A Day in the Garage and other pleasures!

My son, Rob, and I spent the day in the garage cleaning, throwing out junk, taking a truckload to Goodwill, and filling up the garbage can. It is a job I had been wanting to get done for a long time. I had not realized how bad things really were till we started in on the huge task. We spent all day working and got maybe half of it done. At least I feel like if I keep working at it I can make some progress now.
If Rob had not helped me I probably wouldn't have gotten rid of as much as I did. We threw out old shoes, old toys, old clothes and things I had taken out and piled on the table hoping to have a yard sale with.
I really want to paint the walls this winter and get things looking much better. Now that I am retired maybe I can get it done. I also need to paint the front door. We changed the color of the shutters two years ago and our door is still the old color! Maybe I will get up to the paint store and purchase some paint for that this week....that is IF I can remember to do it. It would look nice for the Holidays, right?
Today I really felt like we got a lot accomplished and it makes me happy to begin getting the house in order. I never had time to really work on it much with work and the ministry needs. Now I am beginning to feel I might just get a handle on things and spife things up a bit.
I am staying busy but have been able to do some things like spending the day with my Dad for his 82nd birthday, visiting with friends, doing some short trips with friends, cooking more, as well as cleaning out. It is so nice to have the extra time.
At the end of the day I always like to believe I have accomplished something. Those days with family and friends are satisfying times as we invest in each others lives. We love to laugh and play, and did I say eat?
Our son came to church with his son, Kane, on Sunday and Kane wanted to stay at Maw Maw and Papa's houssss! We took a nap together and then got up to go for a walk. We strolled him a while and then let him walk and run. We petted the neighborhood cats and pointed out all the birds and planes, and beep beeps that passed!
Then we took him home in Papa's truck with him riding up where he could see everything. Course we HAD to stop by and get some doughnuts to take to our grandaughters on the way.
Then we stopped and got a $1.00 movie to watch on the way home. It was a true life situation about Pompa (not sure of the spelling) disease that two children in the family had. It is kin to Muscular Dystropy. Course I had to make my self stay awake after a while. It got sorta late, but then we didn't have to get up early today, right?
Once again, life is good.

A God Ordained Appointment with Matthew

I had four different events to attend today and by gingos I did it. But I must tell you I had one event unplanned by me, but ordained by our precious Lord. I love it when it happens.....joining God where He is working.
I went to a baby shower this morning and on to an art festival on Jonestown Rd. I never go to the grocery store over that way but decided to run by Harris Teeter on Country Club because of the meat specials of the week and because I needed Cocoa for my cake.
When I parked I noticed that some guys were outside both entrances into the store raising funds for something. I started in the left side of the store but went towards the right side, hoping not to get caught up in whatever they were selling but guess what..... God had other plans and I noticed a young man standing by a sign speaking about a drug and alcohol rehabilitation house. I decided okay, I think I need to stop and speak to him. He explained that he was in the program and shared how God had changed his life. You know I was all into that so I started telling him about my journey with our son Rob who was addicted to drugs in his past.
About that time the phone rang and it was my son saying that I had called him with my phone and all he heard was me talking to someone. You see, I do that often. I usually accidently call Rob or our daughter Melissa and they are quite use to it. Don't ask me why I dial them but I must accidently hit my phone and it automatically dials them. When he called me back I told him I was just talking about him to Matt and he wanted to talk to him so they shared with each other and Matt asked Rob to pray for him.
I went in to do my shopping and came back out to talk to Matt. I had stuck some cards in my purse this morning showing people how they could order my book, Where was the Prodigals Mother?.....so I reached in and gave him one in case his mother wanted to read it. He started crying and gave me her address and wanting me to call her. He said he was so concerned for her and that God had brought me his way today.
As I was talking to him my eyes went to the sidewalk and there is where I saw the image you see at the beginning of this article. What does it look like to you?
Now I started thinking of all the ways the Lord orchestrated my path today:

1. He prompted me to put the cards in my purse this morning (just so I could hand one to Matt).
2. He took me to Peter's Creek Parkway for a shower, had me invited to an Art Festival all the way back over to Jonestown.
3. Had me forget to get Cocoa for my cake yesterday while at the store just so I would go over to the grocery store near by Jonestown on the way home to get some.
4. Sent me over to the right side of the entrance to meet Matt.
5. Had me ACCIDENTILY dial my son on the phone so he could talk to Matt.
6. Then drew my attention to the dove on the sidewalk as confirmation of His presence in the whole event.
My God is a mighty, awesome God. It reminds me of the time He had me go over across the waters to minister to a mother in another country who was so broken hearted about her son in prison. I pray I will always be willing to go across country or across town at His direction. Nothing is an accident now is it? Is He a personal God who is interested in every detail of our lives or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who could doubt Him? He delights me each and every day. I love Him so, and I pray you do too!
Sandra

God's Country as my Dad would say

I have been away in God's country for the past six days and man was it glorious. As you can see the country is beautiful. As you get ready to enter the property you are met with the beautiful wings always decorated for the season. So inviting. You literally feel the peace of God as you enter, protected by the wings of angels.
Nancy, Lynn, and I went to the Valle Cruz Fair on Saturday and it was a gorgeous day. Perfect for visiting all the tents, ohhing and ahhing, buying, eating (lets see we had an apple pie, chili beans and cornbread, and then apple cider. We sipped on it while we sat back and listened to the music and wanted to get up and dance to the tune. We were tucked down in the valley with the beauty of the changing trees all around us. It couldn't have been more perfect.
The next day Nancy and I went to church in Boone, ate at Vidalia's (awesome french toast), then drove back for a nap and some time with the Lord. Nancy and I shared for a while and she asked me to stay at the big house with her. The next morning the Lord took me straight to Jeremiah 18:1-6, "The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there He was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemd good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "O Sandra can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD, "Look, as the clay is in the potters hand, so are you in My hand, O Sandra." WOW! Is that not amazing. I stayed at the Potter's House for the rest of my time there. The little cabin I was in is called the Potter's House.
Please pray for the ladies who will attend a retreat there this week-end! Pray for Nancy and Pat who will lead it. God will be there, just pray they each one meet Him in their own way. If you ever get a chance to go please do. You can check out the Potters House blog site on my home page. You will see pictures of it also with the wonderful brook which flows the length of the property.

A night at the fair

The fair was in town this week so we decided to take our grandsons. It was fun watching them ride together. Kane the two year old was seemingly not afraid of anything. He rode even if Brett, the five year old, wanted to ride in another car, truck or plane whatever it was.
We had bought the little bracelets which allowed them to ride as many rides as often as they wanted to. Kane was a little under the weather and ended up sleeping for two hours in the stroller which gave Brett the chance to do just what he wanted to. We ended up staying for seven hours, that's right seven. Seven stands for perfection, right?
I did fine that night but boy did I pay for it the next day. My joints were weary. But that is okay, cause we made lots of memories. It was loads of fun and I would do it all over again. Papa and I went back tonight, just the two of us. It was more relaxing but not near as much fun. The kids tend to make us young don't they? I will miss them growing up to go their own way.
I worry about our girls though cause I saw a lot of the older girls with boys there and I have to tell you it concerns me. The boys and girls all over each other, dressed so provocatively. I prayed everywhere I went. As we came out of the gate for the big rides I looked over and told my husband I felt like we had just left Sodom and Gomorrah. I wouldn't be in there at night for all the money in the world. So many temptations for young people and vendors trying to lure them over to take their money and invite them in to partake of the things of the world.
Think I want the kids to stay little and enjoy the simpler things and maintain their innocence for a long time to come. I don't want our little ones to get sucked up into what the world is offeing. So I guess my knees need to be on the ground in prayer for them and their mates. Oh Lord, please protect their little eyes, and ears and body. I want them to love you more than the things the world has to offer. It doesn"t fulfull. Oh Lord help them realize that!

Does God forgive ALL sin?

At our Celebration dinner the other week, a mother asked me, "Do you believe God forgives ALL sin? I answered right away oh yes. His Word tells us He does. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. God promises to cast our sin as far as the east is from the west to remember no more if we will but confess and seek His forgiveness.
This morning God took me to Acts 13:38-39, "Brothers! Listen! In this man Jesus, there is forgiveness for your sins! Everyone who trusts in him is freed from all guilt and delared righteous...." Isn't that the most comforting Word. Often times we believe that we or our children have committed the one sin that Jesus cannot forgive. That is a lie of the devil, the father of lies.
"No matter how evil our sins, there is pardon for them. God forgave David for his adultery,dishonestly, and murder. He forgave the prodigal his "loose living". Simon Peter's triple denial of our Lord accompanied by profanity was for given. The apostle Paul was forgiven of his preconversion merciless persecution of Christians.
Although there is no unpardonable sin, there is an unpardonable state----the state of unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in unbelief." Taken from Eternal Security by Charles Stanley
Give me some feed back on this and add to these comments if you like! This mother needs to know the Truth.

Life is Good

Well I am almost at the end of my first week of retirement. My husband asked me tonight if I felt like I was really retired. It might take a little longer to sink in but while it is I am enjoying knowing I don't have to go in.
I got up and had my time with the Father, then went for a walk, came home showered, ran errands, got groceries and came home to welcome the plumber over to fix a water leak. Praise the Lord it was an easy fix and now we are back in business.
By that time my husband was up and ready for some food. I got supper cooked and cleaned up early. That left me time to clean out and rearrange more closets while pitching out some things for the trash, some for goodwill and some for an upcoming yard sale.
I decided to take an evening walk and take in nature and the wonderful weather. Then I came home to sit out on the screened in porch with a cup of coffee, write and check my emails. Got thank you notes to get off to my friends and co-workers. Sooooooo as you can see, I had a profitable day. I decided to top the day off with a small bowl of butter pecan ice cream.....now you see why life is good.

Retirement

I had the best time at my retirement dinner a couple of weeks ago. There were about 20 gals there to greet me after a long day at work. So much fun! After the meal we had my favorite....cheesecake. They gave a gift of money to my favorite ministry...On Wings like a Dove. It was great. Can't believe I will soon not be going in to work. Seems strange after 40 some years.

Then last Thursday Medical Park Hospital gave me a reception with the biggest chocolate cake ever. Staff members came in and out for two hours and it was so good to hug on each one and except their best wishes. I had been there for 24 years so it was with mixed emotions that I greeted each one. By the way, all the cake got gone.
I got to sleep in the next morning as long as I wanted....but since then I have gotten up early each morning. Yesterday I attended an all day seminar and had to get up at 5:30 a.m. Our grandson, Kane stayed with us last night and he allowed me to sleep in till 8:00. That was pretty good.
We took Kane and Brett, our other grandson to the fair today. We got there at 1:00 and left at 8:30. Can you tell we had a grand ole time? We ate and let the kids ride the rides and ate some more. I will put pictures on tomorrow. Gotta keep Kane tomorrow so my son and his girls can go to the fair. Then Papa and I may go again....alone.
We had a blast today and made lots of hopefully good memories for those boys. We saw friends we hadn't seen in a while. I have not felt yet like I am retired. Normally I would be going back to work tomorrow till the end of the week. Maybe it will sink in soon. Think I will sleep in tomorrow...what do you think?