IT'S DONE

Thank goodness the 1/2 bath paint job is complete.

Note:  I even painted the little bird picture frame edges to match in the drark blue.

 Our before picture

 The wonderful finished results!

The new curtain with the dark blue

 Another view

My wonderful Mickey who finished up the job for me!!

I worked on painting Wednesday & Thursday.  I hate to admit it, but all the time on my knees almost did me in.  One coat did not cover it well.  So, as so often happens, on Friday Mickey said, "I'll give the bathroom the second coat.  I don't want you down on your hands and knees anymore."  I am so blessed by my husband.  He quite often has to step in and finish up some project that I so enthusiastically "start".

We are both delighted with the results!!!

5 YEAR BLOGGOVERSARY AWARD

Drum roll please!!!

After 21 days of posting, I was too busy painting the bathroom to get the 22nd day posted on Thursday, the 26th, I celebrated my 5th year of blogging by drawing the winning name.

Having to do it the "old fashioned" way, and knowing I didn't want to get to the end of this and have to be writing down a lot of names I first drew out a grid on paper.  Each day I would enter the names of those who left comments on that post.

Yesterday, I took the sheets and first cut the strips apart. Then I cut each little square, with the name in it......

and dropped them in this basket.  I stirred them up a lot and then went in and asked Mickey to draw a name, holding the basket up where he could not see in it.  He had to give them one last stir before he drew the name!

And the winner is!!!!!!

RETHA who is from South America.

Retha began blogging in February, 2007 and we have become good friends through our blogging. 

Retha I'll be sending you an e-mail to verify your address. 

Congratulations!!!  I hope this book

Andrew Murray on PRAYER

blessing you as much as it has blessed me over the last 12 years.

-----------------------------

As a little surprise, which I did not tell any of you up front, I was planning to also send a copy of Andrew's book to the person who left me the most comments.......

So that book will be sent to

SYLVIA

(Sylvia was someone I didn't know - or at least I thought I didn't until I followed the link - HI!!!)

Sylvia please send me an e-mail with your address.

--------------------------

Thanks to all of you who read my blog this month and left me comments.  I truly appreciate it. 

FRIDAY FAVORITES #2

Going to participate in my 2nd Friday Favorites.  Go here to see others who are participating.

My favorite things have never been "things" although I, like all of us, certainly have many "things" I value, treasure and have sentimental ties to.

But my FAVORITE things would have to be people.  I have been blessed with so many wonderful people who have touched my life and added so much joy, happiness, instruction, fun, and spiritual growth to my life. 

 Among these favorite people are the 17 people who are part of the WOW Woman bible study group that meets at my home every Tuesday evening. 14 of us are local and 4 are in other parts of the world.  (I know your wondering why 14 + 4 doesn't add up to 17!!!!  Well I am in this local group of 14.)

 Here are 10 of us who were present the night this picture was taken.  Back-left to right - Sandra - Britney - Cindy - Kathy - Betty.  Front row- Connie - Thelma - Wantha - Susan - Jeanne.

Talking about FAVORITES one of my favorite scriptures is

           Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

These woman definitely sharpen me each and every week and I am so thankful for each one of them.    If you don't belong to a home Bible Study group you are missing a BIG blessing. 

The Hardest Part of Getting Older

Yes, one of the hardest parts of getting older is finding it harder to do things that require a lot of physical dexterity.  The last major updates we did to our house were in April, 2008 when we changed the wallpaper in our kitchen, and changed the paint color on one wall in the living room and dining area when we had French Doors installed.  Mickey had also repainted the exterior trim in the spring of 2007.

When we purchase our little home in Coweta in March of 1998 I just loved the little master bath with it's free standing sink, the flowery wall paper on the lower walls with white trim and walls above. 

Fourteen years later we were absolutely SICK of the wall paper and decided to paint over the wall paper with a dark blue which would tie into a dark blue wall we have in the adjoining master bedroom.

Here I've gotten it all taped off to start the painting.  I have a feeling we are getting into a huge job.  Just being on my hands and knees doing the taping was a major chore and my body is letting me know IT did not like that bending and being on my knees at all.

If the finished product doesn't  look too bad, I'll post a picture when we are done.

Wow!!!  How I long for the days when we would tear into any project both inside or outside without even giving it a thought.  I even painted my young girls bedroom with a 3" brush back when I was 27 and about 6 months pregnant with our first son.  A 3" brush ---- and didn't think anything of it!!!   Yes, the hardest part of getting older is not being able to do all those things you were so use to doing and could do so easily.

NEW THINGS

Mickey & I have had a Tr*ac*ph*one for the past years.  An inexpensive one that we purchased at Wal*ly and we prepurchased minutes for a year at a time.  We had no ability to text (what is that?!) nor could you leave us a message.  I, who does not particularly like to talk on a telephone much anyway, was perfectly content with what we had and especially the fact it only cost us $10 a month.  To me the purpose of a phone is to leave a message or tell someone something important that I need to tell them.

Our son, Marc decided that we needed to come more into the 21st Century so he and Mickey went "shopping" at the phone store.

Here is our new phone, complete with the pull-out section for texting.

Mickey is already learning to operate the "thing".  Me, not so much, YET!!!!  So, which of you would like to come and help this grandma move more into the 21st and HELP ME?

I'm sure, like everything else, I'll get it figured out enough to do what I need it to do.  Life is a series of new things and moving forward.  Sometimes I'd just like to stay at status-quo!!

In all honestly, I'm thankful for a son who is making sure we adjust and more forward.

Oh, and it has a camera!!!  You know I'll be learning to use that.

Earth Bound or Spirit Lead

I saw this statement the other day and it made me think!!!

We will not be earth-bound in our praying, walking or talking.

BUT we are!!!!  We are so accustomed to think of everything in terms of how we relate here on earth.  How we relate to each other.  How we relate to events.  How we relate to problems.  How we relate to joys.  How we relate to what we hear, see, feel, smell and taste - those 5 fleshly senses.

But I want to be governed by The Spirit of God .  Don't you?

Father, we will not be status quo, but respond to the deep call you put within us.

Help me to hear with Spiritual ears.

Help me to see with Spiritual eyes.

Help me to feel as the Spirit feels.

Help me to smell the sweet aroma of your Spirit.

Help me to taste and know that You are good. 

You are looking for a great release of people to step into their place.

Lord, make Your voice loud and clear and help me to be lead by Your Spirit.

Spirit bound in my praying, walking and talking. 

THIS IS MY PRAYER.

TEN WAYS TO LOVE - Spiritual Sundays 2012 - #2

Once again participating in Spiritual Sunday.  Go here to read other entries.

1.  LISTEN without interrupting.  Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning: and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

2.  SPEAK without accusing.  James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

3.  GIVE without sparing.  Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

4.  PRAY without ceasing.  Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you.

5.  ANSWER without arguing. Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

6.  SHARE without pretending.  Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth, in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. 

7.  ENJOY without complaint.   Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

8.  TRUST without wavering.  I Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

9.  FORGIVE without punishing.  Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: ever as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  

10.  PROMISE without forgetting.  Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;  but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 

How Does God Speak To You?

GOD SPEAKING

Of course, we know that God speaks to us: through His Word and through The Holy Ghost.  Sometimes He speaks to us through others who have just the Right Word for us at the right time.  Sometimes He speaks to us just through the beauty that our eyes behold, or the touch of someone in our lives, or the words or melody of a song.  God speaks to us in a myriad of ways.

One of the main ways God seems to speak to me is through "things".  Just mundane, everyday things.

Such was the case in the middle of the night

with these 2 very ordinary things!!!

This little alarm clock sits on my night stand, as does this TV remote.  In the middle of the night when I wake up, which is quite often, I press the little button on the top, which lights up the face of the clock, and I can see what time it is. 

I fell asleep Thursday night with the TV on watching the post debate remarks and commentary on FOX.  When I awoke I, as always, picked up the little clock and pressed the top to see what time it was.  Which at that time was around midnight.  Then I proceeded to turn off the TV.  At least I "tried" to turn off the TV.  I must have hit that button at least 15 or 20 times.  By this time Mickey had woken up and said, half asleep, "use the black one."

Duh!!!!  I had been trying to turn the TV off using the wrong equipment and getting very frustrated at "IT" because "it" wasn't working!!!

God spoke to me loud and clear through this silly, in the middle of the night, incident.......How often Susan, do you keep trying to get a desired result but using the wrong means?  And on top of that mistake, then getting frustrated when it does not work

I just love my God so much because He is constantly speaking to me, even in the smallest ways......if I will but listen!!!!!

What ways do God use to speak to you?

Hodgepodge #4

Yes, this was suppose to be posted on Wednesday, but let's just say..........I'm running behind!!!

1. A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night-did you watch? No, I did not.  If you were a contestant what would your talent be? Playing the piano.

2. Do you have houseplants? Yes MANY.  Real or fake? Real and my husband basically takes care of them :o)

3. When you were in school did you speak up or were you more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn't call on you type of student? Oh, I was, an still am, definitely a speak up person!

4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year...what do you order when someone suggests Chinese food?  I prefer buffet and my favorite are egg rolls & chow mein with nuts.

5. How would you define a miracle? Something that is definitely in God's control and that we cannot do ourselves.  What would it take for you to consider something a miracle? Not a lot because I believe we see miracles of God around us ALL the time.

6. What's your favorite Disney song? M-I-C-K-E-Y Mouse because of my husbands name.

7. I should have nothing yesterday. Because I do not run my life on SHOULD HAVES.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  We spent last evening celebrating our dear friends, Jack & Mary's, January 15th BD, with another couple of dear friends, Don & Barbara.  I am so very blessed with wonderful friends.  What is one of your biggest blessings?

Thank you Joyce for hosting Hodgepodge and the privilege of participating.  Go here to see other participants.

CHRIST - Throughout the Bible

There are those who have gone through the Bible and traced the story of Jesus.

Genesis - Seed of the woman

Exodus - Passover Lamb

Leviticus - Atoning Sacrifice

Numbers - Smitten Rock

Deuteronomy - Greatest Prophet

Joshua - Caption of the Lord's Host

Judges - Deliverer

Kings - Promised King

Nehemiah - Restorer of the Nation

Ester - Advocate

Job - Redeemer

Psalms - Shepherd

Proverbs - Pattern

Eccleslastes - Goal

Song of Solomon - Satisfier

Books of the Prophets - Coming Prince of Peace

Gospels - One who came to seek and to save

Acts - Risen Lord

Epistles - Representative at the Father's right hand

Revelation - Returning Lord

HE IS MY LORD & SAVIOR

Still 8 days to get your name in the pot for my giveaway to celebrate my 5th Bloggoversary.

Go here to check it out!

A PITCHER OF LOVE - and potato soup!!!!

I have to be the most blessed woman on earth ------

1.  I was blessed with wonderful Christian parents who not only loved me but taught me basic values and responsibilities.  Who held me accountable from an early age.

2.  I was blessed to find Jesus in a BIG WAY at the age of 18 and to be able to build my life around HIM.

3.  I have been blessed to have shared 53 wonderful years with my wonderful husband, Mickey.

4.  I am blessed to be the mother of 2 daughters, 2 sons, 2 granddaughters & 1 grandson.

5.  I am blessed to have been nurtured, taught and grounded in MANY different churches over these many years.

6.  And last, but certainly not least, I have been blessed with many wonderful long-time friends over my life.

This pitcher is just one example:

I had the goal, on January 1st, to do a liquid fast for 21 days.  Well, I only made it to day 12. 11 1/2 days success and 9 1/2 days short of my goal.

We had plans to celebrate our good friends, Jack & Mary's January 15th birthdays (Yes, they share a birth date) on January 16th with our other long-time friends Don & Barbara.  Don was so concerned about what I was going to do about eating out at this lovely restaurant we were going to and not being able to eat.

SO, (unbeknown to me) he calls the restaurant to see if they have a liquid soup I could order.  They did not have anything Don felt was adequate so.......

When we got to the restaurant this lovely White Pitcher is sitting on the table full of home made potato soup, made by Don, for me. 

Now I don't know about you, but that is true friendship and love, above and beyond!!!!

Yes, I am truly the most blessed woman on earth.

Right Now

Saw this on my friend Crystals blog and it looked different and fun so thought I'd give it a try.

RIght now, I am...

:: marveling At how much God loves me.

:: tired  from cleaning our son's house on Thursday and still not total recuperated.


:: laughing after having just posted about cows running down our street the other day and police men and a patrol car "herding" them.

:: overwhelmed when I see the mess our country is in and not knowing if we are going to put someone in as President who can really make a difference.

:: pleasantly enjoying the wonderful life I have with my husband.

:: wondering just how many years we might have left here on earth.

:: grateful for the wonderful life we've had together these 53 years.

:: hearing the sound of the TV from the living room where my husband is watching TV

:: going out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate some wonderful friends birthdays.  The husband and wife share a January 15th birthday (and she is one year older - but don't tell her I told :o) 
)
:: planning are having a less hectic week this week than we had last week.

:: digging around for new and different ideas to do in blogging......like this one!

:: sewing is definitely a thing of my past.

:: listening to be sure I'm in tune with God and what He speaks to me.

:: eating again after fasting liquids only for the first 12 days of this New Year.

:: saying I'm glad our after Christmas Christmas Party for our King's Kitchen ministry was Saturday night and a lot of fun but I wish more people would have come.

:: inspired on a daily basis with the wonderful woman God has placed in my life.

:: happy that we get to spend so much time with our youngest son and only grandson.

:: delighted to be hosting a Tuesday night Home Bible Study each week.

:: waiting to paint our second bathroom.

:: being able to save up our money for new hardwood floors for our living room.

Life in our Small Rural Town

Is very interesting

and sometimes surprising!!

Last Sunday morning as I walked into my bedroom to get ready for church I looked out the window to see two cows in our front yard!

By the time I shouted to Mickey & we got the camera the cows were not only already in front of our house but we had added this police car & police man who had just arrived and gotten out of his car.

In this shot the 2 cows are being "herded" by the patrol car and 2 police men on foot down the road.  You can see other neighbors had come out to see.

 A second patrol car arrives as yet another, third, cow has arrived in the yard across the street, and just to the south of us.

With the patrol car pursuing this 3rd cow proceeds into the yard directly across the street from us and on her merry way.

Well, it was a surprising event and added a little humor to our early Sunday morning so I thought I'd share it with you.

Happy herding!!!!!

Spiritual Sunday - 2012 #1 - CHARLES SPURGEON

"Do as thou hast said."

----2 Samuel 7:25

God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used. God's gold is not miser's money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring them up to Him, and say, "Lord, do as Thou hast said." We glorify God when we plead His promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches He has promised? Do you dream that He will be any the less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine He will be any the less pure for washing you from your sins? He has said "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not delay, saying, "This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?" but it goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, "Lord, here is the promise, 'Do as Thou hast said.'" Our Lord replies, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt." When a Christian grasps a promise, if he do not take it to God, he dishonours Him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries, "Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, 'Thou hast said it;'" then his desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes. Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your importunately reminding Him of His promises. He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls. It is His delight to bestow favours. He is more ready to hear than you are to ask. The sun is not weary of shining, nor the fountain of flowing. It is God's nature to keep His promises; therefore go at once to the throne with "Do as Thou hast said."

I am participating in Spiritual Sunday, sponsored by Charlotte & Ginger, for the first time in this New Year.

Go here to read other Spiritual Sunday posts and be blessed!!

If you would like to enter the drawing for the GIVE-AWAY to celebrate my 5th Bloggoversary go here to read about it and how to participate.

Yet Another Silly Meme - Love them or hate them?

I saw this sometime ago on someones blog and thought I'd do it someday.  Today is that someday.
A. Age: 74
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Anything where I have to get on my hands and knees:  cleaning the bathrooms.
D. Dogs:  None
E. Essential start to your day: 2 devotional readings, reading from the Bible, reading a chapter of the current book, and prayer.  My husband and I do this together.
F. Favorite color: Blue
G. Gold or Silver: Like both
H. Height: 5' 5 1/2" (use to be 5' 6 1/2" scrinking with age!!)
I. Instruments you play: Piano
J. Job title: Retired
K. Kids: 2 sons & 1 daughter living and 1 daughter in Heaven
L. Live: Small town of Coweta, OK
M. Make of car: HHR Chevy
N. Nicknames: Princess & Honey by my hubby - Mama, Mom, Grandma
O. Overnight hospital stays: Major chest surgery at age 18 - 4 childbirths - pneumonia - gall bladder surgery.
P. Pet peeves:  People who always complain about their problems instead of our Victory in Christ.
Q. Quote from a movie:  Haven't the fainest idea!!!
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 3 half-sisters (but 2 almost as old as my mother and more like aunts) 1 12 years older than I who I loved as my sister and adored.
U. Underwear: White cotton
V. Vegetable you hate: Okra (can't say I hate it, but don't like or eat it)
W. What makes you run late: Sometimes taking one last look at fb or blog :o)
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Several
Y. Yummy food that you make: 3 cheese chicken enchiladas
Z. Zoo animal: Monkeys

Making a commercial? YES!!

On Thursday, October 13th Mickey & I had the fun experience of having a little spot in being involved in the making of a commercial for Markwayne Mullin, a young man from our church who is running for Congress in Oklahoma's 2nd District.

This happened to occur during a visit when my forever, lifelong friend of 68 years from New Mexico was visiting.  That made it even more special.  I blogged about it here. 

Here is the commercial.  You'll have to look really close because it's just a brief second and if you blink you'll miss us!!!!  We're sitting on a park bench and talking with Markwayne.


Markwayne Mullin commercial. 

Make-up being applied and the camera man. 

All this took place in Oolagah, OK a small town north of Tulsa.  The entire experience took about 3 hours for our BRIEF claim to fame. 

A very fun experience for Mickey & I, and our guests,  and a privilege to help out this fine young man. 

Don't forget to vote!!!

GIFTING

GIFT - n. 1) something given; present.  2) the act of giving. 3) a natural ability; talent.

I've been doing a lot of thinking this New Year about GIFTS, especially as it pertains to the GIFT God puts into us. Yes, if you are A Child of God, then God has given you a gift that He wants you to be and share with His Body.  Probably a lot of you reading this are thinking, or saying, "Well God didn't give me a GIFT" , or "God didn't put a GIFT in me."  That is a lie of the Devil, and he has been a liar from the beginning.  God created you to be in His plans and purposes for His Kingdom here on earth.  He has a special and specific plan for your life and He has given you the perfect GIFT or GIFTING to accomplish His plan.

Our problem is we look at ministers, teachers, or someone who has a prominent place within our church or the Christian community and think that if God isn't using us in some big way like that then we don't have any GIFTS.  Another lie!!!  We are The Body of Christ and each and every one of us that are a part of His Body have a function to play.  "For the body is not one member, but many."  I Corinthians 12:17

So what is YOUR GIFT?  Do you know what it is?  More importantly, are you using it????

Maybe your GIFT is encouragement - maybe it is helping to clean up the kitchen after a Church function - maybe it's being a great cook and able to make delicious things for a pot-luck meal or to take to a shut-in or a friend who is ill.  Maybe your GIFT is teaching - or opening up your home for a bible study or prayer meeting.  Maybe your GIFT is making prayer shawls to be given to someone who needs one - or starting or leading a prayer chain. The list could go on and on but you get the idea:

WE ALL HAVE A GIFT or GIFTS, given to us by God that we are to use for His glory and His kingdom.  "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."  1 Corinthians 12:18  When you do not use your gift The Body of Christ where you have been placed is not complete.

So, open up that GIFT that God has made and given to you and use it for His Kingdom and His Glory. 

 If you aren't aware of what your gift to the Body of Christ is ask God to show you.   He will!!!

So what is YOUR GIFT?  Do you know what it is?  More importantly, are you using it????

Please leave a comment sharing what your GIFT or GIFTS are and how you are currently using them.   Also, ways that you might extend your GIFT into other areas of ministry. 

Hodgepodge #3

http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English in 2012-

amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance.

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?

Occupy - because it is being used, in my opinion, with a movement that is very harmful and destructive to our nation and is fostering and encouraging bad behavior on the part of most participants.
2. Are you easily embarrassed?  No.

3. What is your go-to snack?  The cookie jar.  Not so these first 10 days of this new year as I am doing a liquid only fast.  Hopefully, even when my fast is over I will leave the cookie jar alone for snacking.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what's your favorite site/attraction?
Yes, The Library of Congress.  We actually saw it by accident because we asked a patrolman directions to the Supreme Court Bldg and in giving us directions he said we'd go by the Library of Congress and to stop there and go in.  He said it was the most beautiful building in Washington and hardly anyone visited it.  We took his advice and did so.  I stood on the upper balcony and actually wept it was so beautiful.  I then wrote in the visitor book, "I do not believe my eyes will behold such beauty until I get to heaven." and I meant it.  I ALWAYS recommend The Library of Congress to anyone I know is going to visit D.C.
5. sit ups-planks-lunges-squats...which do you hate the least?  lunges - I have never done a plank and never even heard of such a thing until recently.  Don't believe I'll be doing one!!!

6. What's a small act of kindness you were shown that you've never forgotten?  It wasn't really that small, but one year our daughter Suzette talked to our other 3 children and they all went together and bought us a brand new ceramic top range with self-cleaning oven for Mother's & Father's day gift.
7. Have you ever been a blood donor?  No.  I went one time, in my early 20's, and when they tested my blood I was so anemic that they ended up giving ME a blood transfusion.

8. Insert your own random thought here. Since I am currently fasting I wonder how many reading this blog today have ever fasted and why?

Wednesday Hodgepodge is fun to participate in so go here to do so.  Have a wonderful Wednesday.