TASTE OF HEAVEN...

Thanksgiving this year...some hymn singing, some card playing,some baby holding, some delicious food, wonderful weather, and of course some pumpkin smashing!  Doesn't get much better than this!

BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEAL...

If you're like me and get to enjoy somebody else's cooking for the holiday, take advantage of that and make that special person a calendar!

Now thru Friday, you can get a free 8 x 10 calendar on Shutterfly!  I made mine today.  All you pay is shipping ($6) with this code:  FREECAL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

GETTIN CRAFTY...

 Lots of fun things  happening this past week!  We had our annual Sweets & Service project for the ladies at church.  This year we changed it up a little, and the things we collected and made are going to benefit the teachers of a local school that has a lot of low income students.  We felt like these teachers probably need a token of appreciation more than some of the other schools. They will each receive a Sonic gift card, along with some other goodies!

One of the crafts we made were gift tags that the teachers can use for their personal gift giving.  I had seen lots of fancy ones and ideas on Pinterest, so we bought a craft punch, some card stock, Christmas stamps and other misc. items, and came up with some fun tags.

I love to see the cool ideas people come up with when handed a bunch of miscellaneous art materials!  It's also great to see the little girls enjoying creating with their mothers.  :)

I also went to the last luncheon for my Bible study of the year, and I helped my friend decorate.  Her theme was "The Bread of Life," and she used bread making utensils, wheat, and fall decorations, along with real loaves of bread and butter for each table.  She always surprises me with her ideas!

Speaking of tables, the gold and white table is what I've come up with so far for wedding reception tables.  I spray painted the styrofoam ball wreath gold (the wedding accent color) and I like it okay.  I would love for it to be more unique but at this point I'm pretty tired of scouring Pinterest and the sale tables at the stores.  So if you have any awesome ideas, send them my way.  As long as they are beautiful, cheap, and portable...

BE ON GUARD...

Getting ready to leave the hospital!

The hubs and I are still trying to get back to "normal" life after emergency abdominal surgery almost 2 weeks ago.  We're about there.

 Nine years since "the accident" - we thought we were home-free!  He's had no major health issues since then, and it was almost forgotten.  But adhesions came along and interrupted all that.  Adhesions, or scar tissue, is pretty amazing.  It can take on a life of its own.  It grew and grew and slowly attached to his small intestine.  Then it looped back around, slowly squeezing until food (or waste, whatever is in your small bowel!) could not pass.  He was miserable.  After being sick for three days, it was determined by a scan that there was definitely something in there blocking things.  We didn't know just what it was, although the surgeon suspected adhesions.  I was worried about a tumor, actually, and was relieved to hear after surgery that it indeed was adhesions and they were removed.  The only thing about this is the surgery to remove adhesions required another six inch incision which could, in the future lead to more adhesions!  Frustrating.  But for now we are glad the problem was fixable and he is once again healing.

I can't help but think about how sin is the same way.  We think we have recovered.  We think we have some bad habit or sinful behavior "beat" and then we forget about who helped us beat it!  We relax and get attacked by it once again! It makes us sick until we have to take drastic measures to get back to a place of balance.  We have to be restored.  We must always be on guard and be in touch with our Father, our great Defender!

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

 I Peter 5:8

SO GLAD TO BE INVITED...

Guess what arrived in the mail the other day?  My daughter sent us an invitation to her wedding.  :)

I think they are really classy - and I had nothing to do with it!  The couple picked them out and ordered them quickly.  I LOVE the gold envelopes and the art deco-y feel.  I have a new appreciation for the cost of these, however!!!  I also understand much more how families nowadays can't invite "the whole church" anymore due to budget concerns.  Since this wedding is 10 hours away from here, I don't expect a lot of people from here to attend.  But you never know, so I encouraged my daughter to invite plenty of people.  It's always nice to be invited...even to your own daughter's wedding.

BACK HOME AND THUMBS UP FOR INTEGRIS...

Just thankful to be HOME and trying to be normal again!

I do have to say this was the best hospital experience we've ever had.  It's been nine years since the accident and at that time we spent quite a lot of time in several different hospitals.   Since then we have visited people in other hospitals.  This one, Integris Edmond, has an advantage since it's only three years old. It was super clean and quiet.  We had a large room with a great view!  But it's not all about the building.  The staff was friendly and responded to our needs quickly!  If you have to be in a hospital, choose this one!  

The pretty view from our room!

BORED BUT THANKFUL...

Well, we are still in the hospital!  My husband had emergency surgery six days ago - adhesions had wrapped around his small intestine, totally blocking all function.  He's doing very well, we're just waiting, waiting, waiting...for function to return.  Until then he stays put.

We were supposed to be in Kansas City with these folks for the weekend for some R & R.  They just cancelled their reservations and came here to encourage us.  We are really blessed!

Lots of others have encouraged us with visits and food (for me).  I am reminded once again how good the church is and what a blessing they are to us!  I'm a little bored - I would've thought I would love to read and play on the computer all day but even after a few days of only that I am learning once again how much I love balance.  Really missing getting out and about, exercising, and just doing everyday tasks.

I have been enjoying these beautiful views from our third floor window!  

I like this paraphrase from the The Message of I Thess. 5:18  In everything give thanks...

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

FALL FOR THE STORY...

Around here, we've been hit hard with THE STORY.  At church we've been going through a Bible study using "The Story" along with our NIV.  We are hearing sermons based on our readings, and discussing it in Bible class as well.  It's the story of God redeeming his people, throughout the ages.  Then, I was asked to write something about how Women's Ministry relates to the STORY OF GOD.  It was a good assignment, it made me think about why we do what we do.  Finally, in my exercise class, Body & Soul, we have themes for each session and, you guessed it, WHAT'S YOUR STORY? has been the theme this time.  No joke!  Every song we exercise to has lyrics based on this theme.  I love it.  It all has had an impact on me.

Your story as it fits into GOD'S STORY - It's a great thing to be aware of, and giving up control of our lives is easier said than done!  I thought I had my fall all planned and had been praying about it.  I found out in a hurry that my plans to declutter my house and continue in my role at church would need to be put on hold. So many unexpected things have happened this fall.  As I write, I am watching over my husband as he recuperates in a hospital room.  I didn't anticipate any of those things happening, but God knew and has put me where I need to be. He's writing MY STORY.

The beautiful view out of our hospital room window.  We are seeing some great sunrises, too!

WRITE YOUR STORY

by Francesca Battistelli

They say

You're the King of everything
The One who taught the wind to sing
The Source of the rhythm my heart keeps beating

They say
You can give the blind their sight
And You can bring the dead to life
You can be the hope my soul's been seekin'

I wanna tell You now that I believe it
I wanna tell You now that I believe it
I do, that You can make me new, oh

I'm an empty page
I'm an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won't You write Your story on my heart

Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won't You write Your story on my heart

My life
I know it's never really been mine
So do with it whatever You like
I don't know what Your plan is
But I know it's good, yeah

I wanna tell You now that I believe in
I wanna tell You now that I believe in
In You, so do what You do, oh

I'm an empty page
I'm an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won't You write Your story on my heart

Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won't You write Your story on my heart

I want my history
To be Your legacy
Go ahead and show this world
What You've done in me
And when the music fades
I want my life to say

I let You write Your story, write Your story
Write Your story, write Your story

I'm an empty page
I'm an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won't You write Your story on my heart

Write Your story, write Your story
Come on and write Your story, write Your story
Won't You write Your story on my heart
[x2]

LOVE THOSE CHRISTMAS SALES...

 Got a jump on some little gifts this week - the square glass candy dishes and bandannas are bargains I picked up after last year's holiday.  Basically, I made 10 gifts for $20 - and I've got quite a few peppermint candies left over for the boys!

Have you gotten started on any holiday gifts yet?

WEINIE ROAST FOR TWO...

Saturday called for some winterizing and yard work.  It's always hard, but we enjoy it.  We rewarded ourselves with a little weinie roast for two afterwards!

 Me and my sweetie!

Yummm...