Happy New Year Family & Friends

This is the message you heard from the beginning.  We should love one another.  1 John 3:11

2011 was a tough year for us.  We had plans for vacations and spending time with family but our plans weren't God's plans.  Through all the trials that came our way God blessed us with strength, healing, and reconciliation.  We are looking forward to 2012 and another year together.  Oh there will be trials, as there is in all lives, but it will be another year of blessings doing whatever God calls us to do in service for Him. 

God bless each of you with a safe and joyous New Years Day.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Love,

Gary & Shirley

FROG

May the Lord continually bless you with heaven's blessings as well as with human joys.  Psalm128:5

In spite of everything, when I look back at where I've been, I see that what I am becoming is a whole lot further down the road from where I was.  Gloria Gaither

God uses everything in our life to glorify His name.  The trials that we go through make us stronger each day.  All we need to do is FROG!

Happy Birthday Jesus

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

Today as we celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray that peace, joy and love surrounded you and your family this day.

God's Gift

With all the hustle and bustle that comes with this time of the year we sometimes forget the real reason for the season.  I know that I have a very busy day ahead of me with grocery shopping and final preparations for the first wave of guests that arrive tomorrow to celebrate the 92nd birthday of Gary's Mom. But today's scripture made me stop and thank God for all that He has blessed me with and for the continued blessings I know He will pour out on our family.  Take time today to add your thanks to mine!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 

 2 Corinthians 9:15

Act as if each day were given to you for Christmas, just as eager,
just as proud.

I Won!!!

Thank you, Thank You to The Gathering Place and Rustikchic!!!

I won this beautiful kissing ball from The Gathering Place

and a cuff of my choice from Rusticchic

I love giveways!!!

She's celebrating early!

Today some friends of Gary's Mom came over for a visit and to wish her Happy Birthday.  She will be 92 years young on the 17th and these 4 ladies are very dear to her.  I baked a loaf of Apple Cinnamon Bread and made a pot of coffee for the ladies.  With the exception of Lois this was the first time they had seen each other since Gary's Mom had the stroke this past summer.  They had a great time visiting and catching up on what has been happening in each of their lives. 

Dolores, Jo, Jewell, Lois, Thelma

God's Love

Today has been a super busy disorganized day.  Our morning started 2 hours earlier than normal and things just snowballed from there.  I was 15 minutes late for my Made to Crave class, which I am thoroughly enjoying, and I hate being late for anything.  With the busy morning behind me I am now going to slow down and relax before I get back on the busy track of getting things ready for house guests.  Today's scripture and quote are just for me!

Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.  1 Peter 5:7

Be assured that if God waits longer than you wish, it is only to make the blessing all the more precious.  Andrew Murray

God is my strength!

I didn't get my morning walk in today.  My body decided to sleep in this morning and I didn't get up until 8:00 AM.  I started a new medication last week and some of the side affects are muscle and body aches which I now have.  I know that God is my strength and he will get me through this period as my body adjusts to the new medication.

Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

Snowball Cookies

Ingredients

1 lb butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp salt

4 ½ cups self-rising flour

2 tsp vanilla

1 ½ cups pecans or walnuts, chopped

Mix all ingredients except powdered sugar well.  Roll into balls and bake 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Roll in powdered sugar while hot and cool then roll again.

The Crooked Tree, Part 2

This morning as I was walking there was that little crooked tree again.  I thought okay God you keep putting this little tree in my mind to teach me a lesson.  Although this little tree is now dormant and its leaves have fallen, the branches are still reaching toward heaven.  It is if the tree knows that it will blossom out and bloom again as long as it stays focused on its purpose.  This tree is a beautiful creation of God just as I am.  I may not be as beautiful as this little tree but I am a creation of God.  With its branches, although now barren, reaching toward heaven it reminds me that I need to stay focused in God's Word and the plan He has for my life.  Just as this tree is bent over I sometimes bend under the heavy load I carry when all I need to do is give that load over to Jesus.  He is walking beside me everyday and tells me to give all my burdens over to him.  Just like everyone else I want to be in control of what is happening in my life and when I thoroughly mess it up and can no longer fix it that is when I give it to God.  It is so simple so why do we fight it.  We need to remember one word and that word is FROG, "Fully Rely on God."  Trust the light at the end of the tunnel for it is the Glory of God shining through!

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:33-34

Several years ago Tanya Tucker recorded a song "Strong Enough to Bend" and it goes something like this: 

There's a tree out in the backyard

That never has been broken by the wind

And the reason it's still standing

It was strong enough to bend

Remember when those troubles come your way don't forget to FROG and you will be strong enough to bend.

The Crooked Tree

This morning as I was walking I noticed for the first time a really crooked tree in the little park next to our house.  Although the tree is now dormant and the leaves have fallen it looked like it had bent under the heavy load it had had to carry.  How many times have you felt the same way?  You feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and if you have to take on one more thing you might just crumble.  Situations beyond your control arise and in the blink of an eye your whole world changes.  Things that you had planned to do you can no longer do and you feel like you have no energy left to face another day wondering what changes it will bring.

Then I stop and think of Jesus as He walked up that hill to Calvary carrying all the sins of the world on His shoulders.  Did He complain?  No!  His prayer to His Father was not my will but your will in my life.  Oh I so want to be like Jesus!

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:39

Merry Christmas from the Class of 63 Girlfriends!

Barbara Smith Bream, Lillian Espinosa Gurrola, Cheryl Brannon Nelson, Shirley Johnson Richards, Sandy Barton Holterman, Marie Jolly Lane, Judy Embree Russ

Today some of the girls from the LHS Class of 63 got together for a Christmas Potluck Luncheon and our "1st Cookie Friendz" was a success.  We had lots of good food but the best part was being able to visit and catch up on what is happening in every one's life.  Cookie Friendz was a success and everyone took home lots of cookies to share with their families. 

We missed all those that could not attend and we hope to see you at our next luncheon Friday, January 6. 

Merry Christmas!!!

God's Love

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!  And that is what we are!  1 John 3:1

He cannot bless us unless He has us.  In love, God claims all.

C. S. Lewis

God's Love

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

God speaks to us when we stop trying to think of things to say and become quiet.