Ice Day!!

Our front yard. It's a bit blurry...new camera :-)

Today is an Ice day here, sort of like a snow day...only snow then ice. It is a mess. In all my life of living in the north-east (all of 1 1/2 yrs :-) I have never seen anything like it.

Yesterday it snowed 3-4 inches, then turned into rain. Only to wake up this morning to the 4 inches of snow completely ICED over. From the top it looks like a glaze on top, a shiney glaze. I will post a picture later.

So events of today:

-Chris' classes are all canceled.

-went to daily mass (at the college) thinking no one would show and it was packed full!

-Roads are closed except to emergency vehicles (or the random wife who feels it's a real emergency to drive to Kroger to get Cold-Eze b/c her hubby is trying to stay healthy and ward off anything that's developing. And she really wants to start her new job next week healthy too!!)

-Trees are snapping like crazy and everything outside is covered with a sheathing of ice.

-It has already rained all day, then turned to ice rain (again) and a big snow dumping ontop of the mess we had.

-So, Chris is napping, I'm doing laundry and our budget and getting ready to make some tea.

Anyone else for tea? Tea always calms the nerves and let me tell you, almost every hour I am praising the Lord for electricity and a heater.

God's peace,
Dee

First letter

We just got our first letter from Danielle today. It was short, but she says she is doing good. She has one D.I. who is "nice (ish) and one that is EVIL" according to her letter. Attention is already being drawn to her because she is trying to help the others in getting up and getting around. The first 36 hours they didn't sleep and she says she feels disoriented everytime she wakes up.

But all in all...she says "I'm doing what I can to become a Marine." She is doing good...Praise God!

Please keep her in your prayers.

God's peace,
Dee

Burrr

Ummm....HELLO!!!

It's MINUS 4 degrees outside this morning!!!!

(eyeballs are poppin' out here, and frozen while popped out!)

Nobody ever said anything about MINUS temp's when we moved here!!!

Most of you know each morning I get up early and treasure the quiet time with the Lord. I journal some, read the Bible some, and read something from Al-Anon. This morning's time was cut a bit short and I came back later to sit and reflect. This is what came out of that reflection time and I feel I should share it with you.

A reflection from Matthew 24:36-51 ~

I see how Jesus is teaching me to live as if He were coming at any moment.

He warns us that we are to be on watch for we know not when the thief is coming in the night.

He also speaks of those drinking, partying and marrying as if the Lord's coming is long off. And warns us of this behavior.

Jesus is showing compassion for us. He wants us to have the eternal salvation God is giving us through His son Jesus. And He loves us so much that He is warning us, telling us point blank how to live our day.

Through the way Our Lord is towards us - should we not heed His warning?

We are all sinners, of which I am the greatest, but as long as we are striving to live our day according to God's commands, according to the behaviors and ways Jesus lived - we will show a love and desire to do right, and I believe God will have mercy. He loves us enough, do we love Him enough?

It is not easy. It is hard each passing moment -

To stay out of others affairs - yet be there with compassion and love when they need it.

To reach out with love and forgiveness to those who have hurt us time and again in the past - and possibly may do it again.

To open our arms to those who have only taken from us and never filled us when we needed it.

To NOT be a director over others lives - but to allow God to be their director.

God gives us the grace to do this.

It is our will, our choice, to do God's will and love our brothers and sisters, or to do our will and be lost and far from Him.

The awesome part is - He is always there should we wonder. Waiting for our return. Like a loving parent to a child who has wondered away to do what he or she wants. That parent loves them enough to let go and let them discover themselves - but is there when they come back. God does this for us. How can we turn away and say "I want to live this way not that. The Lord is coming but not today" to a God who loves us enough to give us warnings and offers the teaching we need to live.

Do we love Him enough to show Him through our actions today? Right now - in the next person that crosses our path?

I must practice today - keeping the things I have learned this morning - close to my heart and review in my mind often. Lest the events of the day lead me away. In chaos and confusion I will be lost, until I settle down tonight. With my head hung low becuase I forgot. I do the best that I can, but I know i could put forth a teesy bit more effort - to show gratiutde to the God of my understanding.

God's peace be with you today,

Dee

New Dutch oven on the way!!

I did it. I finally bought a nice, new piece of cookware. I have been shopping for years, never knowing what I really needed or wanted. We are evolving to the no telfon, no aluminum cookware and my eye has been on Le Creuset for some time, but couldn't bring myself to spend the big money.

I already have Lodge cast iron's, which are slowly getting seasoned (though don't try scrambled eggs. If you do add one extra egg to make up for what sticks!! LOL) and now I have found Lodge has enamel cookware just like Le Creuset! For a fraction of the cost! How awesome is that!

I was concerned about the lead content in the glass that is used in the enamel and this is what Lodge Logic says:

Are Lodge Enamel products tested for lead safety?

Lodge utilizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Test Procedure 7.5.1.4a Leachability of Lead and cadmium for Glazed Ceramic Surfaces. The FDA Division of Compliance Programs uses ASTM-C738 as the Standard Method of Test for glazed ceramic. In addition to information provided by vendors, Lodge Manufacturing Company uses third party testing to ensure that products with the Lodge name comply with standards set forth by the United States Food & Drug Administration. All our domestic as well as imported cookware complies with the FDA Standards. We are also in compliance with California Proposal 65, the world’s most rigid standard for lead and cadmium content.

I'm convinced. So it's on the way. A nice, red (Island Spice) 6 qt dutch oven by Lodge Logic. Check it out...

Nice huh?!

I am still shopping for a new camera, though I started my photography class last night and found out I can get the close up pictures I want with a good Macro lens for my Minolta 35mm. That would save a bit of money. The tough part is that I've gotten spoiled. I like looking at my pictures BEFORE I get them printed. Silly I know, but we all have our quirks!

God's peace,

Dee

Tagged

I had been tagged a couple weeks ago by my sister SusanD but Christmas and birthday took precedence over my time. Sorry Susan!

But alas, I am getting the opportunity to play the game and tag others so here goes:

7 Unusual things about me:

1. I love to be outdoors, especially at 5 am..alone with God.
2. I wear boots (Ropers) all the time, unless we've had snow..then I break out the fur lined Merrel's.
3. I enjoy making things and giving it to someone anonymously.
4. I am taking a photography class this semester.
5. I have raised 2 step-daughters for the past 17 years.
6. My soul is comforted by the hug of a horse or dog.
7. I dream of having a home with a bit of land for a few animals.

Ok so here's who I'm tagging - Susan , Rhee , Cyn , Ang , http://prairieportraits.blogspot.com/ , that's it for now...breakfast is ready. Priorities ya know!


So for the blogs I tagged, here's how you play the game:
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers and let them know.


God's peace,
Dee

A New Chapter

Last Wednesday was my birthday, Whoa! It was a mile marker as some are lovingly calling it. I'm calling it the start to the second half...the next chapter.

After finishing a 4th step inventory (many of you know I'm in Al-Anon) I have been given the grace to see into myself. The good, the bad, and the space in between. With my birthday, I am celebrating the good, while reviewing and remembering daily I am a good person. God created me to love and be loved. I am a daughter of the King of Kings, and He loves me! I have found my values. I have found the woman who has been lost for years, and along with that, the anxiety of how in the world to make changes using 2%, as my dear loving sponsor is teaching me.

The grace to see within myself the bad. The thinking that I am not worthy of taking care of myself or putting my needs and wants out there to tend to. The grace to see how I have been treating myself. All from the years of growing up with an alcoholic, my thinking has been skewed. Some of my belief's just evolved from circumstances, some from things I was told.

But as my dear sister has put it on This Day...this day I am a good person who loves to give of myself to others - I just have to learn to do it without losing myself. My focus this day is on me, learning about me, understanding what it is to take care of me, and how to have fun all over again. Today, I am letting others keep their problems, emotions, and schedule's for it is not mine to manage or fix. Today, I am celebrating the next half of my life. And there will be change, for I am created by God and I deserve to know I am worthy!!

Today, This day...I am loving me!

The more I read the Bible and learn, really understand, the person Jesus Christ, I am learning He lived in a state of loving and caring for others but with detachment. He took care of himself first (going off to pray, sleeping when he needed it) yet He gave of Himself to anyone that crossed His path and ASKED Him for help. That is the eye opener for me. They asked. He did not go out and search for people to help, or get in their business and tell them how they could better themselves. He healed, He taught, and He loved all with those who came to Him. What an example to live by.

I am grateful for God sending His son to teach me, and to tell me I am worthy just because I breathe!

May God grant you peace...This Day,
Dee