The last day of 2012...OMGoodness!

If this is any indication of the New Year I do believe that we are in trouble Watson!

Timmy is still sick and last night he was hallucinating.....cowboys and wild horses were after him....I commanded them to stop....he slept...but in the morning he assured me that while they were not attacking him they were still in his pocket! Oh my, this is not good! He refuses to call the DR because he doesn't want to go out in the 16 degree weather but I am worried to say the least!

Our driveway is still impassable, just like a mountain trail :(

It looks like all planned functions for tonight and tomorrow are cancelled.

another jewel from Max Lucado

This is the gift God gives.  A grace that grants us the power to receive love and the power to give it.  A grace that changes us and leads us to a life that is eternally altered.

House Fever :)

We haven't been out of the house since Sunday......Timmy is still sick and with the past few days of ice and snow our driveway is impassable (is that a word?)

I ordered a new sewing machine on Ebay yesterday.....after searching for the best deals on a quilting machine....Timmy is the quilter of the family but we have spent so much time in quilting and fabric stores these last 6 months that now I have caught the fever!! I do believe that I will stick to smaller home decor items they seem to be of the most interest to me!! I will keep you posted on my progress :)

Tomorrow is Caely's birthday.....3 whole years old....hard to believe!!

I hope that everyone starts feeling better...we are suppose to play cards with Mom and Dad for New Year's and we are planning on having them and the kids over New Year's Day for dinner!

Have a wonderfully sweet day!

CHRISTmas.....the HOLYdays

He has put a new song in my mouth
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.  Psalm 40:3

Our holidays were wonderful, starting with the decorating of our home, buying special gifts for our loved ones, the annual cookie making extravaganza, the yearly children's production at STS Peter and Paul  and all the preparations for our Huber family Christmas Eve get together.......how gracious is our God who lets us celebrate the birth of His only Son, Jesus Christ, by sharing His agape love with others....praise and honor to Him alone!

“In my Father’s house are many rooms.” (John 14:2)

I am always amazed at the productions that the little school of STS Peter and Paul puts on! Last night was amazing and the costumes so very very creative! Kollier was an angel in the biblical scene at the manger....Kaeden was one of the "Ten Lords a Leaping" and Kamden was one of the Partridges in a Pear Tree"in a Spiritual rendition of the classic song. We love this and it is definitely a Christmas Tradition. The reception and cake wale after the play had to be cancelled because a tree fell and their was no electric...all the street lights were out!

We made it home right before the storms hit again...it ripped off a piece of our siding about an hour before we left and Tim was up on a ladder trying to secure it until it can be repaired.....crazy!! We did our grocery shopping yesterday in preparation for this and I am soooo thankful!! Now I can stay home in the cozy warmth of my home and enjoy the snow swirling from my studio window :)

“And Joseph took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus! Matthew 1:24”

Tonight is the Wellston babies Christmas Play....Pooh and I always look forward to them (he has been there from the 1st one when Kaeden was in kindergarten and Kris was in the hospital having Kollier).......unbelievable! We are supposed to get a winter blast...hopefully it will come after we are safely home :)

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24″

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! I John 3:1″

Abba....Daddy! Beyond our comprehension is His love for us....for you :)

Some may consider me very naive but I would rather think with the simplicity of a child than think worldly and be  of the reach of my heavenly Father.

A busy week filled with all the joys of the season...Family!

It was a hectic, fun filled week! It started last Saturday when we went to celebrate the Birthdays of Kaeden and Kollier at a roller rink no less! Monday we bowled, Wednesday Ashley and I went shopping, Friday Kristyl and I went shopping, Saturday Timmy and I finished up our shopping and Sunday was

  "Nana's Cookie Extravaganza"

If you can imagine 8 little kids (5 months to 10 years old) and  4 adults in 1 kitchen with 7 different kinds of cookies being made at the same time....chaotic fun explosion....and we all survived :)

My family?..priceless...cleanup?....about 2 hours :)

Mom and Dad stopped by....stayed about half an hour...and made a quick exit to the quietness of their home....too cute!!

I love my family!

Galatians 4:4-6

“But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father! ″

2 Peter 3:18 to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Lowe's is delivering our gift to Mom and Dad today...a new refrigerator! I was suppose to go shopping with the 2 of the girls today but they are both down with that crazy bug that is passing through. The plus side is that I will be able to go up and clean out the old refrigerator before David takes it to his rental.

Thank goodness Mom and Dad passed on the kids Birthday Party Saturday! I am hoping that it will make its rounds before Christmas.....we are trying again for Friday and then "The Cookie Extravaganza" here on Sunday.....I will pray for our protection!!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21″

Yesterday Timmy and I went and picked out the refrigerator which is a gift for my parents from the 6 siblings. Making choices causes them a lot of grief now and we were more than happy, as a family, to be able to do something for them. Lowe's is delivering it tomorrow and Timmy is going up to their house to clean out the old and bring in the new (stuff)...it felt good to get them something that they actually want and will use :)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Saturday we celebrated Kaeden's and Kollier's Birthdays @ the Roller Skating Rink in Jackson....wow what a trip! I spent most of the time holding baby Carrig...he is soooooo cute! The kids had a ball and Ciarnan won the limbo contest :) JP did an amazing job on decorating Kristyl's cakes. Pooh and I left feeling very thankful for our little family!

In memory:

My Grandmother Wildermuth passed away on this day many years ago......she is still fondly remembered by all of us!

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

The gift of time :)

Although we hear the same stories whenever we are together (we have joined that club!)....make no mistake about it......we are blessed beyond measure by the gift of time that we have with my aging parents. I thank God for them daily......we laugh....alot!

Yesterday we took my parents to transfer some funds from one bank in our home town to another in Dublin.....and we even talked Timmy into eating at Der Dutchman for his birthday!! He is not always the most willing participant in our escapades BUT his great love for me and anything mine is always evident and we all love him for that!!!!!

I am going on our annual shopping spree with Ashley this weekend and then on Wednesday to Toys-r-Us and Best Buy with the other 2 girls! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas:)

God with us

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. 

³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

John 1:8-14

⁹ That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 

¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Psalm 139: 23-24

“Search me, O God and know my heart;

 try me, and know my anxieties;

and see if there’s any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”

The house is almost finished decorating.... the 3 trees go up today!

The babies are safely home from Disney Land and all is right with
my little world.

I love the Holidays and all that goes with it....but my greatest present
would be that the Love of Christ infuse the season with the hope that
only He can give :)

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24″

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It is a chilly morning in Ohio...21degrees! I bet my sisters are glad that they are back in their WARM states!

I have been working on Christmas these last 2 days...and the creative side of me LOVES this madness as all kinds of things come in and out of Nana's Workshop. I read an interesting article last night of the healing properties of crafts and I can attest to the fact that it has saved my sanity more than once!

Here's to the talents and gifts that God has given each of us....May we use them with abundance and with love :)

There is no one righteous, no not one.....

Romans 3:23 says, we fall short of the glory of God.  Way short!  We’re not good enough—but He is!  It’s Christ in us that makes the difference! ~Max Lucado

How great is our God!

Psalms 147:4-5

He counts the stars 
and names each one. 
Our Lord is great and very powerful. 
There is no limit to what he knows.

His agape love :)

“This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.  Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is made perfect in us.  I John 4:9-12″

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7″

What a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!  Now I will recuperate :)

Jesus says, “remain in me. . .” Remain in my love. . . If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce fruit. Our task? It’s clear. Stay close to the vine. Jesus said, “apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5 ~Max

The Wellston babies spent the night on Saturday....they are adorable! Sunday we took them to STS Peter and Paul to meet up with Mom and Dad after Mass. I am so thankful that all of my children are actively seeking instruction for their little ones...all 7 kids attend a Catholic Church! It is interesting to note that my siblings and I were raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools...3 remain Catholic and 3 are non denominational....all of us are active in our Churches. Generational blessings!

“Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.” (Rom. 15:7)

Love each others as much as Christ loves you and don't forget to share that Good News with others :)

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.”

You’ve done some nice things in your life.  But you have not done enough good works to go to heaven regardless of your sacrifice.  Nor do you have enough character to go to heaven.

  Please don’t be offended.  Then, again, be offended, if necessary.  You’re probably a very decent person.  But decency isn’t enough.  You may pay taxes and kiss your kids and sleep with a clean conscience.

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.” 

Apart from Christ you are not holy.  So how can you go to heaven?  Only believe.  

Accept the work already done, the work of Jesus on the cross.  Accept the goodness of Jesus Christ.  Abandon your own works and accept his. It would have bankrupted you or me, the price was so extravagant.

Call it a gift.  But don’t call it easy.  Call it what it is.  Call it grace.

~Max Lucado

“ For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. Corinthians 12:12”

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. John 6:29”

Just believe that He loves you no matter what anyone says or does to make you feel otherwise.....you are His!

Accept His gift of salvation and the rest is up to Him :-)

He is faithful to complete that good work which He started in you!

“Because He delights in me, He saved me. Psalm 18:19 ”

Wow it was a busy weekend! Saturday we went to the Amish country to purchase curtains for the kitchen and to pick up lanterns for Kristyl as a gift for her husband for Christmas. We got home from Holmes County @4:30 and picked up Mom and Dad @5:30 for Ocie's 1st Birthday Party....she is soooo stinkin" in cute!!

Sunday we took Mom and Dad to Marla's for Ciarnan's 5th Birthday.....how the heck did that happen? It is always a feast @her house and Caitlyn did a Recital in honor of the day"Recital for Ciarnan's Birthday" complete with a printed program...she played 2 songs on the piano "Shepherds Song" and "Lost Jewel"(which she wrote herself @7) and then she sang "Castle On A Cloud" my personal favorite!

I had her sign the Playbill...so I can say I knew her when!!

Philippians 1:6, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.”

Daily we are transformed into the new man, precept upon precept, and when He comes or when we go home to be with Him we will be totally whole and complete!

I Facetimed with the Columbus babies again this morning...the Wellston group wants an iPad from Nana and Pooh for Christmas and I can't wait.....we can all see Nana in her glory @7am....it is not a pretty sight :)

I just finished FaceTime with my grandson who is 5 years old today.....impossible! It seems like yesterday that I arrived in Manhattan to see his precious newborn face @Mt Sinai :) and that was 2 brothers ago.....it so reminds me of my house when my 4 were little....poetic bedlam...

Children and grandchildren are my biggest blessings from God.....

Happy Birthday Ciarnan we love you bunches!

Congratulations President Obama

..you and your family are in my thoughts and my prayers!

To quote the President "We  rise or fall together as one people"

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15”

Everything is in Godly order..... preordained before the earth began. Nothing happens without His knowledge and without His planning. Praise be to God!

Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Behold a hero of the west.  A thousand head of cattle pass behind him. He needs no one.  He’s a cowboy.  The American hero.

Behold a hero in the Bible:  the shepherd.  He too is rugged.  Like the cowboy he makes his roof the stars and the pasture his home.

But that’s where the similarities end. The shepherd loves his sheep.  The cowboy leads the cow to slaughter.  The cowboy drives the cattle.  The shepherd leads the sheep. The shepherd calls each sheep by name.  Aren’t we glad Christ didn’t call Himself the Good Cowboy?

Psalm 100:3 says,  “Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

We don’t need a cowboy to herd us.  We need a shepherd.  A shepherd to care for us and to guide us.  And we have One.  One who knows us by name.

~Max Lucado

Say hello to Grandma and Grandpa Huber for us!

The Holy Spirit is the heart of God revealed to man

John 14:17 says, “The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him.  But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you.”

We can  accomplish much in this life by using our intellect and physical work, others may or may not appreciate it, so be it....but the words or actions that we do in the  name of the Father that makes others feel  unimportant  or without hope breaks His heart.......for He is God's love manifested to man through you!

Isaiah said: The good men perish; the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why.  No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead.  For the godly who die will rest in peace. Isaiah 57:1”

40 Days of Prayer

Pray for those affected by Hurricane Sandy :)

This is a turbulent time for our country. Struggling economy. International conflicts. A divided electorate. And now, an unprecedented storm.  Jesus met the disciples in the midst of their storm. Let’s ask Him to walk into the middle of ours. ~Max Lucado

God is Love...

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

And Scripture says, “not height nor depth, not any other created thing…nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.” (Romans 8:39)

Last night we fixed dinner for Mom and Dad and we played cards! The men won one :) and the women won one also :) We laughed....a lot!


Today we are expecting the effects of Sandy and praying for protection for those of us in her path.
We bowl this afternoon but after that we are planning in battening down the hatches and staying home until Wednesday nights' "Trunk or Treat" at church....me thinks that there will not  be a hayride or maze!

We are God’s idea.  We are His.  His face.  His eyes.  His hands.  Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth, and you will see His likeness.  Though some appear to be distant relatives, they are not. We are, incredibly, the body of Christ.  And though we may not act like our Father, there is no greater truth than this:  We are His.  Unalterably.  He loves us.  Undyingly. ~Max Lucado

Trick-Or-Treat was last night....and we had 3  but Mom and Dad in the same neighborhood had 30! I think that our l-o-n-g driveway stops the little ones :(

Have a wonderful day everyone!

I just returned from Wellston after spending a couple of days with my Grandbabies.....they are sooo sweet! We went to the Japanese Steak House on Tuesday night... it was excellent and a treat for me since Pooh is not fond of eating out :(

It has been a hectic month and I am now ready to just kick back and relax for a while! It is suppose to be in the 80's this afternoon so we will go over to the Quarry and take down the tent and we will both mow there and at home...hopefully for the last time this season.

Last night when Ashley stopped over after work she said that she is taking Shelby (her boyfriends daughter) Trick-Or-Treating tonight and she is dressing  for the part....she is still a kid you know :) This year we got candy to pass out.....last year we did a scramble to find some when kids showed up for the 1st time since moving here 6 years ago..we are ready and decorated!

In the Woods!

The "Haunted Quarry" was a HUGE success and definitely will become a yearly tradition. The kids were a riot running around the trails, listening to Uncle Mike's scary stories and using the tent as their headquarters! I think even Mom and Dad had a good time in the woods. I worried that the trails  were too dimly lit by the lanterns for the babies...but they beat me to the pumpkins :) and even though Pooh almost wiped out the left side of the wagon with the tree limbs :) the hayride was fun, fun, fun!

Marla and family face timed us yesterday and she said that the kids let her and Mike sleep in yesterday morning BUT when she came downstairs Cael had eaten his pumpkin box full of candy! I was smart and sent the pumpkin boxes home with them!!! It is still strange to see Ashley with kids (Shelby and Chuck) but she is wonderful with them.

 I love my family!!

The Haunted Quarry

Yesterday afternoon Tim and I put up the tent, not as bad as he thought it would be.....he said it was because I was such a good helper :) and hitched the neighbor's hay wagon and hauled it to the Quarry.

Later we picked 18 pumpkins for the babies, gathered the quilts and pillows to take over on Saturday along with the 12 chairs....whose idea was this anyway?

The weather is still being projected as iffy....pray for no rain!

Jesus said:

“I am the bread that gives life.”

“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
“I will come back and take you with me.”

Jesus, ever proclaiming– ever offering, but never forcing!   It’s His voice.  But, it’s our choice.

~Max Lucado

Life in the fast lane :)

Wow, how hectic is this week? We spent the weekend in Lodi, OH @ The Log Cabin Trade Fair. The local exhibitors provided a dinner for us out of town exhibitors @ the cabin that was probably one of the best meals I have had. The weather was on the cool side but beautiful and sunny and the crowds continue to get larger each year.

Sunday night through Wednesday morning I stayed with the Columbus babies while Mommy, Daddy and Carrig were in DC....what a riot! Ciarnan @ his Sunday School class had to say one thing that he was thankful for and he picked "Nana, she gives me extra air time" a dubious honor at best...lol. Grandma Moloney picked him and she was mistakenly identified as the culprit but quickly let them know it was his other grandma, Nana. She took great pleasure in telling the incident when we came to replace the guards...her and Tim had a good laugh about it:) Pooh walked Caitie to school 2 mornings and the boys and I walked there in the afternoon to pick her up. Monday afternoon we caused a little disruption at Cait's piano class with Cael getting a little too loud...imagine that! When I took Cael and Ciarnan to pre-school Cael (2) introduced me to his teachers "this is my Nana"...........so sweet!! We watched "Frosty the Snowman" and "Mary Poppins" with the much anticipated popcorn and played lots of "Follow the Leader" and "Hide and Seek". The last night we went to the local Ice Cream Parlor to have cones and spend time outdoors...it was beautiful on Tuesday! Yesterday Marla delivered me to Pooh at Canal Winchester after I walked Caitie to school.

Tim and I spent the remainder of the day picking up things for the "Haunted Quarry" dinner and forest walk that is this Saturday. The quarry is a riot of color  we just  need to pray for decent weather Saturday night!

Rain is projected for the next 2 days.....this means a hectic Saturday getting ready! We have 15 lanterns, 3 ghosts and 9 signs to hang along with pitching a tent....wish us luck!

Next Tuesday and Wednesday I am staying @ Wellston with the babies......life is full!

Have a wonderful day..

The Grace-Shaped Life

Some years ago I underwent a heart procedure. My heartbeat had the regularity of a telegraph operator sending Morse code. Fast, fast fast. Slooooow. After several failed attempts to restore healthy rhythm with medication, my doctor decided I should have a catheter ablation. The plan went like this: a cardiologist would insert two cables in my heart via a blood vessel. One was a camera; the other was an ablation tool. To ablate is to burn. Yes, burn, cauterize, singe, brand. If all went well, the doctor, to use his coinage, would destroy the “misbehaving” parts of my heart.

As I was being wheeled into surgery, he asked if I had any final questions. (Not the best choice of words.) I tried to be witty.

“You’re burning the interior of my heart, right?” “Correct.”
“You intend to kill the misbehaving cells, yes?” “That is my plan.”
“As long as you are in there, could you take your little blow- torch to some of my greed, selfishness, superiority, and guilt?”
He smiled and answered, “Sorry, that’s out of my pay grade.”

Indeed it was, but it’s not out of God’s. He is in the business of changing hearts.

~Max Lucado

Last night for Daddy's birthday we ate...ate some more....played cards...and played some more cards :) We sent them home with the leftovers.

It was all good! The women (Mom and I) came out the winners of both games...we take it in stride next time who knows!

It is a hoot playing with my parents and it is wonderful to still have them to enjoy!

Have an awesome day....we have no places to be today, the first time in about a week, I plan to stay in my pj's all day long and paint signs for the "The Haunted Quarry" weenie roast we are having this month at the quarry...woo hoo!

Sunday we went to Wellston to "Octoberfest" at the school that our grandchildren attend. There was a yodeling contest (that Kollier won), an animal contest that included a chicken named Chik-fil-A and a talent show. It was COLD and raining but what the heck we had fun!! On the way home Timmy even found a quilt shop...in the middle of the bongo congo...go figure! 

Today we are celebrating Daddy's 85th birthday with dinner and cards. I kept it only us sooooo that we could actually play a game of cards ( just for Daddy).....he loves cards you know :)

Matthew 19:21-26

Could it be that we have the concept of "God's blessing" distorted in the United States? God blesses our Nation to be a blessing to others, our citizens, and the world...we think that He blesses us  individually and without thought to others. We don't want to follow the path of the Romans!

is Love!!

“…but the crowds learned about [what Jesus was doing] and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Luke 9:11″

Jesus so loves me & you :)

Mark 6:34

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.″

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15.”

Exercise?

Yesterday we bowled on the Senior League....consistency is not my forte...a 160, a 180 and a 113? what's up with that?

It is a form of exercise, at least that is what I tell myself, and my dear hubby loves it!

Everyone have a blessed day!

Psalm 145:18 says “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

He is only as far away as you make Him.......

1st John 1:8-9 says: “If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right.”

This morning we are meeting with AEP to find the cheapest way to get electric to the Quarry that we purchased from my parents...Tim is in love with the Quarry :) Wish us luck!

This evening we are going with Mom and Dad to some sort of a free dinner if we listen to someone talk about healthcare? We will see! Tim is bemoaning the fact that he will miss the season premiere of "The Big Bang"......I told him he could stay home but I think he feels guilty not going with me since I will be spending all day Saturday sitting in a booth at another of his trade shows....Hehehe

Tomorrow I am meeting my daughter and granddaughter in Chillicothe for an early lunch and some shopping.....fun!!

Have a blessed day!

~Max Lucado

Grace goes beyond mercy.  Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance.  Grace threw him a party.  Mercy prompted the Samaritan to bandage the wounds of the victim.  Grace prompted him to leave his credit card as payment for the victim’s care. Mercy forgave the thief on the cross.  Grace escorted him into paradise.

Mercy pardons us.  Grace woos and weds us. Grace does this.  God does this.  Grace is God walking into your world with a sparkle in his eye and an offer that’s hard to resist!

“Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5″

iPad fun!

I just finished talking to and seeing my daughter and the babies with Facetime on my iPad.......I love it!! With the update you just use your phone number and it rings in with the call sooooo easy peasy!

If they can handle seeing Nana in the morning they can handle anything....what a nice way to start the day! Her house reminds me of mine when the four of them were little! Good memories...

Have a love filled day my friends :)

Happy Birthday Jamey...

Mommy loves you!

It was a wonderful weekend!

Friday night Cait spent the night and on Saturday, while I had was at Applebee's having lunch with 2 dear friends (one I hadn't seen for 20 years) Pooh took her to pick pumpkins. They so enjoyed it that when I returned, we went to pick pumpkins, and swing on a crane swing...you heard me right a crane! Cait has such a dry sense of humor, a trait she shares with Pooh,  we have a lot of fun together!

Saturday evening we returned Cait and we spent some time with the boys, Carrig is growing like a little flower and now Cael seems soooo much older!

Sunday after church we went to an auction in Williamsburg to scout for chairs to use at the Quarry....OMGoodness! I picked up 8 Longaberger baskets some with liners at a steal. As if I needed more baskets :)

I am working on a basket for Kristyl to raffle off at Octoberfest for their school. Maybe a basket is just what I needed!

Have a wonderful blessed day!

Hebrews 12:15 asks us to, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

I know, I know...easier said than done....but with God all things are possible :)

In God we trust :)

Hebrews 13:9 tells us, “Your hearts should be strengthened by God’s grace, not by obeying rules.”

What a beautiful day we had yesterday to drive to Belpre and visit my Mom's sister. It was good to see another of her sons' and his wife that I had not seen for almost 9 years, since Jamey.  I am thankful for family!

My Aunt's only daughter is coming to Ohio for Thanksgiving and so are both of my sisters.... we are planning a get together while they are here....something to look forward too :)

September is hard for me and the girls but God in His mercy lets time heal the rawness of reality and allows the good memories to remain. Childhood memories are becoming more important to me as I age and this family is included in a lot of them. I am so thankful for photos and scrapbook pages that will remind me of those times in the years to come when recalling them may get a little harder!

Ephesians 2:8 says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

God loves us so :)

Today my parents and 2 of my aunts are going to visit their sister (her son and daughter in law in the picture above) and I get to tag along ......wow, family is such a blessing don't you think?

Christ died for me!

Precious as it is to proclaim, “Christ died for the world,” even sweeter it is to whisper, “Christ died for me!”

For my sins he died. He took my place on the cross. He felt my shame and spoke my name. 

Thank God for the day Jesus took your place, for the day Grace happened to you!

~Max Lucado

Romans 3: “God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.”

...sacrificing His life for all of us. He is an equal opportunity God loving all of us period. We must choose to accept His gift of grace and mercy but He will love us equally even if we choose not to love Him in return.

Wednesday I am going with Mom, Dad and my Aunts to Belpre to visit their sister we had not see for about 20 years until her return to Ohio. This past two months we have visited with her and with 2 of her sons and their families that we had lost contact with......I missed them and her. We were all very close as children. My parents are making up for lost time and I am thankful that they are. Life is too short!

Caitie (grandaughter) wanted me to go on a field trip to Indian Village with her class the next day but I have a prior appointment and I HATE letting her down :( Hopefully an overnight that next day will make up for it!

Have a wonderful day!

Colossians 3:3 “your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Not all guilt is bad.  God uses appropriate doses of guilt to awaken us to sin!

God’s guilt brings enough regret to change us! Satan’s guilt brings enough regret to enslave us.  Don’t let him lock his shackles on you.

Colossians 3:3 reminds us, “your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

When he looks at you, he sees Jesus first.  In the Chinese language the word for “righteousness” is a combination of two characters, the figure of a lamb and a person.  The lamb is on top, covering the person.  Whenever God looks down at you, this is what he sees:  The perfect Lamb of God covering you.

It boils down to this choice:  Do you trust your Advocate—God or your Accuser—Satan?  Give no heed to Satan’s voice. 

 You have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous!

~Max

Satan's condemnation

Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret!

Satan has one aim:  steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future.

He’s deputized people to peddle his poison.  Friends dredge up your past. Preachers proclaim all guilt and no grace.  And parents, oh, your parents.  They own a travel agency that specializes in guilt trips.  “Why can’t you grow up?”  

“When are you going to make me proud?”

But he will not have the last word!  Jesus has acted on your behalf.  Jesus Christ rises to your defense.

Hebrews 10:21 urges:  “. . .let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.”

Not just for our past mistakes but also for our future ones.  Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God!

Gifted, equipped, and commissioned!

~Max Lucado

Jesus stood in our place of judgement so that we could be set free

Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

A person who convinces himself that he does not need forgiveness from the Holy One has already condemned himself.

1st John 4:15 says, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

We are blessed beyond measure to be able to choose life  in the grace of Jesus Christ....hold onto it with everything that you have!

A Celebration of life

Sunday my parents, my brother and I went to my sisters house and out to dinner to celebrate her 50th birthday...........how the heck did that happen?

 In my heart she will always be the little girl who crept into my room thinking that I could keep the monsters of the dark at bay. She will always be the "Little One"to me :)

Overnight @ the Crosby's

Yesterday after dinner @STS Peter and Paul for Grandparents Day we brought all 3 of the babies :) home for an overnight. They are now watching Power Rangers and Kaeden is playing with the iPad. We have a lot of fun with the jeep, and watering the flowers (a favorite with Kami and Kollier) and just hanging out tormenting Jordan....she loves the Fulton Babies!!

We had a thunder storm about 2:30 AM and we all woke up with a start...Kollier was frightened to death and the wind on our hill whistled like zombies (according to Kaeden). It is a good thing that Nana can sleep at the foot of the bed! She keeps the monsters at bay you know!

Love my babies!

Grandparents Day @ STS Peter and Paul

Tomorrow is Grandparents Day at the Catholic School that 3 of my grandchildren attend...it is always such fun to meet the teachers and eat lunch with them.

There is a festival going on the small town where the school is located and hopefully the rain stays away so that we can stay and enjoy the afternoon with them!

Ezekiel 36:26a- “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”

Grace is God’s best idea.   Rather than tell us to change, he creates the change.  Do we clean up so he can accept us?  No, he accepts us and begins cleaning us up.  What a difference this makes.

Can’t forgive your past?  Christ can, and he is on the move, aggressively budging you from graceless to grace-shaped living.  Forgiven people forgiving people.  Deep sighs of relief.

Grace is everything Jesus!

~Max Lucado

As Paul said in Galatians 2:20: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

  You might call it a spiritual heart transplant!

~compliments of Max Lucado!

Yesterday!

Yesterday was a fun  day with "Marla and family" at Easton. We went to Build-A-Bear where Rainbow the bear and Brownie the dog were born... complements of Aunt Kristyl.

We did window shopping at Legoland. Caitlyn has decided that  R2D2 is her choice (1045 Pieces... yikes).

Marla used the gift certificate that I had given her for her birthday at her favorite tea shop.

We ended our adventure with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.....Marla first took me there in her medical school days, a long time ago. We still shared Bam Bam Chicken and this time with Mikey.

I love my little family..  they are even willing to meet me in Canal Winchester so I don't have to drive on the outer belt :)

Later in the evening we played cards with Mom and Dad....we won one and they won one...a win win situation!

Life is good @the Crosby's...

Grace comes after you!

God’s grace!  It has a wildness about it.  A white-water, rip-tide, turn-you-upside-downess about it. Grace comes after you!

Some years ago I underwent a heart procedure.  I asked the surgeon,

“You’re burning the interior of my heart, right?”

“Correct.”

“You intend to kill the misbehaving cells, yes?”

“That’s my plan.”

“As long as you’re in there, could you take your little blowtorch to some of my greed, selfishness, superiority, and guilt?”

He smiled, “Sorry, that’s out of my pay grade!”

But it’s not out of God’s!  We’d be wrong to think this change happens overnight. We’d be equally wrong to assume change never happens at all. It may be in fits and spurts—but it comes!

Titus 2:11 says, “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared.”

The floodgates are open, and the water’s out. You just never know when grace will seep in.  Could you use some?

~Max Lucado

August...the whirlwind month :)

Wow with the new baby,the trade show in Lexington KY, my weeklong seminar and the upcoming trip to Fort Wayne and the auction......it hasn't left a lot of breathing room!

Yesterday we started bowling in the Senior's League with Mom and Dad. I didn't do too bad for not having bowled since spring!

Tonight I am staying at the Moloney's, a welcome relief, to a hectic month...maybe a trip to the corner ice cream store is in order!

Hard to believe but fall is right around the corner :) and we are planning a spooky fall dinner at the Quarry. We should have a very ghoulish good time **on the lantern lit trails through the primeval forest..

Jesus honors you :)

You are valuable just because you exist! 

Remember that the next time some trickster tries to hang a bargain basement price tag on your self-worth.

Just think about the way Jesus honors you—and smile!  I do.  I smile because I know I don’t deserve a love like that.  None of us do.

When you get right down to it, any contribution any of us makes is pretty puny. All of us, even the purest of us, deserve heaven about as much as that crook on the cross did.

It makes me smile to think there’s a grinning thief walking the golden streets of heaven who knows more about grace than a thousand theologians.

No one else would have given the thief on the cross a prayer. But in the end that is all he had. And in the end, that is all it took!

No wonder they call Jesus the Savior.   

~Max Lucado