Where have I been? Everywhere!

Well if by some chance you happen to stop by after a year of nothing from me I would like to say "I'm back". And you might wonder where I have been this last year and I would like to reply, "up on the mountains, down in the valleys, in peaceful and sometimes raging waters, and in the desert with God." It has been something of a wild ride and though difficult and painful at times the year has also been filled with great joy, another little grandson to love, much success, and hard won lessons. Perhaps what I would like to share with the reader is this, "God IS still sovereign" and has filled in the gaps, given me much grace, and endlessly demonstrated His deep, abiding, and unending love for me.

I will try to update you about this past year, a little at a time and there is so much to tell so I hope you will stay tune. In the meantime I pray you KNOW in your heart what God constantly tells us in His WORD: "I am with you always."

Many blessings.

Love N.

Zane, You are my Hero!

Dearest Littlest Grandchild, My Zane.

Have I told you how proud of you I am? When your mommy said that you are working SO hard in your therapy sessions despite that fact that you dislike having to struggle to learn new things, oh happy you make me. I pray for you all the time little one, you are very close to my heart. Last Friday, I started my therapy to relearn how to walk correctly. And you know what? I didn't like it, and it is such a bother! But I pushed on, and have been faithful to follow through on my therapy at home, because of you. You are my hero! Every time I get lazy and want to stop I think of you, my 9 month old sweet baby who has been doing therapy for your entire precious life. So now, when I dread working on my PT I remember what your mommy said about everything you have to do every day and so I work hard without complaint. If my Zane has to do it, then I will do it too! For many years I have had it pretty good, but sure didn't appreciate it most of the time, and you, my love, have had to work hard since you were 2 weeks old.

The good news is, I hear that you are starting to reach more with that left hand, and rolling is becoming more natural. I also have heard that you are quite the little chatter box, definitely have an opinion about traveling (don't worry, you will grow to love it), recognize and demand foods when you see them coming your way, are very verbal, and smile tons. I even hear that you sometimes sit in a large plastic bin filled with dry macaroni and try to find toys hidden in the bottom of the bin! Wow! I bet you wonder why do they have to hide those toys all the time? But trust them, they are being creative in helping you realize you have a left hand.

Oh yes, and thank you for having a strong point of view and expressing yourself (although mommy says you can be quite demanding sometimes, that's okay with me). I love you so much, and I thank you for making me "get on with it" too. Thank you for being so brave and please continue to work hard so that some day you and I can talk about our "therapies" together. Ha! I pray for you daily and when I am doing my PT I push on, because if my Zane can do it at 9 months, I can do it at 55 years of age. Thank you sweet precious child! You ARE my hero! Much Love, Your Nonnie

On Fire!

Our "neck of the woods" is on fire here in Southern California. Once again. It is a tradition that comes in late summer and early fall, and we must have some fire or life would just become downright boring! I have to say what amazes me the most is how Californians just go about their business as if nothing is happening and yet there is plenty of smoke, ash, and orange skies while the firemen battle the blaze. Or should I say blazeS? There are approximately 9 fires in California right now which is pretty typical. However, the big fire which is closing in on my city is called the Station Fire. The name is chosen usually by the location of where the fire began. So far, the Station fire has burned 125,000 acres, several homes, and two firefighters have lost lives by accidentally driving over a cliff. Now our city has turned over one of our largest parks, which is about 1 mile from our home, to a large contingent of firefighters. They have made the park into a Command Center replete with a Shower House (Tent), Chow Hall (Tent) and Hotel (Tents). I find it comforting that they are so near, but unsettling that the fire which started 30 miles away is now finding it's way to our front door! Every year we go through this and every year we are blessed with safety and no personal loss. Our biggest inconvienence is having to pack up and evacuate if need be. Please keep those who have been dislocated, evacuated, lost their homes, or for the families who lost their family members in your prayers.

A Few More Pictures for Your Critique!

Hopefully you can see the wall color, a very light yellow called "Gold Coast White" and the fabrics, some are Waverly and Some are Liz Claiborne. All on sale 60% with regular prices ranging from $15.99 to $34.99! Such deal!

Better Pictures of Our Redecorated Family Room/Kitchen

I'm in Training

Dear Readers, I don't think I have told many of you about my latest endeavor. For about 6 years I have been assisting my friend Angela who is the Director of the Pregnancy Center here in our valley. She has often struggled to find great, godly employees and volunteers to help women in a crisis pregnancy. So occasionally she has called and ask for HR input on how to handle poor employees and/or recruit better ones, and also, together we have developed the future growth of the center. She says that I am on her "advisory board" as the HR representative. All good and fine.

Recently, however, the pregnancy center had a volunteer appreciation brunch and the guest speaker, Glenda, was amazing. She is an elegant, stately, gracious and godly, older women (older being maybe mid 60's) and I learned she used to be the director of the center, but has been leading in a volunteer position the Post Abortion Counseling and Education (PACE) part of the center. Well that piqued my interest because someone very close to me shared several years ago that she had had 2 abortions almost 30 years ago and I have witnessed upclose the damage that abortion wreaks. All that information leads up to what I am doing now. I have decided to facilitate counseling postabortion women and to encourage and assist them in making peace with the ramifications of that decision and reconciling with God. However, before I can do that, I need training! So far, that has required completing a very lengthy bible study booklet that the postabortion women will do, and attending 20 hours of training with a large binder brimming with information. The information includes: how to communicate, what to say when the woman lists reasons why she needs to abort, the legal aspects, and more. I haven't finished the training yet, but will this week. After that I will co-facilitate with another woman who has already led a group of postabortive women through the bible study.

My big concern is communicating lovingly, but firmly the truth of the Gospel to the PACE women. Can I do it? Will I cause more harm than good? Is this something God wants me to do or am I just doing it to be busy? I pray I do not come across judgemental or condescending, but confident that the Holy Spirit is in control and He will direct their paths. Oh that's right...He will direct mine too! Please pray for these women and all women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy. That they will call on the LORD for help, for we know He will hear and rescue them. Get I get an Amen out there?

Bible Studies!

Well for those of you who live elsewhere you may not be aware that in the last 2 years something new has  been found growing in my pasture with the Lord!  It is green and pretty (amazing that is) and could only be because the Lord is involved.  

About 3 years ago I had such an ache to know God's Word better that I felt like something was sitting heavy in my heart and I couldn't shake it.  I knew I wanted to read God's words to me with better understanding, but the limited women's bible studies I had attended had left me cold and feeling very frustrated.  In the meantime many of my friends living elsewhere had already done several Beth Moore studies, including both my daughters.  And everyone just loved her gifted speaking, practical application of the Word, and meaningful homework.  I did some investigative work and discovered that in our local valley at the time, there were no Beth Moore studies available so I asked Robert to buy one of the studies for my birthday.  Well, he did, and then I was so scared and unsure of myself that I delayed attempting to do it solo for a few months, and then  when I decided to attempt to watch it and do it I realized that God wanted me to share this with other women.  What?  There is no way I can do that!  That's laughable!  Me?  A simple Catholic girl with no background or real knowledge or understanding of God's Word?  But, God would not let it go and with several other events occurring, I realized that I was suppose to have it in my home.  Then God set me up....  Yes He did!  He led me to think that Robert and I would be moving a month after the 11 week study ended.    So I mentioned to my friend Jan, that I was thinking of doing a Beth Moore study, and she said, "well if you ever do, I will do it with you, and I know Chris will too."  What?  Well, then I met a new lady my age, in our Sunday School class, Sandy, who was interested and had been praying for 2 years for women friends her own age. Viola!  Just like that God performs His miracle!  On July 2nd, of 2007 the 4 of us met for an 11 week study and I remember thinking  "if I flop, well... who cares?"  I figured no one would mind that I was moving right after that, or so I thought.  However, God had other plans.   Our move out of state dissipated, as often happens, and my fellow bible mates had loved the study so much they pitched in and bought another one of Beth's studies, at the same time Robert bought me another one for next my birthday!  We ended up doing 3 studies by May of '08!  We took the summer off, and then  us 4 plus 3 more joined went to a conference in Las Vegas, that included Beth, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shriner.  We had an exciting time, but only Chris and I would do a fall '08 study together.  Then February of '09  Sandy, and Jan rejoined along with another friend, Janiece.  After that study we did a short one, only 7 weeks, which brought still another lady named, Karen.  Whew!  

Now here we are taking this summer off, but God has not taken one second off.  He's been busy all along.  Several additional  friends had expressed interest in doing a Beth Moore study just not in the evening.  So I asked God to let me know if I should do a morning study, on Wednesdays, and asked my Monday night study friends to please pray about it. (Oh and by the way, I am not one to "recruit" women to join our study, I firmly believe that if God is working on their heart they will just ask if they can join the study- and that's exactly what is happening!) So here's how it looks for September of '09:  Monday night: Chris, Sandy D,  Karen, Janiece, Jan, Sue, Tammy, and me.  Wednesday morning will have all newbies:  Rozzie, Dawn, Julie, Sandy B., Kathy, Janelle (and me).  How can that be?  Only God is the answer.  He is the One.  And I have the honor of hosting  in my home.  One other thought comes to mind:  How many women have been "moved" by the Holy Spirit to dig deeper into His Word and how many are craving for fellowship with like-minded women.? 

If you are reading this I ask that you consider joining a bible study if you haven't already, and secondly that you would pray for God's hand to bless and protect those of us here in these two studies.  My final and most important thoughts about today's blog is this:  If you want God to "move" know that we serve a Mighty, and Awesome God and He will do it! Look what He has wrought!  I love HIM!  Blessed be His Name!