God's Sovereignty

Thanks you Pastor Rob for this AWESOME message on the Lies of the Enemy and God's Sovereignty!

I would encourage everyone to listen to this message here. It is a true encouragement!

News from the animal front

All Things Bright and Beautiful

By Cecil F. Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

This is just a small portion of the poem or hymn written by Cecil F. Alexander. You can read the entire poem here.

I have quite a menagerie at my house. I grew up around animals and have had a pet of one form or another as far back as I can remember. I just love animals.

I have a bit of news concerning a couple of my pets. Firstly, a bit of sad news. My parakeet, Bluey died today. She was very old, at least 10 years, if not a little older. That is pretty old for a Parakeet!

This is a picture of Bluey and her mate Spock. Bluey is on the left and Spock is on the right. (Kind of obvious because of her name. LOL) It is a comfort to know that she died of old age and not of some disease or from neglect.

Bluey had quite a life, and the word that would best describe her is "fighter". She and Spock were given to me around 7-8 years ago. I'm not sure how old they were when we got them. They lived happily in our dining room for around 5 years. Then, in 2007 we finally finished our basement, and I moved their cage to the family room downstairs. All the time they were upstairs, she never laid an egg, but within a couple of months of moving them downstairs, she laid 2 eggs and successfully hatched them on the floor of her cage....I was surprised to say the least!

At the time of her first clutch of eggs she was at least 6 years old, that is advanced maternal age for a budgie!

A few months later, she laid 7 more eggs, 5 of which hatched (this time in a nest box). She was an excellent mother, and she became a "single mother" when the chicks were around 2 weeks old. Spock literally worked himself to death caring for Bluey and the chicks.

With the addition of so many birds (now a total of 9) Scott built me an aviary.

A year of so after Bluey was in the aviary, I notice that one of her legs was swollen and she wasn't putting any weight on it. I just figured she had gotten it caught in the wire on the aviary and had sprained it. I watched her closely for several days, and then she started putting her weight on it again, so I thought all was well. I did notice, however, that the swelling was still there.

A few months later, I noticed that same leg was bleeding, so I took her out of the aviary and put her in a hospital cage. The leg looked really bad. I medicated her as best as I could. I cleaned the leg, and administered antibiotics. She didn't seem to be suffering at all. I kept her in the hospital cage for several weeks, but the leg just wasn't getting any better, in fact it was getting much worse, but Bluey didn't seem to mind at all! She was eating good, and was quite cheerful. One morning I went to check on her, and her bad leg was GONE! What I eventually figured out was, the swelling was actually a tumor, and Bluey "self-amputated" her leg. She literally pecked the skin off all the way around just above the tumor. So now I had a "peg-legged" parakeet. After a few more weeks, when her stump was completely healed, I put her back in the aviary with the other birds. She lived a normal, happy, parakeet life with the flock. She learned to balance on her stump when she was eating, and she perched with one foot.

About a year ago, she started having more problems. She was losing strength in her remaining leg. During the day when she was awake she was fine, but at night when she fell asleep, she would literally fall off of her perch to the bottom of the aviary. So, I set up a "retirement" home for aging parakeets in a separate cage. She had food and water within easy reach, and she had a special perch that she could rest her entire breast on to relieve the strain on her weakened leg. Her cage was right next to the aviary, and it was so sweet, the other parakeets would fly down and hang on the side of the aviary to visit Bluey every day.

Friday afternoon I was working and Olivia came in and said "Mom, Bluey's on the bottom of the cage, and her feathers are all fluffed out." That is NEVER a good sign in birds, and I knew her days were few. Today, while we were at church, she died.

I will miss her....

Now for a bit of news that's a little more humorous. Our third dog, Pepper, has not yet been spayed. We got her when she was a year old, and her previous owner had not spayed her when she was a puppy. We've been planning on getting her spayed, but as with everything else, we had to wait until we had the money. Well, finally last week we decided we were in the position financially to get her spayed, so on Wednesday, Scott called and set up an appointment. Well, guess what? Wednesday night......she went into heat! So, now we have to wait for 3 weeks until she is out of heat to have her spayed.

Since she sleeps in our bed at night, we have to put a diaper on her, for obvious reasons. They actually sell doggy diapers for this very purpose, but in our small town none of the stores carry them. So, we bought some size 1 baby diapers and cut a hole in the back for her tail!

The only problem is, because she is such a slender dog, she has no hips to speak of, and she is such a smooth haired dog, the diapers kept sliding off. So, my very ingenious husband figured out a way to make doggy suspenders using mitten clips and elastic attached to her harness. It works really well too! So the following few pictures are of Pepper sporting the latest fashion of diaper suspenders.

She actually really hates them, and refuses to walk when she has it on, so I wait until just before bedtime to put them on her. She's very patient though, and doesn't fight me when I'm getting her rigged out.

Hoodie Giveaway

Wild Olive Tees is hosting a hoodie giveaway. A group of moms who love the Word of God using a unique way to "proclaim his name".

His compassions never fail.

It is a very trying experience to have continuous pain. I suffer in some way just about every day. Most recently it is ulcer-type pains (gastritis) in my stomach. It is one of the things that bothers me from time-to-time. I do not know what causes this pain, and I do not know how long it will last. I am confident, however, that eventually it will subside. Until then, I am trying not to despair, and I am trying to stay focused on the truths in God's Word.

My devotional this morning was entitled "Remembering that God is Faithful", and the verse that it focused on was:

Lamentations 3:19-23

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall.

²⁰ I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

²¹ Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I believe that God's Word has the answers for any situation, and I believe that there are no coincidences with God. It was not a coincidence that my devotional was a reminder of God's faithfulness, right when I needed the reminder!

"The truth of the matter is that all we have to do is live long enough, and we will suffer." Quote from a book I am reading called "How Long O Lord?" by D.A. Carson

It is not an easy thing to accept that in this life there will be suffering, but it is such a comfort to know that God is compassionate and faithful, and will see me through my suffering. It is also a comfort to know that this life is but a speck in time in comparison to eternity. When I get to heaven to spend eternity, there will be no more suffering or pain.

Pickles versus life

I found this comic at gocomics.com. I had never heard of it before, but I am really beginning to love it. It gives me a chuckle every day when I read it! I also find if humorous how it seems to mirror my life. Does this mean that Scott and I are an "old married couple" already? LOL

This one caught my eye in particular because of the reference to almond milk. With my dairy allergy, almond milk is a particular favorite of mine. I think you should try some too!

Pickles

One of the joys of working from home is that there are some days I stay in my PJ's all day! Also, I have been known to walk to the mailbox in my robe...but we live in the country so chances are good that nobody would see my anyway! :)

February Frolics

February is a busy month for us.

1.) February 12th is Scott and my Wedding Anniversary. This year we celebrated our 17th Anniversary. We don't ordinarily do a whole lot for our Anniversary. The weather in February is usually bad and we never have much money for a babysitter, etc., so most years we just stay home.

This year, however, we decided to go out. The kids are old enough to be home for a few hours alone. We went to South Bend to Shipshewana on the Road. It was a fun time. I had never been before, but have always wanted to go and since it fell on our Anniversary this year, it seemed the perfect opportunity. I told Scott that it must be a sign of my maturity (or my age) however you want to look at it, that I strolled through all those booths and didn't find anything I wanted to buy!

After that, we went to Target and Kohl's and the Christian Bookstore. I think Kohl's is my new "favorite store". They have TONS of clothes and most of them are on sale! Even up to 80% off! I got myself a pair of dress pants and 2 nice tops! Then we ate dinner at Chick-fil-A. We got some take-out at McDonalds for the kids, so I wouldn't have to cook supper. It was a very nice day! It had been a very long time since Scott and I had spent the day together alone, and it was nice!

I told Scott that for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, I want to take a trip...just the 2 of us. Just for a couple of days. Travis will be 16 and Olivia 14. They will be old enough to be alone for a night or 2, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with them alone for longer than that! I'm thinking about having Scott plan the whole trip, and surprise me!

2.) Valentine's Day: Because our Anniversary is 2 days before Valentine's Day we have always just combined the 2 events, so our day out was also my Valentine's gift.

3.) The 18th is Travis's birthday! This year he turned 13!!! I still can't believe I have a teenager in the house!

I think I still have few more years of my "little boy" though. He still wanted a theme this year (he picked Sonic the Hedgehog). And he still wanted toys for presents. I'm glad, because I think he is growing up too quickly as it is!

We didn't really have a "party" per se', but he did want to have a couple of friends over to help celebrate his becoming a "teenager." Of course his sister Olivia was there.

And his cousin who lives next door, Curtis. Curtis is going through the "don't take my picture!" stage.
And his best friend from church, Emily Feece was also there.

For Christmas a friend gave me a calendar that has a different Bible verse for each day. I think it is very appropriate that on this day the verse was:

Psalm 37:23-24

" The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down

for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand."

That is my prayer for Travis. That he will grow up to be a good man that delights in the things of the Lord, and that he will know that he is held in the hand of the Lord.

The rest of the month will be fairly quiet. But that's a good thing because March brings Scott's birthday, April brings my birthday and Easter, and May brings Olivia's birthday! So the next few months will be extra special in our house!

Pickles

Technology Madness

I found this comic to be especially funny! And so true!

I have a love/hate relationship with technology.

I hate talking on the phone, so naturally I love e-mail.

I hate that my children spend so much time either on the computer or playing their DS, but I love the moments of quiet that it brings when they are occupied with things they enjoy. I have recently had to put some tight restrictions on the use of their DS's. I think it is a pretty good sign that they were abusing the privilege when I have to call them 3-4 times before they would look up from the game; and chores, playing outside, and even playing with friends began to take a "back seat" to their games!

I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the technological age. Several years ago, when it first began the "norm" for most households to have a personal computer, I thought it was ridiculous...."why? I have a typewriter, we don't need a computer!" When my husband finally got a computer (this was before internet), I have to admit, I did find it more convenient than a typewriter or writing letters by hand.

When Scott started making "noise" about getting internet, I thought... "We have a telephone! There is no reason why we need the internet!" Who knew that years later, my children would be enrolled in an online school, or that I would take a college course entirely through the internet, and now have a job working from home that is entirely done through the internet! I have never even personally met my boss!

A couple of years ago, my sister told me I should open a Facebook account. I thought..."Why? I have no interest in that type of thing!" Who knew that through Facebook I have reconnected with friends I haven't seen in years, and am able to keep up with them almost on a daily basis!

Through the internet I am able to research topics to enrich my children's homeschooling. I am able to listen to radio programs such as Revive Our Hearts, or classical music from countries across the ocean. I am also able to have my heart and soul uplifted through amazing sermons online.

I still think that there is a time and place for technology, and that it needs to be kept in perspective. Like everything in life, it should be used in moderation, and with care.

I still have my aversions to too much technology. I just recently got a cell phone, to be used only when I am going somewhere...in case of emergency. And, I have no interest in learning how to text! But..... *sigh* OK....I have to admit......technology isn't such a bad thing after all!

Happy Valentine's Day

For Better or For Worse

(click on the comic to enlarge it)

Seventeen years ago today Scott and I were married. When we said our vows we meant them... For Better or For Worse! Thankfully, there has been more better times than worse and more health than sickness. We have never been rich in the monetary sense, but richer than kings in our love and commitment for each other and to God.

It's been a great 17 years, and I look forward to the next 17!

Garfield Grins

This would definitely be Scott's thoughts as well! LOL

Lenten Season

I've always thought of things like Advent and Lenten as Catholic traditions, but I've recently discovered that many protestants celebrate these things as well.

A couple of years ago, I bought the kids these disposable Advent Calendars that had a piece of chocolate under each window for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. They had so much fun with those that I did it again this year. I couldn't find the ready-made calendars in the store, so I made them myself. We made it a part of our daily devotions time, and it was really wonderful. Before next Christmas, I plan to make an Advent Calendar that can be used over and over. I got this idea from a friend, and am planning to make one. Or I may make this one.

I was listening to Revive Our Hearts radio program yesterday, and the hostess Nancy Leigh DeMoss mentioned that they will be celebrating the Lenten Season with special programming starting the first day of Lent (March 9th) and running until Easter. They will be going through the book The Incomparable Christ by Oswald Sanders, and will follow the themes covered in that book. I am planning to get the book and listen each day as they go through it. I also got to thinking Lenten Season would be a nice thing to incorporate into our homeschooling, as I did with Advent. So, for the next couple of weeks I will be gathering information and ideas to do with the kids during this special time. If any of you have any ideas, please leave them in the comment section. I can use all the help I can get!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and rightly so as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but I think Easter (though it doesn't get as much "commercial" recognition) is even more important. It is the time that we remember Jesus' purpose. We remember WHY the "babe in the manger" left the perfection of heaven and came to this sinful earth. Why he took the form of a frail human. It was to die for sinners like me, who was given forgiveness when I don't deserve it. THAT is something we should remember, not only at Easter, but every day!

Gratitude for Grace

"Thank You, dear Lord, for the beautiful way You teach us. Thank You for Your patience when we fail. Thank You for Your understanding in the midst of all our own confusion. Thank You for reaching down to us when we would never have reached up to You. Thank You for stopping us when we were running in the wrong direction, for setting the hounds of heaven after us. Thank You especially for Your grace. For by grace we have been saved through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. What a great reminder." *Charles Swindoll*

I have been reading my daily devotions from Insight for Living by Charles Swindoll. The above quote was taken from today's devotional called Gratitude for Grace. The part that stood out to me most was God's patience when we fail. I'm so grateful for that because at times it seems I fail more than I succeed. Thank you God for Grace, and for Forgiveness!

Garfield Grins

I always love a good dream! :)

Taking the Power Back

Back in June of 2010 I had an incident where a couple of people (non-Christians) said some things about me that were very hurtful and untrue. I have been carrying this around all this time, allowing it to cause depression.

Today in church the pastor was talking about when people wrong you, and what your response to it should be. He said that when someone says things bad about you (bully you), even though it hurts, you should think of it this way:
1.) Their words and actions are really showing me how truly sinful, lost, and apart from God they really are.
2.) That person is not God....they don't know you the way God does. They do not have the power of God, unless you allow what was said to affect you in such a way that would cause you to sin, or if you allow it to cause you to go into depression. If you do that, then you are giving them power.

That really hit home with me. That is exactly what I have been doing. I was allowing them to continue to have power over me. I am taking the power back, and giving it to God who really knows me.

If you love God and try to live according to His Word there will be persecution, but the eternal reward will be worth it if you continue to persevere.

Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."