Think about This!

The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you!

Hugz!!

Back Again!!!

Okay....so Summer is over...Fall is here and we are heading into Winter....sooo I thought this would be a good time to start blogging again :)  and my friend Marlene has gone to Arizona and she likes to read my blogs while she is away for the winter....so here it is Marlene :)

Seems my summer went sooo fast, to fast!

With a Thyroid surgery behind me and some other medical tests done I'm feeling hmmm almost back to normal? At this age do you really feel "normal" again?? ha 

 We've just gone through a major Election....a new President of the United States.... OK so the Candidate that I felt God was leading me to vote for did not win so... I am left to be mad or pray for the one that did.  Is this the right man for the Presidency? I don't know...Politacally? or Morally?  Time will tell and God will be the judge.

The day after the election my Devotion said this:  The world is full of "experts".  There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion.  Yet God says that it is not the one who declares his viewpoint the most loudly who is the wisest but the one who is vindicated over time. Wisdom is not proven by argument or debate.  Wisdom is proven over time.  When you seek to obey what God has told you, you will sometimes meet resistance and criticism from others who disagree with the wisdom of your actions.  Your immediate response may be the urge to vindicate yourself.  However, if you wait patiently, time will reveal the wisdom of your Action's far better then you could through argument.

As long as you base your life choices on the word of  God, time will be your defender and will validate the wisdom of your choices.  If over time you clearly see you are wrong, ask God's forgiveness and seek a fresh word from God through the scripture.  

Hugz 

Love Won't Leave You

I love Music... music has a way of speaking to my heart and saying the things that I just don't know how to put into words sometimes. These are the lyrics to a song by Avalon that I really like....Love will never leave us if God is in our life! If you want to listen to the song just Google YouTube for it!

Love Won't Leave You!

I think I caught you just in time
I caught you trying to survive
Broken pieces in your heart, never mend
But every hope you’ve ever had Can breathe again

Love won’t leave you empty-handed
Broken down and somewhere stranded
Love won’t leave you hanging on for life
Cause love is Love is always true
God is love And love won’t leave you

I wanna say you’ll be okay
Always doing things the hard way
Living paralyzed by fear
But you know You can let it go today And save tomorrow

Love is gonna free your mind
Love is gonna steal your pride
And even though the hard times come
Love is gonna make things right

I think I caught you just in time
Love is gonna save your life

Hugz,

Life

I received this in an e-mail today......

Life Is short so........
Kiss Slowly, Laugh Insanely, Love Truly, and Forgive Quickly !

Hugz,
B

Easter Fun

Never to Old to Color Easter Eggs!! Traditions live on at our house and after our Family Easter Dinner tonight we did just that.... Colored Easter Eggs! Ashley is the pro Easter Egg Colorer... but Aunt Kathy Got in on the Action and our long lost Matt who never comes home anymore from OSU was even here to color eggs! Lots of fun ...but how can coloring Easter Eggs remind us of the true meaning of Easter.....Eggs represent new life and only through Jesus Christ Dieing on the Cross can we have new life.....Salvation. The Forgiveness of our Sins and a life Everlasting!

Happy Easter

Hugz,

Betrayed

Every year at Lent and during Easter God always puts something before me that hits really hard. In the past, one year it was the empty, loneliness that Jesus felt,the tears...crying out for His Father.....or the actual physical pain that Jesus went through, the beating, the crown of thorns, carrying the cross. One year I felt so strongly for Mary as a mother watching her son go through the pain and Hurt and how much you would want to take that from your son.

This year the betrayal of his followers and the unbelief of the people..... When Judas was betraying Jesus with a kiss, his followers became angry and Peter struck the servant of the high Priest with his sword and cut off his ear. Jesus did not let it go at that...He did not want revenge......He said...No more of this and touched the ear of the servant and Healed Him. God was still thinking of others and not of himself. Now don't you think if you saw someone heal the ear that was just cut off you would believe that this man truly was someone special? They continued on with the arrest.......

How often do we fail to see what Jesus has done for us? How often do we go through Easter as just another Holiday and not truly examine how we betray Him everyday.
Yes we fail, we are human, but we need to remember that Christ can use those who recognize their failures.
Jesus thank you for never giving up on us.
Thank you for the Cross.

Hugz,
B

Murphy

The newest addition to our family made it into the house this weekend...but only for a short visit! Last fall as we were pulling out of the garage this cute little kitty was sitting on our pool deck and of course we said....NO CATS...buttttt how could we resist such a cute little face? We couldn't and now Murphy has become part of our family. He enjoyed his time in the house Saturday evening, thanks to Ash!

Hugz,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM !

Happy Birthday to my niece in Florida....Emily :)
I miss you and Love you very much...have a great 16th Birthday on the 29th!
Hugs and Kisses,
Aunt Brenda

Life Stinks....Sometimes

Most days ..remember I said Most....when I wake up in the morning I can say..."It's going to be a good day". Optimistic.... even if the day before was the worst that I've had, I can usually think that this day is going to be a good one. By the end of the day I don't always believe that, with events that have happened that day or things that are said...I think I just want to go to bed and not do this again tomorrow...... but what is the verse....His compassion's never fail, they are new every Morning (Lam. 3:22) He cares about us and cares about what is going on in our lives EVERYDAY.

When I look around me there are people hurting....everyday....dealing with pain, illness, divorce, death, situations that are out of our control. Life stinks sometimes. How can God put people in our lives only to take them away? How can God let us get close to someone and then ask us to walk away? What is HIS plan and what is HIS purpose? We don't always know, and we don't always understand but this is what HE said to me this morning....

Isaiah 40:26, 31
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.
Because of his power and mighty strength. not one of them is missing.


But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint


God's power to create, his provision to sustain and his presence to help. God is almighty and all powerful but even so he cares for each of us and each of our situations. We get tired at times and don't want to wake up and say its going to be a good day but God's power and strength never diminish He is never to tired or to busy to help and listen. His strength is our source of strength.

Hugz,
Brenda

It's Still Winter

This Blog is made especially for Terry and Marlene. Just in case you are missing the good ole Ohio winter weather here at home. It's February 12th and this is what it looks like in my yard today....I shot these photo's after I finished shoveling :) The only one that enjoys the snow around here anymore is Scooter! Enjoy the sunshine! And send some our way....PLEASE!!!

Hugz,

The Best Valentine! Happy Birthday Ashley!

What was the best Valentine you ever received? Flowers? Candy? Jewelry? Those things are all Nice but Febuary 14th, 1989 I received the Best Valentine EVER!!!

My Daughter....Ashley Brianne!

Happy Birthday Ashley!!!

It's hard to believe that you are 19 yrs old Ash! A freshman in college and living away from home. You were always the bestest, cutest little girl ever but you have grown into a beautiful young woman and I am so proud of you. You have always been respectful, honest and very loving, not to mention so much fun *** we have had our share of good times, good talks and good fun! You are my Best G/F and I miss you so much everyday. I am very blessed that God gave you to ME (ok Dad to!) on that Valentines Day 19 yrs ago. Have a great day and we'll see you tonight to Celebrate your Birthday Dinner :)

I love you!

Hugz,

AWAKENING GIRLS NIGHT

What could be more fun then a night with 10 teenage girls? Some people would say I can think of a lot of things! Not when they are 10 Awesome Girls! It was an Awakening Girls Night at my house. First we went to the Paulding vs Bryan boys basketball game and then back to my house after the game. Yes I kept up with the girls pretty good considering I was one of the last to go to sleep at about hmmmmm 4:30am.....thanks to Nicole, right Aimee! You might wonder what we did all night....Let's see there was DDR (Dance, Dance, Revolution!)( I wasn't good at that!) Food, Guitar Hero and a couple card games with the guys....yes the guys had to stop in to eat our food and I'm sure check out the girls! The girls did asked them to play a couple games...they didn' t put up a fight about that! It was a good thing they left or we would have kicked them out because it was Girls Only! Right Girls!!! There was fingernail painting, toenail painting and have you ever heard of Cell Phone painting? Me either... until this night...we even painted cell phones with fingernail polish...well I didn' t but they did! Someone even got their face painted with cheesecake...hmmm figure that one out. Remember all those slumber parties when we were teens!!! Always so much fun!
Ashley was home from College, my Niece Sara came over to hang out with us. There were two Paulding girls, Audrey and Amber and 6 girls from Bryan,Nicole,Aimee, Danae, Rachael, Kelly, Rachel and Emily. You can imagine that Jeff stayed upstairs most of the night ! ha After a short night (morning) of sleep our Sunday morning devotion was from Psalm 26:3 Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. Step, by step, stairs are climbed. Put one foot on one step, another foot on the next step, and after awhile you'll find your self at the top of the staircase. You will have arrived because you began. You will have arrived because you continued! Hebrews 12:1-3 Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

You girls are Awesome and remember if you stay in a close relationship with Jesus and take one step at a time, you will not grow tired, and the enemy will not destroy you . You will have Arrived because you Began!!! You will have arrived because you continued!

Thanks for the great memories, come stay with me anytime girls :)

I love you all!

Hugz,

Ash Wednesday

Thank you Jesus for Ash Wednesday....
for the reminder of my sin and for YOUR Sacrifice.
Thank you Jesus for your Forgiveness and your Grace and Mercy Everyday!

Happy Birthday Jay

19 yrs ago today was an exciting day for me, my nephew was born! That's right my brother and I were expecting our first child at the same time and I was actually suppose to have my baby before him, but God had another plan. Jay was born first.

Some call him JayJay, or Jaybird or just Bird but whatever he is called he is the best Nephew ever! We have enjoyed so much watching him grow up, playing all his sports, going on vacations, or just hanging out at our house or theirs ...to many memories to name. Being in College now, I think this is the first year we have not been able to actually be together and celebrate his birthday but I did get to see him at his sister's ball game last night :) Jay has become such a handsome young man now playing football at the University of Findlay. Go Oilers!

Happy Birthday Jay, may God bless this day and this year until we celebrate your next birthday. I love you!

Hugz,

7 Things

7 THINGS THAT ARE ALWAYS TRUE

1. GOD LOVES YOU
2. GOD IS WORKING AROUND YOU
3. GOD CAN USE YOU
4. GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU
5. GOD INVITES YOU TO TRUST HIM
6. GOD WANTS YOU TO OBEY HIM
7. GOD WANTS YOU TO EXPERIENCE HIM

7 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO EXPERIENCE GOD

1. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS PRESENT
2. UNDERSTAND THAT GOD LOVES YOU
3. SEEK TO SERVE GOD HOWEVER YOU CAN
4. LISTEN TO GOD THROUGH SCRIPTURE, PRAYER AND WORSHIP
5. DEPEND ON GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
6. CHOOSE TO DO THINGS GOD'S WAY
7. FOLLOW WHERE GOD LEADS

HUGZ,

Special Friends

How Awesome to have Special Friends in our lives. I want to share this poem with you that a Special Friend gave to me.

Dear Special Friend

You are a friend who's special

A friend who really cares

A friend who always listens

A friend who's always there.

And forever I'll be grateful

For everything you do

And thankful to the Lord above

For a special friend like you.

I'm truly the one that is Blessed to have such special friends in my Life!

Hugz,

Happy Birthday Cody

Let's see, what was I doing 16 years ago on January 20th? That's easy....having a baby! Yes that's right my baby is 16 years old. A little scary how fast time flies. One day I have a beautiful brown eyed, adorable baby boy in my arms and then I no more than turn around and he's a handsome young man that is 6'4 and I have to look up to, who very easily comes behind me as
I' m cooking dinner and lifts me up.


So what did we do for Cody's birthday....we had some pizza after Cody's game on Friday with some of his friends and our family. That was fun.
Ashley and I took him to Flat Top Grill on Sunday, that was fun........... but today is the day Cody was really waiting for!



Yes he is now a licensed driver!


Congratulations Cody....Drive Safe!


I Love YOU!




Hugz,

Friends

During this time of recovery I have been truly blessed by all of my friends. The Meals you have brought have been yummy, the cards you have sent have been encouraging, the gifts you have brought have been lovely, the prayers you have said have been uplifting, the phone calls and text messages have been amazing, but your visits have been timely! God knows just the right time to send a friend to your door when you need them the most! First he sent a friend and her husband with a meal and great laughter..even when it hurt to laugh! Thanks Cindy! Then he sent a pastor to Pray for me! Thanks Dave! Then he sent a friend that I hardly ever get to see anymore for great conversation! Thanks Sue! Then he sent me a friend who had gone through a tough time with her teenager as we were dealing with during this time! Thanks Sally! Then he sent a nurse on the evening I was on the phone with my sick daughter at college! Thanks Becky! Then he sent my aunt who has never been to my house! Thanks Drema ! Then he sent me a great Prayer Warrior when i needed prayer! Thanks Gloria! Not to mention my Mother and Mother in Law who brought food for my family! God's timing was perfect when he sent each of these friends. God has truly blessed me with many friends young and old and I cherish each one of you!
Michael W. Smith's song says: "A friend's a friend forever if the Lord's the Lord of them."
I think we will be friends forever because you all have obviously been the hands and feet of Christ in my life during this time. A Love that only comes from having Jesus Christ be the Lord of your life. Thanks for being such special friends! I love you all!
Hugz,

ps... I week after surgery and I went back to work yesterday!

Best MOM

I have the best mom in the world...one that still takes care of me even though I'm...... well as old as I am! (we'll leave that for you to decide!) During my gallbladder recovery she brought my family supper (Potato soup!yumm, she brought me flowers (fresh flowers! ahhhhhh) and she sent me this card. I think when things aren't going quite as we think they should this card has great advice. Young or old we all go through things in life that are tough!
by Helen Steiner Rice
Let Go and Let God
When you're troubled and worried
and sick at heart
And your plans are upset
and your world falls apart,
Remember God's ready
and waiting to share
The burden you find
too heavy to bear.
So with faith, let go
and let God lead the way
Into a brighter
and less-troubled day.

Hugz

Be Still

In the hustle and bustle of life, God always has a way of slowing us down doesn't he? But do I really have to have surgery to do that? I guess so because yesterday was the day that the gallbladder came out. The surgeon was good, the nurses were good, my family was by my side, my friends were praying for me and now here I sit recovering.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
He always has a way of slowing me down and reminding me of what is truly important in my life.
Hugz

Disappointments and Rainbows

Last night was Game Night, OSU VS LSU, everyone was pumped up and ready for a Buckeye Victory...at least at the party I was at. Good Food,Good Friends, Good Fun and Good Football.

The score at the end of the game was not what we had hoped for 24-38 LSU.

How disappointing for the Buckeye players and all their fans. The hard work that the players put into getting ready for the big game, the anticipation of game day and then to be beaten. How Disappointing.

I thought about this as I was driving in my car on the way home from an appointment today. It was raining and gloomy. Life is so full of disappointments isn't it. People let us down, even people we love and who love us will let us down and disappoint us. We get beaten just as in a game but in the game of life. It might not be intentional but it happens.

As I drove further the rain stopped and the sun came out just long enough to put a beautiful rainbow in the sky. God's promises.....yes even through all the disappointments in life, a lost football game, a broken relationship, an illness, an argument, whatever the disappointment, we need to remember God's promises. John 16:33 says "In this world you will have trouble (disappointments) But take Heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles and disappointments. If we remember the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome or disappointing times. Jesus Loves you and will not disappoint you, he will turn your disappointments into rainbows!

Hugz

GO BUCKS

O * H * I * O
Go Buckeyes!!!!!!!!

Hugz

Change My Heart Oh God

I lead our High School Sunday School Class, or at least I am present and let God teach it through me. I probably end up learning more then they do.

Today our lesson was: New Year, New You..... "Are you Happy with who you are?"

Happy?........ Happiness evokes visions of unwrapping gifts at Christmas, or strolling hand in hand with someone you love, being surprised on your Birthday, or a good laugh with a friend. Circumstances......Everyone wants to be happy, chasing their dreams, spending money, collecting things. But what happens when the dream fades, you run out of money or you get tired of collecting things? Are you Happy...with who you are???

In Contrast to Happiness is Joy. Happiness depends on Happenings but Joy Depends on Christ. Joy runs deeper and stronger, joy is the quiet confidence of God's love and work in our lives no matter the circumstance or situation. Joy is what we really want rather than happiness and it's only through a personal relationship with Christ that we can experience joy in our life.
"Do you have Joy in Who YOU are?"

Then we go to worship and our Choir sings:

Change my Heart Oh God
Make it ever true,
Change my Heart Oh God,
May I be like you!

Joy..comes from a changed heart, surrendered to Christ.....EVERYDAY!



Hugz

Hope

Hoping in the Lord is expecting that his Promise of strength will help us to rise above life's distractions and challenges. It means trusting God .


Isaiah 40:31 " but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."


When I saw this little guy at the feeder it reminded me of this verse.

God has a way of speaking to us and reminding us of His word even when we are not looking for it. How can a little bird such as this not grow weary of flying to this bird feeder in freezing cold temperatures, against the wind every day during the winter months? How does he do it?
Just as he does not grow weary, God promises us that if we put our hope in Him he will continue to renew our strength day after day after day. No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the situation. When we get tired and can't do it and don't want to do it, He will carry us!
Do we let Him do that? If we believe in Him then we must have Hope in His Promises.

Have an awesome weekend!
Hugz

I LOVE YOU!

Today is My Dad's Birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! My Dad is one of the special guys in my life! Just as a dad should be. I only grew up with Dad on the weekends when I was a child because my parents were divorced but we've always been close. My Dad is very tender hearted and would do anything for anyone, but don't make him mad because he does have a temper!(is that where I got mine??) I love to meet Dad at our local "Bubba J's " for lunch and he is always there watching his grandkids play their ballgames. I love my dad a lot but do I really tell him that I love Him? Do I actually say "I love you"..... enough? How often do we tell the special people in our lives that we love them? Is it harder to say it to the people that we love the most? or the least? All to often we take for granted the ones we love. We get caught up in our day to day activities and we neglect to show our true feelings to each other. Maybe your family just didn't say I love you to each other when we were growing up and it is not normal to us. But how do YOU feel when someone says to you "I love you!" I LOVE IT!!!! Everyone needs to hear words of love and I know I don't say it often enough. I love you Dad! Happy Birthday!
And to all you reading this post I Love you !
Hugz

My Biggest Fan

Both of my kids have played sports in High School, mainly basketball. At least Ashley did until she tore her ACL the first game of her Senior year. Ashley is in College now and Cody is a Sophomore in High School currently playing Basketball. I have always been their biggest fan. Now you would think they would do the same for mom....be my biggest fan that is! I'm not playing basketball or any other sport for that matter, I am only trying to figure out this whole blogging thing. But what do I get from them.....you are going to Blog MOM??? You better believe I will be waiting to catch them reading MY blog and when I do ....ahhhhhh then I will know they are my biggest fan!! Who is your biggest fan?

Hugz

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW BLOG?

So, what was your New Years Resolution?

Didn't make one?...me either ...but what I did do was decide to
to create this blogsite.
What will you find here? I'm not real sure at this
point. My life isn't that exciting, but content and fulfilled, it is pretty simple but full of Love.
I have so many wonderful people in my life that make life a wonderful place and an awesome God who made it all happen.
I hope you find some encouragement, and always a Hug
at the beginning, middle or end of your day!

I have been reading a Max Lucado book called "Cure for the Common Life" Living in Your Sweet Spot. What is your sweet spot? It is the "thing" that you were created for.... the purpose that God gave you all the qualities that you have for......the "thing" that only you can do.

Use your uniqueness (what you do) to make a big deal out of God (why you do it) everyday of your life (where you do it)

Hugs,