LovedTruly's O's/Thoughts

Niagra Falls - Brandon and I went for spring break.

2007-04-09T16:18:00.000-04:00

Below - Brandon pretending to be scalped.

Below - standing just off to the side of the Horseshoe Falls.

Below - Blown glass chandelier (sp) I thought it was amazing!!

I thought it looked like the water was just falling in a huge hole.

This last pic was taken from our hotel room.

update...

2007-03-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

My friends father, Phil, has stage 2 level 7 prostate cancer. They have determined that surgery is not needed and he will go with a radiation treatment that they offer. They plan to start the radiation next month. Keep him in your prayers please. He is dealing with everything rather well.

Thank you for all of your prayers so far!

Prayer please

2007-03-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

A dear friend (and family member) of mine just got news that her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer this morning. Please pray for Phil (the father) and their family.

Thank you so much.

credit card hassles

2007-02-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die. This is so priceless, and so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today.

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now was somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Citibank. Here is the exchange:

Family Member: "I am calling to tell you she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Family Member: "Maybe, you should turn it over to collections."

Citibank: "Since it is two months past due, it already has been."

Family Member:"So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

Citibank:"Either report her account to frauds division or Report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!"

Family Member: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"
(I really liked this part!!!!)

Citibank:"Excuse me?"

Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you about the part about her being dead?" ?
Citibank:"Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor." (Duh!)

Supervisor gets on the phone:
Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you she died in January."

Citibank:"The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply." (This must be a phrase taught by the bank!)

Family Member: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

Citibank: (Stammering) "Are you her lawyer?"

Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew."? (Lawyer info given)

Citibank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"

Family Member: "Sure." (Fax number is given)

After they get the fax:

Citibank: "Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help."

Family Member: "Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."

Citibank: "Well, the late fees and charges do still apply"
(What is wrong with these people?!?)

Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"

Citibank: "That might help."

Family Member: " Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot Number 69."

Citibank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Family Member: "What do you do with dead people on your planet? (Priceless!!)

General update...

2007-02-04T10:10:00.000-05:00

I went back to school back in September so my spare time has been very limited. Along with that for the last 3 weeks I have been on mandatory OT at work, working 12 hr shifts. Trying to study for my Spanish class in my spare time, I am memorizing really well. I don't know how much I will retain after this class. Fortunately Brandon is taking Spanish too so that may help me keep some of the new language skills.

It is cold enough here that I broke down and put plastic up in all the windows on Friday night (ahh the single life, hahaha). Yesterday I took Brandon to Karate, cleaned my kitchen (full fledged clean there isn't a dust bunny left anywhere), did laundry (the excitement of it all, contain yourselves everyone, don't get jealous), then I hung a new curtain rod in my bedroom. Hanging a curtain rod seems like an easy task and I have done it multiple times, but this time was a whole different story. I don't think I could have botched the job more ways then I did, it felt like the curtain rods were mocking me. The old one was painted to the wall so I struggled with getting the screws out of the wall. Once I did get the screws undone the rod fell on my head. It took me 20 min to get the rod out of the container it came in you know the theft proof, more like purchaser proof, packaging they have these days. Then I got the new rod lined up and began screwing the first bracket into the wall. Only to drop the bracket multiple times, have the battery die on the electric screw driver, have both drills with the wrong bit in it (and I couldn't get it changed) and then strip the screws. All on the first bracket and it still wasn't completely in place. I finally decided to stop working on that one and move onto the other two, they went up quite easily, no problems. I went back to the first bracket and muscled the screws out of the wall, went and got two more from the basement and successful hung the bracket and did the happy dance! I called Brandon into the room and we put together the rod and put it in place and you guessed it.........the first bracket (you know the one that was mocking me) was to low and had to be rehung. Needless to say I lost it. Brandon, my ever supportive 12 year old, was laughing at me. I wanted to ripe the rod off the wall and just forget about the curtain altogther. I didn't though and last night when I went to bed the curtain rod was hung with the new curtains in place and I got a wonderful nights sleep. My room was actually dark, there is a street light outside my bedroom and it lights up my room at night too, which is what started the curtain rod changing fiasco. I can laugh about it now because it is all in place and I am well rested but I have never had a curtain rod get the best of me before.

Enjoy your Sunday. GO COLTS!!! - Jenie

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

2006-12-19T15:12:00.000-05:00

My wish for you all is a Christmas filled with love and grace!! Jen

Thank you....

2006-11-01T11:12:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your prayers everyone.

Kodiak you asked how I am doing...

It is really hard to say, most of the time I am okay, sad but happy at that same time and other times I find myself with eyes clouded with tears in some random thought about what could of/should have been. I know that this is not were my thoughts should be and I quickly try to adjust because in my heart I know Dad is laughing and dancing in heaven and has never been happier.

It is just a bit of a roller coaster, I actually have been struggling with writing a blog because I didn't want to read what I had written before, even though it wasn't detailed for you it still brings back the emotions of the days prior and the last few weeks after and they are sometimes easier to ignore.

Dad

2006-10-07T23:07:00.000-04:00

The final update on Dad....He passed this afternoon. He is now pain free.

Another Dad update

2006-09-18T08:48:00.000-04:00

Dad has been moved to a "Select Special" unit at another hospital as of this weekend. Which basically means he has been cleared to start rehab but they don't want to take him out of a hospital environment due to the respitory issues he is having. He is extremely bored and his back hurts. He has some disc problems and laying down does not help them. Hopefully the doctor will be able to find a way to help his back as this hospital does not have air beds. He starts physical therapy today though and he is thankful for that. (so am I)

Thank you for your prayers.

Update on Dad

2006-09-04T22:23:00.000-04:00

Dad's surgery went well. Prior to surgery there were 3 days of tests to make sure that he was strong enough to under go the process. He did really well Friday night and Saturday during and after surgery. Sunday brought complications as his left lung filled with mucus. After multiple treatments his oxegen levels are finally up in the mid 90's as of today and his lung seems to be clearing. Since he is prone to phnemonia (due to emphazima) they have been treating him with antibiotics also. He slept most of the day today however he was able to sit up and eat his lunch which was a huge improvement from yesterday when he couldn't even feed himself. Currently the thought is that he will be moved to rehab at the end of this week, given there are no further complications. Then starts the long process of rehab and trying to convince him that it may be beneficial to his health, and my aunt/uncles if he move in with them. Thank you for the prayers!!

Request for Prayer....

2006-08-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

Hi all. I got a call this morning from my brother letting me know that our dad fell last night and broke his hip. Since he has broken his hip before we are currently unsure of what measures they are going to take this time during surgery. If you could please pray for him, William Nail.

Thank you!!

There are many things we can learn from a Dog.

2006-08-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the top ones:

* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
* When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience.
* Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
* Take naps and always stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
* When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Growing up...

2006-07-16T17:10:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how fast kids grow up. It seems like yesterday that these two kids were crawling on the floor trying to get to the blocks first. Now they have graduated from 6th grade and are on their way to middle school.

They are coming in to the times when true friendships are formed and self esteem can be developed or destroyed. I pray that both of them look to God daily and find that they are truly beautiful in their own way.

Brooke Amber's Birthday!

2006-06-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

Happy 14th Birthday Brooke! I love you dearly!

Email sent to me - Enjoy

2006-06-22T09:08:00.000-04:00

Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free to good home. You want it, you take it." For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people were too un-trusting of this deal. It looked to good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50." The next day someone stole it. Caution... They Walk Among Us ====================
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff." They Walk Among Us!
===================
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific" . . They Walk Among Us! ====================
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving". . They Walk Among Us!
====================
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car it's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk... They Walk Among Us!
====================
My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.... They Walk Among Us!
====================
I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?" I explained that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned... They Walk Among Us!
====================
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?"... They Walk Among Us!
====================
While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces. Yep, They Walk Among Us, too.
====================
*They walk among us, AND reproduce!

try this agian

2006-06-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

Ok it worked this time...

My nephew Cameron Phillip
Born on 07/09/06 at 2:50 am.

He is a cutie if you ask me, but I may be bias.

Meet my new Nephew - Cameron Phillip

2006-06-09T14:00:00.000-04:00

He was born early this morning....I am offically a Great Aunt. ;)

How True....

2006-05-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

"I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it."
- Maya Angelou

Sunday thoughts....

2006-04-10T09:34:00.002-04:00

Went to church this Sunday, the sermon was on praying. I have never been strong in this area and have felt that because of my lack of self discipline, feelings of inadequacy (while praying) and just feeling uninspired after prayer that I must be doing something wrong. Why didn't I felt moved? Why didn't I have some inspiring insite to share with someone afterwards? What makes a good prayer or a bad prayer? Why can't I just simply say "Thank you and watch over the people who are on my heart", why does it have to be a three stage act?

I became comfortable with the following :
* I will not always feel the earth move, but I will have spent the time with my Father all the same.
* I may not have anything inspiring to share but I included my Father in my everyday life and what better way to have a relationship with him.
* I can simply say "Thank you and watch over the people who are on my heart" or I can go into more detail but I don't have to.

These are my prayers and it is my way of communicating with my Father.

I'm not saying that I don't need to do better, I do need to incorporate a daily quiet time but because I hadn't does not mean that God does not love me and it does not mean that I am lost. I am saved!

I know it sounds funny to say that. I have been ignoring a lot of what God has been asking for some time now and have felt more and more disconnected over the years, lost in my own muck you could say but in recognizing my tendencies (prayer and quiet time being the two largest areas) and working with God to get things squared away it has to be possible to feel growth again. I will say that I am scared to death of growth, but I am going to give it a shot.

I am committing to the following:
* Attend this church for the next 6 months and get involved with a small group for my own growth purposes.
* Extend myself and actually meet people, okay so that is the statement that scares me the most, I am the person who gets to church 2 min before (or after) worship starts and heads straight to the door after church avoiding eye contact the whole way if possible.

Anyway those are my Sunday thoughts posted on this be-a-u-tiful Monday morning.....Thanks for reading them. Bless you and if you have any inspiring thoughts, words of wisdom or you just want to throw something out there.....please do :)

Sunday thoughts....

2006-04-10T09:34:00.001-04:00

Sunday thoughts....

2006-04-10T09:34:00.000-04:00

INTERESTING TIDBITS....How many are actually true I wonder?

2006-03-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

1.) Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled"Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

2.) In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed tobeat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have" The rule of thumb "

3.) The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TVwere Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

4.) Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the USTreasury.

5.) Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

6.) Coca-Cola was originally Green.

7.) It is impossible to lick your elbow.

8.) The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:Alaska

9) The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)

10.) The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

11.) The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:$6,400

12.) The average number of people airborne over the US any givenhour: 61,000

13.) Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

14.) The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

15.) The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile NationalMonuments.

16.) Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great kingfrom history: Spades - King DavidHearts - CharlemagneClubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar

17.) 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

18.) If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both frontlegs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has onefront leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds receivedin battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the persondied of natural causes.

19.) Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed onAugust 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

20.) Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace

21.) Q. Most boat owners name their b oats. What is the most popularboat name requested? A. Obsession

22.) Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have togo until you would find the letter "A"? A. One thousand

23.) Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers,and laser printers all have in common? A. All invented by women.

24.) Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A. Honey

25.) Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day ofthe year? A. Father's Day

26.) In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames byropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mat tress tightened, makingthe bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... " Goodnight,sleep tight."

27.) It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that fora month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply hisson-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer andbecause their calendar was lunar based, this period was called thehoney month, which we know today as the Honeymoon.

28.) In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in oldEngland, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them"Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."It's where we get the phrase " Mind your P's and Q's"

29.) Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle bakedinto the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed arefill, they used the whistle to get some service." Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.

~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~

30.) At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow

My nephew.....

2006-03-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Wanted to share some wonderful news! My second oldest nephew, Kirk Nail, won All American Status in wrestling this weekend.

Below is the link to an article about him. Check it out!!

http://ohiostatebuckeyes.collegesports.com/sports/m-wrestl/recaps/031706aab.html

I know most of you are Michigan fans and I completely agree, until it comes to wrestling. lol

Congrats Kirk!!

Monday Morning Laughs....

2006-03-06T09:20:00.000-05:00

Calvin: You know, I don't think math is a science, I think it's a religion.
Hobbes: A religion?
Calvin: Yeah. All these equations are like miracles. You take two numbers and when you add them, they magically become one NEW number! No one can say how it happens. You either believe it or you don't. [Pointing at his math book] This whole book is full of things that have to be accepted on faith! It's a religion!
Hobbes: And in the public schools no less. Call a lawyer.
Calvin: [Looking at his homework] As a math athiest, I should be excused from this.

LET GO! (emailed to me)

2006-01-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

Let Go!

Let go, let go!
Let go of every concept
Every preconceived idea you have about Me
Yes, even the good concepts
Even concepts gained through past experiences with Me

Let every day be so new
It is as if you never knew Me before
Walk in newness of life
New, always ever-fresh new life

And the only way you can do this
Is to know Me
New
Every day

Let there be contact
Conscious awareness of Me
At least once a day
And then twice a day
And then many times a day
Until your focus rests
Stays
Abides on Me

Let Me reveal facets of Myself
That are new to you
Not familiar
Not cushiony, soft
Comfortable revelations
But disturbing
Unsettling
Exciting
Joyous revelations

You have asked that your mind be renewed
Then offer your body to Me
As a living sacrifice
Many times during the day
Come to Me often
Know Me

Take time
Make time to stop where you are
What you are doing
And know Me
Experience Me
And enter into a new realm of reality
Beyond all your old concepts
Beyond yourself

Let go!

This is brilliant!!

2006-01-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

One day, a six-year-old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was
explaining evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy:

TEACHER:
Tommy, do you see the tree outside?

TOMMY: Yes

TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?

TOMMY: Yes.

TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.

TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.

TEACHER: Did you see GOD?

TOMMY: No.

TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see GOD because HE isn't there.
HE just doesn't exist.

A little girl spoke up wanting to ask the boy some questions. The teacher
agreed.

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?

TOMMY: Yes.

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?

TOMMY: Yessssss!

LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?

TOMMY: Yessssss!

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the Teacher ?

TOMMY:Yes

LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?

TOMMY: No.

LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today,
she doesn't have one.

II CORINTHIANS 5:7 " FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT "

Funny for Friday - Enjoy :)

2006-01-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take a leave. I thought that maybe if I acted "CRAZY" then he would tell me to take a few days off. So I hung upside down on the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker (who's blonde) asked me what I was doing? I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the Boss would think I was "CRAZY" and give me a few days off. A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked "What are you doing ?" I told him I was a light bulb. He said "You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days".

I jumped down and walked out of the office. When my co-worker (the blonde) followed me, the Boss asked her "...And where do you think you're going?" ( You're gonna love this..... )

********************************************************

She said, "I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark!"

My Nephew got married this weekend! What a blessing!

2006-01-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Groom and Mom dancing - Tammy is hardly holding back the tears..

Bride and Groom relaxing for a moment..

BT doing the Worm - I hurt just watching this one - ;)

Groom/Groomsman getting their grove on...or so they said.

My beautiful niece Holly - love the crown of ballons ;)

Bride and Groom (Heidi and Eric)

Smile BT - Hey where is your tie?

Happy New Year!!!

2005-12-29T17:38:00.000-05:00

My wish is that God blesses you all this year!! Have a wonderful celebration and be careful if you travel.

"Talk" to you all next year! :)

Christmas Card for Bloggin Friends too....

2005-12-20T09:03:00.000-05:00

Blessings to You at Christmas

May Jesus' love fill your heart this Christmas. And may the hope that is found in our Lord fill you with a hope and love for the new year.

"His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God...." Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is upon us....

2005-12-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

I love this time of year. :) Time with God...Time with family and friends...decorating the house....driving around town to see lights...shopping (this is the only time of year I enjoy that). But I also enjoy taking the time to give back.

Here is a link to a site that if you are looking for a way to help out someone in need. Hugs and Hope is an NP Organization that helps terminal children and siblings of terminal children who's parents need a little extra help in getting Christmas taken care of. (or birthday presents, financial support, "Happy Mail" and much more) Check it out... http://www.hugsandhope.com/elf.htm

As mentioned this not just something you could do at Christmas time, if you are interested they have things going all year long.

Have a wonderful day!!! Until next time....

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

2005-11-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time spent with family!

Simple words Powerful meaning

2005-11-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

As I got to work late this morning and felt rushed and pressured and in general just in a bad mood, God spoke up and greeted me. I had to stay in the car and listen to this song. I closed my eyes and just listened, sang and prayed. It was great!

Funny thing when I pulled into the spot, I am positive I parked next to a big black SUV, but when I got out of the car to go in to work the parking spot on the passenger side was empty. I never heard the car pull off, they are not that quiet are they??? Or was I singing so loud that I drowned out a car??? Oh well - Praise God anyway anywhere. :) Have a good day.

Come, Now is the Time to Worship
Written by Brian Doerksen

Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time to give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are before your God
Come

One day every tongue will confess you are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now

more pic's

2005-11-06T22:15:00.000-05:00

Costumes - My son, my neices and my nephew.
"Funnel Kitty" - she can't stand this thing!! Good thing it comes of Wednesday.
Our pumpkins - these were fun! Great Sunday afternoon.

LAZEY WAY OUT....COPY OF AN OLD BLOG OF SASSY/AMY

2005-11-02T09:32:00.000-05:00

A little about me.....

favorite color is Purple
favorite food is Chocolate (sad but true)
I have one son, Brandon, who is 11 years old
I have 5 brothers ~ Scott, Micah, Brian (Scott), Todd and Greg
I have 12 neices and 14 nephews (some are not "technically mine" because of divorces but I still love them and they still call me Aunt Jenie)
I have 1 cat, JoJo and 1 dog, Midnight
I own a Condo
I was born November 8th in Westerville, Ohio
My parents are divorced but my step dad is a huge blessing
Dianne is my middle name
I dislike scary movies
I have issues, let's just leave it at that, LOL
I love diet coke
I love Spaghetti's and Chilli's
I have a lot of clothes but I only wear the ones that fit (which isn't much right now..lol)
I was born again in October of 1996 at New Life Community Church in Gahanna Ohio
I just started attending Newsong, so far so good.
Dreams for the future~ Serving God in anyway possible, still awaiting direction
What i am doing right now...blogging
What will i be doing after i am done...work

My favorite bible verse: "LET THE MORNING BRING ME WORD OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE, FOR I HAVE PUT MY TRUST IN YOU. SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO, FOR TO YOU I LIFT UP MY SOUL. PSALMS 143:8"

My life motto... "The true call in life is not what we can do for ourselves, but what we can give of ourselves to others."

SOME PICS

2005-10-22T02:08:00.000-04:00

1st Pic....

Me and BT and Kings Island. Does that mean yuck....? lol

2nd Pic....

BT as center. I love this pic!

God is love.

2005-10-20T13:29:00.000-04:00

Isn't that just the most moving statement. No doubt, no fear, no regret, no worries.

GOD IS LOVE. Truth 101.

Have a good day all!

Been saying Goodbye for years now...

2005-10-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

I took the day off work today and the only thing that I really accomplished was going to see my Dad. I lounged around this morning and then left to visit him with thoughts of coming home and cleaning up the house and getting some organizing done. But I did not succeed in getting anything but dinner done once I got home. Although the visit was good I always seem to come home with a feeling of dread.

It is so hard to see my Dad get sicker and weaker year after year, as the title says, he has been saying goodbye for years now, but looking at him now it seems to hold a certainty to it, unlike before. The once 6ft 3in 200 lb man is now 5ft 7in at best and probably weights 120 dripping wet. He was in the military when I was born and then left to become a pastor when I was 8. Some where along the way things went wayward (as life tends to) and when I was 11 my parents divorced. It was, as most divorces are, a little messy. For years I did not communicate with my father unless I was forced to, due to many unanswer, unresolved questions/feelings. But at a crucial point in my life, where most of the people I felt were close to me walked away, my Dad stood up and supported me. That was the turning point in our relationship, he was not just some guy I called my Father but he became my Dad. We have been getting to know each other for the last 13 years and he is a big part of my life. I will miss him and don't even want to think of him not being here to call up when I want to.

I know that Dad has been saved and that his life is as it should be but the selfish part of me wants him here with us, so my son will get to know him as he grows up. He has so much wisdom to offer, most of which I haven't tapped into myself. I need to get to know him better myself as I really feel like I have only had 13 years with him and some of those has been from a distance also.

I am struggling to find peace in saying goodbye to him here and now even though I know he will be well taken care of and completely out of pain.

BRANDON'S FOOTBALL PICTURE

2005-10-06T20:47:00.000-04:00

Finally!!! I win..lol

Here is the picture....grade me on a learning curve

2005-10-04T21:51:00.000-04:00

Ok - if the picture shows up this time...BT on the Lions (6th grade)....If not I am going to call it finished and get some help before trying again.

Back up and running...agian

2005-10-04T21:49:00.000-04:00

Finally I got this all hooked up and ready to go...I am going to try to attach a pic of my son from football. Hopefully this works. His teams biggest game (in big games for little league...lol) is this weekend. It will decide if they go to the WYB Super Bowl or not. They are all so exicited and you can just feel the competion over this game at practice. It is funny to see how into this they get at this age. Just for the posibility of being called the League Champions, no trophies or anything just a title. If I could only find a way to harbor that excitement and move it into other areas of his life (mine too sometimes)

God bless you all and have a Wonderful Day!!!

LATELY...

2005-09-28T14:10:00.000-04:00

Lately this song has been "haunting me". It seems to get inside me and I feel depressed and saddened everytime I hear it. (and of course it plays on the radio non-stop). For the last week I have hardly been able to stand it and have been turning off the radio everytime it plays. Now usually I do not feel particularly moved by secular songs, sweet memories or laughter about how life was, but never really saddened (which this song actually made me cry driving home from work more than once, I know, I know). This morning I was listening to the radio while at work and of course this song starts to play. I didn't turn it off, I listenend, and you know what, I didn't cry, I heard God saying "Listen to your heart, what is it, what is it that you need to do, where is it that you need to be, Listen..." And instead of crying I smiled and thought how wonderful is it that when I so want to tune things out that he will even use secular radio to pull me back. If ever I felt lost, alone or unloved these are never emotions that I can say God has inflicted on me. He has always been true, patient and kind. Ever the Gentlemen. I am thankful that he does love me so much, and that in so many ways this song will now make me think of my heavenly father.

"Listen To Your Heart"

I know there's something in the wake of your smile.
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.
You've built a love but that love falls apart.
Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.
Listen to your heart when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.
Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.
They're swept away and nothing is what is seems,
the feeling of belonging to your dreams.
And there are voices that want to be heard.
So much to mentionbut you can't find the words.
The scent of magic,
the beauty that's been
when love was wilder than the wind.

LOVE....

2005-09-22T11:04:00.000-04:00

I was talking to a friend of mine about love the other day, and this came to mind. What a wonderful discription God gave us of how he wants us to love others, not just spouses and children but everyone.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4 -

It's been awhile...

2005-09-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

My computer has been down at home. Sorry for the delay in posts. A good friend of mine came over and got this up and running.....who knows for how long but we'll see.

God has been good lately, peacefulness has settled in. My son has started school agian and football has started. Games are underway currently his team record is 2 wins 1 loss. Good Luck tomorrow Lions. I will post a picture soon.

God Bless and I will post agian soon :)

2005-08-25T21:40:00.000-04:00

Psalms 121:5-7, The LORD watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life; he will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

School starts tomorrow. Kids are all packed up and ready to wake up early and get a move on to the bus stop. I know that God is watching them always but my prayer is that they all realize he is with them and will guide them through their days.

"Thank you loving us and keeping your promises Lord"

Schools back in session!

2005-08-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

Psalms 121:5-7, The LORD watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life; he will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Kids are going back to school tomorrow. I know that God will watch over them all as they grow into the adults he wants them to be. Even though we talk about it all the time, I hope he realizes that God is with him today (and every day).

"Thank you Lord for the promises you give us."

Bear with me.....

2005-08-23T23:06:00.000-04:00

While starting this blog I was unsure what to put out here, my thoughts and opinions on what? What would I have to say that other people haven’t already said in their own way? I have since determined probably not a whole lot but it will be interesting in the process. :) I will offer up my opinions on occasions but today it will be my thoughts. If you make it through reading this you may wonder "What in the world is this women blabbering on about?" Honestly I am using this today just to make myself accountable. If I say that I am going to do something and the whole world has access to it (not that they will choose to look at it..lol) than I really should make sure that I stick to it. So here goes nothing….

I have been talking to a few of my friends lately and watching them struggle and grow through issues in their lives. Which has made me question my growth of late….I have decided it is time…time to push forward and make some definite changes. Stagnate is getting old, not just for me I’m sure. Tonight I will quite smoke for the 100th and final time. I will be completely unable to do this on my own as I have tried in the past and failed so I am relaying on God to walk me through this. In quitting smoking I will be forced to face all of those emotional things that I tend to side step by stepping back and smoking to forget it, that may sound strange, maybe someone else who has dealt with smoking and quitting will understand the frustration. I also need to find and dedicate myself to a home church. In an effort to keep myself from feeling vulnerable I tend to just show up at different churches on occasion with out committing to one group of people. It is time to find a home and allow God to build relationships between others and me. I will say that as I type this I am already doubting what I am saying and I will have to consistently pray for God to guide me through all of this as my tendency will be to walk away if/when I am uncomfortable.

If you made it all the way through this thanks for listening and I promise to offer more "fun" things at a later date. Enjoy you day and may God walk with you and bless you.

************************************************************************ "LET THE MORNING BRING ME WORD OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE, FOR I HAVE PUT MY TRUST IN YOU. SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO, FOR TO YOU I LIFT UP MY SOUL. PSALMS 143:8"

First Time Out

2005-08-22T00:48:00.000-04:00

In interest of keeping up with the times I thought I would start my own blog. Not really sure what all I will put on out here right now....Interesting facts about my life, not so much..LOL. I will find interesting topics as I go. For now, enjoy your evening or day and leave me a message.

LovedTruly