I Decided to Stay Home!

Even though I did spend some time at church today doing some things, I have spent most of the day and night alone. :(  Shelley, Bob, and Matthew are at the hospital where Bob's dad has been admitted for tests and Terry is heading up a committee that is putting on our church's "BIG BUCK DINNER" tonight. The dinner is a lot of work, but it turned out well last year and probably will be enjoyed by the men again this year. So I am home alone which gives me time to write, but is also a little lonely. 

I helped place the programs for the dinner tonight on the tables. I have been laughing inside because when the men put on a dinner, it is so "different" from when women do one! I mentioned that the napkins were on the wrong side of the plate, and I was told that "men" like them that way because (if right handed) the fork and knife are right there and they don't have to "cross over" the plate to get them. I'm really not making fun, I'm just amused! Their decorations would not be tolerable to women either. Terry made stands for all kinds of deer heads and moose heads, and fish bodies. Kind of gross!  They didn't use any centerpieces - I thought that the tables could have used them - but, then I was thinking, what would they use? They give away prizes like rifles and deer scent, etc. I'll have to think of a good centerpiece for the tables next year - if you have any good ideas to go with the decor, let me know. Maybe vases of arrows! Too tall! Maybe bare tree branches sitting in bullet shells.  Maybe deer blinds made out of popsicle sticks! I'm on a roll! 

I shouldn't make fun of the men. They really enjoy this time together! Did I mention the kitchen?Believe me - you don't want to see it - especially AFTER the dinner is over!  I served at the dinner last year not knowing that we were also expected to clean up the kitchen after the dinner. Now I have cleaned up after MANY banquets and dinners at church - and even enjoyed the fellowship and the work. When I walked into the kitchen last year after the Big Buck Dinner, I about had a heart attack!! I really never thought that the kitchen would be clean again. It really was a huge job to clean it. The men did chip in, though, and it did finally get cleaned! This year I decided to stay home!  :) Even though it is lonely, I'm glad I did!

I Love Trees!

I love trees! They are one of my favorite things! I think that they are especially beautiful when covered with snow. We have surely seen a lot of that this winter! Even though I am anxious for spring, I will miss the beauty of all of the snow covered branches. I really have enjoyed all the snow this winter. Snowflakes are amazing in themselves - they show the wonderful creativity of God!

Some of my favorite Bible passages are about trees. One of the first sections that I ever memorized was Psalm 1. I remember memorizing that chapter when I was only about eight years old during Wednesday Bible group for the children at our church. I memorized it in the KJV, but I like it better in some of the newer versions.

Psalm 1  (NLT)  "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."

Second Grandchild

I have been daydreaming a lot lately about our second grandchild who is on the way. Shari and Mark are expecting their first child. He/she is not due to arrive into the world until late August or early September. I find myself picturing what he or she will look like and be like. I like to think about it being another grandson, but then I also like to think about it being a little granddaughter. I know it will be one of those! :)  It is hard to picture loving another grandchild just as it is hard picturing how you could love another child the same way you love your first one. But then the baby is born, and you just love it. Every child is different from the others, but when he or she is yours, it is special and your heart is big enough for more than one. I am looking forward to holding and loving this baby. I love being a grandma - my first experience has exceeded my wildest dreams and I know that my heart is ready for another sweet baby. I just thank the Lord that he has given me this opportunity to know and love my grandchildren.

I am trying to pray for Matthew and the new baby daily - what their characters will be like, who they will marry, that they will come to know the Lord early in life and be strong in faith. It is a big responsibility to be a grandparent. Grandchildren look up to their grandparents and I want to be worthy of that - which means that I have to change a lot, too. I know that the Lord is growing me and changing me. I want to be someone that my children and grandchildren will remember as being someone who loved people and served the Lord. I also want my children and my grandchildren to know and feel that I love them unconditionally. 

PSALM 89:1  "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever: with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOB!

March 4 is Bob's birthday. Bob is our son-in-law and is married to our daughter, Shelley. They have one little boy, our little grandson, Matthew. Bob is very special to us. He is helpful, thoughtful, generous, AND he puts up with us the many times we call to come over or even when we just DROP BY! He has never made a face when he opens the door and sees me standing there unannounced. I try not to overdo the dropping in part, but I must confess that sometimes I do it. Bob is a very kind person. He is a loving husband and a good father!

 

Bob is one of seven children. He has three sisters and three brothers. His mom and dad live in Arizona, but visit Michigan periodically throughout the year. They have a home in Washington Township for when they visit here. His sister, Carol, lives nearby, and his brother, Tom, and wife Lisa, live in the area also in the house that Bob grew up in. His sister, Mary, and family live in Kentucky, and his brother Mark's family lives in Arizona as do his sister, Annie, and her family and his brother, Bill, and his family. Bob is a sports fan. He has been a Lions fan even though the Lions haven't had a winning season in years and years. But I like that about him! He is loyal. His favorite team, though, is the Boston Red Sox. He has followed them for many years and has always enjoyed watching them play. Bob, we hope you have a wonderful birthday today. We love you. You are a wonderful son-in-law! We are so happy that you are a part of our family!!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

My mother lives in Wyoming, Michigan, with her husband, Roy. They have been married for almost a year and seem very happy. They are living in Roy's very nice home. Roy had been a widower for about three years before they married. They met at their church, and it was a whirlwind romance! I am so glad that my mom has someone who loves her and will take care of her. She was a widow for over fifteen years and was lonely and  not really happy being alone. Her birthday is March 1, and I know that it will be a nice one because she has someone to share it with!  I am sorry that I can not be there to celebrate with her, but the weather did not cooperate - lots of snowy days this year. The weather has been even worse in the Grand Rapids area than Detroit area. Hope your birthday is a great one, Mom!

Eclipse of the Moon

Did anyone see that fantastic eclipse of the moon last night?   I could kick myself for NOT getting any pictures of it! I have NEVER seen the moon look that clear!! Because of the orange and pink on it, it looked more like a ball up in the sky than just a circle. There were three stars, planets (I'm not sure, I think Saturn and Regulus are two of them) around it in a triangular pattern - just spectacular! I almost didn't go out and look, but Terry prodded me - glad he did! I hope that I will  see it again (December 2010).  I just bet my sister Carol got pictures of it - drat! Mine is from the internet!  :(   It looked exactly like this.

HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE

Last summer while in Florida, we decided to visit

the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. We were

very skeptical that it would be "worth it", but we

were very pleasantly surprised! It was beautifully done!

It was a gorgeous day and periodically through the day

there were live plays on the grounds. These were

done by some very talented people who were not only

good actors, but they all had fabulous singing voices.

We saw about four plays while we were there. Seeing

the whole place and eating lunch takes a whole day.

They close at five, so we actually did not quite see

everything. (Possibly because we spent a lot of time

in the wonderful book store that is on the grounds.)

The grounds were just beautifully landscaped,

and we ate our lunch outside. There are many

buildings on the grounds. There are several presentations

besides the plays. We saw an interesting presentation on

the tabernacle. (Very well done and informative!)

One of the most interesting buildings that we visited

housed a scale model of Jerusalem during the time of

Christ. It took up half of a large room. There was a

presentation by a man who told about some of the

buildings and some interesting facts about the city.

We had a great day there, everything there was very

God honoring and I highly recommend it as a good place

to visit. (The book store is to die for!) I thought this would

be a good day to write about this since it is about 20 degrees 

in Michigan today and supposed to snow AGAIN! I miss

Florida!

Cost: $30. per person and $5. to park

Weight Issues

For thirty some years I have been struggling to lose enough weight that I feel healthy and look better in my clothes. I have been on several diets, some more than once, and I guess I would have to consider myself a yo-yo dieter. I have lost 45 pounds, 35 pounds, 27 pounds, etc. over the years. At present time I do not weigh the most that I ever have weighed, :), but a few years ago a doctor told me that I should be at a weight that agrees with the "charts" for my height and frame to be healthier. She told me that even ten pounds overweight, with bad cholesterol and a couple of other issues can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, alzheimers, heart disease,etc. The older I get, the more I realize that I need to watch my health NOW before I have major health problems and try and prevent them. I have good intentions most Sunday nights, but by Monday morning I just don't seem to care. I get twinges of guilt here and there, and I also don't feel my best many times, but I just seem to put eating healthy off until "tomorrow". So I decided I would write about it on my blog, since it is mine, and update each month how much I have lost on a certain day of the month. I won't tell my weight since you could care less - but maybe someone else will join me and/or it will encourage another person to do the same. So...starting today, with the Lord's help, I can do better! How about you?  I will post my results on the 1st of each month.

(or not!)

Winter in Michigan

This is a picture taken from our from door this morning. Today is another dreary, gray Sunday in Michigan! It seems we have had quite a few of them this winter. It has been raining on top of the snow and freezing to make for a slippery day. At least today we can be at church and be with friends and worship the Lord! The Detroit area doesn't usually get the full brunt of the bad weather like cities closer to the lakes. I am actually thankful for the seasons in Michigan. When you get tired of one season, you know that another is on the way! And spring will soon be here! I enjoy the spring and fall most of all, but the snow in winter can be beautiful, and the lazy, hot summer days are nice, too. The definite change of the seasons is one thing that makes Michigan beautiful - even the Detroit area! We have a lot to be thankful for - some people only have the hot sun all year long! (ha!)

"Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter."  Psalm 74: 16,17

Leap Year

30 days hath September

April, June and November

all the rest have 31

save February with 28

but once in four

has 1 day more