Pre-Christmas

Contrary to popular Belief; I am not a "bah-humbug". And to prove it, Here are the pictures of our Christmas tree this year. Thank you Mom for the tree. Next year we will get a plastic one so I can disfigure it with matches! :) Just kidding!

This is our Christmas Bear, who sits on top of the tree and watches to see if the boys actual deserve presents this year. HONESTLY! If his eyes are blue, they were good. If they are black, they get coal. Hehehe..

I am the chef of the house. I rarely cook (mostly because I'm so multi-talented I rarely focus on more than 1 thing at a time :) These are my Peanut Butter Cup Ball Thingies.. Im' not quite sure why there are so many different names for these treats, but I must admit. I did a good job!

ps: As of this posting, half of these are already gone. Rebecca and Jamie went to bed with tummy ache's, Justin is in a sugar coma, and I just can't stop typing.

There is a God

"I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and I have touched him. I know the devil exists, and therefore I know there is a God." - Romeo Dallaire, a senator in the Canadian parliament.

It doesn't surprise me how sheltered (or uninformed) we are as Americans about what is REALLY going on outside our beloved borders. But I am amazed at how much we either don't care, or don't WANT to care sometimes. I make it a habit to check out non-us websites for news concerning the US or UN, and on more than one occasion I am ashamed to that I actually live in the United States.

Read the article. I'm considering buying the book ("Shake Hands With The Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda") and reading that as well. This was 15 years ago, and I wonder just how much more is happening around us that we don't know or care to know about?

I thank God for the blessings he's poured out on me and my family; and I thank Him also for the trials he has withheld because I live in the US. I've heard it said that if God doesn't judge the United States for its wickedness, then he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. I believe that judgment is coming, and possibly in my lifetime. I pray for my children that they will know and understand God's will for their lives before it is too late.

Atheist vs. God

I find it ironic that people who claim there is no God would be so adamant that they cannot live in a world where others DO believe in God.

FRANKFORT, Kentucky - A group of atheists filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to remove part of a state anti-terrorism law that requires Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security to acknowledge it can't keep the state safe without God's help. - MSNBC

So, which is it? They don't believe in God, or they DO believe in God but they don't want His help?

I say: If the shoe fits.. check the bottom for dog doo.

Holiday News Bingo

I saw this one a website and thought it was be an AWESOME pastime to blog about from now to Christmas.

Here are the rules:

1. Print this Bingo Card
2. When you are watching the news, Mark off any blocks that you see that match the Bingo Card
3. When you get Bingo! Post a comment to this blog post, and list your Bingo! News articles.

Personally: since we do not watch tv, I will be watching my favorite news websites for the articles.

Enjoy, and Happy Bingo!'ing .. is that a word?

Mountains of Thanks

I've never actually done this here, but I wanted to publicly thank the Lord for what he's brought me though over the last 2½ years.

My testimony is quite drab, but I do want to put it down for the record. I was saved at the age of 5, in our trailer in Dundee, New York. After coming home from church one Sunday evening 1976, I asked my father about the meaning behind the message we had heard earlier about Hell, and sin. He opened his bible to Romans and walked me though the roman's road. We knelt down beside the burlap-like covered armchair in our living room, and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I never really cultivated my relationship with The Lord, and found myself running as far away from God as a good Christian can go (or at least that's where I wanted to go.)

August 18th, 2006 was my last day running from God. I sat in a revival with Joe Arthur at Faith Baptist Church, listening to the invitation, when as if Jesus himself was standing in the isle beside me saying that if I would only take the first step, every one after that would be on His shoulders.

I can honestly tell you that once I took that first step, my life has never been the same. Most people would call this the point of Salvation, yet I remember the day I was saved. I believe this is God's way of solidifying in my heart that we will never be apart again.

God said that he will never leave us nor forsake us, and I rely on that promise many time a day. I know when I have sin keeping me from fellowship with Him, and if I'm not quick to confess it, I find my day only gets longer and tougher. But when I seek his face, and struggle to do His will for my life each day, there is a peace that comes from knowing that after we have done all that we can do, God will do the rest. I rest on His promises, that He will carry me though each trial. He never said my road would always be easy, but I know that with Him by my side, I don't have anything to be afraid of.

God has blessed me and my family far beyond what I deserve. And while I don't have much in the eyes of the world, I'm an heir to the throne by my Father's side. And I just want to Thank Him for it.

F.Y.I

WFTD: MonoBlogging

I thought it appropriate to put my 2cents into a debate on the upcoming right to an election debacle which will most certainly change the face of our country; either in glorious triumph or darkest feudalism. And as I was meandering over my past perfectionism of verbage and grammar, I realized that I had been monologuing, but when one does this in a blog forum...

My word for the day is: Monoblogging

mon·o·blogue also mon·o·blog
v. mon·o·blogued also mon·o·blogged, mon·o·blogu·ing also mon·o·blog·ging, mon·o·blogues also mon·o·blogs

1.	a form of dramatic online entertainment, comically typed solo, or the like by a single blogger: a comedian's monoblogue.

2.	a prolonged post or discourse by a single blogger, esp. one dominating or monopolizing an online conversation.

Men Are Happier People

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE

NICKNAMES

• If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
• If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT

• When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50.. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
• When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY

• A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
• A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS

• A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel ..
• The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS

• A woman has the last word in any argument.
• Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE

• A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
• A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

• A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
• A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE

• A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
• A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP

• A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
• A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL

• Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
• Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING

• Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
• A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing! (Amen)

Orlando Prayer Booths

OK.. Normally I'll pass this on to some close friends via e-mail or msn, but I felt this needed a more prominent position in my electronic catalog.

Orlando, Fl has installed these lovely prayer booths, and I must say. If I wasn't a Christian, I'd think they were the best thing since sliced bread.

But Since I am a Christian, I can assure you that what this world needs does not exist inside a phone booth. Chalk this up to just one more way the Devil is pied-pipering our nation straight to Hell with beliefs that ANYTHING other than Jesus Christ must be a better way to Heaven.

Let me Read you the bottom line as it is a bit hard to interpret from the pictures.

"This device exists to facilitate and control prayer in public space. Improper use may result in a penalty or fine.

Please avoid this booth if you are sensitive to or feel threatened by actions that are religious in nature"

I KID YOU NOT.. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS!!!!

Let me paint a scenario for you..

1. Man asks co-worker if he's noticed the new prayer booths
2. Co-worker says "if you don't leave me along, I'm going to go down there and pray for you!"
3. Man sues co-worker for religious harassment
4. Co-worker goes to jail for "threatening actions of a religions nature"

Welcome to America!

Read the whole story with more pictures here. Enjoy!

See You At The Pole

This years See You At The Pole; our Homeschool by Faith group met to pray for our country.

Some of the boys played while the rest sang.

Brother RJ Said Prayer

Emily's 5th Birthday

It's been AGES since I posted any pictures. Shame on me! Honestly, with the snailnet I have at home, and the rush, rush, rush of the time I DO spend at Mom's house, I'm rarely able to upload anything sometimes. But here these are. Enjoy.

Emily Loves Scooby Doo!!

Nanny and Paw Paw (Jen's parents)

The Kids had a great time, but it was REALLY windy outside.

The party was at a local park there in Morganton, Emily Loves to climb.

Naomi and Emily are virtually inseparable when they're together.

Of course Abby has to be the boss of them ALL!
The Scooby Doo Birthday Cake tasted awesome.

Let me tell you... Tim couldn't get the candles lit, so Emily blew them out for everyone anyway! She's a trooper, Just like her daddy :) Almost made me cry... almost

Here's Scooby!
My Self-Portrait, because I'm just like that.Tim wanted me to do his portrait too.
The end.... Happy Birthday Emily! .. (better late then never)

Where will YOU spend Eternity?

Something has been on my heart and mind for a couple of weeks now. The internet has opened so many doors of communication around the world. I have made friends with people over the years, that I will most likely never meet face to face. You learn to know each other through time from just talking to them and watching them interact with other chatters.
I have been a regular online chatter for 10 years now. I have met and witnessed to many, and have tried to be a living testimony in word and deed to those who chat with me.
I have to ask though, dear Reader- Where will YOU spend Eternity?
Let me tell you the last few types of people I have chatted with. There is the wonderful caring person who prays daily to saints and statues. A very sincere person who thinks that we are all praying to the same "God".
Another one is so steeped in tradition and laws and rules that they are burdened by a heavy taskmaster with no hope, only condemnation and guilt.
Yet another one I spoke with recently, would use the words Thank God in every sentence, very sincere, but told me that sins come in various degrees of severity. This person believes that by sinning a "lesser" sin of getting drunk, it will keep away the wicked tempting voices to commit a more serious type of sin. Preferring to beg God's forgiveness for a "lesser sin" instead. How many of us are just like this person? Labeling sins to assuage our guilt for choosing to sin? How often do we repeatedly sin the same sin, because we think that it's "not as bad as doing something else".
As I chat with these dear people, they often agree that I am right as I use God's Word, and encourage them. Yet, they still stick to what they have been brought up or taught, or the habits they are comfortable with. Change can be such an act of faith that very few of us even attempt it. What habits or beliefs do you cling to just because it's the way you have always done it, and your family would be scandalized if you were to deviate from such tradition?

What do you believe? Does it match what God's Word the Bible says? Do you know where you will go when you die?
If any of you reading this desire to know what God says about YOUR eternity, please email Br. Ted or myself. We would love to show you from God's Word -"the Way, the Truth, and the Life".

Be careful; the [AQI] might get you!

It sounds like something you'd tell your children. Insert your favorite fairy tail and you have the beginnings of a scary story, or even worse; A Fable!

What our modern day liberal media does with its acronyms can seem so simple sometimes, but rest assured, there is always a hidden agenda!

We saw it with the infamous Guantanamo Bay. Where our our country and our military men were dragged through the political mud over the acts of a FEW men following orders.

Huh?!

Following Orders? Surely we don't do that in the military.. No.. I'm sure we allow all of our military men to do whatever they please with prisoners of war without their superior officers knowledge. Yeah Right! But that's not my point at all!

My point is: How many of us can spell Guantanamo? I, personally, had to Google it! Therein lies the excuse for our media to dumb-down; simplify; under-qualify the place where our country has made so many advances on the war against terrorism. Not only for our safety, but for that of many other countries around the world, which have benefited from the (strong word coming) interrogations of (another one here) terrorists held captive in that wonderful place.

Gitmo: NOW everyone knows what I'm talking about! I'm sure that in the text books of history the word Gitmo will resound as the reigning champion.(btw.. Gitmo is not in my computers vocabulary... and I aint addin' it)

Terrorist: Our modern day media is NOT ALLOWED TO USE THIS WORD!!!! Wake up people! I dare you! Listen to your world news today and tell me how many times it's used. They are required by penalty of death (or otherwise dismemberment) to use "politically sensitive" words such as Holy Warriors, Jihad, Muslim Extremists (the very term makes me sick to my stomach). They're TERRORISTS, and we should never forget what they have done to our country, and around the world with bombings far out-reaching their beloved homeland. (I wonder why?)

DO THIS!! Google "Terrorist": NOT ONE MAJOR NEWS ARTICLE makes it to the front page. DUDE! There are only 10 pages (10 GOOGLE PAGES) on the word Terrorist! If that doesn't signify political censorship, you need a check-up from the neck up.

Here's the one I saw today..."His removal from the AQI [al-Qaeda Iraq] network will send shockwaves through Baghdad's terrorist bombing networks," a US spokesman told the Associated Press." Before you crucify me for my previous statements, you should know that the article I'm referring to is a BBC News article and not bound by our liberal media policies.

This was a TERRORIST being brought to justice. If you want to read the whole article, it's here.

Notice the subtle implication of an impending media refocusing effort to now call the active TERRORIST network known as "Al-Qaeda" a far less scary monster named "AQI"

I don't listen to Rush (just don't have time).. but I'm sure I know what he would say...

BOHICA: Bend Over Here It Comes Again!

Do not let our modern day liberal media stupify the real meaning of the words that cause us to remember that we are at war with Terror. Not silly euphamisms once known as terrorist organizations.

Have you ever...?

Have you ever come across something that you just KNOW is of God, but don't know how to explain it? I mean... The chances or possibilities are mind boggling, and yet there can be no mistake at who directed your path this way.

I was searching for a song called "Faith is like a child" .. aka "Simple child-like faith".. either way, I have seen some of the words, but not the whole song, and certainly not been able to find it in music form. While searching, I found a blog of a Godly Christian woman named Michy Mich and her blog is called "A Mother's Journey in Faith" She is raising her 2 sons in what I would assume would be a foreign country. No, I haven't asked, but they may be in China, or Hong Kong, or maybe even New York! My point is, it doesn't matter. Read her blog and you will see that God is just pouring Himself all over this dear lady.

Not a post goes by that she isn't praising God for the work he's doing in her family, as her youngest son battles Infantile Eczema. My heart breaks to read some of her posts, and yet I'm encouraged at her steadfast Faith.

I haven't posted any comments (since my initial one a long time ago about the song), but every now and then, I just like to be the fly on the wall. I see God move, and it touches my own heart. Maybe that's selfish, but that's why I wrote this post. So that others might benefit from the same encouragement I've found in this Godly woman's faith. And who knows? Maybe God will bless her for it as well.

No Matter Who Wins....

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW GOD IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!

Remember 9-11

What did you do to remember 9/11/01 today?

As I was sitting here thinking about what I did today, I happened to notice MSNBC running its anual "9/11 As It Happened" special. I started wondering what if I turned the channel, what else was on? But instead I forced myself to watch the planes slamming into the world trade center buildings.

At first it was mind numbing as this happened 7 years ago, but eventually the reality of that fateful day began to return. I began to remember why my brother went to Iraq twice, and why friends from church have been, and are currently in Afghanistan fighting against the very people who brought 9/11 to our doorstep.

I watched as the towers leaned to one side, then slowly gave way to the devastation that had been dealt to their structure. And the horror in the voices of the people reporting the event not that long ago, brought back the memories of where I was on that day.

I was at work at my restaurant in South Carolina, when every customer who walked into the restaurant could hardly believe the stories that were coming across the radio and television. It felt like a hoax to the magnitude of a modern day War of the Worlds.

When asked how to best remember 9/11 in a television interview today, Senator John McCain said the best way to remember was to serve our country. How deep is that statement coming from a decorated war veteran, who has fought for our country and the freedoms we have today.

I say that the best way to remember, is to never LET yourself forget!

We Will Never Forget

Today is such a jumble of memories and emotions for me. I will never forget September 11. My boys asked me today why they were still making such a big deal about it from something that happened 7 years ago. I replied simply "because we must NEVER forget". I was disappointed that they did not appreciate the significance of everything that has transpired since that day and BECAUSE of that day. I really have a hard time watching the footage, and hearing the recap of all that happened. The memorial services choke me up. I continue to think of our brave troops, many of whom I personally know, fighting with their very lives for our freedom from terrorism. I thank God for the freedom I have today in this land of the free and home of the brave.

Carelessness

Hello Family and Friends,

Ted and I went to a revival at a sister church last night. Voices of Faith was invited to sing. They did a great job to God's glory.

Brother Eddie Dover even sat on the 2nd row!! Maybe next time we'll get Gene up there too :)

The guest preacher was an Irishman named Sam Delaney from Alabama. Wow, I hope our preacher invites him to come too. He reminds me alot of Br. Goodman our Pastor. It was so good to hear someone who preached God's Word and wasn't afraid of stepping on convicted toes.

I am hoping Ted and I can convince Tradition( the other quartet Ted sings with) to forgo practice Thursday night so that we can hear Br. Delaney again.

The preacher spoke on careless people.

I think we are all careless way too frequently and most of the time we could care-less about it.

On the homefront, school is progressing, the boys and I like the different scheduling I arranged this year. I think it really is working, although it might be too soon to tell if they are truly progressing as steadily as they should.

On the weight loss end I have lost 8 lbs and Ted has lost close to 20. Pray for us :)

Catsup err Catchup

As you can tell by the title, I am a bit zany today. That would just be a nice way to say that I have so much going on right now that I tend to be loony.
We started school this week, and it has been a rough go for the boys to get back into the "school spirit".
Ted and I also started a rigorous weight loss regimen with our sunday school class. That has affected our dispositions as well. I was thinking there was a third stress factor, but since I have lost my mind already, I don't remember now what that was.
Anyhoo, Ted is in the process of redoing a website to make it easier to upload pictures to a gallery. It will have a place on there to "blog" as well. This means that when he is finished, and I am sure he will announce that event on here with a new link, we will NOT be using blogspot anymore.
But, until that time of transition to the new website, we may sporadically post on here.
Meanwhile, pray for us as we strive to lose weight, keep up with work and school, and delve into a deeper closer relationship with God.
Thanks!
Oh birthday wishes go to my father in August, and my sister,Rachel, and my mother in law Shirley in September.
Happy Anniversary to my parents and my inlaws for August.
Hope this "caught" you up for the last month.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Ted E. Bear.
We Love you

Bloggidie..

Bloggidie, bloggidie, blog, blog, blog...

I just had to get that off my chest :)

I kept your seat warm today...

I kept your seat warm today
You bring so much joy when you're near
Your presence was missed in church
It's just not the same without you here

I kept your seat warm today
But I just don't shout like you do
I tried to encourage others
But they asked about you too

I kept your seat warm today
Oh what a blessing you are
I only hope in some unseen way
God brings you back from afar

I kept your seat warm today
I wispered so soft in your ear
I waited for you to sit down
But you were too busy to hear

I kept your seat warm today
I wrote my words down in a book
I hope you remember to read them
And appreciate all that it took.

I was reminded today, that God wants me to seek him out; to look for his face in the crowd; to sit down and talk to him; to read his response to my problems; to listen to the answers he whispers; and to walk as if he's by my side.

When I do this, He promises to be there, but when I don't, I can see myself stumble and fall. As if I'm unplugged, disconnected, floating free. The world calls this individuality, freedom of expression. God calls it slavery to sin, selfish desires, and reckless abandonment. A balloon is pretty flying alone by itself, but it has no control over where it's going.

"The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide." - Psalms 37:30,31

Oh To Be Used by Him

Kristi over at her NEW Thimble Thoughts page has posted a video of our Voices of Faith singing Sunday night.

I got a chill listening to the song we sang, somewhat because I don't like my own recorded voice, but more so from the impact it had on the people who heard it in the services. We are blessed to be used of God to bless others. I guess that's how God designed blessings :) My sister and I have grown so like-minded when it comes to music it's scary! :)

I would tell you that I USED to listen to contemporary music from my college days up until a few years ago; but I can also say that it NEVER satisfied me spiritually like just praising The Lord as we do now has. When I hear it playing now, I cringe and remember just how shallow most of it is. Oh yes, it's pleasing to the ears and, as my brother-in-law says, "All music has its purpose...some for entertainment." But when the words and music work together to cause you to worship the one and only true God, that's a blessing.

This and That

Forgive me father, it's been 11 days since my last post.

Ok, not quite a joke, but sincerely put. I've been extremely mentally distracted for the last 2 weeks.

• The boys finally got home from Puerto Rico, and things settled back to normal (whatever normal is). I have all their pictures, but no time to upload them from this slow-poke internet connection.

• God sent Bro. Mike P. my way to help run our Delivery store, and after 2 weeks of hands-on training, he's doing an excellent job!

• The GM of our Full Service store gave me his keys on Friday. It seems his family situations were too much for him to keep his job. I was able to move someone from another store into Full Service (on Hwy 74) and keep it running without a hitch, but there will be another 2 weeks at least training to keep this one running at par. I believe this will be the best for the store.

• I used to let my job control my schedule, which allowed the Devil to keep me out of church. God has blessed my stores tremendously, I believe, because of my decision to be in church every service. God has blessed my stores with increased sales and great managers. I know the Devil doesn't like it much, but just as with Job, God will only allow him past the hedge when He is good and ready. I also know that God will not let me go through the trials alone.

• Emily turned 5 Tuesday, and we had her birthday party Saturday. I have pictures of this as well, but probably won't get them up tonight.

• Voices of Faith sang our new songs today (I think Kristi took a video of one) and The Lord blessed many people through us. I'll be the first to say that I deserve none of the credit. Justin M. and Gary are GREAT additions to the group. Each time I get up to sing, I pray that God will get the glory and touch people's lives through it. I know that if it sounds bad or if I mess up, it just keeps me humble so I don't get a big head :)

• I think I lost a filling tonight. I've had a very sensitive molar on the other side, but I remember my dentist telling me that sinus pressure can make teeth sensitive, so I've been watching it carefully.

• We had one of the sweetest services tonight I've seen in a while. This made me remember ones who weren't there that are normally the center of the blessing spout. Mrs. Barbara is still in Duke, and the Rectors are still recovering from a major infection. These couples are very well missed when they can't make the services. We pray that they will be able to join us again soon.

Day 5

Still Quiet! Sooo quiet...

Rebecca and I took a ride down to one of my stores yesterday, and stopped along the way at a chinese restaurant I like in Charlotte. When we left, we noticed a gaggle, posse, herd, flock, (gathering of some sort) of Mini Cooper cars, and I happened to snap a picture. This must have been some internet social club meeting to show off their itty bitty cars

We counted 11 in all, but there wer a few who left before we got out there.

Day 3

It's quiet! Imagine that :)

Thought I'd share this picture I call "Redneck Swimming Pool"

And They're Off

Jamie and Justin left off with the youth group to Puerto Rico this morning.

We all met at the church at 8am

Here's the group going this year, there are 24 Kids going on this trip

Here's the whole gang. Counting Bro. Jonny and Mrs. Vondie there are 32 in all

The mother's all came to see their children off, and even though they're smiling, I know many are cringing inside as few (if any) of these kids have taken this type of trip before.

Before leaving, they split up into groups. Jamie and Justin will be in Bro. RJ's group

Brother Greg called his group

Preacher High-Five's his group

Then we had prayer before everyone got on the bus.

If I(we) Only knew

We had an inspiring old missionary in church tonight. I apologize, I'm not very good with names, so I rarely even try to remember them (right Amy?) :)

Anyway, In short, his life story brought him home from the mission field due to a genetic disease that took his eye sight. But he says God told him that instead of this ending his ministry, God would expand it. Two years ago, a tractor trailer was making a U-turn on the highway, and with no reflective tape on the truck, this elderly couple slammed into the broadside of the truck sending them to the hospital for 30 days and 30 nights.

Instead of seeing this as the lowest point of their semi-retired missionary lives, God showed them how they could share Jesus anywhere and in any situation. When he left the hospital, many of the Buddhists, Catholics, Atheists, and other people who had spent that month in the hospital with him lined the halls to thank him and God for sending him to tell them of Jesus.

Now he writes songs, and has published 2 or 3 music books. He played the piano, and sang with his wife, and yes, he is blind. He said that before he lost his sight, music to him was not important. But now he sees it as a huge part of his ministry and uses his talents for God.

I had to stop and ask myself, If my life story included such huge obstacles, would I constantly question God "why me?" Or would I trust that God knows what He's doing and He will bring me through. When I look back on my life, can I say that I would change how I felt, or what I said or prayed for If I only knew what God had in store for me? OR can I say that I trusted God to provide for my needs or my family as He promised he would, without falter or doubt.

Isaiah 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts."

As our preacher says .. "Amen goes right there" :)

Happy Birthday America! - Part 2

My brother Tim invited us to join him on the 4th for a semi-family cookout. Since Ken and Tammy are in Colorado, and our boys were staying with Dad and Annette, Rebecca and I enjoyed a wonderful night out of town.

Ok, let's get this over with. I dressed for the occasion

Emily couldn't find the Kitty. She's such a doll.

Tim did an AWESOME job of cooking the speedies and steak. He really likes to use his new grill too :)

YUM YUM!

Emily took this picture. She loves to use the camera.

Then it was time for water balloons!!

UT OH!!!

After a good long nap, we all headed to the park for fireworks

Emily and Sarah (her cousin on Jen's side) had a ball with sparklers

This is Sarah

This is Tim's Goofy face, going into our Goofy Face Album soon to be posted!

This is Sarah impersonating Uncle Tim

With the sparklers almost gone, Sarah got a piece of hot metal on her lower eyelid! Poor thing. We thought it was in her eye, but after some cold water and some closer looking by her Daddy, she only had a tiny red spot under her eye. A lady at the park gave her a dollar to cheer her up :)

Then it was time for the REAL Fireworks!! I wish I could post all of the pictures I took, but these are the highlights. These are nowhere near the ones that Kristi took, but I think I did a fairly good job for my first July 4th :) Enjoy

The Perfect end to this story.