Our Little Miracle

I Love This!

I found this picture today and it made me giggle.

That face!

Gotta love a face like that.

A Glorious Gospel

Vince and I have been involved with the witnessing ministry at our church for some time now.
We have been given the amazing opportunity to visit with people from all walks of life and at many different points along the path to God.
When we first started doing this, I must admit that V had to practically drag me to the door of most of the homes. It was way akward for me as I wasn't brought up or trained in this type of ministry.
But over the course of time it went from being something I was almost forced (for lack of a better word) to do to being something I enjoyed doing.
As we began to see fruit from this ministry it became a real joy to me to see the light of understanding and acceptance come to peoples eyes as they understood our words. It was also amazing to see conviction fall on some people as they began to see their sin through the eyes of God and in light of His standards.
Sadly, even when they have "gotten it", most of them don't see it through to a real relationship with God and the salvation of their souls.
But onward we go. The Bible commands us to tell of this gospel and I rejoice that I have become apart of spreading this wonderous Word.
It's not always easy. We have shared this with some who have just tolerated us, those who have shut us out and those who won't even listen.
But there are those who listen and rejoice in what we have to say and that makes it worth it.
The Word will go on and prevail. It won't be bound and it will be heard.
It's exciting to see the seeds planted in hearts and though we may never see the harvest or even know if what we have done has taken root we are making sure that in the lives we reach, the seeds are being sown.
1 Cor 3:5-9
Vince is usually the one who does the actual sharing of the gospel itself and lately as I have listened to him and I view it through the listeners ears or even just take it all in again for myself, I have been in awe all over again of what great news it really is. How awesome His plan of salvation! How wonderous His love for us! How beyond words it all is. It is more wonderful than I can say, more glorious than human heart can imagine.
And every time I hear it, I can't help but lift my heart to Him in awe, reverance and humble gratitude that every word is true. And it's for all of us!

SUCH LOVE

That God should love a sinner such as I

Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss

Nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh

How wonderful is love like this?

Chorus

Such love, such wondrous love

Such love, such wondrous love

That God should love a sinner such as I

How wonderful is love like this.

That Christ should join so freely in the scheme

Although it meant His death on Calvary

Did ever human tongue find nobler theme

Than love divine that ransomed me?

That for a wilful outcast such as I

The Father planned, the Saviour bled and died

Redemption for a worthless slave to buy

Who long had law and grace defied.

And now He takes me to His heart a son

He asks me not to fill a servant's place

The far-off country wand'rings all are done

Wide open are His arms of grace.

-Robert Harkness

1880-1961

I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a godly husband who encouraged me to go beyond what I thought I could do for the work of God. God has given me the courage to actually do it and because of this I am a part of God's work.
Some days it seems like such a small thing and it feels like we aren't doing much at all, especailly when people don't receive us well, but my heart rejoices for the place I have in God's kingdom as I follow His command to "go into all the world". That "world" may be my own community but it's reaching my world and it's more of blessing to my heart than I would have ever thought.
And the blessing of having the gospel be fresh and new to me all over again is one of the most exciting parts. Sometimes it's like hearing it all over again for the first time. It thrills my heart and makes my heart leap with joy. Inside I'm saying, "Isn't this wonderful! Let's hear it again! This is amazing! Thank you, Jesus!"
May the glorious gospel of our Lord never stop being fresh and exciting. May it always bring a rejoicing to our soul like the first time we really heard it.

This Laugh Brought To You In Honor Of My Man's Career

Don't know if you will find this as funny as I did or even understand all of it, but I think they are great.

Airline Announcements
A plane took off from John F. Kennedy Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude the Captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOSH!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger in Coach yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!"

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a NW flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as ---- everything has shifted."

From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcome aboard Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

Overheard on an PSA Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our plane to the gate!"

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no, Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"

After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on the horn, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."

Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Southwest Airlines."

Heard on one of the airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."

Heard on a Southwest Airline flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

On a Continental Flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."



ATC Conversations
ATC: Alitalia 321, continue taxi to the holding position 20R south via tango. Check for workers along taxiway.
Alitalia 321: Roger, 20R via tango. Workers checked, all are working.

ATC: Flight 1234, for noise abatement, turn right 45 degrees. "
Pilot: "But Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?"
ATC: Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?"

ATC: NXXXX Say Heading
Plane: Heading
ATC: NXXXX Say Altitude
Plane: Altitude
ATC; NXXXX Say Cancel IFR
Plane: Uhh Our heading is 260 at 6000FT

Northwest 605: "Northwest 605 request taxi to the active MSP."
Ground: "Northwest 605 taxi to runway **, follow the CRJ, you will be number two."
Northwest 605: "Roger, we will follow the Smurf-Jet."
Flagship 5600: "At least my airplane doesn't qualify for an AARP membership.."

Beech Baron: Uh, ATC, verify you want me to taxi in front of that 747.
ATC: Yeah, it’s okay. He’s not hungry.



Pilot Maintence Logs
Problem: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
Solution: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Choo Choo

We recently got this very special gift from Vince's nanny for the baby.

The special part is that Nanny picked this out just for us from the blind center she used to go to in Florida. It was made by a blind person there.

Whoever made it did an amazing job and I'm sure our child will love to play with it. It's made of wood with connecting cars and a string to pull the train along. Can you just here the "Choo Choo" now?

We will enjoy watching baby play with it and sharing the story of how we got it. Hopefully it will be a gift we can pass on to the next generation.

In case you don't know, I love things that have a story and a history. I really want this train to have it's own continuing story and long history.

Thanks Nanny.

A New Key On Our Chain and Abundant Blessings

It's official. We are homeowners.
To this I say in humble awareness of what all this means, "Thank you, Lord for your amazing blessing and provision" and in the next breathes, "Feel the Responsibility" and "Okay, let the spending begin."
The day we handed over that check with our down payment and closing costs, the spending had officially started not ended.
Ack! There's so much we DON'T have.
So Vince and I have been on a shopping spree that makes both our heads spin.
Next comes decisions like paint colors, where will everything go, what is a must-do fix or what can wait, what are we gonna do about this, what are we gonna do about that?
And on and on.
But seriously, I am NOT complaining. In reality I'm totally loving this new experience and with every breath I thank God for it all.
I also thank my hubby for helping me stick to a budget that would allow us to be here today.
Because of him and his thriftiness (sometimes appreciated by me and sometimes not) we are holding keys to a new home that is all ours and with just enough left to get a few things/lots of things we need.
God has given so many abundant blessings lately that most times when I think of it I just want to fall on my knees and say, "Lord, who am I that you would bless me so much!"
Never in my life have I been more aware of the fact that EVERYTHING is from HIS hand and it certainly isn't from me. None of it.
There are time you just have to stop and stand in awe of what God is doing for us, in us and through us.

For All The Fathers

I especially want to wish my hubby

a first Happy Father's Day.

You are going to make one awesome daddy!

I love you!

That's Funny Stuff!

I have decided to start adding some humor to my blog (I'm going to aim for once a week) because we all need it.
We live in a world with far too little to make us laugh until our gut hurts. I'm not promising to bust your gut but hopeful I'll help you crack a smile.
Proverbs tells us in 17:22-

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Sadly, some days we have too much that makes our bones dry up and not so much of what makes a merry heart.
So here is my little attempt to serve up to you a good dose of heart medicine. May it do you good.


Disclaimer: I make no claims to this joke or any humor from here on out. I will admit here and now that I have taken it from someone else who also sees the need to bring to others a little moment of the giggles.

Buddy and Edna

Buddy and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year,

And every year Buddy would say,

'Edna,I'd like to ride in that helicopter' Edna always replied,

'I know Buddy, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, And fifty bucks is fifty bucks'

One year Buddy and Edna went to the fair, and Buddy said, 'Edna, I'm 85 years old.

If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance'

To this, Edna replied, "Buddy that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks'

The pilot overheard the couple and said, 'Folks I'll make you a deal.

I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word

I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word it's fifty dollars.'

Buddy and Edna agreed and up they went.

The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard.

He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, But still not a word...

When they landed, the pilot turned to Buddy and said,

'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't.

I'm impressed!'

Buddy replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out,

But you know,

"Fifty bucks is fifty bucks!'

*From Susan @ Forever His

Did The Groundhog See It's Shadow?

Okay, it's a little late for Groundhog's Day but here's a picture of two baby groundhogs that we saw recently.

I have acquired a sort of strange fascination with them. Growing up in Kansas and Oklahoma they weren't an animal I was used to seeing and when we first moved up here we had no idea what they were. Since they are everywhere it didn't take us long to find out about them.

To most people around here they are pests, I just like to chase them with my camera.

Especially the babies. Aren't they cute?

God's Timing Is So Good

V's parents were here for a few days last week. We had a wonderful time with them!
It was nice to have them come to our place since we almost always go out their way.
We took them to our favorite park, Elizabeth Park, where this picture was taken of them.
We spent some time there walking around and playing a quick game of that game I promised not to mention anymore for awhile. There are reasons there are no pictures of that.
It was truly a "God thing" that they came when they did. Because of the timing they were here to help us make some really big decisions and both Vince and I feel more comfortable with things having had their advice, guidance and prayer.
They are such a wonderful blessing and we sooo enjoyed our time with them. We just wish it could have been longer.

No Matter What...

Our God is big enough.


Isn't that good to know?

Baseball & Added Little Blessings

This post is a long time in coming.
The event talked about is weeks old but oh well, better late than never, huh?
Before I start, I must promise that hopefully this will be the last post on baseball for awhile. I’m beginning to see a pattern here.
With that said on we go.
Last month V and I went to a Detroit Tiger’s game. It was my first major league game and I totally enjoyed it. However it was the hottest day of the year so far and we were wayyyyy at the top where the sun could take it’s best shot at us. And it did. My arms and nose began to take on the prettiest red color you ever did see and I decided I didn’t want to be up there. (Someone forgot her sunscreen.)
So my dear, accommodating hubby took me down to the main area where we could stand and watch the game in the shade. Hey it was a better view anyway, right?
Well, right after we got down there and found a nice place to stand for the last 3 innings of the game, two girls came up to us and said, “We have to go, do you want our seats?” Well of course we said "yes" and 'thank you very much" and we found ourselves in nice cushy, shaded and fairly pricey seats. The view was amazing and we spent the rest of the game shaded and comfortable as we continued to munch on our twizzlers and peanuts and cheer for our team from field level.

What a blessing those seats were! It was just what I needed. I will try not to get spoiled and think I need that at every game but it sure was nice. That is totally the way to watch baseball on a hot day.

And the icing on the cake is that the Tigers did end up winning the game after some very tense moments.