given voices to these teachers and they've gained an enormous following among Christians. People like Jen Hatmaker, Sarah Bessey, Glennon Doyle, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and others are twisting scripture to the standards of the world. Dig deeper into Progressive Christianity and you'll find basic Christian tenets completely washed away. Alisa (former ZoeGirl member) shares her story of searching the truth in the scriptures as she was tested by her pastor at a progressive church. Instead of embracing the doubt she fought for the truth. This may be the most important book you can read right now. I'm also a big cheerleader of her podcast. She doesn't back down from naming and debunking false teachers, and she does it with love and kindness. There are lines being drawn in the church, separating truth from deception. Be sure you're following the truth. I urge you to read this. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There you have my list. Anything you'd add? </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-31745948154957902732020-09-17T08:19:00.002-07:002020-09-17T08:21:49.883-07:00Sweet Zoey <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKbbZUh5IA2LvZ91vfjjGzLppTQzpBJBwIuCOriE0elO1ulhNqjsvFORbOTrDTbr5dpQdEPgIQlQn-h7tuE7tUCkk3m_XtsZrmCeZy0PAHTcazncgGMm5nViIS9DyyjYqFHrXbZdk1oVz/s2048/IMG_1931.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKbbZUh5IA2LvZ91vfjjGzLppTQzpBJBwIuCOriE0elO1ulhNqjsvFORbOTrDTbr5dpQdEPgIQlQn-h7tuE7tUCkk3m_XtsZrmCeZy0PAHTcazncgGMm5nViIS9DyyjYqFHrXbZdk1oVz/w240-h320/IMG_1931.jpeg" title="Zoey August 10, 2020" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Zoey - August 10, 2020</span></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we found her I didn't realize I needed her. Sure, she needed us, she was living in woods, alone, surviving on whatever she could find. She was nine months old, the vet later told me when I took her in for a check-up, still unsure I wanted to keep this undernourished mutt. We'd been on vacation in southwest Missouri, near the Arkansas border, in the middle of the woods. I was on the porch when I saw her trotting down the dirt road. A little brown dog. I whistled and she stopped to look at me from across the lawn. Then she continued on her way.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later that night, the family was watching a movie we'd brought (no cable service out there!) and suddenly this furry face popped up in the window, scaring my husband out of his seat. We fed her some people food and went to bed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She was still there in the morning. We asked around and no one knew where she came from. We fed her some more and she stayed. The next day we went and bought some dog food, flea and tick shampoo, and a leash and collar. We were committed before we realized it. The kids promised to take care of her. And she was a sweet dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My husband bathed her in the shampoo and then picked fifty ticks off of her. She stayed outside but never wandered off. She and my daughter chased frogs around the pond next to the house where we were staying. She continued to eat whatever she found outside. A trait she never outgrew. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We bathed her again before bringing her home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She went by many names aside from Zoey.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Z</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Z-dog</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zoey-girl</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Diva</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Diva-dog</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doggie doodle</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Puppy girl</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Beast</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wildebeest</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Weirdo</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dog</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doggie</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pup</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zoester-toaster</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pupster</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And probably others that I can't think of right now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She was the sweetest dog I've owned and has ruined me for others. Though I've vowed to not ever have another because the pain of putting her down is so heavy. I cried hard, like I've not cried before. Hours....days...I sobbed, hoping I'd been as good to her as she'd been to me. My prayer throughout all of the grief has been, <i>"Thank you, God, for letting me be her dog-mom. Thank you for this precious gift. Thank you for the years together."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She was also very smart. She would wait until the minute we left the house and then make her rounds, searching for food left out or a door left open. I figured it went back to her days of scrounging up whatever she could find in the wild. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This dog. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She ate her weight in chocolate over the years. I quit worrying about her after her indulgences. I just figured she had a stomach of steel. A bag of mini Snickers a friend left on the kitchen counter? Gone. A tin of chocolate covered pretzels, in plastic wrap and covered in Christmas paper? Gone. Baking supplies (flour, sugar, shortening....) when I left the pantry door open? Gone. A package of stevia-sweetened chocolate bars that came in the mail and hadn't been opened yet? Gone. And many many more things over the years. Guests who stayed with us were sometimes surprised to find their bags gone through and snacks missing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But she was sweet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I always wondered what she was. I thought maybe she was chocolate lab and beagle because of her size, color, and shape but didn't know for sure until earlier this year when I got a dog DNA kit and swabbed her cheek. They didn't have any information about her other than that swab, and guess what? I was right. Chocolate lab and beagle. A mom knows. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She never even growled, until the end. And that's when I knew she didn't feel good. I'd had clues. Her eyes had clouded over and she couldn't hear me even when I was standing right next to her. She'd started coughing when waking up. She was having trouble with stairs. She trembled when I touched her. But she was still sweet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My one year old grandson was giving her kisses and she growled at him. I knew. I just knew it was time. For her and for him. Because people are always more important than pets.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She was a good girl. A furry friend I came to love. Above is the last picture I took of her, the morning we had her put down. I'm still not able to talk about it and I'm sobbing as I write. I don't like coming home and without her waiting at the door for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwcwR7wqa67jl8wkkNCQRwOAq-4sPuNpAzmilKa_XBpC6vPkqoTXGMb_1ziVUqFhA5zlDeLwJIk2pA3PYs5pwpv4jYJVsSkDcv7jJZNCigGqBaGRzwKt2h2tNwEFYGbH0G_rp5FfGBUM4/s899/IMG_3198.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwcwR7wqa67jl8wkkNCQRwOAq-4sPuNpAzmilKa_XBpC6vPkqoTXGMb_1ziVUqFhA5zlDeLwJIk2pA3PYs5pwpv4jYJVsSkDcv7jJZNCigGqBaGRzwKt2h2tNwEFYGbH0G_rp5FfGBUM4/s320/IMG_3198.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't like throwing the empty pint container away without it being licked clean. Peeling apples without my apple-peel-eater buddy is sad. The kitchen floor is dirty with crumbs, splashes, and drops of food until I clean it. Nobody licks my nose when I'm stretching after a tough workout. No one begs for me to share my food. Nobody tries to get on the couch with me. I can leave food anywhere I want. The pantry doesn't have to be closed. I can walk barefoot in the backyard. There's no nose prints on the windows.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's awful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I'm so grateful for the gift she was. And she's tucked in my heart forever. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zoey 2006-2020</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-56055328680984187102020-09-08T08:49:00.001-07:002020-09-08T08:49:16.990-07:00Just Say No to Lemonade? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZJbLVHP0rpPxXPBvHOVOOgcKcWTH_QiICWa9hErgcOhVWB0So13hVz564fiSKN1TyvWHgNSVgYRw_8mGsEa8ppHhsLlGcHh0BOcKLLgoeE8pLemvg1iHFXe-kQS7oOYZ315mgrrWI1bV/w500-h333/lemonade-3571083_960_720.jpg" style="text-align: start;" width="500" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a young child I went through the dreaded allergy testing where they pricked my arms and back with different known allergens and waited for a reaction. My biggest reaction was to citrus foods, which crushed my mother as she'd always nursed every cold or sniffle with orange juice. I was okay knowing this was bad since I didn't like orange juice anyway. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So life went on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could walk right by Orange Julius in the mall without any sorrow since orange wasn't my fave.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But along came summer. And fresh-squeezed lemonade, served in big sizes at the county fair. I looked forward to that lemonade every summer and that one large cup never seemed to bother me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hmmmm. Maybe I'm not allergic anymore</i>, I thought, as I got older. I'd have a lemonade or two every summer, without reaction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I got brave and started making my own at home. I perfected it and a few years ago started buying lemons every year, late August, when I just ached for lemonade. I'd use one lemon a day and make myself a single serving every afternoon, adding just the right amount of sugar for perfection. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'd be fine for about two weeks and then I'd start noticing changes. My eyes would seep and the skin around my eyes would crack and get painful. I developed a rash that almost looked like I got punched in the face (or was hit by a flying lemon....).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So off of the lemonade I'd go. Apparently, the citrus builds up in my body and causes me to react this way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But do I learn?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No. Every summer I am tempted by the lemonade. And I'm fine when I have one glass here and there. But then I want more.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">And Trader Joe's sells organic fresh lemonade that is better than what I can make. So here I am, again, with a sore eye (this time it's my eyelid), and waving farewell to the lemonade.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year I think it won't hurt me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How often do we treat sin the same way? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I can do that. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No one will know.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Followed with:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I got away with it.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It didn't hurt me.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lies we convince ourselves with never help us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I need to treat the lemonade as the poison it is to my body instead of allowing it to build up over time. And we need to look at all sin in the same way. We need to turn from it and avoid it. We need to not allow ourselves to be swayed by things that will inevitably cause harm. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One little look at pornography.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One small lie to avoid trouble.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One careless word.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One thought of someone other than your spouse.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One haughty look.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One bit of gossip between friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One selfish desire fulfilled.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One bad attitude.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One murderous thought.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One uncontrolled outburst.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can lead to more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are not our own when we come to Christ. We were bought with the price of His life, His blood. We are admonished to glorify God with our bodies and our spirits.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don't allow the little sins to build up. Our decisions and choices every day have bigger impacts than we realize.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll be over here tending to my broken skin. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-67247430079383698572020-05-28T08:39:00.000-07:002020-05-28T08:39:39.974-07:00Will You Be Welcomed? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTVBjSVEz3nInp8WQ_aEqjZJ56vR3zqIaGngX8UMiOO2uk-CxYsxIYJeAyKWOUcYOVcZrmR1GbI0fi4n7m1VKNKYtjn2A09ZYq-FhlFYbo-sLVCgT4WZ-tOimrc1TD5xok5gZb_7DbUl/s1600/pexels-photo-1652402.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTVBjSVEz3nInp8WQ_aEqjZJ56vR3zqIaGngX8UMiOO2uk-CxYsxIYJeAyKWOUcYOVcZrmR1GbI0fi4n7m1VKNKYtjn2A09ZYq-FhlFYbo-sLVCgT4WZ-tOimrc1TD5xok5gZb_7DbUl/s400/pexels-photo-1652402.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In looking for something clean to watch on television, Wayne and I stumbled upon <i><a href="https://www.uptv.com/shows/bringing-up-bates/">Bringing Up Bates</a></i>. Raising nineteen children to love the Lord and to be productive members of society is a pretty big task, but this family does it well. We've binged the entire show and are now caught up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We love this family and can name them all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've watched the older children fall in love and get married and have children of their own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've been in their homes (virtually).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've gone to parks with them (virtually).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've laughed with them and cried with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've even been in the delivery room when they are birthing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Along with thousands of other people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I follow them on Instagram and Facebook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sometimes catch them broadcasting live.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've browsed the </span><a href="https://batessistersboutique.com/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Bates Sisters Boutique</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's like I know them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, if I show up on their porch during a family party and expect</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to be welcomed I'll likely be banished. Perhaps even escorted off the property. "But Gil," I'll cry, "My husband is a pastor just like you are." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Kelly Jo, let me come in and help cook. I'm an excellent cook," I'll say, knowing she can use the help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She'll probably get a puzzled look on her face and say, "I don't know you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it's true. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because even though I can claim to be their friend we don't have a relationship. It's one-sided. They're living their lives and I'm simply observing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I heard a quote recently stating that four percent of people who claim to be Christians are actual Jesus-loving-going-to-heaven Christians. The others say they are Christians but there's nothing in their lives to back it up. When they get to heaven they're going to say, "Lord, Lord," and Jesus will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you." and that will be the end of their happiness. I don't remember who said it or where they got the number, but it's disheartening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How many of those in our churches will see this play out in their first waking moments on the other side of death? How many will expect to be welcomed into heaven only to be denied access because they never took the time to be in a relationship with the one they claimed to know? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being escorted off of the Bates' porch would be much easier than being denied access to what I'd thought would be my eternal home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are meant to do more than observe. We are meant to interact with our Lord. We accept Him to be our Lord and Savior but too many of us neglect the <i>Lord </i>part. We just want to be saved. We want the security. We trust Him with our eternity but don't want to include Him in our now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Giving up what we want for what He wants is part of dying to ourselves. Becoming less of us and more like Him. Jesus is our standard, He is our example. He came to earth to teach and train us how to live, His ultimate goal to give His life for us. We need to adopt His character and make it our own. If our plans are to live in eternity with Him, in a holy heaven, why do we spend so much of our time here participating in unholy things?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've all been instructed to wash our hands these past few months, but I think the focus, in the church, needs to be turned to our hearts. Get rid of the unholy. If we had any idea of how holy God is we would be embarrassed by how we act. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The path is narrow for a reason. And while many are spreading the message that everyone is welcome at the table, not everyone will be welcomed at the gate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Depart from me, I never knew you," are not words any of us want to hear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-49351614033774917142020-04-03T11:57:00.000-07:002020-04-03T11:57:13.972-07:00What Was I Thinking?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYx-d5AbJxe2pDfQPAfAmZ8O7z3INRNHWL9mi3kmsDi9lGxhQeM8fF9YF5GR_-FEFPUSaC8P-cy3II8NX0hVYDlEvIJRpVOh7pNv0uKreIdT1HijxgEuxhMbPOZePYsWXx_yQSQgozT2y/s1600/My+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1199" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYx-d5AbJxe2pDfQPAfAmZ8O7z3INRNHWL9mi3kmsDi9lGxhQeM8fF9YF5GR_-FEFPUSaC8P-cy3II8NX0hVYDlEvIJRpVOh7pNv0uKreIdT1HijxgEuxhMbPOZePYsWXx_yQSQgozT2y/s640/My+Post.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My mind wandered down paths I try to avoid, reaching into memories pushed aside. Assaulting me with reasons and questions and motives. I'm embarrassed to admit I spent more time on these paths than I normally do and the guilt and shame started creeping in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm pretty good at shaking off the thoughts that try to hit me. I almost physically reach into my head and pull them out, throwing them to the ground and saying, "I will not think about that," deciding to think on other, better things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But once in a while...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps it's the forced time alone with the 2020 Corona Quarantine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honesty had me admitting to friends this week that Corona has fear creeping at my doorstep. He's knocking and I'm trying to ignore him. Pretty sure he's circling my house, looking for a hole to slip into. He's a hard one to chase away. I turn off the news and avoid news websites. I focus on creating interesting meals and reading encouraging books. I pray. I find humorous memes. I read my Bible. <b>I choose to think on other things.</b> It's a constant training of the mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've learned that if I don't take control of what I'm thinking about then the thoughts start to control me. If I allow myself to be reminded of every mistake from my past or every reason to fear I will start to believe the lies the enemy whispers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Fear</b> - are you caught in its grip? It's easy to give into, but it can quickly strangle us. I've learned that simply <i>saying the name Jesus</i> can chase fear away. Whisper it as a prayer, cry it as a defense, shout it if you need to. No other name has power. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Doubt </b>- we are not immune to doubt as Christians. The problem is when we leave it to simmer. Doubt can cause confusion. Hebrews 11:1 teaches, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (KJV) We aren't supposed to have all the answers. We are supposed to believe and have faith. Some things aren't for us to figure out. God is God, we are not. We do what He instructs and leave the big stuff to Him. He's been dealing with people since the beginning of, well, people. He made us. Nothing we think or do is new to Him. He didn't create us with His understanding. Have questions? Seek the Bible for the answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Shame </b>- who among us doesn't feel the sting of shame? Whether it's from something we've done or something someone has placed on us, we feel it. It causes us to shrink inside ourselves. Shame can silence our testimony. Yet shame is a trick of the enemy, one he uses without, well, shame. He knows that if he reminds us of things then he can shove us into a corner. Rise up, Christian! He has no power over you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Guilt </b>- similar to shame, guilt haunts us deeply. We can feel it on our chest, that ache of knowing we sinned. Forgiveness is the answer to this. Forgiveness from God, others, and from ourselves. <i> Forgive myself for something?</i> Yes. Forgiveness frees us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Expectations </b>- placed on us by others or by ourselves. As a pastor's wife, I have had piles of expectations on my shoulders. Shedding them has taken years. Knowing who I am in Christ, knowing my talents, gifts, limits, and abilities has been the key to ridding myself of them. Learning to say no without explanation helps. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The list continues. We can't leave these things unattended or they'll take over. We need to face it and deal with it. Instead of letting it grow in us we force it out and we grow in God. Negativity and confusion are not of God, they are from the enemy of our souls. An enemy who wants only to pull us away from God, capture us, and take us to eternal hell with him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listen, there are a lot of false teachers spouting that hell isn't a real place and God will accept you into His kingdom no matter what you do. This isn't truth. Whatever God's word declares is truth. Not whatever we think or feel or hear. Go to the Bible for answers. Come to Him as you are and then allow Him to change you and mold you into who He wants you to be, not who you want you to be. It's not about us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overcoming our own thoughts takes discipline. A life filled with discipline shouldn't be foreign to the believer. We are different. Even the Bible says that we are not of this world. We are the oddballs. We are the outcasts. But only while we are on this sin-filled planet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And our time here is very short compared to eternity. It's shorter than this dot . on the size of the page you're reading. Let's focus more on what comes next instead of what we see in front of us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James 4:14 (NKJV)</span><br />
<br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-71191708724537323292020-03-19T08:26:00.004-07:002020-03-19T08:26:49.174-07:00A Past Remembered <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PR2LEuTkDJ-GZnrwss2Wx-chvvU4npEgCISZStMotjKCihHxzk3XYal68MefgqjHwQURqlRyakoksuuNMBDs2UoFE_NjJxwIP87_vPVlc-WfZSKb05uIhM8JhHnkSbjG0-I9oxAm_mwv/s1600/book-2363912_960_720.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="960" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PR2LEuTkDJ-GZnrwss2Wx-chvvU4npEgCISZStMotjKCihHxzk3XYal68MefgqjHwQURqlRyakoksuuNMBDs2UoFE_NjJxwIP87_vPVlc-WfZSKb05uIhM8JhHnkSbjG0-I9oxAm_mwv/s320/book-2363912_960_720.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A friend loaned a book to me months ago, "I think you'll like this," she said, handing it to me. I put it on my bookshelf, not really interested in reading it, and let it sit there until I'd read through the books I'd deemed more important.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I picked it up whilst in the middle of a social media fast and, on a quiet evening alone, began to read. It was entrancing. The words blended together like a symphony, producing the most beautiful mind images. Then I noticed that my friend had tucked a handwritten note inside. The note gave some background information on the author who (honestly I'd not even looked at who the author was) she said was a strong Christian woman and glorified God in all she said and did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Intrigued, I decided to read more on this woman and her family. A quick online search revealed that both she and her husband engaged in extramarital affairs, with him fathering children to two sisters. My brow furrowed when I read that they'd both supported Hitler and his elimination of Jews during the Holocaust. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The timeline indicated that her affair happened during the writing of the book I was currently reading.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So while she was writing about relationships, God, and love, she was indulging in her own lusts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why we follow God and not people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And why we don't put people on pedestals (or <i>petal stools</i> as I once saw online, <i>ugh</i>). Because the life of the book's author was not one I wanted to have my own reflect. The pages of the book she wrote were filled with things that gave me moments to think about my own life, some pointed me back to God, and some spurred me to write more. Yet the author was flawed (as we all are).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is only one book with an Author that we can trust fully. The pages are life-giving, convicting, and full of hope. When you read the Bible as a Christian, it comes alive. The Author is the standard. Other books can be good to read, but we have to reach into our a pocket full of discernment with which we can sift the good from the not so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John MacArthur made recent news for his outspoken, and honestly quite rude, comments about Beth Moore, another popular Bible teacher. I'd just finished reading one of his books about ministry and was struck with the wisdom in it. <i>His rambling though.</i> It erased his wisdom from thousands who could learn from him. Many people will never give him a second look and will dismiss everything he says or writes. Yet even in reading his book I found I agreed with about 80% of it. I didn't write it all off though. I sifted it through what I've learned in my own Bible study. I took the good and left the bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Excuse me while I have a moment to sing the theme song to a favorite 80's show. </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we read the Bible we don't have to separate anything. All of it is truth. It's 100% correct and parallels the Author of it. The more I read it the more I learn from it and the closer it brings me to God. It is trustworthy. And those parts of it that make us uncomfortable? They are for our benefit. They help us grow into the people He wants us to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During this time in which we are forced to stay home and live quiet lives, I encourage you to pick up your Bible and begin to read it. You will never regret spending time in God's word. And you will only benefit from it. There's nothing else in life that has a guarantee like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-16595113936442618852020-02-26T04:02:00.000-08:002020-02-26T04:02:44.502-08:00It's Time to Put God First <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqboKWilHGH4BnLz7mwgPMpUn4cnV59tKKSdae2Uq8fVPIvfmhKkrQsd9Si2sljkwPu3WKWmxfGILPXJfhLZ8UbQ-PnSwcB5QGql7LgWxyQoPffcKl_6n962oWZAc7kxGveRYbKlqYvC01/s1600/god-first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqboKWilHGH4BnLz7mwgPMpUn4cnV59tKKSdae2Uq8fVPIvfmhKkrQsd9Si2sljkwPu3WKWmxfGILPXJfhLZ8UbQ-PnSwcB5QGql7LgWxyQoPffcKl_6n962oWZAc7kxGveRYbKlqYvC01/s320/god-first.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The speed at which my life is passing has quickened as I've grown older.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fifty. <i>Ugh</i>. It always seemed <i>so old</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But what is age? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just a number. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once you become an adult you're you. Then you're just you with a little more knowledge and wisdom (hopefully). Experience is the best teacher. Not just experiencing bucket list goals, but experiencing the burns, the overextending, the insults, the deception, the betrayal. All that life offers us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As adults we strive to make the best life for our families that we can. We work the jobs, cook the meals, keep the house clean, and try to have an Instagram-worthy life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But are we missing the goal? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before she was a Bible teacher and author, she was a Christian rock singer. Time mellowed her 80's synthesized beat and she yielded to worship ballads. A voice unlike any other at the time, I was a fan. In 1983 she released her second album, War of Love, and the last song has stayed in my head for decades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God Put a Fighter in Me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"My eyes may see the coming King in all His Majesty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In company all dressed in white</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But meanwhile here at the world's dark end</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dragon draws the iron curtain 'round against the Light</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And souls grow weary in this war of love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And seek their solace strolling down the sweet civilian ways</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But meanwhile back at world's dark end</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The nations see no future waiting for the serpent to strike</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Where have all the Christian soldiers gone?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Where is the resistance, will no one be strong?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When will we stand up tall and straight,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rise up and storm the gate?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How can we fail to get excited?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The battle is ours, why don't we fight it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Battalions of darkness rise above me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But God put a fighter in me, put a fighter in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will sing songs of victory</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will arise and set men free</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will applaud your majesty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will proclaim your kingdom come</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will announce the battle done</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will lift up the righteous one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listen and you'll hear the sweetest sound you ever heard in England</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's the spirit blowing across the land</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's the voice of one who calls his bride to come and to be ready</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gentle as a dove, he comes with fire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where have all the Christian soldiers gone?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where is the resistance, will no one be strong?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When will we stand up tall and straight,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rise up and storm the gate?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How can we fail to get excited?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The battle is ours, why don't we fight it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Battalions of darkness rise above me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But God put a fighter in me, put a fighter in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will sing songs of victory</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will arise and set men free</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will applaud your majesty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will proclaim your kingdom come</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will announce the battle done</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will lift up the righteous one"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lines in bold have been what I've lingered on, repeating them and wondering, have Christians always been so....lazy?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not all, mind you, but many. Even most. Christian in name only, but not in word or deed. No fruit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Galatians 5:22-23</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are the things that should be evident in our lives if we call ourselves Christians. Being a Christian is more than just tweeting a Bible verse or putting a Christian tattoo on our bodies. Are we spending more time feeding the wants and needs of our flesh instead of the part that will last forever? </span></span><br />
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Christians we need to put our the desires of our flesh behind us and focus on honoring God with our minds, time, bodies, decisions, etc. We need to allow Him to have full reign. No more living for ourselves. We aren't guaranteed a day on this planet, in this body. We are guaranteed an eternity. Where we spend it depends on who we serve today. </span></span><br />
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All we have is today. </span></span><br />
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's time to put God first.</span></span><br />
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be the fighter that He wants you to be. Fight the flesh, die to yourself, find your identity and value in Him. Especially if you call yourself a Christian. </span></span><br />
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="versenum hide" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd hate for you to be disappointed when you take your first breath in eternity. </span></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-65156167128854718042020-02-21T04:03:00.003-08:002020-02-21T04:03:48.112-08:00Kitchen floor woes <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=1404cbc1f1&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-a:r-8827670342883748709&th=17005d278ae685d6&view=fimg&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_nUELarwgdyviNEiquPMhEG73S2YPZTOy4ZGM5LV8cgh4GhguIsuNWDm8PyOtqFQNjaLev7kflKa3A2iccF-P7w8O1csnX0GmrJzFu9jNFF4FV_BqawI_fT0o&disp=emb&realattid=17005d2699ea0fdc45d1" width="300" /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I spent a better part of this afternoon lamenting how much I hate my kitchen floor. It puzzles me as to why anyone would install such flooring. Not only is it ugly, but also impractical. It also puzzles me as to why, after nearly nine years in this house, I still have this floor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well. It doesn't puzzle me that much ($$$).</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I clean it only once a year. </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't judge, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I Swiffer and spot clean in between. And I have a dog who does her share of, </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ahem</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, cleaning it. </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But see all of those deep grout lines? Scrubbing around each brick tile and into those lines is beastly. It's much harder than getting foundation out of the lines on my face.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Douse with cleaner.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scrub with rough sponge.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wipe with cloth rag.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rinse with rag.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rinse again in between each brick tile until it's done.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roughly two hours of scrubbing and rinsing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Similar process to removing makeup, but much more labor intensive. </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, I could use a mop but scrubbing seems to get it cleaner. Though with only doing it once a year you'd think it wouldn't matter to me. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The up and down off of the floor is quite a workout in itself. All those squats I've done over the past few years have paid off. That's a reason to be thankful.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be honest, I struggle with the issue of being content with the floor I have. I admit to a daily peek at new homes for sale in my area on Realtor.com and I've even walked through a few of them. I have to fight the desire for more, bigger, newer. I have to shove the pride down and remind myself why this house is good enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I spent some time on the floor searching my brain for more reasons to be thankful:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a small kitchen. Really small. Two of us is too many in there but it's big enough to cook and create in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It has radiant floor heat so it dries quickly and isn't freezing to walk on in bare feet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The brick tiles are dark so you really can't see the dirt. Same with the grout. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it's</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> so hard to stand on. We've placed one of those thick anti-fatigue mats on it in front of the sink and it helps right there. I'm wondering if I can cover the floor with those....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if you drop your favorite thingamabob? Might as well </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(or <i>misewell</i>, as I recently saw on Facebook. As in, "I <i>misewell </i>drop out of school..." <i>Oh honey, please don't.</i>) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Might as well plan to buy a new thingamabob because it will break. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have big plans for this kitchen. I'd like to rip out the wall, ceiling, and floor and replace it all. But I know that may never happen and I'm learning to be okay with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of all the changes that need to happen the biggest ones are inside my heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And yes, actual picture of me scrubbing the floor. </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-27765795915964560372020-02-12T04:25:00.000-08:002020-02-12T04:27:16.585-08:00Alone vs. Lonely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u0rBhHxJ3WL3WMKfkH5aRTXoFjDN1mkCjTYpp8I3RWaTtQ8kqo75e9zup6HSwkjOwrFX0UC_Rl7rvPxs6vPdfgaKbJTjeRR8cZp8koFEJ_rTaAX3DlhtXquVJEDnjpXmZSaJeTaY2Zg/s1600/IMG_6238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u0rBhHxJ3WL3WMKfkH5aRTXoFjDN1mkCjTYpp8I3RWaTtQ8kqo75e9zup6HSwkjOwrFX0UC_Rl7rvPxs6vPdfgaKbJTjeRR8cZp8koFEJ_rTaAX3DlhtXquVJEDnjpXmZSaJeTaY2Zg/s320/IMG_6238.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few years ago I attended an event in Florida. It was nice to escape the cold of Pennsylvania and travel south. Where that week the high temperatures were in the upper 40's. So not kidding. It was a golf event and my husband said he'd never been so cold on the course. While the men were golfing, the women were herded onto a bus and transported to Saint Augustine. I should add that these were all strangers to me. I'd met a few in passing over the years but didn't even know names. We got off of the bus and made plans to reunite at an appointed time. From there we were free to do whatever we wanted for a few hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I began my adventure alone. Dodged a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade size crowd of elementary school field trip children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seriously.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Felt like I was the frog in a game of Frogger. I just wanted to cross the street filled with children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Crowds in general are not my thing. Crowds of kids on field trips? <i>Shiver</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wandered the shops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I visited a museum and basked in the history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKVuWN513Ws1rxtC6Z4rcvnW7XCmaQcK6eRaDVPzGBl0M9aNOcWulyULZpGSSe53I_lsnJTLkDrU0_ehaFQjKLovpYzaMxRmGclPvutROQVjBYJ6tWnUDIvdHUJ4vSiiTlrXxyA-_N0w/s1600/IMG_6242.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKVuWN513Ws1rxtC6Z4rcvnW7XCmaQcK6eRaDVPzGBl0M9aNOcWulyULZpGSSe53I_lsnJTLkDrU0_ehaFQjKLovpYzaMxRmGclPvutROQVjBYJ6tWnUDIvdHUJ4vSiiTlrXxyA-_N0w/s320/IMG_6242.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEiOLGUDrchRORWMvAjE04mFhXn11_hd471cZvEeBY1L82xKAa_PgjQ1OYeISWEsQKspJCQigx4YZTbcPA4mlvfuMzUHjJ2J8PkIlsFa-l7RJZko5cSv0XXC0CKFiGCHjKddDbD59VD_ItU/s1600/IMG_6241.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLGUDrchRORWMvAjE04mFhXn11_hd471cZvEeBY1L82xKAa_PgjQ1OYeISWEsQKspJCQigx4YZTbcPA4mlvfuMzUHjJ2J8PkIlsFa-l7RJZko5cSv0XXC0CKFiGCHjKddDbD59VD_ItU/s320/IMG_6241.jpeg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Button art </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgnVkbzu7d9GH_vqQ_49bvEuI2JmqYzD2JZiSO_xw-LT3Xq6fSzBM19JhrnW9B1HIyrsI7CXL4wiLzWKiY4tKlB2p0ejnv6PYJ8b_gH8vwOIO4PHEGHeqToS09DgmBKPYYoSQBiOjP9Vpk/s1600/IMG_6240.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVkbzu7d9GH_vqQ_49bvEuI2JmqYzD2JZiSO_xw-LT3Xq6fSzBM19JhrnW9B1HIyrsI7CXL4wiLzWKiY4tKlB2p0ejnv6PYJ8b_gH8vwOIO4PHEGHeqToS09DgmBKPYYoSQBiOjP9Vpk/s320/IMG_6240.jpeg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This used to be a pool, now it's a restaurant</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUaH_WSecx__VJqIHahi-sYS3xOKXvwmKsd6jrrVf9frdBSlPXxiO8IhcfY5II96GLN6e9t1XtM72vC0dD6eWvCLGqnZ0WVkRscA-gkjK5unQI9V4YR-fkwa3Vqbb6VP-64P_zSOZ9XQ/s1600/IMG_6239.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUaH_WSecx__VJqIHahi-sYS3xOKXvwmKsd6jrrVf9frdBSlPXxiO8IhcfY5II96GLN6e9t1XtM72vC0dD6eWvCLGqnZ0WVkRscA-gkjK5unQI9V4YR-fkwa3Vqbb6VP-64P_zSOZ9XQ/s320/IMG_6239.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Found a coffee shop and bought an English Breakfast hot tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Found a spot on a cement wall near the water where I could just sit and drink my tea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout my adventure I came upon women from our group, none of them alone like me. At each encounter I was invited to join them. I think my aloneness make them uncomfortable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even while I was taking the picture of my tea and boots one of them approached and asked if I wanted my whole self in a picture. I handed her my phone and she took this shot of me. On the wall. Alone with my tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcSwK_se7N1scJEGjLfYRVGsSzZ8qlhgGymrBrzfrH6L_nIjRpLOSPwZrql_tasOTuskSU9xuWu5Lm2hxCT17KlPdU-z_hu7tqomvI6MaMmOaQCE8gaViIwGuaDdXbb2JXTe2oqOitak/s1600/IMG_6237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcSwK_se7N1scJEGjLfYRVGsSzZ8qlhgGymrBrzfrH6L_nIjRpLOSPwZrql_tasOTuskSU9xuWu5Lm2hxCT17KlPdU-z_hu7tqomvI6MaMmOaQCE8gaViIwGuaDdXbb2JXTe2oqOitak/s320/IMG_6237.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was as if taking my picture somehow included her in my adventure and she could feel better that I wasn't truly alone anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I was perfectly content being alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think perhaps we can make ourselves uncomfortable when we see someone alone. As if they need to be included so we reach out and try to coax them to join us. Because together has to be better than alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There's a time for together and there's a time for alone. I'm happiest when I'm alone or with my people. Put me with strangers where small talk is required and I end up babbling and humor becomes my default. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lancaster County is famous for the Amish and their restaurants where meals are served family-style. This means you sit at a table with strangers and pass bowls of food around to share from. I can think of nothing worse. For an introvert, this is torture. I don't mind family-style with my actual family. But with strangers? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And bed and breakfasts, though quiet and laid back, involve breakfast and chatter with strangers. <i>Can't I get my tea in my room?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alone is how I recharge. I think best without the clutter in my brain that small talk and crowds create. I'm calm inside. I may appear calm on the outside when I'm in the midst of stranger-danger (there are reasons aside from actual danger that they call it that) but inside there's a storm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alone and lonely are two different things. I have felt lonely in crowds. Some of my loneliest times were when I was in college, surrounded by my peers. I rarely get lonely these days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know my fellow introverts can relate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alone, to me, is a beautiful thing.</span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-11232481349614659342020-02-01T04:10:00.000-08:002020-02-01T04:10:00.913-08:00Self Care, Soul Care, and What Matters Most <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt_32nGdZ5UxSCwSk4tCmn5gWg9jIkMaaokEarp8XAGzW41TUHc2UQRlDY66koIUqX18LkgkOYsnhYudnV9hX0sgs2Mq565WHluA_0clqWt6CNLOg8Z6TVpK5jFRi73MX71H1K6R7ZJaL/s1600/pexels-photo-416528.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt_32nGdZ5UxSCwSk4tCmn5gWg9jIkMaaokEarp8XAGzW41TUHc2UQRlDY66koIUqX18LkgkOYsnhYudnV9hX0sgs2Mq565WHluA_0clqWt6CNLOg8Z6TVpK5jFRi73MX71H1K6R7ZJaL/s400/pexels-photo-416528.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I'm thinking of taking an algebra class, to keep my mind sharp," my seventy-eight year-old mother said during a recent visit. "When you keep pushing your brain it helps keep it active."</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I laughed and said, "But algebra? It's not something you'll ever use. I had it in high school and have never had a need to use numbers and letters together."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something I think is definitely not of God. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He only gives us good things.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Why not take a foreign language? That is something you could use," I countered since her church has a Spanish-speaking congregation on its campus. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our conversation continued and I lingered on it for several days. I thought back to the classes we were required to take in high school that I've found generally useless:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Algebra - I've not needed it. Ever. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chemistry - I know enough to not mix chemicals.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Biology - Cutting a frog taught me that they smell awful and look even worse.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Geometry - Never had it and have never needed it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gym - Um. Well. <i>Sports.</i> And those uniforms. Ugh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">World History - "<i>The Magna Farta, ahem, Carta" (true words spoken by my history teacher, Mr Caldwell) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Music - We learned I can't read music. We learned this through flute, guitar, and piano lessons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And let's not even talk about diagramming sentences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was always more concerned with spiritual matters than with what was going on in the world. When asked to bring in news articled on current events, my classmates would provide political news and I would bring in the obscure article about someone losing a limb in a freak water-slide accident. I've never been inclined to debate political matters or even discuss celebrity gossip. It was never important to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What did catch my attention was when a celebrity died. My first thought is still, <i>I hope they believed in Jesus.</i> Not playing judge by being saddened when their life doesn't show a reflection of belief. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In fact, out of all my years of schooling I think the teachers who did me the most good were my Sunday school and children's church teachers. The things they taught me prepared me for life. Life here and life eternal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James 1:22 was the first verse I ever memorized, taught to me in a classroom in an upstairs hall in the building on the corner of 4th and Shirls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I learned the books of the Bible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Sword drill, anyone?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I learned verses put to song, <i>"Be ye kind, one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgive you...do do doodley-do Ephesians 4:32."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>A good round of Father Abraham never hurt anyone. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I learned how to pray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my teen years I learned why choosing a mate who puts Jesus first is important, why abstaining until marriage is a good thing, why alcohol, drugs, and Christianity aren't a good mix, and that living a disciplined life in accordance to God's Word is important.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our world is constantly giving us ways to improve our lives. Products that will help with our self-care. They're urging us to take care of ourselves. I'm all for self-care, in moderation. Drink water, eat healthy, exercise. But let's not focus so much on self care when we should be focusing on soul care. Our souls are the part of us that will last forever. Why do we pay more attention to the parts of ourselves that last less than a century?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We sometimes treat our bodies better than we treat our souls. We indulge in whatever we want all week and then do our once-a-week church thing, though fewer are doing that than ever. We cannot thrive in our walk if if we aren't really walking to begin with. Silencing the alarm on Sunday morning to drag ourselves to church isn't walking with the Lord. A daily surrender, a daily observance, putting self aside for His purpose, that's what it's about. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Drink the water, yes, but drink the Living Water more often.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's not popular these days to draw a line between right and wrong, to speak against sin in hopes that someone will listen. We pay more attention to keeping people comfortable and affirming all of their decisions during their 75ish years of life on this planet. When we die only our flesh dies. Our spirits live on. And they will either live in heaven or in hell. We are all equal in death and deciding who we will serve while living determines our eternal home. Take care to seek the truth of who God is. Just because culture has changed doesn't mean God has. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Psalm 119:160 jumped out at me while I was pondering this blog post. <i>"The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever."</i> (NIV) That is speaking of the God of the Bible. He is truth. He is the standard. His word is unchanging. He is why we are here, why we exist, and the reason we need to spend more time on soul care. Especially if we believe we will spend eternity with Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure if mom will pursue going back to school. The thought of me going back to school makes me shiver. I didn't like it then and I know I wouldn't like it now. I will, however, continue to read the Bible and get to know its Author, for it's He who I will spend eternity with. It's what matters most. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-63174632397328731572020-01-27T04:47:00.002-08:002020-01-27T04:47:58.811-08:00Harder To Believe Than Not To<div aria-level="3" class="Ss2Faf zbA8Me qLYAZd" role="heading" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 24px;">
Lyrics</div>
<div data-hveid="CAgQAA" data-ved="2ahUKEwi2-PKf3qPnAhVlhHIEHUCzBOgQsEwwAXoECAgQAA" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<g-expandable-container aria-expanded="true" data-slct="mnr-c" jsaction="xpd_a:Z6bwpe;xpd_c:fW2qAb;xpd_e:AvkpRc;xpd_r:Nh5q2c;xpd_rt:GsRPff;xpd_rm:AgioGc;xpd_t:yELBLe" jscontroller="UxJOle" jsshadow="" style="display: block;"><div jsname="gI9xcc" jsslot="">
<div class="Oh5wg" style="margin: 0px 16px;">
<g-expandable-content aria-hidden="false" class="PZPZlf" data-eb="0" data-lyricid="Lyricfind002-530437" data-mt="0" jsaction=";rcuQ6b:npT2md" jscontroller="wrFDyc" jsname="YyJftb" jsshadow="" style="display: block; transition: none 0s ease 0s;"><span jsslot=""><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Harder To Believe Than Not To</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Nothing is colder than the winds of change</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">where the chill numbs the dreamer till a shadow remains</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">among the ruins lies your tortured soul</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">was it lost there</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">or did your will surrender control?</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Shivering with doubts that were left unattended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">so you toss away the cloak that you should have mended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">don't you know by now why the chosen are few?</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">it's harder to believe than not to</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">harder to believe than not to</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">It was a confidence that got you by</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">when you know you believed it, but you didn't know why</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">no one imagines it will come to this</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">but it gets so hard when people don't want to listen</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Shivering with doubts that you left unattended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">so you toss away the cloak that you should have mended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">don't you know by now why the chosen are few?</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">it's harder to believe than not to</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Some stay paralyzed until they succumb</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">others do what they feel, but their senses are numb</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">some get trampled by the pious throng</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">still they limp along</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Are you sturdy enough to move to the front?</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">is it nods of approval or the truth that you want?</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">and if they call it a crutch, then you walk with pride</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">your accusers have always been afraid to go outside</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">They shiver with doubts that were left unattended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">then they toss away the cloak that they should have mended</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">you know by now why the chosen are few</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">it's harder to believe than not to...</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb WRZytc" jsname="U8S5sf" style="margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">I believe</span></div>
</span></g-expandable-content><div class="j04ED" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">
Source: <a href="https://www.lyricfind.com/" style="color: #70757a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" waprocessedanchor="true">LyricFind</a></div>
<g-expandable-content aria-hidden="false" data-eb="0" data-mt="0" data-ved="2ahUKEwi2-PKf3qPnAhVlhHIEHUCzBOgQycMBKAEwAXoECAgQAw" jsaction=";rcuQ6b:npT2md" jscontroller="wrFDyc" jsshadow="" style="display: block; transition: none 0s ease 0s;"><span jsslot=""><div class="auw0zb" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">
Songwriters: Steve Taylor</div>
<div class="auw0zb" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">
Harder to Believe Than Not To lyrics © Music Services, Inc</div>
</span></g-expandable-content></div>
</div>
</g-expandable-container></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-11662534949502059412020-01-18T05:21:00.001-08:002020-01-18T05:21:55.315-08:00Pickles and Prayer by Bethany Marshall, Illustrated by Sarah Vogel <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNN2kRKuqQBYHgbGnFv9-eOYXGBqnOHGaZYPipz84rexyl6VrZt_5b-DGMRKzbug50Zcw2vQEE2WgHFeIjNpY-hPCHoYpa85aM_3c4X3nauxbKezobXgwpbqJlyVt0LNqDgCXbmvesdgL/s1600/IMG_5322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="750" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNN2kRKuqQBYHgbGnFv9-eOYXGBqnOHGaZYPipz84rexyl6VrZt_5b-DGMRKzbug50Zcw2vQEE2WgHFeIjNpY-hPCHoYpa85aM_3c4X3nauxbKezobXgwpbqJlyVt0LNqDgCXbmvesdgL/s320/IMG_5322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh my goodness, you guys have got to check this out! <i>Pickles and Prayer</i> is a collaboration by two of my favorite people. A sweet prayer guide for parents and children to read together. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqRM4Dpsk5AGY0qSuvuq6jTn-dEYphXwXHa_dXFyVc68YSF3SykKNcOX47CELnTK2nedS9AJgRQLpJWVfd9T3t3mgv-OXFEtbVNjGB-ch7V0X85ErcanWT3xpjP3A4yoy7K_eetl7wf-P/s1600/IMG_5323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="750" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqRM4Dpsk5AGY0qSuvuq6jTn-dEYphXwXHa_dXFyVc68YSF3SykKNcOX47CELnTK2nedS9AJgRQLpJWVfd9T3t3mgv-OXFEtbVNjGB-ch7V0X85ErcanWT3xpjP3A4yoy7K_eetl7wf-P/s320/IMG_5323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Pickles and Prayer</i> encourages readers to pray even little prayers. The lyrical verse captures attention and teaches that all prayer plants a seed of faith, the simple prayers eventually giving way to deeper prayer and a deeper walk with the Lord. Beautifully illustrated with pictures of pickles from seed to plate. Also includes a simple refrigerator pickle recipe. Good book for children and parents to read together.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVm942MeOfA-zNYdxsYLuVq_u1TXDnwlb2pbPoZu9nS-QluV465LWEil1Kt4cWAeMTopsvGAxydngWScXg1kZA15uZBR5cU9CIyrgKpfsM-uOp5I2PRiqCYkYKvehdcXcCnBHqnnDcxMjZ/s1600/IMG_5327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="721" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVm942MeOfA-zNYdxsYLuVq_u1TXDnwlb2pbPoZu9nS-QluV465LWEil1Kt4cWAeMTopsvGAxydngWScXg1kZA15uZBR5cU9CIyrgKpfsM-uOp5I2PRiqCYkYKvehdcXcCnBHqnnDcxMjZ/s320/IMG_5327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can purchase the paperback <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pickles-Prayer-Bethany-Marshall/dp/1734343109/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=pickles+and+prayer&qid=1579353543&sr=8-1">here </a>or the Kindle version <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083ZM9JRZ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pickles+and+prayer&qid=1579353653&sr=8-2">here</a>. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnBkEoGcHVLUgwGaBAV8VAl24tijChjmSdPlgTJUD72DP9PJwBRV-NF6Ru-lnfg7XBEtsRV3z1_-GfdjrAVCfFG0WuVFBDm7mfXARYmLJ7ARwLqZ7UxM5Zs0TvdMRY3U6XSg2u-dlC3R1/s1600/IMG_5325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="593" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnBkEoGcHVLUgwGaBAV8VAl24tijChjmSdPlgTJUD72DP9PJwBRV-NF6Ru-lnfg7XBEtsRV3z1_-GfdjrAVCfFG0WuVFBDm7mfXARYmLJ7ARwLqZ7UxM5Zs0TvdMRY3U6XSg2u-dlC3R1/s320/IMG_5325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h8jKbwh66SYPjiMwdUhUZnxamqlO33K5Qe7y0IWQlGBGca0Qp_I92LQadctJUomRrQwSedP13LzdtUgsGWrfBSgALeoDf5-9M76_Z2CrOsjf8nsfMF6MiKXQn1FvksTWIGXByV4TCrCh/s1600/IMG_5326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="598" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h8jKbwh66SYPjiMwdUhUZnxamqlO33K5Qe7y0IWQlGBGca0Qp_I92LQadctJUomRrQwSedP13LzdtUgsGWrfBSgALeoDf5-9M76_Z2CrOsjf8nsfMF6MiKXQn1FvksTWIGXByV4TCrCh/s320/IMG_5326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-44811574534559057552020-01-04T10:32:00.000-08:002020-01-04T11:21:15.213-08:002019 Reading List <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
2019 Reading List</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8783191907875746684" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<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/AVvXsEg9DKHA6nQEhBg6T-lTBL8Tv6Hq5g0Sr6rLZllWazze4CMqBjdvifcgBeeMpRblOcv_96mS7_degjol3JD5k6pvdHaItIEUoZG5F-bhN7cYztGB9_ax8Ev8edFVwlpo_Nxwx3oYeb-tULI/s1600/books-2158737_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="960" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DKHA6nQEhBg6T-lTBL8Tv6Hq5g0Sr6rLZllWazze4CMqBjdvifcgBeeMpRblOcv_96mS7_degjol3JD5k6pvdHaItIEUoZG5F-bhN7cYztGB9_ax8Ev8edFVwlpo_Nxwx3oYeb-tULI/s320/books-2158737_960_720.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just my way to keep track of the books I've read this year. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Favorites are in bold</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">January</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Honeybee Hotel by Leslie Day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. <b>We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Learning to Live Out Loud by Piper Laurie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Love Finds You in Carmel by-the-sea California by Sandra D. Bricker </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. Sing For Me by Karen Halvorsen Schreck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Still Waters by Shirlee McCoy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8. Dotty Dimple at Home by Sophie May (1896)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">February </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9. Grace by Robert Lacey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10. The Seamstress by Allison Pittman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">11. Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12. Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">13. <b>The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">14. Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">15. <b>The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">16. The Adventure by Adessa Holden </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">17. Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">March</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">18. The White City by Grace Hitchcock </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">19. The Pages of Her Life by James L. Rubart </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">20. The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">21. Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">22. Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">23. Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">24. Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">25. Heiress by Susan May Warren</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">April</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">26. The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">27. <b>Remaining Faithful in Ministry by John MacArthur </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">28. Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">29. Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">30. Justice Delivered by Patricia Bradley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">31. The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">32. A Perfect Day by Richard Paul Evans </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">33. The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jamie Jo Wright</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">May</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">34. Adamant by Lisa Bevere (re-read)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">35. Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher (read half--couldn't finish but I spent way too much time in it not to count it...blah)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">36. She Dreams by Tiffany Bluhm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">37. The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">38. The Shot Caller by Casey Diaz </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">June</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">39. Consuming Fire by Robyn Langdon (digital)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">40. Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">41. Living Lies by Natalie Walters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">42. Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">43. all manner of things by Susie Finkbeiner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">44. Life to the Extreme by Ty Pennington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">July</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">45. Faithful Endurance by Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson Sr.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">46. Over the Line by Kelly Irvin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">47. State of Lies by Siri Mitchell </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">48. Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">49. Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">50. The Memory House by Rachel Hauck </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">51. The Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">52. The String by Caleb Breakey </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">53. Keeping Watch by Jane M. Choate </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">54. Perfect Alibi by Melody Carlson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">August</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">55. Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">56. A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">57. Desperate Escape by Lisa Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">58. Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">59. Mirror Image by Laura Scott</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">60. Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">September</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">61. Born for This by Bebe Winans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">62. Not Too Far From Here by Kim Boyce Koreiba</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">63. Small Town Justice by Valerie Hansen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">64. The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">65. Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">66. The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">October</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">67. The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">68. Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">69. A Distance too Grand by Regina Scott</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">70. Lake Season by Denise Hunter </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">71. Whatever It Takes: Defeat is Not an Option by Adessa Holden with Jamie Holden</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">72. Synapse by Steven James</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">73. Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">74. The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">75. Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace by Debra Moerke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">November</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">76. Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">77. Tailspin by Elizabeth Goddard </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">78. Code of Silence by Heather Woodhaven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">79. Rodeo Rescuer by Lynette Eason</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">80. Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">81. As You Wish by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">82. Gone Missing by Camy Tang</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">83. Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">December </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">84. <b>Sidetracked by Brandilyn Collins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">85. Water From My Heart by Charles Martin </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">86. Out of the Devil’s Mouth by Travis Thrasher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">87. The Pearl by John Steinbeck </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">88. American Omens by Travis Thrasher </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">89. The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">90. Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">91. The Introvert’s Way by Sophia Dembling</span></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-11052313641492277082020-01-02T10:31:00.000-08:002020-01-02T10:31:10.651-08:002019 Favorite Things <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started doing a favorite things list a few years ago and when December 2019 came around I couldn't think of anything that I found amazing other than becoming a grandmother.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And visiting Idaho and Montana.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honestly, it took a lot of thinking to come up with this list, which is why it's so late in being published.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, here are my favorites for 2019</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsssgDVUejH79madxKYQAscdjgc8YBrFevWyj-0HvCTnn0tLbYkhkSCggwq0XT9imwPypfTTZ_fwVHB0yVTPDK9sQcyV6bcqv121jJHWt8HNZz30q7GOolDwHP4rm1mzTJK3LPbCLMAg0/s1600/s-l640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="640" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsssgDVUejH79madxKYQAscdjgc8YBrFevWyj-0HvCTnn0tLbYkhkSCggwq0XT9imwPypfTTZ_fwVHB0yVTPDK9sQcyV6bcqv121jJHWt8HNZz30q7GOolDwHP4rm1mzTJK3LPbCLMAg0/s320/s-l640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Original Maple Tea. Bliss. It's a subtle maple flavor in a smooth tea. I love a smooth tea. If you're a tea drinker you'll know what I mean. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found this when we visited the <a href="https://www.nationalparkreservations.com/lodge/waterton-prince-of-wales/?msclkid=9ca1437b0e1f1dd739ec1d753a23b545">Prince of Wales Hotel </a>in Canada. My husband took me there in August for tea. That was bliss too. I found this tea in the Princess Gift Shop. I savored all forty-eight teabags and panicked when I ran out. Then I got on eBay and had some sent to me. All is well again. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCKjUuMK9XvHqIEBOT2yDJvdGryIoKYMwe_w1FYdXrv7tfwzZ-CAsW_hQE3BK_RiTugdbDu3m_fIntCQTfPrTyRZMUSN2Sq5OWS9D796xY0oWkYlYJn6F_mntxMDcV_UzSbcrapmRHhzb/s1600/518zp7z1C8L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCKjUuMK9XvHqIEBOT2yDJvdGryIoKYMwe_w1FYdXrv7tfwzZ-CAsW_hQE3BK_RiTugdbDu3m_fIntCQTfPrTyRZMUSN2Sq5OWS9D796xY0oWkYlYJn6F_mntxMDcV_UzSbcrapmRHhzb/s320/518zp7z1C8L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Brookstone Towel Warmer is something I never knew I needed. It's an indulgent luxury that I don't ever want to be without again. One of the best things I've ever found at an auction. Who doesn't want to wrap themselves in a warm towel after stepping out of the shower? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdANbYHtXGESbr4JVzbY9UXZxviXDRgKltQZ5_FyvJ31UAY4Mv3lJiX3ukl_zddBh5FkBhipD0m-jjWdsPrXq0DbE3t4fYcyuQ0DyDfsrJ2tFdj7iD7Vc8JOxL6i9MZiYm4izzvy4FAhrO/s1600/hintwater2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdANbYHtXGESbr4JVzbY9UXZxviXDRgKltQZ5_FyvJ31UAY4Mv3lJiX3ukl_zddBh5FkBhipD0m-jjWdsPrXq0DbE3t4fYcyuQ0DyDfsrJ2tFdj7iD7Vc8JOxL6i9MZiYm4izzvy4FAhrO/s320/hintwater2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hint Water. I allow myself one bottle a day of this. It's unsweetened flavored water that comes in a bunch of fruit and herbal flavors. My favorites are pineapple, watermelon, and peppermint. In that order. I also adore the Hint with a Kick of caffeine. Because who doesn't want caffeinated water? The Apple Pear is wonderful when I have a migraine. It helps. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<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/AVvXsEgznyyq2Q2OyoPeJ4bh62YNTPDML5MLoawiSndWblEN_cqflPqhlB7DaovoEvUJM9a9O__twSwuD6xRZCd3i_l-c9NBSXoyKNy8zex-Q8NxSdjF08tHHr_WIq4cLcYU4Th8FXgBCQ-bgoMO/s1600/tech-info-graphc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1056" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznyyq2Q2OyoPeJ4bh62YNTPDML5MLoawiSndWblEN_cqflPqhlB7DaovoEvUJM9a9O__twSwuD6xRZCd3i_l-c9NBSXoyKNy8zex-Q8NxSdjF08tHHr_WIq4cLcYU4Th8FXgBCQ-bgoMO/s320/tech-info-graphc.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My least favorite thing about 2019 was realizing my foot pain was plantar fasciitis. Yeah. That's fun. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm rolling my eyes here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It hurt to walk. Until I found <a href="http://www.thehealingsole.com/">The Healing Sole</a>. These flip-flops are designed to help heal foot pain. And they really work. I've been wearing them pretty much non-stop since August. Yes, now even in January. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I've never worn flip-flops. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But these. Total life saver.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<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/AVvXsEgKYigAErYyMWZKmKFTWwfgqphaeuOgzYG9hDT5rxj_eauefkxNRDqiSaBWfeqBMVogEsCIUOXobZeticp5feCQ3j-eQfiveXIv0qX1Jj-2iBCfJzk-AlemkRBXYTq3Qj1PB8jjgl8_DUc4/s1600/51T%252BlBGemtL._SY300_QL70_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYigAErYyMWZKmKFTWwfgqphaeuOgzYG9hDT5rxj_eauefkxNRDqiSaBWfeqBMVogEsCIUOXobZeticp5feCQ3j-eQfiveXIv0qX1Jj-2iBCfJzk-AlemkRBXYTq3Qj1PB8jjgl8_DUc4/s1600/51T%252BlBGemtL._SY300_QL70_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a sucker for flavored lip balm. Always have been. I was accused of eating lip balm in the 6th grade. I didn't eat it. I just liked to lick my lips. And then I'd apply more. And lick it off. Repeat.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About fifteen years ago I switched to all-natural lip balm because I figured it would be better for me. It's been hard to find some that taste good. A lot of them smell great but taste horrid. This stuff from Burt's Bees tastes fantastic. They have several different flavors, but the seasonal Chai Tea is my favorite.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask me to tell you the story about the Cucumber Mint one that I found. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-45382393730233142942019-11-18T11:24:00.000-08:002019-11-18T11:24:37.498-08:00Are You Going to Listen? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0v1osjnxGqnR_SCiRucNVUYv_2TxqVMZThbItSJ2UozB6lZc82QT3Sn1OQYO5nDF6G0N1LmOkMwAWXQzECyiSUCPuryXQ1MWi6KfCkyJT2RI0ZynhN5pr-vPu640eR9I6qUgjml3-D_g/s1600/adult-beautiful-blur-casual-374703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0v1osjnxGqnR_SCiRucNVUYv_2TxqVMZThbItSJ2UozB6lZc82QT3Sn1OQYO5nDF6G0N1LmOkMwAWXQzECyiSUCPuryXQ1MWi6KfCkyJT2RI0ZynhN5pr-vPu640eR9I6qUgjml3-D_g/s400/adult-beautiful-blur-casual-374703.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Invite her to church.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I heard it several times. I don't know her. I only see her in passing when we're both out walking our dogs. We chat about the weather and about our aging chubby friends (the dogs....ha ha). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Invite her to church.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The voice kept prompting me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>But I don't even know her name,</i> I prompted back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which, by the way, is an excuse I thought was pretty valid. I mean, usually that kind of invitation is given to someone you at least sort of know. I didn't even know her dog's name. So we were pretty much strangers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And neighbors. So there's that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was pretty proud of myself for shying away from an invitation due to now knowing her. But you know God, He's got this great sense of humor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I visited the salon and guess who was checking out as I walked in?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yep. <i>Her</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She looked at me and said, "Aren't you the lady I see when I'm walking my dog? What's your name?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I told her my name and then she replied with hers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just know God was up there watching and laughing because now I had no excuse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I told my friend Melissa about my mission that I now had to fulfill. I watched for the Woman With A Name the next time I walked. And the time after that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I finally saw her again. I quickly got out my phone and sent a text to Melissa who would hold me accountable. I approached the Woman With A Name and greeted her by name and then invited her to church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It wasn't as scary as I'd thought it would be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, even a veteran PW can be timid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She hasn't joined us yet but when she does I will greet her by name.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God knows me well enough to know that I will listen eventually. I'd like to think I can handle situations the way the heroes in the Bible did, but I find myself more often like Jonah as he's scheming ways to get out of going to Ninevah. That didn't work well for him. I'm still learning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What has He been telling you to do? Are you going to listen? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-68265153927302290512019-09-19T04:52:00.001-07:002019-09-19T05:19:47.188-07:00Misguided <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-kypjOqjnoqrLNNlErOGMQCfZtjkj2hv1D9YlJ9hzTZvgjtszr6EPatZglkPkOQo0pstEkoLxcs-Dc13aM6f0VQIFjdamJ5HCdXDMVqHnUJDqBsq2rF1EU9YIkfITqJ8VyKAG0VLBt0d/s1600/My+Post+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-kypjOqjnoqrLNNlErOGMQCfZtjkj2hv1D9YlJ9hzTZvgjtszr6EPatZglkPkOQo0pstEkoLxcs-Dc13aM6f0VQIFjdamJ5HCdXDMVqHnUJDqBsq2rF1EU9YIkfITqJ8VyKAG0VLBt0d/s400/My+Post+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The truth isn't popular. But I'm not called to be popular. Popularity doesn't grant access to heaven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are waves of teachings sweeping our country that are lessening the gospel. We are being misguided by an undercurrent of false teachers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Rom-16-17" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">"And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.</span><span class="text Rom-16-18" id="en-NLT-28316" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people." </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Rom-16-18" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Romans 16:17-18</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are seeing myriads of smooth talkers, drifting away from preaching the word to preaching their thoughts of the word. Searching for loopholes to make themselves feel better. Interpreting acts of Jesus into meanings He never meant and ignoring the black and white teachings of the Bible. There are no loopholes in the Bible. There is a heaven and a hell. Those who earnestly follow God, denying self and striving to be more like Christ, will one day join Him in heaven. Those who follow their own path will spend eternity in hell. It's the consequence of our behavior, our own choice that determines our eternity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be a Christian means to believe the Bible is God-inspired and that He wrote all of it, using man to pen it. They are His words. How then, can we refute some of it, decide not to believe parts of it? When we separate His words from His mouth, His teachings from His heart, we are separating ourselves from Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learned scholars have been studying the Bible for centuries and then we come along with little to no knowledge and try to change things.Centuries of belief and faith are being wiped out in favor of a message that makes us comfortable. The Bible was never intended to make us comfortable, it's a living word that, if we allow, searches our hearts and shows us where we need to change in order to align ourselves with it. It does not align itself with us. We are the ones needing to change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have some who are cheapening the gospel, trying to make it inclusive when it is not. Jesus died for all but not all will accept Him and give up their sinful ways to follow Him. We may have gotten soft on some things because we don't want to cause emotional pain, but the truth is offensive. It's not the Christian's job to make sure the sinner is affirmed. It's not the Christian's job to water down the message -- that is not teaching truth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If, for example, there is no literal hell (as some claim) what was the point of Jesus dying on the cross? Why was He resurrected? What was He saving us from? Why would we need saved if there was no consequence to our sin? The Bible teaches that sin leads to death and through Jesus there is eternal life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Changing your mind on a hot topic is not God changing His mind. Lowering our standards on what is sin and what isn't sin does not lower God's standards. Sin is sin, it always has been and always will be. Society changes. God does not. Just because American culture has become accepting and approving of activities the Bible teaches against does not mean we can now erase those we disagree with. Sin is still sin to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How arrogant we are, putting our words into God's mouth. We need to remember what we are. He alone is the author, we are not. We are creation. He is the Creator. We are insignificant. Our lives are a vapor, here for a little while and then gone. He is constant and eternal. He has been and is and will be. How dare we try to put Him in a box.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My God is the one who annihilated Ananias and Sapphira for lying. Lying. That's my God. He feels the same way about lying as He does other sin. It's the Christian community's fault for being fixated on certain sin, it's all the same to God and it separates us from Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way." Matthew 7:13</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> (NLT)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a reason Jesus used these words. Because turning our backs on sin is not easy. Denying the flesh is not easy. Take these words from my friend, Melissa:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"It's like they are trying to widen the path that God made narrow. They're hammering and sweating and shoveling, toiling to make the gate bigger that He created to be small. We've got a narrow path that they're trying to widen so more people can fit. A little gate they're trying to make bigger so more can get through. They're investing time and energy into a building project that will fail. Trying to enlarge what He has made small so no one feels left out. All of this work is going to be burned up." </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-11.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-12.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>12</b></a></span>If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-13.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-14.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>15</b></a></span>If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.</i></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-16.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>16</b></a></span>Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.</i></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>18</b></a></span>Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-19.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>19</b></a></span>For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/3-20.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>20</b></a></span>and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-20 </i>(NIV)</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our foundation is Christ. We build on it with His words and not our own. No man is going to make a mockery of God. We need to discern what is being taught, what we are reading, who we are listening to, and who we are aligning ourselves with. Those who try to change God, try to soften who He is and what He stands for, are false teachers. They are leading many astray with flowery words. They search scripture to find what fits with their thinking. Even Satan twisted scripture. Don't be surprised by false teachers, the Bible warns that it will happen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take a look at 2 Peter 2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<i><span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">"</span><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-1.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;">1</a></b></span>But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-2.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>2</b></a></span>Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-3.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>3</b></a></span>In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.</i></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<i><span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-4.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>4</b></a></span>For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, <span class="nivfootnote" style="color: #0066aa; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px;"><sup><a href="https://biblehub.com/niv/2_peter/2.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Greek Tartarus">a</a></sup></span> putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-5.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>5</b></a></span>if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-6.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>6</b></a></span>if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-7.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>7</b></a></span>and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>8</b></a></span>(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>9</b></a></span>if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.</i></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<i>Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-11.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-12.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>12</b></a></span>But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.</i></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<i><span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-13.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-14.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>15</b></a></span>They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-16.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>16</b></a></span>But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.</i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<i><span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>18</b></a></span>For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-19.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>19</b></a></span>They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-20.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>20</b></a></span>If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-21.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>21</b></a></span>It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_peter/2-22.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>22</b></a></span>Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” <span class="nivfootnote" style="color: #0066aa; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px;"><sup><a href="https://biblehub.com/niv/2_peter/2.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Prov. 26:11">g</a></sup></span> and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” </i>(NIV)</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The Bible teaches us to beware, false teachers are among us. We need to pray for discernment so we can quickly tell what is true and what is not. What is God and what is not. We need to read more of the Word and less of blogger's (ironically said in a blog...). More of the Bible and less someone's thoughts. Read God's word, meditate on it, and let it change our hearts. Be in the world and not of the world.</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Be different. Be the light. The world is watching. </span></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-83500486022649747752019-09-02T08:11:00.000-07:002019-09-02T08:11:14.625-07:00God's Voice versus My Voice <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7QgeBoONxzjyJwUGEWAqh9wZRC8nIvMO591tvhZfj8RhRK-oWtayCB7xuQ2_b14lDvturp1EXR_UN3bd3Ypy430koC3CGlWeiUc2f-Mvdd0G-tWf3BVceTb_QnGwld9hSVcNZl1ICmNc/s1600/headphones-424163_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7QgeBoONxzjyJwUGEWAqh9wZRC8nIvMO591tvhZfj8RhRK-oWtayCB7xuQ2_b14lDvturp1EXR_UN3bd3Ypy430koC3CGlWeiUc2f-Mvdd0G-tWf3BVceTb_QnGwld9hSVcNZl1ICmNc/s320/headphones-424163_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Too often I hear Christians use the phrase, "God told me," followed by something they desire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"God told me that house is supposed to be mine."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"God told me I'm going to have twins."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"God told me I should join this multi-level marketing work-from-home job."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What they don't say is that it's their desire to have that house (that they can't afford). They want twins. They want a job that promises easy income. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet the house is sold to someone else. A single baby is born. The work-at-home job turns into much more work than thought (and they quit and jump into the next one).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In planning for my daughter's tenth birthday party we invited a handful of her friends, just the girls she was closest to, for a day of shopping with limo transportation. One mother was upset because her daughter's best friend wasn't on the invite list. She asked me to invite Mallory, saying that Jesus told her I should and when I would not she told me that her daughter couldn't come to the party because, "Jesus doesn't want her to."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She then told her daughter what I was planning. Her daughter called mine and told her of the surprise. As we were getting ready to leave for the shopping trip mom appeared, dropping her daughter off at the last minute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Apparently Jesus changed His mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's time to stop putting our thoughts, desires, and words into God's mouth. He doesn't need us to help Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's easy to get God's voice confused with our own or even with the voice of the enemy. Our knowledge (of situations) can influence our actions and our voice. We need to be sure we are hearing from the Lord before we step out and do something or say something. Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes a behavior needs corrected (in alignment with scripture) and we need to obey even when it's uncomfortable to do so. Other times? Well...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I like to pray when I'm walking outside. Being in nature helps clear my thoughts and allows uninterrupted prayer time. I was praying for a young woman who was going through a difficult time and the thought came to me, <i>I should buy her some diamond earrings so she knows her worth</i>. I kept walking and the next thought in my head was, <i>Give her your diamond earrings</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Um. God, was that you? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I usually don't question but this time I did. Because I'm a giver. I have no problem giving things away. I mail things to friends, give things if there's a need. It's just what I do. I was all set to give my diamond earrings away if that's what God wanted me to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I prayed about it and didn't get a clear answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I prayed, "If this is what you want me to do then please let _____ call me and tell me to do this."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mentioned a specific person who I know is close to the Lord. And I didn't tell anyone about this situation. I kept it quiet and waited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Months later my phone rang. I saw the name of the person I'd named in my prayer and thought, <i>this is it</i>. But it wasn't. They were calling to ask me my opinion on something unrelated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes we are too quick to act on what we think is God telling us to do something. Or what we think is His voice. And sometimes we just need to be silent and wait. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luke 2:19 tells us that, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is after she's visited by an angel and told she would be carrying the Son of God. She didn't run around and announce what God had told her. She held onto it and thought about it often. Everyone does not need to know what God has whispered to you. Some things are not meant to be shared. This is when journaling is a good idea. Think you've heard from God about your future? Write it down so you can later go back and revisit it, or testify about what He's done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our desire for something is not the same as what God wants for us. Sometimes they align, but that's generally when we are seeking His will and not our own. We are selfish people and we see things quite differently than God does. Before stepping out make sure it's His voice you're hearing and not your own. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-74205012257800466612019-07-31T15:40:00.000-07:002019-07-31T15:40:10.563-07:00#12Before50<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A year ago I entered into the last year of my forties deciding to celebrate fifty by doing something new every month. It had to be something new to me. I called it my <i>12 Before 50</i> list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">August</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">August was simple. We were going on a cruise to Alaska. I probably did enough new things on this trip to cover more than twelve. It was fun, but we learned I get seasick. I actually hugged the ground when we docked for the first time. Stepping off of the ship, I instantly felt relief. </span><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/AVvXsEhP31efZeq7kUQpDlK8jycvEwriRElZEFhS_csLCr5FIBe0PTYknskl-cgTERAB7MvFnoX8l17ByujTkZNBTCmS2UjCRgEH-Lorl-ZO3LkX5gcBdtuIsazL3LzU6n7chW3q0QSoysqgDfJv/s1600/BBB93C97-6022-46D1-89D7-F9F4A96FC221.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP31efZeq7kUQpDlK8jycvEwriRElZEFhS_csLCr5FIBe0PTYknskl-cgTERAB7MvFnoX8l17ByujTkZNBTCmS2UjCRgEH-Lorl-ZO3LkX5gcBdtuIsazL3LzU6n7chW3q0QSoysqgDfJv/s320/BBB93C97-6022-46D1-89D7-F9F4A96FC221.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The wonderful medicine available to me at Guest Relations. It was a lifesaver. I'd considered jumping overboard before being handed these magic pills. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEiFijWLGpa4yKVYO-4kqatu2vL6ldC1ysU4JRxtwP28_BcmDsWN2_7Rgju_xU-4nIOcpsWNATX9C6qsqbyN1JW9jGdfKyP8QG2brFRqimABrv6HCDPc2ovjo9LCkTSK32h6TJYOyOiyNxUZ/s1600/IMG_2479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFijWLGpa4yKVYO-4kqatu2vL6ldC1ysU4JRxtwP28_BcmDsWN2_7Rgju_xU-4nIOcpsWNATX9C6qsqbyN1JW9jGdfKyP8QG2brFRqimABrv6HCDPc2ovjo9LCkTSK32h6TJYOyOiyNxUZ/s320/IMG_2479.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sunset at sea </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgaQ6rVUeTzzAawIqHIaOq0HoGhnbu8WoLBpfM4aCFRcToq0wUBzlY0cZgS_98MvodWdZThWJycTiXmPFSwLARpRh3DkMJlvVJ2z_ArvJ5aecOSI13lMVpxEWyrUN3dxfJZrW1SjvcpUy51/s1600/IMG_2490.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ6rVUeTzzAawIqHIaOq0HoGhnbu8WoLBpfM4aCFRcToq0wUBzlY0cZgS_98MvodWdZThWJycTiXmPFSwLARpRh3DkMJlvVJ2z_ArvJ5aecOSI13lMVpxEWyrUN3dxfJZrW1SjvcpUy51/s320/IMG_2490.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spending time with my friend, Liz, was a highlight of the week</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhepX3f_VAi0XK9DAbgvKBMmhCZhDgLrnRoZ8QDdbVBRDq1IoRMRlnVNfd15XJHokx415EgHU_ow70BZGlqcpr3dkefQKCAo8WwPOKHRIxzM_sQt_JJ2AoXzaQmSVohFNkqAspFYaUMcs__/s1600/IMG_2501.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepX3f_VAi0XK9DAbgvKBMmhCZhDgLrnRoZ8QDdbVBRDq1IoRMRlnVNfd15XJHokx415EgHU_ow70BZGlqcpr3dkefQKCAo8WwPOKHRIxzM_sQt_JJ2AoXzaQmSVohFNkqAspFYaUMcs__/s320/IMG_2501.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hiked to the top of that mountain. Wayne, Eric, Liz, and me. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepX3f_VAi0XK9DAbgvKBMmhCZhDgLrnRoZ8QDdbVBRDq1IoRMRlnVNfd15XJHokx415EgHU_ow70BZGlqcpr3dkefQKCAo8WwPOKHRIxzM_sQt_JJ2AoXzaQmSVohFNkqAspFYaUMcs__/s1600/IMG_2501.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhlDiYF9zTJWtjWPswRWxw7Tjrp3sr1XSwKCtUngVa5FgGKN_FJZ2Nx0eL3WN2dFe93omwf6vfAlvJOUYA-c8prvW8AQVahCCeWnpEb0ECilwT1BgccJzKm6AJJHcluMK5d097HXkqsvrS3/s1600/IMG_2510.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDiYF9zTJWtjWPswRWxw7Tjrp3sr1XSwKCtUngVa5FgGKN_FJZ2Nx0eL3WN2dFe93omwf6vfAlvJOUYA-c8prvW8AQVahCCeWnpEb0ECilwT1BgccJzKm6AJJHcluMK5d097HXkqsvrS3/s320/IMG_2510.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was beautiful</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhDMiEv8zLuBhCuIPSN2gjz1KBo-xr1lw0N1GUV6YXwIr4z_gdKRpgTCaYXAOcNLPNMh80Ymwu_6lCglW_xOjMsTec3D_I3IJuVcux6KqzGmWwc2MkeJx00yRYlRNiDQFLf4y5rND8s9Hbo/s1600/IMG_2551.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMiEv8zLuBhCuIPSN2gjz1KBo-xr1lw0N1GUV6YXwIr4z_gdKRpgTCaYXAOcNLPNMh80Ymwu_6lCglW_xOjMsTec3D_I3IJuVcux6KqzGmWwc2MkeJx00yRYlRNiDQFLf4y5rND8s9Hbo/s320/IMG_2551.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. One of the most beautiful places I've been. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">September</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">September brought an opportunity I'd missed the past few years. My friend, Sharon, has made it her goal to climb a tree on every continent. That in itself is a great goal, but factor in that she's a breast cancer survivor and you'll see what she's made of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I made sure I didn't miss my opportunity to climb a tree with Sharon. </span><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/AVvXsEiY_r3BNzyF6YZZa8KVZcP7Skp4L4CfJ-I04H8pU_ZOXzA2G4hE1947ic3pGyM0McXWUYjnthMjprg42yF-dFzdha80DTjXqxeOaMgvQqdkPbM3rZiGGMa7p1HJqPQvRlq7Y2qPBC_IQ6Mq/s1600/IMG_3705.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_r3BNzyF6YZZa8KVZcP7Skp4L4CfJ-I04H8pU_ZOXzA2G4hE1947ic3pGyM0McXWUYjnthMjprg42yF-dFzdha80DTjXqxeOaMgvQqdkPbM3rZiGGMa7p1HJqPQvRlq7Y2qPBC_IQ6Mq/s640/IMG_3705.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharon is at the very top. This group is a bunch of fun-loving pastor's wives. This was taken at our annual retreat. AKA - "the best weekend of the year".</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhsxsvIEc2CQKQ8Kd2vXQknQIiDadsBK7WtMvfrsM1x_ciFWV7wM9xG7B66Oxh9sqZxbU50uHa7MHYab3jUoRtvjxaaJ0ViU7SU7I2k3cZ0RZEpTQjbLEBNVFR3avnHJyOWMvqkwD8qk934/s1600/IMG_3750.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxsvIEc2CQKQ8Kd2vXQknQIiDadsBK7WtMvfrsM1x_ciFWV7wM9xG7B66Oxh9sqZxbU50uHa7MHYab3jUoRtvjxaaJ0ViU7SU7I2k3cZ0RZEpTQjbLEBNVFR3avnHJyOWMvqkwD8qk934/s320/IMG_3750.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharon took this picture of me from her vantage point. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">October</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">October gave me the chance to do something I'd wanted to do for years. To get a tattoo. </span><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/AVvXsEjPoU3lr_PHootH49peKBWWCGJ-iDL9e1Iyc2wxpkjv10ppe7rBClaIDeAEYuN7-ZtR603ZsAfoi9foNo220XxUVHtn8eFKWafVdtUwNtdP_2XcuJ2nzirzcs8k16izsLko_iSXGYT2SDCd/s1600/IMG_4111.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoU3lr_PHootH49peKBWWCGJ-iDL9e1Iyc2wxpkjv10ppe7rBClaIDeAEYuN7-ZtR603ZsAfoi9foNo220XxUVHtn8eFKWafVdtUwNtdP_2XcuJ2nzirzcs8k16izsLko_iSXGYT2SDCd/s320/IMG_4111.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My friend, Donna, another PW and I on our way to get this done</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRrnbunFc4EgwSHH6RD6tsKJ4rVyD2X9pQPLwRnDhKyPdIlDaG9Gdjmkaevqpq3MmEQEQk_s3UhnWmKtlt8g9ajVB1VigHeiYLVLdyofZ3Jw_31rmciHk3XF4TkuL_5t3KnjatrIwgzYm/s1600/2D9AA23C-EE5D-42D0-B140-1239C2B0EFB2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="721" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRrnbunFc4EgwSHH6RD6tsKJ4rVyD2X9pQPLwRnDhKyPdIlDaG9Gdjmkaevqpq3MmEQEQk_s3UhnWmKtlt8g9ajVB1VigHeiYLVLdyofZ3Jw_31rmciHk3XF4TkuL_5t3KnjatrIwgzYm/s320/2D9AA23C-EE5D-42D0-B140-1239C2B0EFB2.jpeg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjbIaYrP1j5iB5-AIBsfg5-rsIJg2z0VJ9ZPtm-Wi5dV9tc_G8Aeah_prlgfm02Kef2FSqwALj1qlTocViJ-nWJTTzwTx7HuZSTcBfjgJW-0JeHecscOqCcx5b99phyphenhyphenLYGXav8CqPoMAB4N/s1600/IMG_4113.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIaYrP1j5iB5-AIBsfg5-rsIJg2z0VJ9ZPtm-Wi5dV9tc_G8Aeah_prlgfm02Kef2FSqwALj1qlTocViJ-nWJTTzwTx7HuZSTcBfjgJW-0JeHecscOqCcx5b99phyphenhyphenLYGXav8CqPoMAB4N/s320/IMG_4113.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fear of the unknown!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwKZwbYB16ACgfR6ZD-jqvbYWnmy2tX8mE4RKNsA9KTq-ZCOQ1KpSo1Ja3GKIGsPfSWwohF1nkNCOnBLPd049_76noWaqBfMcejXd72c68IDVuetAuRzmwIcU6g4Ucp_fHoYkmxRim_h2/s1600/IMG_4117.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwKZwbYB16ACgfR6ZD-jqvbYWnmy2tX8mE4RKNsA9KTq-ZCOQ1KpSo1Ja3GKIGsPfSWwohF1nkNCOnBLPd049_76noWaqBfMcejXd72c68IDVuetAuRzmwIcU6g4Ucp_fHoYkmxRim_h2/s320/IMG_4117.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEia2jnipvL4b2DiJVJK5mtsKrZEnyummwNrYsjo8cw5vGh2dMM-U15a8UCXyFFqV7KkG9gXIJU8dDDY0CvQusjT44fHC_yQd8hflD-1Qtg5JKqQ92zrYo7qulGiuKxFnhc2KuazRkWDMeaS/s1600/IMG_4141.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2jnipvL4b2DiJVJK5mtsKrZEnyummwNrYsjo8cw5vGh2dMM-U15a8UCXyFFqV7KkG9gXIJU8dDDY0CvQusjT44fHC_yQd8hflD-1Qtg5JKqQ92zrYo7qulGiuKxFnhc2KuazRkWDMeaS/s320/IMG_4141.jpeg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She got a scripture verse, which took a lot longer and hurt a lot more than mine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEglGJ8zM-lRRJENvBKK-c7Y-XOaqwAG_K3dpVRmZc4FHd5Fja8H-HyDMdZNXP-3n5NIEZiwJFMvIvgMp3kzB4iHJQbNyihkqch2qCHY-vPzDFKr-Qusp6QEQN6fOoX3B8kRQQhNijoUU_Y-/s1600/image_6546160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGJ8zM-lRRJENvBKK-c7Y-XOaqwAG_K3dpVRmZc4FHd5Fja8H-HyDMdZNXP-3n5NIEZiwJFMvIvgMp3kzB4iHJQbNyihkqch2qCHY-vPzDFKr-Qusp6QEQN6fOoX3B8kRQQhNijoUU_Y-/s320/image_6546160.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I got Jesus on my right hand. In my handwriting. It was something I'd wanted to do for<br />several years. It has opened doors to conversations that I never would have had without it.<br />It also helps me remember to be kind, always.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">November</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't have pictures for November. November I decided to get some moles removed from my face. No one needs to see pictures of that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They didn't leave successfully though. They came back and we tried to have them removed again in January but that just left me with smaller moles and a crater in my cheek. #Fail</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">December</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For December I wanted to keep it easy. There's so much going on in this month that I decided the simplest way to conquer something new was to read a book I'd never read. I chose <i>The Princess Bride</i>. It's a movie I've seen dozens of times. I'd always wanted to read the book but never had. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQHIzYn6fu3Jgx8z8Ket-Dc2EsuVzmxfABZdjPxDj-4B5s-i3KpFoEKVLS8bl__LgxxuXKbGZzXOJ5tkRrmnYZsGqbnFpgmQl-vwwNboHuwlV8Xg_YTPQsF6yYgRoUD8i8RVYBCazPXmv/s1600/5851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQHIzYn6fu3Jgx8z8Ket-Dc2EsuVzmxfABZdjPxDj-4B5s-i3KpFoEKVLS8bl__LgxxuXKbGZzXOJ5tkRrmnYZsGqbnFpgmQl-vwwNboHuwlV8Xg_YTPQsF6yYgRoUD8i8RVYBCazPXmv/s320/5851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I found an inexpensive copy on eBay and read it amid the holiday bustle. If you've only watched the film and haven't read the book I recommend it. It varies slightly. Well worth the reading. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">January </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">January was one I was really excited about. We drove to Bethlehem, PA to visit The Moravian Book Shop. The oldest continually-in-operation bookstore in the world. It's been in operation since sometime in the 1700's. The charm is all on the sign outside. Truly. It looks like a normal bookstore inside. What a disappointment this was. I think I've been more charmed by the bookish selection at the auctions I go to on a regular basis. This was a dud. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC8e5PSBP7UbP5lFvuWYzmf3TRVbqs0-IgWJKXqr_B5x3o6Wxdg5w8JxFtoVoFxCc1I4y8t6QX7XgAdAUTYR0fbLwhMOYU8OitouA3pgoAwLiItRm9UPbq3Ej3pHOx-OiOhfd1I_9_1DA/s1600/IMG_7899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC8e5PSBP7UbP5lFvuWYzmf3TRVbqs0-IgWJKXqr_B5x3o6Wxdg5w8JxFtoVoFxCc1I4y8t6QX7XgAdAUTYR0fbLwhMOYU8OitouA3pgoAwLiItRm9UPbq3Ej3pHOx-OiOhfd1I_9_1DA/s320/IMG_7899.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMzYafVP7XD2ZRcxtiVLZb4HsD3k5rD4sTnnaULkZyt4EL3yOoZIMsJfg2Q-ZFFV5gkHcS1dYXhtfRhU7BB9xmbV2VaeNaWpN25Gp6Emea7fvvqZZlCcE7C2Kxk9y9u-8e92JMNcg1P1a/s1600/IMG_7900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1600" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMzYafVP7XD2ZRcxtiVLZb4HsD3k5rD4sTnnaULkZyt4EL3yOoZIMsJfg2Q-ZFFV5gkHcS1dYXhtfRhU7BB9xmbV2VaeNaWpN25Gp6Emea7fvvqZZlCcE7C2Kxk9y9u-8e92JMNcg1P1a/s320/IMG_7900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">February</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For February I enlisted the help of a friend from our church. Michael McGuire, of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/McGuireConceptsArt">McGuire Concepts</a>, is a veteran who has many talents, one of which is chainsaw carving. Check out this bear he carved:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7pRVPfvdzsN4PmASfwIrTdpRuGDpTCPVaKM19v5z1elVM8kMUh7piMPFA-zdwjTP-4LEMgQP3Jz7BDoyLbNHQgGZVsyvAqqf3lccWjTdlYz6hxoYHC2frXsfQJr0cEANJDqMKN284XdQ/s1600/65866050_1265741056920114_3552434142773772288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7pRVPfvdzsN4PmASfwIrTdpRuGDpTCPVaKM19v5z1elVM8kMUh7piMPFA-zdwjTP-4LEMgQP3Jz7BDoyLbNHQgGZVsyvAqqf3lccWjTdlYz6hxoYHC2frXsfQJr0cEANJDqMKN284XdQ/s320/65866050_1265741056920114_3552434142773772288_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He mentioned something in passing about me doing a chainsaw carving and I couldn't let that opportunity pass. Wayne and I spent a cold afternoon at his workshop creating a little bear of my own. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq2lCX1IeAzKBtdNj0TAdnKJHEhnWJuAwmKkHJ67HwSfX8I3mU95KUU92CUItagqgUojeXibd-7xz8gPyq9qU3U50Ge1ILE9rzZnD_BCFwzicMGCA8sSQRHwQGselDHzQVVbwZdOxNfH5/s1600/IMG_1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq2lCX1IeAzKBtdNj0TAdnKJHEhnWJuAwmKkHJ67HwSfX8I3mU95KUU92CUItagqgUojeXibd-7xz8gPyq9qU3U50Ge1ILE9rzZnD_BCFwzicMGCA8sSQRHwQGselDHzQVVbwZdOxNfH5/s320/IMG_1223.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOvvOoB29W_a7XwSc15j063jFPdaQPzWHv9t2EUWR4Q0C_Sw-xJNeIA-MEgckVuDINPG9SWZOx5nOgTfKmfcFZei_3OIR7HmKUD2exoONEaVf2yEw_jx_2fuLvf_Rs15jw-tlhQR1iPcm/s1600/IMG_1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOvvOoB29W_a7XwSc15j063jFPdaQPzWHv9t2EUWR4Q0C_Sw-xJNeIA-MEgckVuDINPG9SWZOx5nOgTfKmfcFZei_3OIR7HmKUD2exoONEaVf2yEw_jx_2fuLvf_Rs15jw-tlhQR1iPcm/s320/IMG_1224.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAn9M4zT4nt7CfDcRBiWTlijFqeFbEuC79NS5hEFHYUjxpYOdHsUx6BmoR9ZtUygLzF5X0UWhkBUOa86_rfwqfgDfHBBVLRay_XJBezxykbjNB-8R9jpUTZFVPXWQ7p-nDqEhPbBW7ZTt/s1600/IMG_1228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAn9M4zT4nt7CfDcRBiWTlijFqeFbEuC79NS5hEFHYUjxpYOdHsUx6BmoR9ZtUygLzF5X0UWhkBUOa86_rfwqfgDfHBBVLRay_XJBezxykbjNB-8R9jpUTZFVPXWQ7p-nDqEhPbBW7ZTt/s320/IMG_1228.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K_jxfvKcOtlkk8NmNiGWCqqx4-ySdcDC186RglnA0PFKKjO6Quv7uyW37JlNtMDR668Lu0n2Kb_nkbYsBpsZMVDynY3pLMN1W4bS9PAPtJ25foyBReVSADjvhIjydQSUNcpQcDCg441P/s1600/IMG_1229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="932" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K_jxfvKcOtlkk8NmNiGWCqqx4-ySdcDC186RglnA0PFKKjO6Quv7uyW37JlNtMDR668Lu0n2Kb_nkbYsBpsZMVDynY3pLMN1W4bS9PAPtJ25foyBReVSADjvhIjydQSUNcpQcDCg441P/s320/IMG_1229.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O_-pKrjz8DKczdsD0pShvpPN4F1uI3nK7Pz_nj-Wpae6-dqShk5m8e2eFxg-NIqXzGNZDtFQ4G9Mi9Eu-Gb81MhyM9YH83pvynlQZYvrAhkLTeD4t5js1hy-Bix1Zdk42ECVXlnqiaiK/s1600/IMG_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O_-pKrjz8DKczdsD0pShvpPN4F1uI3nK7Pz_nj-Wpae6-dqShk5m8e2eFxg-NIqXzGNZDtFQ4G9Mi9Eu-Gb81MhyM9YH83pvynlQZYvrAhkLTeD4t5js1hy-Bix1Zdk42ECVXlnqiaiK/s320/IMG_0224.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a great way to spend a day trying something new. He now schedules these experiences for others to do. Check out his Facebook page (linked above) to see how you can do this. I highly recommend it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't have a plan for March, but Facebook came to the rescue. I entered a drawing and won a prize of my choice at <a href="http://foxchapelironworks.com/">Fox Chapel Iron Works</a>. My prize was an item already made, a design of my own, or welding classes. Welding classes! Of course I chose the classes. Who doesn't want to play with six thousand degree metal? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I figured after conquering the chainsaw (okay, I probably still can't turn one on by myself ha ha) that I should try my hand at other dude stuff because the girly stuff wasn't working so well for me (as we will see later on...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dave Beach was a fabulous instructor. My prize was for me only so we paid for Wayne to join me at the classes. We both learned a lot. And I was thrilled that week when I was reading a historical novel that mentioned acetylene gas, the same gas we used in welding class! I yelled out while reading, "Hey! I know what that is!" I was alone in the house and no one heard my glee but the dog, but still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR8aMMEYpYFLUKzE4FAA2JSzlA3D-nhXKZPhcG9KGqaPwuM-5l-YoPP8pMBidHuka0YXQ-j8lJYcnGs1MejkGJsT8YLzNtRAIsgw7LPUHHyPfSt0tTYMIbYw1z7F6YICjBOipKbdPzcDh/s1600/IMG_1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR8aMMEYpYFLUKzE4FAA2JSzlA3D-nhXKZPhcG9KGqaPwuM-5l-YoPP8pMBidHuka0YXQ-j8lJYcnGs1MejkGJsT8YLzNtRAIsgw7LPUHHyPfSt0tTYMIbYw1z7F6YICjBOipKbdPzcDh/s320/IMG_1122.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDcjpE50OLGUVn1NLoXr4flScBBWYkolRA67YstpIIicf-kpZTQ3V2YpBzdE5Zs5pvQ7-Pd4qAemdt7vNQmZ3BmjkCsyu-0g4Kcg4daO2oQ-6dc0cZxXKUZUpQsePC3XybmFj-pbfxTMT/s1600/IMG_1123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDcjpE50OLGUVn1NLoXr4flScBBWYkolRA67YstpIIicf-kpZTQ3V2YpBzdE5Zs5pvQ7-Pd4qAemdt7vNQmZ3BmjkCsyu-0g4Kcg4daO2oQ-6dc0cZxXKUZUpQsePC3XybmFj-pbfxTMT/s320/IMG_1123.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyULEelkioyYcyQ_1zwYW0R8iESSYc1ZWv2rEJKCsBZKXApfanqgAG8dIzaqLfsdjbFeTgRZKIlPcFSNknb3vwqaQ3cVXVcuaj-qRBNMFCSztCXXA-tMcpmklHNDuKhPkMNYauF4-Fj21S/s1600/IMG_1124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyULEelkioyYcyQ_1zwYW0R8iESSYc1ZWv2rEJKCsBZKXApfanqgAG8dIzaqLfsdjbFeTgRZKIlPcFSNknb3vwqaQ3cVXVcuaj-qRBNMFCSztCXXA-tMcpmklHNDuKhPkMNYauF4-Fj21S/s320/IMG_1124.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEioqaZbVDwr8IBlo9oVUrBzuV_JuYzb49qDkxtIa6IZhnW8jobt-Zvn7u2-Smxy5Kb_6ydJaRy8eKXeUqvrBvttRnITmKblJFXn7iPjqJk2kqF44GwcuD6JY3qsgQalNWDBDM48sL1lLgh_/s1600/IMG_1127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqaZbVDwr8IBlo9oVUrBzuV_JuYzb49qDkxtIa6IZhnW8jobt-Zvn7u2-Smxy5Kb_6ydJaRy8eKXeUqvrBvttRnITmKblJFXn7iPjqJk2kqF44GwcuD6JY3qsgQalNWDBDM48sL1lLgh_/s320/IMG_1127.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welding Wayne. I couldn't take a picture of myself. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEg2-Uj3m7Hdv2WZOf1l_liGRek-dfrm0dXFdIspiC-OBHd0vznrF8FkBBQTMERkn0Jto5GzindWbuhs1a8Ttk8EL5_V7x-Jfk8ANBhhwb7V4xtp1HXJmvcrp3Nrnpu2UkBOPuBX3WtnyjHT/s1600/IMG_1278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-Uj3m7Hdv2WZOf1l_liGRek-dfrm0dXFdIspiC-OBHd0vznrF8FkBBQTMERkn0Jto5GzindWbuhs1a8Ttk8EL5_V7x-Jfk8ANBhhwb7V4xtp1HXJmvcrp3Nrnpu2UkBOPuBX3WtnyjHT/s320/IMG_1278.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just look at those weld lines </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjYHDtCI-N51KktKOAjBsFBlxjn9XcLTq4p-rJ3TFTOm4HVCyh9FvEZ0qJzj_jdRTSqpZGzDpKXUO4JVU42RXj_v8V72mV7EghJsasHTwpFrsEiLtafiNVFDFoRFT9XgULlZr85S2bOWDal/s1600/IMG_1282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHDtCI-N51KktKOAjBsFBlxjn9XcLTq4p-rJ3TFTOm4HVCyh9FvEZ0qJzj_jdRTSqpZGzDpKXUO4JVU42RXj_v8V72mV7EghJsasHTwpFrsEiLtafiNVFDFoRFT9XgULlZr85S2bOWDal/s320/IMG_1282.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our defining moments, cell phone holders that we made </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welding was very fun. I enjoyed it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">April</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">April was a surprise for my husband and a girly fail for me. I got hair extensions. </span><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/AVvXsEjFtTMcGTWISuwXto_VslXX4XuvsraGEXusljXAoTJG4RuG-21GXwYXbjYzxDcxo-20E8tNz6jOt_T5-u3jgaYuRXnIUpeuBqPnjnwvGXXs2zkWTOYuu1FbsRm_BeUeSA4rbjirXCD8knpk/s1600/IMG_2069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="557" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtTMcGTWISuwXto_VslXX4XuvsraGEXusljXAoTJG4RuG-21GXwYXbjYzxDcxo-20E8tNz6jOt_T5-u3jgaYuRXnIUpeuBqPnjnwvGXXs2zkWTOYuu1FbsRm_BeUeSA4rbjirXCD8knpk/s320/IMG_2069.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's me before </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEi03XFYLru80yRJJZV267QsEwwfcfrtmGUVdsOZUm_1SZOW2y4ysQx-nNdhSJNhkI1tVGC7i97kvDr31xTdbN_p-GzqOb1AQTZxxt_BQwmNG8WY7Nc1Df5geBGaDlDaTOJ-ly51vHYC-Ltt/s1600/IMG_2483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1033" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03XFYLru80yRJJZV267QsEwwfcfrtmGUVdsOZUm_1SZOW2y4ysQx-nNdhSJNhkI1tVGC7i97kvDr31xTdbN_p-GzqOb1AQTZxxt_BQwmNG8WY7Nc1Df5geBGaDlDaTOJ-ly51vHYC-Ltt/s320/IMG_2483.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's me after </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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/AVvXsEjVBdFtg-5lDp0W0ZyssTiLtcs5it1ePk_Sy-romF4xQAH6Mu7edDaKlk6Nur4NP7R3MlWmtZ5UV1r8VnJvfvTkI4NALUGxqQdxMdUYWAoSxCZ6VAN88fDngOHNfnNyQupkKcSCJyhFALgq/s1600/IMG_2100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1073" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBdFtg-5lDp0W0ZyssTiLtcs5it1ePk_Sy-romF4xQAH6Mu7edDaKlk6Nur4NP7R3MlWmtZ5UV1r8VnJvfvTkI4NALUGxqQdxMdUYWAoSxCZ6VAN88fDngOHNfnNyQupkKcSCJyhFALgq/s320/IMG_2100.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After washing - no product on my hair </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgLPnojoIqPXMqGqlxGji_EIZi0UYUOa7cwLxyt2uEvpWvXk-wmKvkpogcxYLaw3DsAF-NBTpTAQ7SNpj4EQxN2TmFjhq_65lwlyXFeAWFNhCTXEo_3E_jz9LWtcdJPA8dPiTswIBF9Wsut/s1600/IMG_2180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPnojoIqPXMqGqlxGji_EIZi0UYUOa7cwLxyt2uEvpWvXk-wmKvkpogcxYLaw3DsAF-NBTpTAQ7SNpj4EQxN2TmFjhq_65lwlyXFeAWFNhCTXEo_3E_jz9LWtcdJPA8dPiTswIBF9Wsut/s320/IMG_2180.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wayne taking them out, one by one, with pliers. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were beaded into my hair a little section at a time and looked amazing. It was the hair I should have been born with. The company that made it had just come out with wavy extensions which were perfect for me since I have a natural wave. All was fine except that they hurt. Like, really hurt. I've given birth. I lived through shingles. I know pain and this was right up there. I couldn't sleep because these little beads all over my head....I had welts. Very painful. Then I washed my hair. Oh. My. Gosh. I had to lean against the shower wall and cry when the water weighed the hair down, pulling on my already painful scalp. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was how they looked after washing. They straightened and lightened. They looked hideous. I had to get them out, so #DateDay was spent with Wayne using pliers on my head. How many wives get to say that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">May was something I'm not ready to let the world in on, let's just say it was something I wanted for a while and I got it. In about fifteen minutes. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX0-zaOur-qhREOoPr2atyacSRVzI0pEogyhpnE64YOtyy12efnHEwSpiI6sPce5pGn0cNo0Xz_GrskqhYHBNoXtA09M0VvRKcK0XlzXarjw-cpgukSg1YjV1tco_OVURi9wyXiiReqFx/s1600/IMG_4841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX0-zaOur-qhREOoPr2atyacSRVzI0pEogyhpnE64YOtyy12efnHEwSpiI6sPce5pGn0cNo0Xz_GrskqhYHBNoXtA09M0VvRKcK0XlzXarjw-cpgukSg1YjV1tco_OVURi9wyXiiReqFx/s320/IMG_4841.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">June</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For June I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I just wasn't feeling it. I decided to do something at home that I've wanted to do for a while but never took the time. Bagels. We made bagels!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">They were surprisingly easy to make. I found an everything bagel recipe online and followed it. They could have probably baked an extra few minutes, but they were very good. I'm looking to do this again sometime. But this time....I will not store everything bagels in a container with a plastic lid. The smell did not come out of the lid and I thought for sure there was a dead mouse in the storage room. It smelled like death. We tore the room apart looking for the rodent I was sure was in there, but it was only the lid. I had to let it sit in the sun for a few days to get rid of the odor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3m1UKUn7q7L_4eKrvMgc3INo06t3w_5uMcHkPuw5LsKg1aQiDYkXqdAP3DTeQHoSPzhUgbLcaa-LfnHsyeGwgHvN0jJcWR0WSMbqY2vs1eYReF-wgAQ5LPieyEE_-ouoVUF3u5LPTUcb/s1600/IMG_6149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3m1UKUn7q7L_4eKrvMgc3INo06t3w_5uMcHkPuw5LsKg1aQiDYkXqdAP3DTeQHoSPzhUgbLcaa-LfnHsyeGwgHvN0jJcWR0WSMbqY2vs1eYReF-wgAQ5LPieyEE_-ouoVUF3u5LPTUcb/s320/IMG_6149.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7O6HZnY6WPg-jO1vjGCR0c2iYUWdmC0KJmg_wTdzfOETBB8lZLUwkFKpxZBlWq6ffPiL-pUaBCwMCXdeldIk3D8AE1aJ0ErDbbqb_ghFcXXlx4VJCOSpox5yYGLkWsI18HNkO6uAYFdk/s1600/IMG_6150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7O6HZnY6WPg-jO1vjGCR0c2iYUWdmC0KJmg_wTdzfOETBB8lZLUwkFKpxZBlWq6ffPiL-pUaBCwMCXdeldIk3D8AE1aJ0ErDbbqb_ghFcXXlx4VJCOSpox5yYGLkWsI18HNkO6uAYFdk/s320/IMG_6150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEiqCaCLID9ioSR7K05Uoe6BT3vc6sUartuW1gUJWfxvM91SNfYjATrKrXc1_5bPrRtrgyNW3u1V8NA1Cnl9fhmJasiYnsFNNtke-mWqYaCHhP3z4wAFw9QXYlULk0vgeosH0zQsuGeZWHS9/s1600/IMG_6151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCaCLID9ioSR7K05Uoe6BT3vc6sUartuW1gUJWfxvM91SNfYjATrKrXc1_5bPrRtrgyNW3u1V8NA1Cnl9fhmJasiYnsFNNtke-mWqYaCHhP3z4wAFw9QXYlULk0vgeosH0zQsuGeZWHS9/s320/IMG_6151.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Super easy to make everything bagels when you use this seasoning from Trader Joe's. Yes, I cheated, but whatever. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtI7q7uFhaWZcaVZl0iF5KwYQotGDJJQY6yxkNRlGZjphEL5Za9UosYar9MRsdAm_chWg7qKgZErX-2WKlavvTU5D86iUWnW6hW8CCg_BDuTI8DPC1N-Sw7LsawBDtw54bXWcH_j3rFl/s1600/IMG_6153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtI7q7uFhaWZcaVZl0iF5KwYQotGDJJQY6yxkNRlGZjphEL5Za9UosYar9MRsdAm_chWg7qKgZErX-2WKlavvTU5D86iUWnW6hW8CCg_BDuTI8DPC1N-Sw7LsawBDtw54bXWcH_j3rFl/s320/IMG_6153.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwk9sBN7f0313j_5ZHEWhu1MVfGdf7U9xL4f1tgaMeUckOIEqJnr78Wpp5PXwljoNyg0DeSTEMTH_ST0JYD-pB4DBrvQhyOY-oEFqYC4JnRMFLfBix5zzOP7wa5FCC9UPapOn35Q_E2Ll/s1600/IMG_6181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwk9sBN7f0313j_5ZHEWhu1MVfGdf7U9xL4f1tgaMeUckOIEqJnr78Wpp5PXwljoNyg0DeSTEMTH_ST0JYD-pB4DBrvQhyOY-oEFqYC4JnRMFLfBix5zzOP7wa5FCC9UPapOn35Q_E2Ll/s320/IMG_6181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhdvwyRaj55Rs6qLNSnvdKd_w9mv9NewkLvb-FPih95VQt5DJDMJORmy9ICw-yxQYu38MrNMqRQq9EybHRtHB_dm6AU4cHVg5M2KV3cCIrzM3PS5_y1cy8ZtfUMBjBVe4XRaujRHMxRUdJt/s1600/IMG_6180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvwyRaj55Rs6qLNSnvdKd_w9mv9NewkLvb-FPih95VQt5DJDMJORmy9ICw-yxQYu38MrNMqRQq9EybHRtHB_dm6AU4cHVg5M2KV3cCIrzM3PS5_y1cy8ZtfUMBjBVe4XRaujRHMxRUdJt/s320/IMG_6180.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bagel sandwiches for dinner that night! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">July</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For July I wanted something that was random. I found a place in State College where they do ax throwing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLKz9OYFrdhW9dgkXiLYyD3E6FSYs-pYNYKvkoW6upeTBiNPjVKOxPVizjY5aMAb78gL-kRb9kSIEqi9zvOa3v3JEMVACG1Fa-6Zq6EyAeERsz1PPIk73wiYze4PA_ebtvLExbLlcSuj4/s1600/IMG_7288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLKz9OYFrdhW9dgkXiLYyD3E6FSYs-pYNYKvkoW6upeTBiNPjVKOxPVizjY5aMAb78gL-kRb9kSIEqi9zvOa3v3JEMVACG1Fa-6Zq6EyAeERsz1PPIk73wiYze4PA_ebtvLExbLlcSuj4/s320/IMG_7288.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIOWZVl251QAkVSPD2w2P70WXfuPSEWYYIt5VzYHv8J1v0oPRO8Tu7IoVB0-je6RLAJlI5pWyKHPZOtofS9jxFznW0N8adk22h6McQURfMn9V1pSAZS3X_rvKaXjjAcl1mCwlx3nkbzky/s1600/IMG_7279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIOWZVl251QAkVSPD2w2P70WXfuPSEWYYIt5VzYHv8J1v0oPRO8Tu7IoVB0-je6RLAJlI5pWyKHPZOtofS9jxFznW0N8adk22h6McQURfMn9V1pSAZS3X_rvKaXjjAcl1mCwlx3nkbzky/s320/IMG_7279.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o9BWt25HTEErwPrnMuopesvwbXzXayU8cVywWM8HKT6NPo9f1XRyyHd8bCKF_cVIEOk9CqjCEeo1tHeHlBfencVjrSYMLzuqUFrJS4r1pqiSeohYmS4Dem8vVtkVSe35G8P1bbrGSkJQ/s1600/IMG_7281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o9BWt25HTEErwPrnMuopesvwbXzXayU8cVywWM8HKT6NPo9f1XRyyHd8bCKF_cVIEOk9CqjCEeo1tHeHlBfencVjrSYMLzuqUFrJS4r1pqiSeohYmS4Dem8vVtkVSe35G8P1bbrGSkJQ/s320/IMG_7281.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyrSdmqdHGYiYqSxtHlM-Xjl95X9L4T4YHc83vL4bNRh5VULqrunSS0TxNF36wpJ4RpcvXyc-aVyUhvfMnYcEPfDC7il_s4X3r6b5ayXI1RSB5-ny7Zt5M6A_e6QtTmTAiCecGuH-p764/s1600/IMG_7282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyrSdmqdHGYiYqSxtHlM-Xjl95X9L4T4YHc83vL4bNRh5VULqrunSS0TxNF36wpJ4RpcvXyc-aVyUhvfMnYcEPfDC7il_s4X3r6b5ayXI1RSB5-ny7Zt5M6A_e6QtTmTAiCecGuH-p764/s320/IMG_7282.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO7jNygapueQD2wVzBZsyfRh_hnsDwsYRctmaqAIsqRjR0LjO6DRUQXLpy2nQ4YGYmCfBgNJWXrQ2M8q6DA7-NqDEf3mBgHVBuFMX7FuQuxfHwF6erMtTDtf8KWyZwmukD9wyLW7rQo8P/s1600/IMG_7283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO7jNygapueQD2wVzBZsyfRh_hnsDwsYRctmaqAIsqRjR0LjO6DRUQXLpy2nQ4YGYmCfBgNJWXrQ2M8q6DA7-NqDEf3mBgHVBuFMX7FuQuxfHwF6erMtTDtf8KWyZwmukD9wyLW7rQo8P/s320/IMG_7283.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4f3OoGSg1_Duf9Lba1bIjRhNtxEu29xOCCHqPhtxzKEpYSHsiE_tY6Pnmy3mrereNCnPHK2ifvUBx-hyVxZN-vsnZsFB00vqByIoLByu1FREZeuh80PLuzmB-n3xjBuhXFQ7ayPt0B0Z/s1600/IMG_7284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4f3OoGSg1_Duf9Lba1bIjRhNtxEu29xOCCHqPhtxzKEpYSHsiE_tY6Pnmy3mrereNCnPHK2ifvUBx-hyVxZN-vsnZsFB00vqByIoLByu1FREZeuh80PLuzmB-n3xjBuhXFQ7ayPt0B0Z/s320/IMG_7284.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS8FtTCEGWig33rNr5i3ZasjDVzYxHpcWriatxnWPN5Ta2h7AmNIDc4hOva45xzR0ahn1XoqL4pXtI5OvnGPq-v56wYp52IcA53skERLjR_cRccR3Wvndt6amk35cyndyHPk1K7iMgm-I/s1600/IMG_7285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS8FtTCEGWig33rNr5i3ZasjDVzYxHpcWriatxnWPN5Ta2h7AmNIDc4hOva45xzR0ahn1XoqL4pXtI5OvnGPq-v56wYp52IcA53skERLjR_cRccR3Wvndt6amk35cyndyHPk1K7iMgm-I/s320/IMG_7285.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoOLov9JDaBJ2msAwOpg8wcSU1zLwuQU1zm-jpRo-87tSmj-kgQJLBHcoJ0jXZou2vzkc-8PHEC9JQguZ2Na0E4ujbMDTEO4JGTz2Lj6Tjz9zQ6iiMbx4LP8LmI6S8EZ5zR2pEaheShf2/s1600/IMG_7286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoOLov9JDaBJ2msAwOpg8wcSU1zLwuQU1zm-jpRo-87tSmj-kgQJLBHcoJ0jXZou2vzkc-8PHEC9JQguZ2Na0E4ujbMDTEO4JGTz2Lj6Tjz9zQ6iiMbx4LP8LmI6S8EZ5zR2pEaheShf2/s320/IMG_7286.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuhnBt46OqQKRfaVkfnKz6pvIeUhfTur4OusJgMZ3d5hGbup40XWQ49VqLIfUIBdXulaTC28bxrodZaWza55AjetaObLnbkc4JAHFs10IDyDA299D5QY8Cm2x1Wlzzy_PnKHK9bn-IjXk/s1600/IMG_7287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuhnBt46OqQKRfaVkfnKz6pvIeUhfTur4OusJgMZ3d5hGbup40XWQ49VqLIfUIBdXulaTC28bxrodZaWza55AjetaObLnbkc4JAHFs10IDyDA299D5QY8Cm2x1Wlzzy_PnKHK9bn-IjXk/s320/IMG_7287.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg712fotU2C8IJ9MkF5iFx7pfcFPM4ZahietpcdF3rgK_BU-vlUYSg0989aLDKxVLAR-sDfsvVYAdSfIUk14ONABbCS3gLQ0-cZq40W2Cn0HhTST3a2iTq8NRfzJzPeKkm9Yw-LfBGX0YiU/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg712fotU2C8IJ9MkF5iFx7pfcFPM4ZahietpcdF3rgK_BU-vlUYSg0989aLDKxVLAR-sDfsvVYAdSfIUk14ONABbCS3gLQ0-cZq40W2Cn0HhTST3a2iTq8NRfzJzPeKkm9Yw-LfBGX0YiU/s320/IMG_7289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We got some friends and went ax throwing. I mean, who doesn't want to do that? What we learned is that I'm the worst of us four. If someone breaks into my house and all I have to defend myself is an ax I will not break any skin. I might knock them out with the side of it, but they will not bleed. That will be good for my carpet though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was fun. I'm not good at it. And I was sore for two days. But it was fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In all, I had a great year trying new things. Some bombed and some were surprisingly fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd do it all again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except for the painful things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-15697840402316837292019-07-06T11:34:00.000-07:002019-07-08T06:38:27.071-07:00Anchored <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYgq1DbzrddVSz7OSog5M0BInO-YAZ3QmcOtxbAUnJhemk69KV_jBPY7qdAdBwWW72gtE4EFFzD6B7sjp8_rq5L7xpy_RfqqSOFYvxdLN_HCyOcopYe-A_njUFNen-mc9zrsGm99biJ_Q/s1600/pexels-photo-38870.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYgq1DbzrddVSz7OSog5M0BInO-YAZ3QmcOtxbAUnJhemk69KV_jBPY7qdAdBwWW72gtE4EFFzD6B7sjp8_rq5L7xpy_RfqqSOFYvxdLN_HCyOcopYe-A_njUFNen-mc9zrsGm99biJ_Q/s320/pexels-photo-38870.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What are you anchored to? Anchors are what keep us in place. I love the above picture, they are signifying that they are anchored to each other. Everyone is anchored to something. Some are anchored to their jobs. Some are anchored by fear. Some are anchored to a certain way of doing things because that's the way we've always done it. Some are anchored to unhealthy relationships because they don't feel worthy of anything better. Anchors can be good and bad, depending on what you're anchored to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For several days I saw anchors everywhere. I soon realized this was something we needed to dig into. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Webster's defines anchor in several ways, including:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>A fixed object (such as a tree or piton) to which a climber's rope is secured.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>To secure firmly.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>A device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The largest anchor in the life of a Christian should be our anchor to our Savior. Our relationship with Christ should be what all of our decisions pass through. It should provide us with a steadiness that keeps us from moving out of His presence. When things pop up in our lives, tempting us to look away, we can easily discern whether it's beneficial to us or something we should avoid because our anchor is firmly planted in Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What you anchor yourself to --good or bad-- will hold you and keep you in place. We should be so firmly anchored that we don't sway. Yet some of us get used to the comfort of being a Christian that we begin to view things that are not good for us as being good or being of God. John Bevere taught on this a few years ago (<a href="https://youtu.be/0tvOnXSSXhU">watch the sermon here</a>) and used the example of a couple moving in together to save on their expenses because, "We are getting married anyway," as something being good (as in a good idea) but not of God. We are too quick to allow ourselves to be swayed by our feelings and emotions, forgetting that we are to do what 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "avoid all kinds of evil" (evil being defined by Webster as <i>morally reprehensible: sinful, wicked</i>). Time with a friend who doesn't know the Lord and who can only get together with us at a bar appears good but is not. There are places and situations that we should avoid. Period. They are not beneficial to us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As these days continue to become crowded with opinions and feelings we need to be certain our anchor is in Jesus and the Word. God's Word, the Bible, is our map for life. It's course is set for us with commands of how to live and what to steer clear of. It saddens and, to be honest, angers me when I see Christians playing with things of the world. Things of Satan. Evil that is created to harm our minds, bodies, and reputations. Our sanctification doesn't take a holiday. We don't get time off as Christians for good behavior. We can't party on the weekend because we feel like it and then go back to being Godly when we're done. It doesn't work that way. We aren't Amish, we don't get a rumspringa. Being in the world but not of the world means that we live among sinners but we do not behave as they do. We are different. Even if that makes us uncomfortable. We are the light and we need to start acting like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some act as though their anchor is a Cracker Jack prize, small, plastic, flimsy. Can be carried around in the pocket and then dropped anywhere. Too many are anchored to their own minds instead of the mind of Christ. God's Word is our standard, not the word of anything else, no matter the popular opinion. Jesus is a strong anchor. He is the rock that we build our lives on. He can keep us firmly planted if we allow Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I found it interesting that another definition of anchor is: <i>a large business (such as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall</i>. This begs an answer to the question, what are we attracting to ourselves by what we are anchored to? In simpler terms, what kind of fruit are we producing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going back to the initial definitions above, I love the distinction between an anchor holding us in place and the first definition of the anchor being what a climber's rope is secured to. Jesus is my anchor in both of these situations. He keeps me steady, helping me to stand firm, and He is above, holding me as I climb closer to Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Keep your eyes on the Anchor. The lover of your soul. All earthly things will pass away, only our life in Christ will last. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The world is watching, be the light. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-4010514303946409082019-05-29T10:04:00.003-07:002019-05-29T10:04:50.731-07:00I'm Sorry<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBI17vLUBsQ" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few months ago a man stopped by the church on a Sunday morning before the service to talk to the pastor (<b>Note to everyone</b>: please don't do this, he has a lot on his mind already. Call the office during the week and schedule a time to meet with him). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"It'll only take a minute," Carl said. The pastor, caught off guard, agreed to speak with him. "I wanted to apologize to you. I've been telling lies about you all over town and I need to make it right." The pastor was dumbfounded, but accepted the quasi-apology and watched as Carl walked out the door, convinced he'd done what he needed to to make it right. The pastor was left to preach his Sunday sermon with an arrow sticking out of his back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A similar thing happened on a Wednesday night as Alissa stopped by before Bible study to talk to the pastor. "I'm making things right with some people in my life," she said. And that was that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was bewildered by these two confessions. Both feeling as though they'd apologized and made things right, but neither having done what they'd set out to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If Carl, being concerned about making things right, had also said he'd begun to share the real story with those he'd lied to he may have been able to repair the damage he'd done. He needed to apologize to each of them and begin to right the wrong and set straight the false accusations he'd been making. Who knows how many in the community heard his stories, both from him and passed along by others. This is one way Christians turn people away from God and away from the church, by sharing false information. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alissa never made mention of exactly what she was trying to make right. She just said those exact words and exited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've not seen or heard from either of these people since. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm glad they cleared their conscience, but isn't apologizing for a wrong you've done someone a little more than that? They may have thought they were absolving themselves from any wrongs with their drive-thru apologies, but instead they left behind a wake of confusion. Confusion that the enemy picked up like dropped arrows on the ground, loaded them into his quiver, and began to shoot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I think it's better if we don't apologize. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">If we just ask forgiveness of God and change our ways. Hear me out. Yes, if we have an issue or an argument with someone then we need to make it right. But if we did something to someone, in this case spread lies around town about someone that they were unaware of, do we really need to tell them what we did? Can't that cause a bigger problem?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Carl and Alissa opened </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">a vein of spiritual warfare that we had to fight because of their apologies. We had to forgive and let go, knowing that we couldn't do anything to repair the damage they had done. Knowing we couldn't do to them what they'd done to us. Knowing that we had to leave the discipline to the Lord. Because that's what He wants of us, as followers of Him. It's another example of denying self. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">How much trouble do we bring on ourselves? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Most of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770689408821309490.post-45064216630669084362019-04-06T08:44:00.001-07:002019-04-06T08:44:34.744-07:00Squeezing My Eyes Shut <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvd1HK58VSrCVAWl8fLNxOKYzT5PNHk_8aWXNlD1Yt2unKp4xsvsoNykCC5-M8gRRw1v6GguzKt0PzenFi05vNSY9FUJ8iO5z9wIFSm7BeBcAiwL8sTO-IU8dyhcYGIDSvz0AcIpk8Rxp/s1600/IMG_2233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1600" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvd1HK58VSrCVAWl8fLNxOKYzT5PNHk_8aWXNlD1Yt2unKp4xsvsoNykCC5-M8gRRw1v6GguzKt0PzenFi05vNSY9FUJ8iO5z9wIFSm7BeBcAiwL8sTO-IU8dyhcYGIDSvz0AcIpk8Rxp/s320/IMG_2233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're out and happen to see me squeezing my eyes shut like this guy, know that it's God working in me and I'm trying really hard to adjust my attitude. The squeezing of my eyes shut will likely result in not-so-flattering wrinkles, but it's keeping me from rolling my eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're rolling your eyes at me right now, aren't you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I shared with my Bible study group a few weeks ago, most of my sins are secret sins. The ones no one knows about. The unseen. But just because they are unseen doesn't mean they aren't as wrong as the ones that can be seen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The attitudes of my heart cause God pain. He knows my heart, He knows how I truly feel about everything. Even things that don't deserve my attention or opinion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A neighbor's dog barking at me while I walked down my driveway this morning resulted in me squeezing my eyes shut as I immediately went into reaction mode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Shut it," I hollered to the offending dog. I began to think things that weren't kind. My attitude went from placid to unglued in seconds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why though?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dog was only doing what dogs do. Barking at a human he could see. This was no reason for me to react with a bad attitude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reigning in the attitude is a tough thing for me to do and should totally count as part of my daily workout routine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honestly, it's harder than the crunches, planks, and deadlifts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit (though this time it felt more like a throat-punch) and had to squeeze my eyes shut in order to no roll them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So yeah, if you see me walking down the street with my eyes squeezed shut, please make sure I'm not in any danger and then say a prayer for me as this is a sure sign that God is working on me and my attitude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04966667680336411699noreply@blogger.com0