TWO TREES

God so often speaks to me through nature and what I see with my eyes.

We have a Japanese Maple tree in our front yard. This fall it has had the most beautiful brilliant RED leaves. The sun would shine on them and it looked almost like it was on fire. I would have taken a picture to post but for the mislaid camera :o(

SUDDENLY we have had a very cold snap, along with winds, and the side of the tree away from the house was being stripped of it's leaves. I mentioned it to Mickey and within another 2 days the tree was TOTALLY bear of it's leaves.

This spoke to me of the Christian life that is ablaze with joy, hope and fulfillment that SUDDENLY, when faced with an unexpected turn of events, begins to lose that joy, hope and fulfillment and within a very short time is totally bereft of all the truth they have once known.

On the other hand, we have 2 large native Oak trees where the leaves very gradually turn into a non-descript yellowish color, then into a unappealing brown, BUT they cling with all they have, regardless of the winds that blow or the sudden cold snaps. These leaves, although not bearing the appearance of beauty, remain on the tree until next spring when the new buds of life push them off to make room for the new green growth.

This speaks to be of the Christian life that weathers the storms and clings to the TRUTH that summer will once again come and all the hope, joy & fulfilment will return anew and the tree will grow even taller and put down even deeper roots.

My prayer and hope is that I will develop to be the sturdy Oak tree that will always cling to TRUTH no matter what assails me.

*No, I am not going through a difficult period in my life!!!! I can just relate to times in my life when I have.

As a matter of fact, I have WONDERFUL news. Mickey just had his medical check-up and was given an excellent report. YEAH!!! They do not even want to see him for a year, although he will go in for blood work in 6 months. Praise God

Random Dozen #2

I'm participating in Random Dozen, over at 2nd Cup of Coffee today for the second time. Since my camera is still missing I thought this would be a good thing to do, Check it out and read the other Random participants.

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? Now that's starting off with a hard one. Probably Dorothy because I always see the possibilities.

2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? If I'm staying home it's easy.... something comfortable like capri's in the summer or sweats in the winter. If I'm going out I look in my closet and the first decision is slacks or skirt. Then I select that and then the top to go with it.

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? MEAN dogs that hurt and attack young children. One of my friends at church Grandchild was just mauled by one of this type.

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home? We've always just had one....until this year and I've put a small, pre-lit one with no other ornaments in the guest bedroom for Aric to enjoy. Yesterday was his weekly Wednesday to spend with us and he was so very pleased to see it!

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression? Usually I am very excited and love it. I did have a spell, way over 20 years ago, when I dreaded Christmas because our family was going through some hard times.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music? I don't listen to a lot of "popular" style music so I couldn't tell you a thing about that music. I love Christian music and classical, especially piano and violin.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma? I don't pay a lot of attention to that type of thing one way or another.

9. Enjoy horseback riding? Loved to ride when I was younger. My sister and her husband had horses when I was a teenager and I loved spending time with them and riding.

10. Shoes--practical or stylish? I USE to wear very high heels but could not do so now and wear very cute, but practical, flats.

11. What was the name of your first pet? A cat named Muffy. I loved and adored her especially since I was raised as an only child.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done? First, we are doing very little this year, except for the grandkids. I'd say about 1/2.

BELATED THANKSGIVING REPORT

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is already 4 days past and it will be December tomorrow!!

Trust everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We certainly did!! Our eldest child and daughter, Suzette, hosted Thanksgiving this year. Of course we all helped by bringing something but all I had to do was a dessert. I took "Almost Pumpkin Pie Cake". It was yummy as were all the other desserts. Oksana made a cheese cake. So proud of her, at age 13, being a part of the cooks. Deann brought homemade Pecan and Pumpkins pies. We are so happy to add a good pie maker to our group. Suzette and Dave provided turkey and dressing, a wonderful fresh fruit salad, mashed potato, rolls and tea & soft drinks. Benny brought his Amish Green Beans (a must have at all our gatherings) and a Cranberry Salad. Also in attendance were Jacque, Marc, Aric, Mason, Aaron, Cody & Mickey rounding out the 13 of us.

The table was set with the china and silver, linen tablecloth and napkins in the formal dining room.

We ALL stuffed ourselves and then watched the Dallas Cowboy game and the 4 boys spent some time at the park just 2 houses down the street. The day was beautiful...would you believe 70 degrees the last week of November. YEAH!!!!

One of the MANY things I am thankful for is my wonderful family and that all our kids (except David in California) live in the immediate area.

What I am not thankful for is that I lost/misplaced/? my camera at the church on Tuesday when there taking a picture of Mickey & Sherry (the cook) .... consequently I have NO PICTURES!!! Suzette said, "Oh shoot." When I arrived and announced I couldn't take any pictures.

Please check in on the Frugal Blog to see what I've done with left overs!!!!

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

I received this as an e-mail but must post it here because it says everything I feel and believe. My prayer is that many of you will feel led to also post it on your blogs.

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On Dr. Charles Stanley's Sunday program "In Touch", the guest speaker was more of a historian than a Biblical speaker, but he is very famous for his knowledge of historical facts as well as Biblical truths.Dr. David Barton is his name. He is an expert on the subject of whether or not the United States was founded as a Christian Nation.

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Dr. David Barton - on Obama



"Respect the Office? Yes. Respect the Man in the Office? No, I am sorry to say.
I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, called upon America to unite behind Obama.


Well, I want to make it clear to all who will listen that I AM NOT uniting behind Obama!
I will respect the Office which he holds, and I will acknowledge his abilities as an orator and wordsmith and pray for him, BUT that is it.


I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure that he is a one-term President!
Why am I doing this ?


It is because:

- I do not share Obama's vision or value system for America;

- I do not share his Abortion beliefs;

- I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing wealth;

- I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who make $150,000+ (the ceiling has been changed three times since August);

- I do not share his view that America is Arrogant;

- I do not share his view that America is not a Christian Nation
- I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by 25%;

- I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals than our American Citizens who need help;- I do not share his views on homosexuality and his definition of marriage;

- I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and Israel is our enemy who should give up any land;

- I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has made public);

- I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare system in America;

- I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East;

and- I certainly do not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such as Iran.


Bottom line: my America is vastly different from Obama's, and I have a higher obligation to my Country and my GOD to do what is Right !


For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by numerous entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility but for their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his family, and his spiritual beliefs!


They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their personal beliefs for the betterment of our Country!They have portrayed my America as a land where everything is tolerated except being intolerant!
They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years!They have mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the founding and growth of our Country!


They have made every effort to remove the name of GOD or Jesus Christ from our Society!They have challenged capital punishment, the right to bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal code! They have attacked one of the most fundamental of all Freedoms, the right of free speech!


Unite behind Obama? Never ! ! !"

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I am sure many of you who read this think that I am going overboard, but I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom I believe are the embodiment of Evil!


PRESIDENT BUSH made many mistakes during his Presidency, and I am not sure how history will judge him. However, I believe that he weighed his decisions in light of the long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding Fathers!!!


Majority rules in America, and I will honor the concept; however, I will fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition to Obama and his "goals for America."


I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left unchecked, will destroy our Country!! Any more compromise is more defeat!I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who have sat on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-GOD crowd to slowly change so much of what has been good in America!


"Error of Opinion may be tolerated where Reason is left free to combat it." - Thomas Jefferson

GOD bless you and GOD bless our Country ! ! !

"In GOD We Trust"

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

I WANT THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE BACK......
A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to‘The United States of America’ for any amount, up to and including my life.

IN GOD WE TRUST

AMERICAN THANKSGIVING!

"The pilgrims who sailed to American's shore,

Were strangers who had not been there before.

Leaving their country and families behind,

They had one purpose and were of one mind.

They wanted a home where they could be free,

Through danger and peril, they crossed the sea.

In heat and in cold, they struggled for years,

Paying the price of blood, sweat and tears.

Bound to each other by faith, love and hope.

They made a new world and learned how to cope.

The problems they faced as they broke up the sod,

Brought them closer together and closer to God.

Today, we who live in the great USA,

Pause to give thanks, on this Thanksgiving day.

Thank God for our nation; a beacon of light,

We keep her strong, by doing what's right."

By Peter Enns

I am thankful for SO very many things but these are the most important ones:

1. My triune God: Father, Son & Holy Ghost

2. The Bible: God's living WORD

3. My wonderful husband of 51 years

4. My unique, one of a kind, 4 wonderful children: 2 daughters & 2 sons

5. My 3 beloved grandchildren: 2 granddaughters & 1 grandson

6. My Word based Church

7. A compassionate, loving Pastor who preaches only the Word

8. My many wonderful, inspiring friends who love & serve a living God

9. My many blog friends

10. The health I and my entire family are blessed with

11. The freedom we have in America

12. The world God has given us with all it's beauty and variety

13. The privilege to see so much of the North American Continent

14. Loving, Christian parents

15. Books

16. Access to so very much good Biblical teaching & preaching

17. The ability to hear

18. The ability to see

19. Heaven & eternal life because Jesus purchased it for me and God forgives me

There really is no stopping place to the wonderful, blessed life God & this country have provided me with.

I AM THANKFUL!!!!

Happy Birthday to My Mickey

Today is my Mickey's 77th birthday and it is the 51st birthday I have been blessed to be his wife and share with him. In case you didn't already know.......I LOVE THIS MAN.

This November 24th birth date is also shared with our son-in-love, Dave. Now that makes it a double blessed day for our family.

Late Friday night the 4 of us celebrated this double event with Dave & Suzette taking us out to Lo*ngho*rn Steak House for a wonderful steak dinner and a lovely time of just being together, sharing and having a grand time. My fillet was one of the best I've had in a LONG time!!!

Today, on his birthday, Mickey will celebrate by preparing and serving the Free noonday meal at The King's Kitchen ministry he started on November 3rd.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART - I COULDN'T LOVE YOU MORE!!!!

IS 2012 The END of the World?

Our Pastor has preached the past 2 Sundays about The End Of The World based on the just released movie by the same name,


Yesterday I was privileged to be part of a skit that was presented in conjunction with Pastor's sermon. There were 5 parts and we have been practicing for several weeks. I played the part of a born again Grandmother. Imagine that!!!! In character for sure. It was a wonderful experience and I am excited about being part of our Church Drama team.

Seven, yes 7, people gave their hearts to Jesus. Praise you Lord.

"No man knoweth the day or the hour"