What have I been up to?

If I don't blog soon, I'll forget what I've been up to. So here goes...

Last Sunday, I helped Dawn with Kira while she directed the choir which sang in all 3 worship services at church. That was hard - NOT! Actually, Kira is very good and was a perfect little angel while she was with me. Right after the third service, I had a meeting with our Ladies Night Out planning team to put the finishing touches to Wednesday night's activities. I ordered a pizza for us and whipped together a Caesar's salad. I had made a batch of cookies on Saturday so we enjoyed those for our dessert while we did our planning.

After the meeting, I was able to relax at home for about an hour before getting ready for company for dinner. I made a quickie - Chicken Barbeque Pizza (yes - my second pizza of the day) and another Caesar's salad. We enjoyed the company of Rich & Bev for an hour before the rest of our small group joined us for Bible study. Busy day!

Monday was a normal day at work, but that evening, I did the laundry and cleaning I normally do on Tuesday. So Tuesday this week was a true day off. We had planned to go to Morris Arboretum with all 3 girls and all the grandkids. But on Tuesday morning, it was raining so we decided to just all go to Christy's. All the kids were there except Patrick who was at school. It was so fun just being together. The kids love playing and wrestling with their PopPop and they also love to listen to me read stories to them. I read so long that I actually started to lose my voice!

We are so blessed to have a family who enjoy being together.

Our newest little one.

I had prepared turkey and cheese wraps and brought some baby carrots and the rest of the cookies for our lunch. We stayed till 2:30 then came on home to beat rush hour traffic.

Wednesday night we had another Ladies' Night Out with the theme: Sharing the Harvest. We have some extremely talented and gifted people who go all out in decorating the church to go with the theme.

The central focus of the room:

The dessert table

Over 100 women attended

including me

Our speaker was Brenda Antinore who works with her husband in a Camden ministry to ex-offenders and prostitutes. She is very passionate about her work, and we were so blessed and encouraged to hear how God is at work in that wicked and dangerous city. We worked on a couple of crafts together. One was decorating paper bags (lunch bag size) that we placed a pair of socks into to donate to Brenda's ministry to the women. We also made cute little pumpkins out of strips of cloth wrapped around a roll of TP. This is what mine looks like!

These events are a lot of work, but I co-labor with a great team of dedicated and talented women. There is enormous value in getting together as women to be encouraged and spiritually strengthened and challenged in our walk with the Lord.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Happenings

The day finally arrived - Saturday, October 17, 2009. Months ago we decided we would attend Andy's 40th high school class reunion. I really didn't want to go, but grudgingly agreed to accompany him. When we got the invitation, it seemed so far into the future, I must have thought the day would never get here. But it did, so off we went. I knew no one. Andy knew about 3 - 4 people, I think. But everyone looked so OLD! (everyone except us, of course - ha, ha) Well, it was an experience to remember and now we can say we did it.

On Sunday before going into the church service, I remembered to silence my cell phone (I usually forget and one time it did ring during the service - thanks a lot, Tommy!). After the third service, I checked my phone to see if I had any messages and noticed I had received a text from Amy. It said: "Are you still at church?" I texted back: "yes." Then I went on hanging out and talking to people. When I finally left and got in the car to go home, I called Amy to see why she had texted me. She answered and asked where I was. I told her I was on my way home from church. She continued talking and I was getting a weird feeling about our conversation, when finally I asked: "where are you? Are you at our house?" And guess what - surprise, surprise - she was! Then I felt bad, but as I told her, there's no reason for me to rush home from church because there's no one there. Usually! Poor girl, she'd been waiting in our driveway for over an hour - with 2 dogs and 2 children.

So there she was, Amy with dear Chase and Joanna. Dawn and Kira also came home after church and we all had a good time eating brunch together, then playing and reading to the kids.
Andy gave Amy's 2 dogs their booster shots, which is the reason Amy came down.
Amy didn't stay very long because I had a baby shower to go to. Our neighbor and friend, Nancy, just adopted a baby girl and the church gave her a shower. I made a Pumpkin Dessert to take along.It was a busy day, but good and fun.

Yesterday was busy, too, but in a different way. It was our day off from work, but we filled it with work at home. I cleaned the house, all 3 bathrooms, dusted the furniture, and vacuumed the floors. I had a number of errands to do, then spent the rest of the day in the kitchen. I made a batch of cookies, dinner for Nancy and her family, as well as our own dinner.

Because the day was fairly warm, Andy was able to finish painting the shed doors. I like the way they look.
And the cherry on top of that beautiful day was that I also got to talk to each of our 3 daughters, as well as my Mother. Wow! It can't get better than that!

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

In January it will be 12 years since I started memorizing Scripture in earnest. I had sporadically learned a verse here and there through the years up to that point, but it was always a half hearted effort with many excuses as to why I couldn't memorize.

Bruce & Bev were a couple who lived in our town and attended our church for 14 years before moving to Colorado. They've been gone a while now, but while they were here, Bruce taught our adult Sunday school class at church. He was an excellent teacher and we learned and grew significantly because of his ministry. One of the things I admired about both Bruce and Bev was their dedication to memorizing Scripture. Bruce often challenged the class to memorize certain portions, but I resisted that challenge for a long time. Finally, during one class time, Bruce dared the whole class to memorize Psalm 91 as he taught through the psalm. I decided to take the plunge. That first chapter took a long time, but what a blessing to be immersed in God's precious Word as I ruminated and meditated over the verses in my effort to commit them to memory. After it was memorized, I decided to take on another Psalm. Well, one chapter led to another until here we are today - 12 years later.

There are many benefits to memorizing portions of the Bible.
1. It's good exercise for the brain and helps keep you sharp.
2. It gives you something to think about in odd moments.
3. You have something to occupy your mind when you wake up in the middle of the night.
4. It keeps you in close contact with the God of the universe.
5. It helps you to know God's thoughts and ways.

I think the spiritual benefits far outweigh everything else, but the whole person (mental, physical, etc.) reaps great rewards from being constantly in the Word.

You know how some people break out into song when they hear certain phrases. Well, memorizing Scripture does the same thing for you. When you're in certain situations or hear certain words or phrases, it reminds you of a Bible verse or chapter. I read The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper, a biography of 3 men, one of which was John Bunyan. John Piper quotes Charles Spurgeon, who read The Pilgrim's Progress every year, as saying of John Bunyan:

"He had studied our Authorized Version... till his whole being was saturated with Scripture; and though his writings are charmingly full of poetry, yet he cannot give us his Pilgrim's Progress - that sweetest of all prose poems - without continually making us feel and say, "Why, this man is a living Bible!" Prick him anywhere; and you will find that his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the Word of God."

I was so impressed by the example of John Bunyan. Wouldn't it be great...instead of feeling overwhelmed at trials and hard times, I would be able to "bleed Bibline" and be comforted and encouraged in my faith and walk with the Lord.

I still wouldn't say I'm a great memorizer, but in 12 years, I've developed my method.

1. I type out the passage I want to commit to memory.
2. I put that section of verses into a notebook I keep at the treadmill.
3. When I do my exercising, I repeat the verse until I know it and can go on to the next one.
4. It works!
So now, I'm wondering, what should I memorize next? I've been thinking about Psalm 119, because each verse in all 176 verses mentions God's Word. But yikes! 176 verses! It will probably take another 12 years to memorize just that one chapter.

Colors

The leaves are turning colors - what a beautiful world God has given us to live in. What a gift He has given us to enjoy just in colors alone. I hear a song on the radio sometimes by Avalon:

All the colors

of the rainbow
All the voices of the wind
Every dream that reaches out
That reaches out to find where love begins
Every word of every story
Every star in every sky
Every corner of creation lives to testify
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough
With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
From the mountains to the valleys
From the rivers to the sea
Every hand that reaches out
Every hand that reaches out to offer peace
Every simple act of mercy
Every step to kingdom come
All the hope in every heart will speak what love has done

So in thinking of the colors of the rainbow, just in my own backyard, we have a silent witness to the creativity and beauty of God.

RedOrangeYellow
GreenBlue
Purple

Romans 1:19-20
Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

What a Wonder
So much wonder
Carved in your coral seas
So much wonder
Shaded by ancient trees
I consider all that your hands have made
Every newborn’s eyes, every new sunrise
No power can tame your presence
No light can match your radiance

LET ALL CREATION SING IN WONDER
EVERY SEA, EVERY CREATURE, EVERY STAR
YOU OPENED UP MY EYES TO WONDER
WHAT A VISION, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE

Such a wonder
Ordering time and tide
Such a wonder
Bridging the great divide
I consider all that you had, all you gave
And all that you endured
From this rebel world
What a wondrous cross you chose to bear
What a wonder you would even care

[Repeat Chorus]

LET EVERY ROCK CRY OUT
LET EVERY KNEE BOW DOWN
YOU OPENED UP MY HEART TO WONDER
WHAT LOVE, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE

No power can tame your presence
No light can match your radiance
Such a wonder...
Such a wonder...

[Repeat Chorus]

LET EVERY ROCK CRY OUT
LET EVERY KNEE BOW DOWN
YOU OPENED UP MY HEART TO WONDER
WHAT LOVE, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE

1 Timothy 6:17
...God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

There's no place like home

This has been a year of travel, and although it's exciting to explore new places, I'm happy to be home for a while. The airline tickets for most of our trips were free because of using a credit card that puts points toward airfare. So where did we go this year?

• Feb. 8, Andy went to Puerto Rico with Tommy
• April 26-28, Rickett's Glen for 3 days with Amy & family
  
• May 11-16, Colorado, visiting 4 national parks in 5 days
• June 23-27, California for a worship conference
• July 12-14, Poconos for some R & R
• Aug. 2-6, Andy went to Maine with his dad and brother-in-law
• Sept. 19-25, family vacation at the Jersey shore

Whew! I'm tired all over again just thinking about it. We made a lot of happy memories and did some fun things, but all good things must come to an end. Back to reality. And I really am glad to be home. There's a certain comfort to puttering around the house, doing some cleaning, baking, cooking, yard work, just taking care of business and being a housewife.

Last Tuesday on our day off, we took a "Tuesday" drive down in the country of south Jersey to buy some honey from a local farmer. It was a beautiful day and we took along a Focus on the Family Radio Theater CD to listen to.When we got back, Andy painted the shutters on the front of the house. They get the southern exposure and were quite faded. They look much better now.On Friday evening, Andy and I had tickets to see Tim Hawkins at PBU. He was hilarious and we had a good time laughing at his comedy. Check him out.

Saturday morning I was involved in hosting a Ladies' Coffee Connection at church. That was a lot of fun. I organized it along with 2 other women. We had lots of food and the room we used at the church was decorated to look fall-ish. It was work putting it on, but well worth it. It was fun connecting and fellowshiping with those who came.The church choir sang on Sunday in all 3 services. Since Dawn is the choir director, she needed someone to take care of Kira while she was occupied. I was delighted for the opportunity to hold her for a little while. After church, Dawn came home with us to have our usual Sunday brunch. Kira was in a happy mood and we enjoyed playing with her.Yesterday, this week's day off, was spent in working around the house and yard again. I thought it might be time to get rid of the aster I had out in the garden by the street. I don't like to pull plants out, but it was looking pretty pathetic. So if it's good for nothing, you have to prune and throw it out. (that's biblical) I bought a couple of mums and planted them in place of the aster. Much better.
So for a while, this blog will not be posting any exciting trips to far off places...just mundane, down to earth, ho-hum happenings on the home front. Hmmm, come to think of it, though, New Jersey is more exciting than Kansas!

Going Buggy

I'm a bug magnet. Bugs love me and my blood. If there's a mosquito, spider or flea, trust me - they find me and drink their fill.

So last week at the shore, I noticed the first day I was scratching a bug bite. I didn't pay much attention because I'm used to bug bites. However, by Thursday morning, I was going crazy with scratching and scratching. So I counted and had about 5 or 6 bites on one foot alone. Hmmm. Are these really mosquito bites? Usually mosquito bites don't itch after 2-3 days. It seems like the itch is lasting longer than usual.

Then I remembered the day before Amy had asked me if the little brown spot on her hand was a tick. It looked too thin to be a tick and when I touched it with my finger, it jumped. Oh no - we have fleas!

I voiced my concern out loud to Amy and Dawn who were with me at the time, which set off alarm bells for all of us. After all, on our floor were 3 children, including Kira - only 8 weeks old. We started conjuring all sorts of scenarios, one of which was Tommy insisting that Dawn and Kira leave immediately. Well, as often happens when women get to talking, the emotions were running high and we were getting more and more anxious. Where was Andy? We needed him to bring some direction and non-emotionalism to our dilemma. But we couldn't find him. When I tried calling his cell phone, it rang on the kitchen counter! So he was gone and no way to contact him.

Well, he eventually did return from a bike ride he had taken with Grace & Aiden. (What a nice PopPop!) When he entered the house, we all pounced on him with our problem, as well as upbraiding him for not being there for us when we needed him. Poor Andy. He was able to calm us down, then called the realtor who handles the property we were renting. They sent someone out to spray for the fleas.

We left the house for a couple of hours. That was the day we went to the aquarium. When we returned, we spent the rest of the day, laundering the sheets, bedspreads and mattress pads. Andy vacuumed the floors and the beds and the couches. What a nice way to spend your vacation - doing thorough cleaning.

So along with the good times and memories of our 2009 vacation, we also have the drama of dealing with fleas. Exciting!

The best way for anyone to avoid being bitten by bugs is to hang around me. Bugs are guaranteed to bite me and leave everyone else alone. In contrast to all the flea bites I got, Andy got none.