My Neighbor "Miss Jackie"

Ok for a more positive post:)

I just went over to my neighbor's house with Buddy. Her name is Miss Jackie. She is 86 years old. She has 5 children (the oldest being about 66), many grandchildren (The oldest being 46) and many great grandchildren (the oldest being around 22).

She also LOVES Jesus. She became a believer in her 40s which is a rare thing in the first place. The Lord Saved her first through a co-worker bringing her to church. Then her husband became a believer and was delivered from alcoholism. They served the Lord together for the rest of their marriage until he died a few year ago. She loved him very much.

What is so awesome about her is the deep love for Jesus that propels her through life. It is not religion to her but an intense relationship with Jesus. I have seen so many elderly people become bitter, or discouraged as age, time, and sickness, have stripped so many things away from them.

She is totally opposite. She is very involved in her church. (She goes to a very healthy, large, growing church in this area). She works in the nursing mother's room on Sundays, goes to small group, and prayer meeting every Saturday night.

She has several college girls come over to her house each week.

She helps watch her neighbors grandchildren when they need help.

She gardens at her son's house each week.

And she shares her faith with those around her. That is how I first found out she was a believer. She witnessed to me! I love it! She is a huge encouragement to me. And she reminded me once again how fast life passes. Especially the time with children at home. She had 5 and she said it flew by.

Oh Father, I pray that I will be like this wonderful sister. Lord may each year of life bring me closer to you and your people. Please bless Miss Jackie and take care of her each day as she lives by herself. May you continue to use her all the days of her life.

12The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. 14They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, 15To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:1-15)

Irritation of Mine

Ok I never talk about politics on my blog or facebook. And this is not nessarily about politics but it is related.

I get a lot of my news off the Internet. Like many of you, this is like my newspaper. I scan through headlines and read stories that interest me.

I do get some of my news from smaller independent blog sites, but a lot of it is from the 3 main stream media websites, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News just because it is convenient. Now many of you reading this may think I am going to blast CNN or MSNBC for being liberal. Don't get me wrong they have a lot of liberally biast stories. Especially MSNBC.

But this is what totally urkes me. Fox News is supposed to be "conservative", and they are politically. But they have a huge section everyday on the website called "Features and Faces" which contain horrible headlines and pictures. Today there is a small picture of a topless woman, and one in a bikini with the most trashy articles.

If they want to do this, they have a right to. They are a business. But I don't like to read this website because I don't want to see this trash and I wouldn't want my son or husband browsing through it either. (I just decided to log on for a few minutes last night and I was sorry I did.) On the other hand CNN and MSNBC don't do this. Their sites are usually clean and although there may be story like this from time to time it is not an everyday thing. They also have more stories about business and and Worldwide news which I enjoy reading. Anyway I guess my point is that although many people I am close to watch and read Fox News because of their political leanings, we should not think that those leanings are ones that also translate into conservative family values. Because if we were ranking soley on conservative family values they would be #3 behind the other cable Internet news sites.

Goodbye Bottles (sniff sniff)

Hello Sippy Cups.

Well today is another milestone in the life of my son. We are throwing out the bottles. He now is comfortable drinking his formula out of a "big boy" sippy cup. (Until now he could only figure out how to drink from one that had a soft nipple like a bottle.)

This is Buddy's feeding history: I nursed exclusively for 4 months but he was so small that my doctor told me I needed to supplement. So I supplemented until he was 6 months and for the last 3 months we were only using formula.

He has taken to table food very well and with that and his formula he is a great weight now.

But this step really makes me feel like little baby is growing up. I mean when you think "Baby" you think "bottle" right?

But I have read that if they will take their milk from a sippy cup it is good to go ahead and make the switch because if you don't then they get really attached to the bottle and won't want to give it up when they are 1.

What do you think? When did you make the switch?

Evian Babies

You may think this is creepy but I think it is hilarious! Part of the reason is because my son is about the same age as these babies. I can't believe what they can do with technology today. Enjoy!

It's Official

We are moving to Asheville on August 1st. I will post more about this soon!

On another note Baby Stephen is now 9 months old. He is pulling up on everything and definitely showing more and more personality. It seems like overnight I went from having a little baby to having an almost toddler. I know this is opening up to a whole new world of motherhood and I am glad that I am reading "Shepherding a Child's heart" right now!

One funny thing he does is that when music is playing he opens his mouth and says "ahhhhh" really loud like he is trying to sing. :)

He also wants to eat everything in site! He doesn't even have teeth yet. No matter what I give him he will scarf it down like he has been starved for days. If anyone is eating around him he cries for their food or even if I am cooking or preparing food he will whine for it. (This is something that we are starting to work on.) He would be totally happy to never have a bottle again but only eat table food. (But of course I won't let him do that.) He still eats pured food but also eats a lot with his fingers. Oh well I am happy that so far he isn't picky. Hopefully this is something that will continue.

I am hanging on to every moment of his last year of life and trying to enjoy all his "babyness".

On a final note, I went to a funeral this week and someone sang the song "In the Garden". Since my church doesn't sing hymns often I haven't heard this song in a long time. I remember my grandmother always loved it. But as I listened to the words they hit me in a powerful way. It is such a worshipful hymn.

I came home and looked up the history behind it and have been thinking about it all week. So as an encouragement to you I thought I would post the words. No matter what we are going through or the pain that people around the world are going through it is awesome that for those of us in Christ there is a "secret place" we can go to with the Lord and experience joy indescribable.


In the Garden

Verse 1
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.

Chorus
And He walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

Verse 2
He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet, The birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me, Within my heart is ringing.

Verse 3
I'd stay in the garden with Him, Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; Through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.

Favorite New Pastime

Cheerio Challenge