Are you a nap person? AND an animal lover?

Well, first off, I AM a nap person, meaning I love to take naps, though I usually only take one on Sunday afternoons, which, in my humble opinion, is the best nap time of all!! AND when I take my Sunday afternoon siesta, I almost always sleep on my back, so as not to mess up my hair because I will be heading back to church when I wake up and this saves me a little time. And I also sleep on my back with a pillow tucked under my knees for my back's sake....*smile*. Anywayyyy...that is why I posted this pic of this cute little puppy sleeping on his back. Isn't he adorable???? (I don't look that adorable when I sleep on my back....trust me on this one...*feeble grin*.....well, okay, my mother might have thought so, but she's the only one.) My husband said this pic is a good example of how I look when I am "out", a.k.a. asleep. Dead to the world. He is amazed at how I can just crawl into bed, lay down and go to sleep. I mean, I'm out. He, on the other hand, is like an old hound dog trying to find a place to lay down. He pounds and punches his pillows. Kicks the covers out at the foot of the bed. Moves around getting all situated. Gets his head positioned just right on the pillow. Sometimes I just bust out laughing. I can't help it. He is just so rowdy and noisy when he is getting settled into bed. Soooooo, when I go to bed quite a bit before him, I always ask him to please be a little quiet when he comes to bed and he is, bless his sweet heart. Oh, and when he naps, it is always in his recliner, though I've told him recliner naps just aren't as good as crawling into the good ol' bed kind of naps, which is what I do on Sunday afternoons. None of this laying on top of the bedspread with a cover over me. Huh-uh. This is the only time I have the bed to myself and I savor it. *smile* Though when I go to bed at night, especially on a chilly night, I couldn't imagine not having Ed right there beside me. I've told him on more than on occasion that I just love sleeping with him. He is such a good cuddler. Okay, okay, I'll stop RIGHT there! *grin* (I may have already told you more than you wanted to hear, hm?) Happy Three Days Before Christmas!!!! God's Blessings to you!!

Their 1-year anniversary!!

Daniel and Erin celebrated their 1-year anniversary Sunday, December 17! It is hard to believe they have been married for a year! How time flies. At our Christmas family get-together Saturday, my brother Johnny asked Daniel if he would do it again and Daniel said, "In a heartbeat!" without hesitation. They are so happy and enjoy life so much. We thank the Lord for our sweet daughter-in-law, Erin Maree. She is truly a like a daughter to us.....just what we prayed for! Congratulations, kids!!

ANOTHER ONE???????

Our son, Daniel, called us the other evening and said, "Mom, are you sitting down? We have something to tell you." Well, needless to say, I thought a grandbaby was on the way. Not so. They have ANOTHER dog. Albeit, he IS a cute dog. Their first mistake was going to Petland. They are such pushovers for animals. Well, I am, too, but I have learned over the years that you just can't give into every desire that comes along.......like eating the ENTIRE pizza from Pizza Crossing (my fave) because it tastes soooooo delicious because I'll suffer terribly later AND gain 2-3 pounds overnight. Anywayyyyy......the new granddoggy is a Weimaraner. Up there is his picture. His name is Dakota and we do love him! We met him and bonded with him a couple of days ago. *smile* How about those ears?? *grin* He is going to be a big one.....eventually!


And we also enjoyed some family time with our three granddaughter-doggies, Jasmine-a lab mix, Macie-a Jack Russell Terrier, and Heidi-a boxer. Aren't they adorable? I will say one thing for them. They are easy to buy for. LOL A bone. A chew toy. Doggie treats. It doesn't get much easier than that. And they aren't picky. So, I'll not complain. *smile*

Do You Believe?

When our son Daniel was about three years old, we began our annual tradition of taking him to downtown Lazarus in Columbus to see Santa. They had the best Santa Claus, in my humble opinion and their Santaland was absolutely a wonderland! This first year, as Daniel crawled up onto Santa's lap, my heart was so moved by the gentleness and kindness of this elderly man. He wasn't loud or boisterous but rather quiet and pleasant. I kept wiping away the tears and just didn't understand what was wrong with me. Ed was visibly moved, too. What was going on? I mean, he was just a department store Santa, after all. As Daniel climbed down off of Santa's lap, Santa smiled kindly at me and waved and again, a big lump formed in my throat. All that Daniel wanted that year was a sno-cone machine (thank you, Aunt Debbie! *smile*) and that is what he told Santa when asked what he wanted. Santa just couldn't believe that Daniel didn't want anything else, but that is how Daniel has always been. He gets his heart set on ONE thing that he wants and though he might receive other gifts, the ONE is enough. I'm thankful for the heart that the Lord has given him. I've never forgotten that particular trip to see Santa. I believe it was the kindness and gentleness that emanated from this man's heart that so moved me.

The other evening, I went to a Christmas party with my sister Debbie. As we were finishing eating, Santa arrived to wish us a Merry Christmas. Again, he was such a kind and gentle Santa, spreading goodwill to all. As he made his way about the tables, there was that lump forming in my throat once again and the tears smarting at the corners of my eyes. When he reached our table, he extended a gloved hand to shake and wished me a Merry Christmas and I realized that I "knew" this Santa. *smile* And I knew that he REALLY WAS a kind man.

I have said all of that to say that it is the spirit of Santa that really makes the difference and matters. It isn't whether he is pagan or "real" or whatever. So may the kind, gentle and good spirit of Santa envelop you this Christmas and Holiday Season. God Bless You One and All!!

(oh, and just between you and me......the Santa at my sister's Christmas party??? I used to date him! *smile* I told the girls at our table and we had a great laugh over it!!)

Tis the Season to be Jolly!!

Hello everyone! First of all, I would like to ask those of you who read my blog to let me know if it is difficult to read. Would you please leave a post, letting me know. I ask this because my nephew, Troy, says it is difficult to read....the black on the pink background. I don't have a problem reading it at all and I have trifocals. I'm eager too hear from you!

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Several of the young people and two young married couples and I went to Easton in Columbus Saturday afternoon. I had never been there so I was quite excited about going as I have heard alot about it. I was a little concerned about how I would do getting around, though. It was a bit tedious but I managed and everyone was really helpful and patient with me. We ate at Hometown Buffet on Morse Road, because everywhere else was sooooooo crowded and the wait times were unbelievable...2 1/2 hours at the Cheesecake Factory. We had a great time eating and having fun at Hometown Buffet and then it was on to Easton. I have never seen so many stores in one complex in my whole entire life! Oh My Word! And this is a non-shopper talking here. I do not like to shop.....at all. I only buy clothes because I look better with them on than off. *feeble grin* I love it when people GIVE me clothes. I buy an occasional piece of clothing to add to my wardrobe. That way I don't have to actually go shopping for a lengthy period of time. The one place I can shop and always find something to add to my wardrobe is Value City in Lancaster. I am thankful for it. *smile* Anywayyyy.....back to Easton. I have never been to any place like it! It was all decked out for the holidays! I took a horse and buggy ride with Stacy and Jeremy and Caleb, which was just awesome and just the right time of the year for doing so. After our ride, we walked on to the enclosed portion of Easton so Stacy could get a Cinnabon! She had to have a Cinnabon! While we were sitting there eating our Cinnabons.....she bought us each one....how could I not eat it??.....while we were sitting there a huge roar went up amidst the crowd and we wondered what in the world had happened only to find out that Troy Smith had won the Heisman!!! Yeehaa!!! It was shown at a sports shop nearby on a bigscreen TV. So, after 4 hours at Easton, we finally headed back to the van and started home but not before going downtown and looking at the Christmas lights at the Statehouse and downtown Columbus. Nationwide Insurance on Broad Street has an awesome nativity display. If you are in downtown Columbus you need to go by and see it. Ed and I took Daniel to see it when he was about four years old and I was hoping that it would still be there. The youth loved it. Soooooo...then it was homeward bound for us! Stacy and Jeremy live in a huge subdivision in Lancaster and they directed us around it to see the different light displays. You should have heard us critiquing *sp* them. "You don't put big lights with small lights!" "You don't mix white lights with colored lights!" "All they did was throw some lights in a tree!" It was so funny!! And so much fun!! Oh, and on the way home we sang Christmas carols. We sounded really good.......on some of them.
One of the really neat things about the evening was the fact that in our group that went, we had such a wide range of ages. Firstly, I am 55. The youngest person was 15. And we had all ages in between: 35, 25, 22, 19, 16. You would never have known it! We all just got along so well and had a great evening! We had planned on arriving back at the church by 10pm at the latest, but did not get there until midnight. Yessssss.....I called parents and told them that we were running a tad late, but, not to worry, we would gladly bring their young people home! So it all worked out well.
I didnt' have any trouble getting up Sunday morning and we had a wonderful service, but after I got home and we had dinner, I hit the bed, let me tell you! I slept for almost 2 1/2 hours! It was great! *smile* Sunday afternoon sleep is the best sleep of the week! Can I get an "Amen"????? *smile* Then it was on to church that evening and we had such a wonderful service and the presence of the Lord was so sweet in our midst as we worshipped Him.
Today I have been kind of wiped out. That is the only way to describe how I feel, but Monday can be kind of a tough day for me. I know many of you will understand when I say that I just expend so much of myself on Sundays doing music, leading worship, teaching class, etc. I love doing it all, but sometimes it does drain me quite a bit. So Mondays tend to be my day of rest. *smile* Tomorrow night is our ladies Christmas party at church. I am fixing pickle wraps and fruit pizza to take. I am going to a Christmas party with my sister Debbie on Wednesday evening at 6pm with her suppport group. I will be going to church afterward. On Thursday, three of my girlfriends....my NYC girlfriends....and I are having lunch at Annie's Cheesecake in Lancaster. THENNNNNN.....our family...the Peters' family.....is having their annual Christmas family get-together at church on Saturday at 4pm after the church Christmas program practice at 1pm. Does this all sound familiar to all of you out there? *grin* Oh, but it IS the most wonderful time of the year!!! *smile* Well, the Lord's best to each of you and may you be enjoying the festivities of the season with your friends and loved ones, as I am!! God Bless.....I'm going to bed!!! *smile* *yawwwwwn*

When I Say I Am A Christian

When I say I am a Christian...
I am not shouting that I am saved,
I am whispering that I was lost,
That's why I choose His way.
When I say I am a Christian...
I don't speak of this with pride,
I'm confessing that I stumble,
Needing God to be my Guide.
When I say I am a Christian...
I'm not trying to be strong,
I'm professing that I am weak
And pray for strength to carry on.
When I say I am a Christian...
I'm not bragging of success,
I'm admitting I have failed
And cannot even pay the debt.
When I say I am a Christian...
I don't think I know it all,
I submit to my confusion,
Asking humbly to be taught.
When I say I am a Christian...
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.
When I say I am a Christian...
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have shared my heartaches,
which is why I seek His name.
I know that I am loved.

A few random thoughts

I thought I had mentioned this, but in reading over some previous posts, I realized that I hadn't. As I was riding on our church's Christmas float in the annual Logan Christmas Parade, I was fighting tears the whole way. Those of us riding the float were waving and wishing those along the parade route "Merry Christmas". Of course, having lived here all of my life, I knew so many of the people. Everyone was so receptive and waved back and returned the holiday wishes. My heart was so touched. I had a lump in my throat the whole time and was discreetly wiping away tears, too. Come to find out, another lady riding the float and my pastor's wife, felt the same way. At the end of the parade, the three of us just kind of let down our guard and cried a bit. I just saw so many people who need the Lord; so many people who used to know the Lord and for whatever reason, no longer serve Him. I prayed along the way that the Lord would somehow reach out and touch those that we were seeing that day. You could just feel something palpable going on between us and the crowds. Several of the youth passed out candy. Sis. Martin and Sis. Cheryl carried our church banner out in front. They looked so cute dressed in red and green, Santa hats, and bells on their shoes. Oh, wait, I'll post a pic of them here for you to see. Pastor Martin rode in the truck with Bro. Brad. My husband and Bro. Jeremy rode in the back of the pickup truck and kept the young people's baskets filled with candy to pass out to the children. I pray that the Lord will continue to use our presence in the parade to touch people's hearts and bring them to Him.
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I went to Walmart this afternoon to buy some yarn to finish up two afghans I am making for gifts. Again, my heart was just so touched by the people I saw and met and came in contact with. Again, I struggled to control the tears. My heart just ached for those that I saw. I thought of the scripture in Matthew that says: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Truly, people need the Lord.

TGIF

Here is the picture of my Christmas Angel, at last! I've been sitting here fiddling with blogger for the past hour trying to get this picture to upload. *sighhhhhh*

Anywayyyy......isn't it pretty??? As I said in my previous post, I bought it at a local artisan mall. It only cost $16.oo! I only tell you the price because I was simply amazed that the cost was so low and now that I am no longer working, money for special little things like this is a bit limited. But when I saw this angel, I just knew it was exactly what I wanted. I don't know about you, but when I go in search of something like this, I talk to the Lord about it, asking Him to help me find just what I am looking for, especially when I'm not even sure what I am looking for. And sometimes it is so difficult for me to make decisions! *smile* Truly, He cares about every little detail of our lives. I'm reminded of the verse in an old hymn...."And He walks with me, And He talks with me......"

A bit of holiday humor for you!

Christmas Carols for the mentally challenged:


Schizophrenia:
Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality:
We Three Queens Disoriented Are.

Dementia:
I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Narcissistic:
Hark The Herald Angels Sing (About Me)

Mania:
Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets
and Stores and Office and Town or Deck the Halls and
Spare No Expense!

Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy, oooh look at the froggy - can I have some hot chocolate? Why is France so far away?

Paranoia:
Santa Claus is Coming To Get Me.

Personality Disorder:
You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout,
then MAYBE I'll tell you why.

Obsessive Compulsive:
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle
Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle
Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle
Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell,
Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell...

Borderline Personality:
Thoughts of Roasting in an Open Fire.

Passive Aggressive:
On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
(and then took it all away).

Two sisters and an angel

On the spur of the moment Saturday morning, I called my sister Debbie and asked her if she would like to go with me to visit our sister Bev, who lives in Lancaster. She said yes, so I picked her up and off we went! The reason I wanted to see them both was because I had bought them each a Christmas grapevine angel for their front doors. I bought myself one last week and it is so pretty, that I wanted to share with them! So, of course, Debbie comes out of the house with her portable oxygen, an extra tank of oxygen, her big purse.....anyway, she does not travel light these days. *grin* So we get to Bev's and just as I pull into the driveway, I remember that she had told me the previous day when we talked, that they had a meeting at church this particular morning. *sighhhhhh* Well, I decided to put the Christmas angel on her door anyway, to surprise her. There was still an autumn swag hanging there, so I took it down and put up the angel. Now getting up to her front door is not an easy assignment for me, because those two steps are STEEP! and there isn't a hand rail. Soooooo, I finally get myself up on the front step and hang the angel. I descend the porch and get back to the car whereupon my sister Debbie, who is sitting in the car with her oxygen on, proceeds to inform me that the angel is crooked. Hmmmph!! Sooooo, I crawl back up those steep steps and straighten the angel. (I am just an eensy weensy bit particular about stuff like that. Blame my mother, God rest her precious soul.) Sooooo, I get back to the car whereupon arriving Debbie proceeds to say, "You know, you really should do something with those pumpkins on the porch." Well, that did it. I told her if she wanted something done with those pumpkins, she could quit sitting there sucking oxygen and do it herself! And we both cracked up laughing! She said she wasn't doing anything with those pumpkins, they weren't her pumpkins and I told her that my goodwill toward my sisters had run out for the day. LOL Sooo, once we stopped laughing and making smart remarks to eachother, I got myself in the car and we headed for the grocery store, where we both got groceries and the headed home. Bev called that evening and thanked me for the angel and told me how much she loved it. How I love my two precious sisters. And that was the ending of a very good day.
I tried to post a picture of the Christmas angel here but couldn't. So I will try later! I want you to see how pretty they are!!

Bah Humbug!

To begin with, I do like Christmas caroles, okay? BUTTTTTTTTT......I don't want to hear them 24/7 for a month and a half!!! Sheesh!! I will even go so far as to say I wouldn't mind listening to one, say one every three songs on the radio, but all of my favorite radio stations are playing Christmas music ALL of the time! Grrrrrrr! Soooooo, I just don't listen to them at all. I play my cd's, tapes, or listen to talk radio or drive along in blissful silence, just me and Jesus. I do have a wonderful Montivani Cd that I love and also Kenny G. I prefer instrumental Christmas music. Oh, and they started playing Christmas music.....on the radio....BEFORE Thanksgiving!! Hellooooooo!! *sighhhhh* Okay, I'm done. I feel better. (i'll be glad to get my radio back in January)

The kitty of the house

Here she is. The kitty of the house. Miss Ellie. Whenever we get home from the grocery store, we always put a sack of the floor for her. She crawls into it and Ed usually takes her for a ride in it and swings her back and forth. It is just the routine here at the Cavinee house. :-) Would you say she is spoiled???

Only in Ohio!

Well, whatever kind of weather you like, we had it today! The day started out at a balmy 63 degrees and overcast. Then came the rain. Buckets of it. A couple of hours later, the sun shone through for a very short while. Next came the wind. Whooooooooosh!! A couple of hours later, and little ice pellets and snow flurries began to fall from the sky. Plus the temperature had dropped into the 30's! And the wind continued to come and blow and whoosh! Boy, did it whoosh!! There are power outages all over the area, though, thankfully, we have not been without power.....this time......yet. And now it looks like Old Man Winter is here for at least the next 7-10 days, maybe longer. I mean, it is winter, hm??? Stay warm and dry, wherever you are!! God Bless!! Oh, and here is a picture that looks rather cozy, don't you think?? *smile* It is my "almost" completely decorated Christmas tree. My Christmas tree is always a work in progress, at first. You know the drill: Assemble tree (if it is artificial, which, in this case, it is); wait a day or two; put lights on tree; pause; put tree skirt around the bottom of the tree; a day or two passes; get out the rest of the storage bins; put a big bow on the top of the tree; a few more hours pass; drape garland around the tree; put a few bows on the tree.........and that is where I am at, at the present time. I just have to finish putting the ornaments on and it will be complete, but, hey, it doesn't look bad for an unfinished tree, hm??? *grin*

I love a parade!!!

As I told you in the previous post, we entered a float in the annual Logan Christmas parade. It was designed and created by Caleb McCarthy with help from his family and youth from the church. He won first prize!!! Isn't that just awesome???? Here are a few pics of the prize-winning float!

Today's agenda!!

Sooooo, today being the Saturay after Thanksgiving, it is the day of Logan's annual Christmas Parade and our church has a float in the parade. We haven't had one for the past few years, but Caleb McCarthy wanted to have one this year, so Pastor Martin put him in charge of it. I am so excited to see how it turns out! Here is a picture of the model he made of it. I am so thankful that the weather has been
so beautiful. It has sure made working on the float alot easier. Caleb, family and friends have been working on the different components of the float and, as of yesterday (Friday), they have been putting it together in the drive-thru at church. The theme of this year's parade is "Christmas in the Hocking Hills". It would be so great if Caleb won one of the awards for best float! I'll let keep you posted. Ed and I are riding on the float. We will be waving....*smile*.....along with two other couples and several children. Others will be walking alongside, tossing candy to the onlookers. It is going to so much fun!

Thanksgiving traditions

One of the traditions that my family has is to call eachother on holidays. Not just Thanksgiving. Well, Johnny surprised me by calling me at 7:30am! He beat me to it! After talking with him, I called Bill, Debbie, and last but certainly not least, my sister Bev. Now, you may think...."a phone call? so what's the big deal?" It is a really big deal! If I didn't talk to each of my dear siblings on holidays, I would truly feel that it just wasn't complete. One of the fun things about it is to see who calls who first. You see, I don't want to call toooooo early because this might be the only day that say, Johnny or Bill or Bev might get to sleep in but I want to try and call them before they get the chance to call me, just to get the jump on them. *smile* So it is kind of a cat and mouse game that we play with eachother on hoidays. And somtimes we tell eachother silly jokes and the like. Nevertheless, holiday mornings are special for us. Also, with our families becoming more extended....children marrying, grandchildren coming along, it just makes it more difficult for all of us to get together BUT! We are planning the annual Peters' family Christmas get-together on December 16! Oh, and lest I forget, here was my annual Thanksgiving joke that I laid on everyone, to much groaning and laughter:

Wellll...there was this turkey farmer who, of course, raised turkeys. But there was a dilemna every year because there were never enough drumsticks for everyone at Thanksgiving dinner. Only two. So, this turkey farmer thought he would try to come up with a turkey that had more than two legs. Over the next several years, he proceeded to cross-breed different types of turkeys and did some genetic engineering and testing. Welllllll, after many attempts, he finally produced a turkey that had six legs!!! He was telling his close friend about his great accomplishment and his friend said, "That is just awesome! Unbelievable! But.....what does it taste like?" To which the turkey farmer replied, "Heck if I know! I haven't been able to catch it!"

Har Har Har!!! LOL Well, I thought it was funny!!! *smile*

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and now it is on to Christmas!!! And shopping! And banquets! And parties! And shopping! And choir practice! And play practice! And shopping! And more banquets! And more parties! And shopping! And more practices!! Oh the joy of it all!!! *smile*

Just remember the true reason for the season........It's all about HIM.

Later in the day.....

Ed and I returned home at about 4:30 on Thanksgiving. I came in the house, grabbed a couple of things and headed back out to go to my sister Debbie's house. Her two son's and their families were gathering there at five to have dinner and I wanted to see them and visit for awhile. We had such a good time. The only thing I ate was just a smidge of noodles because I was still full from dinner at the Pullins.

The picture to the left is of (starting from the left) Shawn, her youngest son, Troy, her oldest, Troy's youngest son, Cade, and Debbie, my sister.

After everyone had eaten and we had laughed and visited and just enjoyed eachother's company, Troy, Debbie and I commenced to cleaning everything up and doing the dishes. Shawn's wife, Stephanie and his two children, Jayce and Jordan and Troy's oldest son, Corbin were also there , though not in the pic. It was a rowdy, happy time that we had. I finally arrived back home at about 8pm and felt very satisfied and happy with the day spent with family and friends. And wasn't the weather just perfect???

Playing Post-Thanksgiving Catch-up

Hellooooooo, everyone! Okay, that greeting might sound a little more enthusiastic than I am actually feeling at 9:34am on Saturday morning, but I shall press on! *groan* *feeble grin*

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was good. I was a little concerned about how I would handle this first Thanksgiving without the "boy" here. You see, one of our Thanksgiving traditions was that Daniel would usually get up at about tenish on this morning and he and his dad would sit at the table and have slices of turkey on paper plates. I would always have the turkey cooked by then and as usual, before Daniel's feet would even hit the floor, I would hear this voice from his room calling out sleepily..."fooooooooodddddd". *smile* So, while I was fixing dressing and noodles and other dinner goodies, they would sit at the table and eat juicy slices of turkey and bread and butter or the light rolls, if I had them baked already.

Well, it just so happened that while Erin Maree was getting some sleep (she had to work Thanksgiving eve 10:00-7am), Daniel came up here to change the oil in his truck and have his Dad help him put a serpentine belt on it, too. I had just taken rolls out of the oven and faster than you could say Happy Thanksgiving, he had devoured two of them, going on to eventually eat five of them, dipping them in the pot of noodles that were bubbling on the stove. Soooooo, it was good to have him home on Thanksgiving morning for a little while. :-)

Later in the afternoon, we gathered with Daniel and Erin at her aunt and uncle's home and shared a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner with all of the Pullin family. The food was delicious and they always make us feel so welcome and at home. Afterward, Erin, Daniel, Brian and I gathered around Darlene's keyboard and as I played, we sang. These young people can tear it up, let me tell you. They just harmonize so well together. I love close, tight harmony. Now, they don't have loud, flashy voices but just beautiful, smooth voices that blend so well together. As we were singing and playing, the guys retired to another room to watch football and the ladies kind of crashed in the great room to watch the old version of "Yours, Mine, and Ours" with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. I had never seen the old version and I'm thinking that Ed and I are going to have to get it from the library and watch it. It has been updated and color put to it, which I really like, as I just don't have much tolerance for black and white films.

Here is a couple of really good pictures of Daniel and Erin after Thanksgiving dinner with the Pullins.

Home Sweet Home

I was leaving to go run some errands this morning and looked back at the house as I was getting in the car and the house just looked so pretty in the morning sun, that I just had to take a picture of it and here it is for you to enjoy, too!!

Go Bucks!!

Well, it is about time for THE game to start and I am going to go put a pizza in the oven.

I am calling the game as follows: Ohio State 24 / Michigan 13

I'll see you on the other side of possibly the biggest game in college football history!!

O-H.......I-O!!!! OHIO!!!! GO BUCKEYES!!!!

Later in the day

Soooo, after putting up the Christmas decorations, I came in showered and laid down to rest for a little while because my sisters and sisters-in- law were taking me to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday dinner that evening (Thursday). When I got up from resting, I was in so much pain. I took some pain medication and forced myself to get ready. Oh, and it was raining and cold outside by this time, but I made myself get ready and I went. We had such a good time and I am glad that I made myself go, even though the pain hardly abated the whole time. Now, I'd never been to a Texas Roadhouse and it was pretty rowdy, let me tell ya! All of the waiters and waitresses came over and the whole place yelled out a birthday "Yeehaa" for me! How cute! I had Roadkill. I kid you not. Actually, it is ground sirloin with mushrooms, onions and cheese on it. I also had a salad and humongous sweet potato smothered with butter and sour cream. Our waitress was really great and that made our meal even better! I really did have a good time, even though I just didn't feel very well. The girls each got me a set of bath towels and one of them got me dish towels and my sister, Bev, also gave me a set of Jessica McClintock cologne which I love. We don't have another birthday to celebrate until May but we will be getting together for Christmas, so we may have to have lunch sometime between Christmas and May just for the fun of it!! I am so thankful that we have kept this tradition up. It helps us to stay in touch and just get together and be "girls"! *smile*

Up and Ready!

Thursday morning here in the valley, we had sunshine! Well, sunshine and a few clouds and scattered raindrops. Sooooo......my dear husband gave in to my gentle urging ;-) and put up our outside Christmas decorations. I've always done the outside decorating.......well, I've done the inside decorating, too......hmmmm.......oh, what the hey......I've always done ALL of the Christmas decorating, k?!?!?!? *smile* BUT! because of my physical limitations, I am not able to do the outside decorating all by myself because it requires some ladder-climbing. Sooooooo......I sat on the porch swing and fluffed out the wreaths and straightened the bows and made sure the wire was still intact and stable and Ed hung them up. I also straightened up the window swags and I attached them to the window sills. Then I put the garland and bows around the porch railing. Overall, this covered a period of oh, say, 2 1/2-3 hours. I've posted a picture here of our house about 2 Christmases ago. The decorations are still the same. The dusting of snow really makes it a pretty scene, hm? So, we are all ready for Christmas....at least, outside! We've never decorated this early but I kinda thought that since I move a bit slower than in the past, perhaps I should start earlier and get a jump on things.....though jumping is not in my current bag of tricks! *smile*

What would YOU do for a PlayStation 3?

Sis. Pam and I go out to the church two mornings a week and pray. We usually get there at about 6:30am, before she has to leave for work. We had an awesome time of prayer this morning!

Afterwards, I decided to go to Walmart and "finger the merchandise". This is what my dad called it when my mom would go shopping just for the fun of it or go to look but not necessarily buy. Anywayyyyyy......I especially wanted to peruse the Christmas aisles, so proceeded out to the garden center to see what was out there and lo, and behold, but there were people out there sleeping in sleeping bags and chairs and I thought : "What is going on here?!?!?!?" Sooooooo, I asked the next clerk to go by just what the deal was and he said that these people were waiting to be the first to purchase the new Playstation 3 which is due in tonight at midnight. These people had been there since yesterday. Welllllll.....being the introvert that I am...har, har.......I went over to chat with these wierdos, er, uh...I mean, people. Ahem. I just couldn't believe that people would forego 2-3 days of their lives to wait in line for Playstation 3!!!! Hellllloooooo?????
I even took their pictures and yes, I asked permission first!

I talked with them for a short while and eventually told them that I had only stayed up all night for two reasons......to pray and to care for my sick child and my mother. (I forgot about lock-ins and mid-winter...argh! LOL)

In closing, seeing these guys (they were all guys) camping out in the garden center at Walmart for 2-2 1/2 days to get a Playstation 3, really affected me. There IS a spiritual lesson to be learned here.

Unbelievable.......

Born Again!

This past Sunday we were blessed to have Evangelist Ken Cook and his wife, Julie with us. In the morning service, a man who has been attending Sunday morning services for about a month, received the Holy Ghost. As he was worshipping the Lord and all, his daughter came up to watch him and see what was going on and she received the Holy Ghost, too. They both received the Holy Ghost so easily, which was doubly wonderful! The young lady is the girlfriend of Sis. Pam's (a wonderful saint at our church) oldest son. They have two young sons and a week-old beautiful baby girl. Sis. Pam's children are slowly but surely coming to the Lord and back to the Lord. How effective are the prayers of a mother!!

Julie (Sis. Cook) was not able to sing because she had laryngitis *sp*. Would you believe I have never heard her sing or play? So I was really disappointed about that but then I know she must have enjoyed not "having" to play or sing for a couple of services.

She and her husband are just the sweetest people and we enjoyed having them with us so much. God truly ministered and filled souls with His spirit.

And they came bearing gifts.......

Daniel and Erin came up Saturday afternoon to watch the OSU/NW game with us. We ordered our favorite pizza (Pizza Crossing) and settled into the den to root the Buckeyes on. It really wasn't much of a game, especially the second half, but oh how sweet it was when their 3rd string quarterback, Todd Boeckman, took in a touchdown! And the way Troy Smith was jumping around and celebrating it on the sidelines. It was sweet! And that boy, Todd Boeckman, is a big guy...whew!! He didn't seem to have much speed.....he kind of lumbered in.....but he got the touchdown. It was just fun to watch! But that had to be the longest second half of a Buckeyes game that I have ever watched! BUT....I did manage to get alot done on a Pittsburgh Steelers afghan I am crocheting for my Pastor's son as a Christmas gift.


Moving right along.......Daniel and Erin brought me and Ed belated birthday gifts Saturday. Here is a pic of Ed wearing his new blue shirt they got him. Isn't he absolutely handsome?? I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband. God sure knew what He was doing when He brought us together. "And I tip my hat, to the keeper of the stars, He sure knew what He was doin', when He joined these two hearts....." (Words from a C&W song that I love).

The kids got me a gift set of Dove "FIRMING" body wash and "FIRMING" body lotion. (Bless their hearts) Now don't go expecting to see any pictures on here of me "wearing" this stuff any time soon. LOL I wonder if it really works? I mean.....do you have any idea of how much and what all I have that needs firming?? Kinda hard to believe some body wash and lotion is gonna do the job, ya know??? LOL But I do have plans......three hour soak jobs. I'll let you know what happens. Oh, and the gift set also included a bar of soap and body scrubber and it all smells luscious. They also got me a Christmas Kitty picture frame in which I can display a picture of Ellie and they got me another Snowman. It is a stuffed snowman and is so cute. Now I don't collect alot of stuff, but I do like snowmen, though I only have a few. Oh, and there was also a little atomizer of Bath and Bodyworks homescents.....Cotton Blossom, one of my favorite B&B scents.

I think we may go to Erin's Aunt and Uncle's to watch the game this Saturday. They have a big projection screen TV, so that should be pretty neat but Ed is thinking maybe we might go out of town to see some friends because he has a five-day weekend this week. They will be moving REACH to new offices during this time so he will not be transporting kids Thursday, Friday or Monday. I hope to hear something about the job I applied for after the move is completed. (fingers crossed and the Lord willing.)

Well, I need to get off of here and go into town and run a few errands. I have a couple of other things to post about so hopefully I will get it on here before the day is out! God's best to each of you!!

The best birthday ever

Wednesday, November 8, was my 55th birthday. Double nickels. Five years from sixty. On the downward slope to one-hundred. Whatever.

It was the best birthday yet! And I didn't even have cake! Can you believe it? And this is not a ploy to get all of you to go out and buy me a cake or bake me a cake. So please.....don't. Seriously. I'm not a big cake fan anyway.

My point is this: The reason this birthday was so special was that I heard from more of my family and friends on this one day than I have for as long as I can remember! How great is that???? Dare I try to name all of you??? Okay, here goes:

Ed.....my dear husband, who, upon my walking into the den with my first cup of coffee that morning, began singing "Happy, happy birthday, baby..." to me! Now how sweet is that???

Debbie.....my sister.....God love her.....she called me shortly after Ed's little serenade and commenced to singing happy birthday to me in her slow, kind-of-struggling-to-breathe-voice. It meant the world to me.

Bill.....my oldest brother, called sometime during the day and said a hearty "Happy Birthday, Sis!" to me and sang happy birthday to me.

I received several messages on EC (EveryonesConnected) from Stacy, Serena, Jeffrey, David, Kim, and Theresa.

And here on my blog, I received birthday wishes from Becky and Donnie.

I received phone messages from Troy-my nephew, Becky-my dear friend, Tina-another dear friend, and Neda-another dear friend.

I saw my twin-brother, Johnny, at church that night and we wished eachother happy birthday and hugged and all. Sis. Hurst, whose hair I do twice a week, brought me a beautiful fall centerpiece for my table. My sister, Bev, had come down Saturday and spent some time with me. Also, she and my other sister and sisters-in-law will be taking me out to dinner this coming Thursday evening at the Texas Roadhouse in Lancaster and am I ever looking forward to that!

I know that I've probably forgotten someone, but my point is this: I didn't have a cake, received only one gift and yet my birthday was so wonderful because I heard from the people I love the most and that is what really matters, that is what counts. To just be touched by the ones you love and hold dear. (gosh, but I AM getting old and sounding OLD, hm? *smile*)

Ed got me a new printer, scanner, copier for my computer. I've had the same printer now since 1997. It's been through three computers and still works fine but I just wanted a new and improved one with a scanner.

So, thank you all for making my birthday so special.......because you are all so special to me!

((((((HUGS TO EACH OF YOU)))))))

Election 2006

I am the presiding judge for precinct Green 2 in Hocking County. I have worked the voting polls for the past seven years. Except for the presidential election in 2004, the voter turnout has always been well below fifty percent. Yesterday was a record-setting day.

In the past few weeks, leading up to the election, you could tell that this was going to be an important election. Our training classes were very thorough and meticulous. As November 7th approached, the feeling that this election was going to be very pivotal for America, only increased.

Yesterday morning, when I unlocked the door to the polling place, there was a long line of eager voters. The line never abated. People were eager to vote and came prepared to vote, having gotten all of their information in order at the election office prior to the election and having their identification ready and in hand when they got there. Even though the line was long most of the day, people were amazingly patient. And those people who did not have the proper ID more often than not, made the decision to leave and get the proper ID info and come back, rather than vote provisionally. It was so evident that people were determined to vote and see change.

And, my oh my, have things changed. I am not sure that it has all been for the good. Nevetheless, the Democrats have succeeded in accomplishing an overwhelming victory. Now we must prepare ourselves for the next two years of watching a monumental struggle between the White House, President Bush and the Democrats. It is not going to be a pretty sight, I'm afraid, and I doubt that much will be accomplished. I've already read somewhere that an investigation of President Bush and "his Whitehouse" is in the works. Oh, joy and gladness.......

This was a bit of an interesting read on Yahoo yesterday: An article telling who, in the Democratic party, was going to be in charge of what in the Senate now. I don't even want to talk about it right now.....*sighhhhhh* I'm just thankful that, in the end, God is in control. And that is all I have to say about that.....

A smoking rant

Okay, now look....I used to smoke.......before I gave my heart to the Lord and He gave me the strength and desire to quit. I mean, I wasn't one of those fortunate people who was totally delivered from smoking the night I was born again. My husband was, as was many other people I know. And it wasn't because I wasn't sincere in my committment to the Lord either. I received the Holy Ghost the first night I went to the altar. Other areas of my life came under His influence and control almost immediately. I struggled with smoking for about six months after receiving the Holy Ghost. Now I never just sat around and smoked liberally after that time but I did have overwhelming cravings for them. I remember times when I would leave an awesome service at church and "just know" that I was never going to smoke another cigarette, only to find myself stopping on the way home to buy a pack and then smoking maybe half a cigarette and tossing the whole pack out the window, so disgusted with myself. Also, I lived with my parents at the time (I was 22) and they were both smokers, which made it even more difficult for me to quit. But approximately six months later, still growing in the Lord and endeavoring to live for Him, I found that I was no longer smoking and I rejoiced and thanked the Lord for helping me. That was 32 years ago. Still, I will be honest and tell you that when our family gets together for a big dinner and we've finished eating and everyone is sitting around talking, some of the family will go outside and smoke and have a cup of coffee.....I remember what a good feeling that was.....to just relax and have a cigarette, sip on a cup of coffee, what a nice combination, though I know you will only understand if you've been there......it is soothing and relaxing and a good feeling. BUT......I don't and won't do it. The Lord so graciously helped me to quit and I will be forever grateful and I am much healthier for it.

My mother passed away in 1999 and most of her health problems were because she was a lifelong smoker. She loved to smoke. She said it was the one vice she had and no one was going to tell her she couldn't. She carried a full pack of cigarettes in her purse till the day she died, though she could no longer smoke during the last few years of her life because of breathing problems. But, in the end, it was the effects from smoking for so many years that brought about my mother's death.

My sister Debbie is following in my mother's footsteps. She is on oxygen all of the time, except when she shuts it off to smoke. She smokes about 10 cigarettes a day. I don't understand allowing your health and life to be compromised like that for the love of a cigarette but it happens all the time and is a choice they make. Cigarettes have been said to more addictive than cocaine.

Having said all of that, I would like to say that I just don't agree with the smoking ban that has been passed. I believe that we should be allowed to have choices. So what is next? I know it was given to the people for a vote. I know that smoking is bad for you. But so is alcohol. I don't like the fact the it is sold everywhere.....in grocery stores, etc. It used to be that you had to go to a carry-out....not the most reputable of places in years past......to get alcohol. It used to be that you had to go to a bar or bar and grill to get alcohol. Now there is hardly a restaurant that doesn't serve booze, except for the fastfood places. I am not particularly fond of having to walk past a bar everytime I go into a nice restaurant. That offends me but I guess I make allowances, you know? So people can sit next to me and sip on their booze but people can no longer smoke in a designated smoking area?

I grew up in a family where both of my parents smoked. I remember all of us riding in the car. Five kids and my mom and dad. If it was cold outside, there we'd be, mom and dad puffing away with the windows all rolled up, a blue haze enveloping all of us. It's just the way it was and none of us have suffered any ill health because of "second-hand" smoke. But only one of five of us kids smokes today.

ANDDDDDD......I remember sitting around with friends in bars, bowling alleys, restaurants and other places smoking and having a good time. It was a choice that we made. If you didn't want to be around it you could go sit somewhere else. I even had people occasionally ask me not to smoke and I abided by their wishes.

I've said all of that to say this: We had better be careful about giving away our right to make choices. I just don't understand what was wrong with designated smoking areas.

Oh, and I'd venture to say that booze and alcohol has broken up more marriages and torn up more lives than cigarettes ever did.

I'm not promoting smoking. It's about our freedom and our freedom to make choices.

Don't Forget To Vote!!

I have been busy getting ready for election day tomorrow: picking up voting machines and supplies, calling pollworkers, getting things done here at home, fixing food, etc. I am going to the polling place to set up everything at three o'clock this afternoon. Soooooo, I will not be posting until Wednesday, at best.

Isn't the weather great? It has been 65 here today and the rest of the week looks really good, too, so Ed and I are going to get out the outside Christmas decorations and get them put up Thursday while the weather is nice. It is so hard to believe that Christmas is only six weeks away! Where does the time go?? Especially now that I am going slower, the time seems to go by even more quickly!

Have a great week everyone and I'll see you on the other side of election day!!!

Sisterhood

My sister Debbie called me early this morning, along about 7:30. She asked me how old she was?????? "How old am I?" was her exact question! I said, "You have got to be kidding me!!! Look, Debbie...now follow me here. Get a pen and paper and subtract 1949 from 2006. Your answer should be 57!" Hellloooooooo!! LOL She is sooo funny! Today is her birthday!! I sang a heart happy birthday to her and wishes her bunches of good wishes. Oh yes, she is the owner of the infamous Tracker that I have posted about a time or three. She is so special to me. I don't know what I would without her. She is our mother incarnate, so much so that it is almost scary, let me tell you!! She has raised three wonderful children and has 8 grandchildren that just adore their "Nanny". Debbie was a grandmother to my son Daniel and my niece, Bethany, too, because our mother was not in very good health and just couldn't do much for or with Daniel and Bethany when they were little, but they still loved her bunches. All of the grandchildren called my mom Grandma Pete. My dad had his own plumbing business and his business nickname was Pete the Plumber, our last name being Peters, so the grandchildren put the "Pete" tag on Mom, too. It fit her to a T!

I had the most wonderful surprise today! My sister Bev and her daughter Bethany came to visit! I couldn't believe it! After we visited for awhile, we went up to Green Elementary School's annual craft bazaar. It is just a couple of miles away. Bethany and Daniel went to school there before they were homeschooled. I didn't know if I was going to be able to walk that much, but I took my trusty cane, which I have been hesitant to use......I don't like using it.....but I need some kind of support these days. Soooooo......we went to the bazaar and I saw so many people that I hadn't seen for so long. Oh, to back up a little......I asked Ed if he would kindly give me a little money to take in case I found something I liked....well, he said that all he had was a $100 bill. Like that was going to stop me from taking it???? HELLOOOOO!!! LOL I finally bought myself a OSU buckeye necklace and yesssssssssss, I am wearing it even as I type! And I bought a cookbook from a church group that had a booth. They were the ones who changed the $100 bill for me. I told them about the exchange that Ed and I had and we had a good laugh together as they gave me my change! *smile* Every where we went people asked Bev and I if we were twins. *sighhhhhh* No, we aren't but I DO have a twin brother. I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone has asked us this. I'd take a nice, long vacation!!

Two women, Two boys, and a Tracker

Okay, here we go again.....my sister Debbie called me yesterday and asked me if I would drive her to a doctor's appt. and she also had to pick up her two grandsons ANDDD go by the grocery store, so I said......yesssssssssssssssssss.....in a really whiney voice. Well, I get to her house and I am kind of cripping around and here she comes out of her house toting her portable oxygen and stuff and I just look at her and say....."you know this is like the blind leading the blind, don't you?" And she just kinda chuckled and mumbled yes or something. So we get the Tracker and only after we have gone about three miles up the road with the wind whipping around our heads does she say, "I have money to give you for gas and I was going to ask you if we could take your car...." NOW SHE TELLS ME! *feeble grin* You see, her Tracker has a cloth top.....well, part of a cloth top. Well, most of a cloth top but somehow it has gotten some rips and tears in it and she has patched it up with duct tape as best she can, but, let me tell you, the wind was blowing again in that thing last night AND it was snowing, to boot!! So I just pulled up my coat collar and hunkered down a little lower and cranked up the heat. Well, we made it to the doctor's office and lo and behold if there wasn't this lady in there that just about talked, not just one, but both of my legs and almost an arm, off. She told me she was 75 and lived alone. (you're kiddin' me? I would never have guessed) Now, I don't mean to sound cold or like I don't have a heart. It is just that when I go to these appointments with Debbie I kind of look forward to gathering up a couple of magazines and just reading and having a little time to myself and maybe chatting A LITTLE with someone nearby. But in the span of 15 minutes I knew that this woman had been married 3 times. She had 5 children by her first husband and 3 by her second husband. They were both bums. Her third husband molested some of her children and it turned out he was gay so she got rid of him. Oh, I could go on and on. Oh and she asked me my maiden name. My mother's name. Ed's name and where his family was from. Where I lived. How many brothers and sisters I have. I truly tried to be patient and kind and realize that she was just lonely.....you would have been proud of me........ but I'm telling you she never shut up for one second!!! Finally....finnnnaaallllllyyyy......a nurse called her back to see the doctor. But by this time, Debbie was done. Sooooo..... so much for perusing the magazines!
So then we were off to get Corbin, who is 13, and Cade, who is 8. Well, Debbie told them to pack light because they were going to spend two nights with her because they didnt' have school today. I guess for boys they packed light but we only had the Tracker which has two seats, a steering wheel and gearshift in it. We finally found a place for all of their stuff and managed to squeeze them in, too, and then we were off to the grocery store. Wellllllll......we came out with two bags of groceries and two gallons of milk. so we put them on the floor in the back and the boys wrapped their legs around their heads. (just kidding, ok? but it was pretty crowded)
BUT! One good thing about the Tracker being so crammed full of people, luggage, bedding and groceries is that the wind and snow blowing on the way home wasn't nearly so bad!! LOL
We did have such a fun time with the boys! Cade couldn't believe that an "old woman" like me could drive a stick shift. Welllllll....I showed him a thing or five! *smile* He was pretty impressed at my speed shifting! Yeehaa!!

The 5th Sunday!

Okay, so when a month has five Sundays in it, our church does something different on the fifth Sunday. Sometimes we have a singspiration. One time we had a game and pizza night, which was so much fun. This past Sunday evening we had our annual wiener roast minus the usual hayride because of the cold weather, but in retrospect, it wasn't THAT cold. Anywayyyyy.....Ed and I had considered not going and instead going to church in Nelsonville so we could see Daniel and Erin BUT we went to the weiner roast, okay!?!?!?!?! And we are so glad that we did! We had so much fun and I looooooooove roasted hot dogs! ANDDDDDD.....I didn't even have to roast them! How great is that?? Pastor Martin had one of those sticks that holds like like five hot dogs, so he shared his with me and others. We had a great turnout plus there is a new family that is considering transferring to Logan and they were there, too, so I am really glad that we went to the weiner roast. They have five foster children and one of the little boys sat by me and about talked my leg off but I just love little kids. He had never been to a weiner roast before and was just thrilled with everything about it. I think he is 7 or 8. I roasted marshmallows for him and we talked about legos and the stars and a plethora of things. It was one of the best and most memorable evenings I have spent in a long time. Truly it is good and pleasant for brethren.....and sistren......*grin*.....to dwell together.
Oh, and my brother Johnny was there and brought us all a little bag of candy for Halloween. Well, I was just going on and on about how sweet it was of him to do this for us and he said not to get too carried away with the praise......it was leftover treats that they had prepared to hand out that afternoon when trick-or-treating was going on. Well...okay....it was still thoughtful though...he didn't have to bring them. *grin* I gave some of the candy I didn't care for to the little boy I was sitting with and he thought that was so nice of me.
(I told you the weiner roast was really a good time for all.)

WW

I haven't said anything about my weight loss here of late, so I thought I would give you an update. I started WW with my pastor's wife. We started the last week of July. We were going to the meetings but once we got the information and books that we needed and were well on our way, we stopped going but have continued the eating plan. To date, I have lost 23 pounds! In three months! This is the slowest I have ever lost weight, but hopefully, I am going to keep it off. They say that the slower you lose it, the more likely you are to keep it off. I'm thinking this is my last good chance to lose a sizable amount of weight before the Lord comes. *grin* I want to lose 43 more pounds. Okay, I'll be honest here. I started at 216lbs. I am now down to 193. I want to get down to 150, which is a really good weight for me. I am aiming at getting healthy, more than just losing weight. I am hoping to see a decrease in my pain level, most of all. Oh, and I have managed to lose this weight without exercising, which is a first. I've lost 50 pounds about 5 or 6 times in my lifetime, believe it or not, and each time I exercised intensely. Because of my pain and physical limitations, I've not exercised this time and still I have managed to lose weight. I do a stretching routine and my back exercises every day but they are not what you would consider aerobic. Oh, and when I go to Walmart each week to shop for groceries, I MAKE myself go up and down every aisle in the grocery section. I walk a moderately brisk pace and keep my posture in check. It really is a good way to exercise. It is better than doing NOTHING. *grin*
I am so thankful that I have been able to lose this weight. My brother Bill has been a great encouragement to me. He is a gem!
The only downside is that many of my favorite clothes are getting baggy on me to the point that they don't look very nice on me, but I am hesitant to buy new clothes until I have finished losing all the weight. I may try to alter some of them, though in the past, I haven't been very successful at doing this. Perhaps I'll give it another try!!
I'll keep you posted on my progress!

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Snippets

I have election training today from 1-4pm for the upcoming election, Nov. 7. I've read/heard that this election is more important than the upcoming 2008 presidential election. I know that I have had my fill of political ads, commercials, phone calls, mailings and so on. I don't believe I have ever seen such a constant deluge of mud-slinging in my 54 years. I do believe that it is important that we are part of the process. I will say, though, that I told my dear husband that all of the ads and criticisms and so on almost make me want to not vote for any of them! If you would like information on the candidates and issues in your state, go to www.dontvote.com, and click on your state.

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We have begun having Monday night prayer each week once again. Previously, we were having prayer on the 2nd Monday of the month. We have also begun to fast regularly as a church body, not just individually. What a difference it is making. The answered prayers. A new and fresh annointing in our services. A spirit of unity and goodness among the saints. New faces at church. We cannot forget the basics.....prayer and fasting. They must be the foundation of all that we do for the Lord and, if we are not careful, all of the other necessary "stuff" can cause us to forget and neglect these two very fundamental necessities. And lest I forget it, the Word of the Lord. "Man shall not live by bread alone;but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...." "Study to shew thyself approved unto God...."

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Halloween Candy Update

Heyyyyy.....I was grocery shopping yesterday and saw Three Musketeers at the checkout and I couldn't believe how big they still are! And even though they don't have nuts or caramel, I do kinda like the fluffiness of the inside.

News of the day!

I had a job interview today. Yes, you read correctly. :-) Ed came home a couple of weeks ago and told me there was a job opening at REACH where he transports students to each day in Athens, Ohio. The job description is office manager, meaning I would be a receptionist, file clerk, and whatever else needed to be done in the way of office duties; 10-3pm Monday-Friday.
I believe I am ready to go back to work, to be quite honest. And this sounds perfect for me. I don't have to sit all of the time but I can sit when I want to or need to. So the hours and the sitting/standing situation are good which is what I was most concerned about. Oh, and the starting wage is very good, too. ;-)
So the young man who interviewed me was 31, young enough to be my son. You know you are getting older when pastors/preachers, doctors, bosses and so on are sooooo much younger than you and they are in positions of authority. *sigh* This young man was so nice and we hit it off immediately. I told my girlfriend Pat that they should hire me just for my bubbly personality and wit! *grin* They had received alot of applications/resumes and I was one of three finalists, so to speak, that they actually interviewed, so I feel good about that.
I've prayed about this and believe that if the Lord sees that it is a good thing for me to go back to work then I will get the job. If not, I'll know He has another plan for me. I am so thankful that I can put my trust in such a wonderful Saviour.
I'll keep you posted!!

My granddaughter, Becky, and I thought this list was interesting and we heartily disagree with the order of popularity in which they have the different candies, with the first in the list being the fave and so on. Myself, I would put Snickers in the top spot and then the ever-popular Mars Bar. *smile* And I don't EVEN know what non-chocolate candies are doing the list. I mean, if it ain't chocolate, it ain't candy, right???? *smile*
Can you think of any candy bars that are missing? Two that come to mind for me is Baby Ruth (yes, they still make them) and Heath Bars.

Yahoo reports the most sought after Halloween candy:


Jelly Belly
Snickers
Skittles
M&M's
Lollipops
Mars Bar
Starburst
Tootsie Roll
Hershey's Chocolate Bar
Jolly Rancher
Hershey's Kisses
Gummi Bears
Life Savers
Salt Water Taffy
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Candy Canes
Nestle Crunch
Kit Kat
Butterfingers
Twix

Another picture!

I took this picture of Daniel last Saturday when we went down to see him at his work. He finally got his new shirts and ties and so on. Doesn't he look good? *grin* (remember, I'm his mother so of course I think he looks good)

A birthday remembrance rant

*taking a deep breath*
I mentioned Ed's birthday to Daniel last week and told him not to forget it and he acted shocked that I would even think that he would miss his dad's birthday. I know Daniel. So I called him yesterday to see if he was coming up anytime and he said he would be coming by after he played football from 5:30-7:30 yesterday evening. Erin wouldn't be coming because she would be sleeping which I understood. Daniel finally showed up about 8:15 last night, no card, no little gift of some kind and I'm not even sure he wished his dad a happy birthday. He was here for about a twenty minutes. Brian, his brother-in-law was with him.
Well, what I found out later was that Ed had given him money so that he and Erin could buy a sleigh bed that they have been wanting and needing. They had asked us some time ago if we would buy it for them and it could be their Christmas present this year and they have been needing a new bed. They bought the mattress and boxsprings.
Soooooo, I got to wondering if he would have even stopped by if it had not been for getting the money for the bed. *sigh* I know that sounds awful but I can't help it. Just bein' honest here.
I raised this boy better than this. It isn't like I expected him to go out and rent a marching band or set off fireworks for his dad's birthday but sheesh!
Soooooo, as Ed and I were getting ready for bed.....well, actually Ed was in bed reading and I was getting ready for bed and quietly ranting.....have any of you been there/done that? *feeble grin* I told Ed that we should do the same for Daniel when his birthday rolls around (Jan. 3). No card, no gift, no money, no nothin' and see how it floats with the boy. And then these nagging words starts scrolling through my mind, annoyingly: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Yeah, okay, right. So like I was saying: What would he think if we just kind of skirted past his birthday with little or no acknowledgment? To which Ed replied, "You KNOW you aren't going to do that, Jewel" Oh yeah? Well, ok, you're probably right but I would sure like to.
And about this early Christmas gift of a sleigh bed. We aren't doing Christmas early like this next year. We will exchange our gifts on Christmas or Christmas Eve.
It's just that I raised this boy better than this. He's always given his dad a neat card of some kind and done something for him. I dont' know....maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. I'm just a little disappointed in him. And after all that his dad does for him and would do for him. But then it is just a birthday. But it was his FATHER'S birthday. I told Ed not to remind him of my birthday which is a couple of weeks away and lets just see if he remembers it. To which Ed replied, "Now are you sure you dont' want me to remind him?" I didn't say anything because it occurred to me that I might be really hurt if he completely forgot and didn't call or come around or anything on my birthday. Gosh, I don't know what to think anymore. I keep telling myself that it doesn't really matter, but then a part of me feels that it does. What do you think, oh wise people out there? Any words of wisdom for this empty-nester mother who is kinda struggling here with this young man she loves so much?

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!!!

Yesterday was Ed’s 64th birthday! For the man who has everything…..well, okay, maybe not EVERYTHING, but I didn’t have the money to go out and buy him a GPS system orrrrrrr a new lawn tractor orrrrrrrrrrrr to have a concrete floor poured for him in the garage or buy him a Gold Wing (Honda Motorcycle) sooooooooo I gave him a box of Whitman chocolates (his fave) and we had cake and ice cream. We don’t do ALOT of gift-giving on birthdays but we do remember eachother’s and have cake and ice cream and so on. I found the sweetest card! Here is what it said on the inside:

Once you’ve loved,

There’s a part

of your heart

that simply belongs

to that person.

It can’t be sold

or rented out –

it’s theirs,

you gave it

to them

and they live in it,

claiming its space

for all time.

I’ll love you forever.

Isn’t that beautiful? Well, at least you girls will understand and think it is. *smile*

So, besides the candy, cake, ice cream, and lovely card, I waited on him hand and foot and was just nice to the deserving birthday boy. *grin*

Monday, Monday, Can't Trust That Day

I was taken aback just a bit yesterday by how down I felt. I was so blue and it seemed that just about every thought I had was negative in some way. It didn’t help that I was in quite a bit of pain and nothing could alleviate it. The day was dreary and rainy. I thought of all the people who are not ready to meet the Lord, all of those who have left the truth, so many of my loved ones not ready to meet the Lord, acting as though they have all the time in the world to serve the Lord. A couple of families who come to our church have either stopped coming or have not been coming very much and I have been grieving over them. I just don’t understand when these things happen. I know life gets busy. I understand that people get their feelings hurt. Still….I want my friends and family and people to be ready to meet the Lord, so much and to experience Him personally and have a relationship with Him like I do. I ran into a couple of people I know when I was out yesterday and talked to them briefly. They both are retired and traveling and trying to save the world, ecologically speaking, and are doing well and look at me, serving the Lord as I do and I honestly think they think I am a space alien or something. They just don’t get it. And then there are those who just don’t believe “this way” anymore. They’ve been “set free”. Yet, there are those who have such respect for me and depend on me to walk this walk and live this Christian life and that is fine……I know of no other way. This is the only life I long to live….for Him. And then I thought of all that I used to do with the youth and then all that I can no longer do or cannot do easily or without pain. It was just a day in which I felt so unnecessary. I was missing the boy (Daniel). I learned he had been sick Sunday and was unable to go to church. We had gone to see him at work Saturday evening and he was not feeling well then. He just doesn’t need me like he used to and that is good. This is how it should be. We don’t see or talk to him and Erin nearly as much since they are going to church in Nelsonville now and he is back in school and she is working two jobs. Their lives are so unbelievably full. I just couldn’t get out of this funk. So yesterday evening rolled around and it was time to go to prayer at church. I thought about not going, though I knew I would……for all the good it would do. *feeble grin* You know THAT feeling, don’t you?

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God…..”

From the moment my knees hit the carpet, the tears came. I just told Him all about everything. I left no stone unturned. I poured my heart out to the One who truly cares and has the time to listen and knows all the answers. Psalm 73 is so awesome and encouraging, I am going to post it here in its entireity:
Psalm 73
1Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

The Lord and His precious word are truly the answer to the wide array of life's difficulties.

The week that was

The picture to the left is of me and my friend Neda. We have been friends for more years than I can even remember. There has not been a week that has passed that she has not called me. Sometimes we say alot, sometimes a little.
Her husband, daughter and I sang at the Fairfield County Fair Monday evening. They have an historic country church there and different people and groups sing every half hour. Mike and I have sung together many, many times, but not Stacy, Mike and I. We practiced a little that afternoon. We were all a little nervous. I was mostly apprehensive about what kind of sound system would be there and what kind of keyboard. Well, as it turned out, both were top-notch. Thank you, Jesus! We sang: Before the First Round Started, The Old Rugged Cross, O I Want To See Him, What a Day That Will Be and one other song that I can't remember at the present time. Well, the harmony was awesome. You can sing with alot of people and it may sound "okay" but then there are people that you sing with and oh my goodness! The harmony is so tight and clear and beautiful! I felt like I had died and gone to trio-singing heaven!! LOL It was awesome. We are just going to HAVE to sing together again soon! Perhaps they can come to Logan and sing at church with me sometime in the near future! I hope!!

Is this really necessary???

My dear husband has been giving out some pretty gross burps today. Yes, you heard me correctly. *sigh* *feeble grin* Okay, I'll take part of the blame.....I made some delicious chili, ok? Now, me? I am not a "burper". For one thing, we were taught as children to burp modestly. You know the drill: Cover your mouth, turn your head and do it quietly. Apparently, Ed had a different upbringing. LOL I really don't mind his burping but I did tell him that he could at least say "excuse me" and that it is not very conducive to kissing. Yuck! LOL Oh Well! I love the guy....burps and all. But all of this talking about burping brings back a memory: Several Christmases ago, I was sooooo sick that I could not go to Ed's family gathering, so he and Daniel went. Well, in the process of their going or coming, Ed taught Daniel how to burp his uncle Robert's name! LOL ANDDDDD he taught him how to burp the alphabet! Now, I ask you: Was this something he needed to know to get through life??? *smile* I think not. But it HAS been somewhat entertaining over the years. I can't think of the title right now, but there is a song that I used to sing....a church song.....and Daniel burped the rythym to it. LOL I know, I know.....you all are really wondering about us now, aren't you???? *grin* I'll have to ask Daniel what the song was. Gosh but it was soooooo funny! The boy is a one-man entertainment center, let met tell you! Oh, but even before Ed taught Daniel how to burp the alphabet, my nephew Troy taught Daniel how to swallow air and burp, so I guess you could say that is where Daniel really got his start in burping, as if it is something to be proud of! LOL But what memories we have!!!

A progression of sorts

Well, I drove the church van to General Conference Wednesday evening and we had a full load, let me tell you! I am so used to taking just young people, so it was great to have the adults along this time, too. Pastor Martin drove his car and took some people and the McCarthy's drove their van and took some, too. I drove the van just because I was the only person comfortable with driving in that area of Columbus and some others had worked all day and so on. I didn't mind at all because I actually like driving in Columbus...*weird, I know!*. The PMA music fest was great but I wish they would have had more southern gospel, like the McGruders or the Aqua quartet because so many people do like that genre of music. I love it all and I do wish they would have had more of a variety. About 3/4 of the way through the concert, people just started leaving in droves. I asked Ed what was going on and he said, "I don't know, but they're getting out of here like rats out of a sinking ship!" He has such a way with words!! *smile* Then, when they were honoring people who had contributed much to apostolic music, they were in the process of honoring Bro. Wendell Gleason, who we did not know. I leaned over to Ed and said, "I know Bro. Stan Gleason, though" and Ed said, "I knew Jackie Gleason"! He never stops, folks.......*grin* A sidenote: I did really good walking and getting around this night and I was thankful for that!!

Thursday morning of conference, three other ladies from church and I went to the ladies service. We met Sis. Martin there and we sat in section 114, I believe it was. We sat just four rows from the bottom and the steps were a bit difficult for me to maneuver, but I managed. BUT, I had to hike out of there to go to the restroom twice and it was not a pretty picture. Then, I was just about freezing to death. So, Sis. Martin let me borrow her coat and I snuggled up under neath it and, I am sorry, but I was soooo sleepy, I just had to nap a little during Sis. Haney's message! The Passing of the Mantle ceremony was beautiful, to say the least. At the end of it, Sis. Haney asked the younger ministering ladies to pray for those who had needs. Well, I was in so much pain, but I couldn't make it down to the center area, so I was finally able to make it over to the stairway and I asked two young women (minister's wives) to pray for me after telling them of my physical problems. They prayed so fervently for me. It was so awesome.
On the way home, the four of us ladies stopped at Teejaye's in Lancaster and had a late lunch. It was sooooooo good! But I was still freezing and this is just not like me....to be cold. I came home and bundled up in bed and slept and rested the rest of the evening.

I was back up early Friday morning to take the young people to the youth service at GC. I was in quite a bit of hip and leg pain and borrowed a cane from a sweet lady at church. I have to use a step stool to get in the van, too. I used to just climb up into it and then jump out of it but I can no longer do that. I probably shouldnt' have ever been doing that but....oh well.....it is a bit late for that now, hm? *feeble grin* The youth service was wonderful and the message by Bro. McLaughlin was absolutely awesome. You need to get this cd...trust me!! I let the youth go over to the convention center to see the exhibits but I was not able to hike that far so I stayed at the arena and chatted with people.....Sis. Ann Frakes and Bro. Terry Gunn were two of the nice folks I talked with. The young people were very prompt in getting back to the arena on time and we headed home!

I did not go to conference on Saturday, though I truly wanted to but I had to get some things done here at home, get ready for class and music on Sunday morning and I was in quite a bit of pain.

We left the church at 4pm Sunday afternoon for the evening crusade. The van was full and there were others that drove up. It was so great to be going up as a church family! And we were really excited because Dana, a lady in her 70's who just had double knee replacement, was going and she needed the holy ghost!! She had repented and been baptized. Of course, she's still in a wheelchair most of the time but she is walking some. She is such a sweetie. Wellllllll.....SHE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SUNDAY NIGHT!! It was so awesome! Many people came up to Dana and prayed with her but it was Sis. Swain that stayed with her and prayed with her so kindly until she received the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!! We have been rejoicing all week, as you can imagine! I just love it when older people, like Dana, receive the Holy Ghost. My mother received the Holy Ghost when she was 70, so we can never, never give up on our loved ones! I had been serving the Lord for 24 years when my mother finally received the Holy Ghost. It was unbelievably awesome. Keep praying and believing for your loved ones!

And there you have a wrap-up of sorts of GC!

Old News is Good News

Okay, so I know that I told you about me and Theresa, my friend from Mt. Vernon, spending the day together, but there are also some pictures! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! LOL
Of course the one at the left is of me and Theresa. The one below is of Ed endeavoring to take our picture and, as you can see, he managed!!

He's been promoted!

Daniel is now 2nd shift manager at McDonald's/The Plains on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights! We are so proud of him. We went down to see him last night as it was his first night on the job by himself without supervision. Doesn't he look handsome? *grin*
You see, we have really been missing him. *sigh* Now that he and Erin are going to church in Nelsonville, we just don't see them nearly so much. And he is back in school. AND working 2nd shift. ANDDDDDDDDDD Erin Maree is working two jobs at the present time! So we really try not to bother them too much. Before school started back for Daniel, he was working 7-3 every day so Ed would stop in on his way home from taking his students to REACH and see Daniel. Well, now Daniel isn't there, sooooo.......it has been a little difficult for Ed, but the girls at McDonald's still give him free coffee. *grin* Anywayyyy....we got to McDonalds at about 7pm and there was the BOY. He said hi and said "I miss you guys" kind of quietly and I said, "Ohhh, probably not NEEEAARRLLY as much as we miss you" and he just chuckled. Then I commenced to taking his picture ( I took my camera on purpose! *feeble grin*) and he said, "Mommm, am I ever gonna hear it after you guys leave." and he laughed. I told him to tell me who gave him a rough time about his mom taking his picture, later and I would come back and beat them up! *lol* Well, we got something to drink, talked with him for a little while and then came home. We sometimes get concerned about Daniel and Erin having too much on their "plates" but then we remember they are YOUNG and we are OLD. *grin* Gosh, I used to run myself like crazy when I was their age and even older. Well, actually, up until I began having trouble with my back and legs this past November/December. And I didn't even think anything about all that I could do in a day's time but I remember my sister and friends and co-workers just being amazed at everything that I did and could do in a day and so on. Maybe that is why I am in the shape I am in now? I don't know.....it's just a thought. Like yesterday, Daniel was at school from 8am-5pm, went straight home, got ready for work and then worked until 1:30am. When we were there seeing him he was full of vim and vigor. *sigh* Oh, to be young again! LOL So I guess we do need to remind ourselves that they are young and full of energy and that we are on the other side of 50 and winding down some. Well, it is getting late and this "old" person needs to get to bed! Ha ha! So until tomorrow......Goodnight to all and to all a good night!

Okay, I think I'm ready!

Okay, first of all, my computer kept shutting off. Just shutting off...... I had this really long, detailed blog post ready last week and my computer just shut off! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! Well, it has this illness. I have had my computer for about two years. A few months after I had it, it began doing this "shutting off" thing. After talking to three or four different tech support people at HP, it was finally recommended that I do a power drain on it because it sounded like it was building up static electricity. Sure enough, that was what it was and the power drain remedied it! I have had to do it two times since the first time, including this most recent time. And then, I got a trojan virus, of all things!!!! I have an anti-virus program but somehow this got past it!!! Sooooooo, I downloaded Trojan Hunter and that is now remedied and my computer is all well!! For the time being anyway!!! Trojan Hunter is the bomb!
I think I know when I got the trojan. I was perusing the internet looking for an autumn wallpaper for my pc. I found one I liked and just as I was putting it on my computer a flash of a warning came up about a trojan virus on this website but it was too late! I was infected. (that sounds kind of gross,hm???) So I scanned with my virus program and there were THREE on my pc. But not to worry! They are now history and my pc is operating wonderfully!!! *whew* I just hate when stuff like that happens to my computer! Thankfully, it seldom happens!
Sooooooo, I will now commence to blogging and emailing and other sundry web activities!!