Love Sundays

June 29, 2008

Sunday evening pages

LOVE Sundays when I can reflect on the past week and wow what a week it has been. Carrie and Annika were here for a visit and even though she came to help Kelley who is now pregnant (LOVE that I will be a grandma again) some family members made plans to visit with us. She came in late Monday night and Tuesday morning my niece, Catherine planned a get-together with the cousins and now second cousins. We LOVED seeing Catherine and Jackson along with my sister Mary Catherine and sharing Annika with them. On Wednesday, I LOVED that we met up with Ashley at work, had coffee together, and went to her apartment and then back to our home and just hung out as girls with Sid and Terry close by. Thursday was the day that papa enjoyed the US open so Carrie, Annika, Kelley, Sid and me hung out at Kelley's house. LOVED the opportunity to grocery shop and cook dinner that evening for Terry and Josh. Friday was such a fun day as we were able to hang out as a family because Adam was home for several hours.

LOVE family time

LOVE Friday night pizza

Usually Love eating all the chocolate goodies Carrie made

LOVE watching the babies

LOVE playing Apples to Apples and winning

LOVE that we took so many pictures to remember these times together

Don't love it when we have to say goodbye to Carrie and Annika but I do know how much Jacob will LOVE to have Carrie and Annika home.

We miss you big, We love you big, and we are praying for you lots.

LOVE that we are all constantly In His Arms, B

Love Sundays

June 22, 2008 afternoon pages

So have you ever spent a great deal of time writing a wonderful blog only to lose power on your computer … yes, it happened but maybe it is only me that thinks this was a wonderful writing anyways, I choose to begin again ....

So what I love about this Sunday, is that I woke up early to join others in prayer and I was excited to have 4 of our HopeWatchers (members from the children's prayer team) in the prayer room praying this prayer with me … I praise you God that you love me even if …. He is indeed so great that He loves us even if we disobey, even if we get mad, even if we don't read the Bible, even if we forget to pray. even if ....

Today I love this Sunday, because Terry and I traveled to Fort Ripley to enjoy an Army National Guard Family Picnic with Ashley. We met a few of the other soldiers and enjoyed food and fellowship with one another.

Today I love this Sunday, because when we returned home I took a long afternoon nap. You see, I usually don't get the opportunity to take a nap because I serve as a receptionist at our church each Sunday.

Today I love this Sunday, because after my nap I was able to get 3 assignments and I quiz done for my online health course that I am currently taking at Crown College.

Today I love this Sunday, as I begin my second week on the Maker's Diet. Even though I still struggle with my health it felt good to learn more about good foods for my body and to begin to think about what goes into this temple that my Maker has created. I would recommend Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, another good read for those of you interested in nutrition. The book contains an immense amount of information of the culinary customs of our ancestors and ideas for a future of great health for young and old.

What I love the VERY most about this Sunday, is that tomorrow Carrie and Annika come for the week to visit. I am so excited to see Carrie and also to see how much Annika has changed and grown since March when I went out to CA to see her. Unfortunately, Jacob will be unable to be with us this week. Jacob we will miss you and wish you could be here ... although I am at peace knowing you are In His Arms, B.

Love Sundays

Sunday, June 15, 2008
afternoon pages

Well I am finding myself not only in Love with Sunday but in Love with Summer as well. It is great to have extra time to read the books that I want to read and not necessarily books that I have to read. This leads me to my post about a book I am currently reading as a part of a book study. The book: The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. I am reading a bit ahead and have been pondering the following statement ... "It is our habit to live for ourselves and not for God". This statement struck a cord in my thoughts because I believe this to be true of my life many times. One of those habits of mine that I have been studying and learning so much more about is the habit of eating. Why do I eat? What do I eat? What is emotional eating? How was food intended to be used for the body and soul? How do I get fed ... is it spiritual food? Is it milk or is it meat? Does what I eat have anything to do with making every effort to be Holy? How is one to be holy and blameless in his sight and eat at McDonald's? Sorry but I could not resist this last statement as I think about how many unhealthy food choices I have made in the past. Well, suffice this to say that this is the day the Lord has made and I will be glad and rejoice in it ... for this Sunday I love because I will make a deliberate intentional action towards greater health according to the Maker.

Because I have been so sick for 2 months I simply know that there is a purpose for everything. The purpose of the last two months have been for me take the challenge to read more about health and diet. The book recommended by my daughter's Lisa and Kelley, who often make healthy choices has been The Makers Diet. The book makes sense because as a believer who reads and studies the scriptures I can see how the author brings me back in time to the foods of the Bible and how food was intended to be used to nourish my body.

OK Time says that I need to close for now but more thoughts on this to come so stay posted ....
B.

Love Sundays

June 1, 2008
Sunday Afternoon Pages

Wow, today was a very different Sunday morning. It brought back memories of the past when I had to get both myself and my kids ready for church and did not get up early enough to read and pray before dashing off to church. Well, today was the first morning, shall I say weekend that we had our grandson Sid stay with us for the weekend so ...... when I got up at 6 am, I quick got into the bath tub and took a rather short, hurried, bath while grandpa slept and Sid talked and played in his bed. When I was done, I got Sid out of his bed and let him crawl around while I got myself dressed and ready for church. Once I was done, it was Sid's turn. I fed him his breakfast of cereal, raw egg yolk and applesauce and then I got him dressed in his Sunday best. Shortly after this he went back to bed for his morning nap and I was off to church.

At 10:30 I met grandpa at the main door and took over. Grandpa seemed a bit disorganized himself as I am sure he did not quite remember the extra time it would take to put his grandson in and out of the car seat.

And what I especially loved about this Sunday is that I was able to "show off" my grandson and all he can do .... make the Indian sounds when you tap his mouth, clap his hands when you say pat-a-cake and crawl which is a newly acquired skill as of
Friday, May 30.

But what I especially don't love about Sunday is when we can not be together as a whole family. I miss having Jacob, Carrie and Annika around. I am happy to be just a phone call away and was so sorry I did not know how to get her connected on her computer, which seems to be on the blink today. I miss seeing Annika grow but am thankful that Carrie is so good about updating her blog even with live video occasionally.

Well, I have just 3 and 1/2 days of school left and then I anticipate having more time to sit at my new desk and write my heart out.
Constantly holding all of my children, their spouses, futures spouses, and grandchildren in my prayers and always wanting them to be In His Arms, B.
Happy Sunday to all!

Stay posted for more to come on my new desk ... I needed to post the picture for Carrie ASAP but I hope to write more about it soon ... but for now I have a little more work to complete for my Reading and Communications Course in order to be ready to teach a couple more lessons this week with my 5th and 6th grade boys.

Love Sundays

morning, afternoon, and evening pages
May 25, 2008 (my best friend Pam's birthday)

Love Sunday, truly a day set-apart

Love Sunday morning worship prayer time

Love Sunday in the summer as the pace is unhurried

Love Sunday morning preaching from Nehemiah

Love Sunday gatherings ... today it was a picnic at Josh and Kelley's new house

Love Sunday, when God speaks to me through the scriptures ... tonight it was 1 Samuel 25, when Abigal bows facedown and says "I am your servant. I'm ready to serve you."

Love Sunday sitting and writing at my new desk (see picture above)

Love Sundays when I don't work the following day ... 3-day-weekend-Yeah!

Love Sundays

May 18, 2008

LOVE SUNDAY as the sun shines every so brightly through my office window as I meet with the Lord.

LOVE SUNDAY as I spend time by myself in the quietness of my home.

LOVE SUNDAY as the Lord brings many names to my mind for prayer.

LOVE SUNDAY as the pace for the day is so different than any other day. It truly is the Lord's day.

LOVE SUNDAY as today we will recognize all the children who have memorized verses from the Bible this year. (seems like yesterday that I was working with my own children as they memorized verses)

LOVE SUNDAY as I meet with both my friends and the kids prayer team to prayer.

LOVE SUNDAY night prayers ...

Father,
I ask for divine guidance for my children. I trust that you have already gone before them and prepared a place for them. You have known them from the foundation of the world. I commit my children into Your hands and pray for wisdom as to how I should relate to them now and in the future. I release my children from all my expectations and entrust them to be who You want them to be. I pray You will give my children wisdom in choosing a future spouse and in relating to their spouses. For those You will bless with children and those You have already blessed with children I pray they will train their children according to Your word and that they would teach them how to trust in Jesus as their Savior. May I be the grandparent You want me to be. I pray as Jesus prayed that You keep my children from the evil one and sanctify them in Your word for Your word is truth. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who was crucified, died, risen and who will come again. AMEN

Remaining peacefully In His Arms again, Beth

To Stop and Reflect on Him

I actually wrote this on April 23 ... and it was on April 21 that I first began to feel yuckie ...

Usually I don’t have trouble waking up with my alarm; in fact usually I have no trouble sleeping at night. Last night was different though I came home from work exhausted and had a bad headache which is also something I typically don’t get. Anyways, I took some Tylenol and put together a hot pack for my head and attempted to go to sleep. It took a long time to fall asleep, at least an hour, maybe longer. Once I was asleep, I remember dreaming, but I don’t remember, what I was dreaming about. When I woke up the next day I was disoriented as to the day of the week and the time. Once I figured out the time, I realized I had woken before my alarm rang which again is highly unusual. With an early shower and an early start to my day I maybe would have thought that I had plenty of time to stop, listen and hear God’s voice. But this was not the case. Instead so many thoughts entered into my mind clamoring for my attention. Thoughts like remember why you are fasting from media, read your Bible, pray, check e-mails, make your lunch for work, what to have for breakfast, pack your school bag, get some homework done. Then as the clock struck 9:00 am it was time to go out the door for work. Where had the time gone?
Tomorrow will be different as I know that He must cherish the time when I stop myself and reflect on Him for this is why I fast to stop and reflect on Him.

A Conversation with my Liver

Saturday, May 3, 2008
afternoon pages

OK so this is the weirdest thing I have ever done but I am taking the advice of my oldest daughter and I am going to have a conversation with my liver that currently seems to be acting up.
I say, liver what's up?
You are making me sick!
Nausea
loss of appetite
NO energy
stomach ache
YUK!
So what's up?
Why do you cause me such pain?
I know you have an important function because I have been so sick for 3 weeks just because you are not working the way you should. So it's time I know just what is going on, and for you liver, to get your act together. I need you to work the right way, so I can feel better. The funny thing about writing like this is, I know that you may not be listening as a liver, but I do know someone much bigger than little old you. Yes, old because my body of course is 55 years old. Anyways, the bigger One listening is the One who can fix little old you and that is who I am calling upon for complete and total healing. Yep, you guessed it liver, it's my Maker. My Maker has fixed me before and I believe He will fix me again.

Always In His Arms, B.

Love Sundays

Sunday, April 13, 2008
afternoon pages

OK, so its been a long time once again since I wrote on my blog ....
I get such a bad time from my kids when I don't blog but what's a wife, mother, grandmother, student, employee (3 jobs), business owner, volunteer at church to do ... Because of these roles I have most recently gone back to writing my "to do lists". The great thing about this now though is that my lists don't rule me I rule them and if I get some things done on the list that's OK. I am totally fine with leaving the rest for another day.

But today Sunday is a day to rest
love Sunday when I get a little extra rest from routine
love Sunday when I have a chance to gather together with friends and pray
love Sunday when I fully participate in worship with no distractions such as laundry, school work, calling customers etc
love Sunday when I can read and write what I want and not necessarily what I need to read and write
love this Sunday as this Sunday our oldest daughter Lisa got engaged to a wonderful, kind, and gentle man who she has been dating for 3 years. Welcome to our family Matt!

Don't you just love Sundays! I do!

Loving being In His Arms on Sunday, Beth