My 2010 Resolution

I have only one resolution this year, and that is:

To be like Jesus...to be like Jesus
I only ask...to be like Him
All through life's journey
From earth to glory
I ask to be...more like Him

Preston - Perfect 10

Happy 10th Birthday Preston. You are the "Man", and one loved guy!! Getting ready for your birthday celebration. Have a safe trip down. See ya tomorrow. Love Nana.

My, how the years have past...2nd birthday.

Gotta Feeling

Holiday time makes me feel so lazzzzzzeee... How about you?

Like Two Peas in a Pod?

We've always heard the expression "like two peas in a pod". However, have you ever looked closely at peas in a pod? I mean, when you really look at them, there's not a chance you'd mistake one for another. Well, what am I trying to say is that no matter how close we become to someone, we are still individual - and as individuals, our choices are ours.

Adore Him

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Jesus Christ, Our Lord

Way Too Much!

Way too much Christmas goodies!

Wishing You A....

An Everlasting Christmas Present

A loving smile
A tender heart
A lending hand
Everyone’s friend

Mark E. Hopper
December 25, 1960
January 27, 1993

You were our Christmas present from the Lord - and He confirmed it even more with your arrival at 2:38 in the afternoon. You were our Book of Acts baby, proclaiming God's Plan of Salvation in a small 6 lbs. 7 oz. bundle. What a gift from above to brighten our lives for 32 years. We miss you each and every day.

Loving you always, Mom

Net Surfing Santa

My Christmas Wish - A Hole in the Sole & Scuff Marks

What’s on my wish list for the holiday season?
Well, it’s not something you can find at the stores,
in a catalog, on the Internet, or can even make.
If you’ve got a minute I’d like to share my wish.

About 40 years ago I was extremely impressed by a certain man of God. He wasn’t finely dressed nor did he preach with eloquent words. Why did I remember this man after all these years? In particular, it was his shoes. He was holding revival in the church I attended, and as he sat on the platform I couldn’t help but notice the hole in the sole of his shoe and the scuff marks on the toes. He was humble man of few words. His delivery was simple but when he opened his mouth the spirit of God would move. It seemed as if he held the key to unlock the gates of heaven - and his ministry touched all those he came in contact with.

His shoes? Yes, they have set him apart all these years. He had put aside his desires for things that society makes us feel are important, and had found the secret of true victory and wealth - the Power of PRAYER. Prayer made him a special preacher - a heart preacher. Prayer put his heart into his sermon, and put his sermon into hearts. This man's specialness brought down the power, conviction, and restoration.

Today I believe that God is searching out men (and women) with great hearts to make them great preachers and great laymen/laywomen. It's true that we can be ordinary and do a measure of good – just as the hireling or the stranger can help at times. However, if we have upright hearts, focused on the Lord, we touch ALL those around us in positive, fruitful ways. For me the man with holes in his soles is my example, my hero. To impact the world around me, I must be committed to pray more than ever before - earnestly praying in agony, purpose and intensity, and not using meaningless religious phrases or colorful sentences.

My wish this Christmas season is to have at least a measure of the faith and prayer that man of God that I was privileged to meet some 40 years ago had. The hole in the sole of his shoes and scuff marks on the toes identified his revelation of what giving the gift of sacrifice truly meant. What better gift could I give to my Jesus - for truly, isn't He the Reason for the Season?

Are You Wise?

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Oh, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy
Oh, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy
They rejoiced with exceeding great joy

Let It Snow!

SNOWFLAKES

by Christine Fitzgerald

Sometime if this winter you go
Abroad to see the falling snow -
You will find to your surprise
That a trillion flakes will greet your eyes.

Swirling, dancing in the day,
Who could make them quite this way?
Each one new, six sides on all,
Each reflects light as they fall.

No two ever found alike
With lace and rays and sculptured spike.
Here one moment, then they melt,
But what a silent scene is felt!

Discern in those dear tiny flakes
The face of God who nature makes
To please His children and show His love
To all the world from heaven above.

Fact: No two snowflakes are alike! Snow crystals shown are photos of real snowflakes. Find out how these beauties are captured by going to SnowCrystals.

Dog's Christmas Rules

1. Be especially patient with your humans at this time as they may appear to be more stressed-out than usual.

2. When they come home with large bags of things called gifts, do not assume all the gifts are for you.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you as they get pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree home, set it up, and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as it may seem, it is an important human ritual, so you need to know: (a) don't go to bathroom on the tree, (b) don't drink water in the container holding the tree, (c) control your tail when near tree, (d) if there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or have your name on them, don't rip them open, and (e) don't chew on the cord running from the hole in the wall to the tree.

5. Your humans may occasionally invite strangers to come visit during this season. The parties can be fun, but call for some discretion by you: (a) not all strangers appreciate kisses, (b) don't eat off the buffet table, (c) beg subtly for goodies, (d) be pleasant, even when strangers sit on your sofa, and (e) don't drink out of glasses left sitting around.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important: (a) observe all the rules in #4 for trees, with 4a particularly important, (b) respect animals and their territory in the house you are visiting, (c) tolerate children, and (d) turn on your charm big time.

7. A chubby man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night, DON'T BITE HIM!!

Mary, Did You Know?

Jesus is the Reason

Jesus is the Reason for MY Season!!!

If anyone should ever write, my life story.
For whatever reason there might be.
I was on my way to hell, when Jesus found me.
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened...
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened...
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me.

I've had my share of life's ups and downs
God's been good to me, and the downs have been few
I would guess you can say, God has blessed me
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened...
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened...
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me!!!!

Picture: Oil Painting, The Nativity, Gerard van Honthorst (1590-1656)

The Ultimate Gift

Still haven't figured out what to give this holiday season? Well, why not give love... for it will unwrap blessings galore - both for the giver and the receiver.

The only true gift is a portion of yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thumpity Thump Thump

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul...
with a corn cob pipe and a button nose...
and two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say...
He was made of snow but the children know...
how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that
old silk hat they found...
for when they placed it on his head...
He began to dance around.
O, Frosty the snowman was alive as he could be...
and the children say, he could laugh and play...
just the same as you and me.

Thumpity thump thump, Thumpity thump thump...
Look at Frosty go...
Thumpity thump thump, Thumpity thump thump...
over the hills of snow.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

Let It Rain (Spiritually)

Today ask the Lord to bring spiritual rain into your life. Heaven knows we need it more than Mother Earth needs the physical kind.

"Let it rain. . .let it rain. . .Open the floodgates of Heaven
We want to see Your Glory!
Let it rain. . .let it rain. . ."

Loving the Christmas Spirit

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's bringing lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know hot to fly
And so I'm offering this simple wish
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

Guide Me, Lord

The Bible does not provide a map for life - only a compass.
Haddon Robinson

A Day of Shopping Delight

An off-day from medical appointments so me and The Papa spent Wednesday at Stanford Mall in Palo Alto. Beautiful decor and shop windows bubbling in delight - special pastry treats at La Baguetto and a candy store that was out of sight (err..taste). The sales weren't that bad either (Macy's 70% off original price, plus 20% more at register).

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Just a few rare sights in the Bay Area on our visit.

Town of Moraga in East Bay

Mt Diablo State Park

Mt. Diablo

Napa Valley

Oh Christmas Tree(s)

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

Me and The Papa are in San Francisco for medical appointments. Really enjoying all the beautiful to behold this time of the year, including the special Christmas trees of the City. BTW: I won't even go into the great shopping.

Naughty or Nice?

Everybody Needs Beauty

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.
John Muir

Let Your Imagination Flow

The quality of the imagination is to flow, and not to freeze.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Getting Tough Out There?

Remember, when the going gets tough. . .
you can always try to hide. . .
or you can turn to the Lord for His help.
He likes setting things in order, including your life.

Pink Glove Dance

A dear friend sent this to me today. Just had to share.

Abundant Blessings

Have you ever had more blessings than you can contain?
Well then, it is time to give thanks! For there is always
something (or some things) to be thankful for.

You Bee-zee?

Perhaps it's time to be "as busy as a bee".

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy
that you have little time to criticize others.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible

Thank God for dirty dishes,
they have a tale to tell;
while others may go hungry,
we're eating very well.
~Author Unknown

This post is written in memory of my dishwasher that expired Thanksgiving Eve - and oh, what a treat it has been (dish pan hands, et al). I've been thinking of getting me one of the above to start doing my dishes; however, I think getting the machine fixed may be less expensive in the long run than the costs for dog food and doggie supplies.

Some Decorating Done!

Been decorating the place over the last few days.
It's coming along so nicely that I thought I'd share. LOL

Do Right

Are You Full?

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well,
if one has not dined well.
Virginia Woolf

Give Thanks

Give Thanks Unto the Lord. . .for He is Good!
Isn't it wonderful that we know the true & living God!!

The rest of this week I will spend with family & friends, and will return to posting next Monday. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to wish you the making of beautiful memories and a supply of abundant blessings during this beautiful season.

Counting My Blessings

It seems that God sends blessings
In very mysterious ways.
He always finds the perfect time
To brighten up our days.

He finds ones to be our friends,
Who truly seem to care,
Friends to fill our lonely hours;
What an answer to prayer!

The Lord blesses our hearts
With many a wonderful friend.
Thank you Lord, most humbly
For the happiness my friends lend.

I Count My Blessings for having
wonderful friends, such as you.
Blessings to you and yours this holiday season.