Awesome Weekend!

We celebrated the 10th anniversary of our church this weekend.  As I mentioned the adult choir sang with the youth choir.  We had the house rockin’!!  The song Celebration by Kool and the Gang kicked off the service and from there we sang two more rockin’ songs, did baptisms and sang two more songs before leaving the stage.  It is such a blessing to look out into the crowd and see everyone clapping, singing, yelling and praising!  I have no idea where my energy came from, obviously it was from the Holy Spirit, because when I got home I was wiped out and went to sleep.  Today after the morning services, I came home and took a nap before the volunteer appreciation at church.  If I didn’t take a nap, I would have been napping at the table … not a good thing.

But the best thing to top it all off, was talking to my brother’s daughter for a few minutes.  She sounds like my daughter on the phone.  I cannot find the words to express the excitement of talking to our newest member of the family.   And to think, it all started with that dream I had about my brother.   So, Brother … glad you made this happen.

I hope you all have a great week!

New family member

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned we had recently heard from my brother’s other daughter.  I just found out she has a my space page and checked it out.  Her kids are so cute!  I can see different members of our family in her children.  I wish I could be there, however, I’ve commited to sing at the church celebration this weekend at all services.  So this weekend will go by fast, but it will be well worth it! 

If you have a family member that you haven’t seen in awhile, go see them.  If there’s a conflict, put the past behind you and forgive.  In my KLove Devotional, there is this story:

• Telling of his experience as a POW, Ernest Gordon related how after work one evening a guard noticed a shovel missing.  Insisting one of the prisoners had stolen it, he screamed for the guilty party to come forward.  Then he prepared to kill them one by one till someone confessed.  Suddenly a Scottish soldier broke rank, stood to attention and said, “I did it.”  The guard beat him to death on the spot.  When he’d exhausted his fury the other POW’s picked up their friend’s body along with their tools and returned to camp.  At that point the shovels were re-counted.  The guard was wrong.  None was missing!
• What kind of person would take the blame for something he didn’t do?  Christ!  “We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for … how someone … noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice.  But God put this love on the line for us by offering his Son … while we were of no use whatever to him” (Ro 5:7-8 TM).  Think about it: “God … piled … everything we’ve done wrong, on him” (Isa 53.6 TM), hence the only “Mediator who can reconcile God and [man] … stood between God’s anger and the punishment for our sins.  Having lived the life we couldn’t live and taken the punishment we couldn’t escape, He offers us redemption we couldn’t afford.  Now the questions we must answer is: If He so loved us, can we not love each other?  Having been forgiven, can we not forgive?

This really bonked me on the head.  Can you imagine the courage it took for that prisoner to stand up and say he did something, to take the punishment and protect the others?  Can you imagine the guilt the other POWs felt?  Do you think the guard had any guilt after the shovels were re-counted?  I cannot imagine what all of them were feeling.  Just being a POW is too much to imagine, then add on the abuse and beating, it is heart wretching.  Then to think about the beating Christ was given and the torture he had to endure, before they hung him on the cross to die.  Why did He die?  He paid the price for our sins, no matter what sin you and me have commited in our lives, He paid the price so we didn’t have to.  I would love to have that kind of courage and strength to be like Him.  Todd Agnew says it best:

Celebration!

This weekend is Carson Valley Christian Center’s 10th Anniversary.  The songs we are singing are pretty cool, plus they are doing baptisms this weekend.  The best part, is the Adult choir is singing with the childrens and teenage choir again and we get to sing Celebration by Kool and the Gang!  Is this a cool church or what?!  HAH … of course, the adults remember this song when it first came out … it will be hard not to get the 70’s groove thing goin’ when I’m on stage.   I better keep the gyrating hips and shaking top half from getting too wild … I may get kicked out!

So if any of you are in my area this weekend, come join the celebration.  We’d love to have ya there!

What did you do today?

I had my mammogram today … aren’t you glad I shared?  So as a reward for getting squished, I bought a stereo system for our truck.  Actually, we are planning on visiting our oldest daughter and her family in Utah in March, after hubby retires.  Unfortunately, I only have a basic am/fm stereo in the truck and the static drives me crazy.  I was glad the sales person was one of the owner/mgr and he could relate to my needs of only am/fm/cd, nothing else.  Although I had to get one with an MP3 so it will play the CD’s the director makes for us for my alto part in choir.  Should I want to get an IPOD somewhere down the line, there is a hole, that I can plug the IPOD into … LOL … until the IPODs come down more in price, I won’t be getting one soon. 

I’m not sure I really need an IPOD.  Yes, it would be cool to have all that music, etc in my little portable device, but, for me it would definately be a little too excesive.  I’d rather blast my music in the house while cleaning.   It would be too difficult to use at work, since I have to answer the phone and help customers at the counter.

This afternoon is our monthly check up at the docs.  Since he does not need surgery on his back, he is now in physical therapy.  I decided, in addition to my protein shakes and frozen dinner diet, I had better start exercising again.  So, I started with my Tae Boe Tape the other day and Richard Simmon’s sweatin’ to the oldies last night.  Today, since it is my night to help teach the kids at church, I’m going to walk to the doc’s office.  LOL, I hope they have the oxygen ready.  Before you think I am walking a long distance, I’m not, his office is just up the street and I’m riding home with hubby  How bad am I?  In truth, I need to walk off Starbuck’s caramel latte and blueberry coffee cake I just ate. 

Ok, so I needed a snack after I spent money on the stereo.  Yes, it was definately a splurge.  Oh well, gotta splurge once in awhile.  Have you seen the price on stereos lately???   Oh my, I bought the least expensive one there, but there were some over $1,000 for something that goes into a C A R …. what the heck?!?!?!?! 

Oh well, must be my age showing … LOL … well, time to get ready to walk … let’s see, keys, blood sugar reading log, coat, gloves, scarf, oh yeah, inhaler … I will definately need that when I get there.  Whatever you all are doing today/tonight, have a great one.  Hopefully you can see the lunar eclipse from wherever you are.

Ciao!

Boogah!

In a previous post I talked about a dream I had last weekend.  If you remember it was about my brother missing and found in Alaska, however, in reality he died in the early 90’s.  No, I don’t remember when, I’m bad at that.  I only know when my mom died, because it was on Mother’s Day.

Anyway, back to the dream, whatever that dimension is that tries to get ahold of me in this dimension, there usually is a reason.  I had no idea what the reason was at that time, but, as the days of last week unfolded, it was revealed.

I should explain my family first.  I have one brother and three sisters.  My brother and my middle sister of the 3 have died.  So the remaining siblings are my oldest sister that lives in Kansas City.  My sister next to me, lives in Las Vegas and me, the baby who lives in Northern Nevada.  Sometimes our women’s intuition is more finely tuned than we want them to be.  I know, it’s wierd and strange, and we do not tune in on purpose, it just happens. 

Anyways … My sister in LV called and proceeded to tell me that she received a letter from our brother’s out-of-wedlock daughter.  She’s now in her early 30’s, married and has 3 children of her own.  In this letter, she had all the information about brother and asked if this was our brother and if we would be willing to meet with her, so she could get to know her biological father’s family. 

Did we know about her?  Yes, we knew of her, however, we didn’t know anything about her or her mother and it wasn’t a subject we’ve ever addressed with our brother when he was alive.  We even saw her when she was a baby at the grocery store.  I remember her mom, I  liked her and thought she was a really nice person.   I forgot to mention that my niece received information about my brother only one week ago.

Okay, that was surprise number 1, which we are actually excited about having another family member in our disfunctionally normal family.  A meeting has been scheduled to introduce her to the family, minus those of us who can’t make it to LV.   God, give her strength!

Surprise No. 2 – in the same phone call from my LV sister, she mentioned that she has been feeling an urgency to finish our brother’s genealogy.  In addition to his, she’s had this feeling to finish her best friend’s genealogy also.  This friend died in a car accident, many many years ago.  However, she didn’t even know if her family was still in town.  Until … she received a phone call from her friend’s ex-sister-in-law.  Long story made short, there is a box that contains letters from our brother to my sister’s best friend when he was in the army and in Vietnam and wanted to know if she wanted them.  Of course she said yes and we can’t wait to read the letters, since he never told us about Vietnam or anything that he did in the army.  Turns out Brother was involved with sis’s best friend and then something happened … who knows what, life has a way of changing things.

So what does all this mean?  Well … My LV sis is LDS and really into genealogy, came to this conclusion.  Our brother is on the other side, pushing to get the genealogy work done, so he and my sis’s best friend can be together in the afterlife.  If that is the case, I say, good for them!  They were not happy in this world, they might as well be happy in the afterworld!

Who knew, Brother was such a stud muffin?!?!?!?  You go Bro!

Northern Illinois University Shooting

To the victims, family & friends of this senseless shooting, you all are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Happy Valentine’s Day

I hope you all have a great Valentine’s Day.  I know there are many out there that are single or away from your spouse, however, I still wish you a great day.  Why?  Because you are still loved by family and friends.  You are still loved by the One who made us.   You really are not alone, He is always with you even though you may think He’s forgotten you.

I’m not a good card sender on Valentine’s Day, even to our grandbabies.  It is a holiday, however, it brings to mind “candy” which the grandbabies don’t need.  We remember the important days, like birthdays and Christmas.  Days that are meant to mean something special to the receiver.

My husband and I weren’t raised on sending greeting cards to all for every Hallmark moment.  Birthdays in both our families weren’t made a big deal.  Christmas … well, I am usually depressed at Christmas, so that may tell you something about Christmas in my childhood. 

My Sister’s mother-in-law passed away just recently and I got as far as pulling out a sympathy card from my card box and it sits on the counter to this day.  Nope, not signed, not addressed.  So, when I decide to clean off the counter, the card will go back in the box for another time.  How lame is that?  Best intentions, no follow through.  Yes, my sister understands, she is the same way.

Just because we don’t do this, doesn’t mean that we love our family, friends, or grandbabies any less.  We just don’t buy into the hype on every holiday created earlier and earlier by the retail industry.  As I was zooming through the store tonight, Easter candy, et al, is already  on the shelves.  Amazing!   

Dreams

I had a pretty strange dream last night.  It could be the 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich and light vanilla soy milk I had before I went to sleep and/or the strong cough syrup my doc prescribed.  Then again, it could have been that I was lost in Stephanie Plum’s bounty hunter world and didn’t turn off the light until after 1am. 

So, what was the dream already?!  I dreamt that my family hadn’t heard from my brother in a long time and we had just found out he was in Alaska.  My sisters talked to him on the phone but I arrived late at one of their houses and missed the opportunity.  I was really bummed because he is our only brother and was always there if I needed to talk.  I dialed the number they had for him, and asked to speak to my brother.  There was background noise and a little static, but he never came on the line.  The line finally disconnected and I felt so sad.  When I woke, I was still sad and wanted to find the number again to call him.  Then I realized, my brother died many years ago. 

I told hubby about my dream.  Instead of looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, he just grinned and said he was pretty sure brother was beyond Alaska and no phone lines would reach.  Poor guy, he never knows what I’ll say in the morning, awake or asleep. 

I don’t remember what season my brother died.  But it’s nice to know he still tries to visit in my dreams.

Lesson of the day

Have you ever reflected on your day to see what your lesson was?

I just finished my daily prayer journal and I asked myself was there a lesson I was being taught? 

This is my first mandatory stay home day, so I really didn’t interact with anyone, other than the cat and dog.  When my husband got home I had another person to talk to in between my coughing fits. I spent a portion of my day watching the tele. I couldn’t tell you what I watched, shows what kind of impact it had on me.  I also slept and read off and on all day.  But what am I learning from my time being sick? 

Patience is a big one.  As I mentioned before, I don’t mind being home, however, when I am forced to stay home, then my back goes up and I get defiant.  (Yes, I was the same way when I was little!)  Instead of focussing on having to stay inside, I didn’t focus on anything.  I just let my body tell me what it wanted to do. 

Beth Moore, through her video series, is teaching our bible study class about Jesus, the one and only.  It is based on the Gospel of Luke.  Beth has such a way of teaching that makes you think about what it was like then.  Through the daily homework, she wanted to know what we would think and feel, when the Angel Gabriel came with God news.  When he appeared to Mary, a young girl and told her she was going to bear God’s son.  Or to Zechariah when he told him that his wife was going to have a son, and to name him John. 

So what would I think if one of God’s Angels appeared to me in this day and age?  Frightened, amazed, wonder  … to name a few of my feelings.  Would I have the courage to believe and obey?  I sure do hope so. 

Obey … a verb that, in my case, was hard to do when I was little.  Of course when I didn’t obey my parents, a beating would follow. 

Trust … another hard thing to do.  Do I trust others?  I must not have trust in others, since I do not share my feelings unless I feel comfortable with that person.  Do I trust the Lord?  You bet, with all my heart!

So what have I learned today?  To be patient, obey my doctor to stay inside, out of the cold and to trust that I will be healed from this lengthy difficult winter illness.  Not a bad lesson, considering I have been home alone all day, well, you know, except for the animals.  I can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s life lesson will be.

So what was your lesson for the day?

Oh, the days of my life!

I left work early yesterday, since I was sounding like a bull frog.  Today I went to the doc and … yup … sick again.  The last batch of drugs held me through 2 days before I got sick again.  I’m on yet another round of antibiotics and am homebound until Monday.  Doc threatened me … said I have to stay home until Monday!  So, another week of missing my ministry duties.  I really hope this does the trick.  I don’t do well when I’m forced to stay inside.  I start climbing the walls and a craziness comes over me.  LOL … not a pretty sight!

This morning we signed hubby’s retirement papers.  Can we live on his retirement … not even close, however, it is something that he needs to do so he can heal.  We may be living in that travel trailer sooner than we thought!  Actually, it is amazing how I’m not worried about it.  We’ve lived on less before and survived, so this is no different.

I am still escaping to the bounty hunter world of Stephanie Plum.  That is, in between my daily devotional reading, daily bible study lessons, etc.  For someone who didn’t like to read when I was younger, I have been doing quite a bit of reading now. 

This has been such a wierd week and it is only Wednesday.  One of our customers came in on Tuesday and said his daughter’s fiance was brutally beaten and then they drowned him in the hot tub.  I cannot imagine what his parents, family, friends, not to mention the bride to be is going through.  What goes through people’s minds when they do these things?  What creates that much anger or hatred that they would want to do that to another human being?  After I heard this, the next thing that popped into my brain was the brutal beating Jesus took before he was crucified.  Not much has changed in all these centuries.  We think it is the world today, however, people have been so wacked out for a long time. 

When you read the bible you find so many of the same things in today’s world … incest, killings, beatings, rape, lies, adultries, greed, you name it, it’s in the bible.  One would think they were reading a soap opera script.  I suppose it is His way of showing us that these sins have been around from the beginning and through the blood of His Son, our sins are forgiven and forgotten.  I was reading in one of my devotionals I received from KLove and it was talking about forgiving.  We need to forgive and forget.  To sum it up in today’s techie world, we need to forgive and hit the delete button.  He cannot forgive us until we forgive others.