rainy

morning-rainy day. but, it is almost spring and this is not snow...so still a blessing.

i have had a friend die yesterday, a friend who is my age, too young. he was diagnosed with cancer

last year and fought it valiantly, and was in good spirits and health by Christmas. then after that, he started not feeling well and was put into the hospital about 2 weeks ago. sigh, there are no words, leaving a wonderful wife, children and grandchildren, mom, and so much family. this cancer thing seems like we should be putting so many eggs in the basket to find a CURE, i say CURE, because i am always hearing of new drugs to TREAT it...duh, the ones benefitting are the drug companies. well, that is certainly on my prayer list. and their family. they have to be exhausted. on a separate note, this is the awesome thing about living in a small town. the family that could stay round the clock at the hospital, and friends coming and going, meals brought up, those that took to chemo and so many other things to lift them up. this is very typical of our town. i suppose that proverbs 3:5 holds the truth-"trust in the in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding". when we do not understand, we have to trust...

it is still raining, i started at 8:30 this morning on this blog, and it is still raining...

baseball cancelled. free night. great night for family, big meal, maybe a movie. seems like we do so many things, all good things, but we sure need these family nights to be together. i think this is where my kids and most kids get their strength. it is a quiet confidence in their lives and world. i am getting ready to do the sunday school lesson for this week. i think i will do the last supper. set the table long, we have about 12 who come to middle school class. put grape juice and unlevend bread out. talk about how this was a last supper with Jesus and his disciples. a chance for HIM to talk about the future and what to expect. how they would carry the faith on to the next generations. scripture that talks about the betrayal and despair of the next few days. i wonder if living it out will make it come to life? praise God for the school teachers. they have made such a difference in my children's lives. it is a thankless and time consuming job, but one that Jesus smiles on. teaching children that they have a heavenly father who loves them, listens to them, and directs their paths. what could be more of a seed in this complicated world? gonna have a cup of tea and enjoy the rain, blessings and peace to my friends who are suffering right now, prayers are the best thing we can offer.

women of faith

got an opportunity to go to women of faith this past weekend. it is one of my blogs i follow.

what an amazing opportunity to see my friends, be with my friends and pray with my friends.

the speakers were wonderful women who have overcome obstacles, some small, mostly large, the kind that have us running back to our heavenly father full force. they were funny, serious, inspiring, but most of all-just easy, any of us could be any of them, except for the traveling, great speaker, successful writer parts...ha

we then had a mini sleepover at a friends, been a long time since i went to a slumber party. we laughed, talked and just had fellowship. i am so blessed to have these women in my midst. God has been so generous to me with my friends.

i have several of my friends who are suffering, suffering so much pain. cancer, family and other problems. we just don't know what a person is going through. we just cannot walk in their shoes or assume we know how they feel. we have to pray for them and give words of encouragement.

i have a friend who is hurting and i wanted to give words of peace to him. it brought back a flood of memories that i had tucked away for a lifetime. my parents divorced when i was in 7th grade, middle school, and girls that age can be sooo kind! i was not included in some things, as i was the only person i knew in a large school who did not have a mom and a dad. i knew i was left out of some things because i did not "fit" in now. (things are different now, not sure we have gone forwards of backwards-someone smarter than me will have to figure that one out). but one day i was at church on a relaxed wednesday night and the minister found me alone and just took the opportunity to talk with me. he looked and me and gave me his time, and said "you are a child of the most high GOD, and he will direct your path and it will be wonderful". from that moment on, i had a confidence about me. i was on a path. it was amazing. it changed the fear and anxiety in me, to trust and security. i had forgotten this moment until i needed it today to show someone else that HE is that person for them, their path will be wonderful and their life fruitful. i praise HIM for giving me that memory, for me and for my friend.

i also added a new blog, marilyn and sarah. i watch their show every morning at 8:30. i love them. it is my desire to go to greece this may, not going to happen, but i am praying about it. blessings and peace to all my friends today for whom the sun is not shining...

return

just returned last night from my dad's funeral. well. not really a funeral but a memorial. it was very simple, which i loved and meaningful. marine photo, lovely spray of flowers in red, white and blue, marines, taps, unfolding of the flag. then a few high school friends spoke, which was wonderful, then an old baby-sitter. it was the glimpse of a person's life from people who knew you in the beginning, middle and end...

i think he would have liked the day. we finished the day in the 70 degree texas sunshine, with all 5 of our sisters, laughing, i knew he would approve!

we drove with my sister and husband, what could have been long and boring was fun and interesting. you can take any situation and find the good in it. our aunt and uncle had a wonderful supper for us at the end of a long day, (i spent the night in the er, i am allergic to

feather pillows-my husband stuffed one under my head, yes, he loves me, nothing personal)

we had an amazing supper, filled with prayer, support, more love that a person can harness, and the world took its' rightful place again. my uncle and aunt have for a lifetime had that affect. they make it all seem like it will be fine, its' gonna work out, you'll survive. going back to the

anointing, that is what i mean, i could not explain it quite well, but those who God has given the ability to console, to heal, that is george and aletia, they have been blessed with that gift.

this am, with the sun shining, i know spring is around the corner, as i look out my window onto the lake, i am so blessed to live on such a peaceful spot. not a day goes by where i do not lift that up and say thank you. it is not an accident, i love the water and love living on it. i love friends and family sharing my home and kids hanging and playing here. i know and appreciate that i have much to be thankful for.

Psalms-he anoints my head with oil, my cup runs over. surely goodness and mercy will follow

me all the days of my life. indeed they have.

annointing

what is anointing?

very touchy, odd subject for some, well alot of people. i did not understand or know what it meant or thought it was for "fanatics". anointing is something that occurs and has occurred since the beginning of time.n 1 John 2:20 we are told that every Christian possesses the holy anointing. John writes, "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth." You cannot be a Christian unless you have the Holy Spirit. In verse 27 we are told, "And as for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you." Christians receive this anointing at the time of their conversion. It is speaking about baptism in the Holy Spirit. We must then understand a few things. Every Christian has this anointing because every Christian has received the Holy Spirit.

the bible says that every believer of Jesus Christ is anointed. what is the significance of being anointed? by

this ceremony, the participant's are set apart, commissioned, and authorized by God to work for HIM.

how cool to "work" for God!! my employer is God, he is understanding, considerate, timely, holy,

great leader...etc. what complaint's could you have? what could he do better or different? NOTHING.

it makes me wonder what anointing we have, but do not choose to use it. how many friends and family could we pray over and help? just throwing it out there. i believe if we have faith, then we are allowed to make a difference in someone's life, to help them re-focus and find the way home. i teach my sunday school class, who are adorable, that God gives each of us what we need in our heart, it is a homing device, and when we get far away, it draws us back to HIM. we cannot help but want to return, because we are programmed to do so, with absolute free will, of course. gotta love that free will, gets us into trouble over and over again...

blessings today and always.

changes

good monday!!

great weekend, busy weekend. got to see my son play basketball, go to dinner with friends, and relax after church on sunday.

our pastor has been doing a series on 30 days to live. what would you cut out of your day, what would you change, and that type thing. it is interesting to think about if you had 30 days, what would be easy to let go, what would seem like a waste of time? i think there are many things that i would adjust in my life. i would take longer walks, i get a ways away and start thinking of all the things i need to do and head back, i would never do that again, come to think of it, i will try that one for sure...

went to basketball tournaments all day saturday. it is so fun to be with 12 year olds, they are still so nice, and have such big dreams, that is before the world gets hold of them. my 12 year old wants to play basketball for the university of iowa. i BELIEVE he will. they are a great group, silly and funny and it is always fun with them.

sunday, was different. i don't know if having my dad die and wondering about what emotions to feel and how to react, i think finally made me tired. i just sat down after church and my son and i watched a NCIS marathon. junk food, hours of tv, lots of green tea, and good company, can fix anything, i needed perspective. we live in a time that if you are not getting something done, or creating something or running somewhere, you are not contributing...well, all of you got my prayers yesterday and i just unwound, most of the time, i am wound! that is something else i would do, if my child says "mom want to watch some tv with me and just be", my answer is yes!

i decorate my sisters windows, she has a dance studio, she is really good at it. but i love the girly creative end of doing a window. so i am off to do the march green, and take down the valentines. we took shoes to give to orphans in afghanistan and collected 50 pair. what a blessing that others took the plight of those children seriously. so,until tomorrow, blessings, blessings, blessings on your lives and your families.