Blab and Gab Thingee

Hey Ya All:

It's that time again -

What: Blab and Gab Thingee

When: 3 Jan '08

Time: 6:00 p.m. (Yes, we changed the time!)

Where: Olive Garden, 4399 W Houston Hrt Expy

Ya all come - We have lots of fun and please feel free to bring someone with you. If you would please let me know if you can come, in order for me to kinda get a count in order to get seating, I would appreciate it so much.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - may your new year be blessed beyond belief!

Hugs,

JAC

FLofSAFA Christmas Party

Hats off to MARME! What a beautiful job and what a lot of work put into the beautiful Christmas party that I totally enjoyed this past Thursday evening. I'm sure MARME had helpers, but I am not sure of how many or their names; so a big THANK YOU to them also. What a wonderful church family we are blessed with. Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy. Thank you all for including me as you do; this means so much to me and also I want to thank you for your prayers for my health.....it's allllll going to be OK soonest! Love you all, and again thank you!

IN-LAWS - DO I HEAR YOU PUKING?

Please be reclining in your most easy chair because this is the Epistle of Saint Julia - 1st Chapter - many verses.

Holidays are here and I can almost hear some of the “in-law” gripes. I don’t understand something - we often have blood relatives that treat us horrible; much worse than our in-laws and not much is said. Let the in-law cross her eyes and she’s dead meat! I’ve been a daughter-in-law (DIL) for nigh on to 44 years; been a mother-in-law (MIL) for 18+ years. What I can tell you is that MIL is an abbreviation for MILITARY…..does that tell you anything? Maybe we should listen to our MIL……..just a thought. Through my years as a DIL, I found that I had to work at this relationship - I needed to listen to my MIL and try to know her and above all to respect her. Now, I know that Mama (MIL) loves me very much; don’t know if it’s because she can’t remember squat, and calls me her granddaughter, or if I finally made the grade - but this I do know - I love her very much.

I have a book that I have read twice - you got it right - 2 times. The name of the book is - “The Mother-in-Law Dance”. I heard Annie Chapman on the radio and she was talking about this book and her feelings of in-laws. I was so impressed that I also ordered a copy for each of my girls. A lot of what I’m telling you is a direct quote from her book.

One of my favorite books in the bible is Ruth and the story of how Ruth follows Naomi, saying (Ch 1 - vs. 16 - ‘for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people SHALL be my people, and thy God my God.’ I long and pray that I could somehow have a portion of Naomi’s spirit in my soul. What a woman. Proverbs 18, vs. 21 reads ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ We need to constantly guard our tongue. Because I love my MIL and my DIL’s, I may bite my tongue often enough that it bleeds; but I truly do not want to hurt them. Have you ever felt like this - “I want to punch out their lights and kick in their tailgate”? If so, please don’t! If they are hurting you, it is really not them, but the spirit in them. Sometimes they are really not TRYING to hurt you, but help you and we often do not take it that way. Or we read things into conversations that are simply not there. James Ch 1, vs. 19: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man (woman) be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Are you rude to your MIL-DIL - do you truly show respect? If we claim to be a Christian we certainly need to show respect, kindness and love. In ‘The Mother-in-Law Dance (MILD) she has suggestions from DIL for their MIL - *pray for the young couple *respect your DIL’s different way of doing things *let them live their own lives. Suggestions from MIL for the DIL - *pay attention to your own marriage. Don’t get so involved with everyone and everything else that you forget your husband *don’t compare your MIL to your mother. Appreciate both of them and their differences. Just because they may do things differently doesn’t mean one is right and the other one is wrong.

From the MILD - A mature DIL will recognize the inherent challenge her MIL faces and offer patient understanding as she learns to let go. Without question, both women have adjustments that must be made. The DIL is learning to be a wife to her husband, and the MIL is learning how to “unmother” her son.

In a paragraph “Who is the Leader? Without question, the leader in this waltz should be the MIL. She is the one who lets go and lovingly releases her son and his wife to establish their own lives and routine. Another section states: ‘However, when the son marries, the mom has to let him go completely. In a real sense, she loses her son.’ As long as I know without a doubt that my DIL really loves my son, I am going to try to dance away; BUT let me tell you IF I see the DIL treating my son with ugly words, or actions - a HOLY anger rises up in me.

MILD - Matthew 7:12; “Therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” HOW DO WE WANT TO BE TREATED? If you are ugly, disrespectful, rude - whatever to your in-law, remember that payday comes; and not always on Friday! You reap what you sow.

Another section: ’How does the DIL relate to the spiritual position given to the MIL? Just as the son is instructed to HONOR and RESPECT his parents, it is equally important for the DIL to do the same. (And, of course, the husband is to treat his wife’s parents with equal respect.) ’ Another sentence: Not only are we to honor our MIL even as we should honor our own mothers, but there is an additional responsibility if both the MIL and the DIL are Christians. In Titus 2, younger women are to show respect and honor for the older women in the church. When we fully embrace the scriptural mandate of respecting and honoring our MIL, we are truly building a bridge across the chasm of our differences. ‘ This is another portion of a chapter: ‘When love flows from treating one another kindly, then it only gets stronger and sweeter over time.’ Another quote: ‘An individual can do all the praying in the world, but if the other person refuses to listen to God, then the fact must be faced that there is a limit to what can be done to reach her heart.’ We can also truly love the in-law, but if they don't return the love, just keep praying.

Sometimes you may hear women talk about ALL the things bought for her family - but the in-laws have received nothing. I believe if you CHOOSE to do this, that is fine; but please do not throw it in the face of the in-law. I made a habit of spending the same amount for all holidays, for my Aunt (she raised me from a baby), for my birth mother, and my MIL. I did not want one to ever feel slighted and feel that I didn’t love them. Now that we have a family, I spend the same amount for each child, and then the same amount for each grandchild. There may be times that I pick up something for one of them; but later I’ll find something for one of the others and on it goes! Christmas and birthdays - it’s the same amount for each.

If you go to your in-laws and you don’t care for the food you are served, please do not complain. Keep your mouth SHUT. You could fix something you like or take it with you when you go to their home. HELP your DIL-MIL while in their home - don’t lay around and do nothing - HELP! You remember your MIL is not as young as you are and she may have health problems that you know nothing about. HELP - don’t just sit on the backside of your stomach and do nothing. If you can’t for some reason help with cooking, do the clean-up; wash dishes, for pete’s sake - do something!

Most of all - IF you have MIL-DIL heartache, I urge you to purchase this book by Annie Chapman. Don’t mean to preach, but for some time I’ve felt that I was to do this blog. I am not a journalist, so please overlook any mistake. I’m truly thankful for my “girls” and my MIL.

God bless each of you - I love my family and my precious BLOGGER DIAMONDS!

New Exercise Program

I've started a new exercise program and think some of you may want to join me. Immediately after waking in the morning, I always say sternly to myself, "Ready? Now. Up. Down. Up. Down!" After two strenuous minutes I tell myself, "OK, now try the other eyelid!"

Alanna and Jaydon Play

You Missed Some Fun!

You missed some fun this evening at the Blab and Gab Thingee. Good fun and good fellowship; (oh yes, good food) - some new gals joined us at Red Lobster. Next month, or next YEAR, on the 3rd of Jan AT 6:00 (note change in time) we'll meet at the Olive Garden. Ya all come join us. Check out the 1 Nov and the 6 Dec slide shows below! Sorry my slide show of our family got in the way.....

Our family -

Blab and Gab Thingee - Red Lobster - 6 Dec '07

Cheddar's Blab and Gab Thingee - 1 Nov 07

What fun we had!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check This Out - CRAZY!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1202988000

Blab and Gab Thingee

Coming up! Blab and Gab Thingee
Date: 6 Dec '07
Time: 7:00
Place: Red Lobster, 3909 Sunset Dr
Please let me know if you can attend as I'm to call the restaurant that day to let them know how many are coming. Hope you ALL can make it; you know we'll have a wonderful good time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. We arrived back in San Angelo yesterday afternoon; as always it's good to be home. We have so very much to be thankful for, not only today but always. First of all I'm so thankful that my Father placed me in a loving home with my uncle and aunt and they taught me about Jesus. My husband is certainly a gift from the Lord; my three sons are precious jewels as are their wives. My grandchildren, my angels, are certainly more precious than gold! Most of all I thank the Lord for His salvation plan and that He loves me beyond a love that I can comprehend. I want to serve Him for the rest of my days; being as close to Him as I possibly can - right up under his arm pit, close to His heart. God bless you all and I love the whole bunch of you and am so thankful that God brought us to SA. Hugs - Me

Dream? Vision?

Today is 9 November 2007. This morning between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. I had something happen that has never happened before. I believe it was while I was actually asleep that I saw Jesus. He was in a white garment, and his hand was on a curtain or drape. He had dark hair, but his face was hazy and I could not see it. The words I heard were “Come on in my child”. I, then awoke. I had such excitement rolling inside of me because during this encounter I could feel His love such as I had never ever known. I didn’t jump up and down or run up and down the hallway; but my insides were totally excited. As I lay thinking about this “happening” I went back in thought to the times when our sons were in college and we knew they would be coming home. I would go to Edward’s room upstairs and watch out the back window for car lights. We lived in the country and not many cars traveled this road late at night. When I would see a car coming, I would watch to see if it turned to come up towards the road to our house; if it did, I would then watch for a flash of lights to see if it was actually coming towards our house. If this happened, I would then go to the front window and watch to see if the car turned into our driveway. When I would finally see those car lights coming in our drive, I would run downstairs, going to the front door ready to give that boy a tight hug with such gladness, because “my boy” was home. Today those boys are men, but when we know they are coming home, I watch the front door and listen to the back door not knowing which entrance they will come. When I hear them, I’m out the door for hugs for everyone; such happiness at seeing my family - big and little. I meditated on this and thought how happy Jesus must be to see one of his children come home. I don’t know what this dream/vision means, but I will never forget it as long as I live. Oh what excitement at seeing Jesus!!!

Blab and Gab Thingee

If you were unable to attend the "Blab and Gab Thingee" last night, you missed out on a lot of fun. Thirteen of us showed up and what a fun time we had! I want to say a big THANK YOU to the ones that were able to attend. We will be meeting the 6th of December, 7:00 at the Red Lobster Restaurant. If you can, come join us at the Blab and Gab Thingee! Plan on having a good time and getting to know someone you may not know!

MARSHMALLOW

ree - this is for D - He should always remember that marshmallows are always so sweet and most everyone LOVES them!!! Love you both!

Blab and Gab Thingee

OK ya all - Thursday evening, 7:00 at Cheddars, 1 November 2007. Ready for an evening to Blab and Gab? If you know of others that do not blog but want to join us, please invite them. I just think it will be fun to get together once a month for a BLAB AND GAB THINGEE. If you would be so sweet to notify me if you will be able to attend and if you know of others that are also going to join us, it would be wonderful. I'm to call that day to tell them how many so they can be ready for us. They do not do reservations. If there are some that are just "readers" of the BLOG and you want to attend, you can let me know at church, or call me - our number is in the church directory as well as the phone book.

Thanks bunches, see ya!

1 Nov '07

OK - how does 7:00, the evening of the 1st of Nov, meeting at Cheddars sound? Just to get together and gab and have fun! Let me know! Invite others if you think they would like to join us, but do not read the BLOGS.

GET TOGETHER

How does the 1st of Nov, Thur, at 7:00 sound for us to get together? I'm kinda at a loss as to the best day and time. Next ------- which restaurant? Come on - somebody help me out here! If this day and date does not work, we can always change it. Please let me know!

Love Seats

We have two love seats - 35 years old. They are still good but worn, more in some spots than others; mostly on the front of the cushions. There is leather webbing on the sides and the upholstery is blue velvet. They are free to someone that would have a use for them.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

I've been tagged by MEEMS. You want to know seven (7) strange/weird/crazy things about me? That takes some thinking - especially since there must be thousands.

1. I love to tease - I've told my grandchildren just to remember that when I tell them something; nine times out of ten, I am teasing them. One daughter (law) told her children to watch my eyes! Go figure...

2. When I blow my nose I have to close my eyes as my right eye will spray my glasses. As a baby, I had to have my tear duct opened and as a result air comes out of that duct and you figure out the rest. Once had a doctor tell me to hold my nose and blow which I did. He repeated this statement and I did what he said. Finally he got right in front of me and told me again - I looked him straight in the eye and said "Watch my right eye!" He did and the eyelash fluttered at him. You should have seen the look on his face. Priceless.

3. I am T-TOTALLY terrified of snakes - paper/plastic/pictures/whatever! Do not even tease me about one!!! My grandchildren learned from their daddy's "Do not EVER tease Baca about a snake; do not show her one - nothing!" It's a long story, but just remember this weird number 3.

4. I have a strange sense of humor - I see something funny in most situations. Was at the piano in a church service and we had a "minister" there that was different to say the least. He had a "word" for most everyone in the congregation and it just didn't seem right. He came over to me and told me that I 'was going to go through valleys and over mountains but God was going to be with me, to not fear'. Well, this was VERY good! I knew that, but what I really knew was that the next day we were heading for IL (we were living in VA at that time) and we were certainly going through valley's and over mountains - that was a real truth. Anyway, it hit my funny bone and I had to bite both jaws to keep from laughing myself off the piano bench.

5. I HATE to hear someone CHOMP/SCRUNCH on ice! Drives me crazy.

6. It takes a whole whole lot to make me angry. Doesn't hardly ever happen; I can make one think I am, but deep inside I'm laughing. I hate to get angry because it's not pretty at all - big time ugly. I love to "act" angry with my grandchildren and can actually scare them, but when I'm done messin with them, they laugh so much, and that's the reason I "acted" angry, just to see them laugh.

7. Do not drink coffee - love the smell, especially candles.

I doed it - I TAG MARME and BEAUTIFUL CHAOS.

Since I've been having a bit of trouble with a tooth, decided to go ahead and get all new ones. Here's a picture, do you want me to recommend the dentist? Very reasonable price! ENJOY!

Luncheon Question

Haven't had lots of comments about the noon luncheon and I can totally understand with you young mamas. Would one evening a month work better? Let me know what you all think/want? Just thoughts rolling around with the marbles in my head. I can just see the thoughts being blown and pushing the marbles, and I'm so hoping there are lots of red marbles. I do love red! Love my blogging buddies!

Nine Angels

Robert, Joshua, Taryn, Trenton, Phillip, Stephen, Alanna, LeAnn and Jaydon

Check out my Slide Show!

BROWSER

Hey ya all - I changed my browser from IE to Firefox and everything is now hunkie dorie. I can now see all the slide shows. I AM ONE HAPPY OLD COOT! I was so dreading talking to someone that I couldn't understand, in order to fix this puter.

Luncheon

Today is Friday. TGIF. As my husband prepares to meet with his friends for lunch; something he does each Fri as many of you know as your husband's also attend at times; I'm thinking back to my days in Illinois. My high school friends and I would meet the second Thur of each month at 11:30 for lunch. A good time to "remember" and eat. This worked wonderful for all of us and when I first moved back to IL and one of my HS friends told me about the luncheons I felt it was such a wonderful idea and was anxious to talk with friends I had not seen for years - some since I had graduated (I know, I know - you're thinking "they are still alive". Not always could all of us attend, sometimes it was only two, but still we had a wonderful time. Each time we met, we decided where/which restaurant we would meet the next month. Soooo as my husband prepared to leave, I'm thinking (can you smell the smoke?) would any of my BLOGGER buds like to do something like this. For my IL friends, it was easier to do it on a specific day and week, as we could plan around this date. What do you think? Any thoughts?

Angels

We have two angels visiting today - don't you think they look the part?

AD

I did, I did - I had a birthday a few days ago and I thank those of you that knew about it and wished me a happy day! What I must tell you about is a gift I received and give credit where credit is due! My husband bought me the most beautiful pen and pencil set. I do have a thing for pens and pencils - simply love them. We have someone in our church - won't tell you his name, but his initials are AD, and he sings most beautiful, always has a big smile and is such a kind man. He makes these sets out of different wood and my honeypooch got mine made of pecan. I love it and must show you in this picture. I'm thinking it will make a wonderful Christmas present or presents for someone.......anywho - here's the picture! TA DAA..........................................

Flowers

I enjoy taking pictures - especially of those precious little babies and children of all ages; next favorite is flowers. I do enjoy my little "OLD" camera - may be old, but still works just fine for me.

I DOED IT!

I doed it! Aren't you so proud of this old coot? Since I'm "more mature" I seem to have more thought processes going in the wrong direction. I am quite pig headed and will work at something and figure it out or burst trying! At this - I do think a few seams started splitting. Still not finished with the "new look" but I'll get it accomplished in time to change it to another new look. Love change, don't you?

Lamentations 3:24, 25 and 26

I trust this speaks to your heart as it did to mine today while studying.
Lamentations 3:
Vs 24 - The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Vs 25 - The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Vs 26 - It is good that a man should BOTH HOPE and QUIETLY WAIT for the salvation of the Lord.
Now for the comments: "While trouble is prolonged, and deliverance is deferred, we must patiently wait for God and His gracious returns to us. While we wait for Him by faith, we must seek Him by prayer: our souls must seek Him, else we do not seek so as to find. Our seeking will help to keep up our waiting. And to those who thus wait and seek God will be gracious; He will show them His marvelous loving kindness."

Don't know about you, but His word truly feeds my soul and I'm so thankful He hears my hearts cry and answers my prayers.

Hearing

We moved from Petersburg, VA to Killeen, TX in 1983. We had not yet sold our home back in VA and were renting in Killeen - so two house payments, plus a son in college and two sons in Christian school, and I had not yet gone to work. I prayed and prayed that we would hear our home had sold, but nothing. One morning while praying, it was so clear to me - not an audible voice, but definitely words that I knew came from God, telling me that He heard me, He was NOT deaf, did not even have a tad of a hearing problem and starting that day I was supposed to praise Him for the selling of our home. It hit me right in the heart and I immediately started praising the Lord because I knew I had heard from the Lord. Later that day our realtor called to tell us that he was taking someone to look at our house and I KNEW without a doubt those people were going to buy our home in VA. You know the answer - they bought. Just remember God does hear, has perfect hearing and we only have to ask, trust and believe. Too simple??? Psalm 6, verse 9 - The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Today's News

"Take three steps backwards. If you do not hear a loud beeping noise, you are not as big as a truck. So have another piece of chocolate."

Thinking and thinking! Anything to keep from starting the packing "up" for the trip which means leaving in the morning (Fri). Since I'm such an old coot and more MATURE coot, let me tell you chillins something I've learned in my many years of living. Ever have a period in your life so dark, so ugly black, so horrible you can't think straight? You wonder "Where are you God?" When it's darker than pitch, simply PRAISE THE LORD! That is the key to real victory. Believe me when I tell you I have had BLACK times in my life; but praising my Lord has been the answer. At times I would praise the Lord ALL the day long! Philippians 4:8 - 9 "Whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there by any PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS! Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." SIMPLY PRAISE THE LORD and peace will come! That's the key! Trust me on this one......

Four Angels

Here's four of my angels. First born granddaughter Taryn, Alanna who is six years old today, Trenton who is our little miracle survivor of cancer; he HAD cancer, but no more.... and Jaydon who is the youngest grandson. Will be seeing five more angels this weekend!!! God has richly blessed us; never failed and cannot fail.

Taryn

Here's the main reason I've not been on the computer; our Number 1 granddaughter, Taryn, our first born granddaughter. Actually my puter blew, lost everything but it's back and working. Have been busy with my Angel Britches, Taryn and enjoying her so very much.

My Scripture During Trial

Jeremian 30:17 - For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord....

This was one of many scriptures that I clung during the time of hurt. I knew without a doubt that God was going to put "healing salve" in the wounds - AND HE DID!

Hurting?

Lots of hurting children - big, little and in between. You all know what it is to hurt and to have wounds - sometimes the wounds leave scars. Scars don't usually hurt but are reminders; sometimes good and sometimes bad reminders. For a long time our family had hurts, wounds and it didn't seem to go away; about the time a hurt began to scab over, it would get ripped open again. Ever have that happen? This went on for years and at times I would pray that God would just give us a breath of fresh air and in some way, He would. Never did I doubt that God was in control and He alone would take care of the situation; that is the kind of God we serve - a never failing one. About six years ago while praying and crying out to God, something came to me and I'm sure it was not from the devil!!! Let me tell you what I believe came from God. I knew that I was in God's presence and could feel His love and in my "knower" came the knowledge that I was to take these hurts, wounds and all this garbage and put it in a "by faith" garbage bag and put it at the foot of the cross. BY FAITH, that is exactly what I did and prayed that the bag would only be opened when I needed to dump in more garbage; NEVER to take any of this filth out! Let me tell you something - in a very short time, this situation has totally reversed and I knew it was GOD. Nothing I had done, nothing man had done, BUT GOD! So to my precious BLOGGER sisters (and brothers?) if you have a situation that hurts and you don't know what to do, I would suggest to you that by faith, get a garbage bad and do a big dump.

Slide Show

A few pictures of our SAFA family. Enjoy!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Tell Me Why

This morning with my hand covering my mouth, I let out a hugh sneeze. My sweet husband said "Bless you, do you feel better?" I said "Excuse me and yes, I do feel better." When we burp, we should say "Excuse me". When we toot, with a totally red face, we should say "Excuse me" and very quickly move to another room. When we sneeze, don't we feel better? When we burp, doesn't our tummy suddenly feel better? When we toot, do we not have less pain? Why, tell me why - do we have to be embarrased and excuse ourselves for something that makes us feel better and is not REALLY a sin? When we eat a big fat banana split - do we say "Excuse Me?" Not this little piggy!!! It makes me feel better! So why, tell me why, do we have to say Excuse Me for the three above mentioned? Don't worry - I plan on saying "EXCUSE ME" if any of these instances happen and you are around! The real problem is going up and down a flight of stairs, you almost run out of breath saying "Excuse Me" before you get to where you are going.

Excuse me for this goofy BLOG - just wondering! Tell Me Why! Love all you bloggers - my new "sisterhood of bloggers".

A Wonderful Friday

Today is a wonderful day! I put my feet on the floor this a.m. and knew I would make another day. So many things to be thankful for - God is so good. Only one thing He cannot do and that is fail! I choose to trust Him because I know He is my shield and my strength. To you who might be reading this - I can only say TRUST THE LORD with all your being - He is trustworthy.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Me and Thee

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Having worked for the government for many years, I know that a COMMAND means DO IT! Coming from the Lord, a command means even more to me - I want to be strong and of a good courage and knowing that the joy of the Lord is my strength I can keep on keeping on!