Friday, February 25, 2011

Heavenly Balloons


Last month while the Trent and Andrews girls were waiting to be seated for brunch at the Amway Grand Hotel...I was blessed to see this lovely lady passing by wearing a crown and a big smile on her face. The group of people with her were so excited! Nosey me just had to know what was going on. So, I asked what was happening?
"It's her 80th Birthday!" I was kindly told, as they rushed past and headed out the door. Oh, I had to be a part of that joy...I grabbed my camera and Lexi and I went out and joined the celebration. Of course, I did ask permission to take this photo which they so graciously allowed.
And then this sweet lady, let go of all 80 balloons and off they went. 80 colorful balloons floating towards the heavens and where they would go we did not know...sigh.
What joy it is to know that one day, just like those balloons...I will rise to the Heavens, but I won't be lost...I will meet Jesus and He will guide me to Home.
~Blessings

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Busyness


Seems I haven't been here much lately. I sit down thinking, I'm going to write and get right back up thinking...I just don't feel like it. I have nothing much to say.
So, I will just tell you what I've been up to. Actually, this ol' grammy has been on the go! Between Dr. and Dentist appointments, the Sweetheart Banquet at Church, shopping and going downtown with Peg to pray for her son-in-law, who had surgery for Lung Cancer...please pray for Jimmy and his wife Geri, not just for his healing but for their Salvation.
Thank You from Peg.
Well, February is chock full of Birthday's and that makes it a happy month around here! So far, we have celebrated Xavier and Michael's (Kell's husband). Xavier's menu was Fried Cabbage and Noodles, Chicken Legs and homemade Mac and Cheese. (Mac and Cheese was for Michael) Oh, and of course we had Cake and Ice cream! Kellerbell's birthday was yesterday. So, yesterday morning I made her favorite Williams Sausage Patties, homemade Biscuits and Gravy. I Surely, missed Mama and Daddy for that smell is home to me...sigh. Sunday, after Church we will celebrate both Kell and Maddy's birthdays with Lasagna and whatever else is requested. Ian's birthday is next month and I already know that he wants. Yep, Fried Cabbage and Noodles! That boy ate 3 helpings the other night and then moaned about being too full! Lol.
Tuesday Night, I was asked to be the host speaker at one of our Life Groups. Yikes! I haven't spoken in front of Adults in so long...I was scared! Believe me, I did lots of praying and with the help of the Lord I got through it and actually had a great time! I told them right off that I am used to teaching 6 and 7 year olds not Adults. Thank God for Mariann because she broke the ice and said "Do you want us to sit in the floor?" Laughing, I told them I'd give them all a cookie afterwards if they did.
I love the people of our Church...they are family to me. We have been through much together and God as always, is faithful. Change is not easy but we need to embrace it when it is for our good. Just as the Seasons change, so must I and I am ready for whatever He calls me to.
Now, I will go change loads of laundry...Jesus is even changing my dislike of laundrocizing!
Blessings~

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Gabfests...


Every Tuesday night for almost 7 years I have been meeting my pal Peg for coffee. After reading the article below, sent to me by Louise...I now know that our gabfests are keeping us, not only connected but fit and healthy! So, come on gals get with a friend and enjoy the blessing...it does a body good.

They Teach This at Stanford

"I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf?
Yes. But their feelings? Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.
There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged—not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good for our health."

And for a double portion...spend a girls only weekend away with those you love dearly! I came home so happy and renewed...can't wait to do it again!
Pat and I footloose and fancy free.
Blessings...

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Gotcha


Surprise! It is snowing again here in good ol' Michigan. Right about now, I think God is looking down on our weather guys and gals with a big grin on His face and saying "gotcha!" LOL I for one am glad we had no clue, because the news would have been highly overrated...like last weeks snowmageddon reports that we heard over and over and over.
Supper is finished and the kitchen cleaned. Now, I am laundrocizing! You won't believe it, but I am actually (in my old age) learning to enjoy this the least favorite of my household chores. Or maybe, I am just more aware that God has blessed me with the strength, energy and agility to keep my home, take care of grandbabies and do what he has called me to do. That, my friends is something that I truly thank the Lord for!
This post is going to be short and sweet...Tomer is on his way in from clearing snow. So, I will get off here and greet him with a nice hot cup of tea. Then, it's time to get Em and Xavie in and out of the shower and prepare for Church in the morning.
God is awesome...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Beauty In The Storm


I used a flash but it was blowing so that it stayed dark.

Last night, after everyone was fast asleep...I stayed up to enjoy the peace and quiet. Because of the weather my son-in-law David was out the past 2 nights clearing lots of snow! Since Mandy works midnights, that means that this ol' grammy has been caring for Miss Em and Xavie for 2 days. So, I was (still am) tired but needed some alone time.


The winds started howling and when I peered through the blinds I could barely see!
So, I grabbed my camera and stood on the front porch to capture these dark images. I find this weather so beautiful. It was cold and windy! Wow! God is mighty...He controls every storm we batttle.


This morning I wandered out back and this is the tip of a ruler, just barely peeking out of the snow next to my back door. Some spots measured a foot, while others were barely 10". Thankfully, it wasn't the 18" to 20" that the weather folks were calling for...Mandy didn't get stuck at work and made it home safely.



Now, I want to share this bit of beauty in the midst of Winter my Amaryllis (gift from Kell and Michael) is blooming...it is called the "Christmas Gift." Rightly so, for God gave His only Son and He washes us as White as Snow! Enjoy this glorious day...blessings!