God Hears and Answers

I was so annoyed earlier when I discovered that the post I did yesterday was unreadable because I had been "piddling" with text and background colors. I should have just stuck with what I knew worked, but it's fun to play. Anyway. long story short, after attempting to just EDIT yesterday's post, I found I had completely obliterated it! DANG! I had worked really hard on it and had cute pics and used 3 different text colors, and I was SO EXCITED! The whole thing was based on things that I was EXCITED about! GONE in one little mistaken hit.
Then, I checked my email where I found today's a Simple Wife post. I have kept up, as many of you have, with lovely Joanne in Colorado, and the horrendous stroke and ensuing rollercoaster ride she and her dear family have been on for the past weeks. Today, SHE had TYPED a few sentences HERSELF; JOANNE, who had been been in a coma for what? almost 2 weeks? SHE, who had been on the brink of death; SHE, who has a soft flap over her brain where part of her skull had to be removed due to swelling; JOANNE, whom it was thought by many professionals would never again have any QUALITY of LIFE, TYPED the sentences at the beginning of the post! Not only had she done the typing, her personality and humor showed through. I was smiling at what she had to say:) I am just a beginner here, and all I had seen before of Joanne was a video of her and her 2 little daughters quoting from Psalms. Since her stroke,I have visited her sister, Kristen's blog, and I have read all the posts by Joanne's husband, former posts of Joanne's, and posts from her little girl, and I have joined obviously thousands who have been united in prayer concerning Joanne and the entire family. So, after realizing the tremendous progress she has made when, as Toben said today, "she has just gotten started," I thought, "Now THIS is something to BE EXCITED ABOUT! God is faithful. He has heard the prayers of his people...the prayers in behalf of Joanne...and we are seeing HIM at work. Praise HIS holy name. I'M SO EXCITED and thankful, and I am not letting down. I am praying for JOANNE. "The fervant, effectual prayer of a righteous man/woman availeth much." (notice: that's not SELF-righteous.)
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and PRAY,and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and then I will heal their land." or their illness, or their despair, or their pain, or..., or..., or... .

Sing-a-ma-Jig-It!

Oh, my goodness! My forever friend, Teresa, has sent some wonderful folks my way, and I am just so excited! Thank you all so much for the warm welcome to "Blogger Land!" I can hardly wait to visit each and every one of you and follow your blogs! Here I had been thinking, "what have I got to read?" and, Presto! with a wave of Teresa's magic mouse (and probably a promised morsel) you ALL SHOWED UP! I had a little bout with the dreaded stomach bug during the weekend, then celebrated Valentines Day, and hadn't checked in, and, WOW!! WHAT a BIG DEAL! Lots of new friends. So, although I'm getting a rather slow start this week, be patient...I will be at YOUR PLACE to see you soon:)

Now, on to the Sing-a-ma-Jigs. I hope all of you are acquainted with these little guys. The ones I am seen holding went to two of my "littles," Addie and Jack during a family Christmas get-together. Jack's TOO little to quite figure them out yet, but Addie seems to have fun with them, and Jack kinda likes carrying them around. I think my nieces and I had more fun with them than the children did, and I'm quite certain my son-in-law hid them at the bottom of the toy box after I left! Sing-a-ma-Jigs make sounds and can blend together when you squeeze their "tummies." They also greet you when you pick them up and "shake" their hands and tell you "Bye-bye" when you leave them. Quite mannerly of them. They are colorful and have cute/funny expressions on their little faces, and some of them have very wild hair, all of which makes it quite easy to smile or laugh at them. You just can't be with them in a group situation without smiling, even if in bewilderment, at the crazy fun grown-ups can have with the little critters. Oh, and on top of all THAT FUN, each one has a special song to sing. . . like, "you are my sunshine," "oh, my darlin' Clemintine,". . . some song well known throughout generations of folks. One "S-a-m-J" I am NOT holding is one I have here at home. It is probably the least desirable looking little Sing-a-ma-jig, but I think it has the BEST SONG. My little YELLOW guy with LAVENDER LIPS and a BLUISH-GREEN NOSE and HOT PINK patch of HAIR sings "THIS LITTLE LIGHT of MINE, I'm gonna let it shine; this little light of mine. . . I'm gonna let it shi-een. This little LIGHT of MINE, I'm gonna let it shine! Let it SHI-EEN, let it SHI-EEN, let it SHINE!" Now, isn't that just the BEST? Isn't it just what WE are HERE on Planet Earth for? to be gentle people, to make others feel better, give a smile, not worry so much with outward appearances, and to blend with those we meet in a pleasing, accepting way? I know my light gets kind of dim sometimes as I get caught up in the business and drama of "life in general," as is probably the case with many of you. As a mom, friend, Nana, wife, teacher, and, certainly, as a Christian, I understand that lots of eyes turn in my direction, and I really want to be caught "shining" instead of with my batteries run down. I need to take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. How about you? How's YOUR LIGHT shining today?

Encouraging and challenging words: "YOU are the LIGHT of the WORLD. . . Let your LIGHT SHINE before 'others,' that they may SEE your good deeds and PRAISE your FATHER in Heaven." from Matthew Chapter 5, the BIBLE.

Snow Days

I am a "southern girl," and having two really good snows in the same winter is something of a rarity to us in South Arkansas. Many of my friends and I agree that we love having snow but really would not like living in a place where snow isn't "special." I am just enchanted with the sight of it, and the feel of it falling on me...it doesn't hurt when it hits me, and it doesn't get me wet if I brush it off.  But the other thing I really, really love about snow falling, is the SOUND of it. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? I simply must go outside during the thick of things and just listen...It's a very different sound than rain or sleet, or, certainly hail. It's ice, but it's not. Snow is soft, and it lands on some surfaces soundlessly, but on others in a little "sploofy" sound. I love to hear it as it drifts onto and through the leaves that haven't yet fallen... It's like what my inside little-girl-self thinks of as the sound "magic dust" would make as a fairy godmother grants a wish. Oh, yes, there is still that little girl inside. Aren't you in touch with the one inside you? (unless you're a guy, of course, but even a guy would get it!) I remember being just a little girl, probably around three, and I was looking out the back door, staring at something I just couldn't figure out. It was just sifting down at the time, and after watching it for a few minutes, I finally went to my mama and asked, "Mama, why are all those mosquitoes falling out of the sky?" I really remember that and how my parents laughed! I also remember getting bundled up in my snowsuit and my little hat with a pom-pom on top, and going out to experience the snow. There are still pictures of me somewhere...I will have to dig them out and show them to the "grands." Oh, and who doesn't remember snow-cream! Daddy would take a big pan and go out to find the cleanest, freshest snow and Mama would mix up that sweet, vanilla-laced concoction, and we would truly celebrate the day. When my own children were growing up, we carried on the traditions of those wonderful days ...snow families, snow ice cream, snow fights, sledding.. and now they are passing on the magic of snow days to their children. All I can say is, "Beautiful."

Re-evaluating and Refurbishing ME

In the picture, I am standing on one of the largest precipices in the world, I suppose. . . The Grand Canyon. It's all behind and underneath me. A truly breathtaking scene, just after a rain, clouds forming BELOW and rising. I will probably never stand in that exact place again, even if I do return to that amazing work of God's art.

This week I've found myself at a different precipice. I've realized I've got to make some changes in my life. I haven't felt well, and it's been difficult to "get over" it. Without going into much boring detail, I'll say that my doctor and I had a good talk, and we have re-evaluated some meds I have been taking. My blood pressure was elavated, which is pretty much unheard of for me; I have been enduring a terrible bout with i.b.s. and had a very scary gastric spasm a few days ago. Good doctor checked me out to make sure that was "it" and no heart thingy, and we changed some meds and did away with some others.
All of this "health or lack of" business has really affected me. For the first time in my life, I was FEELING OLD! I am not accustomed to being ill, and have made up my mind to not continue such nonsense. Like the Grand Canyon, stretching miles behind and beneath me, and still changing and growing, I have a lot of LIFE already behind ME and I don't want to cause what is ahead to be unpleasant through neglect. I have WAY too much/MANY to live for and I want the LIVING to be full of "memory makers" for my children and our "grands." So, beginning yesterday FOR KEEPS, I've adopted and finally welcomed a new life-style, not that my former was so bad, but I think this is better: My day now begins with Bible reading, seriously. It's not a new thing for me to read the Bible, but I had become neglectful, and that's just not right. My spiritual life needs a boost, and what better way than listening to God through his word. I have a wonderful little book called DAILY LIGHT that was first published in Kings James Version in 1794 by Samuel Bagster. In 1998 it was re-published by Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Rev. Billy Graham. It's total scripture, no commentary, 2 topical pages for every day of the year and extra reading for particular occasions in life. I would recommend it for anyone. I'm reading that and Open Windows devotional, and at some point during the day, I am working on memorizing 2 new scriptures for each month with Beth Moore and other "Siestas." Surely if my 3-yr-old granddaughter can recite the entire BOOK, PINKALICIOUS, I can learn a few scriptures! (although, I'm admitting it's hard for an older brain!)

The next phase of the day, after a healthy breakfast and time enough for it to "settle," I am EXERCISING. This is HUGE for me...anyone who knows me understands that; I pretty much LOATHE it, BUT, "New Me" is embracing the GAZELLE. And I'm making the best of it:) I am spending close to an hour gliding along, or more like swooping along on the gazelle, and watching Hoda and Kathy or something I've recorded, as well as spending time in intercessory prayer. Some people have a "prayer walk," I have a "prayer swoop."

Enough said today...you get the picture. OUT with the whole idea of OLD, and in with the NEW and IMPROVING, ME! We'll talk "diet" on another day. "Oh, God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works." Ps. 71:17

Frenzied Over Fries!

BACK AWAY FROM THE FRIES, and nobody gets stabbed with a fork!! Look at that plate of fries. How can it look so "average" yet get such emotional responses? Easy. These are fries specially made by my husband from what must be a secret recipe, because none I've ever tasted can compare. They are so good, he could win a fry-off, and even though I have provided a picture with ketchup, they don't need  it; they are great just eaten "au natural." This is not just MY opinion. I am backed up by everyone else in the family. I've seen our kids, particularly the younger two, almost fight for the last crumbs on the plate. That's only happened when I've been feeling generous though, because I usually have the plate nearest to ME. Yes, I hold the keys to the kingdom of fries. What's all the fuss? Let me attempt: Bill peels the potatoes, cuts them in various sizes and lengths and then uses a regular frying pan, not one of the non-stick, not a cast iron, but a good, deep, stainless steel pan with enough hot oil to cover the potatoes. He doesn't just fry a few at a time and keep them spaced out; no, he puts in the whole shebang with a whoosh! Once he begins the magic, he never leaves the pan unattended, and he continuously stirs and chops and stirs and mashes and watches over until this Merlin of the kitchen is convinced they are "just right." At that magic moment they are piled high on a platter, sprinkled generously with salt and pepper. . . those crispy yet tender entirely delectable golden fries. We know we must "play nice" for the first pass around the table, but after that, it's every man, woman and child to him/herself, and woe to the one who tries to get in MY way! Yes, the frenzied expression is real.   Back   away    from  the   fries.