The Smell of Snow

Can you smell it? Can you smell the clean, soft, crisp smell of snow? Do you feel the bite of cold on your nose as you enjoy the cold air filling your senses with winter? I can't! All I have are my memories. I love the smell of snow. There is just nothing else like it in the world! I would always look forward to the first snow of the season. I was always glancing towards the sky and sniffing the air every time I stepped outside, I probably looked like a dog sniffing after a hidden bone at times. I didn't care. As soon as the first hint of snow smell was in the air, I was announcing it like I was some weather expert that everyone needed to hear from. Then I would look for the first snowflake. The clouds would tease me as I paced in front of the window waiting. Then finally, it would fall and more would join that first snowflake. Soon there was a blanket. It seems as if snow is just so quiet. It calms the soul. So peaceful, so quiet, so beautiful, so white, and the smell. Ahhhhhh.

I can't imagine what God must have been thinking when he created snow. Each flake, alone is absolutely gorgeous, and different. The way the ice crystals glimmer if the light hits them just a certain way. The way they feel on your cheeks and tongue when they hit. No wonder it has been said that snowflakes are like kisses from angels. But he had made so many snowflakes over the years, no wonder he has storehouses. (Proverbs 38:22) He has purpose for snow. He says he will even use it in time of battle and war. To think, he has a purpose for snow. Snow that he knew would be beautiful, has a bigger purpose than for our enjoyment of looking at or playing in by flying down a huge hill on a piece of wood or plastic. What joy !!!We can obtain exercise by shoveling it or making a snowman. We can also be foolish with it and get ourselves hurt.

God has purpose for us too. First, through his son Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, He has washed us and we are whiter than snow. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7 He has purpose for us just like he did each snowflake, and we cover more territory together! May our lives for Christ, blanket the world together like a blanket of snow. May we be the snow that is spreading joy!!!!

Want to cut out some snowflakes. Click on the word Snowflake. We cut out a bunch and Haley wants to write prayers on one, and then our blessings we are thankful for on the others. Her Idea!!!!!

THE SHELF

Here is a little known fact about me, I collect sheep. Or rather, I used to collect sheep, now I look at my collection all neatly arranged on a shelf in my living room. So don't go getting any bright ideas about gifts, I have no more room! I now have a child, a dog, and a husband that have their allotted space.

My daughter has the most allotted space. She is collecting stuffed animals, any and all stuffed animals, and she doesn't need anymore either. She feels sorry for them when she comes across them, I hear, "Don't they need a good home, Mom?" Ugh!!!!! I wonder if this is how my mom felt about my sheep? Proably not, since my they are mostly pottery and my mom loves to collect pottery and figurine hands.

The dog is easy, he only collects fleas. He destuffs his toys and tears them to shreds, which take up very little space. I find stuffing strewn throughout the house, a arm to a stuffed chipmunk, or tail to a stuffed alligator, but overall he just requires a clean up crew.

My husband, so near and dear to my heart, has recently began going to comic book conventions. He has started collecting superhero figurines. That is such a boy thing to do, isn't it? Not only is he collecting for himself, he is collecting for my daughter! Who said she could have two collections? He brought home a WonderWoman bobble head figurine doll for the shelf in her room. You should have seen the ceremony with which he placed Wonder Woman upon her shelf along with the other Wonder Woman trinkets he has aquired on past trips (all for Haley). I am sure actors handle their Oscar's with just as much pride. Just remember, this is Haley's collection. HA!

He then unveils a box, and removes an Underdog figurine, his favorite. He says, with great conviction, "This is going on THE SHELF!" I know right away what shelf he is talking about, my sheep shelf. I think he thought I would argue, but I didn't. I never knew he had such envy, just waiting and wanting to place something on my sheep shelf! I just laughed and said, "Go ahead." I mean, it was a cute little Underdog.

He placed him high on the top middle shelf where he can't be missed. I officially now have a Super UnderSheepDog amongst my collection of sheep. Maybe the new UnderSheepDog will give shoe(hoof)shines to my sheep and keep the dust away! Yeah, just what I thought, he proably doesn't shine sheep.

Did you know that turkeys swim????

My daughter was very excited today. She participated in her very first TURKEY SWIM. Now, I never knew turkeys could swim but then I found out, that it was our kids that were the turkeys. Winner takes home a frozen turkey. Entry fee was a canned food item for Metropolitan Ministries. We watched the little turkeys swim for as long as they could for an hour. I think this was better than trying to catch the frozen turkey in the water like you do a greased watermelon!

I am a proud parent tonight! No, my daughter did not win the frozen turkey but she did succeed. She walked away, after finally climbing out of the pool(she was so tired), a WINNER! She wanted to swim for an hour as many laps as she could, she was not the fastest or best. In fact, she had the least experience in her age group. She swam like a champ, she perservered. I gave her several chances to get out, but she just said, "I am going to go on!"

Haley is in stroke school. She isn't on the team yet. She and her friend Valerie, who just finished stroke school, were the only ones that were not on the team. Both of them swam together and encouraged each other along the way. How wonderful is that? They knew they were not able to compete with the girls on the team but they did their best! Isn't that what parents expect from their children, their best? Haley and Valerie both swam 30 laps-that is a 1500! Wow! They got a ticket for ice-cream and a button that said "I survived the turkey swim." Haley can't wait to wear her button to school tomorrow.

As I write this, I think, isn't that what God expects from us, our best? Paul talks of running the race several times. "Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."1 Corinthians 9:24b-25NIV So though Haley's turkey swim button will not last, I think that encouraging words to friend is a great step in running the race for Christ and supporting and encouraging our friends in tough times will count towards the crown that will last forever!

I am FREE!!!!

I celebrated freedom this weekend. The freedom to worship God with all my heart, mind, and soul. I along with others sang along with Sandi Patti, Nicole C. Mullen, Anita Renfroe and Sheila Walsh. We listened to Patsy, Marilyn, and Anita and laughed till we cried, we listened to stories that made us cry and so we comforted each other. We raised our hands in worship of our Most High God, we lifted our burdens and our squeals of laughter to Him. We raised the roof with Nicole C. Mullen! It was truly a WOF(women of faith) weekend with Max Lucado, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg, and Carol Kent.

Check out my slideshow!!! It does have some video in it, so if you still have dial up, it may be slow. Hopefully all of you with quick connections will not have any problems. Be patient for it.

Anita sang her underwire song and her mommy song and did her pursonility skit. We thoroughly enjoyed laughing with her. According to her I am the one that will land you in jail and talk about what fun we had. I was carrying a purse with a palm tree with beaded sequins and beads. I also had two smaller purses inside my larger purse. I would like to say that I am not a trouble maker, but I do like to have fun! The better I know you, the more fun I have. My daughter wanted her autograph, but I missed her meet and greet session, so I just told her all about it.

Sandi Patti sang just like always. Hitting notes that I didn't even know existed like it was nothing. She sang, and at one point was struck by the Spirit to the point that she couldn't. It was awesome. It was neat to hear her again. I was a big fan as a teenager and I saw her in concert then. She has been down the road with her own issues, but as she says, our God is the God of second chances. And third and fourth............(the third and fourth were my own.)

Nicole C. Mullen rocked the roof off the place. I have been to many concerts in my life, but none, has struck me like she did. She rallied the entire multitude of women to cry out claiming the freedom that God gives us. She had a group of kids with her that danced and she is mentoring them. One of them has been on Oprah due to his ability to sing the most awesome Oscar Mayer Weiner song. He sang it for us.

Nicole Johnson (who was new to me) was great! She performed dramatizations. One was about Mary and Martha-that was my favorite. Another was about the Legion who cut himself with stones, and the last was about Judas.

Patsy Clairmont had us rolling in the aisles. So full of spunk, fashion, and humor. She had me tearing up though when she shared about her husband who was a brittle diabetic and he kept walking even though the doctors didn't understand how. He kept putting one foot in front of the other and how after a heartbreak they experienced, he came around the car and danced with her while music in the neighborhood played. This reminded me so much of my own father, who kept putting one foot in front of the other and served God until he just was no longer able.

Lucy Swindoll was a hoot! She shared the funniest story about a cruise that she took. She met a fellow that juggled, but he juggled knives on a unicycle on a boat in the middle of the ocean. He even added balloons. He kept cutting himself, but never gave up. She compared that to life. We don't see what is coming and end up like him, with lots of bandaids. God is ready to heal us.

Marilyn Meberg was also so very funny with the ajax sticker story. But she also made us cry sharing the story of her daughter that only lived 15 days.

Sheilah Walsh sang over the rainbow. What a beautiful voice she has. She shared the neatest story about her son, who loves and rescues animals. He brought home a baby bird he had found, and told her that they had to feed it every hour during the night. She wasn't to excited about that but when she voiced complaint, he said, "but it will die." So she got up each hour in the night and fed the bird who was ready and waiting. They took it to a bird rescue place the next day. They walked in to find an owl with a broken beak and a one legged duck that were the best of friends. When she asked why these birds were getting along, she was told they do get along when they are broken.

Carol Kent shared the tragic story of her son, but also told how they had CHURCH in prison each Sunday. How he is dedicated to witnessing to thousands of inmates.
Max Lucado shared his vision of John 3:16. It is the WHOEVER that is so welcome in God's Kingdom. Are you a WHOEVER?????

Are they muffins or cupcakes?

Kelly's birthday was yesterday, and I made him pumpkin muffins..or cupcakes. I am not sure that I could tell. They didn't quite rise like a muffin but they did not have a ton of icing on top like a cupcake. I bought icing and was shot down, he said he didn't want that stuff! Now how do you do a birthday without icing?????? I compromised. I had seen a recipe that you mix just a can of pumpkin and a spice cake mix together and cook. Hmmmm, I wasn't sure about that, so I created my own. How do you think they look? I sprinkled some oatmeal on top like you would a muffin, but then I put a Scooby Doo candle right in the middle. So I have decided to call them muffcakes!

Pumpkin Birthday muffcakes

1 box of spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin

2 eggs

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup of water

Sprinkles of oatmeal

Mix it up and put into muffcake pan. Sprinkle on some oatmeal. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean. It made about 15 muffcakes.

Haley went crazy with them, she really liked them. Kelly did too, but I think he had second thoughts about the icing. I am going to make some more of these to take to the eleventh week of the Daniel Bible study tomorrow. It is my turn.

I have seen a pumpkin dumpcake recipe that I want to try. Maybe for turkey day!!!

Who wants a marshmallow?

What is it about bon fires and marshmallows? I wish I knew who thought that one up. Does it not just have the most relaxing quality to it?
My daughter was roasting marshmallows with two of her good friends last night. I went to pick her up from my mom's house and they were all out back listening to the crackling fire, talking, playing, eating marshmallows and smores. The weather was perfect and the company was great. I wanted to take the girls pictures, with the fire in the background. Leave it to them to try to back close as they could to the fire. I had to say, " Not that close, your names are not Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego. I want the fire in the background, I don't want you standing in it! "
Since I am doing the Daniel Bible study by Beth Moore currently, this had deeper meaning for me! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego were forced into the fire since they would not bend knee to King Nebuchadnezzar to worship him as God. They would only worship the one true God and they would go through the fire into God's arms if they had to. The fire was so hot that some of the strongest soldiers that had escorted the three into the fire, DIED! But what was so awesome is when ole King Neb cried, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Daniel 3:25 Hmmm, no mention of marshmallows! But it does say when they came out of the fire, everyone looked on to see that ......the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:27 Wow! I know I had a smell of smoke on me when I got in the car last night, but God is so powerful and mighty that he can bring you through a fire in your life without the smell of smoke left on you.

Dogs and Bacon

My dog is crazy, or is it me? I am not really sure anymore. Thomas, my dog, is a good dog, but if something is in his sight that he is interested in, all is lost, he will chase it, run to it, eat it, or throw it about in the air. The only way to even get his attention is to use his shock collar. Now don't get upset, he doesn't need a shock, he needs a beep. I push a button and he hears a beep and that is all he needs to obey. The batteries are dead.
I planned to take the dog and put him on his lead under the big tree in the yard. My dog planned to go play with his friends across the street. I don't mind him playing with the dogs, but the street is busy and I fear for his life. The dog doesn't know how to cross the street without being a moving target for cars. His dog friends across the street know how to cross the street, believe it or not, they stop, look, and listen. So off Thomas goes, across the street, and of course it is also a nature preserve with a locked gate. He is off and running. He won't come. I call and call. He looks back, turns and runs in the other direction. I tap on the gate with the leash hook. I call, I threaten, and all I see is the dust he left behind and I can hear dogs laughing at the idiot person at the gate. I wait. He doesn't come. Now, normally I would just go on about my business, but I just know if I turn my back he will be run over, flat as a pancake with all the traffic speeding by. The people driving by must wonder why I am standing at this gate like an idiot.
I have an idea, I will get Haley's whistle and blow it, maybe he will come. He did come to the gate with another dog, but he didn't come out. He looked at me and trotted off, left the other dog to gaurd the gate while he played. Great. What else can I do? I know, bacon! I cooked some bacon and went to the driveway with the leash in hand and stood there, he wouldn't come to even see I had bacon. So, I got in the car and drove across the street, thinking the dog would bark and all the other dogs would come running. Nope, he just looked at me with his big blue eyes and remained silent. Thanks for nothing! I went back home. They noticed when I was out of sight. Thomas came back to the fence, and was about to take off again, and I go running out of the house calling sweet as could be, "Thomas, bacon! I have bacon, don't you want some?" I acted like I was eating some, and you know, the dog came. Just as excited as could be, he wanted the bacon. I led him to the lead under the tree, hooked him up, and walla, Thomas got a mouth full of bacon. Silly dog!