God Has Been Busy This Month!

I always stand amazed at the works of God but, this week, he absolutely floored me! 

I planted the rose bushes about a month ago and did not expect to see any blooms for many months.  (If at all, considering my black thumbs.)  But this week the buds that we have been watching grow for the last couple of weeks began opening.  Here is the very first rose that opened.  It opened on my Mom's birthday.  So, Mom, God grew this one for you and it was absolutely perfect.  8-) 

A couple of days later, I had two more open up on the same rose bush.

Tom decided today that it was time to put the ceiling in the Gazebo.  So he gathered up his tools and became Tom the Tool Man Hammond.  Truth be told, he was well on his way to completing the job by the time I got this snapshot.  You can also see that the rose bushes have opened up several more roses by today.

Before he went outdoors, I asked him if he wanted help.  He assured me that he would call me if he needed help.  I continued to offer and he continued to say he thought he could handle it.  Can't imagine why he wouldn't want my opinionated self out there to assist with every little decision!  HA!!

Here is the finished product...I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing at once...arghhh.  He did an AMAZING job....especially since the temperatures were near 90 today.  Summer has definitely arrived.



As for me...I was busy sewing inside.  I started this project last night and finished it this afternoon.  This design will look very familiar to you since it is the same one I used in the kitchen window and the library transom window.  This garage door has always had a window that lets the sunshine in (The garage has two windows with blinds but they still let in a lot of sunshine) and, since this door is right down the hallway from the bedroom, it has always let in light in the early morning and kept us from sleeping in on the weekends.  (Wow, how is that for a run on sentence?)  If it weren't for Shadow (our cat) we would just shut the bedroom door, but she would sit outside our door caterwauling and not let us sleep either, so this is my solution.  For me, if the sun is up, my body thinks I should be up, no matter how late I get into bed.  Anyway, now the window is covered.  8-)

Here is a little Max for today...

"Pull Back the Curtain of Fear

By Max Lucado

It’s our duty to pull back the curtains, expose our fears, each and every one! Financial fears, relationship fears, safety fears–call them out in prayer! Drag them out by the hand of your mind. Make them stand before God and take their come-uppance!

Jesus made his fears public. Hebrews 5:7 tells us, “He offered up prayers and petition with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” He prayed loudly enough to be heard and begged his community of friends to pray with him.

The next time you find yourself facing a worst-case moment, verbalize your angst to a trusted circle of God-seekers.  Find your version of Peter, James and John. The big deal is this: you needn’t live alone with your fear.

Besides, what if your fears are nothing more than the devil’s hoax? They could be his hell-hatched, joy-stealing prank. Let’s not let him get away with it!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

One Last Project Complete

I have been very energetic this weekend.  I got three projects completed and this is my third blog this weekend also.  Wow...don't expect this to continue...lol.

I started and finished the transom window valance today.  Whoo whoo...I am so thankful for the energy that God is giving me lately.  I feel like doing things again and it is a wonderful feeling!

Here is the finished transom window valance completed.  You'll notice it is in the same pattern as the kitchen valance I finished yesterday (See yesterday's blog for visual).  I've been wanting to do this for years. 

I had a really wonderful Mother's Day because I got to talk to my Mom and my Son both.  Mom is having fun in TN right now and my Son is doing well and told me he just got hired by Apple as an IT guy.  Too cool, huh?  He is getting to work from home also.  I'm really very proud of him. 

Tom started my day out with a beautiful necklace and a really sweet card.  Here is the necklace he got me.  It was hard to focus on it for some reason...not sure why.  It is two infinity symbols and one is filled with little diamonds. 

Tom spent today converting some old VHS tapes into DVDs for Mom and we were cracking up at Whitney trying to get Hannah (as a baby) to roll over again because she had seen her do it and knew that Daniel wouldn't believe it if she didn't capture it on camera.  She finally quit tormenting her at 8:18 pm when the poor thing looked so sleepy and worn out from trying to get Mr Squiggles (her toy).  We were totally amused by the Hannah videos.  Yeah Daniel and Whitney!  Thanks for the entertainment!

Here is some Max for today:

"Hang in There

By Max Lucado

“Those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

Are you discouraged as a parent? Hang in there.

Are you pessimistic about your job? Roll up your sleeves and go at it again.

No communication in your marriage? Give it one more shot . . .

The Land of Promise, says Jesus, awaits those who endure. It is not just for those who make the victory laps or drink champagne. No sir. The Land of Promise is for those who simply remain to the end."

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Valance Complete

Well, I finished another project today.

As I stated in an earlier blog entry, Tom got me an embroidery/sewing machine for my birhday and I went looking for ideas to create embroidery stuff.  I ran across a book called 'Piece in the Hoop' that had a design for a valance.  The only thing the instructions gave were the sizes of the squares.  (Ant the funny thing is that I increased the size of those.)  The rest I had to figure out on my own.  It has taken me several weekends to complete and I've had a blast doing it. 

Since I didn't have a real pattern to go by, Tom and I sat down a few weekends ago and started doing the calculations based on the size of window, seams, and squares to be sewn into it.  It came out pretty close but did end up (after it was all sewn up) about an eighth of an inch shy on either side.  I figured it wasn't bad for a first try.  It is near impossible without a real pattern to get it exactly right and it wasn't like it had gathers or anything to allow for differences to be fudged.  Below is the completed project.  The embroidery came out awesome!

The burgundy was selected because the living room windows (the room to the left of the kitchen) are also in burgundy and the tans pull in the walls and the couch in the living room.  Better visual of the tie in below.

So ends another project.  It's always kind of sad when it is over.  I guess the next project will be doing the transom window over the room that is supposed to be a dining room (we really aren't formal dining room people) so we call it the library because it has our bookcases in it with a couch to read on.  8-)



Here is some Max for today:

"A Worry-Slapper

By Max Lucado

Become a “worry-slapper!” Treat frets like mosquitoes!

Do you procrastinate when a bloodsucking bug lights on your skin? Do you say, “I’ll take care of that in a moment.” Of course you don’t! You give the critter the slap it deserves.

Be equally decisive with anxiety. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it. Don’t dwell on it. Head it off before it gets the best of you.

Don’t waste an hour wondering what your boss thinks; ask her. Before you diagnose that blemish as cancer, have it examined. Instead of assuming you’ll never get out of debt, consult an expert. Be a doer—not a stewer!

In Matthew 6:32-33,. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. See the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need!”

On that you can depend and never worry!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Stoned

Ok, not stoned with any drugs...just still moving stones around.  LOL

We have this area in the yard that has always been a 'dip'.  Such a dip that if we filled it with water, the ducks would probably live in it.  So, we've been filling it with the leftover dirt from the last project.  (OK, I might not have calculated the amount of dirt we needed for the rose beds exactly spot on.  Whatever.)

Anyway, I was in the middle of putting the leftover dirt in the 'dip' when I thought to myself..."Hmmm....there are 36 castle wall stones left over from the rose bed project.  If I put them in a circle of 12 and layered them three stones high, I would get a really cool flowerbed to plant my bulbs in that I got for free from the place I ordered my roses."  Wheels were turning mightily by this time.  I ran through the gambit of what I would need for the little project.

1.  Energy - CHECK
2. 36 castle wall stones - CHECK
3.  Dirt to fill it with - CHECK
4.  Mulch for the top - CHECK (Yeah, I had leftover mulch too.  AGAIN WHATEVER...better too much than too little of stuff when you're doing a project.)
5.  Bulbs to plant - CHECK
6.  Gloves to protect hands from the rough stones - CHECK
7.  Wheelbarrow to tote the stones and dirt - CHECK
8.  Black weed blocker stuff  - CHECK (yes, yes...leftover also)

It only took me about 20 seconds to run through that list in my head and I started walking towards the house grinning like the cat that ate the canary.  Tom sees me and gets a worried look on his face (he is trying to mow the yard)  He asks me what I'm grinning so big about. 

It took me about three hours but I did finally finish it.  It will take a bit more dirt to finish filling in the dip since I used quite a bit inside the flower bed...but I am very happy with the finished product and it stays with the castle wall theme that I've worked with all spring.

Buried about 3-5 inches down are a variety of bulbs.  I planted them from back to front, tallest to shortest.  They should be a myriad of beautiful colors in about 70 to 120 days.  I'm sure the weeds will grow quicker than that...ROTFL.  I don't think there is any such thing as 'pure' dirt that doesn't somehow grow weeds out of nothing.  I planted Hardy Gladiola, then Exotica (Also known as Peacock Orchid), then Blue Poppy (also known as Anemone), then Shamrocks.  I know I am running a little late getting them planted, but we'll see if they even pop through the top of the mulch or not.

I let Tom know last weekend that I was being so creative so that when I die, he will see me everywhere he looks and never forget me.  He said a big fire would take care of that...ROTFL.  He can be so funny sometimes.

Here is some Max for today...wise wise wise...God really uses Max!

"Give Your Child to God

By Max Lucado

You’ve wept a monsoon of tears for your child, enough to summon the attention of every angel and their neighbor to your cause. But you’re not so sure anymore.

You find yourself wondering if Christ has forgotten you and your child. He hasn’t! Keep giving your child to God. In the right time, the right way, he will give your child back to you.

A quarter century ago, I gave my daughter to God. I remembered the way Abraham had placed Isaac on the altar. I made my apartment living room my altar and lifted my daughter toward heaven. I can’t raise this girl, I confessed, but You can. I give her back to you! Must have been a sight to behold, a pajama-clad father lifting his blanket-wrapped baby toward the ceiling. But something tells me one parent appreciated the gesture.

Abraham. And, of course, God!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa



Dead Sticks in the Middle of the Yard

I do not feel like cleaning house, so here I am...this seems like MUCH more fun.  Besides...it was a hard week and I am incredibly tired.  Tiredness is always amazing to me.  I used to be so full of energy.  I wake up tired now.

I have been really enjoying the way the roses have been growing.  When I got them, they were just a bunch of sticks with bare roots.  Now they are thriving with leaves galore.  Well....all except for one of them.  In my defense (since I AM known as the "Great Plant Killer"  - That would be my indian name), I planted them all in exactly the same way following the instructions on how to plant bare root roses to the letter.  This one just never came to life.

With the brown mulch, it was so hard to see the dead plant, I thought I would help by pointing out the location of a couple of the 'dead sticks'. 

Now, I'm not bragging or anything (right...) but here are some lovely pictures of a few of the ones that are really growing nicely.  I have 13 out of 14 that are now not only growing leaves, but also have ROSE BUDS on them.  Don't know if you can see the rosebuds in the pictures below but let me tell you...I am VERY excited.  8-)  I promise these are all different plants, not just different views of the same plant to fool you.  (ROTFL)

The rose below is the replacement rose for the dead stick one.  I'll get it planted sometime this weekend.  It will be interesting to see the difference in the way the bare root roses do as opposed to the one that came in a container. 

We finally got the rest of the stones to finish the bench.  No, I never intended to leave the castle wall stones on the top of it.  A funeral pyre is not my idea of a look for an outdoor bench but it was fun to put it in the blog anyway.  We had a good laugh over it.  The uniqueness of the bench below is growing on us and now we won't have to take back the 76 stones that it took to build it.  8-)

This is just a more distant view of the bench to give some perspective in comparison to the Gazebo.





Here is some Max for today...

"We’re God’s Idea

By Max Lucado

‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14”

We’re God’s idea. His face. His eyes. His hands. His touch. We are him!

Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth and you’ll see his likeness. Though some appear to be distant relatives, they’re not. God has no cousins, only children. 

You aren’t an accident or an incident; you’re a gift to the world. A divine work of art—signed by God.

One of the best gifts I ever received is a football jersey signed by thirty former professional quarterbacks. For all I know it was bought at a discount sports store. What makes it unique are the signatures.

The same is true with us. What makes us special is not our body, but the signature of God on our lives. We’re his works of art, created in his image.

Significant, not because of what we do, but because of whose we are!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Finishing the Race...

Spring just brings out creativity...new life, new projects, new hope for a future.

So, I've been a little creative.

Tom got me a sewing/embroidery machine for my birthday (no, it's not my birthday yet...not till June) and we HAD to open it and make sure it all worked as advertised and that we didn't need to take it back...lol.

I got this idea about making a sign for my door when I have it shut because I am in a telecon, or testing, or training.   (Everyone else that has an office has professionally made signs that say 'Teleconference in Progress'.) I could have asked for one but thought it would make a good project.  Luckily all the things I do behind a closed door start with 'T'. 

So, I went shopping at the new Target in town (since I hadn't been there yet) and found this sign shaped marker board that would be just perfect for the base.  ($4...you can't beat that)  The nice thing about the marker board was that it already had magnets on it that could stick to the door frame like everyone else does. 

So, here was a chance to put my embroidery machine to the test.  Since I am not smart enough yet to figure out how to match up the letters if I do some of them and then remove the cloth from the hoop and then do some more....I decided it had to fit in one sewing session.  So, I chose "T I P" to embroider on the cloth.  The good thing is that it will allow the guys to come up with some good jokes.  I love to generate jokes in the office because it brings in camaraderie into the group.  It will be something like, "Are you slumming for tips now?" or "I've got a good tip for you...blah blah bah".   I'll just tell them that it stands for "Teresa in Progress" and to be glad that I did not make it   "R I P".  HA!

Anyway, I got the cloth together and decided to use a color of the embroidery thread for the test run that would be one that I would probably rarely use.  I chose a gold color.  Well, it turned out so good that I just decided to use it on the sign.  Black lettering probably would have been better but if I want to, in the future, I can always redo it with better material and lettering.  It is just glued on...easy to get off (I think).  Here is the finished product.  (You might remember that material from the box that I covered in it.)

The next project I did on the same day, was simple also.  Every 5 years, Boeing sends you a certificate to commemorate the amount of time you have spent slaving away for them.  In March, I went over 15 years and received my certificate, 15 year pin, and I got to select something from the catalog to order.  I chose this crystal flower vase.  While I was at Target, I found a couple of flowers and some river rocks to hold the flowers in place.  Here was the finished result of this project (took 5 minutes...gotta love those types of projects).

The green and blue candle vase on the right were given to me by my son years ago and just seemed like a good addition to the vase.  Both are EXTREMELY heavy so I don't worry about the cat knocking them over...lol.  Not that the cat would EVER climb up on the kitchen table.  (Right...hence the removable table cloth.)

You might be looking at the picture above and see part of the gazebo and be wondering "What are those piles of stones to the right of the gazebo?"  Well, good question...

That was yesterday's project.  (I did the other two on Friday when I got home from having my oil changed and my tires rotated and balanced.)  I decided that I was NOT going to waste those stones.  I started drawing on Tom's trusty graph paper the 12X8X8X8 designs over and over and cut out the pieces and laid them on my desk to try to make a square out of them. 

I knew I was starting with an isosceles trapezoid.  That was a mark against me right from the beginning.  How do you make a square out of multiple isoscles trapezoids?  Is it even possible?

Just for the fun of it, I tred the circle thing to see if any inspriration might arrive....None did...



I found that I could make a chevron with them if I wanted.  Tom saw a spaceship out of this picture...(He says capable of WARP 10 but the pilot doesn't turn into a lizard - reference Star Trek Voyage episode where Tom Paris breaks the WARP 10 barrier.)...Ah, the difference in the minds of males and females...

The best I could come up with was a parallelegram. 

Since I felt like I had failed the IQ test, I picked them up and dropped them randomly to the desk in hopes of a magical surprise.  None came...lol.

So, I picked myself up and dusted myself off and went outside to play with the actual stones again while Tom was mowing the grass.  I ended up with something that might be recognized as a funeral pyre from a distance.  I was one stone short in the front and if we decide to keep this bench setup (which is probably doubtful) then we'll have to get another one.  We gave the bench the sturdiness test (had Tom and I both sit on it) and it wasn't wobbly in the least...quite sturdy.  It has (as I am sure you will agree) a very unique architechural design to it...LOL.  The missing stone is quite obviously on the front left underneath the castle wall stones I put on top.

Here is a FANTASTIC Max for today:

"Finishing the Race

By Max Lucado

The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Derek Redmond was favored to win the 400 meter race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Halfway into his semi-final heat, he suffered a torn hamstring. Even as the medical team was approaching, he pushed away to finish the race. A big man pushed through the crowd.

“You don’t have to do this,” he told his weeping son.

“Yes, I do.” Derek declared.

“Well, then,” he said, “we’re going to finish this together.”

And they did! His dad wrapped Derek’s arm around his shoulder and helped him hobble to the finish line. What made him do it? His son was hurt so the father came to help him finish.

God does the same. Our attempts may be feeble. Our prayers may seem awkward. But He comes to help us finish the race!"

Amen and Amen

By Gace Alone -

Teresa

What's Next?

We got up yesterday morning and looked outside and said "Praise God, it looks like rain today!"

Now, you might ask yourself why we would be glad that it looked like rain...it is because our bodies ached all over and if the sun was shining we might force ourselves to go outside and start another project.  Honestly, we needed a good rest day!

We had spent all day Friday and all day Saturday outside working on finishing up the landscaping around the Gazebo.  It was finally done.  Here is the final product (for the landscaping...we still have to finish the Gazebo with screens, door, and ceiling.)  If you zoom in, you can even see the plants....HA.  They are very small right now but will grow to 3-4 ft wide by 3-4 ft tall.  The roses came with bare roots which was a new way of getting plants for me.  I think I like it better that way.  I didn't have to do anything except soak them in water for a few hours before planting them.

We actually ate lunch out in the gazebo yesterday and listened to the birds and frogs talking to each other (or maybe complaining because we were out there...who knows).  It was amazingly peaceful...it will be fun when all the rosebushes grow in and their scent surrounds us.  8-)

We found some stone caps to possibly go on top of the castle wall stones at Lowe's on Saturday.  We bought 61 of them and brought them home, unloaded them and figured out that they weren't going to work as caps for the Gazebo because of the curves. I spent about an hour trying to turn them into my bench (another project I am in the middle of) but they are shaped oddly (12 X 8 X 8 X 8) and I could have made them work but they really weren't what I wanted for that project so...I moved them all to the other side of the observatory until I figure out what to do with them.  I felt like one of those people in prison moving rocks back and forth from one place to another with no reason for doing so by the time I was done.  (Moved from truck to wheel barrow - 8 at a time, then moved them from wheel barrow to patio to play with, then moved them from patio to wheel barrow, then from wheel barrow to ground beside observatory.)  Tom was mowing grass while I played with the rocks.  (Smart man)  Lugging them back to Lowe's seems like a TERRIBLE idea because of all the work to get them back into the back of the truck.  I really don't ever want to lift them again. 

Of course, the real story behind the Lowe's trip on Saturday was that I had thought of the next possible project for the yard...I got these free bulbs from the place that sent me the double knock out roses and I hate to waste them, so....I wanted to build planters on either side of the mailbox (we have a brick mailbox that would look good with planters on either side).  Well, I need some bricks or stones to do so (which we DID find at Lowe's but by the time we got the Stone Wall Caps that Tom found, we had too much weight to get the stones for the mailbox planters.)  Maybe next weekend...8-)

Here is some Max for today...

"What’s Separating You From Joy?

By Max Lucado

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3"

How would you finish the statement:  “I’ll be happy when….”  With your answer firmly in mind, answer this question.  “What’s the one thing separating you from joy?”

What if your ship never comes in, if your dream never comes true?  If the situation never changes, could you be happy?  If not, then you’re sleeping in the cold cell of discontent. You’re in prison.  And you need to know what you have in your Shepherd!

You have a God who hears you; the power of love behind you; the Holy Spirit within you; and all of heaven ahead of you.  If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner, and an anchor for every storm.

You have everything you need."

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Spring Project

It is spring.

I LOVE spring.  I always have.  It is the promise of new life, new hope, and new beginnnings.  I like to start projects in the spring when it is still cool in the mornings and evenings but pleasantly warm in the middle of the day.

This year is no different.  I've started a huge yard project that is probably going to be the death of both Tom and I...lol..

[I hadn't really been out in our yard in a couple of years because of the fear of cancer, post radiation.  My cancer doc had strongly urged (yelled at me, I say!) me to stay out of the sun when he saw me last April and I had a little bit of pink skin from sitting out in the sun and enjoying the glorious feeling of the suns rays soaking into my skin.]

So, back to the project.  As those of you who have been following my blog know, we tore down the wooden gazebo last year and put up a really nice vinyl one that should last many many years (without having to stain it every year because the sun beat so mercilessly on it).  Well, we've almost finished putting up the new gazebo.  We still lack putting in the ceiling, the screens, and the door.  The basic structure is up and it did really well through the winter.  The birds don't seem to like this gazebo as much as the wood one.  (Probably too slippery for their widdle feet...HA!!!)  Anyway, that is a good thing.

So, now that I don't have to restain the rails on the gazebo, I can plant things around it.  8-)  Hence the new spring project.  A guy at work was telling me about Double Knock Out Roses and how I should plant them around the gazebo.  Of course, we have red clay dirt  here that is hard as a rock so I realized that we would have to till the soil and add more 'good' dirt to it.  So, Tom proceeded to rip up the grass around the gazebo (no easy feat, I'll tell you that) and tilled the soil quite nicely.  Then we picked the castle wall stones and had them, a ton of top soil, some pavers (to stand up against the base of the gazebo to give the back of the bed some height), and some mulch delivered by Lowes. 

Somehow, we got it all put together and surveyed our work and said...wow...that looks really good.

I put the black out paper on top of the dirt so that no weeds would grow and then some extra bags of dirt on top of that to hold them down.  We finally got our roses yesterday so we'll be planting them this weekend. 

I have to say, it took quite a bit of time to get the castle wall stones leveled out (as best I could...I know they aren't perfect but they are acceptable...).

Here is a little Max for today.  I know that God has changed the way I look at things...

"Don’t Quit

By Max Lucado

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4”

Whatever you do, don’t quit! The Christian race isn’t a jog—it’s a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race.

God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.

The apostle Paul dedicates a paragraph to listing trash bags: trash bags of troubles, problems, sufferings, hunger, nakedness, danger, and violent death. These are the very dumpsters of difficulty we hope to escape. Paul states their value. He said in Romans 8:37, “In all these things we have full victory through God.”

We’d prefer another preposition! We’d opt for “apart from all these things,” or “away from all these things,” or even “without all these things!” But Paul says, “In all these things.”

The solution is not to avoid trouble but to change the way we see our troubles. God can correct your vision!"

By Grace Alone...

Teresa

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Tom and I are soulmates.  I looked up the definition of soulmate so I could share with you exactly what that means to me. 

Definition #1:  A person with whom you have an immediate connection the moment you meet -- a connection so strong that you are drawn to them in a way you have never experienced before. As this connection develops over time, you experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that you begin to doubt that you have ever truly loved anyone prior. Your soulmate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime. You are also all that much aware of the beauty in life, because you have been given a great gift and will always be thankful.

 Definition #2: The one person who can always make you smile, who shares your hopes and dreams, who makes you whole. Folklore claims that when a soul descends to earth it splits in two, each half of the soul inhabiting a separate body. These two people are forever after 'soulmates,' and will never be complete until they find one another.

Our marriage was not the first one in either of our lives and just like the song below, we had others who broke our hearts that were like Northern stars pointing us on our way to each other.

Happy Birthday, Honey!  I adore you!!  The song below is dedicated to you...

Here is a link to the song below: Rascal Flatts Bless the Broken Road

"Bless The Broken Road"

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

[Chorus:]
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

[Chorus]

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

I'm an Outlaw...

No, I  haven't dropped off the face of the earth...lol.

I am however, as of yesterday, an outlaw, a felon, or as I told the cop "A very bad person". 

The Alabama police finally caught me speeding down the back road that I've spent the last 4 and a half years going 80 on.  When I was in my convertible, it used to be my release from tension at the end of a hard work day.  I pulled off of Boeing Boulevard onto County Line Road (which is a road with absolutely no traffic) and let my car have fun with the road.  Then...I saw the cop coming towards me.  We looked at each other from a distance and I literally saw him look surprised and he passed me and turned around in the middle of the road to come back after me.  I didn't even bother to try to outrun him.  I just pulled off the side of the road and waited for him to disembark from his vehicle.

I already  had my registration and license out but he wanted my insurance card.  So I went digging through my glove compartment and pulled out about 8 of them and finally found the most current one.  He asked me why I was speeding and I just ducked my head and said "Because I'm a very bad person."  He assured me that he didn't think I was a bad person (as he wrote me a ticket) and wanted to know why I was in a hurry.  I told him I really wasn't in a hurry...I was just enjoying the road.  I don't think he ever got 'it'.  He had absolutely no sense of humor nor did he understand the pure joy in driving fast.  I only do it on the stretch of road that is totally abandoned by civilization.  I gave up and didn't say anything else since I figured it was just going to get me into more trouble.

Life goes on.  8-)  We are now planning for our trip to Las Vegas in July to see my son and his family.  I haven't seen him in over two years.  I miss him terribly.  His home is 27 and a half hours away by car so we will definitely be flying. 

We haven't finished the gazebo yet (for those that might be interested in that little project) because we are waiting until warmer weather to put in the screens, ceiling, and the door.  It will be a fun spring project.

Here is a little Max for today:

"Only One You

By Max Lucado

 

From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.  Psalm 33:14-15 NKJV
 

The truth is—you were a brand-new idea from the mind of God!

Psalm 33:14-15 says, “From the place of His dwelling, He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually.”  

You’re the only you God made!  He made you and broke the mold!  No one can duplicate your life.

Scan history for your replica—you won’t find it!  You’re tailor made by God.  God personally formed and made you.  You’re not one of many!  You’re it!

And if you don’t take full advantage of how God made you, we don’t get you.  We miss out!  

Think of it this way:  you’re heaven’s Halley’s comet.  And we have one shot at seeing you shine!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Christmas 2011

Wow...what a great vacation we had. 

We hadn't traveled to Texas to see my sister Carol and clan since 2000.  (To the best of our recollection)  This is where we spent Christmas this year.  We got to see all of Carol's chidren, their spouses, grandchildren (except for her oldest son's family who live in Illinois) and my Mom who now lives in Texas in a house near Carol and her family. 

I got a chance to meet Ben (My sister's oldest daughter's husband) whom I hadn't met before and he is really a neat young adult.  He is into playing games and he tromped all over us in "Settlers of Catan"...very complicated game.  I'm not even sure I'm smart enough to catch all the nuances that there were to the game...It's one of those games that they could have made up new rules as we went and I'd never know the difference.  When it ended, Tom and I both had a dazed look in our eyes like "Is it over?"...it really was a lot of fun though.  I would have liked to play it one more time while I had the rules fresh in my head...lol.

We only got to see Andrew (her second oldest) for about an hour but it was wonderful to see him and see what a wonderful adult he has grown into.  We got to spend all day Saturday with Julia his wife and his daughters Alyssa and Brooke.  Alyssa reminds me so much of Andrew when he was little and Brooke totally stole my heart.  I moved her cup at the dinner table and she gave me the stink eye.  See picture below for the 'look' she gave me.

The look above was after I had moved the cup and she had taken it and stored it beside her on the chair.

As you can see below, she continued to hug that cup in fear of me touching it again.  She is obviously the younger sister...older sisters are notorious for stealing stuff from the youngest (I should know...I was the youngest in my family.)

Every time I thought I was going to get a picture of Alyssa, she would move as fast as a flash.  I got a picture of her back (pretty hair, huh?)  That is Julia (her mother) on the couch.  She is expecting #3. 

I got a piture of the top of her head.  You can almost see her beautiful face there... 

And I got a picture of 'other' parts of her as she sped by.

Finally, Grandpa got her settled at the dinner table so I could get a  non-moving picture.

Here is my Mom, Sister and Julia during the same dinner party.  Julia (on the left) has such a sweet spirit...look at that smile.

As you can see below, after Brooke is fueled up, she moves pretty quickly too!  These kids have super human speed....faster than a locamotive or a camera shutter.

Emily, Ben, Matt and Amy were there also.  I did manage to snag a picture of them.  8-)

Sunday we all went to Mom's church and I got a picture of her while we were waiting for it to start. She just looked really classy and I couldn't resist.

It was what I would call a most excellent visit.  We even got to skype with Daniel (Carol's oldest son), Whitney and their four children on Sunday (Christmas day).  Their son Noah had us laughing so hard...he kept getting in front of the camera as either Darth Vador or Spider Man. 

Happy New Year Everyone!

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas...

I guess we are going to have to say goodbye to the Christmas Tree.  I have started calling Shadow "Grinch" because she is stealing Christmas.  She continues to chew on the tree (we know this because of the thrown up piles of tree needles) so tonight we will probably take it down.  We took some pictures so that we could at least say that we had one this year.  8-)

All by itself...(no Grinch in sight).

Tree and Tom...(still no Grinch in sight)

Vanna White (oh wait...that's just me and there is still no Grinch in sight)

We'll be leaving in a little over a week for Texas anyway so it's just as well.  We are hoping to get our neighbor Tom to watch shadow again.  We meant to go over there and ask him this weekend but didn't make it.  If he can't, then I guess we'll be taking her with us.  That will be a  L O N G trip because she hates traveling. 

Here is a little Max for today:

"We’ve Figured It Out

By Max Lucado

I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers.… But why are people important to you?  Psalm 8:3–4

Ironic isn’t it? The more we know, the less we believe!  Strange, don’t you think?

We understand how storms are created. We map solar systems and transplant hearts. We measure the depths of the oceans and send signals to distant planets. We’re learning how it all works!

And, for some, the loss of mystery has led to the loss of majesty. The more we know, the less we believe. But knowledge of the workings shouldn’t negate wonder. It should stir wonder! Who has more reason to worship than the astronomer who has seen the stars?

Why then should we worship less? We are more impressed with our discovery of the light switch than with the one who invented electricity. And rather than worship the Creator, we worship the creation.

No wonder there is no wonder! We’ve figured it all out!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Grace Makes All the Difference...

My knee is healing quite nicely.  I saw the doctor last week and he didn't even want to look at it.  (That is the second surgeon I've had in the last year that isn't interested in seeing what his work looks like after the fact...I find that very odd.)  He told me I have arthritis in the joint and showed me the pictures and says he believes it was caused by the anti-cancer medicine that I am taking.  Small price to pay, I guess.

I had my third physical therapy session on Friday and they said that I am progressing so well that I don't have to come back.  Hurray!  That was costing me two hours of sick time every time I had to go.  Seemed like a waste to me.  They gave me some exercises that I can do at home to continue the healing and strengthening process and I ran out of there like I was being chased by demons.  8-)

Tom and I had a quiet restful weekend.  We tormented Shadow every chance we got so that she would know we loved her.  (hehehehehe)  She is no longer chewing on the tree (at least not when we are looking) so I think she is broken of that.  I chatted with my Mom for a while on Saturday and that is always fun.  I bought a bunch of kisses and christmas tree reese's candy to stuff stockings with to give to the people at work.  I got them all stuffed (except I need about 4 more stockings...I need to remember where I got those) and ready to bring in to work.

Today's Max is awesome (as usual):

"Grace Makes All the Difference

By Max Lucado

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

If life is “because I have to”—where’s the joy in that?

Too often I hear folks rejecting Christ because they think the Christian life is all about rules and regulations—all about stifling, suffocating ritual.

It happens when we confuse Christ with legalism. Legalism is joyless because it’s endless. There is always another class to attend, another person to teach, another mouth to feed.

Grace! It makes all the difference. I like this quote:

Gone are the exertions of law-keeping, gone the disciplines of legalism, gone the anxiety that having done everything we might not have done enough. We reach the goal not by the stairs but by the lift . . . God pledges his promised righteousness to those who will stop trying to save themselves.

Grace offers rest. Legalism? Never."

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Shadow and The Christmas Tree

Nah, I didn't drop off the face of the earth...

I've been busy relaxing and shoring up my reserves and finishing up Christmas stuff.

We had a wonderful four days off for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  I did not cook...but we did do a deep clean to the house  (a wonderful smell comes from a clean house!) and finished wrapping presents and I even got some Christmas Cards together to send out.

We watched some movies, did some shopping on Black Friday (OK, it was just to Coldwater Creek but they were having a 40% off sale and I couldn't resist...besides, Tom got me a new leather coat for Christmas for a song because of the 40% off.  Good thing he can sing....8-), went out to eat a couple of time (yeah, not dieting right now...I suck but I'm certainly enjoying food...), chatted with my Mom, Sister, Nephew Daniel and Niece Whitney on Skype, played some computer games and read a book.  I came back to work renewed and refreshed.  Time away from work is VERY important to sanity.

We also put up our Christmas Tree.  I think I told you guys how we bought this Thomas Kincaide Christmas Tree and Shadow (our cat) started chewing on it so we put it away and pretty much decided that we wouldn't be able to have a tree this year (again) but we found some stuff that is supposed to taste bad to cats and sprayed it on the the lower part of the tree.  I also put all the presents around the base of the tree in hopes of blocking her from reaching the tree.  (Hello, Teresa...she's a CAT.)

When we got back from shopping on Friday, there sits Shadow on one of the presents just chewing away on the tree.  We walk in and she slowly looks at us and then proceeds to turn back around and chomp on the tree some more.  I went over and tapped her on her nose and said "Bad Shadow" and she just looked at me like I had three heads.  So I tapped a little firmer on her nose and she did her 'squeak' and ran off.  (Wish I had taken a picture of her chewing on that tree....it was quite a sight...she had no idea that it was a no no the way she sat there like she owned it and turned to look at us with an accusatory look that said, "Why are you interrupting my feast?)  So much for the bad tasting spray.  Our cat will eat anyting...and does.  She now insists on guarding the tree when we are home.  She has moved her resting place to the couch that sits by the tree.  (I know she is just waiting until we aren't watching and will be chomping on the thing again...sigh.)

It was raining on Sunday and we went out to the Gazebo to see if there were any leak areas in the roof and we were greeted by dry wood all over the roof so that was good news.  We probably won't finish the gazebo until spring unless we get some warmer weather on the weekend.  We only need to install the screens, door, and ceiling but all that can wait.  The weather here has dropped down into the 30s but it looks like we are going to get some sun today.

OK, I've digressed to a weather report so I'll move on to the Max for today...

"Keep It Real

By Max Lucado

They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Matthew 6:5.

Don’t make a theater production out of your faith. Hypocrisy is a real turn-off.

When someone enters your church to see God, yet can’t see Him because of the church, don’t think for a second God doesn’t react.  Jesus said, “Be especially careful when you’re trying to be good so you don’t make a performance out of it.”

Let’s take hypocrisy as seriously as God does!

Ask yourself, if no one knew of the good I do, would I still do it?

How about giving financial gifts in secret? Money can sure stir the phony within us!

If you raise your hands in church, raise holy ones, not showy ones.  Nothing nauseates more than a fake “praise the Lord” or a shallow “Glory be to God.”

It all might be good theater—but the God who made you won’t be applauding!"

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Productive Weekend

I wonder sometimes what equates to 'productive' time spent?

Since I've been on Effexor, for the wonderful hot flashes that say my anti-cancer meds are working, I've become much more relaxed.  I don't let the mail piling up on my desk bother me.  Stuff all over the kitchen counters?  Who cares?  I can sleep whether it's cleaned up or not.  Type A personality just flew out the window.  My husband quite often says things like "Who are you and what did you do with my wife?"

She's still here but not as obsessive as she used to be.  However...there comes a point when it has to get cleaned up so I spent this weekend, wrapping packages for Christmas (I got ALL my shopping finished this weekend!!  WHOO WHOO!), and cleaning off counters and desktops and getting back into the orderliness that both my husband and I love.  It's kind of a middle ground I am in.  If I have time to take care of the mess then I do, if I don't then I don't lose any sleep over it.  It used to be that I couldn't go to bed unless everything was put in its place.  I became very good at being organized.

Don't get me wrong...I still have to have the sheets, towels, and other laundry washed every week and the dishes have to be washed after each meal, toilets must be cleaned weekly and all manners of sanitation must be accomplished but the paper stuff that collects in a house,  not so much a big deal now.  

However, because I did accomplish all the cleaning and straightening, as well as the shopping and wrapping for Christmas, I felt I had a really productive weekend.  So productivity for me means organization and tasks marked off of lists.  I feel like the Thanksgiving weekend that is coming up will be a really good and relaxed one now.  8-)

I pray that each of you have a wonderful, relaxed, and family filled Thanksgiving!

Here is a little Max for today:

"Look—at You

By Max Lucado

He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness.  Isaiah 61:10

Unnoticed? Neglected? Ignored?

Not even close to how God sees you.

If you are feeling unnoticed and under-appreciated, take a look at how God sees you in I Peter 2:9: “You are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.”

Or how about this description from Isaiah 61:10:  “He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness, like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, like a bride dressed in jewels.”

When your self-esteem sags—remember what you’re worth. Remember that you were bought with a price, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, the pure and perfect lamb.

Remember that. Meditate on it. Focus on it.

Allow God’s love to change the way you look at you."

By Grace Alone -

Teresa