A Journey Through Eden

Not too long ago I shared some pictures from our garden and of our neighbors "the Cranes". One particular comment I received from Elaine innocently asked me if I lived in Eden. We got quite a chuckle out of that comment. You see, we do live in Eden . . . more specifically a development called "New Eden on the Lakes". As Christians, we're supposed to teach others how to resist temptation. In my case, however, every time I give someone directions to my home, I'm leading them TO Temptation (Court that is). We've had a lot of fun with this over the years!

Yesterday Elaine from Peace for the Journey began a series called "The Promise of Eden: The posture of an expectant heart". I would ask that you visit Elaine and see what this wonderful woman of God has to say. I guarantee you it will not be a wasted trip.

I'm going to be AWOL for about a week. We're attempting once again to leave for Kentucky first thing tomorrow morning for the whole "great white hunter in search of elusive turkey and his spouse who plans to spend some time sitting by Goldens Creek reading a few good books and exploring our new territory trip" that has been postponed a few times over the past weeks. I'll be computerless while we're gone (gasp! the horror of it all). I'll miss you all greatly and plan on boring you to death with pictures of Kentucky scenery, our property and our dear little "adopted" house when we get back. I promise I'll spare you the turkey pictures - unless of course I can manage to "shoot" one with the camera!

Blessings!

aNd tHe wINnEr iS . . . .

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!








ELAINE @ Peace for the Journey!!










E-mail me your Snail Mail address and I'll put your package in the mail ASAP!

Be sure to stop by Elaine's Blog and congratulate her! Many thanks to all who stoped by to wish me a happy birthday!

Blessings!

TIME

I have discovered over the past several days that the most precious gift is not something you can physically unwrap. I actually received the same gift from several different sources - albeit delivered in different packages and in several different sizes. Although I love and cherish the cards that were so thoughtfully chosen and the gifts that were shopped for and beautifully wrapped, the gift that I will forever hold close to my heart is the gift of time. Time spent at a little cafe with two dear friends, just talking and laughing and sharing our lives over a wonderful, yet simple lunch. Time spent with my "sister at heart" putting together a photo album as a gift for my "forever friend" . Time spent with my "junque syster" scouring some of our favorite thrift stores in search of nothing in particular but finding wonderful treasures - oohing and aahing and sharing ideas (3 different days!). Time spent with two of our special friends and their son from church over a spur of the moment lunch after church on Sunday - talking, laughing, praising God for his wonderful blessings. Time spent with my hubby, son and future d-i-l over a takeout dinner from our favorite Italian restaurant and watching Dancing With the Stars in the comfort of our livingroom. Time my "forever friend" took out of her day filled with radiation treatments, running a busy pharmacy, keeping up with her 2 busy teens and her husband to call and wish me a happy birthday. Time that countless people took out of their busy days to pray for my hubby and also to call to check up on him after his accident . . . .

The cards will eventually become tattered and faded. The presents will be used up, outgrown, tarnished and perhaps forgotten. The gift of time I received from so many different sources, however, has left an imprint on my heart that will remain for a lifetime.

Blessings!

Liz

P.S. Speaking of time . . . if you haven't already left a comment on my "Fifty-One" post, there is still time to be eligible for the give-away!

Fifty-One . . . . posts AND years!

Fifty one posts ago, I began an incredible journey through the land of blog. I have met some incredible people along the way. Never in my wildest imagination did I dream that I would actually be making friends on this journey. Friends who can make me laugh. Friends who can touch the deepest recesses of my being. Incredibly creative and talented friends. Friends I can call on for prayer when there is a special need. And although we may never meet face to face, we have formed a bond that I can take with me wherever my journey through life may lead me.

Fifty one years ago today, I began an incredible journey through life. One of the first friends I made along this journey was my "forever friend" Elaine. Although much younger (her birthday isn't until tomorrow!) Elaine and I formed a bond in the nursery at Butler County Memorial Hospital that has held fast all these years, and I have no doubt that it will continue to hold fast for the years to come.

In celebration of these two memorable occasions that ironically fell on the same day, I'd like to share my joy with you in the form of a give away! All you need to do is leave a comment and on Friday (April 18) I'll draw a name from the hat and announce the winner. You'll have until noon Friday to enter.

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me!

Blessings!

Liz

oH hApPY DaY!!!!

What a happy day! We got word early this afternoon that Brother Billy, our pastor, although still in CCU was sitting up in a chair, had his feeding tube removed, and was waiting for them to bring him his lunch! He also had dinner tonight! He is still very weak, as one would expect and is still in need of our prayers, however God is definitely working!

The following is an excerpt from an e-mail sent ot us today by our associate pastor . . . . . "Our church service this past Sunday was filled with the most beautiful music that I have ever heard...the music of an entire church family weeping and calling out to God for the healing of our Pastor. God is certainly working in his behalf and we give HIM the glory! What an wonderful God we serve!Keep praying, keep loving one another, keep looking up!" . . .but for the glory of God . . . !

Now, I'm still trying to remember if tomorrow is my 51st birthday or my 51st post. If anybody can figure it out, please let me know. I've been a little addle brained here lately. Regardless, I think it may be about time for a give-away! Come back for a visit tomorrow for more details!

Blessings!

so maybe it IS easy being green!

It's been a quiet, and thankfully totally uneventful day today, so I thought I'd introduce you to another one of our neighbors who is a frequent guest in our garden. He loves to stop by and play tag with the little dog. So far (fortunately for him), Brigi hasn't been able to catch him.

Wednesday, I'll be celebrating my 51st . . . . post? . . . . birthday? . . . . .Hmmmm! Guess you'll just have to check back to find out! There may just be a give-away in the works!

Blessings!

P.S. Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and prayers over the past several days!

DOUBT NOT HIS GRACE

Well, I was planning to let y'all know I'd be AWOL for about a week. We've been planning a trip to Kentucky for my birthday. OK. I'll be honest. We've been planning a trip to Kentucky for turkey hunting. My birthday just happens to fall in the middle of it. I really don't mind though. While the great white hunter (aka MWHITW) is off in search of the elusive fowl, great white thrifter (aka ME) goes out in search of new junque shops. I also planned to do some measuring and planning and exploring the endless remodeling possibilities in the "adopted" house. We had originally planned to leave yesterday morning, but postponed our departure until we were sure Bro. Billy was out of the woods. As of today, Bro. Billy has been taken off the respirator, is breathing well on his own, he's alert and oriented and talking! . . . . but for the glory of God . . . . ! So, we decided to pack up the truck and leave first thing tomorrow morning. But first, MWHITW decided he wanted to have the tires on the truck rotated and balanced, so after dinner he headed into town. He made it to within a half mile of the tire place and KAPOW! A row of cars in front of him stopped for a red light. He stopped for the redlight. The guy in the van towing a trailer full of sod and talking on his cell phone "didn't see" the line of traffic in front of him stopped at the red light and plowed into the back of our truck. Two hours in the emergency room, a new batch of pain meds, a nasty headache and neck ache and a truck with too much damage to take on a long trip later and needless to say, we're not heading for Kentucky in the morning! The whole scenario wouldn't be so bad except that 354 days ago we were rear ended by a drunk driver and Tony is still suffering from the injuries he sustained in that accident. Ironically, just before I got the phone call about the accident today, I was reading a post by Cathy where she quoted a devotional by Charles Spurgeon on I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you". Part of Dr. Spurgeon's message says, "The is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you. His heart beats with pitty for your woe and His hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatt itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. If thou art one of His family, He will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness." Fortunately for me, things were put into perspective BEFORE I knew there was a need, so I was in the right mind set to handle the tribulations of today with the assurance that GOD IS IN CONTROL! As of right now, we MAY leave on Wednesday - in MY car.

. . . but for the glory of God . . .

Ups and downs, highs and lows . . . that pretty much describes my week. Nine days ago our pastor and good friend fell at home and broke his hip resulting in the need for a total hip replacement. The surgery itself went well. Complications from the anesthesia, chest congestion from a cold he had before the surgery and a preexisting heart condition sent him into respiratory distress on Tuesday. By yesterday, the doctors had opted to put him on a ventilator - not as a means of life support but a as a way of helping him to breath and allowing his body to heal. Since the surgery, Bro. Billy has been unable to move his left side - which was already weakened from a prior stroke several years ago - but so far had not shown any signs of another stroke. Today when his oldest daughter went in to see him, he wiggled his left foot and gave her a little wave with his left hand! Through tears of joy, she gave him a little "lecture" that it was about time he started getting better, and then she started laying out exactly what their schedule was going to have to be over the next few days and weeks so that he could be well enough to attend his graduation ceremony on May 6. You see, he is scheduled to receive his honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree on May 6. A long time coming for a man who was called to preach at the ripe old age of 12 and who has been serving the Lord non-stop for over 60 years. Plus, he has his 50th wedding annniversary coming up in June. After Lisa finshed talking, he winked and gave her a one handed "thumbs up". That was no insignificant gesture! That was a monumental feat!

The following is a quote from an e-mail that our Associate Pastor, Bro. Jim sent us the other day.

"We are trusting God for complete healing for our Pastor. The Lord Jesus Christ said of Lazarus in John 11:4. "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

"I am choosing to claim this verse from God concerning Pastor Rigsby. We do not always understand the trials of life, but God is always present in the midst of our trials. May God get glory through His Son in the sickness and healing of our Pastor." I think that about says it all.

Please keep Bro. Billy as well as Ms. Jean, Lisa, Kathy and AnaRae and their families in your prayers. It's been a long week for them all and their strength is waning. They've got another long week ahead of them. And remember Bro. Jim as he takes over for Bro. Billy.

. . . . .but for the glory of God . . . . .

Meet Mr. & Mrs. Crane. They've stopped by to admire our garden.

I'd like to thank . . . .

Adrienne from With a Grateful Heart has honored me with my very first blogger award! I started blogging several months ago basically to help keep my friends up to date on the progress with our plans to move, the changes we've made in the house, etc. Never in a million years did I imagine that I'd be meeting so many wonderful people from so many wonderful places. I can't even begin to explain how it feels to know that when we finally move from here - a house we've lived in for thirteen years and a town that I've called home for nearly thirty years - that I'll be able to take you all with me on my journey.

It is now my honor to pass this award on to:

Sharron - Vintage Girl at Heart

Sheri - The Leaking Window

Grace - Grace for Today
Kathy - Kathy's Klavier

Haylee - Rambles by Hay Hay

Elaine - Peace for the Journey

Jo-Jo - Tulla Belle (the youngest of my blogger buddies and she's got her mama's flair!)

Dawn - ~The Feathered Nest~

Colleen - Main Street Memories

Penny - Lavender Hill Studio

Now y'all can pass this on to ten of your favorite blogging buddies.

Blessings!

FIND YOUR WINGS

There are so many special days in the lives of our children. Days we'll hold in our hearts forever.

Like their first haircut.
When they learn to tie their own shoes.
When they're all dressed up for a special occasion.

When you realize that the baby you were carrying so close to your heart just nineteen short years ago has grown into a handsome, talented, young man.

"I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings"

Mark Harris