Merry Christmas 2012

I can't believe I haven't written anything on this blog since March.  I guess Facebook has taken over short quick updates. 

I directed the choir in singing "Changed By A Baby Boy" on December 16.  They did a fabulous job.  I think it was one of the best times as a choir - we had so much fun.  This musical was very upbeat and we were all dancing to the beat!

It's just after Christmas and the house is very quiet.  We had so much fun on Christmas Day.  We ended up having two meals (lunch and supper) together with the boys and their families.  My Mom wasn't feeling well and she went home after we opened presents; Cliff and Julie went to his parents before supper.  I had some good discussions with my grandbabies - always a favorite time.  We had planned to play games, but ran out of time.  Besides celebrating Jesus' birth, the best thing this Christmas was spending time with family. 

Daffodil - a sign of Spring

The daffodil is one of my fav springtime flowers.  Yellow was my grandfather's (Pappy's) favorite colors so it adds a special meaning to the color.  Daffodils are planted in my backyard thanks to a previous owner.  I can sit at the dining room table and look out at them.  This has been an unusual winter (not much snow or really consistently cold weather).  The daffodils broke through the ground with their bright green shoots a littler earlier this year.  It's amazing how their thin, bright green shoots can seem so flimsy yet are so strong.  They endure the wind and the weight of their beautiful yellow trumpet flower.  The contrast between the bright green and yellow is just another sign of God's designer eye.  The pallet He uses is like no other.  When the daffodil is first getting ready to bloom, it reminds me of a paintbrush or pencil.  The long straight stem with a hint of yellow at the end.  Then as you watch from day to day, the yellow slowly enlarges until you see the gorgeous bloom.  It's also an encouragement.  It is determined to bloom where it's planted and herald the arrival of Spring!  Let's all give that a try - live for Jesus and bloom where were planted!!!

2012 - Set A Fire Down in my Soul

It seems this past year flew by.  It's hard to believe it's 2012.  The weather has been crazy this winter.  It's near 60, then it's 30 with snow flurries.  A winter battling bronchitis.  Prices of everything going up.  One thing I know for sure is God is in control!  Our daughter, Julie, turned me onto this song "Set a Fire."  We sang it Sunday in church and it has been in my mind ever since.  I even was singing it in bed the other night.  "No place I would rather be, no place I would rather be, no place I would rather be, than here in Your love, here in Your love (repeat).  So set a fire down in my soul that I can't contain, that I can't control; I want more of You, God; I want more of You, God. (repeat)"  If I could just remember this everyday and live my life this way.  That's my goal for 2012!  PTL!

Falling Leaves

As I set in my dining room looking out the window, I see the beautiful leaves - golds, oranges, deep reds, rust, and those still tipped with a touch of green.  What a wonderful paint brush our Heavenly Father uses to cover the landscape.  A small leaf fluttered to the ground, then another, and another.  I couldn't help but think God was saying "I love you, I love you, I love you."  The leaves are beginning to cover the ground.  The more I thought about the season and the falling of the leaves, I thought of the symbolism.  God's love for us is beautiful and colorful just like the leaves.  He loved us so much, He sent Jesus to die for us.  And Jesus, laid down his life on the cross - just like the leaves are falling willingly to the ground and will make it richer because of their death.  Christ has made our lives richer by dying for us - He gave us eternal life.  How can I not be thankful on a day like this?  Thank you Father for loving me so much!  Thank you for giving me eyes to see the beauty of the landscape.  Thank you for letting me hear the laughter of my family and friends; and for the gift of music.  I love you, Father!

God is in control...

How blest we are.  It never ceases to amaze me how God is in control.  We will pray for something and we believe when we pray that God can and will answer.  Why is it when He does, we seem so amazed.  I've been rejoicing in answered prayer recently.  You cannot credit anything or anyone, but God.  How He works in our lives.   Baby Ben was born less than 3 weeks ago.  For years, his parents tried with no success.  Then the long awaited news.  Then the word there was a fibroid and maybe a C-section would be needed.  Ben's Mommy didn't want a C-section.  Because of a mixup in the insurance which supposedly couldn't be fixed, the cost to the parents went from $3000 (which they had planned for) to $10,000.  Ben's parents and grandparents weeped and couldn't understand how this could be.  How would Ben's parents pay for him...worry, tears, fret; but they tried to trust that God would handle it all.  Ben's Mommy's needs a C-section and the cut is made.  Ben's Mommy's uterus is oddly shaped and they had to make a second cut.  The doctor delivers Ben.  Then the doctor tells everyone if it hadn't been for the fibroid blocking the birth canal, there wouldn't have been a baby.  Ben's Mom would have probably miscarried.  Another bonus, C-section is considered surgery and surgery would be covered by the insurance company.  We just need to rest in God.  He has everything under control !  Thank you Jesus for all your wonderful blessings.

September 11, 2011

Sometimes it is hard to believe it has been 10 years; the emotions can be so strong, so quickly.  Watching and to some extent reliving the events of that day make me cry.  How all our lives changed that September morning.  We all remember where we were when we found out about the twin towers, the Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA.  I was working from home that day and my hubby (a Federal police officer) was at work.  His ordinary work day turned into 12 hr shifts. The lives that were lost that day - the families forever impacted.  It was so unbelievable. 

We've had so much rain this past week that I couldn't help but truly appreciate the sunshine and the beautiful blue sky.  Then I thought about the dark smoke against the blue sky 10 years ago.  Our Country seemed to reach out to one another and most importantly, to God during that time.  None of us know how many days we have on this earth.  I just pray I make the most of my days and live for Jesus.  Without Him, I could do nothing.

Springtime

Springtime is always a special time of year.  It reminds me that things which appeared dead were just asleep. The beauty of the crocus, daffodils, tulips, and forsythia present such a vivid picture of color against the green grass.  Some of the forsythia I've seen this year look like bushes of golden buttered corn on a plate of green grass.  The tulips fascinate me because they open up early in the morning and close at night.  Each day they repeat their routine until they die.  They give their all each day - what a wonderful goal to give my all each day.  God, thank you for the beauty of all your creation!