Words determine thinking, thinking determines our feelings & feelings determine the decisions we make. This is from the study tonight at church we started called Taking Control Rom 12:1-3
Preacher Bud talked to us about the difference in praying and communing with God.
As a teen I was taught that God cared about our every day life, things as simple as a good parking place so I have always spoken to Him saying, "Lord, I am in a hurry and need a close spot today" or if I lost something' "Lord I need to know what I did with that" and He would give me that spot or bring to mind where I put the object. This is a way that we communicate. I was sitting there and a light came on, God does talk to me in simple daily acts.
These 3 verses in Romans are a good start for this study:


1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
New King James Version (NKJV)

My Spiritual Gifts are CREATING, TEACHING, STUDYING & USING MY FAITH. I am blessed to teach Young Adults and to be the Church Photographer, I thought that I would have to give up teaching because I do not have the stamina that I used to and had given up teaching preteens when the Adults class came open, it has been a blessing to me!
Taking Control is something I have to do daily knowing I live and have breath that day because God sees fit to allow it, I can't give up because my Doctor says I need a lung transplant or that my lungs are at 41%, I have things to do, I want to see my grandchildren saved and other family members in their places in a church right for them! I want to keep taking pictures and keep my mind sharp and learn more and more about my Savior, Jesus Christ! I am looking forward to learning more and pray the weather on Wednesday nights will allow more members to come! (It was wet and cold tonight)
Please pray my son, Jeremy, will be moved to start sincerely looking for a church home in Tacoma Washington!

I finished up a set of calendars for Bobbie, today, that makes 30 pages so far this year, also I am using the guide in the back of my Bible and am up to Gen 11 reading through the year.
Had a very nice time with the babies today, held Ames most of the time :0)
Today would have been my Nanny's 94th birthday, she was wonderful, could look at something and make it. She quilted, crocheted, sewed, and was the best cook I ever knew. She also was serious in Bible study, she had an allergy to nylon so rarely made it to church but her Pastor Phillip came to the house for her and Aunt Doll. She loved Oral Roberts and is the one who let me borrow Corrie Ten Boone's book The Hiding Place. I spent a good bit of time with her. She made aprons and sold them to the women she worked with at the mill and was a cloth hoarder, LOL! I know I have a lot of her in me!

OK, done well so far, 8 pages today which made a total of 20. Here is one I made for the SBE Scripture Challenge. Kit is Oh Night Divine by Rina Kroes.

I forgot to put my 2011 resolutions in writing here... to do something creative every day and to reread the Bible, this time in Chronological order (I love my new study Chronological Bible).

I started my New Year with 3 pages using Cold Hands Warm Heart by Connie Prince. Today I made 9 pages on a special calendar I am making for a friend at church. I was a little disappointed that only Les and I were on our pew today, usually Gina and Charli join us but they stayed home today. My week doesn't go well without church. Of course I study because I teach and I read my Bible as my Grandmother taught me but to really be a Christian I need to be with other Christians or the world takes over my thoughts. When my end comes it will be said I was Faithful and not a faker.

Charli was a good sport trying collards and black eyed peas but she did not like them! It wasn't worth a trip to the Dollar Tree! She did like the cornbread and cheese biscuits, though.

I so loved my fIL! I am thinking of him tonight as he wouldn't let us sweep or wash clothes on New Year because he believed it would cause a death in the family...

I played around usually Daily Inspiration by Connie Prince

I so hope I get my ROBOT back today! Mine blew out on Christmas Eve and poor Crystal had to open Lincare to let me get some tanks and let me borrow this portable! This one is made for transporting people and has no holder. I am not wanting to have this next week when I keep the babies, It won't be easy to carry Ames as I carry this! I have a strap so I can put on my shoulder but it is bulky although very light.

Some pictures of the snow Monday, it didn't last long.

A few of my favorite things

These are 3 of my favorite gifts this year. I always enjoy the VWs I get from Twila and Keith, my Mom gives me wonderful gifts like this statue and the CUTE Gamecock Gnome from Gina.
I took my last chemo today, will start Cellcept end of month, it is another strong medicine with a lot of side effects but I made it through 12 chemos without much... just gaining 20 lbs which Dr H says not to worry about.
It snowed yesterday but didn't last, took a few bird pictures I will post later.

Well Christmas is over, Today was a nice quiet day at my MIL's, It was just my family and my niece, Noel and her new husband, Dylan. Noel lived with us when she was in elementary school and I love her so! My SIL went to Kentucky :0)!!! Since both the boys are in Army and my other niece is in some trouble it was a nice peaceful NO DRAMA time!
It was nice with my family, we rented the lodge which was smart, I had some stress because my portable air tank blew a seal and Crystal had to come get me a tank to borrow and it didn't have a holder and didn't last as long so I am having to use the heavy tank and I forgot the stocking and my camera and didn't get to visit with my Grandmother, that all started to get to me but I remembered it's all about a Baby and sharing time with family while I can.
Les will be out of work awhile, he has a cane to use and has a lot of pain and trouble getting around. I have to get disability paper filled out, I don't know if he is going to take me to my last chemo or if I will just go myself. Gina is working.
Jeremy is on the phone now, he just posted a video for me to watch so I will go do that.
Merry Christmas all!

I have to say this is the most "UNChristmasy" holiday ever! Had to call ambulance for Les Monday night and the ER was a terror! He is still in hospital with a pinched nerve in his spine, Might get to come home tomorrow. The stress hit me this morning, I have so much I need to do... have not wrapped gifts, House was a mess and still have calendars to do!
Charli was a good girl in the Christmas play though and I only have a couple calendars left, got most of my cleaning done, Les usually does most of it because I do not have the breath to do it but he had spent most of his day off helping his Mom do her Christmas shopping so I had to. I hate that he didn't get to see the play even though it was boring.

I am so glad Gina got the 'crafty gene'! She , Trey and Charli made a gingerbread house, complete with the family on the back!
Very busy trying to get the church calendars done! Four down, eight to go!

These are pages from Kevin'd Book at church, His is the first I have finished, I used Raspberry Roads JAVA JOE Kit so it would have a masculine feel to it. His Mom wanted pictures of his friends at church, I know he will be tickled when he get it!

Dear Santa

Working on calendars for church, I have 12 to do, this one is Tommy's, he has a toy drive and right now has over 2000 toys in a warehouse to help kids in need, I thought it would be very nice to give him Christmas all year! These are top page, bottom has calendar. I used Cathy K's wonderful Dear Santa to do these as the fun colors are fun for all year!

I made $70 at our Craft Show today, I had really hoped to do much better and raise more money for church, I don't know how much yet as I had that in a donation box and didn't open it. The fellowship was great though and I enjoyed spending time with my friends!
Bad weather is heading this way, the cold is so hard for me to breathe but we are having a memorial service for Papa Hurst tomorrow.

I have to speak at church December 26 on the subject "What did you give Jesus for Christmas?" I have a couple of ideas floating in my head and will share but what would you say?

I have so got to spend some time at home and get stuff done!! Today I kept the kids all day then ate at Gina's (Les cooked) so it was 8:00 when we got home! I have the beads to finish the last few things before the craft show Saturday! I keep them here tomorrow, I ran out of air today but Les brought my back up. I still can't do any crafting while they are here, I spend most time holding Ames and Charli has to be paid attention to. She says, "I'm talking to you, Meme!"
I still have a dozen calendars to make!

Thirty years ago Les and I had a small wedding, today we went to Greenville and made a Bumble for Charli and Puppy for Seth. Then we spent time at Harbor Freight, A.C. Moore and ate Chinese at Ni Hao. It was nice, we always have a great time just going by ourselves.