Foto Friday

Ready for church

Gloria and Buster with
family in Florida

Nancy with her flowers

Betsy and kids over last week

Eyes Wide Open

                 How can we forget to be thankful?  We have a sense of entitlement but it is only through His mercies that we don't get what we deserve.  We take things for granted and grumble thru our hardships rather than seeking to learn from them.  We give ourselves credit for things, instead of praising God for His work in us and through us.
                 I am wide awake to the mercies God has blessed me with, now more than ever.  My struggles have given me strength in more ways than I can count.  With every hurdle, I see how God is taking care of me and providing for all my needs.
                May I never fall asleep in gratitude for this life and all the blessings that have come with it.  Blessed be His name, whether He gives or takes away.

Blanket

                   I love my electric blanket.  The warmth it provides makes me want to never come out.  If I didn't have central heat, I know I'd stay in bed longer.  We are not meant to lay around excessively so I have to push those covers off and get moving.
                   I think this is why a lot of people don't attend church.  Leaving the comfort of our homes on our day off takes effort and discipline.  We expect God to be there for our good, but we also expect our excuses to be ample for Him.
                  Your example of church attendance is a witness to others.  Is church important to you on a regular basis or is it on a crisis scheduled event?  Belonging to a church family provides the warmth of fellowship, regardless of the weather.

Dale's Retirement Ceremony

Dale and Angie

My parents, Bobbie and Wayne 

Dale, Judy, Angie, Jerry

Julia and Angie

The sign Beth made for me to give Dale
with the verse and design I picked out

The 62nd squadron patch and coin
that Dale gave to me during the ceremony

Phillip and many others from FBF came

Stacey and Angie 

                      Friday was November 21st  and the day Dale retired with 21 years of service in the Air Force.  The ceremony was both formal and personal in it's presentation.  It honored both Dale and God in all of the vast accomplishments that transpired during his journey.  The message to his son was memorable and worth sharing.......''Live a life with gratitude, Live a life that guards and protects your reputation because it is as valuable as your life, and Fear and obey God always.''

Talk About

                   I think it's important to be transparent, but also not to be single minded.  I am not defined by my illness so when that is all someone wants to talk to me about, I see that as very short-sighted. We all have burdens to bear, but I like to focus more on the overcoming part of life.
                   When we talk about our burdens too much, our focus is more on ourselves and our limits.  When we talk about our blessings, we show others the power, faithfulness and limitlessness of God in our lives.  Our attitude and gratitude is the difference in defining anything as a blessing or a burden.
                  Yes, our struggles are a part of our stories but God gives us a new song to sing.  A bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life.  God grants new mercies everyday.  'There are no rainbows without the rain.'

Good Friend

                       My friend, Betsy, gave me a sign that had this message when we first became friends.  I didn't know then how true she would live up to this definition of being a good friend to me.  She is real, down to earth, honest, giving and a priceless friend.  I'm sure glad she married a Southern guy because she certainly has the heart of a Southern gal.  She is a blessing in my life and I thank God for putting her in my life.  Oh..and her kids are as sweet as she is..... even without cupcakes or popsicles.

Foto Friday

Ready for church

Thursday with Cathy

Friday visit with Eliana

Gloria and Charity with the kid crew on Tuesday

Healing paw power?

Patience?

               Patience is a struggle for me.  ''Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds''  Why is waiting such a trial for so many of us?  We probably think too much of our own time and not so much of other's time.  As I waited an hour today in the doctor's office for a 5 minute test, I wondered why it took so long.
               What if we showed as much patience with others, as God has shown to each of us?  I can grasp the acceptance part of patience, but it's the calmly part that causes me problems.   I get frustrated, short tempered, and doubtful of the outcome.
               God's patience is so much greater than ours but it is not limitless.  Nahum 1;2  ''The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.''
               How long has God been waiting on you?  Are you taking advantage of His patience with you?

The Future

                        How frantic do you become when things don't go as you had planned?  I'm not as laid back and roll with the flow as I'd like to be, but I don't go into crisis mode on a whim either.  There is peace in knowing.....God knows my future already, God will provide for all my needs and God is in control, not me.
                       It's easier to say than actually do, but 'I won't freak out about what I can't control.'  I don't believe we think we are strong enough to handle hardships alone but thankfully God can give us the strength that is sufficient for each day.
                      I, personally, know of things that lie ahead in my future that cause me fear and worry.  I cannot dwell there or it will rob me of the joy of today.  Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord and so that will be my final answer to all of my doubts.

Foto Friday

Happy at 3
[Throw back Thursday picture]

Mulching the leaves
while keeping the dust away

Fall lovin'

Autumn

                           'Now nothing seems as strange as when the leaves began to change or how we thought those days would never end.'  Yes, this is part of my end of the summer song.
                            Autumn is here, but so far, so good.  I don't hate the autumn season but only what it usually does to me in the way of sickness.  The transition from hot to cold does a number on a lot of people.  At lunch, we pray for those sick and suffering but also for my continued strength and wellness.  I haven't had an October so good in a long time and I pray November is as gentle and good to me.  I have several events that are coming up that I hope the Lord is as willing for me to go to, as I am wanting to go to.  ''There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens''

Leaders

                     I thought it was appropriate that I heard the song 'Every body wants to rule the world' on the radio today, since it is election day.  I hope this day proves to be one in which voters chose people with both moral and ethical values that are rooted in Christian beliefs to be our local leaders.
                    ''[ Submission to Governing Authorities ] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.''  Romans 13
                   ''Leadership has been described as "a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task".''  That social influence is achieved by action and example.  A good leader is true to his word, follows thru with his promises and looks out for the benefit of others.
                  May the leaders chosen today with our votes lead us to a future with brighter tomorrows.

Accessories

                  What do you think of as you look at this picture of the goldfish?  I'm sure it is different for each of us.  Feeling defensive, fake appearances, swimming alone in this world?
                  What I think of in this picture are my 'accessories' that help me get by in this world.  I began my accessory collection at age 6 with leg braces.  I didn't really start adding to my collection till I was in my twenties.  Now my baggage is quite a load for such a small person.  Although I'm grateful for all my medical equipment, I long for the freedom that awaits me in heaven with my new body.  I will be unhindered and capable in all ways.
                  So most of you out there do feel free, but none of us have escaped from being strapped with sin.  We are born into sin and will die still struggling with sin.  Yet we are promised to be released from that sin thru the freedom that only the belief in Jesus can give. So if you feel tied down by the world, seek out the Lord and find your true freedom in Him.

Encouraged

               It's a great feeling to be thanked for your encouragement to others but it is a special blessing to be surprised with my very own gift of encouragement.  Heidi organized and put together this tree of helping hands by church members to be a daily source of encouragement to me.  How sweet of them!

              We are all to be encouragers, not discouragers.  1 Thessalonians 5;11  ''Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.''  Every day is an opportunity to encourage one another.  I thank everyone for the support and for not waiting for a sick moment to give me this boost of joy.