7th in the 7th

I was just checking out blogs today in between loads of laundry and I came across a wonderful idea for a post...The 8th in the 8th. That means looking into your computers files of pictures, finding the 8th picture in the 8th file. Then you tell about that picture. Well, to be honest, my eighth folder only had one picture in it. Not sure why, but I got to thinking, hey, it's Sunday afternoon, it's the Lords day and He likes the number seven...so I went to the 7th folder and used the 7th picture. And this is it. I'm so glad it was a good one!! So beautiful. And with such sweet memories. This picture was taken on a Sunday afternoon in April of 2007 in North Carolina. Specifically, this is the campus of North Carolina State University, near Winston Hall, very close to the Memorial Bell Tower. I was with my Mom and we had gone on our first vacation together (our only so far, but we plan to fix that soon).We went to a wedding of her first cousins son. We stayed in a nice hotel right next to the college. So on Sunday after church we walked over and snapped photos and had the nicest walk. It was one of our highlights. But then again, we had MANY! I'll have to share some of those photos here as well. Soon. I love going down memory lane.

Our Maggie Moo

Forgive me, I still stink at blogging. I am having a hard time figuring out how to get text in between the pics. And the pictures showed up in reverse order. Obviously the first two pictures aren't our dog Maggie Moo, it's our daughter Kati Malou.

Don't worry, Kati's middle name is really Brooke, but that nick-name just sounded better in that sentence. Forgive me again.

That's me on the sofa with Mags; isn't it cute that we both have rolls?!!?

Maybe cute isn't the right word for that...

What friends see and share...

"what draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it."

I was reading today and came across this quote by C.S. Lewis and it so reminded me of one of my best friends; someone for a long time I never dreamed that I could be friends with. It amazes me how God can use failures, weaknesses, incredible odds, even error -but always truth- and use it to accomplish things we could never imagine. I think C.S. Lewis would agree. Here are a few more things he had to say, I hope you enjoy them as much as me.

“You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain”

“Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.”

“I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to "rejoice" as much as by anything else”

“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.”

“Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.



And you've got to love this one...

“He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart”

Hi, my name is Olivia, and I'm overwhelmed

Do you ever find yourself sending e-mails, chatting on the phone, watching TV, or puttering around the house instead of tending to urgent tasks. People procrastinate in different ways at different times. But most of us tend to follow at least one “procrastination style.” See if you recognize yourself in one or more of these procrastination personalities.

Perfectionist Patty feels paralyzed because she knows her work will never measure up to the impossibly high standards she sets for herself. Whenever she works on a project, her inner critic starts in: “That’s not going to work! You’ve got to do better than that!”
The result: She does nothing, rather than risk a wrong move.


Poor Self-Worth Paul feels defeated before he even tries. His low self-image has made him doubt his capabilities and success. “I can’t do this” he laments. “I’m sure I’ll fail.”
The result: He rarely undertakes new projects; he simply gives up before he begins.


Fear-based Freddie fears failure so much that he avoids responsibility in order to feel safe. “What if I make a mistake?” he constantly frets.
The result: His fear of failing and being rejected by others fuels his procrastination. He stays stuck on the sidelines.


Lack-of-goals Larry drifts aimlessly through life without a clear direction or sense of purpose. “Nothing matters, and I don’t know why this is important anyway,” is his attitude.
The result: He rarely begins new tasks because he is not convinced of their worth.


Overwhelmed Olivia feels out of control. Her surroundings are a cluttered mess, and her cell phone is lost under a pile of “to-do” lists. She works feverishly, but is constantly running late and missing deadlines. “I’m doing the best I can, and everyone will just have to understand and make allowances,” she thinks.
The result: She procrastinates because she feels responsible for more than she can handle.

So, how do you conquer procrastination once and for all?

First, you need to pray for God to illuminate areas in your life where procrastination has control ... then ask for His help in breaking free.

Second, it’s important to identify the roots of procrastination - which can include perfectionism, fear of failure, a poor self-image, undefined purpose, or a tendency to take on too many projects to please others.

Third, decide to surrender yourself to the Spirit of Christ’s control. As Isaiah 40 assures us:

“He gives strength to the weary and
increases the power of the weak... . But those
who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.”

---This is from June Hunt at www.hopefortheheart.org

I enjoy her radio program, called Hope for the Heart. It's on BOTT Radio. She takes calls from people and helps them through their problems from a biblical viewpoint. I really appreciate her candor. And by the way, I'm not quite as bad as Olivia...I do know where my cell phone is...

Good Advice

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands...." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

It dawned on me this morning when I read this, that as humans we tend to pay attention to what others are doing. We can't help ourselves. We just do that. I think God knows that about us...He may have even created us that way. I'm not sure, but that isn't the point today. My point is that because we notice others and make judgments about people based on their actions, I'm thinking God gave us good advice in His Word about what we should be doing in our daily lives because the world IS watching. And making judgments. This seems to be very good advice. By following it we shouldn't have an opportunity to give a bad example.
A dear friend of mine has started a new ministry, for her anyway, I believe their are many who go into nursing homes and do what ever they can to brighten and cheer someones day by offering a drink of water or touching a cheek of someone who is babbling and can't stop on their own. Of course their is MUCH Scripture that references and encourages this "business" (to quote the Scripture above) of self sacrifice and others-centered activity's. I'm very happy to notice this in her life and I'm very proud of her. The main reason...she listened to the still small voice that asked her to. Not only listened, but heeded. And she doesn't do it to be noticed.

Hope When You're Hurting

Ten Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting
Steve Arterburn and Mike Marino
Feb 9, 2009


Ten Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting

1. God is truly in control.
If God is God, then nothing happens apart from His knowledge and permission. While it is difficult to imagine why God allows some painful things to happen, His character, revealed in the Bible and through the testing of generations, leads us to the conclusion that He is willing and able to sustain you during the worst of times. "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8,9)


2. There is an eternal life to come.
"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory He will give us later." (Romans 8:18) "He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns." (1 Corinthians 1:8)


3. The story isn't finished yet.
Time after time, the Bible records hopeless situations that ultimately ended in victory. Think of Job's Sickness, Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, David's adultery and the many who were healed in mind, Body and spirit. "But Joseph told them, 'Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.'" (Genesis 50:19,20)


4. God has not given up on you! Don't give up on Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)


5. There is likely purpose in your pain.
Ask God to reveal His purpose in allowing this difficulty in your life. That's a legitimate question to ask. Often, the answer comes in the process of dealing with your circumstance. "Dear brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when Your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for When your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." (James 1:2-4)


6. You are loved!
Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship. God does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you. "He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory." (Isaiah 61:1-3)


7. Your prayers are heard.
"You parents - if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?" (Matt. 7:9,10)


8. You are not facing this alone.
"For God himself has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.' That is why we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to Me?''" Hebrews 13:5-6)


9. Others have made it through - you can too.
Try to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. You will find hope, strength and encouragement. "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)


10. Reach out to someone else who's struggling.
Place your focus on someone else and invest your life in him or her. You may discover that your peace of mind is found in being a source of hope for another. "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the Same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)