Quotes

That best portion of a good man's life? His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.
- William Wordsworth

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Enter to win a $35 shopping spree giveaway here.  Some cute things...check it out!

update on Terry

Terry has disconnected his phone.  He called me Thursday to say "Goodbye" he said.  I asked what he meant by that.  He said that he is tried of people calling him, preaching at him, and so he is going to change his phone number.  I told him that if he choose to give it to me, I would like it, but if he didn't, it was okay. I would still love him, pray for him, send emails and letters as forms of communication.  He is very down, depressed and not sure what his life is all about.  He said he was standing on a cliff, ready to jump off. I am anticipating a repeat of the experience in May 2010, but hope that I am wrong and he is just going thru a dark spell.  Regardless, I know the information an support he is being fed from the owners of the property is not good.  Please pray for him and write him if you feel so inclined.

I am going to be Aunt!!!

Morgan & Veronica are expecting!  Yipppeeeeeee!!!  I get to be an aunt again!!!  I am sooooo happy...now I gotta finish the knitting for the baby.

my thoughts...today.

I appreciate your prayers. This year has been very tough for me. I wish I could say my only issues were being unemployed, my brother, a dear friend who has been a mom to me that is shoving me out of her life, the check engine light that keeps coming on on my car, a decline of an application for health insurance...but it is more than that...you really don't want to know the whole list, you might be depressed with me!  I am having a hard time keeping my chin up...keeping focused. Keeping the truth in my brain that God hears, He knows, He care, He understands, this too shall pass, He won't give me more than I can bare, etc, etc, etc. I have the brain knowledge, but the heart just ain't feeling it!

Today and yesterday I keep singing the lyrics to this song...with tears streaming down my face: "God hears and he answers prayer, cast on Jesus your every care, trust in His promises they cannot fail, for with the Father they'll ever prevail"...

...God hears! I am choosing to believe that He hears me, He knows my tears, He knows my pain, He knows the struggles in my life...He knows...I MUST TRUST! My current prayer: Lord give me the peace to just trust you.

Quotes

Even though you may not understand how God works, you know he does.
— Max Lucado

verse to reflect on...

He is for you, never against you...Be filled with hope!
~ revised version of Romans 8:31

donating plasma

This week I donated plasma...for the first session on Wednesday and my second session today.  The center that I went to is one in dowtown Fort Worth and I know a nurse that works there, I used to work with her at the Pediatric Clinic.  You get paid $35 for the first donation and $45 for the second donation done in a 7 day window.  You can donate every 7 days and get paid more for your second donation then your first ($20 - $25 for the 1st and $30 to $35 for the 2nd depending on your weight).  They send the units off in sets of 2 so that is why they encourage the donations as they have it structured.  I did really well the first day...got a little sleepy while doing it but other than that I was fine. I came home and slept for 30 minutes and felt refreshed.  Today, I have been more tired and I think it is because of staying up late and being so busy on Thanksgiving let alone the stress that has gone on the last few days with Terry.  I have taken two 90 minute naps and still feel tired, but I want to make sure I sleep tonight.  I am planning to do this bi-weekly for now as I am not sure my body can do it each week, but it would bring in $50 to $55 a week if I can.  The income is not taxable and doesn't take too much time to do, so I plan to try to do it as much as I can and not put stress on my body.  I am told you only get $15 to donate blood, plus if you do that, then you can't donate plasma but every 58 days.  I am told to do this is actually good for your body as it forces it to make new.  I want to research it a bit more to find out what all the benefits are besides helping out the healthcare system and a way to make money.

Have you donated plasma before?  Would you consider it?  If not, why?

Terry arrived in CA

Terry has made it to California to live on my parents property. He pretty much drove straight thru and didn't have any issues other than 5th gear not working for him.  Please continue to pray for him. Time will tell what choices he will make.

Terry

I will miss you.  I tried so hard to help you.  Encourage you.  Show you Patience and Love.  Help you see the truth.  Walk you thru new concepts. 

I have faced a wide range of emotions the last 24hrs...anger, to feeling crushed, to pity, to sadness. I knew things were not good...you have pulled away the last 6 weeks, only come to Sunday meetings the last 3 weeks, not been taking your medicine, been defiant to others. etc. When do I push thru your walls and when do I give you space?  When do I insist you need time with friends & fellowship and when do I let you make your own choices and reap the results?  I know I am not responsible, but I feel like maybe I have not made as much effort the last 3 months since I was unemployed. It has been a lot harder, I must admit and I have not been as focused about calling you or having you over, though when I did you either refused or were angry at me.  My heart is grieved, my soul achs, I am sad, but God's word is true...the way of the transgressor is hard. I love you Terry and would be glad to reach out and help you yet again, if you want to serve the Lord, but I will not support a lifestyle that doesn't involve the wisdom and instruction of God.  You had an incredible opportunity that you have thrown away. A place to live, a life of peace, an abundance of council, a job to make money, support from disability and christian fellowship. Until you learn some lessons and face making some tough decisions, you will continue to have a hard life.

I love you more than you know...this has been really hard for me to see you go!  My prayers are with you and for you to come to the end and start a new beginning!

Terry is gone...

to??? Please pray for him.

He came by my house at 3.15pm or so this afternoon and swept out my garage and shed. I had asked him to do this for me a few weeks ago and he hasn't done it. He knew that if he did, I would pay him to do it. I also packed up two small sacks of food for him to take with him: cheese, pepperoni, olives, applesauce, carrots, pudding, angel bisquit, peanut butter crackers, trail mix, banana, cookies, candy, granola bars, water, and dr pepper. I told him that I love him, am sorry he has made these choices, wish I could offer him a place with me but in light of his choices, I can't. He said he understood. I asked him what else I could have done to help this last year, he told me to quit asking him that, "You have done everything, I have shoved you away and still am". I was surprised he was that clear. He had some self pity moments, frustrated that he has nowhere to go & feeling like all he is is a failure. He said mom & dad are very mad at several here who have tried to help him, that they don't understand mental illness. I told Terry that doing drugs has NOTHING to do with mental illness. I believe Terry needs medicine to cope with his panic attacks and depression, but he is not mentally ill. He is a very capable young man who has made choices to quit and give up. He wanted me to tell him what to do from here, whether to go back to CA or to VA to be with Mindy. He said he can't make decisions. I told him that is not true. He has made decisions all along. Yesterday he chose not to join me at Tom & Jo's for Thanksgiving. The day before he chose to use drugs. He has been deciding that his job was not a real job, not worth it and when he didn't want to work, he wouldn't...so he lost it. He chose to attempt suicide. I told him, decisions sometimes are hard for me to make too, but he has choices...I have choices and we have to get council and pray about things, but when we do, we must adhere be self disciplined and do to what we are told. I told him whether he realizes it, likes it or not, he is responsible for himself and has been, he just is trying to find ways to cop out. I told him again today as I told him yesterday, he is at a crossroads. He can choose to serve himself and live the street life or he can choose to serve the Lord. It will be a lot tougher now, because he has made some really bad choices, but he can still do it if he wants to.  As he pulled away in his car, he broke down sobbing.

Please pray for him.

Black Friday Shopping 2010

Believe it or not, I have NEVER done the Black Friday shopping experience.  I love to shop...but I really hate crowds of pushy and crazy people. 


I had spent the day out at Tom & Jo's and stopped by Jeff's to talk on my drive home and Elizabeth and Jean were pouring over the ads to plan their Black Friday shopping spree.  They asked if I was going and I said, no, I think you can get some really great deals without the craziness, but if they saw any pans I did need those.  Well, when I got home at 1am, I decided to check out www.black-friday.net/online for any great deals.  I had learned about the page from a friend on Facebook and I searched the site for the greatest pan Black Friday deals at Kohls, Target, and JCPenny's.  I saw some really great deals in a JCPenny's ad and so I thought I might go out today and check them out, but wasn't sure as I wasn't sure I wanted to experience the Black Friday shopping thing at all.  Well, I woke up at 7.30am and decided to jump in the shower and head straigt to JCPenny's before the day got on.  I found two different sets and compared the prices, pieces and options.  I went with these below by cooks, a 10 pc set classic hard anodized.  I am very happy with them...they were normally $199.99 for $89.88.  I only wish I had a double broiler - though I have never had one I think I would use one.  It actually came with the 13 pc set (the next box size up), but the pans were much bigger and I really didn't need more than the 10 pc set.  I bought the 5 quart covered sauteuse seperately at 50% off, normally $79.99 for $39.99.  I didn't care for the stock pot or the double burner pan, so I opted not to purchase those, which were the only other two pans available seperately.  Anyways, I was very pleased as I used the $100 given to me by my GranmaOmi and $25 gift card from Uncle Shawn & Aunt Connie, so I was out no money!  I will let you know what I think of them after I use them...but was pretty impressed when I washed and dried them up!

Thanksgiving @Tom&Jo's

Terry & I were invited by Drex & Bethany to do Thanksgiving with them.  At the time of the invite, they were not sure what they would be doing but they said they would let us know and it ended being with Tom & Jo.


I volunteered to make the mashed potatoes.  Jo informed me that her family LOVES mashed potatoes and to make sure that I made plenty.  She told me this twice and stressed how much they eat LOTS of mashed potatoes.  So, I did research on the internet.  They said to allow a potatoe a person or 5lbs of potatoes for 10 people and they were roughly planning on 40 people, so I did 20lbs of mashed potatoes.  I was originally just going to make them as my mom did, but decided to change and make the recipe from Pioneer Woman's Delicious, Creamy Mashed Potatoes.  It was hard work, my house was steamy and I was pressed to get this all done and be ready to leave by 11am for a noon arrival...and I didn't make it, I left at 11.30am.  I had called Terry 4 times to see if he was coming and wanted to ride with me, but he ignored the calls and text messages.  I headed to Pecan Plantation to have dinner with everyone at Tom & Jo's.  Lots and lots of people were there:  Tom & JoLinda, Steve & Kay, Dave & Charlotte, Drex & Bethany, Jon & Melanie, Grandaddy & Phyllis, Alan & Jenny, Jon & Tracy, Derrek & Jill, Stanley & Kendra, Michelle, me, Anthony, James & Garret...and all the kids associated with these families!  We had sooooo much food...as you can tell from the pictures below.  We had so MANY mashed potatoes...we only used half of them!  In the evening, Phil & Amanda, Brian & Shelley, and Gilbert & Connie came. 


It was a fun day...in spite of the sadness with the phone call from Terry at 3pm with the news of his decisions to use drugs the night before.  He missed out on a great opportunity and a way to enter in and enjoy christian fellowship, love & support.  I stopped by Jeff's house on the way home to discuss the situation with Terry.  I got home very late but before I did, I researched the Black Friday deals on pots & pans.

pray for Terry

Terry has made some bad choices and he needs our prayers.  My heart achs for him, but he has turned away from the opportunities and help that he has received in the last year.  He now is facing consequences and I don't know what will happen from here.  The way of the transgressor is hard.  He is at a crossroads to decide does he want the street life or does he want to serve the Lord?  It will be harder now that he has made his life more complicated, but he can still do it if he chooses to!  Please pray for him.

Quotes

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
-Albert Schweitzer

dinner to a friend...

This month, I did something different...instead of having company for lunch...I took dinner to a friend who had surgery recently and is trying to recover.  The plans were made late in the day, so I had to do some last minute planning.  I worked until 3pm and then had 3 errands, the last one being the grocery store. I got a few needed supplies and rushed home to prepare and cook the meal.

Menu:
Chicken in a Pablano Pepper Cream Sauce topped with cheese (I do not know the name of this dish...but I have had it out at some mexican restaurants and LOVED it - so I improvised and made my own!)
Gnochi
Steamed Sugared Carrots
Aspargus
Black Beans topped with Feta Cheese
Asiago Bread
Pickles & Olives

I took the food over to Manual & Renee (they are staying at Brent & Jennifer's while they are gone).  We ate pretty much as soon as I arrived and chatted all dinner and then moved to the couches in the living room.  Maryssa did all the clean up.  :)  I helped her get Jennifer's batch of Kombucha going and then headed home.  So much fun to cook for more than one person!  Get well Renee!

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Thrifty Decor Chic is doing a giveaway this weekend...check it out!



verse to reflect on...

Romans 8:31 is God's way of reminding us to turn it all over to Him. "If God be for you, who can be against you?" Friends, God is for you! He is all you need. Let go and let God!

Quotes

Don't be a carbon copy of someone else; make your own impression.

song ~ take time to be holy

Take Time to Be Holy
by William D Longstaff

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.


Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.


Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.


Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

Quotes

The past does not have to be your prison. You have a voice in your destiny. You have a say in your life. You have a choice in the path you take.
— Max Lucado