Sunday, December 30, 2007

Sunday



I slept very well last night...even got to sleep in..which is a blessing....not much coughing today but I feel tired and a little dizzy...evidently the cold settled in my ears. All is good though.....another good nights sleep should put me on the road to recovery..
I did cut out my Annie doll, poked the holes for the face on the pattern and marked it on the fabric so she is ready to sew.....soon as I get the energy to get the sewing machine together.....I don't have a place to set it up permanently so I keep it in the closet. I set it up at the kitchen table.
I have some Ebay auctions closing in a day or so...one bid with a lot of watchers on the others.....
My grandfather, James William Barrier, left behind a series of cassette tapes, describing his early life, he was born in 1886.....his father died when he was only 3 months old....his mother remarried but for some reason she did not raise him but he lived with his grandparents in a one room cabin...he never went to school, his grandmother taught him how to read, writing and math. As a young man, he did some cowboy work, and after he married my grandmother in 1908...he homesteaded in Montana, living in a tent through 3 Montana winters with 3 young children. My mother was born as the youngest in 1919 which by that time, the family had moved to Spokane, Wa. He and my grandmother lived through WWI and the Depression...had many struggles and victories which have inspired me greatly.

Why am I telling you this? Because if he had not made the tapes, no one would know...
His many adventures would be lost to future generations.......

everyone has a story to tell....everyone...that is why I've been led to make these
journal or memory jars which when used, promote recording that story, either in a written journal or on tape. I sell these in my store and on Ebay....
The above old photo is my grandpa, around 1905

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Flu Adventures


well, had a huge coughing fit in the night....then slept for a few hours, it was so nice, warm and cozy...didn't really want to get up this morning but for some reason, my 19 year old son needs me to wake him up for work...he has always been like that, sleeps very heavily...so I am alarm clock mom....I once asked him if when he moves out, how he will wake up...he grinned and said, who's moving out? I think he intends on living here until he's 40. When pigs fly.....

Got a little bit of housework done, mainly putting away more Christmas things..when I got a huge mega headache so sat down for a while...
a lot of congestion in my head..my youngest boy, Matt comes in and says, "I got just the thing, Mom", he gets this spray bottle of sinus spray,
says..."hold your head back" at this point, I was willing to try anything...he squirts this stuff in my nose with a mega blast..

I was taken by surprise..it poured down my throat...I started coughing, he yells.."Mom,spit it out, quick".. too late..I swallowed it...it started burning throughout my sinuses.....I blew my nose, I gargled, I drank water, I coughed...he said..."guess I over did it, huh?" then he tries to get me to clear my throat and spit like he can..and demonstrates into the sink..sorry, son, I'm a girl, we just can't do that"...I've never been able to, but I really tried which I guess was really funny as he and my husband (who came in right when this was going on) started laughing ...I did forget about the headache!

...about an hour later, the burning ceased (thankfully), I got stomach cramps, and ran running to the bathroom....I don't know if it was a result of the flu, or ingesting sinus spray...or both...
it is now evening, and time to sleep...I plan on doctoring myself with plenty of nyquil so perhaps the coughing will be subdued tonight...and the bathroom will get a break....
and Praise the Lord.....no alarm clock mom tomorrow! Its Sunday!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Third Day

Third day of the flu..feeling better....not so much coughing and no fever....trying to pick up a little and get a few things done....my guys are not the greatest as far as cleaning goes..typical males...getting caught up with laundry and the dreaded cat boxes......think I will take a nap later though.....Alan has jobs today thankfully and one on Monday too....so far...hope we get more calls.
I will make this post short but I've been playing around with the idea of making a Annie doll for some reason....coffee dyed some fabric and going to study a online how to... looks like it might be fun and I've got everything, no shopping needed...now if I have the energy to pull out the sewing machine.....sheesh
I will put the link for the Annie how to on the side if anyone is interested..

Thursday, December 27, 2007


well, my cold turned into the flu and I've been resting for two days...lots of coughing, body aches, slight fever, etc. the whole enchilada ...got up this morning early as I couldn't sleep, got my oldest son off to work, listed a few things on Ebay and fell back into bed, slept the rest of the morning....feel a little better now...

last night while I was battling coughing,in bed, the Lord reminded me of all the other people who were a lot worse off last night, so I started praying for everyone that He brought to my mind....couldn't believe how many there were..from mothers having difficult births, to people who were battling cancer..most of whom I didn't know...not in this country but all over the world....what was amazing to me was while I was praying, the coughing stopped and I was able to go to fall into a peaceful sleep.
I wonder if the Lord wants us to pray like that more often?...we get so involved in day to day living, our own families, friends and problems....I wonder who will "stand in the gap" for those who have no one to pray for them...

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Day After Christmas

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday...we had a very nice peaceful day...woke up late and had a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs and ham/toast....I wistfully remember the Christmases when the kids would wake up early and run into our bedroom, wake us up and jump on our bed, pouring over their Christmas stockings.....their eyes big and excited voices showing us the treasures that Santa had brought them....
They knew they weren't allowed to go downstairs until everyone was up so we'd bundle up in our bathrobes and head down the stairs, they'd peer over the railing
to see all the packages under the tree.....
after they opened them, we'd get dressed and drive over to my mom's for breakfast...she'd always have a Christmas apron on, and her kitchen would smell of hot coffee....her sister spent the holiday with her, my aunt so if we were lucky, Aunt Alyce would make her wonderful pecan rolls for breakfast.....we have a video we shot one year and I cherish the happy scene of Mama giving our little Matthew his first big teddy bear....the bear was bigger than him and he carried it around with his chubby baby hands, falling on it and laughing.
Now the boys are teens, 16 and 19 (almost 20) and sleeping in is the norm....but they still want their stockings of course...not so many packages as when they were little and this being a very lean year just a few. Lots of laughter and we really had a nice day.....roast turkey with all the trimmings and two pies....ate too much..my brother called which was great..he and his family live in Ft. Worth, Texas...I hear from him about once a month or so....
We all feel a little tired this morning, and I woke up with a head cold or at least I think that's what it is.....didn't sleep well, kept waking up.....that kind of cold....lots of things to do today, boxes to break down, clean up, etc. but it will keep...Donny, our oldest went to work, he didn't want to go but did....he works for the Sun City K9 Dog Rescue full time......check the link on the left side to see the dog rescue, they can always use help, donations, etc. the owner is Elizabeth, who is 87 years old, she is an tiny amazing woman, tireless big spirit....

Monday, December 24, 2007




wishing you and yours a day of faith, love, and hope..

Merry Happy Christmas

Friday, December 21, 2007


Just a short one today....its Friday, the Friday before Christmas...I made some blueberry muffins this morning for Alan as well as banana bread...all sugar free, of course...the muffins are very good.....I got the recipe from a old Betty Crocker cookbook, 1947 volume...and tweaked it some.....
2 cups flour
1 cup Splenda
2 t. baking powder
sprinkle of salt
mix this well together...then
I usually get my big two cup measure and add
1 cup milk,
1 egg,
1/4 c. oil,
1 tsp vanilla
I mix this together well then add it to the dry ingredients....mix just until blended, no more.
Add about 3/4 cup frozen blueberries and some chopped walnuts, about 1/2 cup or so....I don't really measure,
fold the berries and walnuts into the batter,
I spoon the batter into my muffin tin....
I use the big muffin tins, sprayed with Pam
and then bake in a 400 oven for about 20 minutes or until they are nicely browned.
They smell so good and are tender/yummy......who says sugar free stuff is tasteless!
The banana bread, we haven't tried yet, it looks good so will let you know...I've had mixed results in the past.
I plan on making two sugarfree pumpkin pies, and a cherry pie for Christmas..

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A Baby's Hug ~
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'


Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.


My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.


I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'


I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity.


The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'


Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

My sister in law sent this to me, I can't take credit for it but it struck me this week something about the Jesus movement that is not here now....nobody cared what a person wore, how they looked, ratty clothes, long hair, didn't matter..they were loved and accepted...it was who you knew that was important...Our wonderful Savior...

Monday, December 17, 2007

Cranberry Apple Relish

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This is the other traditional recipe Alan fixes for both Thanksgiving and Christmas..its so good, I eat it as a snack....
there are no real measurements but this is what you do...
get about 3 bags of fresh cranberries...sort them out as there sometimes is a bad one.
use 1 large sweet red apple, a large sweet orange and some walnuts, how many is up to you..
get a food processor or grinder, grind the cranberries to a medium grind, then the apple,orange, then the walnuts.....combine together, sweeten this mixture with some sugar to taste, we use splenda or equal, and let it stand for a few hours in the fridge...simple but so so good and you can feel righteous about eating and serving it...pretty color too....I have a pink Depression glass bowl I usually serve this in..the pink and red relish look fantastic together.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

A Christmas Tradition

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For many years, Alan has made several goodies at Christmas time...we always wait for his cranberry/apple relish and his spicy pumpkin bread...unfortunately he can no longer enjoy the bread as he now has type II diabetes and really watches his sweets but he still enjoys baking it for friends and family so here ya go...

Alan's Famous Spicy Pumpkin Bread

3/4 cup butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 16 oz. can pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. cloves
2/3 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. chopped maraschino cherries
Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in pumpkin. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients (except cherries)..blend wet and dry ingredients together a little at a time...then stir in cherries.
Bake in 2 greased (he uses Pam) loaf pans at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until done...test with a toothpick, if it comes out dry its done..

this makes two big loaves...you can also split the batter up into smaller ones, for gift giving.


Friday, December 14, 2007

Happy Birthday Jesus

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Following the Star
by Max Lucado

"Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything?

The Wise Men did. They can be an example to us. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can give him today: their hope, their time, and their worship.

The wandering wise men gave Jesus their hope. When everyone else saw a night sky, this small band of men saw the light. The sight of the star sparked a desire in their hearts that send them packing. They went, seeking Jesus.

When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars--"The light shines in the darkness" (John 1:5). Give God your hope for Christmas.

While you're giving, give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their presents, they gave their presence. It's likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven. Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you: "You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart" (Duet. 4:29).

And when they did find him, the wise men gave Jesus another gift: their worship. Men of wealth, influence, and intellect: what did they do when they saw Jesus? "...they fell down and worshiped him" (Matt. 2:11)

Worship. It's a gift that extends to the giver as well. Through worship, we come to see God more clearly. God invites us, through worship, to see his face so he can change ours. In worship, we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and let God do his work. And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship. The wise men sought the child of God, just as God seeks his children. "The Father is actively seeking such people to worship him" (John 4:23).

The gifts of hope, time, and worship. Three gifts the wise still give."

I hope this next year I can give more hope, time and worship to the Lord..let God do His work in me and my family. I pray I can have a prepared and willing heart in whatever God has for us.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Recipe

I thought I'd pass on a wonderful holiday (or any day) recipe that was handed down to me by my aunt...she was a wonderful cook...they would visit us many Christmases as they were "snow birds" and she'd always make the most wonderful deletable goodies...pecan rolls, cookies, and her famous Salmon Log....as well as bringing down some of their good canned fish that they had caught while fishing in Canada....
This recipe is for the Salmon Log...I have served this many times and everyone loves it...even those who don't really like salmon..
Salmon Party Log

1 large can of pink or red salmon, (remember to take out all the black skin, bones and such)
1 8z. package of cream cheese
1 T. of lemon juice
2 t. grated onion
1 t. horseradish
mix this together well and form into a log..the log is usually about 7 to 8" long and about 2" across...
then,
mix together separately, 1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. liquid smoke
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3T. chopped parsley
roll the log in this mixture until the outside is completely covered. Wrap the log in waxed paper (plastic wrap will stick to it) or aluminum foil and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
I like to serve this on a small platter with an assortment of crackers...you could trim the platter with cherry tomatoes for Christmas. Really nice for a buffet or to take to a potluck

I hope you will try it!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Glad Tidings Blog


The Glad Tidings Blog is now blooming and I am so blessed to be a part of it....in the last year, we have grown close and support one another in prayer and fellowship.
Even though we are far apart from each other physically, we are one in the Spirit....
We all have our different gifts and hope if you haven't seen the creations the ladies have made, please take a look...they are wonderful....each day, 3 of the ladies will show their wares, share what the Lord is doing and we pray it blesses those who visit.
we plan to have a little fun too with free patterns, recipes, etc. there is a free pattern offered this week....check it out! the link is on the right side, under the Blog listings..

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Second English Trip



While in London, the second trip, we enjoyed many of the sites and sounds of the city...it was the year of the Falkland war, and also the play "Evita" was the big London hit. One night while we were in the flat, we heard young people outside singing....."Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.."
We discovered London plays and saw two, "Evita" which was absolutely fantastic and also
"Little Foxes" with the still lovely Elizabeth Taylor. It was one of the last plays she did before she retired.
More important than that, we went to Hyde Park and discovered speakers corner...its an area of the park set aside for public speaking, anyone can go, get up on a chair, box or whatever and say whatever they want. People drift by, listen, comment or not and go on. Very interesting place...while we were there, we heard someone with an American accent up on a box talking about salvation and Jesus...of course, we had to investigate....it was a Calvary Chapel pastor from LA! there were several hecklers in the crowd, as there always is, giving him a hard time...we both started praying quietly...the heckler got worse, started shouting rather rude and obscene things..no one noticed...we kept praying..when the heckler realized no one was noticing him, he walked away. Alan and I went over to the pastor and introduced ourselves. The pastor asked Alan if he wanted to speak, so he got up and talked about God's great love for each person there, how He longed to be in relationship and how sin had separated man from God,,how Jesus had laid down His life as a bridge between God and man and how we needed to
repent and accept Jesus's death....very simple Gospel message....afterwards, he and I counseled several people on a personal level...while the pastor continued preaching....it was great...several wanted to come to church with us but we were unfamiliar with churches in London, didn't know where to go..when the pastor came over again, and told us about the Westminster Chapel, referred the others there as well.
The next day was Sunday, so we found out where the church was and went. It was in an old old church building, we sat on one of the upper levels...beautiful organ music that filled the entire room. great worship, we couldn't help it, were so happy and thankful to find fellowship so far from home, we both lifted our hands and worshipped the Lord...the Calvary chapel pastor was there too with his family so here we were
about 7 of us, in the upper level, in praise and worship..the only ones that were lifting hands, British people are more reserved.
Guess who the guest speaker was? Arthur Blessit! our old friend from the Jesus people concert days... and guess what he spoke about.....praise and worship! we went down and spoke with him after the service...he said he noticed our group and knew we were from California....remembered the Oceanside Jesus People concerts.....


please pray for Britain...God has moved so much in her history, we visited the first Methodist church where the Wesley brothers started, the Salvation Army started there, they have a rich history however now as in most of Europe, the Church at a low point.. They have huge cathedrals, humble village churches, everywhere is reminders of what Britain used to be, ....Reivial is greatly needed.

Monday, December 10, 2007


Just read what I wrote yesterday....we did survive and God has blessed us much. We have always tried to be faithful and search the scipitures to check speakers, teachings, etc to see if they conform....if Mike and Bev had done that....things might have been different...
anyway, that was over 25 years ago......
now for some fun stuff..
we were able to go to Great Britian twice, first in 1981 and again in 1983...the first time, my dear mom came along...my brother was stationed in Heathrow at the Air Force base and rented a apartment in a tiny village called Yoxford....the building he lived in was very old, he found writing on one of the walls, from 1617.It had been used for many things over the years, including a post office and a libary. we had to walk up very narrow stairs, the rooms were small but very cozy and warm. I loved it...his wife, Rose, greeted us with tea and biscuits served with pretty cups and a lace covered
serving tray.
All 3 of us were so amazed at the English countryside, the tiny village and the friendly people. We were like children, exploring and having such fun. One evening we walked down to the local pub, drank Woodpecker cider, and played darts. Another time,my brother took us to a larger pub in a adjoining village, and we had a pub lunch, prawns, chips, sliced tomatoes and baked beans. Chips are French fries.
We took several trips to London, saw a lot of the regular tourist sites, the Wax museum, Buckingham castle and the changing of the guards, Wesminster Cathedral, Tower of London, etc. it was wonderful. My mom went a little nuts buying antiques and carrying them home...she mailed her clothes home and carried everything onto the plane or in the baggage compartment. Here's this tiny lady, carrying a pink mirror onto the plane, fortunately it fit in the overhead container. I have it, the mirror glass is actually pink. Its about 3' across...I think it may have been over a dresser at one time.
The second trip, Alan and I went by ourselves....we had a month, so had a second honeymoon..rented a flat (apartment) in London, booked a lot of daytours outside of London, and got rail passes. The first day we got there, I went to bed as I was so tired from the long 16 hour air flight. Alan can sleep anywhere, but I just can't, not on a plane anyway. While I was sleeping, Alan walked across the street to Hyde Park and took photos.
The apartment had a kitchen, with a tiny cooker (stove) and fridge. We went to the local grocery store and bought a few groceries...our first meal was in the flat, we roasted a chicken. Watched BBC, which was very bleak.....there was only 3 channels of TV...but we didn't care...we were in England!
I will tell more about our trip in my next post....it was a more eventful trip than the first one although they were both great. I would love to go again.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Discipleship


at this time, in the mid 1970s to early 80s, there were lots of excess in some ways, and from this came a call for discipleship....there are many websites explaining and giving examples of the discipleship or shepherding movement. Unfortunately, or fortunately as it may be, I destroyed all my notes, tapes, etc. that we had after we got out so I personally can't quote directly....but if you do a Google search, there are many who have chronicled the teaching and times....in some ways, it started out very good....learning from older members of a church can be a good thing for a new Christian......however, it can also lead to abuse and control which is what happened.
The name of the church was The Chapel of the Redeemer...although everyone referred to it as "the property".
All the married older Christians that were in leadership, were given a few couples to disciple...you could choose in the beginning which leader you wanted to be "under"...we had 4 couples under us. We met once a week for Bible study, and prayer with our group...then we had a leadership meeting once a week with the other leaders to report any problems, prayers and concerns....everything worked fine for a while..but as time went on, we started suspecting things were not as they should be.

We were also getting a lot of flak because we had been married for several years and had no children....according to Bev. women were saved through childbirth ..if you couldn't or wouldn't have children, you were in sin or God was judging you for some sin in your lives. We went up for prayer many times, went to several doctors, and tried for many years to have a baby....spent lots of times in tears every month when nothing happened....nasty things were said to us. Bev studied and became a midwife..delivering several of the babies that were born.
(In fact, years later, I went to the funeral of Mike, and there was a couple there that were on their 19th child...all single births. The mother who was close to 40 said she didn't know what she would do if she couldn't have children..).that was just one of the teachings we were dealing with. Mike, Bev and some of the deacons became more and more controlling, to the point, a father had to come to them if he wanted to buy something for his family like a new TV or car..several arranged marriages happened too....all the singles in the church were matched up.

Both of us had grown up in denominational churches with good Biblical backgrounds.Many of the others had not and were able to be swayed into this falsehood. Alan tried many times to talk to Mike about his concerns, but always got turned away or argued with.
We were criticized for not going to some of the larger meetings that were held with other like-minded churches...we finally went to one where one of the big names in the movement spoke....when he came on stage, the whole congregation started praising him and lifting their hands to him, like worship....it sickened me and I feel a spiritual oppression I had never experienced before or since.
this went on for some time, we really loved all of these people and didn't want to leave, were truly concerned for the welfare of them...
our good friends, Kay and Joseph had wisely left earlier and encouraged us to leave but something just kept us there.
Finally, it came down to a big meeting...Mike and the other deacons wanted to get a large loan and build a church building, school and meeting hall...it would have cost
close to a million dollars...looking at the finances, Alan knew it wasn't possible and he voted against the loan. His was the only no vote.....after the meeting, there were actual physical threats made toward him. One of the deacons said if Mike had given the ok...he would have killed Alan. Looking back on this whole ugly mess, I am still shocked by it.
That Sunday, Mike got up in front of the whole congregation and gave a message..at the end, he formally asked us to leave. That was the last time we ever saw him.

We were shell shocked for some time afterwards.....we started driving up to Van Nuys to the Church on the Way...walking into the church there was like arriving at an oasis in the midst of a very dry desert.....I sat in the pew, the sweet worship, music and ministry flowed over me and I was in tears...it was so nice to be home. We went there for most of the summer and then found another Foursquare church much closer to home.

That was one of the most difficult times in my/our lives...sometimes I feel like 10 years were taken from us for that is how long we stayed there. The Chapel of the Redemer is now gone...Mike and Bev have passed away (cancer). They never built their million dollar church...the property was sold and is no more...I think condos were built where the house was and the orange groves, garden, fruit stand are gone.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Rainy Friday Musings

Today we woke up to rain and cooler temperatures....the wind was there too and our big old elm tree in the front yard was raining leaves...the lawn and the street are covered with them, soggy and golden against the black. Winter has come to Southern California. We don't have as cold as temperatures as you have in other parts of the country but we do have seasons, especially when you leave the coast.
The first year we moved here from the ocean, it snowed...so it does happen. The snow stayed on the ground for about a day or so. The kids had a great time, I took our youngest who was 14 , over into the low hills and we found a large group of kids sliding down the hillsides, making snowmen and having a wonderful time. We both kinda wish we could have moved up here sooner.....such a great area to raise children but circumstances were beyond our control, the Lord had His reasons....

Alan has gotten a lot of locksmith calls in the last 3 days, and he is now the official locksmith of another REO realtor....so we have 3 we are working with. Our business is slowly building up as word gets out. They all seem delighted to find someone local to do this work and want his business cards to pass around to other Realtors..... We both think this is the Lord's doing and we give Him the Glory...
its still tough financially but every month gets better.
Hopefully this can be an example of what is possible with faith. If you
get laid off, just look at it as a new opportunity.

Tomorrow, I think we are going to get into our Christmas boxes and start decorating..I re arranged the living room today and vaccumed really well, making room for the tree...our ceiling is very high there so we have a 12 ft prelit tree...so glad to get it too, for so many years, I was the official light person, remember hours of untangling and testing bulbs....my dad gave me the job when I was 12.
I will get back to the memories...the next part is a difficult one....the church, Mike and Bev took a different turn and things went sideways....we hung around not wanting to leave our church " family" perhaps we stayed too long but its getting late so that will be for another day. Plus we went to Great Britain twice which was and is very cool...

Thursday, December 6, 2007

December 6th


Just a note today.....this would have been my mom's 88th birthday...she passed away about 5 years ago....this photo is of her and my Grandpa in front of his bakery back in the 1930s...she was about 16 when this was taken....
I miss her a lot...we used to have such fun going to the mall, window shopping..she loved shoes and we'd troll all the shoes stores...
I know she is with the Lord and in a better place now....here's to you, Mom! Love and miss you...

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Christmas thoughts






I've always loved Christmas.....especially now knowing what the day really means...the God came down and became a human to teach us how to live and redeem us back to Himself by His selfless sacrifice on the cross...how can it be He left the glory and light of heaven to become a tiny newborn baby in a humble barn? What great love!
someone posted this in our Ebay group and it is so current...had to share


*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*The "politically correct police" had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. *
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a "Holiday".*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!*