PRETTY PANTRY

I've been disgusted with my pantry for the past several months.  You know...one of those places in your home you need to get to and clean up, organize, but just can't get the UMPH to get started?  Well, my friend is in town staying with me while attending some meetings.  I need to be available to deliver her to and from and therefore knew I would be home for several days.  Therefore I decided to tackle the job.  Now to be very honest, I have to give credit to my sweet daughter-kin-law Alix.  After seeing her new and beautifully revamped pantry, I was inspired to do the same to mine.  Yes, I copied hers.  Thank you Alix!

We had not painted the pantry when we moved in 11 year ago.  I knew painting must be done.  Just organizing shelves over old dirty shelving with dirty walls would not do the trick.  I needed to add additional shelving to accommodate additional space for larger items we have acquired for storage through the years.  I would need many 39 gallon trash bags to  purge the many expired items that had been hanging around that pantry for a while - YUK, and would get to do a little shopping therapy on the side for baskets and jars to accommodate similar pantry items (that always makes a job a little more fun)!

I started out by emptying the entire pantry and purging everything that was old and no longer usable.  Things that had been lurking in the back corners and things that were stale and out of date.  I got rid of unusable kitchen items - appliances we no longer used, items that I could no longer find their cords and things that weren't good for me, like those wonderful candy corn pumpkins (oh darn!!!! Sigh!!!).

Then, on for the shopping....first to the hardware store for paint then to Walmart and Target for storage items and labels.  I always like to take a big break after the dirty work and before the real work begins.  I painted, I organized, I packed baskets, I labeled and then carefully arranged on shelves according to how I would use them.  I even rearranged a few kitchen cabinets to better suite pantry items (aka... coffee and spices).  Behold...the transition is complete!

Before:

After:

The Inside of my pantry is now clean, new, fresh, organized and is a pleasure to not only me but to Jimmy.  It's a delight for him because He can find things and enjoy not only the cleanliness but the beauty of it.

Isn't that the way God feels when we repent and purge our hearts, minds and souls from the old ugly sins that lurk in our dark corners?  Our Insides are made like new.  They are the same, but with a freshness like being painted over and made to look new again.  God does the work and we are His pleasure as He steps back to look at His handiwork deep within our souls.

My new pantry gives me great joy.  How much more does God delight in MY new pantry?  I am grateful for His work in me.  Time to get on my knees again so He can get to work!  :)

IT'S OKAY BABY



I get soooo distracted!  When I'm supposed to be focused on a project and there are things around me that are pretty, or there are other things I would rather do, I get distracted and taken away from the very thing I'm supposed to  be doing.  When this happens, I fall behind, things don't get done and often times, a catastrophe happens.  I don't keep my eye on the main thing.

My precious granddaughter is spending the afternoon with me.  She has had lunch and now it's one o'clock and it's nap time.  She's never slept in "big girl" bed before.  She still sleeps in her crib.  Since she's almost 3, I decided it was time she could take a nap in the queen bed in our guest room.  I put bumpers along the side so she couldn't roll out and placed her favorite blanket on the bed for her.  I told her it was a "princess bed", just like Sophia's.  She LOVES princess Sophia!  She was really excited to sleep in our 4 poster "Princess Bed" just for her!

She actually, ALWAYS goes to bed for naps or at night, GREAT for me.  She just a little angel!  And today was not different.  She usually plays a few minutes in bed before settling down and taking a good long nap.

I guess there was a lot of pretty things in the room, things she had really never seen.  The night stand had a little gold clock with open hands sitting at the far end.  It was a while before I checked on her because I heard her talking to herself and knew she often did that sitting up in bed for a while.  When I peeked through the door, she was standing at the door with the small minute hand of the clock clutched in her fingers.  Her eyes her looking down and wee small voice said, "it broke". 

Catastrophe!  She wasn't doing what she was supposed to do.  She was distracted by the worldly things she was seeing around her that were soooo  attractive.  Though she knew she would get her long awaited popcorn if she settled down quickly and took a good nap, she just couldn't resist.  I knelt down, took the tiny minute hand from her, hugged her and said, "Lovey will fix it baby.  I still love you very much.  I know you didn't mean to.  But let's take a nap so you can get that popcorn when you wake up."

Isn't that a picture of me when I take my eyes off of Christ?  Catastrophe!  Nothing goes right.  I mess up, I am broken and my relationship is severed.  But he leans down and wraps those arms around me when my eyes are downcast and says, "that's okay baby...I died for those sins....I love you anyway....let's get back on track now....Jesus will help you!

I'm grateful for the gift of a child who can remind me to keep my eyes on Jesus!

BEST FRIENDS

I have a three year old granddaughter who is really the apple of my eye.  Blue eyes, blond hair and smile that melts your heart!  She is bubbly, cheerful, runs up to me to give me a kiss and hug the minute I walk into the door.  She is usually always happy, happy, happy!  She entertains herself, dances around and is just a joy to watch.

She came home the last day of preschool this year with a shirt on that had hand prints of all her cute little school friends on it.  As you can see from her sweet smile, she was delighted to be wearing this new creation,  AND, she could tell you all the names of her classmates and friends.  Next year, she won't attend school as often and will have a new class and new friends.  For one so little, this was just a season for her for most or all of these friends.  She may never see them again or may have a few in her classes the next few years of school.  But for the most part, friends in her life will come and go for the next few years.

I've thought about friends in the past.  Friends I've had long ago.  Friends I miss very much.  Friends I talk to only a couple times a year but seem to never feel as if we were ever apart.  Friends that I've let go because the season has passed, life has happened or God brought them in my life for a period of time for whatever reason and that time is over. 

But true friends last forever.  Even if you only speak a few times per year.  True friends are those you trust.  Those you count on.  Those you can pick up with wherever you left off.  Those you spend time with and the time flys and you don't want it to end.  Those who cry with you, cry for you, laugh with you and when they laugh at you - you are laughing along with them.  Friends always are honest with you and you never mind it because you know they love you - even if it stings a little.  You love them for it because they love you enough to dare to risk everything to be your friend and be truthful.  I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  I've had many friends through the years.  They have come and gone and many more have stayed.

But my best friend is always faithful, truthful, kind, generous, thoughtful, loving, forgiving, encouraging and is always, always by my side.  I can call him day or night and he's there for me.  In my tears he comforts me and in my joys, he's rejoicing with me.  In my frustration, he's calming me and in my anxiousness he's slowing my pace.  He's the song in my heart and the joy of my day.  And I can't wait to visit with him every day.

Do you have a best friend like me?  I'm so thankful He chose me?





SUMMER NIGHTLIGHTS

Remember the movie "Grease"?  I love musicals and I especially loved that movie.  Since I was raised in that era, I related to the music, the clothes and all the fun times.  There was one song that Olivia Newton John sings called  "Summer Nights".  The lyrics talk about all the fun these kids had during the summer - what they did in the lazy days of summer.  It all sounded so dreamy!  The other kids kept singing in the background - "tell me more, tell me more"!


I really had this image that this summer would be my "Summer Nights".  This summer would be my lazy days of summer, playing a lot of golf, taking the grand kids to the pool, traveling, working in my yard, sitting and reading when I like and just relaxing.  WRONG!!!  This summer has been like my "Summer Nightlight"!  I feel like I've been up all night, every night.  No, I've slept, but I'm exhausted!  I'm busier than I've ever been.  I don't know what happened!  All my well laid plans, or rather my plans to DO NOTHING got changed by I don't know who!!!  I've only played a little golf, only taken the little kids to the pool about 2 times, been to the dentist, doctors, no travel yet and running more errands than I have in my entire life!  SOMEONE is working behind the scenes to determine my days other than the way I had intended.


I spoke with my son Graham, yesterday.  His life has had an adjustment recently that was unplanned.  As we spoke, Graham told me he had been reading scripture to help him through this change in his life.   I suddenly recall the verse he quoted.  I'm ashamed to say I, myself had not remembered this verse as I grumble about my "Summer Nightlight".  Ps. 139:16 When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Well!  There you go!  God already had these "Summer Nightlights" planned before the beginning of time.  They were planned for His glory and to be used to in His way, to point to Him and to glorify Him!


You mean it's NOT all about me and what I want to do?  Hmmmm......


Isn't God good to give us children to point us to Him?  Isn't it humbling to FINALLY realize NOTHING is about ME and EVERYTHING is about GOD?


I am grateful my Lord loves me enough to gently humble me through the words of my sweet child.

DINNER ANYONE?

The Chimney in Dallas, TX is one of my favorite French restaurants.  I don't know if it still exists, but I love that place.  It was DIVINE when Jimmy and I lived in Dallas.  The veal was cooked to perfection.  The vegetables were exquisite.  The sauces......well......what can I say!  They tickled the pallet until I would squeal!  And the bread?  Filled my belly and warmed my heart.  Then add a glass of suitable wine and the perfect desert.....one was in HEAVEN!  It was truly a gift from God!!!!!!

You know....that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is like.  When Jesus told the disciples to feed the 5000, He did so because he had compassion for them.  He saw their need - their true need, not just the physical hunger in their bellies.  But their true need and wanted to give them not only their physical need but the BEST of what they REALLY needed.  HIMSELF!  He filled them and satisfied them and even had leftovers.  He is like a fine French meal that is exquisite in every way.  Delighting every part of our senses.  He meets our needs and fills us.  He is perfect, warms our hearts, suitable for our needs and can satisfy us completely.  And desert?  Well.....eternal life in HEAVEN of course!

Dinner anyone?

MY "NO FUSS" CHRISTMAS

Only 5 more days until Christmas and the activities around the city seem quite normal.  My usual "on-line" shopping for everyone has been completed, the grocery shopping done, presents wrapped and lunches celebrated with friends.  However, something is different this year.  It's quiet, peaceful, and not at all stressful.  I didn't put a lot of decorations up and due to some recent interior home remodeling/redecorating, we decided simply buy a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree with multi color lights.  We didn't place any ornaments on it but simply placed it in the dining room window and put stockings over the fireplace.

With all the ease of a "no fuss" Christmas, I have found the opportunity to really focus on preparing my heart on the true meaning of Christmas, how I might share who this child is and why I celebrate His birth.  Why DO I celebrate His birth?  What do I want others to get out of this celebration?  Is it just a time for love and greetings?  Is it a time to wish for world peace?  A time to enjoy presents?  A time for children to have a break and get gifts from a jolly old guy in a red suit?  REALLY!  What do I really want others to know why I celebrate this Christmas season?

1.  He fulfilled the OT promise and came
2.  He was born a baby/human but was God
3.  He lived a perfect life
4.  He experienced ALL and was tempted in EVERY way but never sinned
5.  He carried the sins of EVERY man on the cross
6.  He died that ALL who believe may have eternal life
7.  He rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God
8.  He has a place for all who believe in heaven with Him

This I know....This I am sure....This I celebrate...."No Fuss"....Merry Christmas!

JIMMY'S NEW CHRISTMAS CLOSET

People say I'm organized.  But Jimmy, my husband, is the "master" of organization.  Always has been.  However, there is one area in our home that has eluded his organizational skills....his closet.  He has just contracted The Container Store to design and install a closet system in his master closet.  This process is rather extensive.  One must first "gut" whatever "system" you currently have in one's closet, purge whatever one no longer needs of your personal items, clean or wash away the dirt and paint fresh before a new system can be installed.  This process has taken him a couple of days to complete in preparation for the new system's instillation tomorrow.  But when it is all complete, WHALA!!!! It will be Beautiful! Fresh!  Clean!  Organized!  Just what a closet is supposed to be!

Isn't that why we celebrate Christmas?  Isn't that what Jesus came to do?  He was sent to redeem our souls - provide a way for it to be purged from sin, made right with God, clean and pure, fresh and new again.  Like a new closet system....able to function in a way that would glorify the Father.

I think I'll buy Jimmy a new Christmas tie to hang on his new tie rack!  Merry Christmas Sweetheart!

Shoot Me Now, PLEASE!

Jimmy and I only had boys.  Girls were NEVER on my desire list when it came to having children.  In fact....I had people lined up to take a girl child away if I delivered a girl.  Boys were on my wish list.  Girls would require shopping, dressing, sewing, tiaras, lots and lots of shoes, dance lessons and costumes, rows and rows of net and HAIR....mega hair and nails!  This was just NOT me!  BOYS were my deal.  Soccer games, basketball and so on.  I was meant to be a boys mom!

If I were to have a girl, there would be a wedding!  A very EXPENSIVE wedding.  That would require me to SHOP!  GAG!  Anyone who knows me well, knows I would rather have my hand slammed in a car door than shop!  And on a budget?  Trying to please someone else?  DOUBLE GAG!  Yes, I planned the rehearsal dinner for the boys.  And I even made a very large todo of it.   We had themes and mariachi bands and football fields and all kinds of things.  But it wasn't a full blown wedding with dresses and decorated tables, with bridesmaids dresses,  and all the other trappings.  Boys...that's the way to go.

Well....I've blown it now.  I have a sweet friend.  Sandra.  My nail tech.  She's getting remarried.  In six weeks.  Her late husband planned her first wedding.  She's panicked.  Doesn't know a thing about planning a wedding.  I opened my BIG MOUTH.  "Oh I'll help you!  Don't panic!  It will be fine!"  STUPID ME!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!!!!!!!!

Now I have a daughter.  Shoot me now!

BLESS HER HEART

In the south, women often comment about other women and add a "tag" phrase ending with "Bless her heart"!  It sounds sweet and thoughtful, complimentary in fact.  But actually, it usually means something totally different.  For instance, if a women were walking down the street wearing a dress two sizes two small, cleavage showing waaaaaay too much for what would be considered a woman NOT of the "evening" and strutting herself with great confidence, another woman having lunch at a sidewalk cafe with friends would look up, and upon seeing her might comment, "look at that sweet women...bless her heart!!!"  In this case, it would mean, OMG!  What a TRAMP!  See, sometimes OUR words don't often reflect what they mean.  Our yes' are not always yes and our Nos are not always no.

However, we can always depend on God's yes being yes and His no being no.  His Word NEVER fails, is ALWAYS true and always means what He says it means.  I am grateful He is faithful, dependable and reliable.  I am grateful His Word is ALWAYS true.  YES it is!

RIPPING MADE PERFECT

Now that I have granddaughters, my interest in sewing has increased.  I never liked it when I was younger.  And since Jimmy and I only had boys, I never needed to sew.  But since having little girls in the family, I have begun to love sewing for them.  As my interest in sewing renewed, there was one distasteful memory about sewing that quickly came back to mind.  "Ripping"!  Yes...since I'm not the pro my mother and sister are, I tend to do a lot, and I do mean a LOT, of ripping.  For those of you who are not familiar with the term "ripping", it is a process of removing a previously sewn seam and re-sewing it again.  It sounds easy enough....but not so much.  And when you must "rip" over and over again...it gets tedious!  NOT my favorite part of sewing in the least.  Ripping is done when there has been a mistake made and one must alter the garment, making adjustments to make it right.  It seems harmless, easy enough by the maker.  But even then, there can be seen, small holes in the garment where it had been previously sewn (scars). 

Sometimes God has to "rip" out, or convict us of, our old sin nature to make us right with Him.  It must seam tedious to Him to do it over and over again.  But when He finishes, we are perfect...just right....His creation.  Our sins, previously sewn could leave scars.  But with His touch, those holes (scars) are removed and the garment of our lives are made whole and beautiful again.

I am so grateful he doesn't leave us as ugly, filthy rags but makes us into beautifully, perfect garments! 

GRIEVING AND REJOICING

Several years ago,my earthly father died the day before Easter.  It took several days to plan the funeral because of the celebration of our dear Lord's resurrection.  It was a very difficult time for our family.  We should have been celebrating, but instead, we were grieving.  

I wonder when Jesus was hanging on the cross with all the sins of mankind, past, present and future placed upon Him, how God felt to make Himself "unavailable" to His son?  I'm sure He was there (like a parent watching their small child from the shadows, unseen by the child).   But making Him bear those sins alone for 3 dark, lonely and painful hours must have been excruciating for our Father.  I can only imagine the pain He must have felt, the grieving He must have been going through.  To "assign" your loved one that duty because you love others soooo much.

As I remember and feel my grief and miss my dad, I must also remember how much my heavenly Father loved me to give up His son on my behalf and for those that have preceded me to be with Him.  I rejoice in my grief as I look forward to the day I will see  Him face to face and also see my earthly father seated with Him in heaven.

He is not here....He is Risen!

HE'S NO OZ

I was watching Dancing With The Stars last night.  Dorothy Hamill is a competitor this year and has had an injury.  She came on at the end of the first elimination show and announced she would be leaving the show because of injuries even though she had not been in the bottom two in scoring.  I joked, she needed a Dr. Oz that night.  (Get it....Dorothy and Oz?  I know...lame!)

Funny how we often turn to our great "Ozs" when things go wrong.  Or the great Oz of "good luck" when things go our way. Perhaps the great Oz when we just want a parking space or want to win the lottery.  Apparently the great "Oz" is designed to be our own personal assistant and provider.  But the funny thing is....like in the movie....he's just a dream with no real power.....a wanna be.

Yet scripture says in "Him" all things are possible.  "He" has a plan for us, a plan to prosper us, not to harm us...a plan for us to have a hope and a future.  I rejoice when singing "turn your eyes upon "Him" (Jesus), look full in "His" wonderful face.  Then....the things of the earth will grow strangely dim in the light of "His" glory and grace."  He's no Oz....He's oh so much BETTER!

Nailed Wide Open

My grandchildren live about a mile away.  I know that is not far.  But every time I go over to their house and see my little one year old grand daughter, I open my arms wide and she runs to me for a big hug.  What a joy it is for this old gal.  That sweet smile.  Those dimples.  The sparkle in her eyes.  She's such a joy to see.

I wonder if that is how our heavenly father feels when we finally decide to spend a little time with Him?  But He doesn't have to come to our house.  He's always here, waiting with arms open wide.  Waiting for those moments when we'll recognize He is standing there waiting for us to notice Him.  Waiting for just a few moments of our time.  I read recently, His arms are open all the time, just waiting.  In fact, so that we will know they are open and waiting and that they never shut, He nailed them open.  How can I resist a love like that?  How can I not claim Him as my own?

The Wind Beneath our Wing

It was early this morning, before the sun rose, with just a little light in the sky.  Hershey wanted out to do his "thing" and I always go out with him for a little fresh air.  I was standing on the porch and noticed Hershey looking up into the sky.  Then I heard.  The singing....like a host of angels...voices in one accord.  Though all were in their own pitch and singing their own praises, it was heavenly.  And in a  minute, it quieted...and I heard Him speaking to them as they bowed in reverence.  Then they began again.

If Hershey and the birds in the air begin their day in total adoration of their Creator and He speaks to them as the wind blows through the trees, why don't we, sinful men, understand the Creator is in our presence and sing our praises the minute we awake each day and all day long.  Though we don't see Him, he's as real as the wind we feel.

That crazy secular song from a while back...."the wind beneath my wing"...that is our Lord, our Creator, our Love.  SING!

FEAST OR FAMINE?

No!  Don't!  Stop!  Good puppy!  Good Hershey!  Sit!  Cookie?  How many times a day do I say these words?  I'm still in the process of training Hershey and somehow....He's not quite trained yet!  I can't quite get this precious, chocolate bundle of hair to do the things I need him to do.  Probably because I can't get into the habit, or should I say, I'm not quite trained in making sure I'm consistent in my training methods, to ensure Hershey obey the rules set down to be a good and obedient dog.  I do my best...I give him the finest "treats" to ensure he loves doing what is right.  And the things I am able to do that with (i.e.  outside potty, sit for treats and dinner, bed time, come when called), he does well.  I guess I just have to work on the other things like, no barking, heel when walking, etc.

You know, God gives us treats when we are obedient to Him as well.  We have the joy in knowing we are right with Him.  We have peace, comfort, oneness with Him.  He continues to guide us, direct us and commune with us.  He never leaves us and lives within us.  Yet, there is always this one part of us that sometimes separates us from Him.  This one part we refuse to let go.  One part, like Hershey, is our one little stubborn streak that we continue to disobey.  And we feed/treat this part, this "sin nature" of ours.  And why do we treat it, like I treat Hershey when he does things right?  With dog training, if you treat a dog for doing good, it affirms the behavior and a dog will continue the behavior.  If you stop the treat, he will discontinue the behavior.  So....if we feed our sin nature,...won't we continue the sinful behavior? But if we stop feeding the sin....won't we stop?  Example:  There is a woman who loves to decorate her home.  She is constantly buying decorator magazines and pouring through them, looking for the next new idea for her home.  She tears out pictures, draws designs out and picks out swatches to recover the furniture for her next project.  However, her husband keeps telling her they are terribly in debt and are unable to spend any money on anything.  Though the woman knows this, her habit and desire to spend continues.  You see...this sinful desire to have what she doesn't need and can't afford, what God does not intend for her at this time does not need to be fed by her continued purchase of these magazines.  If she would discontinue to feed this sinful nature of purchasing the magazines, the desire would soon fade and that part of her sinful nature would come under God's control.

So...feast or famine?  What are you feeding your sinful nature that needs to stop?  I think I've had enough.....what about you?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

http:www.facebook.com/loveysDiaryI had the privilege of attending a wonderful lunch today.  The lunch was a fundraiser for a local Young Lives chapter.  This group is a division, I think, of Young Life that mentors to young, unwed, high school girls.  These young women are remarkable.  They come to this group, many from the most devastating situations and difficult home and/or personal situations, with no where to go or no one to look to.  Here, they're shown unconditional love, acceptance and the One who can meet all their needs and provide the hope they need for a future  - a future already planned in advance for them from the beginning of time.  These young women are the Hagar's of our day.  Women with children born out of wedlock and often looked down on, despised, mocked and turned away.  Women who are left with children to care for alone.  Young women who are cast out but found by their Redeemer who "sees them" where they are at their lowest point.

I guess many of us feel as Hagar did at one point.  Though we may not have an illegitimate child, we are in the position of feeling alone, cast out, ridiculed and despised because in our sinfulness, we failed to trust God and tried to do things in our own way and in our own timing.  We too have had haughty attitudes, despised another, mocked another and even hated in our hearts.  We have been Hagars at some point.  We have hit our Hagar moment.

What is your name right now?  Is it Hagar?  How are you feeling?  Did you know that someONE sees you right where you are?

I'm thankful HE has seen me

STUFFING AND SQUEAKERS

http://facebook.comWell, he's done it again!  We bought Hershey a new stuffed toy for Christmas and he has totally destroyed it!  He LOVES stuffed toys....especially those with "squeakers" in them.  He's had many, many of them.  And with each one, he has meticulously managed to open each one, remove the stuffing all over the house over the period of several days (I guess to give me the "pleasure" of having white carpet for a LONG time) and remove the "squeaker" from it, carrying the "squeaker" around in his mouth like a prize bird he had just caught!  After chewing on the squeaker for a period of a day, he manages to leave plastic chunks in areas I won't even talk about and then throws up in his bed at night. 

Well....his new Christmas toy, a BEAUTIFUL stuffed Baylor Bone was no different.  And I had managed to keep it so well hidden in the Christmas tree from him until Christmas day.  He didn't start on it right away.  But this past week....he went to town.  I have picked up stuffing ALL WEEK LONG!  Then...last night...THE SQUEAKER!  I saw it in his mouth and grabbed it before he could....well, you know.  I thought I was pretty smart.  Yep...that's me...pretty smart all right.  Yep...pretty smart....and who's the one who GAVE him the stuffed bone??????  Well, you can guess where that beautiful Baylor bone is now.

But aren't we like Hershey?  We take the beautiful things God gives us and yank the stuffing right out of them.  The fluff that God put in it to make it beautiful for us, we somehow seem to destroy or remove.  How often in our complaints and selfishness do we flatten the beauty of the gifts God gives us?  Then, we take the "squeaker", the "joy" he puts inside, and rip it out until there is nothing left.

I'm so thankful God is not like us...he doesn't throw it or us away like I do.  God restores, renews, loves us and returns us back to a state of rightness with Him.  He continues to shower us with His gifts and teaches us to to lovingly care for them and those around us.

Thank you Father for loving us enough to teach us the joy in the gifts you provide.

SLEEPYHEAD

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Hershey just cracks me up! I go to wake him in the mornings to let him out and he can hardly wake up. I've never known a dog that has such a hard time waking up. I don't know why...he just does. He's such a sleepyhead. I open his crate door and he slooooooowly comes out.....strrrrreeeeeetches, leeeeeeeeeans into me and just stands there, like he needs something to lean on until he can get his bearings. Then he gives this HUGE yawn, looks up....and BAM! He's awake! Don't get it. One minute half asleep....the next, BAM! Awake. Blows my mind.

Are people really different? I guess I am. And of course, here I am this morning, as I have the past few mornings, awake since 3:00 am. MAN! I hate these mornings. I am NOT an early bird, though I usually get up early. But its not my favorite time of day. Like Hershey.....I'm slow to wake up. And when it do finally awake...,it is NOT a BAM! It is more like a....Oh jeeee whiz......do I really HAVE TO ???????

However, I have found in these times when I can't sleep and end up getting up at these, as other people call them, "ungodly" times of the morning, they are really my "Godly" times of the morning. It is in these wee hours of the morning, when the house is soooo quiet, soooo still, no one to interrupt me, no Hershey bounding about, no barking, nothing,,,,that I get to meet and hear my Lord. It is in these "Godly" times of the morning that I can really listen, without interruption, without phones, without all the other stuff, with a clear mind and with only God's Words.

So today....I'm thankful for those days I can't sleep and God wakes me up...opens the cage I sleep in. Encourages me to get up, come out, snuggle up to Him, listen and visit.

Good morning sleepyhead!

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

http://facebook.com  I've already introduce you to our new puppy.  Yep, Hershey...our chocolate labradoodle.  Yes, he's adorable.  He's lovable, friendly, funny and the cutest dog on earth.  I know, I know....EVERYONE says that about their dog.  However, it's really true about Hershey!  He's chocolate and I could just eat him up!

The thing about Hershey is that he is the most social dog I know.  He loves people.  ALL people.  Doesn't matter who they are.  I thought, perhaps, it was just me, and MAYBE, Jimmy.  But no...he loves ALL people.  And he desperately wants ALL people to love him.  He even SMILES at people.  You can tell by the last picture I posted.  He's a HOOT!  Well....except for those times when he gets so excited that he "relieves" himself as he bounces around greeting someone. ( Most don't think that is very charming).  But Hershey can't help himself....he is so jealous for other's love.  He loves them so that he wants their love too. 

The fact is, when people talk about man's best friend, I truly believe they are talking about Hershey.  They guy is just a knock out of a friend.  He's all over you with kisses and fun!  When you are down...he makes you laugh.  When you need to exercise and don't want to ....he's there pushing to walk.  When you have too much on your plate and are feeling guilty for over indulging...he's there begging to take the hit for you and take it under the table.  When you are cooking and drop stuff on the floor...he's there cleaning for you (what a champ)!  If you leave food on the table, he'll clean the table for you.  (now really, do your children do that?)  And when the grandchildren come.....he BABYSITS!!!!!!  WOW!  When you are in bed and cold, he's there to keep you feet warm.  They guy just does it ALL!  MAN'S BEST FRIEND!

However, there is someONE else who we might consider even more than my Hershey as man's best friend.  SomeONE who is just as social in His relationships with those he cares for.  SomeONE who not only loves me, but loves everyone and wants everyone to love Him.  SomeONE who loves people so much that He is jealous for their love.  SomeONE who brings us joy in times of sadness, pushes us to be our best when we want to go otherwise.  SomeONE who doesn't want us to carry around the guilt, so took the hit for us on the cross.  SomeONE who http:www.facebook.com/loveysdiarycleans up our messes when we are trying to follow His recipe for life.  SomeONE who babysits our families when we turn them over to Him and leave them in His hands.  Someone who holds us in His arms and comforts us and warms us in the glow of His presence.  Man's Best Friend.  SomeONE...Our Lord Jesus Christ!

ROCKING

http.//facebook.comWe have a rather new puppy.  His name is Hershey.  Hershey is a year old, and is still in the "chew" stage of his "toddler" years.  If you want proof...just look at the skirt of the chairs in the loft upstairs in our home.  For some reason, Hershey decided the skirt on one of those chairs was VERY tasty!

Those two chairs are really the most comfy chairs in our home.  My husband and I LOVE to sit in them to watch movies.  He says we need to have them recovered.  I hate to do that because they just wont be the same...you know how that goes.  They just won't "feel" the same.  The original fabric felt so good and the chair cushions were "just right".  So....what do I do?  The question begs...do I look for new chairs or do I recover?

If I look for new chairs, I would love to get those neat "glider/rockers", like they have in baby rooms.  You know...they are soooooo smooth and soft.  There is something about sitting in them that just puts you to sleep.  You just sigh when you sit down in one of them.  They are plush and soft and they rock and swing and turn and make you feel all kinds of good!  Yes...perhaps that is the answer.

Don't you wish there were "gliders/rockers" for things that could make you feel like that at those times in your life when you are down or even those times of despair?  Those times of loneliness, when you feel all alone, desperate, no where to turn and no one to turn to.  No one who understands and you don't know what to do next or how to "fix" what is going wrong?

I was studying Genesis this week, where Hagar had run off from Abraham and Sarah and was in the desert.  She was alone and pregnant with Abraham's son Ishmael.  She fled Sarah, who was angry with her.  She was desperate, no food, no money, no family, no help and no one to turn to.  BUT....God met her were she was....God "saw her".  And when God spoke to Hagar....it was like He "rocked" her in His arms and made all things right.  He spoke truth to her, told her what to do, told her what would happen and told her to go back to Abraham and Sarah and obey.  He brought peace and joy to Hagar.  He cared for her.  God was her "glider", her "ahhhhhhh", when all the world seemed right, because He was there in the center.

I had that experience once.  I was alone, pregnant, desperate, in despair and felt as if no one understood or cared.  God "saw me" in my despair and God actually "rocked" me!  It's true....it was like rocking/gliding in one of those baby rockers.  He made all things right by His peace and joy, truth and mercy.  It was as if He was rocking me and holding me "under His wing and close to His heart."

Have you been rocked recently?  If not.....I know someONE who is waiting with open arms.