Streams in the Desert

Dianne brought this devotion to me this morning and I thought I'd share it with you too...she is treading new waters with her move to a new city and job change. Dick and I are in the middle of something that we really don't know what the outcome will be, maybe you are too.


"When you are unsure which course to take, totally submit your own judgement to that of the spirit of God, asking Him to shut every door except the right one. But meanwhile keep moving ahead and consider the absence of a direction indication from God to be evidence of His will that you are on His path. And as you travel down the long road, you will find that He has gone before you, locking doors you otherwise would have been inclined to enter. Yet you can be sure that somewhere beyond the locked doors is one He has left unlocked. And when you open it and walk through, you will find yourself face to face with a turn in the river of opportunity--one that is broader and deeper than anything you ever dared to imagine.


God often guides us through our circumstances. One moment, our way seems totally blocked, but then suddenly some seemingly trivial incident occurs, appearing as nothing to others but speaking volumes to the keen eye of faith.....They certainly are not haphazard results of chance but are God opening up the way we should walk, by directing our circumstances. And they begin to multiply as we advance toward our goal.


If you go to God for guidance, He will guide you. But do not expect expect Him to console you by showing you His list of purposes concerning you, when you have displayed distrust or even half trust in Him. What he will do, if you trust Him and go cheerfully ahead when he shows you the way, is to guide you still farther."

To me this says.....relax, everything is going to be okay!

Romans 8:28 " We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose."Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11
" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Sam at the ballgame...

Is this precious or what?! Sammy watching the game...he's the man!

When we talked to him on the phone yesterday he was singing.... If your happy and you know it clap your hands. cute, cute cute!!

We love you Sammy! Can't wait to see you in August!

Some little thoughts..

It took about six weeks of tracking my calories at www.thedailyplate.com for new patterns to form.

Seems like it should take longer, since I'd been eating anything I wanted when I wanted it for most of my life. (Dick and I talk about how we should have weighed 500 pounds.)


We would go to Chick Fil A and have a number one and usually a dessert too...loved the lemon pie, and sad to say, sometimes a milkshake.

It never seemed like a lot of food...it really wasn't, just high calorie.

Sundays we always have extra calories since we usually grab a banana or granola bar to eat on the way to church and don't have the usual 350 calorie breakfast. It's on those days we allow ourselves something old school. Dick absolutely loves Steak N' Shake.....especially when they put out those coupons. So last night we head over to Steak N' Shake, not blindly, but prepared. We check the calories we have left for the day and the Steak N' Shake website. We get a single with cheese hold the mayo and split a small fries......we are happy campers! We found we just don't need the double with cheese and everything, large fry and milkshake. Why were we eating all that stuff to begin with?!! Mindless is all I can come up with....brains on hold. Like in Joe Versus The Volcano...brain cloud!

Dick got to 199 pounds this weekend...I heard a hoot from the bathroom where the scales are and saw the "happy dance". I wore my new size 12 pants to church Sunday. We came home from Church and walked 6 miles, then walked 2 more miles later that night. Who are we anyway!!?? This didn't happen overnight. When I first started walking again in February 2008, I did a slow two mile walk and gradually worked my way up to a brisk 6 mile walk. I feel like I could start jogging, but I'm going to wait until I lose another 10 pounds.

Never, never, never give up! New habits are possible, change is good. If you have a bad day, that's okay, get up, brush yourself off and start all over again! You can do it! I can do it! We can do it! We really can!!

The Iron Man Cometh!!

August 31,2008
Distance
2.4 mi. swim • 112 mi. bike • 26.2 mi. run

You can read more about it here
This is our son Brad who will be competing in the Ironman August 31st in Louisville KY.

Brad has been training for this race with diligence. Daily swimming, running, biking along with races all over America to perfect his skills and endurance. It's all very systematic and takes discipline which suits
Brad to a T.


Multiply Brad's endeavors with the endeavors of some 2100 other athletes competing in the Ironman Louisville and you get
the Wow!! factor.

It will be so inspiring and amazing to just watch this race...can't even imagine swimming, running and biking in it, but we are heading that way.

Our hearts, minds, spirits and prayers are with you Brad.....we support you and are so proud of you and the efforts you have put into preparing for the race of a lifetime. Go Team B!!! Countdown to Ironman Louisville Ky 2008.......

Let your little light shine!!

Matthew 5:16
16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

I Love myself..

exactly as i am right now.

If i wait until i'm perfect

before i love myself

i will have wasted my whole life.

Every time I get my hair done,
I see this phase on my hairdressers
table. Somewhere along the line we can become our own worse enemies and critics.
Why? I don't know...this phase helps me to remember,
I'm good enough,
smart enough and
gosh darn it! People like me!!

Dunkin Donuts getting smart? Awesome!

For a list of items from their
DD Smart menu click here.

Mom loved China.....

My Mom had a really good friend who was a missionary to China, Mary Sampson....she taught us to love China . Wouldn't my mom just be thrilled to see this little one and to know she had joined our family?!!

This is a picture of Leah and I right after getting home from China, over two years ago.

Life is full of circles and this is a circle of love!

I remember Momma

I've gotten some comments about food presentation, in fun. Truth is, I can't help it, it's a natural thing, I learned it from Mom.

Mom's life work was working at church, since my dad was a preacher and taking care of our family. Meals were always carefully planned to include meat, vegetables, starches and (unfortunately for our waistlines), dessert.

In the 60's when I was about 13 or so, we were living on a fairly busy street in a large town. My two sisters, mom and I were at home when a knock came at the door. Mom answered the door, it was a homeless man asking for something to eat. Mom told him to have a seat on the swing on the front porch and excitedly went to the kitchen to get him something to eat. My sisters and I watched in amazement. The guy had not been particularly pleasant about asking, and he looked terrible and smelled worse.

As she busied herself in the kitchen warming up pot roast and vegetables (we didn't have microwaves back then), we looked out the living room window to keep tabs on this strange man.

Finally, mom had her carefully made plate of delicious food ready (which I'm sure contained pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and for sure a jello salad) and took it out to him. To which he replied, "Lady, I just wanted a sandwich."

My sisters and I were aghast! What!! Turn away a perfectly good plate of food! How dare he!!

Mom who was not a bit taken back, said to the guy, "okay, wait a minute, I'll be right back," and turned around heading right back to the kitchen. There she put everything inside two pieces of bread, packed it all in a bag and handed the bag to him. The homeless guy didn't say thanks, bye, kiss my grits....nothing, just turned left eating the sandwich as he walked away down the street toward the park.

Well, none of this sat well with me and my sisters. How dare he!! Mom, why would you go to all that trouble for that stinking man!! She looked at us, her eyes filling with tears, "oh girls, don't you know, he could have been an angel unawares or Jesus!"

I learned a valuable lesson that day, one I'll never forget. Oh, I remember momma, precious momma.

Oh my goodness!!

Could this be true?????

I've been fluffy so longgggg.....today................drum roll!!!!!!!!!!

I bought 2 pairs of

size 12 pants!!! (they fit too!!)

I'm one happy girl!!!!