Really neat idea for taking a meal to someone in need!

My son and daughter just had a precious baby a week ago and my other sweet daughter in law set it up online to have people take them a meal. She has it on her facebook and all we have to do is get on her profile and sign up! I thought it was just awesome and thought that I would share it with you! (Since most of us are the kind of ladies that prepare meals for new parents, sick people, etc...) The site is http://www.takethemameal.com/ and it is so easy to use, even if you are somewhat computer illiterate as I am!

We had yet another baby born today in our extended family! I am a new aunt to Macy Lee and I hope to get to see her later today. My younger brother and his wife just had baby number 4, joining Madison, Emma, and Drew! They are a lively little bunch!

Lots to do today...we finally decided to rent a storage building to store extra beds and things that we don't need to have in our home right now as we try to get ready to put it on the market. I have a truck loaded down that I borrowed from my dad and parked in our driveway but as I was taking it to the storage building, it started making a terrible noise and I thought it would be best to go back home. I hope we can figure out if it is safe to drive before the rain comes and I have to do a quick unload back into the garage!

Have a lovely day,
Blessings to you all!
Beth

Home from Camping!

Oh wow, we are home from camping and we are SOOO tired. We had a good time for the most part...our camper had a "run in" with a red...or it used to be red...cement pole about five miles from our house when my hubby tried to fill the van up with gas.
On the way to Lake Monroe, in Southern Indiana, the van started giving us major problems and barely made it up the southern Indiana hills. We finally crept into our campsite and found that we have engine problems that couldn't be fixed there. We arranged Roger's nephew to tow the camper home today and we would take our chances with the van alone.
We made it back ok with a few stops between here and Lake Monroe to let the big old van "rest."
We had fun at the reunion and spent time with elderly family members. I have a new buddy with Roger's three year old, almost 4 year old, niece who stuck to me like glue most of the time. That REALLY helps to convince me that I would love to adopt! (Lord willing, we will put our house on the market and then start the adoption process when the house sells! Both of those are prayer requests, if you think of it, pray for God's leading and help in selling the house and leading us in adoption!!)
We had a big discussion today with another part of the family that I don't know very well but I really have grown to like them!! We differ in our religious beliefs and it saddens me to think that they don't think my salvation is secure. I've never really had any other believers wonder about my salvation. I almost cried.
But I will do some more studying in the books of the Bible that they suggested I study and then the NEXT time we have this discussion-if there is a next time-I can be better prepared.

Now it is time for a nice shower and a date with Roger to watch Masterpiece Theatre!
Lots of love,
Beth

Introducing Little Mr. Liam Daniel

So.....here he is!! The MUCH awaited Liam! In this picture, he is only about 1/2 hour old or so...possible one hour. Isn't he gorgeous??
We haven't seen him since early yesterday morning so we are planning to make a trip over there soon and get my grammy time with him! I have YET to hold him!
Yesterday, when we got home, we spent the day holding Liam's 5 month old cousin Brody and playing with cousin Dylan! I rested a little while until Roger got home from work and he had a very difficult time waking me up! We were planning to celebrate our 3rd anniversary and I wanted to be a LITTLE bit rested for our big date. I finally woke up to the phone ringing next to my bed and then I decided that it was well past time that I should be getting ready! We went out for a late supper at an Italian restaurant in Carmel, Indiana. (That's CARmel, not carMEL as in California. It's pretty funny when out of staters move in and try to call it the other pronunciation. Good grief, this is Hoosier country...not California!!)
Anyway, we had a wonderful time together as we usually do!
Earlier this morning Roger and I went to the middle school where Gideon attends and watched him get an award for a school planner he designed. It was chosen to be the planner cover for next year!! Pretty cool!
Caleb, Roger's older son, surprised Gideon by showing up at his school. Caleb is on a short leave from the Air Force. He is stationed in California.
Today is being spent getting ready to go on a big camping trip in Southern Indiana, near Bloomington. We are having a family reunion with Roger's family on Sunday and a large amount of us will be camping there. What fun that will be! I have made three pans of brownies, one cake, sausage and gravy and have a ham ready to heat and slice. We will still have a LOT to get done today and tomorrow morning but we are PRIORITIZING this morning! We are getting ready to go see baby Liam NOW!! More pictures later!!

Precious Little Liam

My precious newest grandson was born at about 3:30 this morning (Wednesday) on our anniversary! What a gift God sent to us today! He is 7lbs 15 oz and 20.5 inches long. I haven't yet been able to hold him...poor little Erin was just exhausted after pushing for over an hour and 1/2. She had JUST been allowed to hold him when I was brought into the room and she wasn't quite ready to hand him off just yet. I DON'T BLAME HER!!!
The doctor was the only doctor there and he delivered three little ones immediately after each other. In fact, they kept telling Erin to "hold on" and to lay flat on her back to try to stop her from delivering right away.
Then, finally when the other two little angels were delivered, they started with Erin.
He eventually had to have some help being delivered using a suction cup on his little head which cut the top of his precious little head. He also inhaled some fluid so they were being a little extra careful with that little guy.

He is fine, though, and after a quick peek and a "touch" to his cheek, we went home, arriving at about 6 this morning. I think we will try to get back there tonight! (And THIS Grammy intends to hold him then!!!)

We were really beginning to worry because at about 1:30, they started hurrying around and threw us out of her room. By the time Danny came down at about 3:30, we were just imagining all kinds of things! I told everyone that when Danny comes to tell us about Liam, they'll have him all cleaned up and all will be fine. But when Danny came rushing down there and said he was born, he hadn't even been weighed, measured or washed up yet. He was just six minutes old at that time. She had QUITE a lengthy time trying to deliver. She is such a blessing to us and I'm so grateful to have her as my daughter in love!!

I'm sure we will hear stories about the difficult birth for my precious girl. Danny looked a bit traumatized....and sweaty......but very excited and thrilled to be a daddy!!

For now, we are trying not to bother them. They all need their sleep.
Oh, by the way, I DO have pictures but since Erin is in all of them, I'm going to respect her and not show everyone her pictures after having just gone through this difficult but joyful experience. (I'll get some pictures on later....) But believe me, he is gorgeous!!!

Prayers, please!! Baby Liam is on his way!!

Just got a call from my sweet son Danny....his baby is on the way!! Erin went to the doctor this morning and since she is over 38 weeks and the baby is getting sooooo big and Erin's legs and feet are so swollen, the dr. decided it is time to induce! (I am writing this at 9:25 a.m. Central time...)
Lord willing, I will be holding little Liam tonight!!
Please pray for the safe delivery for Erin, Danny and Liam!
More info and pictures later!!!
Blessings!
Grammy Beth!!!!!

Eccentric???? ME????

Well, last night, I had planned to watch a documentary film about one of my favorite children's illustrator/authors, Tasha Tudor. (She passed away a few years ago but basically lived in today's time but as if she lived in 1830. She dressed the part and prepared her food that way as well.)

Anyway, Roger asked me what it was about and I explained it to him.
Then HE said, "She was a bit eccentric, huh?"
I started immediately TEASING him and acted as if I was offended, speaking of the very talented old lady in such a way.
He tried to backtrack, telling me that he wasn't being CRITICAL or anything...
"In fact, " he continued, " YOU are a bit eccentric yourself!"

Somehow, he got the impression that he said the wrong thing.
Imagine that.

I'm not sure that any woman really wants to be known as "eccentric." DO WE?? I have ALL kinds of mental images that come to my mind AND I only have two cats!

I immediately went to the computer and printed out the definition of "eccentric."

It means, "A person who has an unusual, peculiar or odd personality, set of beliefs, or behavior patterns. Something that is unusual, peculiar or odd."

Hmmmm.....
I handed him the printout of the definition and he stood there reading it.
"So, which definition do you want to choose?" I smirked at him.

"Well," he started, grinning sheepishly, "I wouldn't use the word 'odd'."

Of course he went on to say that my unusualness was what drew him to me and that he LIKED that aspect of my obviously rather peculiar personality.
"What makes me....eccentric?" I further quizzed the poor guy.

"Well, anyone who likes the Goodwill Store as much as you do HAS to be ECCENTRIC," he finally concluded.

Yep. That must be true.

Blessed to be a Blessing!!

Being used by God is just the coolest thing ever!!
While we were on our trip, my daughter, Jennie stayed at home. We talked to each other on the phone and at one point, she relayed a message that Amos, a facebook friend in Kenya is requesting prayer that his finances get better. He wasn't sure if he could pay his rent this month. This young man is an orphan and is now a college student studying law. He is a Christian and very devout.

We have become good friends although we have never met...just through instant messaging, facebook and emails.

The Lord laid it on my heart that I was to send him some money and I obeyed God's voice first thing this morning via Western Union. This is NOT a large amount of money. The exchange rate in Kenya is incredible. We can send what it might take to feed our family at a fast food restaurant and it can make a big impact to someone like Amos in Kenya.

I am absolutely NOT bragging or trying to get glory for this. Please believe that! It's just that so often I AM ON THE BLESSING END OF THINGS...someone doing something for me and I am sooo PLEASED THAT GOD CAN USE ME THIS TIME TO BLESS THIS YOUNG MAN!!

We were able to refinance our home, consolidate some bills and we had just a little bit extra this month in my checking account so that was the only way we could squeeze some extra out of our budget to do this. I am so humbled to have God use me. I so often feel worthless to His work and this is just so exciting for us!
On our friend's facebook he wrote "God makes a way where there seems to be no way."
He also wrote "Glory to God."

Wow...God caused us to "be the way." That is just so awesome. I have been tearing up all day!

It struck me last evening when I read that, that GOD used me. It's incredible that He used ME!
I know that I have prayed so many times for my family, my friends, my church, my country...and expected Him to answer and provide but this is such an amazing feeling to have GOD answer someone else's prayer through ME! It isn't a prideful statement that I am making, it is a humbling and somewhat scary one!

It is kind of scary to think that God who created us all, who created the world, who holds us in His hands, who GAVE HIS SON, planned to use ME. He knows me......!!!!!!! That has really hit home to me.

I wonder how many times HE planned to use me and I didn't listen? That's even more scary.

I know, this is a rather weird post and I hope that anyone who reads it is not thinking that I want praise for it. Instead, I feel very humbled and amazed that God chose us to help this dear young man. He could have used someone else...God doesn't NEED our money...it all belongs to Him anyway.
I think also that God chose this time to ask us to help Amos. We have just gone through a rough time financially until we were able to refinance our home. We are now readying it to put it on the market but since we have no idea how long it might take to sell this kind of a house, (kind of a big house when people are downsizing like we intend to do....) we were able to refinance for only $250! If we weren't able to refinance, we would not have been able to help this young man even for the small amount of money that we were able to send him.

God knows all things. I was wondering why in the world it took us so long to refinance our house! I have worked in several banks and am familiar with mortgages and it just seemed like it took forever to get our refinance done. Now that it IS done, we don't have to make a house payment this month. We were blessed to be able to take the short trip to Florida and now we have been blessed to be a blessing to Amos.
I'm not sure that we would have had the finances available to do either of these things if we had to make a house payment this month! Glory to God in His wisdom and timing!

So, there's my little shout out to God!
Have a lovely day!
Beth