Good bye April

A safe place...no pressure... just help

My volunteer training at the Hope Clinic for women in Nashville was intense and empowering. As women, we addressed issues of sexuality, abortion, unplanned pregnancies, and options for women.  My experience as a volunteer at the Hope Clinic was life changing. Hope Clinic truly offers to women a safe place for tough choices.
Tonight in Lexington,  I attended Assurance Care Center's  annual fundraising banquet. I love that they offer no judgment, no pressure, just help. 
Discover more here: Assurance
Special thanks for Belinda for inviting me!

Group of women from church

Pet of the week!

Dina is 23 years old. 

This week’s pet of the week is Dina an Umbrella Cockatoo .  Dina was hatched at the Parrot Jungle in Miami.   Now, Dina resides here in Lexington. I asked my friend the story behind the name. This is what my  Maureen shared,  “As I recall, Dan named her Dino because we were told she was a male. The bird reminded him of a dinosaur in some way.  Several years later, we moved to Kentucky. She laid an egg.  So she became Dina. “

What a beautiful bird.  

Turkish Tea

Traditional Turkish stacker kettle

"Come and share a pot of tea. 
My home is warm and my friendship is free." 

Unknown Author

Sitting in Ayse's  kitchen I fascinated by her preparation of  Turkish tea. The tea is prepared in two stacker kettles. The name for this kettle is Caydanlik.

 Visiting with Ayse, I appreciate her  kindness and enthusiasm. After spending time with a friend you should feel valued, affirmed and encouraged.  The health benefits of friendships are well documented.

Our afternoon tea was a delightful mixture of business and family talk.

Ayse is my Mary Kay sponsor. She provides a wealth of information and encouragement.

Tea is served in tulip shaped cups

Christ the heart of the Bible

What connects the entirety of the Bible?  Christ. "In the person of Christ.  He is the unifying thread that runs throughout  the entirety of the Bible from the first sentence to the last.  Jesus meets us on every page.*It all ties up because of Him."  " In Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17 NRSV

In May, Bible Study Fellowship will begin class registration for next year's study. Classes are held world wide. Locate one in your area: : Bible Study

* How to study the Bible. Project Director Fr. Peter Gillguist

I am excited!

I enjoy celebrations!  I love  invitations to weddings, graduations, birthday parties, anniversaries, open houses, teas, baby showers, bridal showers, grand openings of stores, debut parties, dinner parties, gallery openings,  and so many more. My favorite invitation... weddings. Love !!!

At a recent celebration, I was able to help with a baby shower.  It was so much fun.  Laughter, games, gifts, poems, and yummy food. The best part... The love of the family and friends that made the day so special. Now, I am looking forward to another celebration.   A bridal shower!  

As a part of a church community, I have the opportunity to be available for others as they experience every part of life's journey.  Last year, Cynthia ( we teach Sunday School together) and I were  encouraging a couple to become engaged!  I even had the nerve to volunteer to sing at their wedding. I cannot sing!

I am so excited.  This month, Clyde proposed to Shea!   She said yes! Now I get to help with the Bridal Shower!
Woo Hoo!

Shea rocks shoes when she teaches Sunday School!

Better not Bitter

No one is immune to the challenges of life.  Suffering and discomfort are a part of our existence.  How do I handle difficulties?  It depends, minor setbacks, no problems, I think, I got this!... Only to find out, no I don't.  I am humbled to recognize, I cannot do it on my own.  I turn to God,  "Help!"  Over and over again, God allows me to understand that I need Him.  It is comforting to know that no matter the circumstance, God is available to help us.  We  just need to call out to Him.  

My goal is that I  become better not bitter by life experiences.  By trusting God, I am able to experience joy in the midst of life.

I  read the following  quote from on an online devotional. I reminds me to keep my focus on God and His faithfulness, not on my situation.

“He who was faithful is still faithful and will continue in His faithfulness until every promise that He has spoken is fulfilled.” Eddie Santoro

Pet of the week!

Caesar is this week’s pet of the week.  Ginny was kind to share her pictures. I had a difficult task. Which picture would I select? She has so many photos of Caesar. She took pictures of him sitting near a Christmas tree, relaxing on an area rug, wrapped in a white towel after a bath and outside pictures.   Caesar is Chocolate Labrador retriever. Sitting outside, I think he looks regal.  

Here are two interesting facts about Caesar, he can eat off a fork and his predecessor’s name was Julius.

Yesterday afternoon, we celebrated Ginny’s birthday! Lunch was delicious.   She insisted we share her birthday cake. The caramel pound cake was delicious!  

Birthday celebrations are wonderful. We have an opportunity to be grateful to God for another year of life.  The blessing of family, health, and friends are good reasons to celebrate.  At our lunch we had the opportunity to look at pictures of Ginny's new granddaughter. Yes, the baby is adorable! 

Happy Birthday Ginny!
Thanks for sharing a bite of your cake!

Lessons and a recipe

Carter G. Woodson once said, “Those who have no record of what their ancestors have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from teaching biography and history.”   In reading about others, we learn lessons to embrace and examples to avoid...

Last evening, our book club discussed, American Empress The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post.  What lessons?  Here are a few of the lessons, creative genius, diligence, commitment, marriage, divorce, material excess, brains, betrayal, war, political intrigue, and faith. What legacy did she leave?  I wonder...

The following are a couple of books that are on  my personal reading list:  Flannery A Life of Flannery O’Connor and Basic Christian The Inside Story of John Stott.    I may re read the story of Hudson Taylor. Hudson Taylor's life is so inspiring!

After book discussion, we had coffee and dessert. This is the recipe from the night's dessert.   Thanks to Becky for sharing!  It was yummy!

Earthquake Cake

I cup coconut

1 chopped pecans

1 box German Chocolate cake mix

I stick butter

I (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened

2 cups powdered sugar

Grease and flower a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Put coconut and pecans in the bottom of the pan; spread evenly. Mix cake mix as directed on box (with eggs, water, etc.) Pour cake mix over coconut and nuts. Mix butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. Spoon on top of cake mix (in dollops) Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. May be served with whipped cream.

College Avenue Presbyterian Church Cookbook (Illinois)

This pug is too funny!  He will be a pet of the week real soon! 

"Is spring cleaning still necessary?"

 Of course spring cleaning is still necessary. As a child growing up, I remember our spring cleaning rituals.  In addition to this annual event, everyone had daily and weekly household duties.

Currently, my husband and I are in the midst of cleaning, sorting and recycling.
There is a long list of cleaning tasks, blinds, floors, baseboards, closets, windows, window treatments, overheard fans... the list goes on. I highly recommend Kim Woodburn and Aggie Mackenzie's book "The Cleaning Bible Kim and Aggie's Complete Guide to Modern Household Management. In this book, you will find some very beneficial information.

Kim Woodburn and Aggie Mackenzie authors of the book.
In their television series they  clean some horrid homes.

Cleaning our home can create some heated discussions.   My husband and I  differ on strategies. In the end, we have the same goal, a clean and orderly home. 

Pet of the week!

Look at that sweet face!

This week's Pet of the Week  is Bailey a Labrador Retriever.    Bailey gave me a warm greeting when I arrived at her home. She had a huge health scare earlier this year.  She  had to have  emergency surgery. Thankfully, she is better.   The emergency happened when Nancy ( her owner) was on a mission trip to Kenya. 
Nancy is a dear friend. Over the past several years, she has made several mission trips to Kenya.  She travels with her members from her church in Lexington.  I admire Nancy's quiet strength, courage, and love for the Lord. 


Another dear friend will leave for a mission trip tomorrow.  Learn more about her trip at her blog: here: Maureen's Mission Trip Please take a minute and learn more about God's calling on her life. 

Bailey's  favorite  place... looking out the front door. 

Dogwood Winter

Temperatures have  dipped into the 30's for the past two nights. Unpredictable is an accurate description of our weather. Last month we had record breaking warm weather.  This month, we have enjoyed milder temperatures.   This cold snap has a definition."Dogwood winter is a term used by Southerners to describe a period of cold weather that coincides with the blooming of the local dogwoods. " Source Paul's Garden

Rock of Ages...

Rock from the Garden of Gethsemane

Rocks…

A petrologist is an individual who studies rocks.  A geologist is one who broadly studies in the entire field. I simply collect rocks.

I began collecting rocks as a young child. For years, I gathered Indiana rocks collected in a brown paper bag. 

Now, if I know a friend is  planning a trip, I gently ask, “Will you bring me back a rock?”  

My rock collectors …

Nancy – Kenya

Marga ~ Aruba

Vanessa ~ Italy, France, and New York   ~ a rock where the Twin Towers stood.

Gail ~ Colorado
Tim ~ Japan
Eric ~ China

Jonathan ~Peru,  Sweden, Finland, and Norway

Jara ~ India, Sierra Leone, Bahamas,  and Nepal

 Ruth Anne ~ Oregon, Florida and  Hawaii

 Carol ~ Arizona and Germany. 

Carol shared a special authenticated piece of the Berlin Wall chipped by Peter Falkenthal after the fall on 9 November 1989. 

Rocks .... gathered by  Julie gathered in Israel.

If rocks could tell stories, what would they tell? 

Reading the Gospels us gives us an  accurate account of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Reading the Gospels continues to transform my life. 

A rock from Hawaii..

Tears

"What is it about tears that should be so terrifying? The touch of God is marked  by tears...deep soul shaking tears... tears weeping it comes when the last barrier is down and you surrender yourself to health and wholeness." David Wilkerson

I cannot image the tears that disciples must have shed when Jesus was crucified.  The deep sorrow, the pain... they did not fully understand... but they would.

A wave of grief washed over me today... missing  my sister ... sadness...then I remember... she is at rest... she is experiencing fullness of joy in Heaven.

Pets of the Week!

Saturn and Skye are the pets of the week. Laurie graciously shared their story. She also shared her amazing pictures!  Thank you Laurie!

"The orange tabby is Saturn, so named because he was rescued next to Saturn's Northfield Bldg when a feral kitten, terrified, hurt, starving, and lashing out.  I took him to our vet who determined his legs were broken plus other injuries, probably from having been hit by a car.  The way the breaks were fusing, she said he had to have been like that about 3 wks.  So how he survived and got himself from road to building is a whole other story we'll never know.  Her staff felt she should euthanize him, and she started to a couple times.  But each time their eyes locked, and she couldn't do it.  He'd worked so hard to stay alive; she couldn't take his life from him now.  So she named him Saturn, and it was weeks and weeks of casts and recovery.  Even slower was his transition from feral to domestic, but one day he purred at her touch, and that was it.  After 2-3 months of vet care, we adopted him.  This was 1999.  He spent nearly the whole first year at home in a crate with a leg in a cast, though, because he kept making leaps he shouldn't have and re breaking limbs.  But he finally got his freedom and has been a daily, gentle dose of love.

Skye is a snowshoe (because of the white paws) Siamese, adopted from a shelter about five years ago.  Not a day's gone by that he hasn't made us break up in laughter.  He's funny, willful, and smart.  At first, Saturn was very upset and agitated over Skye's appearance on the scene, and we had to keep them separated for literally weeks until acceptance gradually came.  Now they're like little kid brothers who play, wrestle, annoy, and take comfort in each other's presence.  We can't imagine our home without 'em."  

A little taste of heaven...

Years ago, I shared in my first Passover  in Nashville, TN.   The experience and teaching was so rich that  it changed how I  understood Old Testament teaching and how I partake in  communion.  I still remember with fondness how Marty Goetz guided the Passover.  Learn more about this amazing man of God here. Marty Goetz

Tonight, I was invited to participate in another Passover Seder.  I am so grateful to Jill who extended this invitation.   It was a like a little taste of heaven.

The evening reminded the scripture in Romans...And you through a wild olive shoot have been grafted in...Romans 11:17   I hope Christians appreciate the loving character of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Next year's BSF  study in the book of Genesis will give men and women an opportunity to participate in a life changing study.

Families seated around the room displayed such beautiful diversity. God’s people are from every nation, tribe and language.

I love hearing the truth of God’s word explained. Then seeing how God wants me to apply it in my life.

… O what a foretaste of heaven divine.

This is my story; this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Champions

Wildcat Champion Ring 1958

Tonight is the NCAA's  Basketball Championship Game. The University of Kentucky will play Kansas for the 2012 Championship Title. As I write this post, the game will begin in less than an hour. One team will leave the floor in New Orleans disappointed.  I hope each team plays to the best of their ability. Once they have done their best... what more can they do?

This quote from John Wooden put things in perspective:  “I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate.  It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hand of the Savior. Until that  is done, we are on an aimless  course that runs in circle and goes nowhere. “ John Wooden Oct. 14, 1910 - June 4, 2010

We were shopping at the same Kroger Store on Richmond Road.
I always have my camera!  Oh, I wish I could remember his name!
When we talked months ago, he had high hopes for this year's team. 

A Heritage from the LORD

"Children are a heritage from the LORD."

Psalm 127:3

Traveling back from Pennsylvania, we visited family in Columbus.  Janice, Anthony, and sweet baby Brooklynn. I think I want to become a member of Brooklynn's fan club.  Janica is an attorney and has developed many professional friendships.  I love that judges and attorneys have given sweet Brooklynn Grace gifts.  I think is a very prestigious Fan Club!