It’s been a full, busy week so there hasn’t been much time to post. Today is the one day in the week that I have nothing planned for the day. But, that could change by 9 am at which time I’ll be calling my Mother to see if she needs me to come and sit with my Daddy. He was in the hospital this week with a liver infection. He needed two blood transfusions. He’s home now but very weak. So, I may need to go and sit with him while my Mother grocery shops, which I don’t mind at all!

So, I thought I’d share a few pictures to let you see what’s been happenin’ around our homestead!

We’ve been irrigating our front pasture every other week to keep it green. My son has been putting up a fence around the front pasture. We’re hoping to rent the pasture out soon plus we’d like to get some cattle to raise for ourselves.  The grandkids think it great fun to splash in the water as it first fills the field. One time my grandson yelled, “LOOK A LOBSTER!” My daughter in love and I went running to see and it was a crawdad! *Smile* He was right, though, because it DID look like a small lobster! I love to open my back screen door off our bedroom when we go to bed so I can hear all the bullfrogs out in the field. They sing SO loud! It helps put me to sleep!

I finished my newest grandson’s baby blanket! My daughter was surprised and seemed to love it! Now, I need to get busy and catch up on making a few more blankets for grandchildren that didn’t get a baby blanket. I’m praying life will allow me to do so.   Somehow I’ve fallen behind with our move and all that has gone on the past few years.

Here is my newest grandson with his Mama. The family gathered at my home on Tuesday for my 49th birthday. It was such a nice afternoon. The girls made the dinner so I didn’t have to do a thing. My daughter made my favorite birthday cake and my daughter in love made homemade ice cream. Yum! Everything tasted so good. I think food always tastes better when you don’t have to cook it yourself.

We finished the evening with a dip in the pool. It’s been so hot that the water was warm, just like bath water. My second oldest grandson is learning to swim. That’s him swimming from the ladder to his Daddy. He’s so proud of himself!

Yesterday I went to a friend’s house to work on a surprise video for my husband’s 50th birthday. Sshhh… it’s supposed to be a surprise. I’ve collected nearly a 100 photos from the time he was first born until recent and she is helping me put them together in a video with songs. She made one for her parent’s anniversary and it was so beautiful! I’m praying mine turns out just as well.

That about completes the week except for tomorrow when I’ll be heading over to watch two of my grandchildren. My daughter has several doctor appointments.

Hope everyone is doing well!

The Lord bless and keep you!

Georgene

 Our business financial situation, humanly speaking, is a bit shaky. We operate a trucking company…well, need I say more?????    The cost of fuel and insurance is putting many small business owners under. Talk around our home these days consists a lot of seeking God’s wisdom in handling our finances but also more and more talk about what we may need to do if things don’t start changing in the next few months.

As always the Lord teaches His children in the midst of difficulty. This trial is no different. Just this week I was given a beautiful example of trusting God in the middle of adversity.

One of our church members found her daughter in law had died in her sleep this past week. Their family lives with our dear Sister so this was especially hard on her. There was no warning. She went to bed the night before and didn’t wake up the next morning.

I arrived at the home while the police and coroner were still there doing their investigation. There was a lot of grieving, sorrow and crying as you can imagine. She left behind 3 children and a husband. The two older children were trying to deal with the situation the best they knew how.  But, in the midst of all the crying and grieving there was this precious little 3 year old just playing with his cars and going about his life as he had every other day. He wasn’t worried or fearful. He was in a place of security and trust knowing he was safe.  I thought to myself what a blessing it was that he was so young and unaware how his life would be forever changed by this one day.

This ‘word picture’ of a child’s complete trust continued to minister to me over this past week. I thought of the Scripture that exhorts us to like children in regards to faith.

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. Mark 10:14-15

I desire to display this same heart attitude towards the financial situation we are now facing. I have a heavenly Father who KNOWS and sees all that is involved in my situation. He has promised to never leave me. He has promised to feed and clothe me. This is a promise He has always kept. He has promised to work ALL things together for my good and His glory. I have a choice to make each day. Will I believe that His Words are true and live my life as a child who has a loving heavenly Father who is caring for her? Will I leave the working out of tomorrow in His hands? Or will I fret and worry and seek after meeting my own needs just as the unbelievers do who do not know a heavenly Father? Mt. 6:19-34

It’s a decision I must make daily… sometimes minute by minute!

 ”Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Matthew 6:31-32

I’m thankful to still have my Father on this earth to honor today! But, more than anything else I am thankful to God that He saved my Father’s soul several years ago.

My mother took my Sister and I to church nearly every Sunday in our younger years. But, I can never remember my father entering the church doors. As a young boy he was  raised in a Lutheran church and attended their school. He observed  hypocrisy that turned him from church altogether.

No little girl could have asked for a better Daddy. No wife could have asked for a better husband. Yet, I knew that if my Daddy died I would never see him again for He had never repented of his sins and made Christ His Lord.

I had 3 opportunities to share Jesus with my Daddy over a period of maybe 8 years. He would come to my home regularly to help me with our home business accounting books. The Lord gave me 3 doors of opportunity to share the Gospel  but each time his answer was no. I can remember so many times crying and begging God to save him.  I’m not sure why the urgency for his soul would hit me while showering but that is where I did most of my interceding.

Then one summer day he had come to my home for a hair cut. As we sat out in the yard under the cool of a large mulberry tree I had one more opportunity to share Christ. This time his heart was ready. He repented and accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior. His conversion was real.  I’ve watched his love for the Lord continue to grow. He now faithfully attends church with my mother and is involved in several ministries.

I learned a valuable lesson concerning his conversion. I thought that nothing was happening in my Daddy’s heart between the times I shared the Gospel. It looked hopeless! But, now I realize that the Lord was working only I couldn’t see it.  Just as the growth from a seed sown in the ground is not seen until it breaks through the top soil, so the growth of the seed of faith remains hidden until it comes forth in conversion and confession of faith.

Have you ever prayed and prayed for something that was so important to you? And then to have the Lord answer that prayer? I can remember so many times after my Father’s conversion being in church together worshipping the Lord and my heart would be so full of joy that I would cry rivers of tears! Thankful tears to a God who hears!

Who is the godliest woman you know ‘personally’?

I’d love to have you share what it is about their life that qualifies them for this honor.

Good morning! I hope everyone is well! A cold has been sweeping it’s way through our family members the past few weeks. My sons children passed it to my daughter’s family and somewhere along the line I caught it. So, since I’ve been weak the past few days I’ve used the time to sit more and work on my grandson’s baby blanket. I also started a new project to give away at bridal showers. 

Do you remember me telling you about a child training booklet I made using index cards? I typed Scripture verses on child training and quotes from a few good books and printed them out on blank index cards. I found a lovely picture of a child pouting in the corner online which I used for the front cover.  The local office supply bound them with a spiral binding and a clear plastic front and back cover. The entire project costs less than $8.00, including a stand I purchased for it at Walmart.

So, now I’m making the same type of booklet for bridal showers. I’m combing the Scriptures for instructional verses on marriage. A few topics will include communication, sins in communication (anger, bitterness, pouting,etc.) being ‘fruitful and multiplying’, dying to self, the marriage bed and finances. I plan to have several of these finished and ‘waiting’ in my gift closet.

I have a few closets in my home that I’m thankful for when it comes to gift giving. Gift giving is an important act in our family. I know it’s not in every family but my Mama trained us girls from an early age to ‘give’. Not only of our time in helping others but in our talents through gift giving. When we were in elementary school she began teaching us to crochet. We’d make potholders for Christmas time to give to the Aunts. She promised to teach me to sew when I turned 12. I could hardly wait! I ended up making a lot of my clothing for school the next year. I’m thankful for the skills she taught me. They’ve saved me a lot of money over the years!

Craft Closet:

1. Button Box: Oftentimes, my husband will wear a shirt to the point that it’s faded or too worn to pass on. Instead of throwing the whole shirt away I will cut off the buttons. I have a round tin box where I keep my buttons. You know, the kind you get shortbread cookies in at Christmas time?

2. Sheets. I use sheets for the back of some of the quilts we give away to the homeless. I save older ones I find in good condition. I also will buy sheets from Walmart to use on the back of quilts I make. The cost of the sheet is much cheaper than yardage.

3. Mattress covers: I watch for these at garage sales. I can use them in place of batting in a small baby quilt.

4. Old Jeans: I save old jeans to make quilts and also to patch a pair of jeans that have a worn spot or a tear.

5. Scraps of material: I save all my scraps of material if they are not too small to use in other quilts or for doll clothes or crafts.

6. Old blankets: I use these in place of batting in a quilt if the blanket is not too heavy. I only use these for quilts I’m going to ‘tie’ and not machine quilt.

7. Old quilt and craft magazines: I have a box full of old quilting magazines and craft patterns I’ve collected over the years. If I have a birthday coming up I can scan through my patterns for ideas.

Gift Closet:

1. Bows and Wrapping Paper: I save comics from the Sunday paper to use for children’s gift wrap. I also save tissue paper from gifts I receive. If it’s wrinkled then I iron it and it’s good as new. I save and reuse bows if they are in good condition. I keep the bows in one of those large popcorn tins that come out in Christmas. They keep them from getting ‘squished’. This has been a habit that has been passed down in our family for years. I remember being instructed as a child not to tear the gift wrapping so it could be reused!

2. I try to frequent the dollar stores at least once a month. For ten dollars or less I can pick up some great buys for ‘fill in’ Christmas or birthday gifts. This past month I bought Disney pencils, Disney crayons, a colorful garden stake with butterflies for the flower bed, sachet hangers for the closet, Strawberry Shortcake watch with changeable faces, a colorful Activity Scrapbook and  The Jungle Book from Disney. All for a dollar each! In times past I’ve found nice quality men’s socks, children’s tea sets and scrapbooking items.  I keep my eye open for olive oil type bottles with a design. One time I found them with the fruit of the Spirit. I put a ‘drizzle’ top (used for olive oil bottles) on them and give them as gifts for dish soap.  These can also be found at the dollar store.  They look so nice on the kitchen counter.I also purchase all my gift bags and tissue paper from the dollar store.

3. I place the gifts in labeled boxes. I have one for children, men and women. This way I can find an item quickly if I need a last minute gift.

 My new plan is to have a baby quilt already made and waiting in my gift closet for the next baby shower. Then, I’d like to make a wedding quilt to keep on hand.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. Prov 18:16

 Many will entreat the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6

I Jn 3:16 -We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The Christian life consists of dying to self ….. my life for yours! But, how often do we think of this principle when we dress ourselves each morning?

 Try to think of it this way…. if God commands a man to not lust after a woman then a Christian woman has a responsibility to dress in a way that will not tempt him to break that command. This is true biblical love. My life for yours!

Matt 5:27-28 - ”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;  but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Can a godly woman say that she is fulfilling God’s command to love others when she dresses in a way that tempts a man to lust after her?  What are the thoughts she is hoping will come from the men that see her? Is she wanting them to think she is godly woman who lives for God? Is she wanting to help them live a holy life? Or has she given in to the world’s way of thinking  that seeks to attract a man by looking sensual? Which attitude display a godly motive before a holy God? 

The second greatest command is to love our neighbor as we already love ourselves. Mt. 22:39

Let’s make a commitment to show our biblical love for men by dressing in a way that helps them obey God’s commands to not lust after a woman.

This is one of my favorite hymns. It’s sung to the tune of “Be still my soul.”

O give us homes built firm upon the Savior;
Where Christ is head and counselor and guide;
Where every child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified;
How sweet to know that tho his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!


O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each find joy in serving others,
And love still shines tho days be dark and grim.


O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master;
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to every tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that’s vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.


O Lord, our God, our homes are thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If thou art always Lord and Master there;
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor
Be Thou our guest, our hearts and homes to share.

I’m reviewing a series of Scriptures I memorized years ago while going through Self-Confrontation Manual by John C. Broger. The Lord has brought these specific Scriptures to mind more than once in many different counseling situations. I thought, perhaps, you might want to  memorize and review them with me.  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

When I think of my sins and weaknesses in regards to the training of my children (and now grandchildren) it can make my heart tremble with fear! How many times I failed as a parent I cannot even comprehend. My heart yearned with all the love I knew to train my children in the ways of the Lord yet I know all to well the failings involved.

Yet, I must remind myself where my hope lies!  Is it in my own works and efforts to train them or in the saving power of Jesus Christ? When I take my eyes off myself and fix my gaze on Christ (Heb. 12), there I find rest for my soul and peace of mind! There alone lies the power to rescue my child’s soul from the grip of sin that has him bound from his conception in the womb.

By faith…… housholds were saved, children were conceived, children were hidden from destruction! By faith! (Hebrews 11)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for… the evidence of things not seen! (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith… our duty in child training!

Heb 11:6… And without faith it is impossible to please {Him}  for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and {that} He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

“Only believe, must be written on the doorposts of our homes.”    Andrew Murray

I headed for home late Friday afternoon after spending the week at my daughter’s helping with her new baby and other 2 children. What fun! Exhausting but FUN! My new grandson is so adorable and such a good baby. We bonded immediately! We had just a few nights where he was not on schedule and kept Mama up quite a bit. I think one night he had a little air bubble and the other night may have been due to my daughter eating too much salad. Other than that he pretty much is on a 2-3 hour schedule.

I did lots of laundry, meals and was able to clean her floors and dust. Her In-Love’s are coming this week so the house will be clean and they can just enjoy holding the baby along with a few loads of laundry and meals. Wednesday was my oldest grandson’s birthday so I made cupcakes for him to take to school and then homemade ice cream and chocolate chip cookies (his request) for a celebration when he came home. His cousins came for the evening and they enjoyed playing on the slip and slide. It was fun being able to ‘putter’ around in my daughter’s home. The atmosphere is very relaxed and loving. She is such a patient Mother. I thank God that I never have to be concerned for the safety of my grandchildren knowing that she isn’t given to undisciplined anger in her correction of the children.

My son-in-love said one evening, “Mom, how can we ever repay you? If we bought you flowers and took you out to dinner that would not be enough to thank you.” I replied…. “All I ask is that you do the same for your children someday!”

Not much more news right now. Just the daily round of my own household duties, in which I  am so thankful! I hope to get caught up on my Xanga reading this week. I missed hearing from you! Blessings to you all!