Happiness

There is a story about two men who encounter each other walking along a country road. One of them, a wealthy nobleman, has a bag slung over his shoulder and dejected expression on his face. The second man, a beggar, asks him why he’s so depressed. “I’m looking for happiness,” says the nobleman. “I’ve tried everything—I’ve had wealth, power, position, education, lots of women, but I’m still, like, totally angst-ridden. So the other day I finally threw some stuff in a bag and set out to find myself.”
“Ah.” says the beggar. “I see.” Then, without warning, he grabs the nobleman’s bag and rushes off into the forest. He cuts through the rugged terrain until he’s some distance ahead of his distraught victim. Then, when he sees the nobleman coming, he leaves the bag in the center of the road and hides behind a rock to watch.
Naturally, when the rich man sees his bag, complete with everything he was carrying when he lost it, he goes nuts with joy—jumping around, singing hallelujah, all that. The beggar, still hiding behind his rock, yells, “Strange, what it takes for some people to find happiness.”
from The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

Things I'm Thankful For

I've been making a list of things I'm thankful for. Be prepared, it's a long one.

my children, my husband, my husband's job
my health, my husband's health
my brother, my grandchildren
a home to live in, water, heat, electricity
air freshener, indoor plumbing
cell phone, internet, computer
a car to drive, vacations I had
light, sunlight
TV, vhs, dvd, movies, cameras
gamecube, Animal Crossing
knitting, cross stitch, drawing, music keyboard
flowers, plants, trees, shade in the summer, butterflies
blue skies, little puffy clouds, the park
showers, soap, deodorant, tweezers, razors, skin lotion
holidays, birthdays, and getting together with others
music, reading
clean clothes, makeup, hair color, perms
parents that took care of me
Bible, being saved
my education, my jobs, my friends
puzzles, quiet, singing birds, Spring,
bottled water, coffee, food, vitamins
otc remedies, antibiotics, vaccines
playpens, windows, plastic bins
microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal
bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks
eyesight, hearing, speech, mobility
a good night's sleep

Thank you Heavenly Father for all these and much more.

Thinking Spring

I've added mini roses to my windowsill.

Keyboard

This is a picture of the keyboard my husband bought for me last summer. I used to have a Hammond organ. I loved playing it. I havent played this keyboard for awhile, because my hands hurt and I have trouble forming the correct chords. Even so, I must get back into playing it even if I just keep playing the same easy songs over and over. Making music makes me feel good.

Cross Stitch

I have been doing a lot of cross stitch lately. I finally finished my little Christmas ornaments. Now I can finish some other projects.

Unusual sighting

Today something very unusual happened. First I saw a lot of robins, about 8 or 10. Then they flew away and two blue jays came down. Then I saw the squirrel running all over and up into the trees. In my backyard I frequently see deer and sometimes rabbits but I rarely see squirrels. What a treat for me!

Spring

I am so ready for spring. Winter hasn't been that long, but I'm still tired of it. Easter is 41 days away. I love Easter eggs, daffodils, birds singing waking me up at 4:00 in the morning, milder temperatures, the excitement of new life. Part of me dies in the winter, and comes alive again in spring. My plan this year is to go for walks again in the park. I pray that my legs stop giving me problems and allow me to do that.

Repent

After reading the Bible all the way through, I believe the key word is repent. Pharaoh didn't repent, even after all those plagues including the death of his son. I think Jesus would have forgiven Judas if he had repented. In the book of Revelation, during the tribulation, people will not repent and turn to God.

Jesus said: "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 3:19-21

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph. 2:4-6

Repent, trust Christ, and be saved!

Christmas rules

1. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Don't leave him out. It's His birthday. Don't forget to read the Christmas story in your Bible. Put some money in the Salvation Army kettle. It's the least you can do.

2. Don't spend too much. An inexpensive gift given with thoughtfulness and love is more valuable. Remember if you charge it you have to pay it back.

3. Don't wear yourself out doing too much.

4. Don't expect too much.

5. After Christmas, write down how you want next Christmas to be, and plan ahead.

6. Don't forget to say

Merry Christmas!

First Class

I am so proud of my step son Paul jr. After only 6 years in the Navy, he has made First Class Petty Officer! He will be stationed in Norfolk, Va.

My personal Christian testimony

I thought it was time to give you the story of how I was saved. I grew up as a Catholic. I was baptized in Holy Ghost Byzantine Church. At the age of eight my family moved and joined a Roman Catholic church. There I made my First Communion. I did not need to be confirmed because in the Byzantine church you are confirmed at the same time you are baptized. I loved being Catholic, of course I didn't know anything else. I loved the church, the prayers, the Mass. I loved God. I spent my little allowance on religious children's books that I read. I didn't need to be reminded to say my prayers.
As I grew, I started questioning the church, about the pope being the leader of the church because he was just a man, and about saying your sins to the priest, and other things. So I quit the church. I was married in the United Church of Christ, and I liked it. But, I started having anxiety attacks about dying and going to hell. I knew I was not good enough to go to heaven, and I did not want to go to hell where Hitler and other bad people were. I was so afraid to go to sleep, I might die in my sleep. I had attacks anytime during the day. It was bad and I didn't tell anyone.
God put into my hands just the right book for me. It was a book called "Are you saved? If not, why not?" The question was a good one. The answer: "No, I am not saved, but why not?" I knew about Jesus, that He died a long time ago, but I didn't know that He died for me so I could go to heaven to be with God. He already died for me! He took away all my sins. Well, the Holy Spirit came into my soul and turned on the light, and I understood, and I got saved that very moment. You see, I couldn't save myself. I loved God but I wasn't saved. I needed it to be personal. That's what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Now, I can say "Yes, I am saved, because Jesus saved me." I know I will go to heaven to be with God, and Jesus, and all the other believers. If you are not saved, why not? Let the Holy Spirit turn on the light and believe that Jesus died for you, personally.

My eLouai doll

Since everyone else is getting one, here's mine.

Restaurants

I always knew there was a difference between bars and restaurants. Bars serve alcohol with food on the side. Restaurants serve food with alcohol on the side. I am reading J. Vernon McGee's books "Thru the Bible". He gives an illustration about this. He said once he drove all over the city for a restaurant that didn't serve beer, because his evangelist companion wanted one. They finally found one and the evangelist got sick on the food. Nowadays, it's really hard to find a good restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol. He says, "Separation from the world does not mean that you cannot go into a restaurant that serves liquor." I agree with him. I think, what will people say if they see me coming out of the restaurant? "She had a meal." What will they say if they see you coming out of a bar? Probably, that you were drinking alcohol because people go into bars to drink alcohol. That's the difference. I don't drink and I never have. I used to go into bars with friends, but I always felt very uncomfortable. I don't belong there. I believe the Lord convicted me about that. It was wrong for me to be there.

First Snow

Well, tonight was our first snow of the season. It came down heavy at times. I was glad I didn't have to be out. I don't like to drive in it, especially when I don't have a good car to drive. The car I drive is not a good car for snow or ice. The snow is covering the ground. Some people get to move away for the winter. Sometimes I envy them. It's going to be a long winter. :(

Happy Halloween

My husband Paul and me in 1995.

Me and my grandchildren Jess and Andrew in 1996.

Love Me or Leave Me

I just watched the movie Love Me or Leave Me with Doris Day. She played the famous 20's singer Ruth Etting. The dvd also has two short movies R. E. was in. Ruth Etting sang nothing like Doris Day, but she did have a wonderful, sweet and bird like voice.

Red tulips

Fall can be pretty, but I long for spring.

Pink tree

Daffodils

Laura Ingalls Wilder

I read a wonderful story about Laura Ingalls Wilder in an old copy of Ideals magazine. I loved her books and of course the tv series, Little House on the Prairie. I will give you one of the paragraphs from this article.

Late in life Wilder wrote a letter about how much the world had changed since her childhood. But she saw some things as constants. Her words describe in perfect simplicity the philosophy that lay behind each and every one of her books: "The real things haven't changed," she wrote. "It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and to have courage when things go wrong." These plain and truthful words embody the spirit of Wilder's writing, certainly, but they are testaments to something far greater--the spirit of the American pioneer. Wilder's philosophy, after all, was not unique or of her own invention. What makes her books so very compelling is not that they are the story of one family, but that they tell the story of countless nameless, faceless pioneer families who lived and died without notice, but whose courage and perseverance opened the American West and shaped our nation.