One Happiness

We missed getting a picture for Valentines this year, so we made up for it at a wedding photo booth this past weekend.

It certainly makes life worth living knowing that one is loved. I am so glad to have been married as long as we have. It will be 47 years in August.

But even if I didn't have Ron, I would still know I am loved...for Jesus loves me...and He loves you as well. Yes, He does.

The last few days I've been talking about choices we make. I have said that I choose love, joy, peace, patience and kindness.

Tonight, I will choose goodness as well. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. (Lord, help me on this...not that I have anything to boast about...)
I will confess before  I will accuse. I choose goodness.

LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS

Oogi

Caleb got a couple of Oogis from his Gramma for Easter. It is quite amusing what a child will enjoy. The toy store I like to deal with is out west and can easily deliver quickly to Caleb's house. On top of being handy that way, they handle some pretty nice toys that can be very good developmental  tools, hence their name: Fat Brain.

We've thought about  some of life's choices the last few days. First we talked about love, then joy, then peace and patience. Tonight I choose  kindness.

I will be kind to the poor, for they are a lone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.  And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose to be KIND.

          LOVE    JOY   PEACE   PATIENCE    KINDNESS

Super Cowboy

If you've  been around long enough, you may remember the cute layout that featured Caleb and the chicken he caught. At the time, I thought it was a once in a lifetime thing...catching a chicken... something especially difficult for a little fellow. But here he is again, with another rooster. I can't tell if it is the same one. Is he not afraid of Caleb? Have they become friends? I've heard of pet chickens, but this is pretty strange looking to me. I do love it though. Of course the Superman shirt and the cowboy hat add to the interest.  Oh, and that sweet face reminds me of pictures I've seen of my mother as a small child.  How very cute he is, says his gramma (Me).

I'm still adding to my list of Life's choices. I've covered love, joy and peace. Tonight I'll speak of patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. I choose patience.

                        LOVE   JOY   PEACE   PATIENCE

Maggie's First Birthday

I've been looking forward to this for some time. Whereas many people celebrate their pet's birthdays, we have never done that before. We just never thought about it, let alone had time to do it. Not that this was a really big deal. It wasn't, but we did take her to Dairy Queen to get a  doggy cup... a cup of vanilla custard with a doggy bone on top.  The only addition I had to make was one candle. (It was her first birthday.) Since I couldn't really do that while holding the dog away from her treat and our blizzards, I added it to the picture once I got on the computer. That worked fairly well, and I am congratulating myself on that accomplishment.  

Yes, she did enjoy it.

Since having trouble with my computer, I've neglected to finish my list of important choices we make in this life. I had mentioned the choices to love and to be joyous. 

Tonight is about peace. I choose to be at peace.  The peace I choose has nothing to do with all the conflicts that have gone on since the beginning of time and will continue until the end of time.  In spite of that lack of peace in the world, I will live in peace...at peace with my Lord and Savior. I choose to live the life of one forgiven of my sins, with the internal peace that brings. I am in a good relationship with God, not because of what I've done, but because Jesus died for my sins. Praise God.

Easter Sunday

They are good about taking family pictures at the church our youngest daughter and her family attend. I was really glad to get this one for a layout.

It's been a very busy day...so what is new?  Anyway, we had a wedding and reception this afternoon.

Then this evening we went to church for Arise...It is geared toward the younger set, but of course the church door were open, so my Ron had to go and of course I was doubly encouraged to go as well.

I didn't take any photos tonight, but was very impressed with a few of those in the program. One is my girlfriend, Sali's husband who played the drums. And then there was Julie Black. I've heard her sing in a group quite a bit, but had never heard her sing alone before. She was excellent.

I do have pictures taken in a photo booth at the wedding. We had a choice of  our 'normal' pics or silly ones. There were many different hats, jewelry,  wigs, ect.   Ws had not noticed those things when we first lines up there for our photo shoot.

I'll try to get those pictures here  soon.

May our Lord cover us with His wings as those around us strike

Pleasant Surprise

I'm back! Ron was able to fix my computer, at least for the time being. I love that  guy. I'm so happy to be back online. Happier still to be able to make layouts from the wonderful pictures our 'children' send us.

 I am so very  proud of the sweet and gentle way  Caleb treats his baby brother, Oliver. These pictures show how he swang him at the playground.

I thought I was pretty good with grammar, but this spell check does not like the word swang here. I don't know what to put in its place, so I'm leaving it. It's a good thing my English teachers have all passed on or at least don't know to check this blog.

Unplanned Absence

Each day, I miss blogging, makes me more nervous.   Not that it is that important, but I just feel like it is my job. No, I don't get paid.  I shouldn't feel like it is an obligation, but I guess that is it.

We were having trouble with my computer. It is the story of the spinning disk, which spun and spun and spun. After much ado (running a clean up program and rebuilding indexes) my husband is now running some program which could keep us from  having to buy a new hard drive...while thinking  the hard drive purchase is inevitable. Then it's off to buy new.

I'm afraid it will be a few more days of feeling like I'm shirking my duty. But I shall be back, if the Lord is willing.

Joy is the Operative Word

Caleb has a thing for tractors. It seems like he always has. I remember the thrill of him seeing PaPa's big red tractor for the first time. Even though the noise it made kept him a little bit afraid to ride much, he loved to sit on it in the garage and watch his PaPa drive it.

 This year he got a John Deere blanket. This is it. Naturally, Oliver will probably follow suit and like tractors as well. 

It is a joy to see these two boys getting along so beautifully. It warms my heart. It is so sad to see brothers and sisters treating each other poorly. I can't imagine family gatherings with people like that.

And for today, Joy is the operative word. Yesterday, it was Love...

                                                         

                                                                 Today,  I Choose Joy

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human brings, created by God.  I will refuse  to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

Balanced

I've mixed three different occasions here to make one layout which shows the grueling workouts Lauren does at Cross Fit. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also very agile and strong.

I need to ask Lauren how many pounds she is pressing...but I'm not sure I want to know. Somehow, it just doesn't seem natural to lift so much weight and it frightens  me.

Tonight I want to start a list of choices we make in life. Because of Calvary, we have been given the freedom to choose. And in our great country we have not yet given up that choice. We are a free people.

I found this list of choices in our church weekly bulletin last week and have asked if I  could use them here.   I was given the freedom to make that choice and I will use one for each blog entry for a week or so. Thank you, Michael.

I choose Love:                                                                

No occasion justifies hatred, no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.

Today I will love God and what God says.

Easter Bunny

The boys got out of this one. Aussie was in Chinese class and Mason had something else to do, so that left Ashley to sit with the Easter Bunny. I'm so glad that she  did. It is a time to remember.

Today we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.

Happy Easter

Since we will not get a chance to take a picture tomorrow, I'm using one taken last Saturday night. We had a visiting member of ORU, (Jill) from the Texas branch, here for Ladies' Retreat. So we took that opportunity for a special dinner date.

Easter Sunday promises many different social opportunities. I wish all of you a very joyous Easter day. I pray you will all have the chance to sit quietly for a while to consider the price Jesus the Christ paid for our sins. Think also of the sacrifice it was for God to watch as his only son took the stripes and nails for us. I pray each of you will show your gratitude throughout the coming year.

 John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

When I was a young, there was a television program called "Kids Say the Darndest Things" It was hosted by a man named Art Linkletter. He would have a panel of kids on each show and ask them questions. It was true. He always got some very entertaining comments from them each day.

Now we are going through that with our triplets (grandchildren). They are quite amusing at times.

I have not been on Facebook for a while. It is a planned absence. I would have missed all these clever saying, if it weren't for Chelle sending them to me today. Thought I would make a layout and share them with you.

If you click on them, they should come up large enough to read.

Hope you enjoy them. Although I would imagine some of you wouldn't put up with all this gaiety. However, we do encourage such in our families. Makes for lighter hearts.

I wish each of you a very Happy Easter, rejoicing in the blessed hope that Christ paid the way for us to have everlasting life.   Easter joy to you all.

Miniature Golf With Daddy

This was Caleb's first attempt at miniature golf and he did well.While he, dressed as Superman, and his dad putted, Mommy held Oliver and took pictures.


I could pretend like I have something to say tonight, but even if I did, I fear  it would not come out right if I were to attempt  to put it down on paper. After going to bed early two nights in a row, I'm pretty much drug out now, even though it is only 11:36 PM here.

Just a quick warning that some of our best known news sources have begun to cover up for this administration with prevarication.   This is a true sign of communism with its regulation of the press to keep its people ignorant of the truth and thus subservient.

One Bright Eyed Boy

So what do my layouts have to do with my commentary? ...sometimes,  not a thing.
That is the case today. I do need to find a way to lead into this piece I've reworked a bit, that came in my email...Only in America. In this case I am dealing with pictures of our little grandson, who already has a smart look with those bright eyes of his, and this piece which lists the top 10 most  ignorant things about America at this time.  They seem to be polar opposites to me. If he  could talk, I think he would already have enough sense to realize these things are just plain wrong! But he will have to pay for the ignorance of those in office today.

Are we stupid, or what?

1 Only in America ... Could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 a plate campaign fund-raising event. 
2 Only in America .... Could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General and roughly 20% of the federal workforce is black, while only 14% of the population is black. 40+% of all federal entitlements goes to black Americans - 3X the rate that go to whites, 5X the rate that go to Hispanics!
3 Only in America .... Could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner (the head of the Treasury Department) andCharles Rangel (who once ran the Ways and Means Committee), BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.
4 Only in America .... Can they have terrorists kill people in the name ofAllah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
5 Only in America .... Would they make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege, while they discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just 'magically' become American citizens.
6. Only in America .... Could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists."
7. Only in America .... Could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.
8. Only in America .... Could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. Oil company (MarathonOil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike).
9 Only in America .... Could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year - for total spending of $7Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money.
10. Only in America .... Could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all.

Both Are Four

Both of the boys are four. That's right. Caleb had his birthday in February with 4 candles. He is four.
Oliver, born in December is 4 months old now.

Caleb is a very good big brother and Oliver watches him closely. He'll be imitating him soon and wanting to do everything Caleb does and go everywhere Caleb goes. It will break his heart if Caleb goes to school.

Part of my scrapping was done for me today by iPhoto. They 'tacked' the picture to a piece of cork board and left the space to write about it, so that I could send it through email to my friends. That  was a good head start that saved me some time.

Oliver James

Got some more  great pictures of the boys today. Can hardly wait to have them in layouts. Lots to be done this time of year. I feel behind already.

Grumpy

 

I just now realized that I used the same layout both Sat, April 5 and Tuesday, April 8. I forgot  that quickly. That is scary.

So now I'm covering the fact that I've been spending what I think is lots of time with doctors lately. If we find out another thing that is wrong with me, it may explain why I forgot that.

I hesitate to post this picture since I've never looked uglier than in these selfies. the proximity of the camera and the angle...both are bad portrait spoilers. Anyway, there I was waiting for my doctor. Could I have been bored? YES!  I have waited longer, but I've never been more impatient.

The text on the page is my message for tonight. So, I'll just copy it here:

Why is it when you are trapped in a waiting room, the magazines are crappy? 

How could this get worse? Obamacare! The prices will sky-rocket to fill all the hands along the way, to pay for the paper work that must be kept, etc.   No one in his right mind would hire the same  people who ran the post office to oversee our health care. It is not between you and your doctor anymore. 

Trust Me

I don't get many pictures of our son, John. (His boys are the most likely targets of the lens at his house.) I treasure this one. I've had it since the first of the year and have neglected 'scrapping' it. I've asked myself over and over what he might be thinking. Since I haven't come up with an answer and I've failed to ask him, I decided  to do it anyway. It turned out to be a lot of fun for me. Hope he gets a kick out of it.

Trust, which is so important in a relationship, is a scarce quality these days. We can't even trust those for whom we voted to do what they say when they've been elected.

I certainly hope and pray that Christians over this land will be trust worthy and thus be a light in this dark world. If those who profess to be Christians actually  love the Lord and try to walk the way He has given us, in response to His great love,  I believe He will save us from the calamity that is about to destroy our nation.

Swinging in the Barn

There is probably a program out there that does a good job of catching a still picture from a video. I do not have one, but find more and more that I need one.  

Every once in a while, I receive a video from one of the kids.

The second picture here is one of those stills taken from the video.  I've never gotten them to look really good. They are usually quite blurry. And such is the case with this one. I am certainly glad  she took some stills as well.

Time on Ice

This is a two layout night. Caleb is enjoying his time on the ice with his Daddy. Daddy takes a couple hours off work to do this labor of love. Mommy can't quite handle that and attend to  baby Oliver at the same time. She has her hands full, but is doing a supreme job with the boys. I thank God that she is able to stay home with them and train them, as the Bible says, 'in the way they should go.' There is much too little concern for that instruction now and it is showing in our society today.  Instead of spending time with their children, parents are trying to cover their guilt with stuff. Sad, but things do not take the place of love and or teaching. 

Happy Boy

This is a still I took from a video of Oliver laughing, the sweet way little ones do. I've been watching it over and over again for the last 2 or 3 days. Couldn't be any more endearing sounds.

Yesterday I woke up with a headache I had gone to bed with. I had dreamed I had a headache. Not a pleasant morning. I felt pretty depressed, after all, our world is falling apart.  But I prayed asking God to brighten my day.  I do keep pretty busy and needed to keep going.

It didn't take him long to get me out of that funk. First, when I came out of my darker bedroom to the front of the house, I saw the houses across the lake from us...bright and rippling in the morning sun. Then  when I sat down at the computer, I found this video on my desktop and clicked it. It made me giggle. Then I opened my daily puzzle on wordles.net and found the quote of the day at the top..."If stars can shine in darkness, so can I." Next I opened my email and found an email waiting at the top for me. It was a young fellow named Damian McGinty with a really deep bass voice singing 'A place in the Choir' with a group called Celtic Thunder. It wasn't long until I was clapping and singing right along with them..  All those together did the trick.  I began to see things in a different light. No matter how bad things get, our Lord is here for us.  Hallelujah! 

Find a link to the hand clapping, foot stomping music here.

Caleb is at the city farm again. This time he has learned to swing from the rope in the barn.

Why is it, that  generations of people in this world have to swing back and forth?  Okay, so you probably don't understand what I'm trying to say.

I"ll just say it. Over thousands of years societies have first been God fearing worshipers. But  society that has once been downright good people a few generations later will become evil...and God will destroy them. This has happened over and over . They'll be good and God will  do wonders for them...then they swing to the left, to evil and they will do nothing but evil. God does away with them as he has promised:

Isaiah 13:11

I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of thehaughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

As I see it right now, we, the whole world,  are rushing toward destruction...not by Obama and his communist friends, but by God himself. He might use our enemies, but he can handle it on this own.

As a matter of fact, since the whole world is now swinging to the left, we might be wise to expect that  God will destroy the whole thing. He has promised to do that some day.

Matthew 2:3-14:

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Pray for our people. Pray for those who do God's will and those who don't even know His word.

Curves

I LUV CURVES. It is not only a very good workout for me, but it is fun as well.  We always talk to each other while we are there working out and stretching. We make friends fast.

I told Cindy, who owns this one  in Akron, that I hoped to combine the pictures, which she was taking with my camera, for a funny picture to put on FaceBook. Not only does it not make a very good sales pitch, for I'm a before, not an after. Not only that, but I am fasting and am not doing FaceBook during the fast. She was very nice to take the photos and I think I've done a fairly good job of photoshopping.  I hope to show all the girls for a good laugh. Their comments might be more interesting here than my own.

It was funny. I was running from one position to the next, like a little kid. Reminding myself of the little girl, who was given a puzzle by her dad:

A  father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his  little girl. She wanted to know what the United States  looked
like.  Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was  printed the map of the country.
 Tearing  it into small pieces, he gave it to her and said, 'Go into the  other room and see if you can put this together.

After  a few minutes, she returned and handed him the map, correctly  fitted and taped together.
The  father was surprised and asked how she had finished so  quickly..
'Oh,'  she said, 'on the other side of the paper is a picture of  Jesus.
When  I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, Then our country just  came together.'

And I say Amen to that..

National Pi Day

It would be nice if I had something a little more current; but I couldn't skip this. National Pi Day happens every year...and every year our daughter, Chelle, gets the kids with Pie. Oh yes, they have gotten her back as well. It is something they 'enjoy'. I'll just stay out of it...unless maybe someone wants to hit me with key lime, no matter what day it is.  I'm sure that is good for the skin ;)

The following video came in an email this evening. I must share it. I am so proud of this woman for standing up for what is right. May God bless her with a long fruitful life.
Check it out here.

Haircut 2014

Just a brief note to say I'm happy to find someone who can do my hair. I'm really picky and have had  some pretty bad haircuts. I like Devon's work just fine. Now I have three hairdressers that can please me: Sali, April and Devon.

Special Day

Going to the farm is a special activity for Caleb. He has so many  wonderful experiences there with the animals, barnyard chores and the other children. Some of the best pictures taken of him, I believe, were taken at the farm. 

Our country is on the wrong track. We are spending ourselves out of a future. Kids Caleb's age already owe a debt that is insurmountable.

I am tired of hearing Democrats quote numbers that don't make sense, many of which are downright made up to cover  their inability to handle our problems.  I am tired of hearing them claim that all Republicans do is run them down...that they have so plans of their own. It is completely false. We have had several come forth with substantial cuts to our budget that actually make sense and will do the job, leaving us on a much better path to recovery. 

Paul Ryan has said, "By cutting wasteful spending, strengthening key priorities, and laying the foundation for a stronger economy, we have shown the American people there's a better way forward." Read more about his plan here: