Well, Jake auditioned for the snare drum and then went to callbacks and he made it! So he will play snare on the drumline next year. He is very excited he made it. He loves to play the snare and loves to march in the drumline. He still has baseball tryouts coming up. But if he doesn’t make the team, he can play rec. He also plans to do some umpiring next year for the younger teams.
We are back to single digits and below zero wind chills. It has been such a cold winter. I can’t wait until Spring. This is the first day off I have had in awhile. (part of the reason I haven’t posted much lately) I am so looking forward to June 1st! Russ and I will celebrate our 25th anniversary (May 28th) by going on a 7-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise. We booked some shore excursions yesterday. We booked a glass-bottom boat ride at the Bahamas stop; a shopping, beach sitting, historical tour at St. Thomas and a beach party, BBQ lunch at St. Maarten. It will be so much fun! I can’t believe it has been 25 years! We also decided to join the Y and start going as a family each week so maybe I will be in shape by June 1st. Thank you God for the opportunity to go!
Jake went to call backs for the snare drum in the drumline next year. He finds out today if he made it. He wants it really bad. He will also have baseball tryouts this month.
On January 1st (or was it the 2nd), I said God gave me the word “Perseverance’ for this year and that my goal was to read through the Bible. So far, I have kept it up. PTL! I realize it has only been a few weeks but for me that is victory! Also, on the 25th I posted about God asking me to give up a little sleep to get up early to pray. By His grace I have done so every day so far (a little over a week). That is God’s grace! I want so much to walk with Him and to do His will. One thing I learned in the message I wrote about on the 25th is that the key is obedience. It is not about how powerful my prayer time is once I get up or what I say. It is about obeying Him and getting myself out of bed to pray. Also, in the past I didn’t have victory in obeying God in this because I would say, “Today doesn’t count because I don’t have to work. I can pray later.” OR “I stayed up too late.” In other words, I obeyed if it was convenient. But that kind of obedience doesn’t work. God has shown me to persevere in getting up to pray even when it is not convenient. Even when in human terms it doesn’t seem necessary. He wants us to obey in trust. He is my strength. I pray He will use this for His purpose.
When I was sick for 6 weeks (and had a sinus infection at one point), I got desperate enough to try the sinus cleanse. My sister had told me about it for years. Being a wimp in the water (hate water up my nose) I had never been willing. But I started it and after a month of daily cleansing, I breathe better at night then I have in years! It is great. It took awhile for it to totally clear my passage. Don’t give up. If you have congestion problems, there will be discomfort on some days but it isn’t that bad. This video shows how to do it but you don’t have to use their product. You can get a Netti pot kit at any drugstore. Also, you can use your own solution (use non-iodized salt) I use sea salt and soda. I can’t believe how much better I breathe now. {Update2-20-08: FYI - I use a little less than 1/2 tsp. of sea salt and the same of baking soda per netti pot. Use the amount comfortable for you. I cleanse at least once a day. Sometimes twice}
neti pot
I can’t believe it has been so long since I posted! In the meantime, I finished my long-term job and I finally got well! PTL! I had some virus for 6 1/2 weeks. Anyway, life gets so busy. Our small group started meeting again this Wed., after a long break. Our teacher gave us this challenge, “Search your heart and ask God, ‘Is there something I am holding onto that I am not willing to put before God.’ ” The next morning as soon as I opened my eyes, God reminded me that He had asked me many times in the past to get up early to pray. But I resisted so long, I had stopped even thinking about it. Now, He asked me again, “Will you give up a little sleep?” So, I have a renewed commitment to follow through. What is more important than prayer? The truth is if I don’t get up early to pray, I end up not having time to really pray for my family and others. So, if you think of me, pray I will be willing to make the sacrifice to give this time to God.
Happy New Year! New is a wonderful word! It implies something fresh, unspoiled - a chance to make different choices. I subscribe to a blog of one of my favorite authors - Robin Lee Hatcher (http://robinlee.typepad.com/i_was_just_thinking_/ ) She suggested asking God for a word for the year. The word God brought to my mind is “perseverance”. I have been struggling spiritually for awhile now. I feel I have drifted from the closeness I once had with God. I think I have been on the verge of just giving up and settling for a mediocre walk. But this word encourages me to not give up but to persevere. The verse God gave me is Heb. 12:1-4. In one part, He says, “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” That is my prayer for this year, that I will run with perseverance the race marked for me. It is also my goal this year to read the Bible through chronologically. I will let you know how I am doing.
Have a wonderful and Spirit-filled New Year!!
I mentioned earlier that my son was excited about a Christmas gift he had for me. He bought it on his own, with his own money he saved. This is what he gave me - wow!
He got this from Penney’s - fine jewelry - I am so blessed that my 15 year old son would do this. He is an awesome son!
Every good thing in our lives, every blessing, every positive thing that happens or has happened is a gift from God above. Make a list of every good thing in your life and thank Him today!
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
If you think that only the blessings of “good” people come from God, listen to Matthew 5:45 “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
All good things come from our Heavenly Father. Praise Him!!
Clark Brothers Saved
Here is a sample of the Clark Brothers I mentioned in an earlier blog.
Also, today is my son’s 15th birthday! He got his learner’s permit. I can’t believe it. He really does a good job driving though. I am so proud of him. He says he has bought me a Christmas gift that is so special I will scream. I can’t wait to find out what it is!
