Who likes black licorice

I told a children's story in church today and started by asking who liked black licorice. A few of the children did and I handed out some black jelly beans to those who wanted them and proceeded to eat some myself and told how I loved licorice ice cream and asked the children if any of them had ever had it and none had but when I asked the adults many hands went up. Anyway the gist of the story was how black licorice makes your mouth black and disgusting and how saying things that aren't nice is like having a black mouth that isn't very nice to see. Then I gave several scriptures from Proverbs about how important what you say is.

Well, after church I was the most popular person around and many of the adults came asking for black jelly beans and telling me about how they also enjoyed licorice ice cream at the Country Boy Dairy. I found it quite enjoyable having everyone sharing their story. It was a very bonding moment and I realized even more how wonderful my church family is.

Getting off the night shift and being more involved with Community Services and other things has really brought me much closer to my fellow church members. I finally feel like I belong :)

The Perfect Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011 must be remembered as the most beautiful Thanksgiving day in my memory. It was in the high 50's with nary a breeze and the sun was shining all day. It started out with a most beautiful sunrise, which I am glad to say I got to enjoy in all it's glory. I even took a morning walk even though I was entertaining in the afternoon. It was a very relaxed morning since most of the work left to do had to be done in the last half hour before eating. It was only mom, Warren, Carol, Curt and I but I was thankful that at least we had that many to spend the wonderful day with. After dinner, Warren, Carol and I went for a walk and mom and Curt had the dishes all washed up by the time we returned. It was a most blessed day and I even got to wish all my children a "Happy Thanksgiving" via phone. Three of the siblings, Amy, Ben and Angela got to spend the day together at Ben and Ashley's and Jeremy and Krissy were spending he day with Krissy's dad in Santa Barbara.

The Autumn Wanderer

I met a woman on my walk today who I would like to emulate someday. She may have been in her 70's, slight of frame but her stride was long and unhurried. She had a gracefulness about her. Her attire was that of a seasoned hiker...sturdy hiking shoes, olive green slacks just above the ankle in length, a tweed jacket that came just below her hips, and a wide-brimmed oilskin hat. Add a walking stick and I could easily have seen her traverseing a mountain. She had a look of contentment, just enjoying her autumn walk. It just made me smile.

I'm listening, Lord

For a while now I have felt distant from God. I'm not sure why, but even on my walks I didn't sense his presence, like the way I use to feel He was sending a bird song or butterfly just for me to enjoy. But today I my walk I felt like the old times...a flicker, a dragonfly, lots of little yellow butterflies. All things along my walk for my enjoyment. I've felt more happy and content lately too. It could be for several reasons:

1. Autumn- it's my favorite time of year.

2. The cooler weather- hot and humid always make me a bit cranky.

3. The upcoming change in position at work- not having to work nights anymore and having

a real "life" is very exciting!

4. Spending more time in devotions- just being more open to what God has for me in my life

and realizing that I have a mission field right here in Jamestown and if I keep myself open

to the work around me, He will bless me.

It seems like it has been a long time in coming but I think I am on the right track back to my walk with God.

My little bit of heaven

We've been doing a bit of landscaping and planting, getting some new patio and lawn furnishings and I have to say I am quite pleased and like my little haven of rest.

I'm a Grandma!

This morning at 3:05 a.m., Ava Skye Tanner came into the world! She is beautiful!!(even though I have only seen pictures of her, I am leaving tomorrow morning to see her in person). Amy was totally amazing with a 3 hour labor, start to finish! She was only in the hospital about 10 minutes before she delivered. I still can't believe it! Just totally amazing, amazing, amazing!!!! I just can't wait to hold my own little granddaugher in my arms. She weighed 8#4 0z., 21 inches long, and looks like she has almost auburn hair. She is so adorable!

A Goal

I was reading an article in the "Signs" magazine about a 92 year old Hawaiian lady who speed walks in the Hawaiian Marathon. So it began me thinking, why couldn't I speed walk in a half marathon for starters. So I just got back from a beautiful walk, walking a bit faster than usual, occasionally doing the "speed walk stance" (which by the way is almost as tiring as jogging). I felt that it gave me a much better work out and I am going to try to do my 2 mile trek in 30 minutes instead of 40, which is my pace now. I didn't think to time myself today but I think I will get a pedometer too so I can know just how far I've gone. Maybe next year Ashley and I can speed walk and Ben and Darrel can run in the half marathon in Lincoln. :)

A Blustery New Year's Eve

I'm sitting here alone on a blustery/blizzardy New Year's Eve sipping my eggnog and nibbling on shortbread cookies, wrapped in my Paris scarf, pondering what the new year will bring. I am excitedly anticipating the prospect of becoming debt free and being willing to put forth the effort needed to make it become a reality. Trying to come up with ideas for eating healthier, I decided making a two week meal plan will not only make it easier to stay on track with our eating but also make shopping more economical. Getting rid of clutter and downsizing, making gifts instead of buying, all these thoughts going through my head. I always love the start of a new year with all it's possibilities for new beginnings.

It's Officially Winter (unofficially)

I just returned from a beautiful winter walk. It is 23 degrees with very little wind and the sun is shining! Several flocks of geese blessed my walk on their journey to warmer lands. Even the reservoir has a thin sheet of ice along the shores. We had about an inch or so of snow overnight so the world is sparkling and clean. I think autumn is over and winter has moved in. But if all winter was like this I would be very happy :).
The whole week-end so far has been a blessing. Starting Friday evening Pastor Gary Burns and his wife came from Michigan to hold a prayer conference here. He spoke Friday, and Sabbath for the church service and in the afternoon after potluck. It was all very moving and inspiring for me to have a closer walk with God through prayer and Bible study. I always feel very close to God through nature but am pretty lax on the Bible study. I am starting a 40 days of prayer which I am hoping will open my eyes to the work God has planned for my life.

A Newly Remodeled Basement

Today was a pretty productive day, considering I didn't really have an agenda when I woke up this morning. First off we went grocery shopping to start our more healthy lifestyle and then stopped at Schubert's to see if we could find a cheap remnant of carpet for the bedroom downstairs. Which we did find, almost the perfect size. Curt had to do some trimming but I think it looks good. And then we tackeled the big job, putting together the new futon, end table and glider/recliner. I thought we did an amazing job of moving furniture out and moving furniture in and putting furniture together and getting all the furniture rearranged, all in 4 hours! It was a good days work. Then we relaxed in our newly refurbished basement and watched a movie. It was a great day! I even made some humus and it was delicious!

Ahhh, Autumn!

I just returned from such a beautiful walk! I couldn't help thanking God my senses. The ability to see all the wonder surrounding me, to feel the sun on my bare arms, to hear the crunch of dry leaves under my feet and smell their fragrance. I am in awe of His love for me.
I wish I would have taken my camera, because the water was so still there was a perfect mirror reflection. It was gorgeous. Thank you Lord for all your many blessings!

My Resolve

Ever since I started working 12 hour night shifts I have not been able to get a routine down, so my exercise and devotions have pretty much fallen by the wayside. I always complain I'm so tired and have no motivation to do anything. Well, this is going to stop! NO MORE EXCUSES, NO MORE PITY PARTIES! The truth is I have just been lazy and using work as an excuse. I am almost always up by 2 pm and that gives me plenty of time for a half hour of exercise and devotions and still have time for a shower and to eat supper.
So here's the deal. If any of you friends or family out there start hearing me complain about not having the time for exercise, remind me about my resolve and tell me to quit complaining and start getting on with the program.
I've had a good start so far. Went for a 4 mile walk with Curt down to the marina on Sabbath, drove out to the cabin and went swimming on Sunday, took a 5 mile bike ride yesterday and just got back from about a 2 and a half mile walk. I feel happy and excited about getting control of my life again. The devil knows that sticking to a program has always been hard for me and losing weight has been a struggle for years. So I am telling him to get out of my mind and I am going to win this struggle!
I figure if I mix up the exercise routine with walking, riding my bike, a little "Dancing With the Stars" and Irish dancing it should stay fun and interesting.

Good to be home!

When I got back from my bike ride this morning I went out to check on my garden. I can't believe how everything has grown in a week! I even had a cucumber big enough to pick and lettuce also. I'm getting lots of green tomatoes and even the sqaush is starting to get little balls of squash on the vines. I had one little red strawberry which I ate, even though it was very tiny because otherwise the birds are always getting them.

I love to travel but sometimes it's nice to get back to your old routine again.

What a Great Summer!

I have to say I can't remember such a perfect summer in a long time. Last summer was a little on the cool side, didn't really get 80 degree weather until September. But this summer is great! And the good thing is that it is encouraging me to ride my bike (which I didn't do at all last summer). This morning there was very little breeze so I decided I couldn't pass up a ride. I realize now why I enjoyed my rides so much before...the thrill of exceeding the speed limit of 25, if only for a brief moment. The satisfaction of making the climb with gears to spare...And just feeling great after 10 miles and wanting more...more beautiful bike paths like in Minnesota. Enjoying the bird songs and the beauty all around me are amazing perks. God is good and I am so glad He gives me good health and an amazing body so I can enjoy His great outdoors.

Sabbath Bliss 2

My Sabbath started out with a beautiful thunder storm passing through while I was sitting at the table eating breakfast. I watched as the lightning bolts cut through the clouds and thunder rumbled. The rain started as a sprinkle and then gradually increased to a brief downpour before subsiding again. By the time I left for church it was all over and the clouds were starting to dissipate. I was chorister so that alone always gets me energized. I just love singing praises to God and sharing His Word. I also got to lead out in the children's Sabbath School and we sang songs from VBS, the lesson was about the sermon on the mount and I gave a nature talk about birds (another of my passions). It was a small group and they were all quite attentive so it was very fun. Brad Bohl gave the sermon and I have to tell you the Lord has filled him with the Spirit because his sermons are always thought provoking and from the heart. He makes the correlation between the stories in the Bible and how they all were a forshadowing of Christ and His life. Then he talked about how we shouldn't be shy about praying together and should do more of it and had everyone get in small groups and put our hands on each other and pray. Well, I never have felt comfortable praying in front of others, not even with Curt. That's why I never liked going to prayer groups. But yesterday opened my eyes to see that we should never be ashamed or embarrassed to lift up our praises and petitions to the Lord. I always felt that my prayers weren't as eloquent as others but I have to stop thinking about me and remember it's all about Him. Ben D. invited me to join him and Brad and Corey and I felt so blessed and renewed afterwards. It was life-changing. I really think the Lord will do great things in our church through the young adults.
Bud and Carolyn Paasch were visiting in church and she had offered to have special music so I stopped to talk to her after church to thank her and we ended up having a nice chat and Shirley M. was there also and we got talking about her mother-in-law who is going to be 99 next month and she certainly doesn't look it. Of course the conversation went to how important eating a healthy diet is and I shared how I have never been convicted to be a vegetarian but these Sabbath School lessons have been making me think. Last week one of the verses kept going through my mind all week, "Whatsoever you eat or drink do all to the glory of God". And then I opened the "Signs of the Times" and there was an article entitled, "Does God Care What You Eat". I was thinking that this is a sign from God and then when I'm talking to Carolyn she gives me these two books about the 8 laws of health and "Foods that Heal". She also gave me a CD of hers. So when I left church I was feeling so blessed by everything! I just prayed the God would help the rest of my Sabbath be as special. I listened to her CD while I had lunch and then went out of the deck and read the magazine "Amazing Health, 8 Bible Secrets for a longer and stronger life!". It was a beautiful afternoon soaking up my daily dose of Vitamin D.
Later on I talked to Amy and then Curt and I watched "Prince Caspian" while listening to the soothing gentle rain outside. It was a most blessed Sabbath!!

Sabbath Bliss

It is such a beautiful day today! I would say it doesn't get much better than this. The Sabbath School lesson caused an enjoyable debate giving one something to think about regarding what we eat and doing all to the glory of God. The sermon was on the "Top Ten Reasons to Worship" and then we had potluck. Not many stayed so it was more enjoyable that way, I always feel. You get to visit more. When we got home Curt and I went for a walk out by the reservoir. Even though it was afternoon the birds were still letting me know they were there. When we got home Curt fixed some lemonade and we sat out on the deck for the 2nd time since we've had it. It is in the high 70's with just a light breeze and just a few whispy white clouds. Thank you Lord, for you are good!

It's A Wonderful Life!

This was a great week-end from beginning to end. Beginning the Sabbath with "One Voice" Friday night, having communion Sabbath with potluck, followed by a presentation by Rob Carter from Creation Ministries International, on how science proves the Biblical creation. Then went to Cleveland for their singspiration and out to Perkins with Warren and Carol afterwards. Then yesterday the weather cooperated and Curt and I had a very productive day out in the yard. He mowed and I picked up all the fallen apples, raked leaves and lots of pineneedles, cleaned out the pond and set up the waterfall and cleaned out the window wells, since they removed all the covers when they sided the house. Just one more thing off the "to do" list. But still so many more. We even ran down the ice cream truck and got an ice cream treat. Curt fired up the charcoal and we had our first grilled hotdogs of the season.
This morning was so beautiful! The sun is shining and there's essentially no wind. I took a walk out by the reservoir and the water was like glass with perfect reflections. I could hear a meadowlark in the distance singing to me the whole way until I went down to the river road. There I startled many wood ducks and a pair of mallards. The kingfisher welcomed me back and I told him it was good to see him too. It was almost like being by the ocean as the water comes rushing through the spillway, crashing against the rocks and foaming up. The air smells so fresh. It was good to be back. Being on that road always brings back memories of Copper and the many walks we had together there. And now I must get a shower and go buy some paint and try and get the fascia and back door painted to match the rest of the house.

Continued Success

I weighed in yesterday and once again I have lost weight. I have lost my 10 pounds already! I can hardly believe it. Not that anyone can notice yet. I figure it will take at least 20 pounds before people will start to notice but even so it feels great! It really is a miracle, there is not doubt about it. Why I couldn't ever lose weight before I don't know but obviously God had a reason because I have tried many times in the past but all efforts failed. I do think it may have been the mind set that if I exercised more I could lose without changing my eating habits too much. But I am planning on starting swimming again on Monday. The plan is to swim M-W-F and do pilates on Tues. and Thurs. My big test will be potluck on Sabbath. But the way I am feeling I can limit myself to smaller portions and be happy about it. :)

A Good Year So Far

In my last blog I mentioned my new year's resolutions. As always losing weight is top on the list and for whatever reason I have never been successful. But this year the Lord must have His hand in this because the weight is coming off! I started out at an all time high of 215 and in 10 days I have lost 6 pounds! Even on the Atkins diet I don't think I lost it that fast. And I haven't even been exercising. But as you know that is my test to see if exercise does indeed increase your appetite. I work the next 6 nights in a row so wanted to weigh before I started and then weigh on Thursday and see if working nights affects it. Then I will start my swimming at the YMCA again and see what happens. I also am going to try some Pilates, since according to my blood type, that is the exercise of choice. What have I got to lose since nothing else has ever worked to get the weight off. My next potluck will be the true test of my will power. But God is good and faithful and if I keep my goal in sight I will have success.

Increasing my brain power

I've had a fear of getting Alzheimer's the older and more forgetful I get. So I started doing Suduko, crosswords puzzles and Celebrity ciphers in hopes to ward it off as long as possible. But in the sermon today Leo Quaile was talking about how memorizing verses in the Bible when he was in school had greatly helped improve his grades. It got me to thinking that maybe I could use my time more constuctively memorizing Bible verses to ward off Alzheimer's than the time I spend on other puzzles. So at lunch right now I memorized 3 Bible verses. Now the test is how long will I remember them. I really am amazed how God uses other people to give us insight in ways to better ourselves, that for some reason we didn't see on our own.