Want a Special Sister?

When I was a little girl the women of my church had a program called Secret Sisters where all ladies who wanted to participate would put their names in a hat and have a drawing. The name you drew was the person you'd secretly send cards or small gifts to in order to brighten their day. It was always fun to have a secret sister, but you never found who she was until everyone's identity was reveals months later at the end of the program. 

I always thought how great it would be to know the lady you were paired up with in order to better get to know her through your time together, which prompted me to start the Special Sister program in our women's Sunday school class. Ladies who want to participate fill out a Special Sister Information Sheet with information about their family, occupation, favorite foods, hobbies etc. After I receive all the sheets I pray over the stack asking the Lord to pair the women. Once paired up, I mail each lady her new sister's information sheet. From then on out the women have four months to acknowledge, encourage, and pray for the person God has place in their life. It's a wonderful way to gain a new friend and prayer warrior.

Now, I'm curious. Do you have a similar program for the ladies in your church. If so, please share. I'd love to hear about it. If you would like to know how to start a Special Sister program in your class let me know and I'll be happy to help you get started. 

Oh, that reminds me. I have to get a birthday card for my special sister, Dana. Gotta run. 

The $5 Dollar Mom

Ever find a blog you love so much that you immediately add it to your bookmark bar? Well I just stumbled upon yet another creative and helpful blog that I'm happy to share with you. 

Erin, the $5 dollar mom, has a blog dedicated to $5 dinners. She's cute as a bug's ear and her bio is not only fun but inspiring. As one who missed the blessing of being born with the culinary gene in tact, I struggle at meal time. The simpler the better and I kid you not, my favorite cookbook is "5-Ingredient Slow Cooking" by Better Homes. I bought it at the checkout stand for $3.99 and love it. I need no more than five ingredients and can assemble it in the morning when I have more energy and forget it. Come dinner time, when I'm hungry and tired, all we need to do is lift the lid and dive in. That's my idea of preparing a meal.

What I like about $5 Dinner.com is how Erin shares her love and talent for thrifty meals, all for the benefit of those like myself who might be a bit challenged in the kitchen. And even though I may not be a kitchen wizard, I am always open to allowing someone like Erin infect me with their passion. I too like a good challenge, so making a meal for $5 is icing on the cake.  

Go visit Erin and tell me what you think. Her blog page is one that will be on my computer screen much of the time. I've never been one to let go of a good tutor very easily. Perhaps she can make mealtime a little easier for you too!

Woodeewoo!

Finally. It's over and everyone has a good home and praise be to the Lord! If you recall our son's dog, Lyla, delivered nine puppies here in our home Thanksgiving morning. They were all healthy, strong, and beautiful, but oh the task of finding nine good homes. What were the odds? We found fabulous homes for six right off the bat, but three still remained. Drew took them back home with him and he worked his tail off caring for them in his tiny little apartment. Out numbered and overwhelmed at times he once told me he just couldn't take it any more. But sure as shootin' each time he felt like giving up, he'd invariably muster up more strength and perseverance, refusing to give them to anything less than the best of homes. 

This week he released the last two sleek black Labrador girls, Rosie and Toostie. They will be together in their new home on acreage near our home here in Kansas City. God is so good and I praise Him for hearing and answering my prayers. I can't tell you how many times I prayed for them, in fact, I made it a habit to hold each pup several times a day and pray for God to guide that pup to its intended home. They were all so sweet and loving. What a waste it would have been for any to not be allowed to bless a home with their companionship. 

Drew, you did a fabulous job. I admire your tenacity and courage to not take the easy way out. You took in one stray dog and wound up with ten. Mercy sakes alive. Who could have ever known. Bless your sweet heart. Many homes are blessed because of you. Ours has been especially blessed. Your father and I are proud to call you our son. You'll be a great daddy one day.

A Walk in the Park

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day we loaded up the dogs and headed off to the park. Ecclesiastes is such a frisbee lover that we knew we could allow him to run free. He never takes his eye off the his favorite toy and as long as that disc is in his sights he sticks to us like glue.

Whenever we go out with the dogs people often approach us asking to pet one or both of them. Some people are attracted to Cocoa Bean because he's a puppy, while others want Ecclesi because he is so large and beautiful. 

Today we met a woman accompanied by two young Down's Syndrome ladies. One of the girls only wanted to watch the dogs and had no desire to pet either one of them. The other gal, however, absolutely loved both. She let Cocoa drown her with kisses on several occasions and threw Ecclesi's frisbee over and over. It warmed our hearts to see Ecclesi's gentle nature as he allowed her to pet him and carefully obeyed each of her commands to sit, wait, and shake hands. (Of course she was holding his frisbee.) It was truly a blessing to watch the girls interact with our dogs and I couldn't help but thank God for enriching our lives with the beauty of His creation.

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen..."  Romans 1:20a

Peter Piper Picked A Pepper

Seriously. Is this not the biggest bell pepper you've ever seen? The clerk at the checkout said he had to count the peppers twice because he thought there had to be more than three in the bag. Then, we laughed about them being on steroids. The only thing that beat their size was the price. 88 cents a piece. What a find.

As I stared at these red beauties I began to fancy the idea of omelets for breakfast. Just the thought of eggs, melted cheese, and these crunchy red bits with coffee and toast on the side and I was had. So, I filled the veggie bag to the brim. I couldn't even tie the top. They were too big.  

Oh and it felt a bit odd leaving the store too. Five inches of snow on the ground and I'm buying humongous peppers that look like I plucked em fresh from of the Promised Land. Peter Piper eat your heart out.

"Carried to the Table"

Music by Leeland

Song: Carried to the Table

CD: Sound of Melodies

Got Snow?

Ya! We got snow. Five inches to be exact. 

Music by Jon McLaughlin

Song: Perfect 

CD: Indiana 

Memories

I remember...

1. A time when if you’d call a person on the phone you didn’t have to ask them where they were.

2. When gas station attendants pumped your gas, washed your windshield, and gave you a piece of bubble gum for coming in.

3. The lunch ladies wheeled a water cart through the grade school giving us each a cup of water to keep us hydrated on hot school days.

4. The smell of Pink Pearl erasers permeating the air as I practiced writing my spelling words.

5. When bottled water was only for Hollywood stars. (For that matter I remember when even movie stars didn’t drink from bottles.)

6. Green stamps were given out at grocery stores and you could buy nearly anything with them. Man that was fun.

7. There were only three channels on TV and you needed rabbit ears and tin foil to see them.

8. In order to look up a word you had to grab the dictionary from the top shelf of the living room.

9. The smell of burnt toast in the morning. I love overdone toast still today. I don’t think mom’s toaster worked well.

10. The little transistor radios we three kids received for Christmas one year. They were tan, about the size of a single size cereal box, and had a round station dial we’d scroll through endlessly.

11. My white patton leather Easter shoes in 5th grade. They had a huge square buckle on the top and blocky 2” inch heels. I resembled a Pilgrim.

12. The first fast food drive thru in our area called “Shutes.” They literally shot the food to you through a vacuum system, like the banks today. There was one glitch however. It jostled your order with such force that your drink would invariably arrived with the lid popped off and your drink spilled to high heavens. Needless to say it didn’t last long. Note: people still hand us our food today.

13. Watching McDonald’s employees make French fries in the side window of the building under the big golden arches. It was our Friday night treat.

I could go on and on as I trace the cobwebs of my mind. It's fun to think back into my childhood. There are so many fond memories of things past and now I'm curious. What fun memories pass through your mind as you reminisce? Perhaps like me you will have trouble keeping the list short. But, who's counting. List away. I'd love for you to share. 

Let's "Face" It

It wasn't but one year ago I had absolutely no idea what it meant to blog. I was encouraged to dive in but hadn't a clue how deep the waters where or where it would lead. 

As an obedient and curious chap, I muddled my way along until one day blogging clicked. Today I love the OLM blog as if it were my child. I feed it regularly, clothe it in the best attire I can afford, nurture it with the word of God, and share it with everyone I know. My blog is now my comfort zone.

Then, as life would have it, along came another modern marvel someone challenged me to learn. This time it was Facebook. "Oh you just have to join. It's great networking and every one does it" she said.  Like two old fogies Jimmy and I became curious about what the whoopla was all about, so a couple of months ago we began dipping our toes in this new body of water. We filled out our profile and began fiddling with all the features. I'd poke him and he'd poke me, even though neither of us felt a thing. We started inviting a few friends and soon our friends list began to grow and grow and grow. Friends from church, friends far away, and friends from long ago. Just two days ago my best friend from high school contacted me through Facebook and once again I was utterly amazed. 

We still have lots to learn. Jimmy and I have never figured out how to effectively poke each other. If we do it has to be literal. Nonetheless, I can assure you these two boomers will master the art of Facebook if it's the last thing we do. 

 

So tell me now...are you on Facebook? If not give it a try. Fiddle with the features and poke your best bud. (If you succeed tell me how you did it.) Look up a long lost friend and catch up on what's going on in their lives. Pray for one another, join a group, and let your light shine. You have a lot to offer and others will be blessed. Dive in and enjoy!

Remembering God's Word

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team!

Your Two Scents

Each week OLM provides a video devotion designed to help you dig deeper into God's word. After filming 32 videos on topics I have a particular passion for, I'd like to open the forum up to you!

Is there a particular topic, person, verse, or event of the Bible you would like to learn more about?  If so, I encourage you to leave a comment on this post and offer your suggestion. If by chance the topic is personal feel free to select the "anonymous" option in the comment section. The point is not who asked the question but finding answers. Remember, whatever question you may have, no matter how odd it may seem, is being asked by others. Nothing is new under the sun, that includes questions you may have.

So have at it ladies. Ask away. The floor is yours. We will prayerfully consider each and every entry and look forward to hearing what's on your mind!

Online Lessons Available Now

Hi ladies! Through the Olive Leaf Ministries I am pleased to present a new feature available to you and all your friends. Now, free of charge, you can join me as I teach class Sunday mornings, speak to mothers of preschoolers (MOPs) and all other speaking engagements the Lord sees fit to send me. Best of all you can listen at your leisure and from the comfort of your own home or office. 

Each lesson comes with a printable outline so you can follow along and take notes with the group. Isn't modern technology the cat's meow? As my mother would say, "Handier than a pocket on a shirt." 

So there you have it. No cost, no fuss, and no travel. In spirit we can meet together and dig deeper into the matchless word of God to learn more about Him. No matter how you look at it it's a mighty good deal. Join me now!

Click here to visit OLM's online lessons.

Our Struggles Are Not Necessarily Weakness

Little 8 year old Grant went home to be with the Lord last Friday, February 6th. We will be attending his funeral this Saturday, Valentine's Day. 

His parents have made it clear this day will not be a day of grief for their beloved child is with his, and our, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Instead, this day of love will be a day of celebration. In fact we've been asked not to wear black, but rather one of Grant's favorite colors such as green (for frogs) or pink (his secret favorite color.) How cute is that! I plan to wear pink, which happens to be my fave as well, and bring along one of Dani's fuzzy stuffed green frogs. 

Please pray for this special family as we honor this young life that touched so many of our own. Little Grant may have lost the battle with this unknown muscle disease, but he won the war over sin and death thanks to Christ and His work on the cross.

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, 

yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, 

for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14b

A Healthy Heart

Come Tour Kansas City!

The weather is gorgeous in Kansas City so I'm gonna take you on a tour of the town. Put on your walking shoes, grab your dog if you have one, and let's head on out. There is plenty of room and Jimmy and I'll pay for the gas.

(Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Nelson-Atkins Museum

Ecclesiastes and Cocoa Bean 

enjoyed the tour too.

Museum front lawn.

It's vast and beautiful.

Nancy with a "birdie" on her shoulder.

Liberty Memorial

View of Union Station from the Liberty Memorial

Continue tour below...

Come Tour Kansas City! (cont.)

Country Club Plaza

A great place to eat and shop.

Water way along the Plaza

We had a great day out and I'm glad you could tag along. Hope you are enjoying nice weather in your town as spring of 2009 taps at the door.

Have a great weekend. See you Monday.

A Good Night's Sleep

Just got up and realized it was 6:37 am and Cocoa Bean has slept all night long. He still refuses to stay in his crate at night, but he's doing great in bed with us, so we'll take what we can get. I think we are making progress.

Mercy Not Sacrifice

Welcome ladies and happy Monday! Today I felt like offering a written devotion as opposed to one on video, a video sabbatical of sorts. Since God’s word never goes out and comes back void, it doesn’t matter how it is presented.

The Holy Scripture never ceases to amaze me. The tiniest most obscure passage or word can prompt a divine revelation and Hosea 6:6 is one such passage,

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

These words pack a powerful punch to my heart, because it aches with great grief right now. Grief over lost independence that all parents expect when their children grow up. Since Dani’s Autism has made it so Jimmy and I will be her caregivers for the rest of our lives, the reality of never gaining my freedom later in life weighs heavy on my soul. As of late, for some reason, my heart has been groaning more than usual.

This passage in Hosea, however, does well to set my sails in the right direction and I meditate on it day and night. It reveals the deep things of God by telling us He prefers, or is drawn toward, a heart that is full of kindness for others and love for Him. Far more than any amount of hard work we could ever do in His name, He would rather we show our love for Him by being merciful toward others. This convicts me beyond measure as it exposes the sin within my heart that desires to work for Him more than show mercy. Fretting and brewing over how much I could do for Christ if only I didn’t bear this heavy burden, I place work for God above mercy. It’s a subtle trap many of us fall in to. Just ask King Saul who knows from first-hand experience.

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:20-22

Ladies, our primary responsibilities in life are to fear God, keep His commands, and show mercy. We must never put work for God above Him and His command, even though work may appear to be the more valuable option. Mercy is vital because without it we become critical, impatient, selfish, and judgmental, all the things that lead us away from the heart of God. May we heed the words of the prophet and choose mercy over sacrifice for it is in essence the only true offering God desires.

And the Cheer Goes On...

The Christmas season may be over but the holiday cheer continues on in my kitchen. I absolutely love Starbuck's Christmas Blend coffee, so this year I wised up and bought a couple of pounds of this delicious bean before they took it off their shelves. I just finished the bag I purchased before Christmas and pulled out the current stock I had stored in my freezer. This load should last until March at which time I'll begin enjoying Yukon or Verona once again.

If you savor Starbuck's coffee what are your favorite flavors?

Joy in Trials

Laying It On the Line

When I began blogging one year ago I adopted four rules I promised the Lord I'd keep:

1. I would always seek to glorify Him.
   
2. Blogging would not be a forum to complain.
   
3. I'd seek to uplift my sisters in Christ.
   
4. The OLM blog would a positive and refreshing place to visit.
   

I've honored these rules even though sometimes life doesn't always run smoothly. As an example Jimmy has been in between jobs for three months, winter has us cooped up inside our home, the sun is scarce as hens' teeth, we've been battling the creeping crud (head and chest cold), I fell on the front porch after our last snow while taking Cocoa out to pee in the wee hours of the morning, and our lives have been overrun by puppies since Thanksgiving Day. Normal routine has been out the window for months and as one who thrives on structure, it's been difficult to handle at times. Perhaps you can relate.

Our most recent trial began when our puppy, Cocoa Bean, began having trouble after the last pup of the litter left. Though an angel during the day he would howl, whine, and bark in his crate all night long. Experts (the vet and Google) said it would pass after a day or two but after ten sleepless nights desperation propelled us to ear plugs and Tylenol PM. 

A couple of mornings ago I woke so tired and depleted I was in tears. I asked God what this little dog needed to be content at night and if it had been a mistake to keep him. That's when it dawned on me. Keeping him had not been a mistake. Cocoa has known our scent and touch since the day he was born and with everyone else gone, we are his greatest comfort. He simply needed us at night. 

With this in mind we decided to break the cardinal rule of dog care and let him sleep with us. Lo and behold we are all sleeping like babies once again. When Jimmy and Cocoa come to bed later in the evening, Cocoa races to my neck, cuddles up, and falls fast asleep. About 3 am he rustles around enough to let us know he needs to potty and then heads back to bed and sleeps till morning. Breaking the cardinal rule has brought great relief. 

Oh sweet ladies, some of you are going through much tougher circumstances and I want you to know that whatever you are going through you are not alone. No matter what image any of us project in a blog or in life, we all have hills to climb and valleys to endure. The good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is never lost if you keep your eyes on God because He is our light. Trials will indeed come but each challenge serves to polish us into the image of Christ. Whatever you are going through God knows your pain and will provide you with the strength and comfort you need. Things will get better. You can count on it. 

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, 

for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

Lamentations 3:21-23

The Next Generation

God is at work in the next generation.


Jason Castro, American Idol contestant.

"O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." 

Psalm 78:1-4 

Can God Trust You to Wait?

Behind the Scenes at KY3 TV

Yesterday we went to Springfield, Missouri to visit our son Drew. He took us to KY3 Television Station where he works and gave us a tour of the studio. We met his co-workers, learned about television production, and took a few pictures. It was quite interesting to get a glimpse behind the scenes.

Drew in front of the camera for a change.

Putting on lipstick in the green room 

which is not green.

Just pretending.

After our tour we went to Lambert's Cafe "The Only Home of Throwed Rolls." To make it easy for the waitress we all ordered Chicken Fried Steak. (Really, it's just because the steaks are that good.)

Thanks Drew. We had a great time!

Automatic Paw Washer

Ever need something so badly that you racked your brain trying to find a solution all to find the answer in your own backyard? Well, I've been trying to think of another way to clean Ecclesiastes' paws before he walks into the house. Right now I wash each paw in his water bucket on the deck, then rinse it out. It does the job but breaks the back.

As with many inventions discovered by accident, we found a fabulous paw washing system the other day. Jimmy was playing with the dogs in the back yard and tossed a toy on top the pool tarp. As Ecclesiastes went to retrieve the toy, his weight lowered the cover below the rain swollen waterline, just enough to thoroughly rinse his feet. With a puddle of water following him where ever he walked, we were happy to see a new, fun, and easy way to wash Ecclesi's paws!

Ecclesi and the traveling puddle.

Cocoa Bean getting interested.

Cocoa Bean thinking of summer.

Happy Anniversary OLM Blog!

Today is the Olive Leaf Ministries' first year blog anniversary and let me tell you I remember the beginning as if it were yesterday. Not only was I foggy on what it meant to blog, but totally unsure what I would write each week. 

In spite of all the hesitations I committed to giving it a try...and whala...here we are a year later with a blog I absolutely love. I get to meet people from all around the world and share the good news of Jesus all along the way. It's a modern day tool I believe the Lord loves, when used for His purpose, and I look forward to many more years and new friends to come.

Blessings to all my blogging friends!

Introducing...Cocoa Bean!

Many of you have asked which pup we are keeping, so here he is...Mr. Cocoa Bean Douglas. For some reason he's the one who caught our eye from the very beginning and the more we get to know him the more convinced we are that we've made the right choice.

When the last puppy of the litter left, Cocoa Bean's first night alone without a sibling was a rough one. He whined all night long and nothing we did would console him. Today, after a long morning of cuddle time, we went to the pet store to buy his first collar. He enjoyed the trip but was shaking like a leaf by the time it was over. Once home he took a much needed nap.

 

Pray for Grant

Below is an update on Grant, the little boy on the bottom right column of my blog. His unknown muscle disease continues to slowly take his life and his time here on earth is coming to a close. Here is an excerpt of his latest update. Please keep him and his precious family in your prayers.

"Grant is still with us. He has had ups & downs. Lately, he has about 30 minutes a day where he gets a burst of energy and he plays and plays and then he gets a little crazy and very tired. At least he gets 30 minutes. There just isn't enough energy being made in his body.

Grant keeps telling us about the angels all around him. He says he sees them even during the day now. Watching him describe them is quite something. Although I do not understand what he is saying, the expression on his face is description enough. He looks at us questioning why we cannot see what he sees. I wish that I could. It must be spectacular. We just tell him, we don't get to see it yet, but tell us what you see. We've put some adjectives and descriptors on his communication machine yesterday so that we can understand what he is saying. Hopefully they will be adequate.

On a positive note, he used his (speech) machine a lot yesterday. He is getting over the frustration that it cannot read his exact thoughts and say them and is now searching through and trying to find the words to express himself. We are so thankful for it, especially as we know our time is short."

Psalm 91:11 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

Prayer Journal Offer

Pup-Up-Date

Through the weeks many of you have asked which pup we've chosen to keep and how the adoptions are going. Jimmy and I chose little "Cocoa Bean" and we'll have pictures of him this week after all pups are gone and the dander has settled.

Drew left for Springfield on New Year's Day and took the four remaining pups who do not yet have a home. I cried as we packed them up because I knew I wouldn't see them again. Drew was sad to leave part of the litter here and felt quite a bit of pressure to find good homes for the ones he was taking. They are all so sweet but he can't keep them in his apartment for long. All I could do was tell him to do what I've been doing since they day they were born, "pray for each pup as you hold and love on them and then trust God to lead the way." Of course I know they are just dogs, but they are also God's gift to us as companions and protectors. Because of this I treasure each and every one of them.

Once he left we had four pups left. One girl, Molly, left the next day leaving us with three. Monday my sister will take Pilgrim and Friday Natalie (Dani's speech therapist) will take her little cinnamon stick. Next weekend it'll just be Cocoa Bean left and oh how we look forward to a quiet home. It's been a labor of love but mama Douglas is tired! I haven't written a word on my current book project since Thanksgiving and just realized I promised several months ago to write a book review for another author and still do not have it done. It feels as though I've been on another planet and I look forward to coming back down to earth and getting back to work.

I will have pictures of Cocoa Bean by the end of the week and promise not talk dog talk again for a while. Have a blessed Sunday and may the Lord shine His light on you in a new life-changing way.

 

An Answer to Prayer

This week I introduced you to Natalie, Dani's long-time speech therapist. She has the patience of Job and is one of the most loving people you'd ever want to meet. Our biggest concern when trying to find homes for Lyla's nine pups is finding trustworthy people who will take good care of the dog we give them. As God would have it, Natalie was looking for a dog, a Lab to be exact, and low and behold we had just what she was looking for. 

The day after we had lunch she came over and picked out this little cinnamon colored pup. Here he is with a toy he will take home with him so he will have the comforting and familiar scent of his brothers and sisters.

It's so good to know our little cinnamon stick is going to a good and loving home!

Great Resolution

If you are looking for a New Year's resolution that is sure to bring you a blessing go to Beth Moore's blog and join the "1st & 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team." Now, don't let the enemy intimidate you into thinking you can't do this, because you can. God promises that His word will never go out and come back void. This means you won't regret planting his word in your heart, so hustle on over and sign up.

Here is my memory verse for the first two weeks of January,

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

Hosea 6:6

(NIV)

What a great way to start the year. Happy 2009 dear sisters!

A Special Lunch with a Special Friend

Ever have someone in your life that was extra special and clearly sent by God? In our lives it is Natalie, Dani's long-time speech therapist and friend. Natalie worked with Dani for well over ten years and she and Dani became the best of friends.

About two to three times a year we meet for lunch to visit and catch up on things and it's always a super special time for Dani. Today we met Natalie for our annual Christmas lunch and gift exchange. Natalie gave Dani some beloved pink bracelets and decorated socks. (Natalie used to wear socks with fun designs which always caught Dani's attention. It's their special bond.) Dani gave Natalie dainty pink and brown polka dot Post-it Notes and showed her the new books her brother, Drew, bought her for Christmas.

Since Dani is so limited in her ability to communicate she has virtually no friends to play with. Such a dear friend and therapist is special beyond words. Thank you Natalie for all you've done and still do for our little Dani and thank you Lord for sending Natalie our way!

General Organizing Tips

Pup Update...

Drew, Lyla, and her nine pups came home this week for Christmas. He walked in with a television box full of rambunctious bundles of fur and the first words out of his mouth were, "Mom, I don't think I can take them all in the car again. Pilgrim keeps trying to climb out while I'm driving!" Thank the good Lord they all made it home safe and sound. 

Jimmy set up a live webcam for those interested in choosing a pup or watching the one they've chosen and while we were at my sister's home last night, we watched them sleep and play. Though seeing poo on a towel drove me nuts, because I wasn't there to clean it up, it was utterly amazing to watch these little guys from 45 miles away. What's even more astonishing is we can also watch them on Jimmy's phone via the Internet. I don't know what man will think of next, but I do know that all these modern marvels just make me love God all the more. After all, we were made in His image and no matter what new amazing gadget we may come up with, He is the great creator of all things and nothing man can ever come up with will ever match His wonderful glory and vast wisdom. He's named all the stars in the sky, knows the number of hairs on our head, lives beyond the bounds of time, and is far more creative than man will ever be. What a wonderful God we serve and what a privilege to celebrate the birth of His Son Jesus Christ during this holiday season!

The pups are four weeks old and totally weaned. Drew had to get back to work in Springfield, so he and Lyla headed back yesterday. The workload for him would be almost too much for him to handle on his own so we decided the pups should stay with us. Jimmy and I take shifts with their care. Last night he fed and played with them at midnight, then I woke to repeat the process this morning at 8 am. The procedure is always the same, they wake a bustling ball of energy, head for the cafeteria, make their way to the latrine, climb all over us for some lovin' and play, and then fall fast asleep atop one another. We have homes for five pups, two more potential takers, and two weeks to find homes for them all. One good thing about taking care of all nine is that it will make adjusting to Cocoa Bean joining our family a cinch. After all, what's one pup?

PUPPER CAM

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I love how the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir performed this song and thrilled to have it on file to listen to whenever my heart desires. Take a moment to wish Jesus happy birthday, enjoy the music and lights, and have a blessed Christmas!



John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Holiday Bloopers

The "Passion" of the Season

I can feel Christmas approaching. The beautiful lights, bustling crowds, and passion for the season abounds. Jimmy and I witnessed some "strong emotion" just the other day as a young lady in the Target parking lot began yelling out her car window for another woman to put a coat on her child. We got in on the last half of the interchange, but apparently the mother couldn't get her child (about three years old) to wear a coat. It was indeed quite cold but mercy what mother hasn't gone through that? The young woman in the car looked like a college age student, so I chose to assume she had no children and is still idealistic when it comes to raising children. Perhaps one day she will understand how intricate, delicate, and exhausting it is to raise another little human being. Sometimes you just can't win for losing. 

Then, my sister and I bathed ourselves in the bustling crowds of Wal Mart as we camped in an immovable line for 30 minutes. It was noon on Wednesday and who would have thought they wouldn't have had more checkers on duty the week before Christmas. The human check out lines were so long they ran into the clothing department, so I told my sister I'd show her how to do the self check. I thought for sure it would be faster, but no. With a cart too full to abandon we stuck it out, but it wasn't fun. We had a wonderful visit though!

Then Jimmy and I went to the mall yesterday. We found cologne for our son, but not one single solitary thing for Dani. Do you have any idea how hard it is to buy for an Autistic child? It's beyond awful. I wanted knee-hi socks for her to wear with her boots, but all I could find were ankle socks. I've been to Wal Mart, Pennys, Macys, and Dillards looking for these silly socks, all to no avail. If Target doesn't pull through we are out of options. She has one thing under the tree and time is wasting! She loves candies and cookies, so I think I'm gonna buy a cookie mix and put it under the tree so she can bake cookies. She'll be thrilled but what an odd gift.

Drew has taken Lyla and her puppies home for the weekend. He just texted me and told me the pups woke him at 2:30am. He worked till 11pm last night and had to be back to work at 6am this morning. He has no idea how this is preparing him for fatherhood! He'll be back here with the pups Monday through Christmas Eve and we can't wait. After the clan left yesterday Jimmy went in to check on the pups twice, only to find an empty pen. There is nothing like having a hankerin' to hold a pup and having a choice of nine to chose from. Sometimes we just sit in the pen and let them crawl all over us until they fall asleep. It makes you feel so special. Since many of you have asked, Jimmy and I have chosen the dark brown pup (formerly Hoss) and his new name is "Cocoa Bean." We'll get him in mid January. 

How is your holiday season coming along? Do you have your shopping done? Who is hardest to buy for on your list and what are you looking forward to most? Dear sister, I pray you stay safe, warm, and happy. Above all let's love and pray for one another even when we think someone isn't parenting well, we're forces to stand in long lines, or can't find a gift for that special someone. May we never feel compelled to judge or condemn, but rather love one another with the love of Christ!

 

1Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Update: Found the socks. Target rocks!

Who May Approach God?

Psalm 24:4-6 

"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob."

It's easy to get caught up in the concerns of the day and wonder where God is. Since God is holy and perfect, He never changes. We on the other hand continually flex and flow with the changing of the tides. 

Psalm 24 tells us precisely where God is and how we can find Him:

1. God is found among "clean hands" or guiltless actions.
2. God dwells among those with a "pure (sincere) heart."
3. God is repelled when we "lift our soul" to worship anything other than Him.
4. God cannot reside in a heart that "swears by what is false" or lies under oath.

In a nutshell, when we line our actions and attitudes up with God...He will be found. Like a magnet, all things pure are drawn to Him. Ladies, let that be us today.

"Dear heavenly Father, purify my heart, mind, and body. Sandblast the walls of my heart, removing all that is unholy. Fill me with your love and compassion and rid me of any wrong attitudes. Expose any false idols I may harbor within and lead me to your throne. Guide me in your ways and grant me the blessings of your righteousness,  for you O Lord are God!  Amen."

Jeremiah 29:11

More Puppy Pics

New Kitchy Floor

My Jimmy (who is handier than a pocket on a shirt)

finished installing our new wood kitchen floor

 just in time for my birthday today.

You did a fabulous job dear.

Thanks!

Mother's Day Out

We received our first snow of the season here in Kansas City, which allowed Lyla some time away from her pups.

Lyla

Lyla and Ecclesiastes

Have any of you received snow yet?

Holiday Organizing Tips

Various Sundry Saturday

I left the blog open for giveaway entries this week and things have piled up, so today is Various Sundry Saturday; a little of this and a little of that. 

NECK DIAGNOSIS: Did I ever tell you what was wrong with my neck that rendered me totally incapacitated three weeks ago? It's called "Acute Torticollis" and is basically the biggest pain in the neck a person can possibly have. It is a painful muscle spasm in the neck, similar to having a charlie horse in your leg. It's a pain I would not wish on my worst enemy, except maybe a terrorist. I hope in your lifetime you are aware of acute torticollis but never experience it for yourself.

ROCKS IN THE SINK: Jimmy, Dani, and I went to Best Buy the other day and upon arrival paid the restroom a visit. You're not going to believe it but all three sinks in the ladies restroom had about seven smooth stones, the size of the palm of your hand, placed in each bowl. As we washed our hands Dani looked at me and pointed into her sink as if to say, "Why are there are rocks in my sink?" I didn't know what to tell her, so I shrugged my shoulders and scrunched my mouth. On the way out the door Jimmy was passing by so I asked him if the men's bathroom had rocks in the sinks. His puzzled look confirmed it did not, so I grabbed his arm and said, "Nobody is in there. You gotta see the rocks in our sinks!" 

Now ladies, is this a new trend? Do you have rocks in your local sinks? I have never seen such a thing.

JEALOUS ECCLESIASTES: Ecclesi has been booted out of his bedroom and is kind of sick of hearing about the pups. To make him feel special Jimmy gave him a bubble bath and then he enjoyed watching me decorate the tree.

NEW BED FOR THE PUPS: The pups are trying to crawl and will soon be running around. Jimmy constructed their new home by laying down a plywood floor and putting up higher walls. Now mom and babes have a mansion.

The wait...

The move in.

And the Winner is...

I am pleased to announce Barbara as the winner of the Olive Leaf Ministries holiday giveaway. Barbara was the ninth blogger to enter the contest and since we have nine new puppies, nine was the number to be.

Thank you ladies for entering the giveaway. I look forward to doing this again soon!

Christmas Giveaway!

ENTER TO WIN AND TELL A FRIEND! 

(Giveaway ends Friday, December 5th at 6pm CST)