Retirement

Al cutting his Retirement Cake at his party.

Today is Al's last day to drive a school bus for Tangipahoa Parish. It has been a ministry and a blessing to us. His coworkers had a surprise party for him yesterday and it was very nice. His aide asked everyone there to raise their hand if Al had helped them. Then she asked for them to raise their hands if Al had helped them spiritually. It was a very moving experience to see the people that he has worked with that he has been able to touch. Please pray for us as we enter this new phase of our lives. We are truly excited and want to be open to the Lord's will in our new beginning.

God blessed me when He gave Al to me and yesterday Al was able to see some of the other people that the Lord has allowed him to bless. We knew when the Lord gave him the bus route that he would use it as a ministry for children but now we are able to see that he has ministered to adults who in turn will continue to minister to children. God is Good!

Baby Girl with no name......

We found out Thursday that our newest grandchild will be a GIRL!!! We are very excited. This is a picture of her being very modest with crossed legs. Don't you think she looks like me? The Floridians are not going to tell us the name until she is born. They say that they haven't really discussed it. I suggested Lilac Flower. Sunshine has suggested Reuben. I would appreciate it if you post some suggestions under the comment section of this blog. I know there are alot of good names out there that Alanna and Matt may not have thought of.

The Texans are home safely. I took a nap yesterday when they left and I slept with a bean bag and drumstick in my bed that I did not even know was there.

We are going to the Rodeo tonight in Amite. We enjoy watching the events. We haven't been in a while because the dates have conflicted with other plans.

We praise God for our new little granddaughter...and remember to leave me your suggested names on the comment section and I will pass them on.

Names of God

We had another wonderful Sunday this week! The Sunday morning sermon was on forgiveness and Brother Jake explained that we must forgive with our Head, our Heart, and our Hands.
Mat 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Mat 18:22
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy‑seven times.

Forgiveness does not always come easily but it offers such a cleansing, uplifting spirit. I find the one with the unforgiveness is the one that suffers. Bottom line: Remember the Lord's Prayer: Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Other forgiveness verses:
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sunday night's sermon was on some of the Names of God. God knew I needed this this week. Brother Jake mentioned: JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35). Alanna is in Florida pregnant and sometimes sick and I feel the need to mother her (we find out today if she is having a boy or a girl). I wanted to go and suprise her when she came out into the parking lot but I need to let her and Matt be a family. Jehovah-Shammah.
My Sunshine is battling eczema. Eczema is an allergic condition that affects the skin. Dry, flaky skin appears over red, inflamed areas, causing intense itching and burning. Imagine being 2 and dealing with that, but, I claim Jehovah-Shammah.
My Mom is in Alabama battling her throat cancer. It hurts to hear her suffer, she is now dehydrated also but her blood counts are good. My Dad is trying hard but I hear him suffering too. Jehovah-Shammah. I know God is There in each of these situations, handling them far better than I could.
I have also claimed JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24 many times this week. God gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Thank you Jesus.
Another name of God that I have claimed this week is: JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew "Joshua" (Y'shua) or "Je-Hoshua" meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION. He knows the end and I will be with Him.

Our friend Hoppa is losing some of his hair with his radiation. This is amazing because he has the thickest hair that I have ever seen on a man. He is also beginning to feel tired (side effect of radiation). He has the most wonderful attitude though. He said that it doesn't slow him down...he just keeps going. Please continue to pray for him and his family he is an inspiration!

We lost a good friend, Wanda Castell last Friday. She battled lung cancer. She was an amazing woman. I was reminiscing about all of our interactions and I could not think of any time when this lady had a bad day. I'm sure she did, she just didn't show it. She was a hardworking, loving, christian woman. She lived her life focusing on good. Please pray for her family, especially Ashley, one of her daughters. I don't even know if Wanda realized the positive influence that she had on others lives.

I received an email that spoke to me and I hope you like it. I have eaten alot of crow in my life...thinking that I would never be able to do this or that, especially as far as witnessing and my Christian life. I think God has a wonderful sense of humor. He is: JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" he knows all. Kelley cannot do anything but Christ in me can.

Here is the email:
Who God Uses
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it's me.
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND Lazarus was dead!

No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.

Have a great Day!

My newest Grandchild

This is my newest grandchild inside her/his mother. The baby is due October 19. Alanna and Matt traded their Mazda 8 for a Mazda 5 on May 9, 2007. They officially have a "family" vehicle now.

My Babies on the way to Florida

My babies stopped by for a day or so on their way to visit the Florida relatives. They are growing up so fast! Life is such a joy for them and with them! I think all three of them are outside kids. Starshine loves the song Friend of God, Sunshine loves I'll Fly Away and Puddin' loves you to sing Puddin to any tune. That is the only word the song needs, Puddin, Puddin, Puddin! My Grandson told me what church he went to yesterday and the songs he sang. That is such a praise...he is only 3! They are a blessing.

Catch Up

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a while. I haven't been home long enough. I think we will be home for a few days now. The texans are coming tomorrow on their way to Florida. I'm ready to see them already though.

Ponchatoula High School Graduation is tonight. I want to congratulate Logan, Morgan, Kristen, Roxanne, and the rest of the graduates. I will be praying that you have a wonderful and safe graduation night. You should be proud of your accomplishments thus far. Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Always look to Him and you will not go wrong.

I would also like to congratulate our son-in-law on a great campaign and ultimate victory in his School Board election. We are very proud of you and hope you have a wonderful time at your induction tonight. We enjoyed participating in yor campaign.

Six more days until we find out if our Floridians are having a male or female. I'm guessing girl. I think I am in the minority though. My Starshine has already named the new baby Reuben.

Thanks for your prayers for Alanna, she seems to be feeling better. She sent us pictures of her with her new vehicle and you could see baby Traylor in her belly. It was cute!

I don't know why our daughters left the great state of Louisiana so please indulge me as I give them a few reminders of why they lived here:

THINGS YOU LEARN LIVING IN LOUISIANA:
1. Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in LOUISIANA.
3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in LOUISIANA plus a couple no one's seen before.
4. If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
5. Onced and twiced are words.
6. It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.
7. Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.
8. People actually grow and eat okra.
9. Fixinto is one word.
10. There is no such thing as "lunch". There is only dinner and then there is supper.
11. Ice tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking itwhen you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar!
12. Backwards and forwards means "I know everything about you."
13. Jeet? is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
14. You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is.You work until you' re done or it's too dark to see.
15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

They have carried some of these traditions to their new homes though so maybe they are just evangelizing the world.

Al has 8 more days to drive before retirement! That is exciting. We are blessed and cannot wait to see what God has in store for us. (Hopefully it involves sleep)

My girl Janice and her husband are coming June 1-10. I am so excited to see them. We have been missing them bad!

Puddin's baby dedication was wonderful, she is blessed and is a blessing. I miss my Sunshine now that I'm home I don't have anyone to drink.....I mean watch my ICEE.

Please continue praying for my Mom. She is sounding stronger and getting out more. She is scared to go back to Houston at the end of the month for her results though.

I think I want Apolo to win dancing with the stars. I would not be unhappy if Joey wins. I would be unhappy if Laila wins, the guys are much better.

Have a Blessed Day!

Thanks

I was deleting old emails today (at the suggestion of the Geek Squad) and I came across this in an email that I had received from a friend. It is so true that I (maybe we?) forget everything that God has given us.....everything...even the very breath that we take. My husband has a very famous (but true) line that he states whenever someone thinks that something that happened was unfair. Al says that what we deserve is Hell, but because of grace, by faith we are saved from it. God always has our best interests at heart as we do for our own children. It is a wonderful feeling when one of my kids tell me thank you and I'm afraid that perhaps I don't say it to my heavenly Father enough.

THANK-YOU

Dear GOD,
I want to thank You for what you have already done.I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards,I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better,I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed. I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because, FATHER,
YOU haven't given up on me!
THANK-YOU

I was sad to hear Billy Ray was kicked off of Dancing with the Stars. He was (by far) the worst of the remaining dancers but I thought that the judges hurt his feelings Monday night. I'm pulling for Joey or Apolo.

Our community lost a wonderful man this week. Dr. Laurence Clegg passed away. Please remember his family in your prayers, I'm sure Dr. Clegg is rejoicing in His sight right now.

Ponchatoula High School Class of 2000 also lost another member this week. Please remember Chris Branch's family and friends in your prayers. So sad for such a young life to be gone so quickly.

Alanna seems to be doing better. They bought a new vehicle today and that is enough to lift anyones spirits. It is a Mazda 5, whatever that means. It looks like a pretty minivan to me. She assured me that it is NOT a van though!??????? I also got to see pictures of her pregnant and she is precious. I should also mention the picture of Matt kissing the YELLOW Mazda 8 goodbye.

My texans are doing good. The big election is this weekend. We are excited about seeing them this weekend.

My Mom is hanging in. The good news is that the doctors ran some thyroid tests to see if the radiation had damaged her thyroid and it has not. That is a praise.

Please pray for Leisa and her family...God knows why.

Fighting Fair

I love Sundays! We are allowed to go worship God corporately! It is such an uplifting experience. Al and I are blessed to have a church where we feel God is using us and we are in His will. Our church family is our extended family as brothers and sisters in Christ and it is wonderful to catch up on Sundays and see God at work in everyone's life. As Starshine would say....we sang one of my favorite songs. It is Here With Me by Mercy Me. If you don't know it, here are the lyrics:

I long for your embrace
Every single day
To meet you in this place
And see you face to face
Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees
And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
You're everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known
You are holy
And I fall down on my knees
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender:
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

We are currently in a series of sermons on Home Improvement. This week's sermon was on How to Fight Fair. I had to think, personally, and Al and I really don't fight. We never have. Now in our first year of marriage we had some different opinions that were cause for concern (mostly religious issues), but we have never really fought. We usually feel the same way about things or are willing to see things the other persons way if it is that important to them. I can't imagine getting in a heated argument with him. He is a morning person, but he lets me sleep. I am an evening person but I am ready to go to bed when he is. He is constant--stable--at one level, I am up and down, but we complement each other. There is no doubt that God put us together, thank you Jesus.

Today is my good friend Janet's Birthday. She is such a blessing in my life. She is my sister in Louisiana (and Heaven). She is as REAL as a person could be and as Honest as anything. She has 2 beautiful daughters that are happily married and a beautiful grandaughter, Jillian. Her husband adores her (as he should) and her sister is a precious friend. Janet knows me as well as anyone and more than most and she still loves me. She has truly been a blessing in my life. We are celebrating tonight at Trey Yeun (sp?). Eat your hearts out King James and Matt! Janet, I love you girl!


We saw our friend Hoppa yesterday and after 1 week of radiation he is doing well. My mom received 2 blood transfusions Friday and is feeling better. She has asked my Dad to cut down her feeding to 4 cans a day instead of 6 though because she began throwing up at night. She is fed by feeding tube. I am not sure that 4 cans of nourishment is enough. Please continue to pray. Alanna is feeling better since she is taking her vitamins at night. Her only gripe now is that I did not mention granddogs on my blog. There you go Alanna that was for you! GRANDDOGS!!!!

As I learn how to do this blogging thing I'll try to put some pictures or something interesting.

Beginnings

Well, this will be my first post and honestly I don't know where to begin. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have the BEST husband that God created! I have 2 great daughters and son-in-laws. I have 3.5 grandchildren and THEY are the best thing since ice cream!!!

We had Bro. Ed White speak at our church last week on financial freedom and it was though he was preaching how Al and I had chosen to live our life. It was neat. We were living scripturally (is that a word) without even knowing it. It is good to live in His hands. Bro. White speaks about getting out of debt and living more in a cash based world and by doing this you will be financially blessed by God and therefore able to give Offerings not just Tithes. He gives scriptural basis for these standards and he told about how he and his family came from almost bankruptcy to the point of where they give 25-35% of their income (above their Tithe) to God's Ministries. It was a very good testimony and service.

As you know my Mom is battling throat cancer and I covet your prayers for her. She has been treated at MD Anderson and is now home recovering for a few weeks. She will go back to Houston at the end of May to get evaluated on her chemo and radiation. We pray that it was successful.

Our good friend Hoppa began receiving radiation this week to shrink a benign brain tumor and I covet your prayers for him and his family also.

Next weekend (on Mother's Day) we will be dedicating our precious Puddin' to the Lord. Please pray for her and her parents at this special time. As she grows it is important that she sees Jesus in all of us.

Alanna is still not feeling well with her pregnancy so please pray for her also. She thinks that it is the prenatal vitamins.

This is beginning to look like a prayer list!

I think I will include some of my favorite quotes at this point:

'You're always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company." Diane Von Furstenburg

It took me a long time to learn to like much less love myself. If Christ is in me, and He is, then I am worthy and lovely and loveable.

"In public, as in private life, I am persuaded that honesty will forever be found to be the best policy."George Washington

Truth is a BIG Deal! Sometimes it may not feel good to hear it but it is the only way to go. You will not trip up if you only tell the truth. We need to raise our children realizing that only truth is honorable. This is a moral issue and probably a place where my generation has failed. There are no small lies or white lies, they are just lies, untruths.

I don't know what I am going to do with this blog.......so far it just looks like a journal but we'll see where it leads.