tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33866936064545768732024-02-01T22:25:17.152-06:00journey's of a help meetDebbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-30667571318988117372015-05-12T06:50:00.002-05:002015-05-12T06:50:26.126-05:00i love this manHave I told you lately how much I love this man? He was my knight in shining armor when I just just 15 years old. A picture of what I thought was true love when I did not have a clue what love really was. God was faithful though and kept us together through the hard times because He knew what the future held. <br />
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I just want to take a moment to tell you how much I love this man. He has always walked beside me and been supportive of any adventure I desired to try. He loved me when I was so unlovable. He gave me what I thought I wanted when he really did not have it to give. He has walked with me down this road of life and been right by my side the whole time. That road had some bumps and some pot holes but he is what held it together with his gracious loving leadership. He has worked hard to give our family the things we need and often the things we want. Even now as we renovate this old house, he works a very physical job and then comes home at night only to eat dinner and start over again. He is the one whom God uses to provide for us. He provides both physically as well as spiritually. I was listening last night as he and our son worked on drywall. He was answering questions ask by a 17 year old that is trying to learn how to live this Christian life in a way that would be pleasing to God. I listened as he would ask a question and his dad would give him guidance by using the Word of God. What a blessed life we have. <br />
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So today, I just want to say that we are about to celebrate 36 years of married life this June but I really think the best is yet to come! I love him more every day as we grow together!<br />
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<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-62109607279311860442015-03-02T07:02:00.000-06:002015-03-02T07:02:20.699-06:00time sure does flyWOW, time sure does fly. I came here today to post about the cinnamon roll on my table only to find that I have not been here in over a year. Well, stay tuned as my plan is to start updating with the things the Lord shows me in my life on a consistent basis again. Thank you for being a faithful reader and please come back so you can journey with me through this roll of being a help meet to my husband.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-56588410589403982832015-03-02T06:59:00.000-06:002015-03-02T07:00:19.440-06:00there is a cinnamon roll on my tableSo why am I writing about this. Because there is a cinnamon roll on my table. It is there because I am saving it for my husband. I forgot to put it in his lunch box this morning so there it sits, right in front of my face on the kitchen table. You might ask why this is so important. It is important because I do not want to eat that cinnamon roll. I really don't. I am ready to get healthy again and loose the weight I have gained this winter while living in our basement during the house renovation. You can read about that at <a href="http://www.operationbroadwell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.operationbroadwell.blogspot.com</a> if you are interested at all. That is another story. Today it is about the cinnamon roll.<br />
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Do you ever wonder why you eat things that you really don't want to eat or need to eat? I do, usually right after I eat it! Not today. Today I am thinking before I eat and the fact that I am so intrigued by it being on my table is causing me to think twice about why I even want to eat it. Maybe it is the fact that I know it taste good. You see, I have already eaten one of them. It was last night after dinner. Nice and warm. Maybe it is the fact that it looks good. No, I did not make this cinnamon roll. It is one of those that you see in the store and it has that incredibly long list of ingredients that make it so appealing to the eye. Maybe it is the fact that my husband really doesn't need it either. I mean, I take this job of help meet very serious and if I eat it, he will not be tempted beyond what he is able to bear. <br />
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No, it is not any of those reasons. I have thought that it may be at one time or another, but not today. Today it is about me living in the basement where there in only one big window that allows me to see outside. Outside that window is a huge tree that allows me to see nothing! I love sunshine. I love light in general. Light is so detrimental to my life on a daily basis. I guess you could say that I thrive on light. Today it is about being couped up in this basement for the last two years and not being able to look outside any time I desire. Please don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for a warm dry place to live while we are renovating but for me, if I get "real", I will have to admit it has taken its toll on me. To the degree of about 15 extra pounds that look like 25. But, today....I will ask the Lord to help me to not eat the cinnamon roll. I will ask Him because I know that His desire for me is to be healthy and full of joy. I will ask Him because He is the only one that can keep me from eating it at this point. <br />
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So, what is the moral of this story, you might ask? It is not really about the cinnamon roll at all. It is about my heavenly Father that loves me so much He even cares about helping me to stay away from the cinnamon roll. That is just a small thing but He cares about the small things and I am so glad He does. So if you are struggling with something that you don't really think matters today, tell your heavenly Father because He truly cares for you and nothing is ever small to Him. If it matters to you, it matters to Him. Take Him as His Word and trust Him even in the little things.<br />
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By the way, my husband was able to eat the cinnamon roll and take all my temptation away!<br />
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<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-51191642884946536782014-01-25T10:42:00.002-06:002014-01-25T10:43:22.740-06:00the journey of just one dayWOW, what a difference a day makes. I feel so good this morning. My feet are not swollen much as all when I first get up so it makes them feel so much better. My husband made me some wooden shower shoes to wear in the shower and get wet so I was able to take my whole shower all by myself this morning.<br />
Thought you might like to see his invention! Simple but works so good. Looking so forward to being healed up and getting back to the sewing machine. A day without sewing is like a day without sunshine! Hahahaha!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, maybe they are a little more swollen than I thought!</td></tr>
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<br />Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-15908382435363350532014-01-24T15:58:00.001-06:002014-01-25T10:43:10.507-06:00the journey of bunion surgery continues....day 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>What a great us</i>e for my <i>least favorite vegetable! Bags of frozen peas make the best ice bags of which I have been very fond of the past couple of weeks. Got up several times yesterday but by the afternoon I was ready to stay in the recliner with my feet up again. Amazing how you can just feel the feet swell as you are up and around. I was able to also go up the stairs a couple of times yesterday. Won't be doing a lot of that in the next few days but at least I can if I have to. My right foot has almost gone back down to normal size. They are both black and blue but the swelling is going down with each passing day. That is, if I stay off them. LOL I just wonder what it is going to feel like the first time I put on those shoes. YIKES!!! About ten days from now and the doctor says we are putting on shoes. I am sure it will feel kind of weird. Anyway, so thankful for the couple of meals that were sent home for us on Wednesday evening. What a blessing. I have also received a few real life get well cards in the mail. Many people don't send those anymore because they have access to e-mail and other social media but I will have to say, it was nice to get them. Just another blessing from some very kind folks. Looking forward to being up and around and back to the sewing machine!</i>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-40647971517870362072014-01-20T13:10:00.003-06:002014-01-20T13:11:11.429-06:00journey to pain free walking ~ day 8 after bunion surgery<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Well, today was the day to see the doctor and get the bandages off so I could see my feet for the first time since surgery. I was feeling pretty good this morning as I got ready to go. It is slow going but not real bad consistent pain, so not too bad. I was up for a while by the time I got to the doctors office, much longer than I have been up, so my feet were beginning to swell. Then the unveiling came. The removal of the bandages. Wow, how good it felt to have all that dressing removed and let air hit my feet. Still not too bad. I had expected that it would not feel too bad when they removed the bandages and all the dressing and allowed all that blood flow in. Really, it was a little pain but not too much. The doctor came in and said my feet looked great and we could take the stitches out (thought that was next week) (YEAH). Anyway, he said they look great, still swollen but really great. I would have to agree. I wish I had taken a before photo for you to see. You have to realize that my feet looked like they had a giant gumball on them where the bunions were. They look so normal now and this photo is with the stitches still in and they are still so swollen. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Then came the suture removal. Now we are talking about pain. LOL As she pulled the sutures out it felt like my feet were burning up. Trying to walk without all that padding, ouch! This will be an experience! The stitched area began to flatten out as she was taking the stitches out. The doctors orders are to keep them up as much as possible but to start moving around too. Have to wear the wooden shoes for another couple of week but he did say I could go out to eat if I wanted. Don't have any desire to do that right now but maybe in a few days. Lots of ice. Hahaha, should have seen the husband and son trying to get me from the van to the house. Long sidewalk and then I crawled down the steps to the bottom to get to my chair. Whew...so good to be home and back in my chair. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Good thing they ask you your pain level when you first get to the doctor and not when they get done with you! Definitely changes! Thank you so much to those of you who have prayed for me. I definitely see God's hand in my healing. To those of you who have brought meals, thank you also. The food has been wonderful. We so appreciate it. Please keep praying for a speedy recovery. Things are waiting for me to pick up where I left off and get to work.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get to shower tomorrow! All that yellow will be gone!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-31957639180305634192014-01-17T08:49:00.001-06:002014-01-17T08:49:49.735-06:00the journey to pain free walking continues...day 5Day 5 after bunion surgery. I am still in the recliner for my days as well as nights. I tried to lay in the bed yesterday but that did not go so well. I think I will stay here a couple more days. Yesterday was a pretty hard day with pretty much pain. Today, however seems to be a "world" of difference. Excited to wake up and feel so much better. What a blessing the meals were yesterday that were brought to us. I am not sure people really realize that even though people like me prepare ahead of time and cook things for the freezer, that someone still has to get it out and get it ready. Hummm...... no more comments on that one. LOL I am very grateful for the meals that have been provided, to say the least. Monday will bring my first doctor appointment since surgery and I can see the incision. I am looking forward to seeing how well I am doing and having that first week down. <br />
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Much time has been spent doing things that I don't usually seem to have time to do, things such as searching Pinterest. I will have to admit that it has been fun, but don't really think it is something I will make time for when recovered. Huge waste of time when in all reality, I mean how many of those pins do I really think I will do. It is always interesting to me how many wives and mothers say they don't have time for more important things but always seem to upload the latest on FB or Pinterest. Just some mixed up priorities I think. Oh well, my own personal opinion. Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-51372587195803668102014-01-15T10:37:00.002-06:002014-01-15T11:57:35.574-06:00my journey through bunion surgery day 3<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For many years, I have had pretty bad bunions on both feet. For years, all I have heard is nightmare stories of surgeries preformed only to hear that the bunions come back after a few years. Why in the world have surgery to correct something and then it come back in just a few years! I never did understand that so I just chose not to have the surgery. Within the last several months, I have met several ladies who have had successful bunion surgery by the very same doctor. So I decided to check his record out and went in for a visit. So here I sit, day three post-op. I am set up with my own little world around the recliner. I have a little table that David made me beside the chair with a lamp and all the things I can do to keep me busy all day while I recline and keep my feet above my heart. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The surgery was scheduled for last Monday when we had the worst storm Illinois has seen in many years. They closed the surgery center down that day and re-scheduled me for this week. It was a beautiful sunny day and 51 degrees when I went in. A far cry from last weeks below zero temperature and -43 wind chill. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As I entered the prep room the first stop was to get my little hospital gown on and then get an iv. After 3 attempts by a nurse that said she was the best I finally received an iv from the</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>anesthesiologist. Not too bad, just a few extra holes. LOL From there came all the questions that have to be answered just one more time. Imagine the look on the nurses face when I ask her how she knew that I was really me. I mean they never did ask me for identification or anything. All they ask me was my birth date. Anyone could know that. Interesting, I would think they would have some sort of protection in place for that type of thing. She said she had a photo of me but then when she pulled my chart..oops...no photo. So I guess in all reality, anyone could have had bunion surgery yesterday. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I walked to the surgery room where I mounted a nice warm table with lots of warm blankets. I heard lots of talking for just a few minutes and then, wa-la, I was waking up in recovery. All so fast, or so it seemed. The surgeon told my husband that all went well and I was on my way home complete with my new wooden shoes that will stay on for the next two weeks until the stitches get taken out. I got home and settled into the recliner where I will spend most of my next two or three weeks. It wasn't long before we were met with a nice warm meal provided by a church family that lives in our same town. What a blessing. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An awesome chicken dish, steamed broccoli and a chocolate pie...yummy!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The pain medication that is meant to make you a little sleepy has the opposite effect on me so it was a very long night watching the clock and looking at Pinterest. It is kind of a fun thing though to get to look through Pinterest as I do not usually have any time at all for such things. There are so many fun things and ideas on there. By the time this surgery heals, I am sure to have lots of items saved to use in the house upstairs.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Back to the bunion surgery. It has been up and down the past couple of days with the worst beginning last night and continuing today as the pain medication they put in my foot to get me home has now worn off. If you have ever had a foot fall asleep and when you step down it feels like pins are poking you. Magnify that feeling about twenty times and that is kind of what it feels like. When I get up to try to step down on my feet, then I feel the bones that were broken and put back together. Oh, I forgot to tell you how he did my surgery which is different than that of those nightmare stories I heard before. He moved the tendents out of the way and then cut the bone in half, moved it back over and realigned it with my toe and then put a small screw in to put the bone back together. That is why is usually does not come back. When they are shaved off, they tend to keep pushing out thus causing them to come back, but the way mine was done should cause the true fix and therefore no more pain after the healing process. They tell me that could take as long as 6 months or so. It will be a short time compared to all the pain it has been. I am looking so forward to taking the girls shopping which I very rarely do because of the pain in my feet. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I did sleep fairly well last night. Every time I woke up, I was able to go right back to sleep. I am feeling the feet today though much more than yesterday. I think I will just stay in my chair a while!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They say wooden shoes when in all reality, the bottom is wooden so your foot won't bend at all.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-38308233232377621042013-12-18T07:45:00.000-06:002014-01-15T11:49:42.093-06:00journey to contentmentI have been ask several times to share my notes on contentment from the lessons that I will be teaching in Sunday School for the next several weeks. I will attempt to do that here on a weekly basis but please don't hold me to it as I lead a very busy life and blogging, although I would love to be good at it, is not on my priority list at this time. I do however wish to share what the Lord is showing me through this study. Please be patient as I do not often teach from notes so they may seem to have a "hole" here and there. That is where I am talking without notes.<br />
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Let me start out by saying that is wasn't but a day or two into this study that I started to listen to what was going on around me and also to the words I speak myself. One morning the first thing out of the mouth of one of my children was, "It sure is cold in here". That was the truth as our only source of heat at that time was the wood stove and no one had gotten up to fill it in the night. Yes, it was cold in here. But if the truth be known, it was really warm in here compared to outside! So it was warm too! Thus began my study of just how can we become content like the Bible states contentment as being great gain. What are the secrets? <br />
I have always thought of myself as a very content person. I don't ask for things because I think I have enough things. I don't desire to live anywhere else because I think that God has placed our family where He wants us so no reason to complain there. If He ever desires for us to move, I am sure He will move us. I don't want a different vehicle or a different house as I feel like God has given me what I have and I am satisfied. Having said all that, I am learning so much through this study. It is shedding light on contentment in a different way for me. So come along as I journey through some touchy areas of our lives where contentment is so needed. Learn with me.<br />
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Contentment ~ Lesson 1<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contentment…just what is contentment? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the first page of your notebook you will find two
of that same question. I want you to
quickly write there in the first blank space, your answer to that question. At the end of class today, I want you to go
back and write your answer to that statement after we have gone over the lesson
and see if there is a change when you compare the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The word contentment is only found one time in the
Bible in I Timothy 6:6 where Paul is teaching to Timothy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1Ti
6:6 But godliness with contentment is
great gain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1Ti
6:7 For we brought nothing into <i>this</i>
world, <i>and it is</i> certain we can carry nothing out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1Ti
6:8 And having food and raiment let us
be therewith content. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The word content is found in 16 different places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contentment ~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Webster’s ~ The act of being content; a resting or
satisfaction of mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the
mind in peace so as not to object or oppose; restraining complaint,
opposition, or further desire. The state of being satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strongs
~ </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">ow-tar'-ki-ah</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">From <u><span style="color: green;">G842</span></u>; <i>self</i> <i>satisfaction</i>,
that is, (abstractly) <i>contentedness</i>, or (concretely) a <i>competence:</i>
- contentment, sufficiency.</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having said that, think with me for a moment, if that
is the meaning of contentment, what is the meaning of discontentment? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Webster’s ~ </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">a sense of grievance<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">:</span></strong> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissatisfaction"><span style="background: white; color: #1122cc; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 115%;">dissatisfaction</span></a>;
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">restless aspiration for improvement</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hummm… that sounds like us sometimes doesn’t it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul said it all when he wrote Phil 4:11-13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Php
4:11 Not that I speak in respect of
want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, <i>therewith</i> to be
content. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Php
4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I
know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be
full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A quick look at Paul’s life reveals how amazing these
verses really are. He wrote this while
in prison where there was no sanitation, no heat or any of the things that our
modern prisons have. Paul had an extremely difficult life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At all times and through all circumstances, God is
able and willing to provide the strength that we need to be content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just how does God enable us to become content? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me use the analogy of a tea cup to
explain how it is done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tea Cup Analogy ~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God has lovingly assigned each of us to be a uniquely
special teacup. Perhaps we are an
antique cup, painted with dainty roses set in gold. Maybe we see ourselves as an everyday cup –
useful, but a little chipped around the edges.
Or we could be a heavy-duty mug – rugged, unbreakable, and able to hold
much. Then God fills our cup with our
portion, what He determines best. Our
portion is our physical and emotional being, our abilities, circumstances,
roles and relationships. Sometimes we
don’t like what’s been poured into our
cup. Remember the Lord in the garden of
Gethsemane? When He saw the suffering He
was about to endure, He pleaded, </span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Luk 22:42</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> Saying, <span style="color: red;">Father, if
thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine,
be done.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With that being said He lifted his cup to God and accepted what had been
poured into it. Every cup, whether
dainty china or rough-hewn pottery has a handle. God has placed our portion in our cup. We will either choose to grasp it by the
handle and lift it to Him, saying “I accept my protion, I accept this cup” or
we will choose to smash our cup thus saying to God that we refuse our
portion. This cup is not the right size
for me and I don’t like what has been put in my cup, I will control my life myself.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contentment is accepting God’s soverign control over
all of life’s circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the middle of this lesson, I gave each lady a contentment wheel which had been designed to help them see the areas they are least content in. I am going to paste the wheel below with the instructions. If you would like to see where you are the least content and begin to work on those areas, go ahead, copy it and do it. It might surprise you where you are the most and least content. When you are done, thank God for the areas where your are content and set out to do whatever it takes to make those other areas better.</span></div>
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This is what your wheel should look like when you are done. How well will your wheel roll?</div>
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Memory verses to work on:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memory verses to work on : Phillipians 4:11-13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you for coming to visit me here this week. Come back next week and see what we have to share about being content with our circumstances. </span></div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-17728346268779944042012-09-05T09:42:00.001-05:002012-09-05T09:45:15.314-05:00operation Broadwell<em>We have reached another milestone in life....that of owning two homes at one time. Talk about trying to juggle life. What a joy to know that one day (hopefully sooner than later) we will move into our dream home totally renovated by our family and friends. It will have the huge great room like we have always dreamed of where our children and grandchildren as well are our friends and aquaintences can come and enjoy fellowship time together. Lots of property to run on and trees to climb. We are so excited. The photo below is the before photo. If you would like to keep up with our renovation project you can go to the link below the photo and follow us on that blog. I try to post often so that you can appreciate every step we take. If you live in the area or are passing through and will work for food, stop on in and lend an extra hand. The fellowship will be sweet!</em><br />
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-47215159587066311392012-08-25T16:30:00.000-05:002012-09-05T08:35:53.135-05:00<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">WOW! Time sure does go by fast. Twelve years ago yesterday at 9:47 PM, I gave birth to our fourth baby, a girl, named Jasmine. What a joy it was to have another girl in the house. God has so blessed us. So much sweetness all wrapped up on one bundle. It seems like only yesterday and yet today she has grown into such a lovely young lady. She loves to read and create things from nothing. She is a joy to have in our household. Happy Birthday, Jasmine!</span></em><br />
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-90271269297135695792012-07-26T07:01:00.000-05:002012-08-25T16:30:56.935-05:0010 years ago today<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Memories flood my thoughts today of ten years ago. What an exciting day it was as we traveled to the hospital to deliver what would be our last child, a little girl. Although we had not met her, we loved her with all our hearts and could not wait to hold her in our arms. At 10:06 in the evening we were finally able to meet our 8lb 6oz, 20 3/4 inch long bundle of joy named Jireh! With a full head of black hair she was beautiful. We praise God that He entrusted her to us as we ended this journey of childbirth. She is such a blessing and full of life and joy. She is in love with her prince charming (Daddy) and has become quite the little princess. Happy Birthday to our baby girl today!</span></em><br />
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-56477291152906616072012-07-06T06:23:00.001-05:002012-07-06T06:24:05.071-05:0033 years of marriage<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On June 30, 2012, David and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary! So many thoughts surrounding that day. Among them is, "Are we really that old"?. LOL </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that I walked down the isle as just a 17 year old child bride. I was not even a legal adult and yet compared to today's 17 year old, I was so much more mature. My life had not been filled with television and video games but with playing outside and just good old plain hard work. So much to be thankful for. My parents did me a great justice by being what today's culture would call "mean" parents. I am so blessed. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times;">Sometimes it seems like much longer when I think of the struggles that we have walked through. Often it seemed like one thing after another would invade our marriage striving to break it apart. The devil hates us, he hates the home, he hates the family unit and he will do anything he can to try to cause division in the lives of God's children. We try to make sure that we are always aware of that, so that he does not get a foot hold into our home. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times;">So as I reflect back on the past 33 years, I can honestly say that is has all been good. We have learned many lessons that we now are privileged to be able to share with others. Our marriage has strengthened over the years and today I can truly say that we are more in love than ever before. Could it be that we are finally learning what love is really all about? I don't know but I do know that it is our goal to strive to allow God to use our marriage to show a picture of Christ and the Church in these last days that we are living in and that He may be able to use us to draw others closer to Himself. What a privilege it is to serve the great King of Kings.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times;">HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!</span></em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-82473895915230386002012-03-13T08:23:00.000-05:002014-01-25T10:52:56.412-06:0031 years ago today<em>31 years ago today at 6:56 AM, God blessed our home with a bouncing baby boy. He was our first son and our first child. This is the story of his birth. I went to the doctor on March 12th for my normal visit and the doctor told me I would not be giving birth for another two weeks. He did tell me that if I wanted to go home and drink a bottle of caster oil, it would be fine. Being the young mother I was and not having any idea what caster oil was let alone what it would do to me...I went strait to the store and purchased me a 4 oz bottle. Upon my arrival home, I got out my orange juice (just as I had been instructed) and began to mix "the whole bottle" into it. Just following doctors orders. I drank away all the while feeling like I was going to throw up. That was about 3 in the afternoon. Well, most of you know what happened next. By 6 I was having cramps so badly that I thought I was in labor. I called my husband from work and we left around 10 for the hospital. Upon arrival, I was given the great news that it was not labor at all but cramping from the Castor oil but that they would keep me for the night. I remember morning dawning and the nurse telling my husband and my mother (who was patiently awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild) that they could go down and eat breakfast around 6 AM. The cramping had caused labor to start. She told them that it would be hours before I would give birth. I begged my husband not to leave me. Sure enough my body chose to do things just like it has with all my subsequent births and "prepare" for birth in less than an hour. At 6:56 AM, less than an hour after they said I would not be having a baby for hours, I gave birth to a 7 lb 10 oz baby boy. I remember my words so clearly as he entered the world..."yuck, he is so ugly". LOL Words spoken by a young mother that had never heard about vernix. All I can remember is he was covered in white "stuff" from head to toe and screaming uncontrollably. But, I had a son! The hours that followed will forever be instilled in my mind as I held him for the first time. He was ours! We were taking him home with us to start life as a family. How blessed we were. </em><br />
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<em>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEREMY!</em></div>
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Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-26270776272289698612012-03-09T10:52:00.001-06:002012-03-09T11:01:12.147-06:00a baby in every season of life<em>I was thinking the other day about having babies. My firstborn son just celebrated the birth of his first born son (his fourth child). He will also celebrate his 31st birthday next week. I was pondering the day I learned I was pregnant for the first time as well as the day he was born. I was married very young and had my first child 1 year and 9 months later, one month shy of my 19th birthday. My husband and I did not start our lives together out as born-again Christians and I will have to admit that news of my first child's impending birth was not as happy an occasion as it should have been. Those days in my marriage were very rocky days. God was faithful though, as He kept us together, knowing full well what His master plan was. His birth was a much more joyous occasion. Friday the 13th of March, was a great day for us as our first little bundle arrived at 6:56 A.M. As I was pondering all that took place that day and the feelings that rush in as you bring a son into the world knowing full well that he will carry on your family name, I had a thought.....</em><br />
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<em>It occurred to me that I have been pregnant and given birth in each of the seasons of life I have lived. My first child came when I was a young bride at the age of 19, thus giving me a child in my teen years. Our second child, a daughter, was born 19 months later when I was in my early 20's. Now fast forward to my 30's when our third child (our first reversal baby) came along (that is another story). Three years later when I entered my 40's, we were blessed with yet another baby. Two years later we were blessed again. Then two years later, we were blessed again but God chose to take that baby back into His arms to await our arrival to Heaven one day. So four seasons of life spanning over three decades God chose to bless our home with children. How incredibly blessed we are.</em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-52254328136057700842011-06-30T09:19:00.000-05:002011-06-30T09:19:53.726-05:00jireh cooking breakfast<em>I had to laugh this morning when Jireh ask to cook breakfast. She wanted to make french toast all by herself. As she began to get out all the ingredients I could not help but giggle as my mind went back to many years ago when we were in Bible college and living in Arlington, TX. Jeremy (then 14) came in and ask to have a sandwich. I told him to make himself one. He looked at me with a puzzled look and then replied, "I don't know how". WOW, had I really done EVERYTHING for them! Fast forward to about the year 2000 when Jonathan was 3. He was not even tall enough to reach the counter when we would put him on a stool and let him make his own food. All my little kids love to cook and I am so glad. We are not going down that "do everything for me" road again!</em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">Jireh at age 8 can cook up quite the french toast!</div></td></tr>
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</div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-6127628122181897942011-06-26T18:30:00.004-05:002011-06-28T08:29:52.581-05:00the garden<em>We started the garden the end of April. It is now the middle of June and most of it seems to be doing very well. Not sure what happened to the peas. They started out really well but don't look so well anymore. Maybe it is too much rain. Who knows, never grew peas before.</em><br />
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</div><div align="left"><em>Then there is the broccoli that I was told would attract bugs. So we planted it in one of the flower gardens. It too seems to be doing well, although I have no idea when or how those broccoli stalks come out. It has been about 50 days and all I have are big leaves. Guess we will see about that!</em></div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Then there is the cantaloupe and watermelon and the tomatoes and lettuce. All of which seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. Can't wait to make all my own salsa and tomato sauce for the winter. It is great to go out to the garden and pick your lettuce as you need it. Awesome!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Awe, then comes the fruit of our labors. Mmmmm good!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>What do you make of this radish? Interesting!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSQdiQRiCAgxQehGZlsWX5dE2Bx-eafY4MgCpmleoo_W4UUY-OJLWExHxT9DxWiJPuo3yJxLHWEXI80J5ypNQgsyDeOaWlsOianGBnl75_wpB5lvpKBjc4VBrsNP6y0plg22-oBopi9Q/s1600/%252312+radish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSQdiQRiCAgxQehGZlsWX5dE2Bx-eafY4MgCpmleoo_W4UUY-OJLWExHxT9DxWiJPuo3yJxLHWEXI80J5ypNQgsyDeOaWlsOianGBnl75_wpB5lvpKBjc4VBrsNP6y0plg22-oBopi9Q/s320/%252312+radish.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-40828843316321769892011-06-24T22:29:00.001-05:002011-06-24T22:36:46.197-05:00finally learning how to blog<em>Well, after a day of not doing much else but trying to figure out this blog, I think I am a little farther along than I was. Maybe I will get better at it and be more consistant. Who knows, it has just never been on my priority list. </em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-15776987168026308722010-07-17T22:44:00.002-05:002011-06-24T22:58:49.473-05:00they are here<em>Corey and Jessica finally arrived on Tuesday. We had Brooklyn and Claire here for a couple of days too. It was wall to wall sleeping in this house. Grandma took them for a swim on Thursday before the girls went home.</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIhqg0l85opYW5g-qaJgQw6vQPr9MrTVcYTVX0jJ5FwAZa2LR6nVBBu1G8CF0WqeTWYn9maZIysqiXyHrRLdiWkdoIBw4dYSbH0tg4ZtubAILVbyoNo3f13xLXiIrc6oxDfuaAJe600w/s1600/pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIhqg0l85opYW5g-qaJgQw6vQPr9MrTVcYTVX0jJ5FwAZa2LR6nVBBu1G8CF0WqeTWYn9maZIysqiXyHrRLdiWkdoIBw4dYSbH0tg4ZtubAILVbyoNo3f13xLXiIrc6oxDfuaAJe600w/s320/pool.JPG" /></a></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-37175777330934159282010-07-17T21:54:00.002-05:002011-06-26T09:39:23.415-05:00reese's bedding<em>I was able to make Reese's bedding. It was a different kind of bedding because of the flowers. The quilt is on it's way to being done but here are photos of the crib set and the curtains. I love pink and green!</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Excuse the guns on the wall, her daddy is in the Army! :-)</em></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-3860376504069828752010-07-17T21:49:00.001-05:002011-06-26T09:39:48.547-05:00reese adaliene duffer is born<em>We welcomed our 7th grandchild into the world on July 8, 2010. She was born at 2:03 AM, was 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches long. She joined her two sisters Brooklyn and Claire. Well, actually, we did not welcome her...... we were away at youth camp with Jonathan. We chose that week of camp because she was not due yet and we knew we would be able to be there for her birth. So much for trying to plan God's business. Hahahaha!</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmuOEbH-qRNOoJbA8HEkblHNXqZ0SHc9RX3eSKydF-wKUKs8ICDsA7-4SKmVcXagyUZh6XVaYLCaYesRRPQIkdC6Z4JUgkYdHIYH0Y6ibCtc5QqkN_0XGzXU6VEp-kMutXzrM41-psm8/s1600/3+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmuOEbH-qRNOoJbA8HEkblHNXqZ0SHc9RX3eSKydF-wKUKs8ICDsA7-4SKmVcXagyUZh6XVaYLCaYesRRPQIkdC6Z4JUgkYdHIYH0Y6ibCtc5QqkN_0XGzXU6VEp-kMutXzrM41-psm8/s320/3+girls.jpg" /></a></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-69596837894362770322010-07-02T08:16:00.000-05:002014-01-15T11:54:07.550-06:00summer fun<em>What full days we seem to always have here in our home. After all the chores were done Jonathan had a friend here for the day. It was fun to watch them be silly and act like boys! I did the business end of the Miche Bag business and then spent some time in the sewing room doing camp clothes. Jonathan and Michael then were taken to Park Meadows Baptist Church for a youth activity called Cola-Clash. What a fun evening. After such a long day of play, Jonathan was ready to get home and fall into bed. </em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-71000248842720088832010-06-30T07:37:00.001-05:002012-03-09T11:06:52.756-06:00happy anniversary to me<em>Thirty-one years ago today, I married what would become the love of my life. I was just a child bride at the age of seventeen years and two months old. No, I was not pregnant! I just thought I was in love. Little did I know what love really was. I was only a junior in high school and promised my parents that I would finish school if they allow me to marry. I did just that. As we have both grown closer to our Lord over the years we have automatically grown closer to one another. I never take for granated though that the adversary is always there desiring to destroy my marriage. It is a daily task to make sure that I have a right spirit towards my husband and home so that my marriage will be protected. Has our marriage ever had problems? Well of course, all things that are worth anything have their struggles but God has been faithful and always drawn us back to Himself! </em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-25351559437152580972010-06-30T07:29:00.001-05:002014-01-25T10:49:24.784-06:00what do I do all day long<em>I truly ment to keep this blog updated when I first started it. Wow, it looks like that did not happen. What a year it has been. So here goes again. Ladies often ask me what I do all day as a stay at home mom. I almost always chuckle as I think about just what it is that I do. Let's take yesterday for instance. Up at 5AM and get David off to work (so blessed that he has a job). Read my Bible and spend some time fellowshipping with the Lord. Then outside to prepare and spray the weeds in the cracks of the concrete as well as the fence line and flower beds. Take care of all the pool needs, cleaning filter, vacuuming pool, adjusting saltwater pump, testing. Then it is time to draw water from the rainwater barrell to water the hanging plants. Back inside it is now time to wake the children so their day can get started. They go down the list of "must do" things before they start their daily chores. Things like make your bed, comb your hair, brush your teeth, read your Bible, eat breakfast and so on. Then it is time to oversee that the chores get finished properly. After chores then comes music practice. Jonathan piano and Jasmine on the flute. I like to sit and make sure they are counting notes properly and doing all that they are required to do.... there just went an hour and a half. Just about time it is all done, the lunch whistle rings to prepare lunch. Jonathan did this today while I prepared to do the many alterations in my sewing room. Lunch eaten, the children went out to play while I did some sewing. After about an hour and a half of sewing I go out and announce that it is bike riding time. We take off on a long bicycle ride. When Jireh becomes worn out we head for home. This is also after stopping twice to visit with friends along the way. Fast forward a couple hours and it is almost time for David to get home from work. The kids jump into the swimming pool while I answer the door to a lady that wants her own personal showing of the Miche bag. So while I am tending to her, David gets home and goes out to the pool to visit with the children. An hour later dinner is done and it is time to eat. Then our one television show of the week comes on, "Wipeout". We watch that and then David and the children play a video game together. I go back to the sewing room while they do that and then he tucks them into bed. This is my late night for sewing so I stay up and cut out my newest grandaughter's bedding so that I can begin to sew it tomorrow. Dropping into bed around midnight and it all starts over again at 5AM. So my reply when I am ask what I do all day. I never get bored or sit for very long at all. I am busy taking care of the things that need my attention. </em>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386693606454576873.post-4364577541799827582009-10-02T10:41:00.000-05:002014-01-15T11:50:40.755-06:00the chocolate factory<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We visited the Chocolate Factory yesterday. What a fun trip. I am not a big chocolate fan but it was fun to see the chocolate fountain that starts two or three stories up. </span></em><br />
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The Chocolate Factory</div>
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the fountain</div>
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getting chocolate</div>
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the chocolate counter</div>
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Cadyn and the chocolate bear</div>
Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06575360251095397020noreply@blogger.com0