Dangers of Scrapbooking

Last night as I was talking to my mom, I told her scrapbooking can be dangerous. She asked if it was because it was too expensive and I replied no. Scrapbooking can induce bodily harm. I am a perfect example. I have been working on re-doing my old Hawaii scrapbooks, because I didn't know what I was doing and really thought it was ok to cover every square inch that did not have pictures with stickers, no this is not ok. So I have been using my box cutter, the one that contains a very long razor blade in it to remove said stickers. Having done this for the past few days I was very confident in my use of it. Until Thursday, I had been holding the page down with my left hand and using the razor with my right. I got to a really difficult sticker and was working at it really hard, not thinking my thumb is on the other side of this razor and pop the razor took out a chunk of thumb. I pushed the flap of skin back on to help reduce the bleeding, and was very happy it was a clean cut and not hurting. I got up to find things to bandage it with and as I was looking was hit with the intense pain. I was ready to pass out, not because of the blood, but because of the searing pain. I had to sit down for a little while, then return to bandaging it. I love the reactions I get when people ask me what happened to my hand. Very confused looks when I tell them scrapbooking can be dangerous.

Heaven won't be the Same Again

Our dear Ms. Anne Cheairs went to be with the Lord on Friday July 14, 2006. I was so blessed to have her in my life, to be able to soak up her wisdom and learn from her example of how to be a godly woman after God's own heart. Her funeral was the 17th and was filled with tears and bouts of laughter. She was 86 years old and lived the fullest life. She was 86 years old and lived her life to the fullest.

• 86 years of life
• 70 years following the Lord
• 67 or so years of dedicated ministry

She would have liked to marry, but the Lord had other plans for her. She also said she never found an eligible man who knew more or could lead her spiritually.

Her various ministries were

• Young Life
• Teaching in a Christian school in Kenya
• Girl's Bible club
• Government prayer meeting
• Praying for the church and its members
• Bible Study Fellowship
• Sunday school teacher

Ms. Anne was a fireball. I was intimidated when I came under her wing early in 2004. She and the other women in our Sunday school class wowed me with their grasp of Scripture. I never felt I could have anything to share. Ms. Anne noticed this and told my mom when she was visiting that I didn't say much. I later learned if I studied I would have things to share. I wish she could have been there when I lead class.

She was encouraging and intimidating at the same time. She would encourage us to memorize Scripture and would give us a packet to memorize. The intimidation came when she would call on you in class to recite them. Each year in about October we were to start praying about our next year's verse. It was not to be nonchalantly picked out in the end of December. This was the verse we were to memorize so we could meditate on it each day. Before we set our feet on the floor in the morning we were to claim our Scripture and then give our day to the Lord.

Ms. Anne prayed without ceasing. Our Sunday school hour would be taken up mostly by prayer. We each had a little yellow slip of paper to write down the requests on. These women called upon His Name, they pleaded for intercession, they praised and thanked their God and Savior. Often a prayer would be paused for a question of clarification. Ms. Anne wanted to pray correctly for each person. Mid prayer you would hear, "Now when will she have the surgery?" than an answer would follow and back to prayer. The first time I heard this, it made me giggle, now I understand how much she cared that she was praying accurately for the person.

When I first came to class we were in the Minor Prophets and I recall her always pointing out the "day of the Lord". This was because that is the day when Christ shall return. A day Ms. Anne looked forward to, a day she will not see from the earth.

Ms. Anne was full of knowledge and would point her finger at you with palm facing up flick her wrist to make a point. She would say, "Now, Honey write this down so you don't forget it, you may never hear it again." Everyone was to have a notebook with them to write things down. We were also to have read our passage and studied it to share with class.

We were also to get enough sleep on Saturday night so we would not be yawning in class, she said we looked like Leon the lion yawning so big like that. Sunday was to be a day of rest, so we should do our shopping and chores on Saturday, she would suggest. She was very pleased to learn that I took the day of rest literally and napped all afternoon on Sunday.

She comforted and corrected. After a recent break-up I came up to her after class to ask for her prayer. She took my hand and told me, "Honey, we are to be thankful in everything. That does not mean you should be jumping for joy when you are heartbroken, but you are to be thankful to God for working in your life and for what He is teaching you." Tears slid down my face so she pulled out a tissue for me. Then she followed up with, "Maybe this man was taking up too much of your time or thoughts." She had got right to the issue. She gave me a hug and her compact to make sure my make-up was not smeared. I had made him an idol in my life. Another heart to heart I had with her, I am not sure what it was about but she ended it by telling me how beautiful I was and some day a man would walk into my life. It really lifted my spirits.

Ms. Anne did not waste time. Along with other things in her purse, were small cards kept together by a rubber band. On these cards were verses or prayer requests. If she was in a line or waiting at the Doctor's office she would pull them out and memorize or pray. The most important relationship in her life was with her Father in Heaven.

Her Bible told the story of her life. I am not sure how long she had used it, but it was held together by duck tape. I think almost every inch of white space was taken up by notes, cross-references, or special points people had made. If she heard something that really touched her she would mark who said it and when and then write it out in the margins. Tami and I had fun at her visitation looking through it, I remember her always encouraging us to read through the Bible from cover to cover, by the time we were in the class she did not require it to be done in a year but to just do it and then when you are finished do it again. She would tell us not to get discouraged in Deuteronomy and Leviticus and Numbers since they were pretty dry, but to keep on. Tami and I noted there were very few notes and markings in these books.

Patience is a Virtue...

That the Lord is trying to teach me I lack.
I received a new computer about two weeks ago at work. This means a man comes and has to transfer over all of my documents and settings. This process took about 4 or 5 hours. And there are still some settings that have not been fine tuned as I had them before. Like on my blog it used to just allow the pop-up for the spell check and I did not have to click on the information bar and all that jazz. So I sat down yesterday and wrote out a blog about Ms. Anne my dear Sunday school teacher who passed away the 14th. I finish this post and decide to spell check, so I click on it a box shows up talking about not allowing pop-ups and to look at the information bar. So I click on the information bar and then a box comes up and I don't really read it but just click ok. Bad idea, take time, read what it has to say, it may be important. Like this will delete any unsaved information, i.e. the hours worth of post you just typed and don't have written anywhere else. Which is exactly, well not word for word, what it was telling me. So what happens...deletion of all that thought and time and effort. I shrugged it off and decided I was too frustrated with it to try it all over again.

Today is a new day, I decide to tackle it again. Ever heard fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. Well shame on my computer yesterday, shame on me today. Once again I do the same thing. This time I actually read the box and it does not register to me what I have read until my hard work and deep thoughts disappear once again. NOOOOOOOO! Is my brain on break. Did I really just read what it said proceed to do what it warned me not to do and get frustrated when it did what it warned me it would do. Oh and it does not help to hit save as the text is disappearing, that will not bring it back.

This also points out how my devotions have been lately. A motion of reading words and seeing them but they are just not penetrating. The verse I have been memorizing this week, Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.

I have not been trusting in God lately. Work is stressing me, or lack of work I should say. I don't like what I do, or don't do. I was not made for this. But God knows what He is doing, He has me here for a reason, or He is leading me somewhere else now. I can only seek Him and wait for Him and trust that He has got the plan all figured out.

I have committed to go to school here in the fall and can't really afford to go if I am not working here full-time. But there are various other positions and departments that I could be working in. I think there is even a position open that only requires a high school diploma, and I would be doing something like what I will be going to school for. This is a possibility, the only problems are that I am comfortable in this position, and getting a new job would involve change. At the same time when school starts in this position I might be able to get all of my school work done here and continue to have a social life outside of work and school.

I ask that you would pray for contentment for me, wherever God has me. I ask that you would pray He would reveal His will for me.

Last of Memorial day

Here is Jane Fetterly maxin and relaxin on Memorial day

Her big sister Jewel being more than cute.
Rachel and Austin playing horse shoes. If you click on the picture you will see the look of concentration on her face especially in her mouth.
Now look at Bryan's concentration mouth.
Then two posts down you will see I have the same expression with my mouth.

Picture Posts

I guess Blogspot will only allow 10 pictures to be posted a day now. Yesterday I thought it was just I could only fit 10 on each post, but still later it would not load up more pictures on a different post. Today I was trying to finish posting these old pictures and I still can't finish, I posted the 10 and again on a new post it will not let me put the last 5 or so.

I am working on getting a digital camera so you can see pictures days after the event and not months or so, whenever I finish the film and then get it developed. I am tired of that whole process too. But it takes a little while to save up for a Nikon D70, I just can't settle for less than my dream camera, and that is it.

Memorial day shots

We were watching at first then decided to play and for two people who have never played before we gave those guys a run for their money.

Ahh what form and grace
Jewel was not quite warmed up enough to Michael to sit in his lap.
Aww what a cute moment
Talking to mom before opening pressents

Some Bible study toolsAh truly beautiful. Mom sent me this mostly made dress so that I could fit it to her and finish it. We thought it would be funny for her to wear it thus.
The boys thought the balloons were tons of fun to hit bop around.
Rachel has a death grip on her Tom Brady poster that I had forgotten earlier.

More Birthday and Fellowship

Here is Rachel with her cake. I tell you after the dinner we had, there was no room for a sliver of cake.

Blowing out the candles and making a wish. I think Lani was afraid she might get sprayed.
The beautiful decorations.
Ben Hefner 008, yeah those are Rachel's glasses
Naomi and Xander, he has the cutest mohawk, but doesn't like to keep it spiked.
The boys were trying to see if they could flip the bowl over without spilling the pieces of paper.
Gerald was the only one who actually did it without spilling a single one, I think this time he lost one.
More masculinity
Rachel and Ava at the Gshwend's house, we had been at the pool earlier that day.
Amy is HOME YEAH!

Speaking Germany

Last night we were delighted to go to our dear friend Marion's house for German sandwiches and games. She invited two of her German friends and I enjoyed hearing them speak German! I said they were speaking Germany. I learned a few new favorite words. To top them all would be Tortenbuden-flan case which is a great dessert that has fruit on top Marion made for us on Sunday. This became my favorite word to say all night long. Obst means fruit so you could have a obst tortenbuden. And you could ask for eine tasse tee bitte with your obst tortenbuden which would mean one cup of tea please. On Sunday we had a erdbeer tortenbuden, which is a strawberry dessert it resembles a torte. Now we can tack these on to vas is los, was fur ding and shotzy which is currently the extent of Rachie's vocabulary in German. Watch out Germany here we come!

Party and Other Activities

Here are the first batch of pictures from Rachie's surprise party. Nate does look like he is going to attack or jump her. A little intimidating. I had taken her out to dinner and she had suspected we woud all get together after but she had no idea that anyone was at our house.

Yes she was bewildered, she did not understand how they got in etc. The shock wears off and we settle into party mode.
Our friends Peter, Lani (who helped set up and decorate) and Ben who liked banging and playing with the balloons all too much.
Aaron (our English friend), Naomi (who also set up and decorated), Lydia, Nate and Aimee, Bryan and Rachie
Ben looking a little suspicious with the balloons.
Anita and I went to scrapbook and little Ava came with us. She was good and slept a few times. There was a little too much excitment with ladies dying to hold her, and not wanting to let her cry at all.
Here is a cute mommy and me photo.

Past Updates

Anita and baby Ava at our scrapbooking day

Our Guardcat
Any place is a bed to her, you would think she would be uncomfortable here.
Here are pictures of my short lunch with the Meeks. This is Jake their eldest with Steven the youngest. There is only about 6 inches height difference between them and like 6 years.
Can we say Drama Queen Camille? She was born to be dramatic, as you can see.
Here is Heather walking with all three
Me and the kids. I love them.
Heather and her kids
And another view
Close up
I was so glad to spend an hour with them. Hopefully I can come and visit them soon and I will take Steven up on the offer to try out the trampoline.

Blessed From Above

Yesterday was the 4th of July. We decided to go to Greers Ferry Lake with a bunch of friends from Bible study. We had about 15 there and swam and grilled out. It was a ton of fun.
We had carpooled so Rachel and I were not riding in the same car. We ended up taking different exits to get home too. I got there first and upon getting out of the car I saw our front door wide open. I searched for Rachel's car knowing she must be there somewhere, but could not find it. I thought this was a sick joke and reality set in so I was sure I was going to walk in on someone robbing us.
I walked in and the TV, Playstation, etc were all there. I was shocked. Rachel then came in and we looked for Misty because she likes to go out the door if it is open. She was just lounging around upstairs. The computer was there and we checked closets to make sure no one was hiding in there.
We thought about it a lot and decided when we left the door was closed but Rachel did not go back and lock it, we both had our hands full, and were to distracted to lock it. So the wind or some one must have opened it and they were to scared to take anything. My purse was there in plain sight and my keys and car were there. I could have been taken for all I had but God had His hand on our house and possessions and kept it safe and sound.
WE ARE BLESSED!
This all happened on a holiday! And last year on Memorial day I had a package dropped off and then taken by someone else at our old apartment. But our door was wide open and not a thing was disturbed. We don't have any idea how long it was wide open either. This apartment is a lot safer obviously. Also at our old apartment my car was broken into at night and they took about $1000 worth of stereo equipment and I had a car alarm. But again, wide open door just inviting thieves and not a thing touched. We are truly blessed and safety only comes from God.