tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379232130428391022024-03-07T12:18:03.808-08:00The Church Lady's ThoughtsThe Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-51608057479001482292011-04-27T07:40:00.000-07:002011-04-27T08:07:44.517-07:00Remember?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v10phTlxGvk/TbgrEIhkgII/AAAAAAAAApU/hRfUd0WJ8AU/s1600/finn%2Bas%2Bglow%2Bworm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 75px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 100px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600273486642970754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v10phTlxGvk/TbgrEIhkgII/AAAAAAAAApU/hRfUd0WJ8AU/s400/finn%2Bas%2Bglow%2Bworm.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Remember this picture?<br /><br />Well, this baby came out of the cocoon and is on his way to flying....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3QeLqefx6A/Tbgw2evbnGI/AAAAAAAAApk/0OThBMrI9-k/s1600/Finn%2Bwith%2Bstick.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600279849158286434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3QeLqefx6A/Tbgw2evbnGI/AAAAAAAAApk/0OThBMrI9-k/s400/Finn%2Bwith%2Bstick.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />So thankful for this healthy little boy, Mr. Finn Guillemette!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-64993891376041151722011-04-07T19:39:00.000-07:002011-04-07T20:00:48.043-07:00Love These Men<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZY4xsQ7OzGs/TZ56QK-Hi0I/AAAAAAAAApM/_RUmcwlm8Xs/s1600/mere%2Band%2Bclint%2B2010"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593042205482126146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZY4xsQ7OzGs/TZ56QK-Hi0I/AAAAAAAAApM/_RUmcwlm8Xs/s400/mere%2Band%2Bclint%2B2010" /></a> <br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bsfbsQd0yy4/TZ55aHPuLQI/AAAAAAAAApE/zctqpn17yUQ/s1600/Katie%2Band%2Bthe%2BReuter%2B3-11.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-om-gvaM_2-E/TZ55aDQkjqI/AAAAAAAAAo8/o4AdHyhu-kA/s1600/iz%2Band%2Ba%2Bchristmas%2B2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593041275699105442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-om-gvaM_2-E/TZ55aDQkjqI/AAAAAAAAAo8/o4AdHyhu-kA/s400/iz%2Band%2Ba%2Bchristmas%2B2010.jpg" /></a> <br /><div></div><br /><div>I got a bit emotional tonight after listening to a love song that my daughter's fiance` posted to her on facebook and then after watching for the hundredth time, my grandson jumping off the table into his daddy's strong arms. These men who have come into our lives because they love our daughters, men I have wondered about and prayed for since my girls were born. These tall, strong men who can lift and tug and sweat and grunt, are an answer to this mother's prayers and I am thankful for them and loving how they are not afraid to show their feelings and affections. </div></div></div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-46049254935347305572011-03-29T18:06:00.000-07:002011-03-29T18:06:31.412-07:00Bob Newhart-Stop It!!<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T1g3ENYxg9k?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-36463259598413266172011-03-07T10:20:00.000-08:002011-03-07T11:38:42.926-08:00The Eyes Have It<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nb4le0ozThk/TXUplwJs0TI/AAAAAAAAAok/JrzJvBkdrZQ/s1600/Julie%2Bat%2Bcafe%2Bbrazil%2B2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 253px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581413041753084210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nb4le0ozThk/TXUplwJs0TI/AAAAAAAAAok/JrzJvBkdrZQ/s400/Julie%2Bat%2Bcafe%2Bbrazil%2B2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KB-LD0oGIKs/TXUpbys90gI/AAAAAAAAAoc/IkSsmTQtFkU/s1600/Julie%2Bglasses%2B80s.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581412870639178242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KB-LD0oGIKs/TXUpbys90gI/AAAAAAAAAoc/IkSsmTQtFkU/s400/Julie%2Bglasses%2B80s.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRlrGXu9HXc/TXUnvezYTNI/AAAAAAAAAoM/7lzG53pIDH4/s1600/julie%2Bglasses%2Bearly%2B2000.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581411009871498450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRlrGXu9HXc/TXUnvezYTNI/AAAAAAAAAoM/7lzG53pIDH4/s400/julie%2Bglasses%2Bearly%2B2000.jpg" /></a></div><div>I have been wearing eyeglasses since I was in the 6th grade. (should have probably been the 4th, but whatever.. it's ok that i couldn't see the ball to play baseball with the other kids and then never got picked to be on the team...no really, it's fine. I am so over it.) Back to the point. </div><div> </div><div>Hasn't eyewear been a fun way to know what decade it is? Alot of us have old photos of our grandparents or parents with the cateye glasses with all the rhinestones for the ladies and the heavy black horn rim glasses for the men from the 50's and 60's. We saw hippy wire frames in the late 60s and seventies, and then my very personal favorite time, the HOW BIG CAN WE MAKE THEM style for men and women in the 80's, and then in the 90's Rimless frames for those trying to appear as if they weren't really wearing any. </div><div> </div><div>Because I wore glasses for such a long time, I became quite conscious of the people who didn't wear glasses that were "current" with the styles of the day. I used to "note" people who hadn't updated their look in quite awhile. I probably made fun of some until my time came and I got a new perspective. This came when I got married and my husband and I were responsible for the expense instead of my parents! I was still accustomed to buying the latest style in fashion and when I chose the latest fad "How BIG can we make them" glasses in the early 80's, never in my wildest imagination would I have thought I would be wearing that same pair for years and years. Surely I would have chosen something a little more conservative but who knows. All I do know is that year after year, I am seen in many a photo wearing that same giant plastic frame that Liz Claiborne made famous so long ago. (I think she is still wearing them, except she might be dead). My children love to make fun of that look and I just remind them that because I was willing to sacrifice my style conscious pride and probably my precious eyesight too, they had shoes on their feet and food on the table. It is all about perspective. </div><div> </div><div>And the big perspective for me is that I am so hugely thankful for the invention of eyeglasses. I am quite blind and back in the olden days would have been known as the ugly spinster sister who squinted. Because of glasses, I was able to snag a man and have it all! Thanks to Salvina D'Armate the inventor of eyeglasses. You helped make me (see) who I am today. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-47555038998724267532011-02-27T10:04:00.000-08:002011-02-27T10:41:10.110-08:00Let's talk about PAIN..or Not.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vp8N3UPS7c0/TWqZe_f1oPI/AAAAAAAAAn8/M5nxSPaRu0c/s1600/ilon%2Bjust%2Bchillin%2Bin%2Bher%2Bcowgirl%2Bhat.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578439846171877618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vp8N3UPS7c0/TWqZe_f1oPI/AAAAAAAAAn8/M5nxSPaRu0c/s400/ilon%2Bjust%2Bchillin%2Bin%2Bher%2Bcowgirl%2Bhat.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Pain is not a fun subject. It isn't sexy or exciting and unless you are the one in pain it can actually be pretty boring. </div><br /><div>Someone asks, "How are you?" </div><br /><div>I reply, "I'm still hurting in my lower back and can barely sit upright due to muscle spasms and intense pain." </div><br /><div>They reply, "So sorry you aren't feeling well." </div><br /><div>Then they run before I get into more details. (wouldn't you run?) </div><br /><div>OR...if they too have had back pain, they begin asking if I have used heat, used ice, gone to the doctor, if I have pain meds and one even asked if I had been hanging upside down. </div><br /><div>"No, I haven't been hanging upside down, but thanks for asking."</div><br /><div>Hurts just to think about it. </div><br /><div>I am tired of hurting and my husband is tired of me hurting. </div><br /><div>I am definately at the grumpy stage. Done with it and it aint' done yet. (did I mention that my husband is tired of me hurting?)</div><br /><div>So for now, I will use ice, then heat, then ice, then heat and stretch and release and stretch and release, take pain medicine, take some more and maybe just maybe consider hanging upside down. </div><div> </div><div>Now, you might still be wondering why there is a picture of a cowgirl on this blog about pain. Well, there isn't any reason, I just think she is cute and needed something cute and fun to help me forget the pain. </div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-65537234955651872932011-02-14T11:21:00.001-08:002011-02-14T11:24:36.067-08:00Because I love you<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWNU_s54UTQ/TVmBDPTV8JI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Kib_2WTkVZU/s1600/Valentines%2BDay.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 571px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573627906494951570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWNU_s54UTQ/TVmBDPTV8JI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Kib_2WTkVZU/s400/Valentines%2BDay.png" /></a><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6W3PNb7zEw/TVmA1vzDyaI/AAAAAAAAAns/a1GKR8Ts8vs/s1600/Valentines%2BDay.png"></a></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-58027152012285204702011-02-05T20:08:00.000-08:002011-02-05T20:11:49.045-08:00The Bucket ListWatching the movie, The Bucket List and keep thinking about a song we used to sing in grade school....There's A Whole In My Bucket.<br />Seems relevant.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-89993803547420467882011-02-05T20:04:00.000-08:002011-02-05T20:06:50.059-08:00Quote of the DayCarter (from The Bucket List):"Is he insane?" <br />Matthew: "Depends."The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-52795799685617633462011-02-01T15:09:00.001-08:002011-02-01T15:11:32.042-08:00Dreaming on an Ice Day<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS--1hS5I/AAAAAAAAAnk/zvX4sLg2_84/s1600/beach%2B4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568862549960641426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS--1hS5I/AAAAAAAAAnk/zvX4sLg2_84/s400/beach%2B4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS-moLxcI/AAAAAAAAAnc/nYEAAxVEn_o/s1600/beach%2B3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 280px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568862543462254018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS-moLxcI/AAAAAAAAAnc/nYEAAxVEn_o/s400/beach%2B3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS-kZjzJI/AAAAAAAAAnU/XGE_f84v718/s1600/beach%2B2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 360px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568862542864043154" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TUiS-kZjzJI/AAAAAAAAAnU/XGE_f84v718/s400/beach%2B2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-42817177548739317792011-02-01T14:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:00:36.615-08:00quote someoneHigh school, those are your prime suffering years.<br />You don't get better suffering than that.<br /><em>Uncle Frank, Little Miss Sunshine</em>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-3273916688029994122011-01-20T12:12:00.001-08:002011-01-20T12:28:10.132-08:00Out of BalanceI haven't been feeling well for a few weeks and finally got in to see my doctor. He listened to my symptoms of dizziness followed by nausea that would come upon me when I turned my head to the left and after doing a check up, diagnosed me with Vestibulitis (fancy word for vertigo). He said it was kind of like having a kidney stone in my ear... and apparently deep down in my inner ear, there is particle/s that are not where they should be and my brain sends messages that can't be understood so then my body responds with being out of balance which then causes the dizziness which then in turn causes the nausea. If you look it up it also talks about having a virus deep in the ear canal.<br />bored yet?<br />Now I have to do these weird head hanging over the bed exercises followed by sitting up really quickly. (trying to trick the ol ears and brain apparently into thinking everything is back in order)<br />really bored yet? <br />All that to say, it is really uncomfortable when your body is out of balance and this is just one of many ways my body is out of balance. <br />People often talk about finding that "balance" in their lives, and I am looking for that too. With weight gain and aging and old joints and ears out of whack... it really has hit home. <br />Even as I type this my head is spinning right round baby right round.... and I have to lean back and reposition my neck and wait it out. <br />As I spin, I finish (you are thanking God right now) and look forward to intentional living that will help with balance in most of the areas I have mentioned and I will keep doing the weird head thing so that I can help trick the ear thing so that I can get the dizziness thing to slow it down and get everything back in order. You know, that balance thing.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-1462918045184271722010-12-31T16:16:00.000-08:002010-12-31T19:20:28.620-08:002011 is HereAs you get older, you are VERY aware of how quickly your life is passing by. You start quoting to people about taking time to smell the roses and appreciating each day for all it's worth .....<br />yadda yadda yadda.<br />Sometimes you hide under the covers and hope it will slow down.<br />This year on my 54th birthday, I read Proverbs 31:25 about the 'noble woman', "she can laugh at the days to come" and decided to take it as my verse for the year.<br />Come on 2011. Bring it. I am choosing the more "noble" way.<br />While peeking out from under my covers, laughing hard,<br />and oh yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR!The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-82856386808062671922010-12-25T18:27:00.000-08:002010-12-25T18:29:48.462-08:00Strolling Down Memory Lane<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TRaoZJ9cvAI/AAAAAAAAAnI/uKn3GongqWs/s1600/julie%2Bage%2B5"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 292px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554812340531936258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TRaoZJ9cvAI/AAAAAAAAAnI/uKn3GongqWs/s400/julie%2Bage%2B5" /></a><br /><div>Holidays bring out the old photos and the memories.... this was me at age 5. Darling doesn't even begin to describe this. </div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-46886423332058531592010-12-14T08:32:00.000-08:002010-12-14T08:50:40.580-08:00Confession and ChoosingI am in a season of deliberate choosing.<br />Let's say Dean annoys the heck out of me.... and I get to choose my response. Do i smack him with some sarcasm or do i bless him with my words? <br />When someone balks at my controlling nature, do I inwardly begin to rage or do I let it go and really forget about it?<br />You would think that by the advanced age of ___, these attitudes would no longer be an issue, but instead I am being humbled daily with my tongue. It all goes back to the heart and if my tongue reflects my heart, then my heart needs some surgery. <br />So, Lord I am asking for daily help in controlling my tongue. I am asking for Holy Spirit intervention in my choosing deliberately to bless instead of curse. <br /><br />I am deliberately choosing to love. LOVE. LOVE.<br />I want to be a good love-er. <br />amenThe Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-20113893309329402382010-12-06T09:26:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:26:40.281-08:00Servant<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PJ-SJn_iv1E?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-8322808042565536782010-11-23T07:51:00.000-08:002010-11-23T07:52:44.901-08:00FUN1. Go out and find some.<br />2. Allow yourself to fully embrace it.<br />3. Laugh till liquid snorts from your nose.<br />4. Begin again.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-15034418409095152162010-11-11T18:34:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:37:41.045-08:00It's TOO EARLYSaw two Christmas trees tonight in one small area. People, it isn't even the middle of November. Let's leave something too look forward to in life.<br />Like next month.<br />I refuse to sing a note of a carol or even think of where the ugly plastic tree we bought for the apartment might be hiding. Let's all just hum tunes of thanksgiving and maybe even a little rock n roll and just chill for a while. Life's speeding by too fast as it is. Slow it down people, one holiday at a time.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-80408124272261232352010-10-29T09:52:00.000-07:002010-10-29T10:35:04.215-07:00Count It All JoyStill waiting on our circumstances to change. I recall not too long ago, two years or so, where I gave thanks on this blog ( for so many good things happening in my family's life and yet here I sit almost three years later, complaining about things that I am waiting on to change in our circumstances. It is hard because I want to be more mature than this. I want to be walking in "awareness" of His good and faithful provision, "Counting it all joy...". I am thankful for a group of women in my lifegroup who help keep me remembering how good of a God we serve. They listen to my woes, but remind me to keep my thoughts on things above. It is not all about me, or me and thee. It is about a mighty God who knows me and hears my cries and listens and answers. I love His answers. I may not see them, I may not feel them, but I believe them.<br /><br />"Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. "<br /><br />While I am<br />James 1:2-4The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-76542487938185405242010-10-22T10:28:00.000-07:002010-10-22T10:28:16.657-07:00Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus<object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/anIGrxfMwL8/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/anIGrxfMwL8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/anIGrxfMwL8?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-23738314715900327892010-10-13T18:39:00.001-07:002010-10-14T19:05:03.224-07:00Thirty is just a number<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TLe2WO4jhqI/AAAAAAAAAm0/HxyH9FbxEio/s1600/izzie+summer+2010.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528087560689256098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TLe2WO4jhqI/AAAAAAAAAm0/HxyH9FbxEio/s400/izzie+summer+2010.bmp" /></a>My middle-est is joining the ranks of women who have looked a number in the face and crossed over with strength, vigor and just the tiniest look back over their shoulder.<br /> Enjoy the ride!The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-71697232569680943992010-10-08T13:53:00.001-07:002010-10-08T13:55:25.111-07:00Ain't She Purty?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TK-E_VmnT4I/AAAAAAAAAmE/MbS03yLaBGw/s1600/Ilon+9-2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 264px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525781491472617346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TK-E_VmnT4I/AAAAAAAAAmE/MbS03yLaBGw/s400/Ilon+9-2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div>my bff </div><div>Ilon Rain. </div><div> </div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-9647992894980371002010-10-01T06:59:00.000-07:002010-10-01T09:07:04.541-07:00The Mind is a Mystery<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TKYBtR3euFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/8S2toYck-9g/s1600/Picture+020.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523103870418335826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TKYBtR3euFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/8S2toYck-9g/s400/Picture+020.jpg" /></a> <div>I am spending time with my mother while my dad is recovering from surgery. She is a delightful woman who lifts her hands and thanks God all the time. She also has Alzheimers Disease. My mother has no short term memory. She has not been able to remember new names and faces or current information since the disease took over her brain. Once in a very great while a new snippet of information will work it's way into her memory bank and she will be able to hold on to it, but not often.<br /><div><div>She does not remember why I am here. Every few minutes she turns and looks at me and asks me where her David is. Then she asks if he is okay and if he will be home soon. I answer her and we move on and then she turns and asks again. I don't mind answering her, ever. Each time she asks it is as if she had never heard the answer. I do have alot of appreciation for my daddy who is the one who cares for her and answers her questions over and over each day, all day long. He probably needed this little break in the hospital. </div><div>We just took a walk around the facility where they live and she stops and points out the details in the artwork that is on the walls. "Look at that pretty flower. Someone painted everything that you see in that picture. Look, there are three flies in that painting." My momma used to be a painter. She loves to see the brush strokes and a flower with light on the petals. She has always had an eye for color and detail. Even as I type, she has just asked me again about her David. We are off to the hospital where she will sit in the chair by his bed and hold his hand and look sweetly at him and blow him kisses. Then she will ask him why he is there and when he gets to go home. She just told me that she "sure has missed him". </div><div>I miss my mother but I have heard so many horror stories from friends who have parents with Alzheimers who have lost all of their true self and kindness. I love that she has still got the love of Jesus smiling through those pretty blue eyes. </div><div>I am looking forward to talking to her again in Heaven one day. I have lots of questions stored up for her too. </div></div></div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-92145660891181477902010-09-28T20:38:00.001-07:002010-09-28T20:45:27.416-07:00You NEVER<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TKK2Si8r7lI/AAAAAAAAAlk/K_Ltc4HOmoU/s1600/My+girls+2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 297px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522176522844892754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LejANEsvR1A/TKK2Si8r7lI/AAAAAAAAAlk/K_Ltc4HOmoU/s400/My+girls+2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div>quit being a parent. </div>The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-20106243028717143562010-09-17T09:51:00.000-07:002010-09-17T10:01:31.084-07:00It's Friday!I am a weekend kind of gal. I am very thankful for my job, but begin looking forward to Friday on Sunday nights when I realize that once again, Monday is coming. I really don't like this about myself as it makes me feel like a "glass is half empty" type of personality and who wants to be that? A friend called today and prayed that God would reveal his loving kindness to me in a very special way this weekend. I value her prayer and will look forward to this blessing, but at the same time, I realize that His mercies are new every morning. I long to wake up on a Monday and be thrilled that it is Monday. So Lord, I am admitting in public that I am only half full when it comes to being thankful and rejoicing over each day. Change my heart and let me see the glass full to overflowing. amen.<br />and p.s.<br />God... Thankful it is Friday.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-637923213042839102.post-48528921333681884662010-08-29T19:53:00.001-07:002010-08-29T20:13:50.477-07:00Looking aheadwhile sitting stillish. ish, not ill, because it is hard to be totally still, but it is easier to be stillish. <br />.............................................................................................................................................................................<br />Today I am thankful for a wonderful group of women that I spend time with on Sunday mornings, talking and praying about our lives as women, sisters, moms, daughters. Together we represent about 6 or 7 countries and I am definately one of the most freckled in the room. Love them. Still can't communicate very well with some, but LONGING for the day we can sit and chat without the language barriers. I will say, there is something about women and communication. We just do it. Might not get everything, but even if we don't understand everything, we understand what is important: families and faith and hope. Thanks God.The Church Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527562350021496032noreply@blogger.com0