Flash Mobs and Frosted Cookies

...two things I love! Take a minute and check this out...

Thank you, Susan (Pryor Hodges, a college buddy), for sharing this with me yesterday. I love watching flash mobs. It's so cool that a group of people will get together and practice and practice to learn a song (and sometimes choreography) in order to surprise another group of people with the goal of making them smile, of giving them joy, and––in this instance––of glorifying Christ! Love it! 

Watching this brought tears to my eyes and makes me long for the day when we'll sing a new song in heaven together, part of a mighty chorus, similar to what's described in the fifth chapter of Revelation...

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered––

to receive power and riches 

and wisdom and strength 

and honor and glory and blessing."

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power

belong to the one sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb forever and ever!"

I join with the four living beings to say "Amen!" Can't you picture it? Can't you taste that eternal longing that God's placed within each of us?

And now for something else I love and long for (all too often)… Cookies! 

Kelsey and I baked this past Thanksgiving weekend, and I wish I could have shared some of the sweets with y'all. They're safely distributed to neighbors and co-workers now, which is a good thing. I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings. Ours was very nice. It was special to be with family but the table still felt so empty without Mom. 

The holidays can be precious, but they can also be so very hard. I hope that amidst the hustle and bustle of this next month, and in between the moments when some of us may wish that January was already here, that you'll have some "Hallelujah" moments of your own, when you're overwhelmed with the person of Jesus Christ and what He's done for you and me. For what He continues to do. And that you'll take a step closer to Him.

And maybe you'll also get a glimpse of what awaits us when we sing that new song together someday. A song we'll already know by heart. And can't you just imagine the choreography! ;)

Tammy

Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord

Is there a trial in your life? There's a new one in mine, a serious one I didn't expect to be facing. Yet here I am, facing it. There's no way around it. I just have to walk through it, one step at a time.

Trials come our way while we walk this mortal trail, don't they? Well, I might have to walk through the trial, but I plan to do some running, too. I'm running to my Savior, my refuge and my fortress. I'm running to His word where I can feed upon His promises and be reminded once again that He is a God who delights in performing miracles for those who love Him.

I invite you to run there with me.

---

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; 
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”

---

Thank You, Lord.

~robin

Truth in Advertising

We read-a-holics can’t help ourselves. If there are letters and words, we get drawn in. I’m forever musing about the signs and labels all about me. Don't you do the same thing?

OPEN. That sign is succinct and effective.

“Use in a well-ventilated area,” is on all sorts of bathroom cleaners. If the area were well-ventilated, it wouldn’t have grown mold or mildew in the first place.

“Do no use while sleeping,” is emblazoned on my hair dryer. Who can take a shower, wash her hair, and still be asleep? If I’m reading that caution, I’m awake enough to use the dryer.

OPI brand nail polish is a delight. Whoever names their colors is incredibly clever and descriptive. Teal the Cows Come Home, Melon of Troy, and Do You Lilac It?… the colors match the descriptions. I'm impressed. Though I'd love to have the name-that-hue job, I doubt I'd be half as good at it.

Then there's this sign: I guess it does describe the garment, but wouldn’t it be easier just to call it a sweatshirt?

Sweat and Perspiration Soaker Antiperspirant Armpit Patches. Yes, you read that correctly. I'll spare you any illustrations. These are adhesive patches someone, somewhere uses to they don’t have unsightly wet underarm rings. Hmmmm. Maybe that’s why they aren’t called sweatshirts anymore—the people who buy the shirt wear these!




Some things get lost in translation. Digital Storage Box For Underwear 20 Cup Space. This drawer organizer is to organize drawers... or tea cups. Hopefully not both at the same time. It has twenty sections—but the digital? Look closely at the pattern. Those are numbers.

New 2L Bicycle Mouth Water Bladder Bag Hydration Hiking. Ewwwwwwww. This is one of those times when both product design and word choice needed a major overhaul. I suppose we can all be grateful this is new. Even if I were parched from biking or hiking, I’d want to drink from something other than a “bladder bag.”

Then, there are the what-could-they-possibly-mean bloopers. I still haven’t figured out what is “cute” about a “Tofu mobile stand cell phone holder.” If you understand it, please explain it to me!

Need a stocking stuffer for someone naughty? Instead of coal, you could get an Ear Wax Remover Curette Screw.

As for me, though, I’ve interested in the New bamboo grazing slippers that clean dust. My feet are always cold, and the floor needs to be cleaned. Those might actually work. I only wish the "magic slimming weight loss slipper shoes" or the "magnetic silicone weight loss toe ring" would fulfill their promise.

"Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."

--St. Francis of Assissi

I wear a cross and say I’m a Christian. When people look at me, I pray they see truth in advertising.

What’s your sign?
And for a chuckle, please share the crazy labels you’re read.

Smiles to you all,
Cathy

Life At Its Best

Life at its best for me is one that is heavily dosed with family and friends. I'm so blessed to have a good share of both and there's nothing like the holiday season for reminding me of how precious they are to me.

Thanksgiving always brings me thoughts of what it means to be truly thankful for the people in my life. I think I've come to the conclusion that when you can endure each other's flaws and painful realities and still find yourself grateful at the end of the day to call that person family or friend--then you are truly blessed in a way that money could never buy.

I'm very grateful for my blog sisters here - Robin, Tammy, Kim, Judy and Cathy. These women have become dear friends over the years, and while I know some better than others and have to repent of various envies I have of each of them, I am so thankful God brought them into my life. I have learned so much from them and they have blessed me in ways that they'll probably never know. So thank you, my sisters.

I'm very thankful for my church family. I have an incredible women's ministry team who work with me to put together programs for our women. They are devoted to sharing the love of Jesus with each other and with the community. We are a tiny church, but this year we put together over 70 Christmas boxes for Samaritan's Purse and had such a great time doing it.
There are also incredible men who attend our church and they have been a blessing I'm thankful for as they have ministered to my husband and me on so many occasions. Topping the list - our pastor and his wife are a huge blessing. I'm thankful we live in a country where we are allowed to worship freely and I know that God has given me a precious gift in this church body.

There are of course so many friends in my life that I'm very grateful for. Far too many to name here, but they know who they are. There are those who have been with me since childhood and those who have walked through the very worst life could dish out. There are those who have come later in my life, but who also have encouraged me through tough times. Together they make up a special part of who I am and why I'm here. I thank God for them and their patience with me.

Lastly, my family - both close and extended. How precious you are to me. I'm so thankful God made us a family--that despite the problems of life--we have each other. I have such great family in my aunts and uncle, cousins, niece and nephew and this year my new grand-niece.





My children Jen, Julie and Erik were the completion of my life. My son-in-law Geoff and three grandkids were icing on that completion. My mother and sister Karen
are faithful to encourage and when you add my sis's husband Pete we have a terrific game of dominoes.





I'm grateful for my African son John Pierre and his wife Albine and my 6 granddaughters - Merville, Christa Bella, Ruth, Tracie, Fiorintina, and Ayolina.








My husband Jim and I have been married nearly 31 years and the ride resembles a roller coaster with highs and lows--but I'm so blessed to be here at this time and place and realize what a gift we have in our relationship.

And best of all - the legacy of my parents, and their parents and theirs and theirs etc. was steeped in a faith in Jesus Christ. How blessed I am, and how very thankful I am for His gift.

So this week--this season--I'm very thankful for my family and friends and the love that they have shown me throughout my life. You are a lifeline to me and Jesus with skin on. Thank you.
I'm even thankful for snowblowers! Here I'm layered with 4 tops, 2 bottoms, 2 pairs of gloves, a muffler, a fur-lined hat, woolen socks and snowboots for my -20 degree winter wonderland.


Tracie

Happy Thanksgiving to You & Yours!

Arizona--Chapter Three

This is the last of the Arizona adventures, but I couldn’t close without telling you about a few places Justin and I enjoyed while I was there. At my request, we visited the Phoenix Zoo. I really enjoy visiting zoos in different cities and Phoenix has a great one. Justin did a great job snapping pictures of the animals. It’s a large zoo, but we managed to visit the majority—even stopping to feed the giraffes although it looks like they're ready to have a go at us, if given a moment longer.



As I mentioned last week, the Arizona landscape is subject to change by driving only a short distance. With the mountains in close proximity, one only needs to drive less than an hour to view stark differences in the landscape. After hearing some wonderful comments about the Dolly Steamboat cruise at Canyon Lake, located in the heart of the Superstition Mountains, we decided a cruise was in order. Although only 35 miles from Justin’s home, the drive took a bit longer than anticipated as once we began to climb and then descend the mountain that would take us into the canyon, the winding road required speeds of only 15 miles per hour. To be hones, even 15 mph was more than I preferred. I’ve been through the hills of West Virginia, but I’m here to tell you that I thought we were going to meet ourselves coming and going on those hairpin turns. I must say, however, that it was worth every lurch in the pit of my stomach. Once we’d made that final curve into the canyon and saw the lake, the view took my breath away. All I could think was what a magnificent Creator we serve.

A short time later we board the Dolly and enjoyed a leisurely ninety minute cruise with opportunities for some fabulous scenery. I loved this picture—can you see the girl's profile? We saw a couple bighorn sheep, a few hawks and an eagle. I highly recommend a cruise if you’re ever in the area—they do have nighttime dinner cruises, but I sure wouldn’t want to navigate that road at night! On our return, we stopped at an old gold mining camp where visitors could pan for gold, ride an old train, go on a trail ride or watch the good guys, bad guys, and saloon girls put on an Old West gun fighting exhibition. I loved this picture that reveals the smoke after the gunfight ended.

And for those who have asked about Zoey, here’s a picture. Zoey had gone to live with Justin after Jim’s death, but because Justin travels so much, Zoey has been adopted by one of his friends. However, she came over for a visit while I was there. She has a ‘brother’ at her new home and the two of them have quite a time playing together. She is very happy and didn’t even remember me, a sure sign she has adjusted to her new life and new playmate.
May you find joy as you explore the wonders of God’s Creation. And a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all of you, dear friends! ~Judy

A Thanksgiving Proclamation

A Thanksgiving Proclamation from our nation's President...

"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you are no doubt aware by now, if you've read this far, this is not a proclamation from one of our nation's recent presidents. It's President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from October 3, 1863. But it's astounding how appropriate Lincoln's words are for today. And yet how foreign they sound in relation to our leaders acknowledging God our Creator. 

When is the last time you heard our President or a member of Congress publicly acknowledge God in this way? Much less acknowledge our sinfulness and dependence upon God? I don't know your political party affiliation and honestly, that's not what's important. What's important is that we're all seeking God's wisdom and will and direction for this nation and its leaders. As well as for other nations and world leaders.

When's the last time I've prayed for President Obama and his family? For Congress? For my governor? For the mayor and other leaders in my community? I think about these various officials on occasion (some more than others), but I don't get on my knees on their behalf near enough.

I'm grateful to live in the United States of America. A nation in which people are dying to get into, and a nation for which others are dying to protect. Would you join me this week and read through this proclamation again with a heart of prayer as we lift up our leaders to the Lord? I'll be right beside you on my knees.

And lest I wax too serious on this Tuesday, let me share a fabulous recipe for Pumpkin Bread! Love this stuff, and it's so easy. It's a "one bowl bread." Just throw everything in and stir. My house smells so good! Grab the recipe here.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving,

Tammy

Read more about the history of this proclamation.

Daddy! My Daddy!

I grew up in a family of women. My dad, grandfathers, and all but one uncle were deceased. My cousins were all girls. The only males in my family were my older brother and one uncle (who had no children of his own). My childhood was a good one. My family was warm and fun-loving, and I never doubted for a moment that I was loved. But the lack of men in those formative years, particularly the lack of a dad, definitely impacted my life and colored decisions I made as an adult. Some of those decisions were not very wise ones. Some of the ways not having a dad impacted my life I couldn't even understand until recent years.



But I think my deepest regret is because I still struggle with knowing God as Abba. As Daddy.



The Week 1 Day 5 lesson in Living Beyond Yourself is on the Abba relationship we have with God when we are in Christ. Beth Moore writes, "Not only did we receive a new Father [when we became Christians], but we were invited to partake in a very distinct relationship with that Father ... Abba is a term of extreme endearment expressed by a young child to his beloved father, his hero, the one who kisses his scraped knee and dries his fresh tears. Abba would be the word used only for a parent who was familiar, available, trustworthy, and comforting. Literally, it is 'Daddy, my Daddy.'"


Easton's Bible Dictionary gives this information for the term Abba: "This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated 'father.' It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence."

Those three verses referred to above are these:

 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15)

I like the Message version of Rom. 8:15: This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6)

When I was a fairly new Christian, I asked God one time to help me know what it was like to be held in a father's arms. And He answered that prayer. I literally felt His arms embrace and hold me. To this day, I can see where I was sitting when that happened. And yet, thirty-plus years later, I can't quite grasp what it means for God to be my Abba Father.



Don't get me wrong. I know I'm loved by God. He's shown me His love in so many ways. I trust Him as my Father. But I'm still looking forward to that moment in heaven when I will understand fully what it means to be with my Abba Daddy. The moment when I don't feel that lack of a point of reference from my childhood. I think I shall climb into His lap and just stay there for a long, long while.



In the grip of His grace,

~robin

Turkey Tales

Dressing a Really Big Bird?

Beloved Big Bird from Sesame Street, isn’t a turkey, but his costume is made of nearly 4,000 white turkey feathers that were dyed bright yellow.

A wacky sport started not long ago. People go to the bowling alley and use frozen turkeys instead of balls on Thanksgiving. Since I couldn’t bowl with a frozen turkey online, I thought I’d just roll some interesting turkey info your way for the holiday…

There went our supper…
Sneaking up on a turkey is hard. They have excellent vision and hearing.
Turkeys can have heart attacks: many in fields near Air Force test sites dropped dead from the shock of passing jets that broke the sound barrier.

Birds of a different color.

Wild and domesticated turkeys are different creatures.
Domesticated ones are twice as large, and so heavy-breasted, they cannot fly.
Wild turkeys are “camouflaged” instead of pale/white-feathered, have more dark meat, and can fly. They like roosting in trees at night.

Round Trip?
Wild turkeys were probably first domesticated by native Mexicans.
Spaniards took tame Mexican turkeys to Europe in 1519.
The Pilgrims brought back several turkeys to America on the voyage in 1620!

Time to Celebrate
The Wampanoag Tribe helped the Plymouth Pilgrims by bringing them food and helping them farm and live off the land. The First Thanksgiving (1621) lasted for three days. They ate “fowl” but many experts think it was probably duck or geese--not turkey!

Then Thanksgiving disappeared.

In October of 1777 all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time; BUT it was a one-time event to commemorate a victory over the British at Saratoga.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Several people did not want it including Thomas Jefferson, who thought Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard."

Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s Ladies’ Book, campaigned for about 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Finally Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving, praise and prayer in 1863.

Every President since Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day.

UNTIL 1939, 1940, and 1941 when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday forward by a week to lengthen the holiday shopping season. This upset people so much, Congress moved the date back.

In 1863 Tad Lincoln wanted to keep the turkey intended for Thanksgiving supper as a pet. Thus, Abraham Lincoln started the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey.

91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

I’m thankful for so many things—great and small… and among them, that I’m not a turkey this week. (Though several people might think I’m a turkey the rest of the year.) Yet, I am pardoned. And so are you.

God bless you and yours,
Cathy

The Babies at My House

No, I'm not giving my hubby or mother a hard time. They aren't the babies at our house. The babies I'm talking about are our kitties. Since I'm traveling this week, I thought I'd just share a short and simple look at our house.

With our beloved collie gone, we have put off getting another dog until spring and the kitties are more than happy about this.

My husband Jim calls them his "cat team" or more officially his "Rocky Mountain Feline Response Team". Someone once challenged this title saying that they were cats and really couldn't respond, but as Jim put it - any response of any kind from them would indeed be a Feline Response, and hence the title stays.

We're down to two cats at present, but at times have had three. For a couple of years we took care of our grandkitty Simon (our daughter Jen's cat).
He's now living with his Meowme and happily enjoys being the focus of her life.







That leaves just
Cal or Calvin J Whiskers as he is formally called,











and

Safari who we worry might very well be demon possessed. Of course it could just be that she's 1/2 Siamese.











These two give us plenty of entertainment and hours and hours of love. They are good nappers too, and have definitely encouraged more naps at our house.


Come spring we hope to get a new puppy - possibly another collie, but for now the kitties rule and that's A-ok. They have earned a rest.

God Bless
Tracie

What's your sign?

Being a writer, I suppose it's no surprise I like words. When we moved into our new house and Daddy was putting together my office, I chose the above wallpaper border because it is simply a collage of sayings, all professions of faith. I love how these sayings encircle my office, much the way God's love encircles me. The border is a perfect reminder of why I sit in this room, faithfully applying fingertips to keyboard...my ministry is to share, in story form, truths of God's love and grace.

But the border is just one example of the "words" that fill my space... Before you even enter my office, you'll encounter these two signs posted on the French doors:

The one on the left is meant to playfully warn anyone who might be considering interrupting my focus that I am working in here, so leave me be! (lol) But of course, it's softened by the presence of my favorite word. I found the HOPE decal in a shop in Ohio and couldn't wait to make it a permanent part of my office.

I tucked a bulletin board in the cubby of my computer hutch for family pics, miscellaneous reminders, etc. I trade out sayings, but currently one by Isaac Asimov is featured. Amazing how accurately the words ring. The years I gave up writing (because of my fear of rejection), I always felt as though a little piece of me was missing. Even though I had a good life--a productive life--it wasn't complete until I answered God's call to take up the pen and write for Him. When we do what we're designed to do, we truly live. :o)

Some of the signs around my room are whimsical--including this one! Mom and Daddy dropped it off--a "just because" gift they spotted in a gift shop. (Yes, my name is Kim, and I am a chocoholic...) The sign makes me smile, and reminds me of the sweet gift of loving, Christian parents.

This little tin sign featuring a thought on friendship was a gift from one of my critique partners. I love it because it came from someone dear to me, but it's also so accurate. Friends enhance our lives in millions of ways. "Friendship" truly is one of our greatest gifts.

And now, for the last "sign" I will share with you today...

Not a very fancy sign, is it? A sticky note bearing scrawling penmanship (because I was in a hurry), but a message that has whispered hope to my heart time and time again. These words of wisdom came from the mouth of one of my characters (Eli, from Fields of Grace), and after they appeared on my computer screen I knew I wanted to hold them close, remember them, treasure the assurance that hard times can serve a good purpose in God's kingdom. So I quickly scribbled them on the closest writing pad and slapped the note on the drawer front of my hutch. This note has remained right in my line of vision when I sit down at the computer for more than two years. I hope the stickiness lasts forever...just as God's faithfulness lasts forever.

Well, that's it for now...but I still have more signs to share! So come back next week to read about a recurring theme in my office and why it appears in this room and wings so frequently through my heart. :o) Until then, may you see signs of God's presence in every direction you look!

May God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim