Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! This is truly a special day!

This is the first year in about 10 ten years that I get to spend the day with my dad, my brothers and sisters. We have been 12 hours away in SC. This is the reason why we moved closer to home. Now all I wish is that my son and daughter would move back closer that would be perfect. But, today I am here with my dad and its a great day!! 

Next year maybe Christmas dinner at my house!

My Mom's friend

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/city/2011/11/27/auburn-couple-copes-theft-savings/1120570#.TvREeyHzF7

This is a story that was in the newspaper in the town where my mom lives. Sharon is her best friend, she helps take care of her.  The were robbed by the person they trusted to take care of her before my mom started to take care of her. I am sharing this because mom posted on facebook her best friend this dear lady is in the hospital. This terrible disease is taking her quicky. please pray for her, her family and my mom.

Thank you

A Confident Heart Week 3 Questions

For some reason I have been stalling to answer these questions. It is time to get moving and get this done.

1.What is the craziest thing you have ever done for love?

When I was a teenager I stole my best friend's boyfriend.  It was not a soap opera type thing she was away at some kind of camp and he told me they broke up. I believed him. I did a lot of crazy things for this guy including sleeping with him at the ripe old age of 15. All of which I am not proud of. My friend and I are still in touch in fact we found each other via facebook last year and got together with another friend; we will always keep in touch. The guy we have no idea where he is, but we both would not mind finding out how the years have treated him.

2. Think about your desire to find a relationship, a job, a calling, or something else that would satisfy the longing of your heart. Like Sam (the woman at the well) and me (the author of the book), have you ever looked to something or someone else to fulfill you? describe how that might have shaped the pattern of your thoughts, decisions and pursuits.

This is a very deep question. Before I ask Christ into my life I had a running song in my head. It was popular in the 70s when I was a teenager. The song "Alone Again, Naturally." I tried to fill my heart with many things when I was young, drugs, alcohol (to the point of when I turned 21 I never wanted to drink again and have not.) Even now when I am alone I sometimes let this song sneak in and take hold of me. I hate when I do that!

3.Are your closet, your schedule, your mind, and your life full? How about your heart? Are there empty places that you need and want to trust God to fill? If so list them.


Hmm, my closet, schedule and mind are always full. So full that sometimes I get totally overwhelmed and stay in the house in front of the TV to just escape. I guess there still is the empty space where I feel alone and lonely at times for absolutely no reason at all. I try to make everyone happy. I neglect myself some times to the point of I have no idea how I feel. Sounds silly huh, but when you always put others needs in front of yours sometimes you get lost in their needs. But then again sometime I feel like I am having the life sucked out of me by the very people I want to help.


4. "The origin of the word worship comes from the blending of two words 'worth-ship'. When we worship something or someone, we give great worth in them."(p.58) Where are you tempted to find worth? In what area is it hardest to let God define you-and not the world's standards (i.e., career, financial, success, motherhood, marriage, ministry?

I guess it is hardest to let God define me in my work. I try to let God lead my path but i get caught in the rate race and want to succeed.


5. Read Proverbs 19:22; Psalm 63:2-4 and Psalm 90:14. What do these verses tell you about God's unfailing love? have you ever wondered how God's love could be enough?


They tell me he is my Rock and my Fortress and will never leave me. He will protect me from my foes.  I have been a Christian for a long long time and sometimes I still have doubts about how God's love could be enough. It makes me sad and embarrassed to say that but it is true.

6. What is the difference between salvation and satisfaction in Christ?

The difference is salvation is for ever God sent His son Jesus Christ to die for me to wash me clean of all my sins. Once I except that it is done; my salvation is sealed! He did it; He loves me; He died for me. Satisfaction is a completely different story that comes from me am I satisfied in what I perceive of what my life should be.  I do not think as humans we can ever be completely satisfied. 


7. "We were made for love that isn't measured by our last accomplishment but marked by God's measureless grace." (p.62) Write a few when-then statements for areas in your life where you can apply this truth. example When I am tempted to measure my value by how well I am doing as a ______, I will stop. Then I will thank God for His measureless grace that fills my gaps and determines my value, which is not measured by my accomplishments but by His love for me.

When I am tempted to measure my value by how I preform as a nurse, I will stop. Then I will thank God for His measureless grace that fills my gaps and determines my value, which is not measured by my accomplishments but by His love for me and how I pass it on.

This one was a deep set of questions I imagine the only get deeper in the future. The book Is A Confident Heart by Renee Swope of 31 ministry. I recommend you take the journey also.

Its Hodge Podge time!!!

1. Are you cooking Christmas dinner? How many will be round your table this year? What are we having?

I am not cooking for Christmas. I think I am going to my dad's house and my step mom will cook. She is the best and cooks great. We will have ham, potatoes, some veggie and desserts.

2. What is one must-have Christmas cookie in your house?


My husbands favorite cookie is a snickerdoodle.
 Mine is pizzelle. My Nana made them all my life we had an abundance of them every holiday. I won't have them this year. I miss that .

 
3. Santa likes a glass of milk with his cookies-do you? What kind of milk is on tap at your house-skim, almond, soy, full fat (Gasp!)


I do like milk with my cookies but very rarely have it in my house. We do not drink much milk. Actually I just through away a quart that was expired in November. LOL!
 
4. Time magazine recently named its Person of the Year for 2011. This is the person the editors believe has had the greatest impact, for better or worse, in the past year. This year they chose 'The Protester'. Your thoughts? Who would you name person of the year for 2011?


I looked at this last night and I am apalled! There are many people out there who could have been named person of the year who actually did make a difference in peoples lives instead we are paying homage to the protester who stands on the streets and causes a scene. I ahve been at a peaceful protest before at an abortion clinic we were quiet and did not cause a scene or get in the way. I do not believe this is what we have come to.

5. December 21st is National Flashlight Day...when was the last time you needed a flashlight? Did you know right where to find one?

I did not know there was a national flashlight day! Wow that is interesting. I actually do use them here at work when I do neuro checks. I have to flash a light in the patients eyes to see if the pupils dilate. I do not think I have one in the apartment; I think I would have to buy one.

6. candy canes...yum or yuck?


Yum for me!! I love them. Usually carry around a bag at this time of year. I have been distracted this year.
I like the story of the origin of the candy cane although snopes.com says it is no true I still like the story of how it was shaped in a J to represent Jesus. The color is red and white to symbolize the blood of Christ that washes us white as snow.


7. What Christmas carol lyric means the most to you?


I love the song O come O come Emanuel! It is my most favorite ever. If I can figure out how to do I will post here.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roy3Ft6Fvbk  at least I got the link here yeah me!!

I don't know why it is my favorite maybe because it something I remember from church when I was a child and then I also sang it in church as an adult. I just absolutely love this song!
 
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I know you are tired of hearing this like I am tired of telling you but we put an offer on a house again this week it is a lovely updated splt entry. The did not except but offered only $1000.00 more added to our offer so we excepted. We will hopefully if all goes well close on a new home Jan 13! Yes Friday the 13!! Maybe that is the sign that this will all work this time!!

Wrap it up

hello, I have not been here for a while I have been sulking and whining. I thought I would spare you that. We put an offer on a house; it offended them, really! So they decided to go ahead with another buyer and a lease purchase deal. Then we had to start looking all over again. We had a glimmer of hope when the people from the other house we really wanted agreed to make the changes FHA wanted and lower the price a little. Bottom line they did not agree with the FHA appraiser and backed out. So for the last few days we have been driving around looking at houses AGAIN!

We had a nice break last night going to my hubbys Christmas Party at the Hilton in Downtown Columbus, nice place. No contential breakfast like the cheaper hotels, guess thats how they make their money, just sayin. The room was amazing but reminded me of a cruise ship where whatever you touch cost money, extra money. We did have a great time, we ate, we hung out with friends and finally slept good and that is what it is all about.

Today we went to look at two more houses with the realtor. One we really liked till we got inside! Lots of clutter weird floor plan. The other is a split entry which I said I would never buy because a certain aunt has a house like that and somehow although I never see them I would be copying them which believe me I am NOT!! Anyhow, it is a maarvelous house and beautifully decorated, (nothing like theirs). We are making an offer and hoping, praying this is the one and everything goes through this time! So maybe we will have a great Christmas present!