Happy Birthday, Judy!!

Judy Richardson -- the sister I received the day I married Glenn Robert Jones. And 25 years later, one of my dearest friends!!

I love Wes very much and enjoyed having a big brother when I was growing up, but I must admit that sometimes I wished I had a sister too. Well, the day I married Bob, I was blessed with the best sister ever. My "sister" is loving, caring, sensitive to me and my needs, helpful, always there for me with a listening ear, fun, complimentary, encouraging, believes in me, solid in her faith, a great example of a wife and mother...You get the picture -- She's AWESOME!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear sister and friend! I love you, Judy! Oh how I wished we lived closer!! If we did, I would bring you these flowers:

Then we would go out for some coffee:

Next would be some fun shopping:

Followed by a great lunch at a Chinese Restaurant (or wherever you picked):


P.S. Along with that sister, I should mention that I got a really great brother-in-law who means the world to me. Love you, too, George!

P.S.S. Look at that picture -- don't they make a cute couple!!!

Prayer Request

If you happen to be reading my blog today, could you please take a moment to say a prayer for my friend, Greg. He is having some very, very serious heart surgery today in San Francisco. Greg has no family living, so we have "adopted" him as part of our family, and we love him very much. Pray that all will go well with the surgery today and there will be no complications. Thank you sooooooo much!!!

For A Monday Morning...

Received this in an e-mail the other day and wanted to share it with you:

You say: "It's impossible."
God says: "All things are possible." Luke 18:27

You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28-30

You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: "I love you." John 3:1-6 and John 3:34

You say: "I can't go on."
God says: "My grace is sufficient." II Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15

You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: "I will direct your steps. Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: "I can't do it."
God says: "You can do all things." Phillipians 4:13

You say: I'm not able."
God says: I am able." II Corinthians 9:8

You say: "It's not worth it."
God says: "It will be worth it." Romans 8:28

You say: "I can't forgive myself."
God says: "I forgive you." I John 1:9 and Romans 8:1

You say: "I can't manage."
God says: "I will supply all your needs." Philippians 4:19

You say: "I'm afraid."
God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." II Timothy 1:7

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: "Cast all your cares on ME." I Peter 5:7

You say: "I'm not smart enough."
God says: "I'll give you wisdom." I Corinthians 1:30

You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Thank you, Lord, for your promises to us!!!

Congratulations, Hilary!!

Last night we attended the Shasta College 2009 Induction Service for Phi Theta Kappa. Here's a re-cap of the night, told through pictures. For those of you who missed my blog on Hilary's acceptance, I will, once again, quote from a letter Hilary received: "Congratulations on your academic achievement! As a result of your dedication to scholarly success, the Phi Theta Kappa chapter on this campus extends to you membership in the International Honor Society of two-year colleges. Membership eligibility is based on the number of hours you have completed and your outstanding GPA; therefore, membership is a special honor afford to a small group of outstanding students..."

Inductees filing in:

Hilary waiting to have her name and major announced (She is now officially majoring in Physics):

After signing the register, each inductee receives a white carnation which symbolizes purity:

Shaking hands with the Dean of Students, Academic Advisor, and Phi Theta Kappa officers:

Filing out:

After the ceremony:

Hilary showing off her pin and certificate:

Please bear with me, I'm one proud Mama!!! Hilary has to work really hard for her grades, and she has done such an excellent job!!! Congratulations, Hilary!! I love you!

Pictures of the Week #4

I couldn't help it! There were too many great pictures on this roll to just pick one. Hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

The first three pictures were taken at a Vision Valley Reunion (I'll have to find out what year this was). Vision Valley was our church's camp, and I went to summer camp there for many years. Oh what wonderful memories I have of those days.

This is Anne Kinnier and my two children, Hilary and Lyle, playing in the creek. Anne has remained a dear friend of Hilary and Lyle over the years. We sure do love her! She is just about the sweetest girl in the whole world!

This second picture is me with Bob and Sue Ramsey. Pastor Ramsey was my junior high and high school youth pastor. They are both the kindest, sweetest people you would ever want to know. They played a huge role in my life and encouraged me sooo much in my Christian walk.

This picture is priceless -- Hilary and Lyle with Pastor Royal Blue. Pastor Blue was the pastor of the church I started attending in 1968.

This last picture is just toooo funny!! We had a cat named Fluffy, and I sometimes gave him a little bowl of milk as a special treat. My kids were wondering what it would be like to be a cat and lap milk with your tongue, so I grabbed two bowls and poured them some milk. Meet my two "cats" :)

Quote for the Day

We spend too much time living in the ‘what if’ and need to learn to live in the ‘what is.’

Rev. Leroy Allison


WOW!! Love this quote!

The Dash

Today Bob and I attended the memorial service for Richard Grace, Sr. It was a beautiful service, honoring Richard's life and his tremendous love for his family. His four children, three son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, and each of his seven grandchildren shared about his life.

Whenever I attend a funeral/memorial service, I always wonder afterwards what people will say about me someday when I'm gone. I also always think of the following poem (that I'm working on memorizing) when I attend a service. Read through it; it will only take a minute. Hope it means as much to you as it does to me.

The Dash

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

Today is Lyle's 15th birthday. My baby is 15?? Where did the years go? Seems like only yesterday, he was a cute little pudgy baby.

Then...

Now...

I thank God everyday for a wonderful son. Lyle is:

• caring
• a loyal friend to people
• sensitive
• sooooo funny
• smart
• social
• complimentary and appreciative
• an obedient son
• willing helper around the house
• and, most importantly, he loves the Lord with all his heart
  

Lyle, you have been a joy and a blessing these past 15 years. Happy Birthday, son. I love you bunches!

I can't believe it!!

Kim Faires, over at Who's Your Mama, gave me the above award! I was soooooooooo excited!!! Thank you, Kim!!

STOP RUMORS!!

Regarding the below post:

1. I love my husband very, very much!
2. We are NOT getting a divorce (nor are we having marriage problems)
   

I'm new at this blogging, so here's Rule #1 that I've learned:

1. When you write something, you know exactly what you mean but others may not know what you mean.

P.S. Kim, thank you for your great advice!!

HELP, I'm coming unglued!

"unglued": loosened or separated; unfastened

Help, some relationships in my life are coming unglued! And I sit here faceing that fact, yet I don't know how to fix it? Anyone have some Elmer's Glue I can use?

Redding Neighborhood Church Choir

Some of you have asked if I have a picture and/or video of the choir. Well, thanks to my friend Lee, I happen to have a short video from Christmas, so here it is. (Thank you, Lee!!) I'm the first one on the left in the front row. (Sometimes the worship leader steps in front of me during the video.) Redding Neighborhood Church only has a choir on Easter and Christmas. I have really enjoyed singing in it both times. They are talking about having another choir this summer sometime.

Special Moments

What a week and weekend!! IT WAS AWESOME!! Let me share some highlights...


Hilary was on Spring Break last week, so we were able to spend some time together. She is busy with 21 units at Shasta College, working back stage on drama performances, and friends. So...I don't spend as much time with her as I used to, and I MISS THAT!! So, this week we went out to lunch, went shopping one day for hours (I am getting OLD), watched Little Mermaid together, and talked and talked. While "treasure hunting" at Ross, Hilary found this cute dress for $9.99!


My brother, Wes, came up on Thursday, and it's always fun to have him visit for a long weekend. We hadn't seen him since January, so enjoyed visiting with him, eating out, playing Pinocole, and just hanging out. Twenty-eight of us enjoyed a "Haley (my Dad's family) Easter" at my Aunt's house on Saturday night.

On Friday night, the four kids (Bob, Wes, Hilary, and Lyle) dyed Easter eggs. Guess you are never too old for that. They sat at the table for almost two hours and worked on their eggs.

Sunday, was Redding Neighborhood Church's Easter services at the Civic Auditorium. If I understood correctly, we had close to 4,000 people attend the two services. I sang in the choir, and it was sooooo much fun. Between singing in the choir at Christmas and again at Easter, I am getting to know a few people. The music (congregational singing and the choir numbers) was so meaningful and got you so excited about celebrating the resurrection of our Savior.

Then...Pastor Bill's message was AWESOME!! It's not about what you do for God, but what God does for you. His message really spoke to my heart!

When I was a teenager, I memorized this little sayings:

Determination through the hundreds of ordinary days,

When you feel like giving up,

It pays to hang on,

It pays to be true,

It pays to look to Jesus,

And He'll surprise you with special moments!

Weeks/weekends like this one are those "special moments"!

Pictures of the Week #3

Wanted to post pictures of both Hilary and Lyle -- thus the "PictureS of the Week. Hilary and Lyle attended North Valley Christian School (Hilary K-6th grade and Lyle K-2nd grade) until it merged with Redding Christian School. North Valley Christian was a small school ran by our church. We were truly like a family since the kids all attended the same church.

The kids worked hard at their academics, but we also had a lot of fun times at NVCS. If there was any reason to have a party, we PARTYED!! These pictures were taken in the Spring of 2001 at North Valley Christian School Kite Day. The kids worked hard all morning and then, after lunch, they headed for the ballfield to fly their kites, run around and play, and eat refreshments! Such fun!

Those were the days, my friend...

Easy Cleaning Tip

I tried this cleaning tip for the microwave this morning that someone had told me about. It worked GREAT!!!

Fill a bowl with water and 4-5 fresh lemon slices. Cook it in your microwave for 6 minutes. Take the bowl out and use a damp washcloth to wipe the inside of the microwave down and the door. The steam loosens all the food participes and the lemon deodorizes the microwave.

SO EASY!!! Here's to clean, fresh-smelling microwaves!

Starbucks and Good Friends

Dear God:

I'm sooooooo thankful for Starbucks Peppermint Mochas and good friends!!! In your plan for my life, thank you for putting Becky and I in the same corner of this big, big world! I am blessed to be able to call her my friend. She is faithful, fun, loving, caring, sensitive, helpful, giving, and soooo many other adjectives!! Amen!

I love you, Becky, my "younger" friend!! Thanks for four hours (which is really kind of short for us) of your time! You are a great friend!

A New Look!

WOW!! I didn't know if I could do it, but I did!! I was able to change the background to a nice cheery Easter one. I'm sooooo proud of myself. Now that I can do it, you will open my blog every month and find something new!! Have a great day!

Introducing the George Mueller Look Alike...

George Mueller -- 1805 - 1898

"Born in Prussia in 1805, George Mueller began running from God early in life. By age ten he had devised a scheme to embezzle government money entrusted to his father. He spent his schooldays in drunken immorality. He even served time in jail at age sixteen for failing to pay his bills. He continued his sinful habits during his college days until finally at age 20 the burden of his sins overcame him and he trusted Christ as Saviour.

Soon he committed himself to a full-time gospel ministry. When Mueller was twenty-five, he went to Teignmouth, England, with his new wife, Mary, to pastor a small church. He gave up the small salary offered when he discovered it was paid through the rental of church pews. From that time on he resolved to live by faith.

Mueller moved in 1832 to Bristol, England, to be the pastor of another church. There his famous work with the orphans began when two young children were thrown upon the church's care. Mueller had only two shillings to his name when he began the orphanage work, but over the next sixty years God sent more than $7,500,000 to supply their needs. New buildings were built or purchased, staff was hired, and the hundreds of children never missed a meal. Many times prayers were said over empty plates only to have food arrive at the last moment. Mueller resolved never to tell anyone what his needs were. He told them to God and confidently expected them to be met.

During his life, Mueller started 117 schools which educated over 120,000 young people and orphans. He became pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Bristol. The church had some 2,000 members at his death."

Every year at Redding Christian High School, the students are required to read a Christian biography and participate in Christian Hero Day. On Christian Hero Day, the entire high school (110 students plus teachers) dress as the hero they read about and go to a local school to make a presentation, pretending to be that hero.

So...this morning Lyle left for school dressed as George Mueller (read about his life above)...



Here's Lyle giving his presentation to a group of first graders. When he was done, the kids were allowed to ask questions.


A picture of Lyle's group. They all did a great job. The group made up a word search puzzle with the names of the five Christian Heros for the kids to do. The first graders thought that was really cool.


After all the presentations, we went to Simpson University for a time of fellowship and eating donuts!! Then, back to school!


As you can imagine, they needed lots of drivers for 110 students plus teachers, so I signed up to drive. I freaked out last night when I found out I wouldn't be driving Lyle and/or any of his friends. I had four kids in my little car that I didn't even know. AWKWARD!!! Another thing that was "out of my comfort zone".

Picture of the Week #2

This picture was taken in August 2002 at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. We went to Santa Cruz and Monterey for a little vacation that year. The kids enjoyed all the fun rides at the Boardwalk.

Hope you enjoyed "picture of the week #2"! We are sure enjoying seeing our developed roll of film each week!

Happy April 1st!

Mark Twain said: "April Fools Day -- This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred sixty-four."