JOY, WONDERFUL JOY

            1st day of Advent - Read Romans 13:11-14*  Krissy knows so much about Advent, the wreath and candles, and the church's traditions during Advent.  I will be posting scriptures that I found on the internet.

I just got the picture below this morning.  If you want to speak of joy, wonderful joy, here it is:

      From left to right the girls: Paige, Kailani, Heather & Ashley ~ the boys: Zachariah & Isaiah (Jason behind camera) Don't they look great?  I can't believe how grown-up my grandchildren are.  Paige has been accepted into Chino State University!  Kailani and Ashley are out on their own.  Ashley spent spent a year with us in Mexico when she was 8.  She learned Spanish quickly and it was great watching her grow.  Kailani also came down to Mexico for a year, but had to leave because of vision problems.  Paige came for a year, but only stayed a couple of months.  It's hard adjusting to life in a children's home.  Isaiah was in Mexico for 3 months.  He was still an infant (and an adorable tiger).  I have other grandchildren, but these 5 (I'm so proud of their Mom!) I know better than the others.  I haven't seen Athena since she was 4 months old.  Son Robert's kids I haven't seen in eons.  Actually about 11 years.  Wow!  I didn't realize it had been that long.  My greatest wish would be to see them all together at the same time.  Maybe in a year or two.

Today we have very high winds here in Ventura.  Did I ever tell you that the real name of this city is San Buenaventura, given by Father Junipero Serra as he traveled the state building missions.  The mission was the 9th and last mission (1782) that he built before he died in 1784.  It's still an active Parish.         Amazing, yes?  I always wanted to live in a distinctive place.  My mother took me to see as many of the 21 California missions as she could when I was young.  There is a lot of history in our missions.

Rob and I are sitting in the living room watching the USC/UCLA game while eating pecan pie.  One of the players is down with a head or neck injury.  He got kneed in the helmet.  Wow!  He's walking off the field.  His number?  #1  For me, college ball is more interesting than pro.  Maybe because they are not jaded yet by high salaries and sponsors.  Many of them are there for the joy of playing the game.

That's why I am here today.  Just for the sheer joy of writing, remembering and sharing.  God has filled my heart with joy even in the toughest of times.  Grieving? I had such joy knowing this person.  And I can wipe away most of my negatives with joy.  Truth is, without joy, life would be boring, painful and probably friendless.  Why don't we all jump for joy right now??  If you can't jump, make the kids or the dog jump.  Make your spouse jump for joy!  We'll all be joyful, smiling or laughing and stress-free for at least a little while.  Whew!  I'm exhausted now.

With all that my friends. please know that I think of you often, pray for you daily and miss you when I can't get on the 'puter.  Blessings to you all, 

                                            

*(Rom 13:11) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (Rom 13:12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  (Rom 13:13) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

(Rom 13:14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Tags: 1st day Advent, Krissy, joy, family, California missions, Fr Junipero Sera, football, JOY

Christmas Season

         

This hasn't been the greatest of days for me.  On Tuesday, I did something to my back which has resulted in a painful few days.  I can walk a little bit, lie down, but cannot stay in a sitting position.  It's a major pain in the sit-down.  This too shall pass. 

 

Notice my ornament above?  It's most important to have your packages ready to go before Monday if you are shipping to Afghanistan or Iraq. The last safe date to mail off these packages to service men and women overseas is December 4th.  Also, send off your cards and letters at the same time.  For more information, go to www.usps.com

 

We are getting ready to put up Christmas decorations.  I'm really excited.  It will be so cool to see all those cheerful pieces in our living room.  I have a whole set of cherubs for Christmas and Rob has a whole set of nutcrackers.  The tree this year is about 2 ft high, ceramic with fiber-optic lights.  I like it a lot.  Since Andrea will be with her big sister Heather ~ there will be just the two of us to decorate for this year.  I hope to get some pictures for posting this year. 

 

Tomorrow is December 1st and we begin the Season of Advent.  When I was young, my mother would always purchase an Advent calendar at the Lutheran or Presbyterian church.  Each night we would open a tiny door revealing a scripture.  Mom would open the Bible while I sat as close to her as possible and read that verse.  It's hard to find those calendars today.  Most of them are filled with chocolate or cartoon characters.  Times have changed a lot.  It's nearly a crime to say Merry Christmas now.  Back then we just all greetedeach other with our respective holiday.  Happy Hanukkah, Lori, Merry Christmas, Krissy, it wasn't a matter of offending one another, it was a matter of sharing each other's joy.

 

So this weekend, I hope to share your joy for the month of December.  I celebrate Christmas in December as the birth of Jesus.  How and/or what do you celebrate?  I'd love to hear from you.  Blessings to you all,

               

 

 

 

Tags: Blogplugs, Back pain, Mailing overseas, USPS.com, whoo celebrates

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Prayers Needed

     

 This is a very serious entry for me to make. Our John and Krissy are in need of prayer. Most of you who know them, are aware of their 2-year struggle with cancer, bone marrow transplant and more.

John is in the hospital once again. Currently they are at the local hospital instead of Hershey. He is not stable enough to move right now. John's fever has jumped from 102.6 to 103 and is vacilating between 103 and 104. He has some sort of infection and is neutropenic, which means his body can't fight back. He is in a special room at the hospital. It has two doors - in the outer area, Krissy must wash up and gown up so she won't pass any germs to him. Staff, doctors, etc., must also go through the same processes.

GOOD NEWS!! As I have been writing this, John's fever has dropped! Krissy called to let me know. This does not mean that John is out of the woods. Right now, they are giving a general antibiotic. The type of infection has to be identified (1-3 days) and the proper antibiotic given.

Please keep John and Krissy in your prayers until thiscrisis is over. If you don't pray . . . will you make an exception and do this for our friends. Your prayers mean the world to them.

Blessings and thank you.

Tags: Prayer needed, John, Krissy, fevers, infection, Neutropenia, good news, keep praying

Thanks to Sugar for this lovely graphic

This is the day!! Time to give Thanks to the Lord for all we have today and all we have had ~ who knows what joy we'll have after today.

I am thankful for my mom who raised 4 girls by herself. Mom taught me how to live confidently, respectfully and Christian.

I am thankful for my sisters ~ Sylvia, Charlotte and Sharon ~ I learned a lot about life from them.

I have some friends (2 or 3) that have lasted the test of time ~ I am grateful for them.  Also in the last 3 + years, I have made friends here in J-Land. There are some I share with more deeply than others ~ they know who they are :) Funny how we can be so close when some are way way east of me. But I love them and am thankful for them.

We have some pets that we love so much that it can't be explained except by other pet owners. My little black Pommie (I named her Precious ~ Rob calls her Pee-Wee) is with me everywhere. I feel better when she is next to me.

I am grateful that I am alive in this day and age. I've seen so many changes since my childhood. I can't name them all but here are 2: We were the first in our neighborhood to have a television set. I thought that the people lived in there and that when we opened the doors and turned the set on they would come back in the same place they were when the set was turned off :) #2 ~ Sputnick Such advances in the span of 59 years. I'm so grateful to see it all.

And at the end of day when all is said and done.

My thanks go to God who sent His only Son

to save us and set us free.

I love and pray for you all and ask His blessings upon you. Even on those days that I am not online.

 

Tags: blogplugs, thanks to the Lord, Mother, Sisters, Friends, J-Land, Pets, Precious, this day and time, changes, 1954 television, Sputnik,

Thanksgiving ALREADY?

I've not been here in a while . . . for multiple boring reasons I need not share. I've missed a lot in the last 5 to 6 weeks. I missed Columbus Day. No big deal, but it is always fun for me to look up some obscure information to share along with, of course, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

Then I missed Veteran's Day, for heaven's sake! I'm married to a Veteran. It is these times I like to write up what a wonderful job our Veterans have done and ask others to support and thank each and every one of them for their sacrifice.

I don't do Halloween, so I didn't miss that.  However I do love autumn (even though we don't see it much here in SoCal) and snagged quite a few neat graphics.

Isn't this one heartwarming? Reminds me of way back then when someone else's family was getting all the fun and a bonfire to boot! My son lives where there is winter, spring, summer and fall. I'm a bit jealous of him, really. He gets to see all the changes throughout the year.I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and I'd like to share some of that with you here. It's been a very stress-filled year fraught with illnesses and both big and small problems. That's the way it is. So here is my personal gratitude list :

We have a God who loves so much, that He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us.

1. I have finally begun to lose weight - 45 lbs so far

2.  I have seen how deep the love of family is . . . even when things are extreme . . . also the love of a friend is sweet when I need to talk and so precious when that friend is a trusted Internet buddy (you know who you are) that you have never met.

3.  The basic stuff is so important - there are a lot of people who have not even the least of these.  We have a roof over our heads, too much food in the 'fridge, hot water to wash our bodies and the dishes and we have a goodly amount clothing. We are comfortable here.  I can't tell you how grateful I am for all of this.  There have been time when some of this has been absent.

4.  I am grateful for my wonderful husband.  The Lord sent him to me had been widowed for over 3 years.  He takes care of me when I am ill or hurting, and cleans up when I am unable.

I'll  tell you more things I am thankful for in the next entry.   In the meantime, it would be so cool if you woul d write your list and let me know either in the comments, in  your journal, or in an e-mail..

I love you all and wish you all the Lord's blessings, 

                                                   

                                   

Tags: blogplugs, missing, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, God, Thankful list,

Breast Cancer, Respect Life & Where have I been?

  Thought I would start here for today.   My Auntie Merrie died of breast cancer 33 years ago next month.  There were not the advances then . . . I think radiation was the only course of treatment then.  She had a radical bi-lateral mastectomy 6 years before her cancer returned on its path of destruction. After the 2nd diagnosis, she lived only 3 months. 

This is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  We can help the research.  Information is on the website.  Just go to my side bar and click on the pink button to help fund mammograms for women who can't afford them.  I've had that site on my tool bar for about 3 years.  Go there.  Click.  Look in the store.  Buy something and help more.  Go on . . . you need to do this.

             

Today is also Respect Life Sunday.  I have been reading journals and their comments.  I have also commented.  My precious grand-daughter was born at 32 weeks gestation.  She had to be in the NICU ~ the doctors told us she would be there for months and that she might die in the next two days because her little lungs were too weak.  She came home in 12 days.  She's 22 years old now.  Should my daughter have aborted her?  She was just 17 years old - so very young!  I was young when I had my first son - 16 years old.  I didn't abort or keep him. I have the privilege of knowing him and his family.  We would have lost so much if we had scraped them away.  Enough said. 

              Okay now about why I've been gone so long.  No details needed except to say that I have been sick.  Not the best way to lose weight, but for now I'll live with it.  Truly I could not believe that it had been over a month since I had been to my journal and that was a meme.  I sometimes like doing them, but feel I have cheated in a way.

The house is still standing, the crisis has been put on the back burner for now and I'm 46 lbs less than I was in May.  We are thinking about moving somewhere not so costly to live.  We just don't want to live in a dust bowl.   Rents here take a great deal of our disability incomes.  There are some very beautiful places where we could make house payments that would be less than our rent.   I have read journals in the past month, but rarely comment.  I haven't been to great at comments anyway. 

I'm not making any promises about when I will write again.  I have good intentions, but get sidelined.  I love being a part of J-Land.  It's like home for me.  No matter where I go, I can open up the laptop and be "home" again.   Many blessings to you all . . .                  

                      

 

Tags: Breast Cancer Awareness, Respect Life Sunday, where have I been?,

Labor Day - and LOL Scattergories

   

 

          

     Remembering our nation's workers on Labor Day

 

I got this next from Donna's journal this morning while looking for graphics.  Donna got it from Marina's journal (private). I had a lot of fun doing it.  I hope you jump in on this day that we celebrate our American workers and Unions.

 

       

scattergories

          

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial.

You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

 

What is your name?  Penny

4 letter word: Putz

Vehicle: Plymouth (I know . . . shows my age, huh?)

TV Show: Paid programming (hate them)

City: Pasadena

Boy Name: Percy

Girl Name: Priscilla

Drink: * \ *Pop* / *

Occupation: Public Relations 

Something you wear: Purple unmentionables
Celebrity: Patsy Cline (on my cell- "Crazy . . .")

Food:  Plums oooh yummy

Found in a bathroom: Perfume 

Reason for Being Late:  Poor planning - I hate when that happens!

Cartoon Character: Pooh-Bear

Something You Shout: PUh-LEEZE!!!

 

Leave a link if you decide to put this in your journal.

 

It would be great if you also sent the link to Donna. 

 

   

Tags: Labor Day, Silly, Donna, Scattergories