Beth's Blessing and GO COLTS!!!!

Since we have started really trying to cut back on our expenses, I have had to change the way I think about things. I have to decide not to spend my money on things I want but are not necessary. Our house is over crowded and I have really been convicted about spending on unnecessary things.

However, I really have been wanting Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's book, "20 And Counting."
Roger even asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day and I had a fleeting moment of thinking about asking him for that book. However, I said that I would just like a flower, no vase because we have many already!

So today we had a dinner at church and I said something about possibly turning off our satellite connection so that we could conserve on our money. I said that I will miss my favorite show ( the Duggar show, almost the only tv show I watch...) and a friend of mine said, "Hey, would you like to read their book??" Of course I jumped at the chance!
That is so exciting to have someone offer it to lend it to me right after I had decided NOT to ask Roger for it! (She also offered me some baby finches...we'll see if my dear hubby agrees to that...Do you think that I can tell him they're from God??? Would that work?)
Anyway, I just thought I'd share the blessing!
Have a lovely day....
Oh, by the way,.....GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Missionary Story Time!!

Last night was the beginning of our Missions Conference at our little church. I will not be able to attend Friday night's meeting because I have to work but I will enjoy the other meetings...finishing with a Sunday afternoon meal and service. (THEN, Dylan's 6 year old birthday party AND the Super Bowl that night!! GOOOOO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The missionary the pastor asked to speak told a story that I thought was pretty incredible. Part of his "job" several years ago was to get Bibles into countries that weren't open to Christianity. He had asked people to start praying for this trip many many months before the trip. So, people started praying.
The first part of the trip was to go to Poland where they had lots of friends to help them. Please let me back up a little bit and tell you that the missionary's father was also a missionary and on the trip ( I knew him as a customer from a bank I worked and this little precious man was incredible...he spent part of his time in the bank witnessing to ME!!! It was a blessing!) Anyway, he was fluent in a tremendous amount of languages but the place they were going, he did not know the language. It was their plan to meet their "contact" to deliver the Bibles and this businessman would take them with him when he travelled into the final country. When they got to the train terminal, they had NO idea where to go. The man they were to meet did not have a phone and no one ANYWHERE spoke English. They waited for a long time, praying, and finally the terminal started closing down. They needed to leave within 48 hours of arrival or they had to register with the police...something they didn't want to have to do!
Suddenly, a man approached them. "YOU speak English?? I speak English!!" He went on to explain to him that this was the first time he was using his new skill. For "some reason" about nine months prior to this he had an overwhelming desire to learn English. He searched for classes or someone to teach him but no one knew English. He decided to learn on his own. (Hmm...oddly enough, that was about the same time that the missionary asked people to start praying for this every important and dangerous trip....)
This man took them where they needed to go. This was a true blessing because even an experienced cab driver would have spent several hours trying to find this place...there was no street signs in this city.
As they got ready to part, the missionaries wanted to give him a gift. Magazines from the United States are highly treasured because of the pictures of the new cars and the lifestyles from here, obviously no one could read the words but the pictures gave them glimpses of the USA. The man was very pleased with his gift but then he said, "Thank you so much, but do you happen to have anything of a "spiritual" nature with you?"

They had suitcases full of Bibles, but not in his language or in English. The missionary reached into his briefcase and pulled out his own new leather bound Bible. Since he could read English, he could read the Bible!

The missionary opened the Bible to Romans and started sharing the gospel of Salvation and it appeared that the man understood and believed!

Later when the missionaries got back home, they received a letter from the man thanking them for the "precious gift." He dared not say "Bible" just in case his letter was read by some government official.

Isn't it just amazing how God uses things in our lives? I love the story of Esther, especially when her Uncle told her that perhaps it was for "such a time as this" that she was made queen. She was able to use what God fore planned to save her people!

Sometimes I wonder why God previously allowed so many hurtful things to come into my life. I realize that some of those things would not have happened IF I had been doing God's will. But some times things happened that were really no fault of my own...things that would alter the course of my life forever. But I have to realize that "God meant it for good..." as Joseph said to his traitorous brothers in Genesis after being placed in a position that he could help save his nation from starvation.
I have yet to see ALL that God does for good in my life. I may never see all of it...things God does live on after us. But I can be assured that He is in control and that "All things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose..."

Sign of the Times...

Before I started working on Saturdays, my precious hubby and I would spend wonderful hours during the warm months at garage and yard sales. One Saturday I was worn out from all the sales we went to and opted to wait in the car while Roger "hit" another sale. He came back to the car, got in and paused before driving away. He had found an old handmade wall hanging that he really liked but didn't know if he should buy it or not. (I think it was $5.00.) I told him to get it if he liked it! He came back to the car carrying his treasure and I fell in love with it as well.

Little did I know it was going to be a sign of the times in our household! We're not exactly doing without a LOT of stuff, but we are learning to use what we have, make it do...and sometimes do without.

I was raised with that mentality because I did a lot of my growing up time out in the country. We didn't just "run to the store" if we were out of a particular item. Often we were out of milk and had a cup of hot tea for breakfast. (Maybe that's why I'm so very fond of tea!) We RARELY had orange juice. I remember when my parents would go to a big outlet style grocery store in Indianapolis. It was a long way away from our house but they would go about once a month or so and stock up on all kinds of things. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. It was kind of like feast or famine time in our house!

I think that my YOUNGER children and MOST children today haven't learned about going without very long. I didn't raise my kids to be spoiled brats but they certainly think a major travesty has happened if we don't have milk or cereal for breakfast. They are appreciative, I believe, but sometimes they just don't get it. There were times when their big brother was a baby that we didn't have diapers and I had to fashion a dishtowel into a diaper for his little bottom. THAT'S poor.

I don't regret those days necessarily but I think it probably has contributed to my problem with my "need" of things. I find it hard to get rid of something..."WHAT IF I NEED IT SOMETIME?"

I really do struggle with this. I need to learn to trust God. Philippians 4:19 states that He shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Not your "wants" or your "I have to haves"...but your needs. I know that He has never failed me AND He has also blessed me with many many of my WANTS as well. It is during those times that I rely on Him to supply our real needs that He blesses me with some item of "Wants", too...and I appreciate it all the more because I know that God has given it to me. I realize more and more that God really loves me and knows the "desires of my heart." (That is one of my favorite little framed thoughts I have hanging in my house...it always reminds me that God has given me my husband Roger. God knew that he was perfect for me before I even knew it...and I think I knew it before ROGER knew it!)

So that's my thought for the day as we continue to go through and weed out some of my sinful, untrusting hoarding of unnecessary STUFF. One of these days I would love to be able to post some pictures of our clean, neat uncluttered home! BUT....that's gonna be a while......

Contest Winner is.....

Thank you to all who commented or who are following my little blog! I have drawn the name and the winner of the apron is.....................................................

Missy! Missy is a sweet young lady introduced to me by my hubby. (Although I have never really met her...just a dear friend via facebook and our blogs!) He used to teach in a Christian school on the east coast and knew her family from there! She has two darling little girls and a big hunk of a husband! Hehehe!! She is currently driving me crazy with her saga of house hunting!

Thanks Missy, first of all for your friendship...and good advice from time to time...and for commenting and following my blog!

We are still contemplating the purchase of "THE LOT"...We are having a difficult time getting information on it. We "walked" it yesterday after church and do know that it is narrow and long. We will probably need to put a house that is much deeper than it is wide on it if the Lord is willing that we should get it. I am getting kind of excited...but reserved. HAHAHA I AM NOT A RESERVED PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not getting my hopes up too high yet, though. I certainly want to do what the dear Lord wants us to do even if it is not what BETH wants! I've tried it my own way too many times and I don't want to do that again! It is fairly close to our church and on good roads for the wintertime. It will be a bit farther to drive but actually it seems like it might be easier to get to a main road from there than it is from here. We are looking at modest homes to build on a basement.

We are kind of looking toward the future when our income will be significantly reduced. I certainly don't have a problem living more moderately. I have been under the conviction of the Lord...and my husband...to curb my spending and to bring less into our home. I have two blog buddies, "Persuaded" and "Candy" who are each influencing me in their own way. Candy is a minimalist. I would love to be able to be that, but without a miracle from God, that is impossible to me. My dearie, Persuaded, on the other hand, is NOT a minimalist. She is, however, a sweetie. She is also a collector of stuff...friends and loved ones would seem to be some of her favorites to collect...but she has started on a journey...a "no buy year" this year. WOW...I'm not sure I can do that! But she is doing a good job. She is only purchasing necessities. I'm so impressed and have been thinking of this and trying to implement it in my life. I have not had much success with it but I am still trying. I haven't been to the Goodwill Store in almost a week! Amazing, huh??

My husband is NOT convinced that I will be happy living in less space with less stuff. I have to make a change in my life for the better for me, for him, for my family and for the LORD! We have too much stuff that crowds our lives and IT ISN'T MAKING US HAPPY! So why do we do it? Why is it necessary to buy and keep stuff when we don't have to have it?

The whole tragedy in Haiti has hit me really hard. I look around our home and see all the stacks of stuff that I don't need and there are those dear people who have nothing. No, they don't need my useless stuff, but I don't need it either. It is hindering me/us from doing things that God wants us to do. We probably have "hospitality" as a gift and we aren't using it now for the Lord because we are always trying to get out from underneath all our stuff. We want to be used!

We are also considering cutting back even more on our finances. Roger spoke to me the other day about getting rid of satellite for our tv for a while. I don't really have a problem with that EXCEPT that I absolutely LOVE the DUGGAR show on TLC...18 Kids and Counting. THIS YEAR it will be 19 Kids and Counting. They have really influenced me in my life and I will miss it tremendously. Oh well, I used to go without tv in our home and only allowed the children to watch videos that I approved of so it will be ok. I can deal with it, I guess....

Right now, my husband and I are watching Masterpiece Theatre on PBS after church on Sunday nights. It is kind of our "date" night since I work late on Fridays and Saturdays now. We will still be able to get that!

Well, I have LOTS of work to get done! I'm going to go to Half Price Books and try to sell some books there this week! I just hope I can get away from there without buying any!!! I MUST HAVE SOME SELF CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "What is THAT?" you say?? Yeah, I don't know either, but I have to get some. Maybe I can buy some at the Goodwill Store this week....

By the way...as a sort of post script...Just in case this ever happens to you....

Don't EVER try to snatch a yummy piece of mozzarella cheese from the plate of your teenage daughter thinking that it deliciously oozed from her piece of pizza. Don't ever do that. Sometimes it's discarded gum......Not that I ever did that.......

Apron Giveaway Almost Through! (and some news!)

Don't forget to sign up...leave a comment or become a "follower" ...to have a chance to win the apron! (See the post before THIS one!)
Sunday is the last day so.............

This has been a busy week! I was able to hug and squeeze and kiss on Baby Brody on Thursday! We took care of Baby girl granddaughter, Seraphina, twice this week, too! Grandson Dylan had his 6th birthday AND lost a tooth. (He literally LOST it...or swallowed it!!)
Friday was spent at work...(15 hours yawn...)

But the BIGGEST news came on Thursday! My son Danny and his lovely wife, Erin announced that they know if their baby is a boy or a girl!! Danny is also almost certain to have a new job as a policeman!!! That has been his goal for a long time now! He has already gone through the police academy and was on the police force at his college campus but every time he interviewed for a regular police job, he would make it all the way through and be the "#1 man to hire." THEN there would be budget cuts and a hiring freeze. It has been a difficult time for him. Most recently, he was promised to be the first man to hire in a town where we lived several years ago and then there was the silly old hiring freeze (nasty old recession!!). This week, they called him and all looks very good to be OFFICIALLY hired NOW! He met with the Police Chief, Assistant Chief and the Mayor today and everything is a go! He has to go in for his physical and his psychiatric evaluation next week. Oh dear. A psychiatric evaluation?? I hope they don't ask about his MOM!!! hehe!!

Oh...and their baby??? Looks like I am going to be buying lots more BLUE!!! Another BOY!! Little Mr. Liam Daniel is due in the middle of June!

Lots of love,
Beth

HERE IT IS!!! My "100th" Post Apron Giveaway!!

Wow...I can't believe I have actually posted 100 times on my little blog! Good grief, what in the world did I feel like I wanted to say? Not much, I realize, but it is fun to talk to you all and read your posts. So, here it is, my homemade APRON!

I am NOT a seamstress so...don't expect perfection. I have had a nice time today finishing it. Becca wants me to get busy making hers, too! (We both bought aprons to make while we were on a field trip to the Amish area in northern Indiana. I decided to make and give mine...I have yet to make hers!! Maybe next week!)

So, here's the rules...if you comment, become a "follower" (sounds ominous, doesn't it???), or if you already follow my blog, you can win my apron. You can comment every day for an extra chance to win.

I'm planning to add some other "fun" stuff to the apron giveaway as I get things made or come up with other fun things as a surprise to the winner.

I wish I had a whole lot of aprons to make and give away...I appreciate so many of the comments and the blogs that I would love to do something nice for everyone!

Love in Christ,

Beth

APRON GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Woohoo woohoo!! This is my 99th post....soooo....in celebration of my 100th post, I'm going to have my first ever GIVEAWAY!!! I'm busily sewing up a "retro" style apron to give! I bought the panel from which I am making the apron from an Amish store in Shipshewana, Indiana, when my girlies and I went there for a "field trip" day!

I will post the picture of it TOMORROW....hehehe because I don't have it completely done, yet!

(I am also planning to add some extra surprises to the package...just for fun!)

Everyone who is already following my little blog will automatically get an entry...unless you are part of my family and then, too bad!! hehe! If you want another chance, make a comment. If you are NOT following my blog, if you "follow" me, AND make a comment, you will have two chances! (You can comment once a day to have an extra chance!) Tell your friends!

My little contest will last all week, starting today and ending on Sunday, January 31st.

I hope this will be fun, I've never done this before!

As far as the "home front" here, it has been a rainy weekend and the first time that I have worked the extra long days. (For those who don't know, I work two days a week taking care of special needs adults. Normally I work 12 hour days and am now working 15 hour days.) I was sooo tired when I got home Saturday night and had strange heart palpitations and a fierce headache. I took something to help me sleep and sleep I did! Roger told me that I could stay home from church Sunday morning but I was so grateful that the Lord allowed me to feel better, that I felt that I needed to honor His day. I'm glad I went! We are going through the 10 Commandments and the message was over the commandment about "Thou shalt have no other god before me."

I know that I don't EVER worship another god but sometimes I put things before my God. Sometimes it is just being too tired to go to church (rarely that happens but it is something that I do struggle with sometimes.) Or, and this happens more often, I put People in front of God. I find myself doing "godly" things to please my HUSBAND and not being as concerned about pleasing God as I am about pleasing Roger. Also, sometimes I think of Roger so much as being the spiritual leader in our home that when I am upset with him, I find myself upset with God.

That's just crazy, isn't it?

But how many times do we allow ourselves to be hurt by someone in a church, a Bible study, a Christian co worker or friend, and very very often, a pastor (who is also human, by the way) and we decide not to attend church anymore. We are taking our hurt feelings out on God. Hmmm...we also might actually be using that as an excuse not to do something that God wants us to do!

Most often, when I am irritated at Roger, he will ask me to do our Bible study with him before we go to bed or to pray with him. Since my feelings are hurt, I don't want to humble myself to do that so I am really crabby. (I know, it's so very difficult to believe that I should actually ever be....CRABBY!! It's a stretch for me, so unlike my personality...but it's true! HAHAHAHAHA!!)

I was under conviction about that at church on Sunday. I am sometimes putting Roger in the place of God in my life. I am so honored to be Roger's wife and so grateful to God for giving him to me as my husband but here I am, putting the GIFT before the GIVER.

On another note, we are still looking at a little piece of "country" property fairly close to where we currently live. It is very rare to find 1.5 acres (give or take) in the country that you can build on in our county. Most of the time it has to be 5 - 7 acres before you can get a permit. I really don't want that much property...too much work! I just want a little place to have a big garden, some chickens, a goat or two...and our family! I hope we don't wait too long and someone else buys it!

It has just started snowing great big flakes but they are melting once they hit the ground. It is very pretty. I just allowed myself a tea break...English Breakfast Tea is my favorite...and a chance to sit down and read VICTORIA Magazine. I really love that it is now back in print! I'm having a Valentine's Day Adult Sunday School Class Party and I have some pretty ideas thanks to the newest edition!

I redecorated my mantle in ivory colors...It was so pretty and bright during the Christmas season that I wanted to make it pretty but somewhat simpler this season...I love my mantle but I am NOT a big television fan so I'm not so crazy about having the TV built above the mantle. (Roger won that argument...oh well... I'm supposed to have a "screen" or a "painting" that can slide over the TV so I don't have to see it all the time. Hmmm....that hasn't happened yet. I don't think it will now that we are considering selling the house.

My sewing machine is calling me...and so are the kids! TTFN!