A Little Bit Of A Lot

Hey you bloggers....

2010-06-12T18:23:00.005-05:00

Hi Blog Friends
(if there's anybody left visiting me here! :)

I appreciate you all, and hope you'll come see me at my new blog space! My fastidious daughter helped me to make more sense of it :P
~These new blogger options were making my head spin a little too fast :(

This "fright" of an old blog (i was trying to change it for the better and missed the mark a bit!!!) has now been refurbished and moved to a home where it is much more organized and esthetically pleasing!
Please come see and let me know what you think :)

www.sojourner-sister.blogspot.com

The Lord has been putting some heavy ( and some... controversial) issues on my heart that I feel compelled to share... I am hoping to see you all there and hoping for any feedback you might have...
Thanks in advance,
~Suz

Life: and how we look at it...

2010-05-22T09:01:00.003-05:00

~This is a picture my daughter Noelle did when she was nine or ten.

This is the kind of art she liked to do, colorful and from her heart.. she was never much for copying ... (something that as an "artist) :( I felt was necessary for a great sketch)...
...looking at a guide, a piece of clip art, a photo a magazine picture, etc, for an exact representation, so as to "get it just right"...

But (thankfully) not her :)

Still yet, and typically so, she was never satisfied by her work.
...I was awed.
I just adored the honesty in her simple lines and her colorful representations.

I have kept almost all of her work, though she is a tried and true writer now... I hope she writes a book someday and includes her sketches!

About this attitude she held about art, well, it has me thinking. I would love to live the way she drew pictures. Simply, honesty, definitely colorful... and most gracious, and never copying

Her original art was always very gracious.

I love my daughter's art, and her heart...

...I would like to recapture that innocence, now tainted by the harshness life.

The reality is that this kind of life can be lived...only be lived by sticking closely to Jesus for inspriation and guidance, and every thought word and deed...

It is then that my (and anyone's for that matter) life will my life come closer to being a Masterpiece -- Fit for the Masters use., reflecting all the Color, Joy and Grace He intends all our lives to reflect.

~Lord help me to find my life in You, every day... Help me to remember that each day of this life is a gift... and to live it to the full.

Help me to keep Your message for life, uppermost in my thoughts throughout my days,and remembering that I have to live it from the heart, (that "new" heart, that You freely gave when I accepted Your sacrifice on my behalf at Calvary's cross... Thank you Lord for life, for hope, for second chances, for mercy and for grace...

~and for colorful hearts and the pictures they inspire!

grace and peace, mercy and joy, and comfort to you all...

In His Precious Name

Grandkiddos~A Day at the Park, Working Things Out...

2010-05-07T22:54:00.001-05:00

The Light Meets The Dark: A Must Listen!

2010-05-05T00:41:00.001-05:00

Tenth Avenue North - "Healing Begins" Video Journal:

~ This generation... The one in which my peers begat... are THE VOICE of OUR TIMES, I believe! :)
It is exciting to me to watch what God will do. Am I mistaken, or are the zealous younger people much more outspoken and in greater numbers than those of two decades ago?

As Paul entreated Timothy. a young follower of Christ in his day in 1st Timothy 4:12--to Timothy--young disciple and bringer of God's Truths...His Holy Word:
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers, in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Wow, This is what I hear now, coming forth .. I would have to say, more-so in the "young believers" camp than the older... who it seems have sold out to the milquetoast gospel of ease and fire insurance... period. Yuch. But He will raise up a remnant... and though we have failed to a degree...we have somehow , someway, despite ourselves, inspired the youngers... Praise you Lord!

This is where the healing begins....
His Truths.. Where the Light Meets the Dark

Me (Suz) and Tom (Thoms) during the summer of 91

2010-04-14T03:17:00.004-05:00

I loved him then, I love him still... maybe more than ever... Yep, I'm sure, it's more than ever...
Thanks babe for almost 18 interesting.adventurous.courageous.terrifying.life-giving.reality-promoting.zealous.devoted.hilarious.nurturing.educational.tender.love-filled years

"We Preach Best What We Need To Hear Most" ...unknown

2010-04-14T03:04:00.003-05:00

Oxygen is what all mortal humans breathe.
Faith and Love are what all Spiritual beings breathe.
As a human—stop breathing oxygen and see how weak and powerless and foolish you are, in only a matter of moments.
Spiritually—walk in doubt and fear and self-love, or in rebellion and jealousy and bitterness, or in arrogance... or in self-pity and whining... and the results in your Spirit-life will be just as real and just as devastating as suffocating for lack of oxygen to the physical body.

Cultivate a life of Faith, and Trust, and Love—Believing Him in all things without reservation!
Crush the fear, self-love, self-hate, doubt, and disputes with His Promises and His Ways.
Reject all thoughts of how you are being cheated, or your so-called “rights violated” or that something is not “fair” or that God is not AWESOMELY good and wonderful in ALL His Decisions and Ways.
Step into the OXYGEN of Spiritual LIFE and LOVE: THIS is the victory that overcomes the world, sin, and death: even our Faith.

I love to paint -- but didn't. ;)

2010-04-14T02:37:00.006-05:00

I love to paint. But haven't painted in a long while... therefore, am not very "practiced" any longer. I wish I could paint like this... but with digi software from picnik.... look-y what I can do!... turn my daughter's pretty face into what looks like a painting... maybe a little?
Anyway.. I liked it a lot... so I thought I'd post it up!
Happy Spring all!

A Heart From Dad's Heart

2010-04-12T16:57:00.004-05:00

okay...Beside being a really neat shot of Noelle as well as sweet pics of Noelle with Ava and Jada Lynn, the little sweethearts we babysat for a long while (and whom we miss terribly)-- this is an exquisite photo of Noelle's love gift from her Pa... a lovely birthstone ring .. an authentic heart (kinda like a rounded triangle--like a real heart) shaped garnet stone with a lovely yellow gold setting...
{SHE LOVED IT}
Tom presented it to her in February,... to commemorate her Birthday as well as Valentine's Day... but mainly to say "I love You.. and you mean the world to your mom and I"

Father's and daughters can have a tough go of it at times... But Noelle and her dad have striven through ups and downs and are reaping the fruit of forgiveness and working through... striving with one another.

We are excited to watch what the Lord is gonna do in her life as the next couple of years fly by...

She has so much on her heart to do and be... and become...

...and if I know my daughter, (and I do :) I know the Lord is smiling

Our Sweet Daughter, a Young Adult Now...

2010-04-04T02:28:00.008-05:00

No longer a little girl, dressed up for a portrait shoot (in the photo
shown here), Our Noelle is becoming a young woman of grace and glory.
I am humbled by what the Lord is doing in her life... at the tender age of fifteen. She exudes wisdom and maturity that many adults never even know exist for them...

and yet she longs to be "not about herself", striving to reach higher than the temporal sphere where she is still, as much a young woman who yet cares what is thought of her.

Any yet, we distinctly see the Lord working that out, and her desire matching His, to where, her flesh is diminishing and her spirit is gaining pre-eminence.

I am honored and as I shared, humbled... and so thankful to the Lord for, despite us, allowing her to grow into who she has ... as well as who her father and I prayed for and so terribly desired for her to be.

Noelle wants to serve in missions... as well as aspiring to pursue excellence in all things concerning her womanly calling and role in marriage... including, but not limited to... serving her family and her man in the kitchen... (one sure route to his heart!) by preparing meals with flair, making poignant memories... learning about gardening, herbs and healthy lifestyle enhancements,honing her skills as she prepares to be a homemaker/nest builder... for gracious hospitality where all manner of folks are ushered in and
welcomed to stay on..sharing their tales of their adventures or their
hearts travail ~~whatever it may be...

We are so excited to see how this
all plays out in the Lord's overall plan for the life that awaits her in
the near future, no matter how soon or how far....

Above all, Noelle is set on continuing to develop a servant's heart and is
preparing to be a missionary on the home-front as well as listening for the Lord's call to her to serve abroad... and yet, eventually desiring to
raise up children who are nurtured and marinated in love... yet with discipline, a firm and loving consistency, with a passionate heart for Jesus as well...

I wish I would have had a mind and a heart at
such a tender age to be about the Father's business as she has been over
the years.

It is most certainly true that the fear of God is the
Beginning of Wisdom.. (fear as in reverence)... for she is wise.

I foresee her as a true blessing to her husband to be...

It is certainly exciting to see what the Lord will do... in Noelle's life, as she continues to seek His will.

Her father and I can scarce believe she is ours... (and in reality she is not ours, but only on loan, as a blessing :) -- to help raise, in co-operation with the Lord Jesus-- who has helped us to parent her as He has parented us!

It has been quite a journey...and I wouldn't trade a minute of it...

Thank you Dear Lord for giving us a child who, it seems, embodies.... the best of the both of us..
or stated another way...
a picture of who it was that we were to be... had things been different for us!...
She is a gift ... and I give humble thanks for this young woman who was such a short time ago.. just a child...
definitely, always mature beyond her years...
yet still a child.
She is gaining on us here... so fast.. Lord, Please, just keep her in the palm of your hand as she continues to prepare and seek You for her future and what You have for her...
and Lord, please, make certain that she is hearing directly from You in the decisions that will truly change her life.
We want Your best for her as much as we know You do...
Keep her Lord, and Thanks You again..
forever and for always...
Come what May...

In the Rain

2010-04-03T02:29:00.008-05:00

I held the dream fast, upon my windswept brow...

As a storm threatened it's approach,

I held it with a fervor...

...so as to not forget it's depth or how it touched me now.

I let the dream slide softly away…

It was meant to be embraced for a time,

~ then shared as a Testament to live by;

An offering to Him who held all of what would come to pass.

I awakened... waves of recognition gentled through my consciousness

~Then, the rain.

It began to fall... quietly at first, like a lamb's first breath in the spring...

I had to choose...

...and so I did.

I stood unyielding, as Intensity built ...

I was purified, you could say, by the torrent:

As it beat down drenching me...

...then rolling from my skin, without a sound...

leaving me lighter somehow,

cleaner it would seem.

continuing to wash over me.

~Let it melt away the dross...

of disregard, ill-content... full of fear... and on...

so full of me...

--not any of Him--

I decide to stay here,

with He;

With He who paid for

my life -- with His own...

In it all, a promise... to wash all away...

...I stood mute, without wavering...

in the rain.

~An offering for Him who loved me;

Who makes all things new...

Even in my disheveled state of being,

in my life;

so bleak...

He made it shine

So here I will stand, with Him...

... in the rain.

by Suz 1010

Matthew 24:42 "Therefore Keep Watch"

2010-03-30T18:06:00.005-05:00

Therefore keep watch , because you do not know on what day the Lord will come. Matthew 24:42

I honestly do not keep tight with the daily news... I catch the headlines on my facebook posts... and I catch a bit more from what my husband shares from the news radio from work or the newspaper.

It is not that I am not concerned... I just don't feel the need to keep up with all of the "other" stuff in the news. The "other" stuff I refer is is the extraneous and a many times gratuitous " hi-lights" that sensationalize the very thing Jesus speaks of when He shares with us, why He must return.

The world cannot keep going on as it is... waxing worse and worse... indefinitely. There will come a day... and it could be soon, when he will be back to Judge His own from the lost.

My heart aches for the lost. It hurts so badly.. and I so relate to the pain that people go through in their sagas, and travails, so many times emblazened shamelessly on the front page of the papers or the tabloid covers...

...like so many vultures, feasting on others scandals... and percieved pain and loss. As it is.. I relate enough to the scenes of every day life that I see play out as I watch people interact, here and there, out and about.

I can read between the lines because we are, none of us, all that different. We are all cut from the same cloth. We all carry burdens and pain, regrets and loss in varying degrees.

We all deal with these realities differently as well. I guess that is why the 'keeping up with the news' is so painful to me. To me it is overkill. There is nothing new under the sun, and in my 48 years, I have seen so much pain and destruction.

There is nothing that I see that can be too far from what I have already seen, experienced or read about, learned of, or heard God share about in His word what will go down in the last days... etc.

These are no doubt those {the last days} I have no idea how close or far we are from the end.. but I know it is drawing closer and closer... things are lining up with His Word of Prophecy at an alarming rate.. It is only a matter of time and only He knows how much time that is.

Again, we are all cut from the same cloth. The Lord wants to Redeem us .. He wants us to reach out.. to cry out to Him for forgiveness! We are all lawbreakers... just by the very nature of comparrison with His Holiness.

He is without blemish or fault. He is Love Personified, as well as Justice and Mercy.

He is only true to His nature to desire to "forgive us" of our debauched ways and means to live life... OUR way..and certainly not His Way...

But, it is also His nature, that He does not give us what we dererve!

Here we are, truly, whether we acknowledge it or not... helpless, blind, dirty and needing mercy in the hands of a Rightous and Holy Judge...

NOTE: Please read this next paragraph 'very carefully' because first of all, I am not the best writer... my thoughts do not always some out as clear and concise as I would like... and ALSO: Because it is so vital that if you haven't heard this {in your spirit yet}... but only heard it {with your ears}... you need to have it come to life for you....and please know I am praying for anyone who might read it ...

We truly deserve, by the very nature of all that we are and all that we are not... deserving of judgement. "death"

~ That's our just due, as we are all murderers, thieves, idolators, fornicators, blasphemors... and on and on... Yet He (God The Father) sent his Son (Who is and consequently, Who was, here on earth, as much GOD as He was a man when He was sent here to die in our stead as the punishment for our peace and the propitiation for our sins..., to make a Righteous Path, a go-between, between us and {Himself-- God}
God came to earth and died for US!
He came to earth and died for us!
My mind reels at the implications of such love.

Blessed be The Name of Our God, Who Was and Is and Is to Come

A Post and A Prayer and Plea for Freedom

2010-03-22T17:26:00.004-05:00

I'm posting this forward from my email... who forwared it to me... because it is a "must-see-must-take-action sort of thing, I believe ,and believe many would agree...

I would have posted it on my facebook profile , but thought better of it. I don't think this one post would have changed the mind of anyone who was already adamantly for this travesty callled a "reform bill" so, in lieu of looking as if I am trying to shove my political convictions down anyones throat, I would rather give an option for anyone to come here and read of the tyranny and injustice for all that is coming covertly to pass... with an overt spin on it to make it look like it's all for our good... again, of course.

Please, if any are concerned for our rights being systematically stripped away, as if all is well with the world..., Remember, to do nothing speaks of condoning it all. It is a farce and and a dangerous political play that will have dire consequenses if allowed to remain unchallenged...
We are gonna lose our prescious , hard won rights...
fast and furiously...
Read on....

Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

What do you call it when a radical minority forces
its will on the law-abiding majority? The
Obama/Pelosi/Reid power axis would have us call
it "progressive leadership." The Founders called
it "tyranny." Read below - Mat.

(I took the liberty to change the name in the post to concerned citizen where applicable and hope I haven't missed it down through the document ... along the way.)

Dear Concerned Citizen,

I am not surprised that socialist leaders Obama, Pelosi and
Reid found a convoluted way to get their tyrannical
healthcare "reform" bill through Congress. And there is
no doubt that evidence of vote buying and extreme coercion,
both legal and illegal, will surface for weeks to come.

But this is not the time to rehash the tragic
spectacle we saw unfold over the weekend.
Now is the time to TAKE ACTION to stop ObamaCare
and its anti-life, anti-family, and anti-economy
provisions IN A COURT OF LAW.

++Americans have lost confidence in the legislative process.

At every step of the way in ObamaCare's long march through
Congress, the liberal Democrat leaders used trickery, overt
manipulation, and out-and-out vote buying to thwart the
American people's clearly expressed opposition to their
socialist takeover of our medical system.

Now, on the brink of this hugely unpopular bill being presented
to President Obama for signature, we are facing the brutal
reality of what the 111th Congress has forced down our throats:

* Abortion coverage Americans don't want
* Exorbitant costs Americans don't want
* Mandatory participation Americans don't want
* New federal bureaucracies Americans don't want
* A vast expansion of IRS power Americans don't want

++Our Constitution is being subverted right before our eyes.

Catherine, the "checks and balances" our Founders gave
us are being systematically overpowered and dismantled by the
Obama/Pelosi/Reid power axis. Never before has the will of
the people been so completely ignored and marginalized.

ObamaCare is unconstitutional! If Congress has the
power to FORCE each person to have health insurance,
then individual liberty is totally meaningless.

Because the bill that passed Sunday night mandates individual
coverage and requires private employers to provide coverage,
Liberty Counsel is FILING SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT THIS WEEK to
challenge the bill's constitutionality!

We need hundreds of thousands of Americans to sign our Statement
of Support for this litigation. Given the sad spectacle we
saw play out in the House of Representatives this weekend,
we must now win this battle in a courtroom.

Please go here to sign your official Statement of Support:

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=26419&RID=23553947

++ ObamaCare was unlawful from the beginning.

There were MANY reasons why Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi allowed
no one but their closest insiders - and the White House arm
twisters, of course - to participate in developing and managing
ObamaCare. For one thing, its "Tooth Fairy" accounting can't
stand up to even mild scrutiny.

But the biggest reason was that Congress had NO AUTHORITY to
force its socialist healthcare agenda on citizens and
businesses in the first place!

The bill that passed the House of Representatives on Sunday
night is unconstitutional because:

1) Congress has NO authority to force every American to
carry insurance coverage, and,
2) Congress has NO authority to fine employers whose
policies do not have the mandated coverage.

No matter the desires of certain elected officials, there are
some things Congress just cannot do! And the threat to our
liberty posed by ObamaCare goes FAR beyond healthcare. If
Congress can get away with this expansive power grab, then
individual liberty and state sovereignty will soon vanish.

Nancy Pelosi said as much last week when she told reporters
that after "kicking down the door" with ObamaCare, her
Congress will push through the rest of their ultraliberal
agenda.

EVERY version of the "healthcare reform" bill this Congress
produced - even considering whatever "reconciliation" issues
are eventually appended to the Senate version - is patently
unconstitutional!

Citizen, this monstrous, anti-life, anti-family healthcare
bill MUST now be strongly challenged in the federal judiciary.
With your help, Liberty Counsel is doing exactly that!

++The battle over ObamaCare has just begun.

Americans nationwide are expressing OUTRAGE at the overt
manipulation and total lack of integrity that characterized
the final vote on ObamaCare. Reid, Pelosi and Obama proved
they were willing to do ANYTHING to get this government
takeover of our medical system.

Now more than ever, the socialists and abortion advocates need
to understand that WE HAVE NOT GIVEN UP and will resist
implementation of ObamaCare to the very end. Now WE'LL SEE
THEM IN COURT! And we have an excellent chance of winning
our federal lawsuit.

Here's what I'm asking you to do...

#1 - Sign the Statement of Support for our lawsuit.

We want to deliver hundreds of thousands of these Statements
to all the key plotters behind ObamaCare. Reid, Pelosi, Obama
and all their confederates need to know they're not going
to get away with this travesty! Go here right now:

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=26419&RID=23553947

#2 - Call your Representative's and your Senators' offices.

Please
take a moment to call your Representative and your two
Senators and let them know you are OUTRAGED by the way ObamaCare
was handled. Then let them know you will be supporting
litigation against this unconstitutional bill.

Sen. Kohl 202-224-5653

Sen. Feingold 202-224-5323

Rep. Kind 202-225-5506

#3 - Pray that this bill will be derailed in court. Pray for
God's deliverance from being forced to pay for abortions and
from the overt deceit and trickery that has become the norm
from the Obama/Pelosi/Reid power axis. PLEASE keep the heat
on, especially now that the socialists have finally played
their hand.

And, of course, this litigation is going to be very expensive.
Please prayerfully consider a significant gift to help offset
Liberty Counsel's expenses to mount a major constitutional
challenge to ObamaCare.

I have appended a copy of Liberty Counsel's official News
Release about our lawsuit next to your Statement of Support.
You can see it and sign your Statement of Support for
litigation against ObamaCare by going here:

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=26419&RID=23553947

Now is NOT the time to be silent! Join like-minded Americans
who will be putting the plotters on notice that we are filing
a federal lawsuit this week to stop this power grab once and for all.

God bless you,

Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

P.S. This battle is NOT over, no matter how much the
Pelosi/Reid/Obama power axis wants us to think that it is.
Sign your Statement of Support for our lawsuit so we can
win this phase of the battle in court and in the court of
public opinion!

And please pray! There is always hope in God! Also, let your
Senators and Representative know that you WILL hold them
accountable for their decisions on ObamaCare and its outrageous
handling. WE MUST NOT SUBMIT to this tyranny! Once again,
thank you for praying and speaking out.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Note: Please do not "reply" directly to this e-mail message.
This e-mail address is not designed to receive your personal
messages. To contact Liberty Counsel with comments, questions
or to change your status, see the link at the end of this e-mail.)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Comments? Questions?

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?U=26418&CID=310&RID=23553947

Liberty Counsel, with offices in Florida, Virginia and
Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit litigation, education and
policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom,
the sanctity of human life and the traditional family.
Liberty Counsel . PO Box 540774 . Orlando, FL 32854 .800-671-1776

wishing for spring

2010-03-12T13:02:00.004-06:00

My tennies are ready but the slush bids me stay...
I wish and I ponder a warm dryer day

I'll wait with God's patience, He'll keep me content,
The Spring will soon dawn nigh
...and with it:
Colors, Passions, Breezes and New
Life Sent

Who's coming to visit?--Maybe The Sweet Tooth Fairy??

2010-01-24T16:50:00.007-06:00

Ha Ha!

Funny one Tom :D

He (Tom-- aka, dh--dear husband, aka hubby and once in a while "Thoms" is a bone-fide hoot. This is not one of his funniest comments... and that being said, I kick myself for not, over the years , keeping track of his comments, statements and remarks by writing them down... humorous witticisms.... (His biological name is Witt for petes sake :)

--As I would, by now, have a plethora of raw, hilarious material worthy of any demanding comedian's critical employ...

In any case, I'm savin this one ;) 'n in doing so, thought i'd share it with you...

if it brings a smile, great!, a chuckle... better ;), an eye roll... ;( oh well, sorry, maybe next time.

Anyway... We, (Noelle , Tom & I) were sitting around the bedroom as Tom fastened on his boots readying himself for trudging through the slush at work tonight... when I told Noelle to fetch the ground beef from the downstairs freezer for tomorrow's dinner...
when, on second thought I yelled for to grab a bag of donuts too... in case we have company over this evening.

(I have been meaning to have Lisa or Melissa over -- both neighbors that I want to get to know better... and with the big storm coming through our area tonight, not many will be venturing very far from home in their vehicles.. so it could be a good night to do just that.)

Tom, knowing my propensity for procrastination and the work load I have and how much of it is backed up (and how stressed I have been about all that lately--and probably doubting I would get to the inviatation phone call any time soon, curtly responded with " Who's gonna end up coming for a visit tonight?--"The Sweet Tooth Fairy?"

Well,

I still have time... I may just get to that call this evening! :)

if not, well, it'll be soon.

I found a cool article with the same inspiration I've had recently!

2009-12-31T02:03:00.006-06:00

So instead of me writing about it... I took her story of it all... There's a trackback at the end if oyou want to read more similar...

It's about Composition book journals... or more... making something special just for ourselves:) A neat idea... an artistic outlet and an enmotional one as well. It doesn't break the bank, and serves as an inspiration with a catharctic element to get you in touch with deep down things... and maybe draw some out... thereby , possibly helping you to know you better... thus helping to connect with others and to God, and allowing Him to connect more readliy with you--or us(depending in which person you're reading this in... as I haven't decided which person to write it in ;P... and it's getting too late to think on it too much ... but for the main point-- and that's that getting/drawing closer is His goal. drawing closer and healing...
when healing happens... that(healing and going deeper) brings Him closer.. as we are the more open to Him while looking inside (and the two kind of go togther... right?)
anyway... I liked this idea and I'm planning on making some to share...
I googled for some references or how-to's and see that others have the same idea :) so here's a one ... and a couple links to others (below)

The gal writes--

I write 2-3 pages in a journal just about every morning. They're my "morning pages," and I started writing them earlier this year when I read The Artist's Way.

The first few months, I just wrote my morning pages in a standard plastic-covered spiral notebook. Then it dawned on me that I should decorate my journal. So I tossed together my first covered composition book at a stamp club meeting. It wasn't anything fancy, but I was happy with the way it turned out.

I was really surprised, though, at how nice it felt to make something just for me. Writing in my own specially-made journal made me feel more positive. Even just catching a glimpse of the journal as I walked through the room made me feel proud. Giving myself that gift reassured me that I'm worth spending my own time and energy on. I think a lot of us could stand to send ourselves that message more often.

The holidays can be filled with doing things for everybody else. Buy or make gifts for the family. Send cards to friends. Bake goodies for co-workers. Clean the house for company. And while all those things are great and can be very rewarding... it's also important to do some nice things for you. Maybe that means making yourself a journal (if so, stay tuned for info on how I made mine). Or maybe it's making yourself some jewelry you just love. Or even just taking a nap!

Whatever it is, I hope you'll take some time to really enjoy yourself this holiday season!

Posted in: Currently Working On...
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:

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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Making Something... for ME!:

» How to Make a Composition Book Journal from CraftyGoat's Notes
Want to give someone (or yourself!) a nice journal this Christmas? Covering or “altering” composition notebooks is an easy way to make an attractive journal. Covering a Composition Book - The Basics... [Read More]
more inspiration & instruction for comp book journal

http://www.artistsjournals.com/instruction/composition.htm

http://scrapbooking.com/article/39057

http://gomakesomething.com/ht/gluebooks/cover-comp-books/

Should I Share?

2009-12-27T10:52:00.003-06:00

My Son's new Family-To-Be :) (and prayer requests)

2009-12-10T22:27:00.002-06:00

These are pics that my son's fiance sent to me... :)
me= ((One happy Mamma)) :)

~The first is the youngest kiddo in his beautiful new family. Please pray for them all... as they too struggle with various and sundry issues .. like most of us, but are having more than there share now it seems. Please hold them also in prayer for salvation and security in Him and all of the peace, Purpose and Passion in life that comes with a walk with Him! I so wish this for them... and all else who would come to Him!
This is Jimmy :)
super cute, big heart, helpful and talented. He has an artist's haert (and skill :) This sweet gal is Kayla, she is a modest young lady who has a good heart and a solid head on her shoulders. Her mom shares that she has a servant's heart by way of aspiring to be a nurse and is in a nursing program while finishing HS now. Please pray for her as well in this venture if you think of her.This is Joshuah, (my son) and the woman who captured his hard to win heart.
Chrissy is an open woman with a good level of maturity, a sweet spirit and is a valient sojourner on this hard trek through life. She is overcoming obstacles, and has overcome nany significant ones in the past. Pray for strngth and revelation for her... and for Josh--that his heart might continue to soften and heal as he is drawn back to place of beginning to know Christ that it once was discovering.. He too is a survivor and a loyal and giving man. He loves and cares deeply.
I know God has a plan for all of this as well.another pic of the kids.. the older son is William and the youngest daughter here is Kathy...Kathy is a philosppher at heart and has quite a bit of faith :) a lot of it on her walls... in inspritional quotes... as her mom shared. William is a good hearted kid... (and I can see this just looking at his pic ;) though I heaven't met any of them yet... I like each one of them already and cannot wait to get to know them all better. William is a guy after my own heart , as he is big time into art--sketching... as well as adventure sports like skateboarding and biking... like me too.. as a youngster.. I always LOVED to "go fast! :P This sweet smiling gal, Chrissy is an inspiration... as with so much on her plate and at such a young age, she holds tight to a vision of being the best mom she can be and to have a solid and steady home full of comforting and equipping for life as they live!
I can hear it in her words and attitudes and what I have heard of her ;) I am blessed she is partnering with my son...
She, as well, is blessed to have one of the bravest, and softest hearted men around. He is a wounded warrior.. and I respect him to the utmost. He is my heart.

~again, I humbly ask for intercession for this family unspoken requests mostly, but the Father knows our and their) needs even before we ask.

Thank you, all who lift them before the Throne of Grace.

Many Blessings Throughout the Christams Holiday Season for you all!

I pray it is one of great Revelation and of Miracles!

Jesus be Praised and His will be done.

a few misc.pics from over the last few months ;)

2009-12-08T19:45:00.005-06:00

Noelle and Ava with Phoebe (on her first day at our house)

a furtive Ava look... sweetheart <3 style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 205px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413125672895524594" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2h_86rEpqDA/Sx9JHpl8LvI/AAAAAAAAA-M/OssLfWlGrZI/s400/IMG_6114.JPG" border="0">There's a foot of snow outside and we're expecting
another in the next couple of days... but it's always warm inside...

Tom & 'lil Ava at the big lake, summer 09
a Northwoods sea gull...
Hobbes hanging loose... he's getting to be quite the couch... er (recliner) potatoe

Noelle & Ava at the end of a long day

Noelle and Ava take care of baby Randall.... they both love babies,

(Ava doesn''t think she is one...)

sweet, sleeping Ava (baby) :)

a couple more...

2009-12-08T03:29:00.011-06:00

Hobbes for the ride ( Hobbes is always for the ride!)

Noelle ready for ski season... (actually she is modeling for me for a photo shoot a couple of yrs ago....)

a few more....

2009-12-08T03:24:00.003-06:00

...Phoebe...running from?

Salutations :D

Noelle (summer 09)

end of summer fleurs

Tom, me & Tom and a new addition...

2009-12-08T03:21:00.004-06:00

Make Your Own Probiotic Supplements

2009-11-24T02:30:00.000-06:00

Make Your Own Probiotic Supplements

~Many Faces of Jocelyn Nicole ~

2009-11-12T01:21:00.004-06:00

~Introducing Joce~
Precious & Precocious...
Sassy & Sweet,
Girly-Girl & Go-Getter...
Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice with Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails!
You-go-girl...
I miss you, Grandsweetie...
With Love,
XoXXoooXOo
~ from your Nana,

Phoebe Grace (small news) and a New Home Fellowship Announcement (BIG News!) :)

2009-11-08T17:13:00.004-06:00

This is our newest addition to our pet-loving family... Phoebe Storm. She was meant to be Phoebe Grace and hopefully "will be"... but for now, she is definitely "tempstuous!"

not afraid, just really attitudinal :P

More to come on my blog... Hope you all check back soon as we will be announcing plans for home fellowship (now in the forming and prayer stage)

There is more to all that , than what it might appear upon first hearing... So please, check back -and share feed-back :)!

Thanks all, Suzanna & Family

From a Momma's Heart...

2009-10-28T00:09:00.003-05:00

...he's not my child, but he is close to our family, and he is being bullied. There doesn't seem to be anybody doing anything tangible about it, and I feel helpless to know what to do in this situation, as it's been really hard to get past his parents' walls. I'm sharing this book in case it might help another. I also wanted to ask for prayer for this child and his parents, and maybe for us to know if and what we could do to help. (I'm not affiliated with CBD, but found this book there while seeking something that might help me understand what to do in this situation. Many times when we are trying to uphold values that honor God, the solution might look different than what the rest of the world would see. I've never experienced this with my own kids (thankful for that), but I know this is so prevalent out there and it hurts my heart, so I can only imagine how these kids feel.
So, thanks for reading, and in honor of R., I'll close, trusting the Lord is at work and there are prayers going up for him now. God bless you all, and have a wonderful upcoming Holiday season.

* * * * *
Product Description
If someone is intimidating and threatening your child, you can stand in the gap and offer protection with this resource to help recognize the signs of bullying, how to deal with bullies, how to help a child who is hurting and much more. Encourage your child and bring the fun back into school with this practical, balanced advice to gird against bullies.
Product Information
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 96
Vendor: Focus on the Family Resources
Publication Date: 2006
Dimensions: 6.88 X 4.19 (inches)

HELP! My Child is Being Bullied
By: Dr. Bill Maier
More in Help! Series
Focus on the Family Resources / 2006 / Paperback

Retail Price: $5.99
CBD Price: $4.99
You Save $1.00 (17%)

Availability: In Stock

CBD Stock Number: WW971760

(Photo credit: JupiterImages.com)

Faces of Cozy

2009-09-16T01:59:00.000-05:00

A Sobering Poem to Contemplate

2009-09-16T01:28:00.003-05:00

She asked to be made like her Saviour,

And He took her at her word,
And sent her a heart-crushing burden
Till the depths of her soul were stirred.
She asked for a faith strong, yet simple.
He permitted the dark clouds to come;
She staggered by faith through the darkness,
As the storms did her soul overwhelm.

She prayed to be filled with a passion
Of love for lost souls and for God,
And again, in response to her longing,
She sank 'neath the chastening rod.
She wanted a place in His vineyard;
He took her away from her home,
And placed her among hardened sinners
Where she humanly stood all alone.

She gave up all wordly ambitions,
Those "castles in air" of her years,
And she knelt in deep consecration,
And whispered, "Amen," through her tears.
She wanted a meek, lowly spirit -
The work He gave answered that cry;
And those who had been her companions
With pitying smile passed her by.

She asked to lean hard on her Saviour;
He took human props quite away,
Till no earthly friend could help her,
And she could do nothing but pray.
I saw her go out to the vineyard
To harvest the golden grain;
Her eyes were still moistened with weeping,
Her heart was still throbbing with pain.

But many a heart that was broken,
And many a wrecked, blighted life
Was made to thank God for her coming,
And rejoiced in the midst of the strife.
She had prayed to be made like her Saviour,
And the burden He gave her to bear
Had been but the great Sculptor's training:
Thus answering her most earnest prayer.

Why All Things That Glitter Are Usually NOT Gold

2009-09-16T00:49:00.003-05:00

I certainly thought I had the world wrapped up in a nice shiny package for myself at this age. (actually,at 24, it would be less than a year before The Lord showed me a dramtically different reality)
... I thought, I certainly did, But He had a few things to say to me and about my life.

Below is a piece I wrote a few years back, and it pretty much sums up he way I find myself feeling about the futility of the status quo...
I didn't wan't it then and I don't want it as a believer now... I want the Lord in all of His fullness and a radical Chriistian Life that goes all out, every day, in every way! I am trying (praying) to recpature this zeal... I have some, but nothing like what I had when I met my first love... and nothing compared to where I desire to be again...
Are you happy where you are?
Do you sense something, maybe even something big, missing?
I pray we will meet up on our quest :) Blessings all, till then,

Why are all things that glitter, usually not gold?

The way is narrow and few will find it
What is esteemed among men is usually an abomination to God..
Why?
Mans heats are wicked.. The Lord knew only few would seek Him and be satisfied
He knew that only a few would sell out for Him and not fool themselves into believing that what they wanted must be one in the same..
He knew that to seek out own life.. (fame, power, position, influence, luxuries… we would lose.. it
But to lose it (forsake all our efforts and our own ambition and be satisfied with what he sees fir) THEN we will find it!

True life, authentic life, HIS life!
Eve bought the lie… “there is more, your gonna miss it! Is that ”really” what God said (or meant)
When Eve sinned in the garden… it was then that she then knew! Her eyes were opened to her “self life” and she wanted to know more…. To seek to find life (herself, and her way)
Her eyes were opened to the difference between light and darkness, good and evil.
She then had a dark heart when it had been full of light.
Misery loves company! So she pulled Adam in on it all!

He joined her there.

What does this have to do with the world or the church at large (the majority of it) …
Everything…
Today’s watered down Christianity has swallowed the easy to digest pablum
They want nothing too hard to swallow…
Again, narrow is the way, and few will go that way….
What seems right to man in THIS state is really tragic with the lies and heresy’s it perpetuates by default and probably at times , wittingly.
Mans ways are not God’s ways… We want to know more, we want to self to be exalted, we want things to be a little easier, more convenient.. “ambition”.. for things to go OUR way! (like it was with them .. in the beginning.. Nothing has changed, things have just taken a different shape … a different face… same agenda, different means…
For example…
If it is popular to the sell out crowd, it is most probably not God’s pure heart on a subject… He tells us this, Life examples and the signs of the times tell us this and today’s comfort driven , liberal minded compromising Christianity tells us this.. (If WE have ears to hear… In fact some people hear it screaming this!

If your ears are attuned to the frequency, you will hear it screaming!

A few end-of-summer pics

2009-09-15T01:34:00.003-05:00

My sweet deer at our apple tree Ricky the neighborhood hood ;P
on his scooter-bike. No, seriously, he is a good kid ;) ~A cozy pair in the slight chill of the morning
Everyone loves to cuddle with Boo...Fall must be on the way, as she is getting really nestle-oriented :)

2009-09-10T02:50:00.000-05:00

The Story Of Crabs (a spiritual allegorical paradox)

2009-09-10T02:19:00.009-05:00

~ a note of thanks to Noelle to model an example of spiritual angst via a pic, possibly (I tried) depicting apathy...

disclaimer-- this is anything but my daughter's stance and outlook toward her life and walk...

The Story:

Suppose it would be worthwhile to put into practice the Nee note on a daily basis, based on the Story of Crabs? Pretty serious implications for your life and mine! Passivity or "comfort" or "conflict avoidance" are totally debilitating choices for a true Christian. Jesus certainly didn't try to avoid conflict or pain; we share in HIS Glory only when we share in His purpose and ways and His death.....

"A spiritual life is one of spiritual usefulness because it is lived to mount assault upon assault against God's spiritual enemy. We ought to be zealous for God, relentlessly attacking that enemy and never allowing this spirit of ours to sink into passivity."

- Ní Tuòshēng

I recently read a biologist's study on crabs, creatures that live in a rough, dangerous environment among jagged rocks. Crabs are dashed
about daily by waves and attacked on every side by creatures from
deeper waters. They battle continually to protect themselves, and
over time they develop a strong shell and powerful instincts for survival.

Amazingly, some in the crab family give up the struggle for life.
Searching for a safe haven, they take up residence in the cast-off
shells of other ocean creatures. These crabs are known as hermit
crabs. Settling for safety, they retreat from the battle and escape
into secondhand houses that are ready-made.

But hermit crabs' "safe houses" prove to be costly and ruinous.
Through their lack of struggle, crucial parts of their bodies deteriorate.
Even their organs wither due to lack of use. Over time the hermit
crab loses all power of motion, as well as vital parts needed for
escape. These limbs simply fall off, leaving the crab out of danger
but useless to do anything except exist.

Meanwhile, crabs that continued the struggle grow and flourish.
Their five pairs of legs become meaty and strong from resisting the
powerful tides. And they learn to hide from their predators by skillfully
scuttling under rock formations.
dw

Hmmmm.

For more really cool and challenging reading go to :

www.allathisfeet.org

More Life in The Northwoods this Summer... scroll down for lots! :)

2009-08-27T19:47:00.001-05:00

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2009-08-27T19:13:00.002-05:00

Gripping

2009-08-24T22:07:00.001-05:00

The Little Old Man From George Street

2009-08-02T13:43:00.000-05:00

To Each His Own

2009-07-26T16:50:00.003-05:00

As I look at this picture, I have to smile to myself, It's a warm fuzzy, reminiscent of last winter, around the Christmas season. He, (my sweet hubby Tom) really did like the book of the history of baseball I got him...and I really did like the photo book featuring professional interior designerrs featuring their hints and tips and their styles.
I wanted to tell him about the lovely decorative isnpiration I had come upon for our Living room...
But...
Some things are just more interesting... LOL
:)
I'm am really just pleased that he enjoyed his own book...
He isn't much into decorating, but he is sooo much of everything else that counts. 17 years coming up soon babe!,
Loving you!
....Your Suz

a perriwinkle fleur

2009-07-26T16:40:00.003-05:00

Death and Living Together...

2009-07-09T01:45:00.008-05:00

Fellowship... Oh Lord, grant us sweet fellowship!

I have been praying heavily lately (we all have), for opportunities to share our faith and the reason for it with others... loving them as He would... and going to the ones He would... the ones that know they have a need.. The ones where it's obvious that the need is real and is pressing!
The ones that He is drawing... who's hearts may be being prepared for more seeds to be planted...

I know this can all seem to sound cliche... (talk of planting seeds and being drawn etc.) as we seem to throw around these terms indescriminately... but our hearts are seeking authenticity and organic fellowship with our brothers and sisters, yes... but also with those who God wills to come...

So, we say, organic in that it stems from the heart of Christ... being lived out in His people... and touching lives .. A big part of this is reaching out is as I had described above, but also, strengthening one another by walking as commanded... "alongside of one another -- striving with one another and confessing our sins to one another daily so that our hearts might not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" I'm talking totally forsaking your way. Oh, we sigh...what a romantic and noble sounding notion...
Yet it IS, I believe God's own heart and intent for us all...

~But it is oh so hard to live out... It's risky to get vulnerable and confess your wrong attitudes and responses and violations of others, to others... making oneself accountable to them and more than that... to Christ.
It's also risky to agree silently, and yet purposefully, nothing wavering, as a Vow before the Lord
to put others first... always .. and having to keep that vow, as you're living your life as an open book and your every move under possible scrutiny?

~Do we want to give up our rights to our behold and hide our private sin?... Do we want to give up our time to come to the aid of another who needs ministry in some form or another? Do we want to be an open book, open faced and open hearted before our fellow man?
~If we truly count our lives as not our own and bought at a price--If we truly know what it means to pour ourselves out to the dregs so that we might bless another.. and then be filled again (by the One who fills us with His living water that propagates life.. the only sustainence that can give life)... What Jesus offers!

As Jesus Himself put it, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." A life of devotion to God's work in the world around you is the fruit and the overflow of abiding in Christ.

You're not truly remaining in Him if deep down inside your heart isn't stirring towards that end. You're missing the heart of God in a serious way if you don't genuinely care for others. Your prayer time isn't directed entirely to the God of the Bible!

You might spend a lot of time praying, but according to Jesus, abiding in the God of the Bible will yield a clear result: having a heart for serving others and bringing them higher into His ways. That's "bearing much fruit to the Father's glory -- fruit that will last."
So, to sum up: having that passionate heart, caring deeply for others, and being involved in their lives means taking risks.

We dare not sit back, thinking we're to be the one on the receiving end of that kind of passion. We must thrust forward in faith and in humility -- and it does take both. Trusting God and laying down our lives for other people is a rare thing, but it's inseparable from biblical Christianity.

The book of Acts says that the early Christians went everywhere "gossiping" the Word of God. The Greek word for"speaking" there is literally "gossiping." Sharing God's Word and His love was their heart and passion. They lived for it.
~So reject the idea that you can sit in your home with a scripture verse hung over your toaster and a plaque on your front door, have a great prayer time in the morning, listen to praise and worship songs all day, and show up at a meeting every now and then, and that's what Christianity is all about.

Frankly, you haven't had a great prayer time if it doesn't result in a passionate heart to heal the wounds of the broken hearted and to loose the chains of those in bondage tosin. That is the heart of Jesus of Nazareth, and that is your heart if you are connected to the Head. It's automatic.

So really stretch yourself. Search deeply within to root out anything that would hinder that kind of heart. Crucify the fear and the selfishness and the lifestyle expectations and the busyness that the world and satan would want to impose on you.

~Reject any self-righteousness or laziness that would stand in the way. Get rid of all the excuses. Begin by "'fessing up." Then get rid of all the excuses in your life that would keep you from really being about the Father's business.

~It is then... as we count that cost and are still kicking to buy, that we will be ready to do all of the above and soooo much more. :)

My prayer is the The Lord continue to prepare us... mold and shape and burn away the dross, that we would be Holy vessels, meet for the Master's use!

I want to be willing to be made willing

I pray for my desires... that they'd be right and reflect His will.. which is blessedly, Our very best for us anyway!

I don't write any of this with a heart attitude hat I am the teacher here.. the one who has arrived... I write today as one who is seeking this life, right alongside of those who will.

I know this one thing for sure... there is no true joy, purpose or intimacy with the Lord and therefore, no true fullfillment if we are not connected to Him and His life and striving to walk in obedience to His calling

~These are concepts I have gleaned from His teachings in the word... I am open to correction, if anyone has a counterpoint to put forth... I am hopeful to hear your hearts, and respond in love.

As for me right now, I say, Thank you Dear Lord, Come Quickly to my aid... I need more of you!
...Less of me and More of You...
Praise You Father...

Beach Party and a Bear

2009-07-09T01:31:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we spent a grand day at the beach --on the Big Lake (Lake Superior)

Tom--
(at the beach ;)

Hobbes--(we stopped for ice cream on the way to the beach)

some kids playing on the beach...

One picture of Noelle that she would agree to let me post ;)

playing in the pink...

floating in blue

~~Then on the way home, I finally spotted what I had been waiting for for soooo long.. to see a gnarley 'ol bear.. up close and personal! I did get closer pictures, though not sharper... (sigh)

I guess this one should have come after the last

He(or she) turned back to look at the strange creature coming upon him...(or her) ;)

--all in all, it was an interesting day...

My handsome son Joshuah

2009-07-02T23:36:00.004-05:00

JD... I never have recent pics of you! Please keep em coming ! :)
My mama heart likes to plaster my blog with pics my kiddos...

... You're continually in my prayers...

Love always,

Mom

My Sweet Daughter, Grandolls :) and Son -in-Law :)--not necessarily in that order ;P

2009-07-02T22:48:00.004-05:00

just a beautiful day in the neighborhood to lay around and relax (on the sidewalk?)

...maybe they're discussing things???...

~~ actually , I think Brandi has caught the photography bug and has some really unique composition/poses up her sleeve... this IS classic Jacob and Joce.. Joce with electrifying bed-head!Classic creative-free spirited Jacob ;0) ~~and finally,my lovely daughter and her handsome hubby ;P

Come quickly Lord Jesus

2009-07-01T21:45:00.004-05:00

Revelation 1:7
Look, He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

Another Must-See

2009-07-01T12:29:00.002-05:00

( possibly, for a limited time only!)
http://www.afa.net/journeyhome/index.htm

Just Beautiful

2009-07-01T12:04:00.001-05:00

Noelle's room redecorated with what we already had on hand.. re-itimized or whatever you want to call it -- It works, It's a challenge and it's fun!

2009-06-27T20:53:00.010-05:00

Didn't she do a lovely job? -- and this from a girl who says decorating isn't her thing...

~She posted pics on the wall --so they can be interchanged on a whim-- with velcro-ed on, spray-painted clothespins as picture hangers!... ( see pictures od photos hanging under the window--and some on the side of her bookshelf ;)

(Brandi, there's a photo of you in this pic (below)... can you find it? :)

letting go

2009-06-24T16:35:00.013-05:00

photo by: courtneymichellephotography.blogspot.com Many times, we have to learn
something new, over and over again. In my case, I think one of the very basic and very needful things that I am working on is learning to be willing (or to be willing to be made willing) to let go.
Now this is among many other things, I am striving to grasp...To learn (or I should say re-learn) to trust.
Along with that, I am re-learning to rest... re-learning to give more fully, re-learning to care in deep ways ,(which I find is actually, all about leaning how to NOT self protect.) and I guess that gets back indirectly... to learning to let go.

Upon first instinct,
...if one would tell me I need to practice 'letting go' (as in; leaving people and situaltions in the Lord's hands)... I'd respond with a resounding "of course! I do that! that's a given!"
but, is it?

I find that the Lord is showing me differently.
It is not such an instinctual thing to let go and let God.... Quite the contrary... I do not let go... and I deceive myself into believing with out even questioning, that I am, in fact. "Letting Go and Letting God." BUT--I guess that would depend on who I have on the throne of my heart at the time... My "me-god" or "My Savior, Author and Finisher of my Faith -God!" Now you'd think with an impressive a title like that...(above)...That it would be like breathing to "let go and let God."
Well, Wrong!

At least for me.

I have lived my life
in deeply entrenched, learned patterns of distrust with a stranglehold, no matter how I covered it to look distinguished or polite or decent... on control.

I am beginning to realise in a life-giving way
(as opposed to intellectual assent to the fact) that I have been living in the opposite of faith.. I have lived the past 20 years or so in fear.
Just call me "much-afraid" :(
Can anyone relate?

I can have faith to be given words to say
to minister to a person, I can have faith for the Lord to answer another's prayers... I can have faith for many things... but rarely am I able to exercize faith to rest in Him when it comes to leaving the well-being of those I love in His hands. Actually I seem to see that I rarely exhibit faith to leave even myself and the issues of my own healing of my woundedness in His capable and loving hands. I seem to act as if I have to bring it about...e.g: if I don't take care of me... or for example, take care of those I love , then it won't get done.

What a shameful realization.
I look back and remember often rationalizing it (to actually try and make my lack of faith look good!) like this..."If circumstances were normal and I had not messed up (here or there) ... and I had been walking close to the Lord and in His perfect will (or at least closer to His ideal) Then He would be all too happy and willing to help me out here... and act on my behalf"..

"BUT"... "I have made a mess." ---
"I have been unfaithful, in that I have not sought His best , but made mistakes and have taken things into my own hands... and therefore these are the consequenses... Therefore, I can hardly presume upon the Lord to just make it all better!... I must handle (and untangle) all of this mess myself...."

~And, speaking of tangled,
"Oh what a tangled web we weave!" I am Thanking the Lord for showing this to me... and I am gonna take this as a wake up call, for, as I know He is faithful to show us these things, I know he will not leave us in our mess, and I am choosing to believe that He is gonnna keep "untangling" the mess of my negative, stinkin thinkin... and help me to re-learn a thing or two about leaving things ...all things, IN His Loving Hands... and resting. about getting my busy paws out of the way... so He can work out His perfect will in my life from here... in mine, and in those I love. After all, Only He loves them more than I do.. far more than I can even imagine.

~Thank you Father...

* * * * *

Pt 2 of my post is a condensed version of my testimony;

I share it here, as I want to be more open about where I have been and what the Lord has been faithful to bring me out of... so that it might give hope as it shines of His Glorious Saving and Restoring Power and how much He loves us all... It's an "encourager" for me as well as I hope it is for some of you :)

Disclaimer: Although this account may sound as if I hold ill-will or bad feelings toward my family of origin, I do not. These impressions are subjective and may not have been experienced by another in the same situation the way they were experienced by me. My feelings were exacerbated by betrayal in the form of abandonment at a young age… from the one closest to me .. and this family that raised me did their best with what they had to work with. In the Book of Joel…God promises to restore the years the locusts have eaten. He has and continues to prove this to be true… Praise be to you , Lord Jesus !

A Day To Remember…

I was a lonely child. I was a romantic child. I was a neglected and yet, or maybe even more so because of, a fanciful child. Lonely, imaginative, and lost children, without direction or a strong, firm bond or hand to guide them are oftentimes mislead. I was that, too. Mislead all over the place.

For example, from a young age, I read things I should never have. I read them to feel alive. No one seemed to notice or care. The ideas flourished in my mind unchecked and unabated. As I got a bit older, I began to get my real mixed up with my lusty fiction. The edges blurred together and ran together … outside the lines of the acceptable (or the prudent).
I desired to hang with and become anything or anyone dark, dangerous and devoid of good. By default, the devil had his way with my young, directionless life. I was a top, spinning out of control with no boundaries to bounce off of to slow me down. I remember asking for a counselor; I was crying out for help… a human touch, an acknowledgement that I was someone, a touch-point with compassion, reality,… anything.

I needed to know that I mattered… I needed to be cared about, validated, hugged – or, dare I then even acknowledge… I needed to be loved?

I never remember thinking those words. Words weren’t used much in my home… much less words that were tied to feelings. There was sterility and somber faces… not much more.

I ran away the first chance I had. They had a wedding for me (to save face). So the girl went off, she and her man-child spouse and her newborn child six months later… 3 children playing house. Three children, each bereft of what they needed to be okay…

Needless to say – too soon – there were only two.

My two-year-old son and myself. Things were rough. But I has a nagging sense that there was more. That the God and Jesus I heard about in Sunday School was, in fact, real. I became convinced. This of course was the Father drawing me near… wooing me with His presence and His love. I began sharing the Salvation message with anyone that would lend an ear. But no-one seemed to want to take the plunge with me… no one wanted to step off the proverbial cliff and surrender their crutches and vices and go at it with a Being that they could not trust and had never known. I couldn’t either – so sadly, on I went with my dismal and thankless life. My son and I.

I found myself slipping further and further down a slippery slope to the bottom of the dregs…the muck and mire that the world had to offer. I partook of indecent things and lost any semblance of self-worth or positive self-concept I might have salvaged from my youth. I’m sure you know how these things can go… suffice it to say, I believe it went even worse.

I still longed for spiritual reality. I sensed the void and I was longing for it to be filled. I sought it out, but all I was finding was the counterfeit spirituality that satan so readily offers and dresses up so glitzy to entice foolish desperados that are hungry and indiscriminately seeking their fill.

I bought the beggars banquet for a song, and further down I slid.

* * * *
A new day…

Finally, I found myself at the end of the road and the end of myself…praise the Lord…during the summer of 1987. It had been nine years since my marriage and – for better or for worse – I had been away from home since the age of 16.

Here I was, a twenty-five-year-old loser, many times over, having dropped out of high school; a divorcee with children; a refugee from an abusive partner; now having been in-patient in a psychiatric ward – I was used, abused, used up, and done in.

I had tried to get it together, and realized I had to take a leave from what I believed was to be my saving grace – my beloved art school. I took a leave and checked back into the hospital. They had to help me…I had to find life…feel alive…just live!

God had the same plan! But it took my leaving the ward early… and thus sliding down that slope a bit more…(I had thought I had sunk to the bottom…but au contraire!)
I had a ways yet to go and wasted no time in plumbing the depths!

It took until I was finally at the very bottom to be able to realize that I had no place left to look but up…literally.

The Lord was there. I looked up and I heard His voice…I was alive!

I think His was the first love I had ever truly felt.

It was everything I had thought it would be and so much more…so much more than I ever dared to yearn for! There I was, at the very bottom, my soul in the worst condition it had been in theretofore... it was in that state that I knew…for the first time in my life…that I was going to be okay!

I was now "in Christ" I knew Him! I was safe! and what happened from there was of no account, because for the first time, I was alive! I was free, I was someone, I was His! – and I was forgiven.

I had purpose and assurance that things would be okay…no matter what…because for once, I could rest. I didn’t have to keep striving…I had someone watching over me to take care of me. Someone who cared. God was my Father, Jesus was my friend and the Holy Spirit was my wisdom, my conscience and my guide . I would be okay. The light turned on for me that day. I didn’t have to walk in darkness any longer. He cleaned the mud and mire from me that had accumulated during my descent. Yes, I still had a few brown spots … probably more than I realized at the time, but I felt clean! And new. He, true to His character and his Word… carried me through that time . That time where it would have been the very darkest of my life was the lightest and brightest . I had hope. That carried me far! I felt as if I were walking on air. I poured over the Word voraciously.. I ate and drank it in. I was given wisdom and a boldness and a soft heart to care and share all of this with a new believer’s zeal that wouldn’t be squelched! People saw His light in me and responded. Woman came to me for advice, questions about God’s word, for prayer and with the question of ‘how to find what I had found’, I was blessed…

God was good… gentle, faithful and my protector. He was the keeper of my faith and guard of my heart during those years. I would like to say that I got out of there early and met my prince charming and rose off into the sunset… me, him and God encircling us with His love … and all living happily ever after… But I can’t. I didn’t get out early… it was along haul…(Bit more fruitful though, than any seminary education could have been for me)
I did meet the man I was to marry shortly thereafter, but he didn’t remain extremely princely for long.

It took 13 plus years of hard work, prayer, tears, confession, healing and growth between the both of us till his princely charms began to shine through again.

I was no prize either... Oh my no! but we both know.. and God confirmed in each of our hearts that we loved one another and we had found our soul mates … each of us… and that He had a purpose for all of our struggles and angst.
Our marriage was (and still is; though we didn't always realise how long it was all gonna take :) a laboratory for change and growth in relationships and we were going to come forth (in short order, no doubt) as a shining specimens of His Grace and Glory together… purged of all of our leftover and well hidden filth and dross.

We heard the term… ‘Wounded Healers’… That’s what we had fancied we would be one day… and The Lord is seeing fit day by day .. that we live out that destiny.. and, as we come closer and closer to His perfect will for us... our destinies, together with our Captain at the helm of our ship—He, the Captain, who invites us to His most trusted and Seaworthy Craft, to carry us along on our journey and navigate through the turbulence , He IS the MOST esteemed and trustworthy Commander we could ever hope for or imagine---

Truly, He is faithful and just to complete the good work He has begun In us (and in you too)!

Trust Him with Your life-- He never fails.
Never... Though we falter at times... when things seem to take too long!

Imagine, us questioning our Creator!.... He is in no hurry... We are always in a hurry! His goal is to perfect us and to make us fit for the Masters use... To prepare us for our Heavenly Home... and to be ready and equipped to bring along as many souls with us as possible!
This can take time... but We must not lose heart!

To be Continued...

"Freedom Means"... you'll find lots more inspiring, enlightening and refreshing content found at the link below

2009-06-21T17:49:00.004-05:00

www.allathisfeet.com

All These Years We've Been Together

2009-06-18T18:49:00.003-05:00

(my dear best friend and sojourning partner :) To Tom,

All these years we've been together

To share life's ups and downs

It's so easy just to think thatYou will always be around.

The days and months just go by

And the pace can make it tough

To remember it's the small things

That can mean the most in love

O Lord, ignite the fire

Of first love's tenderness

To cherish every phone call,

Every look and fond caress.

O give us hearts to go back

To the way it used to be

Eagerly awaiting

Our love's hopeful destiny

My mate, my precious treasure

God's perfect gift to me

O let me be more like the friend

I wish he were for me.

To honor, love and cherish

though sometimes there may be strife,

for in giving there's receiving

and in death to self is life.

To serve more than to be served,

To love more than be loved-

Our only way of gaining

What we're wishing for more of.

For Jesus said to find life

We must lose it for his sake;

May this we each remember

When love's choices we must make.

Help us shun all earthly voices

That would steal our hearts away

and be faithful to remember

All the vows we made that day.

As we run the race with patience

And press on to win the prize

May we one day hear said,

"Well done"When we look into Your eyes.

The Lord is a Gentelman: Come Quickly Lord Jesus; The yearnings of a young zealot

2009-06-17T20:15:00.003-05:00

No matter how big or how small, there are things in everybody's life -- including mine -- that dwell on the sidelines of our devotion...screaming, waving their arms, jumping up and down...vying furiously for your attention.
As they say, the Lord is a Gentleman (THE perfect One :), and He doesn't rip things out of your mind and heart that are, to one degree or another in an unhealthy way, dear to you. BUT -- He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
He also doesn't work against our will. Often, the reason that things in our lives, that we are anxious to have worked out in our minds and hearts, take so long is this: because no matter how much we think we're ready to give up and give all to the Lord, no matter how much we think we're ready to submit, surrender, yield to the workings of His glory -- we are still stubborn, prideful, and rebellious in nature (thanks Adam and Eve! :P). And so even if we'd like to think we've given up and given all to God, it usually takes a lot longer than we think.But God knows what He's doing, and in His Mercy, He works things out in our lives, always in different ways, that He knows is going to bring us to a point where we're ready to give Him all the glory and all our lives. Our hearts -- our affections...everything. He wants it all. He doesn't want half-hearted, wimpy Christianity, or folks that are Christians on Sundays, and "regular people" the rest of the week. No -- He wants all of us, all the time. And if we're truly "in it" (our lives) for Him, He gives us the desire for Him -- all of Him, all the time.
So that's a huge lesson I've been learning lately -- one that, in this case, is taking a lot of pain and tears.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Written with a heart of tears and longing for more of Him...

By sweet daughter, Noelle,

check her out here ... click the link below...

-- http://www.with-a-song.blogspot.com/

A Revolution Without Dancing is a Revolution Not Worth Having

2009-06-17T14:48:00.004-05:00

The honest observer is watching the world fall apart at the seams...World economies in a Gordian twist... Political wars between nations and individuals walking the gang plank of their own prejudices and deceptions... A maniacal media empowered with lust, lawlessness, seared conscience, and techno-fraud... World governments often filled with emotionally decrepit officers without honesty or justice, invoking bigotry and reverse-bigotry rather than law. Meanwhile, the religious world finds itself in lifeless torpor -- watching helplessly as they destroy their own families and children with substance-less emotion or ritual.

Our call, Together, is to humility, to hunger for Truth, and to consider THE PERSON AND WAYS OF JESUS CHRIST. Consider the real Jesus of the Bible, the One who Commands storms to "Be still!" He raises the dead and challenges us to High Ground. The Biblical Jesus is not the milquetoast, "figure-head," entertainment-on-sunday version. If we will come to Him and His truths, without rationalization and excuses, WE WOULD DISCOVER A LIFE, TOGETHER, THAT IS TRULY LIFE!

Those committed to darkness will hate the Biblical answers, of course. But some have searched for the Pearl -- Jesus and His Life -- their entire lives.

May He grant Life, Hope, and Love to all who will lay everything down on His Altar wherever they may reside, and lift holy hands in prayer and worship.

"That He would present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing -- but that it should be holy and without blemish!" (Ephesians 5:27)

"God's Intent is now, through the church, to make known His many-faceted Wisdom to even the principalities and powers." (Ephesians 3:10)

"I will build My church, that the gates of Hell will not overcome." (Matthew 16:18)

A few new pics & some funnin to share ;-P

2009-06-01T12:12:00.005-05:00

Pandora Joy, aka... pan-pie

Miss Olivia

Katy Boo

Noelle Belle

~ another of my sweet daughter Noelle Belle

Ricky.... Because I CAN!

he can what?

I'm not sure!

an interesting looking church by the wayside :0)

'lil Ava (again :)

early posies

a snazzy (did i say that?) shoe!

Cinderbella the Under Kitty

2009-05-24T01:47:00.005-05:00

a kitten fell into our lives last evening...
~imagine that! :P

She is a funny faced little sweetie that looked like she'd been playing in the cinders & soot. She was the last of 7 and no-one wanted her :(
We fell head over heels the minute we saw her funny little face peering up into ours.
We are always for the underdog...and she was, a sort of, an "under-kitty!" in that regard. (thus the name) :)
So now it's Hobbes Levi, Katy Boo aka Katerina von Kitty, aka Boo kitty aka Boo Badly (after Boo Radley) from "To Kill A Mockingbird" and now... one half pound, seven week old..."Cinder Pie-- the under-kitty"
Yep, we're cornballs!
and yep, our pets are spoiled... not with a ton of furniture and specialty stuff... but with lots of love...

~Thank you dear husband for letting us adopt this sweet little creature :)

Favorites of Late...

2009-05-23T01:39:00.003-05:00

Sweet little Ava, our (part time baby) as we give her care during the day a few days a week.... reflecting whether or not she needs to "listen" when we tell her it's time to go home from the park...She wants to submit... but has a battle at it... Like all of us!

A shot of Noelle from our out in the wildnerness mini shoot from the other day on our way to get water from the spring :)
my dear hubby... cutting the grass and looking handsome ;)

A neat shot... not too clear, but I liked the look of it anyway :) taken from the car...

Home Chiropractic Care Course...

2009-05-16T13:03:00.002-05:00

We may look into this... I think it looks reputable and the premise I read (in another similar book) attests to the fact that, for routine care, this is a safe and viable option)

http://www.home-chiropractic.com/

He Who Hear Not

2009-05-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

wordless pictures for a while...but first, Birthday dinner pics with my dear husband and daughter at "the best" pizza place around!,(luv pizza!)

2009-05-16T12:19:00.010-05:00

...As I explained (Post Title) I need to take a blogging sabatical... I am, in a way, feeling drained and uninspired. Life and along with it, trying to re-coupe my lost zeal, meaning , authenticity and spontenaiety has left me bereft of all the aforementioned. It's time to just settle down and focus Up... 'Up'on God, and look to Him for refreshment. I a not gonna try to conjure up wise words or search too hard for an abundance of relevent content. I have much inward work to do.. but I do hope some of you will stick with me as I journey forward (upward, inward?) and come visit my photos at least as I humbly post them, hoping someone might be inspried or they might just bring a smile or a sense of peace?

:)
Blessing to you all...

Love & care,

Suz

Psst...

2009-05-15T20:48:00.001-05:00

...this is Noelle, and I'm here to announce that it's Mom's birthday today!!! :)

Click here for her birthday post -- and will you join me in wishing her a happy, happy birthday??!! :)

Love ya, Mom!

A FEW DELICIOUS FRUIT SMOOTHIE RECIPES FOR BUSY DAYS WHEN NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ARE HIGH! POWER PACKED PICK-ME-UPS WITH A PUNCH!

2009-05-03T12:34:00.003-05:00

AMAZING APPLE SMOOTHIE
2 cups apple sauce
1 cup apple cider
1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons Vermont maple syrup
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

APPLE CARROT QUENCHER
2 cups carrot juice
1/2 cups apple juice
6 ounces non‐fat vanilla or plain yogurt, frozen
1 banana
Put all ingredients into blender. Blend until smoothie consistency is reached!

APPLES AND CREAM SMOOTHIE
2 cups vanilla low‐fat ice cream
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
1 cup fat free skim or 1% low fat milk
Ground cinnamon (optional)
In a blender container combine low‐fat ice cream, applesauce, and the 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon or apple pie spice. Cover and blend until smooth. Add fat free skim or 1% low fat milk. Cover and blend until just mixed. Pour into glasses. If desired, sprinkle each serving with additional cinnamon. Serve immediately. Makes 4 (8‐ounces) servings.

APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE
1 frozen banana
1/2 peeled, chopped apple
1 cup apple juice
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
Blend. Great substitute for applesauce! Control the consistency by adding more or less chopped apple.

Aprons-aprons and more aprons! (patterns galore!) a treasure trove!

2009-05-03T11:51:00.006-05:00

I found his really neat site... if anyone's interested in sewing or maybe looking for gift idea for someone who loves motherly things with a sense of nostaligiaor a unique sense of style , here's the site... there's a pattern or inspiration for every personality type... it's really fun peruse :)

http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/

52 Free Apron Patterns You Can Make
This is a large list of patterns I’ve collected from around the net, all kinds of styles and types included. If you love aprons, you’re gonna love this list!
These are organized as neatly as I could manage, however some patterns fit well in more than one section. I decided to list them in a single category only to avoid duplicating things, please keep that in mind if you’re looking for a particular style of pattern.
There are a bunch of vintage styles toward the bottom, also children’s patterns, a couple for men, some knit & crocheted items as well as cute little miniature apron ornaments that I tagged on the end for fun.
Everything is free and several sites include files you can download directly to your computer.
Update: In addition to the freebies below, here is a brand new list of 50 free apron patterns & tutorials that you’ll want to check out as well. Have fun!

Sights of Summer

2009-05-03T11:06:00.007-05:00

Noelle and Panny Joy (our neighbor)... last summer, Noelle misses her long hair ... I keep telling her it will grow!

a sweet blue bird on a bench...

We all know these!

facing the sun

kids in the sun...

next 2 photos by Ryan Hoshor ( http://www.photojewels.blogspot.com/)
the suns rays

great attitude

lovely southern belles on a blessed day :)

evening blooms

Katywas watching for Daddy and (daily) watching for spring as well....
Spring Daffodils from years past

peachy ;)

photo by: (http://www.courtneymichellephotography.blogspot.com/)

butterfly plant

A few of the photos included here had ended up in my "like photo" file :) If anyone recognizes theirs, and is not named, please let me know so I'll know! I will be sure to give you due credit :)

"The Other Day" pics

2009-04-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

I have this and more! FS on another blog :)

2009-04-14T20:39:00.001-05:00

~please visit us at the link below for this Gorgeous Gown and a goodly amount of other various and sundry readers,
writing instruction,
math texts...
inspirational fiction and apologetics material...
and more!
Visit http://www.thesmilespace.blogspot.com/!
There you will find the stats to the gown and accessories...

... Also there, you'll find more information on the readers and texts etc.
They are all (slightly irregular) items from the folks at The Keepers of the Faith.

These consist of McGuffey Readers and Workbooks,
Math texts from Mott Media
~as well as many inspriational fiction readers for varied ages...
Come visit us here and bookmark us as we'll be adding many more items as we go along!
Have a Blessed Spring!
Suz and Fam :)

Fun & Stuff....

2009-03-27T04:26:00.004-05:00

OH MY!
I cannot believe I'm sharing this! (These kooky pics!) BUT...in the name of fun, I thought I'd dare to share! lol.

As you can see, we get bored up here, so we make our own fun!
I was interested in stage make-up for a minute... not too shabby for just my 'ol make up pouch of stuff to work with...
what do you think?

Now this is how I would prefer to stay for the time being (as long as possible!!)

Like I said... we make our own fun...

~For me...a slow day and a camera... and I'm content...

At times I am just exaltant!... but that's when we're riding in the car down 'ol US 2 and I see an eagle or some other wildlife... that's when I leap out of the car and and take aim... hand shaking like mad... cozI so badly want to get that pic...(to impress my dad) of course !

;)

~~there you have it... how many others go through there adult life trying to impress their fathers?

ok, so I fessed up...

Oh well, it's a cleansing thing... no doubt.

Noelle and Ava

2009-03-24T23:06:00.002-05:00

~Noelle and Ava at the window 'wishing for spring'

Time to pick on Hobbes again! :)

2009-03-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

I just love my little buddy... that's why I pick(post) him so often... lol!
he has such the personality anyway... and some of the shots I get of him are just too funny to leave alone...
:) (he'll never know !)

A Confession to Share

2009-03-14T17:55:00.005-05:00

...It's another day, and it's been long time since I've posted on my blog.

My heart is heavy as the Lord is opening my eyes to some issues that I can only begin to touch on so far... but I need to share them...
I see some things about me that I am deeply ashamed of... and they have everything to do with needing to
repent of trying to find my worth in accomplishments.

I want to repent of stealing so much precious time from my family, by not being more of an encourager and not putting more of my creative outlet into making my home a more comfortable, unique, user friendly-with a high comfy quotient as well as a sedate and content atmosphere where is is a refuge and more of a quiet and safe place to be...

I repent of not being more gracious in the hosptality department... not looking for more creative ways to save money by for example, maybe creating unique personalised gifts with my talents instead of looking for ways to make more money so that we have more money to spend.

I am so sorry for all of the lost opportunities where I obsessed with things that the Lord just wanted me to accept... and to sit back and make the most of what I had already been blessed with.

I feel as if there has been a deluge of wasted opportunities for growth in the name of striving to earn income in order to have or to give and share ... concentrating on what money can buy...and worrying about how to afford thus & such at the expense of being thankful for what I already had, and using what I already had to share with others...freely and ministering to hearts and giving of myself in ways that matter the same... and in fact, at times, matter more.

To some, this may not seem like such a travesty or even worthy of going on about... but to me, it has been a big deal.

The Lord is beginning to open my eyes to this truth that knawed at me from the periphials of my conscience for too long... yet I didn't heed the promptings.
I have been betraying Him-His highest calling for my life...
As well, I have been betraying myself, my own conscience and have been selling myself way short.

Never mind that I have been trying tirelessly to make money via my different mediums for years now and have never made a thin dime to speak of...

Never mind that depsite opportunity after opportunity for me to live out my heart's desire and serve... to order my days with the blessing of others who cross my path... and on and on, I believed the lie that my first aim ought to be to "help bring in income"... to lighten my husband's financial burden... etc. I have found, as I have really pondered recently ...with our Lord's patient dealing with me once again...that I have been selling myself a bill of goods.
I have been believing the lie that what I generate monetarily via my own efforts... directly dictates the degree of my own self worth.
I have been been striving to feel accepted, worthy, equal to others, etc... by these futile efforts that the Lord never blessed, but actually seemed to thwart, every step of the way.

I am so sorry for all I have squandered because of my not facing up to what could have been dealt with a long time ago. I wonder how my life and the lives of my beloved family might have been richer or more fullfilled had I been walking in step with the Father.

You know the old saying... "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"... We, as mom's and wives ... set the tone for our days and in our households by our own attituds and our own willingness (or lack of ) to lay down our agendas and be poured out for all... with a cheerful heart tuned in the the Father with a readiness to use our unique gifts and talents, blessings and intuitions... and servant attitudes... to aim for the highest good of our loved ones.

All this and more, whether for example, that means making table time (school or meal table time) special with soothing or upbeat music... nice (special for the occasion) lighting, maybe freshly sharpened pencils and pens -- and for the littles... maybe with pencil toppers to stick on the top of them (fun quotient:)

A variety of healthy finger friendly snacks all together... ready for the learning session!
Or for example... where meals are concerned... the same with the lighting and the music (soothing and conducive to healthy digestion)
Another neat idea... just for examples sake...
could be something like letting this idea... letting everyone know they're special and hold top place in your heart by constructing simple, personalized place mats (even if just a piece of paper) with a name and a blessing written on each, for each family member ;)

Just a couple of a thousand little things that can mean so effectively minister to the hearts of those that matter most.
I grieve that I let so many chances for this type of thing slip by... not to mention the time I could have been studying the word or concentrating on ideas for service to neighbors or friends or my own husband...
I think now, how much lighter his load would be if I would have been there, I mean really have been there for him... to be in touch with where his concerns were and shared in the burdens, thus helping to carry them.. or how many times I could have endeavored to save money here and there... cut more corners to ease the pressure.... done things differently... or how I could have spent precious time being a student of his deeper needs, thus being more enabled to speak life giving affirmations to him... (hard to pay close attention to when you are otherwise distracted by an occupation that was not your calling in the first place)... not to mention the personal little niceties that are worth not neglecting that go a long way in keeping the flames of romance ignited... and burning strong.

So, with all of these things weighing on me, I thank you all for sharing in this (if you've read this far) with me... I'm not sure if this will be of use to anyone else... I hope it might be. I just know that it was a personal wake-up call for me. I was out of balance ... I am not on any way claiming that others who are doing things differently have the same issues at stake that I struggled with in all of this. If you do, I pray you too can hear from the Lord in your own partciular circumstances. I know many of you have already traveled this road of discovery (or one similar, but equally significant)... I am just thankful that the Lord is opening my eyes and that he is gracious to forgive...
I am humbled by all that I see... I covet any prayer for strength throughout this journey that I can here, only skim the surface of....

Blessings all,
Suz

Wee 'lil Ava... the sweet little girl we babysit for...

2009-03-14T17:48:00.005-05:00

Senior Pics of Kodi (a really neat kid from our town

2009-03-14T17:40:00.004-05:00

...The pics were shot in his High School, which turned out to be a reat place to do the session with it's turn of the century charm...
The Principal was a sport and let him bring the dog in for the afternoon ;)

MEGAN PROMPTED ME TO POST...thanks megs!

2009-03-14T17:36:00.003-05:00

A few Misc Pix

2009-02-21T12:15:00.004-06:00

the Swing noelle belle in frozen mode

Master Joseph and Miss Dianna

My way cool dad
homeschool's cool ;)

************************************************************
I haven't posted anything in a while but tidbits of info... Truth is, I haven't been feeling well and haven't been taking many photos lately :(
I did, however go through this a.m. and post a few things on my heart (the last 3 posts or so) and choose a few pictures that I enjoy... to share with you all...

One being a cool literally shot of Noelle... and one of a very few pics I have of my dear dad :)
so...here they are...
a bit of this and that (wink)

Looking forward to the summer

2009-02-21T11:47:00.003-06:00

"Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year -- it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul"
Anonymous

A Reminder

2009-02-21T11:45:00.000-06:00

Stop Shooting Auto (you're smarter than your camera!)

2009-02-13T01:31:00.008-06:00

http://stopshootingauto.com/2007/09/24/aperture-why-you-care/

click the link above to find a tutorial for the bone-fide newbies out there. ;D

The author claims it is written at a grade-school level and I did find it extremely elementary... and believe me, I needed elementary with brain fog and all....!
Suffice it to say, it served me well... and I thought that maybe I'd post it here .. as it may benefit others too!
Happy Snapping!

Hrumph! (someone else here is anxious for spring!)

2009-02-11T19:29:00.000-06:00

A hardy plant that "you can grow" surpasses Fish Oil and other fatty acid sources!

2009-02-11T17:22:00.005-06:00

Nutritional Powerhouse: Sea Buckthorn

Some natural substances seem to be endowed with an unusually high number of benefits, and Sea Buckthorn definitely falls into that category.
This plant, labeled by some as a Synergistic Superfruit, is a powerhouse of nutrition that contains almost 200 known nutritional compounds, and is useful for the prevention and treatment dozens of diseases.

In fact, history indicates that the Mongol conqueror, Genghis Khan, who put together one of the world's largest empires spanning from China to Eastern Europe, relied on three beliefs for a strong military: well-organized armies, strict discipline, and Sea Buckthorn.

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is originally native to parts of Russia and China, and has been used by Eurasian people for thousands of years. In addition to its nutritional and medicinal qualities, this hardy species is also a very versatile plant that can grow in both warm and cold climates, wet and dry soils, prevent erosion due to its deep roots, act as a nitrogen stabilizer, and provide shelter both for other crops and in landscaping applications. In recent years, Sea Buckthorn plantations have sprung up across Canada.

Sea Buckthorn: Health Benefits

The health benefits of this amazing plant are almost too many to name, but I will provide some of the highlights. The seeds, leaves, fruit, and oil of Sea Buckthorn are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as numerous trace minerals. It is also very high in antioxidant phytochemicals such as carotenoids and flavonoids.

Sea Buckthorn is additionally one of the most potent plant sources of essential fatty acids on the planet, being especially high in omega-3s, and to a lesser degree, omega-6 fatty acids.

All of these qualities make Sea Buckthorn a legitimate superfood that may promote wellness in a variety of ways. Some of these include immune system support, treatment of autoimmune disorders, cardiac health, cancer prevention, care for many common skin conditions, anti-inflammatory properties, pain reduction, healing for ulcers and other intestinal concerns, and as an organic food crop.

Let's take a look in more detail at several of these uses.

Sea Buckthorn: Powerful Anti-Inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory action of Sea Buckthorn is one of its most outstanding features. Due to the way it is formed, and the manner in which its components compliment each other, Sea Buckthorn is truly a synergistic giant in the nutritional world.

Its numerous bio-active agents include an almost 50-50 balance of omega-3s and omega-6s, several other rare fatty acids, and potent antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), beta carotene, vitamin E, and folic acid, making for a powerful combination.

Volumes of recent research indicate that the control of inflammation is one of the most vital necessities for wellness. Because of its anti-inflammatory strengths, Sea Buckthorn can help to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke, autoimmune conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis, and skin disorders like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, sunburn, and ulcers.

Such a highly nutritious plant is also an excellent tool to prevent many types of cancer.

Sea Buckthorn: Mucus Membrane Repair

Scientists now believe the most delicate of body tissues, the mucous membranes, have the greatest need for Omega 7 fatty acids. Just as the skin protects the outside of the body, mucous membranes protect the inside of the body. They line the digestive, respiratory, and urogenital tracts, as well as the inner surface of the eyes. They are important channels for interactions between the body and the environment, and are the major routes for pathogens, toxins, and allergens to enter the body.
Thus mucous membranes play an important role in the health of the entire body.
Environmental stressors like pollution and toxic chemicals, toxic foods, and even natural aging processes such as menopause can challenge the sensitive mucous membranes.

Fortunately, Omega 7 fatty acids, which contain palmitoleic acid -- a fatty acid found in human skin that helps moisturize and repair -- are now being recognized as nourishment that can protect, replenish, moisturize, and restore mucus membranes.
Omega 7 is also very important for women going through the pre-menopausal and menopause years who suffer from symptoms of vaginal dryness or the feeling of dryness through the entire body.
Vegetarians who may not get a good level of omega 3 fatty acids in their diet will also benefit from omega 7 fatty acids.
Those who suffer from a dry respiratory tract may also benefit from the addition of Omega 7 fatty acids.

Sea Buckthorn: Immune System

The benefits of Sea Buckthorn to the immune system are also significant.
One of the reasons for this is the high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and others, found in this plant. The diet of the typical American has a much larger percentage of omega-6s than omega-3s, and this imbalance can lead to a multitude of health concerns. One result of a diet that includes insufficient amounts of omega-3 is a weakened immune system. To make matters worse, too much omega-6 (in relation to the amount of omega-3) can actually work synergistically against the immune system by inhibiting its disease-fighting and anti-inflammatory functions.

Up-to-date research now indicates that one of the best improvements that can be made to one's overall health is to increase omega-3s in the diet. Traditionally, fish and fish oil have been one of the best sources of omega-3. However, oils such as Hemp Seed oil, Flax Seed oil and now Sea Buckthorn are better choices, as they are so rich in other nutrients as well, and are a renewable resource, unlike wild fish.

Sea Buckthorn: Food Source Finally, let's consider the value of Sea Buckthorn as a food source. Besides all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutritional aspects of this superfood, the leaves of the plant contain about 25% protein. Virtually all parts of Sea Buckthorn, including the seeds, fruit, oil, and leaves can be consumed directly or can be used in cooking and preparation of other foods. Considering how hardy and versatile this plant is, and how easily it fits into renewable agriculture, organic Sea Buckthorn may be a key crop in both developed and Third World countries.
In fact, some are predicting that the production of this plant will increase dramatically in the near future. As more people become aware of the many health advantages of Sea Buckthorn, perhaps we will see this incredible plant come into more common use throughout the world both as a source of food and for its bounty of nutritional wealth.

Lead Your Heart

2009-02-11T09:05:00.004-06:00

Oh, I miss my chickadees!

but as an aside...I am trying to take the advice I quoted here on the caption of my chickadee photo..., It is a hard thing for me to rest at times,

Sometimes it seems quite impossible.

Why do Christians , who have access to the ressurection power of Christ, who most definitely calls us to rest in Him, find it so hard to train our hearts to rest?

I don't know, for me, to not rest is a learned pattern. It is a knee jerk response to life and stress. I keep telling myself (as quoted on a movie I watched recently)... to lead my heart as opposed to it leading me (and creating tyranny in my inner life). I believe that our feelings and state of being, whether in peace from the Lord, or in turmoil and anxiousness is a matter of obedience, a matter of renewing our minds and deciding to align our thoughts with the Lord's ... and in doing that ... we can enjoy the fruit of our feelings following our God-ward thoughts! How Glorious. Good ripe fruit that grows exponentially in the hearts of others touched by it's sweet savor in our everyday interactions with them.

I opt for the fruit, the obedience, I opt for Jesus' way! I pray I can keep up the pace and not so readily slip backwards. I pray I can continue to lead my heart. Any prayers coveted.

(smiles)

Blessings to you all, dear friends,

Suz

Natural Alternative Cleaning Concoctions and Needed Supplies

2009-01-31T02:17:00.009-06:00

I had a restless night and went on to peruse my old files... as I did, I came across this neat list of home made cleaners!... I'm gonna be using then myself...and thought some of you may like them as well...
So here they are :)

Have a great day!

Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Disinfectant:

One Gallon...
Fill your gallon jug up with water or take a gallon jug filled with water from the grocery store.
add 160 drops of your choice of essential oils and 40 drops grapefruit seed extract.
You can mix and match your essential oils to get up to 160 drops.
Also I find that 40 drops is approximately two dropperfull's of essential oil or 1/2 teaspoon.
To make 32 ounces divide by 4.
Use10 drops each.

For example:
40 drops of Thyme,
40 drops of Lemon,
40 drops of Cinnamon,
40 drops of Clove
40 drops of Grapefruit seed extract

Homemade Bleach,
1 Cup Pure Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
10 Cups Distilled Water
Mix together and store mixture up to three months in glass container.

DISINFECTANT
Mix a half-cup of borax (a natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria)with 1 gallon hot water.
Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
Steep for 10 minutes,
strain and cool.
Store in a recycled plastic spray bottle or better yet, a GLASS spray bottle.

Easy Homemade Cleaners

All Purpose Cleaner:
Combine in a clean spray bottle:
Two teaspoons of borax
Two teaspoons baking soda

1 quart water Window and Glass Cleaner:

Combine ingredients in clean spray bottle:
1 part vinegar,1 part water.

Oven Cleaner:
3 parts baking soda,1 part water
nylon scrubber
elbow grease
Combine baking soda and water and use like a paste with the scrubber and
your elbow grease.
For really stuck on stuff, instead of three parts baking soda mix half baking soda half salt (increases abrasiveness).
Keep baking soda off the heating element.

Floor Cleaner:
1/2 cup baking soda
1 gallon warm water
Dissolve baking soda in warm water and apply with rag or mop.
For extra disinfecting add 1/2 cup borax.

Fruit Cleaner:

Mix in sink,
and scrub and rinse vegetables well with:
3 parts baking soda, 2 parts water

Drain Cleaner:

1 cup baking soda
1 cup salt
1 quart boiling water
Blend together and pour down drain followed by boiling water.
Let set several hours or overnight.

Scouring (Dish cleaning) Powder
- Sprinkle baking soda directly on a sponge or rag.

Toilet Bowl cleaner - Scouring powder (see above).

Sprinkle in baking soda and brush as you would a scouring powder,
or if the toilet is stained try mixing:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar.
Beware, it bubbles.

Tub and Tile Cleaner - Scouring powder ( See above).

If mold and mildew are present try adding enough water to the baking soda to make a paste. Dip a toothbrush in it and scrub the area.

Room Deodorizer

Mix in a clean spray bottle:

4 Tablespoons baking soda, 1 quart warm water Carpet Deodorizer - Sprinkle carpet with baking soda and vacuum as usual.

Furniture Polish

Mix together:
1 part olive oil
1 part lemon juice
Apply lightly with a soft cloth.
Don't make much more than you need.
t doesn't store well.

Hardwood Floor Polish/ShineMix:
1 part vinegar
1 part olive oil or vegetable oil.
Apply to the floor,
then rub it in well.

Brick and Stone Cleaner:
1 cup of white vinegar
1 gallon of water.

Uses for Tea Tree Oil
General Antiseptic & Cleanser
Add 1 teaspoon of 100% pure oil to 1 1/5 gallons of water when washing
windows, floors, toilets, bathrooms and kitchen surfaces.

Add 2 teaspoons of 100% pure tea tree oil to washing machine for a fragrant, fresh wash.

Household ants and other pests dislike tea tree oil, so a few drops put at the point of entry will deter them.
Wipe cupboards out with an oil and water solution to deter cockroaches. Remove scuff marks from a vinyl/linoleum floor by rubbing with a damp cloth to which pure oil has been added.

Room Spray:
5 drops of tea tree oil to 2½ cups water.
Spray around room to refresh and give a cooling effect.
Refrigerator gaskets stay fresh and clean if you wipe them over occasionally with a tea tree oil/water solution.
Shower doors stay cleaner if you wipe them over with a tea tree oil/water solution.
Helps prevent soap sum build-up.
After washing down walls and removing grime and mildew, wipe over again witha tea tree oil/water solution to prevent mildew regrowth.
To remove chewing gum from hair, apply pure oil.

Diaper Cleanser:
Add 20 drops tea tree oil to approximately 1 gallon of water,
stir, then soak diapers overnight.

:) 'n More as I find them :)

About my daughter, A young lady, a warrior with a heart for God...

2009-01-22T01:13:00.006-06:00

My sweet daughter turned a big 14 yesterday. I just wanted to share what a blessing she is to her father and me. Noelle is loyal and faithful, and a good friend, she is an advoctae for the oppressed, a shining heart!, a talented writer and photographer, and my right arm in all things that need done!
Noelle is compassionate and has a zeal for the lost... eg: she mentors a young neighbor faithfully in the ways of the Lord. She is a quick wit--keeps us in stitches... she is gracious and giving... never holding on tight to things, she gives of herself and freely gives of her belongings or shares her money where there is a need. She seldom complains. She is a warrior in the spirit realm, and cares deeply about the things of God. She aspires to be a keeper at home and be a blessing to her husband and children someday. She has many, many interests and talents... loves music, has a soft heart, is a faithful friend...is trustworthy, is not foolish (but can get real silly! LOL!) ... oh, I could go on!
~~We are blessed to have been chosen for the priviledge of being her parents.
Love you Noelle,
Love Mom & Dad

~~A shot of the day before last (of 13) for Noelle

~~Finally THE day... 14

~~a few snacks, a couple good friends and a "Black Forest" Birthday cake that I forgot to take a shot of

~~opening a gift from a dear friend...

a Bubbly Life or a Bubble Life?

2009-01-21T22:37:00.002-06:00

Hi there all,
I have no idea where I'm going with this, but my heart yearns to post. I have a burden , burning in my heart for souls that won't be assuaged. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for this, yet at the same time, I find it so hard to break out of the same old--same old monotonous shell of semi (safe) isolation where I needn't stretch myself too much or get real uncomfortable.

What a sham, what a travesty!... Whose life is this anyway? Of whom do I claim to belong?
Tears trickle forth as I write this.Though, I welcome them and wish they were more constant companions, more constant reminders.

~~When I was a young woman of 25 I had a brand new relationship in my life. It was my first (real) love. I had a fresh and vibrant zeal and no fear. I was bubbling and busting at the seams to share the good news I had found. I wanted everyone to experience the hope that newly lay before me. I walked (was carried away) , on a cloud of hope and devotion to my Lord for four years. Then things changed radically. I was plunged (plunged myself) into a situation where I had to learn to walk beside the Lord and not leave Him behind me as I strolled on into the new excitement I was living in the midst of.
Along with this zeal and exuberence and passionate devotion to my Lord was the love of His people and the desire to be with them, often and in meaningful ways. This changed as I changed and I mourn the loss before me now.

I am grieved to say, I let Him fall behind, I ran ahead, and things were never quite the same again. Definately the Lord was faithful. He was always there for me. I had only to call out to Him and He was there. Despite this, I grew independent. I grew toward man and away from dependence on my Lord. I so regret that journey, that detour , away from life and into pretense and unfulfilled promises.

Yes, I have come back to my first love, (I have began to begin that journey back) that is...I have repented of my prodigal ways and have reclaimed my place in His fold, humbly surrendering my own way and letting my heart break for Him.
I am rejoicing to be here. The thing is that it hasn't been the same. I still miss a vital element of our communion. >> I have yet to break the isolation (as aforementioned) mode that still tries to keep me in it's grips. I long to again, have free flowing, sharing, and fellowship with others. I'm sure my family misses this as well. If a woman, if the mom is the heart of the home... then I may have an opportunity to set the tone for such sharing amongst God's people and others who need to know His Spirit, living in his people, in a home or in a life

We just cannot seem to quite make the break from the ill-learned self-protection and bubble living that is safe and easy and very exclusive of our brothers and sisters.

Now this discourse (above) is relative... as we do reach out and open our hearts and home. I say relative because, in comparison to where my heart began and the degree of sold-out-ness I lived... this is just not much to speak of (as I see things) It's not enough, It's not God's heart.
I am not discontent in a fleshy mode. I am grieved by the Spirit . I have learned from experience to tell the difference.

I guess I wanted to break a bit more of the bubble mode by sharing...I guess I am asking for prayer... and I guess I as I think of it, I would really love and feedback, if anyone has a mind to share on this.

I wonder how much time is left in this country or in this world as we know it.
I am burdened by the lack of revival and zeal I see in our midst... in the Christian church, in our hearts...

God have mercy on our souls... and please let us see things as You see them. Please bless us that we might be moved to tears and be moved to action.

Warm happy feet :)

2009-01-15T02:05:00.003-06:00

cayenne pepper
Pronounced:KI-yehn

A tip for today

For any wives out there whose husbands work in the cold (or daughters whose fathers work in the cold), especially those with jobs where they stand still for long periods of time in the sub zero weather… as in (road construction crews) etc…
My husband raves about a tip that I found a while back and he has tried and tested many below zero days this winter as a night watchman in here in Northern WI and Upper Peninsula of MI areas…
What’s the tip? You have probably guessed it! Sprinkle that Cayenne Pepper into the socks or the soles of the boots.. and let the heat warm his feet!
It works as the Cayenne pepper is a very hot spice. It warms by causing the blood to come to the surface, much like physical warmth does when applied to your body.. it gets red and warms… so does the cayenne… and it keeps warming, all night long (or day!)

Have a “happy heated feet” kind of day!

More on health and a personal note :)

2009-01-14T22:07:00.004-06:00

Hello fellow blog readers,
I have been posting more as of late, concerning Natural Health and issues and the freedoms being threatened in this country pertaining to it.

WHY... well, though multi-faceted, a couple reasons are that I desire to affilliate with a company with whom I whole-heartedly trust and who (I believe carry some of the Most Superior Nutricuiticals that are available anywhere-- One being the Moxxor Omega 3 source available (click on Hobbes the Dog pic at top right of blog for more info, and the other?, well, the info is forthcoming :)

... and Secondly,

I feel strongly about the issues that are being published here. I have been an advocate of natural health options for quite some time, having been made aware out of necessity... as a self initiated campaign to regain my opwn health and overcome chronic conditions that plague me.
I have been aware of healthy food and nutrition from a young girl growing up in Western Pennsylvania. My Father was very health conscious even before it became popular! (or a more common practice)
I remember high protein powder in my shakes before swin meets and mega doses of vitamin c in the winter.. I remeber honey , daily on a big tablespoon... and more :) Though despite all of the healthy beginnings, I let myself go health wise as a young adult and am reaping the consequenses of poor choices over the yeras. So, Thank you Lord, that Your mercies are new every morning and I have another chance, every day to make the right decisions.. I pray they might enable me to undo damage and conterbalance things in my favor once again ....
I have hopes that all would benefit from the health related posts and tips to come...

~and for anyone out there that might have enjoyed my blog; post health posts!,

I will continue to write from amidst the other corners of my heart...and hope you all check back and see what might be new here and again !
I'm planning to keep the health artices to 1-2 x's a week...

So with that I'll be on my way,
Blessings and Be Well!
Suz

Will Obama Take on Big Pharma?? Maybe Not.

As we fast approach the beginning of the Obama administration, it is interesting to watch his team develop. You can tell a lot about a politician by the caliber of people he surrounds himself with. The opinion piece featured today makes it painfully clear that Obama's choice for Surgeon General, a key post that influences many aspects of the health industry, is the same ol' same ol' -- business as usual.

With the cost of healthcare continuing to skyrocket, even those with insurance are straining their budgets between premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. Even sadder is the fact that most of the "care" offered only throws dangerous drugs -- another added expense -- at symptoms, rather than addressing issues through lifestyle changes that lead toward wellness and prevent disease.

If the government won't change their ways, perhaps we should rethink our own choices. Consider purchasing a catastrophic insurance policy that will keep you from bankruptcy if you experience a major medical event. Then invest what you were spending on other insurance costs into nutritious, organic food and natural supplements along with finding a healthy diet that will help your body to balance in a natural way. It is also wise to establish a working relationship with a natural-minded healthcare practitioner that can help educate and coach you toward wellness. It is time to take personal responsibility for the health of ourselves and our families.
Foreword By: Tom Mathison -- my hubby 

Here We Go:
Obama Wants CNN Doctor Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, January 6, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama's choice for U.S. Surgeon General is reportedly CNN journalist Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a pro-vaccine pusher with ties to Merck.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a strong proponent of the Gardasil HPV vaccine, and the television show he once hosted ("Accent Health") was primarily sponsored by Merck, makers of Gardasil.

Now he's poised to become the Surgeon General of the United States. Just what we need, huh? Another pill-pushing, vaccine-pushing Washington bureaucrat with ties to Big Pharma.

I told you folks that Obama wasn't going to end Big Pharma's business as usual, and this vaccine-pumping choice for Surgeon General is a disturbing example of yet more pro-Pharma decisions to come.

So who should really be U.S. Surgeon General? Well Dr. Julian Whitaker, of course. His knowledge of nutrition and public health is vastly superior to that of Dr. Sanjay Gupta. But Dr. Whitaker would teach the American people how to cure diabetes, heart disease and cancer using nutritional therapies, and then the whole economy would collapse thanks to all the out-of-work disease industry doctors. So they can't let that happen, right?

Then again, Dr. Gupta is, indeed, a bonafide brain surgeon. That might come in handy in Washington, come to think of it. Maybe he can perform a little brain surgery on his fellow Washingtonian bureaucrats and find a way to restore the common sense they all apparently lost when they got elected.

Get ready for a whole new mandatory vaccination push under the Obama administration, folks. It's the same scam that's been running under the Bush Administration, but now it's going to be disguised as "public health policy." Yep, all those vaccines are President Obama's way of caring for the American people, didn't you know?

Big Business always wins in Washington. As long as the corporations are running the lawmakers and the politicians, the People are always going to lose. The only thing that changes is the face of the person fronting the scam -- and the name of the political party he belongs to. Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter: Virtually all politicians secretly belong to the same, single party called the Big Business Party, and their decisions are made to please Big Business, not to protect the People.

You might as well start making your vaccination protest banners right now. With Gupta at the helm, America is going to be a whole new

Should we blindy trust the AMA?

2009-01-11T16:56:00.008-06:00

More Antibiotics? You Must be Kidding!

At first I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this story. Free antibiotics from a major grocery store chain? Even conventional medicine has recognized the dangers of the promiscuous use of these drugs and the hazards that can result. Where is the watchdog of our drug safety in America -- the FDA -- when a company comes up with a marketing ploy such as this? They get militant with anyone that dares discuss the benefits of natural foods or supplements, but yet allow the encouragement of these harmful drugs that, as the article points out, don't even effectively treat most of the ailments they are typically prescribed for.

Not only don't antibiotics help with viral ailments such as flu, colds, and others, but they actually weaken the body's ability to fight disease by compromising the balance of flora in the digestive tract where approximately 75% of the immune system is located. A better alternative is to take a quality probiotic product that boosts the number of "good" bacteria in the gut, thus strengthening the body and increasing its ability to absorb more nutrients from food as well. This plan to hand out antibiotics only encourages doctors to overprescribe and is one of the finest examples that I have ever seen of the pretzel logic that has long been the hallmark of Big Pharma and the FDA.
--Foreword by my hubby, Tom Mathison--

Antibiotics -- Even Free Ones -- Won't Cure Most Winter Ills
January 07, 2009 01:01 PM ET

The eastern seaboard will soon be awash in free antibiotics, as Wegmans yesterday announced the 72-store supermarket chain will make a 14-day supply of nine generic oral antibiotics available at no charge.

Giant Foods and Stop & Shop had already announced similar programs.

Wegmans says the program is aimed at helping people get through cold and flu season and will end March 31.

This is a nice public relations effort, and it is truly helpful for consumers who need these drugs. But the fact is that most wintertime ailments -- cold, flu, most sore throats, bronchitis, sinusitis -- are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and won't respond at all to antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But doctors, pressed for time and perhaps not entirely certain that their patient's illness isn't caused by a bacterial infection, often go ahead and prescribe a course of antibiotics anyway. If the drugs are free, the temptation to prescribe is even greater. This can lead to a second problem: antibiotic resistance.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to an alarming growth in bacteria and other microbes that don't respond to the antibiotics that used to kill them. Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the world's most pressing public health problems.

Taking antibiotics when you don't need them may make your body resistant to antibiotics when you do, according to the CDC. If you've got a bug and your doctor says to let it run its course, do that instead of demanding antibiotics, even free ones.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-health-and-money/2009/01/07/antibiotics_print.htm

(Photo taken from JupiterImages.com)

The Philosopher's Scales :: In Honor of the Pearl of the Season, "The Pearl of Great Price"

2008-12-24T12:03:00.004-06:00

A monk, when his rites sacerdotal were o'er,/In the depth of his cell with its stone-covered floor,/Resigning to thought his chimercial brain,/Once formed the contrivance we now shall explain;/ By inspiration, dream, deep seated thought we know not; indeed, 'tis no business of ours.

Perhaps it was only by patience and care,/At last, that he brought his invention to bear./In youth 'twas projected, but years stole away,/And ere 'twas complete he was wrinkled and gray;/But success is secure, unless energy fails;/And at length he produced

THE PHILOSOPHER'S SCALES

"What were they?" you ask. You shall presently see;/These scales were not made to weigh sugar and tea./O no; for such properties wondrous had they,/That qualities, feelings, and thoughts they could weigh,/Together with articles small or immense,/From mountains or planets to atoms of sense.

Naught was there so bulky but there it would lay,/And naught so ethereal but there it would stay,/And naught so reluctant but in it must go:/All which some examples more clearly will show.

The first thing he weighed was the head of Voltaire,/Which retained all the wit that had ever been there./As a weight he threw in a torn scrap of leaf,/Containing the prayer of the penitent thief;/Then the skull rose aloft with so sudden a spell/That it bounced like a ball on the roof of the cell.

One time he put in Alexander the Great,/With the garment that Dorcas had made for a weight;/And though clad in armor from sandals to crown,/The hero rose up, and the garment went down.

A long row of almshouses, amply endowed/By a well-esteemed Pharisee, busy and proud,/Next loaded one scale; while the other was pressed/By those mites the poor widow dropped into the chest:/Up flew the endowment, not weighing an ounce,/And down, down the farthing-worth came with a bounce.

By further experiments (no matter how)/He found that ten chariots weighed less than one plough;/A sword with gilt trapping rose up in the scale,/Though balanced by only a ten-penny nail;/A shield and a helmet, a buckler and spear,/Weighed less than a widow's uncrystallized tear.

A lord and a lady went up at full sail,/When a bee chanced to light on the opposite scale;/Ten doctors, ten lawyers, two courtiers, one earl,/Ten counsellor's wigs, full of powder and curl,/All heaped in one balance and swinging from thence,/Weighed less than a few grains of candor and sense;/A first water diamond, with brilliance begirt,/than one good potato just washed from the dirt./Yet not mountains of silver and gold could suffice/One pearl to outweigh, -- 'twas THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

Last of all, the whole world was bowled in at the grate,/With the soul of a beggar to serve for a weight,/When the former sprang up with so strong a rebuff/That it made a vast rent and escaped at the roof!/When balanced in air, it ascended on high,/And sailed up aloft, a balloon in the sky;/While the scale with the soul in't so mightily fell/That it jerked the philosopher out of his cell.

by Jane Taylor (1783-1824)
(with a slight liberty taken by me in the intro)

Why Can't We Forgive Ourselves?

2008-12-20T17:00:00.012-06:00

*Grace isn't grace if we have to be good enough for it to apply to us.

"Tear Free from the Shroud of Bondage of Unforgiveness"

The Lord has been dealing with me in my own life regarding the subject of forgiveness -- of others, but mainly of myself.

Have you ever found yourself thinking "I just can't forgive myself for thus and such?"

I wonder who hasn't thought that at one time or another? The devil would love to keep us in self-condemnation for the things we have done or failed to do. He knows it paralyzes us and prevents us from making the kind of impact in our lives and the lives of others that has God intended for us.

Many of us have read a while back of the young teenager who accidentally struck his 5 year old sister, with a car, tragically killing her in their driveway. And as tragic as it is for a child to die in that way at such a young age, the greater tragedy is the difficulty this young man will have forgiving himself.

Though few of us have faced something as dramatic as this, many of us have pasts that we cannot let go of... secret things--big things , horrific things, or nagging little regrets that the enemy tricks us into focusing on, making us continually believe we just don't measure up... we all need to overcome these thoughts that are aimed against us to render us ineffective in God's Kingdom

Let's beat these thoughts into the ground -- haven't they beaten us long enough?!

1. Realize that we only deserve forgiveness because of the blood of Jesus. Not because what we did wrong "never happened," or it wasn't that bad or ugly or wasn't sin. Give up rationalizations and excuses.

2. It was that bad, but God is even MORE good! James 2:13 says mercy triumphs over judgement. His mercy toward you TRUMPS your judgement over yourself. Believe that God is bigger than what you did, thought, felt etc. In Luke 22, Peter denied the Lord 3 times, and Jesus forgave him. Later, Peter preached the first sermon after Jesus rose from the dead, and 3,000 people were saved in a day! Peter was able to forgive himself when he knew Jesus accepted him. In the same way, realize that you have been accepted by God, no matter what you have done -- simply by believing on the work of the cross of Jesus Christ.

3. Give up your right to hold against yourself ANYTHING that God Himself does not hold against you. If God can forgive you, you can forgive yourself. His standard is absolute perfection, and He forgives you. Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as east is from west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

* It is as though our sins don't exist anymore--they are gone, gone, gone, gone!

4. Stop rehearsing what you did. It's done. It's over. Now accept the blessing that God offers;

Philippians 3:10 says "forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward."

* Not forgiving ourselves is a subtle way of competing with Christ's atonement. God has already punished jesus for what we did. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17. When we don't accept our own forgiveness we are punishing ourselves (Dont we just always want to "do" something to earn our favor?)

Instead of accepting jesus' sacrafice for my failures. This competes with our Lord, Christ's finest work.

5. Believe that condemnation doesn't come from God. He doesn't condemn you toward repentence. The Holy Spirit will convict of sin so that we may repent and be in fellowship once again with a clean conscience.
Romans 2:4 says it is His lovingkindness that leads us to repentance. Since this guilt and shame and condemnation do not come from God, there can be only one other source -- the devil. James 4:7 says, "Submit to God -- resist the devil -- and he will flee from you."

* Walking in the light means following without compromise anything God shows you to do

6. Give up the SELF-PUNISHMENT -- some people have said to themselves in essence: "I'll make myself feel bad to pay for what has been done." Why should we pay the price that has ALREADY been paid for what we've done wrong? Stop beating yourself up -- no one beats us up better than ourselves. The fact is whatever we have done that we can't seem to forgive ourselves for is already forgiven. By trying to "pay for what we have done," we are insulting the very blood of Jesus that HAS PAID the price in full.

THINK IT AND SAY IT...

I receive mercy today, because of the blood of Jesus. Though I didn't deserve it, God proclaims over me, that I am "not guilty". Where I have failed, God's mercy triumphs over judgement.

I give up my right today to hold ANYTHING against myself -- I deserve to be punished, but Jesus took THAT punishment for me. I forget what lies behind and press on, moving forward in my life with God, even though I feel like I have blown it beyond repair.

*Relinquishing bitterness (even against yourself) is an open invitation for the Holy Spirit to give you His peace, His joy and the knowledge of His will.

I reject this guilt and self-condemnation that the devil is trying to put on me. God is the God of 2nd chances. I will no longer try to make myself feel bad to pay for what has been done. The price for what I did or failed at has been paid in full by God! In Jesus' Name!

* And finally, a prayer for when the devil tries to make you to go back on your resolve:
Father, I ask you to help me during these times of prayer, recommitting the devil's thoughts to you. I thank You that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, human or fleshly but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ and bring every thought unto the obedience of Him and His finished work and my identification with Him.

Pray diligently, Keep moving forward! and keep looking up!

God's Blessings to ya'll

Majority written by Pastor Gregory Dickow,
along with Pastor RT Randall

& some editing & editions from me :)

Katy kicks back

2008-12-19T23:38:00.001-06:00

It's frigid outside, but cozy, warm in. Katy enjoys this weather, as do we... We take advantage of the intimacy that the early evenings and the home centered days with heavy draperies, warmth and the aromas of stick-to-your-rib meals for my dear hubby , as we help ready him for work in the late afternoons :) Lots to do this winter... but plenty of (in time) to get it done! Thank you Lord for small blessings as well as the big ones :)

A CALL TO ACTION

2008-12-13T12:11:00.002-06:00

Protest the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008!

shared by Pamela Vasquez
Thu 12:18pm

(My daughter posted this after I sent it to her and did such a good job expressing herself, I asked if I could copy and paste it.)
I would only add that in addition to Etsy and people who sell there, this will kill church bazaars, fundraisers, craft shows, and other home businesses.
At this moment, there is actually debate over whether one is able to make something to give to a child without having it tested. That seems rather outrageous and unbelievable, but so it the law in general, so why not?
This is not a rumor - some of the links go to the actual act on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.) If you're like me and love sites such as Etsy and the like, you can pretty much kiss them goodbye after January. I love Etsy because pretty much every product on there is hand made, one of a kind, no two the same, or they are very old and vintage.
Either way, if it is for children under 12, it'll be illegal to sell after January. Maybe they have good intentions, but it is NOT their right to kill small business like this.
These artists and DIY folks are not going to be able to pay to have everything tested, especially since EVERYTHING THEY MAKE IS UNIQUE. They would have to have EVERY item they sold tested. It's just not going to happen.
Things sold on eBay and Garage sales will be effected, too. It doesn't really effect the majority of us reading this now, because it's only for products for children under 12. But it does effect a lot of other people and it's just not right.Please take the time to read this and then take some sort of action against it.

Thanks,Christina

If you haven't read about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of2008 (HR 4040), you need to. This will affect EVERY item you buy for your children or grandchildren. Clothing, bedding, feeding utensils, wipes,cloth diapers, disposables, toys and on and on.
Starting in Feb 2009, every item made for a child under the age of 12 must be tested AFTER MANUFACTURE (not testing the components) to ensure it complies with the flammability, lead and phthalate limits set in this law.
The law specifies that testing must be done at the SKU level (which means atthe SIZE level--so if you have a rack of blue shirts at Walmart, EACH size of that shirt must have 1 unit tested to ensure it complies).
And when the lot changes (new bolt of fabric, new batch of snaps, new batch of zippers,etc) it must go through testing AGAIN.
The tests are estimated to costbetween $180-$4000 EACH, and must be done at CPSC approved labs. Any inventory on the shelf on Feb 9 that does not have a compliance certificate stating it meets the requirements will be considered "banned hazardous material" on Feb 10, and will not be able to be legally sold in this country.
Obviously, this will be the END of the hand-crafted, one of a kind industry in our country, as there is no way someone with a small cottage business can afford the testing on small batches like they make.
This will also affect Goodwill, thrift and resale shops, ebaying your child's used items and even garage sales. The grandma knitting baby blankets for the church bazaar will be a felon.
Fines are $100,000 per violation, with felony jail time a real possibility.EVERYTHING you buy will be more expensive, and your options will be severely restricted.

I just read (may be hearsay, it wasn't from Fuzzi Bunz) that they will be reducing their selection to one color per size to comply with the new CPSI Alegislation. (they currently have 15 colors and 6 sizes. That's a cost fortesting for EACH lot, cost range 16,200-360,000.
Fabrite fabrics come on bolts of 50 yards, and you can get about 5-6 large diapers per yard.)
Also, Haba and Selecta (European toy manufacturers who make toys to a more exacting standard than the CPSIA requires) are pulling out of the US marketas of the end of 2008 due to the cost of the end unit testing requirement.
Their wood toys are made with wood and finished with beeswax. NO possibility of lead issues or phthalates, but doesn't matter, each sku must still be tested.

Thank you Washington for eliminating the option for consumers to choose something other than plastic MIC for our children.
It is really important that everyone contact their reps to protest this bill as written. Some links if you feel like learning more: http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

(scroll down to the video testimony linksof Rick Woldberg and watch--it is really good).
http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=23http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.html#102pppa (the cpsc faq page)

http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
(Etsyadmin's letter about this)

If you are stymied about what to say, or short on time, use this: http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476
(there issome required text and then an editable portion for you to customize it, aswell as drop down boxes at the bottom to fill in who it needs to go to andfind the right addresses for you).

It is tempting to just stick our heads in the sand and think, "it can't REALLY be that bad, can it?" But it is. I've been reading a LOT about this in the past week. I've read opinions from lawyers, and others involved in the children's markets both big and small. It is HUGE. And Feb 10 is not being called National Bankruptcy day for nothing. Expect the next industry group to be in front of congress asking for a bailout to be the big boxretailers. But there will be no bailout for the thousands of home-crafters. Take the few minutes to write or call your reps, and spread the info on any other groups you are on to have them do the same. (You can copy this post if you like). The grassroots effort IS beginning to spread and build steam.We need to FLOOD Washington with protests about this legislation as it is currently written.The intent is good--to protect our children from harmful substances in toys. The implementation is HORRIBLE. The fact is, the toys that werere called in 2007 did not meet the laws on the books at THAT time. More legislation is never the solution to keep the bad guys from breaking the law. It only impacts the honest. Lawbreakers will still try to get around it.Thank you for reading, and taking action.

Thank Your Dear Lord

2008-12-13T02:51:00.001-06:00

Lord, I thank You for my family, my dear husband and my sweet daughter. I thank You for my daughter & son back in PA and for the grandsweeties that You have blessed me with as well... Lord, keep them all in Your loving arms and put a strong hedge of protection around about them... Draw them nigh unto you, keep their hearts soft and help us all be sensitive to our sin. We need you Lord, Thank You for your graciousness... and keep loving and drawing us to yourself!

Another blessing... another deer visiting our yard shortly before the end of summer... I just love these creatures...

Open Arms

2008-12-12T01:46:00.005-06:00

Reaching out to find surrender, Open arms can find a peace.

Faith becomes a holy blessing, hidden just beyond release.

In the depths of never knowing, trust can find a place to grow.

Seeds of deeper understanding, blossom into letting go.

Open arms can hold acceptance, letting us begin to see.

faith reveals the arms of Heaven, holding our security.

--jean pomeroy

Cozy Pages

2008-12-05T18:07:00.013-06:00

Do YOU have cozy pages?
:)

I have always loved studying and reading from my own Bible. My Bible was given to me by my father, back in 1987, the year of my 2nd birthday... The day I was born into God's family.

For the past 20 some years... I have marked faithfully what The Lord has faithfully shown me or spoken to my heart through His word in that same Bible. So, suffice it to say, It is well marked, well loved and well marked ;)

I reading the other day and my daughter comented on my marked up book... I proclaimed that they were my "cozy pages!" coz they, to me are a comfort.. (cozy) and are a tangible reminder in a ambiguous "feeling oriented world" ... of God's faithfulness to me through the years. (well, At least My world is feelings oriented :) ~maybe a bit too much, but the Lord keeps me balanced in various and sundry ways, one being, sending me a pragmatic husband to walk by my side through my feely, feelings oriented life LOL! helping me keep my feet on the ground!
Never failing Is the Love and the reminders He sends my way when I open my Bible to seek Him and His truths...

~~Thank - You Lord for my many cozy pages!

Just A Mother?

2008-11-26T00:17:00.008-06:00

"I remember a few years ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well, rushed up to me. She was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.
Before I could answer - and I didn't really have one handy - she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office.
Asked by the woman behind the counter to state her "occupation," she had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the clerk, "Do you have a job, or are you just a ......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped my friend. "I'm a mother."
"We don't list "mother" as an occupation... "housewife" coversit," said the clerk emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title, like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"And what is your occupation?", she probed.
What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out."I'm....a Research Associate in the field of Child Developmentand Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly,emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Cooly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have three credits (all healthy).Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voiceas she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- age 7 and 5. And upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (six months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant. I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. And I had gone down on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another......"

Home...what a glorious career.Especially when there's a title on the door."

--Author Unknown

A Little Bit Of A Lot

Hey you bloggers....

Life: and how we look at it...

Grandkiddos~A Day at the Park, Working Things Out...

The Light Meets The Dark: A Must Listen!

Me (Suz) and Tom (Thoms) during the summer of 91

"We Preach Best What We Need To Hear Most" ...unknown

I love to paint -- but didn't. ;)

A Heart From Dad's Heart

Our Sweet Daughter, a Young Adult Now...

In the Rain

Matthew 24:42 "Therefore Keep Watch"

A Post and A Prayer and Plea for Freedom

wishing for spring

Who's coming to visit?--Maybe The Sweet Tooth Fairy??

I found a cool article with the same inspiration I've had recently!

Should I Share?

My Son's new Family-To-Be :) (and prayer requests)

a few misc.pics from over the last few months ;)

a couple more...

a few more....

Tom, me & Tom and a new addition...

Make Your Own Probiotic Supplements

~Many Faces of Jocelyn Nicole ~

Phoebe Grace (small news) and a New Home Fellowship Announcement (BIG News!) :)

From a Momma's Heart...

Faces of Cozy

A Sobering Poem to Contemplate

Why All Things That Glitter Are Usually NOT Gold

A few end-of-summer pics

The Story Of Crabs (a spiritual allegorical paradox)

More Life in The Northwoods this Summer... scroll down for lots! :)

Gripping

The Little Old Man From George Street

To Each His Own

a perriwinkle fleur

Death and Living Together...

Beach Party and a Bear

My handsome son Joshuah

My Sweet Daughter, Grandolls :) and Son -in-Law :)--not necessarily in that order ;P

Come quickly Lord Jesus

Another Must-See

~~ Just Beautiful ~~

Noelle's room redecorated with what we already had on hand.. re-itimized or whatever you want to call it -- It works, It's a challenge and it's fun!

letting go

"Freedom Means"... you'll find lots more inspiring, enlightening and refreshing content found at the link below

All These Years We've Been Together

The Lord is a Gentelman: Come Quickly Lord Jesus; The yearnings of a young zealot

A Revolution Without Dancing is a Revolution Not Worth Having

A few new pics & some funnin to share ;-P

Cinderbella the Under Kitty

Favorites of Late...

Home Chiropractic Care Course...

He Who Hear Not

wordless pictures for a while...but first, Birthday dinner pics with my dear husband and daughter at "the best" pizza place around!,(luv pizza!)

Psst...

A FEW DELICIOUS FRUIT SMOOTHIE RECIPES FOR BUSY DAYS WHEN NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ARE HIGH! POWER PACKED PICK-ME-UPS WITH A PUNCH!

Aprons-aprons and more aprons! (patterns galore!) a treasure trove!

Sights of Summer

"The Other Day" pics

I have this and more! FS on another blog :)

Fun & Stuff....

Noelle and Ava

Time to pick on Hobbes again! :)

A Confession to Share

Wee 'lil Ava... the sweet little girl we babysit for...

Senior Pics of Kodi (a really neat kid from our town

MEGAN PROMPTED ME TO POST...thanks megs!

A few Misc Pix

Looking forward to the summer

A Reminder

Stop Shooting Auto (you're smarter than your camera!)

Hrumph! (someone else here is anxious for spring!)

A hardy plant that "you can grow" surpasses Fish Oil and other fatty acid sources!

Lead Your Heart

Natural Alternative Cleaning Concoctions and Needed Supplies

About my daughter, A young lady, a warrior with a heart for God...

a Bubbly Life or a Bubble Life?

Warm happy feet :)

More on health and a personal note :)

Just Beautiful