I'm doing a happy dance Today!

I'm doing a happy dance today!

I'm soooo happy very happppppy. I'm on a different Chemo. NOOOOO meds! I feeeellllllll ggggrrrreeeaattttt!

I'll blog all about it later but I wanted to update my blog right away.

4 more Chemos to go!!! Woooohooooo!!!

My Fall Schedule

The school year has started out with a bang! I have two freshmen and a 6th grader still in school. It took me a few weeks to get back into the swing of things but I am enjoying all the action. Bo is in Soccer, he has had two games already. He is on a travel team so we will be traveling a bit. Last week, and this weeks games were home. Next week we will be traveling to Howell. Bo's team is 2-0 so far. This pretty much ties up our Tuesday and Thursday evenings for practice and Saturday or Sunday afternoon games. I just love watching him play.

I've been exercising everyday, I also try to mow the lawn when it needs it and get as much extra exercise in as I can. They say Chemo patients have a tendency to gain weight when they are on steroids. I have still kept my weight to a twenty pound weight loss. Exercising also helps if you are going through a hard time. My spirits have been up and I see things in a whole new light. Even with my boy on his seven months deployment and my daughter being in Texas I am doing pretty good.

My twins are conditioning with their dad for their up coming wrestling season. They condition three days a week. At first, I thought the boy's weren't going to be able to handle it. I really think they enjoy working out with their dad. I'll write about their season when it begins.

Our Wednesday evening programs starts up next week. I won't be working in Awana this year. I'll be taking the year off and going to Bible Study with my husband. I will be helping out in Jr. Choir again this year. It will start up the first Saturday in October.

I have two cleaning jobs that I do now, one of them is on Tuesday and one is on Wednesday. This is only every other week. This is in addition to my 2 motor routes and my Janitors job. I like to stay busy! The extra house cleaning jobs don't affect my family because they are all in school now. I think I have my schedule for the Fall and Winter months pretty well down now.

Yes, I'm still singing on our Worship team at church. We are starting up a new service starting tomorrow. It is a full contemporary service in addition to a Blended/contemporary service. I will be singing on our Contemporary service at
11:00 a.m. each week. I'm so excited to see what the Lord has in store for our church now. I pray this brings in a lot more people. I'll update what the Lord is doing in a few months.

Well, I'm off to my Janitors job.

20 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

20 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and
point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something,

ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label it "In".

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks Once Everyone has
Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write " For Smuggling
Diamonds".

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The
Prophecy".

8. Don't use any

punctuation.

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a
serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go".

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital. And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area and Play tropical
Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend
Their Party Because
You're Not In the Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name,
Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won! I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot,
Yelling
"Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are
Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity .. SMILE>>

Learning to be content in all Areas of my Life

Contentment is a state I want to be in everyday of my life. With the help of God's words I am getting there.

Contentment by William Cowper
(Phillipians, iv.11)

Fierce passions discompose the mind,
As tempests vex the sea,
But calm, content and peace we find,
When, Lord, we turn to Thee.

In vain by reason and by rule
We try to bend the will;
For none but in the Saviour's school
Can learn the heavenly skill.

Since at His feet my soul has sate,
His gracious words to hear,
Contented with my present state,
I cast on Him my care.

"Art thou a sinner, soul?" He said,
"Then how canst thou complain?
How light thy troubles here, if weigh'd
With everlasting pain!

"If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured,
Compare thy griefs with mine!
Think what my love for thee endured,
And thou wilt not repine.

"'Tis I appoint thy daily lot,
And I do all things well;
Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot,
And rise with me to dwell.

"In life my grace shall strength supply,
Proportion'd to thy day;
At death thou still shalt find me nigh,
To wipe thy tears away."

Thus I, who once my wretched days
In vain repinings spent,
Taught in my Saviour's school of grace,
Have learnt to be content.

Contentment

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

"Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?'
And he said to them, 'Collect no more than what is appointed for you.' Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, 'And what shall we do?' So he said to them, 'Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.'” Luke 3:12-14

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition." 1 Timothy 6:6-9

Reasons for Contentment

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23

"Let your conduct be without covetousness;

be content with such things as you have.

For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” Hebrews 13:5-6

Hindrances to contentment

"He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" Matthew 16-23

"...all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:21

"... in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
"...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..." 2 Timothy 3:1-14

His way to contentment

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." 1 John 2:15-17

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...." Philippians 3:20

No man knows the time or the Day!

I won't write about my personal life on this blog today. There are so many wonderful posts giving tribune to the 9/11 victims today. I feel for all the families that have lost loved ones to this tragic event.

We have no assurance today won't be our last day here on earth. We need to live each day as if it were. Those people got up as if it were just another day, not knowing it would be their last.

We have read and heard about all the calls that were made to loved ones from the airplanes and the Towers. We can make a change in our lives today. When we leave our homes, do we have any idea if we will return? We could get in a car accident or have a heart attack, anything could happen.(Do you think those people thought someone would take over their plane, or a plane would crash into their building) Look what happened to my 3 month old baby; I left for work, two hours later he was dead in his sleep.

I am going to start treating people as if this will be the last time I might see them. . I spent a lot of time with my husband and children this weekend. I put things aside that I could do when they were gone to work or at school.

What if you knew today was the last time you would see or talk to your loved ones, friends, co-workers, would you treat them any different? Would you tell them about Christ? Would you be a little kinder to them? Would you take the time to just listen? Would you take the time to call someone you haven't talked to in a while to tell them how much they mean to you? What about that person you might be fighting with, if you knew this was your last day, would you call them to make it right? Would you take time for that "I love you" or "A hug" or when the kids call you do you tell them I'll be their in a minute and never come. When that car cuts you off, (And it will) maybe say a little prayer for that person instead of a curse word?

God tells us in His word to keep watch. No man knows the time or the day that He will come back. I think our lives would be a lot different if we live as if each day could be our last.

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth; he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:36-51).

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' (Mark 13:32-37)

If we examine these passages carefully, it is apparent that Jesus is warning us to stay alert and “Watch!” as we see the Day of the Lord approaching. However, we will not know “the day or the hour.” Do you know this isn’t your last day?

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13).

Ethan's first day of School

There is so much going on since school started but I really don't have time to write about that today. I have to head off to work this morning but I wanted get my babies pictures posted. I couldn't miss taking pictures of Ethan's first day of school. I was just blessed to be able to see all of my Grandchildren that morning. I have to admit it is handy living three minutes away from them.

This is my grandbabies, Josh and Ethan. They are just about to get on the bus.
I couldn't help but capture this picture of my granddaughter, Jenna. She looks so pretty in all of her pearls.
The bus driver was kind enough to let us run across the road and get a picture of Josh and Ethan inside the bus.

Keeping the Romance Alive!

It's Marriage Monday; C h r y s a l i s is the host of Marriage Monday. Don't forget to click over and see what other christian women have to say on this subject!

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My husband's big saying is "Don't they say romance always starts in the kitchen". This is where we spend most of our time. Cooking together and talking while we cook, seems to keep that spark going. Oh, I might get a kiss on the back of my neck as he passes by to get something out of the refrigerator. The mood just seems to carry us through the evening. I love that our children see us enjoying one another. It has kept the "SPICE" in our marriage for over 22 years. Hee, Hee

We don't go on a lot of dates. We still have 3 children at home that takes up much of our time. What we do is; each Saturday morning we set aside time to run errands together. We go to Whole foods, or Krogers, the bank and sometimes even out to lunch...You get the point. We just make sure we set this time aside for one another. I have to say, it really is a time that I have come to look forward to. We normally let the kids sleep-in and it is just the hubby and I.

I think another part to keeping your marriage alive is giving up those little things that don't really matter. Sometimes it means listening to my husband rather than reading or going to sleep. I stopped harping about who is going to take the garbage out. Nagging will take all the romance and fun out of your marriage. My husband likes to know that I think about him when he is not around. Little acts of kindness helps and keeps that spark going. The way I respond to my husband can kill the romantic mood. I really do try to think before I speak.


I also look for ways to serve my husband, not be served. These things I'm mentioning go both ways.


Keep the "FUN" in your marriage. Be silly. Write each other notes or poems, buy little gifts, call just to say I love you, give many hugs and kisses, and consistently encourage each other. A fellow my husband works with divorced his wife after many years of marriage. My husband asked him why? He said, "I wasn't having fun any more". I'm not saying run out and get a divorce if your not having fun. What I am saying is get that fun back in your marriage.

My husband and I have a daily sharing time. We get up early before my husband leaves for work (15 minutes) and just talk. We laugh together, mainly because my eye-balls are hardly open when he wakes me at 5:00 a.m. it is still a time we cherish.

Finally, keep God at the center of your marriage. Read Scripture together. Talk about how God has answered your prayers. How God is working in each of your lives, your families, and how He is working in your marriage. We also like to discuss what we learned from our Pastor's sermon on Sunday. It keeps us close and the conversations flowing.

Happy Birthday to my lovely Daughter-in-law, Jessica.

This is my daughter-in-law, Jessica, my son, Bret, and my lovely Granddaughter, Jenna.

This post is dedicated to my "Best Friend" Jessica; My lovely Daughter-in-Law.


Happy Birthday Jessica!

You keep yourself busy raising my three grandchildren, yet you are always there for me. If it weren't for you, I don't know how far the cancer would have spread before I went to the doctors. You loved me enough to call me over and over again to ask me to please go. I really don't know what would have happened had you not been so persistent. Even using the love of my grandchildren. : )

You are always there when I need you. You are there to listen when I need a friend! You know I don't like to cry in front of people, yet, even through my tears, you haven't looked down on me but have been my support. Thank you for even being there when I lost my hair. I still can't believe that while you were on vacation, you thought of me and brought me all those pretty scarves. I love all of them! Finally, thank you for taking care of my son so well and my three Grandchildren. BTW-Your a good listener too!

Words will never describe how much I love and care about you.
You have been a big support to me for many, many years.

I am so happy that Bret recognized you with such a wonderful Birthday surprise today. A day at the SPA and a Lap Top computer! I can't wait until I see you tomorrow, I bet you are more beautiful (if that is possible) then you were when I saw you yesterday.

Love and Hugs,

Lori

It's that time of year Again!

Every time school starts up I get a sick feeling; I know I won't get to see my children very much. With all of their after school activities, school all day, homework, sports, Awana and youth group, there isn't much free time.

I home-schooled my children for 5 years before making the decision to put them in the public school system. My husband got very ill and was home from work a lot. After months of being sick with bad migraine like headaches, he lost his vision in his right eye, they diagnosed him with a brain tumor. (Prolactinoma) After this, we sent our 4 younger children to a Charter school. I home schooled my daughter until she was going into her ninth grade year. My children ask me every year if they can just be home-schooled again. I know I just don't have it in me to home school again.

I just can't believe that it’s time for my children to go back to school. With everything that has been going on in my life, I haven't spent enough time with my children. I can't believe Boaz (My baby) will be in 6th grade. My twin boys (14) are going into the 9th grade, and my Sailor will be leaving for his 7 month deployment in a week. He said, he would be able to email me some when he is over seas and he will try to call a couple of times. BooHoo, I talk to him almost everyday now. Ohhhh, poor me! It's just going to be another adjustment is all. My daughter has been in Texas for almost a year and a half now. My oldest son is 30 (He is a district manager over 8 Auto port plants) with a beautiful wife and 3 children of his own. I can't believe my middle grand baby is going to start Kindergarten tomorrow. Guess who will be running over to Ethan's house in the morning. Yes, Me! I have to get pictures of him leaving for school for the first time. I pray I don't cry when he gets on that big yellow bus. Little Ethan and I have spent a lot of time together in his little life. Oh goodness, it's not like I won't ever see him again. I really enjoyed our mornings together when the other children were in school. Oh my, am I a whiner tonight. It will take me about a week before I get into the swing of things again.

Ohhhh, I don't like growing up. I think back to the years when all of my children lived at home. Those were some fun times! Enough of my whining and boohooing (is that a word) for one night.

I spent a bit of time today getting everything ready for my boy's to go back to school. I do believe we are all set! It is now time for showers, prayers and off to bed. We have a very early start tomorrow.

Ways we can show our gratitude to God

I couldn't sleep tonight so I went to God's Word. I was looking up different ways we can show our praise to God.

After reading the Psalmists' instruction, I asked myself if I truly live my life expressing thankfulness to God? Or am I numbered among those that are living a life of ingratitude. I pray I never forget who God really is and what He has done for me.

Thank you Lord For leading and teaching me in Your ways, for loving me unconditionally and teaching me to love others as You love me. I want to thank you for my home and the truck that I drive, for running water, for electricity that is turned on by the flick of a switch. For protecting me and keeping watch over me to make it safely through each and every day. For the family You graciously provided, the grand children who I love with all of my heart. I thank you for the friends You have sent my way, even if some of them were only for a short time. Last of all today I want to thank You for sending your Son to die for my sins.

I need to praise God with my mouth, not just my mind
Psalm 51:15, O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 63:5, 66:8, 66:17, 71:8, 15, 24, 105:2, 109:30, 119:171-172, 145:21

I need to seek God, thirst for Him
Psalm 22:26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise Him, may your hearts live forever!

Psalm 42:2, 63:8, 105:4

I need to thank God continuously
Psalm 71:6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.

Psalm 8:14-15, 75:9, 79:13, 92:1-2, 115:18

I need to tell people about God's wondrous works
Psalm 26:7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 96:3

I need to thank and praise God in front of my brothers and sisters in the congregation, among many people
Psalm 22:22 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.

Psalm 22:25, 26:12, 35:18, 68:26, 111:1, 116:19

I need to praise God in front of the unsaved of all nations
Psalm 18:49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.

Psalm 57:9, 96:10, 108:3

I need to praise God to the next and all generations
Psalm 79:13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 102:18, 145:4

I need to sing praises to God, I need to sing with understanding, and make it glorious
Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 47:7, 66:2, 66:4, 9:2, 27:6, 28:7, 57:9, 61:8, 63:7, 68:4, 32, 69:30, 71:22-23, 92:1, 96:2, 101:1, 104:33, 105:2, 135:3, 146:2

I need to even sing for joy in my bed
Psalm 149:5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

I need to praise Him with all my heart
Psalm 9:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

Psalm 86:12, 111:1, 138:1

I need to be glad and rejoice in God
Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

I need to fear God, honor Him, glorify Him, revere Him
Psalm 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

I need to love and respect God's house
Psalm 26:8, 138:2

I need to stop sinning and seek righteousness
Psalm 33:1

I need to shout for joy, rejoice
Psalm 33:3

I need to be creative in my praise
Psalm 33:3, 149:1

I need to stand in awe of Him
Psalm 33:8

I need to remember and praise God's names
Psalm 44:8, 45:17, 54:6

I need to lift up my hands to Him
Psalm 63:4

I need to think about God at night
Psalm 63:6

I need to encourage other to praise and thank God
Psalm 67:3-5

I love to do this behind close doors, I need to praise Him with dancing
Psalm 150:3, 30:11, 149:3

Happy 21st Birthday Rebecca

My Dad and Step-Mom through Rebecca a special 21st Birthday party on Saturday. My Baby girl moved to Texas a year ago April. Due to matters out of my control, I couldn't make it to Texas for her party. Rebecca's friend Angela posted these picture on her my space so I could be a part of it.

Happy Birthday Rebecca, I miss you more than I can say. I love all of the pictures.


This looked like a lot of fun.


I love this picture of Rebecca and James.


Thank you Dad and Lynn for making Rebecca's Birthday so special.

Almost back to Normal

I have so much to blog about but I'm a bit tired right now. I just got done cleaning the church and I have a new house cleaning job this morning. Well, it is sort of my old house cleaning job back again. My former boss rented out his house for a while back in January, while he and his wife were in Brazil. He is back and asked me if I would be willing to clean for him again. It really came at a good time with my boy's going back to school soon. I meet with him this morning at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the details.

My boy's really enjoyed their camping trip with their best friend's. They went to Harrison Michigan for 10 days with some dear friend's of ours. This family has been so wonderful to my boy's. Alan and Shirley took our boy's every Friday during my hardest Chemo. I am so very grateful to this family for all they have done for us.

While Jimmy and John were with the Miller's, Boaz was with my daughter-in-law for the week. My son and daughter-in-law have also been wonderful with Boaz. While the Miller's had Jimmy and John, my daughter-in-law has taken Boaz.

I know these people have no idea what a blessing they have been to me. I worry about my boy's, how they are going to be able to handle their mom having cancer and having to have treatments. I have to say with all the TLC, they are doing just fine.

Last night was Boaz first fall soocer practice. I can't believe this but his first game is Sept. 6th. Where did the summer go?

(Post from My journey with Cancer)This is another reason I haven't been blogging.
I caught myself a little bug this weekend and I've been fighting to get back to normal since Sunday. In church on Sunday morning our quartet lead Worship and did special music in our 8:00 a.m. service. I was feeling a bit tired but not really that bad until right before we sang in our 10:30 a.m. service. During Sunday school I kept getting colder and colder. By the time it was over my stomach was very upset and I was very chilled. I thought it was just nerves because I had a little solo in our quartet piece we did. By the time I got home from church on Sunday my whole body hurt. I slept from 12:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Sunday night just to return to bed at 10:00 p.m. I felt a little bit better on Monday but I was still not feeling right. I slept until I had to go to work at 11:00 a.m. Today was a lot better but I was still very tired out. I just thought I'd better sleep as much as I could so I could get over this. My husband wasn't feeling well on Monday night. He had the same systems I had on Sunday and John came down with it this morning. (Mom don't worry, I'm feeling a lot better tonight)

It is taking me a bit longer to get over things these days with the Chemo and all but I did get over it. I still need prayer as I have started my weekly chemo treatments. Only 10 to go!

God is still carrying me through all of this.

Stromboli

My have I been busy! Last week I had to get my twin boy's ready to go on a camping trip with their best friend's. They will be gone until August 10th.

I went to a pig roast on Saturday at our Awana Commander's house. I took two of my grandchildren plus my son Bo. We had a great time. I'll have to share all about it soon.

Tonight my hubby is going to make Stromboli for us for dinner. I thought I'd share the recipe. YUMMY!


Frozen Bread dough - let thaw

1 egg yolk
1 table spoon permasan cheese
1tsp parsley
1tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
2 table spoons oil

Mix together,

Roll out dough, spread mix over dough.

fill with Meat and cheese and veg of your choice.

I love Mild sausage, mushrooms, onions and cheese.

Pinch dough sides together.

Use egg whites - brush over the bread
roll up dough

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes

This makes 1 loaf

What a Happy Couple

James & my beautiful daughter Rebecca.

I'm on the top of the World

Whoops, I know this post is a day late (sorry Mom) but yesterday I had a big day. For starters, I woke up late! I missed my walk with my dear friend and I didn't have time to blog. I do have to admit I felt really good all day because of the extra sleep.

I have lots of great stuff to write about and show you all today. So let me begin!

First, this is a picture of my special Birthday meal my husband made for me. It so happens to be my favorite meal. Homemade Chicken Parmigiana. My husband makes his own Spaghetti sauce, he uses angel hair spaghetti noodles, and he fried up the most yummy piece of chicken I have ever had. (he's a great cook, next year could be better) Plus, he made some homemade bread. I took a little bit before I remembered to take this picture.

Next, is my desert. I told you all before that I love a good carrot cake. My husband bought me this yummy carrot muffin from Whole foods.
Yum, yum, yummy!
My gifts; I received three pairs of ear rings, shower gel, a beautiful gold chain and a satellite radio for my truck. It has 170 channels. Wooohoooo! This is a picture of me and my three boy's. From left to right; Bo, John, Me and Jimmy.
This is me and my hubby.
I received this purse and tank tops from my Dad, Mom and little sisters. (Thank you) I do have to tell you all a little secret. I have never bought a purse for myself in my whole 45 years of life. Thank for keeping me in purses Dad, mom and little sisters.
I received these comfy PJ's and soaps from my son Bret his lovely wife Jessica and my three grand babies.
I've been having a lot of trouble with my feet. The Chemo is trying to get out and using my feet in the process. My friend and walking partner Maria bought me this Luxury Paraffin Bath. It is really working. (Thank you Maria)
These next items are from my blogging friends.

This first one is a CD of my favorite Hymns. Kathy'sKlavierThank you Kathy!
This is a package of Lillies I received from Greg C. GregsC Thank you Greg!
This is a new tree I bought for myself a few weeks back. The lillies will be planted around the tree.

Last but not least; I received these lovely items from my blogging friend Kristy. (Thank you so much) The Most Exciting Thing We've Ever Done

These pictures are for my daughter Rebecca. She wanted to see what we have been up to this summer.

We have been storing clothes on top of our dresser because we didn't have enough drawer space. My mother-in-law gave us this beautiful dresser. (Thank you Betty)
She also gave us these.
I wrote the other day about staining our deck. Here is the finished product. We are now going to finish off the porch by adding white rails.

This is a full view of the porch.
My white fence needed some much needed help this year. We went to Lowe's and they had a small piece of fence for 1 cent. We bought it and my husband fixed all of the broken pieces. This is the finished product.
This is the game room we are working on. I'll post another picture when we are finished.

My free Time

I can't wait to show you all what I have been up to the last few weeks. I'll take pictures today and post them tomorrow. I've stained our front porch, cleaned our house to get ready for our new dressers. My husband painted our game room and I cleaned all of the shelves so I can paint them. My husband is going to put in a sub floor and then put in new carpet before we get it organized for the boy's.

I am really enjoying my summer. More tomorrow......

I get a special Birthday meal today. My Birthday was last Tuesday but with the Chemo and all, I ask my husband if we could put it off a week. I'll have pictures tomorrow!

Oh, Oh, Oh, I forgot to write about my new plants. I can't wait until tomorrow. Wooohooo!

God is still able to use Me!

Do you have a servant’s heart? Has God blessed you with the insight to see the needs of others and reach out in compassion and understanding even when they, themselves, cannot reach out and ask for help?

Last night I was blessed to be able to work side by side with a group of ladies willing to give up their time to serve others. I watched these women and felt so much joy in my heart that I could work with them in order to help a dear family.

This dear lady is having twins and is on bed rest for 10 more weeks. She had to have surgery on the twins a few weeks back. God is so good! The twins are doing fine now but Mama is down for a while. Isn't it funny how God works. I know I have cancer and am having Chemo but I think I can handle that better then being on bed rest for 10 more weeks. I think we will be done around the same time. Steph with the twins and me with my Chemo. We are each going through a difficult time but God will see us both through. This dear young lady used to watch my twins when they were babies so I could go to my oldest sons football games on Friday nights. Here it is all these years later and she is having twins and I am able to help her out just a little. We prepared over 30 meals for them last night. Now all they have to do is take them out of the freezer and put them in the oven that evening. God is still able to use me!

It doesn’t matter what you own, how much money you have in the bank, how talented or educated you are, or how many people you know. If God calls you to have a servant’s heart, He will make a way for you to accomplish what He has put on your heart to do.

A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. Having a servant’s heart is one the most beautiful expressions of love I know. It’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it without any strings attached. It’s about making yourself uncomfortable so that someone else could be comfortable. It’s about showing Christ’s love through your actions and words. And finally, it’s about touching the lives of those around you with such a gentle kindness that your act will be remembered for years to come.

Taking the time to listen to what God wants you to do, humbling yourself to do what He has called you to do, and then faithfully following His orders regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you is truly what a servant’s heart is all about. It’s selfless love at its best and God couldn’t ask for a better gift or testimony of your relationship with Him. God blessed me last night by watching these women and their love for this dear family.

Sometimes when you think you are doing the ministering, you are really being ministered to. It really makes me what to keep serving!

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." - I Peter 4:10
"...to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." - Ephesians 4:12

New hair and More!

This is Jimmy & John my 14 year old twins. I think next year we are going to have to make two cakes or catch my hair on fire trying to light them and carry it to the table. I think Jimmy was happy with all he got.
Hey John, What did you get?
I've been a bit busy around the house this week getting ready for the twins Birthday party. Friday was my 3rd Chemo treatment. It did set me back a bit. My body didn't react to this one the way the others did. You can read that on my "Journey with Cancer blog".

Saturday wasn't so bad! After I got rid of my headache I was able to clean the house, make the cake, cheesy potatoes and go to my Janitors job.

Sunday after church my family all came over for Jimmy and John's Birthday party. I have stated so many times how much I love being with family. It was fun and we had a super time. Down below are some updated pictures of my lovely family.

Thanks Dad, Mom, Shi Shi, Malie, Grandma Householder, Bret, Jessica, Josh, Ethan and Jenna for making Jimmy and John's party so wonderful. I didn't get all the pictures that I normally do but I'll get some updated ones of my Dad and Mom soon. I guess I was a bit tired.


This is my oldest son Bret, Jessica his beautiful wife and my adorable granddaughter Jenna.

I had to get some pictures of Jenna posing for her Nana.

This picture of Boaz and I was taken last Friday evening July 4th. As you can see I still had my own hair. This picture of Aaron and I was taken July 6th, 2008. This is the day after all of my hair fell out. This is my new hair for a while.

This is a picture of my daughter Becca and her boyfriend James.

Happy 14th Birthday John & Jimmy

My twins turn 14 on Saturday. It seems like it was yesterday that they were just babies.

I can't believe my boy's are teenagers! Yikes, one3 more year and they could be driving. Daddy told them last night, only if their grades are up will they be driving.


John


Jimmy

Sunday right after church we are having family over to celebrate their birthday. (Mom & Dad can you make it? 12:30 for lunch) We always let the person that has the birthday, pick out the meal for the day. Something special we do around here.

Jimmy wanted Hamburgers, Shrimp, and a Confetti Cake with Confetti frosting.

John wanted Cheesy Potatoes and Green bean Casserole, and a Confetti Cake with Confetti Frosting.

We will add some other goodies to the menu.

I have no idea how it works out that Jimmy seems to always pick the main dish and John picks out the sides. It works!


The boy's will be spending the night tonight with their best friends Paul and Matt Miller. They will be vacationing with them at the end of the month. What a treat for my boy's.


I love to have parties! Life is short, we might as well enjoy it while we can, don't you think!

"Wives respect your Husband" Ephesians 5:33-It's Marriage Monday

It's Marriage Monday; C h r y s a l i s is the host of Marriage Monday. Hop over and read all about her daughter's wedding. I loved it, I think you will too!

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I think one of the top problems in a marriage is the wife showing respect to her husband. Over and over I hear how woman talk to there husband's and disrepect them. Even belittle them to others! I believe if we want a healthy marriage, we need to set aside selfishness and live for the other person. Do I always feel like sacrificing for my husband? No, I would love to be selfish at times and only think about myself. That is not really even what I want to write about today. I want to write about the way I hear woman talk to their husband's or disrespect their husband's.

These are a few things I have picked up from from the Scriptures today.
Characteristics of love listed in I Corinthians 13.

Not provoked--not responding in irritation but self-control realizing God will not give more then we can bear

Not taking into account a wrong suffered--not bringing up past failings but instead forgiving and forgetting as Christ has forgiven us 1

Not rejoicing in unrighteousness but rejoicing in truth --not enticing her husband to sin but "stimulating to love and good deeds"

Bearing all things -- sacrificing self and committing to your husband

Believing all things -- believing the best and holding to God's promise "that all things work together for good..."

Hoping all things -- having firm hope in God and trusting "all things" to the hand of God including her husband and marriage and

Enduring all things -- seeing trials as opportunity to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ We saw that these things do not come naturally to us but instead we must diligently work at "putting on love" in our lives.

Let’s see what the wife is being called to.

1. The wife is responsible to take action. Some people subtly criticize the command to submission by wrongly interpreting it to mean ‘to lose motivation and sense of purpose.’ It is the other way around. She is to be full of attention and action. She is alert respecting her husband. At the end of the age every wife will be asked to whether she respected her husband. Responsibility means accountability. The husband will be responsible for how the home went because he is head. But she will be responsible for how she respected her husband.

2. The wife might seem surprised at her prime focus to fear or respect her husband. She might wonder how can a great marriage be built on a command to fear her husband. Part of the confusion is what fear means. Part of it is what the world nonstop keeps saying.

The Chinese have two words for fear. One is afraid and the other is ‘in awe of.’ I think the later sense is much more proper. The wife needs to realize no matter how foolish her husband is and how much he focuses on fulfilling his own lusts, he is still her head. Marriage defines the context in which men and women grow. If a women does well in this area, then she will do well in lots of areas. If she does poorly here, then she will have trouble with all things.

I pray this will touch your heart if you find that you are a woman who doesn't "respect your husband". I fear too many women would call themselves respectful but if their husbands were asked to honestly answer this questions, they would have to deny her reverence. Perhaps we are submissive but not reverent or respectful. Even a child can obey because he knows the consequences of disobedience but show by attitudes and actions that it was not from a heart of love. Do we submit begrudgingly or do we lovingly submit showing respect and honor for the position God has given our husbands as head of the home?

Have you ever made your husband feel foolish? I want to write down an example that I heard of how we can make our husband's feel foolish. There was a lady that told of a time when her husband was getting ready to go to church planning to wear a shirt and tie that didn't match. She sarcastically said, "You're not going to wear that tie are you?" He told her he was and wanted to know what was wrong with it. Upon reflection later she realized that her question had made him feel foolish because obviously, he had planned to wear that outfit.

The wife is to "see to it that she respect her husband" (Ephesians 5:33). She should be a "helper suitable" (Genesis 2:20) offering helpful suggestions instead of "put-downs". Scripture gives numerous examples of wives showing disrepect to their husband. Job's wife told him to "curse God and die!" (Job 2:9) instead of supporting him in his time of trial. When she saw King David dancing for joy, his wife, Michal, made fun of David instead of rejoicing with him that the ark was being returned to Jerusalem.

But Scripture does also give us some postive examples of those who did show respect to their husbands. Bathsheba "bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, May my lord king David live forever" (I Kings 1:31) Queen Esther approached King Ahasuerus with respect saying "...if it please the king...my petition and my request is if I have found favor in the King's sight..." (Esther 5:4). Sarah is commended in I Peter 3:6 for she "obeyed Abraham, calling him lord" . We are told in this same passage that we can be like the holy women of old by practicing this same attitude. Ephesians 5:33 says "....let the wife see to it that she respects her husband." It doesn't matter that this goes completely contrary to what is being taught by the world today. This is what God requires of us.

Here are five Biblical Principles for Respecting our Husbands.

They are:

1. The wife is to respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33

2. The wife is to respect his position. I Corinthians 11:3

3. The wife is to act in a respectful manner. Proverbs 31:23

4. The wife is to reprove her husband respectfully. Colossians 4:6

5. The wife who is disrespectful may experience severe consequences. Galatians 6:1

I challenge you to listen to the tone of voice you answer your husband in, listen to how you talk about your husband to others, listen to the words you use to respond to his questions, even evaluate your body language.

Are we showing true "reverence' for our husbands or deceiving ourselves?

How do others evaluate the relationship they see between us and our husbands?

Can we repair the damage done by our disrespectful attitudes in the past?

What are some practical things we can do to show our husbands respect?

I hope we will all honestly search our hearts and see if we are obeying God's command to respect our husbands.

Love in Christ,

Lori