Oh, Fiddle-Dee-Dee

~2011~

2011-12-30T23:37:00.002-06:00

I pray 2011 has been a blessed year for y’all. Most of you have had the same kind of year I've had: a mixture of joy and pain along with good times and bad. However, I have to say, even with Mother being sick, this past month and now at the rehab center, it has been a good year.

I am blessed to spend my days with the people I love most in the world. I may get tired but having Mother with me and being her caregiver is my greatest privilege and I will do is at long as I am able. I am blessed to have a sweet man that supports me in this endeavor and helps me all that he can. It doesn’t hurt that he spoils me rotten too. ;)

One thing that I know that I know is that even in hard times, God is GOOD. I was reading this morning and as always I am really drawn to all of the scripture involving Joshua. I love how God tells Joshua repeatedly to not be afraid or discouraged. Oh, that gives this Steel Magnolia on the outside but terrified little girl on the inside, so much hope.

One or my favorite verses this past year has been Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)

I love how The Message version reads. "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

I love this passage in Exodus about Joshua. There is an account of the battle between Amalek and Israel. At Moses command, Joshua leads the nation of Israel in battle. And while the battle is being fought, Moses, Aaron and Hur go off to pray to God. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up” one on one side, one on the other” so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. Exodus 17: 8-16.

What a beautiful picture that paints of two friends helping the other by holding up his arms, while he is to weary to do so himself. Dear sweet friends both near and far, that is what, you have done for me this year and I just can’t thank you enough. Every time I have brought a prayer need, you have been so faithful to lift us up.

I wish I could repay each and every one of you but all I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. The only way I can repay you, is to commit to you that I will guard my promise to pray for each of you. I will only say, I will pray for you when I am really committed. I will only say it when I mean it and will do it and will do it again and again- the way you have meant it and done it and done it again and again for me and my family.

I pray for 2012 to be a blessed year for all of you. I don’t make resolutions but my deepest desire is for there to be more of Him and less of me!!!

I love you all,

Lyndy

2011-02-08T12:56:00.002-06:00

I wrote this post several years ago but with moving away from my hometown several weeks ago, home has been on my mind a lot, so I loved reading back over this post.

Thank you Lord for the wonderful godly home I grew up in. We were not perfect but love, so much love, joy and peace filled my life.

My childhood home, was the home I was brought straight too from the hospital and lived there until I married. All of the streets in our neighborhood were named after trees and my street was Elm. I didn’t think too much of it growing up, for you see it was big, old and rambling. Large rooms, all hardwood floors and had four fireplaces. At the time, all my friends lived in new subdivision or apartments and I thought that was so cool. Of course, today I love big old rambling house and would pick one of those any day over a new home. Actually, I have only ever lived in one new home and I hated it. Every other house I have had has been older. There is just so much character in an older home.

My father died when I was a year old and my grandmother moved in with us. My mother worked, so she took care of me during the day. After she moved in, one of her nephews convinced her to build a small house on our property. He convinced her that Mother would one day remarry and that she would need a place to live. Of course, this nephew just happened to have a construction business and was more than happy to build this house. Well the house was dubbed “the little house” and it was never lived in. Several of the rooms were used for storage and one big room was what I called my playhouse. It was an actual house albeit it small but it has windows and curtains and all my friends thought my playhouse was so cool and of course, I did too. Oh we had many mud pie meals that we cooked in my little play kitchen. I remember our “husbands” were always Starsky and Hutch. (lol) I can’t tell you how many hours were spent in that playhouse and oh the memories I have today.

Our house was in a cul-de-sac and it had a long circular driveway that went from the side of the house all the way around the back. My friends and I spent much time riding our big wheels and then later bicycles around that driveway. We also spent a lot of time pretending it was a road that was taking us to far away places.

All my friends love coming to my home and it was always the place where we all hung out even as teenagers. There was just something there that everyone felt and that was loved and safe.

When ever I think of home, I always think of country breakfast that were cooked every morning and big southern breakfasts that were cooked every Sunday before church. You would never find a day at my house where there were not homemade biscuits made and a cake of cornbread, as my grandmother called it. Supper was eaten together every night as a family. We only had one TV until I about 13 or so and then Mother got me one for my room; I still never really watched it unless I had friends over. So most all of our TV watching was done together as a family. I know every Saturday night; we watched The Carol Burnett show without fail, as Mother was fixing my hair and my grandmother’s hair for church the next day.

Home to me was a safe haven. No matter what I might do and in all honesty I didn’t do anything but typical teenage stuff, I always new I could come home and be welcomed and loved. I never worried my Mother. Oh sure she worried because she was a mother but I never did things to intentionally worry her. To this day, I have never failed to call her if I am running late. I don’t like to be worried and don’t want to worry anyone.

We lived in an older neighborhood and summer nights, would find neighbors visiting and sitting out on the porch. I remember sitting in the swing with my Mother so many, many nights. It was a safe time and you never worried about robberies or such around our area. To be honest, we are still small enough that we don’t have to worry now about such things.

I remember reading books under the trees and playing Barbie’s with my girlfriends. Oh and I loved playing school and even got a real chalkboard for Christmas one year that I loved. I remember playing for hours on the swing set in the backyard. I remember game nights around the kitchen table, prayers at bedtime and Bible reading during the day.

Every Saturday my Mother baked a cake, for you just never knew what company might stop in after church on Sunday.

Holidays were always big meals and blessed times. Every Thanksgiving night, we always put up our Christmas tree without fail and as a child that was so exciting.

All happy wonderful memories. I place where I always felt safe and loved. However by the late nineties the neighborhood had started to go down. My grandmother died in 1998 and I did not like Mother living there alone. So in 1999 she sold the house to a developer and the house was torn down. That was a hard thing for me to see but the memories can’t be taken away from me and for that I will always be thankful.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Happy Birthday To My Sweet Man~

2011-01-12T23:25:00.003-06:00

My Darling Man,

Many people spend their lives searching for their soul mate, their one true love. Some people are lucky to find the person they can truly call the better half of themselves, while others spend the rest of their lives searching and never finding. I am happy to count myself among the blessed ones, you are my one true love, you are my soul mate.

I trust you with my heart and I never thought I would ever trust anyone with my heart again. I know you would never intentionally hurt me and that you will love me and cherish me, because you already do. You have given me a love that I have never known before and I can't thank you enough for that my darling man.

I want to be your lover, your companion and your best friend for the rest of my life. I promise to love and cherish you, to keep you close and with faithfulness, to be your helpmate in times of need, to make you laugh and to hold you when you are weak, to hold you to the highest respect and honor, as you so deserve for the rest of my life.

I love you with all that I am and you will always comes first in my heart and in my life. One of my greatest blessings is to love you and to have you choose me to love in return.

So, today on your special day, I can’t give you 50 presents but I can tell you 50 ways that you are so special to me.

Lyndy

I love that you always want to make me happy, even if it is something you rather not do.

I can be myself with you.

You love me even with all my faults.

You are so beautiful to me.

Even when I'm grumpy, you still love me.

You listen to my long southern tales that go on and on and you even listen and remember.

Your idea of romance is just the two of us.

We both know that together we can work out anything.

Because you make me feel like I've never felt before.

I can tell you anything and you won't be shocked.

We can talk about everything or nothing--it's always okay with you.

You're the light in my life

You never intimidate me.

You know how to bring a smile to my face.

You're always on my side.

We can talk over the telephone for hours together and never run out of things to say.

You're so dependable and trustworthy.

When you listen, I know you're really listening and not just waiting for your turn to talk.

You and me together...we can make magic.

We're a perfect match.

We both really can't do without each other.

Thinking of you adds a wonderful touch of love to my every day.

You've taught me the meaning of love and sharing. Our world is more complete because of it.

You understand me...even when I'm sobbing and you’re the only person I ever let see me cry.

Your love gives me the feeling that the best is still ahead.

You never give up on me and that's what keeps me going.

You're as helpful as therapy, but you never charge me for it.

You're simply irresistible.

You call just because you're thinking about me.

I love you because you bring out the best in me.

You're the one who holds the key to my heart.

You can read my innermost thoughts.

You bring to me joy beyond measure.

Because of you, no matter what may come tomorrow, today my life is more complete.

You always say what I need to hear.

I want to stay forever with you.

You've taught me the meaning of love.

The softness of your voice is like silk on my soul.

I just can't imagine being me without you.

You're my anchor in life's ocean and most of all, you're my best friend.

You're always on my mind.

Love is what you mean to me...and you mean everything.

You are my hope for happily ever after.

I can ask you a dumb question without feeling dumb.

You excite me, delight me, ignite me.

You know all my secrets...and keep them.

You are brightest spot in my days.

You are the one who makes me smile.

You are the one that takes my hard days and make them brighter.

You are the person I long to spend all my life with.

Our New Year's Eve

2011-01-11T16:42:00.003-06:00

My sweet man and I got to spend out first New Year’s Eve together. It was a wonderful long weekend and a perfect night. There is not one thing that I would change to make it better than it was.

Thank you Thomas for giving me such a wonderful, memorable and special weekend with you.

I love you and I can't wait to see what our future holds.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-08-28T10:44:00.006-05:00

I don’t know about y’all but the older I get, days like today, my birthday, just as holidays do, tend to bring back memories of long ago. It is so ironic when we are kids we can’t wait to grow up and now that I am an adult, I so wish I could go back to my childhood, even for just a visit.

I grew up in such a loving home. I may have had pain and heartache in my adult life but God blessed me into a family, where there was never a single day of my life that I ever doubted if I was wanted, loved and cherished. What a spectacular blessing indeed.

Home for me was a safe haven. My mother made sure that I had the very best of everything, no matter how hard she had to work for me to have it.

My dad died when I was only a year old, so I have no memory of him at all. I think that is one of the biggest reasons that mother showered me with so many material things. Also, my grandmother moved in with us when my dad died and I was her only grandchild, and my mother’s sister never married and I was her only niece, so I was just a spoiled by them as well.

Many people have asked me how Mother balanced love with all the things she gave me and if my friends were jealous of the things I had. I can’t explain the balance but I know I never wanted for a thing. I don’t feel my friends were ever that envious, at least not that they told me. I had the house that everyone wanted to come too, Mother was generous with all my friends. If you came to spend the weekend with us, all your favorite foods were bought and cooked and if you came on a regular basis, as did most, she learned what you liked and just kept things on hand for you to enjoy while you were there. You truly were made to feel “at home.”

Even after I moved out and got married, many of my friends still went to visit with mother because they loved her so. She even ended up hiring several of them to work for her once they were out of school.

I had my share of envy of my friends, as well. Most of them had siblings and dads and they got to go on trips and vacations. We never did things like that. Mother never felt comfortable traveling alone with a child and so we just never did it. Though she did make sure, anytime I was invited to go on vacations and trips with my friends that I was able to go, so I never felt like I missed out on most things.

I always envied the ones who would talk about lying in bed on Christmas Eve with their siblings and just knowing they could hear Santa on the roof. I never had any of that. My Christmas tree may have been overloaded with gifts that mother started shopping for months and months before Christmas and don’t get me wrong, I loved it all; especially the love she put into it all but having a sibling to share it with would have been wonderful. Also, I had no family members close to my age, so there were no cousins to play with either. So, I guess you could say I had things about my friends that I envied and perhaps they did me too.

One of the things I have been told most by old friends is how much the loved coming to my house and how welcome they always felt.

Home life for me as a child, was as very safe, loving and wonderful place. My identity was not in the things I had but rather because of the love, attention and affection that my mother and grandmother gave me, along with my Christian upbringing.

Were all the things wonderful to have? Of course. However, I have to say the greatest memory I have is spending time with my mother. My mother always worked and my grandmother kept me. Wednesday was her day off and our day together. If it was during the school year, we did something after school, if it was during the summer, we spent the day together. Even though she worked, she was always a grade mother, Girl Scout leader and anything else I was involved in she was there for and I know it was not easy for her. She never missed a function that I was in, be it in school or in church.

I got a car for my 16th birthday and then a brand new car for my graduation. I remember Mother telling me she wanted me to get a part-time job because she wanted me to learn a good work ethic. I feel I have always had that and after I finished school I started with a company and stayed there for 15 years and went up the corporate ladder very quickly.

Last year a friend mentioned to me that she had never had a birthday party until last year, on her 43rd birthday. It reminded me of things I have always taken for granted. From the time of my first birthday, until just these last few years, I have always had birthday parties, with special gifts and cakes, surrounded by people who love me most.

When I think back on my childhood, it is not of the “stuff” I had but rather the love I had and felt. I have been told by so many people in regards to my mother, “I have never known a woman to love a child more than your mother does you. “ I feel that love everyday and I know I am blessed.

This year I am especially blessed. After being single for many years, God has blessed me with my Thomas and he is the sweetest man, I have ever met. He loves the Lord but still most amazing to me is that he loves me and the way he loves me. I feel so blessed that I don’t even know what to say.

For the first time in years, I am happy and hopeful about my future, our future. I am more at peace than I have been in years and I am just so thankful. So, very thankful.

So, while looking back over my 42 years, there have been many lows but there have been even more highs and I have been so very blessed.

because He RESTORES

2010-07-14T14:57:00.006-05:00

Most of you know how hard the last several years have been for me. Well, I am here to tell you that when the Lord makes you a promise, He delivers.

A year ago, when I was so down and lost, I was reading in Isaiah and came across a scripture I had never noticed before. It is:

Isaiah 54:5-7 "For your Maker is your husband the LORD Almighty is his name…The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit a wife who married young, only to be abandoned.…but with deep compassion, I will bring you back and restore you."

As I have mention on my Facebook, I met someone earlier this year, my Thomas is the sweetest man, I have ever met. He loves the Lord but still most amazing to me is that he loves me and the way he loves me.

I feel so blessed that I don’t even know what to say. I just wanted to give you hope if you feel God has deserted you because He does RESTORE and I am seeing that happen right before my eyes.

Oh, yes! Oh, the love of God! The Lord is ultimately and intimately acquainted with you. He sees you, and He wants you to "know that you know" that He has not abandoned or forsaken you (Hebrews 13:5). He wants you to know that at all times, especially in the dark night of your soul, He is with you and He is the Great Restorer.

Listen to what God said through the prophet Joel: "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…" (Joel 2:25a). God loves to restore what has been devoured in our lives. That's His specialty.

For the first time in years, I am happy and hopeful about my future. I am more at peace than I have been in years and I am just so thankful.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Because…

Because of my past pain.
Because Jesus loves me.
Because Jesus hears.
Because Jesus redeems.
Because Jesus restores.
Because God is faithful to His own.
Because God is working.
Because of God's mercy.
Because God answers.
Because He is in the details.
Because of your prayers.
Because of your hope for us.
Because of your burden.
Because of your tears.
Because GOD makes everything beautiful in His time.

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine, guess, or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:20 The Message

Dear Anxiety

2010-05-25T22:02:00.003-05:00

Dear Anxiety,

I can hardly believe how you have controlled my life as of late. I wish I could say, as I look back over the past months, that you've been one of my friends but, I must say I don't think I'll miss you very much and I really wish you would hurry up and find a new home.

Anxiety, you have hurt me in ways I can't even begin to post here and that's part of what has made this so painful, as someone wise once said “pain wouldn't be painful if it wasn't so personal.” And, every time I began to think things were calming down and I could breathe a little easier, you'd go and punch me in the gut from my blind side, again, and again, and yet again--even in the past few weeks. Weeks that should have been filled with joy because my sweet mother is home for the first time in well over a year, yet the anxiety has been almost more than I can handle.

In 1999, when I went through a very painful and unwanted divorce, I just knew no year could ever be more painful or challenging. In the years that followed, when I experienced even more challenges, I was in pain of a whole different kind. As Job says in the book bearing his name, "My greatest fears (had) come upon me."

I have had to face the challenge of choosing whether or not I would continue to trust God when He would allow such incredible pain to happen to me.

Thankfully, no matter what has come against me or that I have come up against, I have never considered not trusting my Father God. He is one of the only constants that I have always been able to depend on and I could not imagine going through bad times without Him.

Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts?

I am a cancer survivor...

2010-05-12T16:17:00.005-05:00

May is Melanoma Awareness Month. I thank God that I can say I am a 12 year survivor of this horrible cancer. Although melanoma accounts for only about 4 to 5 percent of all skin cancer cases, it is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.

I just lost a friend last month to this terrible disease; he was only 35 years old.

The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, yet it is still one of the most common cancers in young adults. Skin cancer affects one in five Americans, and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Of these cases, more than 65,000 are melanoma, a cancer that claims nearly 11,000 lives each year.

Melanoma Prognosis

Treatment success depends on many factors, including the patient's general health and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs.

If caught early, melanoma can be cured. The risk of the cancer coming back increases with the depth of the tumor -- deeper tumors are more likely to come back. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, there is a greater chance that the melanoma will come back.

For melanoma that has spread to other tissues and organs, the cure rate is low. Melanoma that has spread may lead to death.

My Story

Twelve and a half years ago on November 30th, 1997, I had a very sleepless night; actually, the whole weekend had been a restless one. It was a Sunday night and I had received a call on Friday morning from my doctor’s office asking that my husband and I both be in his office first thing on Monday morning. We were in the Christmas mode, as it happened to be the Friday after Thanksgiving and we were in the middle of putting up Christmas decorations in our house.

I remember exactly where I was standing in the house when I took the call and exactly where my ex was standing when I told him. One of those times, which will be forever frozen in my memory. From the time I got the call, I just knew that I had cancer. Unfortunately, I was right and I was only 29 years old. I remember thinking how strange it was that I was not sick, nor did I feel bad, yet I had something deadly growing inside me.

I was born with a mole in my groin area, right around my panty line. In the fall of 1997, this mole started bleeding. At first, I thought I had just irritated it putting on pantyhose or something but it just would not get any better. When I went to the doctor he thought the same thing as I did, as it did not have any markings that would make him think it was cancer, but he went ahead, removed it, and sent it to pathology.

Let me stress to you that maybe reading…I know every year we see in the magazines what cancerous moles are “supposed” to look like and mine had no characteristics of any of those, yet it was cancerous. So please if you have any moles that you question, have them checked out immediately.

When the test results came back, the doctor was “shocked” to find out that it was melanoma. I was given the news on a Monday and he wanted to perform surgery immediately, because with melanoma your greatest chance for survival is getting it all, as this type of cancer does not respond well to traditional forms of cancer treatment. Another reason that early detection is so important.

The surgery was scheduled for 2 days later, as they did not want to waste any time and the surgery was to go in and do a “wide extraction” and make sure all of the cancer was removed, especially since the groin area is surrounded by lymph nodes. Needless to say, I was in shock too, as was my family and everything happened so fast that I really did not have time to comprehend all that was happening.

Now I realize that was probably a blessing. I can honestly say that I really never thought I was going to die. My first thought was okay, “what do we do to get rid of it.” Please don’t take that to mean I wasn’t scared, because I was terrified but I guess because it happed so quickly and I felt fine, I just never let the death scenario take over my mind. I do remember thinking “okay you can’t let this fear overtake you.”

I also remember telling myself that I could not allow every ache and pain I had for the rest of my life, terrify me or make me think “oh this must be cancer.” I am a firm believer that your attitude has a lot to do with how well you respond to medical situations…that and a lot of godly people praying for you, which I was fortunate to have.

Once I had the initial surgery, the report came back a little suspicious, so I was referred to another oncologist who specializes in melanomas. This was another huge blessing, as we have wonderful doctors and hospitals right here in the Atlanta area and I was treated at Emory. The oncologist was great and very thorough and had a wonderful bedside manner. However, after reviewing my records, he wanted to go back in and remove some lymph nodes just to be sure.

This surgery was actually worse than the first one, because they were re-opening the incision that had just been closed and I had to have drain tubes for about 8 weeks. All very small inconveniences in the grand scheme of things.

Praise Father God the results of the second surgery came back clear. However, forevermore, I will need to been seen by my oncologist just to be on the safe side. Of course, being a fair skinned and redheaded, I have never been a sun worshiper, but this definitely puts me at a higher risk.

It is so strange to be told, that you have something as horrible as cancer and not even feel sick. I kept thinking how could I have this killer disease growing inside me and not even feel bad. I truly feel like God healed me of this evil report. I know the doctors did the surgery but they were just the tools for Father God to work his miracles.

My life has changed a great deal in 12 years. I am no longer married and my Grandmother, who prayed so for me, is no longer with us but one thing has remained the same and that is the grace and mercy of my loving Father God.

~My Mother~

2010-05-09T22:19:00.007-05:00

Mothers Day was especially sweet this year because my sweet Mother is back home. Here is a repost from a few years ago but it still means just as much, if not more today.

Happy Mother’s Day to the best mother in the world and for the record, I truly believe that and no one could make me think otherwise. Thank you for always pointing me toward Jesus and loving me unconditionally.

I love you.

Repost from 2007

On this Mother’s Day, I think of two women who have shaped my life and heart, one you read about last week and that was my precious Grandmother. The other is of course, my wonderful Mother. I have said many times before that I am a mamma’s girl and proud of it, I might add. The bond that I have with my Mother is something that I can’t quite put into words. The pastor today asked what song would you say reminded you of your mother. Without truly having time to think the first thing that popped into my head was Amazing Grace because just like God that is what she has always shown me.

I was blessed, I came from a home where I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was loved and wanted. I had stability and home was always a safe loving environment. Were we perfect? Heavens no! However, we were a family that loved each other and stood by each other no matter what and that still holds true today.

My mother was a working mother, since my father died when I was a year old. My grandmother kept me and even though Mother worked, she never missed a school function, never missed Girl Scouts or parties and every Wednesday afternoon was "our day" to spend doing something together. My Mother was always there for me and she always has been.

I had the house that all the kids wanted to come hang out at. Even after I was gone, I had friends that came to her for advice. If I wanted friends over, I was never met with an ugly word or an “I am too tired and your friends are too noisy.” My Mother in her great wisdom, knew it was better for me to have a home that was welcoming and comfortable. How better to keep an eye on your child, than too actually spend time with them and their friends. Don’t get me wrong she didn’t hover but she was involved and it never bothered me or my friends. I saw from her example, as so many of my friends parents just wanted a place to drop them off or in others words a free babysitter and they wonder why those same children are not close to them today.

When I turned 16 and got my first car, I wrecked it within a month. It was not my fault, as I was hit in the rear by a drunk driver but I had heard so many of my friends say “oh my mom/dad will kill me if I wreck the car”. I can tell you in all honestly, even if that wreck had been my fault, that thought would have never entered my mind. I knew upon hearing her daughter had a wreck, the last think my Mother would be worried about was a car that could be replaced, her concern was for me and was I okay. I still remember vividly her getting to the accident scene and the first thing she did was check me from head to toe (I was fine) and then she said upon seeing my beautiful new car with the crumpled rear “it’s okay, we’ll get it fixed good as new” and that is just what she did. Honestly, in my eyes my Mother could fix anything.

I could go on and on about the special bond we have and everything she has done for me as a child to adulthood but it would fill a book. She taught me about Jesus and the true gift of love and she didn’t just talk the talk she walked the walk. The advice she has given me, the times she has held her tongue and even the times we had our screaming matches and there were many of those but the main thing, is through all of that I knew more than anything she loved me and there was absolutely nothing I could do that would cause her to love me any less, nothing I could do that would separate that love.

Amazing Grace…just like our Father God gives us…my Mother has always shown it to me.

I pray if you are a mother that you had a blessed day and got to spend time with your loved ones.

~My Grandmother~

2010-05-06T22:36:00.002-05:00

It is almost impossible to believe that tomorrow, May 8th will be twelve years since my precious sweet grandmother passed away. It still seems just like yesterday that I was sitting with her on the sofa and talking. We talked about everything and nothing and never got tired of each other.

Oh my sweet goodness how I loved that woman. She is my hero in every since of the word. She was born in 1898 and died in 1998, shortly before she turned 100. She lived life to the fullest, was in her right mind, sassy, spunky and spry up until three weeks before she died. Everyone in my family says that I am just like her and I take that as a very high compliment.

I came into her life when she was 70 years old. She had my Mother late in life and I was her first and only grandchild. I could go on for days over the special bond we shared but I wouldn’t know where to start. Her greatest love was her God and her family. She was a true Christian, if there ever was one. I never remember her fretting or wringing her hands in fear. She would just take out her Bible and turn everything over to God. I am trying hard to follow in those footsteps but I admit to some fretting and wringing of hands from time to time…okay a lot of time.

She loved me just like I was her very own and kept me from the day I was born. Then she moved in with us when my dad died a year later. I loved that woman so much, that in not one of my finer moments, though keep in mind I was only three and did understand what I was saying, I looked up at her from playing and said “I sure am glad my daddy died so you could come live with me.” Terrible I know but said from the innocence of a child.

I was very blessed to have such a wonderful grandmother and there has not been a day in the years since she passed that she has not been in my heart and mind. I think I was so afraid of her dying because I was afraid that I would not feel her closeness anymore but I feel just a close to her today as ever and I thank God for that.

I had the great honor of being right by her side when she was ushered from that cold, sterile hospital room into the loving arms of her Jesus. It is a moment I will never forget as long as I live and I am so glad I was there. You see, we had such a special relationship that I always told her that I could not accept her dying. She would say “child when my time comes there is nothing you can do about it.” Of course, she was right but I just did not think my heart could take living one day without my precious grandmother. Well, in her great love for me, she prayed that God would give me peace over her passing and that is exactly what He did.

Of course, I was sad and cried but I just kept thinking about her life, all she had seen and done in 100 years. Wow! She lived a full, healthy and wonderful life, never even having to be on a single prescription. How can you look at a life like that and not say it is time for you to go home to your great reward.

However, the best blessing is that I have never one time felt she was gone because she is in my heart, my soul and my memories and I will see her again one day and get to spend eternity with her. What more could I ask for?

I have been very blessed I have the best Mother in the world and I had the best Grandmother in the world. I had two wonderful strong Christian role models that provided me with a safe and wonderful life that was always rooted in Jesus.

My precious grandmother was buried on Mother’s Day 1998. My Mother was sad about that but I thought it was so appropriate because after all she was the best Mother any of us could have asked for.

Much love,

Lyndy

Fear...you are not my friend.

2010-04-27T21:28:00.005-05:00

I was reading James this morning. The first chapter says in verses 2-3, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” I do not know about y’all but I am all over that verse. That verse sums up a lot of my life with God. I have a trial(s), He is faithful, and my faith grows…sometimes moment by moment.

However, I have times like this last week where fear just really takes control. I spend so much time imagining things that have not happened and it really stinks. I know that as a Christian, I should be able to fight these fears better but that is my biggest stronghold and the devil knows it.

Having fearful times is like saying “God I know I should trust you but I just don’t.” Oh how that makes my heart hurt. We know that God is working everything out for our good, we are promised this in Romans 8:28.

We know that no matter even if our worst fears happen to us, that God is still in control and nothing comes to us that does not first go through the Father. Even if the worst comes to us, we serve a God who can ransom, redeem and restore anything. He can turn any ashes into beauty to be a display of His Splendor!!

This reminds me of one of my favorite stories in Daniel, about the three Hebrew boys. Oh to have their faith! The worst did happen to them but God was with them, and they came out without even the smell of smoke on them. We too can walk away from whatever “worst’s” we encounter, without even a smell of smoke on us. How amazing is that?

God working everything out for good, no matter even if our worst fears happens to us. I don’t know about y’all but I have had some of my worst fears happen to me and God was with me every step of the way, so why am I still so fearful?

The most critical breakthrough of faith you and I could ever experience is to let God bring us to a place where we trust Him - period. We don't just trust Him to let us avoid what we fear most. We determine to trust Him no matter what, even if our worst nightmare befalls us. We have no greater victory and can render satan no harsher blow.

Anytime trouble comes fear is usually the first thing we feel. For me, the best way I can describe it, is like two hands squeezing my heart. Satan injects "what if" thoughts into our head, and we often begin to see the worst possible outcome. Boy do we ever, or at least I do. As soon as this happens, we should realize what is going on, satan is trying to keep us from going forward in God's will and good plan for our lives.

When we feel fear or begin to experience fearful thoughts, the very first thing we should do is pray. As we seek God, we are focusing on Him instead of on our fears.

God may speak by giving us peace deep inside of us; He may give a creative idea; He may calm our troubled emotions; He may give us assurance. God speaks in various ways, but if we seek Him, we will find Him. He will lead us and guide us if we acknowledge Him in all our ways. (Proverbs 3:5, 6.)

I love this quote from So Long Insecurity “as long as you’re going to borrow trouble on the future, why don’t you just go ahead and borrow the grace to go with it and see yourself back up on your feet defying your enemy’s odds…just as you and I have done a dozen other times.” I CAN choose to TRUST HIM. PERIOD.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) (American Standard Version)

The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)

Be Strong and Courageous!

2010-04-25T19:56:00.003-05:00

I am still hanging out with my friend Joshua. Do you do that? As you are reading the Bible, do you think, “Oh what would this person or that person have been like as a friend?” As I read about the different characters in the Bible, it is easy for me to feel like I am there with them, as the Lord is speaking to them and through them.

I have made no secret of the fact that for this gal fear is my greatest weakness. Perhaps that is why I have enjoyed spending so much time in Deuteronomy and Joshua among many other books of the Bible. These specifically remind me over and over again “Lyndy be strong and very courageous.” “Lyndy do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The name “Joshua” was originally Hoshea, meaning salvation, or Jehoshua, the Lord’s salvation. Joshua is called the servant of Jehovah, one by whom God issued His orders and by whom He accomplished His purposes--God’s prime minister.

This book goes on where Deuteronomy leaves off. It is a continuation of the history of the chosen people.

The chosen people were led out of bondage by Moses, and led into the Promised Land by Joshua.

Moses passed through the Red Sea.
Moses led Israel from bondage.
Moses gave a vision of faith.
Moses told of an inheritance.

Joshua completes what Moses began! God never leaves His work unfinished. The great Craftsman always has another tool sharpened and ready for use.

Joshua passed over Jordon.
Joshua led Israel into blessing.
Joshua led them into a life of faith.
Joshua led them into possession.
We see realization in Joshua.

God had been preparing Joshua for years. He was born in slavery in Egypt, but God led him out and made him a colaborer of Moses. Yet, remember he was the one that was almost stoned to death because he urged the children of Israel to advance into Canaan forty years earlier. (Numbers 14: 6-10)

If you want, a real feel for the history of the Bible, then to me Joshua is great. We read about conquest of the Promised Land in chapters 1 through 12 and occupation of the Promised Land in chapters 13 through 24. Good stuff you don’t want to miss.

We first read about Rahab here and how she helped the spies. Little did we know at this point, that God would use her in such a mighty way and that she, a prostitute, would be among the forebears of Jesus. See Matthew 1:5. I find it comforting to know that she is not called “the prostitute,” for the stigma of her past is overshadowed by the honor given her by God. By choosing her a Gentile sinner (wow just like me) God confirms that He is the Savior of all peoples, for all time and for all our circumstances.

The devil would have had Rahab believing that nothing good could possibly come from her life. But her life demonstrates the benefits of believing God instead and He gave her a completely new life and set no limits on her potential.

How comforting to know that no matter what our dirty, sinful past is like, with God absolutely nothing is impossible and He sets no limits on our future potential based on our past mistakes.

~Thankful Thursday~

2010-04-21T21:18:00.007-05:00

I have so much to be thankful for. The last year was hard but I survived with the help of my heavenly Father. My life isn’t perfect but I know that God is in control and I take great comfort in that.

I am thankful that my Mother is home, after all those months away in rehab. What an awesome blessing that is, and one we were not sure if would ever happen, with all the health issues she had last year.

I am thankful for hope, for without it where would we be. Hope gives us the courage to go on and face an unknown tomorrow.

I am thankful that He knows, and He cares…even when it feels like He doesn't.

As always, I am grateful to all of you my blogging friends.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all.

Much love,

Lyndy

Unbelief

2010-04-20T13:53:00.004-05:00

One of the books of the Bible I came to really love this past year was Deuteronomy. Isn’t it funny how depending on the season of your life, certain books of the Bible takes on different meaning in our lives? One of the most repeated words in the book of Deuteronomy is “remember.” Moses knew all to well the reality of our human forgetfulness.

Deuteronomy is so full of words of wisdom, I think I have highlighted almost every verse in my Bible, for fear I will miss one of the great truths.

Starting in chapter 1, verse 29-31 “Then I said to you, Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you… There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son…”

On in chapter 3, verse 23, we read “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” Sweet friends how many times in your life can you look back and see that our Father God was fighting for you. I know in my own life, I would not be able to count that high.

One or my favorite verses this past year has been Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)

Oh and I love how The Message version reads. "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

Maybe it is my southern nature but I tend to hear the voices in my head, as southern voices. Ha. So, I just love that I can hear in a southern voice “child don’t you give them a second thought because God, YOUR GOD, is right here with you.” Wow. Let that truth sink in for a moment.

For this fearful gal, these verses mean so stinkin much to me. The devil knows that fear is my greatest weakness and that is where he can attack me the hardest every time. As I read these words, it was as if my Father God was whispering in my ear “beloved child, I told you all this time, not to be afraid, but you have not listened to me.” Oh how I must disappoint my Father God. I don’t know about y’all but I don’t want to get to heaven and have God ask me “child why did you not believe me?” Oh how that makes my heart hurt just to think of it. My Father God is so worthy and He is telling me confidently over and over again “Do no be afraid.”

How I would love to tell y’all that ALL.OF.THE.TIME. I say, “Okay God said it and I believe it and that is that.” Yes, I know God said it. Yes, I know God is worthy. Yes, I know that since God said it, I can believe it. However, in the dark of night, when fear creeps in and I feel its heaviness on my chest, sitting like an elephant and even sometimes struggle to breathe because that fear is so strong and the weight so heavy, sweet friends, I won’t lie to you. During those times, I want to put God to the test and say “but God are you sure I don’t have to be afraid? Maybe you meant that verse for my neighbor and not for little old me.”

I guess what I am trying to say is, while I want to believe with all my heart and I do. I still have days of doubt and unbelief and I know that must make my Father so sad. I can only imagine, how my own mother would feel, if she told me something and I didn’t believe her. Never does she tell me something and I doubt it. So why do I doubt my heavenly Father? Thankfully, He knows us and our humanness. He knows our fears and concerns and He loves us even through our unbelief.

What a comfort it is to know that whatever God sends into our lives has first passed through his filter. NOTHING comes into the life of a Christian that God doesn’t know about. Believing that, we can relax and know that God will be with us during the trials ahead. What a comfort that is my sweet friends.

I have to say this last year was the hardest year of my life but it brought me closer to my Father God than I have ever been and for that reason, I would not change a thing. God is a good God. He is faithful. He is in control of every last thing going on in all our lives and we can believe Him when he tells us “child don’t you give them a second thought because I am your Father God, and I am right here with you.” Believe Him.

Long time no blog.

2010-04-19T17:54:00.002-05:00

So, the old blog has been silent for over a year now. So much has happened, a lot of it good and some not so good, the main reason the old blog has been silent, is because life hit hard and I needed to deal with it. This has been a season of intense isolation and wilderness, which has caused me to lean on my Father God, like never before and really, what better place it there to be. When you are isolated and walking in the wilderness, it is hard to write and be funny and upbeat and let’s face it, who wants to read a blog that is full of woe and sadness. So, that is why I took an unplanned break.

When I think back over this past year, I remember the very intense, very personal and private pain that I truly felt I could share with no one but my Father God. Not to be a downer but the honest truth is that the only appropriate word that would sum up the last year for me would be “loss.”

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I realized this was not just a fight for my sanity but for my existence. I kept moving forward...seeking and trusting the Lord for every unknown, unfamiliar step I took. Because what IS known is, that Jesus is the same...yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is my trusted Savior...my King, my Best Friend, my Jesus. He was always whispering to me “My Princess you are never alone. I am the friend that walks in when the world walks out.” “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 What a comfort that is to always know. We are NEVER alone, even when we feel the most alone.

I have been very private with this because honestly, while most people are genuinely concerned for my well-being, there are those this past year who have scrutinized my life. There are also those who have tried to gain details and information regarding my situation, not out of love or concern, but as a means to appease their own curiosity or to gossip. I understand people are going to have an opinion--good or bad--about my life and the way I live it and that is fine. However, please remember...this is MY life and you are only seeing just a tiny part of the picture…not the whole picture itself. Not that I feel I owe anyone answers for my life but let’s face it people talk and talk turns to gossip and I do no know anyone, unless you are a Hollywood star that likes gossip and that is only because it keeps them on the front page. Personally, I will take the back page any day, thank you very much.

Have all the choices I have made in the last year been the right ones? Heavens no. Will I make wrong choices again? Most certainly, as I am human. However, I have made the best decisions that I knew how to make, as a single gal alone, trying to take care of my mother’s needs and myself. Period.

Ever since my divorce, which yes, has been several years ago now, I have struggled with feeling unlovable and undesirable. Not worth fighting for. Not enough. Discarded. Replaceable and not keep-able. These feelings have never been more real to me than in the last year, which is strange considering I truly thought I was past all the ugliness of my divorce. Unfortunately, I was burying all my feelings for such along time and not dealing with them. My motto of put on a happy face and never let the world know you are crying, finally caught up with me and the anxiety and depression was not something I expected this last year.

Maybe it was mother almost dying and the emotions that came from that. Or having to put her in rehab, never knowing or believing I would get to bring her home again. I don’t’ know the rhyme or reason; I just know that this last year, hit hard and it was not fun times.

I will never again be what I once was. I am not the naïve young girl that thinks if you live a good life that only good things happen to you. I am no longer the naïve young girl who believes in happily ever after, at least not here on earth. Not so my friend. There is absolutely nothing biblical about that comment. Our life on earth is not promised to be happy and go lucky, at least not all the time. The prize that we are to look toward is not here on earth but in our heavenly home. I love how James 4:14 reads “…you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” I have seen some pastors demonstrate this with the mere puff an aerosol can and when you realize that, our life here on this earth is really no more than a puff of smoke that is pretty dang amazing.

So, I embrace that I am not what I once was and never will be again. This Lyndy is now more dependent on God, more aware of the hurts of others, and more aware than ever of how powerful the grace of God is. She is a much different Lyndy Ledford and I kinda like her.

This Lyndy is choosing today to let Him do the heavy lifting. He is “God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” I have walked a road that I never, ever saw coming and I will never forget how it all felt. But bless God; I am coming out of the wilderness ready to tell others just how awesome God is to those who love Him!!

I have learned so much about loss, grief, pride, humility, and God's character through this last year and as tough as it has been I would not trade it for all the money in the world.

Oh and I have some GREAT news!!! As of Friday, 15 long months after Mother first went into the hospital, she is now home with me and we are so pleased and so blessed. Yes, God is good but you know, even if she had died that day, or just never got well enough to come home, God would still be good. Believe it.

Progress Progress

2009-03-13T12:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I thought it was well past time for an update. Thanks so much for the prayers. Mother is continuing to do really well. I am thinking perhaps another two weeks, at the most she will have to be in rehab. Of course, there are still other issues we have to address. I honestly have a list and we will work our way down. (lol)

Last week, she had an eye appointment for cataract assessment. She still can’t ride in a car, so I had to just meet her over there and the rehab center had her transported in an ambulance. Before the cataracts can be addressed she has an infection of some sort that has to be treated. So the doctor prescribed medication for that and we go back in three weeks and will see if it is cleared up. If so, we will then work on the cataract issue.

I have seen major progress in Mother’s rehab this week especially and I must say she really gives it her all. I stayed several days for her therapy sessions and the improvement is substantial. She will have to have a hospital bed temporarily once she comes home, so I am going to go ahead and have that ready. Plus she will have home therapy three days a week. It will be nice to have it in place for our next step anyway, which will be having both of her knees replaced. I told her before long she was going to be the bionic woman with all her new parts.

The one issue that we are still battling the most is the anemia. Her levels are still very low, which means she has to continue to use the oxygen. We are really praying that she will be able to get off of this. With her being on a walker, having to deal with oxygen will be a little tricky. The nurse called me this morning and they are going to start giving her some weekly injections, along with some additional vitamins, in hopes of getting her hemoglobin levels to a point where they will stay leveled out. As I have said before, she has dealt with anemia most all her life (as have I) but what I didn’t realize is that people who deal with chronic joint inflammation are at a much higher risk for this problem. So the fact that she is prone to anemia already has really just added to this. Now that we know the facts, I am hopeful and prayerful that perhaps we can remedy it.

It is just a slow process but the main thing is that she is making great improvement. It has been a long time since she has enjoyed quality of life and that is my biggest goal. At 72 she is too young not to be able to enjoy life.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Knowing that you have bathed us in prayer has been a wonderful feeling and so appreciated.

Much love,

Lyndy

God is Good All the Time

2009-02-16T13:41:00.002-06:00

Hello my sweet bloggy friends. What a ride I have been on in the last three weeks or so. Some of you know that Mother has been ill and in the hospital. For those of you that have prayed and emailed me, I love you more than you know and so appreciate you. Thank you so much.

Most of you know that the last year or so has been hard, really hard for me. I have faced some pretty challenging things and have totally had to rely on God. Not a bad place to be and where I should be all the time but still, who wants to have one blow right after another. This was one of the biggest reasons that my blogging fell by the wayside. I admit after so many blows, I was just not in a great place for a long time.

So I will admit when this happened with Mother my first thought was not so good and not at all positive. However, I can truly say that God has carried me through these past weeks and I have seen and felt His fingerprints all over this situation, as well as others I was dealing with. Let me just tell you God is so good and He NEVER lets us down. I was also fortunate enough to grab my bible up when getting things to go to the hospital and boy was I happy to have it with me. A blessing indeed.

For those of you that don’t know, about three weeks ago, I dropped my laptop and busted my screen. The next morning, after my brilliant move with the laptop, I had to have Mother rushed to hospital. I honestly thought she was dying on me and it was horrible, as you can imagine. I could not get her to respond to me at all. After running tests, it was found that she was severely anemic and required four units of blood. Then because of the medication she was on her blood pressure dropped to frighteningly low rates and that caused a problem with her oxygen. She was extremely weak and very swollen because her body was retaining water, which also made it hard for her to move around or walk.

The day they wanted to discharge her, they realized that would be impossible as it took two physical therapist just to help her to set up on the side of the bed. It was obvious pretty soon that I could not bring her home because I would not be able to get her up and down, as she was unable to sit up, much less walk. It was determined that she needed to go to rehab for therapy until she could gain her strength back.

I will admit this was a blow to both of us, as it was something we never expected. To make matters worse, the only place in our area that does therapy for in patient is at the nursing home. Fortunately, the rehab unit there is rated one of the best and I must admit they have been great. Though as you can imagine, having to be there with so many people that are suffering from dementia and many other things, is very difficult. You don’t get a private room and the roommate Mother has is just pitiful.
We got her checked in and settled and I have really been impressed with her care. They call me frequently with updates and each time they change her medicine or routine. I have been kept very well informed.

I didn’t leave the hospital for 10 days and I will admit it sure was nice to sleep in my own bed. For the first few days after she entered rehab, I would get there about 8 or 9 in the morning and stay all day. I know that made her more comfortable while she got used to being there and I got to have lunch with her each day too.

In rehab you don’t have phones in your room but you can keep your cell phone, so I took her cell phone up to her and now she can call me whenever she wants and I can call and check on her. This has freed me up, so that I have been able to have some much needed time at home.

I can see improvement everyday and she is so much more alert. I know that the anemia must have been slowly coming on for some time and we just didn’t realize how weak she was getting. She deals with so much pain on a daily basis due to her RA and osteo arthritis that it is hard to know a lot of times. I have realized that when you are with someone all the time, it is easy to overlook things, especially if they come on slowly.

Our prayers have truly been answered and she is doing extremely well. I am a blessed girl indeed.

Much Love,

Lyndy

Kelly and Harper Update

2009-01-17T23:11:00.002-06:00

Latest update from Kelly’s dad is below. Please continue to pray. I am just so amazed by the outpouring of love from bloggers. This is just one of the reasons that I love all of my fellow bloggers so much.

Much love,
Lyndy

Judy, Kelly, and I were finally able to make the move from Fayetteville to Tulsa by around 5:30 this evening. At the hospital we discovered that many "blog" friends who live in the Tulsa area had made visits to Scott and his family. What an incredible blessing! One of Kelly's very special friends - Caroline - and her mom Robin made the trip from near Ft. Worth to Tulsa just to encourage and support Kelly, Scott, and Harper. Talk about going the second mile to demonstrate the love of God! We all had a wonderful visit with them. Now for an update on Harper.

Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Tonight we are as always striving to live by faith and not by sight. Sight says that little Harper is still very critical. According to the nursing staff her heart is slightly enlarged on one side and not putting out quite the blood flow that it should. Sight says that she is still having great difficulty breathing and suffering the effects of pneumonia. Sight says she is in for a long stay in the NICU. Sight also says that she is a gorgeous little baby girl. I say little, all 9 lbs 12 ozs of her make her look like a giant compared to most of the many little ones who populate the NICU. As I gazed into her helpless little face this evening I could not help but notice the others. Could it be that some of them had not had even one prayer spoken for them? I immediately thought of the literally thousands of prayers that have been expressed on Harper's behalf. I bowed my head and said, "Please God, may all of these precious children benefit from the prayers that have gone up for Harper."

Now faith is substance and faith is evidence. With the eyes of faith I see God at work bringing healing to my granddaughter. With the eyes of faith I see myself holding her "substance" in my arms and whispering in her ear, "Harper, Jesus loves you - and so does grandad." I have a peace that our loving God will answer the prayers of his "saints" - all of you who have truly shown you care.

UPDATE Urgent Prayer Request

2009-01-16T22:39:00.004-06:00

UPDATE from Kelly's dad

We have been riding a roller coaster of emotions all evening. The first report from the pediatrician did not leave us with much hope for her survival. However God has been listening and answering prayer - one step at a time. Plans have now changed. Children's had all their helicopter units out, so Harper is now getting ready to be transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Ok. (Nearing 12:30AM) That hospital has all the necessary equipment to provide Harper with the procedure she needs to save her little life. She essentially needs to be put on a heart-lung bypass machine for several days.Her heart is strong which is a big plus. We were able to visit her in ICU and I have to tell you that she is the most beautiful little baby I have ever laid my eyes on. We are very hopeful tonight after visiting again with the pediatrician and the attendants in ICU. Judy and I will be taking Kelly to Tulsa tomorrow when she is dismissed - probably not until the afternoon.God is always good. He is on the throne and we know He loves this little child. What more could you ask for?Again, I cannot begin to tell each of you who read this how much we appreciate the heartfelt concern and most of all your prayers.

Please pray for Kelly and her newborn daughter, Harper. Harper was born tonight and is having trouble breathing and they are not sure what is going on. Kelly lost a lot of blood and her blood pressure is very low.This sweet family needs our prayers!

UPDATE from Kelly: We need you to lift us up in prayer like you never have before. Harper is in VERY critical condition and they are going to fly her to AR Children's hospital. It is very, very serious and the NICU doctor did not give us a favorable report. Scott and his parents will be driving there tonight. My parents and I will be driving there in the morning as soon as I can get out of the hospital. We know that God is soveriegn. WE KNOW that God is the same right now to us as He was to us this morning when we were so excited and praising Him as we drove to the hospital. We know that He loves us and no matter what happens - we will continue to praise Him.

Please pray for this sweet family. As with any child this one has been so wanted and looked forward too.

Much love,

Lyndy

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 2

2009-01-15T14:10:00.003-06:00

I am so loving participating in the memory verses. This is the verse God put on my heart for my second verse.

Philippians 4 6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

My first verse of the year is below and I got so much out of it. God knows the future and wants us to trust him for the journey ahead. When we feel abandoned captives, he promises his presence. When we tire of waiting for distant dreams, he promises strength. No matter how bleak our circumstances, God promises “hope and a future”.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Much love,

Lyndy

A Study of James Chapter 2

2009-01-13T01:10:00.002-06:00

Sweet Amanda over at Mama Sings is leading a bible study on the book of James. I have really gotten so much out of it and hope you will join us.

James 2 (Contemporary English Version)

Warning against Having Favorites

1 My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others. 2 Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes. 3 You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. 4 That is the same as saying that some people are better than others and you would be acting like a crooked judge.

5 My dear friends, pay attention. God has given a lot of faith to the poor people in this world. He has also promised them a share in his kingdom that he will give to everyone who loves him. 6 You mistreat the poor. But isn't it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? 7 Aren't they the ones who make fun of your Lord?

I don’t think that there is a one of us that could not be considered guilty of looking down at someone at some point in our lives. How many of us have walked into a room and saw someone dressed to the nines and someone who would be dressed by today’s standard’s as poor and we chose to sit by the fancy dressed person. It is sad to say but that happens all the time and even our churches look down on people who are not dressed appropriately sitting in their pews.

8 You will do all right, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves. 9 But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned. 10 If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all. 11 The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law.

12 Speak and act like people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. 13 Do this, because on the day of judgment there will be no pity for those who have not had pity on others. But even in judgment, God is merciful!

I know I have been guilty of this. We all had cliques in high school but I find they are even in our churches. I truly try to befriend everyone but I now I don’t always succeed.
Amanda also made a good point of being kind especially to people we encounter in check-outs or in stores. I need to try and do better at this because sometimes I am just in a hurry and want to get in and out quickly.

Faith and Works
14 My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn't just say, "I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat." What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!

True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts. If our lives remain unchanged, we don't truly believe the truths we claim to believe.

From a worldly perspective, why is it some important to have deeds along with faith? It demonstrates to others what it means to be a Christian. H.L. Wilmington says, "a silent believer may indeed be a saint before God, but he remains a sinner before man until he walks the walk and talks the talk of Christian service."

18 Suppose someone disagrees and says, "It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds. "I would answer, "Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them."

While it is true that our deeds cannot earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Bottom line: faith brings us salvation; active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine.

19 You surely believe there is only one God. That's fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear. 20 Does some stupid person want proof that faith without deeds is useless?

You know you can see some people and you just know and they show the love of God in every aspect of their lives. I always wanted to have that and I finally had to accept that we all have different gifts and I need to concentrate on that and let others be able to see God in my life by using my own gifts and not trying be someone God has not called me to be.

21Well, our ancestor Abraham pleased God by putting his son Isaac on the altar to sacrifice him. 22 Now you see how Abraham's faith and deeds worked together. He proved that his faith was real by what he did. 23 This is what the Scriptures mean by saying, "Abraham had faith in God, and God was pleased with him." That's how Abraham became God's friend. 24 You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.

25 For example, Rahab had been a prostitute. But she pleased God when she welcomed the spies and sent them home by another way. 26 Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!

I admit that I struggle with faith and I guess I always will. Isn’t it funny how we can have more faith in God moving in someone else’s life that we can our own? I don’t know about you but I long to have more faith and to be more like Abraham and Rahab.

Much love,

Lyndy

God Stop Friday

2009-01-09T21:43:00.006-06:00

This has been a week where I have seen God moving in my life, in a real way. I am so thankful that my Father God has calmed my anxious heart. I have done so much better at praying and leaving things at God’s feet. I don’t know about you but I have spent so much wasted time worrying and being fearful. Actually, I guess that would be an understatement because when I do things I go big or go home and believe me when I allow fear to take root in my heart it quickly turns to panic. Then that panic quickly multiplies and takes over my mind in all areas. This has been a huge stronghold for me and I am so thankful that through lots of prayer I have started off the New Year by keeping that fear at bay.

Just like an addict though, I know that I will always have to pray and trust God in this area of my life.

It has been a hectic week and a week where I have had some choices to make and God gave me so much peace in these areas and I give Him all the glory.
I have said before that I was blessed to be born and raised in a Christian home but it has taken me 40 years to finally really and truly know that trusting God means. This is a wonderful journey I am on with my Father God and for the first time in a long time I am excited to see what He has in store for me.

Have a blessed weekend my friends.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2009-01-07T23:59:00.005-06:00

I have much to be thankful for. My life isn’t perfect but I know that God is in control and I take great comfort in that.

I am thankful that while I have some tough decisions to make that I have been able to keep my peace and lay my burdens at my Father God’s feet.

I am thankful for our sweet Beth Moore and the memory verse challenge that she is hosting.

I am thankful for Amanda at Mama Sings, who is walking several of us through the book of James and the great meat we are “chewing” on from this walk.

As always, I am grateful to all of you my blogging friends.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Grace Alone.

Much love,

Lyndy

A Study of James

2009-01-06T21:54:00.002-06:00

Sweet Amanda over at Mama Sings is leading a bible study on the book of James. I have really gotten so much out of it and hope you will join us.

I thought I would share my notes from today here as well as in her comments.

JAMES 1

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

I heard a pastor preach one time and his daughter had been raped as a teenager and ended up pregnant. He taught on how hard it was on the family and how they finally did get to the point of “counting it all pure joy” and it wasn’t until they did that healing began. God’s grace is amazing.

5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

“Ask BOLDLY for God's help and He will show up” Boy I needed that word to day and I say Amen. I do not have children but I know anytime I have ever ask my Mother’s help she has done everything in her power to help me be it big or small. Why would I think I could expect any less from my wonderful Father God?

I don’t know about y’all but I pray strongly, it is when I am going about my day that the worrying sets in.

I am facing some pretty big decisions right now and I have tried very hard to just leave everything at my Father’s feet. I will admit I have done better than I have in the past and every time that nagging worry starts to fill up in my chest I have done much better at stuffing it back down.

I would say that worry is one of my biggest issues.

9-11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

Boy I know I am guilty on this one. It is so easy to look into someone else’s life and want to trade places. The old “grass must be greener on the other side” syndrome.

I will be totally honest and I even do it with some of my fellow bloggers. Being single, I see you with husbands and children and I think “okay why not me?”

It is very easy to want what someone else has if it is good but more than likely we have no idea what pain they are dealing with behind closed doors.

I certainly need to remember this more often.

12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

I have often thought about the fact that our rewards may never be seen here on earth. I rejoice in the fact that we will find them in Heaven and it makes me all the more thankful that our life here on earth is like a vapor that only last for a little while.

13-15 Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

How precious to know that our loving Father God will never try to trip me up. We all deal with sin in our lives everyday. I know a lot of people, even Christians that seem to think it isn’t sin unless it is a biggie but we know that is not what the Word teaches us.

My prayer is that I can catch my sin, big or small before I act on it.

16-18 So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

Did you hear that? We are the Crown of all His creatures. That my friends is pretty amazing.

“Lord help us to stay on course.” Amen and Amen. In life we have so many challenges thrown our way each day that it would be very easy to stray off course. Even seeing the wrong way sign ahead of me I have veered way too many times in the wrong direction.

19-21 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

How beautiful to think of God as our landscaper and He is. I pray that I will allow God to landscape my character with His Word and remove all the spoiled and cancerous garbage that is there.

22-24 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

One of my biggest challenges is being scatterbrained and then procrastination. That is something that I truly need to work on. I already know that my procrastination comes from worry but knowing it and doing something about it are two different things. Lord help me to not be so fearful that I put off important things.

26-27 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

I bet there is not a one of us that can read this verse without someone we know coming to mind that we could easily reach out too. I pray that I do more than think about it and actually do it.

Oh I have gotten so much out of this and I too want EVERYTHING God wants me to get and I so want to be CHANGED.

Much love,

Lyndy

Hello 2009

2009-01-04T21:23:00.004-06:00

I have been trying to compose this post for several days now. I would start and stop and then put it off. You see and you know if you have read my blog during the last year that 2008 was a very hard year for me. To be honest, it was the hardest year of my life. I experienced loss both financial and material. My mother’s health continued to be up and down and it has been a rough ride with dealing with her health issues. It was one of those times that if something could go wrong, it did and basically the whole year was just one bad thing after another.

Around mid summer, everything just really hit me hard and I suffered severe depression. Oh I was in a pit, let me tell y’all. I will be honest; I guess I did a little bit of wallowing in that pit for a while too. Finally, around November I dug myself out of that pit…with my Father God’s help of course. One thing that I read from our dear Beth Moore that really stuck out to me during this time is "Jesus is the author of connection. Satan is the author of isolation." Let me say Amen to that. While I was in that pit of depression, I did not want to be around anyone or talk to anyone and I now clearly see that is a trap of satan. It now makes total sense to me that he would want me to isolate myself from everyone and just dwell in my pit and worry.

I am so thankful that during this past year and time of pit dwelling, it could have caused me to pull away from my Father God but thankfully, it just drew me closer to Him. That doesn’t mean that I understand everything that I have gone through or that all my “whys” have been answered but I do know that I am thankful regardless that God is in control and not me.

If you've read this far, bless you! I mean that entirely sincerely. I fell off the blog bandwagon while I was pit dwelling and I hope to change that as well. I pray that God blesses you not only by providing for what you need in your life but in giving you the peace and strength to get through your trying experiences.

A year ago, I would have never dreamed I would be saying this but I would never trade the stress and pain of the past year for a smoother ride. I can never doubt that God provides. Follow Him, love Him and, even when it seems impossible, cling to Him above all else. Never doubt that the Lord is working for your benefit. It may not seem that your plans correspond with His, but would you rather Jesus follow you? Trust me, He will not only bear your burden but change your whole perspective on what exactly is a burden - it may just be an experience to allow Jesus to hold you even tighter.

As I close this post, I want to share with you my memory verse for the first two weeks of January. I am so thankful to Beth for this idea and I don’t know about you but I so desire a Jesus year.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Much love,

Lyndy

Wishing You A Wonderful New Year

2008-12-31T20:50:00.003-06:00

Philippians 3:13-14

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)

Isaiah 40:31

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (NASB)

Psalm 37:7

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. (NLT)

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)

The REAL Reason for the Season

2008-12-24T19:30:00.004-06:00

"He couldn't explain it all," said the girl with tears in her voice. "He's spoiled Christmas, that's all, and it can't be fixed up. You don't understand, I know, and I don't want to talk about it tonight. But Christmas is spoiled."

"One man can't spoil Christmas, Daryl! That isn't possible. Christmas is bigger that that. It is something heavenly and cannot be touched by things of the earth. My child, have you been thinking to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ by arranging circumstances around yourself like cushions and settling down comfortably in them? . . . ."

The Substitute Guest
Grace Livingston Hill
©1936

"And the angel said to them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

-Luke 2:10-14

~Merry Christmas~

2008-12-23T17:46:00.004-06:00

How is everyone doing this day before Christmas Eve? I made my grocery store run this afternoon and went to the bank and a few other errands and now plan on being home until after the holiday.

It has been bitterly cold here. Typical GA weather. Last weekend was warm enough to dine outside without jackets even and yesterday it was 16 degrees. Talk about a huge change and then tomorrow is back to the 60’s.

I bought all kinds of goodies for us to munch on and we will eat some yummies and watch old movies and just enjoy a quite peaceful Christmas.

I pray each and everyone of you have a glorious and blessed Christmas with your families.

Much Love, Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2008-12-10T20:32:00.003-06:00

It is hard to believe another week has rolled around. Again, I have so much to be thankful for. As you know, if you have read my previous blog entries, I have been climbing out of a pit of depression as of late. One of the things that I have prayed for is just “normalcy”. That may sound strange but when you are in that pit of despair nothing is normal in your life.

I am so thankful to say that the last two weeks have been full of normalcy. Sweet, sweet normalcy and it has been wonderful. Circumstances haven’t really changed but my attitude has and one thing I have learned truly through this walk of depression is my God is always faithful. He gives me more grace and love than I could ever deserve.

I am also thankful this week that my abscessed tooth has cleared up and is now completely better. A blessing indeed.

Another blessing is Mother UTI seems to have cleared up as well. We will know for sure after she is checked again next week, but she seems much better.

I am also thankful that as of last week, I am now 11 years cancer free. Truly something to be thankful for. It seems just like yesterday but thank God it is now 11 years since that horrible day.

As I said, I have so much to be thankful for but these are just a few highlights of the week.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Grace Alone.

Much love,

Lyndy

Thankful Thursday

2008-12-04T10:47:00.004-06:00

Lamentations 3:22-24 (CEV)
22 The LORD's kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. [a] 23 The LORD can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, "The LORD is all I need; I can depend on him.

I have so much to be thankful for I don't know where to begin.

I am thankful for antibiotics that have helped my abscessed tooth get under control.

I am thankful that my Mother’s doctor’s appointment went well this week and that the doctor caught and is treating her UTI before it became worse.

I am thankful that we serve a God who doesn't remember yesterday, and is forgiving and merciful.

I am thankful that Jesus has stayed by my side even when I questioned where He was.

I am thankful that I have food enough, money enough, friends enough, to keep me going.

I am thankful for my family and friends both online and off.

I am thankful that I have a computer and internet so that I can keep in touch with everyone.

I am thankful that I still have my Mother to spend the holidays with.

I am thankful for so many things I see God’s hand in behind the scenes.

There is so much more that I am thankful for. I give all the praise and glory to our Father God, who was, is, and always will be. Thank you Jesus!

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Grace Alone.

Much love,
Lyndy

Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays for the Holidays

2008-12-01T22:17:00.004-06:00

I am a newbie to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday but I love to cook and love new recipes, so this looked like a fun thing to participate in. Thank you Lisa and Lana for hosting this.

I have always loved appetizer recipes and love serving them when I have larger groups over for the holidays. I ran across this recipe over the weekend and it looks just yummy and will make a pretty presentation as well.

Crescent Bacon-Cheese Tartlets

Ingredients

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet

1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

¼ cup chopped cooked bacon

1 tablespoon chopped green onion (1 medium)

1 egg

3 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F.

If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough into 1 large rectangle on work surface. Press into 12x9-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough on work surface. Press into 12x9-inch rectangle.

Cut dough into 12 squares. Gently press squares into 12 ungreased mini muffin cups, shaping edges to form rims 1/4 inch high. Spoon cheese evenly into dough-lined cups. Top each with bacon and onion. In small bowl, beat egg and whipping cream with wire whisk or fork until blended. Spoon slightly less than 1 tablespoon mixture into each cup.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown and filling is set. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups.

Hope you enjoy.

Much love, Lyndy

Memory Monday

2008-11-30T19:47:00.007-06:00

I have been seeing on several blogs a new meme that the The Simple Wife has started called Memory Monday. I thought it sounded like a great idea and thought I would join.

The goal of Memory Monday is to engrave God's Word on our hearts (or a fancy way of saying we need to memorize some verses). There are all kinds of reasons for this, and all kinds of verses that support it. Simply put, as believers, we need to know the Word. By heart.

So, here are the "rules" to Memory Monday:

Each Monday pick a verse or passage to memorize for the upcoming week. And the next Monday, we'll type it out BY MEMORY and choose another one!

My memorization for the week: James 1: 2-8

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Wishing you a blessed start to your week.

Much love,

Lyndy

Getting Out of the Pit

2008-11-30T11:08:00.004-06:00

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:1-2 NIV)

Wow I can hardly believe it has been so long since my last post. I would love to tell you that life has been full and wonderful and that the reason I have been away so long is because things have been going so great but that would be a big fat lie.

As any of you that have read my blog knows that this last year has been incredible hard for me in many ways. The last several months have been the hardest and there is really no eloquent way to put it other than to say I hit rock bottom. Anyone who wants you to believe that depression is not real has never dealt with it before.

For those who have never struggled with depression, it may be difficult to fully understand how debilitating it can be. Depression is more than just a long time of sadness; it can take over every aspect of a person's daily life.

For me, depression felt like a prison. I felt alone in my own world like there were no windows and only stagnant air. Within this prison, I felt the presence of spirits of hopelessness, despair and sadness. I longed to sleep the day away knowing it would only make me feel worse. Had I not had Mother to take care of, if would have been much easier to wallow in self-pity even more so than I did.

This year has been full of lots of loss for me. Loss of material things, financial things and even friends who have moved half way across the country and then in July I lost my faithful companion and pet of 16 years.

While all of this has been extremely hard, I have seen God’s fingerprints all over the place and that does continue to bring me great comfort.

I had hoped to blog about some of the things that God has shown me through this and I still plan on it but unfortunately, I woke up yesterday with an abscessed tooth, so I am obviously not up for much blogging today. Hopefully, I will feel up to it next week and fortunately, I already had a doctor’s appointment for in the morning, so antibiotics here I come.

I pray y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and I will be checking in will all of y’all again soon.

I am not completely out of this pit yet but I am on my way and I praise God for that.

Much love,
Lyndy

~Happy Thanksgiving~

2008-11-26T22:14:00.001-06:00

GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

Look a MeMe

2008-07-24T01:57:00.003-05:00

What were you doing 10 years ago?

It was not a good time in my life. My grandmother had just died in May of that year. I was going through a horrible time in my marriage and was absolutely heartbroken because of it. I had also just had surgery for cancer in the previous months.

Favorite Snacks

Chocolate

Popcorn

Chex Mix

To Do List

Laundry

Make doctor appointments for my mom.

Get a haircut.

Catch up on blogs.

Grocery shop.

Get my nails done.

Jobs I Have Had

Office assistant, Office Manager, Office Administrator

Places I Have Lived

Georgia

Bad Habits

procrastination, worry, letting fear take hold, impatience

5 Random Things People May Not Know

I never moved until I got married. I lived in the same house in the same town for the first 20 years of my life.

I know every episode of The Andy Griffith Show verbatim.

I am a total girly girl but not afraid of bugs.

I can’t sleep without a ceiling fan.

What I’d Do if I Were a Billionaire

Donate, donate, donate.

Build my dream home.

Take a long vacation.

My Sweet Sydney

2008-07-13T20:42:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, I had to have my faithful companion of the last 16 years put to sleep. My sweet Sydney was the most loving pet, I ever had. He was diagnosed last month with hyperthyroid, which would have been treatable. However, the vet felt he had some other things going on because, he got sick really fast over the last few weeks and it became apparent that he was not going to make it. I had total peace about my decision and for that I am so thankful. I would not have had that sweet baby to suffer one moment.

I tell y’all I have never know such unconditional love as what that sweet boy gave me. It is amazing to think that I was 24 when I got him and here I am about to turn 40 next month. We had a lot of great years together and I truly consider little Sydney one of God’s sweetest gifts to me. He was by my side through divorce, cancer and deaths of family members, among other things.. Always there and so full of love. He has left a hole in our hearts but oh so many wonderful and sweet memories and he will never be forgotten.

I pray y’all had a wonderful weekend and if you are a pet lover with a special pet, give them an extra hug and let them know they are loved.

Much love, Lyndy

~Happy 4th of July~

2008-07-04T00:52:00.006-05:00

Hi Y’all,

I pray y’all have a wonderful holiday planned with family and friends. We are certainly in the dog days of summer here in Georgia and so thankful for the air-conditioning that is running most of the time these days.

Our day will be a quite one but that is fine. I was thinking today, about past 4th of July’s when I was growing up. It seems every year, there was always a parade and fireworks to attend. I remember my cousins having antique cars that they would always drive in the parade and most of the time I got to ride with them. That was quite exciting for a little girl and always lots of fun. The parades were always in the morning and I remember it seemed like forever for night time to arrive to get to see the fireworks. Funny when you are small, days seem to last forever and now they seem to just fly by. (lol)

I have a wonderful praise report regarding Mother. She has been doing so much better since her hospital stay and her “tune up” and tweaking of her meds. She seriously has not been feeling this well in several years. It is so wonderful to see her enjoying life again. We are just amazed and thanking God for this wonderful blessing.

My sweet kitty Sydney is still on the mend as well. He does seem some better but I am still having to syringe feed him and he is still very weak. The vet said it could take a month to six weeks for the medicine for his thyroid to regulate, so we are just taking things a day at a time.

I having been reading so many wonderful posts from the Deeper Still event of last weekend. It sounds like it was truly a “God stop” for everyone in attendance. Sadly, I am right here close to Atlanta but did not get to attend. Crossing my fingers for next year. I will say God has blessed me just by reading the experiences of others that were lucky enough to get to be there.

I want to thank you my sweet friends again, for the prayers, emails and encouragement they have truly meant so much and I have honestly felt so much peace and peace is a mighty fine thing indeed!

Have a safe, happy and blessed 4th of July!

Much love, Lyndy

Hope

2008-06-18T12:12:00.005-05:00

Hello All,

Thank you so much for your prayers, emails and love and encouragement. It truly means so much to me.

As I have said before when I first started blogging I had no idea that I would “meet” so many wonderful sweet Christian people. You have all been a blessing to me in the year and a half that I have been blogging.

I feel like I have hit such a dry , because as you know from reading my blog, there have not been many happy times lately and that is one of the reasons my blogging has seriously dropped off. I mean who wants to hear gloom and despair all the time. It is bad enough that we hear it on the news but why would we want to tune into a blog to read about bad stuff as well.

If you have read much of my blog in the last 10 months, you already know that they have been tough times for the most part. Horrible move, major car problems, health problems of my own and trips to the emergency room, my best-friend moving back home to Texas, my mother’s heath growing worse and subsequent hospital stay, and recently my precious kitty having serious health problems of his own. Unfortunately, these are only the major bad things and there have been other smaller scale ones.

So you see why I have just not felt much like blogging lately. It has been the most difficult season of my life. Sometimes I have felt extremely close to God, other times like right now, I have felt very very distant though, I know without a doubt He is still there watching over me, I just don’t feel that I am hearing from Him.
I know we all go through these bad times and bad things do happen to very good people every day. I have been told by many that bad things happen to the righteous for various reasons and I do believe that with all my heart. Were I not a Christian and totally trusting God and relying on my faith, I would surely not make it. I have said before, and I honestly mean it, I just do not know how anyone who is not a beliver could make it through times like this without having God to turn to and faith to hold onto too.

A wonderful godly friend sent me some wonderful scriptures to meditate on and I thought I would share these here in hopes they may be a blessing to others.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25.

I like this because it reminds me that situations can get bad but all I really need is something to eat and somewhere to lay my head and God will provide that and more for me because He loves me and I am His own and He has made promises to me in His Word. The older I get the more I realize the truth in this verse.

Romans 8:17-35. Verse 26 tells us that a lot of times we don't even know what to pray for! But God is in that, He is right there in the situation where we don't know what to pray for and He brings out of it something that is both beneficial to us and glorifying to Himself.
Verse 17 says that if we suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with him.
Verse 18 says that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us.
Verse 20 tells us that bad things are going to happen, that the whole of creation is subjected to frustration because things just aren't right - because of sin.
Verse 21 says that creation is in bondage to decay because of sin.
Verse 23 says that everyone, even Spirit-filled Christians, groan with the fallen creation because we are awaiting our adoption and the redemption of our weak and sick and dying bodies.
Verse 24 assures us that we have been saved “in hope”. We can't "see" hope or it just wouldn't be hope. So, the real end result of our salvation is in the future where we can't see it! That's why we groan! But we have HOPE.
Verse 35 tells us that we may experience trouble and hardship and persecution and famine and nakedness and danger and sword.
But, verse 28 assures us that it all works out for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.
Really reading these verses, one thing stands out and that is “but we have HOPE”. Without hope how could we face another day? Praise God for “HOPE”!!!

We all go through struggles at some point in out lives, but I won’t lie my thirties have been full of death of loved ones, death of a marriage, hearing “you have cancer and I want you in surgery tomorrow morning”, having to sell a home that was my dream home and where I thought I would live forever, broken hearts and many other painful situations. Through all of it, thankfully, I never lost my “hope” and even though the past decade has been full of more pain than joy, I still know that I know that I know that God loves me and He does want what is good for me.
These things have not happened because I am a bad person, I honestly feel God has a plan in all of this and I look forward to that plan with “HOPE”.

Much love,
Lyndy

Life as I know it...

2008-06-12T02:11:00.003-05:00

Do you ever just feel like your life is out of balance? With Mother being sick for well over a month now and my not being able to work, her subsequent hospital stay and all the stress involved, it has just not been fun times. Add to all that and there have been car issues…not a good thing when you need transportation to get to doctor’s visits.

Then yesterday my precious Sydney got sick and I had to take him to the vet this morning. He is 16 years old but truly up until yesterday I could see no “old age” in him. If you are not a pet lover, you won’t understand but he has been my baby for all of those 16 years. He is always by my side (literally) and has seen me through divorce, cancer and many other life trials. The vet called me personally, which I thought was wonderful and went over all his blood work with me. For the most part, it all look good, especially for a 16 year old cat. She feels he has a hyperthyroid, however the test for that will not be back until tomorrow. Right now he is at the vet’s office still and they were going to be giving him IV’s and force feeding him. He was down to 5lbs and that is 4lbs less than normal. I feel bad about that but I really did not see the weight loss until yesterday. Since he has so much fur, it is hard to tell. I feel relieved that he is there and getting good care. So we are hoping and praying that it is just his thyroid and not something worse. Of course, that will mean meds for the rest of his life but she assured me it is very treatable and that many cats live long lives with this disease. Obviously, we miss him being home with us…seems downright strange actually and we will feel much better once we know for sure what the problem is.

It is obvious I have lots on my plate and I m sure that is the reason for feeling so out of sorts. However, a friend today kind of hurt my feelings. He suggested that my time off was all fun and games. I was rather taken aback because there have been no fun and games in anything I have been dealing with in the past couple of months. Funny how people perceive that if you are not going in to an 8 to 5 job that you are just sitting around eating bon bons. I am sure many of you stay at home mom’s get that as well.

It also probably didn’t sit to well with me because this last year has been the most challenging of my life. To put it plainly there have not been many fun times at all. Not even normal times and I guess that is what I am craving more than anything. I know without a doubt that God is using this time to draw me closer to Him and some days that is just about all that keeps me going.

Praying y’all are having a great week.

Much love, Lyndy

***Update***

Just heard from the vet…good news it is his thyroid. They will continue to force feed him and give him fluids today and then I will pick him up tomorrow. They are giving him an appetite stimulant to make him want to eat, as getting the weight on him is the biggest issue right now. The vet said this could take several weeks and will take daily care and of course he will be on medicine (pills) twice a day for the rest of his life. That of course will be a challenge until I get used to giving them to him and he gets used to taking them.

So while it will take work and training it will also be worth it!!!

Home Sweet Home

2008-06-06T20:13:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I have not updated but I have not been home much the last two weeks. Mother got to come home from the hospital and she is doing so much better.

All of her tests for her heart came back great with no signs of any blockage. I was obviously very thankful for this, but really surprised as well, since she is 71 and has had high blood pressure and high cholesterol for over 20 years. They did end up changing her high blood pressure medicines, so we will see how the news ones work for her.

The conclusion is that both her knees are bad, “bone on bone” to be exact. Our main concern is wanting her to have as much quality of life as possible, with of course as little pain as possible. So you can imagine our surprise when her orthopedic surgeon said he did not feel she needed to have her knees replaced at this time. He has decided to do a series of new injection treatments and see how they work first.

Now if this works, I have no problem with it but when she had both of her hips replaced in 2000, they were bone on bone as well and we were told surgery was the only option once the damage is that severe. She has the same surgeon now, as then, so we are trusting that he knows what he is talking about. Obviously, if she can find just as much relief without surgery that is great but I don’t want to wait a year and find out that she should have had the surgery to begin with. Especially, since her heart is in such great shape right now and the cardiologist said she would have no problem having surgery. What if in a year that is not the case? So we are going see how things progress for a bit before we make our decision.

As any of you know, that battle severe arthritis, or any chronic illness, it is hard to have much quality of life when you are in pain all the time. My goal is for her to have a little pain as possible, whether it is through surgery or injections.

She lost 29lbs of fluid that her body had been retaining. It is no wonder she felt so horrible and was unable to walk. Her body just got so run down so fast that had we not gotten her into the hospital, I am afraid that we would not have been as fortunate as we have been. When I called 911 that Thursday, I honestly did not know if she would ever be coming back home again, as she was in such bad shape. So obviously we are thanking our Father God that her “tune-up” went well and hopeful that the injections we be a success as well.

They did give her the first round of injections before she was discharged. Five shots to each knee, which she said was pretty painful but so far, I must admit they seem to be helping.

On a happy fun note, I got my laptop and will be playing around with it tonight. I think I will love it once I get used to it and get everything set up the way that I want.

Well, I am off to get caught up with everyone. Your prayers have been so appreciated and meant so much. Please know how grateful we both are for them. What a blessing to know that so many people were praying for us.

Wishing you a blessed weekend.

Much love,
Lyndy

Long time no see...

2008-05-24T21:00:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

It has been quite awhile since I have gotten to post or do much blog reading, so I wanted to take a moment and give a quick post and ask for some prayer as well. For the past six weeks or more, my mother’s health has been failing and I really thought I was going to loose her on Thursday, she was so weak and non responsive and I was not even able to get her to the bathroom on my own. She had fallen the week before that and I basically had not left her side since then. What we thought was just a serious arthritis flare up, which usually runs its course, ended up being more than just that. I ended up calling 911 and they admitted her to the hospital. She had a lot of things going on and lots of test run. I honestly wondered if she would make it as bad off as she was on Thursday. Praise the Lord though it sounds like everything is treatable and it is just a matter of getting things under control. One of the words the doctor used was that she needed to be “tuned up” and then she will need to have both her knees replaced. So I would really appreciate prayer for her and for me, as we make some decisions regarding her health. My main goal is to get her to a point where she can have some quality of life and she hasn’t had that in quite a bit. She had both her hips replaced in 2000, at the same time, so she is a tough person when it comes to pain and she did excellent with that surgery. I am just praying she does as well with her knees.

Lee has been really good to me through all of this and been there for me when he can. He has his own business and it is booming right now and God is really blessing him. His jobs are well over and hour away from the hospital, where my mom is so it is not easy for him to get there. He was going to come to the hospital the night she was admitted even though he had worked till 1:30 in the morning the previous night. Once I found out that she was not in danger, I called him back and told him to just head home since I knew he was tired but he told me to call him if anything changed or I needed him. When you are an only child, at the hospital alone with your only living parent, just knowing you have someone there willing to come be with you if needed, meant a lot to me.

He came and got me this morning at the hospital and we went to lunch and to the grocery store. We came back here to my house and he did a few things for me around here that really helped me out and that was a blessing.

I haven’t gotten to be around much with Mother being so sick but I have checking in when I can and praying for everyone. I plan on staying home tonight and hopefully getting some good rest. I have finally hit that so tired feeling that I don’t even know if I am making sense. Tomorrow I need to get up and tackle the house, as it has gotten way out of control with everything that has been going on. I will check in again when I can.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a nice Memorial Day!

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2008-03-27T13:25:00.001-05:00

I have not been posting that much lately. It seems “life” has just gotten in the way. However, I just really felt the need to post today. God has been so good and sweet to me. There have been so many areas of my life that were unsettled. I sort of had a mental checklist of things that needed to be taken care of. Most of them were beyond my control but still while beyond my control, very much heavy on my heart.

Over these past few months, I have seen God move in such miraculous ways. Ways that on He could have made happen. I was blessed to be born in a Christian home, as I have said many times and have been a Christian myself for a long time. However, the way God worked these things out so perfectly is still amazing to me. Why is it that we have the faith to believe God can do so much for others and work in their lives but we sometimes doubt the way he can work in our own.

Never doubt that God is always in control and always has a plan. Even if it seems impossible to us, nothing is impossible for God. Never ever forget no matter how things seem in the natural, God is good all the time and all the time God is good and how thankful I am for that.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,

Lyndy

Been MIA

2008-03-24T10:49:00.001-05:00

I pray y’all had a wonderful Easter with your families. It was extremely cold here. Living in Georgia you just never know from one day to the next what the temps are going to be like. One thing for sure it is certainly looking more spring like around here and the pollen is already hitting hard.

I can’t believe it has been almost a month since my last post. The honest truth is I really have not had a lot to say. Life around here has been pretty normal and that is just fine with me. I will say that I have had some wonderful time with my Father God in the last month. I have seen Him so real in several situations in my life. Situations that only He could have turned around have been taken care of. I am always in awe when I see God move so miraculously in my life. Why is it that I don’t find it strange to see Him move so in other people’s lives but when it comes to my own, it is a different story?

Last night we had some excitement in our neighborhood, unfortunately not the good kind. My neighbor across the streets house caught fire. We had no less than eight fire trucks out here. I don’t believe they were at home. The fireman had to use the tools to knock the door down. Thankfully, they were able to get it contained pretty quickly. I feel so badly for my neighbors, I don’t think they even know about it yet. Could you imagine coming home to find the back part of your house gone and your front door knocked down and yellow police tape spread across your yard? I can’t even imagine. We live in one of the new communities where the homes are very close together. I was ever so thankful that it was not a windy night or it could have been much worse.

If you were a cell phone, around here was not the place you wanted to be last week. For the first time, since I have owned one, I dropped mine in water. It took several days for it to air out and it does work somewhat but I am having a hard time getting it to charge. I think I will probably end up having to get a new one. Then several days after my episode with my cell phone Mother could not find hers. I have her keep hers in her pocket, so if she needs me or if she were to fall. Well, I dialed her number in hopes of being able to hear it ring and hoping to locate it and low and behold we heard it ringing from the bottom of the garbage can. Fortunately, hers was no worse for the wear but I just couldn’t believe that we both nearly lost our cell phones in the same week.

Well, I am off to try and catch up on some blog reading. As you can see, things have been pretty boring around here and that is perfectly fine with me.

I pray y’all have a wonderful week.

Much love,

Lyndy

Dear Stomach Flu

2008-02-28T00:20:00.001-06:00

Dear Stomach Flu,

I am not sorry to say that your extended visit to my home is over. You will pardon me if I don’t welcome you back anytime soon. Too be perfectly honest, you were not a nice house guest.

Had you only stayed to visit for a day or two then perhaps I could have understood but no you had to stay for a full week. During that time, reeking havoc on my time, emotions and patience. You left me feeing at times weak, feverish, cold and clammy, sometimes all within one hour. And let’s not even talk about the nausea and stomach cramps. Oh no Mr. Flu I am not sorry that you have left my home. The next time you think of visiting me just remember I have moved and did not leave a forwarding address.

Okay so humor is not my strong point but the above pretty much sums up what I have been dealing with around here. Today is the first day that I have felt completely recovered and I praise the Lord for that. Though I must be honest and say I guess my time for a visit from Mr. Flu was long overdue. While I have had a cold or sinus infection here or there, I have not had the full blown flu in over 20 years back when I was in 9th grade. Gosh could I really have been out of school that long…sigh.

Thank you so much for those of you who sent emails of concern to me, that means so much to me.

I hope to get around visiting you all over the next few days and I sincerely pray that this terrible flu that is going around has missed you and your families.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Empty Me~

2008-02-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

For many months now, I have written about this spiritual journey that I have been on. A journey to a place where God has literally brought me to my knees and total and complete reliance on Him and Him alone. My faith has truly and greatly been stretched and God has met me at every difficult turn. While it hasn’t always been fun, it was needed for me to get to the place that I am now and for that I am grateful.

Yesterday, I heard a song by Jeremy Camp called Empty Me. It truly hit home for me because my Father God had to get me to a place where I was empty of everything but Him. I have posted the lyrics below perhaps it will touch others as it has me.

I pray y’all have a blessed weekend and wonderful SONday.

Empty Me
Artist(Band):Jeremy Camp

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me,
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah,
Fill, won't you fill me,
with you, with you, yeah.

Holy Fire, burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah.

Fill, won't you fill me, with you, with you, empty me now.
Well won't you empty me, well won't you empty me now.
I want more, I want more, I want more of you, Jesus.
I want more, I want more, oh.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, oh yeah,
Thank you, Jesus, yeah.
Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire.

Please pass the tissue...

2008-02-05T22:41:00.000-06:00

Ever have one of those weeks where you plan to get so much accomplished? Well that is where I have been for the last few days, except I have gotten nothing accomplished. I have been hit with a terrible sinus infection. My jaws hurt, my teeth hurt and my head hurts. The weather has been perfect too for projects. Beautiful, warm and sunny. Today it was almost 70 degrees, which is a huge change from the bitter cold temps we have been having.

I think I am finally on the mend, so tomorrow I am going to have some pampering time and get my nails and toes done. Then Friday I have an appointment for a haircut and boy do I need one. My hair is longer than it has ever been and I hate it. I have been trying to decide what I wanted to do with it and who I wanted to style it. The last stylist I used, did not do me proud, so I have been a little nervous about finding someone new. When it gets long, I tend to pull it up in the oh so trendy Pebbles Flintstone up-do style. It’s all the rage you know. (lol) The downside to this is I have so much hair that it gives me a headache, so if nothing else, by the end of the week, I will look better and hopefully feel better too.

I have been spending sometime online looking at laptops. My plan had been to get me a laptop and then let Mother have my desk top but the more I think about it, I think I am just going to get two laptops and keep the desktop for a back up. It has been over four years since I have done a computer upgrade, so I think it is past time for it. I finally have it narrowed down to the two that I am going to get. This may seem pretty simple to most of you but I am no computer genius and I want to make the wisest choice in what I buy, so I have been looking for several months now. What with having this sinus infection, it sure would have been nice to been able to stay in bed and communicate via laptop. (lol)

Life is great but as you can tell from this rambling post, nothing very exciting has been happening around my neck of the woods. But believe me that is okay, as I have been craving normal for a long time and I will take it when I can get it.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Much love, Lyndy

Giving God the Glory & A Meme

2008-01-29T21:55:00.000-06:00

Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

Join me y’all in praising my Father God!!! So many times over the past year my blog has reflected fear, uncertainty, fear, frustration and again fear about things happening in my life. See a pattern here? I think I do. Fear! I have had many times…still do…that I don’t know what God’s plans are for this season in my life but one doubt that I do not have is that God is faithful.

After last year, I was truly ready to see 2008 roll around and have a new beginning to a new year. I am thrilled to tell you, it has been wonderful so far and God has been so sweet to me. I have gotten much needed rest and restoration to my soul and my heart and mind have been so full of peace. Oh sweet peace, what a wonderful word and something I was surely lacking.

I have seen God move in my life in so many ways recently. Our Father God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise. So I just wanted to share with y’all that my life is really good right now and I am in a better place than I have been in a long time. Praise God!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been tagged by my sweet friend Susan at Penless Writer to list six unimportant things/habits/quirks about myself. I probably have a lot of quirks that I don’t even realize. (lol)

1)My clothes always have to match/coordinate even if, I am home alone and no one will be seeing me.

2)I can’t stand to get into an unmade bed.

3)I love watching old movies from the 40’s and 50’s.

4)I am not a morning person at all and way too much of a night owl.

5)Not much feels better to me than a hot bubble bath.

6)My toes and nails are always done; I just don’t feel girly when they are not. ;-)

How fun…thank you Susan for the tag.

I pray y’all all have blessed evening.

Much love, Lyndy

Weekend Whatnot

2008-01-26T18:28:00.000-06:00

Hey y’all, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. I tell y’all I just read Boo Mama's post about living life on the edge, curled up with her take-out, pj's and remote and oh my goodness, I must say she hit the proverbial nail, right on the head as usual.

I can so remember when I was young and crazy (as opposed to old and crazy, like I am now) and I could not imagine a weekend that was just not crammed packed with one event or fifty-eleven. Who me, sit home on a Friday and Saturday night…oh perish the thought dear ones, cause it just wasn’t happening. We would spend half our week just planning what we would be doing come the weekend and being in a small town the choices were mighty slim but we managed somehow. Nothing says classy like a night at the skating rink.

I tell y’all; times they have been a changing, because just the thought of those action packed weekends is enough to tire me out. Oh the planning of the hair, the outfit(s) and then the actual “doing and going”. Whew! No sir-ee ma’am, not me, not now. And while I am on this subject, I will tell y’all something else…I know I am not a beauty queen but I am also not something the cat drug in either…so can any of you please tell me, why we felt the need to start actually “getting ready” for these action packed Saturday nights, in the middle of the afternoon. My girlfriends would come over right after lunchtime or as we say here in the south, dinnertime and we would spend the whole afternoon getting ready for the evening events. My sweet goodness, we would sometimes spend five to six hours getting ready. Looking back, I have no clue exactly what we did that took so long. Perhaps there was a lot of girl talk going on or more aptly boy talk. (lol)

Now hold on to your seats, cause what I am about to share may surprise you but I am just not a pj wearing type of girl…yes, I know that is probably a shock, since the whole world seems to be loving them some pj’s now but alas, I don’t own a single pair. However, I do love love love me some good ole soft yoga pants…not that I, you know, actually do yoga or anything...heavens no...that is too close to you know, exercise and these oh so comfy pants are typically black in color…cause it is a must to look sliming for the cat. Oh and don’t forget, the oh so comfy tee-shirt and I am all set to cuddle up for a night of weekend action thirty-something style. Which by the way, if you could see me now, is exactly what I have on and I am looking quite forward to doing exactly what I did last night and that is nothing. Oh perhaps watching a movie or talking to a few friends but nothing that will cause me to have to let my hair down from this oh so stylish clip and you know, actually “fix” it and put on make-up and change out of these oh so comfy clothes. No sir-ee ma’am! Yes, I am a vision o-comfy-loveliness!

Ah yes, a Saturday night with nothing on the agenda may sound boring to some but right now, it sounds pretty dang nice too me.

Gotta to…my take-out just arrived. Have a blessed SONday!

Much love, Lyndy

Answers & Questions

2008-01-25T01:00:00.000-06:00

Thought I would answer a few of your Questions & Answers. I appreciate everyone who posted a question and love the whole idea of getting to know each other better.

Diane J. at Diane's Place asked: If your house was on fire and you could only save one thing, what would it be? People and animals are a given, so I'm talking about a thing.

For me, it would be two things that I would try to grab and these two items belonged to my grandmother. My grandmother was born in 1898 and for her 11th birthday, she received a tiny glass vase that I just treasure. This vase is almost 100 years old. She also had an oil lamp that she started out her married life with back in 1917 and I have that too. I tell you every move I have made, I have carried these two items personally and never let movers or even family members touch them. As you can tell, I treasure these two items every much.

Pam at Midnight Musings asked: Are you planning on voting in the Nov. 2008 election? (at least I'm not asking you who you would vote for!)

Yes, I am voting and I don’t mind telling you at all...it will not be for Hillary. ;-)

Jill at Who Could Ask For Anything More asked: What do you see as the biggest obstacle or hurdle in the dating world these days? I have not been married very long, and have to say the whole dating game was a bit confusing.

Oh Jill, it is very confusing to me too. I was married most of my adult life and married at a young age to my high school sweetheart, so dating truly is new to me. Let me tell you honestly, I don’t really like it either. You spend time getting to know someone, say perhaps on the phone and then they turn out to be nothing like what they perceived themselves to be and no, I am not shallow enough to mean just their looks. Also, while I realize this is a Christian-based blog, I must admit that sex is a huge problem. I only date Christian guys, so my stand on this should be obvious but the last two dates I had were complete and total octopuses with their hands. Once they were escorted to the door and they realized that they were not going to get what they wanted, I never heard from them again. Not that I cared mind you but just the point that they found fault with me for not sleeping with them blows my mind.

It is for this reason that I don’t date a lot. I would much rather sit home with a good book or movie on a Saturday night than have to fight off an octopus. I am not willing to settle and I do truly believe God has someone for me out there, he just hasn’t been revealed yet. ;-)

Diana at Sunshine On My Shoulders asked: How about if you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Diane I can honestly say it has been so long since I had a real vacation that anywhere would be nice but I think I would love about two week uninterrupted in a mountain cabin. Lots of books, lots of quite and lots of rest and relaxation.

Praying you all have a blessed weekend and stay warm.

Much love, Lyndy

This & That and Q & A

2008-01-21T22:54:00.000-06:00

Hey Y’all,

We have had a very cold few days here in Georgia. We actually had more sleet and snow on Saturday. It has been kinda nice for cuddling up with a good book and watching old movies, with a big bowl of popcorn. Also, great days for warm crusty bread and yummy soups, which we have also been enjoying. However, I will admit, I am certainly ready for Spring. I am not much of a cold weather person and something about the newness of Spring-time always just fills my heart with joy.

I have also spent part of the last few days pouring through my recipes. I have a friend visiting soon from Oregon and I am trying to come up with some hearty meals but also ones that can be prepared ahead and popped in the oven. So I have also popped over to visit with the Pioneer Woman's cooking blog. Gosh does she have some yummy recipes on there. My friend, is a real meat and potatoes guy, so where better than to visit with Ree at the Pioneer Woman.

I have also been enjoying reading the Question’s and Answer’s meme that has been going around. If you have not heard about all this fun you can go here and read about it Meredith over at Life At 7000 Feet came up with a brilliant idea of this wonderful meme. So while I know I don’t have that many readers like some of you do, I am opening the floor for you to ASK ME ANYTHING. (lol) Wishing you all a very blessed week.

Much love, Lyndy

Let it snow....

2008-01-16T16:22:00.000-06:00

Hi y’all! I have the little snow picture here because it is snowing here in Georgia. I am not much of a snow lover but it is pretty to look at. Plus I am sure it will all be gone within the next several hours but burr it is cold here. High today only reached 39 and that is a big difference, especially since the end of last week we were in the 70’s. Just crazy Georgia weather but I should be used to it since I have lived here all my life.

I have not been working this week and I would like to tell you that I have done grand and wondrous things around my house but alas that would be a big huge lie. Guess what I have done? Slept! Glorious sleep. I have not slept so good in I can’t tell you when. Even people are noticing that my face looks brighter and more relaxed. With all the stress from last year, I had got to a point that I was waking up every little bit and even woke myself up screaming sometimes. Not that I was having a nightmare or anything, I can only assume it was the stress but this sleep has been just wonderful. I have not even been reading as I usually would, just sleeping and I can only assume from the amount of sleep I have gotten that my body truly needed it.

Well, I am off to visit in blogland and I hope y’all have had a great week so far and that you are staying warm and cozy.

Much love,

Lyndy

Thankfulness

2008-01-11T01:31:00.000-06:00

My computer would not cooperate for me to post my Thankful Thursday list but I wanted to list just a few things that I am thankful for this week.

I am thankful for a new year with fresh starts.

I am thankful that God is in control of my life and not me.

I am thankful that we serve a God who makes a way where there is none.

I am thankful that while our heat was out last week we stayed warm with the gas logs.

I am thankful that God always provides for our needs.

I am thankful for old friends and new ones.

I am thankful for unexpected phone calls from old friends.

I am thankful for answers to an unspoken prayer request.

I am thankful that God is a God of second chances and that His mercies are new everyday.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

***Date Update***

Several of you wanted to know how my date went last night. Well, we had a nice evening and dinner at a quaint little Italian restaurant. I had no problem talking freely with him and the conversation flowed well. However, I did not feel any chemistry with him but certainly would not mind being friends with him. Unfortunately, he said he did and let me know so, in no uncertain terms, so I am not sure if he will be willing to just be friends. I guess only time will tell.

Have a wonderful weekend y'all.

Much love,

Lyndy

Wonderful Wednesday

2008-01-09T02:00:00.000-06:00

Wow Wednesday already y’all. This week has just flown by at record speed. Our weather has been so strange here in Georgia. Last week we had temps that dipped down to 17 at night and this week it has been so warm that you only needed a tee shirt if you are outside.

Yesterday, it was a beautiful day and Mother and I got out for the afternoon and did some shopping. I always go on a major shopping spree about two weeks after Christmas each year. I found some super bargains and was able to pick up some really cute things for both myself and Mother. It was just a nice afternoon to spend together.

Dating and the Small Town Girl

As most of you know, I am a single gal and though I don’t date a lot, I do date some. I am not the type of person that is going to date just for the sport of dating. I have to really find an interest with someone before I agree to go out with them. However, I have lots of girlfriends who have made dating a sport and can’t imagine not having a date every night of the week. That is just not me. I would much rather curl up with my Sydney and a good book, than to spending an evening bored to tears.

Well, y’all I am stepping out of my comfort zone somewhat. I have a date Thursday night for dinner, with a College Professor. Oh my sweet goodness, let me think about that sentence. When did I become old enough to date a College Professor? (lol) His name is Mark and he teaches political philosophy and political literature. Now I should probably stop here and say when he told me what he did for a living, all I heard in my head was blah blah blah. I really have no idea what he teaches exactly, other than it has something to do obviously with politics. He has even written a book. Now I am a confident person most of the time but for some reason when he told me what he did for a living, I thought “my goodness gracious what will we ever have to talk about” but so far, that has not been a problem, as we have had several very long telephone conversations. I just hope the same holds true in person.

He seems like a very interesting person. He moved here from Boston recently, and bought a 7,000 square foot Victorian mansion and has completely gutted it and remodeled. He actually lives in it alone. Can you imagine that much space for one person? I have seen pictures and it looks amazing. I love historic homes and have lived in many of them in my life and have been through several remodeling projects, so I find this very interesting. He also shares my love of antiques, so that is a point of interest that we can discuss. Especially since the house has not been furnished yet and I would love help decorate it, since that is my favorite hobby.

I don’t try to think anymore about what a date will be like, I just go and try to have a good time and see what happens. I have always had the opinion that even if you don’t make a match you can at least make a friend. Yet, I still keep thinking…he is a College Professor and a published author and I am a simple girl, from a very small town, who did not even attend college. I am sure it will be fun and I have always been able to hold my own, in most any situations but it will be interesting to see how the night turns out. Keep your fingers crossed and I will let you know how it turns out. Oh and did I mention he is 6'3 and very handsome. (wink)

Have a great rest of the week y'all.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Season for a Reason~

2008-01-06T02:07:00.000-06:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Thank y’all so much for the sweet comments you left on my previous post. It is tough for me to let people know how difficult a time I have been having. I always feel like I should just handle things on my own and not worry anyone with my problems but God did not make us to be solitary people. We all need to be supported from time to time. Do you ever feel like just giving up and throwing in the towel? Like things can’t/won’t ever get any better? Well, that is pretty much where I have been lately.

When I was growing up, I felt so safe and it has been such a long time since I have felt that way. Ever since my divorce, it seems as if life has just been spinning out of control. God brought an article to my attention this week and it seems so right on target with where I am right now. The article was about Naomi and the Book of Ruth. I know God has brought me to this place for a reason and a season. The emptiness that I feel has a purpose, even if I can’t see what that purpose is at the moment.

The article was written by Carolyn McCulley a popular Christian author and speaker. I wanted to share some of it with you:

Last month, I mentioned Iain Duguid's commentary on Esther and Ruth. It was one of the best books I read in 2007. There are so many wonderfully wise nuggets in it. One insight I particularly enjoyed was about Naomi. I often use Naomi's life as an illustration when I speak, encouraging women not to survey their circumstances and conclude that what they can perceive is all the God is doing. But I've never noted this particular aspect of God's mercy being revealed even in the new name that Naomi gave herself ("Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara") when she returned home to Bethlehem:

Like Naomi, we may be so busy complaining about our emptiness that we miss the fact that God has emptied our hands only in order to fill them with something so much better. Without Naomi's emptiness, she would never have left Moab behind and returned to the land of promise. Had she stayed contentedly "full" (as she thought) in Moab, Naomi would have missed out on the far greater blessing of a prime place in the history of redemption. She was so caught up in what she had lost; however, that she could not yet see the far greater treasure she had been given in Ruth, a token of God's grace to her. . . .

Even calling herself Mara should have caused Naomi to ponder more deeply the events that took place in that wilderness location, where in spite of his people's grumbling, God nonetheless turned the bitter water into sweet, and thereby demonstrated that he was "the Lord, your healer" (Ex. 15:26). Was that deliverance from their pain a reward for their goodness? Certainly not! It was a landmark measure of God's unfailing goodness and mercy upon an undeserving, rebellious, and grumbling people. Marah was not just the definitive place of grumbling bitterness; it was also the place where God's grace to grumblers was definitively displayed.

For some of you, the turning of the year may have been bittersweet. Perhaps you were able to close the door on a year dotted with loss and difficulty, but you look into the blank canvas of a new year with doubt and maybe even distrust. Like Naomi, you don't want people to call you pleasant any longer. But before you assign yourself the name of bitter, I hope you will take time to ponder God's quiet providence to both the wandering and grumbling Israelites and the despairing widow Naomi. God's grace to grumblers is evident throughout Scripture and even throughout our own personal experiences.

So it is with more confidence in the Father of mercies than in our present circumstances that I wish you the happiest of new years.

Isn’t it wonderful that even in our darkest times God sends us just what we need to make us feel comforted? So I, like the author am choosing to put all my confidence in my Father God and not my circumstances and look toward the coming year with a heart filled with hope.

Much love,

Lyndy

Out with the old....

2008-01-01T23:15:00.000-06:00

I pray all of you had a wonderful holiday season and a blessed beginning into the New Year. I woke up yesterday to a dead battery but was able to get it replaced and got to spend my New Year’s Eve out to dinner with a friend but was back home in time, to ring in 2008. There were lots of fireworks in my neighborhood and it was pretty to see.

Thankfully, it was last night and not tonight because it was much milder last evening and tonight is bitterly cold and windy. We have even had snow flurries. Did I mention that my heat is out and the repair man couldn’t fix it? (lol) My landlord has been out of town for the holidays but now that he is back, hopefully, someone will get out here in the next day or two and get it taken care of. Tomorrow is only supposed to be a high of 33 and lows of 18. Fortunately, I have gas logs in my living room, so it hasn’t been too bad until tonight. We are staying warm but defiantly not warm and cozy unless we are in bed. (lol)

I won’t lie, I was not sad to see 2007 slip away (waking up to a dead battery and no heat, almost seemed a fitting way to end the year I had). Last year was one the hardest years I have had since my divorce. Emotionally, physically, financially and every place in between. (lol) That is the major reason that I have not been posting as much over the last few months. I know it is no fun to constantly read about trials and tribulations; everyone has enough of their own to deal with, without reading about someone else’s.

I also know that there is not a one of us that has not had years like the one I have had. We all have those seasons. I am not at all sure how people who have no knowledge of God in their lives, survive those times. I know God has truly been my rock this past year and He has met me at every turn. He had lots of lessons for me to learn and ones that I am sure I am still in the process of being taught. My faith has been stretched and with God’s help I made it though and became even stronger.

I am looking forward to 2008, the good the bad and the unknown. Even if it is a repeat of 2007, I know my Father God will see me through.

May God truly bless you all in everyway in 2008.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Merry Christmas~

2007-12-23T16:39:00.000-06:00

My very spolied Sydney.

I wanted to take a moment and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. I pray you are all blessed and surrounded by family and loved ones.

You have all been such a blessing and inspiration to me this year. I truly love you all.

Much love,

Lyndy

Do The Next Thing

2007-12-16T21:41:00.000-06:00

Over the last year or so, I have found Elisabeth Elliot’s writings have come to mean a lot to me. One of the things that has meant the most is her discussion of “do the next thing” what a great philosophy.

How many of us wonder how we are going to make it, how are we going to get through the difficult times. I have had times in my life when I was unable to even look a day into the future and could only make it hour by hour. You have all probably experienced times like this.

For the past month, I have been pretty stressed and overwhelmed about some things going on and over the last week I could hear God keep whispering to me “just do the next thing.” Since then, I have been able to look at things a little differently and not feel so overwhelmed by my situations.

This poem has become a balm to my soul and I hope it can be to you too.

May you all have a blessed week.

Much love,

Lyndy

A poem quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

Do The Next Thing

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing."

-Anonymous

Have I missed y'all...

2007-12-07T21:59:00.000-06:00

My goodness what a week y’all. My computer has been down since last Friday and I just got it back today. Oh my sweet goodness, I have missed being online so much that I can’t even begin to tell you.

You don’t realize how much you depend on the internet until it is not available to you. I get most of my news online, as well as checking the weather and of course the best thing is being able to connect with all of y’all and boy did I miss that!

Along with the computer being down, my heat also went out and we had a cold few days before someone could get out here to take a look at it. Of course, now that the heat is working again it is now turning warmer here for the next several days. Funny how that happens.

This week I celebrate my anniversary of being cancer-free. This one, is a big milestone, as I have been cancer-free for 10 years. It is hard to believe in a lot of ways that ten years have past but I am so thankful to God that He spared me and that I am here today. If you would like to read about my story, you can go here as I wrote about it last year. My cancer story.

Also, this week it has been one year since I started blogging. I never dreamed that I would have “met” so many wonderful people online and what a blessing y’all are to me. And on that note, I am off to catch up with all you blogging buddies.

Have a blessed weekend.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Seasons~

2007-11-25T13:22:00.000-06:00

I pray y’all had a wonderful holiday with your families. This year mine was a little different. There was no shopping, baking or cooking as there has been in years past. No pouring over my many cookbooks weeks ahead of time, to see what creation I could come up with as something new to add to the dinner table. We had planned on a small dinner for just Mother and I but she has been down with a stomach bug that is going around for most of the week, so eating a big meal was the last thing she wanted.

For the past several years, holidays have been spent with my best friend and her family, since her family was so far away and mine is so small, we sort of adopted each other into our families. However, this past summer she and her children moved back to Texas.

I am sure many of you have had seasons like the one I am in. Maybe not for the same reasons but loneliness is no respecter of persons. This season in my life, is a season God has called me to singleness. It has been a time of total reliance on Him and stretching my faith.

I also know that you can be surrounded by family and friends and still find yourself being lonely. Sometimes that loneliness is the hardest to understand but we all deal with seasons of loneliness in our lives. Some of you maybe praying for a child to come home or a relationship to be mended. The scenarios are endless of what each of us might be going through but people may leave us, children may turn away, our spouse may desert us but God will never leave or forsake us and that is the wonderful news that gets us through these seasons of loneliness.

I am slowly but surely learning that I can’t pin all of my hopes and dreams for happiness and fulfillment on something other than the only true source where this can be found and that is with my Father God. It is hard not to let hopes and dreams become idolatry in our lives or at least for me it is. Idolatry does not honor God and it always backfires on us.

I am not saying it is wrong to pray for the desires of our heart but it is when we get out of balance that we get into trouble. All my life, I have been an all or nothing type of girl, so that balance for me is hard to find and keep in my life.

So how do we live in the tension of desire and trust? One key is found in Romans 12:12. "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." The hope that is referred to here is for far more than earthly blessings and it is easy to loose focus of that while we are still here on earth.

Even while in this season of mine, I know I am a blessed girl. I grew up in a Christian home with a wonderful loving godly family. I have never known a day that I have not felt loved in my life. I have had big fancy holidays and homes decorated to the nines with holiday cheer and perhaps I will again, if it is God’s will for me. However at the end of the day, none of those things really matter, if we fail to know Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

As we entered into this holiday season, I pray each one of you feels loved and cherished and that you never forget the real meaning of this season.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Happy Thanksgiving~

2007-11-21T23:17:00.000-06:00

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

I have so much to be thankful for I don't know where to begin.

I am thankful that we serve a God who doesn't remember yesterday, and is forgiving and merciful.

I am thankful that Jesus has stayed by my side even when I questioned where He was.

I am thankful that I have food enough, money enough, friends enough, to keep me going.

I am thankful for my family and friends both online and off.

I am thankful that I have a computer and internet so that I can keep in touch with everyone.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful Mother to spend the holiday with.

I am thankful for so many things I see God’s hand in behind the scenes.

There is so much more that I am thankful for. I give all the praise and glory to our Father God, who was, is, and always will be. Thank you Jesus!

All my online friends are such a blessing to me and I pray you have a wonderful day as you celebrate with your friends and family.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Much love,

Lyndy

Daily Christian Wisdom

2007-11-19T23:46:00.000-06:00

Forgiveness is having the courage to take down the walls that we think are there to protect us.

The Desires of My Heart

2007-11-19T13:51:00.000-06:00

How many of us pray for the desires of our heart? Something we want so badly that it may even become an idol in our lives. I know that is a problem that I have from time to time in my own life.

I am truly trying to lead a surrendered life but I still get a little confused in turning everything over to my Father God and praying for the desires of my heart. I know some of these desires are from God and that is where things get a little tricky for me.

All of Elisabeth Elliot’s writings speak to me and this one was no exception. I hope it blesses you as it has me.

Much love,

Lyndy

The Desires of My Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

I had been praying for something I wanted very badly. It seemed a good thing to have, a thing that would make life even more pleasant than it is, and would not in any way hinder my work. God did not give it to me. Why? I do not know all of his reasons, of course. The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him. But one thing I do understand: He offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will.

"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer: Thy will be done.

So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering. The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.

He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.

Fabulous Friday

2007-11-16T20:54:00.000-06:00

Friday again already. Wow before we know it the holidays will be just a memory with the way time is flying by.

It has been a great week here. Mother did not have too much additional pain from her fall and that was a blessing. My computer has been down since Monday, so I have not been able to be online, so I am very behind in my blog reading and looking forward to catching up with y’all.

It should be a quite weekend around here and I am looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the quite.

Well I am off to get caught up with all of y’all. Have a blessed weekend.

Much love,

Lyndy

Monday Musings

2007-11-12T19:19:00.000-06:00

What a beautiful day in the Lord. I pray you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was very nice and the week has started out just wonderful and I am filled with the joy of the Lord and His peace. I am a blessed girl with a lot to be thankful for.

Saturday Lee came over and took care of a lot of the little things that needed done around the house. Such as, now my doorbell works but unfortunately, the only tune it plays is “Give my Regards to Broadway.” (lol) Then we went to dinner and it was nice to be able to be friends again. To actually laugh and joke around with each other and for that I am thankful.

Yesterday, was another beautiful day and today I finally had my normal Monday off for the first time in many weeks. I guess next week I will work Monday since our office will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. We have been super busy lately and then one of the girl’s in our office brother passed away over the weekend, so I know she will be off for a bit.

The only downside of the past few days was Mother fell tonight. Fortunately, she was not hurt and three very nice and cute (lol) fireman came and got her up for me, as I am not able to do that myself. I had just run to the drug store and she called me from her cell phone, which I make her keep in her pocket for just these reasons, to tell me she had fallen but was not hurt. I am sure however she will be sore for the next several days and she was starting to bruise a little bit. So if you would pray that this does not cause too much additional pain for her, I would really appreciate it.

I pray you all have a blessed week.

Much love,

Lyndy

How to Discover What God Wants

2007-11-08T11:39:00.000-06:00

Usually, I participate in Thankful Thursday and not that I don’t have things to be thankful for this week, actually quite the contrary. I have felt God really speaking to me and seen my faith being stretched in the ways He has moved in my life as of late. This week, I have been spending a lot of time in studying the Word. I have read several wonderful devotionals that really encouraged me and hit home. I am striving so hard to live my life surrendered to God and trying to know exactly what God’s will is for my life.

I spent much of my life trying to do the things that I wanted in my life. Not that they were bad things but still, I was trying to work in my own will and not that of my Father God’s. My faith is strong but one of the areas I still struggle with greatly is, am I truly hearing from God or am I hearing what I want to hear. I have felt many times in my life that I was hearing from God and then something would happen and I would be left wondering if I was wrong. I don’t want to doubt but I don’t want to keep walking in my own will.

All this being said this was another devotional that truly spoke to me and I wanted to share it with y’all.

I am very thankful this week and I hope y’all are having a thankful week as well.

Much love,

Lyndy
How to Discover What God Wants

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

A young woman came in great perplexity to a Scottish preacher, asking how she could resolve the question of her own desires when they seemed to be in such contradiction to the will of God. He took out a slip of paper, wrote two words on it, handed it to her with the request that she sit down for ten minutes, ponder the words, cross out one of them, and bring the slip back to him. She sat down and read: No Lord. Which to cross out? It did not take her long to see that if she was saying No she could not say Lord, and if she wanted to call Him Lord, she could not say No.

No question comes up more often among Christian young people who face what seem to be limitless options than this one of how to discover what God wants them to do. What, exactly, is one's calling?

There are two very simple conditions to discovering the will of God. Paul states them clearly in his letter to the Romans, chapter 12. The first is in verse 1 (Jerusalem Bible): "... offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God." The place to start is by putting yourself utterly and unconditionally at God's disposal. You say Yes Lord. You turn over all the rights at the very beginning. Once that's settled you can go on to the second, in verse 2: "Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modeled by your new mind." I said that the conditions were simple. I did not say they were easy. Exchanging a No Lord for a Yes Lord has often been painful for me. But I do want a "new mind"--one that takes its cues from the Word of God, not the mass media. I pray for a clear eye to see through the fog of popular opinion, and a will strong enough to withstand the currents--a will surrendered, laid alongside Christ's. He is my model. This means a different set of ambitions, a different definition of happiness, a different standard of judgment altogether. Behavior will change, and very likely it will change enough to make me appear rather odd--but then my Master was thought very odd.

Paul goes on to say that these conditions are "the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do." No wonder we scratch our heads and ask, "What is the secret of knowing the will of God?" We haven't started at the right place--the offering of that all-inclusive sacrifice, our very bodies, and then the resolute refusal of the world's values.

"Make Thy paths known to me, O Lord; teach me Thy ways. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me; Thou art God my Savior."

Psalm 25:4, 5, NEB

"When we cannot see our wayLet us trust and still obey;He who bids us forward goCannot fail the way to show.Though the sea be deep and wide,Though a passage seem denied,Fearless let us still proceed,Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead."

Anonymous

"If there is any man who fears the Lord, he shall be shown the path that he should choose."

Faith or Fear

2007-11-06T21:55:00.000-06:00

How many times have you been paralyzed by fear in your life? I know for me it has been far way too many times and I am trying to make that change in my Christian walk. I know that fear is the opposite of faith and living a fearful life is a terrible existence. I have truly been trying to put my faith in action. This devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley really spoke to me and I hope it does you as well.

This week has been pretty busy for me I spoke too soon and ended up working yesterday. We are training some new people, so hopefully I can get back to having Monday’s off again soon.

I pray y’all are having a great week.

Much love,

Lyndy

Fear or Faith?

Many believers will go through life missing divine opportunities because they are afraid to live as God intends. Fear can paralyze us into inaction—then our life fills with lost chances to serve, minister, or see the Lord’s work up close. Consider the 11 disciples who stayed in the boat when Peter got out and walked to Jesus. How many times must each man have regretted choosing safety over the intense joy of stepping on water next to the Son of God? But Andrew, John, and the others missed their opportunity. Unfortunately, many Christians stay in the boat all their lives too. At the end, these same folks probably wonder why their lives seem empty.

We easily succumb to fear’s potency when we attempt to endure trouble in our own strength. We were not created to live in such a way. God designed us to function best when we allow Jesus Christ’s divine power to supplant our weakness. As he stood on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, Peter looked around at the fierce wind and remembered that no human can walk on water. His own strength was inadequate to keep him afloat, and he quickly sank. Jesus’ greater power was sufficient to lift Peter from the sea and carry them both safely to the boat.

Apprehension can paralyze the believer and consequently freeze the Lord’s plan. But responding with faith to God’s directions unleashes divine power and sets His work into motion. The moment that we step out of the boat and move away from the familiar boundaries of our limited strength, we walk by faith.

2007-11-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

Wow it is hard to believe that today is November 1st. The holidays are certainly upon us. I don’t mind telling you that I am not really looking forward to the holidays. We don’t have a large family and it is so hard for Mother to get out and about now that the holidays are just not as festive as they used to be for us.

Also, I am just going to say it…I hate not being in a relationship at the holidays. It seems everywhere you look it is all about “couples” and when you are alone that is pretty depressing. At least for me, since I was married for most of my adult life. Yes, I know the true meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with being a couple but from now until the first of the year family is the big focus. When your whole life you dreamed of being a wife and a mother and now you realize those dreams may never come true, it is kind of hard to swallow sometimes.

I hate that it makes me sound like a big cry baby and I know that I have been so blessed to have all that I do and I really don’t mean to sound like I am complaining but the honest truth is that it is a hard time for me this time of year.

This year started out on such a positive note and I truly felt when Lee and I met that I had a real fresh start. Then that did not workout and I was left doubting in a lot of areas. Some of them are still not clear but that doesn’t really matter because I know that God is in control. I have dated since then but nothing has really felt right and I have asked God to close all doors He doesn’t want open and I have felt with each new person that He has done just that. So I wait and see if God has someone else out there for me or if He has different plans in mind. I don’t want to be with anyone that God has not handpicked for me.

Then this summer I really felt God leading me on a journey. I am very thankful for this journey and I know it was needed for me. I was out of balance and letting my mind and emotions get out of balance as well. So while the journey was not always fun, it was a blessing in the end.

Next I started a new job and we had the horrible move thrown into the mix as well. So this year truly has not turned out like I expected. Lots of good things happened, some hard things happened and some painful things happened but praise be to God I am still here and still standing. I could not have done any of it without God’s grace, love and mercy.

Sometimes I am so amazed by the love our Father God has for us. This past week, I have been praying for a sign regarding something very close to my heart. Normally, I do not do this but I just needed a little encouragement to let me know that I was hearing truly from God in the situation and not just hearing what I wanted to hear. My Father God was so sweet, to bless me with exactly what I had asked for as a sign. When this happens, I am just so amazed. A God so great took His precious time to answer little old me. What a blessing indeed.

I pray y’all have a wonderful weekend. I am looking forward to not being at work for a few days. Next week, I get my Monday’s off again and I am looking forward to that.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-10-31T22:30:00.000-05:00

My goodness y’all what a busy few weeks I have had at work. We have hired three new people and all the training that is going on is taking others away from actual work and it has made for busy times. Once they are trained hopefully things will slow down a little. I am really missing having time to visit with y'all.

Seems like I blink and it is time for Thankful Thursday again. As always, I have way too much to be thankful for to list everything, so I will list a few things for this week.

I am thankful that I have a job that keeps me busy.

I am thankful that when I am too busy too blog, precious friends email me to make sure I am okay.

I am thankful for the beautiful fall weather we are having.

I am also thankful for the rain we got last week that we needed so badly.

I am extremely thankful for an unspoken prayer request that is being answered.

I am thankful that God is faithful and answers even the silliest prayers because he loves me so.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Crystal’s at God is in Control…NOT ME!

Much love,

Lyndy

2007-10-28T21:20:00.000-05:00

Hey Y’all,

Sorry I have had some of you worried. It has just been a very busy week. We are short staffed and I have been working full days and not having a day off through the week. Tomorrow should be my day off but I am working again. The end of the month is our busiest time and we are trying to get all our ducks in a row, so to speak before the first.

I can’t tell you how many times I have sat down to blog over the past week and just never got the time to finish. I am fine though and thank you so much for your concern. Just staying busy right now.

Love you all and will try to get around for a visit soon.

Lyndy

Daily Christian Wisdom

2007-10-19T10:06:00.000-05:00

We may make the plans, but it's God who has the last word.

Oh if I could only remember this each and everyday.

I pray y’all have a blessed weekend.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-10-17T22:48:00.000-05:00

Thursday again and a great time to share just a few things that I am thankful for this week.

I am thankful for the cooler beautiful weather we have been having.

I am thankful that God is in control of my life and not me.

I am thankful that we serve a God who makes a way where there is none.

I am thankful that the doctor does not seem too concerned with Mother’s high calcium and will monitor it.

I am thankful for the chance I had to meet my co-worker Mary Ellen and that even though she is leaving the company tomorrow that I know she will still be in my life.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to talk to Lee last week and that he is doing so well and being blessed.

I am thankful for the growth in my spiritual life over the last year and the peace I have been blessed with.

I am thankful that God is a God of second chances and that His mercies are new everyday.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,
Lyndy

Finding Joy in the Journey

2007-10-16T23:14:00.001-05:00

I just have to say “God is so Great”. Most of you know that followed my journey over the summer that I was searching. I felt God leading me but I certainly did not understand everything that He was trying to teach me. Quite honestly, I still don’t but the peace that I feel is something that I have never quite felt before. It is freeing because I know that God is completely in control and nothing that happens in my life, does so without His complete and total knowledge.

He literally brought me to my knees and to a place where He removed everyone from my life, except my immediate family. I had always heard when God removes people from your life He wants to get your attention. Well, He certainly got my attention and my spiritual life has grown so much that it has all been totally worth the struggle and the journey.

I have been guilty many times in my life of being jealous of people who seem to always sail along getting all their prayers answered, when it seems that mine are hitting a brick wall. Of course, this is when the enemy uses frustration, doubt and discouragement to trick you into believe that God must not really care about us or our prayers and we know that this could not be further from the truth. We need to learn how to discern with spiritual eyes and ears what is really going on. I have found that a lot of time the things I was praying for, I did not get but I got something else, something much better and much more than I deserved.

At 39 years of age, I have come to realize that my timing is not always God’s timing but just because I don’t get everything that I dream about, doesn’t mean that I can’t still reap the blessing of my Father God. One of the things I have noticed about God is that he is a God that often masterminds blessings and answers in a way that affects multiple people and situations. He may wait to answer a prayer so that when the answer comes it is even better and more influential than what was originally asked.

An example from scripture was when Hannah, who was barren, prayed for a son. She got her answer, though delayed, when God gave her Samuel, but the timing was such that Israel also got a great Prophet and a man who transitioned the country from being governed by Judges to Kings. God’s schedule will always be better than our own.

The bottom line is God has a plan for my life and it is for my good. My life may not have turned out exactly as I expected but I am still hopeful and prayerful about things my heart desires but more than anything, I have come to realize that even if I don’t get all my heart desires, I know God will still be there right by my side. I know and truly believe that His ways are much, much better than mine and because of that I can be hopeful of receiving more than I could ever ask or imagine. After all, He has already blessed me with those things anyway.

Much love,

Lyndy

Bits and Pieces

2007-10-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

Well, since I have been absent a good bit lately I thought I would share some of the things that have been going on in my life other than what I have already talked about. Bits and pieces of life around here if you will.

As I mentioned last week, Mother had her regular doctor’s visit and blood work done. The nurse called back and said that she needed to increase her thyroid medicine and that her calcium was one point higher than it should be and they want her to see an endocrinologist. We are not too terribly concerned by this but still I would appreciate your prayers.

My hair is still shedding a good bit to the point that it is no longer just bothersome but a little worrisome to me. Obviously, they still don’t have my vitamin regimen down the way it should be, so I will need more blood work for this. This also means that my anemia is not under control which I certainly know by how weak I get if I do too much at one time. I just pray they can get this regulated and it won’t be a constant problem like it is now.

When I had my regular doctor’s visit a few weeks ago, I had lost 26 pounds since the last visit earlier this year. I was a little surprised it was so much. I knew I had lost but did not realize it was that much. No wonder my clothes have been way too big. (lol)

I still love my job and the people I work with are just great. Unfortunately, Mary Ellen, the other girl that started at the same time I did and who I share my office with, is leaving for another job. She only works a few hours a week, as she has a night job as well. Fortunately, with her new job she will be working full time and only have to work the one job and not both. So while I will miss her, I totally understand her excitement over this new position. Also, she lives in my neighborhood, so hopefully we will not loose touch.

This has been an absolutely glorious weekend. I have felt better than I have in a long time and with the sunshine and cooler weather, it has just been perfect.

My stress level is finally starting to get back to normal after the move and being sick. Finances are starting to get back to normal, after the expense of the move and movers, so I am so thankful for that as well.

Sydney loves this cooler weather. I have six large windows in my sunroom and every night I open the blinds before I go to bed and that way the sun shines in for him and he is able to lie in the sun and watch the birds and the squirrels, which we have a lot of in our back yard. We have the prettiest red birds in the side yard and they are just a joy to watch.

I still have much decorating to get too but it is slowly coming together. It is hard when it is just me and I am the worst picture hanger in the world but slowly but surely it will get done. Being short doesn’t help matters. I bought a step-stool and I am still too short to reach most things, so back to the store I need to go for the next size up. (lol)

All in all, life is really good. God has blessed me more than I deserve and for that I am so thankful.

I pray y’all had a beautiful and blessed weekend.

Much love,

Lyndy

Oh Fiddle-dee-dee

2007-10-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

I have told myself everyday that I would get a chance to blog and at the end of the day when it didn’t happen, like Scarlett, I was left thinking “well tomorrow is another day.” I have been so busy at work and at home that I have not posted in way too long. I even forgot today was Thankful Thursday. With me being off on Monday’s, I am still trying to get used to what day is what.

Things here have been going pretty well and getting back to somewhat normal. Over the weekend I did have a complication to the abscess tooth I had last month. Knowing how bad it was last time it was pretty scary and my weekend was shot due to my feeling so badly. Thankfully, the infection was nothing like last time and it is almost gone now.

It has still been beautiful weather here, though we certainly need the rain. It has also finally gotten cooler. Tonight we will be in the forties and the highs are around 70 or so during the day and it feels wonderful. Truly perfect fall weather.

I am still behind on blog reading but try to read when I can. Hopefully, soon I will have something more interesting to discuss than moving, sickness and work. (lol)

Have a blessed weekend y’all.

Much love,

Lyndy

Monday Musings

2007-10-01T20:42:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful weekend we had here in Georgia. It is finally getting a little cooler and just so nice to be outside without the humidity. It was a relaxing weekend that I started off with a manicure and pedicure on Friday after work. This is the first time I have taken time for such things since the move and boy was it long overdue.

Today was my day off, I love having three day weekends. This is the first week that I am on my normal schedule. Mother had a doctor’s appointment this morning, so we had to get out early but it was such a beautiful day.

The exciting news from the weekend was that I won Rhoda's giveaway for her 100th post. I couldn’t believe it, I never win anything. Thanks so much Rhoda and if you have never visited her blog, I suggest you head right over. She is a southern gal too and has a lovely blog and boy can she decorate, her home is just lovely.

We are still slowly getting settled in from the move. One thing that has been a problem has been our mail. It has been extremely slow. I received something in the mail today that was postmarked 9/20 and it just came today. I hope this is just a fluke thing.

I pray y’all have a wonderful week.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-09-27T14:29:00.000-05:00

I am thankful that things have been more “normal” and peaceful this week for the first time in several weeks.

I am thankful that things are starting to take shape at home and that it is beginning to feel more like home.

I am thankful for people that God puts in my paths just when I need them.

I am so thankful for everyone who has held me in prayer over the past month during my various requests.

I am thankful that more and more each day I desire to focus only on what God desires in my life.

I am thankful that God never makes a mistake in my life.

I am thankful that everything that happens to me has to come through my Father God’s hands first.

I am again thankful for an unspoken prayer request.

I am thankful that my Mother’s health has been as good as it has through these past difficult weeks.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,

Lyndy

Monday Musings

2007-09-24T20:50:00.000-05:00

Thank y’all so much for all your sweet comments and prayers. I am finally starting to feel like me again. Even people at work are noticing that the “sparkle” is back in my eyes. (lol)

I spent the weekend going through boxes and moving furniture around since it was the first weekend since we have been here that I felt strong enough to “dig” in and really work in the house. Things are starting to shape up nicely and it is beginning to feel like home here.

Work is still going great and I really enjoy what I do. It is a small office and I am blessed that most everyone in the office is a Christian.

Now that things seem to have calmed down some around here, I hope to be back to visiting y’all soon.

Have a blessed week y’all.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-09-20T12:59:00.000-05:00

Wow I feel so out of the loop this past month and I miss being able to check in with y’all each day. This Thankful Thursday for me is a true testimony of God’s mercy, grace and love.

I started my new job, the second week in August and on my first day my car died. Y’all it was not exactly how I wanted to make my first impression, by pulling into my new employers and my car steaming in the parking lot but God saw me through.

Then we had the move. A move that I know had to be made, because I had to get Mother in a place where there were no steps for her and I know God’s hand was on leading us to this house.

The move was extremely stressful and the actual move itself turned out to be a disaster, with the movers not getting us moved in until 6 a.m. By that point Mother and I had both been up almost 24 hours, since the movers ended up being eight hours late. Nothing was put in place and my washer and dryer was not hooked up correctly. Mother’s bed fell the minute the mover’s left and our water was not on but God saw me through.

Less than 48 hours after being in the new house, I found myself in the emergency room not once but twice, with a horrible infection due to an abscessed tooth. The infection was so bad that I was out of commission for over a week and again God saw me through.

I have seen God’s hand in so much of the things going on around me in the last three weeks and believe me I have cried out to him a lot over the past month. He has met me at every turn.

It probably all sounds contradictory, as during the last few weeks I have felt so very alone, probably more alone that I have ever felt. I have been broken, sick and tired and literally cried out to God, as to what He was trying to teach me with each trial I was facing. Some of the days looked very bleak indeed. I am still not quite sure of the lessons and I know I am still a “work in progress”. However, God has never seemed more real to me than in this past month.

I have felt Him carrying me when I was too weak to put one foot in front in the other. My faith has truly been increased, as I have seen God working in the different areas of my life. I have seen and experienced that no matter how bleak things look at the moment God can and will see you through your trials, if you will only turn to Him.

I don’t understand everything and I am sure I never will this side of heaven but I know, that I know, that I know, that God is real and He will see you through your trials just like He has seen me and is seeing me through mine. I honestly would not want to repeat these past few weeks for anything but it gives me so much peace to know that when situations like this happen and they will again, that God is there and only a whisper away.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,
Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-09-12T22:05:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful that I am feeling much better than I did last week. A real blessing.

I am thankful for an unspoken prayer request that was answered.

I am thankful that this move is behind me now, even though not much unpacking has been done since I have been ill, the move itself it over.

I am thankful for friends that pray for me both online and in real life that means so much to me.

I am thankful that while I still don’t feel 100% that I am able to participate in Thankful Thursday.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,

Lyndy

2007-09-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hello Sweet Friends,

I appreciate your comments and prayers so much. I am feeling a little stronger today and my voice is stronger too. I was able to eat a little solid food and able to swallow better. I won’t lie this was a very scary experience for me. When I woke up last Sunday night and I was swollen from my chin to my chest and unable to breathe or talk it was pretty frightening. Even having cancer, I have never been as sick or weak as I have this week. For me to go to the ER means I was in bad shape, as I hate doctors. My blood pressure has always been low but when I got to the ER it was 80/50. However, I am feeling much better and will attempt to go into work tomorrow.

I am not telling you any of this stuff to complain, please take it more as a warning. I had no clue that I had a tooth abscess. For the past week my neck had been hurting and I just assumed it was from moving boxes and next thing I know, I woke up at 4 am Sunday morning full of infection. If you ever have something like this please don’t fool around with it as the doctor said had my infection gone much father and I would have had to have my throat drained.

I hope to be back to catching up with y’all this week. I have truly missed your blogs.

I am alive...I think!

2007-09-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Hello friends. It has been a long week here for me and I have missed being able to catch up with y’all.

I would love to tell you that everything went smoothly but alas it did not. Starting with Friday morning when the movers were to arrive…they didn’t. Apparently the truck broke down and they were finally able to show up at 6:30 Friday night to start the move. This after mother and I both being up since six that morning expecting to be moved in by four at the latest Friday afternoon. It was horrible. I was worried about mother because she was so tired and did not need to be up for so long. They finally got everything moved in at 6 am Saturday morning. They did put out beds up before they left but as soon as they pulled out of the drive-way Mother’s bed fell apart. They did not hook up my washer and dryer correctly and they broke a tree limb and threw it in my next door neighbor’s yard. Lovely! This is really on the tip of the iceberg of things I have found either broken or messed up but quite frankly I don’t have the strength to write about it.

That neck ache that I wrote about before turned out to be an abscessed tooth and I have honestly never been as sick in my life, as I have this week. The infection settled from my throat to my chest and I have not been able to swallow or talk much since last weekend. Today is the best I have felt and I am still extremely weak. After many trips to the ER and several medications later, I think I will live.

I have tried to ask God what I am supposed to learn through all of this but quite honestly I have been so sick and so weak that even if He has told me, I wouldn’t have got it.

So here we are one week after the move and only the boxes of necessity have been opened and that is fine.

I pray y’all have been doing much better than I have here and that you have a blessed weekend. Thank you all so much for your sweet comments you left me, as they truly mean so much.

Much love,

Lyndy

Calgon...take me away!

2007-08-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

Y’all I am so ready for this week to be over. I am blessed and trying not to be stressed. (lol) All the paperwork was signed today and I have the keys to the new house. The movers will arrive tomorrow morning. I still have much to do, as I have been struggling with a horrible neck ache all week and truly have not had a good nights rest since Saturday night.

Thank you all for your sweet words about the house, we are certainly looking forward to getting settled in. Thankfully, it is a long weekend and that will help with having time to get unpacked. Truthfully, Saturday I may stay in bed the whole day, if I don’t have a second wind by then.

I pray you all have a safe and blessed Labor Day weekend. Hard to believe the summer is coming to an end. I probably will not be posting again until Tuesday, as that is when they come to install my phone and internet. So I will be looking forward to catching up with all of you then.

Much love,

Lyndy

Show and Tell Friday

2007-08-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!" Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

Hey y’all and welcome to my Show and Tell Friday. Since I have talked so much about the upcoming move, I thought for show and tell I would show you pictures of the new house.

Before I get to the pictures, I wanted to say that God is owed all the glory for this house. The way it came about and how it all came together. This is not the original house I was planning on moving into. However, it seemed to be part of God’s plan. It is a much, much nicer house than the one I originally looked at. Our housing market here in Georgia is practically at a standstill and this home has been empty and on the market for a long time. The owner has long ago been transferred and was getting desperate. Too make a long story short; I am getting this house for the same price as the first house I looked at. God was definitely at work in this. My prayer this whole time has just been "wherever" You want us to be God, is where I will go. He answered with more than I could have ever asked for. Thank you Father God!

It is a wonderful family oriented neighborhood and a corner lot. Mother will have an in-law suite on one side of the house and the master bedroom is on the other. It is perfect for all of my furniture and for our needs and we are both terribly excited at how God worked this out.

Thanks for visiting my "Show and Tell Friday". For more “Show and Tell Friday” visit Kelli.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and I also wanted to say Happy Birthday to my sweet Mother today.

Much love,

Lyndy

This is the front of the house. The landscaping needs to be cleaned up but other than that the yard is perfect.
This is the foyer and to the left side is the in-law suite.

This is the sunroom, which I plan on using as a den/office. It is a much bigger room than this picture shows, as it was an additon to the house. There are pocket doors from this room into the kitchen, which I think is a neat feature.

Part of the kitchen. On the other side of the room is a big pantry and a breakfast room that overlooks the backyard.
This is the formal living room or part of it, as it too is bigger than this picture allows. I love the built-in book shelves.
Another view of the living room looking into the dining room.
The dining room.

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-08-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Wow it is time for Thankful Thursday again. Seems these last summer days are flying by. I have much to be thankful for and this is only a small portion of them.

I know I keep saying this but it bears repeating, I am thankful for my new job and that I really like all the people I work with and the job itself.

I am thankful that in a little over a week this move will be over.

I am so thankful for an unspoken prayer request that was answered.

I am thankful that while things are stressful around here that I am feeling God’s peace about everything.

I am thankful that my mom has been having some good days and that in a few days she will no longer have to worry about dealing with steps.

I am so thankful for air conditioning and that I don’t have to work outside in this horrible heat.

I am thankful for friends that pray for me both online and in real life that means so much to me.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,
Lyndy

Terrific Tuesday

2007-08-21T21:20:00.000-05:00

Y’all it is STILL hot outside. I admit it, I am usually the one that is cold and has to put on a sweater when everyone else is burning up and I still do in the mornings at work but by after lunch…whew…the sweater comes off. I know this has to be one of the hottest Augusts that I can remember.

This is my third week on the job and I still love it. I praise God for this blessing. Yesterday, I was coming home from work and listening to praise music and my eyes just filled with tears at how unworthy I am fo God’s blessings but how thankful I am for them. Many times I wanted to give up the job search but in God’s timing it all worked out wonderfully. I am so thankful that I did not try and get ahead of God and just mess everything up.

Next week is the big moving day and I am so ready for it to be over and life to get back to normal. Not that it will be “normal” immediately but just having the move behind me will be enough to make me happy.

I don’t know if I mentioned this or not but the realtor I am using, sold me my first house back in 1991. She is still just as great and hardworking as she was back then. I was surprised we both remembered each other.

My friend Sam that I mentioned a few weeks ago is battling severe depression. He seriously needs medical help but refuses to go since he doesn’t have health insurance. He has only been divorced a few months and I think it is just now hitting him. He called me Sunday night or perhaps I should say Monday morning, as it was the middle of the night. He was terribly drunk and talking about killing himself. I talked him through it but yesterday he was not a lot better. He was raised in a Christian home and his father was a preacher but he physically abused him for years. For this reason, Sam has completely turned his back on God. Please pray that he gets the help he needs and that I have wisdom in dealing with this serious situation.

Also, if you think of it would you please pray for a smooth move next week? I so appreciate all of your prayers.

I maybe scarce for the next week but will be checking in when I can.

I pray you all have a blessed week.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Happy 100th to Me~

2007-08-17T21:00:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe it. I made it too 100 posts. I truly never dreamed I would love blogging the way that I do and it is all because of YOU. My wonderful online friends. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience.

I truly love you all.

Much love, Lyndy

Not one to go against tradition, here is my list of 100 things about me.

1. I was born in Canton, GA.
2. I still live here today.
3. The year was 1968.
4. The day was August 28th.
5. I will be 39 in a couple of weeks.
6. Age does not bother me.
7. My dad died when I was a year old.
8. I have no memory of him.
9. I was his last child and I am told he was crazy about me.
10. He wanted me to have red hair.
11. I am the only child born to my Mother.
12. I am a Mamma’s girl and proud of it…thank you very much.
13. My dad had two other children a boy and a girl but they were grown when I came along.
14. I consider myself and only child since I was not raised with my half-siblings.
15. Yes, I am spoiled.
16. I wish I were closer to my half-siblings.
17. My grandmother moved in with us when my dad died.
18. We were extremely close, as I was her only grandchild.
19. She lived to be 100 and was an incredible godly woman.
20. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home.
21. I come from a long line of strong, godly women.
22. I love to read and am a sucker for Christian Fiction.
23. I am the mamma of one very spoiled back Persian cat named Sydney.
24. He is the BEST pet evah.
25. I was diagnosed with cancer in 1997.
26. I am a cancer survivor of almost 10 years now.
27. That was one of the hardest times in my life
28. I am divorced.
29. That was the hardest time in my life.
30. I have a lot more Scarlett in me than Melanie, hence, the name of my blog.
31. My favorite food is Mexican food.
32. I am a complete and total girly girl.
33. I don't have a large group of friends but the ones I have are friends for life.
34. I want to live the life that God has intended for me to live.
35. I'm a conservative republican.
36. I am a night owl.
37. I buy way too many magazines.
38. I was very shy until I became and adult and now there is not a shy bone in my body.
39. I do not ride roller coasters.
40. I have never traveled much but would like to do so.
41. Decorating is my hobby.
42. I am a born again, Bible-believing Christian, and you'll often hear about that in these pages, too.
43. I am a good cook and was taught the Southern way through and through.
44. I am a pet lover.
45. Even though I am a girly girl, bugs do not bother me.
46. I am a true redhead.
47. I have dark brown eyes that are almost black.
48. My drink of choice is sweet tea.
49. I stopped drinking sodas about 5 years ago and never looked back.
50. I have never taken any drug or smoked pot.
51. My friends are even surprised by this.
52. I never even saw pot until I was thirty.
53. I have however, had my time with Mr. Boonesfarm when I was a teenager.
54. I love flowers and love having them on my porch.
55. I hate housework.
56. I never sleep in a car or any moving vehicle as I get sick.
57. For this reason I have never been on a cruise.
58. I am fiercely loyal to my family and friends.
59. The first thing I do when I get home is take off my make-up and jewelry...if I bothered to put them on. (lol)
60. I do love make-up and jewelry.
61. I also love shoes.
62. I am the only one in my family not to have high blood pressure by the time they are 30.
63. Mine is actually low, too low. Go figure.
64. I love bubble baths.
65. I am very sentimental.
66. Nine times out of ten, I'll choose plain vanilla ice cream over any other.
67. I watch very little TV.
68. I love big strong hugs.
69. I could eat salads everyday and usually do for lunch.
70. I not a sports person.
71. I right handed.
72. I wear perfume all the time, even if I am no going anywhere.
73. My favorite that I have worn for years is Jessica McClintock.
74. I love old movies.
75. I was 21 before I broke a bone.
76. I broke my ankle in 3 places. Ouch!
77. I have 2 scars and several screws and pins because of this.
78. My first job was for a family owned motorcycle shop.
79. Most people were surprised to see a girly girl there but I loved it and the people.
80. My next job was in insurance and I was there for 14 years.
81. I have never known a day that I have not felt my Mother’s love for me.
82. Because of this I know how blessed I am.
83. I have been known to fall asleep while praying.
84. My prayers usually start the same way.
85. I do know when I pray, I am talking to my close personal friend.
86. I have collected antiques for many years.
87. Some pieces I looked for a long time before I found just the “right” piece.
88. Since some of these antiques are hard to find, I don’t part with my treasures often.
89. I love spending the day looking at antiques.
90. I love old houses and have mostly lived in them.
91. I make the best pound cake in the world.
92. I can’t share the recipe, as it is a family secret.
93. I always wanted to grow up in a big family.
94. I love Bible studies.
95. Especially anything by Beth Moore.
96. My cell phone is pink.
97. You will find it usually in my pocket.
98. Spring and Summer are my favorite months.
99. I never expected to love blogging but I do.
100. I love my online friends.

Wonderful Wednesday

2007-08-15T21:39:00.000-05:00

Sorry I have not been around much lately. Getting in the rhythm of a new job and dealing with the car issues and trying to get things ready to move are keeping me pretty busy. After the move is over with, I should be back to posting as normal. I am certainly have withdrawals from visiting all of y'all.

I saw this anonymous quote that I wanted to share.

“I carry two lists around in my head,” “One belongs to me, and one belongs to God. If something comes up and I can do something about it, I put it on my list. If I can’t do anything about it, I put it on God’s list, and I forget about it.”

I am trying to remember this and just trust the Lord to see us through these stressful days.

I would really appreciate it if you would keep me in your prayers that I am able to hear God clearly and follow His guidance, as I deal with getting everything settled.

I appreciate you all so much.

Much love,
Lyndy

Life with Lyndy

2007-08-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

Wow y’all what a week!! New job, car problems and looking at a new house. Can you say overload? I truly am not a glutton for punishment but sometimes you just can’t help the timing of things and it is just the way things work out.

Fortunately, I love my new job and the people and for that I am so thankful. I learned something really awesome on Thursday, as I was talking with my boss and she was telling me how pleased she was with me, she mentioned how she had prayed for months that God would send the right person for the job. I told her that I, along with my wonderful prayer warriors, had also been praying for God to send me just the right job. How awesome is that...our Father God answered both our prayers. Worth rejoicing about for sure!!

The car issue is not too much to be happy about. I was planning on getting something else before the end of the year. Now it looks like it will be sooner, like as in next week. This is an unexpected bump in the road right now but I am trusting God to lead me in the right direction. I just can't see putting tons of money into this car when I know I am not going to keep it. I am blessed to be able to be in a rental car and have been since mine was towed last week. I have been sporting around in one of those cute little PT Cruisers. So looks like next week I will be doing some car buying. I have already been researching online and looking at Consumer Reports. I know in the end everything will work out fine.

The house...really has nothing new going on with it. We are looking to move at the end of the month, so the big thing there is just packing and getting ready for movers. Fortunately, I already have a head start in this area and that is a good thing.

This weekend has been pretty quite. I was supposed to spend some time with a friend of mine last night but they are dealing with severe depression right now. I have spent many hours on the phone with him but other than talking and praying I really don’t know much to do. He is on medication already and under a doctor’s care. I know prayer is the best thing for anyone but hearing him sound the way that he does leaves me feeling so helpless.

Another huge praise report is regarding Mother. She has been feeling so much better these past few days. She has been getting around better and for longer periods of time. With joint pain, we just never know what tomorrow may bring, so we are truly rejoicing for the goods days she is having.

I am still behind on answering emails and visiting my blog friends but I will get caught up soon. I need to get in the swing of things with my new routine.

I pray y’all all have a blessed week and that you are able to stay cool.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-08-09T14:53:00.000-05:00

I didn’t know if I would have a chance go participate this week in Thankful Thursday what with starting my new job and having less time at home, so I am thankful to be able to have time to post my list.

I am thankful for my new job and that I really like all the people I work with and the job itself. A real blessing.

I am thankful that while my car had to be towed that I was already at work and in a cool place not stuck on the road in this heat wave.

I am so thankful for this new season in my life.

I am thankful for an unspoken prayer request that was answered.

I am thankful that Christopher and I were able to spend some time together over this past weekend.

I am thankful for friends that call and take you out to dinner when they know you have had a very stressful day.

I am thankful that God led me to the house I am looking to move into and that if it is His will that everything will workout.

I am thankful for friends that pray for me both online and in real life that means so much to me.

And as always, I am thankful for all of you that take the time to read this and visit my blog.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,

Lyndy

Baby It's Hot Outside

2007-08-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

Y’all, did you know it is HOT outside? Whew! I hope y’all are cooler in your neck of the woods than it is here in Georgia.

Yesterday was my first day on my new job, which I love by the way. The day started off great and I was really looking forward to this new season of my life. However, on the way to work, which is only about four miles, my car overheated BIG TIME. I made it to work but of course was not about to drive it again, so I had it towed. I couldn’t even get a wrecker that was available, until today because they have been having so many calls with cars overheating. Then I arranged for the rental car company to come and pick me up after work, which they did. I got so stressed out over the car though and it being my first day on the job that I just had to force myself to not freak out. Great way to make a first impression with new co-workers. (lol) Everyone was really sweet about it and the work day turned out well. I think I am going to really like all the people and it is certainly wonderful being so close to home.

When I got off yesterday, I was able to get in touch with the realtor again about the house that I am interested in and was able to go and take Mother to see it as well. We are both in agreement that it is great for our needs and while it is not my “dream home” it is exactly what we need for now. It has been completely remodeled with new carpet, paint and vinyl. I think I mentioned before the split-bedroom plan and that is really nice. Mother never bothers me but I know she feels like she does when I have company and this way, she basically has her on suite and will have complete privacy, as will I. So if everything works well, I think we are going to be moving around the end of the month. I am excited and anxious all at the same time.

Today was a much better day and a friend wanted to take me out to dinner since I was so stressed yesterday, so I am looking forward to a relaxing evening. Even with the car problems, it has been a very good and satisfying week and I appreciate your prayers so much.

Well, I need to run and do some laundry before he gets here, so I pray y'all have a wonderful rest of the week.

Much love,

Lyndy

Sunday Sharing

2007-08-05T22:52:00.000-05:00

I have said many times, that when I started blogging I truly didn’t not think I would have anything to offer, since I am not a wife or a mother. I have been so blessed by all of you and I am especially pleased when I write something that others can relate too and get a blessing from.

This morning I received a sweet email from Melissa at www.xanga.com/MelissaDSC.

This is part of the email: “Hi there, I came via TrainingHearts website this morning. I loved your post so much, I was wondering if I could post it on my grief support forum. Tamara and I both went through the loss of a son at the same time and almost the exact same age. Out of my loss, I started a Christian Grief Support Forum. Comfort In Heaven. You have so eloquently stated one of the processes of grief and how to get through each day I just thought it would be wonderful to share with some other women. If that is a little overwhelming for you, I understand completely. I appreciate your transparency and may you be blessed for it. Have a blessed day, Melissa D. SC”

Of course, I was more than happy for her to share this on her group. I am so glad that something God has reveled to me can be a blessing to others. Please visit Melissa and Tamara and keep them in your prayers as they work through their grief.

It has been a very relaxing weekend here. I love old black and white movies and Friday night was a great night for those. I curled up and watched several Joan Crawford movies. Then spent some time talking and catching up with my friend Charlie, in North Carolina.

Friday, I went to look at a house. It is smaller than my house now but really has everything I am looking for. There is not a single step to be found. The problem is that it is the same price as my house now and I would be loosing a lot of space, especially storage space, as it has no basement. I plan on getting rid of many things if/when we move but it just seems a bit much for this house to be so much smaller and cost the same as where I am now. I am trying to just leave it in God’s hands and see what happens.

Last night, Christopher and I went out to dinner and got to spend some quality time together. It was nice getting to spend time with him, as it had been a few weeks since we had seen each other.

Today has been pretty quite. I have not been sleeping well this week, as my shoulder has really been bothering me and waking me up during the night. I am going to have to break down and go to a chiropractor I think. I have never been to one before but this has been going on for too long now and just seems to be getting worse. It also rained most of the day here, so that made for a nice relaxing afternoon at home.

Tomorrow, I will be getting things ready to start my new job on Tuesday and I hope to get Mother out for a bit during the afternoon as well.

I pray you all had a blessed weekend and a wonderful new week.

Much love,

Lyndy

Joy in the Journey

2007-08-02T23:06:00.000-05:00

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Okay y’all it is once again time for one of my truly transparent posts. I have come to realize that I have pretty much been living my life on hold. Oh I go through the motions but really I have been letting the devil steal my peace, joy and happiness. I know that fear is the complete and total opposite of faith, yet I have been living far more fearful than faithful, I must sadly admit.

Ever since my divorce, I have had an “I will be happy when” attitude. Y’all know what I mean. I will be happy when… I am over the pain of divorce or I will be happy when Mother’s health is better, I will be happy when I find the perfect job or have more money or all my dreams come true. Life is a continuous journey and all things in our life will never be perfect. If I keep waiting to be happy “when” then I will never truly be happy and full of joy. This is not how we as Christians should be living.

I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing as tragic as being alive and not enjoying life. I have wasted much of my life because I have not been enjoying myself while on life’s journey.

I don’t know about y’all but I have a very bad habit of turning the problems I am facing into idols and they completely take over my focus, even in my prayer time. My life has been out of balance because I have allowed my goals and fears become idols. I am guilty of neglecting the great love we have through Christ because I am too consumed by stress and worry in my life.

It has taken a long while but I am finally truly realizing that my plans are not always God’s plans. We absolutely must realize the importance of each phase of our lives. Each phase is vital to the next one. Wherever it is we are headed, we are not going to get there any faster than God takes us. We must learn to do our part and trust God to help us enjoy the journey. I am right here now because this is where God wants me to be.

This journey is not about me. It’s about Him! It’s about Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, who is in the business of transforming us into His likeness and His image. It’s about loving Him regardless what happens here on earth. It’s about counting it all joy even if my dreams never come to pass in this life! It’s all about surrender. It’s all about sacrifice! It’s all about laying down my hopes and dreams in order that Christ’s image might be formed in me and His will perfected in me!

I am never going to be truly happy and full of joy until I find that place of satisfaction in Him. Jesus completely satisfies our every longing! He is more than enough!

I have been allowing the enemy to win daily. Every time I am sad, depressed or just plain miserable, I am following the devil. I have not renewed my mind, not taken every thought captive, not put the WHOLE armor of God on. Certainly I have not walked by faith not by sight. Simply put, I have not trusted Him. If God leads us to victory and not defeat then why am I always feeling defeated? Because I am allowing the enemy to win.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10

Jesus said that He came that we might have and enjoy life. If you have not been enjoying your life, it is time to begin. If you have been enjoying your life, thank God, and look for ways to enjoy it even more.

I pray y’all have a blessed weekend and enjoy the journey you are on.

Much love,

Lyndy

~Thankful Thursday~

2007-08-01T22:48:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that it is Thankful Thursday again. I have so much to be thankful for and so much that I take for granted.

Here are just a few things I am thankful for this week:

I am thankful for my new part-time job that I start next week.

I am thankful that Mother has had a good week and we were able to get out this afternoon and enjoy a beautiful summer day together.

I am thankful for an old high school friend that found me online and emailed me. I had not heard from him in 20 years.

I am thankful for my air conditioning both in my car and in my house during these hot Georgia days.

I am thankful for this new season in my life and that I know God is in control and not me.

I am thankful for my sweet Sydney, my faithful pet who never leaves my side. Unconditional love can’t be beat.

I am thankful for all of y’all reading this list.

Have a blessed and thankful Thursday y’all. To join in or read more Thankful Thursday’s, head on over to Sting My Heart.

Much love,

Lyndy

Terrific Tuesday

2007-07-31T22:33:00.000-05:00

I am so behind on blog reading this week and need to make the rounds to visit everyone. It is hard to believe that today is the last day of July already. The summers just don’t last like they used to when I was a kid.

Last week was such an up week and for that I am so thankful. Saturday night I went out with my friend Sam. We went to dinner and then to the movies. Dinner was so so yummy. I really made up my own dish of penne pasta with grilled shrimp, served over their special sauce which is a combination of there red sauce and there white sauce. Absolutely delicious!! Not to mention wonderful garlic rolls that are to die for.

So dinner was great, conversation and laughter was great but the movie was HORRIBLE. We really had not planned to go to the movies but it was pouring rain after dinner, so we decided to go to the theater next door. The only thing that had not already started was a Lindsay Lohan movie. Neither one of us had ever even heard of it before, so we knew nothing about it. I don’t particularly like Lindsay Lohan for many obvious reasons but I would have to say this movie was horrible even for her.

Sunday was a relaxing day and this week I have been trying to get things into the groove for my going back to work next week. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and I know it is the devil trying to steal my peace and I have been fighting that hard. I know once I get into the job and realize that Mother is doing okay with me gone, the anxiety will ease up.

I mentioned last week that my sweet friend Connie from CONNIE'S THOUGHTS FROM THE HEART had so graciously awarded me with the Thoughtful Blogger Award. It truly means so much coming from her, because Connie truly is a woman who loves the Lord. She encourages and mentors just exactly as the Bible calls us to do. So thank you so much Connie for this award, from the bottom of my heart.

Here is what Connie had to say about me. “Lyndy, makes me feel like I am talking to a daughter. She is a very kind person and trusts in the Lord completely. She answers comments, and when you read her blog, it is just like she is speaking to you face to face. Thank you Lyndy for being such a thoughtful person.”

For those unfamiliar with the award, here is a bit of an explanation: The Thoughtful Blogger Award is for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others' feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous.

I don’t mean to be a party pooper but I am going against the grain here. I am so thankful for ALL my blogging friends that I am not going to name just five of them. I think you all deserve this award. You are all so special to me and encourage me every time you comment on my posts. Thanks you all for being Thoughtful Bloggers.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Much love,

Lyndy