Glory Bee Attitudes

God Still Loves Penn State (and other random thoughts)

2011-11-13T20:52:00.001-05:00

There's a bumper that asks "Why is the sky blue and white?" and the answer beneath it is "Because God is a Penn State Fan". I think God is still a Penn State fan (and a Crimson Tide fan and an Ohio State fan etc) but that he too must be saddened. It's a sorry world when a football program is exalted above the lives and welfare of innocent children. It's too sad for words. There's always redemption and mercy available, though. It's my prayer that the predators will find God and His mercy. It's my prayer that those who were victims of these unspeakable horrors will find peace and truth and fulfillment.
And then there's the race for the presidency. Hmm. I think I won't even go there except to say that it is imperative that the president understand foreign policy.
What else can I say? I want to live in a better world. I want to know that we are safe. I don't know about the economy and when it will turn around. I think we've learned some valuable lessons in the downturn but I'm ready to see my 401K recover so I have some hope of a decent retirement. I don't want to live high on the hog, but I want to live. I'm concerned about Medicare, about elder abuse, about ageism.
But am I worried? No. I have a new and living hope and I have a God who cares for me.
On this international day of prayer for the persecuted church, I pray for those who are in prison for their faith. I pray for those who have to worship secretly, those who need to hide away in order to pray together, those who have to stash away their Bibles, sometimes in pieces because that's all they have or that's the easiest way to hide it.
Someone recently introduced me to some beautiful YouTube videos on the underground church in China. One of the them was a series on the Canaan Hymns. The first video is available below. Watch and be blessed.

Ah, ah, Autumn!

2011-10-23T13:21:00.000-04:00

I sometimes think that Autumn is the gentle mother that's sent in to comfort us after the loss of summer. I'd love autumn more if I didn't know that old man winter was lurking in the corner ready to bring on cold, bleak days. But I'm thinking this October that I prefer to live in the now and enjoy each Autumn day. My senses come awake in autumn.

Autumn is beautiful. There's no doubt about it: Autumn is one of the most glorious seasons of the year. It is yellows and oranges and browns. It is pumpkins and colorful trees and majestic sunsets. It is bathed in golden glows. Just type "autumn photo" into a Google search and be amazed at the beauty that has been captured by photographers. Do the same with paintings. Better yet, if it's light outside and you are in a region of the world that is in the fall season, go outside and look around. Even blight looks prettier in the fall. My sister and I used to laugh about a junkyard that was visible off I-81 in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In the fall, even that eyesore could look pretty. Okay, so you had to squint and make it like a Monet painting, but you get my drift, right?
Autumn is delicious. It's apples and cider and pies. It's pumpkin casseroles and squash broth and harvest stew. It's a big chunk of cheddar cheese with a warm and hearty bowl of something healthy. It's potlucks and soup suppers. It's time to heat up the kitchen oven again and in the U.S. time to progress to the pigfest of all pigfests: Thanksgiving. That's when Autumn really crests here.
Autumn is fragrant. It's bonfires and baking. It's fresh air with that little hint of dampness. It's chestnuts and and candles and scents like cinnamon and nutmeg and cloves.
Autumn sounds good. It's children laughing as they jump in the leaves. It's little voices tentatively asking "Trick or treat". It's the sound of candy wrappers and doorbells and giggles. It's the cheers of football fans from midget leagues to the big leagues. It's the old hymns like "Come Ye Thankful People Come" and "Count Your Blessings" sung at church harvest services.
Autumn feels good. It's the joy that comes from helping others whether it's leaf raking or volunteering at a soup kitchen or contributing to the needy. It's sunshine on your shoulders, not burning but just feeling warm and right as you stroll around a fall festival. It's the softness and warmth of that blanket you now have to put on the bed. It's the feel of the Irish linen sweater or the fleece jacket.

Yep, this year I plan to enjoy autumn and not even think about the coming winter (which by the way can hold its own IMO for it's first six weeks and then I can cling to the hope of spring). But what's with me wishing away time anyway? My mother always cautioned about that. We only get so many days anyway so let's enjoy them (and yes, that includes winter too). In Psalm 90:12 the Psalmist asked God to teach us to number our days so that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom. The frailty of life is a fact that doesn't need to depress us. On the contrary, it makes us appreciate our time here. Ah ah Autumn!

So what stirs your senses in autumn? Comment or email and remind me of the joys I overlooked.

Lessons I Learned While Sick

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

I recently had a pretty bad upper respiratory infection that knocked me out of normal commission for a few days. Here are some things I learned:

There's a lot of junk online.
There's a lot of good stuff online.
It's easy to become one of those people on Facebook who hog your screen with 47 updates.
It is true that you can have 120 channels and on demand and a dvr and still have nothing to watch on tv. Especially true for daytime television
Coffee tastes horrible when you feel like crap but you better drink it anyway or you'll add a caffeine withdrawal headache to your woes.
Sleep is underrated.
When you feel like watermelons are growing in your throat it's hard to swallow.
If you're prepared you will have non-expired medicines on hand and know where the thermometer is.
You can make this sick thing your hobby but it would probably annoy the crap out of your friends and family.
The work piles up when you don't work.

So here's to good health. I'm finally there and I can get back to being human again and doing productive things. But I'm going to miss this online addiction.

My Inspiration

2011-10-16T14:13:00.000-04:00

Click on the play arrow below to watch a video I put together with some of my photos and some Bible scripture verses that inspire me. Note: When the ads start to appear down the bottom of the photos, you can see an "X" in the corner of the ad box/banner. Just click that X and they will go away. It makes for better viewing. That said, YouTube is a free feature and I guess we should read the ads now and then.

The Heart of The Gospel Message

2011-10-15T23:10:00.000-04:00

Good News!

What is at the heart of the gospel message? Thisquestion was recently asked by an online friend. My first thought was John 3:16. It’s a verse many of us learned as children,one we often take for granted. We hear it and we recite the words but seldomreally think about it. Yet Luther referred to that very passage as “the Gospelin miniature”.

A few years back I heard a decomposition of that verse. Ithought it was a helpful way to give meaning to something we often just reciteby rote. I’m not sure of its origin and I think there are a few variations buthere the one I’m familiar with:

For: Because

God: The greatestlover

So loved: Thegreatest degree

The world: Thegreatest company

That He gave: Thegreatest act

His only begotten Son: The greatest gift

That whosoever: Thegreatest opportunity

Believeth: Thegreatest simplicity

In Him: The greatestattraction

Should not perish: The greatest promise

But: The greatestdifference

Have: The greatestcertainty

Everlasting life: Thegreatest possession

To me, the sacrifice of Jesus and the opportunity for anyoneto receive His life eternally are at the heart of The Gospel.

Merriam Webster doesn’t use the good news definition. First, you need to sort through all thereferences to it being a religious term. Then it lists an alternate meaning ofsomething promoted as an infallible truth or a guiding principle or doctrine. I’ve always been taught that the word gospelmeans “good news”. So instead of thedictionary, I went to Strong’s Concordance because it provides the meaning ofwords in specific Bible passages. TheGospel spoken of in the four Gospels of the New Testament as well as throughoutthe epistles does mean glad tidings. Another meaning for it is a reward forgood tidings.

Well, what better news is there than knowing that when Isimply believe, I receive? Grace plusNOTHING! That’s really good news. I don’t have to do a thing except to takewhat God offers.

Some churches preach a social gospel or a liberationtheology or some form of interpretation that the heart of the gospel is to helpother people. It’s my opinion thathelping other people is a fruit that comes from our relationship with Christbut not reason for the message. Ibelieve that sometimes this conclusion is reached when people look at thepassages relating to Jesus where the word Gospel is used and they see that inalmost every case, Jesus preaching the gospel was accompanied by healings andby a message to the poor.

Let’s exegete some of those passages and see what we findout.

Matthew 4:23 - Jesuswent throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel ofthe kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. In context, this verse it was early inJesus’ ministry. He had just begun to call his disciples and to begin hispreaching and teaching. The miracleswere one way to reach The Jews of that day. In 1 Corinthians 1:22 we read thatthey sought a sign. To them it was an evidence of divinity. The gospel of thekingdom can be translated as the good news of the royal power of Jesus as thetriumphant Messiah. (Strongs).

Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord is uponme, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sentme to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, andrecovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. This verse speaks of preaching thegospel to the poor as well as ministering to others in need. This verse is in part an actual quotation ofIsaiah 61:1 which is a prophesy of The Messiah. Jesus was in Nazareth in the Synagogue readingfrom The Scriptures. When he finished,Luke 4:20 says all eyes were on Him. He then told them that the scripture thatday was fulfilled in their ears. If weread the whole chapter, we see that this message from Jesus by sight did not gowell. He was rejected and driven out. No social acceptance there so his ministrywas not just about doing good things that made people happy.

In BarnesNotes on The Bible, the commentator points out that the poor are “those who aredestitute of the comforts of this life, and who therefore may be more readilydisposed to seek treasures in heaven; all those who are sensible of their sins,or are poor in spirit Matthew5:3; and all the "miserable" and the afflicted, Isaiah 58:7. Our Saviour gave it asone proof that he was the Messiah, or was from God, that he preached to"the poor," Matthew11:5”.

I love thatJesus didn’t just stop at the poor. Some of the poorest people I know arehealthy and wealthy in ways that many more affluent people are not. He also healed the brokenhearted. The wordfor brokenhearted is actually two words. Broken means broken to shivers or broken in pieces. The word heart has several nuances and I’ve pasted the definitions fromStrong’s concordance because they say it best:

1) theheart

a) that organ in the animalbody which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence wasregarded as the seat of physical life

b) denotes the centre ofall physical and spiritual life

1) the vigour and sense ofphysical life

2) the centre and seat ofspiritual life

a) the soul or mind, as itis the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites,affections, purposes, endeavours

b) of the understanding,the faculty and seat of the intelligence

c) of the will andcharacter

d) of the soul so far asit is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat ofthe sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions

c) of the middle or centralor inmost part of anything, even though inanimate

Have youever met someone whose emotions desires, appetites and passions have beencrushed to shards? I think at times inour lives that could be any one of us. This is the type of person Jesushealed. Meanings for healed includecured, made whole, and freed from errors and sins.

What elsedoes this verse say He did? He preached deliveranceto the captives. Preaching isproclaiming, not the negative connotation many have that it is pounding peopleover the head with a message. Deliverance is release from bondage or imprisonment but it can also meanforgiveness or pardon of sins, letting them go as if they’ve never beencommitted. I’m jumping up and down hereat the notation in Stong’s concordance. And I had to smile whenthe definition for captive was just that: captive. The root of the word comes from a spear. Picture in the days in which this passage waswritten, the police didn’t come with handcuffs. They came with spears and youdidn’t move or you would be skewered. You were captive. The application here is that we are heldcaptive by the effects of our sins but Jesus wants to wipe away the record andthe spears have to fall because there is no grounds on which to hold uscaptive. He also brought about therecovery of sight to the blind. The same word is used for both physical andmental blindness. We know that Jesushealed both. Then it says he set atliberty them that were bruised. Interestingly here, the word for liberty is the same word used in thisverse for deliverance and bruised means shattered or broken into pieces (notquite the same as our commonly used English meaning of discolored skin or anabrasion).

I had notthought of the captive and the blind and those that are bruised as having necessarilyany relation to each other except as all being ministered to by Jesus. But Wesley in his notes on this passage hasthis delightful revelation: “How is the doctrine of the ever - blessed trinityinterwoven, even in those scriptures where one would least expect it? How cleara declaration of the great Three - One is there in those very words, The Spirit- of the Lord is upon me! To proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recoveryof sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised - Here is abeautiful gradation, in comparing the spiritual state of men to the miserablestate of those captives, who are not only cast into prison, but, like Zedekiah,had their eyes put out, and were laden and bruised with chains of iron. Isa61:1.” To me, that’s the good news thatJesus will redeem us from destruction.

There areother verses that we could look at (among them: Matthew9:35, Matthew 11:5, Mark 1:14, Luke 7;22, Luke 9:6) that refer to the gospel inconjunction with healing or ministering to the poor. They are similar in nature to the two we justlooked at.

The theme ofthe verses is that Jesus came to fulfill the scriptures and to save and deliverthose who would believe. The sick, the blind, the torn, the prisoners and thepoor are not the theme. They are the receivers. Remember your old grammar lessons? The object receives the action. WE are the blind, the poor, the sick, thebrokenhearted, the captive and we receive the action of Christ’s love. That to me is what is at the heart of thegospel message.

Back to John3:16 to tie in its relevance here. Thecast of needy human characters: The sick,the blind, the captive, the broken et cetera are the whosoever. And the good new –the best news – is that whosoever believes has eternal life. No strings. No conditions. No worksnecessary. Now isn't that good news?

How did this child of the 60's turn 60???

2011-09-18T23:24:00.001-04:00

How did this child of the sixties turn 60?
How did it happen that I got to sixty? I'm grateful that I am here, of course. I have a wonderful life and I know the greatness of God. I live with many reminders of how I've been blessed with family and friends and health.
I guess most everyone who ages has some similar take on this. I like to think we Baby Boomers are unique because we were so unique back then. We changed the world, right? Or at least our world. Our generation, after all, affected many changes in society. Some of them were good. Some of them were bad. But we didn't just sit idly by or expect that our parents would hand us everything. In fact, things weren't as much of an issue for us.
So now that I'm sixty I am asserting the right to speak like an old fogey. I've seen those lists online of things that were true in the fifties and sixties so I'm adding a few of my own. Today we say "back in the day" but back in the day we said "in my day...". So in my day:

Newlyweds didn't expect to have it all at once. They moved into small, cramped apartments with what they could afford. They didn't enter into marriage with a brand new home beautifully furnished with two new cars in their 2 car garage.
Tattoos were reserved for sailors and the occasional jailbird.
Children played outside without fences. When my mother wanted me she'd go out on the back porch and yell my name. That's how I knew it was supper time.
When I was a kid my friends didn't text me or email me or IM me or even call me. They would show up at the front door and yell "Hello for Lin-da".
Nobody bought metal wallets to protect their credit cards because we had few uses of credit and very little of that type of theft. If we couldn't afford something we didn't buy it. If we really had our eye on something and we were afraid it might disappear, we did "Lay-aways". The store put your stuff in storage and you paid what you could over time until you had paid for it. No interest. No charges. Now a thing of the past but it was very useful.
At least in our house, things like potato chips and soda and candy were reserved for special occasions. And I think they tasted better when they weren't so readily available.

Now I'm not naive. I know we've had many improvements since then. This very ability to blog, for example, is far better than a diary. MP3s beat vinyl records by a long shot. Smart Phones are the best. Just living without a simple mobile phone seems frightening (although we had less to be frightened of). DVRs, Pausing live TV, rewinding and capturing moments. I'll take that over UHF. I'll take my digital cameras any day over those nasty rolls of film that had to be developed. I'll take Facebook over waiting days and days for snail mail from a friend who lives in another country. Okay, maybe I'm not so sure about the Facebook thing. I mean, I did have magical times whenever I got a letter from my pen pal.

But all those improvements are still mostly things. What I value most is love. And in that regard I am rich. In my youth I was bombarded by messages about free love and making love and not war. We thought love was the answer. And maybe it was. But the love I've come to know is deep and powerful and uncreated.

Credits: Clip art from: MICKEYSXMINNIE's Hippie Clip Art

2011-07-25T23:01:00.002-04:00

Video from our trip to Bethany Beach 2011

Thoughts of Dad this Father's Day

2011-06-19T23:13:00.000-04:00

As Father's Day draws to a close, I was compelled to search my hard drive for an old post I wrote about my dad about seven years back. He was a great father and I miss him very much. So much of the wonders of my life were imparted by our parents. We truly grew up in a loving home. Here is a tribute to my dad, Ralph Earl Goodrich.
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

I remember back to my early childhood, the first time I heard my father refer to the month of March with the old adage "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". I remember how cool I thought it was when he explained what it meant.

I shared my father's dislike of cold weather and took great comfort in knowing that although the month would be starting out cold and blustery, it would end up leading into the warmth of springtime. Year after year, I would brave the early march winds, with the promise of gentler days ahead. I looked forward to shedding my winder coat, getting an Easter dress, playing outside more, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my back.

Year after year, like my father, I subscribed to one of his favorite slogans: "I'd rather sweat than shiver." I braced myself in early march, knowing that in about four weeks we'd be seeing robin red breasts and not long after that daffodils and tulips. I could tolerate the lion, knowing that the lamb was close at hand.

The lion often reminds us of noise and fear and destruction. The lamb always reminds us of tenderness and meekness and gentleness. The Bible tells us that Satan is the God of this world and that he roams about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. As born again believers, we know that Jesus in us is greater than the devil. Jesus is The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

One early March, it seemed as if the lion was in full force in our lives. My dad had suffered a stroke that winter and lie in the hospital bed unable to communicate with us. On March 15 of that year, he passed from this world. My dad was God's little lamb. He knew that The Lord was his shepherd, and I can be sure that as he passed through the valley of the shadow of death, he did not fear, for he knew that God was with him.

It was a sad time, but as a Christian, I took comfort in knowing that my dad was in Heaven. His passing on March 15 was symbolic to me and comforting as well. I knew that he was leaving the kingdom of the lion and entering into the kingdom of the lamb.

Good and Bad

2011-05-19T22:33:00.000-04:00

My husband and I decided to try a local eatery tonight since we'd heard good things about it. We've also been sent some fundraising flyers where this restaurant donates percentages of its proceeds to charities at certain times. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and the service and we'll go there again, especially when there are fundraisers we want to support, but also just when we get a pasta jones.

The parking there leaves quite a bit to be desired. There were no spots available except on the end where a big truck was parked over the line, taking up 2 spaces. It was pouring down rain. The driver of the truck was sitting there talking on the phone and surely witnessed my struggles as I had to do quite a bit of maneuvering to fit at all. It was difficult for me to get out but my husband could hop onto the curb. He went over to the truck and asked the driver if he would pull over so I could get out of the car. The driver refused and said "I was here first". By then, I managed to crawl out to catch the rest of the conversation. When my husband said "I only asked you to do me a favor" the guy said "You have a lot to learn old man". I swear I never thought I'd live to see such disrespect. It makes me cry when I think of it.

So in we go to the restaurant and the staff is wonderful and friendly. The food is good. We leave and there's another man, this one a gentleman coming in. It's raining again but this time it's sunny too and there's this big, bright beautiful rainbow. The man holds the door and cheerfully says "Don't miss the rainbow." He then comes out in the rain with us and points it out, smiling and proudly displaying his discovery.

And that, my friends, is our neighborhood in a nutshell. I think most people fall between the horrible, grouchy, rude guy and the overly friendly jolly man. But we take the good with the bad and in the end, it's the rainbows that we remember.

This Meatloaf is Half Baked

2011-05-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

I can't stop watching Celebrity Apprentice. I know I'm addicted. Last night was a three hour train wreck or shall I say shark jump that had me hooked for all 180 minutes minus commercials.
This has been a season of Trump "firsts". He's breaking many of his own rules and it sometimes makes for good television, sometimes bad. Take the rehiring of Latoya Jackson, for example. The woman was fired basically because she had laryngitis and NeNe had a bigger mouth than she did. Ne Ne who Star pitted against Latoya, even though they had this Kumbaya moment with mother star minding the daycare and became best buds. But I digress. More about Ne Ne later. And a little more about Star. Because a little Star goes a long way.
Another rule breaker was when Trump let the beautiful Niki Taylor say "you have to fire me". In past seasons he has severely berated project managers who took that stance. But, oh, Niki was so noble and so fine and so off the hook.
Then there was the time Trump let both teams keep their money. So this week, the ever-volatile Meatloaf has a meltdown because he thinks he's not going to win and Come-to-Mama, Star Jones, is going to make it alright by dialing Mr. Trump. Except it doesn't work. Meanwhile Meatloaf continues to cry like a big old baby even though he knew the job was dangerous when he took it.
The resulting broken rule took the cake for me. Trump lauded Meatloaf. All the other players took a cue and they all praised meatloaf to the heavens. Again. I could cite past contestants who were scorned for one tear but this bawling baby gets practically canonized. At least for last night Meatloaf was the new Joan Rivers. He could do no wrong by Mr. T. Yes, of course, he cares about his charity, but I think so do most of the other celebrities.
Meanwhile NeNe is AWOL. Poor Latoya (who should have taken a page from John Rich's book and left messages for potential donors) was beside herself as they were down 1 team member. I can't imagine NeNe had too many chips to call in. But what's with that woman? Trump exchanged one hotbed of emotions for another (meatloaf for NeNe.). She gets put on the winning team away form the control of Ms. Jones and she walks away from it. That woman has issues. She needs counselling. What a waste.
Star Jones, center of the universe and the only perfect one in the group of losers if you ask her, gets the axe for branding errors but when you read between the lines, there's more. Trump didn't want to fire Meatloaf, Marlee, or Star but he had to pick one of them. The little exchange in the hallway once again pointed out Meat's volatility. It also nicely showcased Star's arrogance. But methinks she brought about her own demise when she took the femininity stance. It gave that old MCP Trump a chance to find something he could dislike. And what was with that commercial? A pudgy old policeman leaning into a woman's car and then fraternizing with her at the donut shop. LOL!
I have some favorite candiidates going forward. In my next post I'll discuss the pros and cons of the final four.
Do you have a favorite? Leave me a comment and let me know.

My Mother's Watch

2011-05-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

After my mother passed away in 1996, my sister brought me some remembrances. The one I treasured most was my mother's old Bulova watch. My father had bought it for her many years before. She always wore it with pride especially when she dressed up. When I got married, she slipped it to me to wear on my wedding day as my "something borrowed". Not long after Ginger passed the watch to me, I wrote this poem that pretty much sums up my feelings about it:

Mother's Watch

It graced my mother's graceful arm
Like her, it had a special charm
With that same watch I pass the time
As mother did while in her prime

I have a special picture
in the movie of my mind
Of mother glancing at its hands
And sometimes now I find

I look down its antique face
And its Nineteen Fifty Five
We're waiting at the bus stop
And my mother's still alive

Somehow I have become her
And I feel her special charm
As I wear the watch that one time graced
My mothers' graceful arm

New Mexico Fun

2011-04-24T20:32:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from our recent trip to New Mexico. We enjoyed our time in Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque.

Shred Letter Day

2011-04-09T18:32:00.000-04:00

It started out as a good idea. I saw on the news this morning that the Attorney General was hosting a shredder day at a Baltimore high school. Although the event was free, donations could be made for the benefit of Junior Achievement. "Great" I thought, "I love JA. It will be worth a donation to get rid of that big box of paper in my office".
For the past several years, I've had some accumulated paper that came from cleaning out old files or from tossing into the mix junk mail for credit cards and other offers. I started hand shredding it but soon realized it would take a month of Sundays to just make a dent. I figured sooner or later I'd make one of those community shredding days.
Lloyd and I filled two large trash bags and took off to securely rid ourselves of old bills, pay stubs, ancient tax returns, medical information, and all manner of stuff that the dumpster divers would love to get their mitts on.
And we were joined by hundreds of our closest friends. I haven't seen this much traffic since The Yankees were at Camden Yards, since we drove through the Holland Tunnel, since Baltrimoreans freaked out in a freak storm on the beltway during rush hour.
You know who was there? Stupid and stupider. The response was much larger than expected and as a result traffic was snarled and people did crazy things. We had multiple sightings of cars, not just driving, but flying up the wrong lane and barely missing oncoming traffic. We saw one car attempt a 3 point turn at a very busy intersection, another one back out on to busy falls road. We had a woman drive up around everyone and cut everyone off. Oh, there were smiley faces and nice people and just normal well-behaved citizens but they were not so easily noticeable among the rude, arrogant horn-beeping idiots who almost ruined the day.
One has to wonder why The State didn't plan a little better with radios and trained traffic cops but the volunteers were doing their best and we were extremely grateful for them.
I was almost embarrassed when we dragged the two large bags out of the house but when I saw some of the other cars, I realized I needn't have worried. There were two cars that came together and I was shocked at the number of boxes pulled from their trunks, backseats, even front seats and floors. Unbelievable! I sure hope that came form a small office and not from a home.
One thing that was very good was the privacy factor. The people manning the trucks did a good job of limiting the number of cars that could dump at once. This made is almost impossible for dumpster divers to commit a stealth attack.
So that stuff is gone but I still have more to clean out. Hopefully next time we will hear about it ahead of time and get out earlier in the day instead of sitting in a parking lot for over an hour taking our lives in our hands with crazy drivers.

Ah, life was so much easier in Mayberry USA. Aunt Bee never worried about identity theft.

Shark Sighting

2011-03-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

I saw a shark. And jumping over that shark was one Donald Trump, calling himself The Ringmaster and announcing that the circus was in town. Well, he was right about the circus. Celebrity Apprentice has hit the airwaves again. I am hopelessly addicted to any variation of The Apprentice (including plain vanilla, celebrity, and the British version). It's hard to watch a train wreck, but there are isolated redeeming moments that keep me coming back.
This season Trump has separated the teams again into male and female. I don't know his reasoning but I would guess that there's less pretense starting out that way. No one is filtering something for the opposite sex. Women get cattier in a crew. Men get puffier in a pack.
So here are a few random observations from last night's premier:
Gary Bussey is a mess. His inability to turn off his cell phone was reminiscent of Blago trying to use his Smartphone in the last Celebrity Apprentice.
Dione Warwick on the register? Puh-leeze. Who puts a senior citizen on a technology-related task? I just slapped myself because I took exception to that. I'm not as old as Dione but I'm up there and I work in tecnology every day. But my point is that learning how to push all the right buttons is not a task you give an elderly diva. Send her outside to sing or something.
Back to Gary. The Pepperoni Profit was pretty funny but I don't believe he added any value. I would have just thought he was a NY whack-o and crossed the street. Then again I wouldn't pay $500 for a slice of pizza.
Star who?
Did they have to use those delivery vans or could the women have sent someone off in a taxi cab to deliver one of the orders at the end? They knew the timing was close. Why did they all pile into the van?
I felt bad for David. He had a nice camel coat though.
Richard is obnoxious. That will, of course, endear him to Trump.
Trump is obnoxious. So why do I watch this show? Oh yeah, I'm addicted.

The Weather in Fort Wayne

2011-02-12T23:53:00.000-05:00

I bought a new phone today. After much debate, I decided on a Droid. It's a Samsung Fascinate. I love gadgets and technology and I like to believe that I can pick up new things quickly. And I can. For the most part.
As I've aged my eyes have become worse and even with a fairly recent pair of eyeglasses, I don't always do so well with icons. Usually they are supposed to represent something but most of them appear meaningless to me. I have this same problem with my computer, but with my droid or my blackberry, they are even smaller and more difficult to decipher. But since I've been using a blackberry for a few years for work, I can get by. I usually end up relying on position or color or referring mentally to "that orange box with the squiggles" which is in reality a symbol for a calculator.
The bigger problem I'm having is with the touch screen. This truly gives new meaning to the term "Fat fingering". I'm wondering if girly-girls with long pointy fingernails have an edge here. The typing is a unique experience that has sent me into fits of hysteria. I've finally decided that whatever letter I'm aiming for, I need to touch a little to the left of it, almost on the letter before it. So, if I want to type a "W", I have to hit right at the end of where I see the "Q". It's like bowling with a curve ball.
So there's this really cool app where you can get a daily summary which includes the weather for your city, favorite stock prices, and the news headline. The cities were listed in alphabetical order. First, let me say the scrolling takes some getting used to but I was eventually whipping down that list, started to select Baltimore, then whiz, whirrr, whumphf, my screen took on a life of its own and I ended up with the weather for Fort Wayne Indiana. I've tried changing it but it only seems to let me add another city. I'm sure I'll figure it out. And in a few weeks I'll be laughing at my bungling. I mean I've only had the thing a few hours. In the meantime, please let me know if you'd like to know the weather conditions in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Looking for Good Movie?

2011-02-07T20:15:00.001-05:00

I don't go to too many movies. It's a world I don't live in. But I heard The Grace Card advertised on a local station and I think I'll check it out. I love the title! I love that it is about people who struggle, because we all do. And I especially love that it's about grace, God's grace. Can't wait to see it Feb. 25. Check the site to see if it's playing at a theater near you.
Check out the trailer by clicking below and also the info on sending a Grace Card.

Video Fun

2011-01-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a video of scenes from our 2010. We had such fun this year with family and friends and we realize we are so blessed.

2011 Here I Am.....

2011-01-01T01:04:00.000-05:00

No resolutions but I do have 20 goals.

1. Clean out my inboxes and keep them clean

2. Clean my office

3. Stage the house (even if we decide not to move it will feel good)

4. Determine where to live

5. Take a class

6. Keep debt to a minimum

7. Declutter

8. Get a new roomba

9. Make a will

10. Get a sleep number bed

11. Keep my car cleaner

12. Have a relaxing vacation

13. Get more sleep

14. Outreach twice a month

15. Bible Study at least twice a month

16. Get laptop battery fixed

17. Have someone over for dinner at least 5 times this year.

18. Watch something funny at least once a month

19. Walk more.

20. Get back to goal weight.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to 2011

2010-12-30T20:44:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of the year. I looked back through my posts from the beginning of this year to see how I did with my goals. I'm pretty happy with the personal goals that I achieved and the fact that I decided to tweak a few of them. Life's too short to set too many rules for yourself. Here's my report to myself:

Have a relaxing vacation with Lloyd and Ginger - Done! We had a wonderful week in Bethany Beach in July.
Buy a KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Done! And I love it.
Read through the Bible end to end - Abandoned. I was finding that this was getting too rigid for me. I may revisit it some day (maybe even in 2011) but I was missing too much. There were times I just wanted to dwell on three verses that we speaking to me. I think trying to do it in a year isn't the answer for me. Maybe just reading through it at whatever pace I need is the answer.
Learn to cook some new, creative dishes - This is a sort of thing. I tried new recipes but I wouldn't say I really did anything all that creative. But I did enjoy cooking.
Not gain more than 2 pounds - This is a goal I achieved all the way up to November. Since then I'm off the wagon a bit, at about three and a half pounds over last year's weight. Holiday stuff. A good walking program early in 2011 should set me back on track.
Take a class - I took one class called Organizational Savvy. I really enjoyed it.
Go to NYC in the spring - Done! Lloyd and I had a blast. We stayed at The Marriott Marquis. We walked and shopped and ate and went to a taping of The Huckabee Show.
Spend some quality time at the beach with the bees
Discover my portion in the Body of Christ - Ongoing! This year we started attending a local branch ministry that is growing. It is a calling and I know it in my heart.
Show appreciation more - I honestly don't know if I have.
Clean up my home office, Oh boy. Fell down on this one. Good goal for 2011. It's one floor up, in the eaves and I almost never go there. But no excuses, heh-heh.
Paint the glider and retro chairs - Done! But to be honest, Lloyd beat me to this one. I'm not complaining though.
Get more sleep - Not as much as I'd like. I've got to learn to decompress at night.
Host a brunch - Nope. This is something I used to do but I haven't done it this year. I've had friends over for lunch or dinner but not the big brunch deal. Maybe soon. Maybe not.
Pray like never before - You know this just happened mid-year. I think it's a result of hearing the Word of God more. But I love it. I love fellowshipping with my savior. This was nothing I did. It's all grace.

Below are some photos from the year. I did a lot of other stuff I didn't plan to do (meet Beth at her party, have fun at work during Asian Heritage month, live through a hundred-year snow event, meet our dear granddaughter-in-law and her mother (in same snowstorm), and lots more

Christmas Holiday Time 2010 Photos (Courtesy of Snapfish)

2010-12-30T12:32:00.002-05:00

We had a great Christmas this year. I was so excited that Lloyd was home from the hospital almost 10 days before Christmas! His health has for the most part returned and we were able to have a quiet but fun time. Ginger visited from NEPA and we had lots of sisterly fun, including a day trip to DC (many of the pics are from there). Also in these photos are a friend, Pat, who shared Christmas with us and our dear cat, Wuzzy.
Click here to view photos

Happy Easter Christmas!

2010-12-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

I'm working on this poem. It needs a little polishing. The thought of Easter was on my mind much of yesterday afternoon when a song I heard on my iPod triggered my thinking.

Easter Christmas

by Linda Sargent

It's Christmas and some say live in the moment

But my mind must jump to the spring

For although it's December, I have to remember

That Easter is what makes me sing

See, Christmas is a wonderful time

But it means so much more to my heart

To know that His rising means I'm realizing

That Christmas was just the start

So at Christmas time I remember this truth

That Christ came to set me free

That babe in the manger is no little stranger

He's the one who died for me

Natl Harbor 2010 (84 photos), by linda.sargent@comcast.net Snapfish

2010-12-06T23:26:00.001-05:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Working Thoughts

2010-11-20T22:33:00.000-05:00

Just about every year (especially when November 15 falls on a working day), I remember my very first day of work at Metropolitan Life Insurance. I was twenty years old at the time. I'd had a few part time or seasonal jobs before that year but that was the year I was supposed to go out and find a full time steady job. My parents agreed to pay for two years of school but that was all they could afford. I tried a few jobs and quit them. They were horrible. I didn't think I was cut out for office work. Then my father gave me an ultimatum that I had to have a job by my birthday or I was out of the house.

My birthday came and went but I was given a reprieve because I fell ill in September and was down in bed for a few weeks. Then I got a job I loved, working as a receptionist at Koerner Ford in Scranton. I thought it was all I ever wanted to be. I felt so grown up and important answering the phone. I was there about a month when the boss called me into his office and told me he had to let me go. I was devastated. He explained that I hadn't done anything wrong but that he had hired me without the owner's permission and the owner said he could not afford another staff member. I cried and cried. Then I went out and looked for another job.

I can still recall the day I started at Met Life. It was unseasonably warm and I was wearing my tan raincoat. I remember exactly what I wore. I had a purple outfit that was a flared skirt with a bolero vest and a lavender blouse with puffy sleeves. I can remember sitting in the Personnel office waiting to get started. There were half a dozen others waiting to start too, two of which would become good friends of mine.

I stared there for over seven years. It's where I made some lasting friendships. It's where I learned a lot and had a lot of good experience. It's been many years but every November 15 I look back at that time and remember that open door that led to a very fulfilling career.

We got our first pension statements which listed projected savings if we retired in 2016. How we laughed at that. 2016 was an eternity away for a 20 year old. Now it's just around the corner and it won't be too long until I retire. Where does the time go?

I'm so grateful for all the blessings I've had in my work life. Yeah, I might prefer independent wealth but if you've go to work, I've been blessed with a great career and many wonderful experiences.

Bees Love to Surf

2010-11-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Believers

2010-11-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

Two men from our church recently went to Pakistan for a brief visit. The video they put together is so dear to me. I love looking in the eyes of these precious Pakistani believers:

The video is courtesy of Peter Merry and Chris Doyle, Greater Grace World Outreach.

It's that time of the year

2010-10-26T19:42:00.000-04:00

Time to act silly and be a kid again.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Soft October Nights

2010-10-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

I love October despite the fact that it is on the pathway to winter. October is a beautiful month. It reminds me of many joyous things.
My mother was born in October on the 4th day. I smiled last week when I turned the calendar on her birthday and there was a picture of a bowl of pears. Pears were my mothers favorite fruit. I was thinking about all the things my mother liked: pears, the color green, a good cup of coffee (with cream), Girl Scouting, and studying The Bible. My mother was an awesome Sunday School teacher. She also had a quit wit and was frequently called upon to come up with a funny poem or essay.
October also reminds me of color. The leaves on the trees change color. The sunsets are more beautiful than ever. The golds and maroons and purples of autumn flowers are cheery and comforting. The orange pumpkins and the colorful gourds that we see around just gleefully shout out "October".
The end of the month brings the little ones trick or treating. I think as long as we downplay the evil side of Halloween, the day can be fun for the kids and time of joy. I remember in our old neighborhood in Edgewood, children would be everywhere. We're in the city now and don't get as many, but I digress...
October! It means The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock who so beautifully describes an October evening as an allegory for a stage of life. I used to claim that poem as a personal favorite when I subscribed to the the philosophy of existentialism. That was until "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" gave way to the Glorious Gospel and "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly". Still, I like Eliot's October evening description:
"...The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep."
And so I love October. I love that today is 10-10-10. I love this day that The Lord has created. Enjoy this month, my friends.

2010-09-21T09:50:00.001-04:00

9-11 Never Forget

2010-09-10T23:46:00.000-04:00

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Singing Along with Britt Nicole

2010-09-06T13:44:00.002-04:00

Walk On The Water lyrics
Songwriters: Crosby, Josh; Muckala, Dan; Waddell, Brittany Nicole;

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water

Walk on the water, too

I love this song. It speaks to not being insecure, not just waiting for all the conditions to be right. It calls us to take risks and to know that God has a provision for us if we just respond in faith.

People Watching at Dunkin Donuts

2010-08-29T21:05:00.003-04:00

I had a bunch of errands to run yesterday. On my way to the MVA, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts to grab a bagel sandwich and a coffee for breakfast. I decided to eat inside so I could enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, people watching. In came a couple stocking up on donuts, coffee, and cold drinks. I made up a story that this was fuel for a road trip they were taking, maybe going to the shore for one last weekend at the ocean. As my sister would quip, they looked like they knew their way around a donut shop. Behind them was a clean-cut young man, very athletic looking. I thought if I had a son, this is what I'd want him to look like. He seemed at ease with himself. He could be a doctor, a cop, a researcher, even an actor. Then he sneezed a loud ACHOO right out into the air, not trying to keep his germs from spraying, not reaching for the napkins at the nearby condiment table. While I was deciding if I would forgive him this trespass, he did it again, this time a one-two punch and I immediately disowned him. While I was fretting over the loss of the perfect son, in walked the antithesis - a young man in scary looking get-up. He had a helmet with spikes on it and a vest with the name of a radical group and a swastika on it. It made me so sad that hate groups still exist. I was revolted, but then I was reminded that I should pray for him. As I was quietly asking God to speak to reveal Himself to this guy, he suddenly turned and left. Coincidence? Maybe. But I continued to pray for him after he left. Then in came a typical thirty-something slightly tired looking father and his son who seemed to be around ten or eleven. The kid was allowed to get a cold drink from the refrigerated display. He opened and closed that door so many times I thought I'd freeze. Apple juice, no water, no wait!, flavored water, oh look milk, back to the apple juice, and finally settled on the chocolate milk. Kids, I thought. Not quite a candy store but close to it.
Slurp, chomp, gotta get to the MVA to get in line for the license renewal.... check the lipstick and hair for the photo I have to live with for 5 years. No more time to people watch but it sure was fun.

5 Days 4 Bees

2010-08-11T00:32:00.000-04:00

Find Some Joy Today

2010-07-30T07:20:00.000-04:00

"I hope you find some joy in your Friday" was how a friend ended an email to me last night. I like that. I hope to find some joy today. I hope to find joy every day.
I can't remember who came up with the idea of a joy list but I remember reading about it years ago. It's just a quick list of the things that make you smile at the moment. So here's my joy list for today:
The companionable silence of lying next to my husband of 26 years as I do my morning stretch
The dog curled up at my feet
Cool breeze in morning's light
A juicy peach, fresh from the orchard
Memories of Girl Scout day camp
Planned escape from cube farm: Walking in the woods at lunch time
The sound of the ocean
Chats on the phone with my sister
Laughing with my friends
My playlist
This is the day that The Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24
Here is a post about joy lists. What's on your joy list? Send me a comment with a few items from your list or email me . I'd love to share your joy.
Image from lillyarts.com

More items for the I Never list

2010-07-19T20:30:00.004-04:00

I recently posted "Well I Never".... an unedited list of things my friends told me they have never done. Here are some that came in late or that I missed:

I've never had a professional massage.
I've never had a formal bridal dress on.
I've never had a hickey (that's as risqué as we are getting,, friends)
Someone yesterday told me her 73 year old mother got her first speeding ticket recently.

See the original list by clicking here.

So what about you?
Ever get a moving violation?
A parking ticket?
Anyone who has never had coffee?
Never baked a cake?
Never been to the ocean?

And about that last post, has anyone ever actually used a churn? Or do my international friends use a term I'm unfamiliar with?

Send me your contributions!!! I want to know what mundane thing you've never done. Please use the comment feature to tell me.

Well, I Never.......

2010-07-13T21:15:00.000-04:00

I was shocked recently when a relative told me she never owned a pair of backless shoes.

I cracked up when I was in a ladies' room and overheard a young woman say "Personally, I've never seen a wrap-around skirt".

And at the doctor's office the other day, a woman who had to be at least mid-twenties said she had pumped her own gas for the first time in her life just that day.

So I asked some friends to send me one or more things that they have never done. I wasn't looking for thrills, major achievements, or things we all dream about but never do. I was looking for simple or everyday things that we probably think most people have done.

My personal contributions to this list are:

I have never seen the movie "Titanic".

I have never been around a newborn.

I've never ridden a motorcycle.

Here are the responses I've received to date from others:

Never used an ATM.

Never had an alcoholic drink (except communion wine)

Never been in a casino

Never had ears pierced (has worn clip earrings for decades, though)

Never had a cell phone until son went off to college

Never had cable tv (2 respondents)

Never paid more than $30 for restaurant meal for my mom and I, and I've never paid more than $6.50 for a movie ticket

Never been stung by a bee

Someone had a relative who never had 'Smores

Never been to a prom or a ball

I never had a roasted marshmallow. Like camp fire roasted marshmallow. I did last week though for the first time in my life. I discovered I wasn't missing much.

I have never pledged any kind of sorority, or co-ed fraternity.

I have never used a churn.

I have never had a tattoo.

I have never worn hot pants, wrapp around skirts, or gogo boots.

I have never left the country.

Never been to a rock concert

Never used an MP3 player

Never purchased a music CD

"...And I walked into my kitchen this weekend to see the guys had totally trashed it leaving dishes here and there and chips scattered on the counter top. I said what my mother always said, "This kitchen looks like the wreck of the Hesperus!" Then I stopped short and suddenly realized I had no idea what that meant or where that came from. So, I asked Alan. He didn't know either, but his mom always said that, too. We both started laughing and laughing - here we were on the verge of old age and we had no idea what the wreck of the Hesperus really was. We used the internet to find out."

"A couple of years ago, I was talking to someone trying to explain what a particular neighborhood seemed like and used the expression "Tobacco Road". This person had no idea what I was talking about and then I was slammed with the sudden knowledge that I am getting old. Grin!"

Never jumped out of a plane

Do you have any to add? Leave me a comment or send me an email.

Sixty Second Haiku

2010-06-29T22:50:00.000-04:00

The challenge I have given myself is to find a random topic using this random topic generator and write a haiku verse in 60 seconds. This is the best I can do under pressure. Try your hand at it. It's fun.
1) The best places to fish in NY:
Fishkill will not work
the best of new york fishing
Salmon run for sure
2) Eating late at night:
Late night snacks bring dreams
The landscapes of pleasant thoughts
and maybe a belch
3) Your ever changing goal in life
Life's four seasons
Bring a change in my forecast
I stop, shift, move, sigh
4) Deserted train stations:
Nothing but bare rails
A place where once hummed mankind
Silent, eerie, stark

With Apologies To Our Founding Fathers

2010-06-24T18:23:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of JibJab

Leave the Happy Meals Alone

2010-06-23T23:50:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid we didn't have Happy Meals. We had sugary cereal with toys in it and Cracker Jacks with prizes. I loved that stuff. My parents didn't overdo it. Maybe our family finances were partly responsible for that but I also think even if they had a lot of disposable income, they would know enough to not ruin my health. As I heard quoted on the news earlier something like "Happy Meals Don't Give Kids Bad Food. Parents do." I know we have a child obesity crisis but I have a hard time believing a toy in a meal is responsible for it. Lighten up, people, it's a treat, not a daily staple. The food police are using excessive force here. Dumb dumb dumb.
Check out the Food Police website where the press release can be found. The allegations they make sound ridiculous to me. Here's an example: "“McDonald’s is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children,” said CSPI litigation director Stephen Gardner. “McDonald’s use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children’s developmental immaturity—all this to induce children to prefer foods that may harm their health. It’s a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction.”
What do you think? Leave a comment here or email me and let me know.
A few more links to info on this subject:
CBS Article - Are Happy Meals Tricking Kids?
Dakota Voice article about Frivolous Lawsuit
Answer a poll on the issue.

Join The Adventure

2010-06-22T23:49:00.001-04:00

Review of "Lafayette's Gold: The Lost Brandywine Treasure"
by Gene Pisasale
They say you should write what you know about and it's very obvious that Gene Pisasale knows a lot about American history, but also about the Brandywine valley, relationships, the good life, and going for the gold. There is also intrigue and suspense. At times this novel is like Jeff Shaara meets James Patterson with maybe even a little Erich Segal thrown in.It's a fun read and one that will have you turning the pages to find out what will become of Jim and Natalie. You'll even learn a few things about Lafayette and the Brandywine Battle but I promise it won't feel like a history class.

View all my reviews >>

Get Your Scrant On

2010-06-22T10:18:00.000-04:00

We had a nice trip to Scranton Pennsylvania this weekend to visit my sister and to celebrate her birthday, Lloyd's birthday, and our anniversary.

We went to dinner at Tratoria Bella on Friday night. Then on Saturday we enjoyed a trolley ride (caught at Steamtown National Historic site) to the historic iron furnaces and the Arts on Fire industrial arts expo hosted by Keystone College and local nonprofits such as the Anthracite Heritage Museum.

Before we left, I gave Lloyd a gift. I had bought him a new iPod. I snuck into his car when he was busy watching the Orioles lose (what else is new?) and recorded several of his favorite CD's plus I added a bunch of songs he likes and some messages from the Greater Grace archives. Below is a clip of him groovin' to his favorite tune "Diamonds In The Ebony Sky" by Janine Turner and her daughter Juliette. Click on the arrow to play (includes sound).

Everybody Should Be Listening

2010-05-27T23:16:00.000-04:00

Everybody should be listening to Nobody's Listening. You have probably heard about the healing benefits of laughter. The Bible says a merry heart does good like medicine. Heck, even Readers' Digest has a regular feature that refers to laughter as "The Best Medicine".
That being the case, get ready to feel really good. Nobody's Listening is a virtual fountain of health. You will get a kick out of the three guys who do this show. They bounce off each others' personalities in a mix that is magic. Whether it's James' cleverly told tales of daily life, Trevor's automobile angst, or John's sophomoric flatulence humor, you will find yourself chuckling and laughing and even guffawing.
After some time you will get to know the chat room (even if you don't actively participate in it). You'll be saying things like "turned into a bat and flew away" and "redneck-edness" or asking the age-old question "Are you super squeaky?" Instead of getting annoyed at the tweens, preteens, and early teens you will get a kick out of Middle School Drama and see the humor in their rants. But mostly you will laugh and laugh and laugh.
In the interests of full disclosure, I must admit that I am also going to enter this in the podcast promotion contest. But that doesn't mean it's still not a really good show where they tell real life stories and invite you to do the same. Oh, and very important, this show as a "Clean rating".
So what are you waiting for? Check it out. Subscribe today via an RSS Feed or iTunes.
And if you see or hear of NLretentive, that would be me.
P.S. For my less technical buds, you can listen to a podcast even without an MP3 device. Contact me and I'll show you how.

Practicing For the Next Winter Olympics

2010-05-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of JibJab!

Thank you, State Troopers

2010-04-29T22:05:00.000-04:00

I was driving down I-95 today when an 18 wheeler merged on from an entrance ramp to an exit-only lane. I was one lane to the left, so I slowed down in order to let him move into a through lane.
Once he got in front of me, I noticed (to my shock) that his back cargo door was open. The truck was for a food service delivery and was stacked full of boxes of varying sizes plus a dolly that didn't look like it was secured very well.
I was momentarily paralyzed as I gaped into the trailer, wondering what would happen if he hit a bump or applied his brakes quickly. I thought of this stuff flying all over the interstate and the havoc it would cause with the rush hour traffic which was flying by at 55-75 MPH.
I'm pretty much a slow poke on 95. I try to go the speed limit or maybe 5 miles higher at the most, but I took the risk of going 72 in a 55 mph zone in order to get in front of the truck. When I got next to it, I looked for a phone number I could call but there was nothing. I said a quick prayer that everything would be alright, that maybe some other trucker would see him and radio him. Do truckers even use CB's anymore?
As I slowed down a little, I looked in the rearview and saw that lovely red and blue light. It was a state trooper, not after me for my little speeding indiscretion, but after the truck to get it to stop.
Police. Duh. Why didn't I think of calling them? Someone did, though, or perhaps they were out doing their job and spotted it. Either way, I'm thankful that they were there to get his attention and to keep the highway safe for all of us travelers.
Thanks to the "Staties". I know they have a dangerous and often thankless job but I am so happy they are there and I plan to keep them in my prayers.

The Big Apple

2010-04-22T22:00:00.000-04:00

Lloyd and I had a wonderful trip to New York City last weekend. It was just full of small delights and big sights. We left on Friday morning, arriving in NY around 10:30. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It's one of my favorite places because the location is so convenient and also because they have excellent customer service.
On Friday we roamed around, getting the lay of the land and doing some shopping. We bumped into Tillman the skateboarding dog training for a Saturday stint on Fox. I got some stills and some videos. We had immense fun at the M&M Store and also walked uptown to Macy's to do some shopping. The weather was colder than we had anticipated and Lloyd wanted a sweater. Because all the summer merchandise is out already, we had a hard time locating any in Macy's except one that was ill fitting and not all that affordable. But we did buy some other stuff for the both of us. On the way back, I suggested we stop in a "junk store" - one of those typical New York City places with tables piled high. We found a nice sweater on clearance for the unbelievable price of $6. Thank You, God, since we already have a closet full at home.
In the evening we went out to one of my favorite restaurants in the theater district, Ciro Trattoria. Good food and good service made for a nice evening. I was listening to the music and enjoying it when I thought "Hey, that's Casting Crowns, the Christian group". I noticed that all evening they played contemporary Christian music in the background. Nice touch for this Glory Bee.
Saturday we had tickets to be in the audience of The Mike Huckabee Show. What a treat that was for both of us, especially for Lloyd who really admires him. It turns out that Tillman was also there and this was the show he was practicing for. There were other interesting guests and we both to meet, shake hands with and have a brief personal chat with Huck after the show.
That pretty much concludes my account of our visit to the big city. You can see a video slide show in the post below.

2010-04-18T13:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T17:43:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter to everyone. This is such a glorious time for a Christian. On Easter I think of a verse that spoke to me many years ago when I was a college student in theology class: 1 Corinthians 15:19 "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men". But glory to God any pity we receive is misguided. Verse 20 says Christ indeed has been raised from the dead!
Here are verses 16-20 from the message translation. I'm so excited reading them that I am doing the Snoopy dance:
" If corpses can't be raised, then Christ wasn't, because he was indeed dead. And if Christ weren't raised, then all you're doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It's even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they're already in their graves. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries."
And here is a wonderful quote someone posted on Facebook. I don't know its origin but I love its message:
"The greatest man in history had no servants, yet they called Him master. He had no degree, yet they called Him teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today! Hallelujah"

EASTER!!! HE IS RISEN!!!

Palm Sunday Rambling

2010-03-26T20:27:00.000-04:00

Palm Sunday always reminds me of Richard Nixon. I remember being in New York City several years ago. We were visiting for the day and walking from one point to another when suddenly we were in a plaza filled with people, police, and secret service. Why do they call them secret service, by the way? But I digress.
It turned out that Richard Nixon was in the neighborhood. The crowd was pushing and shoving and everyone wanted to get a look at Tricky Dick. I was one of those people. At that time in my life I didn't like President Nixon. But still he was a president and I wanted to spot him. I was pretty excited. I remember yelling "I think I see the top of his head". Of course, that could have been any of several hundred men on the streets of NY at that time.
It just so happened to be around Palm Sunday. I had been pondering about how people were bowing down to Jesus one week and crucifying Him the next. I couldn't understand it. Then at that moment in Manhattan, I realized what it was like to be swept up in the emotions of a crowd.
There were people who genuinely loved Jesus and there were those who hated Him and who would stop at nothing to destroy Him. But there were also the larger number of lemmings who just went with the flow and responded to whatever energy was around them.
There's no moral or scriptural lesson here. Just that Palm Sunday always reminds me of Nixon.

Faith and Begorrah, Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T21:57:00.000-04:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Some Irish Blessings for you:
May the frost never afflict your spuds.
May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms.
May the crows never pick your haystack.
If you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.
---
May the rains sweep gentle across your fields,
May the sun warm the land,
May every good seed you have planted bear fruit,
And late summer find you standing in fields of plenty.
---
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
---
Wishing you always...
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire
---
May the smile of God light you to glory.

You can find these and more at: Island Ireland

Better Than a Hallelujah?

2010-03-14T12:04:00.000-04:00

"We pour out our miseries God just hears a melody beautiful the mess we are the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a Hallelujah. " - Chapin Hartford and Sarah Hart.

There's a new song by Amy Grant that I love. It reminds me of vintage Amy Grant, the kind of song she'd sing when she was a teenager. She didn't write it though. It was written by two women, Chapin Hartford and Sarah Hart. In concerts she has stated that she feels privileged to be able to sing it. I've read that Amy loved the lyrics and that they ministered to her following the death of a friend. She reportedly said: "The song is just so poignant and redemptive. In the lyric, there is no religious code or lingo going on and the message is true, it's good news. I love every scenario it's painting." (reference: Songfacts)

At first I was a bit taken aback because it seemed the writers were presuming what God thinks. Then I remembered that we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

I was also wondering about the subjects dealt within the song because it seemed counter to what we hear all the time, that we should praise God and sing during the crises and troubles. Doesn't Psalm 22:3 say that God inhabits the praises of His people? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In everything give thanks." And I do believe that. I think that we should claim our victories and acknowledge His grace and mercy and healing even when we don't see it.

But in Psalm 142, David said he pours out his complaints to The Lord and he tells Him his troubles. He also acknowledges that God alone is his refuge but he does cry out. I'm also reminded of 2 Corinthians 4:8 where Paul acknowledges "trouble on every side" and being perplexed and distressed, etc. The key is that they were not defeated.

What this song says to me is that God is waiting for us to come to the end of ourselves. He loves our cries that are without some vain religious prescription, our acknowledgement that we cannot do anything to save ourselves. He welcomes our complete dependence on him. He is waiting to be gracious. That is why these cries are better than a Hallelujah sometimes. The Hallelujahs may be empty and vain, and of course, they can also be sincere and anointed. But a genuine cry for help is an opening for The Holy Spirit to minister and work in us to bring us to a place of trust and sincerity. We then can have the confidence spoken of in 2 Corinthians 3 because we realize our sufficiency is not of ourselves or but of Christ.

Here are the lyrics:

God loves a lullaby

In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.
The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

What's Underneath?

2010-03-07T22:13:00.000-05:00

I went to an awesome exhibit last week at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC. It was a collection of art that had been amassed by two Welsh sisters.

The exhibit was called "From Turner to Cezanne" and it had a number of my favorites in it, especially the impressionists. But what struck me most was reading the descriptions of the works. Several of them had something like "infrared photography shows that originally there was a third figure" or "infrared analysis suggests that perhaps the man in the background was later painted in". Infrared technology (photography, radiation, etc) is also often used to discover what is called "underdrawings". These are usually the original sketches that later became the work of art.

I got to thinking about how in our dealings with other people, we don't have the benefit of infrared photography. Mostly, that's a good thing, as we all stand and fall before our own master. But it also made me think about how someone may have a hidden sorrow or mistake or regret or maybe great joy that was taken away by some tragedy or betrayal. We can't see what used to be there. We can't know what they've painted over and present themselves as. We don't know what underdrawings were the start of their greatness. Our kindness may be the thing that reveals not the original picture, but the beauty of what's there now.

You never know what someone is going through or has been through. Give them a break. Be their friend. Smile. Pray for them. Think about all the things that go into making up a person at any stage of their life. You don't need an infrared camera, just a heart of compassion, which God will freely give you if you ask.

Snow Story

2010-02-14T16:59:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over a week since our famous back-to-back snowstorms started. Last Saturday, Lloyd and I got a call from his son in the morning. It seems that his niece (my stepdaughter's son's wife) was on her way from North Carolina to New Jersey. She was to meet her mom for a weekend together. Her mom was travelling from Maine to New Jersey. But then around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Lizzie found herself stranded in Baltimore. Stuck in between a few tractor trailers with her little Mustang, there was nothing to do but strand the car.

In a short time we received phone calls from Lizzie's mother-in-law (my stepdaughter) and husband as well. We only live about 10 or 12 miles from there, but it may as well have been the other side of the country. We had about two feet of snow by then. I couldn't move my little hybrid and Lloyd's 4 wheel drive was behind it. Plus with Lloyd's heart condition, he cannot shovel much and I certainly wasn't any match for that amount of heavy snow.

Lizzie was stuck on the road and the city and state were not helping. The city said she was on a state road. The state said she was on a city road. She was stuck in the a bureaucratic nightmare until almost noon. Her husband Rick (whom I proudly call my grandson) is a soldier in Ft. Bragg. He decided to try his military brothers and sisters. It was only a matter of time before the National Guard picked her up in a Hummer and dove her to our house.

Now we were not looking forward to the snow. But God brought this little angel to our house. What a delightful young lady she is. It was so wonderful to have a sweet guest with us as we wiled away the snowy hours.

On Sunday, her awesome mom, Doreen, drove down and helped get Lizzie's car dug out. Doreen's a seasoned Maine driver with a 4 wheel. However, even she couldn't make it down our street. She managed to park off the main road and walk over. Mother and daughter got to spend time together after all. And we got to make some new friends who are part of our extended family.

We can't leave out Happy, the wonder pup, who was also a part of the package. (Although our cat would happily forget, I' sure).

Let it snow? Heavens, no!

2010-02-06T22:29:00.000-05:00

We had a record snowfall this weekend. It will take a week for things to get back to normal, but at least in 2 or 3 days time we should be out an about. More to come later about our fabulous surprise visitor (not just the snow but a darling young woman and her puppy).

However Tall the Mountain

2010-02-01T21:37:00.001-05:00

"However tall the mountain, there's always a road" - Afghan proverb

I recently read However Tall The Mountain by Awista Ayub. It is subtitled "A Dream, Eight Girls, and a Journey Home". It is an account of an Afghanistan born American who had a vision to reach out to girls in her homeland and bring them to America to teach them soccer. The soccer team members come from backgrounds of heartache and disappointment, since they all lived through the Taliban regime. Most have not been allowed to play sports and especially not soccer. They come to America where they are the center of attention in their own little world of competition and then return home to their former lives as they reconcile the two. Their mentor has a homecoming of her own as she travels two years later to her native land and reconciles her own identity.

I have always been interested in Afghanistan, although I don't know much about it. I know little about the Taliban except its horrors, but thankfully I haven't had to live through anything like that or even the Soviet occupation before that. I am not really big on sports and I've never actually watched a soccer game.

But I am a woman. I can feel the pain of not being allowed to do get an education, the loneliness of not being able to socialize, the fear of knowing that at any moment for almost no reason my family could be shot, my body violated, my home destroyed. I can imagine the sheer claustrophobia of being forced to hide in a burqa and veil when it's not my choosing to wear the clothing.

I am a girl. I know the joy of friendship, the excitement of shared secrets, the satisfaction that comes from being able to finish your friends' sentences. I know the pain of betrayal when a friend turns away and the happiness that's felt when a friendship has passed the tests of time and trial.

I have an inner athlete. I like to compete and win. I want to push myself to my best. I love knowing that I've come a long way in some area. I think medals are cool.

I am a reader. And this reader has traveled to Afghanistan thanks to this book. I can relate to so much of this story and I rejoice for the victories, small as they are, in rebuilding self-esteem.

I think of the precious people of Afghanistan and often say a prayer for them. Now I feel like I know them a little better too.

You can read more about this book or order it online:

Order from Amazon or read the reviews posted there

The Author's Site

Facebook Group

Fighting The Rescue?

2010-01-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

I loved the footage we saw on TV this weekend of the dog being rescued from the water in California. He was confused and scared and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to find his way out. A helicopter came and dropped a rescue worker down to assist him. The noise of the helicopter, the confusion of his plight, and the prodding of the stranger made the dog anxious. He bit the thumb of his rescuer. The rescuer fully understood the dog's fear and gently but firmly kept his grip and lifted him to safety.
I can't help but compare that to how I am sometimes when it comes to God's will in my life. I make wrong decisions, often through ignorance or accident but sometimes through stubbornness. I end up in a place of confusion with very few options and no clear path. Then The Lord sends in a rescue and I get insecure and resist. But He gently but firmly lifts me to safety and there I am safe in His rescue.
Psalm 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. Verse 19 (b) says "He rescued me because He delighted in me".
Are you biting the hand the rescues you today? Rest in His strength and trust that He will lead you to higher ground.

Do you see the defects?

2010-01-13T21:27:00.000-05:00

I overheard someone at work today talking about diamond purchases. She was saying that when she got her diamond, the jeweler pointed out that there were some flaws. She saw a beautiful, sparkling rock that was about to be hers. She kept gazing at it once she got it and was struck by it's beauty. Then not long after, she was driving and the way the sun hit the diamond caused the reflection to show the occlusion. She swore that from thereafter she could see that occlusion with her naked eye.
Isn't that like life? Did you ever have someone plant a negative thought in you about another person? You hear it and you think "Oh, I don't see the flaw." Then one day, some set of circumstances causes a different reflection and you suddenly see that glaring flaw that you might have never noticed had someone not introduced you to the idea of it.
Something to ponder:
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies" (Philippians 4:8-9 The Message Translation)

Book Cover Spoilers

2010-01-12T21:51:00.001-05:00

What's with cover spoilers anyway? An author goes through a lot of effort to write a book. There's a plot that is revealed as you read through the chapters. The author takes care to create the underlying premise, follow a sequence, and lead the reader on the journey. Yet the back of the book or the inside of the jacket often contains something that you normally wouldn't discover until you were pretty far into the story.
For example, I recently read a novel about a man who is out of work in the post-9/11 world and has somewhat lost direction. I would have preferred to be surprised (along with his family) when he took a sudden turn and made a pretty significant life change. This happens around page 100. But somewhere around page 60, for some unknown reason, I decided to read the cover only to discover early that this was about to happen. I felt cheated. It was like a spoiler. This is not the first time this has happened. It irritates me no end.
Often I read those descriptions because they help me determine if I'm interested in the book. But can't they be a little more vague?
Okay, I've whined enough about it. I'm swearing off covers. You can't judge books by them anyway.

Rubber Ducky Joy of Joys

2010-01-10T20:38:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, January 13 is Rubber Duck Day, the birthday of Ernie's Duck. Who doesn't love a rubber duck?

Guess what!?! Through the wonders of nonsensical online quizzes, I have discovered that I am a Carrier Duckie. Click the link below and check out what kind of Rubber Duck you are. Let me know.

See you round the tubby. And this Wednesday, 1/13, don't forget to Pause For the Splash.

Carrier Duckie You might be a parent, you might be a helpful person, or you might just be constantly schlepping other people around. Whatever the case, you are definitely haulin’ duck.
What-type-of-rubber-duck-are-you quiz brought to you by the rubber duck lovers at RubaDuck Click to find out what kind of duck you are!

On These Cold Winter Days

2010-01-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

It's too cold to go anywhere. Time to hang it up and stay in where it's warm and dry (well at least on the weekend when I don't have to go to work). So what do I do on these cold winter days? I do what people have done for centuries - I eat my way into warmth. Okay, so I attained my goal weight last year and I want to keep it. But there's still a lot of leeway and since cooking is the thing I love more than the actual consumption, there are always ways of blessing others with a plate of something.

What other indoor pursuits do I have? Surfing the web to find a good spot for our summer vacation. Just thinking of a week at the beach in the middle of summer is a very inviting thought.

I also have been reading. Get a good cup of low-fat hot chocolate and nonfat whipped cream, grab your book and a microwave-heated wrap and it's a great time to visit anywhere. Currently, I am in Scotland at a fish plant (A Risk Worth Taking by Robin Pilcher). It's colder and rainier there and it isn't even winter yet in the novel.

Then there is the great pastime of napping. Snuggling up with Lloyd on the bed, flanked by Wuzzy and occasionally Yogi is unspeakable joy.

Whatever the weather and whatever you are doing wherever you are, I hope you make this a great today and that you papmer yourself a little bit with comforts and joy.

First Day of the First Month of the FIrst Year of A new Decade!

2010-01-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

Things I love about New Years Day:

A new start - a clean page, a blank slate, a new chapter.
Anticipation - What will the year bring? What will I be thinking in 2011?
Calendars - I love starting new calendars with their fresh pictures and clean pages. I like to flip forward through some future months and think about what I have to look forward to.
Goals - I don't do resolutions but I do like to set a few realistic goals. This year I plan to have a relaxing vacation with Lloyd and Ginger, buy a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, read through the Bible end to end, learn to cook some new, creative dishes, not gain more than 2 pounds, take a class, go to NYC in the spring, spend some quality time at the beach with the bees, discover my portion in the Body of Christ, show appreciation more, clean up my home office, paint the glider and retro chairs, get more sleep, host a brunch, and pray like never before.
Hopes - I hope that I, along with my friends and family all have years of good health and steady income and that we all remember how much we love each other.
Knowing that it's okay to be a little lazy in the winter as we settle in and ride out the cold months.
Reflection - I like looking back on the year we just left, browsing through the photos, remembering the good times, knowing that God has worked out everything for the good.
Starting my TBR list for 2010 (A list of 12 primary and 12 alternate books of which 12 are to be read over next 12 months).
Okay, this is shallow - new TV. Project Runway starts in 2 weeks!
Hearing what others are thinking, planning, and doing as we start the new year.

Colonial Christmas

2009-12-28T22:24:00.001-05:00

Chillin' With My Peeps

2009-12-20T21:40:00.001-05:00

Wow! What a weekend. I met my friends at National Harbor for what was supposed to be a Girls' Night Away. We booked at room at the beautiful Gaylord National. We hung out on our awesome balcony, went shopping, had a lovely dinner, exchanged gifts, and then turned on the TV to find that the promised snowstrom was no joke and it was already snowing. There were 3 of us but in less than a half hour, I was the only one left. My friends chose to leave before it got too bad. I had a much further distance and as far as I was concerned driving in a blizzard at night wasn't my cup of tea. So I stayed the night and then an another night, finally making my way home today. Wow, we did have snow! All in all it was a great weekend and I'm glad we are all safe and warm and dry. You can see a video of the adventure by clicking on the play button.

2009 GGWO Ladies Christmas (36 photos), by linda.sargent@comcast.net Snapfish

2009-12-16T23:08:00.001-05:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

2009-12-15T22:21:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Christmas Memories From Childhood

2009-12-08T21:49:00.000-05:00

Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It's that simple despite what the stores and the theaters and the newpapers would have us to believe. But as we celebrate with giving gifts and sending cards and singing carols, we make many happy memories. I was thinking back to some of the Christmas memories from my childhood:

The Childrens Christmas program at church. We would say poems and sing songs. I remember how proud I'd be to be a part of that. There was always one kid who forgot his/her lines, occasionally someone would cry, and at least once someone would make everyone laugh. One year that was me. I was always pretty earnest about remembering my lines. My dad said that one year I started saying the wrong line. I got flustered and said "whoops" as I lifted my dress to cover my face. I was too young to remember it but thanks to my dad's recollections I could almost relive it.

I remember one Christmas in particular when my mom sent me and my sister to bed. Then she and my dad snuck into the living room and did all the decorating. It was beautiful. We had these french doors and in the morning we could see the tree through them.

One year I woke up and thought I heard Santa in the room filling my stocking. Our stockings were in our bedroom which seems odd. I was scared stiff.

I'm not sure how this happened to be just me and my father but we went to a nearby town to buy a present for my grandmother. My father left me in the car and said if anyone came by to tell them that he'd be right back. He was just running in to pick up a specific item, probably a box of Russell Stover Candy or something. We didn't have a lot of money back then and it's possible that my father had to wait until the last minute to afford the gift. Anyway, along comes a policeman with this big fat pad of tickets and he looks at our expired meter. I was a rule-bound child and I was quite scared. I rolled down the window to try to explain to him that my dad would be right back. He looked at the meter then looked at me. Then he shut his ticket book and said "Oh never mind, it's Christmas Eve". I cried like a baby at his kindness. I still cry when I think of it.

Tour of Cultures (47 photos), by linda.sargent@comcast.net Snapfish

2009-12-06T22:45:00.001-05:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

November TBR Update

2009-11-11T22:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm a little ahead of the game on my TBR challenge. The challenge at the beginning of the year was to pick 12 books to read during the year. I also chose the option of having 12 alternates - any of which could be substituted for a primary book. It's a good thing I chose the alternates because I couldn't always lay my hands on a book from the primary. Maybe next year's personal challenge will include some organization of my books.
I generally upated Goodreads with a review once I am finished with a book. Here is my list of what was TBR and what I've read: Glory Bee's 2009 TBR Challenge.

Thinking about taking the challenge for 2010? Here's the link: 2010 TBR

A November to Remember

2009-11-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

Well, we are one week into November and it has been a very pleasant month so far. On November 1, I had the pleasure of travelling to New Jersey to meet a wonderful friendly Norwegian who has been my online friend for many years. Judy, who I also met online but who lives nearby went with me to Perth-Amboy. In addition to meeting Barbie, the Norwegian wonder, we met her friend, Linda who travelled with her.

Today, after an awesome message in church, I headed over to the Baltimore Museum of Art to meet my friend Beth. We went to the Matisse exhibit and then to brunch at Gertrude's. It was such a gorgeous day that I got there early and was able to stroll around the Hopkins campus. After brunch, I worked off some of the food by walking thorugh the sculpture garden.

What Else Are You Going To Do?

2009-10-23T21:48:00.000-04:00

I've been home sick and in the evenings I haven't been up to much. So I've been surfing the web and listening to podcasts and well, listening to podcasts about surfing the web. Here are a few wonderful ways to spend time on the web....or is it waste time? Well, if it's helping me de-stress, I say it's therapeutic.
Cute dogs. Who can resist them? And you can add your own or add captions to the ones there already.
Pundits. This is not a bunch of people yelling at each other. It's funny photos and funnier captions.
Cakewrecks - Saw this on Urlesque and it cracked me up.
Falling Sand - Etch-a-sketch meets lava lamp. Have fun.
Make you own comic stip - This is a lot harder than it looks. You can see my lame attempts out there as glorybeeattitudes.
Visit the Gallery of Regrettable Food - Oh, maybe we don't want to go there.
Refrigerator magnet poetry and more - This is a silly site and people will steal your letters. Oh my!
Virtual Poohsticks - Low tech but charming. I remember this old favorite every now and then and revisit it. I'm glad to see it's still there.
101 more ideas -Lots more links here. Enjoy!

Inspired

2009-10-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

Someone recently posted a question in a group that I belong to: "What religous songs inspire you the most?" Here was my response:

I like contemporary Christian and a little bit of country gospel plus a few hymns. I could probably name 50 songs since I'm so inspired by music. Here's my playlist of 10 off the top of my head:
Forgiven and Loved - I love this song because if represents the pure finished work and grace of God in comparison to our humanity and vulnerability. My favorite lines from that song? "When He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation. And His blood commands my guilt to flee. Now on Calvary I stand, empty pockets open hands - and there is NO CONDMEMNATION for me"
Something Beautiful - I have fond memories of singing this song in church in the 80's. We were going to a small branch ministry. We had an outreach to the handicapped called "The Abled Ministry" and I remember sitting with some of these beautiful wheelchair-bound brothers and sisters in Christ, raising hands and praising God while we sang "All my confusion He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife. But He made Something Beautiful out of my life"
It is Well With My Soul - I've loved this hymn since I was a child in the old Primitive Methodist church where I grew up. I've had the peaceful river and the raging storms since that time and can still sing "It is well. With my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul".
Lead Me to the Rock (That's higher than I) - I've battled self-consciousness most of my adult life, second guessing what I say and do and wondering if someone thought less of me. God has helped me overcome it. He has shown me that He can lead me to the rock that is higher than I, so that I don't have to worry about that self-consciousness. That is why I love to sing "When my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock. Lead to the rock that's higher than I".
Stay Strong - The kids all love The Newsboys but so do I. We all are susceptible to the dangers of burnout now and then but we don't need to succumb. We can look the The Lord as our very life and know that He is with us in the race. I have to cite a few verses here. This is so inspiring to me:
We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'
We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?
Stay strong You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
On My Knees - I used to be 5 feet 2 and a half inches. Not very tall but now because of osteoporosis, I am shrinking even more. But sometimes I feel like an edifice rising higher and higher and I am so very tall. When? When I'm on my knees. This song inspires me to remember the power of prayer.
There are days when I feel
The best of me is ready to begin
Then there are days when I feel
I'm letting go and soaring on the wind
'Cause I've learned in laughter orIn pain
How to survive
I get on my knees
I get on my knees
There I am before the love
That changes me
See I don't know how
But there's power
When I'm on my knees
At Calvary - This is another song I remember from childhood. It spoke to me then and it speaks to me now. I love dwelling on God's mercy and pardon. I remember belting this out as a child in the chapel at Bible camp:
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
Mighty to Save - Everyone needs compassion! This song is like a two-fold blessing to me. It reminds me of the love that I long for and experience as a child of God but it also reminds me that there are others who need to hear that they too can experience the love and compassion that I have found:
Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.
Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Awesome God - The lyrics, the beat, the music itself are inspiring and energyzing to me. Rich Mullins lived a short life on earth but his gift goes on:
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Why - This song by Michael Card is pure poetry to me. To do it justice, I have to paste all the lyrics below.
Why did it have to be a friend
Who chose to betray the Lord?
And why did he use a kiss to show them?
That's not what a kiss is for.
Only a friend can betray a friend.
A stranger has nothing to gain.
And only a friend comes close enough
To ever cause so much pain.
And why did there have to be a thorny crown
Pressed upon his head?
It should have been a royal one,
Made of jewels and gold instead.
It had to be a crown of thorns
Because in this life that we live,
For all who would seek to love
A thorn is all the world has to give.
And why did it have to be a heavy cross
He was made to bear?
And why did they nail his feet and hands?
His love would have held him there.
It was a cross, for on a cross
A thief was suppose to pay.
And Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away.
Yes, Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away.
　
　
Credits:
Forgiven and Loved - Written and sung by Jimmy Needham
Something Beautiful by Bill and Gloria Gaither
It is Well with My Soul - by Horatio G. Spafford. There is quite a story behind this beloved hymn: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.ht
Lead Me to the Rock - Lyrics are from Psalm 61. Not sure who wrote the melody. We sing it in church and it’s been recorded by several people.
Stay Strong - by Jeff Frankenstein, Peter Andrew Furler, Steve Taylor and sung by The Newboys
On My Knees by David Mullen, Nicole Coleman Mullen and Michael Ochs (sung by Jackie Valesquez)
At Calvary - William R. Newell
Mighty to Save - Reuben Morgan (sung by Hillsong Australia)
Awesome God - written and sung by Rich Mullins
Why - Written and sung by Michael Card

Happy Harvest Time

2009-10-09T23:59:00.000-04:00

I am a spring and summer person. I loathe most of the winter, especially after the warmth of the holiday season has past. Autumn is a mixed bag for me. I hate to see the days getting shorter and the weather getting cooler. But I love the warm parts of autumn days and the sights and smells of the season. So I think I will just concentrate on those and enjoy a happy harvest time this year.

Isaiah 18:4 For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

Saturday at The Hon House

2009-09-26T23:13:00.000-04:00

Come spend a day at Hon House with me. Today would be a good day. It was fall-like but beautiful. It was one of those cool, crisp autumn days when I like to throw the windows open and watch the curtains billowing in the breeze.
I caught up on my favorite tv shows that I tape (Project Runway and Top Chef Las Vegas. After a leisurely breakfast, I did a ton of laundry and took a walk around the yard.
There was lots in the backyard to make me smile. Even the flowers seemed to be saying "Morning, Glory" to this Glory Bee.
The bay grass is tall and poofy now with it's lovely crowns. Fall flowers are blooming or on the way. Even the Rosemary is looking good. I stopped to cut some to add to my potatoes and pork chops.

I noticed that the pond has a lovely yellow flower on the water lily and that a few of the trumpet vine flowers remain.

And in between the work and the wak and the tv, I took time to enjoy my new computer

and managed to chill with the boys.

You’re wearing THAT?

2009-09-26T14:51:00.001-04:00

Note to my sister: The next time I make a comment about what you’re wearing somewhere, just remind me that you look positively smashing compared to some of these high-powered celebs who showed up at The Emmy’s: 2009 Emmys Fashion Losers
Now I like to watch Project Runway and I can tell you that just about any of these aspiring designers would have been kicked off for the likes of some of these frocks. I think the most ridiculous was the Barak Obama dress. C’mon, even if you adore the guy, you have to admit the dress is tacky and a bit too much.
Not that I’d win any fashion awards, especially today. I am running around the Hon House mismatched and out of season – a 2009 version of “the housedress” being a pair of lime green capris, a white tee with a band of red and yellow flowers, and a sea green fleece sweater with white appliqué. Short of Publisher’s Clearing House, I hope no one comes to the door today!

Oh never mind, I’m turning myself into the Fashion Police. And p.s. to Ginger, I am just an annoying little sister. You’ve got me beat with your clean, classic look. I, on the other hand. often sport a mix of early thrift store meets Rack sale meets Land’s End.

New Puter

2009-09-21T22:16:00.001-04:00

I got a new laptop today. It’s almost as much fun as a new car. Actually, there’s not too much to a new car. You take it for a test drive and then you drive it off the lot. You may read the owner’s manual and discover a few things but pretty much you have all you need to get going. A new computer, on the other hand seems to come loaded with secrets.

Every time I buy new hardware, I am amazed by how much easier it is. I can remember my first PC being this big scary thing. Words like bios scared the heck out of me. That blinking cursor freaked me out. Of course, that was DOS.

I remember when I upgraded to XP. My screen had a big fat button labeled “Turn off computer” but I didn’t realize it was a button. I thought it was a command. so I hit the power button. My hard drive lived to tell about it, thankfully.

My new computer is even pretty. I got one with bees on it because, of course, I love bees. Ah, the feel of a new machine.

It should even make blogging easier for me. This could be the start of something wonderful….. or maybe it’s the start of too many nights up past my bedtime.

Prime Perfection

2009-09-20T12:15:00.000-04:00

A few years back, I got this idea about naming my years. As each birthday approaches, I take the age I am turning and apply it to some attribute. For example, 57 was my "variety year" based on the Heinz 57 varieties slogan, always invoked when I heard the number 57. This year I had to do a little more digging. There were no sports figures that were meaningful to me that bore the number 58. The number isn't sequential or palindromic or representative of any games, products, or slogans. So I looked at the number mathematically and found that it was the sum of the first 7 prime numbers. Therefore, I am dubbing this my year of prime perfection.
I'm not a perfectionist by any means, so the word perfect doesn't scare me. I'm relaxed about it because I know that I am living in the perfect will of God. I am made perfect in His eyes even though experientially here on earth I am far from it - and I have the attitude to prove it more than I care to admit.
I have the Isaiah 23:6 perfect peace, though, when I keep my mind on Him. I have the James 1:17 every good and perfect thing that is from above. I have the law of The Lord (doctrine) which is perfect and it revives my soul (Psalm 19:7). God's way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). If I have any fear, perfect love casts it out (1 John 4:18). And I can relax in the promise of "And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." in James 1:4.
As I look back on my life, I am so grateful for all I am and all I have and yes, even for that I don't have (please remind me of that often).
I love the song that Francesca Battistelli sings. I need to change up the lyrics when I sing it a bit, since I'm a good deal older than 20 and I have a lot more dents in my fender and rips in my jeans. And I've actually learned that perfection is my enemy only when I try to be its author.

At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But You've already won the battle
And You've got great plans for me
Though I can't always see

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out
See my life would turn out right, and I'd make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt, oh...

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me
And you're free to be you

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I've got all You seek, oh
And it's easy to believe
Even though

Oh, I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see

I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me
And you're free to be you

- lyrics by

Francesca Battistelli

Stuck in The Sixties

2009-09-13T22:25:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful weekend. Included were a stay with a friend who lives at the Delaware shore. We had great walks on the boardwalk and the trails, a visit to the farmer's market, tasty meals both at her home and in restaurants, and just a nice time together even though it seemed like the temps were stuck in the sixties. Okay, so maybe the 70's some of the time but it didn't matter..... even a bad day at the beach beats a good day stuck on a cube farm. On Sat. night we were stuck in the sixties in a different way. We attended a fabulous party at Phyllis (Soon-To-Bee)'s home. She and Gene threw quite a party. It was harmless 60's fun.

Labor Day Weekend - Then and Now

2009-09-07T22:13:00.000-04:00

I remember Labor Days of the past. When I was a child, my mom and dad would put my sister and I in the car and we'd drive to visit the relatives in Connecticut. I remember happy times there, splashing in the waves at some beach, shopping for new school clothes at Arlen's Department Store, or going to Holy Land USA. Oh, and there was Quassy too, Lake Quassapaug Amusement Park. We did some other quirky things like going to the dump with my uncle Joe (who always found the best treasures) or playing Pokeno in Auntie L's kitchen. While those days ended several years ago, the memories are still very much alive in my heart.

This year Lloyd and I had a quiet Labor Day. We rested and also did lots of yard work at The Hon House. Then today we went to Annapolis where we had a fun breakfast and did some strolling and shopping. We were home in time to beat the rush and relax for the late afternoon and evening. All in all a splendid way to welcome September and the last few weeks of summer and to celebrate Labor Day. Mike Huckabee said if you have a job this year, make this also a Thanksgiving Day. I couldn't agree more. Thank You God, for my job and for the work and income you provided for Lloyd all those years until his retirement.

Endless Enjoyment

2009-08-25T23:41:00.000-04:00

I recently visited my sister and we took a trip to a quaint little town in the endless mountains of Pennsylvania. Some pics are below. It was a wonderful day with sunshine and laughter. I have many happy memories of time spent with Ginger that involve sunshine and laughter. We've had rain and tears too and no matter what, a day with Ginger is a day to cherish. We had such fun in the Endless Mountains this year that the enjoyment itself seemed endless.

Note the pictures of the Tunkhannock Viaduct near the end. Theodore Dreiser, in his book Hoosier Holiday. wrote, "a thing colossal and impressive - those arches! How really beautiful they were. How symmetrically planned! And the smaller arches above, how delicate and lightsomely graceful! it is odd to stand in the presence of so great a thing in the making and realize that you are looking at one of the true wonders of the world." Source: http://www.gribblenation.com/papics/eng/tunkhannnock.html

Day 8 of The Sleep Challenge

2009-08-10T19:10:00.000-04:00

The bags under my eyes were so large that the cashier at the supermarket gave me a discount for bringing my own sacks. Not paper or plastic, but big ugly dark circles. I was cranky and out of sorts and sometimes even had difficulty concentrating. I knew what it was. I was following my own biological patterns. I had inherited my mother's nocturnal habits. My father used to say of her "Doesn't like to go to bed at night and doesn't like to get up in the morning".

But I live in a world where everyone else is alert and alive in the a.m. so I decided to challenge myself to get as close as I can to 8 hours sleep per night for 30 days and see if it doesn't make a dramatic difference.

Tonight will be the 8th night. I've done pretty well so far. I only had one evening where I had way too much to do and didn't make my personal curfew.

I hope to do some before and after analysis, maybe even a before and after photo to see if I can see the difference. Meanwhile, I am happy to report that I am experiencing more energy and I think my eyes are brighter and less puffy.

So don't call me after 9:30 PM because I will be cutting Z's for the next several weeks, and later if it turns out to be even half as invigorating as I hope.

Our Star Spangled 4th of July

2009-07-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

We spent a few days in DC. It's just 50 miles down the road but it was nice not to have to drive back and forth to see all we wanted to see. What a great way to spend the Fourth. See the video below.

Happy Birthday to Ginger!

2009-06-21T20:08:00.000-04:00

June 22 is the birthday of my favorite sister. Of course, she's my only sister but I like to call her that because she is such a wonderful friend and a genuinely wonderful person. I've put together a photo show of some happy memories through the years. Most of the photos are recent but I was able to scan a few oldies but goodies.

So happy birthday, Ginger. I have so many happy memories in my head. Only a few of them are in these pics. But they are all in my heart.

Flag Day

2009-06-14T16:26:00.000-04:00

My friends all know how much I love flags, especially Old Glory! So here's a flag day video that I've put together using photos I've taken and the song "There She Stands" by Michael W. Smith. (The picture of the 2 men in uniform by the flag and the final photo were taken by a friend who was stationed in Iraq).

When I was in my twenties and early thirties, the Christmas holidays were always full of stress. There was never enough time to relax and enjoy the many gatherings. I almost always failed to get cards out on time. There was the pressure of buying gifts. Living in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Berkshire Mountains, and later even Baltimore, there was the fact that the weather was cold and sometimes snowy and dark. Although I loved white Christmases, I longed for the long days of summer.

On year I got the bright idea to celebrate Flag Day. There was little going on during that magical season where spring is about to turn to summer. When the days stretch longer and longer and the warmth of the sun can be felt through your tee shirt as you shed your jacket. It brings back memories of school ending, my mom making kool-aid, my sister's birthday approaching, and playing out in the backyard so long that it seemed almost timeless. Then, there's Old Glory waving in the breeze. The US Flag all red, white, and blue. And when I was younger, we had celebrations in town for Flag Day.

I've always loved flags. There's something about seeing them in all their splendor. I am an American and I am proud of my flag and my heritage. But I believe that everyone should be proud of their heritage. I love to see the flags of other countries as well. I love that they symbolize hope and ideals. Every year our church has a missions march at our annual convention and countries are represented with their flags borne by missionaries and native peoples. It always gives me goosebumps.

What's my favorite flag? Love. Huh? Yep, as a born-again Christian, I love to read in Song of Solomon 2:4 that "His banner (flag) over me is love".

Happy Flag Day!

My Maine Man

2009-05-31T22:23:00.001-04:00

Lloyd and I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Maine. The primary purpose was to visit his twin, Leon, who is not able to travel to see us. But as an added bonus, we decided to celebrate our 25th Anniversary by renting a secluded cabin on a lake. The photo show below chronicles our time there. We thank God for a wonderful vacation and for 25 years of what has been truly wedded bliss!

Long time... Longwood

2009-05-17T21:16:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when we get busy and we go our separate ways, we lose sight of how long it's been. My friend, Marcy, is someone I used to work with. I have always enjoyed her energy, her love of life, and her creativity. We live about 150 miles apart and it's been too long since we've seen each other. So today we each drove to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania (about 2 hrs for her and an hour and a half for me) and we enjoyed a great time together. From the walk in the meadow to the tasty lunch to the conservatory and the gardens, every moment was fun and it was so good to catch up. We even got to spend an hour or so with Phyllis, who lives nearby. It was a time of fun, friends, and flowers. I've tried to capture some of it in the video below.

A Good Week for Geezers

2009-05-14T22:11:00.000-04:00

The 75 year old Joan Rivers was crowned the new Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday.
On The Biggest Loser show, Helen (who was constantly bemoaning her age vs. the younger people she was competing with) won the whole enchilada. She had lost a total of 140 pounds. And Jerry, who is 64 years old, won the $100K prize for losing almost 48 percent of his body weight. Even the Aussie who was on the show from Australia's Biggest Loser was 57 (my age incidentally).

Does this give me hope or add pressure? I'm not so sure. But I'm just happy to know that it's not all about the twenty or thirty somethings.

What a nice visit!

2009-05-11T22:02:00.001-04:00

My sister came to visit for the weekend. We never stopped talking to each other. We enjoyed a lovely day in Baltimore on Sunday. See the video below - blue skies, pleasant surroundings, great company. It doesn't get much better.

How old?

2009-05-02T08:44:00.000-04:00

My husband and I were recently shopping in Home Depot. An official looking gentleman with an orange vest and a clipboad came up and greeted us. I assumed he was a store manager or someone hired to solicit customer feedback. However, he was from a local plumbing and heating company and his first question to us was "How old is your furnace"? Immediatley and with great pride I said "It's brand new!" No sales pitch from that guy, he simply said "okay" and moved on.
Driving to work the following day I was replaying the scene. I thought about how the man may have had nothing to do with Home Depot but just the orange vest and the clipboard gave him some credibility. Then I pictured the impostors that insert themselves into my thought life. They might be my own insecurities or judgmental people or the very devil himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). And maybe it's a day that I'm a little off and feeling sorry for myself or not thinking of others as I ought to. With an air of officiality, the impostor asks me the question "How old are your mercies?" And I can jubilantly shout "They are brand new".
Impostor: Brand new? What do you mean?
Me: Brand new. I got them this morning. (Lamentations 3:23).
Impostor: How about your mind?
Me: Newly transformed (Romans 12:2)
Impostor: Inward man?
Me: New every day (2 Corinthians 4:16)
Impostor: It doesn't look that way
Me: Your are looking at the outward man. I have a new birth (1 Peter 1:3)
Impostor: Okay, so what about your name? That's got to be as old as that outward man of yours
Me: Got a new one coming on a stone (Revelation 2:17)
Impostor: What about agreements and contracts?
Me: New (1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:7, Hebrews 12:24)
Impostor: And your song?
Me: New (Psalm 40:3)
Impostor: Well, what about....
Me: NEW NEW NEW!!! Here's the deal: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW'. (2 Cor 5:17).

4th Annual Pond Scum Saturday

2009-04-26T21:31:00.000-04:00

We started our annual yard cleanup on Saturday. It was fun and hard work at the same time. The grossest part was dividing the plant in the pond and dealing with pond scum. Ewwww. But the fishies seem very happy and the hon house backyard is shaping up.

Easter Dinner

2009-04-19T23:04:00.000-04:00

We had an Easter full of blessings and enjoyed having some fine friends over for dinner. What a glorious time of the year for us. It is this holiday that causes us to truly celebrate. We love life on the other side of the grave.

2009 PMBC Retreat

2009-04-19T21:56:00.001-04:00

See below for a video slide show from the 2009 PM Women's Retreat. Click on the arrow to view the video.
When I was young, I spent many happy moments as a camper at Pocono Mountain Bible Conference. My parents would come to get me at the end of my stay, I would cry so hard because I didn't want to leave. My mother would half-jokingly say it embarrassed her because people would think there was something wrong at home. Nothing could have been further from the truth. We had a happy well-adjusted home life. But nothing could compare to that mountaintop experience. Fast forward forty-some years and after the PM Women's Retreat of 2009 I felt the same way. I had tears in my eyes as my sister prodded me into leaving at the end of the final day. Once again I was so enthralled with the mountaintop experience that I wasn't ready to leave.
We started out on Friday night watching the movie Fireproof. We sat around the dining hall loft sharing sniffs and giggles, laughter and tears, groans and gasps as we munched on goodies from the snack table.
Saturday during the day our speaker, Ruth Dunkle shared the inspirational theme "Dust is a must", based on the old Hebrew blessing "May you always be covered with the dust of your rabbi".
Saturday evening a PM Ladies favorite, Ruthy Stock blessed us out of our socks with her beautiful singing and her zany sense of humor. We were indeed changed again at the close of this day.
Sunday after prayer and a yummy breakfast, we were treated to one of the most tender and delighftul messages I've heard in a long time. The Rev. Gillard Evans, a retired minister from the denomination, humbly walked up to the pulpit and proceeded to share the heart of God so beautifully that I weep when I think of it. A few times you could tell that breathing and standing were tiring for the elderly gentleman but he kept going so it was an even more beautiful sacrifice. In 2006 I heard Billy Graham speak at the Franklin Graham crusade and I'd rank this right up there with that. Rev. Evans, a man who served and loved for many years is still very much the preacher.
The weekend was over all too soon and I'm down off that mountaintop, but the blessings will stay with me for a while and the memories will last and last.

Held

2009-04-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

This post is dedicated to Barbara, who is at the threshold between this life and the next. It is for all my dear book loving friends who are so sad to hear of the unexplainable tragedy that has taken her from a lively, vibrant woman to someone who has deteriorated quickly into what is now a comatose state. My prayers are for a miracle and knowing that maybe this is her time to go, that her friends and family would be comforted by the memory of her and that they would find peace in her passing.

The lyrics to Held by Natalie Grant follow. This song is a beautiful expression that mixes sorrow and hope:

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
[Repeat Chorus]
This is what it means to be held

Someone has posted a lovely YouTube with the lyrics and music. Held by Natalie Grant

Easter Memories

2009-04-06T22:16:00.000-04:00

Every year my mom would get us chocolate coconut-filled eggs from Williams Chocolates with our names on them. They were beautiful to me. They always had scrolls or flowers too.

We always got solid chocolate bunnies too. No hollow things. Real chocolate from Williams and later Gertrude Hawks.
Easter dresses (even when mine were occasional hand-me-downs they took my breath away).
Easter hats. I wasn't fond of those chin straps but I liked the hats okay.
Singing some favorite Easter Hymns "Christ The Lord is Risen Today", "Up From the Grave He Arose", "He Lives"
Easter plays at church. I got to be in a few and I loved it.
Sunrise services. Getting up when it was dark and shivering outside as we sang those hymns and heard the story of the resurrection.
Sunrise Services at Patapsco State Park followed by a breakfast cooked on the grills there.
Easter Egg Hunts
Jelly beans (esp. the licorice ones)
The first taste of gourmet jelly beans
White chocolate crosses (a favorite of mine when I was a pre-teen/teen)
The awe I realized when I heard the verse "If our hopes in Christ are limited to this life only then we are the most pitiable of all men".
Easter dinners
Celebrating The Resurrection with friends and family

Everlasting Arms

2009-04-04T23:47:00.000-04:00

I was fascinated the other day by the news story of the child in Massachusetts who fell from a 3rd story window. A man was talking on a cell phone outside a pizza place when he saw a toddler dangling from a window. He ran across the busy street, almost being hit, managed to go to the house where another man was attending a Bible study, and the two of them appeared under the window just as the child fell. One caught her head, and the other her feet. Imagine that. Imagine how happy her father was when he found out she was okay. He had been attending to a newborn at the time. Imagine how relieve the other children were. Imagine how the 2 men were hailed as heroes and how they must have been somewhat stunned. One report even says that as the child was being carried inside she chuckled.

It made me think about how God catches us when we fall. Deuteronomy 33:27 says "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms". When we fall into sin, He is there to pick us up and set us back on our way. And no one should judge us because it is God who makes us stand. Romans 14:4 - Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

When we fall away because of neglect and self-centerdness, God is still there holding us in His arms. He gently reminds us that He cares and that He desires for us to fellowship with Him. 1 Peter 3:17-18 says "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

When we fall because others are trying to destroy us, He watches over us and protects us. Proverbs 4:16 talks about mischief makers who try to destroy others: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." We often fall because we are not on the right path or not walking in the light of His word. The Lord gives us this caution to keep us from falling: 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27).

When we fall because we are mired in something, be it evil or bona fide depression or sadness or fear, Psalm 40:2 says "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." He establishes our goings! How exciting. Just like the little girl who fell out of the window. Now isn't that enough to make us chuckle with joy?

TBR Update

2009-03-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'm on book # 5 of my TBR list. At the beginning of the year, I took the challenge to read 12 books that have been sitting on my shelf. I love to read and often buy or borrow new books. But there are always some books that remain on the shelf for one reason or another. I picked 12 primary and some alternates. Maybe I will let Wuzzy our cat choose what I should read next.
Here is my list: 2009 TBR

Celebrating with The Queen

2009-03-28T22:23:00.000-04:00

The bees were buzzing around DC today. Originally we planned to see the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin, but rain and clouds and cold kept us mostly inside. Not to worry! We went to the Botanical Gardens. Then we enjoyed tea at The Willard, where peacock alley was resplendent with cherry blossoms. Click on the play button and watch for Obee.

A Few Favorites

2009-03-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd post a few links. These are favorites of mine on the internet or links to favorite places that we frequent.

Sites I enjoy
Check out this rendition of the old favorite hymn, Amazing Grace. It's beautiful.
My church, Greater Grace World Outreach
I get a kick out of this blog which features various Starbucks photos.
Home ec 101 - fun site about stuff around the house.
PBS's Track That Word - do you speak American?
You might need a Facebook account for this one, but I love this video by Jennifer Knight.
Can you Googlewhack?

Local Haunts that we like
The Open Door Cafe in Belair Maryland.
Yia-Yia's Bakery - in Rosedale with delicous baked goods and pretty darn good sandwiches too.
It's all about the food and Grotto Pizza is the best pizza!
We love to go downy ayshun, hons. Especially off season.
The Aquarium In B'more is a fun place even for seniors like us.
There's only one Cafe Hon.
Favorite Authors
Bawlmer girl Laura Lippman
Martha Grimes, author of the Richard Jury novels and more.
Jan Karon, author of The Mitford Books
Khaled Hosseini, whose books about Afghanistan have made such an impact.

2nd Annual Bee Scavenger Hunt

2009-02-28T22:38:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo show of the 2nd Annual Bee Scavenger Hunt. We won the best name contest. We were Four Queens and a Drone. We correctly solved 25 our of 28 questions, coming in 4th (out of 6 or 7 teams?). This year we did National Treasure at the Museum of American History in Washington DC.

Sharing is Love

2009-02-07T20:44:00.000-05:00

Lloyd and I had a nice day today. We didn't do much. He hasn't been well. But we decided to go out for lunch just to get out for a bit. We went to a local diner, Velentino's. It's a neighborhood restaurant with American and Greek food.
Our entrees came with either 2 sides or a salad and a side. Lloyd ordered 2 sides but I got the salad. When it came, he made some remark about how good it looked, so I put some on his bread plate. We had a sweet little young waitress. When she came by the table, she glanced at the little bit of salad I'd given him. I said "I'm sharing" and she smiled and said "sharing is love".
Later on at the end of the meal, Lloyd ordered pie but I just got coffee. I told her that I was going to remind him that sharing was love. And with that, I took one little forkful of pie, which was just right for me.
It was such a little expression but I can't stop thinking that sharing is love. It is love in action. And that is a dear thought to hold on to this week.

What peace? or What peace!

2009-01-11T14:18:00.000-05:00

Peace. Is is achievable? I'm not talking about world peace, but about inner peace that an individual can experience.
Can we experience peace every day of our lives? I think so, although there are going to be days of inner turmoil, testings and trials. Psalm 119:165 says "Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them". Another translation says it this way: "There is lasting peace for those who love your teachings. Nothing can make those people stumble." (God's Word translation).
In another post we can examine the different words for peace in the Bible. For now, we can establish the premise that it's not just the absence of war but also a well-being and calm that we can enjoy even when the storms are raging all around us. Let's examine some ways in which we can have peace:
1. By right thinking. Romans 8:6 says that "To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". That doesn't mean that we don't take care of our physical bodies or look after ourselves and our families, but it means that we also take care to feed our spirits by looking after the things of God and by reading and concentrating on His word. We acknowledge God above all and each day present ourselves to him (Romans 12:1). We seek him early in the morning and recognize that his mercies are new each day (Lamentations 3). We are in the flesh but we don't live after it. This is not a works program but an acknowledgment of what Christ has done in our lives.
2. By responding in peace. When Jesus healed the woman in Mark 5:34, he said "Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace, and be whole of your plague." "Go in peace" is a benediction and a commandment. When we go in peace, we know that we have been saved and delivered and we have an inner strength that fills us with peace.
3. By submitting to His peace. Colossians 3:15 says "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful". When we let God's peace be our umpire, He makes the calls and we live in the results of His peace. Our thankfulness becomes a joy and we know that we are called to His holy church, His body. Divisions diminish and we relax in His joy.
So when the problems come or when we have the really great days and for every time in between, we can live in God's peace. It is truly the peace that passes understanding that Philippians 4:6-7 talks about.
The message transaltion says this: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
And so instead of "What peace?" I can truly exclaim "What peace!".

TBR 2009

2009-01-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Join the 2009 TBR Challenge at: TBR 2009 Challenge

I've joined a TBR challenge and have selected 24 books from my shelf. I plan to read a minimum of 12. Of the 24, there are 12 primaries and 12 alternates. If I get through all of them, then I still have about a half dozen more waiting. Here's to knocking some books off my personal shelf before I run out and buy or borrow more! My list is at the bottom of this blog. Through some fluke of Google Docs, I can't get rid of the blank lines. If you page down, you will see my list of books. Or you can click on this link: Glory Bee's 2009 TBR Challenge List

To learn more about the TBR challenge and to see what others are doing with their lists go to: http://tbrchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/12/are-you-ready-2009-sign-ups-now-open.html

Author	Book Title	Status	Comments
Andrews, Donna	No Nest for the Wicket	Not started	Primary
Lippman, Laura	Every Secret Thing	Not started	Primary
See, Lisa	Snow Flower and the Secret Fan	Not started	Primary
Evanovich, Janet and Hughes, Charlotte	Full Speeed	Not started	Primary
Davidson, Diane MOtt	Dark Tort	Not started	Primary
Muller, Marcia	Listen To The Silence	Not started	Primary
Winston, Lolly	Good Grief	Not started	Primary
Proulx, Annie	Postcards	Not started	Primary
Macomber, Debbie	Back on Blossom Street	Not started	Primary
Macomber, Debbie	6 Rainier Drive	Not started	Primary
Clark, Mary Higgins	I Heard That Song Before	Not started	Primary
Patterson, James	Beach House	Not started	Primary
Macomber, Debbie	Christmas Wishes	Not started	alternate
Kingsbury, Kate	No Clue At The Inn	Not started	alternate
Macomber, Debbie	Glad Tidings	Not started	alternate
Crichton, Michael	State of Fear	Not started	alternate
Ross, Ann B.	Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind	Not started	alternate
Copeland, Lori and Hunt, Angela	Grace in Autumn	Not started	alternate
Guest, Judith and Hill, Rebecca	Killing Time in St. Cloud	Not started	alternate
Dezenhall, Eric	Money Wanders	Not started	alternate
Partesky, Sara	Windy City Blues	Not started	alternate
McCullough, David	John Adams	Not started	alternate
Child, Lee	Tripwire	Not started	alternate
Cornwell, Patricia	From Potter's Field	Not started	alternate

Schlocky New Year, Hons

2008-12-31T22:21:00.000-05:00

Last week we went to Hampden, hons. It's a schlocky little working class section of Baltimore. My husband loves to eat at the Cafe Hon. He says it's full of "regular people" and he loves the big ol' meatloaf and the fact that he can even get a pretty decent turkey meatloaf which is better for his cholesterol.
After dining, the three of us (my husband, my sister, and I) headed over to 34th street to see the lights. This is also known as "Christmas Street" in B'more. It's where the neighbors in a city block decorate to the hilt. They even string lights across the street from one upstairs window to another. It's a magical place during the holidays.
Enjoy the photo slide show below. Click on the play arrow. The music is the closest I could come to a Baltimore Christmas classic.