We are doing a marathon of sorts

 Everyone has been talking about the latest Season 5 of The Chosen.  My little sister had gone the other day to watch 'it'.  We have not been watching it.  I find it entertaining, but know it isn't all biblical, as does hubby.  He just 'couldn't get into it' as after every episode (on the DVDs) there is like an 'intermission' of music and credits, I think it was.  So he quit watching after season one.  I continued to watch occasionally on my Fire tablet (prime) and finished season two and was on season 3.  Well, with the talk about season 5 now, at it's at the movies, I decided we would go.  Hubby agreed.  If it's something to do WITH me, he wants to do it.  So I went online and bought tickets at AMC nearby.  

Later in the day, my 'watchman on the wall' friend text'd me and said something about part 3.  Now I'm confused.  I questioned her and found out there are 3 parts of season 5 that are showing.  I had bought tickets for season 5 part 3 without knowing about the other two, which are the episodes leading up to this.  Puzzled, I went online to the theater again to figure this out.  Made a decision, of which hubby quickly agreed to, of course.  I cancelled the tickets for part 3 for 10AM this morning.  Then, I purchased tickets for part 1 at 10:45AM, part 2 at 5:15PM today.  And tomorrow morning, we will watch church on TV again, and go at 10AM to see part 3 of season 5.  I also moved from the AMC near us to one a bit further away and got the tickets for $2.50 cheaper!  So the tickets are all on my phone, hubby is happy and excited like a little kid to be included in doing something with me.  

I plan to fix a light breakfast to get us through the movies and then we can grab lunch after we get out. I think the first one is 2 hrs 10 minutes, the second one is .. hmmm, I forget.  The third one is 3 hours.  Guess the second one may be as well.  But we will be caught up.

And, because neither of us had seen season 4, I did go on prime last night and we watched bits and pieces of each episode of season 4 so that it would catch hubby up.  And me.  I have the DVDs for seasons one, two, and three, so ordered season four and it should be here on Tuesday.  Once season five comes out, will get it as well.  Some day, when I can, I will sit day and watch them all and have a great marathon.  Over several days, of course!  If you haven't watched any of them, you should.   

I still love Matthew, the one that Bruce Marchiano stars in.  It is slow at times, but it is word for word of the NIV bible and I know it is the closest I have seen of the Bible.  Love it!

So that will be our weekend - and hubby is thrilled we are 'doing something together'.  Most weekends we ARE together, but he's watching TV and I'm doing whatever I can to keep from being bored.  LOL  If I don't go shopping, I don't spend money, right?  Besides, I can (and do) shop online, who needs to go to the store?

We stayed up a bit later last night (though not really) and slept in until about 5:30AM this morning.  I woke up about 2:45AM, but went back to sleep - after getting up and plugging my watch in.  Sigh. that battery seems to go down quickly anymore.  Hubby said he was awake about 30 minutes before I finally got up and stayed up.  I love Saturday mornings when I can stay in here and read and be quiet. 

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

What are you doing to grow in Christ?  Are you reading the Bible?  Do you read a devotional in the morning?  Do you even pause to whisper a prayer to the One who created you, and ask Him for help to get through the day?

I think I would be totally lost if I didn't have my time with God each morning.  For some people they would just roll their eyes at me, but give me my Bible and a cup of coffee, and I'm good.  Yes, I read other books/devotionals in here and I often handwrite in a journal my prayers or my thoughts, as well as writing in here.  This is public reading (mostly for family) rather than the very personal things I do write. I pray for each one in my family, all the generations, that they will come to know Jesus personally and will choose Him over addictions, over jobs, over entertainment, over life.  There is no life without Jesus.  I've learned this over the years.  That comes from 'head knowledge' of God, versus a personal relationship.  Grateful I have learned that a personal relationship with Jesus is above all.  That's how I get through each heartache, through each struggle, through each day.

And yes, reading my bible, reading my devotionals, sometimes cause me to step back and evaluate what I am doing in my life, and how I 'miss the mark' many times.  This morning is one of those mornings that God has shown me something that I need to change.  Do I want to?  No.  Will I?  Yes.  More importantly, I will TRY, and if I fail, I will keep trying.  Sometimes old habits are hard to break.  But if I want to be Christ-like, I need to stop doing something and start doing something else.  And it is none of your business what that 'something else' is.  :-p

And now, I need to go fix breakfast, get dressed, and take our time heading to the movie theater.  I hope you will consider watching The Chosen as well.  Consider it 'entertaining' as well.  After all, how many of you watch seasons of 'Greys Anatomy' and 'Criminal Minds' and whatever season things are out there - NCIS, or whatever.  They are entertaining to you.  So why not watch The Chosen?  Are you afraid that your heart may be convicted of something?  Is that why you avoid church? Is that why you only half-listen to sermons? Is that why you avoid movies that talk about Jesus?  You are afraid?  

You don't need to be afraid.  Jesus is about love.  And forgiveness.  And surrender.  You know what?  You will learn more by watching about Jesus, than you ever can watching other things.  Something to think about.  What are you afraid of?  That you might decide to change?

Blessings!

I did it!

 I got up and cleaned the bed off after I wrote in here yesterday.  Well, except for the material that I'm working on with quilts, and some 'things' I plan to give when others arrive to celebrate Christmas.  Not doing the chocolate covered cherries nor the summer sausage giveaway this year.... not the ham... I overdid it enough.  I tell you, my brain went to sleep while I was shopping and over-ordered.  I still can't believe what I've purchased. But, oh well. It is what it is.  Hubby has gone to his bible study this morning and I asked him to take a couple things back to Kohls that he bought for me - one that still had the metal tag on it (that I want to keep) and a sweatshirt that was XL and I really do not need another plain sweatshirt.  He bought me two-three of them.  If I was taking them back, I'd probably throw on a couple other things he purchased for me for I am sure I will not be wearing very thick sweat pant and shirt set.... it doesn't get that cold here.  I understand his desire to give me matching things and he just couldn't figure out - even with my list - of what to get me.  He still overbought things.  I just hang them in my closet and say thank you.  Sometimes that is the best thing to do, right?  After all, I do have a box of hoodies and t-shirts that I'm not sure what I'm going to do with.  By mid-summer hubby could probably use new t-shirts - these are plain (except for one or two) so he can work out in them.

I was awakened this morning around 4AM by a large click noise.  I was in a deep sleep and CLICK! and my mind jerked awake.  I listened for a moment then got up and walked around.  It reminded me of the deadbolt lock - when it gets light I may check the front door to make sure it is still locked.  It makes a loud noise when locking or unlocking it.  I'm always careful with it when I sneak out to pick up a delivery, so I know what it sounds like. LOL   No deliveries for over a week now - the drivers must think I died!

I plan to get dressed and head over to the grocery early this morning so that I can buy lunchmeat and chips for lunch tomorrow.  Want to beat the weekend crowd. I like Safeway better for meats, and I may as well pick up hamburger for the garbage I need to fix on Monday.   We had to bump the youngest and his family to 2PM on Monday as hubby remembered he has a dr appointment at 1PM.  My trainer sent me my times for this upcoming week and she at first gave me 4PM Monday but I had to ask to change it; don't think we will be done by then.  Looks like I go Tuesday and Wednesday this coming week.  And that's ok.  I'm off M-T-W this next week - working on Thursday/Friday.  My messages are up to 34 for - only see one that I may need to do something with but will get on the work computer sometime and clear them out. 

Trying to decide whether or not to fix potato salad or a regular salad tomorrow for the lunch.  Will see if I hear from the son before I head to the store.  I know he likes both.

We ate leftovers yesterday - lunchmeat sandwiches for lunch; a hamburger dish I had made earlier in the week for dinner.  I took what I had heard a grandson had done - I put it in a burrito and rolled it up - and you know what?   It was really good!  I would do that again - hubby liked it as well.  We actually ate late for us (about 7PM) because we watched football earlier, trying to see the oldest son at a football game - which wasn't going to happen!  Daggone - the game before it on ESPN went into 6 OTs so it was over an hour before ESPN finally switched it over to the game we wanted (well, we didn't care to see it, but only because the son was there).  We then watched a movie.

What movie?  The Forge.  It is really a very good movie.  No shooting or killings, but a good movie to watch as a family.  Hubby and I both enjoyed it and for me, gave me a lot to think about.  Yes, it is a Kendrick Brothers movie (think Facing the Giants, or Fireproof, or Courageous, or War Room - all awesome movies).  One thing this young man asked himself was....

What is it that I put before God?  You should have seen his face when he realized it was his gaming!  I won't tell you of the anguish he went through as he faced the decision of what to do.  But I get it.  And I have sat and thought about that question.  NOTHING is to come before God.  Not even those we love. For some that could be hard, for especially our grandchildren - or great grandchildren - steal our hearts.  But our hearts should be focused on God first.  Before family. Before possessions. Before TV.  Before activities. Before church.  Yes, I said before church.  God is to be first. #1  Numero Uno.  So where is He in your lineup?  Watch the movie - see what choices were made and why.  

I went to bed with lightning bolts flashing around my left eye last night - and by being awakened suddenly this morning, I had lightning bolts flashing around the right eye.  I'm dealing with a headache at the moment, but at least the lightning bolts are gone. I will take something if it doesn't go away soon - right between the eyes!

Psalm 103:1-2 (NLT):  Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Oh how often we do forget the good things that the Lord does for us!  He provides for us, even when we don't realize it.  True, we may 'pay' for groceries, but He provided the means to get the money to pay for the groceries. He provided the means the get a vehicle to go to get the groceries.  He provides everything for us - why do we not pause and thank Him for all that He does?  Because we get so caught up in ourselves, what WE do for ourselves - right?  Yeah, I'm guilty as well.  Not pointing fingers, for sure!  I sometimes forget to pause and thank Him for the little things that soon become taken for granted.  I am guessing you take some things for granted too.

How often do you pray and thank God for your spouse?  Yeah, I don't do that often enough.  Yes, even though hubby drives me absolutely crazy, and I often share stories of him doing things in here, I do need to thank God for him more often than I do.  He means well; I am just not as appreciative as I should be. Maybe that is a 'goal' I need to work on in 2025.  Be more appreciative of hubby.  What about you? Do you need to be more appreciative of your spouse?  Your children?

I need to get off here and get busy; want to get to the store before it gets too busy. First of all, need to get dressed; don't think my jammies will keep me warm enough.  Hope you have a good day.

Blessings!

Enjoyed a quiet evening....

We didn't have 'girls night out' again last night as my daughter was not feeling well.  She had spent some time at her doctor's office and getting x-rays again for her arm.  The technician is still saying no broken bones, but it has been a month and she still cannot move her arm without intense pain.  I am reminded of when I broke my wrist - it took 3 visits to the doctor and being sent for x-rays before they found the crack in the bone.  We don't know whether her bone is bruised or what.  It isn't swollen nor red; but any touch nearly causes her to fall in pain.  I know - I forgot and touched her arm on Sunday!  Yipes!  She's still wearing a brace, but the constant pain is wearing on her.  It would me as well.

Hubby met up with his friends last night and when he came home, he made a comment that his friend Bill bought his dinner last night.  I guess he felt bad about forgetting to meet up with hubby last Friday.  We didn't discuss it much; I had a movie on when hubby came back home.

Yeah, I stayed home and decided I wasn't going to do anything.  It was another crazy busy day at work (and I got 'assigned' a hugemongous task of finding an open day on about 12 calendars and working with airline schedules to fly a group to Colorado within a month's time for a 2-3 hour whiteboard meeting.  I sure hope God hears my prayers for help on this one!  I am still working on the project in Teams and now this.  Do they think I am supposed to work?  I told my one boss, who actually CALLED me to give me the 'assignment', that I was hired to look pretty; not actually DO work.  Then we both laughed and he proceeded to tell me what was needed to be done.  It will be another busy day and I am hoping I have this task completed and on the calendars before I take off Friday, cause I don't want to be thinking about it!

My new study I'm going to do arrived yesterday and my sister got hers as well.  It was fun doing Elijah together so am hoping we can also work through this one together.  It's a 12 week study and I've done it before, and I am looking forward to completing it again.  Looks like the workbook has been upgraded so there will be new things for me to think about.  This workbook is called 'Seeking Him'.  It's a personal renewal type and I'm looking forward to going through it.

Oh - back to last night - I finished up a baby blanket I was working on - and watched three movies!  Hey, hubby was gone, it was quiet, and I just went one after another.  The last one was on when he got home and finished watching it with me.  I had seen them all before, but I enjoyed each one all over again.  So it was a very quiet and peaceful evening for the most part. One that I needed.

I am reminded of my big brother, Sam, this morning.  My little scripture for today has a saying that I heard for the first time from my big brother, and I am reminded of him and how much I truly do miss him.   I hear this saying occasionally, and I sometimes see it on a plaque, but I've never bought one.  Maybe I should look for a nice plaque and find a place to put it.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Can you sit back and think about the times that 'took your breath away'?  I'm not talking about fear, but the things that were so joyful and memorable that you could never forget.  Perhaps something that God allowed you to be a part of that at the moment you didn't think much of it, but it has stayed with you.

My first thought of something that 'took my breath away' is when I saw my first grandchild.  I was totally smitten by the sight of her.  Oh that God blessed me with such a grandchild!  Yes, I've other grandchildren that I have been smitten by, and totally love and adore, but she was my first one.  She was the first one that I released to God for His care and protection, for Him to guide her life.  Releasing her to God was the hardest thing I had to do.  I was her grandmother; didn't I know what was best for her?  But He showed me that He could do so much more for her, and He has.

So right now I'm sitting here thinking of my big brother and how valuable living life is.  Some times I admit that I feel like I am smothered, that I 'have no life' because of my circumstances, but LIFE is what you make of it.  It's formed by the choices we make.  One day at a time, the choices we make, will either give us memories of special times, or they will fill us with regrets.  I don't have to sit and feel sorry for myself for my circumstances; I can get up and do things.  Bake cookies.  Read a book.  Learn something new.  Sew. Crochet/knit.  Write a letter. Spend time with God.  Pray.  Oh there are so many things one can do!  So many things that we put off, so many things we allow that don't take our breath away with the memory of them.  I'm guilty of that too.

So let's make a pact, shall we?  Let's look for that one moment that can take our breath away.  A phone call to a grandchild, writing a note of encouragement to a friend, spending time with Jesus.  It doesn't matter WHAT it is that we do, but do SOMEthing.  Do the dishes for your spouse.  Sit down and actually talk to a child about their dreams.  And if you can't do it for yourself, do it for someone else.  Perhaps they also need a moment that will take their breath away.

I have always said that one rose means more to me than a dozen.  It isn't the quanity, it's the thought behind the gift.  The little things that 'take my breath away'.

What is it that 'takes your breath away'?  What is it that you can do for someone else that will bless them and 'take their breath away' so that when our breaths on earth are ended, they will look back and think of that one special thing (or more) that was done for them, and they felt so loved and blessed.

Blessings!