PRAYER REQUESTS

THE LORD'S PRAYER

This is in two parts: the prayer (white type) and God's response (gold type).

Our Father Who Art In Heaven. Yes?

Don't interrupt me, I'm praying. But...you called ME!

Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying.

Our Father who are in Heaven. There -- you did it again!

Did what? Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I M. What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right. Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be they name. Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?

By what? By "Hallowed be thy name"?

It means, it means..good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean? It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "hallowed" meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, They will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that? Sure, why not? What are you doing about it?

Doing, Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know. Yes, I know, but have I got control of you?

Well I go to church. That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read? Movies you watch? Music you listen to? Friends you hang out with?

Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me? I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church! Excuse ME. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. It that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example.

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others. So could I.

I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free. Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of You.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread. You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is. Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying (..pause..) Well, go on.

I'm scared to. Scared? Of what? I know what you'll say. Try ME.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. What about Ann?

See. I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer? I didn't mean it. Well, at least you're honest. But it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it? Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born. No you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that. You can? How? Forgive Ann, Then, I'll forgive you, and the hate and the sine, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned. Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You.. (sigh) All right, all right...I forgive her. There now! Wonderful! How do you feel? Hmmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know. Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on. Oh, all right.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted. What do you mean by that? You know what I mean. Yeah, I know. Okay, Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory -- What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now. I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you. I can see now how great that would be.

So tell me....How do I make you happy?

You just did.

BOOK - The New Economic Disorder

"The greatest shock of this decade is that more people are about to lose more money than at any time before in our history."

Thus begins the first sentence in the introduction of this book I finished reading in just 4 days!!!! It is one of those, "Can't put down books."

If you would like an easy read that really paints the picture of what is going on in our country economically then you need to read this book. Although it goes into great detail about the "whys" and "whats" that are happening with the money it does so in a way that is not only readable, but easy to understand.

I firmly believe we are living in the Last Days and that the Rapture of the Church is the next thing on God's time line. Since I was a young Christian, at the age of 18, I have always felt I would see the Rapture during my lifetime. I am more convinced of that now than ever before. Because I firmly believe this, I also believe we need to be the best and most informed people we can be as we see things around us unfold on all fronts: economically, politically and spiritually. The Lord himself tells the 7 churches in Revelation over and over "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." WE are the church and we need to hear.

If you desire to be informed, I recommend this book.

FIRST HONEY HARVEST - 2009

David & Mickey had harvested the honey from one of Mickey's hives when David arrived from California Friday.

Monday afternoon we finally found time to finished putting the honey into jars. We take the raw honey, straight from the 1 1/2 plastic ice cream buckets and strain it twice. The first time through a large metal sieve and the second time through a woman's nylon hose!!!

Here Mickey is in the process of pouring the twice sieved raw honey into the jars.

There are all the jars we got, before the caps have been put on them.



Here they are all capped and ready to sell and give away. I gave a small 1/4 pint jars to my Tuesday evening Bible Study gals.

We ended up with 15 1/2 pints from the 20 lbs. of honey. Various size bottles as follows: 12- 1/4 Pint, 8- 1/2 Pint, 8 Pint & 1-8 oz Bear. It is so beautiful and tastes ......well yummy!!!!



Mickey was going to help Ronnie with his honey extration on Wednesday. Before they did it Mickey put these 4 cleets to help hold the extractor in position better.







Mickey had made this little table, prior to he & David doing the honey to lift the extraction up to a more comfortable position. Mickey thinks of everything.

The extractor in place against the 4 cleets.

Mickey & Ron in the process of extracting Ronnie's first few hives.

Even though David's visit was really short (3 days) it was a wonderful time & visit.

He arrived on Friday at 12:21. I've already shared that we had lunch with our 2 sons. He spent Friday night with us. It was such a wonderful time just the three of us.....and ooops I forgot about Bear!!! We had borrowed a Chuck Miss*ler dvd on "The Nephilin". Mickey & I had already watched it but David really respects Chuck Miss*ler so the 3 of us watched all 2 hours of the video. Then it was to bed. David had been up since 3 a.m. so was plenty tired.

Saturday morning we had the joy of David joining in with our Bible Study (we are currently in Revelation) and prayer time. Then we just lazed around and about noon David went over to spend the day and night with Marc, Aric & Oksana.

Sunday of course we celebrated Marc's birthday. Dinner was at 1:30 and everyone stayed until after 6. David spend another wonderful evening and night with us.

On Wednesday night our Pastor asked a question and a bunch of us raised our hands.....much to my surprise he said "I have this book I just finished and wanted to give it to one of you. Susan's is the first hand I saw" and he handed me "When I Don't Desire God - How to fight for Joy" by John Piper. I LOVE to get a book someone I admire has read and marked all up and with personal notes. Well this book was just that. The title kind of took me aback because I desire God with all my heart and I thought it strange God would direct Pastor to give that particular book to me. I was going to read it and then pass it on to others in my two Bible studies.

With everything going on at my house since Wednesday night I had just put it on the table near the recliner where I usually read and thought I'd start it after David's visit.

Well, Monday morning I could tell David had looked at it. He had gone to bed after Mickey & I Sunday night. When he got up I asked him if he'd looked at the book and he said yes. Then I told him Pastor Gary had given it to me. David has the utmost respect for Pastor Gary, during the short time he was in church there with us. Anyway.....I asked him if he'd like to take it home and read it. He said yes. THEN I knew why God had directed Pastor Gary to give it to me. Isn't it wonderful to watch God work?!!!! I love it. He truly directs our paths.

Again, Monday morning we had the pleasure of having David for our Bible Study & Prayer time. He left at 9 and went and got Oksana & Aric and took them out for breakfast before he left for the LONG 2 day drive back to California. Marc of course was already at work.

Besides celebrating Marc's birthday the other purpose for David's trip was to pick up his 2003 Mustang. He had left it here with us last August when he moved back to San Francisco. At the time he was working at Sun Mi*crosy*stems and was right on the rail system to work and didn't need the car. Two months ago he changed jobs and went to work for another company which is across the Bay near Oakland and has a very long commute. He now needed his car. Mickey had spent the 2 weeks before getting various things taken care of it for him, 2 new tires, brakes, some engine work, etc. David paying the costs, of course, Mickey just doing the leg work for it to be ready and in good shape for him.

Dad loading him up.



Good bye son :o( His plans are to come again Christmas :o)

Oh, besides the Piper book he took along 4 cd's of the messages that Randy Cald*well delivered when he was with us for a 2 day revival in July. When we talked to him last night he volunteered that he'd listened to 2 of them on his long drive.

Planting more of that seed and always praying and standing in Faith that David will yet fulfil the call God has had on his life since a small child.

Our God is Good & Our God is Faithful!!!!

THE CELEBRATION

The tables are set---all 19 place settings for the guests. Accidentally deleted the second table of 8 set up in front of the couch. Three of the guests, Benny's son, Josh, wife, Lori & little son had to cancel due to a mix-up in the time so this table came down and we ended up with only 16 for dinner.

The menu, at the request of the honoree, was Red or Green 3 Cheese Enchiladas - pinto beans - pasole - tossed salad - broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon salad -

cantaloupe and grapes. The last two items brought by Jacque & Benny. Mickey and I spent one day preparing the enchiladas in advance. You can go here for the recipe. It truly is delicious.

Here are the guests

Mason, Oksana & Mickey

David, Aric, Mason & Oksana

Aaron, Cody & DeAnn

Suzette, Dave, Benny & Jacque

Josh & Jessica

This is the first time we had met Josh, Jessica's boy friend who just moved to Tulsa from Florida. The rest of the family had met him on a previous visit here but Mickey & I had not.

Please note we are all dressed in black.

This was Suzette's idea and then she showed up in a white, red, black print top which we immediately made her put on a black T-shirt!!! We even bought Mickey a new black shirt.

The Occasion

Our wonderful youngest son, MARC !!!!

Suzette brought the cake and had requested black icing. When she picked it up it was this purplishish color and they said "We don't like to do black because it makes peoples teeth black." Excuse me......who is the customer? Anyway it still looked nice and tasted delicious.

OPENING THE GIFTS

One of three T-shirts from Jacque & Benny.


Reading the card from Mickey & I which contained a gift certificate to the Oskasa Steakhouse &

A 2 coin uncirculated set of the gold Washington dollar.

If you don't like to act silly and have fun then don't come to our celebrations :o) This is the gift bag that held his brother, David's gift of.......

these two books Marc had requested. David made a big joke about he probably couldn't have even purchased them in San Francisco where he lives!!!

Last, but not least, his card and gift of cologne from girlfriend DeAnn and a silly musical card from DeAnn's 3 sons.



Suzette & Dave had taken Marc, Oksana, Aric & DeAnn out to dinner at Char*les*ton's and gotten him an OU T-shirt a week-ago Friday night to celebrate in advance. DeAnn's boys were visiting in Texas with her parents at the time.

In addition to all of us wearing black we all brought black helium balloons.....of which I did not take one single picture!!!!!



This is what greeted Marc at the front door. (Yes I know it read's backwards!!! The forward shot did not turn out because of the reflection of the hallway inside in the flash)

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Now to share with you another "funny" incident, along with Bi-Polar Dog, Bear, of Friday evening........ Mickey & I went to the party supply store to buy the black balloons. We purchased 1 large round one that said "Big 40" and 2 large plain black. They filled them with helium and tied all three of them up together real pretty with ribbon. Mickey placed them in the back hatch of our HHR.

We left there and went to Al*di's to do some last minute shopping. We each got out of our doors and Mickey walked back to open the hatch to get out paper bags and I walked around to tell him we didn't need to get any bags because I wasn't needing to get that much. He is standing there with the hatch up and saying, "Where are the balloons?" Me, "What do you mean where are the balloons?" At that point he points up and our 3 balloons are high and flying due south in the very brisk wind!!!!! I hope where ever they landed the people enjoyed them :o)

So, after doing our shopping, we have to travel back toward Tulsa and the party supply store. When we walked in we said, to the young male clerk who had helped us, "We lost our balloons!!!!" We reselected our balloons and he filled them up. When I took our our card to pay for them he said, "It's ok....no charge." We were stunned and shocked but most of all BLESSED again!!!!

The honoree with his best gifts....son, Aric, and daughter, Oksana.

It was a wonderful party.

We have a wonderful family.

We were so blessed to have David here to celebrate his brothers 40th B.D with us.

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!

Footnote: Now I know, just by removing our large glass coffee table, I CAN host a dinner party for 16 or 20!!! Yeah, we love to entertain and our family is growing. We are loving it. Josh & Lori we'll see ya "next time"!

DAVID'S HOME - if only for 3 days :o(

Friday, July 31st, David arrived from San Francisco for a big celebration.

Picking him up at the air port.


First thing we did was go get Marc and go out for lunch. What a joy for this mom & dad to get to have lunch with BOTH of their sons. These two are so close ..... which naturally delights us parents.

After lunch we came home and David got to help his dad harvest honey.

David is holding up one of the frames loaded with honey.

Mickey is instructing David about cutting off the honey comb. You can see it piling up in the tray below.

Two of the scraped frames have been placed in the Extractor. David is working the crank as Mickey is holding the extractor down.

Oh the joy of seeing that pure honey filling the bucket.

Here is the first bucket full of the unstrained honey. We ended up with 1 1/2 of these ice cream buckets full. Total weight was 20 lbs.

The work is over and the process completed. Look at the pure joy in David's face as he observes this bee on his finger.

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I live the most interesting and exciting life!!!!!!! Meet "Bear".

David's home, which I was so excited about and over joyed.......but this Blue Heeler, named Bear, also arrived that evening to spend a week. WHAT?!!!!! Mickey had failed to ask me, or tell me, that he had offered to keep him for some friends of ours who were going on vacation.

When Mike & Mikey brought him in they explained if he was a human he would be described as being bi-polar!!!! Now we are scheduled to have 19 people for a dinner on Sunday, in our small house, for a much planned celebration that Mickey & I have been working hard on all week. I was not prepared to add a bi-polar dog into this mix!!!

Also, I knew that we were getting to meet my blog friend, Lisa, and her family and had a gillion, well quite a few other. places to be and errand's to run on Saturday.

Was I happy???? NOT!! Was I mad at Mickey? No!!! I wanted to be, but how do you get mad at someone who is just so incredibly nice and kind that he is always willing and wanting to help others out......even dog sitting a bi-polar dog?

You have to understand that I am not a dog lover in the first place. I don't hate dogs, I just don't particularly care for them.

Bear was running all over the house....that is except when he was jumping on something, or chewing on something....like Mickey's foot in this picture.

Mike told us that Bear slept at the foot of their bed and might try to jump on the bed. This is where my foot went down HARD. I am not having Bear sleep in our bedroom. David, who is a cat lover.....he has 3 of them, and a lover of all animals said Bear could sleep in his room with him. Wheeeeee!!!!!

One more thing to add to this "mix". A water line broke a couple of blocks from us and all the water in the neighborhood was shut off. This occurred around 4 p.m. until the middle of the night. So couldn't even wash up the super dishes, take a bath, etc.!!

The next morning around 7 Mike called, from the road, and wanted to know how we'd done with the dog. I put Mickey on the phone and he said, "We're doing fine." Then Mike said their grown daughter, who was suppose to make the trip with them, did not get to go after all and would be picking Bear up around 9:30 a.m. Praise God!!!!!!

Here are my two "monkey's" eating their banana's and "Seeing no evil" and "Speaking no evil". I am definitely "hearing" only the good report........I have had a reprieve of a week with Bear.

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Tune in tomorrow to find out what the BIG Sunday celebration was all about.

#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.