Month: October 2013

What a fun day Monday was…as it was the Annual Teddy Bear Auction

hosted by Barbara Fairchild Ministries.

We began our day about 9:30 meeting up at the Golden Corral.

Busyness everywhere, decorating the showroom,

making lists and organizing Teddy Bears.

And we raised over $3,880!

All for feeding local children

and helping families in the Branson area with Autistic Children.

If you would like your own Teddy Bearchild Package

(Teddy Bear signed by Barbara Fairchild, 

CD of her singing Teddy Bear, 

and the childrens book authored by Barbara)

please let me know.  

They are $54 including shipping and go for a great cause.

And after our busy, crazy day of Monday

we decided to take Tuesday off

and go for a ride.

What a beautiful day to be out in

God’s creation seeing His magical artistry.

The day began a bit gray and overcast but eventually cleared.

We saw some amazing colors of yellow, orange, & red dotted with green.

It was a great way to spend the day as our cell phones didn’t work

for most of the day so we were able to talk,

laugh and enjoy each other’s company

without interruption.

It was a full day

and we are thankful we were able to 

enjoy it together.

And now it is a new day!

Back to the bike this morning.

Rode for 45.20 minutes,

9.81 miles

burned 502 calories.

And boy do my legs know it.

While riding the bike I spent some time in prayer

and the thought that kept going through my mind was

“Discipline..it just takes Discipline.”

And God being God

began my devotion for today in

Now how direct is that???

God loves me enough to discipline me,

just like parents discipline their children because they love them.

And this verse came to mind

A verse that has helped me through 

some very difficult times.

Reminding me that difficult times lead to 

good times.

And how quick we are as humans to rationalize 

our behavior, our choices.

And sometimes getting to the Yes the hard way.

For me, 

my heart attack was a major wake-up call.

I have been diligent about exercising

and eating healthy until this past week.

Making excuses, rationalizing making poor eating choices

with “well, we haven’t seen these friends in a long time so go ahead and have that piece of pie.”

“One handful of gummi bears aren’t going to hurt me.”

“I haven’t had a bowl of ice cream in so long.”

You know, the lists goes on and on.

And then this morning I am reminded by God

There is a lot that depends on me,

that I can do for me,

giving me peace in life.

Exercising

(and boy do my legs hurt after 3 days not riding the bike)

Making healthy choices

(drinking a bottle of water first thing in the morning 

instead of starting with 2 or 3 cups of coffee with creamer)

Planning healthy dinners

(cooking at home instead of going out to eat)

And the evidence of knowing God,

knowing what is healthy for me;

is displayed in how I 

Love others,

Love myself,

(which is not being selfish but taking care of what God has blessed me with)

Forgive others,

Forgive myself,

(for making bad/wrong choices ~ that was yesterday,

today is a new day)

And bearing each others burdens,

helping where we can

and encouraging others.

By blessing others I am blessed too!

Thank you Lord for starting my own thoughts this morning

about discipline

and using my devotional 

to affirm what I know is true.

That I am not alone in this 

journey of life

that You are always with me.

**************************************

I close with asking for prayer over the next few days.

October has always been a hard month for me.

Emotionally as my Mom, Dad and Grandpa all died in October.

As I struggled with major depression issues many years 

in the month of October.

Halloween is not a fun holiday for me,

thus it was not always easy for our family.

I ask for prayer for peace in my heart,

and for love and joy to be exploding 

in the hearts of my children and grandchildren.

And again

I am thankful for the Lord’s 

consistent love and provision 

in my life over the past years,

today and what it will bring.

And His reminder,

Now isn’t that an oxymoron?

Restless ~ can’t sit still, feeling anxious, constantly moving

Exhaustion ~ tired, not moving, 

That is how I was yesterday.  

Feeling restless, like there is so much to do.

And there is: checkbooks to be balanced, kitchen to be cleaned, 

a cabin needing cleaning, bathrooms needing some attention,

dinner to be fixed, and the list goes on and on….

And not knowing where to even begin.

Adding in an appointment smack dab in the middle of the day,

guests checking in, telephone ringing,

mail to be answered, evening plans and the list goes on and on…

And feeling exhausted, to keep from 

getting the cold and achyness that hubby brought home from Portland.

So tired, just wanted to go to bed,

afraid to sit down for fear going to fall asleep 

wherever I sit.

And so I crawled into bed just after 7 p.m.

And was asleep before 8 p.m.

(I know because I missed the end of Dateline)

And finally woke up at 7:22 a.m.

Yep, I think I was tired.

Got up, dressed, started my morning routine

and thought crap! it’s already 9 a.m.

time to open the office.

Nope, only 8:01 a.m.

So asked myself

Do I spend time in the Word or just open the office?

Time in the Word…

…important for me, helps me to get off on a good foot.

And once again

God is Faithful!!!

Question of the day:  Do people encounter Christ when they meet me?

I would say yes, most of the time,

but on mornings when I feel rushed and discombombulated – ummm NO!

God affirming to me it was right to spend this hour with Him.

Variety of Scriptures this morning

Psalm 103:19-22

A reminder that there is comfort in knowing

God has power over everything,

especially with all the changes and instability 

happening in our world today.

And remembering

Romans 8:31

And Joshua 3:7-8

As God was with Moses, He will always be with me!

Ephesians 2:14-18

And finally

Hebrews 12:14

I think a lot about Peace…

peace in relationships,

peace in my heart and soul

living in peace

and I cling to

for something I crave and have absolutely no control over

a healed relationship

with my younger sister.

And I have to remind myself

It is all in God’s timing.

God knows the desires of my heart

and I have peace 

in my heart that 

God hears my prayers.

*************************************

Today I am thankful for a new day,

to live in Christ

and knowing without a shadow of doubt

that one day, some how, some way

I will be reconciled with my sister.

Looking Back

Twelve years ago today, just about now I received a phone call from Ron.  I was at work, just getting ready to start my day.  He asked me if I had any appointments or errands I had to run. I replied, “No.”  He said, “Good, stay right there I will be there in about 15 minutes.” and then hung up on me.

I sat and stared at the phone…something was wrong.  What could it be?

Did something happen to one of the boys?  My mom?  His mom?

I walked down the hallway to my bosses’ office.  Told CU that I didn’t know what was going on but wanted to let him know that Ron was on his way into the office, something was up.  He told me to let him know if I needed anything.

And about 15 minutes later, Ron came walking into my office.

He did not look good.  

He took my hands and said,

“Kathy (my older sister) called, your Dad died this morning.”

I don’t remember screaming, but from all accounts I let out a blood curdling scream.  CU, DE and RB came flying into my office.  Ron was holding me and I kept saying, “He can’t be gone.  He can’t be gone.”

But he was.

My Dad and I did not always have the best of relationships.  He did many things that hurt me physically, emotionally and mentally.  BUT we had gotten to a place in our lives where we could love each other and be together, laughing and smiling and even joking about some things.  I knew at the age of 43 my Dad loved me and I loved him.  

After some talking, people were telling me I needed to go home.

But no, it was payday…people needed their paychecks…so I made plans to do a few things at the office and then head for home.  I told Ron I would be home around 11 a.m.  He was going to go to work and talk to his boss and begin making arrangements for us to contact our sons, Jamie & Brandon, make plans to go to California, to be with my sisters and put my Dad to rest.

And we did just that.  

We have never been ones to have much of a savings (against the angst of our parents and some good friends) but the Lord provided the money for us to get there – remember it was payday 🙂

Looking back I can see how the Lord provided: the money for Brandon to fly from Idaho to CA, for Jamie to be with us in Blaine and able to ride down with us to CA…giving us three drivers so we could drive straight through, both of us having bosses that understand the importance of family.

And putting us in a Bible study of a body of believers who would minister to me in so many wonderful ways in the days, weeks and months following my Dad’s death.  It was a very hard time for me.

YET the Lord provided.

And I was reminded of that this morning.

Moses cried out to God, the people needed water to drink.

The Lord showed him what tree to pull from and Moses

cast the tree into the water and the Lord turned it from bitter to sweet.

The Lord Provided!

I am reminded in Romans 14:14-23

that sometimes I let STUFF otherwise known as my To Do List

to control me,

instead of me controlling it.

God loves me just as I am.  

He doesn’t require me to accomplish a huge To Do List

God desires me to live in peace and joy,

seeking the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Yes, I have things that I need to do each day

But I have to remember that the most important 

thing in my life is 

my relationship with the Lord

which then helps me to have healthy relationships

with my husband, my children, their families,

friends, those I meet through work.

 

Gotta watch out for that bag…had a baby rattler and another snake in there!

Pierce Arrow

The bass singer holds the Guiness World Book record

for lowest octave.  

 The Preacher

Boy could he share the whole gospel in 15 minutes!!!

 Loved this picture with the cross in it.

 Always nice to see Elvis

 The Band

 Doing a spoof on Duck Dynasty (they have nothing to worry about)

Ron loves this jacket.  Now to see if I can find one like it.

Or

“Ali are you listening to me?”  God, Abba Father

So many different things were going on yesterday

~ Ron came home from Oregon

~ Unexpected guests arriving 

~ Schedules needing tweaking

~ Feeling like I was forgetting something really important

~ Frustration with self

~ Choices – am I choosing the right thing

~ Exhausted

And so I went to bed at 8:30 p.m.

And slept hard till about 5 a.m.

tossing and turning 

and jumping when the alarm went off at 6 a.m.

Putting one foot in front of the other

Riding the bike for 45 minutes

(10.21 miles, 520 calories burned)

And hearing this little tap on my shoulder

Turning to God’s Word

And He had a lot to say to me this morning

and

Am reminded again of last week Tuesday,

my response to someone

Yes, I was judging their behavior

Whoa…”but Lord, she was wrong…”

“Maybe she was buy you don’t have the right to judge.”

OUCH!!!  

And I sit in the rocker

tears flowing

Lord forgive me for judging so and so,

forgive me for throwing a temper tantrum,

forgive me for being a jerk and a fool.

and

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch

YET

God is Faithful

and tells me to

So I turn everything back over to God.

My fears and worries,

hurts and concerns.

Turning my husband, my son’s,

my daughters-in-love, my grandchildren

over to God.  

He is in control and

He knows better than I what they need.

Instead Lord help me to 

and to

Remember that I am responsible

for me, my actions and words.

Thank you Lord for your steadfast 

love for me.

Thank you Lord for being the best Abba Father

any child could ask for.

And thank you Lord for the work here in Branson

for this season.

Help me not to worry about tomorrow,

it may not come

but instead to live today,

in Your presence,

sharing Your love with others,

living peacefully and fully in You.  Amen.

Peace?

Opposite of Peace is Anxiety

And I woke this morning with lots of anxiety.

Ron is flying home today from Portland, OR

after five days of fun with our son Brandon & his family.

Flying always scares me.  

It. Just. Does.

I set my alarm for 6 a.m.

I am determined to get on a manageable schedule

doing the things I need to do and want to do.

No one can do it for me.

IT ~ physical health, spiritual health, mind health

I was reminded yesterday that we reap what we sow.

How we have to plant good things to grow good things.

I attended Barbara Fairchild & Roy Morris’ worship service yesterday morning.

Oh how God met me there.

I had a pretty rough week in some ways

and was feeling torn in a couple of relationships,

feeling like I am doing something wrong

because the “FEELINGS” weren’t there that I thought should be.

(Remember: feelings are neither right or wrong ~ they just are!)

Telling myself that ~ a lot!

I was reminded yesterday

to 

that

laughter is good for the soul!

and that it is okay to laugh in church!!

And that we 

Reap what we Sow

If we plant Honesty we gain Trust

If we plant Forgiveness we gain Reconciliation

If we plant Love we will Be a Blessing

Oh how I want to be a blessing to others.

And then this morning

So first I had to find out what propitiation meant.

Normally I would call Pastor Charles but I didn’t think he

would like a phone call at 5 a.m. 🙂

So I checked on line

and this what I found

Jesus did nothing wrong 

yet He gave His life for me.

Jesus died for me, for my wrong doings.

He didn’t have to do that but He did!!

He chose to give His life for me.

How awesome is that???

And I thought back over the past week.

I walked out of a meeting because I got angry.

What would Jesus have done?

I think he would have stayed and talked it out,

try to reconcile the differences.

I know I was wrong to just leave

and God has been dealing with me

each and every day.

And yesterday I was reminded

that God gives me a choice every day

to live like him or go against him.

Psalm 118:5-9

It is not what or how others treat me or feel about me 

that is important

but that Jesus loves me for me

and is always there/here for me.

I need to remember to 

NOT People

It is God’s approval not man or woman’s

that should be important to me.

I have always sought people out 

to love me, like me,

try to be the perfect daughter,

wife, mother, sister & friend

(which I am definitely not perfect)

seeking others approval

and I need to remember that

what really only matters is that 

I love God,

live my life for God

and Trust in Him

and that NO matter what happens in life

I will always be okay,

I will always be loved

by the One that matters.

Help me not to focus on

 but

In Jesus I have Peace,

that people don’t bring me peace

but

JESUS does!!!

Out in the world

there is chaos and hurt

BUT

in Jesus’ arms

I have peace.

Thank you Lord for the reminders yesterday 

and again this morning

that You are always with me.

That you know my needs and desires

and through it all

I am never truly alone

as You walk beside me day by day.

Lord I turn Ron over to you today

as he flies home.  

Be with the pilots as they wing through the air

bringing my sweet hubby home to me.

Give Ron a relaxing day

and thank you that he was allowed 

the time to be with Brandon and his family

for a few days.

And for encouraging me as I struggled

through some tough situations.  Amen.

 Up first Jamie Hagge & Mike Patrick

 New South

 Mark….just love to hear him sing bass.

 Scott, Jason, David & Mark

 Jackie Brown & hubby, Matt 

 Melody Hart gettting ready to sing backup

Not very clear: Melody Hart, Michael Davis and Wayne Massengale

 Jamie on the fiddler and Mike singing

 Jamie is a very talented young man.  

What is amazing is that he does not read music and plays by ear.

 Gatlin Brothers getting ready to start.

 Melody Hart closing out the show!

A couple of Thursdays ago we decided to go for a drive.

Our Driver

The Navigator

And Passenger ~ Liberty, granddaughter of one of our guests

spending the day with us while Grandma, Grandpa and Momma are all working 🙂

  

It was a gorgeous day for a drive.

And then it was lunch time!

 The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious.

 Miss Liberty and her Princess Bear

 Papa Ron (as Liberty calls Ron) 

trying to figure out how he is going to bite into this big burger.

 Reuben sandwich w/coleslaw for Grammy.

     

 Liberty finishing off Grammy’s double pumpkin pie.

 And heading out the door saying good-bye.

Leaving the Town Square

 Driving Along towards Mountain View, AR

 Norfolk Veterans Memorial

 

 

While waiting at a light in Calico Rock we saw this sign.

 

 Continuing on to Mountain View.  The leaves are just starting to change colors.

 Papa Ron is taking a long time to get there.

 Checking out the Mellon Country Store

Playing checkers with Papa Ron

 Ali is thinking this is the sign that needs to be posted at Branson View Campground

 Heading to Harrison, AR

and then back to Branson View Campground.

 Saw this huge flag through the trees.

It was a fun day

and we can’t wait to go for another drive.

Papa Ron said next time it won’t be for such a long ridge.

And Liberty thought that was a great idea.

Today I am thankful for the opportunities to spend time with my hubby 

new adopted granddaughter…she is sure fun to be around.

Last week, our friends & co-workers

 Jw & Wanda Wilks, invited us to join them for a fun evening out

at the Son’s of the Pioneers dinner and show.

 One good looking hubby if you ask me 🙂

 Roasted corn-on-the-cob along with fresh lemonade.

 Along with baked potatoes, beans, chicken and brisket 

along with an apple crisp for dessert.

We loved how they presented the colors!

Wanda and Jw snuggling up, they thought it was cold.

We thought it was just right 🙂

It is sad that this show is closing for good on

October 19th after 54 years running.  

Thanks Jw & Wanda for inviting us to join you for a fun evening.

Live Today

that was the title of my devotion this morning.

It amazes me how God knows right where I am, 

just what I need and how to catch my attention.

The last couple of weeks I have been so focused on making sure

I exercise every day and for the most part making healthy food choices

that I forgot about keeping my daily appointments

with the Lord…now how could I do that?

I love the Lord, I enjoy my quiet time in the morning

yet I became so focused on “must ride the bike”

that my morning quiet time seemed to escape me.

And I know me, if I don’t have my quiet time in the morning

It. Just. Doesn’t. Happen.

So yesterday afternoon, while riding the bike I had a little chat with myself.

I can ride the bike anytime during the day or in the evening

but my time with the Lord

needs to be in the quiet of the morning.

So this morning, after waking with a headache,

taking some Ibuprofen and going back to sleep for about an hour

I pulled myself out of bed,

got myself dressed and headed to the rocker in the living room.

And there He met me!  Just like always.

Jesus says “I AM WHO I AM”

not “I Was” or “I Will Be”

But I AM!

He is here right now, today,

alive in the present.

It’s not yesterday or tomorrow BUT

Right Here, Right Now.

We need to live right here, right now,

not yesterday in the past, not always looking at tomorrow,

as tomorrow may never come.

Jesus promises to be right here, right now, with me, with you.

It’s not the burdens of today that get so heavy and overwhelming,

it’s carrying the burdens of yesterday and adding in what we worry/fear/unknowns

about tomorrow that weigh us down.

That is when our burdens become overwhelming

and so heavy that we crumble.

Remember to LIVE Right NOW

in TODAY.

In the passage of Jeremiah 24:4-7

we are told that though we may wander away from God

HE is always ready and waiting for us with Open Arms.

And in Isaiah 41:8-13

we are reassured over and over

Jesus does not want us to be afraid, does not want us to fear anything,

but to rest and live in Him.

He is our comforter, guidance counselor and friend.

It is Satan who wants us to fear, to keep us paralyzed,

keep us stuck in mud.

Here is a little chart I found.

I needed this this morning to remind me

that God wants only good for me,

it is the Devil himself who wants to cause troubles.

I think back to when our son, Jamie, was in Iraq.

How so often I would wake crying, unable to move

because I knew that something horrible was going to happen to Jamie

that day.  I remember, calling out to God and to others 

“I can’t do this anymore.”

Well I was right, I couldn’t do it…

but God could keep Jamie safe

and He Did!!!

All that worry and fear was for naught.

I am so thankful the Lord kept Jamie safe,

along with all the men in his unit, and returned them all safely 

to their families.  

I remember many times Pastor Charles asking me

“What if the worst thing happened?”

And getting down to the nitty gritty and thinking

if the worse of the worse happened

(Jamie being killed)

Jamie would be in Heaven with Jesus

and God would comfort me/us in every way we need in that moment.

I knew that I had some fears niggling at my thoughts

the past few days

and this morning God met me right here,

right now, right where I am.

He reminded me what the Devil is up to

AND that Jesus came to give me life abundantly.

And in John 16:33

Thank you Jesus for the reassurance

of your love and peace

each and every day!!

Today I am also thankful for the encouragement of friends.

For an unexpected email

or someone dropping by (even in their pajamas 🙂 

just to say hello and see how we are doing.

God is Good!!!