INTRODUCING SANDRA - A New Blogger

I first introduced you to Sandra back on March 6th of this year here. Sandra has become such a wonderful friend. I feel like we have known each other for years, although it's been just 5 1/2 short months.

Now I want to introduce you to Sister Faith , the blog Sandra has just started.

I attend the Tuesday evening Bible Study that Sandra began on March 10th. It is such a blessing and the wonderful group of woman that God has brought together for this time and purpose could only have been done by God. Isn't it wonderful?......HE does all things well.

I invite you to get to know Sandra a/k/a Sister Faith.

She will bless you with the things the Lord is showing and teaching her and she, in turn, passes on and teaches us. When you stop by to meet her be sure and leave a comment, introduce yourself and tell her that Susan sent you.

#9 And Counting

Blogging has been a wonderful blessing to my life and one of the exciting joys that I NEVER dreamed of, when I began this journey 2 1/2 years ago, was getting to meet some of my blog friends in real life flesh and blood form!!!!

I had this wonderful joy for the 9th time Saturday, when Mickey & I got to not only meet my blog friend Lisa, who blogs as My Homemaking Rurality, but her husband and 4 girls.

This family was going to Branson, Missouri for a weeks vacation and while usually they go up through Arkansas to visit family there, from their home in NE Texas, they decided to come up through Oklahoma. YEAH!!! That gave us a chance to set up a meeting at the Wagoner McD's. They were driving right through on HW69 and we live only about 12-13 miles from there.

Left to right - Keith, Elizabeth, Mattie, Reabeccah, Nathallie & Lisa

What a delightful visit and sharing we had with the entire family. Keith & Lisa have precious, very self-confident and assured young daughters. Testimony of the home & family.

Keith & Lisa had a leisurely traveling agenda so it was nice to be able to have a long, not rushed time getting to know all of them. Their older two, Elizabeth in FFA and Nathallie in sports, are distinguishing themselves and working toward College. I have no question the two littler ones will follow suit in their special interest.

The youngest, Mattie, jumped right into the chair next to me and as they were preparing to leave she ran around the table and gave Mickey this big hug. You can tell they were both enjoying each other.



Outside as we were saying our good-byes after a most vivacious and wonderful time of getting to know each other and enjoying all of them. Lisa is holding the jar of Mickey's honey we gave them and I am holding a small jar of some of the many antique button collection that Lisa has.

I knew instantly that the little button jar would be perfect on my little Angel shelf. Here you can see where it now "lives".

My thanks to God for blessing me again for the 9th time and for Keith & Lisa taking the time and effort to include us in their family vacation. Hope we can do it again.

MEETING A NEW BLOG FRIEND

I was blessed recently to win Tammy's (of County Girl at Home) drawing which she had to celebrate her 200th post here. The three items I won were wonderful ... but the winning didn't end there.

When the package came I, of course, noticed the return address. I had absolutely no idea where Tammy and her family lived. Imagine my surprise when I saw that she was in a state that we were going to be traveling in our upcoming trip that we were making to visit Mickey's family. I asked Mickey if I could locate it on the map and if it wasn't too much out of the way, if I could contact Tammy about meeting. My sweet, dear husband, said, "Of course". Thus I was privileged to meet my EIGHTH blogging friend since beginning this exciting adventure of blogging 2 years and 4 1/2 months ago.

Here are Tammy, Joy & Jason at the restaurant where we met for lunch. Tammy is undoing the knot on the gift bag she gave me. Sweet Joy taught Mr. Mickey to pick-up french fries with the chop sticks. What a bright, sparking young 10 year old Joy is. Jason is looking on.
Look at the lovely "Blessing" stitchery piece. Frame in a rustic gray and the stitching is pink letters to go into our guest room. Thanks Tammy!!!

Here are the 5 of us as we were leaving the restaurant. We asked the cashier to take a picture of the 5 of us so you could see us all together.

What a blessing and nice time and wonderful visit we had meeting and sharing a little with this delightful young family. Just sorry we didn't get to meet their 20 year old son, Colt, who was busy doing the Lords work leading afternoon worship at the Church he attends.

I know that God ALWAYS has plans and purposes, way beyond what we can imagine,
for those whom He places in our lives. The minute that winning package arrived, because Joy had picked my name out of many others, I just knew it was because it was in God's wonderful purposes that we were to meet. What an awesome, wonderful God we have. He blesses us in so many ways. He blessed us big time in making this connection. I was the first blogger Tammy has met so that made it even more special. Tammy is my 8th blogger to meet and "eight is new beginnings".

Thanks again, Tammy, Jason & Joy, for working with us to have this great time and joy of gettting acquainted in "real" life.

BACKING UP MY BLOG & a tip

I had wanted to make copies of my blog for some time but just never did anything about it. You know how something nags at the back of your mind, but then you ignore it? That is where I was at. Then after hearing of one blogger losing every single post they had EVER posted and neither they or Blogger being able to retrieve them we decided we were going to get busy on this project.

I know blogger has a way to do this, but it sounded too complicated for us, and there was also a risk of losing your header according to them. What we are doing is copying them, post by post, by the year, to Word and then burning them onto a CD. This way we will have them.

Back in 2007 I spent days and days scanning a lifetime of photos into the computer. Now in 2009 we are spending days and days copying every single post into Word. So far we have done 4 of the 26 months I have been blogging.

It is so wonderful for Mickey to have his own computer now and he is helping with this BIG task. One of the main purposes for my blog is for a record for our children and grandchildren when we are gone. This effort is a way that we can be assured of that.

*************

Now for the tip: When I had the background of my blog changed to the dark blue it currently is back in July of 2007 it did not change the colors of the type I had used. Consequently a lot of the words, or script, was not readable. The result of this is that it was necessary to go back and re-type these posts over. When the change was made I re-typed some of them and then, like so often happens, got side-tracked and never got back to that job. As we are now copying them, post by post, I am having to re-type a very large part of them. A LOT of work, let me tell you!!!!

Just wanted to pass this along to you as I know a lot of you change your designs and backgrounds and this may be something to consider in case you ever desire to make a permanent, readable copy of your blog.

BROAD BAND ISSUES!!!!

In case any one wonders what's happened to me, and where I am.......my broad band has been off-line since Friday evening.......ggrrrr!!!! So aggravating. Tomorrow is my 2nd Year Blog-o-versery!!!! I will be posting tomorrow. Please come by and say howdy!!!

WHAT IS FOLLOWING?

All of you know how totally unsavy I am with most of bloggers features. Leigh Ann has spent much of her time helping me from time to time to figure something out that I want to do. Thanks yet again, Leigh Ann!!!

When the new Following features came out Diana posted about it and I jumped right on board. "I" was even able to do it without any outside help. A real boost for my ego!!!!

I am plugging this feature because it has so simplified my blog reading and blog life. I think it's the neatest thing since sliced bread :o)

Here is the official link: http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=104226/

I would encourage all of you who want to make reading blogs and being able to comment on the spot so much easier. It is saving me so much time. You just list the blogs you want to read "Followers". You can even follow anonymously if you desire. Each time that person on your followers list posts, it automatically pops up on your home page. Now how much easier could it be than that?

Just my 2 cents worth!!

WEIGHT LOSS TICKER

Blog world and bloggers never cease to amaze me!!!

Both Dawn & Sarah were concerned that I couldn't get the Ladybug on my Weight Loss Ticker to move!! Both were sending me links and instructions so I could fix it. I never could get it right....talk about feeling "dumb". Anyway, Sarah, finally just did it for me. Thank you so very much, Sarah. Now, the next test will come next Monday if "I" can get it to move!!!!!

MEETING ANOTHER BLOG FRIEND

What is more exciting than meeting a Blog friend at Cheesecake Factory? (See the third picture below) Mickey & I were in Oklahoma City Monday (please see separate post about this and the Angels that went with us)

Had to show you the very tempting, VERY fattening cheese cake display!!

MEETING ANNIE!!!!!

I FINALLY am getting to meet Annie (My Life as Annie). She is tall, over 6'. I use to be 5'7" but my age is shrinking me and I am now 5'5". She is actually stooping down here as we meet!!! One of the first things I said to her was, "You are as beautiful in person as you are on your blog!"

Annie lives in a small town not to far from OKC. She and I have been trying to get together for months and it finally happened. We had to be in OKC for Mickey to go to the VA hospital for a test and could not even set a firm time to meet Annie. She was so gracious, said she'd clear her entire day and just to call when we could meet and she would drive in to meet us.

Annie came bearing gifts. This lovely mug that reads "Do All Things With Love"

And this beautiful blue plaque that reads "The Lord will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 What a perfect gift for me. She knows I love The Word, Angels and blue is my favorite color!!!

I gave her an old "used" book!!!! But it is a special book "The Splendor of His Ways - Seeing the Lord's End in Job" by Stephen Kaung. This book got me through a very difficult time in my life and has my underlining and markings in it. It is a totally different take on the story of Job. I trust it will be as big a blessing in your life, Annie, as it has been to mine.

We had a delightful lunch and then of course Cheesecake!! Annie had Brownie Sundae Cheesecake of which she took a bite and then took it home for her son Bailey. Annie recently helped me by downloading a CD I wanted on our Hearts In "1" Accord Prayer Blog. It turned out to be more complicated than we anticipated and she called in 14 year old Bailey to help her. These computer savy youngsters!!!! Thank you so much Bailey!!! Mickey & I shared a Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake. Of course we had to eat it all because we couldn't "take it home"! and of course my Mickey had to clown around!!!

Our sweet waitress offered to take a picture of all of us together and we were delighted. Annie is everything I thought she would be and even more. A pure delight and such a wonderful, young wife, mother and Child of the King. We visited for almost 2 hours and I asked the waitress if she was going to charge us "booth rental"!!!

Annie is the third blog friend I have had the privilege to meet. Read about Sohailoh here and Michelle here. It is just always amazing how wonderful they are and what a closeness and rapport has been developed over this wonderful conduit connecting us called Blogging. We are truly making not only lifelong friends but many of us will be eternal friends.

Thank you Annie for being you!!!!

Annie is the one who made this "Siggy" for me which is on every one of my posts!!!

I've A LONG Way to Go!

I saw this at Rita's and had to post this one, too.

I thought I was one of the oldest bloggers out there but here's one that actually makes me feel young. Hee Hee

I love this!!!

Her last post "Singing a Happy Song".....no wonder she lived to such a ripe old age.

Trust me, I believe if I live to be 103 I'll still be blogging.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A reason to blog.
SYDNEY, Australia (July 14) - A 108-year-old Australian woman who was promoted as the world's oldest blogger has died two weeks after making her last post about "singing a happy song," her great-grand son and her online forum said.

Olive Riley wrote 74 entries in her blogs, firstly http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/ and later http://worldsoldestblogger.blogspot.com/. A friend introduced Riley to blogging early in 2007, and was hooked.
Riley "passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 12," a posting on her Web site said. No cause of death was given. "She will be mourned by thousands of Internet friends and hundreds of descendants and other relatives."Born in the remote mining town of Broken Hill in 1899, Riley blogged regularly in the last year of her life about growing up in the Outback, raising three children and working as a farm cook and bartender earlier in her life.

BLESSINGS & MORE BLESSINGS

I was so excited to meet my first "in the flesh" blog friend on September 4th here.

So imagine my excitement when just 4 days later, on September 8th, I get a comment left on my blog from another blog friend saying they are going to be in Tulsa September 22-25 and would like to meet with me if possible.

IF POSSIBLE? I would do whatever was necessary to meet with her.

.
Michelle Frazen and her husband, Rich, are missionaries in Johannesburg, S. Africa!!

They and their 3 children have been in Johannesburg for almost 4 years.

Well, the youngest little girl was born there 2 years ago.

They are both ORU graduates so familiar with Tulsa

Michelle and I meet today at 12:30. We recognized each other instantly and greeted each other with smiles and a big hug.

What a sweet gentle spirit, Michelle has.

We spent 2 hours just finding out all about each other. Questions flying back and forth across the table as fast as we could talk!!! Such an easy flow and we kept remarking how amazing it was that you could become so attached to each other over a blog! But it is truly a fact of the blog!! Those connections are made and are real.

I had an emotional morning reading a blog of a one week old baby who was dying. Consequently, I was in a real weepy mood and just felt very burdened for this family losing this precious child and just for the problems of our world and the state of affairs in general in our world and in our individual lives.

SO, I spent a great deal of the time weeping!!! Even though I was so overjoyed with meeting and sharing with Michelle. Just fair warning to any of you who meet me.

I am a weeper!!!!!!

Michelle prayed the sweetest prayer over me just before we parted. It's so wonderful to be able to sit in a restaurant in Tulsa and pray openly. May we always have this wonderful freedom. I do not take it for granted. It is a privilege!!!

Michelle & I both are sure that God has a bigger purpose than we can know, at this point, in bringing us together and forming such a bond. It is exciting!!!

We shared a couple of private dreams and desires!!!

Michelle doesn't blog a lot but be sure to go here and check her our. Be sure and scroll down her side bar to the picture of her lovely fair face & blond hair surrounded by the beautiful faces of black children. This gives you a little taste of the heart of this precious young mother and missionary wife.

Michelle, I am honored to have shared 2 wonderful hours with you today!

And yes, Ginger, I gave her a separate hug from you.
We both talked how we wished you'd been here to share the time with us.

With my cup running over with joy.....I arrive back home to find this lovely hand made card in my mail box from my United Kingdom friend, Barbara! The sweet, handwritten message reads "Wishing you both a very Happy Anniversary with the richest of anointing in the years to come. Love & Blessing from across the ocean. Barbara & Alan xx"

Thank you sooo much, Barbara. It is lovely and I treasure it and the thought.

Life with my God is such a joy and His mercies are new every morning.

I feel so sorry for those who do not know the thrill we have in serving such a wonderful RISEN SAVIOR!!

I MET A REAL LIFE BLOG FRIEND!!

Meet Sohailah!!!

I did and what a delight and joy!

Who would have believed that the two of us, who live only 15 miles from each other here in Oklahoma, would meet through Ginger in Michigan!!

I love this blogworld and all the wonders it opens to us.

We have been e-mailing for a couple of weeks and finally met today at 12:45 at Panera Bread, in Broken Arrow, for lunch.

We walked out of there at 2:39 - almost 2 hours later.

We hugged, we talked, and we talked and WE TALKED non-stop!!

I feel like I've known her forever and it was so easy and natural.

We recognized each other the minute I walked into the restaurant.

To Ginger & Barbara, I must tell you she is as delightful as you can imagine

her to be, and much more.

Barbara, we talked about drinking tea, in your honor,

but then we didn't and both had water!!!

We both feel that God has brought us together. For what reason?

Neither of us know at this point, but God does.

Isn't Jesus amazing and exciting? I get so amused when unbelievers think we live such a dull, boring life when we serve God.

NOTHING could be further from the truth.

Every day with the Holy Spirit is an open page in our book of life,

for HIM to write upon.

He wrote big in my book today and blessed me beyond measure.

I am so happy to call you friend, Sohailah :o)

BLESSINGS & MORE BLESSINGS

Sunday afternoon, after church and dinner, I decided to lay down on the couch and take a nap. Something I rarely do during the day. The phone rang and Mickey answered it and said "Honey, it's Barbara from England". Now talk about waking up fast!!!!

Sweet Barbara from Ramblings From An English Garden called me. WOW!!!

NO DOUBLE WOW!!!!

This totally knocked me off my feet and thrilled me beyond belief. Almost speechless, which for me you know is rare!!

Barbara and I have e-mailed back and forth quiet a bit but I never expected a phone call from "across the pond".

Barbara and I have a lot in common. We are both in our late sixties, both have long, successful marriages, both mothers, and grandmothers and both have worked outside the home extensively. We both have done extensive traveling and love to travel.

The truly amazing thing is that we both worked for the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association in the 60's!!! Me here in Tulsa and Barbara in Liverpool, England.

Now I ask you what were the chances of that?

We share our strong Christian faith and heritage having served Jesus for years.

We adhere to the belief of Victorious Christian Living, that we truly are "more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord".

Barbara had such a sweet, very British accent of course. I love that!! I have always found the British accent to be so proper and impressive and she certainly was.

Be sure and go check out Barbara's blog if you haven't. She has one of the most lovely English gardens. Oh, how I would love to sit and chat and share a cup of tea with you there Barbara!! I told her I thought the chance of her coming to America again (she has made many visit here) was better than the chance I would ever come to England.

Thanks again, Barbara for blessing me so with your sweet call.

ROCKIN' GIRL AWARDS

Pearls of Wisdom was kind and nominated me for this Rockin' Girl Blogger Award today.

Sweet Lyndy at Oh Fiddle-dee-de had given me Honorable Mention for the same award yesterday.

I am certainly honored by this from these two. BUT I also have to say I find it humorous

because I never, in a million years, would put the adjectives

Rockin' or Girl

to me!!!!!

So now, I am supposed to pick five women to nominate.

Linds of Rocking Chair Reflections - Linds is one of my Great Britain friends. She is one I connected with very early on in my LONG 5 month blogging life!!! Linds is a fantastic writer. She often leaves me laughing out loud with her wit and I enjoy that. But Linds goes so much deeper than that. She writes with such truth and honesty and shares herself so openly. Linds lost her deal, loving husband just a year ago and has chronicled her ups and downs as her life has been turned up and down with this moment and fact of live that none of us are ever prepared for. Linds, if anyone deserves the ROCKIN' GIRL AWARD it is YOU.

Leigh Ann of Momma Roar - This young momma of 3 truly roars and she truly rocks!! Leigh Ann was about one of the very first people to comment on my blog as I gingerly took my first faltering steps of blogging. We have been thick from that first comment. Leigh Ann is witty beyond belief and has such a great sense of humor. BUT Leigh Ann also has a depth and maturity about her that I marvel at with one so young. She has literally "held my hand" and had the patience of Job in trying to teach me some of the fancy tricks of blogging. I appreciate you so much Leigh Ann as you well know. You are truly a ROCKIN' GIRL.

Jennifer of Pen-of-Jen - The Pen of Jen is a powerful pen. Jennifer falls into a Rockin' category all her own. She writes with such conviction and amazes me with how well informed she is on social issues. She is a happily married Home School mom of 4 children and so on fire for the Lord. You can tell from her writings what a close knit family they are. She has truly become a wonderful and close friend. Jennifer there should be a special ROCKIN' GIRL CATEGORY just for you.

Ginger of Just a Thought - Sweet and gentle are the words to describe Ginger. She is a very special person who truly loves the Lord and has a wonderful testimony. She is the mother of 3 grown daughters and honestly shares her struggles with her youngest leaving home. Gingers site is always a sight for your eyes with the wonderful and interesting graphics she uses. Ginger has that special knack of making everyone feel special and appreciated. She is one special SWEET ROCKIN' GIRL.

Myrna of Cherish...the Word - Talk about grace under fire and you are talking about this sweet woman. Myrna you are an inspiration to me as you walk the walk and demonstrate such grace, joy and enthusiasm. You amaze me and you surely are one super special ROCKING GIRL who earns this award.

I do appreciate this award but truly the biggest award to me are the

people who encourage me daily by visiting my blog, reading what I have

to say, and leaving wonderful comments that encourage me.

And then the privilege of reading all the wonderful blogs and what you post.

You make me laugh, cry and THINK!!! Most of all you make me

realize how very wonderful the Body of Christ is.

That's an AWARD!!!!!

BLOGGING Meme

I've blogged about my feelings on blogging before here. But saw this one on my dear friend, Linds, blog and since it was answering some specific questions I thought it would be fun to do.


It's being hosted by chilihead so go over and add to her Mr. Linky if you want to join in.
#1 - How did you start blogging? A young mother in our church, Kahri, had a blog about the miracle of her daughter, Kaedra. As Care Leaders of our church I would check the blog daily to keep up with the family. I never left a comment but Kahri knew I was reading her blog.


#2 - Did you intent to be a blog with a big following? If so, how did you go about it?
This question makes me laugh, When I finally got up the nerve to begin my blog I hoped that someone, somewhere, sometime might stumble on me and perhaps leave a comment. To have had 2 people stumble by and leave comments was a dream.


#3 - What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals? Since the blog I had been reading was a young SAHM, and her blog friends listed on her side bar, which I would also read once in awhile we also young SAHM I was hoping to find a woman or two of about my age which is in my 60's.


Oh my, I have been more than successful. I have found numerous woman, and a few men,of ALL ages: young, middle age and my age with varied interests and from all over this wonderful world of our. They share not only their ideas but their very selves.


#4 - Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How? The scope and range of my blog have changed a lot since I began on January 31, 2007. I blog about a much more vast array of topics than I ever imagined. I have found it such a wonderful way to document my long life and be able to share a little of the wisdom and experience that you gain living a long and interesting life. I have found it a wonderful avenue to honor people who have played such an important part in my life and making me who I am today. It has been an avenue to make such wonderful friends, literally around the globe and to find out how very much we all have in common. It's been wonderful to learn of all the interesting and varied lives others have, and are living. I have found it to be educational on events and topics.


The thing that pleases me the most, is I realize what a tool it is in leaving a history of my life for my family after I am gone. I wish I had something like this where my mother and father had shared about their feelings and activities.


#5 - What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started? To have picked a few basic labels to put on my blogs. I have way too many labels and am attempting to narrow them down as I go. I still don't understand what the links area on the blog below the title means or how to utilize it.


#6 - Do you make money with your blog? NO! I truly hope blogland does not turn into just another revenue venture. We are retired and on a fixed income, so it's not that I couldn't use extra revenue, but I just hate the fact that people seem to always have making money effect anything and everything they get involved with.


#7 - Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why? Yes all my extended family know I have a blog. They read it spasmodically and hit & miss but not actively. It beats me why not. If they had blogs I would delight in reading them. My extended family consists of my children so maybe they feel that they already know everything I think, feel or have to say. Or maybe they find me boring!


#8 - What two pieces of advice would you give a new blogger? Just jump in and do it without hesitation. Be real, don't be phony.

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER!

Alright, you know how excited I was Monday, Memorial Day when I got a phone call from Pen of Jen, from Alamogordo, New Mexico!

Go here to read all about it. I've been walking around all week talking about it to my flesh & blood friends. You know, those that absolutely know I've totally lost my mind in Blogland :o) Oh, if they only knew how wonderful this land is!

.(this was stolen (uh borrrowed) from Momma Roar

and herein copied by Penless Writer)

Don't Bless this Blogger!

You WILL become tomorrows post!!!

Leigh Ann, aka Momma Roar

knocked my socks off me today.

She called me from PA.

I didn't title this "My Cup Runneth Over" for not

My Cup truly Runneth Over & OVER again!!

So my dear, precious friend, Leigh Ann

YOU have become today's post :o)

.

ANSWERING A COMMENT

This world of blogging gets more interesting by the day......sometimes by the minute.

On my blog of Sunday, May 6th on "Developing Friendships" I was left the following comment:

"You can't seriously believe all that propaganda about an almighty everlasting heavenly father, can you? I mean the one who is supposed to be up there looking after us all? The one who answers prayers so arbitrarily? The same one who seems to be so prejudiced unto whom he bestows his favours? The same one whose mercy bestows HIV on thousands of hapless and innocent children each year in Africa? Come on, get real, you are a slave to a superstition, are you not?
May 7, 2007 6:09 PM"

I, of course immediately clicked on the link to see who this was and where it had come from. Turns out it was a male from Cumbria, U.K.

I replied by posting the folllowing comment on his blog this morning.

"Oh, I MOST seriously believe the truth about my almighty everlasting heavenly Father!!! The God I serve is a Good God. He is not the one causing HIV on thousands of hapless and innocent children each year in Africa or any other calamity or horrible thing the world might want to blame on Him.

I am so sorry that you haven't been exposed to or met the True and Living God but He is very real to me. I met my Lord and Savior when I was 18 years old and I have served Him for 51 years now. He has never let me down or forsaken me. Have I had harmful, hurtful things happen in my life? YES! Have I been disappointed in loved ones? YES! Have all my prayers been answered? NO! Does any of this cause me to doubt my God? NO!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will return. I enjoyed very much seeing and hearing about your trip to St. Petersburg. What a treat to get to go and see all those wonderful sights. You have seen sights my eyes will never behold. I, like you, am a great lover of classical music. We have that in common. I, like you, have great friends. We have that in common.

May our commonality override our differences.

Susan"

Then on my blog this morning "I've Been Critiqued" I received this comment:

"Dear Penless,I came through to your blog through Maalie, my big brother. I am so glad you wrote back as you did. I find it very difficult to talk about faith with most people, but with him I find it totally impossible. It's not as if I am trying to convert anyone; I have too much trouble trying to keep myself on track to pester anyone else! I do find athiests are the most evangelical people you can get though.
May 8, 2007 8:13 AM "

I wanted to share all this with you my blogging friends. THIS is a perfect example of this powerful and wonderful world of blogging that we are all privileged to be a part of. I don't know about you......but I feel so blessed and excited about it.

What's In A Name?

As you know, if you've been reading my blog any time at all, I have been totally fascinated with this new World of Blogging that I gingerly stepped into on January 21. There have been so MANY unexpected things it has brought.

ONE of those is about my name, Susan. In all of my long life I have "met" very few other people with the name Susan. In fact, until 5 years ago, there was never another Susan that I personally knew. The last church we attended had a Susie

So it has been very surprising and interesting how many Susan's, or derivatives of that name, I have "met" here in Blogdom in these past 91 days. Here they are:

• Susan - By Grace - British Columbia, Canada - Minister's Wife
• Susan - Learning for Lifetime - Florida - Minister's Wife
• Susan - A Place Called Home - Virginia
• Susan - Living the Adventurous Life - Pennsylvania
• Susie - A Pink Carnation - Texas - Minister's Wife
• Susie - Susie's Place - California
• Susanne - Living To Tell The Story - Canada
• Suzanne - Sincerely My Thoughts -
• Suzanne - Suzanne's Shambles - Virginia

Then today Jungle Hut had this link where you can see how many people share your name. I went to check mine out and boy was I EVER surprised to learn that 1,197,320 people have the name Susan and that it is the 25% most popular name. 48,154 share my same last name Joyce. That drops down into the 716% most popular.

The biggest surprise was that 192 other people are named Susan Joyce. I have yet to meet any of you in Blogdom but it you're out there I'd surely be delighted to know where and meet you.

I also found this information today:

Name: Susan
Gender female
Origin Hebrew
Meaning lily
Similiar Names Susannah, Susanne, Susanna, Susi, Suse, Suisan, Suzanne, Suzanna, Sosana, Susette, Suzette, Sue Anne, Sue Ellen, Susy, Susie, Soos, Susy, Suzie, Soozie, Sue, Sukie, Sukey, Zsa Zsa

I know that all you that aren't named Susan might not find this that interesting but have some fun and go check out your name and how many you've met on line and the other information and let me know.

As I keep repeating over and over again. I just find this World of Blogging such a fascination and joy.

This Facinating World of Blog

On January 31st I posted my first blog. I had been following my friend, Kahri's blog for about a year. She knew I kept up with her, on a daily basis with it so I didn't have to disturb her with a phone call. I never left a comment. I didn't know I was allowed to. I never asked but I just surmised that you only left a comment if you had a blog, too. Wrong.....for all you lurkers out there, that read the various blogs, we would love for you to leave us a comment.

When I started my thoughts were "No one is going to care one bit what a gray headed 69 year old grandmother has to say:". During the year of reading Kahri and her friends blot I just knew that everyone blogging was basically a SAHM in their 20's or 30's. Wrong again. I have found this blogging world to be full or all ages, all shapes, all sizes, both genders, and certainly every opinion under the sun. THAT is what to me is so wonderful.

Blogging has offered me so much. Now that I try and think about it I can't even remember what I really thought it was going to offer me. I guess I thought of it as my own personal journal, but in the form of a blog that maybe my children would read and learn a little more about me. As so often in life,we don't get what we expect; my children do not seem to be very interested in my little blog at all. Conversely in life, we get so much MORE that we can hope and think. "Now unto him that is able to do exceedinging abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Ephesians 3:20

#1 - I have made so many new friends. That feature about it never entered my mind and yet it is such a big blessing.

#2 YOU have allowed me to "see" and visit so many beautiful and wonderful places through the wonderful and beautiful photography that many of you post.


#3 - YOU have given me an "insiders" view of other areas of the world we live in. Showing me both the good and the bad but most importantly the real.

#4 - YOU have made me think and hopefully expand my thinking.

#5 - YOU have made me laugh and smile and enjoy real wholesome humor.

#6 - YOU have made me cry, along with you, in your pain and confusion.

#7 - YOU have opened your hearts and your minds and let me voice my opinion and even shared your thoughts and comments with me.

#8-One of the most astounding things has been how far reaching our blogs are. It absolutely blows my mind that my little blog has "ventured" into 20 foreign countries. How mind boggling is that!!! I've often wondered if I've actually reached all 50 of our great United States.

#9 - It's so interesting to me how very diverse we are, and yet within that diversity so very much alike.

#10 - Most importantly I want to close by saying: You have shared your hearts and yourselves with me and for that I THANK YOU!!!!

I Was Tagged

i WAS TAGGED ON sUNDAY BY Candy, OF cANDY & rOSES, AND ON sATURDAY (ALTHOUGH i WASN'T INFORMED UNTIL THIS MORNING) BY Connie, OF cONNIE'S tHOUGHTS fROM THE hEART, FOR THE Thinking bLOG aWARD.

i AM SUPPOSE TO PASTE A Thinking Blog Award picture HERE BUT i DON'T KNOW HOW SO THIS WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE. gOES TO SHOW i DO A LOT OF "Thinking" BUT NOT REAL GOOD AT "figuring out" ALL THESE BLOGGING TRICKS.

i FIND THIS AWARD ITSELF TO BE SO INTERESTING. tHE REASON BEING BECAUSE IT IS, IN EFFECT, JUST ANOTHER mEME. bY THE WAY, CAN anyone GIVE ME THE DEFINITION OF mEME? i HEARD SOMEONE ELSE ASK THAT SAME THING. i, BEING NEW TO THIS GAME OF BLOGGING, THOUGHT IT STOOD FOR "It's all about ME". Then someone else said, "That's not what it means", but I still don't know what it means. To me it appears to be just a chain letter, of pyramid type thing.

I looked back this morning and I have posted 54 blogs since beginning this adventure on January 21st. Of those 54 blogs 5 have been Meme's and all were posted during the month of March. That is significant because March is when I've been so occupied, and pre-occupied, with scanning a lifetime of photos. The reason I posted these 5 Meme's is because I was busy, and didn't have the time or the desire to take the time to 'THINK". It is easy to answer questions like those because it's all about ME!!!! I must say, I TOTALLY ENJOY READING OTHER PEOPLES MEME"s because it gives me a little insight into some of the people I find interesting, amusing, funny, and some who make me think. I don't know about you, but the blogs I choose to read on a pretty consistent basis fall into these categories.

Now for my list of 5.

My first has to be Kahri who writes under The Lynn Family Blog: Our Peculiar Life. Kahri is a young woman who, along with her husband, Michael, gave us the privilege of walking, and praying, through a VERY difficult time in their lives when they were told their new born baby girl, Kaedra, would not live. Kaedy spent 11 months in the hospital but is one of the most adorable 2 and a half year olds you'd ever want to see. She still has a few issues but she is truly OUR MIRACLE BABY!!! Kahri is literally the one who introduced me to blogging. Before she came into my life I'd never even heard the word. Wutgiyt Kahri there would be no Penless Writer!!!!

My next choice is Marallyn who writes under Shalom from Jerusalem. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have contact with her. I have a great love for my Jewish brothers and sisters and am FU::Y aware I am a branch grafted into their tree. . Marallyn is a gifted writer and is teaching me much. I thank you Marallyn.

My third choice is Susie , A Pink Carnation, and truly a flower in my bouquet of blogging friends.. You must go and read her "My Titles Story" on her side bar. If that doesn't move you, you must be made of stone.

My fourth choice is Liana, A Transformed Woman. I just recently "met" Liana through Susie who posted her link and said "check it out". I did and have been so blessed. This young wife and mother is living in China and really GETS it. She doesn't blog a lot, but I check her every day because when she does she has soooo much depth.

My fifth choice is ONLY YOU KNOW!!!! This is that lurker out there who has not yet taken that step of first commenting and then jumping into the blogging world. I, for one, WANT to know what you're thinking and have to say. I, for one, am EAGER to "met" you and get to "know" you.

To my dearest and best, Ginger & Leigh Ann...Candy beat me to you Leigh Ann!!! And you, Leigh Ann, beat me to Ginger!!! You both know my thought toward you and that I begin,, and usually end, each blogging day checking into what marvelous thoughts you've posted.

To all of you who blog and post so I can read and be blessed and to you who come by to read my thoughts I just say 'THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART".

Now you 5 must go here to see the rules & nominate 5 of your choice. Happy picking!

Holding Hands

I got this picture from Michelle and thought it said so much I wanted to share it and pass it along. If you want to do the same just leave a comment to let me know when you do!

Holding Hands

This picture shows a line of little girls holding hands facing the immensity of ocean waves.

Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong.

Thank you for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own.

I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.

All of us girls...

Old and young...

Near and far...

Hold special memories of good times we've shared.

We've had our share of hard times when our friends were there to make us feel better.

We've shared...

our hearts

our time

our secrets

our fears

our hopes

and our dreams.

Let us never break the chain of friends!

I thank all of you who I didn't even know 7 short weeks ago. My how my life has been enriched by each and every one of you! ((hugs)) to you all!!!!