There is no high like the Most High

Okay, so today flat out had to be the highest I have flown in quite some time with my Lord. I just kept seeing over and over how He is holding onto me with no reservations! It is an intoxicating feeling to be in His arms that way. To feel His absolute love and pleasure over you. He is so wonderful!!

Today I went to my first week followup appointment after the gastric bypass surgery. I have lost 14lbs. and am so thrilled to have done so. I haven't lost that much weight in one week since the "Healthy Heart" diet in 1989... Oy, there are no creative ways to eat cabbage soup...I can still taste it.

God also showed me His impecable timing with the surgery date and how He was going to cover the bills--we lose our insurance as of April 30. But He already had my other appointments taken care of --it is amazing.

I had all sorts of energy after my appointment today and went shopping with a dear friend, then went for a beautiful sunset walk with my hubby. What a great ending to a wonderful day.

God is so good to us--praise Him in the little and big... Look for ways-He is so worth it!

Most Worthy Lord

We got a family pic taken a couple of nights ago. I think it turned out pretty good. It is for the EBI yearbook.


Beth Moore is one of my favorite speakers. In one of her studies she had this written:

Most Worthy Lord, make me a drink offering,
and take me not home until the cup is overturned,
the glass broken, and every drop loosed for your glory.

All I have ever wanted is for my life to glorify my Lord. I know that it isn't always so, but I think that is what grace is all about. When I haven't measured up He gives me another chance and loves on me some more. Keep me here Lord, til every drop of you is brought out of me, and been a living testimony of your grace and mercy.

The time of my surgery is 8:45am on Monday, so if you are praying for me, you can be specifically praying then. I so appreciate all of you praying for me.

Being Transparent

So in the attempt to be completely transparent here goes. I sent out an email to many of my friends this morning telling of my upcoming surgery on the 31st of March. As I clicked the send button, I had such trepidation that some will not understand and "judge" me for my decision to have gastric bypass surgery.

I soon realized I can't live in fear of man, afraid someone might judge me. Of course people will judge, it is our fleshly nature. Until we get that under the blood, that is. I have thought it was necessary most of my life, to do what everyone thought was best for me... Much was good, but it gave me a heart to serve man not God. Shame on me...I want God's will, more than other's.

This surgery is a tool God is using to cause me to be dependent on Him. It is a tool He is going to use to make me healthier, so I can fulfill those things He has for me to do. My life has been pretty full til now, I can only guess the amazing things He will have me do in the future.
Please pray for me if you will. Thank you!

We've Got a KITTY!!!!!!!

I haven't written about her yet but I just have to. We got a kitty about 3 weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier! She is so sweet, funny, playful. We all have a great time with her. She is about 13 weeks old now. As you can see from the picture in the side bar she is a gray tiger kitty. I just love her.

When my mom came this last weekend she absolutely spoiled her with toys, etc. It is fun to shop for her. We got her a pink, pretty princess collar. She hates having to wear it, but for her safety, so I don't step on her- she has to wear it.

Tepi is short for Temperance--who is a favorite character on the tv show Bones. I just thought the name was cute. It works for Tepi.

She loves to play with her toys and gets them out of the basket herself. Sometimes she daintily takes them out, and sometimes she just dumps the basket out and has a field day. Whatever she does, she brings us joy.

Ode to the weekend

This weekend was great, my parents were here and it was a really pleasant time. They have to go to so much work to be able to get away, I am thrilled they made the effort to come.

Tepi got spoiled by Nana, with lots of toys and a laser. I am not sure if that was for Tepi or for Shawn. Both guys are having alot of fun with her and the laser. She seems to just love running all over chasing it.

I got a bit of painting done today. I enjoy it so much, it makes me so thankful for the gifts God has given me. How wonderful of Him to give me the ability to do something I love. Wouldn't it be dreadful to live life never liking what you do? Maybe then I would have to choose to like what I was doing anyway. I have to admit, in this case God has made life easy on me.

I have a great side dish or main dish recipe for ya. It is called Garlic and Leek Ditalini

Gotten of of All recipes.com

Garlic and Leek Ditalini
Ingredients:
8 0z ditalini pasta or mezze penne 1/2 cp heavy cream
2 TBSP butter 1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cp chopped leek black pepper
1 clove garlic minced

Cook pasta til al dente, drain. Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat. Saute leeks and garlic until tender and translucent. Stir in cream, and simmer until thickened. Toss with pasta and cheese until evenly coated and cheese is melted. Season with pepper.


This is quite tasty and by the way if you haven't checked out allrecipes.com yet it is a wonderful site to look up recipes.

Have a great day!!

Getting over myself

Okay, it has been ages and for the last 2 weeks I have been wanting to blog, but listening to that ugly inner person that tells me I have nothing worth saying. Now don't be all--awe Vic...I am sure it was more pride than lack of self confidence and there is nothing --awe-- about that.

So I decided to blog. A few things have been going through my mind lately and journaling with my fingers may help. My sister Wendy (in Australia), called me last Wednesday, and sobbed into the phone as she let me know her best mate had been mu*dered by a man who was "in love" with her. Satan is such a twisted deceiver of what love is. This beautiful sweet mother of 3 darling girls, had just gotten her life "back on track" after her husband of 13 years had left her for another woman. She had just begun to see herself able to trust and move on... Some questions in my mind were--was she saved- would she go to heaven. It was really ki*ling me, cuz I didn't know for sure and I couldn't get past the thought of never seeing Jodie again. I think I was holding a burden that I couldn't bear. It isn't my say where she is, but God's. I don't need to worry about it, I need to love and pray my sister through it, and encourage her to look to the Lord. I grew up believing that if someone doesn't live like "we" think they ought to, then they are going to hell. I want to be free of that judgemental attitude toward people, I want to have grace and love for people. I want to plant seeds and let God take it from there.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend. I am so very excited to have them come to our home. They will be here Saturday to Sunday and will hopefully go to church with us. They are not church people, although they do believe in Christ. ( No real relationship there, but I believe they are seeing a difference in our lives and maybe...) I am planning the menu and time so we get lots of visiting time and my mom doesn't get too tired out. She has conjestive heart failure, so we have to be careful. We are going to go to Moe's for lunch and then to the Christmas Tree Shoppe, Dad and Shawn are going to check out Gander Mountain. My parents live in Hickville, PA... so those two stores will be fun. Then we will come back and relax and snack on fresh Bruschetta while I cook up Riggies. Riggies is a recipe from Sen's friend's family. It is a chicken and pasta dish. Maybe I will leave the recipe if anyone is interested in it. For dessert we are going to have cheesecake from Sam's. Sorry I don't make cheesecake when Sam's is 15 min. away.

Sunday I am planning to make omelets for breakfast, then a Pork Roast in this yummy marinade of balsamic vinegar and garlic, smashed red skin potatoes and garlic, and baby asparagus for lunch. Hopefully they will stay that long and go to church with us. The way to my daddy's heart is through his tummy soo... Fill the belly, go to church fill the spirit...hope is a beautiful thing.

Thanks for listening, I am truly blessed to have my friends. Keep praying for me, as I do you.

It's been way too long!

Wow, it has been way too long since I blogged the last time. Life has been crazy busy but not so much that I shouldn't have blogged...Prioritization...

So Saturate happened and it was way too awesome. Those kids are just so great. Oh, to have a job that works with kiddos full time.

Then this January was the Youth Leader's Summit, again, way cool. We used to work with youth for seven years as part time (with full time passion) workers. It was the best, and the hardest volunteer work we have ever done. Talk about ripping your heart out, but so worth every minute. Anyway, it was so great to bless the leaders and just give them little extras to tell them how appreciated and special they are. They have such an amazing job. Hug a youth leader today!! (Within appropriate boundaries of course...;0))

I have also been painting up a storm. Trying to finish some projects up before March. God has really been giving me supernatural grace and expansion of time I feel. It is amazing all I am getting done. I finished my knit blanket too!! Wahoo!!

We are going to pick up our kitty tommorrow. I have been longing for one since we moved here and had to give all our pets away. Finally, now that Shawn is on staff, we are allowed to have one. We are very excited, and I do mean we. Shawn has said that he looks forward to having her too. (with soy and duck sauce ;0)) Her name is Tempi--taken from Temperance the character on the tv show Bones. One of my ultimate favorites. Anyway, she is a dark short haired tiger, with such a pretty face. She is coming from the Another Chance Pet Rescue. They are giving us 2 weeks to try her out...I can't imagine giving her up, but it helped us to decide to take her now. We look forward to loving on her and treating her special.

Do you ever notice how God just loves on ya? I realise that everytime I do a new Beth Moore study (other times too of course). Just how He won't ever let you stay in your rut. We were talking about Psalm 121 I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from.My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. He's watching over me, he made me, he doesn't sleep--evah!!! What a wonderful thought...He is for me not against me. How can we possibly go wrong knowing all that? Well we are not perfect, but He is molding me, let me always be moldable Lord. It is great to keep falling in love with Him more and more everyday.
Oh---shameless plug---do a Beth Moore study if you get a chance, look her up online, you can listen on her site, or take a class at church. Your life will never be the same.