At Home In the City

Door County Wisconsin

2010-10-07T19:45:00.017-05:00

We spent the weekend in beautiful Door County Wisconsin. Click here if you'd like to learn more about this beautiful peninsula on Lake Michigan. I put together a short movie so you could see some of the scenery. The music is from Kenny G's album, Classics in the Key of G. It's my first attempt at doing a movie in Picasa and importing it to Blogger. I hope you enjoy it!

Blessings,
Wanita

Ferhoodled

2010-05-20T15:29:00.009-05:00

Me and my dolly felt ferhoodled, I think.

What? You don’t know what that means? Well, it means confused or mixed up. Ferhoodled (the “hoodle” part rhymes with noodle) is Pennsylvania Dutch. I heard it when I was growing up in SW Pennsylvania.

Today I was thinking about the different states where my husband and I have lived and the different words and accents of each area. If you’ve ever been to SW Pennsylvania, you know there are some things we say differently. Like we “red” up the house when we clean it up. Or we “warsh” clothes - you know, “wash” clothes. And there’s the plural for “you,” which is “yous” or “younses,” depending on who you talk to.

In New York state, where we lived for five years, we made casseroles for potluck dinners. Imagine my surprise when we moved to Minnesota and someone asked me to bring a “hot dish” to a potluck. My first thought was, “Why on earth do you want a hot dish? Shouldn’t there be something in it?” Now I confuse my relatives in Pennsylvania when I say I made a hot dish for a potluck.

And then there’s the Minnesota expression, “Uff da!” I can still remember the first time I heard that come out of the mouth of a little neighbor girl. So I asked for the meaning, and she told me that it’s like saying, “Oh my goodness!”

After 35 years of living in Minnesota, I’ve lost much of my Pennsylvania accent. I now wash clothes and clean up the house instead of redding it up. I only say you, no matter if it’s singular or plural.

But my brother gets a kick out of it when I say “Minnesooooota.” I didn’t even think I had an accent! Uff da! Guess I’m just ferhoodled, not?

2010-01-17T16:40:00.008-06:00

"Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow.

The same Everlasting Father who takes care of you today

will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering

or give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at Peace then, and put aside

all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
St. Francis de Sales

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding, will guard

your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

Commenting on Comments

2009-12-19T13:39:00.003-06:00

It's been quite a while since I've posted; and although I read your blogs, I have not been doing much commenting. I'm hoping after the New Year to get back into the swing of things.

Unfortunately, I've had to turned on comment moderation because of comments left on several of my postings (some from over a year ago) that, when I clicked on the name of the commentor, led to a p*rn* site. The comments were in Chinese, and I used Google translator to find out what it said - not nice at all!

Arrrrgh!! So aggravating, to say the least. So for now, comment moderation will remain enabled.

Wanita

My Swiffer®

2009-06-04T15:30:00.006-05:00

I purchased a Swiffer® dry mop shortly after they first appeared on store shelves. I liked it because I could easily get it into corners and underneath some furniture that sat low to the floor. However, I did not like purchasing the disposable cloths. So for quite some time, I did not use the mop.

Just recently I thought of a a frugal alternative to disposable cloths, and I thought I'd share it with you. I went to the dollar store and purchased some microfiber cloths. I attach them to the Swiffer® and mop away. They work very well and can be washed and reused.
Happy mopping!

Blessings,
Wanita

Pretty Blooms

2009-06-03T19:25:00.005-05:00

It seems like it's taken longer than usual for the flowers to bloom this spring. But in the last week, the Siberian irises and the rhododendron have bloomed, and they are lovely.

I picked a bouquet of irises for my dining room table and surrounded it with hosta leaves.

The fun thing about irises is that there are buds all along the stem that continue to open, even as other blooms start to fade. Do you see the bud just to the right of the flower?

My rhododendron doesn't seem to have as many flowers as usual this year, but it still is beautiful. I love the color.

We also have special visitors every day ~ the goldfinches. I sure enjoy watching these little birds.

I don't like the grackles, however. This is the first time I've seen one on the finch feeder. Usually they visit the regular bird feeder. I have noticed that since we got a squirrel-proof feeder, the grackles can no longer perch on it without it closing, so they don't seem to visit as much as they used to. And that's fine with me!

Are there lots of flowers blooming in your garden? Or maybe you have just a container or two of flowers sitting on a porch, patio, or step. No matter how many flowers you grow, I'm sure you enjoy them.

Blessings,
Wanita

Mmm, Mmm Waffles!

2009-05-19T11:46:00.004-05:00

This morning we had waffles for breakfast!

It's been a long time since I've made waffles; but when I found this recipe on Money Saving Mom, I knew I had to try them. They do require some advanced planning because they need to be made the night before.

If you'd like to make these delicious waffles (which are husband-approved by my sweetie), you can get the recipe here.

The left-over waffles have been frozen and will be used for another delicious breakfast.

Blessings,

Wanita

All's Well

2009-05-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

Wanita asked me to say thank you to everyone who prayed for her.

I'm pleased to report that the colonoscopy was normal.

Blessings,
Barbie

Now That You're 50

2009-05-14T13:38:00.006-05:00

Dr: Barbie, you're in great shape for a woman of 50!
Barbie: Thank you, Dr.

Dr: There is one more test I'd like you to have. . . for screening purposes.
Barbie: What's that?

Dr: A colonoscopy. When you set up the appointment, you'll get all the instructions.
Barbie: Thank you. I'll be sure to schedule an appointment.

Dr: Good!
Barbie: Good-bye, doctor.
Dr: Good-bye, Barbie.

Barbie (thinking as she walks out the door): Everyone says the prep is the worst. Oh, I hate to think of it, but I know it's good to be screened to be certain there are no problems.

Barbie: Oh, I just remembered, my friend, Wanita, is having a colonoscopy tomorrow. I'll be sure to pray for her. And I'll give her a call afterwards to be sure everything is OK.

Victory Memorial Parkway

2009-05-13T13:27:00.005-05:00

Minneapolis has many lovely parkways, and Victory Memorial Parkway is near my home. It is lined with trees and markers that commemorate World War I servicemen from Hennepin County.

There is a memorial on the parkway that is surrounded by crab apple trees that are stunning in the spring. In the summer there are lovely flowers blooming by the memorial.

I thought I'd share pictures of the beautiful trees, which are in full bloom. If you would like more information about the parkway, including more photos, click here, then click on the button that says click to view photo tour.

There are lovely walking/biking trails along Victory Memorial. The trails are part of what's known as Grand Rounds, 50.1 miles of trails that wind around the lakes and parks in Minneapolis.

When we have visitors from out of town, they are many times amazed to see the lovely parks where you feel like you're far away from the city rather than in the middle of it.

I hope you enjoyed the photos. If you ever visit our lovely city, be sure to take some time to visit some of our parks. They are beautiful!

Blessings,
Wanita

Pink Blooms

2009-05-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

Bloomin' Tuesday is hosted by Jean at MsGreenthumbJean

In my garden, there is lots of green, but not too many flowers just yet.

The bleeeding hearts are blooming ~ one of my favorites!

And the blossoms on the crab apple are lovely, don't you think?

What flowers are blooming in your garden?

For more Bloomin' Tuesday posts visit MsGreenthumbJean.

Blessings,

Wanita

Rainbows

2009-05-11T04:00:00.003-05:00

Last Wednesday the rain and sunshine visited our neighborhood,

bringing with them a beautiful rainbow.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Blessings,
Wanita

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T15:19:00.001-05:00

(Graphic courtesy of karenswhimsy.com)

They are not long,
the days of construction paper
and gilded rigatoni!
That's why we save

those things so relentlessly,
why the sisterhood
of motherhood, those of us who
can instantly make friends
with a stranger
by discussing colic
and orthodonture,
have as our coat of arms
a sheet of small handprints
executed in finger paint.
~Anna Quindlen~

Happy Mother's Day!

Stopping By to Say Hello

2009-04-30T13:57:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to stop by quickly to say hello. The days have been very full lately. There are organizing projects, old pictures to sort through, and all the usual household duties. Soon there will be gardening to add to the list.

And, most important, is the time spent with family and friends, including you, my bloggy friends.

Yes, it's a busy time of year!

Sweet blessings,
Wanita

But I'd Rather Be...

2009-04-28T13:00:00.004-05:00

Today I ironed. Fortunately it wasn't a huge mountain like the last time I ironed. But...

I'd rather be planting and working in the garden. Yes, I know. The last frost date here is May 15, so I can't plant yet, except for the lettuce. My hubby is building a box in which I'll plant lettuce ~ a box with legs so Peter Rabbit can't eat the greens.

Sweet spring blessings,

Wanita

A Nana Day

2009-04-16T10:39:00.004-05:00

Today my daughter and sweet grandbabies are coming for the day ~ a Nana Day! It's a beautiful, sunny day, so we'll be outside blowing bubbles, playing in the sandbox, and playing freeze tag, no doubt. And who knows what other colorful projects we may work on.

Sweet blessings,
Wanita

Early Spring Garden

2009-04-14T15:39:00.009-05:00

Bloomin Tuesday is hosted by Jean at MsGreenthumbJean.

It's been a long winter in Minnesota! But with the current temperature of 63, I feel like spring, at least for today, has arrived. Some of the flowers and plants in my little garden are just starting to peek through.

Bleeding hearts ~ one of my favorites.

I can hardly wait to have lovely bouquets of Siberian Iris in my home.

The black-eyed susans are starting to appear...

... as is Sedum Autumn Joy. I need to trim back the old stalks.

Rhubarb ~ Mmmm ~ I can almost taste the strawberry-rhubarb tarts.

Buds of Miss Kim lilac

To see what is blooming in other gardens, visit Jean at MsGreenthumbJean.

Blessings,

Wanita

Easter Eggcitement

2009-04-13T15:33:00.008-05:00

For many years our family has colored eggs and had dinner together the day before Easter. We always have a good time, and this year was no exception. Here are some pictures from our day.

Papa and four-year-old grandson take an egg out of the dye.

Papa's little buddy has a broken arm, so Papa is helping him draw a cross on the egg.

Five-year-old granddaughter is writing Jesus loves me on her egg.

An Easter egg hunt was in order after we colored the eggs. Granddaughter is especially good at finding eggs.

Our Easter Sunday church service was wonderful, with beautiful music and a message of the hope we have in Christ, who died and rose from the dead, that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Him.

If you have not experienced the hope and peace you can have through Jesus, I pray you will visit here to learn how you can have peace with God. Choosing to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior is the most important decision you will ever make.

Blessings,
Wanita

Easter Blessings

2009-04-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

Graphic courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts

In the bonds of death He lay

Who for our offense was slain;

But the Lord is risen today,

Christ hath brought us life again,

Wherefore let us all rejoice,

Singing loud, with cheerful voice,

Hallelujah!

Martin Luther

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Matthew 28:1-7 (NIV)

Wounded for Me

2009-04-10T11:00:00.004-05:00

"Behold the Savior of mankind

Nailed to the shameful tree!

How vast the love that Him inclined

To bleed and die for thee!"

Samuel Wesley, Sr.

"But he was wounded for the wrong we did;

he was crushed for the evil we did.

The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,

and we are healed because of his wounds."

Isaiah 53:5 (New Century Version)

Life Happens

2009-04-09T22:12:00.003-05:00

Thank you to those of you who stopped by during my absence to inquire if I'm OK. Yes, I am OK, but life has been somewhat hectic here in the city. Several times I sat at the computer and thought about posting, but just didn't have the energy to type, nor could I seem to put my thoughts together in a coherent way.
However, it's time to give you an update, and hopefully it will be coherent! Here's how life has been happening.

Reorganizing projects (still in progress), garden planning (how to plant more vegetables in a postage-stamp-size lawn), the usual homekeeping duties.

Four-year-old grandson jumped off a Lego table and broke both bones in his right forearm on March 23. He did not need surgery, but he did need to be sedated to have the bones set. My daughter said the staff at Children's Hospital - St. Paul was wonderful.

On March 27 and 28, grandson and granddaughter stayed overnight with us while their mommy and daddy went to A Weekend to Remember marriage conference. Believe me, the broken arm has not slowed him down much, and we had a couple heart-stopping moments that weekend. Fortunately his cast, which is hard fiberglass, extends to just under his armpit; and his arm is bent at the elbow with the cast shaped around it. That's a very good thing because he fell down a few steps (arm didn't hurt, head did since he bumped it on the wall).

He also fell backwards over a little footstool and landed right on the elbow of his broken arm. His sister started to scream ~ I'm not sure why except maybe she thought he hurt his arm again. I was thinking along the same lines, although I didn't scream. I picked him up and said, "Oh, Buddy, did you hurt your arm?" "No," he said, "my butt!" Oh man! Like I said, the long cast is a good thing. Praise the Lord for the pediatric orthopedist who understands little boys will be little boys, broken arm or not, and they need long arm casts!

Aside from all that excitement, we had a really wonderful weekend with the kids. But Papa and I were exhausted when they left.

The doctor saw grandson a week ago. They x-rayed his arm and changed the cast. It's still long and still fiberglass, but it's green instead of purple. He likes the green better, he says. We were so thankful to hear that his arm is healing well and are praying and trusting the Lord for continued healing.

As for me, I went to the dermatologist to have a rash around my eye and a dry red spot on my nose checked. I was most concerned about the rash, which is periorbital dermatitis. Getting it to heal requires a course of antibiotics taken twice a day for one month. I'm about half-way through the month, and the rash is disappearing.

The red spot on my nose, however, turned out to be more serious. The pathologist called it actinic keratosis with appendageal involvement. As I understand it, it's like a squamous cell carcinoma. So last week the spot was removed.

The doctors used a Mohs procedure, in which they remove a very thin layer of skin. Then while I sat in the waiting room, it was examined for cancerous cells. A second layer of skin was removed where cells remained. Altogether, I had to have three layers of skin removed. The worst part for me was getting the local anesthetic in my nose. Ouch!

Stitches were put in and remained for a week. They were removed just yesterday, and the doctor said the scar should disappear in two months. And I believe it will because it has healed well and looks pretty good already. My husband said I had a good seamstress, and indeed I did. My nose is still tender, but it feels much better with the stitches out. I'm very thankful that only stitches were needed. Sometimes skin grafts are required if the lesion is deep.

Well, I've rambled long enough. I hope you'll forgive me for being away so long without an explanation. Thank you again for your kind words and concern. I appreciate them so very much.

Blessings,
Wanita

Reminder of Spring

2009-03-12T08:42:00.006-05:00

These lovely pink tulips brighten my home and remind me that spring is near ~ even though the current temperature here in the city is five below zero.

Warm blessings,
Wanita

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

2009-03-11T03:00:00.003-05:00

Today is my sweetie's birthday. Handsome, isn't he?

Tonight just the two of us will celebrate. Our daughter, son-in-love, and grands are out of town, so the family celebration will come later. Granddaughter and grandson will arrange the candles on the cake. They'll sit on Papa's lap while we sing happy birthday, then they'll help him blow out the candles. Not that he needs help, he just likes having those little ones on his lap ~ and they like having Papa hold them. The cake will be served, and we'll have a wonderful time enjoying one another's company and eating birthday cake!

Happy birthday, Sweetie Pie! I love you! I hope you enjoy your birthday celebrations!

Just Around the Corner. . .

2009-03-10T13:23:00.009-05:00

. . . Spring, that is. But today the snow is flying outside my door. Yes, it's March in Minnesota!

Wishing you sweet just about spring blessings,
Wanita

After

2009-03-05T10:06:00.012-06:00

This was supposed to be a before and after post. But, I can't find the before photo. Arrrrrrgh!

So here is the after of my pretty vanity stool. Someday I'll show you a picture of the vanity itself, but for now, just the stool.

The vanity was part of a bedroom set in our home when I was growing up. My sister has the rest of the set ~ a headboard, dresser, and wardrobe (or should I call it a small armoire?). When we sold Mom's house, I asked for the vanity only since I didn't have room for the whole set.

I've never recovered anything, and I had some anxiety about this ~ don't laugh, those of you who do this all the time. Part of my problem was that I had to tune out the voice of perfectionism that says, "You know you won't do it perfectly, so don't even try."

First, I removed the seat from the legs, and then the old fabric my sister had used to recover it years ago. I thought I could probably use the original padding, but, oh boy, was I wrong! I can only describe it as being kind of like the coco liners used in hanging flower baskets and window boxes. But, picture it as being old...like about 60 years old...and dry and dusty and just falling apart.

Next picture that you're working in your guest bedroom when you discover this dusty mess. How will you ever get this messy, falling-apart stuff to a garbage can without tracking it all the way to the back door because any garbage cans that were near were the small type used in bedrooms, and the stuff won't fit in it.

What? You didn't want all those details? OK. But just to let you know, I did finally get it out to the garbage can.

Then I had to go to JoAnn's to get some foam for the padding. And here's a tip for you. Use an electric knife to cut the foam. I put a self-healing cutting mat underneath and cut away. Really slick!

Next I cut the fabric, leaving a few extra inches all around, enough so I could fold the edges under and staple them. I had to work a bit with the corners to get them to look nice. Then hubby helped me attach the beautiful, newly recovered seat back on to the legs.

"Is it perfect?" you ask. Yes, it's perfect enough.

Blessings,
Wanita

Wisdom's Cafe

2009-03-04T16:02:00.006-06:00

If you're ever traveling on I-19 in southern Arizona, be sure to stop in Tumacacori at Wisdom's Cafe. When we visit our friends in Green Valley, we always have a meal at Wisdom's. Delicious!!

Remember, however, to get there early if you're in Arizona when all the snowbirds from the north are there. Wisdom's is one busy cafe.

This chicken with antlers sits on a picnic table in the parking lot. He'll make you smile.

To read more about Wisdom's Cafe, click here. And be sure to put it on your list of places to eat when traveling I-19 south of Green Valley, Arizona.

Blessings,
Wanita

Parada del Sol

2009-03-03T10:15:00.019-06:00

The Parada del Sol, known as the "world's largest horse-drawn parade," has been an annual event in Scottsdale, Arizona, since 1953. This year it was held on February 21, and our hotel was just a block from the parade route.

We had so much fun watching this wonderful parade, and I thought you'd enjoy some photos.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Lots of cowboys

Sheriff's deputies on horseback

Cowgirls dressed in their finest...

...in Roy Rogers and Dale Evans' style

Buffalo soldiers

The dogs had their day ~ K-9 Drill Team

Dancers in beautiful costumes

This cowboy....

...did the limbo under street signs!

Cute pompom girls

The Wells Fargo Stage

The American flag balloon

The Jazzy Poms range in age from 60~83. They've danced at Disney World!

Don't they look great!

I want to be a jazzy pom when I grow up!

Blessings,

Wanita

No City Slickers Allowed

2009-02-23T10:04:00.015-06:00

Minnesnowta ~ we have escaped the snow for a bit, and we are in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. For my husband, part of the trip is business, and part is vacation. For me, it's all vacation! Oh yes, I'm truly a lady of leisure during our respite from cold and snow.

A friend is staying at our house and shoveling snow. Do we miss shoveling? No indeed! Do we feel sorry for our friend? No Yes indeed!

Anyhow, I wanted to share a picture with you. It was taken with my cell phone camera because I forgot to grab the camera before we left the hotel, so it's not the best picture. But there is a story that goes with it.

Thirty-one years ago when my husband was working for IBM, he won an award that included a trip to Phoenix for a conference and some fun thrown in, too. The award only covered expenses for Lynn, but we splurged ~ and it was a splurge at that time in our lives ~ and I went to Phoenix, too. Our girls stayed with friends, and off we went. I think it was in April.

Although spouses couldn't participate in most of the activities, one of the activities we were included in was a steak dinner at Pinnacle Peak Patio. I think it was one of the best steak dinners I've ever had. But I never gave any thought to having another steak dinner at Pinnacle Peak.

Fast forward 31 years, and here we are in Arizona again. Pinnacle Peak Patio hasn't changed much except that there has been much development around it. The first time we were there, it was literally "out in the middle of nowhere."

And the steaks are as delicious as I remember. And the restaurant itself was just as I remember. Why is it so memorable? Because there are men's ties ~ you read that correctly, ties ~ hanging from the ceiling and the walls. City slickers with ties are not allowed, so ties are cut off and hung up for display. Yes, its' a memorable place, for the food and the fun.

To read more about Pinnacle Peak Patio, click here. And if you want to see all those ties, watch the video here. Better yet, if you're ever in Scottsdale, visit Pinnacle Peak Patio.

PS: Our waiter told us that developers may be buying the property, which means Pinnacle Peak Patio will no doubt disappear for new development. It's been here since 1957, and personally, I think it will be sad when it's gone.

Blessings,

Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2009-02-22T19:19:00.002-06:00

I Stand Amazed in the Presence

by Charles H. Gabriel

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be.
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

Refrain

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

Refrain

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain

Made From Scratch

2009-02-19T13:43:00.010-06:00

Graphic courtesy of karenswhimsy.com

The more I read food labels, the more I want to make everything from scratch! So today I'm sharing some "made from scratch" recipes that I found in blogland. I plan to try them, and thought perhaps you might like to try them as well.

Homemade ricotta cheese from Simple-Green-Frugal
Homemade Bisquick mix from Safely Gathered In
Homemade Ranch dressing mix from Stop and Smell the Chocolates
Homemade yogurt from A Year of CrockPotting

I have made yogurt in the crockpot and like it very much. It's not as thick as store-bought, but it's delicious. I add fruit and sometimes maple syrup to a cup of yogurt for a delicious breakfast.

One of the best things about cooking from scratch is that you can avoid things like MSG or high-fructose corn syrup or ingredients you can't pronounce let alone know what they are.

I would love to know if you try any of these and how you like them.

Sweet made from scratch blessings,
Wanita

Walking

2009-02-18T14:06:00.009-06:00

Walking is my favorite exercise. And that poses a challenge during the winter months in Minnesota.

I started looking for a good walking video, and after reading many reviews, I've found one that I really like. It's Walk the Walk:1 and 2 Mile Workouts with Leslie Sansone.

The one-mile workout is approximately 30 minutes, and the two-mile is approximately 45 minutes. Both workouts have a warm-up and cool-down.

Here are the things I like about Walk the Walk:

~Christian background music

~Reminders to praise the Lord

~No difficult dance steps or routines

~No special equipment required

I purchased my copy at Christianbook.com, but it is also available at amazon.com.

If you purchase the DVD, let me know how you like it.

Blessings,

Wanita

Holy Is the Lord

2009-02-15T15:17:00.012-06:00

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3)

Holy, Holy, Holy

(Words by Reginald Heber; Music by John B. Dykes)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T02:00:00.006-06:00

(Graphic courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts)

1 Corinthians 13:1~8

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Sweet Valentine Blessings,

Wanita

Under the Weather a Bit

2009-02-13T12:00:00.006-06:00

(Graphic courtesy of GranGran Graphics)

Please pray for my little five-year-old granddaughter. She had a bout with a virus about a month ago, and is having a bit of a problem again. She's able to eat and drink liquids, but when she eats, it seems to go straight through her. Fortunately she's not dehydrated and wasn't with the earlier bout of illness, but she certainly isn't feeling like herself.

She and her younger brother are to stay overnight with Nana and Papa. We are still planning on that; but, of course, things could change.

She called me earlier and said she had a few questions to ask:

"Do you have glitter, the kind you sprinkle on?"

"Can you handle diarrhea?"

"Can you handle throw up?"

(which she is not doing, but she wanted to cover all the bases, I guess.)

When I suggested that if she isn't feeling better she may want to stay home, she informed me that no, she didn't want to stay there.

So, we'll see how things go. I may be making a house call ~ just call me Dr. Nana!

If you would pray for her, and for the rest of the family that they not get ill, I would be so grateful. It's difficult when the adults get sick, but when it's the little ones, it seems even harder, at least for me. I think I'll never get to the point where I'm "anxious for nothing."

Blessings,

Wanita

Thank You, Mr. Lincoln!

2009-02-12T10:56:00.012-06:00

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, a man who put his trust in the Lord.

Our Daily Bread, a devotional book from RBC Ministries, noted that on the day Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President, he said the following:

“I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

If you would like to read the devotional in its entirety, click here.

Thank you, Mr. Lincoln, for the example you set for us in placing your hope in the Lord.

I pray our country will return to the Christian principles upon which it was founded and that we again will become a nation whose trust is in the Lord.

Blessings,

Wanita

(Graphic courtesy of vintageholidaycrafts.com)

How Will Anyone Know?

2009-02-03T20:24:00.006-06:00

(Graphic courtesy of Antiqueclipart.com)

For my devotions, I've been reading in the book of Exodus. This morning I read the about the Israelites building and worshipping the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving the ten commandments from God (Exodus 31-33).

When God saw what was happening, he sent Moses back to the camp to deal with the people. As a result of their sin, God said He would send an angel before them to drive out their enemies, but He would not go with them to the promised land.

Moses, however, spoke with the Lord and asked, "How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:16). Because God was pleased with Moses, He said he would do what Moses asked.

As followers of Christ, we ~ I ~ need to ask that same question. How will anyone know that God is pleased with us? What distinguishes us, as Christians, from all the other people on the face of the earth? Or does anything distinguish us? Have we become so much like the rest of the world that no one sees anything different about us, no one has a reason to ask about the hope we have because of Christ?

My prayer is that those of us who are Christians will show by the way we live that we are different because of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; and he has freed us from our sins and from the shame and guilt that accompanies them. May His love shine through us and draw others to Him.

Blessings,

Wanita

Peach Strudel

2009-02-02T20:26:00.008-06:00

We have a friend who recently had a total knee replacement. When she got home from the hospital, my husband and I took a meal over to her. For dessert, I made peach strudel. I've had the recipe for many years. It's always a hit, and it's very easy to make.

Peach Strudel

1 box spice cake mix

1 stick butter, softened

1 can sliced peaches, 29 oz., undrained

Chopped nuts (optional)

~Dump peaches into a 9 x 13 pan. (I cut them into smaller pieces.)

~Cut butter into spice cake mix. (A pastry blender works well.)

~Sprinkle mixture on top of peaches.

~If using nuts, sprinkle on top.

~Bake at 350 deg. for 45 minutes.

~Cool and serve with Cool Whip or real whipped cream. Yummy!

Helpful tip: When you take a meal to someone, use disposable pans. Whoever receives the meal will not have to return any dishes to you. If you have a Dollar Store nearby, you can usually find pans there.

Blessings,

Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2009-02-01T00:30:00.008-06:00

It Is Well With My Soul
by Horatio G. Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

You can read more about Horatio G. Spafford and his family by clicking here. It's a remarkable story of God's peace in the midst of heartbreaking tragedies.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

In these difficult times, I pray you will have the peace that only Jesus can give.

Blessings,
Wanita

Have You Tried...

2009-01-31T18:53:00.005-06:00

Have you tried Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins?

They are delicious!

Only one point if you're following Weight Watchers point system.

One hundred calories, one gram of fat, five grams of fiber.

Great to use in place of hamburger buns

or any sandwich bread for that matter.

No, this is not a paid advertisement.

But, if the Arnold people see this,

they can call my people if they're interested

in giving me a free supply ~ or even a free package!

Blessings,

Wanita

Longing to See You

2009-01-28T21:49:00.005-06:00

Oh, sweet hearts of my heart.

Almost a year has passed since I've seen you.

The winter has been so long and so cold.

But soon spring will arrive.

Soon the sun will warm the earth,

And you, my pretties, will return to my garden.

How wonderful it will be to gaze upon your beauty.

Yes, sweet hearts, spring will come,

And once again you will bloom in all your loveliness.

Sweet thoughts of spring blessings,

Wanita

The Test

2009-01-27T19:55:00.010-06:00

In my last post, I told you about my ER visit and overnight stay at the hospital. I also mentioned the nuclear stress test called a Cardiolite test that I had a week ago.

When I went for the test, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I arrived at the Cardiovascular Center at North Memorial Medical Center at 7:15 a.m. and left a little over three hours later. The techs who administered the test were wonderful and explained everything that would happen, and they explained it again as I went through each part of the test.

First an IV line was inserted and radioactive dye was injected. I was then instructed to wait for an hour and drink at least two glasses of water. Following that, I laid on a table with my arms above my head while a large camera rotated slowly from the right side of my body, across my chest, and to the left side. It took about 15 minutes.

For the next part of the test, I thought I would be on the treadmill. However, because of the left bundle branch block in my heart, they used a chemical that was injected through the IV. As I understand it, the chemicals enable them to see my heart and blood vessels and determine if there are any abnormalities.

One tech injected the chemical while a second tech monitored me. It took only four minutes, four long minutes which made me wish I could have gotten on the treadmill.

During the time the chemicals are injected, there are side effects that may include dizziness, lightheadedness, or chest pain to name the few I can remember. My side effects were chest pain and a metallic taste in my mouth. At about the half way point ~ two minutes ~ I said something like, "OK, there are lots of people praying for me. I'm in God's hands, that's the best place to be." Oh, how thankful I am that God knows me and holds me in His hands!

The interesting thing is that when tech stops injecting the chemical, the side effects disappear immediately. And it's normal to have side effects. If you don't, they know you've had caffeine, which they tell you to absolutely not have before the test. That includes chocolate and even decaffeinated beverages. The caffeine counteracts the chemical and makes the test invalid.

This part of the test was the worst part for me because it was frightening to have the chest pain, even though I was told it was normal, and it did not mean I had heart disease. In fact, the techs stressed that point several times.

Next I had a half-hour break. The techs told me I could go have something to eat, and I could have a cup of coffee. Hooray!

After my break, I laid on the table with the rotating camera for another set of pictures. Then I laid on my stomach while yet more pictures were taken. After the tech checked to be sure the pictures were OK, the IV line was removed, and I went home.

As I said in my last post, the test showed no abnormalities, and I have no restrictions on activity. In fact I was told to keep exercising and working on weight loss. And believe me, I am. This experience has been a wake-up call for me, and I'm so thankful that no serious problems were found.

Thanks to each of you who have prayed for me. It truly is a blessing to know you pray, even though we know each other only through our blogs. Being part of the Body of Christ is more wonderful than words can express!

May your day be blessed,

Wanita

Late-Night ER Visits

2009-01-25T21:49:00.013-06:00

My husband will tell you that if at all possible, I avoid going to the doctor. However, on January 15 I could not avoid it. I woke up about 11:30 p.m. with what I initially thought was indigestion.

However, the pain kept getting worse, and my husband said, "I'm taking you to the ER." At that point, there was no argument from me. The ER was not very busy, but I still waited for at least 20 minutes before I saw a doctor. It was a painful 20 minutes. In fact, I said something like this to my husband, "If I die of a heart attack before I see a doctor, sue the hospital!" I think it was the pain talking!

When I finally saw the doctor, I received very good care. My blood work showed no sign of a heart attack; however, my EKG was "not a normal EKG." The doctor said the abnormality could have been there for a while, but since I had no previous EKG for comparison, he wanted me to stay overnight to be monitored.

By this time it was about 3:00 a.m., and I didn't get to a room until sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. The nurse hooked me up to a heart monitor, and I finally fell asleep, only to be awakened around 6:00 a.m. for a repeat blood test, which again showed no sign of a heart attack. Praise the Lord!

The doctor ordered an abdominal ultrasound to check my gallbladder. That didn't happen until early afternoon, so I didn't get discharged until about 2:30 p.m. Boy, was I glad to get home!

I saw my doctor Monday, and she ordered a stress test, not just any old stress test, but a nuclear stress test. Yes, I had radioactive dye put in my veins. No, I did not glow! I will tell you about the test in a later post.

The ultrasound and the stress test were normal. What a relief! My blood pressure has been borderline high for some time, so my doctor put me on meds that hopefully I will be able to discontinue after I lose more weight. Regular exercise also should help.

After all the tests, however, there is still no answer as to what caused the problem. And I'm hoping it never happens again!

I feel like this was a wake-up call ~ a rather frightening one ~ to really stay serious about losing the rest of the weight I need to lose and also to exercise regularly.

Most importantly, it was a reminder of how important it is to keep my eyes on Jesus. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." I have trouble with the "Do not be anxious" part of that verse, but I'm working on it.

I was also reminded of how blessed I am to have friends and family who held me up in prayer and to have a church where I can be anointed with oil for healing, as it says in James 5:14, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." I was anointed before I went for the stress test.

With all the tests and doctor's visits, I just did not feel like posting. But I wanted to let you know where I've been and what's been happening.

I hope your week ahead is blessed!

Wanita

A Chilly, Chili Day

2009-01-13T14:42:00.015-06:00

As I write this post, the temperature in my neck of the woods is -6. Brrrrr! It's a great day for chili and corn bread. These are leftovers from dinner last night; we had some friends over before we went to our Monday evening Bible study. This is real comfort food for a real cold day.

The recipe, which is in my Favorite Brand Name Cookbook (Collector's Edition), is always a hit, and I thought I'd share it with you.

Hearty Turkey Chili

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 pounds ground raw turkey

2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces (see * below)

1 (12 ounce) bottle chili sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder (see * below)

1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

1 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (see * below)

2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained

Sliced scallions

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Dairy sour cream or plain yogurt

In Dutch oven, saute onions, green pepper and garlic in oil. Add turkey and cook until lightly browned. Add tomatoes, chili sauce, chili powder, lemon pepper, basil, thyme and hot pepper sauce. Cover; simmer 45 minutes. Add kidney beans; simmer an additional 20 minutes. Serve topped with scallions, cheese and sour cream. Makes 8 servings.

*We like stewed tomatoes.

*I use less chili powder and omit the hot pepper sauce because we don't like very spicy food.

The corn bread recipe came from the back of the Quaker yellow cornmeal box. It was easy and delicious!

If you make the chili, let me know how you like it.

Warm winter blessings,

Wanita

The Heavens Declare

2009-01-11T15:40:00.011-06:00

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Psalm 19:1-3

Full Wolf Moon

2009-01-10T00:46:00.006-06:00

If the skies are clear tonight, we'll see the biggest and brightest full moon of the year~ the Full Wolf Moon. You can read about this moon and all the full moons of 2009 at space.com.

I am hoping for clear skies! After all, the moon is magical!

Blessings,
Wanita

True Confession

2009-01-07T20:55:00.013-06:00

OK, I confess. I did not go to Weight Watchers over the holidays. There were just too many things going on! What? You say if I really wanted to I could have fit it in? Well...yes...I suppose I could have. But at the time, it seemed like one more thing on my to do list, so I decided not to do it for a couple of weeks.

But today I went to my meeting, and I will keep going. I have no intention of quitting, and I certainly don't plan to take breaks very often! Fortunately, I had only a small weight gain of .6 lb. Whew! I did expect it to be more.

I must also confess that I've been playing around with gaining, then losing, the same 3 lbs. since September. Now my goal is to get back on track and lose the remaining pounds, about 73 of them.

Let me tell you, it can be overwhelming to think about losing so much weight. But I've lost 27 lbs. so far, and I feel better already. Aiming for small goals seems to work best for me ~ lose 5 lbs., then another 5; exercise at least 3 days per week; eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; drink more water.

I also know that this is about more than weight loss. It's about a lifestyle change that will bring about the weight loss and allow me to keep it off. It was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that there can be no going back to old eating habits after the weight is gone. Will there be times when I fail? There already have been. But I'm determined to pick myself up and get back on track when that happens.

Perhaps you want to lose some weight, too. I highly recommend Weight Watchers (they don't pay me to say that). Their program is healthy and easy to follow. You can check it out at weightwatchers.com.

Blessings,

Wanita

Time in a Bottle

2009-01-05T16:04:00.007-06:00

“If I could put time in a bottle…” Remember that song? This weekend, I felt like I received some time in a bottle. Let me tell you about it.

It was late summer of 1968. I arrived in Hagerstown, Maryland, on a rainy day that matched my mood. You see, I was going to live away from home for the first time in my life, and I was sort of scared and nervous. I would be attending Maryland Medical Secretarial School for the next 14 months.

Fortunately, I would have a roommate who had graduated from high school with me - someone from home. Her name was Carole. She arrived in Hagerstown shortly after I did, and we made our little dorm room as homey as possible. It was a difficult job what with cement block walls and all, but we did the best we could with what we had.

And we were so glad to be in the “new part” of Dagmar Hall. The “old part” of Dagmar was an old hotel (emphasis on old). I mean you couldn't just get on the elevator and press a button. No ma’am. It required an elevator operator. When you got to the eighth floor, you could look all the way down through the center of the stairs to the first floor. (Pictures of Dagmar Hall taken in 1987 are at the end of this post.)

Oh, and there was another part of Dagmar called “the annex.” That part had been added sometime before the “new part” where Carole and I lived. But I digress.

After a few months, Carole and I thought maybe we should save some money by moving to the old part of Dagmar. I can’t remember all the details, but we moved in with another girl, Debbie. Oh my, it turned out to be a wonderful move. The three of us had so much fun.

There are a few more things I must share about our days at Dagmar Hall. After we moved to the old part, we no longer had a full bath. It was a half bath with a claw foot tub (I told you it was old, didn't I). We had to go down the hall for the rest of the facilities, sort of an indoor outhouse.

Then there was study time between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., as in don’t you dare leave your room or have a radio turned on and do not talk to each other. You must study, study, study. Yes, we had someone who checked on us, a “dorm mother” who walked the halls to be sure we were not violating our study time.

After 7:00, it was OK to talk and play the radio again; but at 10:00 p.m., it was lights out and radios off. No late night studying allowed - that required lights. And no leaving your room. If you got caught, you got grounded. Yes, the dorm mother walked the halls at night checking.

The first dorm mother we had walked the halls. Then she left, and the next dorm mother was not as smart. She took the elevator, which was not only old, it was noisy. That worked to our advantage. We could hear her coming and sneak back to our room or turn lights out or do whatever we needed to do to avoid being grounded.

It’s hard to believe, isn't it. I mean if that happened today, the school and/or the dorm mother would probably get sued for invasion of privacy or abuse of personal rights or something. But I digress again - back to the story.

My roommates and I graduated; and as often happens, we lost track of each other. But last Friday my husband took a phone call while I was out. It was from Carole. She had decided to try to find me, and she found me through an internet search that took her to my blog! Not only that, but Debbie had previously found Carole, so now I have Debbie’s e-mail and will be contacting her.

It did, indeed, seem like I received some time in a bottle, time from days past, that was poured out by Carole who took the time to look for me and phone me. We talked on the phone for a long time yesterday. It was so good to hear her voice, good to learn I could also contact Debbie.

Time is strange. It seems like so long ago when we were living at Dagmar Hall. And yet, as Carole and I talked, it seemed like just yesterday that we were young women sharing a dorm room. Thank you, dear Carole, for taking the time to search for me and contact me.

My husband and I visited Hagerstown in 1987. When we went to the front desk at Dagmar Hall, we were told it was now a hotel for truckers. Do you see the air conditioning units in each window. Believe me, there were no air conditioning units when it was a girls' dormitory 21 years before!

Blessings,

Wanita

Good Wishes

2008-12-31T16:56:00.006-06:00

(Graphic courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts)

As the clock ticks toward the end of 2008, I want to thank each of you, dear friends, for your visits and comments this year, my first year of blogging.

A special thank you to those who prayed for me and my family when my mom passed away. It meant so much to know that even though we have never meant in person, you kept us in your prayers.

I'm looking forward to more visits with each of you in 2009. And I wish you and your loved ones a blessed New Year.

Blessings,
Wanita

An Incredible Day

2008-12-26T16:18:00.003-06:00

One of the Christmas gifts our grandchildren received was The Incredibles DVD. Their Auntie gave it to them. Here they are, Auntie, granddaughter, grandson, and Papa, all lined up on the sofa watching the movie.

We truly did have an incredible day.

We are so blessed!

Blessings,
Wanita

Joyful Christmas Greetings

2008-12-23T20:04:00.003-06:00

Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas

filled with the joy and peace of Jesus!

I'll see you next week, dear friends.

Christmas blessings,

Wanita

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

2008-12-22T23:40:00.004-06:00

Can you believe Christmas is almost here? My snowman trio is dreaming of a white Christmas. I don't think they will be disappointed since they live in Minnesota ~ or Minnesnowta, as my friend Kathi from Lavender, Lace and Thyme says!

Christmas Blessings,
Wanita

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-20T19:40:00.014-06:00

Snow fell all day, so it was a perfect day to stay in and bake cookies, listen to Christmas music, and take pictures of our Minnesota winter wonderland to show to you, my bloggy friends.

The lights on our Christmas angel will be glowing through snow tonight.

The city has declared a snow emergency, which means whoever owns this vehicle should move it or it will be towed so the street can be plowed.

The sedum stalks are standing strong under the blanket of snow, and the moose statue to the right has snow-covered antlers. Do you see him?

This little guy is finding bird seed in the snow. I believe he's a junco. Looks like he's saying, "Thanks for lunch."

I read in my Minnesota bird book that juncos seem to appear at feeders as soon as the snow starts. And it must be true, because this is the first time I've seen this little fellow.

For now, the snow has stopped. But the wind is picking up, so there will be lots of blowing and drifting. And the temperature is -2 degrees. I'm thankful I don't have anywhere to go tonight. I think I'll curl up by the fireplace with a book and a cup of tea. It'll be the perfect way to relax after a busy day of baking.

Sweet snowflake blessings,
Wanita

The Best Things

2008-12-19T10:09:00.007-06:00

"The best things in life are not things."

This little saying is on a magnet that a friend gave me. And how true it is. It makes me think of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus has come to visit their home. Mary sits at Jesus' feet, and Martha is busy working and is "distracted by all the preparations." So much so that she says to Jesus, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

But Jesus explained to her that Mary had chosen what was better: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I must admit, I have issues with that verse. I tend to be a "Martha," wanting to have things just so when company comes and often forgetting that the best things are really my relationships with Jesus, my family, and my friends. It's very easy for me to get caught up in the preparations and not spend time with the Lord, or to be busy with preparations when my family and friends are visiting and not take time to just sit and visit with them.

Especially at this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the preparations ~ the house needs to be decorated, presents must be bought, cards should be sent, cookies baked, menus planned and groceries bought. The real reason for the season ~ the birth of our Savior ~ can easily get lost in the shuffle.

As women, I think we not only get caught up in the preparations, but we look around us ~ in magazines, on TV, and even in blogland ~ and feel like we aren't measuring up, our preparations are not quite good enough, not perfect.

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land has a great post today about being real. She talks about being "Monster Mommy" and "Witchy Wife." Although I no longer have little children at home, I do have four and five-year-old grandchildren who come to visit. And just yesterday when they were visiting, I felt like Not-So-Nice Nana and Witchy Wife.

Be sure to read Kimba's post. And when the preparations of the season start taking over, may we each step back and take time to remember that "the best things in life are not things."

Sweet Christmas Blessings,
Wanita

Christmas Memories

2008-12-16T11:08:00.010-06:00

Yesterday I posted a picture of the Nativity that my dad always put under our Christmas tree. Today I'm sharing some photos from my childhood Christmases. I hope you enjoy them.

This is one of my favorite photos and one of the few I have of the four of us kids together. That's me in the poodle skirt, with my eyes closed. As you can see, we were not close in age except for my older brother and sister. My brother and sister obviously liked cowboys and cowgirls. And when I got older, so did I. In fact, cowboy boots were my shoe of choice when I was young.

Yep! That's me standing by the tree with my jammies on, ready for bed. It would have been Christmas Eve because we never put the tree up before Christmas Eve. I was probably about four or five.

And here is a picture of one of our trees. Notice the "icicles." They were put on one at a time, no kidding. My dad was a fanatic about those icicles! They had to hang perfectly. And he placed the Nativity and cardboard houses just as carefully. They sat on a cotton tree skirt with cuttings from the tree placed around the edges.

In my eyes, our tree was always the most beautiful tree ever!

Have a wonderful day!

Christmas Blessings,

Wanita

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

2008-12-15T08:14:00.008-06:00

Savior of the nations come,
Virgin's son, make here thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
(Johann Sebastian Bach)

Every Christmas Eve, my Dad carefully arranged a village of cardboard houses under our Christmas tree. The Nativity pictured above was placed in the center of the village.

Blessings,

Wanita

Welcome Holy Child

2008-12-14T00:20:00.001-06:00

"...the angel said to them...'today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2:11~12

~~~~~
Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice

I pray that each of you will experience the peace of God that comes through believing in the little baby born in a manger, who grew up and died on the cross that we might have forgiveness of our sins.

Blessings,
Wanita

Oh Christmas Tree!

2008-12-12T00:10:00.002-06:00

There's just something about a Christmas tree, isn't there? Ever since I can remember, I have loved sitting by the tree, especially in the evening. It always makes me feel peaceful.

Sweet Christmas blessings,

Wanita

Christmas Preparations

2008-12-09T15:32:00.010-06:00

What have I been up to? Decorating the tree...

...and making cookies with the grandchildren, of course. Don't you love that blue? Before I could stop him, grandson put lots of blue food coloring in the frosting!

The grands were here last Friday, and in addition to making cookies, we

~ decorated a small tree in the family room.
~ watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.
~ had a tea party with pretty china cups and above-mentioned cookies.
~ Elmocized, all of us, including Nana and Papa.
~ drew Christmas pictures.
~ made a snowflake ornament from pipecleaners for Auntie D.
~ enjoyed outdoor decorations as we drove the kids home.

We had a most enjoyable day!

Of course, I've done more decorating, and I will share those pictures with you later. But for now, I must get cards ready to mail.

Blessings,
Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2008-12-06T23:14:00.005-06:00

In the Bleak Midwinter is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I hope you're blessed as you listen and read the words to this beautiful song.

Blessings,
Wanita

The Grace of Gratitude

2008-11-26T16:36:00.007-06:00

The Grace of Gratitude

by J. Harold Gwynne, D.D.

As we receive Thy bounties, Lord,

Of raiment, shelter, food,

Inspire within our minds and hearts

The grace of gratitude.

All gifts and blessings that we know

Come from thy gracious hand;

Thy overruling love and power

Encompass sea and land.

The sun that shines, the rains that fall,

The soft blue sky above;

The winds that blow, the clouds that drift,

Are tokens of Thy love.

The orchards bearing ripened fruit,

The fields of golden grain,

The trees and flowers everywhere,

Thy mercies, Lord, contain.

Creator of these lives of ours,

With every gift endued,

May all our days and years express,

The grace of gratitude.

Thanksgiving blessings,

Wanita

Thanksgiving Forecast

2008-11-24T09:22:00.005-06:00

In the pre-Thanksgiving rush, we have received an early weather report from our in-house weather reporters. Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Blessings,
Wanita

Turkeys All in a Row

2008-11-20T10:00:00.017-06:00

Aren't these just about the cutest little Thanksgiving turkeys you've ever seen?

When we visited Kansas City in October, we went to Paper Source. We saw great paper crafting kits, including a kit to make a set of eight turkey place cards. These really caught my eye since I'm always looking for craft projects to do with my grandkids, more specifically five-year-old granddaughter since four-year-old grandson is more interested in playing with Papa.

However, since I'm ~~cheap~~ frugal, I thought I could probably do this with paper I had at home. Here are the directions.
Each turkey requires:

Two circles, 3 3/4 inches in diameter ~ brown
Five tail feathers ~ your choice of colors
Two eyes ~ 7 mm size
Beak ~ tan, yellow or orange
Wattle ~ red
White card stock for names
Glue

Using decorative scissors cut 2 circles, 3 3/4 inches in diameter, for each turkey (I used a scrapbooking template).
Cut strips of paper for tail feathers, 3 1/4 inches long and 1 1/4 inch wide, five for each turkey. Using a regular scissors, round the ends as shown in the picture.
Draw and cut out a small triangle for each beak (I drew a freehand pattern on scrap paper).
Draw and cut out a red wattle for each turkey (Again, I did a freehand pattern).
Cut strips of white paper 1 1/2 inches x 3/4 inches, one for each turkey.

To assemble the turkey:

Glue feathers on the back.
Glue eyes on the front.
Glue on the wattle, then the beak.
Write names on white strips of paper and glue on turkey.
Fold one of the remaining circles in half and glue to back of turkey, as shown below.

Granddaughter and I did a sort of assembly line process. I glued on the feathers; she did the eyes, wattle, beak, and name; then I glued the folded circle on the back. We packed the turkeys in a box and took them to her house to grace the Thanksgiving table.

My cost:

Two 12 x 12 sheets of brown card stock ~ $.50, on sale at Michael's
Pack of 7 mm eyes ~ $.89, also at Michael's
Tail feathers, beak, wattle, and white paper for name ~ paper or scraps I already had

Today is the last day of the Giving Thanks Celebration, hosted by Kelli. To participate, or to read all the Giving Thanks posts, be sure to visit There Is No Place Like Home.

Kelli also hosts Paper Crafting Thursday. If you would like to learn more or join in the fun, click here.

Blessings,
Wanita

More Than a Day

2008-11-18T11:29:00.007-06:00

Thanksgiving Is More Than a Day

(by Dorothy M. Harpster)

Give thanks to God, who planned so well that

When He created humanity, there was already food, drink,

The sun, giving days in which to work and play,

And nights in which to rest and be renewed.

Give thanks go God for being faithful in His promises

For giving us the faith to know that we can go to Him

And He will be with us throughout our lives,

Wherever we may go, whatever we become.

Give thanks to God for showing us His love,

So great that He could give His only Son

To save us from our sins ~ and by His life and teachings

Show us how to love God, those nearby, and everyone.

Give thanks to God for our lives lived on earth

To care for his creation, including one another,

But also to prepare for that life we will live

With Him eternally ~ if we accept God's Son.

This poem is in a book I found at a thrift store. The title of the book is The Family Treasury of Great Holiday Ideas. The back cover says, "...filled with recipes, holiday stories, and family traditions from people just like you, and from well-known Christian authors...." And indeed it is filled with wonderful ideas. It is well worth the $.99 I paid for it.

Kelli is hosting a Giving Thanks Celebration this week from Monday ~ Thursday. If you would like to participate or read more Giving Thanks posts, visit There Is No Place Like Home.

Blessings,
Wanita

Over the River and Through the Woods

2008-11-17T08:59:00.006-06:00

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving was spent at my Grandma and Grandpy's log cabin, pictured at the left. While we didn't go over a river, we did go over a creek on an old wooden bridge that I thought might collapse under the weight of our car. Then up a small hill, across the railroad tracks, turn right, and down the narrow dirt road that ran parallel to the tracks.

The road came to a dead end at the edge of the woods, and we parked there, along with my aunts, uncles, and cousins; and we walked across the railroad tracks to the cabin that sat between the tracks and the creek.

Inside the cabin awaited the warmth of family and the delicious scents of food that would soon be passed around the table. There were about 16 of us who gathered in that small unheated cabin that had the most wonderful wood cookstove, a hand pump for water in the kitchen, and no other indoor plumbing.

One year, when I was probably six or seven years old, something happened that still kind of makes my heart beat fast when I think about it. When we got to Grandma's, we couldn't cross the tracks because a long train of coal cars was stopped in front of the cabin. Of course, this had happened before, we'd just wait. And we did ~ wait...and wait...and, well you get the picture.

I'm not sure how long we waited, but finally a trainman came walking down the tracks with his lantern. Daddy got out of the car to ask how much longer the train would be there. I didn't hear the conversation, but I know the answer was that it would be there quite a while longer, long enough that we could go ahead and crawl under or over the coal cars.

Oh my, oh my! "Are you sure Daddy?" My mind asked the question, but my heart knew my Daddy would never let us crawl under a train unless he was certain it wasn't going to move anytime soon. But what if the trainman was wrong and the engineer decided to start up the train and move it? Oh my, oh my!

We got out of the car and walked up to the train. Daddy went first. I have no idea who went next, mom, my brother or sister, me. And I can't remember if I crawled under the car or over a coupling that linked two cars together. But I'm sure my little heart felt like it would beat out of my chest!

Of course, the train did not move for sometime, and we were glad to get across the tracks and into the cabin. Grandma, mom, and my aunts all worked in the small kitchen together, and soon the delicious meal was on the table and our plates were piled with turkey and all the trimmings. Oh, yes, roast beef (or maybe ham) for my daddy who didn't like turkey.

Nobody cared that the cabin was tiny and crowded. Nobody cared that there was no heat or other modern amenities. What mattered was that we were all together, sharing a wonderful homecooked meal with those we loved. And we were creating memories that would last a lifetime, and longer, as we share them with children and grandchildren.

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with the stuff memories are made of.

Blessings,
Wanita

This week, Monday ~ Thursday, Kelli is hosting a Giving Thanks Celebration. To learn more or to join in on the fun, please visit There is No Place Like Home .

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2008-11-16T15:22:00.019-06:00

"Rule over me this day, O God, leading me on the path of righteousness. Put your Word in my mind and your Truth in my heart, that this day I neither think nor feel anything except what is good and honest. Protect me from all lies and falsehood, helping me to discern deception wherever I meet it. Let my eyes always look straight ahead on the road you wish me to tread, that I might not be tempted by any distraction. And make my eyes pure, that no false desire may be awakened within me." (Joseph Boehme, German shoemaker, 1575-1624)

As I read this prayer, I couldn't help but think of the children's song, Oh Be Careful Little Eyes. Below are the words, followed by a video that I hope will bless you as it did me.

Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So be careful little eyes what you see.

O be careful little ears what you hear.
O be careful little ears what you hear.
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So be careful little ears what you hear.

O be careful little hands what you do.
O be careful little hands what you do.
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So be careful little hands what you do.

O be careful little feet where you go.
O be careful little feet where you go.
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So be careful little feet where you go.

O be careful little mouth what you say.
O be careful little mouth what you say.
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So be careful little mouth what you say.

Click here for more Spiritual Sundays posts.

Blessings,

Wanita

Bookworms

2008-11-13T13:39:00.009-06:00

My friend, Kathi, at Lavender, Lace, and Thyme has given me a bookworm award. Thanks, Kathi. I love books. In fact, my mom used to get upset with me for having my nose in a book instead of doing my chores. And I still sometimes read instead of doing my chores!

Here's how the award works:

Pass this on to 5 blogging friends.
Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56.
Write out the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that...

There are always many books close at hand for me. One of those books is Corrie ten Boom ~ Clippings from My Notebook. During World War II, Corrie, her 84-year-old father, and her sister, Betsie, were put in Ravensbruck concentration camp for hiding Jews in their home in The Netherlands. Her father and Betsie both died; Corrie was released due to a "clerical error." The Hiding Place tells the remarkable story of the ten Boom family.

Here is what is on p. 56 of Clippings from My Notebook:

"But God was also good when He allowed my sister Betsie to starve to death before my eyes in the German concentration camp.

I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us.

'No, Corrie,' said Betsie, 'He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him...' (Psalm 103:11, KJV).

The Lord in his love accepts us as we are, and if we are obeying Him, He will work through us, whatever our circumstances."

In no particular order, here are the five blogging friends I'm tagging:

Lea at Farmhouse Blessings
Debra K at The Bunnies Bungalow
Miss Sandy at Quill Cottage
Jean at MsGreen "thumb" Jean
Kim at BellaDella

Blessings,
Wanita

In Honor of Our Veterans

2008-11-11T15:59:00.010-06:00

This post is dedicated to my father-in-law, Ray. He's standing on the right in the picture below. On the left is his twin brother, Jay. They served together in the Pacific on the USS Wasp. The ship was bombed in 1945; Jay and many other crew members were killed.

Here is my sweetie. He served in the Army during the Viet Nam era.

Thank you to all who have served to protect the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted.

And thank you to those who are currently serving. Our prayers are with you.

Blessings,

Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2008-11-09T17:24:00.004-06:00

"So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary."
Hebrews 6:18-19 (New Living Translation)

Does your anchor hold and grip Jesus, the solid rock? You can read the story of how Jesus became my solid rock here. For the message of the Gospel, click here.

This song expresses so beautifully that our anchor needs to hold and grip the solid rock. Be sure to listen to the beautiful rendition by the Cadet Sisters at the bottom of this post.

In Times Like These

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus:
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus

In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus

Blessings,
Wanita

Show and Tell Friday

2008-11-06T22:45:00.001-06:00

Every Friday Kelli hosts Show and Tell Friday at There Is No Place Like Home. Not only is it fun to see all the show and tell posts, it's fun to participate. So head on over to Kelli's to check out the details!

This week I want to share some party invitations that are frugal, but very sweet and lovely.

For her fifth birthday party, my granddaughter had a princess/prince/knight party. Even at such a young age, this girl is a planner, believe you me. She designed and made her invitations about two months before the party. Each invitation was customized for the recipient.

The graphics were done by granddaughter, and the details of time, place, etc. were printed on the reverse side by her mom.

The boys' invitations were on blue card stock. This is Papa's (Grandpa's) invitation. Although it's difficult to see, Papa is standing in the middle of the invitation.

The invitations for the girls were on light pink card stock. That's me, with the colorful hair. Granddaughter is standing on the right. Now you know what I look like ~ well, actually my hair is not quite so colorful and lovely, and my complexion is not quite as flawless as shown. Must be the air-brushed version.

Anyhow, the party was last Saturday, and all the princesses were beautiful, and the princes and knights were dashing and handsome. The party was a huge success.

Oh yes, granddaughter was Princess Aurora. In case you don't know who she is, she is the famous Sleeping Beauty. I just learned that myself. It's a good thing to learn something new every day!

Thanks for stopping by. I know you're glad you did because now you know what I look like.

Blessings,
Wanita

Roasted Asparagus

2008-11-06T13:59:00.015-06:00

Do you like asparagus? I must admit, it wasn't one of my favorite veggies until I ~~met Junior Asparagus from Veggie Tales~~ made roasted asparagus. Here's how you do it.

Wash the asparagus.
Snap off the bottom of the stalk.*
Put the asparagus on a large baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and mix to coat each stalk (I use my hands).
Arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle with salt (I use Kosher salt).
Put in a preheated 425 deg. oven and roast for 12-15 minutes.

We like ours crisp-tender (is that a word?), so we can pick it up and eat it with our fingers. And it all disappears ~ no leftovers, ever, because it is yummy!

*If you hold the stalk with both hands and bend the bottom portion until it snaps off, it will naturally break off where the tough end starts.

Blessings,
Wanita

Representatives of Truth

2008-11-05T09:26:00.003-06:00

Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries has an excellent post about how we should live our lives as representatives of truth. Many of these same things have been on my heart today, and she expresses it so well.

You can read her post here:

http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/11/dare-i-say.html

Will you follow Jesus like never before?

Blessings,
Wanita

Sliced Mushrooms

2008-11-04T18:18:00.008-06:00

Need an easy way to slice mushrooms? You can slice them quickly and easily with an egg slicer.

Blessings,
Wanita

The Power of One

2008-11-02T15:50:00.011-06:00

Be sure to vote on Tuesday, November 4.

Your vote matters!

Silver Dollar City

2008-10-28T12:39:00.017-05:00

When we are in Branson, we like to spend one day at Silver Dollar City. We especially like to visit in the fall because it is decorated so beautifully.

We enjoy the shows, which are included in the price of tickets. And we like taking the twenty-minute train ride around the park, which also features some entertainment.

It's interesting to watch the artisans working throughout the park; for example, wood carvers, glass blowers, jewelry makers, and knife makers. Our day at Silver Dollar City was so enjoyable, and the weather was perfect, in spite of a forecast that called for rain. The rain did come, but not until after we left the park at 5:30 p.m.

I hope you enjoy this little tour in pictures.

The entrance

There are lots of scarecrows and pumpkins.

This fountain is quite unique, don't you think?

And the flowers are beautiful planted in a tree stump.

The Train Ride

What train ride would be complete without a hobo camp and...

"notorious" train robbers, like brothers Alfie and Ralphie?

There were even a few Christmas decorations. The Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration starts November 1, which seems a bit early to me. I must say, however, that we have been in Branson in December, and the Christmas decorations are beautiful.

Thanks for visiting today.

Blessings,
Wanita

A Slice of Heaven

2008-10-27T14:57:00.049-05:00

Last week, as you know, I took a little break. My husband and I went to Branson and had a wonderful time. I have lots I want to share with you, and today I'm going to start with the end of our trip.

On our way home last Friday, we stayed in Kansas City, MO. It always brings back good memories for us because we used to visit K.C. when my husband was in the army and stationed at Ft. Leavenworth.

One evening before we left Branson, I was reading the latest issue of Midwest Living. There was a short article about a store called Pryde's Old Westport. The article said Pryde's "is to culinary fans what a classic hardware store is to a handyman." The article also mentioned two sisters who bake pies at Pryde's every Friday and Saturday.

I didn't think hubby would be too interested in the culinary part, but I had a hunch that the pies might be a draw. And they were. Turns out Pryde's was not very far from where we stayed, so we headed on over for a slice of heaven.

The pie was wonderful! Hubby had gooseberry, and I had pumpkin pecan. Yummy, yummy! Here is a picture of one of the pie-baking sisters holding a fabulous pie. Her name is Jan Knobel, and the pie shop is called The Upper Crust. We enjoyed visiting with her and learning more about how she and her sister, Elaine VanBuskirk, got started baking pies and selling them. If you're ever in K.C. on a Friday or Saturday, be sure to find your way to The Upper Crust in Pryde's Old Westport for a slice of heaven. You'll be glad you did!

The rest of the pictures are from Pryde's, and if you can't find what you need for your kitchen here, I don't believe you'll be able to find it anywhere. Oh, just to let you know, hubby enjoyed the store, too.

So much eye candy!

All kinds of spices and sauces

Many, many pretty dishes

And chandeliers made from wire wisks!

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Pryde's Old Westport and The Upper Crust. Please join me tomorrow for a tour of the beautiful autumn decorations at Silver Dollar City in Branson. See you then!

Blessings,

Wanita

Taking a Break

2008-10-21T18:15:00.003-05:00

Hello, sweet bloggy friends. I just wanted to let you know I'm taking a little blogging break this week. I'll be back next week and will let you know what's been happening. Although I won't be posting, I do plan to take time to read your blogs.

Have a blessed week!

Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2008-10-19T00:01:00.004-05:00

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3, NIV)

Blessings,
Wanita

Autumn Beauties

2008-10-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

The maple tree in our back yard looks so pretty.

And the New England Asters are full and gorgeous. Next year they'll need divided, which means more patches of this beautiful flower around the yard. Blessings,
Wanita

Helpful Hint

2008-10-13T00:01:00.008-05:00

I needed some extra space for drying clothes that I don't put in the dryer. In our guest bathroom there is a shower we seldom use, so I put a tension rod in the shower and hang clothes there to dry. Thanks to my good friend, Carol, for this helpful hint!

Blessings,
Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday

2008-10-11T19:15:00.002-05:00

The eternal God is your refuge,

and underneath are the everlasting arms....

Deuteronomy 33:27

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

(Words: Elisha A. Hoffman; Music: Anthony J. Showalter)

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

O how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

Blessings,
Wanita

Pearfection

2008-10-11T10:51:00.012-05:00

Lord,

The bounty of food

You've created to eat

Is so vast and delicious,

So tasty and sweet.

Creating a SenseSational Home

by Terry Willits, p. 126

Wishing you a pearfectly wonderful weekend,

Wanita

Garden Clean-up

2008-10-09T15:22:00.011-05:00

It hardly seems possible that it's time to clean up the garden for a winter nap. But I started to do just that this morning. The daylilies and hostas were looking pretty sad, so I cut them back.

I picked what will probably be the last of the green beans and froze them.

The green peppers had a rough start due to something, perhaps Peter Rabbit, eating the blossoms. I think I picked only four peppers, and they were not very big. Two we ate, and two I chopped, froze on a cookie sheet, and put in a freezer bag to use later.

And the Sweet Million tomatoes. I will miss these tasty little morsels. Here are a few that need to ripen a bit. There are lots of little green ones, but with the weather getting cooler, I don't think they'll ripen.

There are still green tomatoes on the Early Goliath. I picked many of them and put them on newspaper in the garage. I've read in different magazines that they will ripen if you do this, so we'll see what happens.

I love autumn, but I will miss the fresh, delicious summer veggies from my little garden.

Blessings,

Wanita

Fall Giveaway

2008-10-08T08:53:00.002-05:00

Laced with Grace is having a wonderful fall giveaway ~ two tickets to the two-day Women of Faith conference at any venue in the United States.

You can enter daily (Monday - Friday) by leaving a comment on their daily devotions. If you put the Laced with Grace button on your blog, your comment will be entered twice. For more details, just click the button at the top left of my sidebar.

Blessings,
Wanita

October's Party

2008-10-01T00:01:00.010-05:00

(Photo from Microsoft.com clipart)

October’s Party
by George Cooper

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came.
The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples,
And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best.

All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

"Autumn Leaves" by Ferrante and Teicher

October Blessings,

Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday ~ Be Still My Soul

2008-09-28T00:01:00.009-05:00

Be Still My Soul

by Katharina A. von Schlegel

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Blessings,

Wanita

Take Refuge

2008-09-26T09:30:00.013-05:00

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4

The Almighty God who created the universe is mindful of us.

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1

A failing economy, a presidential election, wars, natural disasters, illness ~ all these things weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. The best thing we can do is take refuge in the shadow of God's wings ~ the God who created the universe ~ because He is mindful of us.

Praying you'll rest in Him,

Wanita

Autumn Decorating

2008-09-25T00:05:00.004-05:00

I've really enjoyed visiting everyone and seeing the pretty autumn decorations you have in your homes. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and I love putting out my decorations. Today I thought I would show you some of my decorations.

I made this pretty angel two years ago. She greets visitors to our home.

I bought this lamp for a song at a craft sale. I love the beads on the shade. It sits on the kitchen counter.

This happy little scarecrow with his pumpkins and leaves sits on our CD player.

The mantel in our living/dining room

This little vignette is on the piano. The picture is by Terry Redlin.

The beaded fruit is on the dining room table. I'm sorry this picture is not very good. I couldn't seem to take a picture that didn't have a lot of glare. The fruit is really pretty with the glass beads. I bought it a few years ago at Big Lots.

The pumpkin is on the kitchen counter. It's from TJ Maxx/Homegoods.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoyed seeing my fall decorations.

Blessings,

Wanita

Homemade Apple Butter

2008-09-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

My grandma made the best homemade apple butter. Oh my, slathered on homemade bread toasted on the wood stove ~ with homemade butter on the toast, too ~ it was heavenly! I remember helping Grandma pick apples and the smell of the apple butter as it cooked in the oven. What wonderful memories.

Grandma never gave me her recipe. In fact, I'm sure she didn't have one. She added sugar and spices to taste. But I do have a recipe. It's not cooked in the oven; rather, it's cooked in a crockpot ~ I use a six quart pot. I ended up with a total of seven 1/2 pint jars, and I used Ball Can or Freeze jars.

Honestly, I don't think my apple butter is as good as Grandma's ~ maybe the memories have something to do with that, I don't know. But when I make apple butter (and apple dumplings ~ recipe here), I feel like a real Proverbs 31 woman. That's because when I make them, my husband rises up and calls me blessed. Oh yes he does. He loved the apple butter, and his exact word for the apple dumplings was scrumpdillyicious. Now if that doesn't make me blessed, I can't imagine what will.

So, if you want your husband (and children if you still have some living at home) to rise up and call you blessed, just peel and chop some apples, put them in the crockpot with some sugar and a few spices, and let them cook away. Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooked Apple Butter
5 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored, finely chopped (approx. 1/2 peck)
4 cups sugar (adjust to taste)*
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place apples in a slow cooker. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt; pour over apples and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally (stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking).

Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Cover and refrigerate or freeze.

Note: I used an immersion blender to make the apple butter smooth. You could also put it through a food mill or use a food processor.

*If the apples you're using are sweet, decrease the amount of sugar. I used a combination of Paula Red and Zestar apples, which are both sweet, so I used 2 cups of sugar. I think I could have decreased the sugar even more, but hubby didn't think it was too sweet.

FYI, the Zestar is a new apple developed by the University of Minnesota.

Apple butter blessings to you,
Wanita

Autumn Garden

2008-09-23T00:05:00.002-05:00

With the cooler nights, the garden is starting to wind down, and the leaves on the trees are starting to turn. There are, however, some flowers that are at their best in autumn. These pictures were taken September 22, the first day of autumn.

The leaves on the maple tree in our back yard are starting to turn red.

Sedum Autumn Joy is one of my favorite plants. The moose, which was made by our friend, Mike, stands guard. The little cup on top of the stake is for a candle. My husband made ten of them. I tried to find the directions, but apparently they are no longer on HGTV's web site.

The bees enjoy the sedum, too.

My New England asters are starting to bloom. They are such a pretty color.

Here is a close-up of one of the pretty blooms.
We still have lots of green tomatoes on the Early Goliath tomatoes. I'm waiting for them to ripen a bit more before I pick them.The sweet million tomato plant is loaded with little gems. They are so sweet ~ I'll miss them. Eating one is like eating a piece of candy.

That's how my garden is growing. How is your doing?
Sweet autumn blessings,
Wanita

Sweet Zinnias

2008-09-22T00:05:00.001-05:00

This spring I planted zinnia seeds in one of the flower beds in front of my house. They love their sunny spot and have rewarded me with many blooms. As a cut flower, they last a long time. I love putting them in little bouquets with black-eyed susans, blanket flowers, autumn joy sedum, and feather reed grass.

I planted two different varieties of zinnias. One is called Lilliput, which is a pompon zinnia. It grows 16 - 18 inches tall.

I also planted thumbelina zinnias which grow six inches tall.

Both varieties have mixed colors, and the butterflies love them. I've read that they also attract hummingbirds, although I haven't seen any by my zinnias.

They are continuing to get new blooms and will bloom until the first frost. Of course, I will cover them when we have our first frost so I can enjoy them as long as possible.

If you haven't ever planted zinnias, you may want to give it a try next spring. I think you'd enjoy having them in your garden!

Happy Autumn Blessings,
Wanita

Sing-a-Long Sunday ~ Blessed Assurance

2008-09-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Blessed Assurance

(Words: Fanny Crosby; Music: Phoebe P. Knapp)

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain

Blessings,
Wanita

Show and Tell Friday

2008-09-18T23:10:00.006-05:00

It's time for Show & Tell Friday hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home. Perhaps you have something special you'd like to share with us ~ a piece of jewelry, a special collection, or a photo and the story that goes with it. If so, go to There is No Place Like Home. While you're there, be sure to check out all the other interesting and fun show & tell posts.

This week I'd like to share with you three of my childhood books. I got all three for Christmas one year. I think I was about nine years old. My parents knew I liked to read, so books were a wonderful gift.

The first book is Birds. It has a copyright of 1959. The cover says over 90 different birds are featured in the book. It has lots of wonderful pictures and information. I especially like the pictures of the different nests and the robin on the first two pages.

The second book is Numbers ~ What they Look Like and What They Do. The copyright date is 1954. This book sure is showing some wear and tear!

The last book is Poems to Read and Learn. I don't know the copyright since that page is missing, but it was probably around 1959. As a child, I really enjoyed reading the poems in this book; and now I'm reading them to my grandchildren. It is so much fun to share my childhood books with them!

My books have started to show their age after so much use and all the moves we've made. But I still treasure them and the happy memories they bring.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my show & tell. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Wanita

Apple Dumpling Time

2008-09-18T09:29:00.023-05:00

Autumn is apple dumpling time for my family. I made them when our daughters were growing up; and now that they are grown and have homes of their own, they bake apple dumplings. Our son-in-law had never had apple dumplings, at least not like I make, before he married our daughter. Now he requests them, as does my husband. Our youngest daughter is single, but she makes them to share with friends ~ or maybe just to eat herself.

Oh, they are so good, and not hard to make. All you need is peeled and cored apples, pie dough, cinnamon, and real maple syrup. Please don't use Aunt Jemima!

My no-fail pie dough recipe is below. When I lamented years ago to my mom that I just couldn't make pie dough, she gave me this recipe.

No-Fail Pie Dough

4 C. flour
1 3/4 C. shortening
2 T. vinegar
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
Mix with pastry blender until crumbly.

1/2 C. cold water
1 egg
Mix and add to flour mixture.
Form ball. Chill at least 15 minutes before rolling.

This is what the dough looks like after mixing with the pastry blender.

Here it is, ready to be chilled.

Note: This dough freezes well. I simply divide it into portions for a single crust, flatten it slightly, wrap in plastic wrap, and put in a freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling out for a pie. I've used it up to three months later.

Here's how I assemble these delicious dumpling beauties:

Make pie dough and chill as recipe directs.
While dough is chilling, peel and core apples (I use an apple corer).
Cover bottom of pan with maple syrup.
Roll a piece of pie dough to wrap around each apple.
Sprinkle cinnamon to taste on dough.
Wrap dough around apple and place seam side down in baking dish.
Repeat for each apple, and bake at 375 deg. for 30-35 minutes until crusts are lightly browned.

Here they are, ready to go into the oven. You can make as many dumplings as you like. I usually make at least eight.

It's difficult to see in this picture, but they are lightly browned and fresh from the oven.

To serve, put an apple dumpling in a bowl and spoon over it some of the maple syrup from the bottom of the pan. Pour over some milk ~ or half-and-half if you like. Oh, they are so yummy!

Anna, my friend, if you read this, please notice that we did not eat half the pan before I remembered to take a picture (like I did with the spaghetti squash boats).

Let me know if you try making these or if you have any questions about how to make them.

Blessings,
Wanita

Finally Home

2008-09-17T16:37:00.012-05:00

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words of sympathy. They mean so much. I'm truly blessed to have you, my blogland friends, and many friends and family members who have prayed for Mom and now continue to pray for my family.

Those of you who have been reading my blog know that we've been on a journey with Mom through Alzheimer's. Until this past December, Mom was in a personal care unit at the nursing home. However, after falling and fracturing some vertebrae, she was transferred to the skilled nursing care unit. We were so hoping she would spend all of her last days on earth in personal care where there were only twelve residents, and the care was just what the name implied ~ personal.

The skilled care unit is more like a hospital, and there are many more residents to care for. It just wasn't the same family-like atmosphere Mom and all of us were used to. As Mom declined, we had a difficult time watching what was happening. You never feel, no matter how good the care, that your parent is getting good enough care. If you have gone through this or are going through it, you know what I mean. My sister and brother watched all she went through first-hand, and, for the most part, I imagined it from a distance. I don't know which is harder.

In the last few months, Mom ate less and less until finally she refused to eat. We had a conference with the director of nursing, and she suggested we have hospice start seeing Mom. We felt that would be very good for her.

Hospice saw her for the first time on Friday, September 5. The nurse said her vitals were good, and someone would visit her again on Monday, September 8. At that point, my sister, brother, and I decided we would wait until the nurse saw her on Monday, and I would then decide when I should go to Pennsylvania. None of us had any idea she would soon be leaving this earth behind and going home to be with Jesus.

That same Friday evening the nursing home called my sister and brother and told them Mom had taken a turn for the worse, and they should go to the nursing home. My sister called me just as our 16 or so guests were ready to sit down to a potluck dinner at our home. Those people all took time to pray for Mom and our family, and I was so thankful for that. But it was hard to focus on my company after that phone call.

Saturday morning, September 6, I booked my flight to Pennsylvania. It looked like the plane was full, but God knew I needed a seat. I arrived at the nursing home at 6:30 p.m. Mom was not responsive, although it seemed like she tried to open her eyes a couple times and just didn't have the strength to do even that.

My sister, who had been with her all night on Friday, took a short break, and I had some time alone with Mom. I sang hymns to her and told her Jesus had prepared a place for her, so when she was ready, He would be waiting for her along with Daddy and Grandma and Grandpy and all her loved ones who had gone on before.

God was so good ~ Mom was in no pain, she was not at all agitated, she had no difficulty breathing. She just slept. Just before she took her last breath, she lifted her head off the pillow as if she was getting up to go somewhere. And indeed she was ~ she was going to be with Jesus. On Sunday morning, September 7, at 10:35 a.m., Mom left her earth suit behind, and Jesus gave her a new body that will never suffer again.

I'm so thankful He worked out every detail so that my sister and I could be with her at the end. As my sister said, we were glad for Mom, but sad for us. We will miss her, but she is finally Home.

Blessings to each of you,
Wanita

In Loving Memory

2008-09-14T15:10:00.016-05:00

In Loving Memory of My Mom

1918 ~ 2008

Mom passed away peacefully on September 7.
We will miss her, but we are glad

she is finally Home with Jesus.

Spaghetti Squash Boats

2008-09-02T22:28:00.021-05:00

Have you ever eaten spaghetti squash? It's delish, especially when you use the spaghetti squash boat recipe from Taste of Home that I've shared below. We had our squash boats with corn on the cob and crash hot potatoes. You can find the potato recipe at Pioneer Woman Cooks. This was one yummy meal, believe you me!

The most difficult part of this recipe is cutting the squash. Make sure you have a very sharp knife.

Here are the "boats," seeds removed and ready to put in the oven.

This is what it looks like after baking and separating the strands of squash with a fork.

Here is the final product ~ well, half of it. We ate the other half before I took the picture.

Spaghetti Squash Boats
(from Taste of Home)

1 medium spaghetti squash (2 to 2-1/2 pounds)
1/4 pound ground beef*
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms*
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions: Cut squash in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in a baking dish. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1/2 in. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30-40 minutes or until tender.

When cool enough to handle, scoop out squash, separating strands with a fork; set shells and squash aside. In a skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain.

Add mushrooms, garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add squash; mix well. Cook, uncovered, until liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Fill shells; place in shallow baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 4-6 side-dish servings or 2 main-dish servings.*

*Sausage is also good. I didn't use mushrooms. The "2 main-dish servings" are very generous. In fact, hubby and I split one.

I must be off. We have 21 people coming to our house for a potluck this Friday evening. We'll be upstairs, downstairs, and outside if the weather is nice. I'm doing appetizers and beverages, and I'm looking forward to a fun evening.

Blessings,
Wanita

Sing-A-Long Sunday ~ Day by Day

2008-08-31T00:01:00.002-05:00

Day by Day
By Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

Blessings,
Wanita

Show and Tell

2008-08-29T08:49:00.010-05:00

It's Show and Tell Friday, hosted by Kelli at There Is No Place Like Home. Perhaps you have something special you'd like to share with us. If you do, please visit Kelli to learn how you can participate in Show and Tell. And while you're there, be sure to check out all the show and tell posts.

This week I'm sharing a framed doily. I took the picture at an agle to try to avoid some glare, but I think you can still see all the detail quite well. You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.

My husband's grandma made the doily, and my mother-in-law had it framed and gave it to us as a gift. It's hanging in our dining room, and we treasure it so much. Of course, it reminds us of Grandma and the wonderful times spent with her.

Thanks for visiting and looking at my show and tell.

Blessings,
Wanita

Ain't Mis-bee-havin'

2008-08-28T14:59:00.009-05:00

Really, I don't like to complain on my blog posts. But today ~ well, maybe a little cheese with my "whine" (bad joke) is in order. Here's how my day went:

This morning I headed outside to pick pole beans. I grabbed the first bean, not relizing there was a bee on a nearby blossom. I must have grabbed him, too, because he stung me. I've been stung twice this summer.

Fortunately, I'm not allergic, but bee stings hurt. The good news was that a paste of baking soda worked very well to alleviate the pain. And my sweet husband went to the store to get some anti-sting ointment for me. Did you know ammonia is the active ingredient in that stuff? Yep. I googled "bee stings" and "ammonia," and sure enough, a bit of ammonia on a cotton ball will help. Whatever!

Next, I started to put a load of clothes in my front-loading washer, which, by the way, I really love. But wait, something appears to be in the washer; and it's water, just about to the point it would overflow out the door if it had gone any higher. Now what is that about? I had no clue, and neither did hubby. But he asked where the renewal was for the service agreement. We had just received it in the mail. Maybe we should send it in, like right now!

OK, now the day can settle down. Ha, not so! My husband has his own business, and he sometimes converts documents he needs from a PDF format to a Word format. He did that ~ nine pages ~ no problem. Except that the paragraphs end up being text boxes, and numbering really isn't numbering, at least not the kind Word does automatically. Since I do some administrative work for hubby, he asked for my help.

No problem ~ except that we are now using Microsoft Office 2007, which looks totally different than the previous version. More intuitive, says Microsoft. Not so, says me! Where can I set the tab to have dot leaders? Can't I get rid of all those text boxes in on fell swoop (or "swell foop" as one of my former co-workers used to say)? I could do it before, but now I can't even find the buttons to click on that let me do those things.

What's really bad about it all is that I used to do computer support, and I used to teach computer classes, and now I can't even find the right buttons to click! But we got it done. And I want to say hubby is always appreciative of my help.

Well, by now it was about 2:00 p.m. I went to get our mail, only to find that Fed Ex had left two packages at the door. Always fun to get packages, especially when they are from the Southern Living At Home party you had, right? Fun after you get them in the door ~ if you can even get out of the door to get them in.

There were two large boxes. Our front step isn't big by any means, and I could barely get the door open to get outside. In fact, I opened the storm door as far as I could, reached around it and carefully moved the box sitting on top. Then I could at least get out the door. I say carefully moved because the boxes were stacked and partially hanging out over the edge of the step.

I didn't hear a doorbell ring, although I could have been outside or downstairs, but I had no idea the Fed Ex man had been there. One corner of the top box was kind of wet and mangled; fortunately nothing was damaged or wet inside. But Fed Ex does this to us frequently ~ leaving packages sitting so we can't even open the door. We have had to go out the back door, walk around to get the packages, and take them into the house.

As of this writing, it is 3:38 p.m. I really hope there is nothing else that will make we whine today!

Addendum: 3:50 p.m. ~ I lost my internet connection just as I was ready to publish this. I had to restart the computer, but fortunately, Blogger had saved draft before I lost the connection. And I was able to copy and paste everything to a Word document, just in case I needed it.

Thanks for listenting. It just feels good to vent a little bit!

Blessings,
Wanita

The Long Journey

2008-08-27T08:33:00.017-05:00

Thirty-three years ago, a man, woman, and their two daughters, ages two and four, left the small town of Owego, New York to move to the small town of Watertown, Minnesota.

Everything they owned was packed in a U-Haul truck. Their small Toyota station wagon was being towed behind.

The woman told her sweet daughters it would be a great adventure ~ and she knew that was true. But at the same time, in her heart, she was sad because she was leaving behind wonderful neighbors and a wonderful church family. And, instead of a seven-hour drive, they would be a two-day drive from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived in Pennsylvania.

Was it a job transfer and promotion that prompted their move? No, it was the young couple's conviction that God had called them to attend St. Paul Bible College. So in obedience to that call, they moved to Minnesota.

I know you've guessed that this is my family. And you're right ~ I can't believe 33 years have passed since we moved from New York. Did things work out as we anticipated? No, we thought we'd be on a foreign mission field. Do we still believe God called us to move to Minnesota? Yes, we do.

What about being missionaries, you ask? Although I'm not in a foreign country, I'm still called to tell others the Good News that there is a Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life in heaven one day. I'm a missionary no matter where I am. For now, that is in the city, which, when we first moved, felt like a foreign mission field after living in a small rural town, population 3,000.

No matter where I am or what my circumstances, I know God is there, and I cling to these verses in Romans: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

If you're reading this and don't know the love of Christ, please read one of my previous posts to learn how you can have your sins forgiven and assurance of eternal life in heaven. This is the most important decision you'll ever make. You can also read about how I came to know the Lord here.

Praying you'll have assurance of God's love,

Wanita