A Work of HeART

from our granddaughter Avery

age 18 months

Isn't it interesting how the art work of children delights their parents, grandparents,

uncles, and aunts? The beginnings of expressing themselves pleases us and we want to place it on our refrigerator or walls.

I plan to make color copies of this art work which was created in Sudan, hand carried to the U.S. of A., mailed to us from Texas, arriving in Oklahoma at our mail box just last week.

It brought smiles, giggles, and warmed our hearts. This is our very first gift of art

from our very first granddaughter. A treasured work of heART.

The impact of this page pictured above has caused me to reflect upon how God responds to our efforts to please Him, to praise Him, to give to Him. . . . we use the gifts and talents He gives us, we mature in their use and offer more 'mature' praises, talents, and gifts as time passes and we grow up.

Our greatest joy is to use them as He leads for His glory.

What has He given you and me?

how are you using it?

are you giving?

are you sharing?

or

have you received 'art work' from others?

have you received them with joy,

with praise, with delight?

Do you appreciate where someone else is in their growth and development?

something to think about . . .

the best gifts are from the heart,

especially a heart that is His.

Truth for Life

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us - -

yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

Up with the sun, walking the hills for:

Operation Sudan Or Bust

2010

We took a wonderful trip last month, 7 beautiful days on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle, Washington. It was a trip to celebrate our upcoming 35th anniversary. And it was fabulous.

We have spent the past year since 7/4/08 saving, planning, dreaming,

working, waiting, and then going!

We shared the trip with 4 other couples from our Sunday school class and that added moments of shared fun and pleasure. It was a vacation of good memories - some time in the near future I'll share a few of our 450+ photos. Just a few, I promise. ;-)

In the meantime, we begin our next major trip preparation. . . this next trip will be a trip of the heart, a trip to connect and love on our daughter, son-in-love, and granddaughter who now live and work in southern Sudan. They rest and recoup in Nairobi, Kenya every couple of months so we'll share time in both Kenya and Sudan. We are saving money, working on getting fit . . and so my morning walks have begun this week. Got to be ready for next summer.

I live in the south and our weather has been as HOT as a firecracker the past few weeks. So getting up just after dawn is the best time to pull on shorts, tank top, socks, shoes, sip some water, and get out on the road with the dogs.

Its pleasant, the sounds are wonderful, the traffic minimal, the the temperature is just right.

I used to listen to a podcast as I walked, loved listening to Revive Our Hearts, still do, but for now, I'm practicing being present in the moment. I'm taking in with my eyes the plants, neatly manicured yards, seeing wild birds, pets, and other walkers. I'm hearing lawn mowers, water sprinklers, and tinkling wind chimes. I'm smelling flowering shrubs and fresh cut lawns. I'm feeling the cool morning, the breezes, and at times the sprinklers that are watering the street.

In the time it takes me to walk my set path

I feel refreshed, awakened, peaceful,

ready to go home, take a cold shower, dress for the day

open God's Word, meditate, memorize, and study.

Ponder what I'm hearing and learning,

looking over my to-do list,

eating breakfast, and

moving out into what this day holds on the schedule.

My days go SO much better when I take the time to listen to God's Word before hearing man's word, eating the bread of life before eating breakfast,

savoring God's creation within the blocks of my neighborhood before working inside a climate controlled, antiseptic setting with people from all walks of life.

It gives me fresh perspective.

His view.

How do you begin your day, dear reader?

Truth For Life

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to

fear the LORD your God,

to walk in all His ways,

to love Him,

to serve the LORD your God

with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 10:12

Happy 4th of July!

Get your oven runnin'

Find a stars and stripes container of Pillsbury white icing 

and a box of Betty Crocker 1 Step Angel Food cake mix.

Stir in 1/2 the packet of stars and stripes into the batter just before baking. . . and then ice with a simple vanilla glaze.

Vanilla Glaze

Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine with 2 tablespoons milk

Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk into 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Pour on top of cake and allow to drizzle over the edges

Let 'set' for 30 minutes or more then serve.

I saw a can of Pillsbury cake icing with red and blue sprinkles and stars atop to put on an iced cake and well, that got me to thinking.

The brand of angel food cake mix my family has always used and adored is Betty Crocker. Its a simple 1 step cake mix. Some times you can find it with a packet of sprinkles you add into the cake batter just before you pour it into the cake pan. The sprinkles 'melt' into the batter leaving colored spots that make the cake festive. So, one time I measured the amount the packet provided and learned it was 1 tablespoon. If you have some jimmies or sprinkles in your cupboard you, too, can make a fun colorful cake.

So, you can see from my photos that is just what I did.

Enjoy!

P.S. : Share your favorite recipes for summer time holidays!

Truth For Life

In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12

"Missed it by that much"

Maxwell Smart

There are moments in our lives when loved ones who live far away attempt to contact us. They leave a message by phone, email, or text. And if you are, for a brief time, away from that source of receiving the message . . . you miss that message.

I did that today.

Missed a chance to "Skype" with our daughter by phone, at her request, missing it by a mere four hours! Our time difference is 8 hours and well, its the wee hours of her tomorrow as I type this, so I will fight the urge to give her a call.  When a grown adult child wants to connect - you long to connect immediately without hesitation.

Sigh.

And yet there will be another time.  I sent her a reply email explaining my silence and offered other times we might try to connect.

Can't wait for that time, but we must. 

We will. 

Sigh.

"At times Sudan is farther away than at other times." 

Denise Rounds

(yes, you may quote me on this!)

Truth For Life

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 5:3

Mother's Day came and went. . . but the memory lives on.

I got to spend it with our family at church followed by a lovely buffet lunch at my mother-in-loves retirement community. I wore a new dress and a corsage made with a rose my daughter had arranged to be delivered by her best friend so I'd have a white rose. (my daughter lives in southern Sudan) A white rose corsage is my tradition each year  in remembrance of my mom who died at age 57 from Lou Gehrig's disease.

It was a relaxing calm quiet day - perfect! I was with family and for a very brief time I got to speak with our daughter via iPhone and Skype! That was the cherry on the top of the day.

That morning at church was busy - I was given the unexpected honor or reading the scriptures in one service before which I had volunteered to help hand out free Bible study books for all women who attended church as they departed from the earlier service. It gave me the chance to hug, greet, and speak to many women, a treat for me!

I have not posted in a while due to various computer, router, and iPhone difficulties. All fixed now, PTL! It took time but all worked out. Got a new hard-drive in the laptop and they replaced my laptop keyboard frame to boot! (I had a tiny split edge which I kept firmly affixed with a piece of clear tape.) Happy Day when I got it but I still need to reload some software and then put some of my backed up files onto the new hard drive. 

Perhaps this long Memorial Day weekend will be just the ticket.

Memorial Day 

How can we Americans say thank you for our freedoms? First with thanks to God, then with thanks to the men and women who have served or are serving our country. For their valor, we are still free. I'm blessed to be born in America.  I have done some travels out of our country and when I return home I am always grateful to be a citizen of the United States, we have many privileges, rights, and responsibilities that no other country has. That said, I will end with a verse that challenges and humbles me.

Truth For Life

Much will be required of everyone who has been given much.

And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.

Luke 12: 48b

Truth For Life

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

I am having the great joy of witnessing others initiating faith in Christ. . . one is just now seeking Him out in the midst of painful circumstances, bad history, and former hopelessness. I am crossing paths with points in lives that shout out "God At Work Here, Now!"

I am in awe of these conversations in my relationship with these people. Another is seeking God out but has chosen for now, a path that does not lead to truth, but into a cult. Another has an ailing parent, their other parent is newly deceased and they have become the ailing parent's caregiver/counselor. They are weary, beaten down by some things, lifted up by other's, showing by their actions, words, and life that they know life doesn't have to be as it has been. They are seeking, asking, looking, and reading the Bible regularly. Some ask me questions about scripture passages or quotes from their reading material and God has provided me guidance for when to speak and when to listen, when to question them, and when to hug, encourage, and rejoice with them. I pray for daily light and truth as these precious ones seek Christ.

As these encounters are occurring more regularly in my life this year, both at places of work and in my neighborhood, I am finding the above verse to be truth I have newly experienced. It is humbling, scary, and exciting. It gives me greater hope, a willingness to be more patient with them and God working in them, and to be all the more faithful in prayer.

I love technology and use it daily, by choice, for my work doesn't require much use of it on a day to day basis. But I love to learn how to use what tools I have so I can benefit from them as much as my life requires for ease in scheduling, remembering people, events, and to-do's. All to find balance so I can enjoy live, respond to others rather than reacting; I do not use technology for the purpose of organizing (read: stuffing) MORE into my day for the sake of getting MORE done to get MORE done. . . but to gently remind me at appropriate times in my day what to remember and not forget so the essentials are pushed to the side by the cares and worries of this world.

One way I do this is to use my phone's calendar reminder component to remind me to pray for specific people at times of day that 'fit' who I am remembering in prayer. Have you ever used your phone's calendar or computer calendar for such reminders?

It has helped me SO much as I awaken before dawn to begin my day with thanksgiving and prayers in my heart and on my lips for my husband and son who rise first. At noon I remember a friend whose class room is unsettled due to a student breaking a law and becoming incarcerated. The friend needs peace wisdom, courage, and boldness, the students need peace, perspective, and focus. In the evening I pray for recently widowed family members who are only too alone as the moon arises each evening. And I pray as I close my own eyes for my daughter and her family who are just then rising from their beds to begin the new day that God has already created.

Tell me what tools assist you in remembering to pray for those you pray for on a regular basis. I'd love to know and dear reader(s), we will learn from one another.

Tiny sweet treats. . .

Tarts!

These were my part of the foods served at a baby shower hosted today by a group of friends in our Sunday school class. It was fun to have a reason to prepare them; they were fruit tarts for a young couple preparing to have their first child, their first 'fruit' so to speak.

I have made larger ones but with all the goodies being served at the shower I knew I needed to scale the size down. . . and I found that a mini-muffin size worked perfectly. My husband called them "two bite tarts" but I saw that very title used on a package of tarts in our grocery store yesterday, so I won't use it officially here.

For those who are curious or those who want to know how. . . here is how!

Make some vanilla pudding, you can, of course buy the instant, or ready-made . . . you can, but I wouldn't because taste matters. I added a wee bit of vanilla extract to the cooled cooked pudding before using it. (I used a pudding mix that you cook, EASY in the microwave using a whisk between cooking times)

Buy chilled pie crusts OR make some using your food processor or mixer, yes, you can make pie dough in your mixer! Make enough dough for a 2 crust pie. It will yield 48 mini-muffin tart shells. Roll out one crust of dough, cut out with 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter. Place over the mini-muffin cups and use a pastry tamper, your thumb, or a spoon to press the dough into the muffin cup to get the shape. Press is firmly so it is well in place. Place the muffin tins filled with pastry rounds into a preheated oven set at 375 bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Watch them and bake them until just a bit golden brown. Take the trays out, remove the tart shells carefully and allow to fully cool on a wire wrap. Let your muffin tins cool too!

Continue using your cooled muffin tins to bake more pastry shells with the 2nd pie crust. Let all tart shells cool. Use immediately or put them in a self-closing plastic bag or other container to save for later. You can freeze them at this point and use as needed later.

*GREAT easy hospitaliTEA tip!*

Fill your tart shells with a teaspoon of cooled vanilla pudding and top with berries. Warm some apple jelly in the microwave and brush onto the berries gently. This will give it a lovely clear glaze you have likely seen and admired in fine bakeries. (I have admired full 10 inch fruit tarts in Harrods of London's Food Hall, wishing I lived there just long enough to buy one and serve it for tea to family and friends.) Now you can do it yourself!

For a variety I also filled some tarts with Nutella and topped with a raspberry; I also filled others with a teaspoon of raspberry curd and topped that with whipped cream and a bit of a fresh raspberry.

All of these tarts were delicious but the fruit tarts with pudding were the most favored today at the shower, I think due to their appearance with the glazed fruit.

These would make lovely Mother's Day desserts

Invite someone to tea soon.

Surprise your family with a platter of these. . .

and watch them as them as they enjoy with their eyes, taste them and thank you.

Truth For Life

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;

the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,

in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32:17-18

They loaded up and flew out to . . .

Malakal, Sudan

They made it! We got an email two days ago that gave us a bit of an update. They are making adjustments to life in Malakal with the help of team members and locals. They are beginning to find their way around the market, building furniture, seeking help to learn the language, etc. The work continues . . . . .

We are praying for:

Their faith - continued dependence upon God, growth in their faith walk, sharing their faith walk with their local church and witnessing to their community

Marriage and Family life - to continue to nurture their marriage and family relationships

Their adjustment -to the heat of living in Sudan (100 is the average), no air conditioning, they use fans at night, which is when they have electricity. They are grateful for the power at that time.

Language acquisition - they need Sudanese teachers

Developing community - with the local Sudanese as well as their fellow team members with whom they dwell

I'm certain we'll add other prayer needs as the days pass but these are our initial prayers at this time. In the meantime, I pray, trust, rejoice, live, work, knit, study His Word, teach His Word, following His leading through my days where I live.

Truth For Life

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,

serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:11-13

Easter Story Cookies

Tell His Story. . . teach truth, hope, and the meaning of Easter with these yummy cookies

Add this to your grocery list today:

1 cup whole pecans

1 teaspoon vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

tape

Bible

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.

Place the pecans in zipper baggie and let your children take turns beating them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that, after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into your mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into a bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appealing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes or until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper or parchment covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mount represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

He is Risen!

Truth For Life

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;

tie them as symbols on your hands

and bind them on your foreheads.

Teach them to your children, 

talking about them when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down and when you get up.

Write them on the door frames of your houses and your gates,

Deuteronomy 11:19

Dark Chocolate M & M's are bittersweet

That is my favorite chocolate. . . 

and it fits our life just now.

We saw one child off with our son-in-love and precious (15 months old today!)granddaughter to Kenya 4 months ago. 

Tomorrow they fly into Sudan to begin their work. 

I miss them sorely already. 

We will have much less communication while they are on site. We've had little the past 4 months. I'm praying for them without ceasing. What parent wouldn't? I recognize with my eyes the reality of what they are heading into. And yet, I trust God. I have peace but I have feelings of loss.  I am asking God to fill the longings I have for them, to show me the joys in this day, in this precious Holy week, and to make me aware and sensitive to the opportunities I have to reach out to others on my own 'bit of earth' where He has placed me to live. 

I have the joy of having spent time with our son this past weekend, hearing his heart, his hopes, and his prayer requests. It was a privileged time to hear an adult child bear these things before his parents. That was our sweet.

The Perspectives class we are currently taking has snacks each week 

and they always serve M & M's to remind us of Missions. 

We are all on a mission, you have read ours, to where is God directing you?

He is risen!

Truth for Life

I have no greater joy than to hear

that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1:4

March is NOT going out like a lamb. . . 

it is playing around with us as we were warned.

This morning it is snowing like crazy!

But speaking of lambs, 

here is the beginning of a baby blanket I'm going to knit using a website that generates a pattern for making striped blankets  This one if for a baby boy. Like the yarn choice? The yarn is a cotton /acrylic blend so it will wash/dry up easy and be cool for spring and summer. I opted for this particular pattern so I have more off-white than big blocks of color. 

Want to do something like it? Visit Biscuits and Jam's Random Stripe Generator page. You will receive the knitting pattern below the design and you can refresh the page as many times as you want to see a different combination. Pick the one you prefer and knit it up. I've made one using  this pattern generator before for our granddaughter and I really liked the results (as did our daughter). I'll show updates on my progress with this blanket-on-the-make as I work on this over the next few weeks.

Have a blessed weekend!

Truth for Life

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'

and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'

Job 37:6

Heading into Sudan!

Snow tomorrow, rain today, warm sun the day after tomorrow 

sounds like life in general, no?

When life becomes difficult through circumstances beyond our control. . . there is a poem I think about and often re-read. Its one that Elizabeth Elliott shared when she had a radio program years ago. I wanted to share it today for our times are seemingly more uncertain now and perhaps it will encourage you in your focus and help you gain perspective. The poem reminds us of truth we can hang our hat upon. 

Our missionary daughter and her family are flying into southern Sudan to begin their assignment April 7th. We would appreciate your prayers for the details of getting all their household goods packed and ready 36 hours ahead (the rules of the government), for safety as they travel and in the town which will be their home which they will share with others. 

Thank you!

Blessings to you in whatever you are walking through just now. 

Do The Next Thing

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea, there came in the twilight a message to me. Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven. And all through the hours the quiet words ring, like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear, many a doubt hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from heaven, time, opportunity, guidance are given. Fear not tomorrow, child of the King, trust that with Jesus, do the next thing. 

Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener, working or suffering be thy demeanor, in His dear presence, the rest of His calm, the light of His countenance, be thy psalm. 

Do the next thing."

Truth For Life

God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble. 

Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, 

and He will honor you when the time comes. 

God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.

I Peter 5:5b-7

Welcome to our home! 

Spring has sprung!

Jonquils are in bloom

Bradford Pears are white, gloriously white!

Time Marches along. . . 

Its mid March, can you believe it? It seems that time is passing faster and faster. Our lives are full and rare is the time to sit, knit, visit, etc. We savor such moments!

Tonight I knit the first 6 rows of a new knit-along I joined. It will be a short project but will give me a daily dose of knitting time, ahhhhh, calm, relaxing knitting! I've missed it so.

I need to get INTO my knitting mode as I have two babies on the way that I would love to provide with a specially designed baby blanket. One is in Oklahoma the other lives in London, England. So one blanket will be made of cotton the other of a man-made yarn blend so both will be easily washable for the moms/dads benefit. 

What 'cha knitting? Do share with me!

How are you celebrating St. Pat's day tomorrow? I'll be wearing a bit of green and remembering what one man can do who follows the leading of God.

We have had signs of spring all about town so that is what I added in photos to the sight. Enjoy the view! From my front door to trees, bedding plants blooming, etc.

New life abounds! New life! We rejoice as spring arrives - we long for new life.

Truth For Life

I won't ever forget your teachings,

because you give me new life by following them.

Psalm 119:93 

A Tool that is new to me!

I am a reader. 

I love learning: all topics practical for life as a wife, 

mother, grandmother, Spiritual growth, hobbies, you name it. 

At one point in my life as I was picking out some new very good 

books at our church library I had a thought 

'when will you study My book?'. 

Whoa! 

That stopped me cold. 

Now, I want to tell you that I read good books, good authors, 

many well known,well balanced authors. . . 

but I didn't regularly read much less study the Bible itself.

 I decided then and there to seek a means to study the Bible 

so I could know God myself, 

to know what He considered important. 

That began my quest for a way to understand how to do that. 

Over time I found the inductive study method through 

Precept Ministries Bible studies. 

I chose that method of Bible study after trying 

innumerable study materials. 

I had a neighbor who understood her Bible better 

than a group of 10 other neighbors 

and we were amazed at her clear understanding 

and recall of what she studied. 

I knew then that I would try her Bible study course 

when my kids got into school. 

When they did, I did! 

The study method filled a void in my spiritual growth 

such that I have studied the Bible seriously since then 

attending Precept Bible studies and later leading them. 

I've been challenged and changed by this exposure. 

Always a learner, this past month 

I became aware of a new magazine 

that is focused upon Bible study. 

That peaked my interest!

I checked their website at Bible Study Magazine 

and was able to get a trial copy to preview. 

Upon receiving it we immediately subscribed. 

The issue had great articles on how to compare various 

Bible translations, study methods, the value of study, etc. 

If you are wanting to learn how to study the Bible for yourself, 

to get to know God through His Word, 

to allow His Holy Spirit to give you understanding,

this would be a perfect tool to help you in that learning process. 

As you allow God's Word to be your primary reading material 

you will find God and His ways becoming the influence 

in your life and view of life.  

You will develop discernment 

which is lacking in American Christianity today.

Someday I hope to own Logos Bible study software 

produced by the same company that publishes this new magazine.  

I use an Apple computer and they just released the software 

in the Mac format this year. I have it on my wish list. . . 

perhaps in time I'll have it to use 

as I study God's Word for myself and for my Precept class. 

There are so many variations in the packages of software 

so I'm slowly looking at the differences 

in order to discern what I'd use most.

So, as you read your Bible and come upon things you find 

confusing, know that there are tools to help you 

understand the times in which it was written, 

the people who wrote it 

and to whom it was written, 

so that you can honorably/accurately translate 

it into what applies 

and how it applies to us today. 

Understanding your Bible is something that we Christians 

should surely pursue so our lives are transformed 

into Christ's image not our own idea of Christ's image. 

In the process our faith will be increased to believe in Him 

such that it is actually seen in our lives. 

You can view the editor as he shows you the insides 

of the issue we received. 

There are three issues out now. . . can't wait to get our next one!

Truths or Life

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path

Psalm 119:105

Happy birthday dear husband!

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. . . 

moved to the U.S. of A in his mid-teens. . . . 

lived in Florida then Oklahoma, attended high school, 

then college (met me!), married, 

law school, started family. . . . 

nest emptied. . . the fun continues!

Celebrating many years of happiness and bliss! 

I'm one of the few who can say 

they love, love, love the guy they married. 

Best friends, life shared, travel buddies, and all. 

Ahhhh, I am so incredibly blessed!

This week I've done several things as we work 

up to his day on Sunday. Cards, flowers, meals out, 

meals in, favorite to-do's, favorite snacks, 

favorite activities, and compliments on mirrors, 

car steering wheels, tucked into his 

iPhone carrying case, etc. 

Flowers that remind him of his childhood -

mums in his favorite family vase, 

cherished like he is to me.

I love you!

Truth For Life

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

Joshua 1:7, 8

Be My Valentine!

Visit this site to read a good devotional using the ever popular 

Conversation Heart Candies by Necco. 

Then come back, and visit!

Welcome into my home, on the front door you are greeted with this:

I know some of your readers will be very surprised to read that I am once again mentioning knitting! My, oh, my! Yes, I got out the yarn and needles!

On my needles is an attempt to make a Heart shaped cloth, to be used as a hotpad or trivet. I got the pattern at Lion Brand yarn. I started it last weekend, got a few rows going and then left it somewhere and got it back today. So, it won't be a gift for someone for Valentines as I had planned - but when it is done, it will be a good gift for another occasion. Take a peek to see the pattern, it is very much like the Grandmother's Favorite dishcloth pattern in the way the edges are formed. 

Besides the above very tiny knit project, I have a fan and feather scarf on the needle in the green yarn I bought in Parma, Italy in October. I am also looking for the most fitting 'bug' applique to make for a small pillow for my Granddaughter. She has new bedding for her home in Nairobi, Kenya and she 'needs' a cute pillow for cuddling and comfort. So, this grandmother is deeeeelighted to have a project that requires thought, planning, and the dusting off of my sewing machine. If you know of any good websites with cute updated looking sweet bugs I might use as a place to give me some creative direction, I'd appreciate you sharing those with me.

I'm studying Matthew this semester and wow, what a book it is! Today we discussed how we are to live out God's righteousness, a lifestyle that surpasses those of the religious experts of the time in which Christ lives. Not surprisingly, it requires total dependance upon God and the guidance, power, and presence of His Spirit. (Matthew chapters 7 & 8) How I give to the poor, how I pray, how I fast, what I treasure - the motivation behind such actions is what makes the difference in self-focus or God-focus. It is sobering. And yet, it gives me a better idea of how to live as a Christian. When I visit the homebound, care for the feeble, assist the ill how I do what I do matters. It is privilege to serve these people, and it shapes my character in the process. 

As you celebrate Valentine's the week, consider how the greatest lover, the One who can love us most perfectly, who has demonstrated His love for us by giving His life, is the one who also created us and welcomes us all to be close to Him, to live with Him forever, and ever, and ever. He is perfect love - and He offers it to us every day, not just Valentines. 

 

And as we receive His love, He gives us direction for our lives, to pass His love along:

Truths For Life

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?

Jesus replied:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Matthew 10:36-40