Who's your Valentine?

I think I need to add to my favorites list. One of my favorite things is decorating for holidays and holiday parties. Don't you love a party?
As I continue my journey back to me I want to have a party for all my new friends. How about one of those progressive dinner parties where you go to one house for appetizers etc.
So to celebrate Valentines Day and to get back to the fun of decorating my house and havin' a party I am going to go and visit all my friends and see what they are doing!
So check back everyday and see who is decorating too! And what yummy treats they are cooking.

My first stop is http://www.cherryhillcottage.typepad.com
This is a lovely little photo of her valentines day tea cakes. Drop over and visit and see her lovely Valentines Day decorating.

I hope you enjoy the party.

Word Filled Wednesday

Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.
It’s January. Lets try and remember this. We need to forget the past and move forward.It’s too much luggage for us to carry on our owns. Give it to Jesus and move forward as we move forward into the year!
Thanks Amy for another wonderful view of God's word. You can visit Amy at:
http://www.the160acrewoods.wordpress.com/

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Rhett Butler

Tonight I am sharing one of my favorite things. And also I want to caution anyone out there that has a rabbit and has cats.

Isn't he just adorable. Rhett Butler is a Flemish Giant. When I first got him we intended to breed and so he was named Rhett Butler and he would have had a Scarlet but after two failed attempts at mothering with a lop eared bunny I decided that I would not get a Scarlet and so Rhett became a friend to a lop eared bunny named Danger and a mini dwarf named Greyson.

Rhett Butler is a Flemish Giant and yes he is big. They can be as big as an average house cat. He loves carrots and dark green lettuces. His "salad bar" he hops around his cage at each feeding time looking for his salad. If he doesn't get any he isn't happy. How do I know this? Well I am his mom and I can tell when he is sad.

Which he was on Thursday and Friday and Saturday. All this is going on while hubby is in the hospital and I am let home to take care of:
3 horses
2 mini. donkeys
1 dog
2 cats
and the two rabbits

Of course anytime he is gone it seems we are destined for a disaster in some way or another. That is what it seemed like when I got home on Thursday night Rhett Butler was laying in his cage. This is extremely unusual. Normally he is hoping around happy to see me and looking for his salad bar. I knew he was sick. I also knew that unfortunately I didn't have the money to take him to the vet. I left his food pellets and salad bar and prayed.
The next morning I noticed that Danger the other rabbit was also not acting normal. I tried to coax R.B. to eat and started trying to figure out what was wrong. He never passes up food. He would eat his lettuce but that was all and he wasn't drinking.
And again I prayed. I began to try to remember how old R.B. is. But it couldn't be anything like that since Danger was acting strange as well. When I got home on Thursday night it was warm in their room (mud room off utility room) so I opened the door to let fresh air in. (they love the cold) I noticed the trash sitting on the floor. And I noticed the trash can I had been using to dump the cat litter. The lid was off. I didn't notice any odor myself because I never notice anything because of sinus and allergies and hubby is not home. He notices if the cats use the box once! I took the trash can outside. And opened the window for the rabbits. I also brought in hay from the barn on the off chance that would help ( I had given them snow peas a few nights prior but they had them before, but I was trying anything)
I went to bed and prayed. This time I prayed that God would forgive me for not taking better care of them. I prayed that he would forgive me but mostly I prayed that Rhett Butler and Danger would not suffer for my neglect. All I could think of was that they were sick and suffering because I was being lazy.
The next morning when I checked . . . I didn't want to for the last couple of days I dreaded going into their room to check for fear of what I would find. But when I checked Rhett Butler had eaten his pellets and had eaten some of the hay. He still wasn't normal but he was eating. By Sunday after checking him 2 or 3 times a day he was pretty much back to normal. Last night he was actually perky shoving my hand as I dumped the pellets in his dish and looking for his carrots.
I praise God that he is ok. I know that to some this would seem like a trivial thing. I know that asking God to take care of your pets might seem strange to some but I know that God is into all the details. The things that are important to me are important to him. I know this because I know that Rhett Butler could have died. He was really, really sick. I know this because it is not the first time that I have prayed and asked God to work a miracle. I know this because I have a dog that God brought into my life and over the last couple of years she has saved me from coming very close to loosing all faith. I know this because "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" Psalms 34:18.
I shared this experience for two reasons to urge and remind anyone that has rabbits and cats please remember that cat litter is toxic to rabbits and also that God is there in the little things, in the big things,even when you don't see it he is there taking care of you.
As I thought about writing this post it was only my intention to caution rabbit and cat owners but as I begin to think about how God did indeed answer my prayer that there are more stories to tell. Over the next few days I will share two more stories about how God did indeed show himself to me and to my family. Please stop in and visit and see that God does indeed care for the broken hearted.

Trusting and waiting

My Prayer is that my father will take great delight in me. And that I will learn to take great delight in him. One of my favorite passages is
Psalms 37:3-7
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
commit your way to the Lord trust in him and he will do this.
he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Oh that I could be still and wait. And not jump ahead of your plans. Oh that I wait patiently and allow my desires to be yours. I wait. I am still.

Back to hospital

After a rough afternoon yesterday and night with increased pain and swelling we are going back to the hospital. The downside is we have to go to the clinic and they are saying it could be a 2 hour wait. Hubby will have a hard time waiting because of the pain. So we are back to the hospital as soon as I can get him up.

I took my playlist off because it just annoyed me. Do those things annoy anyone else? I have a new computer and I haven't figured out how to lower the sound. So everytime I visit a blog with one it just is too loud. And you know just because something is my favorite doesn't mean it's yours. What do you think?

My Sunday School Class rocks!

I just had to write about my awesome Sunday School class. This is an awesome class and always takes meals to people that or sick having babies. I must clarify to you guys hubby had knee replacement he is 52. Bet some of you were thinking he was like a lot older.
Anyway we got a gift card on Saturday and then last night a couple brought the best chicken enchilada's,beans (neat recipe I'll have to get)corn bread and cake. (too much food) It was so sweet. I did take a picture. She did such a nice job of presentation too. It made me smile.
And then she handed me a couple of sacks that were sent by someone else. I have intentionally not mentioned alot about our ministry because I want to keep this blog and my thoughts seperate from the ministry. But it is so difficult to do that because the ministry is so much a part of my life. Anyway we work with teenagers that are incarcerated. They are in prison. There is a girls halfway house in our town and we go over ever Thursday night and play games and have "date night". During regular meals they all eat in the cafeteria and they are not allowed to talk. On "date night" two girls are chosen that have been good all week and we eat wtih them in the classroom and they get to talk. They love it and so do we. It is an awesome time of ministry. Every week I ask the girls if it is o.k. if we pray for our meal and they always say "yes" but last week one of the girls volunteered before I could say anything. She already knew from the others that we would ask to pray.
We always take some game prizes for them and we have started taking lunchables or fruit and cheese. (the food there is not like "mom's")
I have been telling our Sunday School class about the girls and our programs with them and they have been donating stuff we need like toilet paper and office supplies and stuff. I started telling them about the games night and that we need socks, mascara,gel pens, small photo albums and journals. Well you won't believe all the stuff that they brought yesterday. Someone went to target and bought valentine's day socks and photo albums and gel pens. It was like Christmas it was so sweet. And there was mascara too! The girls will be so excited!
And so that is why my Sunday School class rocks!

Random thoughts--Random photo

Toe socks. I got some for Christmas and I love them. They are so warm. The last few days since I have been working with our daughter I have worn them. It has been cold here! The girls at the halfway house love toe socks. We got them some for Christmas hubby got me some too. Hubby is home from the hospital. He is tired and hungry. Tonight was the first real meal he has had since Monday night. Hospital food is worse than prison food. We eat every Thursday at the halfway house which is actually a prison facility and we thought that food was bad! One of the caseworkers brought some of the girls Thursday to the hospital. That was sweet for us and I know the girls enjoyed it since they missed us coming there.
I am thanking God tonight for:
Hubby being home
Getting to work with our daughter the last few days
Energy and motivation(I have cleaned the house and rearranged rooms and lots of other domestic types things that I'll write a post about later)

Thank you God. I seek you with all my heart. Help me not to stray from your commands. I will hide your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you. I will Praise you O Lord. (Psalms 118:10-12 paraphased)

Pray for Lily

This morning I read a lovely post from Jessica at http://www.lattemoment.blogspot.com
Please go and read her sweet post. So. I share Jessica's Show and Tell with you. Here is a photo from her post. Well maybe not it didn't come out exactly as I planned. The photo is at the top of the page. I think. Anyway this is a photo of a lovely apron Jessica made for her friend Lily. Her story was sweet and encouraging to me. I have my own new sewing student and her name is Jessica also. Thank you Jessica for sharing your story and I will be praying for Lily. Blessed Day everyone!

My journey continues as I find myself again. My new playlist I guess speaks for itself. These are some of my old and new favorites. The newer ones you can tell I chose because they have a message. The old favorites are just favorites. I don't know why I just like them.
I have accomplished some of the things on my list of things to do. Although some of the things the most important ones like reading my Bible I have been neglecting. I am getting some organizing done around the house today due to the knee surgery and post surgery therapy. I have to move some furniture around and so that works into my organizing! I'll be taking some photo's and posting once I get that camera issue worked out. I hope you enjoy my music. I hope the one's that are meant to Bless do that and the ones that are just for fun make you smile.

Here's a late wordfilled Wednesday from Amy at the160acrewood.wordpress.com
Thank you Amy. I am probably taking a few days off from a lot of posting because my husband is in the hospital.
He had replacement knee surgery on Tues. We didn't think it was a really big deal because he has had 7 surgeries on this same knee. And he has heard lots of glowing reports from people that have had replacements.
But he is really in a lot of pain and he has been really, really naseuated. This morning he has a fever. He doesn't complain and isn't a really good patient. When he is sick he basically wants to be left alone. Which is hard because I want to be the "good wife" and pamper. He doesn't want pampering. Give him gatoraide or kool-aide every hour or so and let him moan in peace and he is content till he is well. So this is hard on him. And I am worried because I am afraid he is getting an infection. Which happens rarely.
All that being said. Thank you Amy for this beautiful photo and reminder. Blessings.

At the top of my list today is another Praise! I am spending the day with my daughter today so I'll be off again. Actually for the next few days too because my husband is having knee replacement! I'll be back soon. Please pray!

Thankful Thursday ...off with my daughter

Taking a break today. My daughter called and wants me to spend the day with her! She drives for her job so I am going with her today. Haven't gotten to do that since she got married so it'll be fun spending some time together! And I know that she will find a couple of baby stores along the way. She has such a great job! I hope everyones day is as Blessed as mine!

No word's to describe Wednesday

This is what I will look like once I am done today! Today at our co-op we got ton's of carrots and tons of mushrooms. I will post someday soon the photo journal of this activity. I am taking a break while my mushrooms dry. Why do they tell you not to wash them? I always do and they turn out fine. Today though I am attempting to dehydrate them. Hopefully washing won't hurt. My first dehydrating attempt were 6 huge carrots on Sunday and Monday. Took way longer than expected. Probably because I didn't follow the instructions and par boil. I grated them so couldn't figure out why to par-boil. But will next time. The 6 huge carrots 3/4 filled a pint jar. It was a test run. Next time I will cut them up and parboil.
Anyway back to the mushrooms I have photo journaled them from container and through the process so you will all see how they turned out.
I had to pass on some lovely greenbeans because I am not set up to can but I have a friend that does so next time I'll be gettin' the greenbeans.
My hubby doesn't get it. He figures you can buy them in the store just as easy. But I think they taste better home canned. And I don't know it is just my attempt I think at being domestic.
Except for the luxeries of the computer and inter-net. And shopping and cars. And indoor plumbing I could have lived very well in an early time.
Have you ever wondered how clean the people are sometimes in old westerns? For this to have been planned to be wordless on my part I have already broken my resolve. But I also planned to get back to "me" and I think I have taken one more step on that journey and I know that God is leading each step.
Thank you God for providing.
Back to the mushrooms! I left some out to cook for dinner!

It is not too early to start thinking about Christmas '08. I saw this on another blog and she kindly is sending me the instructions. I'll add her address as soon as I figure out how to do it. Please bear with me. I also see that I didn't finish my 8 in "08 post. I don't know what happened. Anyway #5 on my list was for Christmas 2008 to be a "Homemade Christmas". This is the ornament that I am making my daughter and son in love. Before I finish the rest of the list I need to share what I have already accomplished!
#1 I have been reading my Bible everyday. I have decided to do my own plan and here it is:
Read a Psalms for day of the month. (On the first I read Psalm 1. This is working for me and I am enjoying it but I realized that I will run out of days...I'll figure that out later) Read a Proverbs a day. Read at least one Chapter in the New Testament a day. I started with Luke and I'll work through it then choose another book. I have been doing really good except Sunday I didn't read so I am playing catchup. The other thing I am doing is I started a new journal and I am writing down the Psalm that I read each day. If there is space left on the page when I finish then I write Proverbs there till I fill the page. This is working for me and I am enjoying it. I also have been keeping a magazine New Testament in the car (this is one of the translations we use with the kids we work. ) I am reading it everytime we are in the car. I usually read again what I have read in the morning.
I have been reading before I get on the computer. And, I am trying to get up by 7:00 to watch Simply Quilts and then I read. The house is still quiet then. My dog trys to lay on my lap while I read and expects me to pet her while I read so I let her in the morning. In the afternoon I try to read again and I listen to the Christian music on our t.v. that is when I write. She isn't happy then and won't lay with me she lays on the floor because I don't usually pet her while I write.
I'll share the rest of the list tomorrow and maybe an update on #2.
Happy Day!

8 in "08

After much thought. After much prayer. I have finally come up with my 8 for '08. I guess it was difficult because I think I wanted to give myself an edge so to speak. Trying to plan to do things that I would be able to accomplish
I spent quite a bit of time looking at other blogs and considering the reading plans other people use to read the Bible through in a year. After much thought and much prayer I have realized that I need to focus this year on reading my Bible everyday and not pushing myself to read it all the way through.

. . remember I am on a journey to find myself I believe God gave put me on journey to find myself and him.

#2 Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understand. ll direct my path. (paraphrased)I need to this year ask God everyday, every morning, every hour to guide my steps. I want God to give me the desires of my heart. I want my hearts desires to be his. And so that the things that I do. The things that are important to me are things that God has given me to do.

#3. Concentrate on my marriage reconnect with my husband. Have date night. Work on us.

#4.(this is two part)Organize my house(already started this I"ll post soon my clean kitchen junk drawer) and begin to have people over again. The last almost 3 years we have been so busy and so absorb with the ministry that we have let a lot of things go including the house. And our relationships with people.

Well after much thought and prayer here's my 8. I hope anyone that reads this with hold me up in prayer and help me to meet all these goals that God has given me.

I am excited about '08 and working on these goals. I am excited about this blog and I hope that my writing will encourage someone to Trust God with all your heart.

Wednesday's Journey

As the journey begins; today is the day that I will start setting aside to be quiet.
To rest and Be still before the Lord.
So on Wednesdays I will be taking the day off (maybe not the evening) from blogging and letting Amy over at http://the160acrewoods.files.wordpress.com/ do the writing for me. See her cute little button for Wordless Wednesday. Thank you Amy you Bless.

The beginning of the journey

I am beginning this journey to write about where I have been and where God is taking me. This is not my only blog but it is my personal blog. I have another blog that I may or may not share later. It is about the ministry work that God has Blessed me with. But, I found that being involved in it and doing the work there that I do;that I lost myself.

This blog is about my finding my way back to me.

Not away from God. Not away from ministry but back to me with God's help.

Here I will write about the things that I love. And I'll post photo's of the things that I love. Things like my animals and my home and my relationship with God. Things that I pray about. And maybe someone that reads this will be Blessed. Will be encouraged to trust God and to allow him to be God in thier lives. Allow God to take control. Really take control. I am still learning to do that.

I began this year by planning to read my Bible everyday. Today I already messed up. Talk about resolutions going awry. I didn't really make a resolution but I did really want to reach my goal of reading through the Bible in a year. I was following some thoughts on that on another blog. I do plan to read through my Bible this year among other things that I am still praying and thinking about.

So today begins the journal of my Journey Back. There are many reasons that brought me to this place and I will be writing about them soon. I am looking forward to all that God has prepared for me through this journey.
I am looking forward to meeting new friends that are on a journey with God too.

So until we speak have a Blessed journey.

Oh one more thing I added the 8 in 2008 button I'll be posting the 8 things I am going to work on this year soon. Still working on that part of the journey.