It's not about me..It's not about me.....It's NOT ABOUT ME!!!.(at least in theory).
I am an idea person but i have to keep telling myself that HE IS GOD AND I AM NOT!!!
I have my ideas of how things should go and i present them to God, and He consistently says NO to MY PLANS!!
What He has been showing me lately is to be ready AT ALL TIMES!! If we are available whether we feel like it or not, our lives are continually being "interrupted" by God!
He tells us to be ready "in season or out"
Last Sat. i was happily and quite mindlessly wondering around Steins. Out of the corner of my eye i saw someone pass me and i did a quick look again..just as she did.
She said "Laurie??" Is that you? i recognized her then from a WAY long time ago...21 years! I asked her how she was and she started crying. i gave her a hug and asked if she wanted to talk. She replied " i need HOPE" she had breast cancer 7 years ago, and was past the "danger" phase. She was given the choice of a tummy or back fat "tuck" for reconstruction and thot' that was her big decision.. but when she went in to the DR. he found that the cancer had come back, and was basically given a death sentence ..not by one, but 3 Dr.s. needless to say she was devastated. we talked, cried and prayed together for about 45 min. right in the middle of stein's. Everyone needs hope and God says in his word that He is the God of all hope. she had surgery on Wed. please pray that Lynn will have peace, hope and a Christmas miracle!! i almost missed an "interruption" by God in my life cuz i was so filled with My agenda!
i am so grateful i had the opportunity to be an ear and a heart for my friend...i certainly didn't expect that but i will try to not be so focused on me and be ready!!!God takes our availability and gives us His ability when we are ready.in season or out!!!

what a great lesson i learned today!
i have 14 children, with one set of twins... a boy (or young man) of 23 and a young woman of 23.on sunday afternoon.all of the family usually gathers here. i cook BIG! i love it when we are all together.with a few extra friends!
Christa started talking to me about how she and Justin (her twin) would start working together on things around the house .......like cleaning the yard, shed, etc.............
There is truly POWER in words! God says "Life and death are in the power of the tongue"
Prov.18:21
Words really are alive...
the old adage of "sticks and stones may break my bones , but words will never hurt me" is a LIE!!!!!!!!
i saw 1st hand the living power of words on Sun. as Christa shared about her and Justin! He was NOWHERE around. after Packer game all the boys go out and play football.. well, the very next day....after Christa mentioned about working together...... she started to pick up the yard and Justin cleaned out the WHOLE shed! YUK!!! i am thankful. but it wasn't because I mentioned it.....I didn't! Words are alive and they hold POWER!!!!!!!!!!! LIFE OR DEATH!!! that's pretty amazing !
Lord, help us to speak things that are encouraging, and breathing life into people ( and situations) and may we be sensitive to HEARING and RESPONDING appropriately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

busy, busy dreadfully busy................that's life for everyone i know.
I need to be careful and intentional in my life or i will be turning so fast i'll take off!
For all of us there are seasons in life...mine is busy. an accronym for busy is being, under, satan's yoke.
i/we need always to remember it's PEOPLE that matter (as i look at my dirty floor) not the need to be or try to appear to be...perfect! i might be impressive for a second or two but i'll always flub up!
the point of this writing is to encourage me and you to choose to take time to REALLY LOOK into someones eyes, go to lunch with a friend or a shut-in, talk to children.WOW! they really are wise!... they do not choose worry and fear over fun, friends and fellowship! i need to be more mindful of this as i tend to worry about..children, finances, home, mom, school what to cook etc. etc. etc.
God in his wisdom has said in Phil.4
"Do not be anxious for ANYthing.BUT in EVERYTHING with prayer and thanksgiving make your requests to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ jesus".........so as the song says "don't worry, be happy"!!!!

i have come to the conclusion that in every family there's a "rabbit", a "tigger", a "pooh", an "eyore", and "piglet". in fact i guess if we were to look at our circle of friends we'd find the same mix! the author Milne of the Winnie the Pooh stories was brilliant!!!!!!!
i think we as families have a good mix of personalities, so we can learn how to work with and love people that are different than us!

remembering............. when matthew was a baby. he's 22 now, so, about 20 years ago i learned a valuable lesson!
i woke up and prayed that prayer again... "lord, let me be a blessing to someone today"
on this day, i was babysitting a few extra children, and an acquaintance stopped by with her children. she told me she had been praying about being able to help someone out.now, my friend is kind of melancholy in temperment so she's hard to be around sometimes. on this particular day tho' i had been so busy attending to people that i really didn't take extra notice! well, my friend happened to look on the couch and Matthew was laying there and started to go into convulsions! i freaked out and did everything wrong! i grabbed him and he was HOT..so i brought him to the sink and started to pour cold water on him to cool him down. apparently,it put him into shock and he stiffened up and stopped breathing! i called bill and he told me to get to the hospital! we only live a block away, thank God!
i told my friend she was going to minister to me and watch all the kids.then i asked her for her car keys! i did have my car in the drive ,but forgot! she gave me her keys, i put matthew on my lap and looked at my sweet angel baby and cried out "lord, i know you love him more than i do" and i yelled at matthew "COME BACK"
i got to the hopital and they took him immediately his temp was 106. SCARY!!
a nurse came and held my hand the whole time that they were running tests and trying to get his fever down.(angel)???
his fever started coming down and they got him breathing regularly so after the nite, they sent him home. We never knew the cause of this convulsion and other than singing about a dinasaur (NOT BARNEY).it was denver we never knew the cause!
the neat thing was .someone had annonomously sent us a check a few weeks prior to this incident. no note explaining.nothing. my first reaction wasn't joyful i got a "what are you preparing us for feeling" in fact, that is what i asked GOD. after 2 weeks of nothing tho' i started to think new curtains, rug? lots of ideas.
the amount that was sent to us was TO THE PENNY what the hospital bill was! isn't God good? and beyond this my friend had her prayer answered and so did i! God id JEHOVAH- JIREH meaning in greek the Lord Will provide..He still does! what is your need? He's there!!!

What a great day!!!!!!!!!! no expectations....... just anticipation! BRING IT!!!!!!!
wonderful! great weather and it may even end with a date with my husband...........full moon, too! whoo-hoo!

WOW!
so many beautiful days in a row!It's amazing!!!!
I was just thinking about last Fall, it was long and lovely!
Bill and I took the smaller children on a walk...........it was a trail at Wirth Park.
I had warned the kids to stay on the trail as it was swampy and filled with burrs!!
well.you know what happens as soon as you say that, right? Elisabeth saw something...like a pretty leave sooooooooooooooooooo... the other kids caught up to Bill and I and said Elisabeth needed help! We turned and looked at her and if she hadn't been so distraught it would have been hilarious! She was wet, muddy and FILLED with pokey burrs> She couldn't move because she'd get poked!
This is not the time to say "I told you so" so i contained myself!!
One of the kids ran back to the car to see if anyone had left clothes there..that's another story..how DO they accumulate in vehicles?? We painstakingly tried to remove the burrs from her and Amy did find a pair of my son's basketball shorts and a t-shirt (he's 6'5".she's 12 and approx.5") we had to strip her and ended up throwing the clothes she had on away. Her hair(long long hair ) took a long time to brush out later!
Wellllll, we continued on the path and i noticed so many trees that had just fallen over. there roots couln't go very deep as it was so swampy.At the end of the trail we noticed huge old oak trees. They were beautiful and stately! When we got closer we saw tons of acorns on the ground! It was such a good word picture and lesson for me i was in awe!
Isaiah 61:3b
"They may be called Oaks of righteousness (lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God) the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" There were SO many acorns the squirrels were all fat and didn't even want all of them! I thought, "god, you are so good" these trees are old and still bearing good fruit!
That's what we're called to do..........stay on the path (GOD'S WORD) obey Him and be protected from the arrows of enemies (burrs) and let our roots grow deep on the foundation of God's word and our earthly families and continue to bear good fruit!!!
how's that for a simple walk in the woods? I wish i would've had a camera! Besides the beauty of the season my daughter looked "gangsta" in her brother's big clothes!!!
have a fruitful day!!!

i will figure this blog stuff out eventually.i accidentely set up 3 blogs just trying to find the one that i originally started! i hope this gets easier!
so... today's lesson is DO NOT COMPLAIN!! how do i know this? guess...yep. EXPERIENCE! i was whining about something to my husband and girlfriend last nite and the first thing i read this morning was on the power of the tongue! got me!!! the bible says "life and death are in the power of the tongue". just like a tiny rudder steers a ship, our tongue steers us! ouch! "complain...REMAIN
Praise..be raised!
this is a good challenge for me because i don't want to become a bitter woman. i want to be joyful and helpful.not whiny and hurtful!
i do love laundry and dishes and this home! i love my family and friends. i am grateful for the opportunity to serve! i am so glad i live in this era with all our conveniences. looking forward to fall and football and cooking BIG! life is good! i hope to be a positive powerful influence with a GOOD WORD for people!!!
there's no place like WI. with our variety of weather................. how's that for a start?
heaven help me....

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood!!!
Must have some coffee, soon!
Thinkin' bout' my Mom.she's 90 now. she needs a walker and has dementia, yet is still the sweetest person around. my children have been richly blessed by her as i have ! this year has been memorable as wev'e spent more time with her as she gets more needy. The kids have learned to sit and listen as my mom repeats a story for the 10000000000000time and act like it's the 1st. they have learned how to be compassionate and GIVE care and time instead of being takers. my mom has benefited also (even tho' she can't remember names) she recognizes LOVE! she has had manicures by the granddaughters, foot soaks, fingernails HOT PINK YEAH!! she would only ever wear clear before! ha the girls are choosing! they allow mom to keep her dignity and have a blast because they are working together!
i sent my 9 year old to keep g-ma going because as much as they love each other the sparks fly! i tell her nathan keeps her young! we don't know how much longer we'll have mom ,G-ma around but we are so grateful for the lessons she's taught us without knowing it! love you mom!!!
for others who are entering the phase of caregiving...it is hard, inconvenient, humiliating at times .....but DO NOT MISS IT!!! these lessons teach us how to live and give and it boomerangs back and blesses us!!!!

what do you do with the "I WANTS"?? especially when you have the DON"T HAVES"??
i got the new "Chico's catalog in the mail today...And I WANT EVERYTHING IN IT! when does That happen?
then i was looking at a magazine and i saw the new Martha Stewart "Trousseau" bedding collection
and i wanted that too.not to mention new furniture, new roof, it all looks good about now!!
granted Some are needs, but not most!
after 28 years of marriage and putting pressure on my poor husband, Bill,
wev'e come up with a solution...kind of.
i will show Bill what "I want" and tell him to buy it for me as soon as we can afford it. can you guess how many things iv'e gotten?
after i show him and leave it in his hands, tho' i can (try) to let it go. i know he'd give me the world if he could!!
i am blessed beyond reason with a great husband and friend! Relationships PALE in comparison with STUFF. soooooooooooooo if you get the I Wants" like i do share it and literally put it into his hands and see what happens. you just never know! he could surprise you BIG TIME!!
enjoy each other .stuff is nice but then you have more to maintain, too!

School has begun once again......mixed feelings!!
it was a flury of activity this morning , then silence! it's exciting and sad both at the same time! i am not one of the moms who can't wait for school to start. i take summer very seriously and try to relax, refresh and PLAY! (especially at the beach)
here's a poem i wrote that describes my feelings!
Settle In
Endless summer, oh such bliss
the warmth of the sun as it gives me a kiss

long days of relaxing and playing in the sand
The picnics, and walks...of course working on my tan

Airs getting crisper
days are getting shorter
autumn is coming the breeze seems to whisper

i don't want summer to come to an end
it saddens my soul, like losing a friend

the sun and the beach relaxing and fun..they're fading away. Autumn has come!

It's a new season- a time to begin

footballs and jackets smells of wood burning
are obvious signs that the season is turning

the trees wear bright colors of red, yellow, and brown
their beauty is stunning as they show off their crowns

i snuggle deep in my covers and realize with a grin
i am starting to enjoy this new season and have begun to settle in!

well, the packers are playing, fall's in the air,the busyness of life seems to have taken me there....i need to focus on today not worry about what may be and really see people when they're right in front of me!!!
today i prayed, "Lord let me be a bless ing to someone today" i guess i just never know how God will answer or if i will listen! i didn't realize that God wants us to really BE there for others and it really takes obeidience to listen and DO... if we pray it...why wouldn't He respond??
well, today was a day much like many of mine ...filled with laundry and errands, and BUSYNESS!!
i heard a loud crash and went out to investigate.. an accident with a truck and trailer and a little car...3 guys were out talking and i saw a young lady standing nearby. i started going toward her and then reasoned that she seemed o.k. so i turned away. i took another look and this time my body responded before my mind...... i really felt the urge to just give her a hug but hesitated a second then went to her and offered my help...(as if i could do something). then i couln't help myself and gave her a hug..told her whatever she needed i'd be willing to give! well she came to the house and asked if i meant what i said..she needed a ride to take a c.p.a. test within 5 min.i gave her a ride and another big hug..shared some scripture from God's word of His great big love
she recieved what i told her and called me later to let me know how much she appreciated me jusy being there!
so after all has been said, the reason for this entry is to encourage you to be intentional and let you know God really takes your prayers seriously!!!! God bless you!!!