What Are You Doing to Stay Sane?

There is a web site called The Daily Good which always has interesting thoughts for the day. Today's thought was about a 5-a- day plan for staying healthy. It first you would think that they are talking about eating your fruits and vegetables.
But this is a whole different plan, geared to your mental well-being. To read the whole article, click here.
Here are the highlights:
There are five categories of activites do every day that will help help keep you emotional healthy. Those five are: Connect, Be Active, Be Curious, Learn, and Give.
Relationships with others around you make your life better. Being active helps you to feel good and keep your body healthy. (I remember going in for my physical last fall and telling the doctor about various troubles: aches and pains, blood pressure issues, mild depression, etc. His prescription for every problem was a daily walk!) Notice the beauty around you - appreciate the little things, look for something you may have not noticed before. Learn something new - the learning brings a challenge for your brain and you receive satisfaction and self-esteem from the learning. Finally, giving to others always brings you a blessing.
I do agree with this idea. The more I incorporate these five things into my daily life, the better I feel about myself and the world around me.
Try it for yourself!

Nights In Rodanthe

This weekend I read this book by Nicholas Sparks. I want to see the movie, but I wanted to read the book first. I really liked the book. As in all Nicholas Sparks books there's a twist at the end, but the message of the book was so good. The book illustrates how important family is, and that it takes hard work to keep a marriage alive. Mostly,I learned from the book to cherish memories but not dwell on the past or on losses; to live in and enjoy the present; and to make the most of time spent with family and friends.

I am so thankful that I am married to my best friend and my lover. Craig has always made me feel special, beautiful, cherished. Being married for 30 years has only made our love deeper. We have had to work at our marriage - to make time for each other; to find common interests; to compromise; to put the other first. I cook with onions and garlic because I know he likes it. We listen to his choice of music when we're together. It was my idea to buy the cabin - but now he loves it as much as me. The cabin has been our common interest - and endless and wonderful topic of discussion - and something we work on together. We have spaghetti because it's my favorite. He works on his truck and at his shop while I make cards. I go out to eat when he's on the road becasue I know he likes to eat at home when he's home.I can tell him anything and I know he will listen. I am looking forward to being together until God takes us home to heaven.

A domestic weekend

We went to the cabin this weekend. While Craig worked at the shop on Saturday, I tried some new recipes. I baked bread in my bread machine. I made soup in the crockpot and I made orange pumpkin cookies. Unfortunately the bread machine tripped the circuit and I didn't know it right away so the timing on the bread was a little off. It just made the crust darker and harder, which actually was a good thing as we dipped the bread in the soup. The crust held the bread together and it was really tasty. The soup turned out really well. It was called winter's best soup, and was made with northern beans, tomatoes, garlic, celery, carrots, onions, rosemary and chicken broth. Leave me a comment and I'll post the recipe.
The cookies were the most disappointing. While they were very moist, and the orange glaze was good, the cookies were quite bland. I'd like to try the glaze on some sugar cookies.
On Saturday afternoon we worked outside, moving bricks, and splitting wood. Ok,I moved the bricks while Craig split the wood. I took a walk with a neighbor. It was a great day.
On Sunday we awoke to rain and lots and LOTS of wind. It was a perfect day to stay inside. We decided to tackle a cabin project, and began to put up beadboard in the hallway between our bedroom and the walk in closet. Mostly I held the wood in place, handed Craig tools, and helped figure out measurements. I did get to use my favorite power tool - the compound mitre saw - to cut some trim boards. We finished the hallway, and we like the look of it so much that next time we're up there we're going to finish the closet with beadboard.

My daughter is flying the coop

Now that Carrie has made it official by posting it on her blog I can share it too. After she graduates in December she is moving to Guatemala to teach at a private school. Carrie has had a heart for Guatemala ever since she studied there two years ago. She has been back twice, and a day doesn't go by that she doesn't think about being there. So it came as no surprise to me that she found a job there. Surely God has placed Guatemala in her heart.

It is hard for me to think of her being that far away, but I really want her to do what God wants. I want her to have the experience. We have talked about the fact that it is a ten month initial commitment and that 10 months is a good amount of time to try something. So we will be doing lots of planning and packing in the next few months. We need to celebrate her birthday early since she will not be here for her actual birthday. I am so happy for her, and so sad for me. My last little bird is leaving the nest, flying the coop....

My mom would have loved this

My mom was a children's librarian. She loved sharing books with kids, and she passed on her love of books and reading to me. My mom passed away two years ago so she never really got to read with her great grandchildren. But maybe she's smiling in heaven as she sees this:

A day ot the orchard

Today I went to Emma Krumbee's Apple Orchard with my son, Brenton, and his family. It was a cloudy day with a few sprinkles, but that didn't stop us from having fun. My grandchildren enjoyed all the activities and I loved watching them, and being with Brenton and Stephanie.

Thanks for sharing this day with me, you guys! I love you!

Over the river and through the woods...

This afternoon I'm on my way to visit my grandchildren. I asked my granddaughter earlier in the week if I could come for a visit and stay overnight. She said, "A sleepover! You can stay forever." I can't wait to cuddle with them, play games and read books, watch them ride their bikes, and go to the apple orchard together. Unfortunately, I can't stay forever. But I can stay tonight. I can't wait!

God's Lessons from Nature

There are so many things we can learn from studying nature. Today I read an article about the team nature of geese and I realized that the lessons could be applied to the Christian community.
1) As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for others that follow. The whole flock adds 71 percent more flying range in V-formation than when flying alone.
Application: As Christians we can help each other along, and we can do more when we do it together. Belong to a church community. Become part of a bigger group and see your efforts multiply.
2) When a goose gets out of the formation, it encounters more drag from the wind. When it returns to the formation it can take advantage of the uplift of others.
Application: When we try to go it alone we experience more temptation, more fatigue. We need to help and encourage one another. don't try to go it alone. Become part of a small group where you can share life - be accountable, get encouraged, inpired, grow.
3) In the v-formation when the lead goose gets tired it falls back into the formation and another goose leads.
Application: We sometimes needs to fall back into the church community and let others lead while we get recharged. Everyone, even pastors need times of being served and allowed to rest and recharge. Also, each Christian is interdependent on the gifts, skills, abilities and talents of others. I am reminded of the Scripture references to the parts of the body.
4) Geese honk while in flight to encourage those in front to keep up speed.
Application: We need the "amens" and encouragements from others to keep fighting the good fight, to keep up the good work. Send someone a note of encouragement, phone a friend or share a meal.
5) When a goose gets sick or wounded and falls, two geese stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.
Application: take care of the sick, the widows and orphans. (James 1:27) Let's stand by each other in hard times as well as good times.

Twinkle

I have been reading a book recently called Twinkle. It was written by Elisa Morgan, the president and CEO of MOPS International. Twinkle is a book about sharing your faith in everyday life. It is an easy read, and contains real-life stories and lotsof encouragment. One of my favorites parts is when she asks, "What kind of light are you?" She goes on to describe various kinds of light and how they are examples of the way we touch other peoples life. For example (from page 24):
Are you a candle? Do you light the room around you? Are you vulnerable to other influences that might snuff you out? How about a flashlight? Do you click on in emergencies? Are you good at sharing in a pinch but turn off in everyday?
Elisa Morgan suggests that there's freedom in knowing and accepting what kind of light "container" we are, but encourages us that the important thing is the light. We live in a very dark world. Just as light changes darkness, the light of Jesus Christ changes lives.
Read Twinkle and find out how to get past the barriers to letting you light shine (the "I can'ts) and learn about some very practical things you can do to shine, no matter what your "light container" is (are you neon light, or a searchlight, a lantern or a spotlight?).

Knowledge vs Fear

As election day draws closer I am finding it extremely hard to watch TV or listen to the radio. There are so many political ads and commentaries on the politicians running for office. I don't know who to believe. But there are some men whom I really respect that are talking about the seriousness of this particular election and the possible consequences. It seems our country is on the verge of change - will it be for the better or for worse? These men, like Dr. Dobson, seem to think that we are on the verge of negative change. They believe that if Democrats are elected, that the United States will rapidly become a socialist government. So I started doing a little reading on socialism and found out that one of the basics of socialism is government owned business and can move to having the government tell the people what job they can have,where they can live, how much money they can make, etc. The ideal is to have an egalitarian society - where everyone is equal. However, history shows that every socialist country still had/has two classes of people... the rich and the poor. It's the very people who promote socialism that keep the wealth for themselves.
This is so scary. It is so easy to be afraid of the future - until I put my eyes back on God. He is in control.
Psalm 2:1-4 says:
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

The Lord will take care of His people - all those who have asked Him into their lives, who trust in Him. Psalm 3 says:
O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

I will not be afraid. I will gather information so that I can vote intelligently, but I will not allow fear to rule me. My trust is not in men, but in God alone.

How well do I know me?

I was reading a blog from Tony Morgan called 40 Things You Might Not Know About Me and I began to wonder. Could I make a list like that? Could I come up with 40 things about me? Then I got to the end of his list and read the 40th thing: "Today I turned 40." So now I have to come up with a list of 50 things about me. It's not my birthday - so maybe I have until March to come up with a list, but then I'll have to add one more thing since I'll be 51.
How about you - can you come up with a list of things about yourself?
Watch for a future post to read my list.

Need a Savior?

One of my favorite songs is Mighty to Save because it reminds me that my God is the author of my salvation, He is mighty, He can move mountains, and we need Him so much. I can not save myself. No matter how good I am, I am still a sinner. I still make mistakes, I am human, and I am powerless over death. I cannot have victory over death or anything else on my own. But God loved me when I was still a sinner. He loved me so much He sent His Son to die on a cross for me. And, His Son, Jesus, had victory over death! He rose again. He said that He's preparing a place for me with Him in heaven - if I just believe in Him and let Him be my Savior and Lord. When you really stop to think about those truths it blows you away. How amazing is God's love for us.
You can have the assurance today that He is your Savior too. All you need to do is invite Him in - into your heart and into your life. Jesus died on the cross for me and for you. But He didn't stay on the cross, He didn't stay dead. He rose, had victory over death so that you and I can live with Him in heaven. Lay down your sins, lay down your fears and failures, your broken heart, your weariness with life, and let Him in. Do it today!He is mighty to save - and He loves you so much! (John 3:16)