Pink Saturday

I am participating in Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. My mother's favorite color has always been rose. She has macular degeneration and sadly is now legally blind, unable to enjoy her favorite hobbies. Next week, I will show a pretty quilt she pieced and quilted, pink, of course. This week, I will share this pretty pitcher I purchased at my cousin's shop. On the bottom is inscribed USA, Camark, 1398. I have a small collection of pitchers and this is one of my favorites.
Enjoy the other pink by visiting Beverly's Pink Saturday.

January 30, 2009

I am learning a little about creating blog pages so I'll be changing often through February. I told Brian this one looks like a saloon. Not really my style. Bree heard my comment and wanted to know who Miss Kitty was?
I am sneezing, hoping it's allergies and not a cold, and my treatment is food so I am not doing well on my plan but I think it will be fine by Monday. I always "ease" into this new eating routine. Right now, my head is throbbing and I know ice cream would help. A local church, Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church is having a Bible conference and I really don't want to miss. I might sneak into the back after it starts tonight and leave just before it is over. Tomorrow night my husband speaks and there is a concert by Shiloh, a wonderful Gospel group from Dallas. I plan to be fine by then. Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Encouraged and Equipped

I love to read what men of God have said about the battle we find ourselves in as Christians as well as citizens of America. Some of us are slow to realize that aspects of today's America would no longer line up with the intentions of the founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin said the Constitution was a result of Divine intervention. George Washington said the constitution was a miracle. History is literally being rewritten and distorted to lead people to believe the Constitution is a secular document and that these men did not recognize the authority of the Divine Creator and their responsibility to Him.
I am so thankful for those who are standing for truth. I am going to include some links in the side column for places we can go for encouragement as well as education on how to make a difference. Besides loving people and praying, of course.
I am thankful for the Christians I have met blogging. I have been encouraged visiting with you, some far from Texas, who are like-hearted. God is so good. And He "has prepared His throne in the Heavens and His kingdom ruleth over all." PS 103.
We are blessed to belong to Him and have freedom to learn what the Word teaches on the issues of the day and then lovingly stand.
Love,
Jennifer

Burr!

Haskell felt temperatures in the teens and twenties today. School and many other activities were cancelled throughout the Big Country. I drove slowly to the grocery store and post office before lunch. Later I took my folks some soup and the sleet tapped loudly on my car.
I enjoyed most of the day in my home and spent too much time on the computer trying to familiarize myself with creating google pages. The problem is that this cozy atmosphere encourages the appetite to rare back and whinney. And mine has. I didn't cave in totally but I have not done as well as yesterday. We expect more freezing moisture tomorrow but I will be at work, away from the temptation.
I was blessed again as I read of Joseph this morning.
I am sure friends from colder areas have much prettier pictures of ice but here are a few of Haskell's ice sicles.

Lamenting

I feel so terrible about the babies. ... the babies that will never have a chance at life because of the decisions made on their behalf. There are the decisions made by their parents who will suffer from heartache and guilt. And these two people formed their opinions and decisions as a result of the beliefs, decisions, or maybe just words of many other people. Considering that possibility makes me want to become involved again in the Awanas program at Cornerstone or be willing to put full effort into Vacation Bible School. I want to do whatever I can to thrust truth into the lives of children who will grow up and face these dilemmas.
In America, we choose our leaders fully aware of their intentions regarding these issues. But it makes me want to ask everyone I can if they know the devastating affect that the Freedom Of Choice Act will have on our country. I hear and don't understand these words, "But abortion is just one of the issues." Well, yes, there are many other areas where America is choosing "the way that seems right to man but ends in death." (But I don't think that is the point they are making.)
I believe that just like in the lives of the nations we read of in the Word that if our nation would get it right on these vital issues that scripture speaks to, then the rest would be taken care of by the one who is the beginning and the end, the one forgives and heals, the one to whom every knee will bow.
I love you.
Read a portion of a letter sent to me by Coral Ridge Ministries by clicking HERE.

It Has Begun...

In an earlier post, I spoke of dieting. I began in earnest this morning. I was inspired by my friend Ruth at fittertrimmerruth to let my blog help me be accountable by posting exactly to the calorie what I have eaten each day. So, today I had an egg and cup of coffee for breakfast, half a baked potato with 2T of cheese, garden salad, and 1/2 C of red beans for lunch, and for dinner I had this salad with brisket I had cooking all day in the oven. Lunch was at Cornerstone with the ladies ministry. Very good.
Each day, I will post in the side column what I have consumed so I will shame myself into eating correctly. And each Friday, I will include the amount I have lost (hopefully). So, there ya' go.

If you are interested in a wonderful program designed to help you find freedom (in the Lord) from bad eating habits, take a look at "Setting Captives Free". It is great. I noticed there are also courses designed that address sexual purity, substance abuse, and gambling. Click HERE

"Love" Print

I have to tell you about the framed print that hangs on the East end of the room below. I met Brian when I was a very young 16 years old. I was a part of the FBC youth group and the church organist and Brian came that summer as the youth and music minister. I didn't think much about him the first time I met him but by the third or fourth time I was around him, I knew that I loved him. I know what you think. I was just 16 and the whole thing could have just been puppy love, a crush. It could have ended just as easily as it has lasted these 37 years. I don't know about that. I do know I love him more as time goes by. I know I have never ever doubted for a second that our relationship has been blessed by God. I know I am where I am suppose to be.
We had begun dating by that fall and Brian wanted to give me a present when my 17th birthday came around. He went into a store and saw the print (I guess it's a poster) on the wall but couldn't find one in the bin. He asked the clerk who looked and told him that there weren't any more. I don't know if he removed it from the wall immediately or if he came back later. But, he did take the print, paid for it, and wrapped it for my birthday. I had it on the wall for a while in a different frame but eventually had a nice frame built for it. I like it very much. It reminds me of how young we were when we "began". We married just days after I graduated from high school.

Most things in this room have much more sentimental value that anything. My parents had the couch and chair in the 60's. They've been recovered but not lately. The closest round table/chairs is the one in the Blog header picture that was in my friend's Rhineland home. The table with the cloth was made by Brian's brother as a wedding gift. Years ago Brian built the tall chest with the punched tin doors which holds Christmas and other special dishes. The small trunk belonged to Brian's Dad and contains some very old letters that he and his family sent and received. The desk on the far wall is the first thing we bought as a couple, a desk from Ethan Allen, and my children sat at it when they were learning to print. It has lots of scars. The wooden sewing "bucket" behind the chair belonged to my Aunt Ret. She used it nearly every day. She created the most wonderful Christmas stocking for all of her family and some friends. I wish we knew how many. Her only son was one of the last people in the US to die of polio and she "mothered" the rest of us. Hers is one of the lovely faces that will be there to greet us... The other furniture was purchased at the "antique" stores. Some will have to be put elsewhere when we rearrange but not the "Love" print. It will be fun to pay bills, write letters, read books, and blog in the same room where my wonderfulest ever husband is preparing sermons and studying God's Word, preparing for whatever God has next for this aging couple of youngster.

In 1980, we bought a house that was built in 1939 by a carpenter/lumber yard owner. His family lived on one floor and they rented the second. It is a very well built home. We spent years working on it and have enjoyed living here. We added this room to the south side and haven't really used it a lot though it is a very comfortable room. We are changing careers in April and will be transforming this room into our office or study. Our present office, we will lease to my brother in law who is going to be the new State Farm Agent. Brian is retiring from State Farm after 32 years and will be finishing his masters degree in theology. He will need lots of shelves for all the books that will have to be moved from his present office plus the new ones he'll need. And we will need computer space. I will move my computer out to this room so we can be together.



I am not sure how to do it yet. I don't know how much I'll have to move out of here first.



I think it will be fun to fix this space for our office/study. We are soooo excited about the future even thought we don't really know what it is. Brian is sure this is what he needs to be doing. God blessed our years in the insurance business but Brian's heart is in teaching Bible. He has always taught Sunday School and other Bible classes and has pastored a small church the past five years. But this is definitely a new adventure. Later, I'll show you how it turns out.