♥ Christian Encouragers #191 ♥
 

My Pictures
 

Time to get caught up!!!
 

I Really Do Have A Dull Life...
 

Sunny-
Hummus:
2 cups garbanzo beans...these take quite a long time to soak/cook...so don't give up.

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 cloves garlic

4 tbl lemon juice (fresh organic lemons) I suppose you don't HAVE to do organic (I probably would not due to cost).

2 tbl Ume Plum Vinegar

4 tbl Tahini

2 tbl olive oil (first cold pressed is important)

Parsley for garnish

Blend ingregients until smooth in a food processor, blender, food grinder of just mash and mix by hand.

Use as a sandwich spread, add lettuce and alfalfa sprouts on pita bread. The mixture may also be shaped into a mound on a flat plate, indent the middle with a spoon and fill with olive oil for a dipping spread or with veggies.

I will gather some more and post them.

Hi Dawn. I really like that...Dawn...a new day...thank the Lord.

I reorganized my zipper pulls for the upcoming craft show (Nov 6) and reprinted the book mark cards to hang from. Now I just need to wait for chain to go on sale at Hobby Lobby so I can buy that and replace ALL the chain in the bookmarks with better chain. The old chain, I discovered the night before the last craft show, was quite weak/cheap. I really want to replace it all. I have a "custom" order board to make up and that is my next project for the show to create.

Sunny- LOVE the house...will you come clean mine and decorate it? I tend to not have alot of decorations around because I think to myself..."Gee, I'd have to dust it and I don't even have time to look at it."

Today: Going to pull the annuals out of the flower beds and replace with newspaper so once it biodegrades or whatever it does, the ink from the newspaper is supposed to kill the weeds still lurking around deep in the ground.

Perhaps I will go and shoot some arrows and visit a couple people at Shepherds then home to prepare for tomorrow's craft with the church kids.

Have a swell weekend all and I pray it is filled with many lovely moments!

October 9, 2004 dieters devotions
 

October 9


Isaiah 26:4
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.


Lettuce! Celery! Low-fat cottage cheese! Yeesh! It never got any more interesting. The same old bland foods got tiresome after awhile. Debbie thought she would go crazy before long. She knew what she was doing was a good thing. She really wanted to lose weight. She wanted to look and feel great. Sometimes she didn't know whether it was going to pay off. She believed that God was happy with her desire to lose weight. She trusted that He would help her. Often, it was only the strength she received from trying to please God that kept her going. She was thankful that God gave her that kind of strength.
Today's thought: The only thing I'll give us is being fat!

Devotions for Nibblers - October 9, 2004
 

A cry for help
Exodus 2:23 says
Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God.

My friend had a heart attack last night, and today, as then urses wheeled him to surgery, he whispered to his wife, "I'm scared."

Those words were his cry for help. A man who is scared needs support, understanding, and encouragement. He's recovering from surgery, and now he needs not only medical skill; he has to stick to a low-fat diet, keep his spirits high, and start an exercise program.

That's whre his friends come in. We can volunteer to accompany him on walks or go to the gym with him. When he comes to our houses for dinner, we'll serve the right foods. And when depression tries to overwhelmhim, we'll be there to hold him up.

Maybe we who nibble, nibble, nibble need to say 'I'm scared," and ask our friends and faith community for help. We might recover a lot faster.

For further reflection
Can you admit to yourself you're scared? Scared of going without comfort foods; afraid tos tart one more exercise regimen that you might give up on; scared to admit you're powerless over food? Who is the best person foro you to confide in?

Prayer
Dear God, give me the courage to admit I'm scared. Amen

Pics
 

I don't know how to post pics like you do Sunny...would you be ever so kind and give me the details...again. :o

Just a few...obviously the bedroom and the other one shows the tile around the basement stairwell.

I have been cleaning and organizing...no archery yet and it's not lookin like I'll be goin. I love the weather today and I'm enjoying being home all alone. DH came home for lunch and off to work again.

Hugs,

Okay, enough with the clean house pictures already. :lol: Just kidding, I really am enjoying them. When we get ours all finished up I will send pictures too. Not while the hogs (oops kids) are staying with us though. I cannot wait until they are out, they were supposed to be out by now so I could get the inside done before the fall holidays, but the contractor hasn't been cooperating. Now I am hoping for mid November at the latest. If not, this will be me for sure :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Mkay, the tile is great and I love all the little touches at your house Sunny.

I saw the doctor yesterday for my knee again and he changed my anti-inflammatory but then told me no more gym, I have to do water aerobics which in this area means joining the YMCA. Now my exercise will have to be on a schedule like 10:00 a.m. and no options which is why I didn't do it before. I also hate the water, did I mention that before. At least I don't have to put my face in the water but the idea of me in a bathing suit freaks me out to no end. Can't even fib about it to dh cuz he was sitting right there when he said "You need to join the Y and do water aerobics, no more machines." :blah: :blah: :blah:

Gonna finish cleaning the fridge and then off to work, everybody have a great day. Love ya.

Oh My Goodness Michele! How Can You Say That About The Twins (by The Way They Lost And Are Out Of The Play-offs Now...bummer)

My Usc Trojans And Dodgers (finally) Won...yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

But the Dodgers Won!! I'm still a Dodger fan.

Oh, guess who called me this a.m. :dance: :love: Lonnie is on his way from WA to Montana. We had a nice chat, nothing too exciting. But I was happy that he called.

Sunday and Lovin It!
 

Hi...

Bill Johnson from FL was at our church today for our service; he's a prophetic man and had some prophesies for some people. Gee, the service lasted over 2 hours...weee!!! Fun! DH is working at the duplex today. The people are moving in today and he "just" got most of the new cupboards up and he still needs to put down the floor, put in the fridge and plywood the countertops.

Sweet me, brought him a lunch made with much love and then I headed home...uhhhh...well, not "exactly" home...the Goodwill store is on the way and I haven't been there in ages. The clothes are in the washer as I write. :lol:

I picked up a jazzy CD of Christian music, a cassette tape of the Sweet Comfort Band (thought I'd try it). Got a skirt, 3 shirts, slacks for work, get this...a coffee mug that says "Shepherds" on it. How funny. I also picked up a sexy black shirt for some evening when DH comes home tired from working... :o

Mitchy- Hey a call no matter exciting or not is better than no call at all. I was only kidding about the hair. My oldest daughter has a wonderful head of hair that lays just right and always looks good. She did NOT get that from me.

Bunna- Yikes...sorry about the knee and "water" thing. I have a hard time drinking it as well. Let's challenge each other to drink at least 2 really big glasses tomorrow. It's a start. Yeah, you ought to see that bedroom this minute. I still haven't made the bed yet and probably won't either.

Fish and veggies for dinner tonight. Hopefully DH will be home while it's hot.

I'm going to go and have a glass of that icy cold water right now. :yes:

Hugs,

Hi Gals-- I have been down at my daughter's sports banquet all day. Her college has it each year, breakfast, church service, then awards for all the sports from the previous year then lunch. She picked up her All American Scholar Athlete awards from her college, the GSAC conference and the NAIA small college division...plus she gave the beginning prayer (she looked GREAT but sounded nervous---TOTALLY gets that from me...a small gift I gave my kids...scardy cat to speak in front of an audience) a great prayer though!! Fun day, my ex wife and I rode together, Angie had another soccer game to go to for her daughter. Our son has an 8 o'clock soccer game tonight...but the DODGERS are copming on so....I might not make it!! Angie is working on putting together her booth for next weeks street fair (her/our first) she is going to try and sell some journals and other things...she still doesn't have her web site up yet. My daughter has been journally her food and it has really helped with her IBS problem...seeing some patterns develope. Well gotta go help Angie with the booth (home trial set-up)! Enjoy your week...Gary

Good morning from Suffolk in England. I hope you don't mind me popping in for a lurk?
I have often noticed the thread title and at last this morning (01:41hrs...can't sleep!) finally clicked on the link. I usually hang around the Around the world with 80 chicks thread and don't find any spare minutes to investigate other threads!! I hope to get back and see where you all started, so forgive me if its a while before I return!!!

Meanwhile, everyone take good cae. God Bless! Oh and I have just found out it is The Month of Guardian Angels in the Christian calender....good oh! I think I need a whole flock to look after me at the moment! (DO they come in flocks???!!)

Hello Teel
 

Teel- Welcome...glad you couldn't sleep. :lol: Kidding...This site is chocked full of Angels. I have found them loving and praying for me the very day I "lurked" as well. Hope to see you soon.

EZ- How proud you must've felt with your daughter leading in prayer and receiving the awards.

Hope everyone had a restful/fun/playful/quiet/deserving weekend!

:D

Hi all! :wave:

Teel! Welcome!!! I hope you come back soon, it'd be so great to have someone from Europe join us.

Gary, our poor Dodgers. I think you must be terribly proud of DD too. You've all been blessed with awesome kids. And Angie's business sounds quite exciting. I wish her well and what a blessing it must be for DD to have a mom so involved.

I'm at work, but my chest is killing me and i'm still coughing. I sound very nasally. I made a dr. appt. for early tomorrow a.m. Have PT tonight, hope i'm up for it, i may have to cancel.

It's a long weekend here (Thanksgiving) and I get a bad cold. GO figure! We did have a nice day yesterday. Went to visit an aunt in the country. We went for a walk to an abandoned graveyard. Really peaceful!

I had planned to get some baking done but for now I'm going to lay low. I am sneezing and have a runny nose. Hopefully I'll be better by tomorrow.

My cabinet guy hasn't got back to us with prices yet but we're hopeful he can do it. I already realize it won't be done until after Christmas but that's okay. It gives me more time to save up for it.

Sunny- i didn't do anything special with my hair - just a trim. She wants to put in a body perm to give it some curl but I'm not sure about that. I have a month to think about it.

Well, I'm going to go have a rest. Talk to you all later.

I apologize for just the quick note but wanted you guys to know I am thinking about you!!

Yesterday I did the 5 mile walk for the American Heart Association and raised over 400 dollars! :) The day before that I went to a Pumpkin Festival with my family. That was lots of fun! Satan tempted me though as there was actually a booth for atheists and agnostics with offensive bumper stickers for sale. For example one said "Godless American". I felt that confronting them would have made the devil happy so I just walked on by...but BOY did I want to tell them off! ;)

I am off and running again!! Take care guys!

Oh well done to Angie-Wangie for your 5 mile walk for the American Heart Foundation! And good on you for not blowing your stack about the a and a tent with their mindless car stickers.

I haven't seen many car stickers from the Christian world recently...(obviously don't get out enough!) I think I remember a couple of particularly great ones that surface round about Christmas time. I think one says something about "WANTED: JOINERS REQUIRED FOR CARPENTER....NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!"
And of course there is the even older one JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!"

And of course HE IS!!
Anyway as you can see, here am I awake again at 02:00hrs. I know its now nearly 03:00 but I have been posting on the thread I usually belong to. This is becoming a very boring habit! I know I am not well at the moment, physically or mentally, but having such disturbed nights don't help the cause in any way!!

So I will shoot off now. I hope everyone is asleep who should be...and that if you are awake then you ought to be so!!

God Bless. See you soon.

Love from Teel xx

Tuesday!
 

Teel- What would like me/us to pray for for you? For one, I pray to the Father that the Holy Spirit within you, flows the peace you need for a good night's sleep. Allow the Lord to rest upon you. Amen to that!

Wilma- EEK! A cold and over the holiday to boot. Praying for your healing. How cold is it there now?

The prophetic man at church last night delivers such a great message. The one thing that stuck with me is that he said if we are in rebellion, it could sacrifice our children's destiny, as the Moabs sacrificed their children in the old test.

Anyway on that note...there is a man...Eric something who will debating Christianity vs. Muslim belief today and 100s of Muslims watching. This WILL be a breakthrough for Muslims to turn. Amen!

Hmmm...what else is new...how is everyone else?

Gotta jet and get to work...Hugs!

Good Morning!
 

I feel so much better today. I still have the sniffles but I think I'll be able to make it to work. It might be good for me to get out of the house. I did nothing yesterday but rest and drink lots of fluids. I did manage to make supper yesterday which was a real treat.

The weather here has been incredible. Above normal temps. This after an unseasonably cool summer. Who knows what winter will bring.

An answer to prayer. Youngest DS got a job with an electrical company. If he makes it through his 3 month probation period they'll keep him on as an apprentice. He's really excited about it and we're so happy that he's found something he wants to do. Now we have to find a vehicle because he can't ride the bus to job sites.

It's oldest DS's 23rd birthday today. I'm starting to feel my age!!! :lol:

Well, gotta go get ready for work. Talk to you soon.

:coffee: Good morning all. I didn't even get on the computer yesterday, which is rare for me. Sounds like everyone had a good weekend.

Welcome Teel, hope you get some sleep soon but you can still hang out here too. I had insomnia :( for years so I can sympathize.

Wilma, glad that you are feeling better today but remember Mitchy felt better for a couple of days too then it came back with a vengenance, :dunno: so be careful. It seems like it takes forever to get the house stuff done which makes us anxious cuz we know how good it is going to look. Congratulations to your son for the steps forward in his career choice. :yes:

Mkay, sexy black blouse? :high: Enjoy that CD, I love good Christmas music.

Sunny, I want to donate my hair but I am going to let it grow until spring. I have an extra 12 inches now but it is close so another inch won't hurt. :cool: It takes about three years to grow it long enough so every three years I have short hair (shoulder length) for a while. And yes, Costco does sell cars, well actually dealers go through Costco.

Gary, how proud you must be of your daughter. Is this the daughter with IBS? Don't stay too busy to watch the ballgames this week and do some sideline :coach:

Mitchy: Hope you start feeling better real soon. You haven't mentioned your back in a while is the PT helping a bunch still? Sounds like you enjoyed hearing from Lonnie :love: glad that he called which means he is obviously interested in continuing the relationship too. ;)

Had my knee x-rayed yesterday. I thought it was feeling better but then I bowled and it hurt like crazy last night. Guess we will wait and see. One of the problems with FMS is that you have symptoms and pain but nothing ever shows up. That's why I was surprised when my bloodwork showed the prediabetes. My blood pressure is getting too low now so I am tired feeling all the time 94/62, so gotta get the medicine regulated, but the good news part of that is maybe it is coming down because of my losing weight. We will see.

The new garage door is installed. We now have keyless entry so the kids won't need to have keys anymore and it looks so nice. DH is installed the new patio door today so our new outside look is complete and then next spring we are redoing the front yard and flower beds. I put in a huge dahlia bed when we moved in 10 years ago and the gophers ate all the bulbs so I am going to put one in front with the bed closed off so the little buggers can't get in. DH wants a rose garden off to the side also, we had a huge one when we lived at the other house, but this one will be smaller. We decided for sure on the flooring we are putting in and I think we are gonna go ahead and get started in our bedroom and bathroom. I also need to get to the hardware store and get a small booklet on how to do my dressers. I have an idea for colors but need to know the best way to approach it. Has anyone done that kind of work? I want to stain them with colors rather than removing the stain and restraining them in wood. :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: Guess I better go or you will be calling me a thread hog for sure. :rolleyes:

Deiters devotions for October 12, 204
 

October 12


John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.


Corey had to admit that his friends were making better progress than he was. He just wasn't disciplined enough. His friends didn't seem to have nearly as much trouble with discipline. When he asked them why, they all just grinned and told him to pray about it. Finally, it dawned on him what they were talking about. Corey wasn't much of a Christian, but he wasn't stupid, either. His friends obviously had something he needed and wanted. If God could do so much to help them, then Corey believed He would do it for him, also. By receiving the truth of Christ, Corey was given all the strength needed to succeed in his diet.
Today's thought: God is ready to help me lose weight!

Good morning ladies! And thank you for all my welcome greetings.
And guess what time it is? Ah see...I knew you'd get it wrong! Hee hee! I am a little earlier than of late as it is on;y 01:15 as I begin this post :?: :yawn: :tired:

I think I had better tell you a few deails about myself, seeing as I gatecashed on to the thread the other morning without a "by your leave!"

I am 40 (in June this year) and I live alone in my own home with my West Highland White Terrier called Holly, who is 7 1/2 yrs old. I used to work as a general nurse in the recovery department until I re-trained for a qualificaion in psychiatry and then I worked in an in-patient unit for 6 years and then as a CPN (community psychiatric nurse). I loved it...well, as far as anyone does love their job forst thing on a Monday morning :tread: ! :dizzy: I play the violin as a semi-professional and get invited to play for select orchestras and I used to front up a Christian folk band. Spare time was not on any agenda!:hyper: :hyper:

Then all this came crashing to a halt.A few things happened. As a baby I was born with a congenital spinal scoliosis which had never really given me too much trouble..only when I had fallen from a horse or had a car accident... :o or sat playing the violin for too long in an orchstral concert. I had also had glandular fever twice in my late teens and it had become a chronic viral condition known as Epstein Barr Syndrome..and then I got it a third time and was off sick from work (at this time I was running a unit for the elderly mentally ill) for 3 months. I got back to work on reduced hours and the crunch came when I fell asleep at the wheel driving home from work one day. The Lord was looking after me, thats for certain! I was unhurt and woke up driving along a hedge on the opposite side of the road I should have been going along! No-one else was involved. It did shake me up rather and after huge deliberations I decided I couldn't carry on any more so I was retired from nursing on medical grounds. I thouhjt my world had ended...
After this episode my back pain started to get the better of me and I started getting altered sensation down my legs if I stood up for longer than about 10 minutes. Lumbar area pain was becoming intolerable and life got very difficult. :devil:

I thought I had enough to contend with, when another blow hit me physically. I caught a virus that wiped out nearly 3/4 of my heart muscle...to say I was distraught is certainly putting it very mildly! :faint: :stress: :rollpin: I ended up in a private psychiatric hospital 60 miles from home for 18 weeks and came home trying to get some of my former life's activities back again....The ultimate treatment for this cardiomyopathy is a heart transplant.. :o :^: :yikes: I currently run (oh ha ha! I can't "run" anywhere!!) on 26% of normal heart function.
But the Lord doesn't seem to want me in His presence yet. :angel: :angel: My cardiologist is amazed at the recovery my heart has managed in that she gave me a year to live and here I am, very nearly 4 years after it all started... :p and not as ill as she thinks I should be by half!!

Life, as I said earlier, is extremely difficult at times.:cry: :cry: I get very depressed and do feel that my emotions are constantly in turmoil. The back pain is horrendous and no-one in the medical fraternity seems to be able to give me any adequate pain relief to make life more worth the living of it. About 13 days ago I had three injections into my spinal ligaments and my saco-iliac joint ligament. I feel as though I have been run over by a raging bull! It has been agony ever since! Apparently the good doctor teels me it could be as long as 4 weeks before I feel as though there could be any pain reief through the injections. As you see, the jury is still out on that decision!!

And so that, my friends, is the history of me! Oh. Apart from the added interest that has arisen because of a lump in my neck that has suddenly appeared despite being on antibiotics for a week. I saw my g.p. yesterday and he is sending me today for a chest x-ray. Yes I am panicking! :eek: I am sure it is a swollen gland but my blood count shows an infection somewhere in the system and the g.p. muttered soething along the lines of "we need to know what it is, so I may send you to an e.n.t. specialist if it doesn't settle down...and they may want to cut it out!" :faint: :eek:

So you see all this combined is probably the reason for my rogue sleep pattern. If you can call it a "pattern"!
Thank you for the offer of payer, SunnyD57. I think my request would be for this lump to be nothing more serious than a nuisance swollen gland that doesn't need any treatment, and that I will not be getting the heabie-jeebies over it. I do enough of that with everything else already! I also need for some of this back pain to abate!

Sorry I have taken up practically a whole page to myself! And I am sorry not to have replied to anyone's posts at this time....promise to play "catch up" and find out who...and where...you all are in the world!

Meanwhile...take good care of yourselves and everyone you love.
God Bless. Watch out for the gaurdian angels all around. I certainly know they are there!!! :angel: :angel:

Wow Teel, what a story. But i love how you throw in inspiration here and there. I will certainly pray that that lump is nothing and it'll just go away. I see now why you are up and i also pray that the Lord helps to comfort you and let you get your needed sleep. We have some similarities, I too turn 40 next year, i have a dog that I adore (her name is Simba), I have Epstein Barr and back problems. Did they give you an epidural? My back pain has quieted down after my 2nd epidural. But i still have a 11 cm bulge in my lower back so i'm going to physical therapy and chiro. I'm soooo happy you've come back! :dance: I look forward to your posts and will support you anyway i can.

I went to dr. this a.m. and i have fluid behind my ears and bronchitis. She gave me a Z-pack of antibiotics and an inhaler. Never had one of those. This is one they use for asthma, which i've never had, she questioned me if anyone in my family has it. I have a funny wheeze in my throat now. The inhaler did help with the cough, but in the afternoon i had a good bout of coughing where i was out of control and tears running down my face. I'm sure it'll get better now. I have to go back to have a couple skin tags removed on my face in a couple weeks. And they also poked me to check my thyroid. What a day!

I'm super tired, going to bed before 9 pm!

Dear Ladies & Gary (Who - from what I can gather is the only guy in the joint-lol):goodvibes
I am so sorry to hear some of the health problems plaguing all of us. I will be praying for us all & please keep in your prayers a friend of my mother who had recently been told she has a mass in her brain. Sometimes I just say to God - You know if You feel like coming back tomorrow that'd be fine with me. However ~HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER~ & He wants us all to live in victory. Which leads me to say, I'm so glad to hear the grace with which you all bear these burdens- only with Jesus :).
My Mama donated her hair too- lovely blonde:flow2:- right before beginning chemo in 2001(Diagnosed stage2 breast cancer in 2000). She said well - at least someone will be able to use it. Praise the Lord for her full recovery- She's a minister & performed my sister's wedding in Aug. 2001 & mine in Aug. 2002.
To change subjects a little - all of the home pictures are lovely. I certainly hope my hubby & I can buy one soon. We're just pups -21-:bb:, but we want to own a home so much.
Coming here really is encouraging me to do the right thing as far as my fat chick status is concerned. I know I'll win the war even if it takes ... a long time (just can't put a time on it anymore I don't need any discouragement)Thanks all!
-ooo does anybody watch Joyce Meyer?:chin: - I really feel what she's saying lately about priorities & the whole today matters thing. Just love her straightforward teaching.
- Here's a prayer for all my brothers & sisters-
Dear Jesus Thank You for being who You are- I praise you Lord & Bless you
I Thank you for Helping us to walk in your victory daily. Thank you for giving us the strength to be the women & men of God who we are called to be. Help us to meditate on Your Word day & night & to always be speaking to you throughout our days. Dear Lord I praise you for the work you began in all of us because as your Word says You WILL be faithful to complete it. Thank You for this gift of fellowship & In Jesus name I ask Your Blessings on these members of Your family. Amen :grouphug:
- mmk Drink your water & wash those grubby paws & let's make the coming 'cold' season a little 'warmer'- oh i love being a cornball
-Dawn

Yeah no more weight loss yet BUT I WILL be patient & I WILL WIN :)

H B to Angie-Wangie
 

G'Mornin!
 

Angie-Wangie- Happy Birthday Friend! I pray your day is full of the Joy of the Lord and when you feel the gentle breeze on your face, I like to think that it is the Lord just letting me know He's watching.

Teel- WOW...I don't think I want to whine anymore about my aches and pains. Ok, the Lord has placed 2 women in my path in the last 3 weeks with a similar life path. My new friend at the Shepherd's house was in a car accident at the old age of 12. That produced a brain injury and bumps all over her brain and eventually turning to brain cancer at 18 yrs. old, then a heart transplant, then kidney diayaisis (sp), then prison due to computer fraud (bopped in the FBI files), then another bout of cancer, then MD, then she decided to end all the crap and injected herione & morphine into her lung or stomach tube...hmmm...still alive today (not her time I guess) and then tried to shoot herself in the head...hmmm...still alive today (still not her time I guess) and then a blood infection landing in her lungs brought her to the hospital and then a ventilator, had to have a guardian who during that time sold her house and car, rehabilitated at one of the local hospitals and is now residing at a shelter which does not quite meet the handicap accessible rules. BUT...in prison, she got saved, she finished her Bachelors in Theology, and a minor in Physcology and was an associate pastor at one of the churches here and a chaplin at 2 of the local hospitals, fostered 2 boys, rallied 1600 people to hear her talk about organ donating...she did this twice.

I commend and respect both of you for your tough journies in life and everyone no matter what, has a Godly destiny. I do know that if I ever had to endure life the way you have, I would want someone just like you to help me see it through. I'll bet you are a blessing to many many people.

I pray you rest well and have heavenly dreams...you are so much God's daughter/bride and He is guiding you to victory! Thanks for your testimony.


On the weight loss note...I've had two dreams in the past two nights about feeling and being heavier in my current clothes. I think this may be a warning that I must be careful and take better care of myself.

Sunny- You are so pretty...and you surely have a knack for decorating. I LOVE your fall arrangement outside. You and DH sound so lovey dovey and cozy together. Thanks for the directions on pics.

Mitchy- EEK! My friend at work was using an inhalent this week (she also has asthema) but changed the med in the inhalent and low and behold, she does NOT have a voice and it's due to the medication in the inhalent. Be careful, because now she has to be on a steroid to combat that. Drink lots and lots and lots and lots of water (I'm one to talk :lol: ).

Bunna- Ok, pic time...I want to see that hair I'm lacking ;) .

Dawn- I do enjoy Joyce Meyer. I also enjoy Stormie Omartian books. My daughter will be 22 next week and her and hubby will be closing on a cute little house on Friday. They are still immature in the fact that they don't really keep up a place well. Their apt was always in ruins. I pray that they grow up...quick! But then again, I look back at 21-22 and I wasn't a great housekeepper either. I guess I could say the saying about the fruit not falling far from the tree right now. :lol:

Since I'm not doing the craft show in Nov., I played with my beads, stones, crystals last night. I didn't go to bed until 12:30. Yikes...I may regret that one later today.

Well, see Teel, I a space hog too. It just happens. I'm going to get back to work now. Catch ya'all later.

Hello from England at a rather better and more civilised time of the day to my recent posts! :D
Thanks for your terrific welcome and your prayers which I do confess, made me cry! I guess I feel so alone in all of this at the moment...never seem to be out of trouble in one direction or another! :^: I DO know the Lord is all seeing, all caring all loving etc.etc but I need someone HERE by my side to give me an everlasting hug and be with me when I need a huge amount of support. I guess my faith just isn't very strong at the moment. I know it used to be far bigger and stronger but I know and admit I have lost the oomph usually associated with being a commited Christian.
But in all of this turmoil recently I have been stopped from carrying out suicidal thoughts no matter how ghastly I have felt physically and psychologically lately. I know that God and His angel throngs do lift me up out of harms way just at that milli-moment when it seems all is lost. So I must still be on the earth for some reason. I'm just not aware of what that reason is at this time!
Mckay that sure is some stiry about your friend. Now there is a person who has been through the mill forwards and backwards several times! Wow! She certainly has a testimony to hold her audiences. May she continue to build on her strength in the name of the Lord.

I am listening to a CD I copied onto my pc, mainly so I don't have to find the cd everytime I want to listen to it! It is one of the two discs in the CHANGE MY HEART OH GOD album. At this very moment the song is BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. I am not sure who is singing it but it is a mighty powerful song of praise and I have it on very loud and play it several times before I think the neighbours might have got sick of it!! :lol: :p Others in this album include FAITHFUL GOD, MORE LOVE, MORE POWER and CHANGE MY HEART OH GOD. It is a great cd!

The xray went ok as xrays generally do. Its the waiting time afterwards that I am not looking forward to! They gave me the usual "ring your g.p. in 7 to 10 days for the results". I don't know whether I want him to ring me and tell me whats going on, whereas I shall probably go into panic,:chin: or wait until 10 days are up and then go and see him, whereas I will still be in a panic anyway!! :hyper: :hyper: :stress:

Its funny how God's timing works though! I had rung my neighbour and got hold of one of her daughters who said her sister had been involoved in a car accident..not seriously though. When I parked up at the hospital Emma was walking into the A & E department looking very sore and whiplashed so when I had finished in the xray department I went to find her in A & E where she was waiting to go to xray wearing a very uncomfortable looking cervical spine collar. Those things certainly aren't made for comfort and she couldn't wait to get the all clear so she could get it off and go home and collapse in a heap in comfort! I stayed with her for about 15 minutes or so before her boyfriend arrived so I hope I was of some use by being there.

Oh HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Angie-wangie....
:grouphug: :high: :queen: :wizard: :smug: :hb: :bravo: :hat: :joker: :gift: :balloons: :encore: :cheer: I do hope you had a great day!

Okay thats enough for me for this evening...

May the Lord keep all of you in a strong arm! :angel: :angel: God Bless...speak to you soon..... :wave: :wave: :wave:

Happy Birthday Angie! :hb: Don't you love the graphics that Sunny does? One of my goals is to walk in a walkathon next spring.

Mkay, love that m&m siggy. No pictures any time soon cuz I don't have a camera but will be getting one or will see if I can borrow one.

Sprout, as always thank you so much for taking the time to post the daily devotionals. They are so inspiring. Do you mind if I ask where you get them from?

Sunny, you sooooo do not look like I had you pictured. I had you with short hair on the blonde side, and just generally older looking. :yes: Funny how we get a picture in our head sometimes. You look great and so does your decorating. You must really enjoy that. I need to put my gym on medical hold too. :mad: I tried Curves and even though I enjoyed the workout routine and the getting in and out it was too tough on the FMS problems. When I go to the regular gym I can modify better or just skip some of the routines. But with the knee.... :(

Teel, you are a strong woman. :strong: Prayers for your peace and that the lump is nothing more than a swelling that will go away on it's own given time.

Mitchy, prayers that you are feeling 100% real soon. :goodvibes coming your way.

Hello to everyone else and have a wonderful day today.

Checking in
 

Being awhile and thought I should say hi rather than just the devotionals.

Teel: I just read your post re all the medical things you have been going through. It has moved me to hear your story and I get the feeling of your strong faith. I appreciate it as I too have been going through some medical issues that are not nice. September 2000 was operated on for cancer - had a radical hysterocomy - said they got it all and to go home and have a good life. Well it came back after 18 months and last summer for 8 weeks I had to travel for radiation treatment - the treatment was 6 hours away so we would leave Monday morning renting a vehicle to get there, stay in a motel for Monday through Thursday nights, Friday morning earily would have a treatment then travel home - another 6 hours - so that I could get close washed. Did this for 8 weeks - now put together that of renting a vehicle for that length of time, staying in a motel - even though it was reduced due to medical treatments there was a cost, and then that of having to 'eat out' for all that time - this was for 4 of us - hubby, myself and 2 special needs kids. Well it put us way way back financially - and after the first bout of cancer we were just starting to break even and it comes back. We are not thinking we might break even next year, then my eyes go - had surgery 3 weeks ago on the right eye and need the left eye to be done soon, our 16 year old son has caused a lot of tension, with 3 of us not being able to be around him due to his behavior which in turn caused us to do tough love 4 weeks ago. And this has caused a further financial stress as it is going to be costing us $400.00 for every month he is not at home let along all his cloting and school supplies - he is 16 and says he is not going to work to earn his own clothes as he wants to 'party' and feels that we should supply all his needs until at least age 19 - then there is my high cholesterol, osteoprosis which is getting worse and I am only 56 - but the joy of this all is my 15 year old daughter (who has Down Syndrome) as she helps me daily to remember the good things of life to see the bright side and to remember the Jesus loves me and only is giving me as much as I can handle.

So when I read of someone else's 'trials' and realize that there are others out there that are in a position that is not so pleasent I am encouraged to see how they are leaning on Christ and being a 'light' to the rest of us. Thanks again Teel - it has really helped me again to refocus / regroup and to get back in where I should be with regards to a proper attitude.

Weight wise - nothing changing here. And it needs to change. I don't believe in 'diets' - as my dear dad, my doctor (a Christian) and I have heard Dr. Phil says 'you go ON DIETS which mean that you GO OFF DIETS which means you will more than likely gain the weight back - why not just look at your lifestyle for areas that you can see that you can change for the better - if it is that you are frying all your food - change it it grilling or broiling - if it is fast food restaurents that you do to much of - change that to cooking at home or a better class of restaurent where you can get better choices and very important GET UP AND GET MOVING.' So that is where I am at - looking at my lifestyle, what we as a family eat and our activity level. And then making changes - even changes such as no more pop allowed in the house or at restaurents - I have read that if you delete 1 pop from your day each day that in one year you could lose 15 pounds. And if you added a salad to your supper reducing the potatoes to 1/2 of what you normally do that this could also reduce your weight by up to 15 pounds. Gosh just those to small change and I could be a possibly 30 pounds lighter this time next year - now imagine if I continued my walking every day increasing it to 4 -5 miles each day what would happen :cb:

Have just read all the posts - all of you here really inspire me - you are such great encouragers. SunnyD - I love your pictures and your posts I look forward to reading them each time I come here - and Gary - heh, man, I really enjoy hearing about your family - it is an encouragement to hear how they are all doing and I feel that it being a blended family it seems to have worked out well for you - means a lot to me to hear success in this area as well.

Well, my dear daughter has been out now for a few hours with her 'youth care worker' - we have had the same lady now for 6 years and I have a hard time thinking of her as a 'worker that is getting paid to be with Priscilla' as Anna has become such a close and dear friend to us all. Priscilla really loves her and enjoys hanging out with her - and tomorrow our new 'online' school teacher is going to come for a visit - we have always homeschooled but this is the first time we have used an online Christian special needs teacher for consultation so it will prove interesting but we are excited to met here.

Well the acid reflux is now acting up so guess I better go and dig out the meds for this problem and start them up AGAIN

Proverbs 16:3 says
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Have a great day everyone

Later On In The Day
 

Teel- How difficult it must be to be alone during all of your tribulations. I know how much my new friend at the Shepherds likes a hug when I see her so I am giving you the biggest hug ever. No...we haven't stopped yet. There...how did that feel? My heart aches for you. Do you have any hobbies to distract you somewhat? Yes, those songs are powerful. Last summer when DH and I were separated, I bought a CD...Bryan Duncan's- My Utmost for His Highest...a prayer CD...holy smokes...it is sooooooo soothing and loving and beautiful that it so calms me and allows me to rethink that God is with me and cradling me...no matter what. Ck it out online. His voice is like chocolate is to my tastebuds. I will pray for your healing. Take Care...see, I told you this was a great thread.

Bunna- I feel fat today. I must be PMSing...and without my antidepressant. I asked DH if he's just help me through this time.

I found out today that DH will be going to the Upper Peninsula hunting (as he does every year) on the 13th of November and come home the 18th...do laundry and go to Arkansas (as planned) the next day. Boy oh boy...that's alot of diagonal sleeping.

I decided that during my DH "free space" I just may go ahead and paint my office at home and spruce it up a little. Right now it's a dark sage green and with only one small window and oak color woodwork, it's dark in there and I don't like it. I would like to paint it a warm light color and either find an L shaped desk (Goodwill or somewhere) or paint my pretend wooden one and put up all my beachy stuff. We'll see...I may not be motivated by then to do it.

Well, I will be skipping KP duty tonight at church so I can go spend an evening with my friend from church who had shoulder surgery yesterday. Her DH has to work tonight. I'm going to bring salads for dinner and rent a movie to watch. I brought my compfy clothes to put on and we'll just have girly night.

Well, time to go get my work stuff ready to do for tomorrow. My mind is racing all over the place today and I really have a difficult time focusing.

Later...

(((((Sprout))))) I am so glad that you have Priscilla in your life to brighten things up. Hope she had a good day out with the worker and good luck with the counselor tomorrow. I didn't even know they had anyone that made personal visits. Shows what I know.

They installed the new patio door today, it looks great. :D

I am off to work. Talk to you tomorrow and everybody have a good evening.

:D What a wonderful group of people you are!! :) Sunny and all ,thank you for the birthday wishes! I felt the Lord this morning on the way to work when I was witness to a BEAUTIFUL sunrise. What a wonderful birthday present it was.

I am saying a prayer for those of you that are hurting. Last Sunday my Pastor talked of the three Hebrews thrown into the fire and coming out unscathed. There was a fourth person in the fire with them, Jesus. :) The moral of his sermon was that sometimes you have to go through the fire to see Jesus. It is true that what tests us only makes us stronger. I know I would not be the person I am today without the trials I have been through. I pray for your healing!!!!!! :angel:

My wonderful husband surprised me earlier this week with a get together with some friends. He didn't buy a cake, but got an apple pie hoping it wouldn't be as high in calories. I had a small piece and it was WONDERFUL. It was from Costco and they make the best desserts.:cookie:

Have a wonderful evening!!!

Hello
 

HI GALS and NEW KIDS-- I am sooo seriously busy...I haven't had time to even read the posts..PLUS...the nephew with homework and the son with his credential work have the computer tied up...Angie busy with hers trying to get webpage up...plus the elections...plus the baseball games...makin' dinner...work-work-work!!
But quickly before the "boys" come back in from wrestleing...not much of a match, a 23 yr. old 6'4'' vs. a 13 less than 5'...lol....
The nephew got his fiirst progress report from high school..are you ready for this?? 2A+, 1A, 1A-, 1B, and 1B-....all of his behavior marks except 1 were excellent too!!
My sis out from Illinois visiting the next 2 weeks or so...gotta go..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGIE WANGIE!!!

Hi all!

Angie!Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like you enjoyed your day and what a sweet DH you have!

Teel! You are not alone ever, i say this because i know you know the Lord is with you, but you also have us and here's a big :grouphug: for you.

I woke up with a killer headache and just feeling awful. I hated to do it, but i just couldn't go in to work today. I am soooooo tired of being the sick one. It bothers me how everything is related to my ill health lately and i so support all your support, but i don't want to be the sick one anymore. Anyway, i got in the shower this afternoon and i went to my training tonight at 6:30 to 9:00. I had one good coughing fit and had to leave the room.

Oh, On My Weigh (what a clever name!) I hope you come back and join us. We've had some really wonderful additions lately.

I'll try to post more and individually tomorrow at lunch....