"God Bless America"  By: Irving Berlin


God bless America, Land that I love

Stand Beside her, And guide her,

Through the night, With a light from Above

From the mountains,To the Prairies

To the oceans, White with foam

God Bless America, My home sweet home

God Bless America, My home sweet home!!!!



I'm so thankful to Be an American...to live in the  greatest Country in the world!  Where I can live and breathe and pray and worship and be happy in Freedom.... And I am so filled with gratitude to those that fought and gave their lives so that I could be free......

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Scrapbooked Photo

(Click on photo to enlarge and read  poem, if you like... it's from Crafty Secrets)

Some time ago I wanted to give a unique gift to a dear friend.....so I thought and thought, and came up with the idea of scrapbooking a page with her darling little girl's photo, adding a poem, and putting it in a frame of a matching color.... I'm not very good at scrapbooking.... making cards and watercoloring are more my "thing"...But it was FUN!! And that is one adorable Baby Girl....Miss Personality! She keeps everyone at church entertained, believe you me!!! I love to just watch her.... she is a tiny little bundle of energy....( I actually often wonder WHERE her Mommy gets the energy to keep up with her, LOL)Another reason I love to watch her is because I (and many others) prayed and wept and sought the Lord for her little self to join us in our world....and, our Gracious God answered....He is such a good God!
I hope her picture made you smile.... We kept it on our fridge for the longest time... because you can't look at the photo and NOT smile!!!

Something's Very Interesting!!

I was looking through some photos from last Christmas eve and found this one... of Camo (on the left) and Miss Lily.... Wouldn't you like to know what it is they're looking at? If I remember correctly, I think I took the picture when my brother-in-law was holding up something to eat..... yep, that will get their complete attention, every time! LOL! I just thought the photo was too cute, and had to share it with y'all!

Oh my goodness... I'm crazy about our pets.... and proud of it.... as I've said before... they add so much joy to our lives!

We Are Still Standing... By HIS Grace

What a Month this has been my Friends.....What  a MONTH!!!!! I was robbed with a gun a few inches from my head the first weekend of the month.....But God didn't allow a hair of my head to be harmed.... didn't even allow the gunman to TOUCH me!

The following Sunday, my Grandmother passed out at the breakfast table...and wouldn't wake up..... and the Ambulance had to be called.... and it frightened us so!  But she revived and is doing well, today.....


My Dad lost his Job contract... was laid off on Weds. of this week..... but we are trusting the Lord Who has NEVER EVER failed us.... and I am telling you this.... I will let you know when Jesus gives him another Job, and It WILL be soon.....I can speak in faith because My Lord Never Lets us Down!

Today, My Uncle, (who is unsaved, by the way) was in a  wreck... a man with a load of long PVC pipe BACKED into him from a driveway.... onto a main road..... and shattered his windshield, knocked his side mirror off and bent his side and his hood.... BUT HE IS OK!  It went into the passenger side of the windshield, you see.... and he wasn't harmed..... if, however, it had gone over a few inches into the driver's side.... he would surely have been hurt..... but My GOD had Mercy on him and kept him safe, and I praise Him for it......

And there have been other things... my precious Friends... that have hurt so badly.....where all I could do was weep and Beg God to help me make sense of it all.....because I just couldn't even begin to understand how to process it all.... and I actually thought, "My Lord, what ELSE can happen this month?" Have you ever had times like these?? Sure You Have!!! We ALL do!!!!

I am reminded of this Scripture found in the Bible:

Psalm 34:19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Now, it doesn't say the LORD delivereth him out of SOME of them..... it says ALL OF THEM!!

Mom and I were driving down the road late last night.... and I said to her.... "Well, it's been one rough month hasn't it?  But We Are Still HERE!"

And that's true!  We may have lain there, punch - drunk, on the mat for a bit....our heads spinning and our vision clouded.... while the Ref counted.... But by God's Wonderful, Loving Grace.... We Got Up!!!!

So rather than having a pity party..... I am doing what King David did in the Bible! Please let me share it with you.... for I gain so much strength from this story in God's Word...and I know you will too!.

1 Samuel chapter 30:

1:"And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2: "And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3: "So David and his men came to the city,and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons,and their daughters, were taken captive.
4: "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
6: "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of  all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

So thats what I'm doing.... my Friends.... I am encouraging myself in the One that will NOT fail me.... never has, never will!  My heart is full of Joy and Praise to Him.... my refuge, my strength, my strong tower and My Peace.....AND I encourage you to read the whole, beautiful, 30th chapter of 1 Samuel.... because you will find that God helps David and his men to "pursue and recover all" that was stolen from them!!EVERYTHING!!THAT'S the kind of Amazing God He Is.....  

So Be Encouraged, today, Precious Friend.... I am!!!

I've Been testing my Green Thumb....

I love fresh growing Flowers! So over the last month I've been potting several different varieties to see if I have a green thumb... the jury is still out, LOL!  My Vincas' leaves are turning yellowish.... which I KNOW is a sign of too much watering...... it started when my Mom watered after me.... (she thought I forgot) and then it rained..... so! Gotta be very careful.....

Vincas are hard to kill.....and if mine die.... I'm gonna be pretty bummed! I've really been enjoying "fixing" up the porch and adding a little color to the yard.... found some awesome  potting containers at T.J. Maxx Homegoods... and also Hobby Lobby...... The cute and colorful yard sign came from Hobby Lobby, too.....the "wreath" came from Homegoods.... I just added a big fat bow....

I'm having a ball!  Just hope the flowers are a success......

Thanks, Daddy, for being there....

This is a photo of my Dad, from Thanksgiving last year.  We usually always spend the holiday with our dear friends the Delafield's.  This picture shows my Dad visiting with my "uncle" Jack Delafield....

Today, my sister and I were talking with my Mom, about different things that had happened to us as babies, and I got to thinking about all the times throughout my life that my Dad has "been there for me" a loving shoulder to lean on.... a source of strength for his "little girl"....

As Mom talked, she recalled one of the times that I kept having terrible ear infections, high fevers, and ruptured ear drums....

One day, I was having a particularly bad time of it, and Mom and Dad had me at the E. R.  The Doctor told my parents that the only way they could find out what was causing the reoccuring infections, was to stick a needle behind the ear drum and draw out the fluid and see what it was.... so that they would know how to treat it..... now, this was in the early 70's....(I sincerely hope they would not do this to a baby now days, without some kind of medication to deaden the area and help the pain)

Mom said they strapped me down to a board so that I could not move... and she was so upset , she could not bear to watch the Dr. insert the needle....... she ran off down the hall.... but Daddy stayed with me..... She said she could hear me screaming way down the hall and she cried and cried.... and Daddy once told me that it bothered him for a long time.... he could hardly stand to watch it.... but he would not leave me.....they found out that I had a Strep germ behind my ear drum, and they were able to treat it.... and I got better....
I am so thankful that Daddy was there for me.....

As a child I was afraid of the dark.... and I would be so scared...and my Dad would come into the room, a comforting prescence in the night, and kneel down by the bed and pray for me and quote scriptures to me about how that Jesus was watching over me and would never leave me.... He stayed with me until the fear passed, many times....

As I have gotten older, Daddy has been there for me too.... When we had to have our beloved Labrador "Jazz" put to sleep in 2011... I would not leave my Baby alone to take his last breaths.... and no-one else in the family could bear to stay with me and watch..... but I was determined to talk to him lovingly until he left this earth....and, when it was over, I looked up with eyes that could barely see, they were so full of tears...and there was my Daddy.... he let me lean on his arm and guided me out of the vet's office to the car......

I could not recount how many times my Dad has "been there for me"..... the most recent occasion was when I was robbed at gun - point a few weeks ago..... I was terrified and shaking from head to toe.... and stumbled to the neighbors house.... they let me use their phone...and I couldn't remember anyone's phone number, I was so freaked out.... but I finally remembered my Dad's... and when his voice answered.... I just began to sob..... He and Mom made it there to the neighbor's house in record time... and he was the first one through the door to get to me.... and I just ran to him and sort of fell into his Hug......and then there was Mom in the doorway....and I knew everything was going to be alright!  (I don't care how old you get.... it is wonderful to be surrounded by the Comforting love of your Parents)

I am thankful for the steadfast, unconditional love of my Dad.  This Father's Day, I want him to know I haven't forgotten those times he was simply "there for me" when it counted. When I needed him. Thank you, Dad, for always being "there!" I love you, and Happy Father's Day!

As I think about it further, these things remind me of the Constant, Unfailing love of my Heavenly Father.... the One Who never, ever gives up on me....and is always, forever, Faithfully "there for me"....

And, no matter what kind of relationship you may or may not have had with your own earthly father.... God's there for you, too! He says in His Word in Psalm 68:5 that He is "A father to the fatherless...." in verse 6, it says that "God setteth the solitary in families..." Psalm 27:10 says "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."  

Don't ever forget, my precious friend...that God Almighty.... the Awesome Creator of the universe and all that it contains..... LOVES and CARES about YOU!!!

Good Habits versus Lazy Me!

    This is a photo of some food I got for a short-lived diet a while back...took a photo so that "after I lost alllll that weight...." I'd remember a typical meal !! Good Intentions.... but wasn't able to stick to it!

I've been thinking about establishing good habits and overcoming bad ones...In all areas of my life... in the things that I eat, in getting proper exercise, and, most importantly.... in my Spiritual life......NOT easy for a girl that likes to drink sweet tea and Dr. Pepper by the gallon.....loves to eat the yummies instead of the healthies.... hates to exercise, and is mightily tempted to pick up a new book or magazine, (with the intention of reading only one chapter, and then I'll read my Bible, but one chapter turns into two, and then three.... you get the picture) and is a master at rationalizing what I want to do!!! Why is it so easy and enjoyable to do things that aren't so good for me??? And why is it so difficult to do the things that are beneficial and healthy for me? I am reminded of several scriptures, (in regards to the things I struggle with Spiritually).....( After all, the Bible has the answer for EVERY Question or situation that we face!) and I want to share them with you....

Romans 7:18: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."

Verse 22: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:"

Verse 23: "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

So there I have the reason why it's so hard on my own to do the right things...from birth we have two natures within us... at war with one another.... The inward man, or spiritual part of us, that longs for God and His Ways and His Will... that longs to commune with Him and read His Word and spend time with Him That Created us..... and the Carnal or fleshly man.... that popped it's ugly head up when Adam and Eve disobeyed God way back in the Garden of Eden.... this part of our nature is lazy... doesn't want to be obedient to God or His Ways.... and wants it's Own Way at all times.....BUT!!! God in His Mercy and Goodness has shown us the way to Master that old Nature.... and it can only be done by being filled with His Spirit through Salvation (see Acts chapter 2).....When this happens... we receive power to overcome temptation....

Acts 1:8 contains this promise: "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...."

Phil. 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I Cor. 10:13:"There hath no temptation taken you but such as  is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Aren't these Amazing Promises of God? He will help His Children, no matter what we face.....we cannot change on our own....but, through Him.... we CAN!!

2 Cor. 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; and behold, all things are become new."

I'm beginning to see that I, as a born - again, Spirit - filled child of God, too often live beneath my priviledges! I have Holy Ghost power to help me overcome, if I will take advantage of it! So when my old nature tries to pop back up....wanting to put off praying "until later".... wanting to read other things instead of my Precious Bible....not wanting to fast.....not wanting to bring my thoughts into subjection to Him....wanting to be impatient.... or wanting to have "THE "LAST last word in an argu... (ahem!!) energetic discussion (LOL).....I can stand on God's Word and OVERCOME..... I can't do it on my own.... but I can do all things through Him!

And You can too!!!

Hope in the City...

Hello dear Friends! I was looking through some old photos saved on my computer, and came across this photo of some skyscraper buildings I had snapped through the car window... it was taken in  downtown Chicago, when I visited my friend Heidi there in 2008...

Now, I myself live near a big city.... far from the shores of Lake Michigan, near the Sunny Gulf Coast of the U. S.....and, though it's many miles South of Chicago... my city and that great city share many things.... there is something you will notice as drive through ANY city in ANY Country on this earth.... 

There is always a part of the city that seems prosperous; with it's inhabitants driving nice, beautiful vehicles... wearing the latest styles and fashions...seeming to have the best of everything.... their part of town is well-manicured; flowers grow there.... grassy lawns expand up to border Beautiful homes...

And then, if you keep driving for very long, you see the prosperity slowly begin to dwindle away....the views from your car window aren't quite as lovely...there may be some apartments crammed together.... and no flowers grow there.... all seems dingy and has a gray cast to it......

If you keep on driving, into the heart of the city... "downtown" we call it..... you begin to notice shuffling, hunched-over figures.... some may be carrying a ratty old backpack they picked up, who knows where..... or may even be pushing a grocery cart that contains a few dirty shopping bags, filled with who knows what.....a few meager pieces of a "life" the street person has managed to hang on to...

Even though the contrasts between these areas of Big - City life seem glaringly obvious..... there IS a common thread.....and that thread is a deep- down need for God's Mercy and Grace and His Saving Power.....which can take a person that's so degraded and worn - down by sin.... and make them into a new Creature in Christ Jesus!!!  And it doesn't matter if that person is a member of the highest echelons of Society.... or the loneliest Bum on Skid Row......each of them, man or woman, boy or girl, young, old, or in - between.... can have Hope, Peace, and Joy like nothing they've ever felt before.... if he or she will seek God with their whole Heart! The Book of Jeremiah in the Holy Bible says of God, in chapter 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye search for me with all your heart." and, reading God's Word on into the book of Acts, we get to chapter 2,  where we find the beautiful, wonderful Plan of Salvation.....Oh, my Friends!!!.... that will bring lasting Hope to the City.... or the country, or anywhere there's a human heart and soul, I promise you!   

I love this song penned by Carrol McGruder.... It's called "We have a Savior":
Verse 2:
Now, I've walked down the sidewalks,
Of bright Neon cities,
Where skyscrapers reach for the sky,
I've seen the rich and the famous, in glamour and glitter,
Search for some Joy in the Night,
While a few blocks from mainstreet,
In an old cardboard ghetto,
Another Un-known life is lost,
But whether Penthouse, or Skidrow,
There's one thing I still know...
There's hope in the Old Rugged Cross!

I was Robbed At Gun Point... But my GOD took care of me!!!

Yes dear Friends.... Sunday Night after Church I was robbed in my own driveway... I opened the door of my car to get out.... and a man stepped up and held a gun a few inches away from my forehead, and said: "Give me your cell phone and purse NOW!"  He had the lower part of his face covered with a white cloth.... all I could see was his eyes....and I was so Scared... I knew if I moved the wrong way... the gun could go off... or if I made him mad he could kill me right there......or drag me out of the car and do something terrible to me.... I thought that's why he wanted my cell phone... so I couldnt call anyone...

But my God had already gone before me!!! Every Sunday afternoon, I take a lunch bag to choir practice with Ice in it.... and a cold Dr. Pepper and some kind of crackers or something.... so that I can have a cold drink and a snack if I need it.....(I get low blood suger sometimes, or get too hot)

This lunch bag looks like a darling little black and white striped and polka dot purse.... just like a purse.... but is insulated on the inside...after Church service on Sunday nights.... I ALWAYS put it in the BACK SEAT of my car with my choir music.... ALWAYS!  But this SUNDAY I put it in the FRONT SEAT of my car.....

And when that "Moron Jerk" stepped up and demanded my purse.... I thought I gave him my purse... I really did!  I was sooooo scared....and he thought I gave him my purse... But it was my lunch bag... filled with melting ice and a half drunk Dr. Pepper!!!!! and HE TOOK IT, AND MY CAR KEYS AND RAN AWAY!!!!! (and today I went outside with my Mom and looked at the front seat of the car... where my REAL purse... a very nice, expensive Coach bag was sitting during the whole thing.... and I realized it was in PLAIN SIGHT THE WHOLE TIME AND HE NEVER SAW IT!!!!!!!!)

I really still thought I had given him my purse until the policeman found it on my car seat..... and I realized I had given him the lunch bag.... and we all had a good laugh!!!! My Beloved Savior Jesus Christ not only protected me from harm.... He even spared my purse and wallet and belongings from that Jerk.... Praise God!!!  

There were four such robberies this past weekend.... mine was the third... and everyone else lost cash and wallets and credit cards and things.... (and I am sooo sorry for their loss....) but I only lost my keys and lunch bag and a half empty Dr. Pepper!!!!!! The Policeman said "It served him right!" and I agree with him....

I woke up Monday morning after it happened, rather scared.... and was praying and telling God about it.... and I picked up my Bible, and it fell open to Psalm 56:11: "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."

And I just wept and thanked God... He was letting me know not to fear that man....because He, Almighty God is taking Care of me!!! He was there during the incident... and He will ALWAYS be there to protect me......

My heart is Filled with Praise for my Amazing Awesome God!!! Thank You, My Jesus!!  You are everything to me.....

Why I have Hope....

              (This is a picture I painted a few years ago.... I love Bird's nests)

I've been thinking a lot about Hope.  To me, it often seems as if we live in a World that has lost hope....among people that see no reason to hope...And I must say that I'm so thankful that because of the Mercy and Grace of Jesus Christ... I DO have Hope! And, I am so happy that ANYONE can have the Same Hope... If they will Seek the Lord Wholeheartedly....The RoadMap to finding such Hope through Salvation, is found in the Book of Acts, the second Chapter, in the Holy Bible.... and it's available for any that want it! Oh My! It IS possible to live in this World today with sweet, precious "Hope," dear Friends....

I love this verse of Scripture from Psalms...
Psalm 31:24: "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

And also these two Scriptures from Hebrews...
Hebrews 6:18: "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before us:

verse 19: "which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast...."

and here are some Scriptures from Psalm 27.... they may not contain the word "Hope" in them... but, they will fill your heart with that emotion, I promise you!

Psalm 27: 1  "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Verse 3: "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise aginst me, in this will I be confident."

Verse 4: "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple."

Verse 5: "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."

Verse 10: "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."

Verse 14: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."