I think I'm ready...

 I finally got an email with a more detailed explanation of what is happening this morning at church this morning.  6 of us women will be speaking and we each get 7 minutes.  I have what I am saying typed out and I've read through it a few times aloud - I'm at 3-4 minutes.  Which is fine for me.  I typed it out so that I don't ramble and I don't forget to say what I want to say.  Of course a few paragraphs are what my granddaughter had written me in her letter.  That's what I want to share this morning.  It's not about me.  It's about God taking the little things we do and making them meaningful to others.

Happy Mother's Day to you mothers out there!  My first notification was from a co-worker, which made me chuckle.  She beat even my kids.   One of my children have sent a text since.  I'm not concerned who sends first.  It's not about today, it's about every day for me.  I love when I get the occasional text from one of my boys and all it says is 'love ya mom'.  

My daughter and SIL brought over plants yesterday - and I laughed because I had bought planters (that still need to be put together) but was just going to put seeds in them.  He said he'd help me put them together.  They asked what plans I had today after church (none) and invited us over later in the day.  Then I get a phone call last night that they are fixing carne asada and for us to come straight over after church. Guess I will be taking a change of clothes.  Don't think that we will stay all afternoon, but it will be fun to have lunch with them.  So that's the plans for today.

Yesterday I had a blast!  Some people may not think it was fun - but I got caught up in doing what I love to do.  Cook and bake.  I had cheese in the refrigerator that I needed to get used up (it's not on my diet) so I made a batch of eggs ole.   Then I had to make salsa to put on top of the eggs ole.  Only had enough to make one batch, but that's ok.  Got it divided up.

Then I decided to make snickerdoodles for Trayden, our trainer, just in case he came over before he leaves for Wyoming on Tuesday.  He better stop by soon for I have eaten about 5 of them already.  No, they aren't on my diet either, but they are too good to resist.

After that, I decided I still had cheese to use up, so made up a batch of garbage.  I love my new skillet.  It was big enough I was able to make the entire dish in that one pan.  Then, I divided it up in smaller pans - and shared it.

And then I visited my neighbors.  Ms. Diane was excited to get eggs ole' for her breakfast this morning and garbage to have for dinner.  I think her children are coming over for brunch with her today, so it may get eaten tomorrow, and that's ok.   Ms. Vicky was happy to get her eggs ole' and garbage as well.  So I got both of my 'visitations' done yesterday.  Hubby is (it seems) always asking me "when was the last time you went over to see Diane or Vicky?"  Now I did them both the same day, so I'm good for a couple weeks. :-)  Unless I have the time.  Both say they miss me when I don't pop in to visit. 

Psalm 31:30  (NKJV):  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

I think that verse speaks for itself, don't you?  I am probably my worst critic on the past.  But one thing I will say, is that I have sought the Lord in all things and He has been my refuge and strength in my weakest and most difficult and vulnerable times.  I am truly lost without Him. My life would have no meaning without Him.  

I've always said that as my legacy to my children and grandchildren - and now great-grandchildren - I want to leave them with this one thing.... that I love Jesus and live for Him and follow Him.  Not just in word, but in actions.  No one but Jesus knows the trials I have gone through, the pain I have felt, the struggles I've had.  How could I not follow Him and pledge to Him my life? 

Jesus gave His life for me, and for you.  What kind of legacy do you want your children and grandchildren to have from you?

I am blessed to have three children.  They have blessed me with 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  My heart is full.  I love hanging around the grandchildren and the great grandchildren. I wish I could be more in their lives, but they have their lives too.  Grateful for the time I do have with them.   And, if you have children who have moved out and moved on, you know the feeling.  You enjoy being with them, whatever little time you get with them.  It's a blessing.  Right?

So today, this Mother's Day, I am counting my blessings.  Not just in children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, but in the things that God has blessed me with.  There is a song about counting your blessings..... but we just can't count that high.  Yeah, I know that feeling.

I think I mentioned one time that I was reading a book called One Thousand Gifts.  I haven't gotten through it yet, but it has popped up in my mind as I write about blessings.  What she started doing was writing down things that she felt were gifts; the rising or setting of the sun, a farm animal giving birth, water in the old water pump.... 

What if we started writing down our blessings?  Could we even count that high?  Let's start with the first one for all of us....

1)  Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Life.  I am still breathing because You breathed into me.

Your turn.  One at a time.

Blessings!

Baking and cooking....

 and I had a blast doing it yesterday - so much so that I had to take a 10 minutes nap when I quit!  I baked cookies yesterday - oatmeal raisin - to send to my adopted daughter.  I gave some away to others.  We ate some. (and they were really good).  I also made broccoli cheddar soup - and I was really surprised at how good it was!  I thought it would make more than it did, but that's ok.  Hubby and I ate a bowl of it - and we took some over to our daughter for her dinner - and we gave the rest away.   Didn't hear anything from any of them so can only assume they ate it and enjoyed it.  I have everything to make another batch, except for a white onion.  I may - or may not - go to the store this afternoon to get one.  I'd like to make more and give to Ms. Diane and Ms. Vicki..... but I don't know... 

I'm speaking this morning at one of the RV parks.  This message is on Hope.  As I went through it this morning, I again made some changes, but not enough to have to reprint it.  My prayer is that God will take it and let it mean something for someone.  Meet them where they need it.  We enjoy going to this RV park and seeing the people there.  We have friends there who live in Franklin, Indiana.... and we correspond throughout the year.  They let us know they were here 2-3 weeks ago, but we haven't heard from them since.  I don't know if we will see them today or if they have already gone back home.  They sold their RV a few years ago so I'm not sure where they are staying.  I hope they are here.

This is Superbowl Sunday and I'm rooting for the San Francisco 49ers, of course.  I chose that team many, many years ago due to the name... no, not the San Francisco part... the 49ers part.  Why?  Because I was born in 1949!!  I wonder how they got their name.  Did they form in 1949?  I might check that out on google.

You know google.  The place we always run to whenever we have a question.  I do.  And unfortunately, many people go there to check for their medical symptoms.  I know, I do as well.  And yet, we all know that people have fed information to that site for years are probably not even as smart as we are.  And many people will believe what they read.  They will read their symptoms are 'severe'.  Or they will read that they have a certain issue.  Well, let's broadcast it on Facebook and let the world know we're idiots.  Did I really say that out loud?  There is a name for people like that.... hypochondriacs.  They either have the symptoms, had the symptoms at one time, or know someone that does, or did.  And they wish they had them.  That's what they act like.  Life is all about them and they want to make sure everyone knows it.  Ok - enough said.  I need to hush. Maybe I need to quit looking at google.  Ya think?

It's sad because there are people who really DO have those symptoms, and they wish they didn't.  They don't broadcast it.  They rarely share they don't feel well.  They keep going to work; they keep living life.  People who use mental illness or diseases as an excuse not to work or do anything - and you know just how true those statements are.............. well, I just need to hush.  time to move on.

Interesting.  I decided to google how the 49ers got their name.  It comes from the California Gold Rush in 1849.  Huh.  It says it is to honor those who went to California to find gold.  And, that is why gold is in the uniform.  Never would have thought that.  Have you ever checked out your team's name and why they have the colors they wear?  Might be interesting.

I Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV):  "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

As I typed that scripture I thought of my older sister.  Actually, I could think of my younger one too.  I hope I don't do it.  But have you known people who are always wanting to put people down?  Who always want to put themselves in the limelight?  (are we talking narcisstic behavior here?)   But the words that caught my thoughts was 'keeps no record of wrongs.

Hmmm.  My older sister may have kept a record of wrongs, and I am pretty sure she kept a record of all that she did for others.  Let me elaborate so that you can laugh.   I remember when she asked one of our brothers to babysit her children for her so she could go out and party.  They refused.  So what did she do?  She began to tell them all the things she had done for them - from babysitting their child to bringing specific things to dinners because she knew they liked them.  She never did that to me, for I was one who was always willing to take the kids or whatever.    LOL  I remember I always wanted twins.  I thought that would be so cool.  My youngest was born October 16th.  My older sister's son was born December 23rd.  Sometime in January or February my sister asked me to babysit.  I thought "why not?"  So we did.  Two infants.  At the same time.  Even though they were a few months apart, they were both in need of diapers changed and baths and bottles.  I began to thank God that He knew I really couldn't handle TWO at the same time!  Never did that again!

Now that probably wasn't a 'record of wrongs' but if you crossed her, she would let you know it.  As for my younger sister, you know how many times I have been told I was wrong, or had done something wrong.  Even now I hold back from sharing good news, for it will be turned into something bad or it will be turned into something that was said or happened to her.  For example, I cannot share the letter I got from my granddaughter.  It's personal.  I don't want someone to tell me what their granddaughter did or said... which is what usually happens.  I don't need to build myself up.  (remember the song from yesterday?  I don't need my name in lights, I'm famous in my Father's eyes, He knows my name..."  And that is all that matters.

Love is patient, Love is kind.  Who is it that you love that you need to be a bit more patient with?  A bit more kind to?  Life is short, and you don't know when our lives will come to an end.  Take the time, when their name comes to your mind, to shoot a text to them and let them know they matter, that they are valued, that they are loved.   I admit it, when I get a text out of the blue from one of my boys and they say 'love you mom' -  it makes my world complete.  You can do it for others too.  I need to do that as well.

Blessings!