It is truly amazing how so much good and bad can come at you at once. An unexpected bonus can make you smile, you break a favorite necklace and you are sad, your granddaughter tells you she "just couldn't listen today, Nana" and you giggle inside knowing that she truly is her mother's daughter and bound for greatness, a dear friend and part of your family lays in a hospital dying of several infirmities that you have no power over, also knowing that if you could go there and take their place to save your family of their hurt you would be there in an nano second, because you hurt too. Then there is the joy of watching the children get all excited for the holidays, and again, a second loved one in the hospital waiting to hear path reports for their future. In a moment of respit, I was priviledged to sing last night at the women's "Simply Beautiful, Evening in December" at our church - to hear a wonderful description of how God takes us from a lump of coal and refines, works, polishes, buffs, and then marvels at the beauty of a diamond that He holds so dear. He says that He takes splender in us.

Last night Kristi had us all exchange her gift of coal for an imperfect diamond, literally. It was a piece of cloudy glass shaped in the similarity of a large diamond at least the size of an egg...... I will find a way to wear that diamond as a necklace to remind me that I am still in process with the Lord, imperfect yet soooo valued.

I know the good will always come with some 'bad' - I know I cannot fix everything or make it work - it can be hard, though. I want to be in Arizona holding my brother and his family for as long as I need to, I want to be with Ginger, encouraging my sister her and the family, giving all of them hope and peace. The good will come. He promised. I trust Him.

On any given day - with any given situation - I may need to get that coal back to remind me of how God values me amidst the oily, blackened, hard to wash off, self of myself.

I am in love again with Darlene Zschech of Hillsong....... check out this link to a Christmas song she did with Nigel Hendroff...........WOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerxZDq-58k

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family.....

As stated above, and stamped on our hearts.....
we wish for you and encourage you.........

"Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. "Prov 4vs 25-27

I love you more than peanut butter.....

" Nana........I love you more than peanut butter! "
This is the last thing Jeremiah said to me before I left for a Scrapbook Convention in Seattle. I promptly called him a day and half into the event and told him " I love you more than scrapbooking!" and he kinda grunt-laughed like he did not in any way believe me!!!
Alison then grabbed the phone and said," Hi Nana! My birthday's coming up, you come to my house?"
Hosanna is jabbering in the background. Krystal is just up and about feeling "full" of kicks and giggles if you know what I mean!!
I couldn't get thru to Aaron, altho I know he knew I missed him, too.
I did get to talk to Kevin a few times, that was n-i-c-e!
I must be getting really sentimental in my days, or maybe just really grounded to the 'spot' God has me in. I missed them.


The convention was SUPERDUPERFABULOUSLYAWESOMELY needed and appreciated! (thanks husband)!
I'll update with project pictures and a news bulletin with some changes in my life in regards to my love for crafting!!

Call your kids today - any age, tell them how much you love them.
They already know, ......... or do they really?

Diabetes Mellitus - Type II

Diabetes:
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced, so that glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body. Symptoms include frequent urination, lethargy, excessive thirst, and hunger. The treatment includes changes in diet, oral medications, and in some cases, daily injections of insulin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So here I am in another phase of life and lifestyle changes. However, I now have some answers to questions that I have had most of my life.
The diets that I have been sooooo faithful to ~ yet always failed at,
the fatigue, the headaches, the weakness, the constant thirst....... etc.,
The course of action is not fix all or immediate cure. It took years to get my body this way, it will take time to get it healthy. Like everything else in life, we get acclimated to a situation and it can be a struggle to change.
I have been strongly encouraged to focus on myself and get this under control before advancing from an Rx to injections. And I will.

This brought me to a place I was not comfortable with. The whole idea of being sick and unable to enjoy my adult children and their families and their life's adventures~ put things in a perspective I cannot ignore.
If you click on the album cover to the right ~ Sanctus Real, you will hear my current theme song that brings it to a place of clarity. The words are pure and true. I hope when you take the time to close your eyes and really listen you will find the abandonment and surrender for you life in whatever is going on. Health, Family, Job's, Children, and even just your walk as a believer....
I know that we find our strength in weakness, which does not make us weak, only stronger for our faith in relying on Him..... So, here I go....getting a healthy body to pursue a healthy life .......!

Back from the Scrapbook Retreat with a storm of a head cold! But gearing up for convention in Seattle mid November.
The retreat was just that, a retreat. I was able to concentrate on my projects and have quality time with Krystal and Lori and Shiela. Oh, I love them all, I just wanted to be sure that I could focus on each of us for more than a few minutes at a time!
As I have begun to dive back into work and life at home I found myself realizing just how 'needy' of things I have become. We recently unloaded a storage pod into the living/dinning room and I looked around to see a lot of things I had'nt needed or used in the last 6-9 months. Some are seasonal and you just can't throw Frosty or Santa away in June!!
Still, I hold on to that which is true for Kevin and I, ....."My God shall supply all my needs....." Now I am finding myself walking towards truly living what I hold on to.
So, Krystal and her little family are doing well. The baby is simmering just fine and she is plumping up just right! The children are such little individuals and glorious gems!
Aaron is preparing to get to Chicago by way of Florida(!) and pursue his vision for artists without insurance. By the way, if you think this Mom and Dad can still be snowed by their children, well, let me just say that it is no harder to find out what is really going on with them at 25 than when they were 13-15! Especially when the come home to do it!!!
He's a great young man with great anticipations. I know the Lord has a plan and Kevin and I have opt'd to step back and get out of the way for close to two years now. Hard, but really wonderful to watch Aaron grow into who he is, thru the bumps and lumps, ramen noodles and lack of loose change for laundry....... so wonderful. We hope to find ourselves better parents as well.

Enjoy your week, be thankful for what you lack, a job that helps supply your needs, at least one person in your life that would give you a hug, and so very
importantly, a God who loves you unconditionally.....................xoxo

Are you my friend........

Encouraging WordWednesday 10/1/2008
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.~
John 15:13, NLT
Friends - - how close are we?
We offer to pick their kids up when they are running late, water the lawn when on vacation, bring the salad to the BBQ, stand with them in their time of loss, trust them with confidences as if they are prayers.......... would we lay down our life for each other?
Do we know and understand the definition of 'friend'?
Is Jesus our friend like the people you're thinking of now -you call friend- Do we really trust him like we do the people we see face to face on this earth?
Maybe our relationship with the Prince of Peace needs some maintenance, honor, integrity, commitment........
I know mine does .........
How blessed we are. How privileged we are to be able to speak the name of Jesus in this country with praise and conviction.............without fear.

-- Be Blessed as you Bless others.....RobbinGaye