SIMPLE WOMAN’S DAYBOOK…one more week of June

My own version of the Simple Woman's Daybook for today…

Outside my window...lots of cumulus clouds floating by, gradually joining together to become some scattered thunderstorms later in the evening I imagine.

I am thinking…Laziness overtook me late in the day… should have gotten myself out of this chair and gone to camp meeting at our church’s campgrounds…it’s beginning tonight.  (Different preachers for the next four nights, giving us their input on Matthew 25 and our ‘going’)

I am thankful for...having lunch at Red Robin’s with friends and CollegeGirl today, then spending the afternoon ‘talking’ about ‘stuff’ as she’s in between semesters…she’s working on a few  ‘TV show’ and ‘film extra’ sets…some pretty good part-time work; and, she’s met a couple of ‘stars’.  Or, I should say they’ve met ‘my star’…yea, that’s better!

From the kitchen...the hand-cranked ice cream bucket is waiting for its bath before going back to the basement…maybe I’ll keep it upstairs for a while and make another batch.  The peach/vanilla was AWESOME!…and there are leftovers

I am reading...FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (WWII Iwo Jima flag ‘raisers’)

I am creating...a crocheted baby outfit for a little girl that will be arriving in July. 

Around the house...my guest room continues to call out to me to ‘empty me, please!’.  It’s my ‘put it here in the interim room’ and the interim has run out, I believe.

On my MP3 player this week...talk radio…

One of my favorite things:  finding a really good recipe that is easy to remember.

One of my least favorite things...watching the squirrels eat the bird food after the raccoon destroyed the ‘squirrel stopper’ bird feeder.

 A Simple Grace Note: Our new pastor preached his first sermon today; it’s a bittersweet time (our last pastor was here 12 years).  Will begin ‘praying our new pastor up as he and his wife transition.

My simple devotion:  Freedom is ours in Christ…no need to hide ourselves behind a veil.  Christ as our intercessor, sits next to His Father (physically) while showing His ‘whiter than snow’ face speaks loving Words to cover our ugliness…this IS grace.

2 Cor. 3:15-18   ^“Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers “Israel's” hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

A Picture to Share:

1/2 can condensed milk

4 peeled/chopped peaches

tsp. vanilla

4 c. soy milk

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. Splenda

Thirty minutes of churning …MMMMMMMMM, good! 

SECOND VERSE, LOUDER THAN THE FIRST!

HELPING SPREAD THE WORD...

DOUGLAS COUNTY TEA PARTY

THERE IS A SECOND VERSE IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST...

HELP SPREAD THE WORD...WON'T YOU??!!!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."Blessings,

LET FREEDOM RING..God Bless the USA

When I was a child, I had a hero here and there...especially those out of 'comic books'...a wonder-world of make believe.

What child has not dreamed of putting on a patriotic suit, slipping into knee-high boots, strapping on magical wristbands and flying off to 'save the nation, save a baby, or beat up on the bad guy' ?!!

As I became and adult I would occasionally drift off into 'la la' land with heroes on TV, or in the theatre.

The grown-up stories written for these 'larger than life' men and women seem 'more real' now because of their dealing with events and situations occurring around the world.

Yes, Jethro is one of my faves indeed!

But I have to remind myself...they ARE NOT REAL

...they are FICTION.

Today, as we celebrate our country's Independence though...it brings up very REAL realities for our family

...for one who is serving

...making a difference for my freedom TODAY.

He IS real...IS one of my heroes

...like Coke, He's THE REAL THING!

We're so proud of Him and pray God's provenience over every step, every decision, guiding him and keeping Him safe, to bring him home!

There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, LIEUTENANT!

MAY GOD ESPECIALLY BLESS YOU TODAY!!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS & MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Joining Charlotte for SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS' MEMORIAL WEEKEND EDITION...

Who are your heroes?  

I have a couple in my life at this particular time...

Each for a very different reason

Each are my "NOW" heroes.

The first is a family member serving overseas NOW.

My stomach gets in knots pondering what or who he may be enduring today...

I can't imagine his mother's feelings. 

When a family member is serving, your views become much more tender.

His second tour came quickly (seems like yesterday he explained how he had closed his head wound with super glue to continue his mission).  

He's my NOW hero for serving our country, 

and fighting for oppressed peoples' freedom. 

...living bravely his NOW.

My second "NOW" hero is our 2 1/2yo great niece...

enduring many heart surgeries in her brief time on this earth.

There some times are bad days, physically

yet she'll still have a smile on her face when you enter the room.

She has a love of life, people and time that is so "IN-THE-MOMENT"

God talks to us through her as she walks her tender life road in her NOW.

Dear Jesus, 

Make yourself known in a powerful way while he is serving our Nation's cause through his dedication and convictions.

Keep him safe in his goings and comings, as well as his decisions.

Let him feel the comfort of our prayers and Your Holy Spirit holding him.

Continue to preveniently walk ahead of my niece and her family.  

Grow her little body and her mind to KNOW the plans you have for her.

May she be a witness to what You have done in her life.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.

I pray you have some NOW heroes in your life, too.

p.s.  if you're looking for a giveaway:

Grammy Girlfriend  will be having 10

She'll be drawing on Wednesday, May 27, in honor of Parker's 10th birthday!

10 winners with some great prizes

For every comment left in the month of May, your name will be included in the drawing. The 10th person drawn receives the GRAND PRIZE (box of Disney goodies).

Anyone sharing about the giveaway on their blog will get their name entered 10 EXTRA times. 

Be sure and leave Grammy a comment letting her know you mentioned the giveaway.

GUIDE "HER"

Joining Thankful Thursday commenters, click TRUTH4THEJOURNEY

I'm thankful for: American Sign Language , which is a form of communication I've been enjoying learning since I was a child. Getting to communicate with a girlfriend's family when I was in grammar school started it all.

Over the past few years, I've met many kids and adults along the way who cannot hear--and I just love watching their faces as I'm sharing my "sporadically-learned" hand language with them!! Needless tosay, I often have to slow them down because my skills are way "under par".

But for me really, it is one my "rejoicing" tools to praise God...especially when I'm singing. Giving my praise more fully with voice, face and hands.

Many times I learn from the books I own and often I view GodTube and YouTube to see the latest ASL praise songs on video. Please view one of the best videos I've seen recently...Shannon McMullen's YouTube version of God Bless America (1min34secs)...simple, sweet, and to the point!

Lord,

Will you continue to "stand" beside us

and "guide" us...

every day as we walk America's path to the future.

Give our leaders soft hearts

and open ears to hear your Spirit's guidance

as they work for this nation.

Amen

U SHOULD LOOK AT THIS...

To the right in my margin, there's a link to a recent youtube.com video...by one of our heroes who knows of what he speaks. Please watch it...

How would you address our candidates if you had the opportunity?
I pray we all take VERY SERIOUSLY the issues we have as a country, take VERY SERIOUSLY our freedom to VOTE, and read, listen, talk, and make an INFORMED decision when you get to your polling place in November.

Lord, I thank you for our men and women who sacrifice time with their families voluntarily,

who have lost limb and life for their nation.

In turn we're able to freely walk, worship, work and care for our own and others around the world because of our FREE enterprise system.

Forgive us for not giving You our whole hearts.

Remember us as we seek your forgiveness, your salvation, your sanctification of us as we grow and learn more about You.

Thank you for our strong leaders who have held steadfast in our past and I pray we have the courage to put the right people in office in Washington,

by showing up at the polls and voting. May our future leaders continue our legacy of right, truth and compassion for our own people and people of the world, Your world. Amen