THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

Thanksgiving was yesterday and what a wonderful time we all had. I don't know why but I feel like this was my best Thanksgiving in a long time. I had my children and grands here and my mother shared the joy with us. I know she had a good time.

My daughter did ALL the cooking. This is what she made:

21 lb turkey with stuffing and gravy
yams
corn
potato salad
macaroni salad
rolls
2 chocolate pudding pies
1 apple pie
1 pumpkin pie
(I made the green bean casserole.)

My daughter is a saint!!

She was up until midnight the night before Thanks cutting and chopping. Then she got up at 5AM to put the turkey in the oven. Right until we all ate she was in that kitchen whipping, spooning, basting, etc.

It tooks us about 20 or less to eat. But it was delicious!!

I volunteered to clean the kitchen since I HAD to do something. But I didn't do it until later after eating. I can't eat and then get up and start washing dishes.

We all spent time with Mom and it was great having her in my home. She doesn't come often to my house. I want to have her over more. She enjoyed being with her great-granddaughters Gina & Larissa.

The evening ended way to soon. We all were contented.

I'm so thankful for all the things God has been doing in my family. The main thing is my son-in-law Tim is now going to AA. He is doing so much better. He is taking time for his kids now and is becoming the father they have needed. He shows my daughter much attention and consideration. It will take awhile before she learns to totally trust him again. She has been hurt so much but they are on the mend. Thanks be to God.

God's blessings are overflowing. Thanks you Lord.

OCTOBER 19, 1973

Today is our 34th wedding anniversary. It's been a peaceful day with Frank. We actually had time alone together. We went to Outback for lunch but got there and were informed they don't open until 4 PM. So we went to Chili's instead.

I can't believe the years that have gone by. They did go by fast. For all the joys and deep heartaches I wouldn't trade them for anything. Our past is what has made us what we are today as a couple. We've had some hit's and misses but we've stayed the course. The best thing to happen to us is that we have a life in Christ together. There's nothing like having your man love Jesus too. NOthing like seeing him worship the Lord. NOthing like seeing him with his glasses on studying the Word. Nothing like hearing him play praise songs on the guitar and letting me sing with him. Nothing like sharing spiritual things together and understanding what each other is talking about. Nothing like knowing that we'll each be in heaven someday at the Banquet of the Lamb sharing bread with our Savior.

Who knows how many more years we will have together here on earth. All I know is I want to spend them with him. I want to retire with him, do ministry together someday with him.

Want to close my days with him and the Lord by my side.

When Frank and I had some really bad days that I thought our marriage was over, God saw it through by His grace alone. It was only through Him that we are together. We tried to sing a song together at church when we recommited ourselves together and I couldn't get through it because I was crying too much. Frank had to finish the song alone by my side. It's by Bill & Gloria Gaither, "Something Beautiful."

"If there ever were dreams that were lofty and noble, they were mine...
something, something???
But my dreams turned to ashes, my castles all crumbled,
My fortune turned to loss,
So I wrapped them in the rags of my life
And I laid them at the cross.

Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer him were emptiness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life.

This has been the theme song of our marriage and we still look at each other today and smile when we hear that song play. It's our song.

All we had to offer Christ in our marriage was ruble and ashes but God made something beautiful of our lives together.

So I relish today's 34th year with Frank. It's a great adventure.

Did I say I love him? :)

OH MY!

It's obvious I was having a bad day from my last post. I was feeling a little inadequate with myself. Comparing myself to other.

I wish I could find blogs written by older women. All the ones I go to have young children etc.

The women are much younger than me. My children are adult (with adult problems) and my function as nurturing mother is done.

I'm more into talking about the grandkids.

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

EVERY blog I visit is amazing to me that women can be so creative. Everyone with a blog is beautiful. Have the beautiful children. Handsome husbands. Patience of a saint. No one seems to have problems.

I wish I could come across a blog that had normal people, like my family. Not perfect.

I think every blogger has gone to college because they write so creatively and humorous. Some blogs, its like reading a book. And the graphics, oh my. Did they go to school for that too?

I've come to realize that the people who look average or below don't blog or don't let anyone visit their blog. Only the beautiful people reveal themselves.

This culture is so looks oriented and it comes out on the blogs.

Will the real people please come out of the closet.

THE DAYS ARE COOLER

Ahhhh. The days are much coooler now. I think we might have a few more days of heat though. Every September we have a hot spell right in the middle of the month. After that is Autumn time. One of my favorite seasons. It starts to get cool and the leaves start falling. Unfortunately in SoCal we don't experience the beautiful fall colors that appear in other parts of the country. (like the picture)

Some trees here to change colors, but most trees either stay green all year or just lose their leaves. Either way I love autumn.

IT'S SO HOT!!!!

Every winter when I am so cold I think about what it was like the summer before and can't remember the heat. Today I remember thinking about the heat last winter and yes, it is hot! I can't remember it getting this hot when I was growing up. And the humidity. We used to have a dry heat, now I feel like it's Florida. (exagerating) Now I wonder how cold was it last winter when I was shivering and thinking I can't get warm!!

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised with the heat. It is summer. September will be hot too. Maybe Oct.

Well I'll say by and go outside and sit a spell. Til the mosquitos start biting.

Hate to see my electric bill this month. Have been using electricity alot with fans and A/C.

BIG BEAR GETAWAY

These are just a few of our Big Bear pictures. We had a wonderful time and we all wished we had more time. We plan to do it again next year. Great memories.

FEELING DRY

I'm feeling as spiritually dry as the old tree trunk. (I hope it's not dead!)

It's been almost a month since I've last been in church and I feel it so bad. Today it felt so good to be at church in the park and with my spiritual family, Gloria, Irma, Sandy, Julie. I actually could feel the joy of the Holy Spirit welling up in me.

I've backslidden so much. No Bible reading. No prayer. It sure does make a difference. That saying is so true, "A week without prayer makes one weak." Same can be said for "A week with out the Word makes one weak."

I recommited myself to the Lord today, with my time, tithe and talents. And I meant it. There's that verse in the Bible that says, When I am faithless, He is still faithful." Thank you Lord for your abundant, amazing Grace. I hate to think where I'd be without you. Your love is amazing. I am your daughter and I love you.

NEW IDOL! LORD HELP ME!!

I'm back to reading again. I get so involved when I read. I think I exchanged TV idolatry for reading idolatry. What's bad when I read, like TV, is that I tune this world out. When I'm reading, do not disturb me! I'm reading!! How dare you interrupt this crucial moment in my reading world! You want to talk with me, wait until I finish this particular chapter, then I can talk. (with TV, it's wait until the commercial break, then I can talk). Now this kind of scenerio is great if I was single, but I've got a husband and grandkids that love to talk to me. How rude and foolish I am.

But, I do notice that when I'm reading Christian material I'm not obsessive with my concentration as with a "worldly" novel. I realized that yesterday. I was reading and Frank wanted to talk about something. I put my bookmark in place, closed the book, and listened. Hmmm. That is so interesting to me. I'll have to some more testing on this observation.

My new read and it's so good is "Battling Unbelief" by John Piper (Multunomah Press). You can visit his website at http://www.desiringgod.org/ or com, I'm not sure. You can listen to his sermons, great prices on resource materials etc. He's a little deep sometimes and I have to think about what he said but I'm in need of some deeper thought sometimes. He did a study on the book of Romans with his church, verse by verse, and it took them, I think he said 8 years to complete. One can listen to his studies and they are so thought provoking. He is a right on, true to the Word pastor.

Well, I've got to sign off now. Must start packing for Big Bear. Talk later about BB and my journey in becoming idol less and have more of the Real One in my life. I thank God for his AMAZING GRACE. Even in my faithlessness, he is still faithful. What an awesome God is that!!!

Now my heart starts sing the song...There is none like you, no one else can touch my heart like You do, I can search for all eternity, Lord, and find, there is none like You...

The sun has risen, the crows are cawing and the planes are reviving their engines (they take off at 7 AM sharp), I can hear them.

Wow, I can't believe how happy I feel right now. It's not Big Bear or the book I'm reading, it's God. A little touch of heaven here on earth.

Today I pray that I can live in the Spirit and not in the flesh. I pray that I can be a servant to my family this week, that I can live for God and God alone, because there is none like Him!!

Enough of my ramblings.

I THINK I GOT IT

I was trying to get pictures from Frank's picture. I had to log off and go onto Frank's pictures and email them to myself to get them to my pictures.

So the third time should be a charm. These should be pictures of our Big Bear trip last year.

TRY AGAIN....

I'm going to Frank's pictures looking for some grandkids at Big Bear last year. I'm just randomly picking codes that should be pictures. he's supposed to have albums with Big Bear shots but can't seem to find them. I'll try again....

This isn't it either. This is a picture of the kids that went on a mission trip to Alaska with Frank. This Batmobile was at a roadstop near Anchorage.

Better give up. Wasting my time and yours. :(

WHAT THE!!!!

This is not a picture of Larissa or Gina or Timothy. Where did this come from???

GETTING READY TO GO

Had the kids over tonight to discuss our weekend in Big Bear. Whew! Get's a little crazy in my small house when everyone wants to talk at once and everyone has a different opinion. But I think we have it settled. Leave at noon on Friday to be in Big Bear by 3 PM. Look forward to a relaxing time with the family. The cabin is huge so we shouldn't step on each other. I just want everyone to have a good time. This will be the test, if we can all get along. I tend to want to "control" and mother everyone which isn't good. I end up getting stressed.

We went to Big Bear last year with Timothy & Larissa and had a great time. This time around we will have a flushing toilet! No more rustic cabins for me. If the toilet doesn't flush I don't to stay. Don't want to wake up to the pitter-patter of rats between the walls. Ugh!! and Ugh!!

I'm going to try and put some pictures of last year. If you don't see pictures in this post then I couldn't do it. I don't remember how from last post.

THIS IS A TEST

If this works out I will have to get lots of pictures of my family. This is my granddaughter to the left and her cousin to the right, Gina & Desiree

TAMMY FAYE BAKER

Saw a clip of Tammy Faye Baker (Messner) last night on the Larry King Live show and the poor thing is dying of cancer and looks horrible. I feel so bad for her. This once vibrant woman has wasted away to nothing (65 lbs) and looks it. It's a shock to see death in her face. But the miraculous thing is her Spirit is still strong. Her love for the Lord and her witness to Him is what matters. She is my sister in the Lord and I'm praying for her. Yes, she knows where she is going when she leaves this earth and that is her hope, that's what keeps her strong in her physical weakness. Her dying brings God glory.

"For we know that in the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent, we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared for us this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always of good courage...." 2 Corinthians 5:1-6a

MURPHY'S LAW OR GOD'S TESTING

Why does it always happen that when I need my Canon copy machine to work, for a heavy print load, it doesn't! Mr. Murphy always puts his law into action during Easter week, Christmas week and today. I'm talking about trying to print church bulletins during a heavy print week and having the machine not cooperate. My machine is out of order due to constant jams!! For a secretary going on vacation and needing to have the next two Sunday bulletins done by tomorrow this is horrible!! I must calm myself down. .........deep breath......breath out.....

I did put my call into the service dept but when they'll come out who knows. When my machine is down it seems like all Long Beach copy machines are down!

What I've described above always happens during Holy Week before Easter as I have to do Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (noon & evening service, both different). and Easter Sunday double the number.

At Christmas Christmas Eve (morning & night) and Christmas day and Sunday if its before or after.

I shouldn't be surprised, it happens all the time, and I'm not making this up!! I should be aware of the schemes of the enemy to get me miffed and anxious or maybe God is teaching me about patience. Trusing in him to get things in order, to make it right. Every year when I go through this same scene it always works out. I have never had to go to Kinko's to have them do the job. It's always worked out fine. And it will today too. I still have tomorrow and worse case scenerio I'll have to come in Saturday and finish, BUT it will get done.

So with that off my chest, I will thank God for His presence, His peace and laugh with Him as we wave Mr. Murphy good-bye. No sad faces here and anxiety. The Master of the Universe is my spiritual repairman.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want,
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul." Ps. 23:1-3a

WHAT AM I DOING UP SO EARLY!

What gives? I keep waking up at the wee hours of the morning? Insomnia? It's been happening within the last couple of weeks. What's going on in my brain? What am I doing blogging at this hour of the morning? Nothing like a bright screen to keep me alert. I think I'll turn off the light and go count sheep, or pray, or think, or toss and turn.

SOPRANOS, PARIS HILTON AND THE AMERICAN IDOL

Yes, I pay allegiance to the american idol daily. This idol has stolen my heart and takes so much of my time. Please, no one disturb me when I am "worshiping." My idol is TV.

How many times have I professed, "No more!" and how many times has that thing called me back. TV is not bad but when it becomes more important to me than being in God's Word, it is a sin.

Yesterday evening I was deliberate in not watching TV, though I did want to watch The Office but had to go out during that time. What did I do with my time? I did Bible study. And it was great! I could feel my brain starting to function again and ask questions about what I was reading in the Word to cause me to do some cross-referencing and word-study. Colossians 3:18 is a big one. What does it really mean to submit to one's husband? This verse is a hot-one in Bible studies, and my small group will be discussing it this coming Tuesday. It means what it says, wives submit. I think we often stop at verse 18 and forget to look at verse 19 where husbands are to love their wives and not be harsh with them. They go together. I have to look at Col. 3:14 which says "put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony." A loving husband enables a wife to submit, come under, her husbands authority, head of the family position, more willingly. And if he's not loving? Hmmmm, I haven't got that far yet.

If I was watching TV all night I wouldn't have had this stimulating study.

I resolve today not to watch TV. Just for today. One day at a time.

Welcome into my heart Lord Jesus. I've been away too long. Renew me today by the power of your Word. Your Word is Life.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Loving this weekend. Nothing planned. All free time.

Kids coming over tomorrow for a BBQ. Everyone bringing something and then we'll eat. Timothy and Larissa spending the night so that is a treat. Can't wait til Gina is old enough to stay too.

Can't forget why I have this fabulous weekend. War!

Living with a Vietnam vet makes the day even more meaningful. I know my vet thinks about his fallen friends and I know he still misses them. It's just in the last few years that he has opened up more about his fellow soldiers.

He visits the website for Vets and looks for familiar names.

His memories still play actively in his mind but have subsided some, since he's become a Christian. God has healed him of the daily stressful remembrances.

Triggers that can be big for him but have no meaning for us are: helicopters hovering overhead, loud planes above our house, trash bags left by CalTrans along the high way, the 4th of July fireworks make him nervous, loud backfire from a car if close enough can make him flinch. Never get close to his face and wake him up when he is sleeping. One may get a fist in the face.

This Memorial Day I will treat him special. I will thank him for his military service and how proud I am of him. I will ask him a question or two and maybe he'll tell me a story or change the subject. Whatever is easy for him.

God bless my Vet and God bless this good country.

MITZI

SHOPPING WITH MOM

Took the day off from work today and played hookey with Mom. My mom is amazing. She is in almost perfect health, independent, and very generous. She is always talking about not wanting to be a burden to any of her children when she gets older. She is preparing for her death by giving us things around her house that she thinks we may want. She always says "why wait til I'm dead, take it now." So my brother and sister, as well as myself, have some things from her that mean something to us.

Today again, we talked about her living with one of her children and she not wanting to invade our privacy and being a burden. It wasn't a serious talk but lively and we laughted alot about it.

I guess the point of this story is: When we were in the 99 cent store I found myself "running" after her as she did her shopping! She is in better health than I am and I'm almost positive that she will outlive me! It's funny when she talks about dying and not being a burden but I see it the other way around. I'll probably be the one to be a burden and go before her. I can see her taking care of me!! It was a pleasure being with her today. She indeed is one of a kind. I love Mom.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Today as I think about my mother I am so thankful that she gave me a foundation of believing in God. I can remember her putting me to bed and teaching me the sign of the cross as my bedtime prayer. She taught me this simple prayer in Spanish. I can still see the two of us, me tucked in bed and her sitting at the side of the bed guiding my hands to make the sign of the cross. Bless her Lord.

My son told me today how good a mother I was while he was growing up. I'm so glad he said that because I can remember so many of the mistakes. To tell the truth I think I was a lousy mother sometimes. I had little patience and yelled alot. I had to so many troubles that I think I took my frustrations and fears out on my kids. I have a lot of guilt over that. So to hear them say that I was a good mom blesses me.

There have been times that I have remembered something that I feel so guilty over and I've called my son to tell him I was sorry for the time I..... and he doesn't even remember! That blesses me to. Maybe God has covered that memory with grace so they weren't traumatized.

If I could do it over again there are so many things I would do over.

Tomorrow Mother's Day will be over and I won't think about these things again. One thing I can thank God for is that I directed them to God like my mother did for me. If that's the only thing I did good in their life than I am happy.

There is no greater gift than the knowledge of God, a legacy of faith.

From my mother, to me, to my children, to my grandchildren and to generations after.

God be praised!

Make Myself at Home

Thanks to my blogger friend (sister) Lisa I am now an official blogger on this particular blog site.

The day was so much cooler today and the night is beautiful.
Yesterday's fire in Griffith Park was close to home. Going north on the Blvd. we could see the actual flames in the distance. Made the fire personal and not just another news item.

Nothing to report right now. I'll take some time to figure out this new adventure.

My boss has been gone for almost 3 three weeks and when he's gone I have absolutely nothing to do after the Sunday bulletin or other misc weekly tasks. Please don't tell anyone but I have been watching the Phil Spector trial on the internet. I do minimize the screen so I only get the voice but still I can't help bringing it up to see what the witnesses and attorneys look like. Of coarse everyone know what Phil Spector looks like. Strange man. AND GUILTY!!! I would not make a fair juror on this case.

MITZI

NEW HOME