A Country Grammy's Walk With God

Do you want Peace in Your Life?

2011-12-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

“Do you want Peace in Your Life?” This is what the Lord seemed to be asking me, today, as I listened to a Daily Devotional I try to hear each morning when I get up. I put it on the computer and then listen while doing the “early morning, getting ready for my day,” type of stuff. HERE is the link to the one I listened to today.

It talked about the belligerence that seems to be getting more and more common… road rage, etc. and what God says I can do about it to have peace in MY heart as I walk through this life. He uses and IF – THEN statement. This is common terminology in the computer world… IF such and such happens, THEN this will happen.

The verses that “Our Daily Bread” gave are found in Philippians 4:4-9. (Scripture below) First, it says to Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS. I thought, that means for me to keep my eyes on Him so that I can see all that He has done, and IS doing in my life… the blessings I have. Each time I focus on those blessings, I can rejoice.

The next verse says to be gentle (that’s the only way others will see that gentleness IN me), and I CAN do that if I KNOW that He is “at hand,” and right there with me.

Then God tells me to not worry, but to be talking to Him constantly about everything… asking, and thanking Him because I know He is faithful to answer in the ways that are BEST for me. That CAN mean “wait for HIS perfect timing…” but trust that He knows what is best better than I know what is best for me. I am His child and like a little child that wants candy and THINKS that is BEST for him/her, the parent really knows what is best and that might be candy as a treat, but generally, it is more like vegetables or fruit. (Pout!)

IF I am constantly in communication with Him, AND trusting Him to be working everything out for my BEST, THEN the Peace of God, in times of crisis will flow over me, so that others that are watching won’t understand it. This Peace (from a consistent relationship) will guard my heart and mind because I know Christ Jesus is with me. After all, He loved me enough to pay for MY sins with HIS blood!

Lastly, in verse 8, God tells me that there are things I need to do to help my mind to stay healthy. Another computer thing is GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out! I NEED to make sure what goes into my mind is NOT garbage, but things that lead to gentleness and kindness.

I need to put things that are TRUE (what God says is TRUTH), things that are noble, and just and pure into my mind. Think about lovely, beautiful things and things that are good and happy, and virtuous… things I can Praise God for… THESE are the things I should be filling my mind with most of my day.

When I see sad and awful things, I need to take them in through my senses, but let them go OUT again through the flow of my mouth and mind and into GOD’S hands, through prayer, because HE can handle them. He may use me to handle some of them, but He doesn’t want ME to take on the weight of the world, just whatever tasks He gives me, and He promises that those things will be light and not terribly burdensome because He shares the load (taking most of it.)

Yep… He keeps finding ways of reminding me of these things all the time, as I walk this road with Him. I wish I weren’t so forgetful! :)

Philippians 4:4-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Uplifting Friends and Verses…

2011-04-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

I have a wonderful friend that has shared a devotional with me almost every day for a few years now. So many times, these verses have spoken to my heart as if God is talking directly to me, and I believe that is exactly what is happening for He DOES use others to speak His words down here. So many of you have done that for me, too.

As many of you know, I’ve had some major health issues going on continually since last October… Bronchitis, Asthma, Pneumonia, and lately, Borderline Congestive Heart Failure, which they are hopeful that they have caught in time to stop or slow way down it’s progression. Needless to say, I’ve also had some days when I’ve been fighting depression, but almost always, God has sent an angel… sometimes named Angela, Sandie, Betty, Monica, Kellie… and many others, to help bend down and lift me up with words, cartoons, jokes, prayer, etc.

This was the verse I read from my friend’s devotional today… Isn’t it wonderful when looked at through my eyes…

From SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns: You have had many opportunities through adversity to fall down and stay down. I call to you to gather your strength and get up. You are not without help; I am with you to lift you up again if you will refuse to give up. Exercise your faith and seek My help, says the Lord, for surely I will hear your cries and come to your aid. Trust Me to lift you up again.

Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

I also read another verse from Jeremiah today. It is one that has always touched my heart:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

With promises like these, to remind me of God’s love for me, I have been, and will be able, to continue on the path that God has for me until He calls me home!

The Lighthouse…

2011-02-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Many of you already know that I took a blogging break because things were piling up around here that needed to get done and I just didn’t have time to get them done. Well, apparently God had different plans for the break that He told me to take, because I promptly got sick and have had some very difficult times with illness for several months now. I won’t go into all of it, but I know I wouldn’t have made it without the thoughts and prayers of my friends reaching out to God on my behalf, and without the touch of His mighty, healing, loving hands.

Looking out through the darkness and holding on to the light… just knowing that He was there for me… reaching up and touching your fingers and seeing the “Light” of your love… you angels (messengers of God) that have helped me through with your blogs, emails, and the laughter in and from them (which the Bible says is like a medicine to the soul) all have helped me get to this point.

I am breathing better, my cracked tailbone is achy, but tolerable, the tendinitis in my shoulder is being worked on. Let me tell you, being ABLE to breathe without a total struggle, is wonderful!!! The last tests came back and the signs of cancer that were in the last two are totally gone and so is the pneumonia! Praise God!!!

Meanwhile, NOTHING got done around here, but I hope to be able to drop a post in here now and then, because GOD IS GOOD… and I wouldn’t be walking AT ALL without him (Title of this blog). Sometimes, you’ve got to just put one foot in front of the other and keep your eyes on the light of God’s love… and if you can’t “see” it out there, look for it in the Psalms or gospel passages in the Bible. Let the words of Psalms cry out FOR you, and let the life of Christ, and His love for us all, “relight” the pilot light in your soul. LISTEN to Praise Songs for they will help lift your spirit up to heavenly places.

I want to give you a gift… please take about three or four minutes and shut your eyes and just listen to the words (below) of this beautiful old song… It’s helped me so many times!

The Lighthouse

(Jesus is The Lighthouse)

Words and Music by Robbie Hinson

There's a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea.

When I'm tossed it sends out a light that I might see.

And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead me home,

If it wasn't for the lighthouse, my ship would sail no more.

Chorus

And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him.

Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin,

He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see.

If it wasn't for The Lighthouse, Where would this ship be?

Everyone that lives around us, says tear that old lighthouse down,

The big ships don't sail this way anymore, ain't no use in it standing round.

But then my mind goes back to that stormy night, when just in time I saw the light

With the light from that old lighthouse, that stands there on the hill.

Chorus

And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him.

Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin,

He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see.

If it wasn't for The Lighthouse, Where would this ship be?

A Wonderful Weekend!

2010-10-06T02:44:00.000-07:00

We had a really good weekend! We went up to Mick’s town and attended Anna Elizabeth’s Dedication Service, and a lot of family was able to attend. Both of my sisters went, along with my Brother-in-law and one of my grand-nieces….

Another thing that was great, was that my eldest son, Charles was able to attend, too. He had spent the last week driving out from St. Pete, FL, and he got there a couple of hours before church started. He’d driven 28 hours straight from E. TX, from my son, Jay’s house to get here. He is out here to visit and to attend his 20th High School Class Reunion.

A lot of my daughter-in-law’s family were also able to come up, and we got some great “5 Generations” pictures.

Their church is a lot like ours on their Baby Dedication Services. We know that a baby can’t make an informed decision about following Christ, but that it is the adults around that child that have the responsibility to lead and teach that child in the way they should grow. We choose to make a covenant with God that we will do the best we can to accept that responsibility. It is not JUST the parents, but the extended family AND the church family that seek to be good role models and teachers.

It was so great to see Charles, as well as my newest grand-daughter, and it was a fun visit for everyone. Jenn’s family are all wonderful people and we all get along really well.

My grand-niece, Jamie, is the one that looks a lot like Kody and is close to the same age. They really love to play with each other, too, so it was a good day for Kody and he got a lot of attention, too.

Robert had to work at our church, so he wasn’t able to go, but he took OC, Dott, BG and Mercy into town, to my sister’s place, so OC was taken care of and didn’t have to go with us. (We can’t leave her here by herself because she needs her wheelchair to go outside with.)

I just Praise God for His goodness and mercy that my kids are following him and teaching my grandchildren in the ways of Life that are promised to those that follow Him. I am so very thankful that Charles was able to make it out here safely, and am praying that he has a great visit and makes it home safely too.

God is so good! Sometimes it is hard to put our beloved children and grandchildren all the way into His hands, but it really is the very best place for them, for, though it seems impossible, He loves them more than we do, and He knows the paths their lives are on more than we do. Some of life’s lessons are hard and some are glorious, but all are in HIS hands.

If you would like to see more pics of Anna and the Dedication, you can click here: Anna’s Dedication Facebook Album

Tuesday’s Show and Tail: Big Horn Sheep

2010-09-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

It’s time "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures. Angela has been hosting this special time for almost a year now, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 51st week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

I got this in an email from a cousin and thought that it was truly amazing!

Hard to believe that these sheep can stand up let alone walk across this wall!

We don't need no stinking bridge! Big Horn Sheep taking a stroll at Buffalo Bill Dam, just west of Cody, Wyoming

A whole new meaning for being "sure footed!"

Notice that some of the sheep in this picture are heading the opposite direction of everyone else.

Isn’t God’s Creation AWESOME!!!

An Explanation for my Blogging Absence…

2010-09-25T03:08:00.000-07:00

I thought that since I haven’t had a chance to blog very much lately OR visit my friend’s blog much either, I should post a bit about what’s going on so everyone will know what’s up.

Many of you know that my husband’s Auntie passed away in March. There was a Will stating that she wanted my husband to be the Executor and sole heir of her estate. We thought that would take care of things, but apparently, at least in the state of California, “A Will is just a ‘suggestion’ to the court of the wishes of the deceased” as explained to us by our lawyer (which we had to get) THIS state has laws about exactly how much of an estate the lawyers are to get and the State is to get, and they want their share!

We had to find a lawyer, and they had to petition the court for a Court Date for a Judge to “appoint” Hubby as the Executor. THAT took until June 10th to get the Court Date, and then it took until mid- August to get the paperwork back from them so that Hubby had authorization to start getting things liquidated, etc. He’d already had her neighbors, which had wanted her house for 20+ years, asking and asking about it, but we couldn’t clean it out or do anything else with it until we could get some money to be able to get a c-train (large metal storage container—10 x 10 x 40 ft.) to store everything in.

Meanwhile, there were break-in after break-ins until almost every thing of any monetary value had been stolen. We finally got the c-train about 3 weeks ago, and since then, Robert and I have had to make the 2 hour round trip over to the town she lived in and work on cleaning up the mess the burglars made. They had dumped every closet, drawer, etc. onto the floor, overturned beds, etc. looking for places an elderly lady would hide stuff. There were 40 years of stuff all over that had to be gone through, to at least get the “treasures” like pictures of family members that were all that was left. Auntie was also a “hoarder.”

We found so many pictures with nothing on them that are very old. Some of the old pics had things written on the back and so we were able to figure out who some of the other pictures contained. For your kid’s sakes and family members sakes, please try to include names, dates, etc. on the backs of the pictures you take. We found pictures of Hubby’s grandfather that had passed before he was born and that he had never seen, as well as things in his precious Grandmother’s handwriting on family tree info, etc.

These things were all mixed in with newspapers and old cards, and junk because of the burglar’s sifting through the drawers. It has taken us quite a long time, and we have not been able to clean a lot of the things like many, many stuffed animals and clothes, etc. We have just had to pack them up and haul them out here to be put into the storage container. She collected stuffed animals as well as so many other things that were stolen. The burglars didn’t take the stuffies, and once washed, we will be selling them and donating proceeds to our local Animal Rescue as Auntie was all about saving dogs and animals. Here are just a very few with Dott hiding in them...

The clothing, once clean, will be donated to the Thrift Shop for our local Battered Women’s Shelter. Those things as well as the furniture that wasn’t broken or stolen are all in the storage container and at least are now out here for me to work on.

We have to wait another 4 months for any creditors to petition the State in case they feel she owed them money, and then another couple of months for the NEXT Court Date to finalize things.

Hubby and I have found out that the way to go, at least in THIS state, is a Revocable Living Trust because then you don’t have to go through the courts at all because your estate is handled like a company and the “CEO” and Successors to that post, just handle things according to what is written down. I’d suggest to everyone that doesn’t know about these things, to find out, because it’s a mess otherwise. At least she HAD a Will that stated “without bond” which helped a bit.

We finished the house yesterday, but still have several weeks/month(s) of stuff to go through and clean that is now stored out here. This is all on top of regular life and sick and injured corgis. Praise God I HAVE Him to lean on!

THIS is why I haven’t been on and the corgis haven’t gotten a chance to blog much either. I just wanted to let you all know that we love you all and really miss reading your posts, keeping up with your lives, and letting you in on ours. I hope that this will help you understand… It may still be a while before we are back regularly, but what’s got to be done, has got to be done. Grammy, from Corgi Country

Silent Sermon ... an Email

2010-09-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

My daughter-in-law shared this email with me and it's something that speaks louder than words...

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. He sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

Remembering 9/11

2010-09-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

I posted this last year at this time, but I have more people following and everything I wrote then, is still true... Today, this country should stop, and take time to remember the tragedy of 9/11 AND it's hope! It is something that we should never forget. We, as Americans, are NOT invulnerable to terrorist attacks, and we should be praying for this country, and its leaders, everyday!

I also want to keep in mind the wonderful way that so many people became heroes that day, just by showing love and care to those around them.

So many risked their lives for people they didn’t even know, and for so long afterward, so many “linked arms” and worked together to support each other in their times of sorrow and suffering.

9/11, for me, was also the day I knew my Mama (or Nana, as everyone called her) was going to die VERY soon. She had been fighting cancer for quite a while, and that day, when she saw the horrifying start of what I know she thought would be World War III, instead of fighting back, by praying as she had always done in every trial, she told me to turn off the TV because she was just too tired… Her body lasted another 5 days, but she finally let go and went home to her rest in Heaven with all of her loved ones here on earth to say good-bye, for a time, around her. I know, at that same time, that all of her loved ones up in Heaven were there to meet her and have a glad reunion the second after her spirit left here… her sister, her brothers, my dad, my brother… so many that had left ahead of her that she loved.

I have a hard time, at this time of year, remembering, but I also try to remember that here on earth, all things have an end except the love that has been shared. I know that she is just one more of those precious treasures that are laid up in Heaven for me to see when I get there. I am so thankful for the time I had with her and for the lessons in love that she taught me.

Nana wasn’t perfect, and neither was my Daddy, but that was because they were human. They did the best they could and they ALWAYS tried to do things out of love for us and others. They didn’t “preach” but just lived lives that showed their love and faith. My Ma would answer questions if I asked for advice, but she didn’t tell me how to run my life... she showed me, through hers.

When I was young and went my own way for a time, she let me, but I always knew I could come back and that she would love me, and she did. I know, now, the tears that she shed for me and the prayers that she said for me, for I am a mother now, with children that have gone on to lives of their own away from my area.

I was truly blessed by the gift of my wonderful parents that God gave me, as well as the gift of having had the chance to live in this country. Though things are bad and in many cases, getting worse, there are still a lot of good, wonderful, loving people in this country, and I need to do my part, whenever possible, to be a servant that shows the Master’s love to those I am brought in contact with.

Thank You, Lord, for the life You’ve given me… for my parents, and other loved ones, and for this country. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have misused the privileges you provided, and help me to walk in your steps, daily, so that others see You in me, like I saw You through my Mama. Amen.

Here are the words to a song that helps me when I need encouragement. God truly does "Raise Me Up..."

Turn on your sound, you will be able to hear this wonderful, uplifting song. Enjoy… and get out the hanky…

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

There is no life – no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

“Show and Tail”… Game Birds

2010-08-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 46th week that she has done this. Angela hosts this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Since we are so far out in the “boonies,” we have a lot of “game birds” that take refuge from the hunters, such as it is.

We have had hunters shoot at our cars and shoot out the truck mirrors, and one time, a couple even shot at Mike! They hit the tree beside him and the ground in front of him! He was NOT a happy camper, and of course, the police didn’t get all the way out here until they were long gone!

Right now, we have a lot of quail and dove that are in our yard and pastures. Yesterday, I went out to feed the horses, and at least 20-30 dove flew up out of the backyard and the trees back there. I hadn’t seen that many before, but when I mentioned it to Robert, he said that he’s seen a LOT of them back there lately. Maybe next week, I’ll have been able to get some pictures of them.

Robert WAS able, though, to get several pictures of the quail that were outside of the front yard the other day. BG was intently watching them, as you can see.

Several years ago, we even had a white quail, probably an albino, that was around for about a year. I sure wish I’d been able to get some pictures of him!!! Isn't this male, California Quail a beauty!

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Tuffy Loves to Tease

2010-08-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! Angela hosts this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. This is the 45th one. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

As I’ve mentioned before, we keep my son’s horse, Tuffy, here because when my son’s new job moved him, he wasn’t able to take Tuffy with him. That’s ok, because horses are herd animals, and he is a companion for my old horse, Cory.

The thing is, he LOVES to tease the corgis!

He will come right up to the fence and snort on them, or swing his head toward them just to irritate them!

It makes them SOOO MAD!

It is really funny to watch, so I made a short video so you could see what I mean…

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Hummers

2010-08-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again, and this time, I get to join in! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This meme let's us share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

We have a hummingbird feeder near our front door and get quite a few little hummers that come by to eat. Lots of times, you can see them out there fighting for their territory. Robert was able to get these pictures today, for me to share.

And this short, 15 second video...

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Field Pups

2010-07-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

It’s time "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 39th week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Today, I thought that I would tell you one of the stories from the Unity Thrift and Outreach files. My sister and a few other people work together, volunteering their time to help save lost, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs in and around the Taft, CA area.

Last year, they received a call that there was a pack of dogs that people had let loose in the hills on one side of the town. There were several big dogs running the in pack, including one that looked like a Mastiff, and another that looked, at least mostly, like a Shar-Pei.

One looked to be mostly Rottweiler and another looked a lot like a Bernese Mountain Dog. They were told that the Animal Control officers would be going out to shoot these dogs if they could find them, but that someone thought that there were puppies up in a den on the hill. My sister and her friends searched for them and finally found them, pulling several pups that were approximately 6-8 weeks old out of the hole.

They took them in and fostered them with some of their volunteers. My sister took care of one of them that she named Smoochie. They were taken to the vet for their puppy shots, and after several weeks of socialization and care, they were taken to some No-Kill Dog Rescues on the coast where they all found wonderful homes.

My sister has kept in touch with the people who took “Smoochie” and he is well loved and cared for.

The Animal Control officers weren’t able to find all of the wild parents and U.T. & O recently had to rescue another litter from out there.

A couple of these pups were taken to another Animal Rescue where they were able to get surgery done on one of the pups that had inverted eyelids (A common problem with Shar-pei’s from what we understand).

They were adopted out shortly afterward to good homes. These rescues do home inspections before they will adopt out, and then they do follow-up inspections as well.

I really respect the dedication of people who do this kind of work, going out day and night at times to help save some of God’s creatures that need help. These pups all have happy stories because of them.

Forgiveness is the key!

2010-06-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

I was reading my devotional today, and this scripture came up talking about obedience and forgiveness. I know that we are to forgive those we have things against, and that Jesus said in his prayer example, that we should forgive so that we can be forgiven.

2 Corinthians 2:9-11 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

So often I have made so many excuses about forgiving people that have hurt me, and in particular one situation where I blamed someone for changing my whole life that I’d had planned out. It took me a long time to realize that even if I didn’t FEEL like forgiving them, like in this verse, I HAD to forgive them to be obedient to God.

It had become a habit after so many years to go over the bad things whenever the name came up in my head/heart, and I had to make it a HABIT to NOT go over the bad things, but to pray to God for help to forgive, and to pray for God’s Blessings on them, knowing only He can heal my hurting heart.

This scripture goes on to say to me that God forgives them AS I forgive them, and then it goes on further and says that it is for OUR OWN SAKES that He has forgiven them, because Satan can take advantage of us through our anger… at least that is what I believe this is talking about.

At the time, I prayed and prayed for what I wanted to happen, but it didn't. It wasn't that God didn't listen or answer my prayers, it was that He knew best and said, "No." In other situations, He has said "Wait."

As to that other situation, over the years, that person and I have again become friends, AND God has shown me that HE had a different plan for my life, for I wouldn’t have met and married Mike or had my wonderful kids and grandkids if things had gone according to MY plan…

(Pic. from 1995)

A Good Scripture Passage to Keep in Mind...

2010-06-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

While working on my Proverbs Bible Study, I remembered these scripture verses that I have hanging up on my wall.

They are said so well in the Amplified Bible, and I try to keep them in mind as I go about my daily living…

Ephesians 4:29-32 (Amplified Bible)

29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Lord, keep these thoughts close to my mind as I walk the daily path that You have chosen for me…

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… J. R., Our Cat-dog

2010-06-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

It’s time "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 37th week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Today, I thought I’d do a quick few notes on our old cat, J.R. We got him for my son, Manuel, who wanted to name him Manuel… he wanted to name EVERYTHING Manuel. I talked him into naming the kitten, Manuel Jr., which got shortened to J. R.

J.R. was raised with dogs and thought he was a dog, I think. He even used to drool a lot when he was petted and would start to purr. He was a really sweet cat, probably because he was neutered very early, so he never learned to wander. In fact, that’s probably why he lasted into old age around here when most of our cats didn’t with the coyote problem we have. (In this picture you can see most of the "Crucified Christ" on the cross marking he had on his side... all but the head.)

He would follow us out if we went on a walk, but if we got toward the edges of our property, he would start to meow… like he was telling us that “It’s NOT safe out here!” “We NEED to stop and go BACK!” “YOU ARE BEING STUPID!” It would get louder and louder until we were back on our property and safe.

He was one of OC’s best friends from the time she was a little puppy! He seemed to think the pups (her and her brother) were his own babies and would snuggle them. When they would get too rambunctious, and run up to him and almost knock him over, he would sit up and bat them on their ears with both paws… bat, bat, bat… but with his claws sheathed so he never hurt them. He and OC would clean each others faces for years until he passed away…

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… My Shadow

2010-06-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

It’s time to share another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 36th week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Today… if I can get through it… I want to share about my old Shadow. He was a very special dog (but so many have been) that we got originally for my son, Mick. We first saw Shadow at an old Safeway Grocery store in March of 1990. He was in a shopping cart with a BUNCH more brothers and sisters. He was the skinniest of the bunch, and looked like he was mostly head (as do most animals who are starving) I couldn’t take all of them home, but decided we would try to save him as he was in the worst shape of them all.

He was part Border Collie and probably had some German Shepherd and/or Queensland Healer in him. He was TOTALLY smart, and learned very quickly. Of course, with good food and a lot of love, he grew into a very handsome, healthy dog and, since we moved out here a few months after we got him (one of the reasons that I knew we COULD get him) he and Mick had lots of room to roam. Mick lived on, and for horses, and they spent many hours riding the hills around here for miles with Mick’s brothers.

One day, when Shadow was a year or so old, I heard what sounded like a horrible struggle outside about 6 a.m.. It sounded like someone was being strangled. I jumped out of bed and ran outside (without my glasses), tripped in a hole and crawled to where the two dogs were struggling. Our other German Shepherd, Midnight, and Shadow had been playing when she got her jaw tangled in his choke collar and it somehow twisted around her jaw she couldn’t let go and it had tightened down on his neck and was strangling him while threatening to break her jaw.

I was yelling to try to wake one of the kids and praying desperately when suddenly one of the links broke! ( a TOTAL miracle as those were heavy, welded links) Midnight ran dripping blood from her mouth, and Shadow lay on his side, not breathing, his tongue blue, and he had already soiled himself. I gave him CPR ( I worked with little special ed. children, so had been taught how) Within a minute, he started to breath again, and we laid there, side by side, me petting him, crying and thanking God, and him gasping until he got his breath back.

His neck was cut and swelled up quite badly for several days, and Midnight had lost one of her front molars, but they both survived. From that time on, if Mick wasn’t home, and after he graduated and left home in 1996, Shadow was literally, in my shadow, until he got to the point where he could no longer walk and started to be in pain, at the age of 17. I took him to the vet and was with him as he went to the “Rainbow Bridge.” Mick drove out and buried him in our front yard, under the trees in his favorite spot.

Besides her Mama Mist, Shadow was OC’s favorite, and she followed him around and looked up to him totally. He was great with everyone and with other dogs, too, once he was told they were "ok." The only thing he feared was gunshots. I remember one day, the neighbors were practicing shooting out in their side pasture, and I heard a bang at the front door. I looked up and there was Shadow hanging from the flyscreen that’s on the upper half of the screen door. He reminded me of those old Garfields that used to have the suction cups on the feet that you could hang on windows… poor baby.

I wrote a poem about/for him the evening we buried him:

Goodbye My Shadow

3/90 to 7/9/05

That silver muzzle is no longer here

To nuzzle my hand as I shed my tears.

Old friend I will miss you so

As through this life I continue to go.

I remember your big head at six weeks old

Attached to that tiny body of bones.

We took you home and fed you up

And you became a sturdy pup.

And then when you were one or two

I shared the breath of life with you.

You’ve been my Shadow from that day to this

And you’re loving presence I greatly miss.

Today I freed you from your pain

I hope that my loss is your gain.

I looked to throw you a treat tonight

But no trusting eyes greeted my sight.

Later I reached to scratch your old ears

Then couldn’t hold back the flowing tears.

I know you’re in a better place

And smiling again with your doggy face.

By Linda Brock © 7/9/05

Proverbs 12: 10 The Treatment of Your Animals Shows What’s Inside…

2010-06-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

I do another blog that is a Bible Study from the book of Proverbs, and today’s verse is one that is just so close to my heart that I wanted to share it here as well. I don’t think very many of you follow both blogs, so hopefully this won’t be a re-run for you.

Today’s verse talks about the way people treat their animals as being a way to judge their character. I find this interesting because we see more and more animal abuse and neglect as the incidence of other forms of crime, abuse and neglect rise.

Proverbs 12: 10 (NKJV)

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin Upright: Adhering strictly to moral principles

regards: 1. To give heed; pay attention 2. To take into account; consider. 3. Obsolete: To take care of.

Synonyms: regard, esteem, admiration, respect

These nouns refer to a feeling based on perception of and approval for the worth of a person or thing

mercies: 1. Compassionate treatment 2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving 3. Alleviation of distress; relief 4. humane and kind, sympathetic, or forgiving treatment of or disposition toward others

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious

cruel: predisposed to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others

By using the definitions of the main words of the Bible Text, we see that people that are morally upright, or adhere strictly to moral principles, will pay attention to the care of their animals. They feel that there is worth in living things, and that they have feelings and need love.

By contrast, those people that are evil by nature and in practice, and that are predisposed to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others, just don’t seem to have the capacity within themselves to give humane and kind, sympathetic or compassionate treatment even to their animals.

This is SO SAD! I feel that one of the main ways to change people is to change their hearts, and only love, and in particular, the Love of God and His forgiveness in lives, will do that. When we ask Jesus into our lives to wash us from the sins we’ve repented of, and to become the LORD and Savior in our lives, then HE will change us from within, and when He comes again, Romans 8:21-23 tells us:

Romans 8: 21 – 23 (NKJV)

21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… A Beautiful Email

2010-05-31T23:55:00.000-07:00

Time to share another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this meme for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 35th one that Angela has hosted, it is a meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

This was just so sweet, I had to share it…

It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick..

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by..

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me.. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,

God

Honor Their Memory...

2010-05-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

I got this in an email and thought I would share it for Memorial Day...

By Capt. Steven Ellison, MD

A MILITARY DOCTOR

I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level One-Trauma Centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel. San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here.

As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work.

Often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash, or a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient. Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama , I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what citizens of this age group represented.

When I saw 'Saving Private Ryan,' I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a good man. I realized that I had seen these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept., and had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.

Situation permitting, I now ask my patients about their experiences. They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.

There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a 'hard stick.' As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, ' Auschwitz.' Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an octogenarian, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet. He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.

I was there the night M/Sgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.

The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach , the 101 year old World War I veteran. The former POW held in frozen North Korea… The former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer the former Viet Nam Corps Commander.

I remember these citizens.

I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.

I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such sacrifice.

It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.

My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should all remember that we must 'Earn this.'

Written By CAPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. US Army

If it weren't for the United States Military,

there'd be NO United States of America !

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Tuffy

2010-05-26T01:06:00.000-07:00

Hurray! I’m finally getting the chance to share another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 34th one that Angela has hosted, and I really appreciate the friends I have made through it. Tuesday's Show and Tail gives us a chance to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Tuffy is my son’s registered American Quarter Horse. He is 23 years old now, so he gets a pretty heavy winter coat. It always amazes me each year when Tuffy sheds his cream colored winter coat, and turns into the most beautiful golden color you’ve ever seen! It’s almost like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

It is Good!

2010-05-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

It Is Good...

Sometimes I come across a post on another blog that touches my heart so very much, and I want to share it with all of you. I JUST figured out how to link to another post so that I could do that. Please check the above link out as Caryle has a wonderful story to tell that really touched me.

This is Maxdog's Mom, and I will be posting a link to her good bye to our Dear Maxdog on our Country Corgi Blog, for Max left us this morning, and people all around the world are mourning with Caryle today.

Showers of Blessings…

2010-05-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

We’ve had so many “Showers of Blessings” lately that sometimes I’m not sure I should share in case someone thinks I’m bragging… BUT it’s not by OUR doing, it is things that God has been blessing us with, so I decided to share anyway because maybe seeing God's love and faithfulness to us will encourage someone else who is waiting for their showers to start…

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the BIG Fundraiser of the Year for Alpha House, the Battered Women’s Shelter that our church helps sponsor. My Brother In Law does all the cooking each year because everyone in town LOVES his BBQ Tri-Tip and Chicken so just knowing that he is cooking brings in people. After dinner, they have a silent auction and a regular auction. That is always fun too because our “Goofy, but wonderful” Praise Leader from our church does the auctioning off of the things that have been donated.

This year, my hubby was determined that he would win a “Bed and Breakfast” stay at the big ranch that our friends have up in the mountains near here. These wonderful people are the ones Mick cowboyed for, a couple of years before getting married. This picture is of a “flying mount” onto my Cory while up at the ranch during a day of branding. He had run up from behind like the old cowboy movies and jumped on. Anyway, they open their ranch house for a “Bed and Breakfast” stay once a year for the Alpha House Auction.

Mike started bidding, and then another friend of ours also started to bid. Our friend suddenly realized that he wasn’t going to be in town during the times that were available, so he quit bidding and we got it for about ½ the regular price it goes for! Praise GOD!!!

We had SO MUCH FUN!!! These people are so very dear to us, and we ate such wonderful meals and talked about the Lord and what He was doing in our lives and our kid’s lives. It was WONDERFUL! The worst part of it was that I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!! Can you BELIEVE IT!!! They had so many beautiful wildflowers out all over their place that I missed. They had a bunch of these blue lupine bushes growing all around the area. I got this picture off of the web, but it looks just like it was taken on their ranch!

Anyway, after the auction, Mike wanted to rush home because it was late, but an elderly lady from our church asked him for his help to take some of the things she’d gotten out to her car for her. He did that and then we headed home. About half way home, we came across a big car/truck accident that had happened maybe 5 minutes ahead of us. If Mike hadn’t helped that lady, we could very well have been in the midst of it!

One of the drivers in the accident was walking around dazed (we stopped to help and put up barriers to stop others from running over the debris in the road and until the emergency crews arrived and we weren’t needed any longer) and he was talking about how he had been having blackouts for a while and was supposed to be getting an MRI the next day to find out why… WHY WAS HE DRIVING THEN!?!?

He had blacked out and hit the other driver almost head on (which could have been us!) Praise God for His angels (the lady) and His protection (the timing.) Luckily, they had both slowed down enough so that no one was killed, though they still totaled both trucks (a big, raised ¾ ton Pickup and a smaller pickup) Both ended up in the ditches, one on each side of the road. Praise God, in this case, for seatbelts! (The pic was taken on Robert’s cell phone at night)

I also Praise God every time I look out of our windows at our pastures which are so beautifully golden with the grain hay that our neighbors planted for us! That was such a wonderful gift, and will feed our horses for at least 6-8 months!

Another thing that happened last night, also has us so happy! Mike came in after work, with a newspaper classified ad section and said, “Someone has a camper shell for sale for only $75!” We have been wanting one for quite a while so that we could put in a back window from the cab in our truck and make a place so that the corgis could have more room when we go on road trips, and we could take them all instead of only a few of them. They would be able to go back and forth into the back if they wanted to lay down, etc. like they do in the car.

We figured it probably wasn’t in terribly good condition at that price, because we’d priced them and a decent second hand one has been going for around $200 or more. I called and asked if it had windows that worked (expecting that maybe they’d be broken out at that price) and he said yes, the windows were fine, and that it was in pretty good condition, so we decided to go ahead and make the hour trip to the big town and check it out.

When we got almost there, I called to tell them we would be a little later than I’d originally thought, and the lady I spoke to then, said that was ok, and mentioned that her hubby hadn’t been very happy that she had put it into the paper at that price, but she’d been told to put it in since they were moving and she hadn’t known what to put it at.

About THAT time, I decided to get out some extra money because we didn’t want to cheat anyone. We got there and this thing was gorgeous… looked brand new, matched exactly with our truck (which, if you remember, was sold to us by Mike's Christian boss for only $1000) and was PERFECT! We talked with the guy and he helped us put it onto our truck.

There was a garbage can open right by where he’d had this SnugTop stored, and it had some artificial turf type stuff in the top of it. I asked him if he’d mind giving that to me as we needed to put something like that on the ramps to give OC more traction, and he gave it to me. I'd thought I was going to have to buy some...

He was really nice and was going to give us everything for the price in the paper, and even helped us put it on our truck. I told him that since the Lord had blessed us so much with such a wonderful gift, that I thought He wanted us to bless him, too, and we gave him $100 instead. That was still half or less than half of what we would have had to pay, and we were able to share some of God’s love with them. Maybe the Lord gave us a chance to plant one of HIS seeds… I know WE got a blessing!

"Tuesday’s Show & Tail" More Birds of Spring

2010-05-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

Hurray! I’m finally getting the chance to share another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 32nd one that Angela has hosted and she’s sharing butterflies on hers this week! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

I love the spring time when all of the different kinds of birds return to our area. The air is filled with birdsong all day during this time of year. We have a lot of Bullock’s Orioles in this area. This one is a male.

Their hanging nests are all over in our trees. They use the horse’s shed hair and there is a lot of bright orange, yellow, or blue baling twine woven in.

The females aren’t as colorful, having just a small amount of color on their chests.

We have a lot of doves around all year round. I love to hear them cooing in the trees… I always hate it when it is dove or quail season, and hope that they will come onto our property where they won’t be shot at!

Here is a picture of a weird bird that showed up. It was green with red on it’s chest and looked sort of like a parrot. I guess one could have escaped from somewhere because they aren’t native to this area.

And there are more and more hummingbirds coming back to this area. I LOVE my new camera that can catch this little guy clear up in the topmost branch of one of the trees in our front yard…

And then I can zoom in to where you can see him pretty clearly.

I Got An Email…

2010-04-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

I got this email from a friend, and it made me stop and think for a few minutes…

The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.

He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, ''I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally....I assumed you had stolen the car.''

I need to remember that others, kids, grandkids, family, church family and even strangers I come in contact with, are all watching the things I say and do to see what kind of person I really am. If I’m going to call myself a Christian, then they should be seeing Christ in me even more than they see ME. If they DON’T know the Love and Joy of having a friend AND SAVIOR like my Lord, but still hear me call myself a Christian, then they will get a totally WRONG picture of Jesus, and God. THAT could send them to hell!

It is a HUGE responsibility, then, on my part to portray Him as He really is… Lord, Jesus, Please let me remember and DO what You want me to do and/or say…

Birds of Spring… "Tuesday’s Show & Tail"

2010-04-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

I love sharing in this meme that Angela over at West Virginia Treasures hosts each week. I’ve made several new friends, and gotten to read about some interesting animal stories and pets they’ve seen or lived with! Angela’s idea is to allow people to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known or just pics of animals with stories to tell. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Well, Spring has definitely come to our area of the world. The birds have all returned from their Winter homes and are singing in the trees and bushes, flashing their beautiful colors, building nests and raising babies!

We have some of the prettiest bushes on our property near the ditch in the side pasture, that bloom all over with beautiful yellow flowers when we get a lot of rain, and we’ve had plenty of that this year, Praise God!

These are called Chaparral or Creosote bushes. Robert was able, the other day, to get some good pics with my new camera of a hummingbird feeding on one.

Here is another, closer shot from a different angle…

We have another place in our enclosed back patio where some birds had built a nest. Robert took a picture a few weeks back of it with this egg in it.

Baby birds hatched out and grew and this week, they spent several days sitting on some of the wiring near the roof.

Their parents would go out and hunt for food and then bring it back it to them.

Here is a picture of Mom sitting with them on the wire. They drive the dogs crazy because they can’t reach them! :)

Flowers in My Garden…

2010-04-18T00:50:00.000-07:00

Spring has come to Corgi Country, and so many of my flowers are blooming… This Easter Lily always blooms just about Easter time and reminds me of Christ’s pure heart that was broken for ME… to pay for my sins… AND that He rose again to give me the promise of life forever with Him.

I have three different rose bushes…

One is this small, but frilly white rose that came back from being a dead looking branch when we didn’t have water for those 9 months last year. It reminds me of the life that can come into a person who feels all withered and dry and then turns to Jesus who gives the “Water of Life,” freely to those who come to Him and ask for it.

Another is this hardy pink rose that is still in a bud… A promise of life and beauty to come.

And the last is my “Friendship Rose.” This one is both red and white, and reminds me of Jesus friendship with me and how the red of his blood washed me white as snow in God’s eyes.

My white irises are also blooming, and I just noticed tonight, that my purple ones are opening up. The purple reminds me that the color of a King’s robe was purple, and that I have a wonderful and loving King that has chosen me to be a part of the Bride of Christ.

There is NO WAY that I see myself as a princess or royalty of any kind, but the Bible says that’s the way He sees me... and YOU if you’ve accepted Him as your Savior and Lord! Isn’t that amazing?

Our Lilacs are in bloom as well, and their sweet perfume fills the air around the front yard with their fragrance, like the Bible talks about heaven having a sweet fragrance, and that is something I really look forward to!

These Bible Verses aren’t about flowers, but spoke to my heart this week so I thought I would share them with you…

John 16:33 In this world you shall have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Late "Tuesday’s Show & Tail"

2010-04-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

I’m behind in lots of areas lately, but I thought maybe better late than never, so I’m posting this today, Wednesday instead of yesterday. I’ve really missed doing Tuesday’s Show & Tail the past few weeks. I love sharing in this meme that Angela over at West Virginia Treasures hosts each week. I’ve made several new friends, and gotten to read about some interesting animal stories and pets they’ve seen or lived with!

Angela’s idea is to allow people to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known or just pics of animals with stories to tell. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

As many of you already know. we life on 5 acres of land that is surrounded on three sides by BLM (Federal Bureau of Land Management) land. Several of the large ranchers in the area lease a lot of this land each year to run cattle on. It’s a win-win situation because the ranchers get their cattle fattened up and the land doesn’t get to overgrown to badly which is a bad thing during fire season. These pictures were taken from our side pasture toward the south.

There are many kinds of endangered animals out there, too, that the cattle don’t bother, while other clearing methods would cause problems for. We just have to be sure that our fences are secure so that we don’t end up having the cattle in our hay pastures.

These cattle are fairly wild and take off if anyone comes anywhere near them. They have old fashioned cattle round-ups on horseback each year to catch them. My old camera wasn’t powerful enough to zoom and let me be able to catch some pictures of them, though we’ve tried several times, but my new one FINALLY let us get some fairly good pics before they finally split off over the hill behind us.

Thank you, God, for my new camera!!!!

Young Women of Virtue… Abigail

2010-03-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

I have been following an amazing young teenage woman that has a LOT of Godly wisdom. Her name is Abigail, and her blog is called, “Young Women of Virtue.” This is her header...

I just finished reading a blog post of hers that I wish every young woman would get a chance to read. This would also be great for a person who teaches young women (teens) to teach to their class. The name of the post is “Role Models: Hollywood or Rebekah and Abigail." Here is an excerpt of this post, showing one of the Bible verses she uses…

Proverbs 31:30 "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Today, I looked up the definition of favor in the strong's exhaustive concordance, it translates as follows: grace, charm, elegance, and strangely enough, acceptance. How interesting. So, the bible clearly tells us that seeking after "acceptance" is deceitful. That's worth saying again! Wanting to be accepted or popular is deceitful!

This young woman tells it the way God’s Word does, and I HIGHLY recommend this post!

P.S. My grand-nephew, Brady, is home from the hospital. The tests for Cystic Fibrosis and for that deep Pulmonary virus, RSV came back negative. He will have to go down to UCLA for Neurological tests to see what is causing the seizures. Praise God that the tests have all been negative, and please continue to pray that it was the fever that caused the rest of his problems. My niece is so glad to be home. We thank you all so much for your prayers for Brady and his family!

This is the second of her children that has had some serious problems. One of her daughters (6 years old) has Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, which translates to a piece of her brain isn't developed or isn't there. This is truly a MIRACLE CHILD that has been through a lot, but God's grace has brought her MUCH farther than the Doctor's ever gave hope for! She can walk and talk, and is attending regular classes at this time with just a little extra help... This is through God's touch and the unending hard work of her mother and grandmother (my sister). This is a picture of her when she was going through a LOT of pain. She was around 2 years old, and was already praying beautiful prayers!

"Tuesday’s Show & Tail" Email Pics & Prayer Request

2010-03-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

Hurray! Time for the 23rd Segment of Angela's "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known or just pics of animals with stories to tell. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

I got these pics in an email that a friend sent and I thought each one had such a story to tell in itself. I wanted to share these stories with you… and then I noticed that the Lord seemed to also tell me something through the "random" way they had been ordered in the email! Sooo... you can look at the story each picture tells, or share with me the lesson God showed me through each picture, or BOTH!

Even if we are like a dirty old street mutt, God will come down to our level to love us…

He says that he wants to protect us with his wings over us like a hen does for her babies… even when it looks like we don't belong.

Sometimes, life seems to be running away with us and we have no control,

But by prayer and the Sacrifice of Praise, God can take control of the situation...

He will go with us as we travel down life’s roadway, because He LOVES us!

And He wants us to learn to love and treat others, the way WE want to be treated…

Then, we need have no fear for He will take care of us

No matter how small or insignificant we feel, He is bigger and has it under HIS control!

P.S. My Grandnephew, Brady (less than 1 year old) has been in the hospital with pneumonia, asthma, and has been having multiple seizures for several days now. Please pray for him and his family... my niece is so tired and stressed... This pic was taken on the way to the hospital and he had a high fever...

I Believe...

2010-03-04T14:46:00.001-08:00

I received this in an email today, and thought it had the most beautiful message, so I decided to share it with all of you...

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat .. Relax . . . And read this slowly... I Believe....
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe....
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I Believe....
That we are responsible for what We do,
no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I
can do anything or nothing
and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager
to find out a secret.
It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed
in a matter of Hours by people
who don't even know you.

I Believe....
That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

'Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass --
it's about learning how to dance in the rain.'
~ Unknown

Angels fly because they take themselves lightly...

Our Sweet Little Weasel...

2010-03-03T02:09:00.000-08:00

Hurray! Time for another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

This week, I thought I’d share a few words about a little dog we had for several years. We called her Weasel because she was a little Chihuahua/Doxie that was a light cream color with dark points on her nose, and tail, and she always sat up like a little weasel. My son, J., found her when we were walking home from his school when he was in the 2nd or 3rd grade.

The school was on the outside edge of town and we would walk through the edge of the hills behind the houses for several blocks until we came to our street and then down to our house, about 4 blocks down from the hills.

One day, as we walked, this tiny pup (probably about 5-6 months old and really skinny) crawled out from under a bush on her little belly. She wiggled and wagged her little tail, still crawling, and just begged us with her little eyes to “please love me… I’m hungry and scared and need someone to love me…”

All my sons have been very compassionate about animals, but J. more than any of the others, and he was hooked from the minute he laid eyes on her. No WAY was I leaving that little thing, so I told him that he could have her. He took care of her and fed her up, and she was his, heart and soul for the 5 or 6 years that she was with us.

She ended up contracting Valley Fever (this area is bad for that for all of us who live here in this lower part of the San Joaquin Valley) and her little lungs filled with the fungus. We had to make that most difficult of all decisions for our sweet little Weasel. We still miss her when ever we think of her, but were blessed with the love we shared during her short little life.

Our Golden Tuffy…

2010-02-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

It’s Tuesday again and time for another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

I had a couple of ideas about a couple of other horses we’ve had, but found I’ll have to find their pics and get them scanned before I can share them with you, so today, I’ll tell you about my son’s horse that we have out here now. We call him Tuffy, though he has a really long fancy registered name, which my son forgets half the time, because he’s known him as “Tuffy” for many years.

One of our dear friends, Tom Cain, bred and raised some of the top line quarter horses in California for many years. Tom was a friend of my Dad for many years and they’d met up at Fess Reynold’s place, where Tom worked in the 50’s (when those 8MM films were taken that I shared a few weeks back.) He lived about 5 miles from where we live now, and had 5 stud horses and about 30 mares. Over the past 20 years or so, Tom and my son, Mick (Little Bear’s Dad) got to be really close, and Tom taught Mick a great deal about training horses. This is a portrait of Tom’s life that I did last year, just after he passed away. The original is 12 x 14 and it is done in graphite (pencil).

Tom was getting quite elderly and couldn’t do as much as he used to, so Mick helped him a lot and was able to learn so much from him. Tom raised some of the most beautiful horses, but they were priced in a range that was WAY out of our league, so even though Mick longed for one, he never expected to ever be able to afford one.

About 16 years ago or so, Tom sold Tuffy (after Mick had helped green break him) to a woman that wanted a beautiful horse to train for Dressage work. They started him on that, and then she sold him and the next people wanted him to learn to do Quarter Horse Western Riding work. This confused Tuffy and, as with most ALL horses, if you ASK and show them what you want, they will do anything for you, but if you try to force them and they don’t understand, they start to fight back!

This is what happened to Tuffy, and eventually, no one could do anything with him, so his price dropped down to $2500 (about a quarter of what he originally sold for). Tom got him back, about 8 or 9 years ago, and made arrangements with Mick to take payments, and this beautiful golden boy came to be owned by my proud son.

Mick worked with Tuffy patiently for a long time, and he could ride him and do most anything with him, but then when his job required him to move a couple of years ago, he brought Tuffy here. He isn’t sure if he will ever be able to afford to keep him where he lives now, but he also doesn’t want him to go to anyone who isn’t VERY experienced and willing to gain his trust, because you still can't move fast around his head, etc., so right now, he is being a good companion horse to my Cory.

Tuffy is 21 years old now, but is still a gorgeous horse… one of those palominos that sheds out in the spring as bright gold as a a newly minted gold coin. His winter coat, which he is in now, is a slightly dappled dark cream color.

The Center of Sin…

2010-02-20T02:24:00.000-08:00

My husband was talking to me the other day about something that the Lord had shown him… maybe for a future sermon. He said that it had become clear to him that “I” was the center or starting place sin. You might have already thought of this, but I hadn't thought of it in exactly that way.

The very beginning of sin was when Lucifer, chose to put himself first... above God. Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) tells us about it…

The Fall of Lucifer
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

He put himself above everything else… “I will…” and this is what he lead Eve to do too! He is the Father of Lies, and he told her that she would become as wise as God… She took it from there and put herself above what God had told her. “I” became the center of her focus instead of keeping her focus on God.

Isn’t this the center of ALL sin? We sin whenever we put “I” (ourselves) in front and don’t keep God in the center of our lives… I’ve been thinking about it and so far I haven’t found a sin that doesn’t come from a person putting himself ahead of God or what God asks him to do… like put others first before what we want…

I think this is something I need to think long and hard about until it becomes a part of me… It is MY job to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness…”and not what "I" want...

Pretty Boy Showing Off

2010-02-17T00:51:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit late, but it is time for another "Tuesday’s Show & Tail." This meme is hosted every week by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Last week several people were showing and talking about Peacocks, and so I looked through several of our old films and found this short video of our Peacock, Pretty Boy. When my Dad would say, “Pretty Boy, show us your tail…” this peacock would fan out his tail for everyone to see how beautiful he was.

I’m so sorry that these films are in such bad shape. They are around 50 years old (give or take 3 years) because I was still living in Frazier Park and we moved to Taft in 1959. I mentioned in my last Show & Tail, that we gave him, along with our other peacocks and peahens to Fess Reynolds when we moved. He was shot by a hunter several years later.

He was a beautiful bird! One thing happened though, during the time we had him and the others, which made me believe that my Dad was a “Superman Mind Reader!” I had locked the peacocks up in the chicken coop one day while my sister and I played out in the big fenced lot at the back of our property, and forgot to let them out. They weren’t supposed to be locked up.

When my Daddy got home from work and found them, he took me out to that yard and asked me how they had gotten locked up, and I told him that my sister had done it. He got really ticked and I got a “lickin!” I KNEW that he hadn’t been home and was convinced from that time on that he would ALWAYS know if I did something bad, so I’d better not EVER lie to him again! Many years later, I asked him how he had known that it was me. He didn’t even remember the incident, but said that it was probably because my sister was only 3 years old, while I was 5 and the door to the chicken coop was to hard for her to have closed!

My Dad and Fess Reynolds

2010-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

I’m finally home and able to join in "Tuesdays' Show & Tail" hosted by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures again! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

My Dad was very good friends with a man named Fess Reynolds from the time I was a young kid until he passed away. Mr. Reynolds was an animal trainer for the circus and later for the Movies. They were very good friends, and we used to visit them all the time up the mountain above Lake of the Woods. We lived in Frazier Park until I was 7 years old, and we spent a lot of time at his Ranch and Daddy used to get to play with lots of different animals.

At the time, he was living in the place that they used later, for shooting the Walton’s TV Show. I saw a horse, the other day on an old “Mr. Ed” show that was from his “special” horses. It was white and had a MAJORLY swayed back. We have a lot of 8MM film from our visits there, and I thought I’d share some of the pics I took off of the film with you. Here is a picture of Fess with some of his trained goats.

He had all kinds of animals at his place, and I loved going up there to see them. Here is a white deer that he had there.

He had a herd of bison…

and several exotic animals like this monkey…

One of our favorite films is of my Dad playing with a wolf and a young African lion.

They remained friends until my father passed away… in fact, when we had to move out of the mountains, we gave our peacocks to Fess. Unfortunately, our favorite one was shot by a hunter later on. I will have to find some of the pics of “Pretty Boy” to share sometime. I really count it a blessing to have had this opportunity to be friends with this man and get the chance to see him and watch him training his animals.

There is a lot about him on the web, and from what I read, the last film that he worked on that is mentioned was the Gladiator with Russel Crowe, but I’m not sure if that was the company “Gentle Jungle,” which is run by his son. I gather they still have a place in Lebec, CA which is a few miles from Frazier Park on the pass going from the San Joaquin Valley to Los Angeles. You can see a few more pics of him in the header of the above link. He is riding a giraffe and has some of his trained bulls bowing in a row.

Shroud of Ice

2010-02-07T00:16:00.000-08:00

I was visiting over at Amusing Margaret, the Brown Recluse's blog, and saw the most beautiful pictures that she had taken of an "Ice Forest." It was one where all the trees and plants were covered in ice, and it had me thinking about it all day. I knew that the Lord had a poem for me to write and share, and it came to me a little while ago:

Shroud of Ice
By Linda Brock © 2-7-10

I saw a picture of plants shrouded with ice
And it made me think that’s often like life.
Hard and painful things close our hearts in…
Sometimes it’s hurt, and other times, sin,

But whatever has caused the ice to come,
It will melt if left to warm by the sun…
So if your heart is iced over today,
Just turn to the Son and start to pray.

As His love flows over your cold, frozen heart
The warmth of that love will cause a thaw to start.
And soon the buds of a new life will grow
In that place that was covered with hard packed snow

The life that the love the Son-shine can bring,
Will grow until your heart will be able to sing.

Two Horses... an email

2010-01-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

You may have seen this as I got it as an email, but it really had some good things to think about, so I thought that I would share it in case…

Two Horses

There is a place in the countryside with a field that has two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing...

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need...sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives, and other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way...

Good friends are like that. You may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. And remember...

Be kinder than necessary- Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Pics of Peep-Peep and of Smokey

2010-01-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

It’s time for another "Tuesdays' Show & Tail" hosted by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures! She hosts this opportunity for us to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines. Angela, we really appreciate this chance to share some of our treasured friends or other interesting animals we’ve seen, and to learn about the friends that have influenced our Blogger friend’s lives.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my dog, Bootsie, had raised a baby duck that stayed with the puppies. I found some pics on our old 8MM films that I was able to get a couple of clips out of so that you could see Bootsie and her little duckling, Peep-Peep.

Tonight, I wanted to share some pics of Smokey, one of the cats we had when I was very young… maybe about 3 1/2 years old. I don’t remember much about Smokey, but he must have been a pretty laid back cat, because we have a lot of pictures of him on those old films.

I remember dressing him up in this beautiful Mexican “Fiesta Dress”... a lot…

And I remember that my younger sister and I used to put him in our baby carriage and push him around.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so this is getting to be a pretty long post… right? :) Hope you enjoyed the pics even a tiny bit as much as I enjoyed watching those old films to get these clips out! I’m sorry that the films are so old and in such bad shape, but I praise God that my Daddy loved to take “moving pictures!”

Lady Bug... My First Real Horse

2010-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Time for another "Tuesdays' Show & Tail" hosted by Angela over at West Virginia Treasures! It is a meme to share about past or present pets or furry friends we’ve known. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines. Angela, we appreciate the opportunity to share some of our treasured friends or other interesting animals we’ve seen!

My Dad was my very first horse, and I about “rode him into the ground!” I had loved horses from the time I was a very young baby. My Mom used to tell me that I would cry when I was only one year old if I saw a horse and couldn’t sit on it. (Most of these colored pics were taken off of 8 MM films my Dad took.)

She said she thought it was because the one and only time she got on a horse, she found out later, she was pregnant. (She was afraid of horses, though my Daddy loved them.)

The highlight of my year was going to my Daddy’s company picnics because they always had them at Hart Park where there was a Pony Riding Ring, and we have a lot of 8MM films of me bobbing along on a pony when I was very young. I took this picture off of that film.

They also had a carousel that was my second favorite ride… because of the horses, of course!

My Daddy loved horses from the time he was tiny, too, and 2 of the few pictures I have of him as a child is with him beside and on a horse.

These would have been taken in about 1923 when he was 3 years old.

During my tenth year, he made friends with several people at one of the stables, and “got me a job” training a 6th month old filly. He told me that the man that owned her would even let me name her, and since she was a Pinto, I called her Lady Bug.

Her mother was a dark bay pinto with the exact same markings as Lady Bug, but Lady, herself, was a buckskin colored pinto. Her father was a very famous (in our area of California) Palomino Saddlebred/ Quarter Parade Horse.

Later, when I started riding her, we found out that she was a natural “single-footer” and had that wonderful “running walk” gait that is so wonderful to ride. She could go for miles in that gait at 7 miles an hour with no trouble when she was older, because my Dad rode beside me on a little Honda scooter for about 2 miles and paced her. She wasn’t even overly warm when we slowed down!

About a month or so after I started training her, my 11th birthday came around, and I found out that Daddy had gotten her for me. We have 8 MM film of THAT too, and this is a clip of about 2 seconds after they told me that Lady Bug was mine. Can you see the smile?

I had Lady until I was almost 16 years old, and she had a buckskin filly that we named Dusty. My Dad had a really bad heart problem during the last 10 years of his life, and, as I’ve mentioned before, he passed away when I was 17. That last year or so, he was very sick and in a lot of pain, and we had to sell Lady at that time. She went to the friend of a good friend of ours and lived out the rest of her life at that place. They registered her as a pinto and used her as a brood mare because her foals came out pinto and they had that wonderful running walk, from what we heard.

In Remembrance…

2010-01-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we had our weekly Bible Study. We were studying in 1 Corinthians 11, and talked a lot about the Lord’s Supper. So often, THIS particular passage isn’t used in so many of the communion services that I’ve heard, or at least one of the most important parts of this passage, in my opinion, just seems to be skipped over. It is a part that I’ve always felt was VERY important and one that I always made sure that I stressed when talking to my children. Here are the verses I’m talking about…

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

So often when we’ve taken the communion in our church, the emphasis is on what Christ did for us by dying for us, and it is about the past. This is, of course, very important, but there is so much more involved. To me, these verses speak not only of the past and what was done FOR us, but of the present and what He IS doing, and of the future and what He WILL DO, as well!

That sacrifice gives us the opportunity, now, to be God’s children and have His Holy Spirit as a comforter and to give us wisdom and teach us God’s ways because He is in us and with us always. It also points toward our future in Heaven… that totally wonderful promise that we have nothing to fear from death for it is a portal to our REAL home, because we are just “passing through” this place.

This is always something I think about when I read this verse because of what it says in verse 26: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” I’ve always felt that those last 8 words were totally important and the idea of the remembrance being “past, present, and future related” is what I’ve always felt that they meant!

It also reminds me that He IS coming, and THAT is what I live for!

I FINALLY Got R Done!

2010-01-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

Monica, over at Expressly Corgi, has been doing a Meme called “Get R Done Friday." Her idea was to host a meme devoted to procrastinators everywhere, to inspire and assist in getting ideas and projects finished by Friday. If you are interested, you can go HERE for the rules so that you can join us!

This really worked for me this week. I’ve been looking at our Corgi Puppy decorated backyard for about a week… maybe longer, and thinking “I REALLY need to get out here and clean up the newest batches of confetti that they have been decorating with. I really DO try to keep things up and out of reach but I think that Sadie is sneaky at times and she’s big enough to snatch paper plates off of the top of the desks or stove, or out of the trash can, etc. Now, she usually brings me things after she’s “cleaned” them for me, but apparently, the pups have gotten hold of some of her “snatchings.”

Lately, too, they’ve found that they can make confetti from the pup-pee pads I put down just inside the back door, in front of the doggy door for those who decide they just can’t make themselves go out into the storms we’ve had several times the past few weeks. (I THINK it’s Pippin, but I usually can’t prove it.) I’m probably going to have to quit putting them down as they really don’t use them very much at all anymore… at least not for anything more than confetti… GRRrrrr.

Well, I actually kept thinking about Git R Done Friday, until I was shamed into going out there and getting it all raked up. I used the dog poo to fill in the holes that our pups have been happily tunneling toward the fence as I’ve heard that dogs won’t dig if their holes are filled with that… Hope it works!

AND our backyard doesn’t look like a snowstorm anymore. Unfortunately, it was after dark by the time I got done, and apparently the flash on our old digital camera doesn’t reach very far, but I DID try to get a couple of pics showing the rake marks anyway. LOL! Thanks so much, Monica, for the prod I need to git some of these things done!

Christmas Tea Part 2...

2009-12-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today I want to finish the subject I started yesterday … how people and God’s promises are like roses in many ways…

People have a tendency to want to do things their own way… force open the rose before it is time for it to bloom, but when we do, we really mess it up. If we do mess things up, but turn and ask Him for help, God will graciously come and do a miracle a lot of times IF we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, repent and turn from our sins. Remember, sin is doing what we aren’t supposed to do according to God’s Word, OR not doing what we ARE supposed to do.

Wouldn’t it be better to follow Him from the beginning, and “let the rose open” in HIS time instead of messing things up first and THEN asking for His help.

If you have a Rosebud that God has given you… a person that He has given you to love:; a friend, child, husband, etc., that you want to see in full bloom NOW, remember the Rose of Sharon that was given to Mary… He grew in God’s time… He had to FEEL the thorns to know what they feel like to us, and He is STILL patiently waiting on GOD’S time to receive the fulfillment of HIS destiny… To become that King that will bring peace to this world…

It must be hard for Him to see all the sin and suffering that is going on down here, but Jesus is waiting until God is ready to take the Roses from the garden in this world to the banquet feast of Heaven…

We need to trust God to bring that Rosebud that we love to its full bloom… We are the gardeners and caretakers, as the first man was in God’s garden… Maybe we were always meant to be caretakers of the things that God gives us to do… We are to: water by giving them the living water of life, through our modeling, feed by teaching them the Word of God, and pull out some weeds (like when our kids are little and we are bringing them up before they leave our care.

One thing, though, that we need to remember is that God said that once the weeds have grown up with the wheat, and become part of the field, HE will do the reaping and separating in their lives. All children will sin and have to make their own choices as they grow up, but even after they leave OUR care… they never leave HIS!

We are to continue to do our part of the job: water -- feed -- care for (show HIS love through our lives) those Roses. We need to be VERY careful about pruning (judging), and let the MASTER gardener do that part of the gardening.

Sometimes, as we tend the Roses that God has given us to tend, we may get pricked by the thorns, but that doesn’t mean that we should quit tending them… They still need the water and food of God’s love to come to full bloom. This is very important to remember, especially if you do foster care.

Roses are beautiful when they are cared for properly. Wouldn’t you love to be able to put a beautiful Rose, or two… or a dozen… in our Lord’s hands…when He calls us to that Heavenly Banquet?

Roses are to share as well… Once they have bloomed in our hearts… like the promises of God’s Love, Joy, Peace, the gardener usually gives them to others to enrich their lives. Go and pour out the perfume of the Rose of Sharon on those lives He brings to you, and don’t show them the thorns of self…

Roses...

2009-12-24T18:14:00.000-08:00

Last year, our Women’s group at church asked me to present a message at our annual Christmas Tea, and this is what I felt the Lord wanted me share with them. A couple of you might have read this before because OC let me post it last year on her blog…

The message was about Roses and how God’s people and His promises to us are a lot like them. Roses come in many different kinds, each being beautiful in its own way. Roses, like people, have different looks and colors, and most of them have some thorns which are there for their protection.

Often people develop thorns to protect themselves through life. Sometimes it is because of the abuse or neglect of others in their lives, and sometimes it is because of the trials of life… our environment, illnesses or accidents that happen. People tend to use their thorns keep others away so that they don’t get to close, and maybe hurt them again. The people who care for them must learn to work carefully around people like that, and ask for God’s wisdom, love and patience to help them grow into the beautiful roses that God meant them to be. I especially found this to be true with many of the foster children we have had in our home.

Roses come from many different places, like people’s different cultures. They are developed in many different types of soils, some being healthy or like a “hot house” environment which tends to grow delicate blooms and some in poor soil which tends to develop blooms that might not be as frilly to look at, but often end up hardier and stronger.

One thing that is interesting about roses is that they can’t be forced open ahead of time, or they will die. When we have children, friends (either old friends or new ones), or even enemies, we need to live a life that will leave a beautiful scent that will draw them toward God through the example of our lives, instead of trying to force them to be what we want them to be WHEN we want them to be that way.

Forcing “the rosebud” will cause it to die or not reach the full potential that God meant for it to have. It is often hard to wait for God’s timing, but He always knows what is best. He will lead us, and/or those we love and care about, or show us the way to the place that will bring about the Joy, Love, and Peace that He came so long ago in that manger to give us.

Sometimes, the promises God gives, have thorns to protect US from trying to pick them before they are ready… to teach us patience or other lessons we need to learn before we are mature enough to handle the promise. We are God’s children, and like children, we need to mature enough to be responsible when we receive a promise. You wouldn’t give a car to a five year old not matter how much he begged for it (at least not if you are a wise parent) even though you may promise to give one to them eventually.

Some of the promises that God gives us, were given at the time of His son’s birth which I celebrate this season. Other promises that He has given are still to come, like Jesus’ promise to return. The following are a few of the promises we have been given.

Peace: John 14: 26 & 27 The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, which I will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you… Peace I give to you… not as the world gives. Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Love & Joy: John 15:10 & 11 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, as I have obeyed my father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy will be in you AND that YOUR joy may be complete.

Our family: Prov. 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (When “old”—not necessarily when a teen, when they are often thorny and may hurt us for a while)

Healing: Prov. 3: 7 & 8 Do NOT be wise in your own eyes! Fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

Mary was given a promise. The promise was that she would bear the Son of God, and that he would be the Messiah. Jewish people, at that time, thought that “The Messiah” was coming as a reigning King that was going to wipe out their enemies and bring peace. They didn’t think about the writings of Isaiah 52: 13 thru all of Chapter 53, where God’s chosen one is shown to be a suffering servant first. These scriptures describe, clearly, Jesus’ life and crucifixion, over five hundred years before it happened. The promise of the reigning Messiah is one that is still going to be fulfilled when Jesus returns.

Still, this must have been very confusing to Mary… King’s aren’t born of poor people… They aren’t born in stables… OR, maybe they have been. Let’s take a quick look at some of the Jewish people’s leaders (God’s Roses…)

There was Joseph, who was born 11th in the line of his family, at a time when the first born was given the blessing. He was given a promise in a dream. He was a cocky, bragging boy, (trying to force the petals…). He had to go through years of prison for things he didn’t do to become the man God used to save His people.

Joseph's story is found in Gen. 37 & 39 – 50. In Gen. 50:20, Joseph says, “You meant it for harm, but God intended it for good. To accomplish what is now being done – the saving of many lives…” Sometimes, God can use the hard things in our lives (thorns) to protect us, as Joseph was protected from murderous brothers when they decided not kill him but to sell him into slavery.

Saul started out as a young man, out looking for his father’s donkeys, when he was called and chosen to be king. He also tried to force the growth by doing it his own way. He never did stop trying, and never turned back to God. He started to consult witches (totally forbidden by God) and ended up being a twisted bunch of thorns. The blooms of his promise died and he ended up insane.

David, Esther, Moses… so many of the people God used had lived hard or sinful lives, but were given a promise from God in their early years and after a time… in God’s perfect time… when they continued to submit to Him or turn back to Him when they made a mistake, He came through and they became the man or woman of God that touched the people in their world for His glory.

It probably took Mary awhile to come to understand that God OFTEN uses the simple things of this world to bring about the highest changes. Very seldom, if at all, do people understand the way that God is going to work (or is working) in their lives. God’s ways are NOT our ways… He asks us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight …”Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

This is getting pretty long for tonight, so I will finish it up tomorrow. Have a wonderful day with the roses in your life…

Babe… Our First Family Equine

2009-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today, I want to share a bit about our first family equine, a little black Shetland, named Babe. I’d had a horse when I was young that my dad had gotten me, and I’d loved them totally since I was very little, so when we got to the point when we could afford one, we started praying. We put our names on the list for a corral at the local Horseman’s Association, and after a few months we got one. (This picture was taken about 1988, after we’d gotten several horses. L – R = Tai Pan, Peppy, Cory, Babe)

A week or so later, my prayers were answered, when one of my best friends called me. She worked at the local vet’s office and they had been called in by the Humane Society to put down a little starved Shetland pony, named Babe. When she and one of her friends saw the little guy, who had been kept in a back bedroom and only taken out at night for a few minutes to the park to graze, he was to weak to stand. She talked it over with her friend, and they asked the vet to give them a chance to save the little pitch black gelding.

He was so weak and little, that they could hold him up for several minutes at a time… and they did for four days, feeding him and paying for him to get shots and food IV’s and hand feeding him. Finally, he was able to get up and stand on his own, and they continued to feed him and care for him, but she really didn’t want another horse or pony, so a couple of weeks later, when she found out I’d gotten a corral, she offered to sell him to us for $50 (enough to cover some of the vet bills she’d paid) and we were able to get him for our kids.

My oldest son was 5 (the same age as Babe) and my daughter was 4. I was pregnant with my next son. We had Babe for 20 years, and he taught all of my kids how to ride. He was an ornery little thing, like most Shetlands, but a bit worse because he was “Proud cut.” His “gelding” wasn’t done properly and he thought he was a stud. By the time each of our kids were able to ride him, they could ride ANYTHING!!! They won many Gymkhana, Horse Show, and Parade ribbons on him.

Babe was a beautiful little thing when he was shed out in the summer, and looked like “Little Black” in the children’s books by Walter Farley, the author of the Black Stallion series. During the winter, he looked like a black furry bear. He was also VERY smart and learned many tricks. He could shake his head “no,” or “yes,” and “count.” He could shake hands and bow, and he could carry a buggy whip in his mouth and switch it up and down to “chase” you with it. He could also open gates…

He was 25 years old when he got cancer that went into his brain and one day, he started having seizures, so we had to send him over the Rainbow Bridge. He was a very special part of our lives for so many years, and brought a lot of joy, and fun into all of our lives. I wish I had more pictures of him…

Garden of Love by L.B.

2009-12-18T02:21:00.000-08:00

Garden of Love

The people and pets we’ve loved in this life,
The ones that have been with us throughout life’s strife…

Each has planted a beautiful flower
With growing love it’s major power.

When we look at the way they’ve touched our hearts,
We’ll see a garden with beautiful parts…

Flowers with eyes that smiled our way…
Rainbowed dew on leaves that sway--
The tears their hands or tongues have brushed away.

The chuckling brook of laughter bestowed
By the antics they’ve played that lifted life’s load.

We water that garden and keep it alive,
When we pass love on and help others thrive.

Don’t let your Garden of Love wither and die,
By letting the weeds of bitterness thrive.

Look up towards the Son, and let Love’s light shine,
So that someday, in Heaven, with those friends we will dine.

Linda Brock © 12/18/09

Another "Show and Tail" Post

2009-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

Today, I thought I’d tell you about the first doggy love of my life. My Mom told me that I was only a few months old when my dad came home with a little, almost dead Chihuahua/Doxie puppy. It was covered with lice and fleas and several of its littermates had already died. They got the little thing cleaned up and de-bugged, cleared up it’s mange and gave her the name Bootsie because she was a dark honey color with four white boots and a white tip on her tail. (She's the pup between us)

They said she took to me right from the first and would lay with me gently for hours. Many is the night that I would fall asleep rubbing her soft, silky ear between my fingers. Bootsie, and Lena and Gonie (my two invisible friends) were my constant companions for the first 4 or 5 years of my life until my sister got old enough to play with, and then Bootsie was still always there.

This was over 50 years ago and it wasn’t horrible to have puppies, so Bootsie had a lot of them. That’s where I learned how to help birth them- though she seldom needed any kind of help, and mostly we just watched.

Bootsie was a born “MOTHER!” She raised puppies, and kittens and even a little duck! It was so funny because ducks tend to follow their mother’s while puppies don’t. That first day, she’d pick up the little thing and take it to her nest under the house (she always hid her puppies after a few days… probably to give them peace from us kids) and it would follow her back out, so she’d pick it up again and take it back… That went on for several hours until she finally gave up and brought all the pups out into a box Mama put in the washroom.

It was so funny to watch when the puppies would nurse, because the duckling would pick up a teat and sort of gently pull on it and open and shut it’s little beak on it like ducks do when they are grooming each other. At least THAT was a “puppy” she didn’t have to give up, and for many years, whenever they saw each other (when Bootsie would go outside into the back yard or chicken yard (later) they would go up to each other and Bootsie would lick the duck’s face and “Peep-Peep” would do little ducky kisses up and down Bootsie’s back. We have 8mm movie pics of that. This is a picture of my grandma, parents, sisters and me. I'm holding Bootsie and my sister is holding our new puppy, Petunia.

I had that precious little friend for the first eleven years of my life, and she was a very special part of it because I was kind of a shy, quiet little girl… always heavy… and, especially during those last years of her life (my pre-adolescent years) she was always there for me, loving me throughout everything… the kid’s teasing, my Dad’s heart attacks, etc.

I was heart broken, of course, when she took the "Rainbow Bridge," and what is so interesting is that I had never heard of the Rainbow Bridge until only a couple of years ago, but the night she died, when I thought I would too, and I wanted to follow her so badly, I dreamed of walking with her in a wooded area.

We came to an old bridge that crossed a river that was far below and there were mists raising off of it. It was night and the moon was shining so full. When we got there, Bootsie started to cross it and I tried to go with her, but she turned around and looked me in the eyes and I knew that she was telling me that I had to stay, and she had to go... I watched her finish crossing, and when she got to the angel on the other side, she turned again, to say good-bye, and then they went off into the woods on that side. That dream is still so very clear in my mind...

Joy to the World – Verse 1

2009-12-15T01:20:00.000-08:00

A few blogs ago, I mentioned that I'm trying to look at the words of some of the Christmas Hymns and let God speak to me through them... Well, this one has really touched me:

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

God DID give His Joy to the World that long ago “Christmas” Day. It might NOT have been on December 25th that it happened, but it did happen. God sent HIS son into the world… The one that reigned with Him on high, to live as a human, sharing our joys and pains to truly “walk a mile in our shoes…”

Because Jesus KNOWS all of our problems, temptations, and heart pains… our tiredness, our anger and hurt that makes it hard for us to forgive, and all the rest of our sin, and STILL loves us enough so that He would pay for our sins on that cross, we have a “FREE” ticket into heaven.

Through the gift of His Holy Spirit that comes into our hearts when we repent (turn away from) our sins and become “born again,” we have a way to find peace that passes understanding as we travel through this life.

YES!!! These things should bring us JOY! When each of us accept that gift and acknowledge HIM as our Lord, He HAS come for each of us and we, (now of earth) can receive our King and worship him when we make room for, and have "communion" with Him in our own hearts. (Communion = 1. The act or an instance of sharing, as of thoughts or feelings.
2. Religious or spiritual fellowship)

His Word says that the Angels of Heaven REJOICE when one of us comes to KNOW Him and accept Him. It also says that soon, when He comes back, all of nature that groans now WILL sing with joy just as our Corgis "sing" with joy when they see us coming home, because of the love we share.

Get R Done Friday…

2009-12-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

Monica, over at Expressly Corgi, has been doing a Meme called “Git R Done Fridays,” and I decided to join the fun this week with this post on our Corgi Christmas Tree. This is her button for this Meme. Her idea was to host a meme devoted to procrastinators everywhere, to inspire and assist in getting ideas and projects finished by Friday and that’s definitely ME! If you are interested, you can go HERE for the rules so that you can join us!

As I mentioned in my last post, the Corgis bring a lot of fun and laughter into our lives, and when I got some really cute gifts from Angela at West Virginia Treasures that looked like they would make some great tree ornaments, I decided that we WOULD put up a tree this year, and we used the snowflakes and beautiful red stocking/lacey boot that Angela sent. I also learned that my grandson, Little Bear – my nickname for him since he was born-- who was 6 this year, is getting to come and stay with us for a couple of days just after Christmas, and I know he’d love to see a tree.

Anyway, we decided to take pictures of all of our corgis in their Christmas hats, make a couple of pics of each, print them, laminate them and then cut them out and hang them for ornaments.

Robert took a picture of Dott saying, “Please, Please” and photo shopped wings on it.

Then he put two of those pics together, back to back, and added a halo between the pieces for a “Corgi Angel” tree topper. Didn’t it come out cute!!!?

This is a little 3 foot tree with fiber optic lights at the ends of the pine needles that twinkle with different colored lights (which don’t show up well in the pics) and we think it came out looking GREAT!

I’ve learned an awful lot about God’s love and about the way I should love Him from the animals that I’ve had in my life, and I thank Him for the Joy that all these little sweet faces bring. He sent His son, Jesus, to be born in a manger around animals, and I believe that He loved them too, and gave them to us… to people… to learn about love and caring for others. I am not putting them up to make them above the regular “Christian” reminders, but AS a reminder to me of true love that I should show to the things God has given me, and of the way that they give unconditional love… the way I should love God.

A Christmas Carol…

2009-12-09T23:00:00.000-08:00

This year the holidays, for me, have been quite a mixture of the Past, the Present and the Future. So often I’ve found myself thinking about the past…

Past Christmases and Thanksgivings with my parents, and my kids have played over and over in my mind. These were times that were always so special. My parents always made the holidays into times of wonder for us. I think that they were often more excited than we were to see our reactions to the presents, lights, tree, food, etc. I remember the sight of my own kids being so excited to go to Nana’s (we always had our holidays at my Mom’s house) and the gatherings we all shared there with both of my sister’s and their families and usually several other friends. There are so many wonderful memories

Living in the present during the holidays, for me, is an up and down roller coaster. I miss my parents and most of my kids live so far away now, that I miss them, too! It’s harder during the holidays to not have them near, I think. I don’t feel that I “know” them or my grandkids well enough, anymore, to know what they like, so I can’t get excited about what to give them.

I am so grateful, though that Robert is here with my hubby and I and that we have the corgis. I’m usually to busy to dwell for long, on the sadness of those that are missing from my life, now, and that is a good thing so that I don’t go into a depression.

I’ve spent a LOT of time praying for so many of my friends and relatives that are also having a hard time this year: My oldest son and his four daughters that lost their Mom this past January, and another son that is having problems finding a job to support his family and dealing with the stresses of life that financial instability brings. I have so many friends and loved ones that are having huge problems with health issues, too, to pray for.

I think that the pain in those around me, that I know and love, is something that I have to be very careful to “cast” on Jesus, for He’s told me to “Cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for me.” I know that He has everything in His control and can use all problems and joys to work together for the good for those that love Him, and I am so blessed to know that most of my loved ones DO know Him.

I know that He loves all those that I love that DON’T know Him yet, and is working in their lives to draw them to Himself, and that helps me too, to have faith that He is working things out! These are some of the things in the future that I can look forward to… that and seeing all my “dearly departed” that have gone home to a place of peace and rest that I can look forward to as well.

Each day, as I’ve been listening to the Christmas Carols that are being sung, I’ve been trying to LISTEN to the words and think about what they are saying, telling of the joy that God brought into the world when He GAVE HIS son, knowing what that would mean … a life filled with the joys, sorrows, pain and love that would allow Jesus to KNOW what life as a human was like, and then to sacrifice that Son He loved so that WE wouldn’t have to pay the price for our sins…

I’m trying to be sure to keep my eyes on the REAL reason for the season, and have Faith in what it meant/means for me and my loved ones in the past, present and future. He came to give us a HOPE, and He has plans for a blessed future for us, because He Loves us so much.