This past week-end I had a very,VERY, successful yard sale. We had a lot of stuff left over after mom went home to heaven, plus stuff we needed to purge from our small abode. Garage sales are work and what you earn is your reward for all that hard effort. On of the items mom left behind was a metal storage box that was filled with soap, scented candles, rollers for giving a perm, in short, things I wouldn't want or need. So imagine my surprise, correct that, SHOCK, the day I began laying those items out and pricing them, and in the very bottom of the box were envelopes. Envelopes with $2400 inside! My sisters and I are each $800 richer, because I dug to the bottom of the box I was sure contained nothing I'd want, WOW!
Sometimes we can view God's word the way I did that box. We open to a passage we've read before and figure, oh I know what's here, so we skip lightly over it maybe missing a treasure He wants to reveal to us now, that didn't apply before. Dig deep in the word of God. You never know what you'll find to enrich you soul and your spirit. And it's value is priceless!

To me there is nothing more beautiful than Oregon in the spring! Flowers of every size, shape and hue back dropped by a blue sky and lots of sunshine. It takes my breath away!
In the Bible heaven is described in Revelation. And even though it's glorious I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the jewels and all that gold. So, I'll just wrap my mind around what I can see and ponder if this can't hold a candle to heaven, all I can say is WOW!
And Iget to view this glorious sight evertime I drive to Wal-Mart (which is definetly not heaven).

IT'S RAINING - IT'S POURING!
Poor Don. He has signed up and paid to be in a golf tournament that starts today!! He truly doesn't want to go but the only way he'll get a reprieve is if the man he's to partner opts out. I am amazed at how my husband 99% of the time opts to keep his commitments, regardless if the day, time, or circumstances are not to his liking. The only times I've seen him do otherwise is if he's sick. Don is a constant reminder to me of God's faithfulness to His commitments to us. He will never leave us or forsake us, my salvation is secure in Christ, He provides for all my needs, He had blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus etc, etc, etc. Thank you Lord for a husband who mirrors your faithfulness. May I follow his lead.

Tomorrow I will meet my best friend in Centralia. We will spend the night in a motel and each return home Sunday. Reason for the trip - to maintain a vital relationship that has lasted over 30 years despite the fact that for the past 20+ years, we have lived in different states. I love her company, am eager to hear about her family as she is mine, and enjoy doing things together.
Because our relations has weathered many life changes we know each other at a deep level and trust one another with our hearts. Our relationship is the model that my daughter Daidri and her best friend Chris use to maintain their friendship when life circumstances moved them to different states.
Jesus is a friend who stick closer than a brother, or your best girlfriend. Be sure to develop an intimate friendship with Him. Setting aside time to visit, to listen and to pour out your heart to Him. He will go to any length to meet with you if you initiate the meeting and He will stay as long as you ask. He lives in heaven, but if you repent of your sins and ask him to be your Savior he will reside in your very life through the Holy Spirit. If you are already a Christian, my question for you and me is: Do I make the effort to spend as much time with Jesus as my earthly friends? Do I set aside time for Him or make excuses (to myself) about being too busy ?
The road to estrangement is paved with good intentions in a relationship and the road to intimacy is paved with deliberate and loving effort.
Let's all work on our relationship with the one who gave His all to redeem us!

What have you done lately that was soo stupid you would be embarrassed to share it? Well, here's mine!
Am trying my darnedest to be as green as possible. Not with envy, just for the good of the environment. So since my laundry soap and dishwasher soap was running low decided to check out stuff at Costco. Read the back of every label carefully, and made my selections, feelin good about myself. Yesterday I needed to start the dishwasher and only had enough of my old soap for one cup so got my new stuff and filled the other cup. Started thing up and proceeded to do other household chores. Upon returning to the kitchen I was greeted with water and copious soap suds all over my kitchen floor, UGH!! I knew immediately what must be the matter so after mopping up the floor I grabbed the new stuff and read the front label - Dishwashing soap-NOT- Dishwasher soap. I'd paid so much attention to the back of the container I didn't pay enough attention to the front of the container. An hour and a half later I'd cleaned up the mess, thankful it didn't adversely affect the dishwasher and now mindful that good intentions need to be thoroughly examined before implementing. Thank you God that I could learn two lessons at once, your so economical!

Monday I spent 5 hrs. at Emmanuel Children's Hospital in Portland while my Pastor's daughter, Bella had surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Tuesday I went with my husband Don to OHSU to have the device that regulates his brain action evaluated. Reflecting on both trips I was awed by the technology we as Americans have available to help us with heath issues. As Zach explained the workings of the "patch" they placed in Bella's heart all I could do was praise God for the creativity he inspired in someone to even imagine such a thing, let alone the combined efforts of many who developed it. Then the Dr. who checked Don's device was telling us of an even better battery pack that's out and being used now. His was implanted last August and there is already something better. He could possible have his replaced for an updated model in about 2 years when this one would need it's battery replaced. It's a day surgery procedure, in and out. Once again I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God for HIS miraculous provisions. If Jesus were to walk in a room and heal Bella's heart, or regulate Don's brain to give him victory over a disease we'd be shouting praise and telling everyone. And for me, God working through medical means demands the same exuberant praise. THANK YOU LORD!

When my children were little I so enjoyed the fun of Easter. Coloring eggs, hiding baskets, watching their eyes sparkle as they donned their new duds and we went off to church.
There we were confronted with the facts of Easter. The fun was set aside as we pondered:
In the act of death He absorbs our sins. In love, He forgives our failures. In the act of the resurrection He gives the assurance of forgiveness, the affirmation of eternal life.
Easter is a reminder to us of the magnitude of God's love for man. Don't get so wrapped up chasing the Easter bunny, that you miss the meaning of Easter.