WOW - Woman of the Word Bible Study

This past Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. the WOW Woman met at my home for our weekly Bible Study. 

This was a special Tuesday evening because we had finished up the book we had been studying , Born for Battle by R. Arthur Mathews, the Tuesday before and we decided to take a one-week break for a Party/Social time and to make a decision on what to study and do next. 

So we celebrated with Banana Splits with lots of choices for toppings and some danish bites.  I just love to get to use my special blue banana split dishes~~~

Carmel, Kathy & Sandra

Connie & Britney

Sorry I didn't get pictures of the other 10 of us:  Thelma, Betty, Jeanne, Wantha or myself.  I'm not a good photographer because I get to involved in the "occasion" and forget to take pictures!!! At one point I picked up the camera again, but they were all in the midst of eating and I said, "I won't do that to you!"  then promptly forgot to even think of pictures by the time the eating had stopped.

When it came time to discuss what to do next we had so very many good ideas: 
1.  A dvd & workbook series - Feasts of the Lord by Mark Biltz
2.  A cd series by Benny Hinn - Feasts of Israel
3.  The book - Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets - We dismissed this one because Jeanne, Thelma, Betty & I had studied this book previously.
4.  A 1983 cd series The Authority of the Believer by Kenneth Copeland
5.  A Bible Study topic of our choice - vs by vs.
6.  Different members of the group taking a week by rotation and bringing a topic and subject of their choice.
7.  The book - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

MUCH discussion and we were having difficulty making a decision so we voted by secret paper vote.  We were to write down our choice and if we desired we could choose a 1st & 2nd choice.

The final results were:
1.  Crazy Love    7
2.  Feasts of the Lord & workbook  4
3.  Authority of the Believer, Bible book by verse, & Topic of rotation all got    2

Then Britney suggested we do the Crazy Love book but have some breaks inbetween when someone else takes the week for a special topic and we all thought that was a great idea.

We are taking next Tuesday off, because it is election day and 3 of us work the polling places from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.!!!  We will begin our newest study on Tuesday, October 11th.

This group started out with 12 of us and one girl dropped out after the first week due to the long traveling distance from her home to mine.  Over the course of our meeting we have added 3 more woman.  We will begin this newest study and group with 13 if us.  We usually average 10 to 12.

I'm excited about this very challenging area of study and where The Lord will lead us.  I know when a commitment is made to REALLY begin to look at the issue of "lukewarmness" our enemy will be doing anything and everything he can to hinder or stop what God is wanting to do.  He (our enemy) wants us to be lukewarm but we know God says "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."  Revelation 3:15-16   Lord may each and everyone of us 13 be RED HOT for YOU.

QUALITY

This is probably going to turn into a griping and complaining post, I dislike getting into that frame of mind and I don't allow myself to do so very often, but I'm also wanting to know if it's just me, the quality of items I'm purchasing or are you experiencing the same thing.

What I am wondering about is the quality of merchandise we are now receiving.  So here goes.........

Back less than a year ago I decided to purchase new bath accessories; towels, throw rugs and shower curtain.  Now nothing was wrong with what I had, I was just wanting a change in how it looked color wise.  The towels I was using I had purchased years before and they were still good and had not really become worn.  I just wanted something new.  The first time I washed the new towels my lint filter was packed with lint!!!  This continued for about a month or more.  They also began to fray along some of the edges within a couple of weeks.  Long and short, after less than a year they are nowhere as good in quality as what I had previously had for years and discarded!!! 

Now further about these towels:  I usually shop at Wall*y Wor*ld but this time I thought, no I'm going to spend more and get something a little nicer.  Suzette actually went shopping with me for them after one of her earlier appointments.  So I deliberately spent more money and went to another store thinking I'd get a better quality. 

Now from towels to socks.  I am a sock wearer.  I buy white socks and wear them around the house.  You will never find me in shoes at home!!  Because I wear so many I have an entire drawer of just socks.  I have some in that drawer that I have had for several years but, as with the towels, the newest and latest socks are wearing clear through and having to be thrown out. 

True on the socks I continue to purchase them at Wall*y Wor*ld but I've purchased them there for years.

Is it just me????? or is the quality of what we are buying just awful?????  I'd really like your feedback and comments.   

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE (except it's Friday)

A blog friend of mine has been doing this an I thought it might be fun to participate in for awhile.

1. It is officially fall here in North America...I realize not everyone who participates in the Hodgepodge lives in North America, but if you do what's your favorite memory of Summer 2011? If you're not in North America, what's your favorite memory of the season just ending on your side of the world?

I do not have a lot of favorite memories of this summer because it's been a rather rough one for us.  See my precious post as to why.

2. Your favorite nut? You know I mean the edible kind, right?  I love pecans and use them a lot in baking.

3. What activity puts your sense of balance to the test? To get into a narrow open space where I might fear falling.

4. How would you describe your sense of humor?  I laugh easily and often.  Natural humor is the funniest to me and if I really get tickled I have a hard time shutting it off.  

 5. September 28th is National Ask a Stupid Question Day...what's your stupid question?  Why would you want me to ask a stupid question?

6/. Roller skates~hula hoop~jump rope...which activity would you most enjoy? Yes, you have to choose.
Rollger skates for sure but I've done and enjoyed all three.

7. What's your most sentimental possession?  My leather bound King James Version of the Bible that my husband gave me on our 1st wedding anniversary in October 1958.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Thank you for letting me participate in this, even late!!

BEING REAL

This is the one year anniversary of the 2nd worse day in my life - September 28, 2010 when our beloved oldest daughter, Suzette,  was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer.

I struggled a little bit each day last week as we were approaching this day and I shed tears.

I was actually dreading today because I was afraid I'd wake up today and completely fall apart.  Surprisingly enough I did not and in fact I woke up and was keenly aware that this was a new year and to truly rejoice that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, where Suzette is and how glorious happy she is and that the last thing she would want any of us to be doing is mourning for her.

Suzette & Dave, at dinner with Mickey & I as we celebrated our 52nd Anniversary, October 4, 2010, 8 days after her diagnosis.

Yes, we miss her terribly and I know the Holidays this year will be difficult and that we will always have that empty place in our lives and at our table ...... but I also know that some day we will join her in that glorious place with our Lord and Savior. 

WE LOVE YOU, HONEY

and

WE MISS YOU

and 

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.  

A REMINDER

While helping our son, Marc, pack up things at the house he is selling, a few weeks ago, I stumbled on this picture.

It was taken Christmas of 1996 with my 2 granddaughters.  Oksana was 10 months old and Jessica had just turned 10 on the 23rd.

Just a reminder to me of how time flies and how very precious every moment is.  Also, a huge reminder of how very much I've aged!!!!  I was also celebrating my 59th birthday that December 25th.

Very happy memories.

Yet another MEME of questions

I saw this over a year ago on a friends blog and thought I would do it "sometime".  I guess "sometime" has finally arrived!

1) What is your biggest pet peeve?  People who are not straightforward and honest would be #1 and #2 is someone who constantly complains about all that is wrong in their life.

2)  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?  Right here in Coweta, Ok because it is close to 2 or our 3 living children, and because of the church family we have and the wonderful church we attend.  Plus it is a nice, small town that still has a lot of christian values and principles.

3)  Have you ever been searched by the cops?  NO!!!!  I have only been stopped by them a few times over my life and that for a driving infraction.

4)  What is the one thing on your mind right now?  Struggling with the loss of our daughter, Suzette.  It will be 1 year (on the 28th) that she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.  This has been one difficult year.

5)  What is your favorite song right now?  I Can Only Imagine.....because I truly can only imagine!!!!

6)  What talent do you wish you had?  I have always thought it would be so wonderful to be able to draw and/or paint.  Just to see the beauty of God's world and capture that on a canvas must be a really wonderful feeling.

7)  What is your favorite drink?  Mickey & I are avid coffee drinkers.  I also drink a lot of water.  If I do drink soda, which is not often, I like the lime/lime flavors.

8)  Describe yourself in one word?  Perservering.....and I have a pillow to prove it!!

If you desire to play along and do this let me know so I can be sure and read yours. 

LIFE IS ..........BUSY (Part II)

Last week, Sept. 12-14, Marc was in Fargo at their home office. Mickey & I went to Owasso each afternoon to stay with Aric.  Since it is about 40 miles from our house to theirs we decided to just spend the night there.  That was easier than having to get up so early to get to school and get us back here on Tuesday morning by 8:30 for King's Kitchen. 

Then on Tuesday, since I have the WOW Women Bible Study, we decided it would be best for just Mickey to go up after school and spend the night.  On Wednesday we both went up and waited for Marc to arrive home about 9 p.m. 

Coweta Fall Festival was held from Thursday evening, the 15th, until Sunday the 18th.  Some wonderful friends of ours from church who have started Koweta Work Force (which is a program to train  developmentally challenged youth) had one of the food booths to raise funds.  We called & told Marc about it and he and Aric came down to Coweta to have lunch with us and help support this effort. 

It rained, and it poured rain!!!  You can see the main area almost completely deserted.

Nevertheless, we bought our meals.  Marc & Aric are literally standing under the canape of the food trailer to try and stay out of the rain as they eat.  We were soaked to the skin by the time we got home, but you can tell we were still having fun and enjoying ourselves.

Last night, September 23rd was our dear friend, Don's birthday.  Mickey & I took he & Barbara out to dinner at Zio's and had Marc & Aric join us.  Don & Barbara are truly "extended family".

Wonderful friends for many, many years and also wonderful prayer warriors. 

Marc & Don

Susan, Mickey & Aric

Marc & Don with his birthday sundae.  I always tease Don because he's OLDER THAN I by 3 months & 2 days.  That counts......doesn't it?!!!!

Aric having typical 12 year old fun where ever we go or whatever we're doing.

Then we came back to the house for cake & coffee.  I made a cake called "Preacher Cake".  A new recipe and it was so good.  A fun, enjoyable evening.  Life is good.