welcome to nancy's world

First Post In A Long Time

2011-06-25T07:52:00.004-05:00

It's been almost two and a half YEARS since my last blog post! Omgeezers a lot has happened since! My dad passed away on May 4th, 2009. :( I miss him, of course...sometimes it's very intense. I'm thankful for every moment we've shared.
Nicole is engaged to be married to the love of her life, Daniel Rouse on 09-03-11. :) I'm so excited for the both of them as they begin their lives together as one. I'm happy for her to be moving to Washington DC but sad that it's so far away. She's enrolled at Full Sail University based out of Florida. She takes all her courses online working on a degree in Graphic Arts and Design.
I'm done homeschooling now, Michael is graduating and is working pt @ Walmart before starting college. He's still involved in music. He overcame a 3 year drug addiction. I can honestly say I'm so proud of both of my children and how they have evolved into the adults they have become.
Hubby Mike has been retired for over a year already and he's loving every moment!
My health issues have slowed me down a bit. After a few years of many different kinds of issues, we have a diagnosis now: Fibromyalgia. Recently, it's been tErRibLe!! I'm learning everything I can about it and will do all in my power to manage it to the best of my ability. I have learned to say "no, I can't" without letting guilt get to me, I am getting a pass for pool privleges at a local motel for gentle exercises and hot-tub soaks :) and working on adiquate sleep which really does help.
In closing, I am on my way to visit my mom and a little trip to a pet store.Tonight, we have a wedding reception to go to for awhile and then we're going to watch True Grit. The weather is supposed to be 80* and sunny! YAY!! It's been in the 40s and 50s all week with rain and fog so this is AWESOME!

stay focused

2009-01-20T06:01:00.004-06:00

One parent in a housing apt, one moving to the Villa Nursing Home I pray temporarily. One daughter graduating this year and since we homeschool, it's up to me to be sure everything is ready. One son desiring to go to college in Sydney, AU but it seems that we cannot get his college fund to climb no matter what. More stupid insurance billing issues at work, when will that ever be normal? Taxes are ready, we owe so much I could scream. I could let these issues ruin my week or I can remember the fact that I am an overcomer. My focus is what's on the other side of these mountains: My parents healthier and back together this spring, my beautiful daughter taking college courses and working towards the business she wants to have, my son increasing in his talents and writing music to become the man God has called him to be, both kids learning to lead more effectively & staying involved in the music & youth ministry that they love. And the Medicaid billing will work better this year! It has to because I cannot have another high-stress year like 2008. It's not worth it. and taxes...I'll consider the money as seed planted. I know it will come back a hundred-fold.
Basement tonight for my workout. That has been wonderful for relieving stress! So have my Goldens, they're like sponges. They snuggle into you and everything just melts away! My cat is curled up like a little pod over my arms in front of the keyboard purring away, what a little punky love! But I have to get ready for work now. I'm glad to have a job. Yes, I am.

Think Spring

2009-01-19T06:02:00.004-06:00

As the temps still hover in the single digits, I decided to turn my thoughts to spring projects. I have a nice list made but one of the most enjoyable that I am looking forward to is our upcoming Salsa Garden.
In it, we will grow:
Tomatoes
Jalapeno peppers
Sweet peppers
Onions
Cilantro
Oregano
Garlic

There's a very large pine tree that needs to come down by the garden shed that is way too big and blocking too much sun. Since we have about one million other pine trees on our property, I figured I'd plant a Lilac bush there in it's place. I am looking forward to a good growing season this year!

YAY! The snowplow came!!!!

2009-01-18T04:41:00.007-06:00

I'm up early, we all were. The kids are trying to get a couple more hours in. The fuzzbutts heard the city snowplow. They get excited. They thought the whole house should get up and be excited too. Well, we weren't with the exception of the cat. Now she's full of it. Really, she's literally bouncing off the walls. The plow is gone. The dogs are now snoring. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Dang this coffee is good.
I worked out last night. Same routine.

I'm enjoying a fast right now and of course, "CHOCOLATE" has entered my mind a few times. I found a few little tidbits about chocolate; thought I'd share. Enjoy!

Q. Why is there no organization such as Chocoholics Anonymous?
A. Because no one wants to quit.

Q. How do I get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car on a summer's day?
A. Eat it in the parking lot.

Q. What is a balanced diet?
A. Equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, unless your dietician prescribes equal amounts of bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate. If your dietitian is out of town and unavailable for a consultation, use both regimens for a week at a time, alternating.

If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

Clearly, chocolate is a vegetable. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. A bean is a vegetable. Wait! There's more! Sugar is derived from either sugar cane or sugar beets. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Therefore, chocolate is a vegetable.

Chocolate-covered raisins, -cherries, -orange slices and -strawberries all count as fruit. Eat as many as you want. Fruits are an important part of the Food Pyramid.

Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off Your appetite and you'll eat less.

If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

Money talks. Chocolate sings.

Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, chocolate is therapeutic.

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

"You look like you've lost weight..."

2009-01-15T05:42:00.004-06:00

It's already Thursday, wow! It's -22* and the windchill is -46*....I wonder if my car is gonna start? It didn't want to yesterday. I cannot imagine it wanting now!
This week, we walked Monday but not from Tuesday on because of the cold temps. I got a good workout in Tuesday night. Same routine plus the Roman twists and leg presses. Tonight's workout may be lame. I didn't sleep all that well; I tossed and turned and broke out in a sweat and slept like crud. But nontheless, I will torture my muscles and work myself to the point in which I cannot do another and then I'll be satisfied. I received my very first comment yesterday that it looks like I'm losing weight! :) I love the fact that all this hard work is becoming noticable! it's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting!

another workout in!

2009-01-11T21:24:00.002-06:00

Got a full workout tonight + over a hundred leg presses and 100 roman twists. I am feeling it. It's so good.

Nott 2 BaD..

2009-01-09T18:34:00.004-06:00

This week's exercise rated kinda on the lame side BUT at least I did some!
I walked at lunch over a mile on M, T, TH, & F. (Wednesday I did NOT feel well and I did nothing, nada) anyway I worked out really well on the weight machine last night. I'm a little sore today. I've been stretching daily also. That's my week so far. Good thing I stil have tonight and Saturday for a little more ;)

a spicy day!

2009-01-05T06:07:00.006-06:00

I'm getting ready to get back to the grind! whooooot! I was thinking (happily) about my promise to myself about no more overtime. Working 8-4 M-F is plenty enough and I wanna keep it that way. I'm thankful to have a job, it's a good job. I'm thankful to have had the last 11 days off, 7 of which were paid days off! It felt good. I needed that so badly. So I have a mammogram at 9 am. Hopefully my parents hear from their ins company today or I gotta buzz over there after work and call again. Nikki and Mike are going there today to clean for them.
I'm forcing the kids to stay home tonight forgetting there was bible study so maybe we'll all go to that. They start school up again today. I ordered some more stuff from Christian Book Distributors:
The Weather Identification Handbook
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
Charcoal Drawing
Pencil Drawing
Accounting Lifepac 3: Analyzing and Journalizing Transactions
Accounting Lifepac 4: Posting to the General Ledger
Consumer Math Lifepac 1: Creative Arithmetic
Consumer Math Lifepac 2: Fractions, Decimals, & Percent

Nikki needs the Consumer Math to graduate. She should have a foreign language too but I can't swing it right now. I think there are some internet resources I can tap into. I'm gonna have to look more into that this week.

That's that! Oh ya, my workout tonight too. ;)

Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." That was Jesus speaking. He basically is saying, Stay spicy. Stay in my Word, stay filled, stay with Me....the world is watching, if you fizzle, you're no good for the Kingdom or the world. That's the way I see it anyway. Stay spicy!

Tonight's workout

2009-01-03T22:57:00.003-06:00

I just got done working out and it's kinda late and now my adrenaline is flowing and I'm not sleepy anymore but I really need to get some sleep but I feel like running a mile or two but it's blowing snow out and I don't have a treadmill so I can't but I got all this energy and since others are sleeping I have to be quiet but I feel so WIDE-AWAKE! whew! so ya, that's what. I had 4 workouts this week but a couple were a kinda weak, tonight's was good but a little shorter than usual. It was still good though! I am thinking progress.......speaking of: I did FIVE of those leg-lift ab thingies!! Five, I can't believe it! I was so stinking happy!!! Oh, and the butterfly exercises are still tough but I can do more now. cool. I ate very healthy today too. I had a cup (ok, big mug) of yummy Starbucks coffee tonight with my big bro, Danny. He's gonna bring his heat gun over to strip my x-country skis down and re-wax them. I'm getting ansy to try them out. I think I will get on them tomorrow. I got my boots ready and found Michael's golf shoes. I got to thinking about my weight loss and how I'll be able to swing my clubs better after my, um.... chest gets smaller :) lol Well, it's true. So that's another perk. HAHA!! get it? perk, ugh ok I need sleep.

My day today

2009-01-03T09:59:00.004-06:00

Workout today
Charter dude coming
My brother Dan is coming to visit
waxing my x-country skis
luving muh new hair
cleaned the house already~YAY!
eating healthy
getting ready for a SNOWSTORM! :)
putting on the teacher's hat for awhile
paying the bills
buying some Lifepacs for NikNak and maybe something artsy
planning muh 'coffee/oxygen bar-totally cool gift shop' business lol actually don't laugh; I got a PLAN!
planning a winter firepit! But I'm not inviting the whole church. This is going to be by invitation only, not to be mean but it's 'what is is, Na na,na-na-na-na-na'

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:06:00.003-06:00

I love the excitement of a new year, a new beginning, new opportunities! I have so much to hope for, so much faith, so many expectations. I am traveling down a new path and when I hit the fork in the road, I'm going God's way for me whether it makes sense to others or not. I'm ready now; I know God has a wonderful plan for my life that I have been preparing myself for. Every decision I made thus far has brought me to where I am today. The difference between then and now is that I have been learning to hear the Holy Spirit lead, I've learned to rely on God instead of my feelings. I keep a tight relationship with Jesus Christ. The difference between this year and years prior is that very fact. It's exciting!

Today's exercise
What a weak workout tonight! I'm so stinking tired! I'm not used to such late nights! I did get my workout in but it was shorter than usual because I just didn't care! I'm sooooooooo tired now. I went through it but skipped a few leg routines. I took my supplements, ate part of a salad, and now I'm fighting sleep. I'm going up to bed with a book very soon. I'm glad I exercised though. I would've felt guilty and bad if I would've missed it. I've been working way too hard very consistantly.
Happy New Year!

Dec 31, 2008

2008-12-31T05:31:00.004-06:00

PLANS
Today is New Years Eve, hard to believe! I'm up at my usual 4:45 am, maybe I'll nap so I can stay awake and party with my peeps tonight at LFC! We have a supply of Red Bull though in case time does not permit a needed Siesta. I am marinating chicken for shishkabobs with peppers to grill out tonight. As of right now, we are bringing taco salad and fruit pizza to share. That could change. I was kinda thinking about the chocolate fountain which I think would be a good idea. We're gonna bring Quelf too; I can't wait to play it with my friends! I think Mike is going to come, maybe. That would be the best.
WORKOUT
Last night, Michael and I walked the dogs but not very far, it was blustery and cold! Then, a good workout was in order. I did the usual routine but added one new thing: I did this thing where you stand supporting yourself on your forearms holding on these grips and raise your legs off the floor (great for lower abs). I did one! They're hard! But my goal for a month was to be able to do one and I did. I can't imagine doing two in a row but maybe someday. Something else new that I began was a supplement soy protein drink mix by EAS to help burn fat and promote lean muscle. I drink one within 60 minutes of a workout. I have vanilla; it's pretty good mixed with skim milk.
TEEN STUFF
Nikki's hair is dark now. That's the end of dumping chemicals on her scalp. The first time she colored it back to 'brown', it turned gray! eeeeeeew. They had to go buy more and now it's dark, I can't descibe it otherwise. But it's nice. Better than the bleach-blonde she had for the past several months. It'll be nice to see both kids with their natural color back soon.
I'm ordering the rest of the Accounting lifepacs for Nikki and some Consumer Math books today. If she sticks to a strict schedule, she will be graduating in June. I have to work on transcripts for her and Michael. He'll be in Driver's Ed this summer.
EXPENSIVE JUNE
Family Camp is in June, I WILL BE GOING, I WILL BE DOING SOUND, and plans are on Thursday (family day) we are going to Six Flags! This chick is working out so I can lose weight and ride on the Superman coaster! YESYES I AM! We started a savings acct because June is going to be expensive: Family Camp, Six Flags, Graduation, Driver's Ed, ugh. I am not going to cut anything out either so everyone is going to work together and stuff money into that account. We've designated the change jar for this, we're going to have a spring sale, we're going to put a percent of any tax refund into the acct. idk, we're still coming up with ideas.
PARENT STUFF
The last couple of days have been interesting....
I got my parents out of their Medicare HMO (SmartValue) and into Advocare (Security Health Plan) as Duluth accepts that and Richard will begin seeing Dr Zimmerman. Richard has been told by the Drs and HomeNursing and his family that he needs to go back into the nursing home for better rehab as he is failing at home. He won't have it. He's been talking suicide, that's been interesting to deal with, my mom is seriously considering drinking beer again with her meals but promised she wouldn't go back to the wine. If they think I can deal with anymore, then they are both CRAZY. I will not go through the hell of a family member detoxing from alcohol again, I will not watch a strong man give up. I have preached, loved, listened, helped, and I'll tell you what: I will help them and do whatever it takes, but if they cross the lines into self-inflicted problems, I am done helping out. I mean it. well, I know I'd be there for them but it felt good to say that. It's hard on them and hard on everybody. But I know things are going to work out ok. I just know it!
2009 is going to be an awesome year!
2008 had lots of changes, lots of overtime. 2009 is going to be different. I promise myself that.

a walk in the dark

2008-12-28T20:26:00.004-06:00

Tonight I walked Maggie, Hunter, and Melody down the Dupont Rd. It was a very starry night, kinda cold, but peaceful. I did some stretching too. That's it. :) Now I'm off to clean out my refrigerator! fun times...don't be jealous haha

some squishy turned firm!

2008-12-28T05:38:00.004-06:00

I am feeling a difference! The change is mostly in my legs. They are much firmer and becomming more defined. :) I also notice my arms feeling tighter.
Last night, I took the dogs for a walk down the Dupont. They were so happy to get out and move. When we got back, Nikki asked us to go grab some music at the church to prepare for this morning. (she was in jammies already) I was hungry so I ate a couple little chunks of beer bread with some garlic dip (the alcohol burns out whilst it bakes). When I got home, I decided to workout right away instead of waiting. I did my whole strength training routine. It took 45 minutes. I was headachey and nauseated the whole time so it really stunk, but I did it. I think that beer bread & dip made me feel rotten. It was very good but I can't eat all that rich junk. Today, I'll turn on the crockpot of Italian Beef so after church, we can just pull out some hardrolls & the salad I made. Maybe I'll make oatmeal instead for me. Or Malt-o-meal. I love that!
Anyway, this morning I am sore behind my arms, across my entire core, and my mid-back. and my butt. It's not a bad soreness, it's a "hey, I haven't been worked for a long time; this feels oh-so-good" soreness. I like it. I can't wait to feel less squishy in those areas. I can't wait for people to start seeing a difference; that's going to be an exciting day! These workouts are addicting. I look forward to each one. Beginning after the New Year, my hubby is going to begin working out also and eating more live foods. Which means I will be eating more live foods. It's only getting easier; it's fun!

Getting good

2008-12-26T20:27:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I worked out like crazy. I'm seriously serious. I did the whole strength training routine except I added a third set of reps to each exercise. Then I added some exercises for lower abs, thighs, and oh-my-aching-glutes to the Total Gym routine I have. I am feeling progress and actually lost a couple inches so far! (yay!) My long-term goal is to be a fit missionary, my mid-term goal is to be a much lighter me so I can ride Superman at Six Flags in June, and my short-term goal is to get into my "cool" jeans.(early spring) So to achive that, I cannot just do strength training and walk. I need to do more to burn the calories. So last night, I did this Tai Chi which was totally gay(the lady looked like Michael Jackson and talked non-stop! I just wanted to scream SHUT UP!) I couldn't stand it so I shut that off within ten minutes. Then I moved on to Yoga. THAT was a workout. I can normally do 30-60 minutes of Yoga. Well, I stopped after 15 last night. I was sweating bullets! There was something about this class though that I did not like. I have some taped that don't seem very 'meditative-like" that I think I will stick to. I think Saturday, I am going to try Pilates (I love my Charter OnDemand! They have all this cool stuff!) and stick with that and aerobics type classes. Also now, I'm gonna begin weighing-in every Monday. No way I'm posting my weight here because that is just not happening, however, I'm keeping track of loss/gain amts here. I expect some gains especially as muscle is added but I intend to see consistant losses.

VacATiOn TimE is almost here!

2008-12-24T06:34:00.005-06:00

To sum yesterday up: phones at work rang off the hook. Nothing else got done. Nobody likes the new combined statements. It's saves a lot of trees per year! Why is change so hard, especially for older people? Marion and I walked our tooshes off at lunch. My lungs are getting bigger, my thighs and calves are down 2"! I got very brave and bought a scale last night after work. It also anylizes body fat. scary. Oh well. I do not hate myself. Actually, I think quite highly of myself. No overly highly, but I like me. Except for my bad moments which are not too often, thank the good Lord above. He's so patient when I'm so stupid. Anyway back to the awesome, good, happy-go-blessed me. :) I love life, I love losing 2" so far after all my hard work, I love wrapping Christmas presents for my kids, I love my kids, I love my hubby. He's the best. I'm proud of him when he stands up for what is right. He's a good man and I'm a better person because of him. I feel funny that we are not getting each other anything. I bet he got me a card though. I didn't even think about doing that. I will not have time to get him one UNLESS WALMART IS OPEN AFTER CHURCH TONIGHT. That would rock. I pray so. I didn't get stocking stuffers! Ugh! I don't have hardly any $$ and payday is a week away. I need wisdom.money.peace on earth. good will toward men. there, I've got it back in perspective. Celebrate Christ and nothing else. Love on each other, don't be selfish. Visit lonely people. You can relax later. Let your loved ones know they are loved. really. maybe they just need to hear it again. (can we ever hear the words 'I love you' too often?) I think not. God is love. Be Godly. This is all about Him and not stuffing someone's stocking with teeth-rotting sugar convections. I will pick up a couple of redbulls though on my way home. I gotta go to work. Can't wait until 4pm! Then I'm my own until January 5th! HELLO VACATION!

Muh Sound Peeps

2008-12-23T06:35:00.004-06:00

Today I am buying a scale right after work. That's a big step for me! Then I gotta rush home and workout really quick and then open the church and get ready for the meeting which starts at 6 so I am really in a time crunch. I gotta make sure I get the handouts ready and my gift and treats. I love these guys, my SoundHomies. They are awesome, essential, and blessed. I love doing sound more than anything. I have the most wonderful life. I really do. All because I am involved with the most wonderful people in the most wonderful church for the most Wonderful Lord. Life is good. Eternal life is better.

UPDATE: the meeting went from 6-7 pm. 4 showed up. I gave out my gifts and we passed around treats and had fresh coffee (YUM!) I passed out a schedule for January and the meeting agenda. No one had any new ideas; I have a box in the booth in case inspiration hits someone. I am going to show Dannice how to do the Announcement Slides for the overhead before services. They left knowing that they are an important part of the services and that they are appreciated and loved, and that's what matters most of all.

another workout

2008-12-22T05:18:00.005-06:00

I went through my 'routine' workout last night. It seems to be taking me a good 45 minutes. I know you shouldn't do two days in a row but I did because I had to. I'm trying to plan better in the future. I'm sore today.
Tonight is bible study at 6:30 and I am looking forward to that. I'm planning a sound and tech meeting tomorrow night at 6pm. Looking forward to that too. I have a little stuffed snowman for each person and some candy. Everyone is going to bring a treat. I'm going to hand out a list of duties, booth rules, an overhead schedule with phone numbers for the others so if one can't make it we have someone coming in. I want them all to realize how important they are and what our church actually does in this area. We are amazing! I'll organize this and print during my lunch tomorrow.
Wednesday is Christmas Eve. Unreal. i am getting giddy at the thought of my vacation; i'm smiling so much, it hurts!

before Christmas

2008-12-20T19:20:00.003-06:00

I worked out intensely this afternoon, omgsh my abs are screaming right now. Anyway, it was good and I needed it. It's been so cold that we haven't walked during lunch break all week. So today, I made sure to get on the Gazelle and then work my muscles. I did upper and lower body saving the abs for last. I think I'm getting addicted to these workouts! They are kinda fun and make me feel very good :-) Plus a visual of my goal is etched in my head and I'm looking forward to that ;-)
We had communion at the church today as Seal America made their final event in Washington, DC. We had a live feed on the big screen and a brunch after. It was awesome! Just seeing them during part of this big day felt amazing. Danny comes home Monday, almost for good now. It's going to be nice to have him home again for real. It's kinda like an arm has been missing. Now it'll be back! My brother Danny was here tonight. We exchanged Christmas gifts which are usually homemade. This year is no exception. He made me biscotti and jerky and I made him scones and cocoa mix. :-) I love this time of year!
I have cards for people at church and the kids have gifts for a gift exchange at youth group. Michael put a $10 gift card from Walmart with candy in a box and wrapped it up cute. Nikki created an open gift box with a $10 Family Video gift card, two round small bottles of coke (look like ornament balls), a popcorn box, and theater candy, licorice, and gum; it's adorable. I hope Michael gets it! lol
My mom is all anti-christmas (except for Jesus, the main reason anyway) because there is no energy left in her to do anything. Helping my dad has been draining. He collapsed Friday afternoon and an ambulance took him to ER at 1:30. My son's dr appt was at 1:30 (just a quick check-up) so I went to that & I checked in on my dad after. When things seemed ok, I brought Michael home and then stopped and checked in on my mom. I grabbed his coat and hat and headed back to ER. Tests came back good. His blood pressure is so low all the time and sometimes it drops dangerously low. This is what happened again. He was discharged at 6:30 so I brought him home and got everything situated. I think what we are going to do today is get their christmas stuff out from their garage unit and put stuff up for them. We have some scones and jam for them too and a card from my dogs and cat, lol. That should bring a little happiness in. It's not like they are depressed or anything, they just need a lift. So that's what I hope this brings.
I made the BEST coffee in the world this morning. If you had a cup you would think, "I must be in heaven!"...it's that good. I have these cute little glass espresso cups I got for Christmas and I used one for my coffee this morning. yum! Coffee taste can vary greatly by what ever medium used to hold it. don't ever forget that. ok.
Well, that's that. Another winter storm blowing in today. Work on Monday (no boss), Tuesday (no boss or MeLisSa), and Wed (no one except me and Marion!) Then I'm off for 11 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm having a sound meeting Tuesday night at 6pm with goodies and surprises. Christmas Eve is church. Christmas day is our family Italian feast and presents to open. Surprisingly, there are a few this year! That's all I know. Life is good, eternal life is better.

christmas fuzzy feelings

2008-12-16T05:51:00.004-06:00

It is beyond cold this morning. Seriously bitter. It's -17 with a windchill of -33. I really love winter though, I do! So the schedule came out with our vacation and I'M OFF the 25th-the 5th! Whoot! sosososososososososooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting! I'm gonna go back to a heaping load of work and I'm on phones that week too so I'll have plenty to do for a loooooooooong time. job security. Praise the Lord. annnnnnnnnnnnnd, overtime is OVER. I hope it never rears it's ugly head again. It's the pits. I've tried to balance everything and having O.T. involved makes it pretty darn tough. But that's in the past now so I'm moving on.
on to happy times with the Hub and family for Christmas and my home and no schedules and life is SO GOOD! God is so good to me and my family. Every challenge we have gets met head-on by us and God honors that by placing His hand on the situation and turns things around in our favor..EVERY SINGLE TIME. I love Him so much. He's my heart throb for real. He gives me that lovey happy warm and fuzzy feeling inside and makes me smile. Those with a relationship with the living savior Jesus Christ know exactly what I'm taking about. Those that don't, cannot even fathom what happens inside the person that gives their life to Christ. and I'm not talking about the occasional church-goer. You can go to church and still not have this. It's a personal, inside deal with the Living God that was born for us, forgave us, freed us from an eternity in hell, healed us, truely loved us and all He asked from us was to Believe. Do you believe? Tell him right now.. say this: Jesus, I do believe in you. I believe you were born, died, and rose again just to save me. I give you: me! Come into my life. I want this real relationship with you. Forgive me of my sins. Thank you for giving me eternal life. I will follow you. Amen.

That's it! If you prayed that prayer, there are angels in heaven jumping around mosh-like rejoicing like crazy over the miracle that just took place. Get a bible if you don't have one. Begin reading, maybe start in the book of John. Ingest it little by little. I suggest going to a bible-believing church. It will build you up. Tell someone what took place just now. That's an important thing to share. God loves you very much. Don't ever forget that. It's not Him that brings bad things into our lives. We make bad decisions sometimes and there is an evil one that does whatever it takes to lead us away from the love of God. Trust God, believe, and He will bring you through.
amen.

I'm gonna be so fit, yes, yes I am

2008-12-14T07:33:00.002-06:00

I haven't forgotten about exercise. I have been consistant, doing more now than I have been in the past year or so. I'm walking yes, but need to up the ante on that. I have been doing well with the strength training. My typical workout consists of: 15minutes on the Total Gym working both lower and upper body. Then I go over to the Gold's Gym thingy and do lat pull downs in front and back, rows, butterfly whutchamacallits, leg lifts, and leg presses. I can't use a whole lot of weight yet for these but it's enough to make me grunt out the last few! lol Then I go back to the Total Gym and do my abs for awhile. I also throw in Roman twists with a weighted barbell. It takes close to an hour to complete but I'm a putz and do not rush through anything. So that's what I'm doing. I'm not as excruciating sore as I was in the beginning, but I still feel it and I really like what I feel. I'm plugging along at CalorieKing.com trying to post on a daily basis what I'm consuming. Some good, some bad. But I'm keeping in my calorie range so that's good. My reason for all this: I do not want to be a fat missionary. I want to be as healthy as possible, afterall, I'm representing the Most High and that deserves my very best. I will get back into running again. I just know it.

I love this time of year!

2008-11-30T07:11:00.008-06:00

Tastefully Simple party Dec 9 6pm YUMMY!
Invited some gals from work and church for an evening of appetizers and drinks (nonalckie to some's dismay! lol) I've got some decor up and the tree and my Kenny G's Holiday Hits cd so it'll be kinda nice and cozy fun!

Sound Meeting Tuesday Dec 23 6pm (revamping and appreciating)
New faces, new layout in the booth, new system of doing things, lots of love for the help up there so time to share! I have surprises!

Party (& Firepit?) for LFC family Dec 28 after the morning service(POSTPONED)
Everybody's hungry after service so I'll have lots to eat, the Quelf game is ready to play and the poker table's out as interest has sparked again thanks to the Underground guy's night out last Friday. lol Sledding down my driveway is wicked fun too so this could be an awesome afternoon for everyone. I'm very excited!

my vAcAtIon :-) Dec 25-Jan 4th. YAY! 'nuff said!!

We've really plowed through a lot at work. We got a lot of old things caught up now thank the good Lord above and all the time and effort put in by some of the gals there. Whew! This overtime will probably end very soon; amen Amen AMEN.

I've been inviting people to church and I think a few are coming next week at 10. I am looking forward to seeing them there!

I absolutely love this time of year!

Thanks

2008-11-27T07:03:00.004-06:00

My family has a tremendous amount to be thankful for. Each member could go on and on about our blessings and today at dinner, we will. Today is a little different. Michael is already doing dishes at the restaurant; he's done at noon. Nikki has to work from 12:30-4:30. My parents are having dinner delivered between 11 and 12. They can't visit this year due to Richard's health. I wanted to put the tree up but idk if we will tonight or maybe Saturday. As long as we're together doing it. I found that tradition is extremely important to my youngest. He doesn't like stuffing but needs the dish full of it on the table for the fact that it's always been there. My oldest however, just wants us together at 5pm. She has much on her mind as she feels compassion for her friend who works until 7 and will go home to a frozen pizza. She feels a loss as her other friend is leaving out of town again for awhile. At the age of 17, an uncertain future looms ahead. Now, she is quite sure what her calling is and how exciting it will be because God spoke to her from Jer 29:11. But circumstances can make things look shakey. Ah, I see a growth in faith is occurring.
Life is good.
Side note: I thought about the book I was writing which over the last two years was kinda put off to the side. I was thinking about turning it into a children's book. It was originally going to be a series called "in your face christianity" but I found that the concept is so simple that I could boil the WHOLE BOOK down into ONE word: BELIEVE. Isn't it funny how God makes things so simple for us but we gotta go and complicate everything? It's like we like the drama or something. Circumstances pop up (thanks, satan) and we CHOOSE to get all concerned and worried. We fuss and let fear take us from a person of calm and peace to a troubled, apprehensive, basket-case. We need to believe God's Word for real all the time because it's unchanging no matter what jumps along our path. If there isn't enough faith in you to handle it, there's an easy fix. God says "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". Go to a good bible-believing church (and believe it or not, there are churches which do not believe the bible) and listen to what God is saying through the preacher. Get a bible, and read it. Read it out loud so you can hear it! Know that God is with you no matter what circumstances are in your life at the moment. His promises all lead to the fact that in Christ, you ARE an overcomer so it's high time we get used to being just that and act accordingly. Right? :-) Ok, I've got stuffing to make. Happy Thanksgiving!

An evening filled with moments of my favorite things

2008-11-25T21:13:00.006-06:00

I got home before 5 tonight to be with the birthday girl for a little while. Nikki had a great birthday. I spent time with her and Michael before they ran off to the movies. Then I rolled up my sleeves and got busy in the kitchen. I scrubbed my sink all nice and shiney, hung my bear papertowel holder and brought out some thanksgiving & christmas things I like to keep on my counters. Playing in the background was my Kenny G Holiday Hits cd. I got a load of laundry going before taking a quick shower. After getting into clean warm jammies, I lit a couple of candles and sat down to enjoy a hot cup of tea. My 3 Goldens lay at my feet and the cat on my lap. I am a very blessed lady. I haven't talked to Mike yet tonight but I'm ready for bed now and probably couldn't hold much of a conversation.
I'm going to go have a talk with God now though before I'm too far gone for that even. I love nights like this.

today

2008-11-23T17:10:00.010-06:00

Danny's home, I got to give him a big hug :-) I WISH HE COULD STAY HOME NOW. :-)
Overtime is going well, home life is too, church life is too.
Both my kids work on Thanksgiving! Michael from 8-? and Nikki 12:30-4:30. So dinner will be at 5. Nikki is 17 tomorrow! my baby girl. She's a gem. Gonna get her a DQ cake. (her fave!)
I prayed out-loud at prayer yesterday...in front of people...a big step for me. I have got to get over myself and start letting God use my big mouth; that'll be one good thing it's good for. haha ok shutup now.
OHMYGOSH my vacation time is SO CLOSE now! Only a month away!!!!!!!!!!! You know where I'm going? haha,HOME! homehomehomesweetlovablecozynice&warm&fuzzyHOME! No schedule.no nothing but happyhappy-joyjoy homeyhomeHOME. I really love my home. Yes I do. I love the people that live here with me too. They're kinda nice. and cute.
Me and hubby hung a *VERY HEAVY* cabinet up in the laundry/pantry room yesterday afternoon. We did a good job, looks good. We recycled one that we had and hubby had a brainstorm which led to all that. He's pretty wise.
I'll be mailing all of Richard's supplemental insurance stuff this week. My mom is very overwhelmed with taking care of him as it seems as if he's one step forward and two back. We're concerned too. I really don't know....except trusting God is the only way. I made them homemade chicken soup and banana bread Friday with enough for Sat. She used the crockpot Sunday. I don't know what to do now. I'll think of something I'm sure.
Last night Mike and I watched Deck the Halls, we had a great night. I love him so. I only wish we had more time together. Maybe we get along so well by only having a small amount of time together; we don't take each other for granted. You have to watch out for that in any relationship. Today I'm going to love extravagently and work hard and get my daughter her cake.

i am sound!

2008-11-20T20:36:00.007-06:00

SO, I'm not being replaced :-) My kids told me that the announcement was a nice announcement for someone who's "techie" to talk to Pastor about learning sound to be a help to me because I cannot always be there. :-) I'm glad because sound is my liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife and I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove it above all my other jobs! (except wife and mom)
So I can rest easy tonight knowing my true calling of being an awesome and amazing sound tech still holds true. I pray for the right person to help. Isn't that great? I know. I'm so happy! and this will be important because someday I will be off on my mission trip and somebody will have to be running the sound booth while I'm gone.

My exercise

2008-11-20T17:03:00.003-06:00

Marion and are are walking on our lunch break everyday. We are booking at a 12-15 min hilly mile. It's a great workout. I have been 'pumping iron' every other day. Getting some tight muscles. :-) I signed up for my insurance at work today and barely recognized Pam whom I haven't seen since last year. She lost 70 pounds!!! She walks/runs/strength-trains and basically looks like she could kick some major butt! (but she's way too nice for that!) wow. She told me about calorieking so I'm headed on over there to check that out.
ok, I'm back. WOW! I really like it alot! It'll work with any eating plan. I filled out my info today (too much fat, not enough carbs and fiber yet) I need more exercise today too. I'm headed downstairs to work with weights and on the total gym. yes. I forgot my vitamin today too. I started work before 7. I'll be doing the same tomorrow, staying late, working saturday and after church sunday. I've got to remember time with God, vitamins, exercise, rest, family, church, dogs, FUN! Life is so good.

Thursday

2008-11-20T05:35:00.003-06:00

So the church is looking for another sound person. The person that subs couldn't make it so instead of pulling Nikki from bass to do it, they had nobody in the sound booth. Plus, the overhead person did not show up. All the people I trained on overhead seem to only come on Sundays and now some don't even come then. *it's a little frustrating* The gal didn't even call to say she wasn't coming.
what the heck can I do? ugh. Time for a meeting. unless I'm fired. I just don't want AnyBoDY learning sound and they made a general announcement last night for help. So generally anybody will apply. I still don't see why they didn't let Nikki put down the bass for one service and get up there. She's a dedicated, well-trained sound tech and musician. LFC is blessed to have her and would be more blessed if she were to be used in all her abilities. Why be stuck in a 'bass player' box ...more flexibility makes for less stress and would've solved the problem pronto.
So my first 11 hr day went well. I'm leaving the house in a half hour for another one. I will soon get my O.T. schedule to 7am-5pm. This way I won't be missing church anymore either. This is going on until the end of December. (I'm afraid to ask about my vacation because I don't want my heart to break again right now)
In all areas of my life presently, things are in an upheaval. I asked God if I were doing something wrong to please show me. I am dedicated to a life of prayer and bible study, unselfish, a tither, giver, my heart is true, I love the Lord with every fiber of my being. All I keep 'getting' is Be still and know that I AM God. the only thing I'm not doing lately is being still! lol but what I understand is to keep Him at the center of all and keep on trusting and believing because He is GOD and He's my love and He will be there no matter what things may look like. I've got to stand. What do people without faith do?

A time to work, a time to Party

2008-11-19T05:48:00.006-06:00

We have mandatory overtime. The next 18 days will be on the checks before Christmas. I am going to give it everything I've got. I am taking vitamins everyday and making sure I am getting enough sleep & exercise. My hub and kids are going to keep the house straightened. They are working too though. This is the third big round of overtime this year. I have vacation coming up starting Christmas Eve until Jan 5th. If my vacation is canceled, I will be extremely upset. for real. I will be working 6 days a week at the hospital and then 8-1 at the church on Sundays. I will only see hubby Sat night and Sunday after church. My parents need help now more than ever. Plus when does a gal get time to decorate, bake, write out cards, and shop for the holidays? My heart is and always will be at home. I was not meant to be a career girl. I don't like being away. It makes me crabby. But I will focus on Jesus so when at work, I'll be at my best there, then when at home*sweet*home, I'll be at my best there. When I'm at church, I will do my best. It'll be good. I'll make the best of moments. I wonder if I can work 7am-5pm m-f then sat 7-3? That'll give me time in the evenings to take care of other things related to my life. This year kinda sucked. really. I hope it's not always like this. At least I'm ending it by being at lovely home for the final week of the year. I am believing that I can keep my time off.
Now a reminder: Christmas is not about money and stress and buying presents. Tap your heels together and say it three times. It's to celebrate the greatest birth the world ever had. God is Love. So love extravagantly, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to love on others with everything I've got. It'll be so much fun! I know what I can do.... I should throw another firepit for my church family while I'm on vacation. They're so much fun! We can snowshoe and sled, and have a great time. Yes. That would make me very happy. I am so excited! I can plan and look forward to that. :-) But now I have to go to work.
It's all good. :-)

Joan's Story

2008-11-16T18:13:00.003-06:00

So there's a story about a pre-church service coffee and breakfast time called Coffee with Jesus. It used to be a self-supporting ministry but turned into a fundraiser. So this lady named, Joan went to talk to the woman that is in charge because she overheard a lady say a little girl wanted some juice and was told it was 50 cents. She didn't have any money. So she was told by the person working there today 'well then, no juice.' The comment was about how the girl was treated... over two flippin quarters people were talking about the people in this church (one person acts like a jerk and now they're all grouped into rude poeple). ugh. So Joan's son, Billy comes back from Java still hungry. He had wanted eggs and was unusually hungry this morning. Joan and her daughter put all their money together with his and came up with 95 cents. (payday is this Wed, thank GOD!!) He went in back and found that eggs cost $1.25. He wanted 95 cents worth but was told no. So Joan decides to say something about these two incidences before she forgot. She was totally put into her place about how Java is a fundraiser for the kitchen(not a fellowship which she forgot). The lady said they have to charge money and there are other menu items like cereal for 75 cents.(big deal he wanted eggs) But people just take food without paying including her kids (!) so they have to be strict. #1, her and her kids are involved with the church ministry and don't steal, they have taken and paid for drinks later at times but will go without food. They've paid for others to eat many times. They don't usually eat before service at Java ever and never will again; Holiday is down the road. #2, Joan and her kids have contributed coffee,food, H2O, $$, time, energy to the church for multiple years. W.T.Flip? He was short 35 cents. Give him less eggs. WHy do we have to be so WHATEVER about stuff? whatever happened to common sense, do onto others..., COMPASSION?? whatever.Joan has defended her Pastor & his wife so much this year to people that have left the church because people in it's leadership are "rude" & "hypocrites".so Joan overhears that lady say that stuff & trys to stop another problem before it starts. She was sent away with her tail between her legs. What Joan wanted to suggest was a cup of change on the counter and if a little kid wants some juice, that'll pay for it. Then we look like we have the compassion of Jesus in us instead of heartless rude sarcastic scary people, all because of wanting new appliances. Why does it have to be this way? Joan is involved with a certain part of the ministry and has decided to stick to that part only. She tried to talk her husband into starting a soup kitchen but her husband said no. He thinks Joan should become a nun and travel to India or somewhere. Joan's not catholic and wants to go north anyway. What is Joan supposed to do with all the compassion for others inside of her when the majority just don't seem to have it? She has learned to mind her own business and when people complain about the leadership instead of getting defensive, she's going to say pray for them and shut up. I want to help Joan. She wants to help the world and just doesn't know how. Maybe Joan is stupid. I should tell her to stay home more, study your bible and pray and leave well enough alone. God will let her know when she should open her big mouth. I think Joan's husband should take her on a vacation somewhere far away for a long time. Do all churches have problems like this? Joan just loves others and is misunderstood I think. I do think church politics are an issue everywhere. Jesus is still the focus but we really need to strive to be more like Him and less business-like. Church is more attractive that way.

what a difference a day and paint color can make

2008-11-16T06:42:00.003-06:00

We pulled it off! While Nikki went to Duluth for the church girls' day out, Michael and I did an Extreme Room Make-over: Nikki's Bedroom. We emptied out the place and threw a lot out (she's so sentimental over EVERYTHING she's ever received!). We did save some things she can go through. On went the paint. The walls went from this blonde-sand color to black and ummmmm some kind of pale cucumber green. The carpet is white and the ceiling is white with shiny specks. The accessory colors are lavendar and white. The place is GORGEOUS! Michael is letting her use his tv. We hung a couple new canvas paintings up and her bulletin board is so cool we made it a major focal point on her 'big wall'. Her art supplies need a place yet. We found some broken glass that she drew on that need to get hung up somewhere...she has a major drawing talent. I will have to get pics up of some of the work she's done. OMGsh. She can take any piece of junk and turn it into something so valuable.
Anyway, she texted us when they were about a half-hour from home. We were booking like crazy trying to finish and then she called and we were done! She was so surprised and thankful. We were so glad she liked it. We weren't too sure because there were dramatic changes and she sometimes does not accept change too easily at first. She really loved it! It was a busy, fun, productive day!

Holiday Challenge

2008-11-12T05:47:00.007-06:00

Proverbs 21:13 if a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

What can we do to help during this holiday season? How can a person reach out when all they have is compassion? And how's the best way to use that compassion? I just filled a box for our church's Food Pantry. But how do we get people to come in to get it? I just feel like I'm being pulled "out" to get them, and I am unsure what to do. So many that want to help are either too busy or too broke; satan knows exactly what he's doing. But God has a better plan. He can give us wise, even witty ideas. I just don't have any right now. My town is small. People like this are not scattered in the streets, but they are around.
Anybody? I challenge you to post one idea that could be of help to this person. Then I encourage you to do it.

progress...

2008-11-11T05:43:00.007-06:00

Give up coffee? The book only mentions once to "avoid coffee" among a couple other things that I cannot recall because those two words began a battle in me. I love coffee. *very much* Coffee is what I do. I set my pot every night before bed. I'm up between 4:30 and 5:30 every single day and it's waiting for me all hot and yummy ready for my favorite mug. I take care of the animals and then it's time for me and God and my blogs with my first delicious cup of heaven on earth. I usually have enough time for a refill before I scramble off to work. Oh, but let me share with you about the coffee at Grand View. The machine in the Caf and waiting room in ER has THE BEST CUP OF BREW in the entire WORLD! I am not kidding you. I always get a cup from there. Then I'm set for the day.
Now, I was actually contemplating listening to the book and avoid my beloved when a voice inside me (I think it was the Holy Spirit) said, "Nancy, the book only mentioned 'avoid coffee' once in the entire 340 pages and only because of the acidity. It cannot be that important". Satan is quick. Right away, he came back with, "GIVE IT UP! Life without coffee can be FUN! Your pastor told you to quit drinking it before...why? Because he wanted more for himself!!" The Holy Spirit naturally wanting to protect me reminded me of horrible headaches straight from hell that are bestowed upon those that quit drinking coffee. Headaches are not of God, thus quitting coffee is not Godly. Besides, my church is going to have a coffee shop and I have to patronize them.
So the battle continues even into this morning. I think over the next week, I may have my morning cup here and an afternoon cup at GVH. Then I have this green tea that tastes like tree bark that I can try to incorporate into my busy schedule... whatever happens next week shall happen.
I can do it. I just don't wanna. lol But if means losing weight and becoming healthier so I can further the Kingdom of God and be a missionary and better sound tech (where'd that come from?), then I will do it. I think I will need prayer on this though.
I worked out with dumbells. I cannot find my icey grips for my shoes yet. I need them right away.
Well, that 's it for today.

got a lot to lose and much to gain

2008-11-09T19:40:00.006-06:00

So to be a good missionary, I have to stay healthy and drop these pounds. I haven't been doing much besides walking on my lunches instead of eating, but I was eating at my desk before my walk. Well, this past week, I started drinking Boost instead of chewing on junk. I have to satrt walking after work too now. Time to kick things up a notch. ANyways, I have the book, The Flat Belly Diet. I just started reading it. Mike and I are going to work together. We are learning all we can and then will start it before Thanksgiving. We will have Thanksgiving as usual but maybe make a few changes and then the next day will be back to business. I did work on strength training today. (then I took a nap) lol

But anyway, the Good Lord willing, I want to be doing missionary work in two years. I'm going to Canada. I am going to evangelize. and that is just the beginning. I have so much to learn. Sometimes I wish I was 20 years younger but then I stop and thank God that I am 40 and not 80 yet. That would make it more difficult...although not impossible! I'm looking for an accountability partner. I don't know how to ask someone and I don't know who to ask! There's a few ladies I can think of that may be helpful.but idunno. I'll have to pray more about this. So I'm going to go now because I need to pray and study. I love Jesus so much. How do you share that with people who don't without sounding retarded? I mean when I think about how I love Him, my heart does the flutter-dance inside because my relationship with Him is so so so ALIVE. I want everyone to have that. Well, I got a lot to learn, that's for sure. I'm studying Romans. Maybe I'll post about it. maybe I will...

SuperTuesday

2008-11-04T05:48:00.004-06:00

I would give my eye teeth to stay home from the hospital today because it's another beautiful day!
I visited my parents last night. idk. Things *look* rough right now, but I believe God's promises.
I AM GOING TO GO AND VOTE TONIGHT. We'll have the election coverage on all evening, I should've invited a bunch of people over, nice night for a firepit too, could make a crock of soup and some nice Asiago bread...the house is clean. hmmmmm
Time is flying, I need to get ready for work. My daughter is treating me to a Hurley Coffee Company "Skinny Turtle Mocha". They are my all time favorite. I get one about twice a year! She just got paid and wanted to do this for me. What a love. So we're leaving at 7am. which is right around the corner.
I have another couple of raffle ideas. Oh boy, they're BIG! :-)

hAPpy haLLOwEeN & Big ideas

2008-10-31T05:19:00.005-05:00

Well, today I have some mixed feelings. It's Halloween. For many years now, our church would have this HUGE party called the Hallelujah Party for the community at our beloved Colonial (I miss that place!) as a fun, safe alternative to Halloween trick or treating. Since there's no Colonial, there's no party. I wonder how many people are going to show up there because they didn't know?? Well, OLOP has the FunFrolic going on and the Classic Cruisers have an adult bash at the KC hall so there's cool stuff going on to keep some off the streets, but they all cost $$. The fun frolic is an OLOP school fundraiser and you need a lot of money to play games and eat. Our party was free. We would serve 800-1100 people. We had games, prizes, music, food, a skit, an opportunity to receive the Lord................... I do not think this outreach of our ministry will die though because it's too good of one. I'm sure we'll have more down the road. I should have a firepit tonight. maybe i will.
I was watching a clip about this dude running for some office somewhere that needed $25,000 for his campaign. He made a website with some stick-people cartoons hoping he could get around 3000 people to donate $8.33 or something like that. He had the money and then some in less than like 3 hours. Now, I rarely watch tv. I was very glad to have seen this though because my wheels are turning to create something similar to raise money for the youth building... but we need around $100,000. which would be 12,000 donors at $8.33 a piece. which means reaching out past the community. Fine, except this is a building located in this community so I need to get creative. I got to thinking about how we get a lot of tourists in the winter because of ski season and our 5 beautiful ski resorts...we're going to build a beautiful retro outdoor skating rink right off the building. This is very marketable. So. I am working on this and will present it forth. People that donate get a gift, I'm working on that too. like some small marketing stuff with the new building name on it so we're advertising at the same time. :-) Maybe I could get the Worship team to make a live worship dvd for the bigger donors. They could sell them too and make BIG$$ for our music ministry. I know for a fact that those would sell. Our worship team is right up there with the best in this country if not the world. and I am not being biased. (Danny, we need to work on producing this dvd. *my people will be in touch with your people* We'll have to do a conference call or something soon) :-) oh my gosh, the ideas are rolling out of my head like crazy this morning! I love this new Folgers House blend. mmmmmmmmHmm.lol well, praise the Lord. Now I'm happy. I really feel the Lord is leading all this somewhere and it's SO exciting!

Petition Spot

2008-10-22T17:37:00.001-05:00

A place of their own, we really miss it

2008-10-19T05:39:00.005-05:00

I firmly believe that God reveals His glory through the local church.
We need genuine relationships there, to encourage one another to be more like Christ.
One of my visions as a parent is to raise my kids to live their life for the glory of God.

I MISS THE COLONIAL omgsh, so sosososoooooooooo much. THERE IS NO WHERE, I MEAN NO WHERE FOR THESE KIDS TO GO. A christian kid (or unchurched kid) has no where in the community to go to just hang out and chill or be goofy. My heart's cry is for the new youth building at LFC. God, hear my prayer!

Remember the theme song to the tv show CHEERS?
(love that song...)

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Ya, that place was a bar, but the local church is like that too. Christians being around others happy to see you and feeling like family (they are, in Christ). The youth need a place too.
God, hear my prayer.

Praise Report on my dad!

2008-10-18T18:40:00.003-05:00

The cancer was contained to a segment of the colon, they removed 18 inches, it has not spread, there will be no need for chemo or radiation! He is going to undergo a Petscan to check out his lungs as there is some questionable looking stuff but he has fibrosis so that is the likely reason. We confess this: Richard was diagnosed with cancer but he does not HAVE cancer. By the stripes of Jesus Christ, he was healed. We believe that with everything we've got. and it's soooooooooooooooooo true.

Prayer is so good, prayer is so powerful, and so essential.
Thank you, God.

baskets from grass

2008-10-17T06:35:00.006-05:00

If ever an art form was becoming extinct before our eyes, basket making would rank right on top. Here's one made from grass. The grass, called sea grass or salt water grass, only grows in certain areas under specific conditions and is prevalent only in Sanikiluaq on the Belcher Islands in Nunavut, Inukjuaq in Nunavik and in certain communities in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, particularly Rigolet. In some areas of the North the artist prefers to pick the grass, by the arm load, in the spring while it is still wet and pliable. In Nunatisavut, the sewers prefer to pick in the fall. They dry the grass and store it until it is needed. Then they dampen it before use. It takes a lot of time, skill, work and patience to make a good basket and it is not uncommon for a woman to spend over a month creating a larger one.

Artist:
Annie (Emily) Emikatailuk

Community:
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut Canada

Materials:
Grass, Argilite

She is so talanted. I love this.

It's all good

2008-10-15T05:20:00.005-05:00

Recipe
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake by Paula Deen
Ingredients
Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Variations: For a Pineapple Gooey Cake: Instead of the pumpkin, add a drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

For a Banana Gooey Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

For a Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

Family
Today is a big day. My dad is going in for surgery to get almost a foot of his colon taken out courtesy of cancer. I'm glad I work at the hospital so I will be kept informed how things are going all day. He'll be in intensive care at first and then moved to a different room until Sunday or Monday. We proclaim this: he was diagnosed with cancer, but does not have cancer. :-)

My brother Danny is making dvd copies for our church. He really likes "us" alot, he's a devoted catholic but enjoys coming to our services on Wed pm every now and then. He's honored to help LFC...I think that's so cool. He's a good guy.
A lighter note about my fuzzbutts: THEY ARE FULL OF IT THIS MORNING! Omgsh! They're acting crazzzzzzzzy! It's mostly the 9 yr old, Maggie, she has more energy than my two 6 yr olds combined! My cat is runnning back and forth and bouncing off the patio doors and my golden girl, Maggie is chasing her one minute and throwing her tennis ball around the next, I do not see how anyone in this house is still sleeping. omgsh. I love my home, I really do. Life is good. Eternal life is better. But, life is really good.
Exercise
Last night I went to my first yoga class at work! The community health gal does a free class every Tues from 4:30-5:30 for employees and I decided to go! I have been doing yoga at home for about a month now, just the moves and stretches so I kinda knew some moves. It was fun and very good for relieving any sTrESs. I will be a regular! They do not reference any type of religious anything there. I have done Nameste Yoga at home and I notice they acknowledge something but I'm not sure what. I always just say praise the Lord if I'm not sure. Are they buddists or something? I gotta find out the shpeal. ANyway, I am feeling my muscles very good this morning. :-)
Church
The one and only Janny Grein is at our church tonight and tomorrow. I'm missing tonight for sure. The kids will be there for Praise and Worship but coming out to the hospital right after. I don't know if we'll be there tomorrow depending on how today goes with my dad.
I gotta talk to my pastor about some stuff. Outside of my hubby and my mom, it's him that I can open up to and totally trust. There are a few things that I need to talk about. He's so good. I wish I could give him a million dollars for Pastor Appreciation Month. I should do a fundraising drive. seriously, he's the best and deserves at least that much! :-)
Homeschool
Put it this way, we'll be having Saturday school this week.

be an example.

2008-10-13T06:58:00.012-05:00

Church is good. People are good generally. There are some people who do not realize what they are doing to the church as a whole by the way they live. They talk the talk but their walk is way out of line. People are quitting the church because of the whole issue! But in a sense, they are judging. I mean, this goes on in every church around the world, not one is immune to hypocrisy. Lead by example....why do so many people choose the easy way out and QUIT? Be a part of the solution. Let's talk about the problem and get over things.
I had the awesome opportunity to talk with some church members and visitors yesterday, one about the above issue I just blogged about, one is highly depressed, one just tried to commit suicide last Thursday, there are big issues that others have and I am going to get them addressed. Why? Because I love my church and there are many others there full of love. and Love never fails....NEVER.

my muscles

2008-10-11T16:52:00.004-05:00

Just a little side journal entry about my exercise this week:
I did 4 days of strength training. I worked my shoulders, chest, back, arms, abs, legs, my buuuuutt. It was intense, but awesome. It is a very good habit to be forming and reduces stress quite a bit. I walked 3 days but need to do more. I will next week. for real.

David Nevue

2008-10-11T08:38:00.007-05:00

I simply adore this man's talent. My husband and I want to own all ten of his cds. I want to open my gift shop and sell them there. I want his music playing in the background during my hours. We want to have him come do a home concert and firepit evening (and you'd be invited!). I believe God introduced the music of David Nevue to me in the most perfect timing; it has brought much peace to me during a difficult time of my life. I am forever grateful.

www.davidnevue.com
Listen to the music. Buy his cds. Buy the sheet music, get his dvd; I want it too! ah, I just REALLY like listening to this pianist's music immensely. Give it a listen. (It's playing below!)

My Saturday

2008-10-04T08:15:00.009-05:00

Something was making a small racket in the basement a few minutes ago. All of a sudden, I heard the furnace rumble on. The distinct smell of the heat coming through ducts that have had idle air since the end of April began to fill the house. Soon after, my body felt happy and warm. It was 23* early this morning in Ironwood. My husband, Mike came upstairs to ask me the date because today, October 4th, marks the beginning of the Skoviera's 2008-2009 home heating season! I know this is so exciting! I figured I'd blog the event. We spent over $5000 last season to heat our house (we kept the thermostat at 67*) This year we are trying to keep the cost under $3000. Mike has been working very diligently to achieve this goal by doing these projects himself:

blowing insulation in our two attics ($380 from Menards, free blower use from Trollas),

rolling insulation in-between the floor joists in the basement (free),

installing new basement windows & sealing around them (free),

putting a storm door up($190 from Menards),

enclosing the porch to keep the effects of cold winter winds minimal ($12 Cash Liquidators),

and now today, Mike will be enclosing around the patio doors with heavy duty plastic held with wood strip framing. (don't know the cost of that yet.)

We will be purchasing insulated curtains, maybe around Christmas. We have to pay off the initial propane order first. We have 400 gallons to start us off. Isn't this exciting?! Thought I'd share. :-)

Nikki is setting up for Seal America communion at the church for me. I think she's picking up my mom too. I can't drive for awhile. I had a seizure on Tuesday and they're running some tests. Until they come back, I'm not suppossed to be behind the wheel. I think everything is good. Anyway, there is a practice at one o'clock for a song that Cynthia is singing at church tomorrow. I know that's going to last long. It's the way that is. After that, the youth is practicing. They'll be home by 5. We're having my parents over for dinner tonight.
The menu: Turkey dinner
Turkey and stuffing
mashed potatoes and gravy
sweet potatoes
homemade bread
carrots from our garden, pickles, salad

If I get to baking vegan cookies very soon, we'll have those but I do have banana bread that I made last night. Here's the recipe:

Stir together:
1&1/2 cups flour
1&1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp sea salt

Now stir together in a large bowl:
2 egg whites, slighlty beaten
1 cup mashed banana
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil

Add the flour mix to the large bowl of wet ingredients and mix just until moistened.
Spray a bread pan with some non-stick spray coating. Pour batter in pan and bake in a 350* oven 45-50 minutes. I always test with a toothpick. insert it in the middle and if it comes out clean, it's done. This is a very good and moist recipe. You will like it if you try it.

125 cal a slice, 2g protein, 22 g carbs, 4 g fat, omg cholesterol, 81 mg sodium, 73 mg potassium

I had a handful of crushed pecans that I threw in so that will add some more calories, fat, and protein to the nutrition info but I am unsure of the numbers as I did not measure.

Love Nancy

Wake Me Up When September Ends

2008-09-30T06:34:00.009-05:00

Family:
So yesterday kinda sucked. I went home feeling ill. My hubby brought my dad to his colonoscopy. Bad news, there's cancer. Good news, they caught it in time. He sees the surgeon on Thursday. I think there's some chemo involved after surgery but all will be well...I believe that with everything I have. I'm suppossed to look at his insurance policies today. He has a couple cancer ones. Good, because the cost of the chemo drugs are astronomical. My mom is doing ok through this. She was taking it tough at first, but is ok. She wants to be healed from Fibromyalgia so badly so she can be a bigger help to him. I'm not going in today. I look like I ate my pillow and my guts hurt big time.
At work:
I got my vacation approved!! I took time off: Thurs 12/25-Sunday 01/04...eleven sweet days in a row, it only took 5 pto days of mine, I get two holidays, and two weekends. I'm so excited! This is the first real vacation I have had in 4 years. I am long overdue, really I am.
Homeschool:
School is flowing once again in the Skoviera home. I just corrected Nikki's Accounting lifepac 1, she is really doing well! I'm impressed. The Great Courses have some highschool classes and we took advantage of an amazing sale last month. The history dvds are a little cheesy but they'll work out well. Science goes over a lot. The algebra seems very well put together but a little confusing, hopefully that'll help out. I'm still ordering Consumer Math Lifpacs for Nik. Michael has Geometry dvds too which are very good.
Kid Stuff:
Mike and I know that our lovely offspring have a lot of freedom. Nikki is 17 next month, Michael is 15. My kids have quite an amount of responsibilities for their ages in which they do very well. They are dedicated to their Yeses and stand on their Nos. They make very good choices most of the time. Lately though it seems as though they are really pushing their limits with Mike and I. And as they have both admitted, they haven't been consistant when it comes to honoring their parents. We've clipped their wings for awhile now. I don't see rebellion but there is too much taken for granted. That happens, but consequences follow bad choices. That's in everything. If we choose to consistantly eat a big old beef burger vs a turkey or soy one, our cholestorol numbers and waistline will grow. If we ignore our friends, we'll lose them. If we stop reading the Bible, it'll be really hard to hear from God. Then we gotta do damage control and fix things up. As long as we learn, it's all good. But if we keep staying on the wrong course, who the heck knows how bad it can be where we're headed. Mike and I fine-tuned where we are aiming the kids. Parenting can be quite a trip sometimes! lol
Church Stuff:
www.lfcironwood.org
The firepit went well. I love the extra time with people there. We bond at these things. Service was good Sunday. Nikki, Micheal, and Alycia led the worship service. It was nice. Pastor Tom is leading us into the land of More Than Enough, I'm hanging onto his every word. It's so much more than just money, but some are saying it's all he talks about. It's kinda funny: it's really all they are talking about and they don't even see it! Pastor Tom is going to be on Harvest TV! He leaves for Indiana Oct 6th. How exciting! He'll be with Pastor Solomon who will be back with us on Oct 11th. Janny Grein will be here Oct 15 and 16. I get to do her sound again. I get a little worked up. imagine that. but it'll be good. :-)
Well, I am healed in Christ so I am going to go and rest in that healing right now. Life is good. Eternal life is better!
Love,
Nancy

It's Fall!

2008-09-20T18:51:00.006-05:00

We have been crazy busy at home but accomplishing much. Mike has just completed week one of his vacation time, he has one more week off of work. He has insulated our huge play room and our attic. He enclosed the front porch. He changed the brake pads and oil on the Toyota. He got the plow truck ready for the SNOW season! :-) He cleaned the dog kennel(fun,fun...I know you're jealous) lol and abunch of other putsy things that needed to get done.
In the last couple days, I've washed and hung out sheets & bedding, towels, reg clothes. I've made good use of the crockpot. I made a carrot cake. I made Irish Cream! IT's soooo good! I'll post the recipe soon.
Saturday was SpaDay for the dogs! I brushed and brushed and brushed them, washed them up good and used Aussie three minute miracle to condition their hair, mmmmmmmm...it works so good. We blow-dried them and brushed some more. Their eyes and eyes were cleaned and I clipped their 'tail feathers'. They look and smell fabulous.
I cleaned the house up and down stairs. Ran computer scans and cleaned up junk on both computers. The laptop is still stupid.
I'm making Jay Louvier his very own Myspace! :-) I just love him and his wife Wendy. They are beautiful people.
We're having a Fall Firpit on Saturday for the church family. We're pretty stoked about it! We have so much fun doing these.
Gotta get ready for work....so much going on there. Lots of praying and speaking positive words of God. He can turn things around in a flash! Yes, yes He can.

Jesus is the love of my life.

2008-09-18T06:30:00.007-05:00

He really is. Circumstances are not the most thrilling right now. Work is a very large challenge. Maybe the rapture will come. lol But it makes me appreciate my family and church more. Jesus being my center makes life so much more balanced and happy no matter what is going on.
Yoga tonight. I'm counting weightwatcher points. Jay Louvier is excellent. My hubby is on vacation. We have a date coming up. I think I should reopen a daycare. or a coffee shop. I think I'm approaching a crossroad...and I'm turning on the evangelical road. but I'm not ready. so that is that.
What else...lots but I got to get ready for Grandview.
My chin is up and I am smiling because no matter what I do I am doing as unto the Lord...no other reason.
WHy does God love me so much? Maybe coz I got His good looks and sense of humor. lol He's no respector of men(and ladies) thank Him and I please Him with Faith and I speak His Word and He just loves that! :-) He's LOVE, He's awesome ... He's so awesome.

coffee and toast

2008-09-10T06:53:00.003-05:00

So far this week:
drove home from St Paul (amazing time...later blog)
church
wood raffle drawing
hubby time
yoga
work
cook and bake
overtime
school
first aid for hornet stings, hot spots and a paw injury, poor dogs
killed a hornet nest
ordered cookies and a cake for Mike's big 60th birthday Sunday (sat party)
planned the menu
Church tonight! I haven't been in a service because I've been bizzzzzzy so I'm so excited! Going early to get the sound right, I hope they sing Say So (my myspace song right now)
My brother, Danny was here last night and will be coming to church with me tonight. I invited a sales gal from Hurley Honda and Toyota to our church. SHe wants to get involved with helping the new youth building and volunteering in any way. That's cool.
Well, more work to do at the hospital. I am pushing my productivity level to the max lately. I'm feeling the burn too. Hubby's on vacation for two weeks starting friday night. i wish i was too. but it's all good. :-)

St. Paul

2008-09-06T03:36:00.003-05:00

We're getting ready to leave for Seal America in St Paul, MN. This is my first Seal America event at an actual state capital building. Our church holds communion in conjuction with S. A. every Saturday. I've included some information on my blog about Seal America in case you haven't heard about it.

God bless you all today!
Love Nancy

The greatest is LOVE

2008-09-03T05:24:00.008-05:00

This is about church life.
WHAT does it take to motivate people? We have some amazing volunteers in our church, then we have the majority that do nothing but take up space and air but want to reap all the benefits. It reminds me of the children's story of the Little Red Hen. In the tale, the little red hen finds a grain of wheat, and asks for help from Duck, Dog, and Cat to plant it. No one is willing to help. When the wheat matures, she asks for help to harvest it, then thresh it, then mill it, and finally bake the flour into bread. At each stage she gets no volunteers. Finally she asks who will help her eat the bread. Duck, Dog, and Cat eagerly volunteer, but she declines their help and eats it with her chicks, leaving none for others.
The moral of the story is that those who show no will to help contribute to an end product, do not deserve the end product.
But, here's what happens in church life: those ducks, dogs, and cats get the benefits anyway even if they do not deserve it. It gets the hard working hens' feathers a little ruffled! But then I was thinking, how does this relate to how God works things? It always seems to be so different from our world's ways. Unlike the story's moral, God's grace is opposite. We don't do anything to deserve His grace, he just lets us reap the benefits out of His love and for no other reason except that. Maybe the church's hard workers are just on a different spiritual level. and instead of letting frustration enter in (from the devil) we should let the Love of Christ enter in and the feeling of accomplishment work instead. Because then our works are working with love and accomplishing much! Here's what the Bible says:
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So now I am humbled by the fact that walking in love REALLY means walking in love always. It's doing what is right between me and God, paying no matter to what may be right between others and God. and loving them anyway. Why? Because Love never fails.

Vegan Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2008-09-03T05:06:00.003-05:00

Ingredients:
1 cup Earth Balance (non-vegans can use Smart Balance or butter)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbs rice milk
6 tbs apple sauce (I use Raspberry flavor which works out EXCELLENT)
2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups oats
1 cup raisins or dark chocolate chips which are usually always vegan (non vegans can use milk chocolate chips or butterscotch chips which are VERY good in this recipe)-or- experiment: We've tried cranberries and pecans recently which were very yummy. It's a cookie for Pete's sake, they're gonna be good so get creative. :-}
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Combine margarine and the sugars and beat until creamy.
3) Add in vanilla, rice milk, and apple sauce and beat some more until it's all distributed evenly and creamy and yummy.
4) Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to the wet ingredients and mix together until all is well.
5) Add the oats and raisins (or whatever you decided on) and mix 'em in.
6) Evenly place clumps of cookie dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7) Put in the oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes, until they no longer look raw, even in the middles.
8) Remove from cookie sheet soon after removing after the oven -- don't let them cool on the sheet or they'll stick.
9) Repeat steps 7-9 until you're out of cookie dough or you're sick of making cookies.
10) Lick the bowl. No worries about salmonella or whatever it is you're supposed to be able to get from raw eggs! haha

Nunavut

2008-09-02T20:41:00.003-05:00

See where Grise Fiord is on this map?? This is where I am going to go someday. sigh. soon,soon,soon.

good workout(s) tonight

2008-09-02T20:12:00.005-05:00

Oooooooo, tonight was good, I worked out on the Gazelle for a little bit then did Namiste Yoga for a half an hour and then I went for a walk with my son ....we did laps around the driveway using ankle weights. I feel well tonight but now I'm tired. a good tired. I'm off to study my Bible, studying about grace. grace and love. walking in love. loving in your walk. loving to walk...hahaha lol I'm tired. So ya, well, gonna go. Our curriculum comes in tomorrow!

overtime thoughts

2008-08-28T20:39:00.005-05:00

It's good, it's bad, it's numbing. It's going to pay for the new curriculum and propane. I am working a lot since the beginning of July. I'm keeping up with the volunteering too but not at my best... Keeping up with the house and family
sorta. I miss my crew. I am looking forward to some time off sometime. maybe a couple days in October. or November. The holidays would be nice with my family. January could be a good time too. Does anyone know how to play cribbage? or chess? I'm learning canasta too. I just need friends. Everyone I know works a lot just like meeeeeeeeeeee. Not much time to keep relationships real strong. I'm closing myself up in a box I see, too busy to make time for the things that really matter. If things get outsourced, whaddo I care? I like my job but will I die? no. Will God abandon me because of it? no. Will my family fall apart? no because I'll be home. I'm screwed up lately. My happy-go-blessed self is deflated to blahblahblahhhhhhhhhhhhhblubbyblub.
i am sosososososososososossoosooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo busybusybusybusybusy and I don't even know anymore. but I'm really tired so I'm going to go to beddie by. I miss my hubby so much. and now I'm working again this weekend. ugh. ughuguhghghughguhgughghguhgughguhgugh and ugh. I NEVER SEE HIM ANYMORE!
but at least we're on the phone here and there. I love his voice. and his eyes, and his arms idk why but I just love his arms. sigh. sometimes my heart hurts I miss him so. I cannot wait until Sunday afternoon. And our thing is watching the Honeymooners from 8 to 9 every Sunday night together. Our time together is so little but never taken for granted. I just love him so much. And what's cool is the feeling is mutual. So what matters is all good. Life is good.
Eternal life is better. Love NancyFancy rambling through her thoughts tonight

Church: Prison or Refuge?

2008-08-24T14:54:00.007-05:00

by Pastor Jim Richards myspace. com/drjimrichards

Times of great revelation are also times of great confusion.We are in a new day of transition. The people of God are being forced to take a new look at the church and the picture is not that pleasant. I want to be the first to say I am pro–church. I believe that Jesus came to build a church that would have organizational abilities, but thrive as an organism.The history of the church has been mixed with bright times of world influence with dark times of domination and control. Some of the greatest limitations the world has ever faced has been the result of a superstitious, fearful church. Yet, with all these faults the church has been the only real light in the world. However dim that light may have been at times, we are still the light of the world.Healthy change should not produce more harm than good.As a trained healthcare professional I was taught that the first law of medicine was, "Above all, do no harm." I have always sought, in ministry and in health, to find solutions that did not destroy the people involved. James reminded the self-righteous people in the church, "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." James 1:20.There are many angry people who have identified the flaws of the church. Identifying flaws is not a gift of the Holy Spirit. A gift of the Holy Spirit would be the ability to identify the flaws and lovingly lead people into the answers. Angry, critical Christians don’t nurture and help. They just throw stones and run away.With all its faults the church is still doing many wonderful things.Monday, August 11th in "USA Today" it was said that people who attend church live longer and are healthier.Other studies have revealed that those who attend church develop to higher levels of prosperity and success. People who attend church develop better social skills. All of the studies I have read do not indicate that these benefits come to those who profess Christianity; it comes to those who participate in church.People who attend church develop a sense of community and belonging. They have healthy social outlets. They have a sense of family that few people in America are currently experiencing. To be quite honest, those that I have observed who were anti-church were usually people who had very poor relationship skills. They were usually very inflexible and often very controlling.I will be the first to say, leave a negative, controlling church. Find a place where you can experience the love of God on a regular basis. Find a place that builds self-worth. Find a place that provides the opportunity and training to serve in an enjoyable capacity. DO NOT STAY IN A DESTUCTIVE CHURCH! The Bible says this, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27.
Learn how to have a healthy relationship with a church.You can have a healthy relationship with a church. You do not have to attack the church to be free from control and manipulation. You can fulfill your dreams and be a part of a church. You can enjoy all the benefits of participating in the family of God.You can lead your church into freedom by
setting the standard of a healthy relationship with a church.
Every church member should read, "My Church My Family: How to have a Healthy Relationship with the Church." Face the issues of church abuse without the attitude of the devil. For ordering information see the order form on the back page.http://www.impactministries.com

thinking thoughts...

2008-08-19T05:40:00.006-05:00

So, it's been a couple of days since I updated anything. Sunday was awesome. Church was great. Although technically I could do no right. The pre-service video slides black out text after a couple run-throughs so that's not working, Sonor is missing stuff so I can't record on the sound computer so the website can't be updated. (which is working again thank God, but if the storm was gonna wreck havoc I wish it would've done enough so we could've got new Apples!! but anyway...) Then I had to play Dr Rhythm, so I'm usually on and stuff but the last two songs were switched and I had put the thing away and then Pastor Tom needed it well, it was too late. so no drums for the last song. ugh. In the meantime, I'm trying to get the laptop to restart because it kept freezing and I want to get it set for Live Broadcast . No cigar. ugh again. Otherwise P&W was awesome for real. They sounded good. I miss Nikki drumming and I'm not just saying that because I don't care all that much for the drum machine(it's not so bad really) but I love her playing bass and I really love Justin drumming. Actually I miss hearing the youth play. Actually again I miss being involved with the Underground. I like when Michael leads worship and I never get to see that anymore. I mean, yes, he's my kid so am I biased? maybe, but I really love his voice and the way he plays and leads worship even if he wasn't mine. But he is so I love him more. He's so cute.We have 3 amazing P&W teams. The talent is phenomenal there. And they're all cute. OH! *idea* We get one big gynormous loan and add on to the church, build the youth building, put up the rink, get the kitchen redone, new carpeting, paint the walls: honey, burnt orange, Moroccan brown and sage(nice warm welcoming colors), get new sound equipment and Apple computers with flat screens so we can have more space!!and cool programs to do cool projects, I just need the right tools! And new mics and cords and stands and a new drum shield and ear monitors for everyone so they can each be *happy* maybe all at the same time (lol) and please we can get Michael a guitar that works because Tim could take this one back any minute, put some of the money into some cool advertising which will lure in more fish which build up the flock.(a flock of fish?) And make that flock get involved and take ownership of all this coolness and it's all good! There ya go! A 500 person congregation hearing the Word, not getting religionized. PLUS: We will need to get cracking on a live praise and worship cd project because what does Hillsong or Gateway or Lakewood have that we don't have? We are too awesome and amazing to keep this to ourselves. I see a tour on the horizon. and a live worship dvd! I believe in less than two years time I will be a generously paid(!) fulltime sound tech at LFC working my then skinny rearend off with all these projects and stuff. Do I dream big? no, I'm just following God's plans which are bigger than my own thoughts anyway. This is exciting! I really need to be involved in the ministry more. How am I supposed to do all these things and do missionary work when I'm working 60 hours a week? There's a diving board in my future. <> I love my life, it is super exciting and wonderful. My future's so bright I gotta wear shades. lol All this because Jesus is my FOCUS and He made my life abundant. Yes, He has.
Anyway:
Sunday afternoon, Hubby and I went away by ourselves for the day and it was SO nice! We had a great time together. He's awesome. I love him so.
Michael has a job interview at McDonalds this morning at 9am. He's excited, so am I.
I got a new phone after 3 weeks of not having one that works! It's really cool. and pink and chrome! I luv it. I'm working until 8 tonight. I walked about two miles using my ankle weights which are making a difference already. My mom drove for the first time in two years! I'm so proud of her! She is very happy. So am I.
Life is good.
Eternal life is better.
((hugs)) Nancy

Time management

2008-08-16T07:22:00.015-05:00

Relationships can be very testing at times. Relationships require a key ingredient: TIME. If you do not use that key ingredient very often in a relationship, it starts to suffer. some worse than others.
I had a blog all typed up then something happened and I deleted it. It got so much better! I began this morning talking about my aging parents & all the changes they've been through and the new struggles they have. I am seeing new ways to honor them now that they have been through so many different changes as of late. I am finding the older a person gets, the less they accept change.
I was typing away and realized "ugh! I'm trying and trying.." Trying to balance work which this summer is including quite a bit of overtime, my obligations at church, my home, my family, my marriage, homeschooling, "me time", getting fit, my animals, my relationship with Jesus, friends(don't have time for any!!), my garden (that's been pretty neglected this year!), I mean I'm pretty good at time management but this is getting crazy. I cannot honor my parents without giving some of myself to them too. They don't really come and visit me much. I need to get up there more. I left this blog to fill my coffee cup and grabbed my bible along the way. I spoke with God and asked him to show me His word to help me in my "being-spread-too-thin-to-be-any-good-to-anybody" situation and to please give me the promise to stand on. I then opened it which happened to be Matthew 11 and started reading from vs 26...and then I got to 28-30... God is so good. It reads:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." If I continue keeping Jesus as my NUMBER ONE relationship, my priority with my time, my main purpose for my being alive....all the other relationships will be just fine. I must give my situations over to Him, the one who overcame so I can be one who overcomes now. He says to "take my yoke and learn from me", If I do not make the time to study His word, I cannot learn. My time management MUST begin with 1. Spend time in the Word and prayer..... which is (flashback to Kid's Alive) Talking To God!
I have to stop trying to solve all the world's problems on my own and let God's grace have at it. It works better. :-) Isn't God awesome how He just leads us when we're willing to be led?
It's all good.

2008-08-15T22:43:00.004-05:00

Today was...different. Lots of issues came up but I got them all taken care of for the most part. I walked with the ankle weights and ate healthy. I wanted to do an upper body workout but didn't really do it much justice for the little I did. But it's better than nothing. So, ya, that was Friday.

2008-08-14T19:14:00.004-05:00

I began using 1.5 lb ankle weights for my lunch walks at work and to do some funky desk exercises. Everyone there is jealous. lol jk My cubby neighbor, Marion is really supportive and cool. I like her alot. I did some Pilates yesterday afternoon and this morning. I'm doing some right now as I type! Cool. I use this magic circle thingy:

Sugar is of the devil

2008-08-13T17:36:00.000-05:00

lol. The natual kind is of God, don't fall for cheap imitations. lol
ok. I did this Pilates thing today, it was very cool. I bought ankle weights so I can do exercises at work and plus it'll burn more calories while I walk. My plan is to not eat after 7pm and I'm eating more often during the day. I have this plan, because someone wise once told me "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail".
So here is my outline:
AM1(Breakfast): COFFEE for sure and a banana, with oatmeal bread toasted OR multigrain Thomas english muffin (no HFCS in it) with my yummy natural peanut butter OR an OJ Smoothie OR yogurt with a little lowfat granola and H2O
AM2:Special K protein bar OR Special K snack packs that I have OR a handful of grapes (or berries or carrots) and a handful of almonds, more coffee too because I like it and more H2O
Lunch:a protein and a healthy carb with a salad and more H2O
PM1:oatmeal(I have plain pkts at work, not the sugary kind not that those are bad but I don't want the sugar) BUT I like a little br sugar on it...yes, yes I do. ( I bought this Turbinado Sugar made by Hain pure foods I am going to try)
Dinner: My dinners are small because it's consisting of either hot or cold cereal (Special K brands)and fruit and my decaf that I love. more H2O
Pm2: yogurt and nuts and a V8(which I HATE! but I know it's healthy but I still hate it) and maybe another cup of decaf or tea. or maybe a smoothie.
That's my eating plan. I have one free day a week either Saturday or Sunday but not both!

more on Body for Life

2008-07-26T16:12:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm still in the pretransformation stage, I'm exercising more but I'm not very consistant. I walk on my lunch break everyday though. My diet has been full of very good healthy choices but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the key to my weight loss is movement, I need to get more exercise in. So that's what I'm gonna do. Instead of working out at night, I've been working overtime. But it's only for a season. Soon I will have much more time!
:-) yes I will :-)

Body for Life

2008-06-27T21:23:00.001-05:00

I have begun a pre-challenge to my Body For Life transformation. I hate the idea of a before pic but welcome with great excitement, the journey to my after pic. My training began Tuesday. I am a "good" sore. I have 100+ lbs to lose, muscle to gain. The abundant life Jesus gives us is mine. This blog will be my place to post positive and negative feelings that I will go through.

Today I am good. Sore, but good. My cardio consists of walking right now but I will be back into running soon. Thankfully, I have my Gazelle too. I have a Gold's gym workout station. It's awesome! I have been on my beloved Total Gym too.

More info at: http://www.transformation.com/ and http://www.bodyforlife.com/

I would like to own the Eating for Life book but just can't swing it right now. That's ok.

dusk blankets my day

2008-05-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

the firepit is unlit outside my window

my husband is half sleeping in his chair

my kids are staying at ashleys tonight

lakkonens are supposed to be here

my dogs are outside in the kennel

my garden is still in pots awaiting transplant

i now own a toyota

we're giving our windstar to george and ruth

i love babies and want grandchildren within the next decade of my life

i am going to be 40 in 16 more days

i have been high-fructose-corn-syrup-free for 10 days now

seal america communion is in california tomorrow

i opened the church tonight for prayer; the cd i chose was leeland sound of melodies

Proverbs 21:13 if a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

greed is so evil