Happy 2009!!!!!

A Happy and Blessed New Year to all of you, my friends!
Click on the "movie " and enjoy!

DaySpring Movies

Let's Have Coffee in 2009!!!!

I recently received this interesting little parable in my email. I had read it before, but it was a good reminder for me as I reflect on this past year and the new year ahead and so I pass it along to you today.

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. Without saying a word, she let them sit and boil.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? '

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials you make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to bring you joy!

Vacation Memories

This is Mom with Samantha.
Elise, Mom and me
Another picture of Mom and Samantha
Mom with her three daughters - Nancy, me, and Karen
Kris, my niece and Kare, my sister
Mom with my nephew, Kraig
Yummy dessrts for my birthday celebration
Grandson Bill
Aunt Elise enjoying Bill and Leilani
Elise and Leilani in the snow
Elise and Leilani enjoying dinner

Waiting for a table at Logan's Roadhouse

We had so much fun in Michigan and made some wonderful family memories!

Immanuel

A blessed Christmas to all of my faithful readers! This blog, which started out as something therapeutic for me to do, has turned into such an unexpected joy for me! I am amazed and humbled by the people who read these ramblings and I have been so encouraged by the comments I have received. I have had readers from as far away as Iraq and Amsterdam! And I have been visited by readers from several states including California, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, and others! I don't know who you all are, but it's fun to see where you come from! Soon I will have my 1,000th visitor! This has really been a joyful adventure!

This morning for my quiet time I read some from Matthew about the birth of Jesus. "...and they will call him Immanuel-which means, 'God with us'." Matthew 1:23 I have always loved that name and it's meaning. The name Immanuel was especially meaningful that first Christmas after we lost our home. It gave me such assurance and security to know that God was with me, truly with me, walking with me, holding my hand, being my constant support.

That verse from Matthew sent me on a scavenger hunt of sorts as I tried to think of other verses that back up the name Immanuel. How about Matthew 28:20. Jesus, the baby talked about in chapter 1, is now ready to return home to His Father. One of the last things He says to His disciples (and to us) are the reassuring words..."and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Because of Immanuel, because of this God Who became flesh and has promised to be with me always, I have hope and joy and peace. Christmas blessings to you all!

Enjoying the Snow

Hi, friends! No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...but I have fallen into some pretty deep snow! Elise and I flew up to Michigan last Thursday. We are having so much fun celebrating with family and friends, even though "the weather outside is frightful"! I will post more when we return to Houston, and I'll have lots of cute pictures to post too! Forget Christmas...Remember Jesus! Hugs!!!

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???

Okay, try this without looking at the answers.

1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3, then again. Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator . . .)

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number . . .

5) Add the digits together.

Now, scroll down to find your role model . . .






1. Einstein
2. Nelson Mandela
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. Brad Pitt
8. Hitler
9. Joyce Schulting
10. Barack Obama

Introducing Ligia

Today I would like you to meet one of my newest friends, Ligia. You pronounce her name Lee-he-yah. Ligia is one of my students . I have been teaching her English since March. Ligia is from Cordoba, Mexico and she has always lived in Mexico until moving to Houston last year. She is married to Agustin and they have one son and twin daughters. The minute you walk into her home, it is obvious that Ligia loves her family and extended family...pictures abound! She grew up in a rural area and she loves to tell stories of her days running around barefoot, climbing trees, exploring vegetation, and caring for animals. Even today, she will take me to her little garden and gingerly show me her newly planted herbs. Many a language lesson has been interrupted when she sees a "beard" outside...that's her cute way of pronouncing "bird". And then she will run off to get her camera and try to get a close-up of a Bluejay or a Cardinal.

She has told me so many stories of her family. Tears come to her eyes when she recalls her dear Mother who died when Ligia was only 21. I'm so happy for her that she will be able to return to Mexico for Christmas!

Many cute and funny things have happened to us as we have forged our friendship. Language has often been a barrier, since I know very little Spanish, and yet somehow we have been able to laugh and cry and pray together! Here are a few glimpses into our friendship:

• We cook with each other. Ligia has taught me how to make Poblanos con Pollo and I helped her make Salmon for her husband. When I first said the word "salmon", Ligia blushed and giggled. She asked why we Americans called it THAT word! After several minutes of pouring over the dictionary, we finally figured out that she thought I was calling the fish "semen"! Embarrassing, but we still have belly laughs over that one!
• Often I have gone shopping with Ligia. Last week we were at the Disney store buying gifts for what seemed like every child in Mexico! The salesperson asked Ligia if I was her Mother-in-law and Ligia laughed. "No", she responded. "She is more like my Mother!" I took that as a very special compliment.
• Ligia NEVER would let me babysit the children. I would often volunteer, but she was very hesitant to say yes. It was a great honor when she and her husband let me watch one of the twins while they were at the hospital with the other twin. Since then, I have been asked often and every time I consider it an honor because I know it is a huge sign that they trust me.
• Last week, Agustin could not get away from work to go with Ligia and the twins to a follow-up appointment with a specialist. The doctor discovered a cyst on little Maria's kidney and he wanted them to take her to a specialist at Texas Children's Hospital. Ligia asked me if I could go with her and watch Gabbie while Maria was checked. I had never been to this hospital and was in awe of what a wonderful facility it is!! In the short amount of time we were there I got a small glimpse of hurt and hope as parents waited with their children to see a doctor. When we left, Ligia said, "Joyce, when I first came to Houston, I saw this big building and read the words 'Texas Children's Hospital', and I prayed that I would never have to take one of my children there, but today I am here." Today we rejoice that Maria is fine and that the cyst is not cancerous!
• Every time I call on the phone, Ligia says, "Hello, my English teacher!" She briefly had another teacher before me and that teacher taught Ligia the wrong pronunciation of many words. Because of that teacher, Ligia often says things like, "I have a head H." It took me a while to teach her that she needs to say "ache" that rhymes with "bake" and "lake". Now it's our little inside joke when we say we have a "head H" or a "stomach H".

Tomorrow is Ligia's birthday and we are going to celebrate with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins! Happy Birthday, my friend!

P.S. Ligia and her husband are both college graduates and very intelligent. She is a journalist and he is an engineer. Their son did not know one word of English last year. The school strongly advised them to place their son in a bi-lingual school. Agustin was very firm that they allow their son to enter a regular 4th grade class. It's been one year, and last week at the conferences they gave a glowing report on their son. He will be entering honor classes for middle school next year. He also was in the school's spelling bee and received second place!!!! The families that I work with place great value on education and learning English. They never cancel class - it is an important priority to them.

Valley of Vision

Have you ever read the Puritan prayers found in the book, The Valley of Vision? They are deep, insightful, and penetrating prayers. Today, I would like to share one that is appropriate for Advent and one that I hope inspires you to take a moment to ponder the wonder of our Savior's birth.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and enlarge my mind;

Let me hear good tidings of great joy, and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, and adore,

my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose, my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;

place me like an ox, ass, camel, goat, to look with them upon my Redeemer's face, and in Him account myself delivered from sin;

let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart, embrace Him with undying faith,

exulting that He is mine and I am His.

In Him Thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.

It's December!

It's December already! My favorite month of the year! I know this is a busy month for everyone, but I'm going to try to do something I've never done before and you're all invited to join me in my new adventure. And what adventure is that, you may ask? Well, I would like to consciously prepare my heart and mind every day in preparation for Christmas. Everyday I'm going to read something by a theologian that I hold in high regard. Along with Scripture, I'm going to contemplate on the words of Calvin, Piper, Whitfield, Luther, and others. I hope to learn from their insights and in doing so, enrich my experience with this season of Advent. I'll be sharing my first reading later today, but for right now I'll share some pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to Alabama.

Our first stop along Interstate 10

Ah, the South...Spanish moss and bayous!!!

On Sunday we returned to our church in Biloxi, Mississippi. It is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and of the many churches located on Highway 90 (on the Gulf), this was the only church that was left standing after Katrina. The church had about three feet of water inside, so all the pews needed to be refinished, Bibles and hymnals replaced, etc. On this Sunday, they were celebrating Thanksgiving and we were able to visit with many of our old church friends. It was good to have Southern sweet tea again! It was also great to taste their down-home cooking!




Here are pictures from our afternoon at Orange Beach. Our hotel was about 45 minutes from the beach. When we lived in Mississippi this was our beach of choice. The waves are wonderful here. We never got waves in Mississippi because of the barrier islands. The sand here is like sugar! The public pier wasn't rebuilt yet (since the hurricane) so we weren't able to fish like we had hoped. The water is so clear that you can usually see the fish go after your bait.

Here are some pictures on Thanksgiving Day. We had a wonderful meal together and then watched a movie. As we left the theatre, I saw this gorgeous tree...a perfect backdrop for a few family pictures!

On our way home, we stopped at our old house. It was quite sad and triggered many sad memories. It also served to remind us of how much God has blessed us with in Houston! At one point, Bill bent over and picked this up off the driveway...my Red Cross card! The first time I've seen that since 2005. Seems like every time we return to our lot we find something new!

A DAY FULL OF THANKS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

I've gotten some pretty cute text messages today.

Happy Thanksgiving! Aren't you glad you're not a turkey today?!!!

Happy T DAY. This is NOT a mass text message. I am sending it exclusively to you. Have a wonderful day, ________, (fill in your name here) and I hope to see you soon!

I had such a great day! We were able to have dinner with three of our six children. We took lots of pictures, as this was a monumental event. Our times together are few and far between, unfortunately. We then saw a fantastic movie, Australia. Wow! I think this might be one of my new all-time favorites! The sound track to this movie is going to be awesome also! Then, we took a scenic drive along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. It was a magnificent driving past trees displaying their Fall finery, with the water in the background. Beautiful!! Family, Food, and Fall...what could be better???

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
Theodore Roosevelt

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
Erma Bombeck

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like
wrapping a present and not giving it.
William Arthur Ward

The unthankful heart - discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward Beecher

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends,
the old and new.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.
If you concentrate on what you don't have,
you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey

Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.
Proverb

If you are really thankful, what do you do?
You share.
W. Clement Stone

Another Wonderful Day!

We had a WONDERFUL day here in Alabama! The sky was cloudless and the temp. was in the low 60's. I began my day with a phone call from my friend, Janet. She drove over and we had coffee and a chat. SO, SO, SO good to spend time with old friends! Then my boys (Bill And David) and I went for a drive. The area out where we are staying is quite rural and it was fun to see farmers working on their cotton crops. The scenery is beautiful. The trees are changing color down here...we don't see as many colors as up north, but it still is beautiful. We went to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and spent some time walking the beach and enjoying the sound of the waves. It's so great to be together as a family and just enjoy some "down time". Tonight Elise will join us at the hotel and we'll probably play a few heated rounds of Sequence or Taboo! That's all for now! HUGS! And a big shout out to my favorite 8 year old in the whole world, Leilani!!!! Grandma loves you! Happy Birthday!!!! (Grandpa loves you, too!!!)

Sweet Home, Alabama

Hey ya'll!! Can you tell I'm back in the "Heart of Dixie"? We left Saturday morning for a weeks respite in Alabama. We have two children living in Mobile, Alabama - both of them are students at the University of Southern Alabama. So, we are spending Thanksgiving with them and are enjoying some time in our old "hangouts". We lived in Mississippi and Mobile was only 45 minutes away...that was the BIG city for us, so we would often come to Mobile for shopping, restaurants, etc. I'm taking lots of pictures, but can't download them until I get back home.

Yesterday we attended our old church. It was just wonderful and refreshing to visit with so many old friends! They had a Thanksgiving meal after the morning service, so that gave us even more time to visit. It was fun to catch up on each other's lives, compare family pictures, etc. One exciting thing happened for me. One item on my "Bucket List" has always been to have a speaking/teaching ministry for women. While I attended this church, I taught numerous Bible studies, Sunday school classes, VBS programs, etc. Because of this, I boldly mentioned my desire to begin a speaking ministry and my desire to begin at a church where I felt comfortable. They really encouraged me and I will hopefully hold a women's retreat with them early in the new year! I am over-the-top excited about this!! If any of you that read this blog have a women's group, I would love to travel to your church and speak. I have a few topics that I have been working on, so just leave a comment and we'll take it from there...

That's all my news from Alabama, ya'll! I'll post more later...HUGS!

The Shack

Have you read this book? If you have, I would be interested in hearing your comments about your experience with Mack and Papa. I had heard so many people give the story glowing reports...words like, "This book changed my life!", and "I will NEVER look at the Trinity in the same way!", or "I couldn't put it down!"

Needless to say, comments like these piqued my curiosity! The clincher came when Nancy and I returned from Chicago, only to find that even our Mother (!) had read this best-seller!! Nancy and I both bought the book before our trip. We even discussed how we would read the book to each other in the car. Well, of course that idea never took root. I mean, who has time to read when there are activities like these to keep you busy?

Finally, I did find the time to read the book. In all honesty, I didn't like it. The basic theme interested me. The author seeks to bring a novel perspective to the age-old question of where is God when my life is falling apart? Haven't we all tried to find some type of satisfying answer to that question?

Not that long ago another man tried to answer that question and he, too, ended up with a best-seller on his hands. The book was Why Bad Things Happen To Good People. The conclusion that the author, Rabbi Kuschner (I think that was his name) reached was that God is limited. There are simply some things that are out of God's control. That book was easy to shoot holes through. I mean, doesn't it make sense that if God is not sovereign over all things, then He ceases to be God?

My advice is to read the book. Enjoy the book. Discuss the book. But by all means, look at the book "through the lens of Scripture". Ask yourself if this book agrees with the way God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.

And if you are interested in this topic, I would recommend reading Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor as well as Trusting God - Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges. Both of these books made me wrestle and marvel at God's infinite love, wisdom, and sovereignty. I can't say that about The Shack.

Time For A New Post!

WOW! I really have lapsed in keeping up with this blog! I really don't have too much to share, but I did receive two interesting emails from my family that I think are interesting and informative.




I'm also going to post a picture of our youngest daughter, Elise, for two reasons. First of all, it gives the rest of my family a picture of what she looks like at the moment. It will also serve as a reminder to remember her in your prayers. Elise is rethinking some of her choices for a college to attend and is having a difficult time sorting through the process of where to attend and what major to pursue. So please add her to your prayer list...thanks!!!!



Here is email #1 from sister #1 Reminiscing about the "GOOD OLD DAYS":

Comments made in the year 1955! (That's only 53 years ago!)

'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00.

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year?

It won't be long before $2, 000.00 will only buy a used one.

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.


'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter!.

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00,
nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store. '

'When I first started driving,
who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon.
Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.


'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more.
Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.


'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century.
They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas .


'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball?
It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.


'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric.
They are even making electric typewriters now.


'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays.
I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.


'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone
to watch their kids so they can both work.


'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.


'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes.
I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.


'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather,
but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.


'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend,
it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.


'No one can afford to be sick anymore,
at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'


'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.'

And here is email #2 from sister #2 for anyone that is concerned about our new President:

Psalm 118:24

A few things I'm so thankful for on this election day, regardless of the outcome:

*We live in a democracy where we have the right to a vote and a voice. We have the God-given responsibility to use both wisely and in the way that best reflects what God conveys through Scripture.

*God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" and "according to the plan." Ephesians 1:11

*Not only does God work out everything in conformity with His will, He has promised to work out everything for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

*God sets up kings and deposes them and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

*We, the beautifully diverse family of God, are never - not at any time - powerless. Nor are we ever victims of a system. Believing prayer takes us through doors we'll never be invited to enter and into judges chambers we'll never grace. Take a look back at Genesis 18 once again with astonishment over the dialogue between God and His servant and friend, Abraham. Rejoice that God is ever mindful of a faithful remnant. The Judge of the Earth will always do right.

*Even if persecution should await believers in Christ or harrowing circumstances hound us, God will use hardship to bring unity and purity to a people who need it desperately. The best of circumstances do not always produce the best in the Bride of Christ.

*The living God is firmly established upon His Throne and there at His holy feet we can always find grace and mercy in our time of need.

*No matter what happens today, we are GOD'S elect. He has elected us to show His heart and to walk in His ways in the culture that surrounds us. We are called to walk in the challenging balance of grace and truth.

May we be filled with Christ's Spirit today and our mouths given to praise and to believing, receiving prayer. God IS faithful and He has us firmly in His hand. We will not fear. We will not doubt. We will not hate.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

I remain your servant,
Beth Moore

Okay, that's all my news. I'm hoping to write a little bit tomorrow on the book, 'The Shack". If you have read this book, I would really like to hear your comments, concerns, responses, etc.

And while I'm on the topic of comments, I sure appreciate the few comments that I have received. Please, please, please leave a comment and let me know what you like/dislike on this blog and maybe ideas for posts, discussions, etc. Thanks so much! Hugs to ya'll!

Election Day 2008

I hope you all get out and vote today! And no matter what the end results are, let's NEVER forget that:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Do You Remember When....?

For the over 50 crowd, I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.


DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN...?

• All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
• It took five minutes for the TV warm up?
• Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?
• Nobody owned a purebred dog?
• When a quarter was a decent allowance?
• You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
• Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
• All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?
• You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked and gas pumped, without asking, all for free,
  every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?
• Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
• It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?
• They threatened to keep kids back a grade i f they
  failed. . . and they did?
• When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch
  submarine races, and people went steady?
• No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the
  ignition, and the doors were never locked?
• Lying on your back in the grass with your friendsand saying things like, 'That cloud looks like a..."
• Playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?
• Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet
  tried to poison a perfect stranger?

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and
savor the slower pace?
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing
compared to the fate that awaited the student at home?
Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't
because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.
Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger
threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.
Send this on to someone who can still remember
Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy,
Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the
Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Belle,
Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk. as well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball
games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool,
and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.
Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, 'Yeah,I remember that'?
I am sharing this with you today because it endedwith a double dog dare to pass it on. To remember what a double dog dare is, read on. And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care.
How many of these do you remember...

• Candy cigarettes
• Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside
• Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles.
• Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes.
• Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum.
• Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers.
• Newsreels before the movie.P.F. Fliers.
• Telephone numbers with a word prefix...(Raymond 4-601).
  
• Party lines.
• Peashooters.
• Howdy Dowdy.
• Hi-Fi's & 45 RPM records.78 RPM records!
• Green Stamps.
• Mimeograph paper.
• The Fort Apache Play Set.
• Do you remember a time when...
• Decisions were made by going 'eeny-meeny-miney-moe'?
• Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, 'Do Over!'?'
• Race issue' meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
• Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening?
• It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best Friends'?
• The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex
  was cooties?
• Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot?
• Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercial for action figures?
• 'Oly-oly-oxen-free' made perfect sense?
• Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles?
• The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team?
• War was a card game?
• Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?
• Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin?
• Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!!!!!!

Politics and Prayer

A few topics are going to be off limits on this blog. One of the topics is politics. Today, however, I am making a semi-exception to my rule. I read this the other day and found it to be quite convicting. I admire this man's character for two main reasons. I admire that he prays for our country's President. Second, I admire the fact that he is committed to praying for the President, regardless of his political party. I think if you strongly disagree with the man who becomes our next President but you still pray for him, it requires a love for our country and an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Anywhoo, reading this has convicted me to pray more faithfully for our country and our leaders. It not only has convicted me , but it has challenged me as well. I hope some of you may join me in the challenge, regardless of the outcome on Tuesday!

Dear Mr. President:

I do not yet know your name, but in a few days you will be elected to our nation’s highest office, and become the leader of the free world at the end of a long and engaging election season.

I wanted you to know that I will be praying for you. Not praying against you, or about you, but for you. That is both my pledge, and my obligation as a follower of Christ. In the Bible, the apostle Paul writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

And I will do so with a full and undivided heart.

I will be praying for you from my position as a father of four children, and God willing, future grandchildren; that you will have the foresight to think through what your decisions will mean for them as the next generation.

I will be praying for you as a citizen of the United States; that you will seek wisdom from God and humbly submit yourself to His leadership as you lead our nation through economic turbulence, domestic divides, and cultural diversities.

I will be praying for you as a member of the global population; that you will work with other well-intentioned leaders from around the world as we face environmental challenges, wars and rumors of wars, and humanitarian crises.

And finally, I will be praying for you as a Christian; that you will encourage faith in God to flourish and never allow deeply held spiritual convictions to become a matter of ridicule, instead encouraging everyone to grant them a respectful hearing, even if they go against the political policy of your party.

It is being widely spoken that the next president will inherit more that needs immediate attention than any other president in recent memory. As a result, it has been a hard-fought and hotly contested election. Yes, I will vote, and I do not know if you will be the one for whom I cast my ballot. But following November 4th, all that must be set aside no matter how deep the divides may be.

So while I do not know if you will be the candidate I voted for, I do know that no matter your name, I will support you in one way without question.

I will be praying for you.

James Emery White

Playing Tag

First of all, a happy update. My last post was about baby Eliot. I just want you to know that two weeks ago Eliot became a big brother. His parents now have a baby girl named "Hazel". If you haven't visited the blog written by his father, I strongly recommend that you do. He is an excellent writer and has a wonderful gift of expressing his faith with eloquence and grace. Here's a little "taste" from his blog:

I had hoped that Eliot would still be here. That God would do a miracle. That he would be the kid that filled the pages of medical journals. I hoped that we would be a family for longer. I hoped that he was present at my funeral- just as it should be with a father and son. I make no apologies for those hopes. Naïve as they are, I know a God who could have fulfilled these hopes with a single touch. But, today, we linger in a world that was absent that touch. So what is the subject of my hope now?I hope that God is who He says He is. I hope beyond hope that His word is true. Actually, this was my hope all along. God has not failed. I believe that one day I will be released from this body, and be at His feet. The questions will be answered and I will wonder no longer. Ginny & I believe that while we’re still here on earth, that something is waiting to be done.My hopes cannot thwart God’s plans. And I am learning that this is a good thing. May His will be done. For therein lies my hope.

www.ninetynineballoons.com

Today I was "tagged" and must now answer questions as part of this cyberspace game. I've been tagged bfore but always ignored it, so now I'll try to be a sport and play the game...

Attached or Single? I am "attached" to my husband, Bill. We have been married for 25 years.
Best Friend? Um, this one is hard, but I guess I'll say Bill.
Cake or Pie? Pie, but only if it's my mom's apple pie.
Day of Choice? Saturday
Essential Item? Having lost most everything at one point in my life, I think I've learned that I can live without most everything except "Hope".
Flavor of Ice Cream? Baskin Robbins "Pralines and Cream"
Induldences? Massage, manicure and/or pedicure
January or July? Wherever it's the warmest, so I pick July.
Kids? No, thanks. Oh, sorry! We have six and they are now all "adults"! Ted, Tim, Laura, Tony, David, and Elise.
Last Movie? Fireproof
Middle Name? Ann
Number of Siblings? Two older sisters...I'm the baby!
Oranges or Apples? Honeybell oranges from Hank Jacobs grove in Naples, Florida.
Quote? Any of the ones found on the side of my blog.
Reason to Smile? I am child of the King!!!
Season? Summer
Unknown Fact? I once met Charlton Heston. I competely forgot his name and I called him, "Moses"! For you young folks out there, he played the role of Moses in the movie version of The Ten Commandments.

Eliot

About two years ago I was following the blog of a miraculous little boy named Eliot. You can read all about him and his dedicated parents by clicking here:
http://mattandginny.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_mattandginny_archive.html
Today, his life's story was told on Oprah. His parents made this beautiful video, which I know you will enjoy. I must warn you, however...have Kleenex nearby!

Car Commercial

A friend of mine sent me this interesting car commercial. While taping it, the producers thought they noticed a ghostly shape on the screen. Sure enough, if you look very closely you are able to see it. You may not detect it the first time, so you may have to replay it, but it sure looks like a ghost to me! Tell me what you think...

Trinity Memories

Many people have asked me to write about the chapel service that I gave at Trinity Christian College. I wish had a way to download my speech, but somehow it disappeared! I will do my best to share with you what I shared with the students a few weeks ago.

I began my talk by sharing with them that the last time that I spoke on campus was 34 years ago. It was May, 1974. I was asked to be the main speaker at out Baccalaureate Service. It was, indeed, an honor to speak, but I still remember feeling highly inadequate for the task. I vividly remember sharing thoughts on Psalm 23 and reminding the class of '74 that while we were about to begin new adventures and go in different directions, the one constant in all of our lives would be our faithful Shepherd. Back then, as a bright-eyed, naive young woman, I didn't have a clue about the many twists and turns that my life was about to begin...all I set my eyes on were the green pastures and still waters!

I shared with them what a different campus it was from the days when I called Trinity "home". Back then we didn't have computers or ipods, we had typewriters and stereos with speakers the size of a twin mattress (and all the sound quality of a walkie-talkie!) Our dorms didn't even have names! We just called them Dorm 1, Dorm 2, and Dorm 3. The men were only allowed to visit our rooms on Sunday evenings. We didn't even have a gym my first semester! I told them that they were looking at an ancient relic of the past that actually attended the very first basketball game ever held in the Mitchell Gymnasium!

I then shared about the day my husband drove me and our four children to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. I told them to look closely the next time they were on I 65, (which goes from Indiana all the may to Mobile, Alabama) because I am certain the marks are still visible where I dug in my heels and tried to resist this move with every fiber of my being! This move was talking me into uncharted waters, away from my family and friends and home.

I tried to paint a picture for the students of the initial shock and confusion I experienced as I took my first guarded steps into Southern culture. On my first Sunday in church I met a man named Rhett! I felt like I was on the back lot of Gone With the Wind! (In all my 25 years of living there, however, I never did meet a Scarlett! Plenty of Billy Bobs and Amy Sues, but no Scarletts!)

Ocean Springs is a quaint little town. It's Main Street is lined on either side with huge, majestic Live Oak trees. And you can't walk a block in the spring without seeing an Azalea bush in full bloom or smelling the sweet scent of Gardenias. Most of the homes have porches, and every porch has a swing (or "swang" as it is called in the South). Everywhere we went we were offered iced tea (only they pronounce it as "tay"). And everyone knows iced "tay" must be sweet (pronounced "sue wait"). We learned that people don't get tired in the South, they get "tarred", and women don't iron clothes, they "arn". Even my name "Joyce" sounded more like "Joy as".

It is a charming, idyllic, artsy little haven, nestled on the backwater of the Gulf of Mexico. And then, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit. Hard! Within minutes hundreds of homes were destroyed by a 27 foot tidal wave. I shared some of the experiences that we had with our insurance company and with FEMA. I tried to give mental pictures of how the beautiful Oak trees were suddenly bare, stripped of their leaves and their majesty. To this day they look more like old gnarled, arthritic hands reaching out to the heavens.

Then I shared with them how very real Psalm 23 became to me as I slowly trudged through each day. I showed them how the pronoun that David uses for the Shepherd changes in the Psalm. In the first verses, David uses the third person singular to refer to the Shepherd (He makes me to lie down, He restores, He leads, He guides). But look what happens when David gets to the rough spots. "Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death...You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare, You annoint..." David switches to the second person singular pronoun because when he finds himself in the valley, he realizes he is not alone...the Shepherd is walking right beside him. That's what I experienced during the dark days...my faithful Shepherd walked beside me. And there were many days that the Shepherd carried me.

I closed by sharing how my Katrina experience made me long for my heavenly home...a permanent place that can't be destroyed. And I like to think of Jesus taking me by the hand and walking with me down the streets of gold and stopping at a house. Jesus will ask me, "Joyce, do you remember that I promised to prepare a place for you? Well, this is your place!"

My home! My permanent home! And do you know what? I know I'm a Yankee, but I hope my yard has a Magnolia tree and plenty of Azalea bushes. And I hope I have a big front porch with a "swang"! And when we meet each other up there, we can "sit a spell" and share our "Shepherd stories". Oh, and one more thing...I'll be sure to have plenty of "sue wait tay" ready!!!

What a day, glorious day, that will be!!!!!

Cardboard Signs

She was there again this morning...the nameless woman with the cardboard sign. She plants herself at the busy intersection and holds up her sign, telling those of us stopped at the light that she is hungry and needs money. Since moving to Houston I have encountered several of these signs. One day it might be a veteran needing work, another day it will be a pregnant woman with four hungry children that need help with food and rent. What should our personal response be to these people?

I don't have an answer. I do, however, have a tender heart. It is painful for me to see people beg. One time Bill and I were leaving Wal Mart when an old man appeared with his well-worn sign. The sign indicated that he was hungry, so I pleaded with my husband to stop. We invited the man to eat lunch with us. It became increasingly evident that this man was not "playing with a full deck". As we sat there in Subway and tried to engage in meaningful conversation, he prattled on about the spirits that lived in the woods. He barely touched his meal and never said "thanks". It was confusing to me. I wanted to help; I wanted to take him home, let him take a long shower, I wanted him to feel clean, I wanted to replace his tattered clothes. I feel somehow that I failed this man.

But another observation I have made is that I see the same beggars all over Houston. I drive a lot for my job and throughout my day I often see that "Mary", who was on the west side of Houston on Monday, mysteriously shows up thirty-five miles to the east on Tuesday. Are these professional beggars? I have no idea. My point on this blog is not to condemn, but merely state that I'm still trying to figure out how to handle these street people.

A friend recently sent me an interesting You Tube video depicting another kind of cardboard sign. These people in the video are also nameless, holding merely their cardboard sign. Their signs, however, convey a message of hope.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Tonight has been a difficult one for me. I have come to a "crossroad" - a difficult fork in the road - and while I know logically what decision I need to make, I don't want to. It's too hard. It involves letting go of something/someone dear to me, and I am tired of letting go. I don't want to go through another loss right now.

That being said, my mind traveled back to another time when I had to let go, and I just felt like I couldn't. I had just learned that our precious son, David, had autism. That diagnosis was so hard to hear. The words stung and fear consumed me. How could I handle that? It seemed to signify a loss of the hopes and dreams that I had for our little boy. But God had another plan, a better plan. Today I can look over the years, and I can thank God for the autism. David has been a constant source of joy and love and laughter. He has enabled us to see life from a different perspective.

But in the the early years, it was hard, so very hard. To see our son be laughed at by his peers, to have adults make insensitive remarks, to feel like no one could relate to my pain...those years were tough. And it was during those years that I would put in a tape by Cynthia Clawson and just weep. The song I grew to love was entitled, O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. It was like applying salve to my injured heart. Tonight, my heart hurts again. And just like I did years ago, I listened to this song. And once again the lyrics served to remind me that while I might have to hold things loosely and let some things go, God will never do that to me. He has always held me, and will continue to hold me close, and tight, and He won't ever let me go.

So tonight, once again, I give my weary soul to my faithful Shepherd and trust that He will lead me, guide me, and sustain me.

O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee: I give thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.

O light that foll’west all my way, I yield my flick’ring torch to Thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day may brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be.

Happy Birthday, David!

Twenty-four years old!! How did THAT happen? Somehow, magically, my children are getting older than I am! Yeah, dream on!! David turned 24 today, and we had a wonderful celebration!
Here is a brief trip down memory lane...

My little guy, all tired out after his baptism

Mom, Nancy, Karen, David, and I

His "Rocky Balboa" Look

With his Grandpa at the cottage

Taking Time To Smell the Flowers

Celebrating His 24th At Outback

These Two Have A Very Special Bond

Happy Birthday, David! You are a WONDERFUL son and your family loves you very much!! We cherish your sense of humor and your unique way of viewing life! You bring us so much joy and we are so thankful that God chose us to be your parents! Continue to enjoy the journey!

Two Very Proud Parents!

To those of you who have never met David, we want you to know that
you are looking at the face of Autism. David has walked a very difficult road, but has fought valiantly against this horrible disability. He has taught us all so much about life and continues to enrich our lives in countless ways.

Another Chocolate Chip

If you don't understand the title of this entry, read the post from Saturday. That being said, I had a wonderful weekend with my sister, Karen, and her husband, Harv!

Sister Karen

Brother-in-law, Harvey

Karen and Harv called on Friday, stating they were in San Antonio and would arrive at our home on Saturday. They were on the return leg of their road adventure. They left Grand Rapids two weeks earlier and followed Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. They took their van and graciously agreed to stow away some of my stuff that needed to make the trip from Michigan to Texas. So not only did they make the historic journey, they made the historic journey with some of my beloved heirlooms! Thanks, Kare and Harv!!! I'm glad to report that all my stuff arrived in perfect condition!! Kare and Harv both turned 66 this year, so they decided it was the perfect time to "get their kicks on Route 66!" It's not an easy trip because the highway has numerous stops and starts, twists and turns, abrupt stops and confusing directions. Their GPS got a real workout! Anyway, they found their way to our house, and it was a real treat to spend some time with them.

Kare and I went to a birthday party in the evening for one of my students. It was a genuine Mexican fiesta, complete with a pinata. We had great fun trying new foods, especially the tres leches birthday cake! YUM!! We both enjoy Nicholas Sparks novels, so we also took in his latest movie, Nights in Rodanthe. Good times!

On Sunday we went to our church and had fun introducing them to some of our new Houston friends. It was funny for Kare and I to hear people tell us how much we look alike! NEVER in my whole entire life have I heard those words. Karen and Nancy have always looked alike , and I have always looked like...well, let's just say my sisters always told me that I was adopted!!

Next, they treated us to one of our favorite little eating places, Santos. After a fabulous Mexican meal, it was nap time and then the evening service at church. After a light supper, Kare taught me how to play Dumb Dice. I won! But Kare is the queen of all games, so I have a funny feeling she let me win!

This morning they left and headed for Iowa. They have a grandson, Brian, that attends Doordt College, and they hope to visit him before returning home.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't get to see my sisters very often, so I felt doubly blessed to be with Nancy two weeks ago, and with Kare this past weekend! There's nothing like family!

Sisters and Chocolate Chips

My Sisters

Someone once said, "If families are like cookies, then sisters are the chocolate chips." Everyone that knows me, knows how much I love chocolate, but I love my sisters even more. For most of my adult life, I have lived far away from my sisters, making our time together rare and far too infrequent. But, much to my delight, I have been able to spend last weekend with Nancy and this weekend with Karen!

Last weekend Nancy was my rock, my confidante, my encourager, my stylist, my partner in crime! On Thursday, we took off in her little red convertible and headed to Chicago. I was scheduled to speak at Trinity Christian College and she came with me. We made many stops along the way.

First stop, Clementines

Our first stop was our favorite restaurant in St. Joseph, Michigan. It was a gorgeous day, and we were able to eat on the patio outside. Next stop was shopping - a close second in our favorite-things-to-do list! We spent just a short time at the Outlet Mall in Michigan City. Then off to Chicago! We stayed just south of Chicago for the first night. I had to speak the next day, so poor Nancy had to listen to my speech ad nauseum and she also had to help me choose what to wear.

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At Trinity

After my speech, I had an Alumni Board meeting, so Nancy spent the day shopping. We met up again at 5 P.M. and took the train downtown. We discovered that Nancy has been blessed with a wonderful gift of direction! I mean, she can hold her own against any GPS system. This girl is good!!! And so, with her help, we were able to navigate the train system - from the Orange Line to the Red Line - plus a stop at Roosevelt - and somehow make it to the Marriott on Michigan Avenue!

Nancy, on the train, demonstrating her gift of direction

Finding our room, was a bit more more of a challenge. We checked in and found our room, only to discover the room had not been cleaned. We called the front desk and were given another room. We opened the door to the second room, only to be greeted by a noisy floor fan. Apparently, "something" had overflowed and they were trying to get the carpet to dry. Yuck! By this time we were on a first name basis with Ray, the front desk guy. He personally came up and ushered us to room number three. He opened the door, backed up, and said, "I'm so sorry for all this confusion!" By this time, Nancy and I were beyond exhausted and short of a dead body under the bed, we were willing to take anything! He said room #3 had a King bed and we had asked for doubles. We said it didn't matter and we would be more than happy to take room #3. It was lovely. We were on the 45th floor and had a spectacular view of the city. We even saw fireworks over Lake Michigan from our window! We hadn't eaten yet, so we headed out to our favorite pizza place - Giordano's.

World's best spinach and cheese stuffed pizza!

Ray called us when we returned to our room. Because of all the delays, we were to come to the front desk and have our keys "re-keyed". This would allow us to go to a private lounge every morning and enjoy a free breakfast! WHOOHOO!

Fresh fruit, fresh orange juice, fresh Danish...and all FREE!

Next stop, Michigan Avenue ...my favorite street!

We had a BEAUTIFUL day!

A delightful lunch at the Hershey store!

We went to the evening performance of Wicked