“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3).

Be careful what you say to another....your words may be the closest link they have to the love of the Father!

2014? No way...where the heck did 2013 go?

Tonight we will play cards with my parents until probably 10pm...we are all old you know! Tomorrow we will have them and whoever has no where else to be over for dinner. Tim just finished digging the pit for his southern pork roast. Yesterday we made sure we picked up black eyed peas and stewed tomatoes for him and pork and sauerkraut for us northerners....

I pray that our New Year is filled with the love and mercy of our Savior and that our actions show others that same love and mercy! My new words for 2014..."transparent love"....Holy Spirit guide me and let me be real and in  my humanness show others His merciful love....for He understands that we are mere humans and loves us anyway :)

Be blessed

Out with the old and in with the new!

 History repeats itself until we really look at the results...after 62 years it is time to give up the ghost of childhood and not react to life on learned behavior. We are shown from childhood how to react to our everyday lives....it all depends on the wellness factor of our parents. They have learned this from their parents...sometimes a good thing and sometimes... not so good. I am determined to take the good and let go of the bad...finding me in the equation. 

Here's to a New Year filled with the love that God has deemed to be the most important thing to guide us into His heavenly abode!

My word for 2014...LOVE....sweet love. 

Without love as our guide we are like noisy, clanging cymbals....useless!

May the spirit of Christmas live daily in our words and actions!

Psalm 150: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6 proclaims, “God has given a son to us. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God. Prince of Peace.”

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

Let's not make it a club for men but a harbor for those who seek Him!

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

God gave us the perfect gift in Jesus Christ.....the equalizer of all that is and will forever be!

“There has been born for you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11”

Be blessed by His love!

Children are our biggest blessing from God!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little namesake Kollier Louise and my sweet  daughter (her Mommy) Kristyl! You have added meaning to my life in ways you  understand only in Motherhood :)

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galations 3:27).

God sees Christ, the perfect. unblemished. Lamb of God. not your sins, though they be many, when He sees you. So that no one could boast in their goodness but rejoice in His!

My prayers go out to my Brother and his family today. My Sister In Law's father passed last night.. an especially hard time with the Holidays.

My first born grandchild celebrates his 11th Birthday today....we love you bunches and bunches :)

Be Blessed!

Was He exaggerating when He said He would cast your sins as far as the east is from the west? (Psalm 103:12).

God forgives our sins. He then forgets them. Shouldn't we do the same?

Be blessed :)

Isaiah 43:25, “I am He who blots out your transgressions, and I will not remember your sins.”

What a day yesterday was!

DH got through the latest tests @St Ann's with flying colors...thank you for the prayers little sister.

15 minutes after we got home I got a frantic call that my Dad was not feeling well...so a trip to another  DR and a pharmacy trip. Praying that he feels better today :) 

Later last evening I finished up wrapping presents and placing them under the tree and the neighbors ornament gifts to be delivered by DH.

Today I will work on making Christmas cards and wrapping the DD and 2 GCs' birthday presents for the Saturday party....please, no more snow!!

Be blessed!!! 

Wishing you a Joyous Season!

Whoever asks receives! Salvation is the gift of God to ALL who accept it… Jesus came for YOU and Joy in your salvation is your strength. Just believe.

Winter has hit the US in force....in our county we are in a level 2 snow emergency...I have no where that I have to be and I am blessed to be able to sit in my loft and watch the winter wonderland!

Rejoice in this wonderful season celebrating the birth of the One who came to save us from ourself!

Winter has arrived :)

“Where can I go from your Spirit?” he questioned with delight. “Where can I go from your presence? (Psalm 139:7).

It is in the simple, every day nuances of life that we see God at work.

Look around you and see His presence!

Be blessed...

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:18).

Jesus’ death was not the result of a panicking, cosmological engineer. The cross wasn’t a tragic surprise. The death of the Son of God was anything but an unexpected peril!

Jesus’ death was part of a plan.  A calculated choice.The cross was written into the script. It was no accident. Jesus was born crucified. Whenever he became conscious of who he was, he also became conscious of what he had to do. It explains the resoluteness in his words:  “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:18).

So call it what you wish.  An act of grace. A plan of redemption.  A martyr’s sacrifice. But whatever you call it, don’t call it an accident. It was anything but that!

~Max Lucado

Happy Birthday Timmy

 I thank God for you daily...I love you bunches and bunches!

Bring on the Birthday Celebration of Jesus Christ my Lord!

Thanksgiving is over....what the heck! Where did fall go? My sister's family came into town on Wednesday and they left on Sunday, We miss them already! Three of her sons stayed at our house and it is always a treat to be able to really talk to them without the chaos that we have when all of us are together. There were 30 of us at Mom and Dads' for Thanksgiving dinner and every year I worry that I will not make enough food and every year we have leftovers...nothing wrong with leftovers :)

DH is hunting this morning... it is the first day of the gun hunting season in Ohio! This year they have the barn and a wood stove to keep them warm so it should be a nice time for him and his friend!

Yesterday my cousin (more like a nephew...he is younger than my children) helped DH carry up the Christmas decorations from downstairs....so appreciative!! Later on today after bowling we will put them in their little spaces....I love Christmas and all the hope for mankind that it represents! 

Have a blessed day!

John 3:6, “Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from one Spirit.”

Marla and Caitie invited me to join them yesterday for Buckeye Bananza @OSU. Earlier in the month Caitie had to come up with a product to sell with the theme of Breast Cancer Awareness for her 3rd grade school project. We came up with a tag prototype and cost analysis and she presented it to her class. It was one that was chosen to be made, marketed and sold at OSU's Union. Marla and I took turns being one of the chaperones and watching the 2 boys. I handled the outside stuff.... it was 20 degrees. The afternoon ended with a tour of the Buckeye Stadium and I was elected to go with Cait and go home on the bus.......it was awesome!! We walked on the field, sat in the press room and even got into the band room! I forgot to mention that while we were there there was a  Flash Mob right before our booth!!!!!!  It was a really good day for Nana :)

Be blessed!

Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Beyond our understanding? Let it sink in....GOD IS FOR US!

Ashley DD called in the afternoon and we chatted for a good half an hour normal for us but unusual for me :0)
Good things are happening for her professionally and personally after an up and down year (an answer to my prayers).

We had a wonderful time at our Church Connect group last night! So very happy to see two more of our friends join us! We all have so much in common....down to the color pink for Tom and Randy!! 

God has a way of placing people in our lives that He knows will enrich them!!

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.

There is hope for all of us....mostly me!

Wonderful evening with DD she was off to her meeting by 7AM! I am proud of her taking on the job of Principal @Sts Peter and Paul!

Have a day blessed by His peace :)

Hebrews 13:8 declares “He is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

A beautiful sunny day here in the Ohio Valley....you never know here in the Buckeye State.

Tonight DD is spending the night so she will have a shorter commute to a business meeting in the morning...I always enjoy some time away from the babies where we can actually talk to one another :)

Have a blessed day!

It’s man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge!

People came to Jesus. My, how they came to Him!  They touched Him as He walked down the street; they followed Him around the sea; they invited Him into their homes and placed their children at His feet. Why?  Because He refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be—Jesus.

There’s not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near Him. There were those who mocked Him. Those who were envious of Him. There were those who misunderstood Him. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach Him for fear of being rejected.

Remember that. Remember that the next time you find yourself amazed at your own failures. Or the next time acidic accusations burn holes in your soul.

Remember. It’s man who creates the distance. It is Jesus who builds the bridge!

~Max Lucado

"Fantastic Mr Fox" a Barrington School Production

~Max Lucado

To recognize God as Lord is to acknowledge that he is sovereign in the universe.

To accept Him as Savior is to accept His gift of salvation offered on the cross.

To regard Him as Father is to go a step further. Ideally, a father is the one in your life who provides and protects. That’s exactly what God has done!

The Psalmist says, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Ps. 84:1-2 NIV).

Yesterday morning I went with Mom to her Cardiologist and then after moving some furniture for them we played a game of "Hand and Foot"..the women lost and the men won...Daddy was delirious!! It doesn't happen often.....

This morning DH had yet another Drs appointment...he is getting a little tired of this :(

But in a little while we head up to Columbus to watch 2 of the Grandbabies in a performance of "Fantastic Mr Fox" ........there is nothing like a dose of innocence to put the joy back into life :)

Have a blessed day!

The greatest gift you can give your child is not your riches, but revealing to them their own! ~Max Lucado

Yesterday went well....we found the Drs office and he seemed nice.....more testing starting in December :( for Timmy...he is not a happy camper!

Today I am taking my Mom for a DRS visit and then helping put furniture back into their newly carpeted family room...the flooring  has only been there for 41 years!

Tomorrow we are going  to Columbus to watch 2 of the grand babies ages 6 and 8 in a school play "Fantastic Mr Fox"...this should be adorable :)

Saturday is a my SIL's 40th Birthday Party  an outdoor event...hopefully the fire will be warm!

Have a blessed day my friends!

Romans 8:28 that “in everything God works for the good of those who love Him.”

Tomorrow we are going to a specialist DR in Columbus to determine what is going on with the elevated readings that DH is getting.....it so helps to know that God is with us as we go. ❉

Have a blessed day!

Blessings!

Yesterday was Ciarnan's birthday he is 6 years old (where does time go?) and we had a wonderful time talking to his Daddy's side of the family....we feel that our daughter is blessed to count them as family!

Life is so sweet with God's greatest gifts beside us....

I’m about to tell you something you may find hard to believe. You don’t have to agree with me, but I’d like you to consider it with me.  Here it is.  If you were the only person on earth, the earth would look exactly the same. The Himalayas would still have their drama and the Caribbean its charm. The sun would still nestle behind the Rockies in the evenings and spray light on the desert in the mornings. If you were the sole pilgrim on this globe, God would not diminish its beauty one degree.

Because He did it all for you.  And He’s waiting for you to discover His gift, for your eyes to pop, your heart to stop. He’s waiting for the moment between the dropping of the jaw and the leap of the heart. 

For in that silence He whispers, I did it just for you.

~Max Lucado

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Have a blessed day :)

Jesus came to serve

God’s cure for the common life includes a strong dose of servanthood. It’s a timely reminder. As you celebrate your unique design, be careful. Don’t so focus on what you love to do that you neglect what needs to be done.

A 3:00 AM diaper change fits in very few sweet spots. Visiting your sick neighbor might not come naturally to you. Still the sick need to be encouraged, and diapers need changing.

The world needs servants. People like Jesus who did not come to be served, but to serve. He chose remote Nazareth over the center-stage in Jerusalem, his dad’s carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace, and three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity.

He selected prayer over sleep, the wilderness over the Jordan, feisty apostles over obedient angels. I’d have gone with the angels, given the choice.

Not Jesus.  He picked the people. He came to serve! May we do the same.

~Max Lucado

Whatever we go through in this life....God is with us!

What a comfort to know we are never alone....thank you Holy Spirit!

We had a beautiful weekend! Saturday we went to watch Caitie perform Taiko at the Columbus International Festival at Vets Memorial. We ate our way through many nations :)

Later in the afternoon the Fulton babies came to Nana's to participate in Trick or Treat. We have a wonderful neighborhood and it was a beautiful evening for a walk in the tree lined roads!!

Yesterday after Church I met up with my baby sister and her family at Bob Evans to celebrate her sons 16th Birthday...Happy Birthday Wes!!!

Today we bowl.....or some such variation of it!

Be blessed!

God is good always and in all ways :)

I am so thankful that God watches over me and my family....undeserved and unmerited...His love covers us when we put our trust in Him!

Good news for one of my DD, she received a promotion and I am sooooo happy for her. She has had a rough couple of months health wise. A week ago she received a clean bill of health and now a promotion in her field. God is good and I am thankful :)

Tomorrow we are going to attend an International Culture Day where our oldest granddaughter is performing Taiko. Later the Wellston group is coming to our house for a delayed Trick R Trick due to weather!

Blessings!

The Christ came with shouts of Peace, peace to the people on earth...

Colossians 1:20 says, “Jesus will reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity!”

Keep the peace! It is good for your health...mentally, physically and most importantly SPIRITUALLY :)

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Evil. God. Good. When God gets in the middle of life—evil becomes good! ~Max Lucado

Amen!!

Yesterday after Church we went to the Quarry for clean up after the Pumpkin Walk (it was such fun) I really love the fact that we have made this a family tradition!!

After the clean up we made 3 gallons of apple cider with the remaining apples that Tim had picked the week before.....

Somehow I have managed to be reinfected with that crazy cold bug that I fought all last week! Today we bowl and then I am doing nothing for a few days to see if I can kick this thing once and for all!!

Have a blessed day...

the goblins are coming...the goblins are coming:)

BUSY day getting ready for the "Haunted Pumpkin Walk" @the Quarry!!!

I need to be out and about gathering pumpkins and lanterns and food and straw...OM!!

Be blessed!

Acts 3:21 says that God has promised a “restoration of all things.”

We are busy preparing for the "Quarry Pumpkin Walk" this weekend....our determination is being hindered by the winter blast (including snow yesterday) that has overtaken the Ohio Valley. OMGoodness what a difference a week can make :)

Have a blessed day!

Revelations 21:4

Good-bye. No one wants to say it. And death is the most difficult good-bye of all.

After our church had five funerals in seven days, the sorrow took its toll on me.  I chided myself, “Come on, Max, get over it.  Death is a natural part of living.” Then I self-corrected.  No it isn’t. Birth is. Breathing is. Belly laughs, big hugs and bedtime kisses are.  But death? We weren’t made to say good-bye. God’s original plan had no farewell, no final breath, day, or heartbeat. No matter how you frame it, good-bye doesn’t feel right.

God has served notice.  All farewells are on the clock. He has decreed a family reunion. What a reunion it will be. Revelation 21:4 says, on that day, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

This long journey will come to an end. You’ll see Him. And you’ll see them. Isn’t this our hope?

From You’ll Get Through This ~Max Lucado

Home...sweet...Home

Beautiful 5 days with the grand babies but I am very glad to be home!

I picked up the sore throat/chest cold that baby Carrig had and I have spent the weekend recovering other than a Leadership Meeting @church on Saturday. 

We are having the 2nd Annual Haunted Quarry this Saturday and we will need to pick pumpkins. mow the fields. hang lanterns. build another fire pit. pick up bales of straw for the hay ride. make apple cider. and try out the new wood stove to make sure that it actually works. i love these things :)

Have a blessed day!

Romans 12:2 says to let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Oh my...this week (starting tonight) I will be staying @my DD's house to keep watch over my 4 Grandbabies while she joins her hubby at a conference out of state! They range in age from 8 to just 1......help me Jesus!!

Pooh is coming up in the afternoons to help with the logistics of getting them where they need to be and then home again! Bless us Father!!

I will let you know if we survive....lol

Be blessed and see you in a week!

“On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it.” (I Corinthians 11:23).

 Have a blessed day full of God’s mercy and His grace.

Be grateful in everything and love much...

That's my motto and I am sticking to it :)

Be blessed!

John 14:2 says Jesus is building a house for us.

Our deed of ownership is every bit as certain as that of the soldier! The grateful heart sees every day as a gift.

~Max Lucado

Nana and her babies :)

It was a beautiful weekend starting Friday with the preparations for the Brunswick Stew dinner for Daddy's 86th Birthday on Saturday afternoon. We had Apple Cider and  Cobbler made with apples from the Quarry! 6 of the 7 grandbabies spent the night after the dinner and it was a whirlwind of activity! 

Caitie needed to design and produce a marketable product complete with a cost analysis for school....OH boy!! Pooh was willing to go to JoAnn's Fabrics and get the needed supplies and Nana and Cait came up with what we deemed a good product for Breast Cancer Awareness. 

Kaeden and Ciarnan came up for air occasionally from Minecraft to eat. Playing school with Nana rounded out the evening with Cael, Cait and Kollier. Kamden gave a fine display of her acrobatic talents and we all settled in for the night with popcorn and a movie.....somehow it ended up with the 3 girls and Nana in one bedroom and the 3 boys in the master bedroom...Oh and Pooh? In the man cave sleeping on the couch!

Sunday we met up with the Columbus group and transferred 3 of the babies. The rest of us headed up to the tiny town of Wellston to the "Oktoberfest" where Kollier sang an original song and Kaeden performed a standup comic act @his teachers which was REALLY funny in the Talent Show. 

Kaeden entered Herman? the Turtle in the Animal Contest...he won 1st place and $15...not bad for a tiny little turtle :) 

Kristyl, DD and principal at STS Peter and Paul was in a Brat Eating Contest....she didn't win BUT she ate 3 of those darlings!!

Needless to say we slept soundly last night!!

Have a blessed day!!

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Be blessed!

God takes care of His children :)

Romans 8:28  “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” 

Isaiah 40:31 promises, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

In todays society it is easy to get stuck on the adrenalin high that brings havoc to our health and well being.....slow down and rest in the Lord for joy in Him is our strength!

Have a blessed day :)

“When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2).

We are having a "Brunswick Stew" dinner for the kids and the parents this Saturday! 6 of the 7 Grandbabies are spending the night.....Pooh will hide in his man cave :) They are so adorable and it lets them spend time together with Nana and each other!! Sunday we are taking 3 of them to the Octoberfest @ STS Peter and Paul so that they can perform in the Talent Show! It is a hoot!!!!

Be blessed!

He has the whole world in His hands.....Thank you Jesus!

We spent all day Saturday in the small city of Newark at a trade show.....boring! BUT I willingly go where my hubby goes if for nothing but moral support. I am thankful for this person that God placed in my life, very, very thankful!

Have a blessed and joy filled day :)

1 Peter 1:6 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

It has been a stressful month.....BUT....my DD came through her surgery with no complications, I heard nothing back from my repeat test on the 10th so I am assuming things are looking OK and I planted a mum at my son's gravesite on his birthday (I hate going to the cemetery but don't want others to think that he is not loved and remembered) I am thankful to God for answered prayer and that the month is almost over. 2 Corinthians 5:8 is a comfort to me believing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 

Life is not always easy

Blessings

Happy Birthday Jamey!

Mommy loves you. Until we see once again face to face and eye to eye I will dwell in the memories of times past. You are loved and missed!

Philippians 1:6 “He does not relish in our sufferings, but He delights in our development.”

2nd Corinthians 1:4-5 says, “God comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone who’s going through hard times so we can be there for that person, just as God was there for us.”

That our suffering can be used for good is something only God could do....help me Father to help others.

Tomorrow is my only son's birthday. September is an agonizing month for me and for my girls. Even though Jamey passed almost 10 years ago....it seems like yesterday and my heart aches for others going through the loss of a child.

James 1:3-4, “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

When you pray you’re saying, “Lord, I believe You’re more competent to deal with this than I am, and I trust You to do it.” When you pray that way the heart of your boss is in God’s hands, the surgery you dread is in His hands, your children and your finances are in His hands. God is ready to intervene on your behalf�� - just pray from your heart. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Ps 37:5 NKJV). 
~Bob Gass

“Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.”

~ Dr Mayo Angelou

Rest in God's peace.....His peace He gives to you.

Mel Weldon said, “My mind is a garden, my thoughts are the seeds; my harvest will be either flowers or weeds.”

Well I don't know about an auction today.....it is raining and cold! Me thinks the Antique Store might be a better match for today!

Psalm 6:5 says, “Do what is right as a sacrifice to the Lord and trust the Lord.”

We need to do what is right in God's eyes and not care about what others think of us in this crazy mixed up world that we live in.

I have been busy with internet classes this week....I love technology!! The Apple IOS7 update was yesterday and it seems as if we are going back to retro graphics. Interesting!

Be blessed!

Happy Birthday Denny!

Yesterday was my Brother in Laws birthday. He is very recently retired from a large corporation in Richmond,VA as a Graphic Designer. He never married and we worry about him at times. Last night while talking to him on the phone I got the brilliant idea of using FaceTime to chat and to show him the house. It was hilarious as as we traveled through the house with iPad in tow showing him every little nook and cranny....thank you God for technology!!



Today we are making more Apple Cider @ the Quarry. It is going to be a beautiful 70 degree day in the woods....could you ask for anything more? I think not :)

Be blessed!

Genesis 28:15 “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go!”

Thank You Father :)

Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Always present....always near!

Be Blessed :)

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You, God.” Psalm 56:3

Forgiveness doesn’t diminish justice, it just entrusts it to God. Unlike us, God never gives up on a person. ~Max Lucado

God never gives up on a person.......what a reassuring thought for us and for those who have sinned....just like us!

Today I am doing catch up on the daily mundane things....nowhere to go and nothing I have to do....what a stress reliever!!

Be blessed :)

The Psalmist determined, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

DRS appointment this afternoon....ugh. The bright side is that the rest of the week is pretty clear! Last night we made another batch of apple cider at the Quarry. There are still sooooo many apples left...it has been a good year for fruit in Ohio.

Have a blessed day :)

Just Believe...and nothing will be impossible!

Today was Grandparents Day @STS Peter and Paul....it was a good day! Kollier, my youngest led me to her classroom and read me a book AND showed me all the stars on her apple (there is a prize involved in the student with the most stars) and she had the most!! We met the other 2 Grandchildren, Kammi and Kaeden, for dinner @ the Parrish Hall and a singing extravaganza!!

I love my babies all 10 of them.... Mommies and grandchildren :)

I am off to the Quarry to make more of that Apple Cider.

Be blessed!

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Do you think you’ve lost it all?  Determine not to make this mistake. You have not lost it all.  Romans 11:29 promises God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. ~Max Lucado

Today we will go and look over the items up for auction @The Foltz Fall Auction. We are still looking for.....a small hay wagon! Hopefully DH will find one soon :)

Be blessed and safe in Lord Jesus

Jesus said, “You did not choose Me. I chose you.” (John 15:16).

What an overwhelming emotion this invokes...God chose you...beyond my comprehension! He who knows all... knew from the beginning who would accept His gift of salvation. I am humbled and want so badly to honor Him with my life!

Today we are making more apple cider @the Quarry. It is a beautiful day for it with the temps being in the high 70's. I love the change of seasons it makes you so appreciate each and every one of them :-)

Be blessed!

The Bible promises at the right time, in God’s hands, intended evil becomes eventual good. ~Max Lucado

Today is my little sister's Birthday....we are going to the Olive Garden!

Be blessed today and always!

Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”

In Him and through Him all things work out for our good and the good of His Church!

I had a dream last night with a message of a health concern...we will see @ my return DRS visit the 10th. It is in His strong and loving hands and I will leave it there!

We made apple cider @the Quarry yesterday...what a process!! Mom and Dad stopped by and sat and talked a spell. Timmy drank the cider and declared it excellent :-)

I am soooo funny about what I put into my body because it has its own way of handling things.....and they are not always good!

Love and blessings for your day!

“You meant evil against me,” he said, “but God meant it for good. . .”Genesis 37

The very things Satan meant to destroy us will be used by God for us :)  We are in good hands!

The Wellston babies spent the night on Saturday and we went bowling. They did quite well for a 10, 7 and 5 year old...I say sign them up for our Senior League....we could dye their hair gray....what do you think?

We had the best Labor Day celebration yesterday with all the girls and their families plus Mom and Dad of course! Family and friends are the gifts that God gives us to help us celebrate the good things in our life and to console us in the bad times.

Today we make apple cider.....this out to be interesting!

Be blessed

When you love the unloving, you get a glimpse of what God does everyday for you and me. ~Max Lucado

The Holy Spirit uses Max to validate the daily teachings that He gives me on a regular basis...I do my Bible Study and then I read Max's daily devotion and as they say it does my heart good :-)

Yesterday we went once again to Holmes County. This time Tim called and got the street address for the Lehman's Hardware retail shop @Kidron Rd.....yeah.... we actually made it there on the first try!! DH purchased his first apple cider press and more material for another fall table quilt. We ate our regular lunch @Hershberger's...fresh rolls, summer sausage and farmers cheese...THANK goodness we live 2.5 hours away :-)

Today I cleaned the house early in prep for the cookout Sunday and when Tim gets back from helping Daddy we are going to pick apples....it is only going to be 90 degrees @the mosquito quarry....lol!!! My parents always gave us kids those jobs....where are my children when I need them? OK, we do this to give it to them so I guess I can't complain! Love sweet love.

Have a blessed day

2 Corinthians 10:4, “We use mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devil’s strongholds.”

We need to put on the full armor of God to win the spiritual battles in this world!

The prayers of the faithful accomplish much :-)

Blessings!

“Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you.” (Luke 1:3).

There is a way that is right for us....may we carefully consider all options and be wise in Him!

The Fulton babies are spending the night on Saturday so that their parents can celebrate their 12th Anniversary! On Sunday afternoon I think we will have everyone over for dinner....it sounds like a good plan to me :)

Be blessed!

Christ left us a roadmap..we need to read it to find our way back to Him

The words of the Bible have life. Life-giving words! Nouns with pulse rates. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you. Haven’t you felt His touch? In a late, lonely hour you read, “I will never leave you.  I will never forsake you.” The sentences comfort like a hand on your shoulder.

Don’t make a decision without sitting before God with open Bible, open heart, open ears. Let the words of Christ live in your heart and make you wise.

~Max Lucado

We have had a whirlwind 4 days...

Friday we went to a guitar shop in Columbus...we got lost...we were found thanks to OnStar...DH got the guitar he wanted!!

Saturday we went to Amish Country...we got lost looking for Lehman's Hardware...we were never found and as a result there is no apple press @the Quarry :-( but I found many things to add to my stash :-)

Sunday after church we went to Pickerington to find the magazine "Primitive Quilts" with the 3rd installment of the quilt DH is making...we went to 4 quilt shops Saturday to find the magazine with no luck...we found the mag @Barnes and Nobles...DH is happy :-)

Today bowling resumes....tomorrow I do nothing!! yeah right!

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 32:8 God says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.”

May we hear Him clearly.  In His grace He will make all things work out for good when we place our life into His loving arms!

Have a blessed day :-)

It is that time of year....Jamey's Birthday in September

Solomon said, “There is a time to mourn!” Give yourself some. Face your grief with tears, time, and one more—face your grief with truth. God has the last word on death. And if you listen, He will tell you the truth about your loved ones. They’ve been dismissed from the hospital called Earth. You and I still roam the halls, smell the medicines. They meanwhile, inhale springtime.

You miss them like crazy, but can you deny the truth? They have no pain, doubt, or struggle. They really are happier in heaven. Reunion is a splinter of an eternal moment away. I Thessalonians 4:13 says that there is no need for you “to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.”

God understands. He knows the sorrow of a grave. He buried His Son.  But He also knows the joy of resurrection. And by His power, you will too.

~Max Lucado

~Max Lucado

After the wife of C.S. Lewis died he wrote:  “Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.”

Just when you think the beast of grief is gone, you pass a restaurant where the two of you used to eat, or you hear a song she loved. And the giant of grief keeps stirring up. You see couples and long for your mate. You see parents with kids and yearn for your child. The giant stirs up insomnia, loss of appetite, even thoughts of suicide.

Grief is not a mental illness, but it sure feels like one sometimes. Jesus understands. Next to the tomb of his dear friend, “Jesus wept.” And in His tears we find permission to shed our own. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:3, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”

Go ahead.  Face your grief.  Permit yourself tears. God understands, and He will get your through this.

Joy in the Lord is our strength

When everything around you seems to be crumbling......He will give you His peace, beyond our human comprehension, if we place ourself into His loving arms! Joy in His agape love for us gives us the strength to endure the hard places we encounter in this life :-)

Have a blessed day my friends!

When you have done all that you know how to do.......just stand!

If we don't stand up for what we believe we will stand for nothing!

It has been a long, fun filled but exhausting month at our house. We are taking a much needed break and heading for the Amish Country this weekend. It is our favorite place to go :-} The CLR Convention was a big success for DH and we were kept very busy....a good thing!

Have a blessed day as I play catch up on the routines of my everyday life!!

Matthew 11:28

 Be quick to pray.  Stop talking to yourself. Talk to Christ, who says, “Are you tired? Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

~Max Lucado

My daughter the principal....

There is a sense of pride that comes with your child's accomplishments. It is hard to put into words. My middle daughter had her first teacher's meeting as principal this morning and I was so thankful for what God has brought about in the lives of my children......so very thankful! He is good and I am humbled :-)

~Max Lucado

What kind of person would take the blame for something he didn’t do? When you find the adjective, attach it to Jesus. Isaiah 53:6 says, “God has piled all our  sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on Him.”

Christ lived the life we could not live and took the punishment we could not take, to offer the hope we cannot resist!

Freely given....freely give!

Matthew 18:32 “You wicked servant, he said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? 

Yesterday was catch up day on the computer but it was kind of nice to be internet disconnected while at Lakeside....but only for a couple of days :-)

Be Blessed by Him who loves you so!!

Paul wrote in Romans 12:19: “Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’”

Oh how sweet and freeing it is to know that we do not have to judge others :-)

I just returned from spending a couple of nights with my daughters families in Lakeside OH...a beautiful Lake Erie site!

Back to the real world and preparing for the Lexington KY show.

Have a blessed day!

Proverbs 18:24 “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

We have a true and faithful friend in Jesus!

Yesterday afternoon my Dad's sister passed from this life only months after her husband of 74 years. My Aunt Katherine Irene never had children but her and my Uncle lived a very full life and were avid Buckeye fans traveling to many of the away games. At 93 she still attended last weeks Family Reunion.... a gift that we all were able to see her.

Tonight sweet Caitlyn (DGD) is spending a couple of nights...no doubt a lot of Nana's School will be in session :) Friday I will be going to Lakeside for the weekend with them...here is praying for a little warmer weather so that the babies can swim!!

Have a blessed day!

First Samuel 16:7 says: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

There is always hope for me and for you :)

God called David a “man after His own heart!”  One might read his story and wonder what God saw in him.  He fell as often as he stood. He stared down Goliath, yet ogled at Bathsheba.  He could lead armies but couldn’t manage a family.  Raging David.  Weeping David.  Bloodthirsty.  God-hungry.  Eight wives.  One God.  A man after God’s own heart?

That God saw him as such gives hope to us all.  David’s life has little to offer the unstained saint.  Straight-A souls find David’s story disappointing.  But we need David’s story…most of us do.  Giants lurk in our neighborhoods.  Giants of rejection, failure, and revenge.  We must face them.  Yet we need not face them alone.

Focus on God.  The times David did, giants fell. The days he did not, David fell.  Lift your eyes, giant-slayer!  The God who made a miracle out of David stands ready to make one out of you!

~Max Lucado

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever.”

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Today Kristyl and her babies plus Me are going to the new American Girl Doll store in Columbus!! My first trip to this fun store was in Manhattan with Marla and Caitlyn when they were living there....it was so much fun. The excitement is contagious!!

Tomorrow we have an appointment for DH with an ENT DR.....sinus problems have followed him from VA to OH...ugh!!

Have a wonderful day :)

Jesus said to Jairus what He says to you: “Don’t be afraid—just believe!” “Trust Me,” Jesus is pleading. “Just trust Me.”

~Max Lucado

The Huber Family Reunion

All of the siblings (even Aunt Irene who is 93) but Mary who is in a nursing home in Portland OR were there. But the number of cousins who attend is dwindling fast. There were probably only about 20 or so of us. From my siblings only Joe's family, me and my daughter Ashley with her family were there. A vote was taken on whether to have it next year and no one raised there hand to host it......after the second vote....I raised my hand, what the heck was I thinking? I was thinking of my Dad.....hopefully I can come up with something to generate activity for next year....I have a helper who I think is my Godfather's youngest daughter! It would be so sad to never see my Aunts and Uncle and their families while they are still here to hug!!

The Fulton babies spent the night on Friday so that Dad could compete in a gun shoot in the city of Marietta. Marla and family came to visit  Saturday and the 7 grandbabies had a good time....the house looked like a cyclone had gone through it....BUT we had a really good time... I love our visits :)

This week I will play catch up on classes, cleaning and such....

Have a blessed day!

Hello sinus infection!

Yesterday the afternoon was spent waiting in DRS' offices with DH. One for his current misery with a sinus infection (early in the season for him) and the other one we have waited for 2 months to see. His regular DR has decided that he needs to have a sinus scan and an appointment with an ENT...he gets so tired of seeing all these DRS.

The Wellston babies are spending the night tonight so that Mom and Dad can have a little R&R....bad timing but that is life :) we will just have to be a LITTLE bit quieter than normal!!

I am mowing today and then a quick trip to the grocery store...have to get those Bagel Bites for Kaeden you know!

Be blessed!

Luke 24:27, Jesus began to tell them the story of God’s plan for people, “starting with Moses and all the prophets, and everything that had been written about Himself in the Scriptures.”

We, all who believe in Jesus Christ, we are the Body Of Christ. Jesus came to earth and gave His life in exchange for ours so that we could have an abundant and eternal life. We are His hands and His heart meant to show others the love of God and the gift that He gave in the salvation of Jesus for all of mankind. We need to be about our Fathers' plan and spread the Good News :)

DH has an appointment with another specialist today!! He has been feeling punk (doing nothing totally unlike him) the last couple of days  (sinus infection an ongoing issue) but did not want to cancel since it took 2 months to get in...so away we go!! Prayers are appreciated!!

The weather is absolutely beautiful!

Be blessed..

Love and all that stuff!

Yesterday about 11AM I got a call from my 2 daughters that their 64 year old father had a stroke. Their father and I were married for 24 years and had our only (4) children together...it was a difficult marriage to say the least but it was a LONG time ago. The girls needed someone to stay with the 7 grand babies...it happened at the time I had the cable company setting in my yard to bury a cable that had been cut and  I was waiting for a call from the electric company concerning the lack of electric at the Quarry....not good timing but No one is willing to watch that many children but grandparents. As soon as Pooh (DH) got back from the Quarry we made the trip to Columbus to watch over (play with) the kids. If you ever pass an older lady pushing a double stroller with 2 babies and 3 children whizzing past her on bicycles it might be me :) the neighborhood will never be the same. Thankfully their father will make a complete recovery and I had a chance to talk to his wife and offer my prayers....she has had a difficult year.

We never know what life will hand us but love can cover a multitude of hurt if we allow it :)

Blessings!

It is always something....it is called LIFE

Yesterday afternoon we found out the electricity was no longer working at the Quarry....what next? But in the scheme of things....MINOR.....and after thousands of dollars hopefully...FIXABLE!

Last evening we (Mom, Dad and me) went to listen to my niece and nephews' "Lancaster Summer Band" perform at the Homestead, a local nursing home. They were really good! I love my nieces and nephews :)

Have a blessed day!

Tim and I went to STS Peter and Paul to help out with the playground stencil painting....Kris (DD and principal) and I filled in the stencils with bright colors of childhood memories...I found out that I am not as flexible as I thought I was....can you hear "trouble standing up the next morning?"

The air is off and the windows are open...yipee!!!...the heat wave has eased up for this week!

A small thing to many but to me monumental... I managed to download my Bible Study Logos to my laptop and for that I am very thankful!! It is the small things in life  you know that make me the happiest :)

Have a wonderful day!

Luke 17:33 says, “Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it, and the one who’s prepared to lose his life will preserve it.”

I will never be good enough nor smart enough to save myself......but the Good News is God can do all that I cannot when I give my life to Him!

Our cable is now put back together and the digital world is working in the Crosby house!! I still have not found the placemats (Cait's quilts) that she hid somewhere in this house when she spent the night!! She has such a warped sense of humor you know....that's my baby!!

It is still excessively hot in the Ohio Valley and Tim is over at the Quarry mowing while the heat is still bearable. I am watering my hydrangea 2x's a day just to keep them from wilting but the one I planted in the Secret Garden @ the Quarry is happy as a clam with a gallon jug of water a day....the soil there from 100 years of no use is heavy with nutritional goodness.

We are going down to my daughter's school where she is principal Saturday morning to help paint stencils on the playground....Pooh is soooo good about helping out when I know that he would prefer just about anything else!! It is payment for the days I spend in his booth selling his powder horns :) I am thankful for both!

Have a blessed day!

Life in the digital world

Our Internet cable was accidentally cut in two yesterday afternoon......we r so dependent on it!

With no phone, no TV and no Internet communications....I am going to design today.....and wait for Time Warner who said that they would be here last night!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Make the most of the talents that God has given you and me:)

Sometimes we wonder if what we are doing matters. The truth is if we are using the gifts that the Father has given us and we have joy in them we are doing what He ordained for us and we are honoring Him with our talents.

Each of us should rejoice in the accomplishment of others...and be humbly thankful that He gave us our own to share :)

Be blessed!

Mark 3:35. “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants.”

It is a blessing to have a believing earthly family! I am blessed :)

Early Saturday morning we went to the Lily Fest in Rockbridge. It has over 3 acres dedicated to a natural approach to landscaping with thousands of lilies, roses, hosta and 2 ponds overflowing with water plants. It was started as an annual event many years ago but recently was given to Hocking County Parks by the Bishop family...what a wonderful gift. Many artists set up camp to sell their wares and different musicians play the whole 4 days that it is open. So glad we went :)

It is sweltering hot in the Ohio Valley! Tim is going to try to mow the front fields @the Quarry. I am not sure if that is a good idea. They still have not wired the barn there but hopefully it will get finished some time this week :(

Stay cool and be blessed!

Luke 15. “You are always with me; all that I have is yours.”

God loves us so.....all of us especially those who choose to accept this agape love that He offers!

Today we are mowing....yipeee no rain....I know that is hard to believe but the weatherman said "NO RAIN"...do you think we can hold him to it :)

Summer is going way to fast :(

Have a blessed day!

John 8:11 “Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.”

God is into the business of restoration.....may we be ever so grateful and humbled by His mercy and grace!

Our electric was out from about 5:30- 9:30 PM last night...it could have been much worse if the babies were here....thank goodness they went home earlier in the afternoon!

Today we are going to a farm sale preview that is suppose to have small hay wagons for sale...hmmmm, we will see!

There is a forecast of no rain today and a high of 80 degrees....could it possibly be true?

Have a blessed day!

The babies are coming the babies are coming.....

The Columbus grandchildren are spending the night tonight....I hope the rain stops long enough to let us go to the Quarry and hike the trails!

Timmy will hide in his shop and the kids and I will play....school, create in the studio, play monster and eat junk food :) that is just the way it is!

Yesterday I worked all day on photos and Project Life and accomplished much. It felt good!

Have a blessed day.

“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 1:14)

It is never too late to turn your life around....just believe in His power to do the miraculous in you :)

Saturday was my youngest grandson Carrig's 1st birthday and his baptism @St Agatha's Catholic Church. I am sooo grateful to God that all of my grandchildren are being raised Christian....He is a rewarder of those who put their trust in Him!!

There were about 50 people at the cookout and he managed to eat the WHOLE small cake he was given....talk about a sugar high ;)

Psalm 25:1-2: “Lord, I give myself to You, my God. I trust You.”

What a wonderful, albeit wet, 4th of July!

Food, food and more food! Cards, monster games, lots of hugs, a trip to the see the new barn with Nana's babies and ending with  tons of fireworks...you can see the City of Lancaster's from our deck.

Trust in God and be Blessed beyond measure :)

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray…then I will hear from heaven.” (II Chron. 7:14 NIV)

The house is clean, the food is cooking, the ice is chilling the drinks...it is a holiday...

a time of celebrating with family and friends.

My sister and family are visiting from TX and all the family will be here soon...

I am grateful for my family and for the blessed life we are privileged to live in the United States. We all need to pray for the leaders of our country especially the President, Senate and Congress that they may lead in peace.  In our governments peace we have peace as a nation.

Happy 4th of July America!