Naomi shared her radio with Aaron

All too soon Friday evening came and Phillip, Merrie beth and children were on their way back to Kansas. We miss you already. It is good to know you are in God's hands.

Happy 8 th Birthday

Jason and Steven
Jason was very creative with the party hats!
One of the twin's birthday gifts were kites

On Thursday Jason and Steven turned 8 so their father and grandpa took them for a couple hours of simulated golf then on to the Dairy Queen for Banana Splits. They ended up at Lowes to pick up supplies to do a household project for my Mother. The twins chose pizza for their birthday supper and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. They had a wonderful time. One of their main high lights while visiting was exploring the woods on my mother's property. You would have thought they were Christopher Columbus discovering the world. The difference between the flat lands of Kansas and the hills of southern Ohio was extraordinary to them!

Ready for Church

Aaron

Savannah, Jason, Steven, Luke, & Timmy

Jason, Savannah, & Steven

Jason played his recital piece for Grandma

Luke "playing" too

One of the most Blessed moments during our vacation was Wednesday night listening to our son preach the Word of God and worshipping with his family.

Vacation Snapshots

Aaron

Jason & Steven and Nanny's dog ~ French Fry

Luke

Timmy

It was great to see our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons from Kansas once again. All the boys had grown so much. Steven looks so mature with his new glasses. They enjoyed hiking through my mother's woods so much. None of the children (not even the baby) were hesitant with us and as long as we had food in hand anybody could be Aaron's best friend. The weather couldn't have been better. My mother and I cooked all the comfort foods of home for them. Our son Phillip and my husband went to a facility where they could play golf with a simulator. The week went all too fast.

Lord Willing

We will be travelling to my mother's home tonight. My husband has gotten a week's vacation from his job. Our son, daughter-in-law, and their family has also taken the week off so if God provides all of us protection we will be with our family from Kansas soon.

Regarding the refund for the tickets from Skybus my bank wasn't very encouraging that we would receive a refund for the 2 tickets purchased with my debit card, using the excuse that the tickets were purchased more than 3 months in advance. The other 6 tickets I purchased for Merrie Beth and the 5 children were reserved with my credit card and the card company informed me that the request that they sent online to Skybus went through. Now we trust these refunds come through in God's timing. God IS Good! Be in touch when vacation is over.

Man plans......God Laughs!

Well if you read my previous post you know that I had plans for traveling. I arrived at my mother's home and Phil unloaded my luggage. Luggage enough for 2 1/2 weeks. We had just decided to retire for the night and the phone rang. My sister had just been informed by the news that SKYBUS had gone bankrupt, which happened to be the plane I held 8 tickets on. This was their announcement: Dear Skybus Customer:We regret to inform you that Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective 12:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5. As a result, your Skybus flight has been cancelled.Skybus will not be processing refunds directly. To arrange for a refund on your reservation, please contact your credit card company directly. If you purchased flight insurance for your reservation, please refer to your insurance confirmation from AIG for information on filing a claim.Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our customers, as well as our employees and their families, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.

So I returned home to Michigan to begin the process of having my reservation refunded. God has given me a Heavenly peace in the midst of this sudden change of plans. I can only credit Him and those who prayed. Knowing that God's Way is the Best Way has kept my Spirits buoyed. It is not my place to grumbled or complain about how He directs my path. If the Lord allows my son to be able to get the entire week off work during the time that Jason and Steven are on Spring Break then we trust they will be driving to Ohio instead of flying. We are trusting God for the details for He knows Best!

I'm leavin' On A.......

Today I am traveling to my mother's and then on Tuesday my sister-in-law will take me to the airport in Columbus and Skybus will take me to Kansas. Friday I will return with my daughter-in-law and five grandsons. We will take over my Mother's home until she prays for Blessed Quietness. My son will fly into Columbus to join his family on the 16th and then sadly they will fly back to Kansas on the 19th. My husband and I will return home on the 20th hopefully with lots of pictures. I'll miss you all but I'm excited to see our son and his family too. Keep us in your prayers, please for traveling safety. We will think of you often. God Bless till we meet again online. Love you ALL!

Hannah Eve Avery

3/29/1981

Happy Birthday dear daughter

"Easter Lilies"

MOM

Naomi Ann

Spring

New Beginnings

Look what I found today!

When I see tender new sprouts poking up through the soil of my flower beds my first musing is of new beginnings. A new opportunity to see God's handiwork. That leads me to the thought of Easter and the benefits of the Cross. It was there of the Cross that God provided mankind the opportunity to have a new beginning by the redeeming blood of Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away and all things are made new. Christ removes the old dry deadness that was once in our lives and brings beauty in it's place. The Cross is the "sprout" that graces our life and as we walk with the Saviour daily we grow and develop then show others the Handiwork of God with our example. Soon flowers will take the place of those tiny sprouts and a fragrance will fill the air. May each of our lives be a sweet smelling fragrance that pleases our Heavenly Father and blesses our world. Jesus thank you for the reminder each Spring of the New Beginnings which You offer "whosoever will" accept the Gift of Salvation. May we each bloom for your Honor and Glory. Amen

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.To her horror, the mother saw her little boy

Sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and

Whispered in the boy's ear," Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."Then, leaning over , Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached Around to the other side of the child, And he added a running obbligato.Together, the old master and the young novice

Transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative

experience.The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic," Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.We try our best, but the results aren't always

Graceful flowing music.However, with the

Hand of the Master, our life's Work can truly be beautiful.The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, Listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your Ear," Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to Call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.May God bless you and be with You always! And Remember ,……" Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."

Abigail serving my birthday cake

Birthday Roses from my husband

Yes, this is a Leap Year and I have waited for 4 years to celebrate another birthday. First my daughter, Sarah wrote such a nice post on her blog commemorating my birthday. This morning I awoke to a Divine birthday kiss from Phillip and then a phone call from my sister-in-law, Lisa. Then my mother called and reminisced about the afternoon I was born. Then my Aunt from Texas called with birthday wishes and we had a lovely visit. Hannah and Zachary went shopping and bought me a lovely birthday cake. I received birthday cards from several family members. I opened my e-mail and there was the sweetest birthday note from one of the dearest pastor's wives I have had in 52 years. Ruth Anne is like one of my own daughters. She blesses me to call me her "Church mother." She has such a Christ-like spirit. Then I signed onto a favorite website (MyHoliness) and more friends had wished me a happy birthday. My phone rang again and there was my son and grandson, Timmy calling from Kansas. I went out to get the mail and when I came back in realized I had a voice message from my brother-in-law from Kansas calling to say Happy birthday. Abigail came home from school then she cut and served Naomi, Zachary and I birthday cake after they sang Happy Birthday To You.... Later Phillip, Naomi, Tony, Sarah and their children enjoyed a meal with me at Big Boy Restaurant. During supper our twin Grandsons, Jason & Steven called my cell phone to add their greetings. Then my husband bought me roses and Tony & Sarah's family bought me some of the Love Comes Softly series. Thank you everybody for making my day so special.

Zachary is enjoying this snowy February 29th (Leap Day).

Happy Belated Birthday, Naomi

2/2/1976

On Groundhog's Day Naomi celebrated her 32 nd birthday. We were at my mother's (whom Naomi was named after) home. So needless to say she was spoiled rotten. LOL Naomi was born on her grandma and grandpa Avery's 25th anniversary and it was also her grandma Avery's birthday. For her birthday she received a coat, some new tops, a gift card from McDonald's, and some cash gifts. On her birthday we had a pizza party with her aunts, uncle, and cousins plus parents and grandma. She had 3 different cakes. She asked for a white cake with white icing which Aunt Lisa made, grandma made cupcakes, and we bought an ice cream cake. So we celebrated for 2 days. We love you, Naomi.

Apple Dumplings, Anyone?

I had several apples that needed to be used and decided this was the best way to get the family to enjoy them. As you can see the ones in the middle were taken first. I think there are 2 left at this time.Better Hurry! LOL

I've been Tagged!

I was tagged to do a "Meme" by Cheryl Watters. The rules are as follows:Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. No cheating!Find Page 123.Read the first 5 sentences.Post the next 3 sentences.Then tag 5 people.

The book nearest to me is "Portraits of Praise." A devotional for women. On page 123 is a devotional by Kandi Boardman....Reflecting the Son's Love.

However, cut and polished, kept free of dust and hung up to the light, it received the sun's rays and reflected them in beautiful, rainbow colors throughout the room. Lord, I am not worth much all by myself. I ask You to keep me free from the dust of this world.

I'll tag:

1. Sarah Watters

2.Hannah Avery

3.Ruth Anne Arnold

4.Becky Arnold

5. Sue Arnold

The Sweetest Valentine

(toothless Angel)

Grandpa Remembered Zachary too

Thank You for the Candy & Flowers

Happy Birthday, Dearest.....1/15/54

God's Holding Pattern

By Pastor Cornelius F. Warren

Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in

our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding

pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like

Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided

attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart.

Jonah was alone. There were no friends to call; no colleagues to drop by, no

books to read; no food to eat, no interference, and no interruptions. He had

plenty of time to sit, meditate, and pray.

When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to

us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about

ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A Few of God's Holding Patterns:

1.When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but God has not

healed you yet, you are in a holding pattern.

2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on

the altar but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.

3. When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have

not been saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.

4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God

but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

5. When the doors slam shut before you can knock on them, you are in a

holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no

interruptions. Hence, God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit,

meditate, and pray.

We cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough,

valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark

enough, or secret places that are hidden enough from Him.

We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and remember three things:

1. The pattern has a purpose.

2. The pattern has a plan.

3. The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying, and trusting. He'll keep you

right where you are until you can hear Him clearly say, "I love you."

Prayer:

Father, heal my unbelief. I know you love me and will turn everything around

to benefit me. You have planned nothing for me but victories, and I am ready

to receive them regardless of how difficult the path. Amen

Today's Thought:

When God measures a man, He puts the tape around the heart instead of the

head.

Naomi, Phillip and I watched the New Year come in alone this year. Our year began with attending our granddaughter, Abigail's 8th birthday. She thinks she is so grown up now. We love her so much. The first Sunday in the New Year we were blest to attend a candle light service at our church which included commune. What a sacred time. The sanctuary was so lovely. Now why didn't I have my camera with me?

Then our grandson Steven had his eardrum punctured and the doctor is allowing it to heal on it's own with God's Mercy we pray. Aaron, our youngest grandson (10 1/2 months) had tubes put in his ears by the doctor. His hearing loss was upgraded from severe to moderate. We are very grateful. He will still require hearing aides but the loss is less that thought at first. God has blessed us already this year and whatever the Lord brings in this coming year (whether good or ill) we are determined to trust Him and serve Him anyway. Our pastor spoke so eloquently on this subject and I appreciated it so much. God Bless each of you throughout the coming year.
Happy New Year!

Little White Robin Hood
by Marion Mallette Thornton
In the New Year's box from Aunt Jo there was an unusually lovely present for Leslie. It was really two presents: a beautiful warm white coat and a black velvet hood, both trimmed with soft, white fur around the edges.
Leslie was very happy, and hurried to put them on.
"Oh, mother," she cried, looking at herself in the mirror, "I'm a Little White Riding-Hood instead of a red one!"
"So you are!" said mother laughing. "I hope Granny Wolf will not eat you up."
Leslie laughed, too, and clapped her hands. "Oh, I'll go and see Granny Graham and play she is the wolf, only she is ever so much too kind to eat anybody. I ought to have something nice to take her, mother, you know Red Riding Hood did."
"Oh, I'll go and see Granny Graham and play she is the wolf."
Mother gladly packed a basket with doughnuts and red apples, but Leslie was not satisfied. "I can take doughnuts any time, I'd like to take some of the oranges from Aunt Jo's box."
Mother looked a little surprised. "Are you quite sure you can spare them, dear? You do not have oranges very often."
"I'd like to," Leslie insisted earnestly. "I don't believe Red Riding Hood was selfish, and I'm sure White Riding Hood doesn't want to be."
So mother put in three big yellow oranges, and Leslie ran down the hill with her basket. Granny Graham was a tiny, sweet old lady who lived in a tiny cottage at the foot of the hill.
Leslie knocked at the door and a pleasant voice called, "Come in." Leslie opened the door and stood inside in her pretty furry things, feeling quite nice and shivery over even playing that Granny was a wolf.
"Good morning, Granny," she said, "I'm Little White Riding Hood."
"Good morning, my dear," said Granny, smiling, "how nice you look."
"Oh, Granny," cried Leslie, "'what bright eyes you've got!'"
Granny's bright eyes twinkled with fun as she answered, "'The better to see you with'."
Leslie giggled; that was just the way it went in the story. "'Oh. Granny,'" she went on playing, "'what long ears you have!'"
"'The better to hear you with,'" answered Granny; which was all very funny because the ears peeping out from under Granny's cap were tiny like the rest of her, and did not hear any too well at best.
After that, Leslie held her basket a bit tighter and said, "'Oh, Granny, what sharp teeth you've got!'"
"'The better to eat you with,'" laughed Granny, "I'm sure you look quite sweet enough."
Leslie ran over and put the basket in her lap. "The oranges are sweeter," she said, "please eat those instead."
"All right," Granny agreed, "if you will give me a kiss with them, that will be next best to eating you."
In her heart, Leslie thought it was much better, and while Granny Graham ate one of the oranges they both decided that the story of Little White Riding Hood had a much pleasanter ending than the old one in Leslie's book.

A New Year Prayer
Holy Father,
God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chriping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..
I say it again, we rejoice!
In Jesus name,
Amen.

A Christmas Lesson

byTom Krause

"Is there a purpose? Why are we here?"

A little boy asked as the yuletide drew near."

I really do hope that someday I will know

the reason we stand out here in the snow,

ringing this bell as people walk by,

while thousands of snowflakes descend from the sky.

"The mother just smiled at her shivering son

who would rather be playing and having some fun

but soon would discover before evening was done

the meaning of Christmas the very first one.

The young boy exclaimed, "Mother where does it go?"

"All the pennies we collect - every year in the snow."

"Why do we do it? Why do we care?"

"We worked for these pennies,so why should we share?"

"Because once a baby - so meek and so mild

was born in a manger - so humble the child

the son of a King - was born in this way

to give us the message He carried that day.

"The present God gave the world on that night,

was the gift of his son to make everything right.

Why did he do it? Why did he care?

To teach about loving and how we should share."

"The meaning of Christmas, you see my dear son,

is not about presents or just having fun

but the gift of a father - his own precious Son

so the world would be saved

when his work was all done"

Now the little boy smiled - with a tear in his eye

as snowflakes kept falling from out of the sky -

rang louder the bell as the people walked by

while down deep in his heart

at last he knew why.

Copyright © Tom Krause 2003.

THIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT
2 Corinthians 9: 15

I do not know of anyone who does not like to receive a gift, whether it is for birthday, Christmas or for any other special occasion. I know that I love to receive them. I find joy and excitement in the sense of wonder as to what is contained in that gift regardless of its size.Christmas is the time when most people are thinking about the giving and receiving of gifts. One verse has kept coming to my mind these last few days, which says. "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9: 15). In Chapters 8 and 9, Paul has been speaking to the Corinthian Christians concerning giving, not just the giving of money but the giving of themselves to the Lord. He also reminds them (and us) of the wonderful gift that God has given -- His marvelous grace. As I think of this verse, I cannot help but think of God's wonderful, unspeakable gift of love so freely given to all mankind -- the gift of the Christ Child born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem so many years ago. What amazing love that God should give the gift of His only Son wrapped in the human form of a baby. This One who had known, and could by rights claim, all the glory and majesty that heaven had to offer was willing to yield to His Father's will and come to earth, be born as a babe in a stable in a manger -- an animal feed trough as His bed. This is amazing love -- a gift unspeakable to man. John 3: 16 reminds us, "For God so loved the world that He gave -- He gave the gift of His beloved Son. What gift are we willing to bring to the One who was born -- born to be King?The wise men journeyed from afar to offer Him their worship and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They did not just happen to be nearby and decide to just drop in and give their gifts. To them there was much more involved. They had to journey from a far country that they might worship and give their gifts. Thus they came seeking to find the One they knew in their hearts was to be the King of the Jews. When they found Him, they worshipped and laid their gifts before Him.How do we respond to this wonderful gift that God has so freely given to us? Has Christmas time become so common place that we only think of celebrating with friends and families, wondering what we will be given with little or no thought as to what God has provided in the giving of His Son for our salvation?God has given us so much. All that He desires in return is that we love Him and accept the salvation that He offers to all who believe and allow Him to indwell their hearts and lives. We, like the wise men, need to come seeking the One who was born to be King, humbly bow before Him and give Him everything we possess. This is the greatest gift that we can offer to Him.When wise men come seeking for Jesus from far,With rich gifts to greet Him and led by a star,They found in a stable the Savior of men, A manger His cradle, so poor was He then.Though laid in a manger, He came from a throne,On earth though a stranger, in Heaven He was known.How lowly, how gracious His coming to earth! His love, my love kindles to joy in His birth.

(Richard Slater)

What gift do you bring this Christmas season? Can you say, "I bring Him my heart? That is the most wonderful gift that we can give for His unspeakable gift of love given on that first Christmas day in Bethlehem

Welcome to our Winter Wonderland

Naomi and her grandma with whom she shares her first name.

Naomi always enjoys her trips to visit grandma because when she takes the newspaper to Aunt Delores' house who lives nearby she is always given a treat (usually her favorite~a can of diet coke). Of course she is more than willing to make any errand we may need throughout the day. She had a great time at Thanksgiving playing with her niece and nephews. She even shared her CD player occasionally.

Lookinging Ahead!

Grandma always has time to snuggle with her loveable 4 year olds who will both turn 5 next month

HAPPY 3 rd BIRTHDAY, LUKE

The main attraction at Thanksgiving

AARON

Christmas at Thanksgiving

Our son and his family won't be able to return from Kansas for Christmas so while we were together for Thanksgiving we exchanged gifts.

The twins we so excited to receive their racing outfits. They were reluctanct to take them off.
They thought it was so COOL to ride on their cousins 4 wheeler suited up!
Scary looking aliens, huh?

Leviticus 7:15And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.

I'm not sure that we obeyed fully this command because we did leave some for the next day. But we were so thankful for all the little ones at the table. What a blessing. We have so much to thank Him for. For He's been so good to us!

It was wonderful to have our grandchildren with us~ALL of them!

Naomi and I in our Poodle Skirts

Trick or Treat

I'm inclined to believe it will be a trick

He loves me, he loves me not.......AWWW He loves ME!

I love him, too!!
I

Phillip has been buying me flowers almost weekly. They aren't the most expensive but whose counting the cost? They have been so lovely. We recently got a new tower for our computer so we are still in the process of discovering where everything is. When I find the other picture of my flowers I will post it. Do you suppose Mr. Claus is hitting Mrs. Claus up for something big this year? LOL I think he just loves me!!

Can you guess what we are doing today?