Hope, Anticipation, Looking forward

In Sunday School this morning, we talked about Advent.  The church season of Advent starts next Sunday so we spent today discussing what Advent is and what it means.

The lesson was introduced by sharing a little about an article that I had read several weeks ago.  The article was about how we should think about extending Advent a few weeks.  It talked about how we are missing the point of Advent.  The point being to focus on the second coming of Christ as fulfillment of all promised in his first coming, which we celebrate during Christmas.  You can read the article here. 

Then the question was asked...  What is Advent?  Do you know?  Well we have 2 definitions, the lower case advent which means the coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important and we have the upper case Advent which is the liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in the Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer and fasting.

Here are a couple of cute videos sharing some thoughts on Advent.





and this one is an ad but just at the very end.





Take a moment to read Isaiah 65:17-25.  Pull out your Bible or if you don't have one nearby you can read it here.  What does this mean to you?  How do you feel about a new heaven and a new earth? 

Isaiah was addressing the people of Israel at a very difficult time.  They were just coming out of exile from Babylon after 60 years of captivity.  They were war torn and weary.  When they got back they found that everything had been destroyed!  Nothing was as they remembered it.  Through Isaiah, God offered a message of Hope.  He gave them something to anticipate, to look forward to, something to hold on to; Hope.

That's where we find ourselves during Advent.  We are in anticipation, looking forward to something wonderful.  Hoping for our future.

Reference: http://www.gbod.org/lead-your-church/topical-series/resource/all-things-new-after-the-aftermath-week-4

Fired up!

I am taking a class on Worship.  Well it's called "Leading Worship" but it's so much more.  It is so very exciting and after every reading, discussion and live class I am bursting with excitement.  I feel like I'm on fire!  I'm sure I'm driving DH crazy with sharing it all but it is just so.... interesting, exciting, enlightening!  I love this feeling.

Good Monday Morning!

What a great morning.  I was up early for me... 6:30 and reading Disciple 1 (my Bible study I'm in for those who don't know what it is) then I tidied up the kitchen, made DH's coffee and me some tea.  Next, I started my last class for the Lay Speaker tract of Lay Servant Ministries.  I'm excited about this one!  Then I had breakfast with DH.  A yummy green smoothie for me and a yogurt for him. And I talked with my mom.  That's a morning must.  :o)

I'm letting DD sleep in as she just can't seem to kick this cough!  We were up way too much again last night and I think sleep is a great medicine.  I'll get her up soon.

Now, it's time for a little exercise and maybe a little Hallmark Movie Channel?  Hmm... we'll see.

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!  It's a great day to start a new chapter of life.  Get to it!

Great start!

So far this morning I have read my Disciple 1, put a yummy, healthy dinner in the crockpot, had a healthy breakfast, folded some laundry and started another load, exercised and tidied up the kitchen a bit.  I still have tons more to do but I feel like I've made a good start to my day.  Finally!  I've been a bit too lax lately and I need to get back in my groove.  So, here's my start to getting back into my groove.  :o)

Beautiful Scripture for the evening

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?²⁷ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁸ And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But strive first for the kingdom of God and hisrighteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Today

Today, I'm feeling sad because a friend has decided she no longer wants to be my friend.  It makes me sad.  I will respect her wishes but it truly makes me sad.  She has unfriended me on Facebook and won't speak to me anymore at church.  It happened several weeks ago but for some reason, it's really on my mind today.

BIG. HUGE. SIGH.

My Two Cents...

I am so very tired of seeing M.C. and her nasty photos all over my Facebook newsfeed.  Notice I did  NOT use her name and I won't either.  I'm sick of seeing it and her.  She is not the first young woman to be totally inappropriate on TV, nor will she be the last.  It's sad but true.  I realize everyone is in a uproar over her performance but really people?  Is that all you have to talk about?  You are just giving her what she wants.  ATTENTION.  

SO STOP IT!  Move on!  There are lots more things worthy of our time and attention.

How about this business in Syria?  It's pretty scary!  

How about that 1st Lt. Jason Togi, 24, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died Aug. 26, in Hasan Karez, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

How about that story about the 96 year old man who wrote a love song for his late wife and a studio surprised him and had it recorded professionally?

There are lots of great things to talk about in this world.  As tired as I am of all the food photos, I'd prefer them.  So me photos of your family, or drawings you kids did.  Tell about what you did with your kids today.  

Let's be neighborly but not gossipy.  Let's share our joys and concerns (hopefully more joys than concerns but Syria is serious).  Let's just sit out on the front porch and visit.

Que Sera Sera

Last week was a very busy week.  We were slowly getting back into the schooling thing, I was adding a second class to the one I'm already taking and just had lots of things to do around the house.  So... I didn't get on here much (or at all) to blog about my ever so interesting life.  HA!

So we will just start where I am right now, today.  I'm tired but I got up early and Skyped with DH for a bit, then did some reading for one of my classes.  DD decided we need to start going to the gym so, I got her up a little earlier than usual and off we went!  We didn't last too long but we were there and we exercised!  Then we went to the grocery store to get the items for my green smoothies.   I haven't been drinking them again and I really want to so... this morning I had the first one in quite sometime and it SOOOO good!  In fact, I think I'm going to run and mix another one up real quick!  I'm feeling the munchies coming on and I think this is way better option then what I'm secretly dreaming of right now.

Mmm, it's so good.  I did use a bit too much banana but it's still good and I feel good knowing that I'm making a good choice.

Anyway, I've been... worrying over... well, a lot of stuff.  It's kind of bringing me down so I've decided to just let it all go.  Worrying is only making me feel bad and I don't want to feel bad so... I'm going to work on really letting it go.  Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be.  I'm letting God have this one.  He can figure it out then just let me know one way or another. A burning bush or billboard would be good but you know whatever works...  I'm just going to go about my day to day life and yes, Que Sera Sera.



By the way, I LOVE this movie!!

Good Monday Morning!

Today is the first day back to school for DD.  We're slowly easing into it today.  Today, she is going through her course books and reading the first week's assignments and such and checking out the textbooks and just kind of exploring her courses.  I think it is a great idea!  I can hear her getting... a little excited about the possibilities.  She's not a huge fan of school.  Lol  Neither was her mother so this easing into it is a good idea for us.  She keeps making those interested noises, you know, the  hmmms, and ohhhs, and 'really'?  It's music to my ears.

DS went back to college this weekend.  I drove over yesterday to take him a few things he forgot and to see how his room was coming along.  We walked around campus and visited a bit.  I already miss him.  I'll see him often as he's not far away and he gives guitar lessons on Friday here in town but it's not every day, so yes, I miss him already.

I'm feeling some desire to clean house and really organize and tidy.  I want to make my home more beautiful and more relaxing.  I want it to be a place we want to be and feel comfortable in, so that is my mission this week.  Lots of home blessing.

What are you plans for the day/week?

Change

This morning, I am sitting out my patio enjoying the cooler weather.  It's cloudy
and making me sleepy but I'm loving the early feel of autumn.  DD and I ate breakfast out here and I think it just made it taste better!

Today, I'm thinking of change.  A change in routine, a change in scenery, a change in attitude, a change in diet, a change.  DD talked of it needing a change on our long drive over the weekend and DH talks of it often too so, I'm going to work on giving it to them.  We're going to cook more at home.  Work on cleaning up the house and beautifying it some more.  Prepare for fall.

School will be starting next week for us and it will be nice to start afresh with a tidy home and yummy home cooked meals planned.  DS will be heading back to college soon and DH's travels are beginning as well. I'm thinking this be a great time for home economics for DD and for me too.

It's time to reassess my life and prioritize.  Make schedules and get organized.  I've got this. 

Catching Up

This morning I'm playing catch up a little in my class.  There has been so much going on the last week or so that I've fallen a little behind.  And not just in the reading but in what I'm supposed to be getting out of it as well! 

The class is on learning to live a Devotional Life using John Wesley's example.  Not just have devotional time but a devotional life.  It's pretty interesting and I'm enjoying it.  So last night, I grabbed a prayer book and my little pocket book of worship and looked through them.  The prayer book starts at advent so I decided to wait to use it till then, so I started looking through the other.  It has morning, midday, evening and night prayer services in it.  Well, I didn't notice the night service so I read through the evening service.  It was nice.  I didn't read through it like a service but just as a guide to devotion and prayer.  It helped keep me focused as sometimes my mind wonders but I had a guide to ... guide me.  ;)

So this week, I'm going to get caught up and then stay with it.

But it's also the week before DS heads back to college so I want to spend time with him and help him get everything ready to move back into the dorm.  Ah, bittersweet.  It won't be nearly as hard as last year but I'll probably still cry.  He's a great guy and I'll miss seeing him everyday.

Next week I plan on DD and I starting back to school in an easy fashion.  Just easing our way back into it and also spending time on our little patio if the weather is nice. I'm looking forward to spending lots more quality time with her.
I've been reading lots of old posts here on my blog and I want to get back to the way we used homeschool, back when we used to have fun with it.  I think that fun could start on our patio.  If only we had this porch swing!  :)

Have a beautiful day!

Whirlwind of a weekend

It was a whirlwind of a weekend.  DD and I drove out to my sweet aunt's graveside service.  It was so good to see everyone, cousins I haven't seen in more than 20 years and aunts and uncles I just don't see enough either.  I hate the reason we gathered but it was good to see everyone and reconnect.

It was a long 2 days of driving but DD and I had lots of chatting time.  It was good.  I love our talks.  We have them often though not quite as thorough or as long. :)

It's funny, over the last several months, how many times I've heard people say to DD, "Wow, you tell your mom A LOT." We can't imagine not telling each other what we do and yet it seems so foreign to others.  I talk to my mom the same way.  I'm not sure I did when I was DD's age but I don't really think it's so weird and actually I think it is pretty healthy.  I'm glad she feels she can talk to me about anything.

We talked about so many things; friends, school, change, death, dance, theater.  You name it and we probably talked about it.  In fact, over the last 2 or 3 weeks I've put almost 4,000 miles on my car!  That's a lot of driving and a lot of good chat time with both of my kids!

Last week DS drove with me to take my niece to meet her mom again and oh the discussions we had!  It was wonderful. Our topics were just as varied and just as full; politics, religion, college, the future, plans and so on.

My kids, my family truly is my pride and joy.  It's where my heart fully is and where it really wants to be.

Morning Musings

Oh my.  Isn't this just a lovely place to sit and ... well, do just about anything?  It's beautiful.  It could definitely be a sacred space.

I was looking out the window this morning and thought how lovely it looked in the backyard with the freshly mown lawn. I thought I might go out and sit on our little patio for my morning musings but when I opened the door and felt the humidity I decided to just sit at the dining room table and look out the window.  :)  Yep, if it's not cool or if there's not at least a breeze, I'm not going out there!

School is starting all around us here.  I'm seeing first day of school photos everywhere.  I'm hearing last day of 'summer' laments.  I'm watching young people pack up and leave for college.  It's kind of a bittersweet sight.  Yesterday, we went and bought DS some school supplies and a few things for his dorm.  It's hard to believe that he is getting ready to start his second year of college!  Where has the time gone?

I love seeing the man he is becoming.  He's planning for his future and even though it's not what I want for him, to see him so excited and working so hard towards it I can't help but feel proud of him.  He is going to succeed whatever he does.  I just know it.  His plans are not the easy the way.  In fact they are the hard way, which is why I don't know want him to go that way but watching him prepare and make plans helps me.  Of course these plans aren't set in concrete yet (YAY!!) or so he tells me to help make things a little easier on me for now but I am preparing myself as if they are.  I know that DS is finding his own way to being his own man and a good man at that.

I was reading in a book this morning about being your authentic self and that that is what God calls us to be. She quoted a Jewish philosopher, Rabbi Zusya, "If they ask me in the next world, 'Why were you not Moses?' I will know the answer.  But if the ask me, 'Why were you not Zusya?' I will have nothing to say." Interesting.  That is actually something I often say around here, this is who I am, or that's not who I am.  It may set me up for lots of heartache but I have to be who I am.

I love what the book said next.

   "As Obi Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker in 'Stars Wars', "The Force is an energy field created by all living things.  It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds galaxies together."  The Force binds your dreams and desires with your personal gifts so they can find outward expressions.  "Follow your feelings, trust your feelings," the Jedi knight urges us all, because it is within the Force that we live and move and have our being.
   The force is Love.
   Love wants, wishes, and wills nothing less than your unconditional happiness, harmony, Wholeness."

We should all strive to be our authentic self and also realize that our authentic self is not anyone else's.  It's ours.  I think this is what DS is doing. He's finding his authentic self and I'm pleased that he is.  He's a pretty special guy.  He still has lots to learn but don't we all?

I'm pleased with both of my kids.  As I watch them with their friends or listen to them talk and tell me stories of the comings and goings on of their lives I can hear them both striving to find and be their authentic self.  

Front Porches and another thought on Aunt Margie

Good morning!  This morning I'm wishing for a front porch again.  Yes, a front porch has always been a dream of mine.  A wrap around porch would be even better!  I'd love to sit out on my porch swing in the mornings and watch the squirrels and birds.  To sit out there enjoying my cup of tea or glass of water, whatever my beverage might be.  I'd love for it to be surrounded with plants (that can't be killed because I tend to kill most plants...) and pretty cushions.  It could be an oasis of sorts.  Yes, I would love to have front porch.  A place for family and friends to gather.  You know like in the Andy Griffith Show!  Ahh... wouldn't that be nice? I just love this show.  The kids and I used to watch it all the time during lunch.  I loved sharing it with them.  They loved Barney!

As I was looking for the Andy Griffith photo I found this one...

 and I'm thinking I could settle for this.  :)  hehehe  Looks like a lot of fun!  Good family time, good movie night with friends!

Moving on... I could talk porches forever!  Anyway, moving on...

This morning as I was checking into my online class and reading, I started thinking of my Aunt Margaret again and this song came to mind as I was imagining her yesterday and even at this very moment and I thought I'd share it here... well because that's what she and I did.  We shared songs with one another often.

My sweet Aunt Margaret

Well, I didn't expect to be back here quite so soon but here I am. I am typing this at just 9:30 am though I probably won't post it for a few hours.  Shortly, very shortly, after I posted earlier, my sweet aunt passed away.  She and I actually reconnected on Facebook not so long ago and I really enjoyed 'chatting' with her on there.  We often shared songs and hymns.  I don't know if she was much of a singer but she loved hymns.  So for my sweet aunt, here is a song you often shared on Facebook.  I'll keep sharing songs too and will always think of you.  As you told me almost everyday on Facebook, I love you so much.

---

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Good morning!

Good morning my friends,
Today, I am moving back over here from Facebook.  I'm not totally giving up FB because I have reconnected with so much of my family and I enjoy seeing their photos and hearing about how they are doing but I'm not going to be posting over there much if at all. So, if you want to know how we are doing you'll have to visit me here or email me or call me or COME SEE me!  :)

I have always preferred the blogosphere but Facebook seemed easier but I have learned that it's really not and so here I am.

So, anyway, GOOD MORNING!  How are you all today?  I've got the kettle on and am ready to start  my day.  Actually, my day has been going for several hours already.  lol  I'm just getting around to the kettle though.  I'm taking an online class and so I've been up working on it since about 7:30 or so.  I'm enjoying it immensely. I may share some of it with you eventually. I'm learning lots and lots about John Wesley and about myself.  It's fun.

I hear the kettle whistling so I best end here for now.  I have lots of home blessing to do!  Have a beautiful day my friends and please, leave me a comment!  I'd love to hear from you.  :)

The Cat Is Out of the Bag... I can't keep this secret any longer...

Many of you know that in January, I gave up most sugars.  If it wasn't naturally occurring in a food or stevia, I didn't eat it.  I decided to do this hoping to lose some weight.  I didn't really lose much but the 'side effects' were good.  They were slow and so much so that they almost went unnoticed.  That is until this past month when I've let sugar creep back into my diet. Birthday celebrations, vacations, church trips and so on just made it difficult to pass up on the sugar.

BUT not any longer.  I have suffered from night sweats and hot flashes for years and before January they were quite severe.  But since January, they had all but gone away.  If I had any they were very mild and I barely noticed them.  This month... they are BACK and in full force and guess what?  I'm done with sugar.

I don't like the way it makes me feel, so please don't be offended if I don't offer you a dessert when you visit my home or if I say 'No, thank you' to your dessert.  It's just not worth it to me. Not at all.

One last thing... if you are peri-menopausal or menopausal and suffering from those awful hot flashes or night sweats... you know the ones.  You wake up with drenched pjs and your hair dripping wet with sweat...  consider giving up sugar, or at the very least cutting back as much as you can.  You'll be glad you did.

Canvas Prints

sherri williams canvas prints

Come check out some of my Canvas Prints!  We just got home from vacation and I took my camera with me!  :)

Good Morning!

This morning as I was reading while walking on the treadmill, it hit me.  I know what I'm needing to do.  It's something for my kids.  Why I couldn't see it before, I have no idea but it was right there in my face plan as day.  Yep, I feel like it was almost that billboard that I'm always looking to see.

I won't be easy.  It's not something that I can force.  It has to be a gentle nudge, a quiet push.  Maybe even more of leading by example.  No, it won't be easy, but it is my task for now and I can do it.

Catch up...

I know... I've been terrible about blogging for ... let's face it... several years now...  I don't really know why other than, often I just don't have much to say.  Well, at least not much that matters so... I've just been quiet.

Let's play catch up.  We'll just start with the new year so that I don't bore you too much.  The biggest thing is that I've given up sugar.  Yep, it's a thing of the past for me.  Well, let me rephrase that, I've given up fructose.  Well, that's not quite right either because I still eat fruit some.  So I've given up added fructose or fructose without the fiber.  I try to eat it in it's whole form, an apple but not apple juice, an orange but not orange juice.  You get the picture.  I'm still probably eating too many carbs but I'm working on that too, though much slower.  :o)  I love my bread and pasta.

I'm working on getting back to my walking.  I'm enjoying it and can't wait to move it outside and bring my DH along with me.  :o)  I'm making the treadmill work by reading while walking sometimes and that's nice.  Or I try spending my walk time in prayer.  This morning I read.  I've started a new book called  Confessions of a Prayer Slacker by Diane Moody.  I got it for the Kindle one day when it was free.  Here's a trailer for it.


So far it's pretty good and I'm enjoying it.  I'm thinking she might just be writing my life!  I pray.  I'm a great prayer when times are tough.  When I know someone needs prayer I will pray immediately for them.  I don't know that I'm a "Prayer Slacker" so to speak but I think that my prayer life could use some work.  It could be more ... consistent... more meaningful.  You get the picture.  :o)  So this book just may be what I need to get me headed to a more meaningful prayer life.

DH and I recently started a new Sunday School class at church.  That's means he supports me while I lead.  lol  It's been lots of fun!  We have wonderful people who have joined us and I really look forward to our time with them each week.  The ... curriculum (for lack of a better word) we chose is a read the Bible in a year type.  We chose it because it was guilt free.  If you don't read the daily scripture readings know one will ever know.  The lessons can done even if you haven't and you won't feel lost.  It's been great but I've discovered something for myself.  Reading the Bible is ... good for me.  I can always tell when I miss a day or... a few days...  I seem crankier, moodier, less happy and less settled.  I could actually go on and on but I think get you get the drift.

I've always been an on again off again Bible reader.  I would do devotionals, or a Bible study here and there.  If I needed something I'd look something up in the Bible but I never just sat down and read the Bible.  Well, that's not quite true.  I've tried to just sit and read it before but it never lasted for more than a sitting or two.  So, I've been enjoying for the most part reading my Bible.  Don't get me wrong, I have missed a day here or there or a week... (Shhhh) but I just pick it back up and get reading again.  It really does help make my day go better.  I'm learning so much and refining things I already knew but in a childlike way.  

I find myself wanting more.  I've even looked at maybe going back to school for some theology/Bible type classes.  I just can't seem to get enough!

Anyway, that's about my life right now.  Staying busy but still looking for ... that something... that meaning for my life... my purpose.  Somethings never change I guess.  I'm really going to try to do better about blogging again but I don't want to live on the computer so... we'll see how it goes.  I hope all is well with you and yours dear friends!  Have a beautiful week!