thorns from this week...

I doesn't seem like I have too much to blog about these days, even though there is always something going on here. This week a couple of things have happened, which I will share with you. Some of them are thorns, and some are roses! :-) I'm thankful for both, and for God showing his goodness, even through the bad times.

First of all, I have to say that I am so thankful to be surrounded by Godly, loving friends. God has been so good to me and I can especially recognize it in the fact that I have quite a few close, true friendships. Most people are lucky (or blessed) to have 1 true friend, and I believe that I have many more than that. God has truly blessed me.

OK - now for the events of the week. We are having a little financial struggle in our house these days (but then again, who isn't struggling financially at some point or another.) Because of some of the events of the past month or so, and me not being able to work for a couple weeks, things here are a little tight. Chris and I have just been praying that God would give us wisdom in how to handle our finances wisely, as well as allowing us to bring in a little extra money to help. Well, this week, I was able to pick up an extra day of work (which means I work Mon - Sat this week). It's hard for me sometimes to work that much, but I'm thankful for the opportunity that God provided to make a little extra this week... and in addition to that, I get paid time & 1/2 for that 8 hours b/c it's overtime! Praise the Lord.

Also, because of some things that happened at D's house this week with the animals (one of the dogs went to the bathroom on the carpet - it reaked to high heaven!), D's mom cleaned the carpets today. She also wanted to use some pesticides, but due to D's compromised lung health already, she didn't want to do all of that chemical stuff with D in the house. I offered to watch D at my house, and she readily agreed. My boss at the office didn't care, so I watched D here at the house today. He was thrilled with the stairs to the basement (they don't have stairs at their house), and probably went up and down them 20 times, while I sat about 1/2 way up the stairs and made sure he didn't fall down. He came pretty close a few times, but thankfully he was only one stair up from the bottom, so he didn't really fall. He thought he was such big stuff! I also gave him his first REAL haircut today! His aunt trimmed his bangs and sides around his ears once. I told his mom I would cut it if she really didn't mind, and she agreed... only asking me to leave the back longer (now he sort of has a mullet!) :-) He did pretty well, and though his hair is MUCH shorter, she liked it. (I was REALLY worried... it was much shorter than I thought it would be!) I cut it with a clippers rather than a pair of scissors, and it ended up being about an inch long on the top and sides. I did think to save a clump of hair for her, for which she was thankful. Now D looks like a little boy, instead of a hippie baby!

Yesterday, I came down with strep throat. That is always such a blessing! I was able to get into Urgent Care and get an antibiotic shot. I would MUCH rather get one shot than have to attempt to swallow nasty tasting, huge antibiotic pills with a sore throat! (I know... I'm crazy!) In case you're wondering why I worked today with strep throat... D's mom told me she would rather have me work if I felt up to it since D was already exposed yesterday. I'm sure thankful for good insurance!

My older bro, Steve, called yesterday to inform me that they are expecting their first baby sometime end of June/early July! I am so excited for them, and can't wait to meet the next niece/nephew!

That's the roses and thorns from the week so far! :-) I'm thankful for all of this!

For all the thorns in our life...

I received this story via an e-mail from my sis-in-law yesterday, and wanted to share it. I know that it's impossible to know who in your life, out of all the people that you know, is going through a difficult time at that very moment. So - for those of you, like me, who are going through tough times... this is a reminder... Oh - and you might want to grab a Kleenex or two before you start reading!!

For all the thorns in our life

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss.

Troubles had multiplied. Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.

"She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder. "Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended me? For an airbag that saved my life, but took my child's?"

"Good afternoon, can I help you?"

Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk. "I ... I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the newcustomer, "Hi, Barbara, let me get your order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched - was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers? She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said, as she gently tapped her chest.

Sandra stammered, "Ah, that lady just left with . . . uh . . she left with no flowers!"

"That's right," said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet. Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery. That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I never questioned Him why those good things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, 'Why? Why me?!' It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement...twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"

"Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced," Phil replied. "After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem, the Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life" Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too . . . fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment.

"I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me."

The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read:

"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns.

II Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

Funnies for today

I got this in an e-mail the other day, and thought I would post it. Enjoy... I laughed! :-)

Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.
My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high,
I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors...Fill your plate with bright colors... greens, yellows, reds, etc.

I went right home and ate an entire bowl of :
And sure enough, I felt better immediately.
I never knew eating right
could be so easy.

Pictures from the week...

A real restored covered wagon from the 1800's on loan to our church for Harvest Days.
The roses from my sis-in-law... more open this time. I posted a few pics from different angles so that you could see the different colors of roses.


Little D... today. He put the hat on the right way first, but then turned it around. I was trying to get him to say "Cheese" but he just kept saying "Peeeeas!" (which is please in his language!) He is not really cross-eyed either... it just looks that way in his pictures! He is growing up so fast!

I posted these 2 pics so that you could see D's shirt. It says "DANGER Next tantrum :05" It couldn't be more true with him!

Oh, yes, I forgot to put this in the post earlier... I have also continued my reading spree. I've finished the series by Karen Kingsbury, reading Rejoice and Reunion, except my friend that I borrowed the books from doesn't have the second book, Remember. I then read the very first 2 novels by Dee Henderson: A Marriage Wish and God's Gift. I moved on to Lori Wick's books White Chocolate Moments and Sophie's Heart. I am now ALMOST finished with Let Freedom Ring by Al & JoAnne Lacey, and have the next 3 books in that series to read. I must say that after not reading Christian novels for so long... these were rather refreshing. Scripture was quoted throughout each of these books, along with truths about God and His character. They aren't just your typical mushy everything turns out perfect... no one has problems type books. I am thankful for the opportunity to read again... it has been TOO long!

A Rough Week

These past few days have been more than a little rough for us, for reasons that I really can't share right now. However, I can tell you this... God's grace IS sufficient! As I think about the situation that we have gone through (and are still dealing with to some degree) I ask myself this question... "What do people do when they don't have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?" I can't imagine going through the trials and tribulations in life, and not having God's grace to get me through, or God's peace that passes all understanding. I am so thankful that God allowed me to become a child of His at an early age, and I have never had to go through the tough times by myself.

I am also SO thankful that God has blessed Chris and I with an abundance of family and friends who love us, support us and pray for us during the difficult times. I was surprised when I came home from work on Saturday to find these from one of my sis-in-laws. (She doesn't live close at all!)

It was so unexpected and sweet, I almost had an emotional melt down (not uncommon these past few days!) They are opened so much more now, and so much more beautiful and fragrant! I am so thankful for them! They are absolutely GORGEOUS!

I also had the opportunity to talk to my sister, and for the first time EVER, I think, I feel like I have a real relationship with her! I have always loved my family, but it seems that I have done things in the past, as have they, that have made it a little more difficult to have good close relationships with them. I am thankful that the Lord is changing my heart toward my family, as well as changing my sister's heart (or opening it up more) to me.

Another thing I am thankful for, even through the tough times, is the opportunity that God has given Chris and I to show others what God's grace and peace look like... especially to our unsaved co-workers and the unsaved staff at my chiropractor's office. Not that WE are the ones showing them, rather we have been the chosen vessels to let God's light shine through us! Thankfully, we also have chosen to trust God and let Him carry out HIS plan in our lives, rather than fighting Him to get what we want. (It's awfully hard to do that sometimes!) I pray that someday we can look back and understand what God was doing, but until then, I pray that God allows us to minister more effectively for Him because of the growth that pain causes in our lives.

OK - enough of that. Friday, we had the opportunity to get together with some friends of ours that we worked with in our church in MD. They also were on staff there, but left about 6 months before we did. It was nice to see them again, and visit with them. I also visited a friend from our church here that afternoon, and got to hold a newborn baby for about an hour! I love kids, and it always thrills my heart when I can hold a baby!

Friday night, we had HUGE storms moving through our area. God kept us safe from the threat of possible tornados... we were under tornado watches most of the night, and our local tornado siren sounded the alarm SEVERAL times that night. We are also thankful for God's protection of our families. Chris' bro in Pensacola, FL, watched a tornado about 1/2 mile from his office building, and his wife and 2 youngest children were in very real danger from the tornado as they were out driving around that day. My bro also lives there, and he and his wife were safe as well.

Saturday, I went back to work after being off for a couple weeks. My little D is SO adorable! I missed him TERRIBLY over those 2+ weeks, and it makes me wonder what in the world I am going to do when he doesn't need nursing care anymore! He is almost 2 now, and is learning so many new things every day. He is such a little copycat, and it is so cute watching him try to mimic something I do. (Such a reminder to be careful what you do/say!) Here he is wearing my fleece, thinking he is all BIG STUFF!

Sunday was a GREAT day at church (of course, I always think that!) It was Chuckwagon Sunday, and we enjoyed a meal of "Cowboy Stew" after AM church, along with desserts with our fellow SS class members. My friend, Beth, is so sweet and thoughtful! Knowing the situation that Chris and I went through this week, so baked a caramel apple pie JUST FOR US! (We did share some of it, but Chris ended up getting to take home 2 pieces!) Oh yes, apple pie is Chris' favorite, and Beth makes an AWESOME caramel apple pie!

And then, to top off a great Sunday at church, both the New England Patriots AND the Boston Red Sox won their games... the Red Sox win advancing them to the WORLD SERIES! Chris is always excited when his teams win, and I must say, our house is much happier when that happens. Unfortunately, my MN Vikings aren't doing so hot this year, but I can take that in stride. I'm pretty much a brainwashed Patriots fan, anyway, much of that by osmosis! :-)

Today was another good day at work, and I enjoyed being with Little D. God is so good!

Oh, yeah... one more thing... it has been raining the past couple of days! That has been wonderful (other than the inconvenience of being outside in the rain), since we didn't get much rain this summer. We desperately needed the rain!

He's Been Faithful To Me

The other night in church, the special music was a man singing the song, "He's Been Faithful To Me." We had this song sung at our wedding, which brought back many memories... but it also made me think back over the years since then, and remember the many, many times that God has shown Himself faithful... over and over and over again. I love the verses in Lamentations 3:22-23 (and I'm going to add in 21 and 24... they're just so good!) "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."

In case you are not familiar with the song (I think I have heard it maybe 3 other places before and since my wedding) here are the words:

He's Been Faithful To Me

(words and music by Carol Cymbala)

In my moments of fear,

Through every pain, every tear,

There's a God who's been faithful to me.
When my strength was all gone,

When my heart had no song,

Still in love He's proved faithful to me.

Every word He's promised is true;

What I thought was impossible I see my God do.

He's been faithful, faithful to me,

Looking back His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I have questioned,

Even failed to believe

Yet, He's been faithful, faithful to me.

When my heart looked away,

The many times I could not pray,

Still my God, He was faithful to me.

The days I spent so selfishly,

Reaching out for what pleased me;

Even then God was faithful to me.

Every time I come back to Him,
He is waiting with open arms

And I see once again.

He's been faithful, faithful to me,
Looking back His love and mercy I see.

Though in my heart I have questioned,
Even failed to believe
Yet, He's been faithful, faithful to me.

This song has such great meaning and significance in my life... I hope it has been a blessing to you as well!

Round Up Sunday

Have I mentioned before how much I LOVE our church? :-) This past Sunday was "Round-Up Sunday"~ part of the Harvest Days of October at our church. It is kind of a SS promotion month, but they do all kinds of cool stuff. For instance, last week was "Western Day." Everyone dressed western (including ALL of the pastoral staff!) After the morning service, they had a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids.
This past week, like I said, was Round-Up Sunday. Our couples' retreat was that weekend, so the speaker, Raymond Harper, stayed over from that and spoke on Sunday as well. (Unfortunately, Chris and I didn't get to go to the retreat.) We also had a special guest ~ Bill Smith. He is the Senior World Champion Trick Roper, and he also works with whips. He is a Christian and is also 66 years old! Here are a few pictures from his rope/whip tricks. Of course, it's hard to get a good picture of the rope flying through the air, but you'll get the idea.

Senior World Champion Trick Roper Bill Smith

Rope Tricks

Australian Bull Whip

Whip tricks

And his faithful steed, "Tumbleweed!"

After the morning service, Bill Smith did a roping demonstration/presentation in the gym. I didn't realize it was going on until I had already missed it! :-(

The next two Sundays are "Chuckwagon Sunday" and "Harvest Sunday." For Chuckwagon Sunday, they got, on loan, one of 3 original, restored chuckwagons from the days of the old west. We're having Cowboy Stew and cornbread after the morning service, and the Spanish ministry is selling real Mexican tamales. Our SS class is hanging around to fellowship over dinner and dessert.

On Harvest Sunday, after the morning service, the kids all get to pick pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch. Every adult gets a print called "The Guide" to take home... it's a picture of two cowboys on horseback.

Also, on Saturday, October 27th, we have our annual Trunk or Treat sponsored by the youth group. We all decorate the trunks of our cars, have a pumpkin carving contest, a costume contest for the kids, and the kids get treats from the trunks of the cars (instead of going trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods.) It's a very SAFE alternative.

So - anybody wanna come to church with us? :-)

This and that...

Well, it's been a good week. I've read 4 books... The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzman, Redemption and Return by Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley, and The Princess by Lori Wick. Though they are all Christian fiction "romance" novels, I was pleasantly surprised at how the authors wove in Biblical truths and true to life situations, even very unpleasant ones. I have truly enjoyed being able to read, and am thankful that the baseball playoffs are being played right now. That means that I can still sit on the couch leaning up against my husband, spending time with him, but I can be absorbed in my book, much like he is absorbed in the baseball game! :-) That way I don't feel guilty that I'm not paying much attention to him!

Thursday night, I was able to go to my friend, Brenda's house. She is a SU! demonstrator, and we did a Christmas card workshop. I made 11 cards. 5 of them were a winter snowflake, 5 of them a nativity scene, and 1 snowman card. I always enjoy stamping, and it's so much fun to enjoy the fellowship with other ladies at the same time.


I also started my Christmas picture calendar. Each year I make photo calendars for both families, with the different family members on each month. The problem that I ran into this year is that too many of Chris' siblings have kids. OK - the nieces and nephews are not really a problem, but it does make it difficult to give everyone equal space. I decided that this year, I would put pictures of ALL the grandkids on one page, and then do 2 different pages of grandkids. (Does that make sense?) ANYWAY, I am finished with the actual calendar pages (I think) with all the holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Now it's just a matter of #1) getting pictures from everyone and #2) doing the layout for the picture part. Another thing that I am doing different with the pages this year is using background paper for most of the months. I am hoping it turns out well! :-)


We also met with our youth pastors this week to discuss what they are asking us to do as youth workers in our church. They had approached us about the possibility about 3 weeks ago, but we just this week were able to meet with them. We would be helping another couple with the 9th&10th grade SS class. Chris would team teach with the other gentleman who is already teaching the class. Other than that, our involvement or lack thereof is completely up to us. Of course, they would prefer that we be at every activity that we possibly can, but these activities are not required. Now, with Chris and I, when we commit to something, we try to be as faithful to that commitment as we possibly can. We would LOVE to be able to go to all the activities, etc. So - we have not given them an answer yet, simply because we are already involved in choir and bus ministry, and want to make sure we can work in all 3 without letting something slide. We want to "get our ducks all in a row" before we make a commitment that we can't keep.


If you think about it, would you please pray for our college kids? Monday night, one of our senior girls at the college was killed in a car accident. There were 2 other freshman girls in the car with her, and they both are OK (which, according to what I've heard about the accident, it's a miracle that they walked away.) A 19 year old boy on a motorcycle was going 80+ mph and hit them broadside. He was killed instantly as well. Our college kids are pretty shook up about it. For many of them this is the first time that they've had to deal with the death of someone close to them.

I think that's about it for what has happened this week. I'll leave you with some pictures I took the other day... I just think the sky around here is so cool!The lights and power lines are in the way, but I just think the clouds are so cool!

Here's a view of the clouds between the trees

Pictures...

I posted a few days ago about D's Ritz bits sandwich eating... and here are the pictures to prove it. It is a little hard to see, but you understand.

Putting 1/2 of the sandwich on the tray after pulling the 2 sides apart
Eating...
Opening another sandwich...
Scraping the cheese off the cracker on his bottom teeth

I haven't worked for over a week, and I miss this little guy like CRAZY! I get to see him a week from tomorrow, though. Although he is spoiled rotten and has an awful temper, he is so adorable and can be so sweet! :-)

It's beginning to feel like...

...well, like FALL! Just 2 days ago it was over 90 degrees here (and I've basically been housebound for the past few days)! Imagine my surprise when I went out today dressed in shorts sleeves and flip-flops to discover that it was 59 degrees!! Now, not that 59 degrees is COLD, but a 30+ degree weather change can make it seem that way. I guess I'll have to grab my sweater and some shoes on the way out to church tonight! :-)

God Answers Prayer

I'm not able to share details with you all, but I just wanted to say I'm so thankful that God answers prayer! My father-in-law called Chris tonight to share with him this wonderful news: One of my FIL's employees got saved yesterday! He came to a special church BBQ (or something to that effect) at their church yesterday and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior! Needless to say, my FIL was SO EXCITED!
We also found out today that there has been some changes taking place in a situation that we have been praying about for years now. I'm so glad that God doesn't give up on us! What a huge blessing to know that He cares, and that just because we don't see answers right away doesn't mean He's not at work. He just chooses not to force things, but works in HIS timing! Can't wait to see what's next!

YEAH!!!

I get to READ this weekend!!! :-) I love to read, but haven't done much pleasure reading since getting married. For some reason, my husband seems to be much more annoying and wanting my attention so much more when my nose is buried in a book. Also, I don't like to put books down... I like to sit down and read them cover to cover in one sitting! I've chosen to put aside pleasure reading in order to develop my relationship with my husband! :-) LOL!

Well, this weekend, I had a lot of time on my hands, and my friend brought me some books. I must confess, I did start one this evening while Chris was home, but did put it down several times to watch replays of sports events on TV. It is, after all, football season, as well as baseball playoffs (Go Boston Red Sox! and so sorry to all you Cubs fans!) Not only that, but I stopped reading at the VERY NEXT breaking point after he said he was ready to go to bed (instead of finishing the chapter... or the book... before going to bed!) ;-) So - why in the world am I blogging at 1:20am?!?!? Well, because I couldn't sleep! YIKES!

Good night everyone, and Happy Sunday! I'm off to bed... I think... but that book is kind of calling me...

They learn so young...

I had to laugh Thursday as I was at work watching D. My first thought watching him do this was this, "How do they learn these things so young?"
So, what was he doing? I had given him some Ritz Bits cheese cracker sandwiches for a snack... (can you see where this is going?) He ate the first couple whole, then proceeded to pull each "sandwich" apart, scrape the cheese off the cracker with his bottom teeth, and put the uneaten cracker on his tray! He did eat all of the crackers, too, but only after eating the cheese and breaking the pieces of cracker to bits! I have some pictures on my camera, but I can't upload them right now. I upgraded my Kodak Easyshare software, but instead of getting better, now it doesn't work at all... so I had to uninstall it! :-( I have to figure out how to reinstall it on the computer.
Anyway, just thought I'd share my little story with you all! :-) Have a great weekend!

more from yesterday...

I am excited... Chris let me buy some new stamps yesterday. :-)
We have a deal that any time Chris goes golfing or something like that for recreation, I get the same amount of money to spend on whatever I want. It works both ways... for instance, if he gives me extra money for stamps or something, then he gets the same amount to use on whatever he wants. (Although usually he gives me stamping money without using the other money in return. He is so giving!)
Anyway, yesterday, Chris was able to go golfing in the afternoon for the first time in 14 months. I've been after him for a while now to take some time off just to relax and enjoy doing something he likes to do. I bought him a gift certificate to a REALLY nice golf course for his birthday, but he didn't want to go to that one "cold." So, he went yesterday to a much less expensive course to warm up to the game of golf once again. He did pretty well, considering...
Back to my stamps... I have been looking for a Christmas sentiments set that is kind of "all around." I finally found one at Papertrey Ink. I am so excited to get to use it... this is my first acrylic stamp set, and I LOVE Papertrey's products. They are so simple, but so versatile. I've been drooling over them for a while, but hadn't actually been able to buy any.
I also was able to get a few things at the stamping party that I hosted... $15 of birthday money, then I earned $15 of free stuff. I ended up getting the new Purely Pomegranate ink pad and a refill (a BEAUTIFUL color!), satin ribbon, and paper in the same color. I also got some black embossing powder and a Ruby Red ink refill, since my Ruby Red is no longer crisp, but faded.
Thanks to Chrysler, we didn't have to pay for either the golfing or the stamps out of our own pocket. Chris gets a rewards card from them, and they put money on it every time he sells a new car. It has paid for all of our incidentals on our recent trips (food, souvenirs), and will now be saved to go for Christmas presents. God is good!

O what a beautiful morning...

This picture was taken the other evening as I was leaving to go somewhere. I love it when you can see the moon, even when it's light out!
This morning, after a rough night of not sleeping very well, Chris' alarm woke me up. I looked around to see that our blinds (which do not do much to keep out the light) were glowing orange. I quickly jumped out of bed and looked out the window to see this:
Of course, I quickly grabbed the camera to get a picture. My dad would be SO PROUD that I was actually AWAKE to see the sunrise!!! (I'm NOT a morning person! If I could get up at 10am every day, I would be much better off!)
The following two pictures were taken about 10 minutes later. I love the way the clouds looked in these pictures.

Isn't God good to surround us with beauty all the time? It reminds me of this verse:

Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

The Lord has been so good to us lately... I can't wait til I can share my secret with you! Chris sold a car today, too... that's always a good day!

Our weekend

On Saturday, we were thrilled to have April and Scott over to our house for a cookout. April is a former student of Chris' - she was in 10th grade, I think, when we moved away from Northland. We had hamburgers on the grill, along with the fixin's, Sun Chips (my favorite), baked beans, Macintosh apples with caramel dip, and Happy Harvest Mix. Chris and I had never met Scott before, though I know one of his older brothers through a friend. We had a great time of fellowship just talking for a couple of hours, then played the game RAGE (which practically no one outside of my family has ever even heard of until we teach them!) April won the game, much to Scott's chagrin! We had a fun time, and are glad that they moved down here. We are hoping to get together with them on a semi-regular basis at least!

Sundays are always good days at our church. We just LOVE it! God has been so good to us, allowing us to be a part of Shawnee.

I was quite disappointed with the Sunday afternoon Packers vs. Vikings game... although I do HAVE to admit that Brett Favre just might be good! :-) The Vikes better kick it up a notch here... they are kind of stinking it up right now!

Chris is looking forward to MNF tonight... we almost got tickets to go to the game, but some people have to work for a living! :-) We have some other stuff going on, too, that kept us from going. In case you're not up to speed on Monday Night Football... the Patriots are playing the Cincinatti Bengals in Cinci tonight. Oh, well, maybe next time... (if there is one!)

I also got to talk to my brother, Steve, for a little while last night. It's been over 2 months since I last talked to him, so it was good to catch up. Steve and Kathryn stay VERY busy!

That's pretty much the update from the Mitchells. We are so thankful for all that God has given us... especially for friends that are Godly and are willing to pray for us! Thank you, God, for all that you have given us!