Merriman-Webster Says It

res·o·lu·tion
Pronunciation:
\ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English resolucioun, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resolucion, from Latin resolution-, resolutio, from resolvere
Date:
14th century
1: the act or process of resolving: as a: the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones b: the act of answering : solving c: the act of determining d: the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance e: the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents f (1): the division of a prosodic element into its component parts (2): the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable g: the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum2: the subsidence of a pathological state (as inflammation)3 a: something that is resolved b: firmness of resolve4: a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or assembled group5: the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out6 a: the process or capability of making distinguishable the individual parts of an object, closely adjacent optical images, or sources of light b: a measure of the sharpness of an image or of the fineness with which a device (as a video display, printer, or scanner) can produce or record such an image usually expressed as the total number or density of pixels in the image
synonyms see courage
I love the synonym the best!
I looked up resolution since it is New Years Eve, just curious how the actual definition would apply, so there it is in black and white. The synonym was really powerful to me. JB and I host a small group through our church, and I've probably said this before, but we had to come up with a name. At the time we were reading The Pilgrims Progress and had been attending a Bible study at JB's former church. Any way during this time frame we had learned that we were
hyper-nikomen (super-conquerors). The word Nike comes from this. The scripture and ultimate name for our small group is Romans 8:37.... We are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.
Or, as the NLT states, No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Isn't it cool to know that, we are conquerors, we have overwhelming victory, through Christ, whether its a News Years Resolution or Daily Living?!

Wii .. Wii

Any chance you can guess what I received as a Christmas gift? Yes, a Wii and I am loving it!
As for Mii, I'm a Wii bit sore, and a Wii bit tired and a Wii bit happy! ( My Wii attempt at humor, I crack Mii up, really, Mii is the character you are on the Wii game) I was very surprised by my husband by this gift, and Wii (sorry!) have had a whole lot of fun.
Another cool thing I had told hubby I was going to do a family wall of photographs, and I'll be, my daughter and daughter-in-law gave us pictures for Christmas. They had no idea I had planned on doing this wall.
Then to top it off another daughter gave us Bocce which I love to play. I had a wonderful Christmas.
Most importantly, we celebrated the birth of Christ.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 NCV

CHRISTMAS EVE

I made these cookies from the sugar cookie recipe I found on The House Wren , her's are Pink House Cookies, and are adorable. It was easy and they are delicious. The frosting is made of 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of Wiltons Color-Flow powder and about 2 tablespoons of water. The recipe I had called for an eggwhite, but since my little grandchildren would be eating them I opted for the color-flow(it's powdered egg-white). You may notice in one picture fresh nutmeg, I grated a wee bit into the dry ingredients, just because I like nutmeg.

Enjoy the pictures. Have Merry, Christ-centered Christmas.

Hugs

My Favorites *P's*

This is a really cool 'meme'. Jeanne did a post like this on her blog. the basic idea: leave a comment on this favorite post requesting a letter (like i did on Jeanne's), and I’ll assign you one. Then you write about 10 things you love that begin with your assigned letter. Post it on your blog and when people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on. got it? Good! Let's go.
1. People. I love having lots of people in my life. I like being around people and meeting new people. In fact, JB and I have been greeters at our church for about 4 yrs. so we can meet new people.
2. Posts. I love giving and getting posts on my blog.
3. Pot of coffee or tea, I am a caffeineaholoic, but that didn't start with a P, and since I fix a
POT of coffee every morning, it counts!
4. Potatoes, I never met a potato I didn't love. Baked mashed, fried, scalloped...get the picture?
5. Pineapple, my favorite fruit, well favorite fruit that starts with a P.
6. Post-it-Notes I am crazy about them, love them....
7. Personal space....there isn't much in our home with three adults. I know hubby misses it also
8. Photos of the grand kids
9. Prayer time, it's important, and I am working on making it a priority.
10. Psalm 34:4 ... I sought the Lord and he heard me and he delivered me from all my fears. My favorite all time scripture. A life changing scripture for me.

I, yes, Me.

I have very little alot to say tonight, I want to share this.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)


Blessings............

Last Night

Well I uploaded these, backwards! Anyway the bottom picture is the plain box, and if you move upwards you can see the different aspects of the box. Enjoy the pictures.

All of the outside of the box is covered with Close To My Heart paper, then I used various embellishments. Again enjoy!

_________________________________________________________________

We had a great time last night at our Romans 8:37 Small Group! The group surprised JB and I with a gift for each of us. I was honored that they consider us their small group leaders, when truthfully I consider them the core and strength of the group. Our group has been together for two years and I feel like I have grown up with them all of my life. They truly are my extended family, and I love them!
So, my gift was The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren, they gave me the book and CD/DVD.
They gave JB The Legacy of Norman Rockwell, this is the official Norman Rockwell site, but if you are interested in the book just do a search. This was a gracious, kind act, since JB loves Norman Rockwell's work!
We also had wonderful food, a gift game, fellowship, how much more could you ask for?!
I am considering making Sugar Cookies from a recipe I got off of the House Wren Studio typepad/blog. Sounds delicious, I just need to muster up the energy.
If you get the chance check out some of the blogs I follow, you will be inspired to create.
I have created something that when I get the pics, I will share them.
Have a wonderful Saturday.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)

Can We Talk About

Christmas?

Christmas is just around the corner and I don't feel the stresses that has tortured me in the past. I have always worried (concerned myself) about the what ifs. What if there isn't enough money to buy gifts? What if I don't get the right gift? What if they don't like the gift? What if there aren't enough gifts? What if? What if? What if?.........
Well, let's turn that around by looking at what we have and what we really can give .
We can give of our time, now this is a gift that we can offer to those around us. We can give a few moments to listen to someone. We can give the gift of companionship, spending time with someone, we can give the gift of a phone call to someone who is alone, or a knock on the door of a neighbor who will be spending the holidays alone. Maybe we could give the gift of food, that is invite someone for dinner, take a plate of goodies to someone.
The true gift of what I have mentioned is the gift of giving of yourself. These gifts cost little to nothing but are *PRICELESS* to those who are receiving them, and the BONUS of this gifting is you immediately receive a gift, knowing you have been an important part of someones life.
One thing about giving the gift of yourself is it is memorable to both you and the recipient. The tangible things wear out, they get put away, (or re-gifted), or often forgotten about.
Christmas is about giving, God gave of himself in the human form of Jesus, so that he could walk with us, talk with us, spend time with us, comfort us and just love us for who we are and where we are at this moment. Let Jesus be an example of how we should celebrate Christmas.
Let us be a gift to someone!
Blessings and Hugs!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son,
so that none should perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Now that's a gift !

Just a couple of pictures.

This is my table decoration for the moment. Christmas(y) enough.
The Green Christmas Bulb I bought at Longwood Gardens.
I liked it enough to add it to my dining room light fixture!
I LOVE GREEN!

I just figured out how to add pics to my computer and transfer them here so these are my most recent pictures from this morning, I decided I would praactice with them.
Enjoy!

Girls Day

That's what I have dubbed tomorrow. Me and 34 other women are going to Longwood Gardens and The Brandwine Museum I think it will be a fun day.
There is not a lot to talk about today. I am knitting something that looks like a hat on my circular needles. Thank You to The Purl Bee for inspiring me to try something new! Certainly a different experience, but I am getting the hang of it. This will be my own creation, since I am not following a pattern of any kind, so when it is done, I will post a picture. The next one will be from a pattern.
I hope everyone has a great tomorrow.

".........Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

BLOGS I FOLLOW

WOW! That's it, I must confess, I have become a true Blog Follower! I am loving reading everyones blog. It is so interesting to follow the interest, hobbies, careers of those who blog. I am learning so much. I bought circular knitting needles because of a blog I read. I like to knit, but I need to expand my skills beyond scarves! I also scrapbook, but haven't posted a thing I have done, that's on my list to do once, my scanner is working,,,,eekkkkk.....
I love to cook, found some really great recipes on some blogs. and decorate, amazing how many ideas there are available.
I do some oil painting, I have posted a couple of my paintings, so that's a start.
Take the plunge, become a Blog Follower, you will thank me or some other blogger who has introduced you to the exciting world of blogs!
If you have any interest in any style, craft, workmanship,projects poetry, writng, religion, anything,it's out there just a click away. They will intrigue you, challenge you with new ideas, and possibilities. So, have at it, enjoy yourself. I certainly have.

Commit everything you do unto the Lord.
Trust him,and he will help you. Psalm37:5 (NLT)

Check out my Paintings to your Left and Thanksgiving Day

Well I finally posted a couple of my paintings. I love, love, my TULIP painting. I gave it to my daughter for her birthday a couple of years ago. Her favorite flower is the Tulip.
My mom has the other two paintings. I'll post more of my art later on.
Now about Thanksgiving. Dinner was delish! The brined turkey was wonderful, may be a new family tradition.
Has anyone besides me ever noticed, especially with holiday meals, 6 or more hours to prepare, 20 minutes or less to devour? Just an observation I make every year and after all these years it hasn't changed. Our neighbors and my daughter and her husband and two of the grandchildren came over, so this was probably the smallest Thanksgiving gathering I have ever had.
Today we have been listening to Christmas music most of the day, setting the stage for the joy of the Christmas hustle and bustle.
I hope you all had a great celebration today.
Well, I am off to read a few blogs. I have in the past two week become a blog-a-holic. I am lovin' these things. They are so interesting and fun to read. Thanks everyone for your blog.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

THANKSGIVING --- Tomorrow

Chief Cook here! Well generally I am but I don't know about tomorrow. I think JB is going to help with the turkey. We are brining the turkey. Salt, sugar, spices, vinegar and ice water. Should be interesting, I have heard of this but never tried it. Everything I have heard has always been good things, so I will give an update tomorrow or Friday.
I am going to give you things I am Thankful for.

1. My husband JB. He is a great person, he is smart, caring, and not only does he love me, he loves my girls and the grandchildren.
2. My girls, Heather, Staci, and Sarah. Having children gives you the ability to love someone unconditionally, with all your heart, in a way that is unexplainable.
3. My sister, Eva, there is nothing like having a sister, even if you are 900+ miles apart, and you are exact opposites, there is something wonderful to be said about having someone you can always turn to, no matter what.
4. My grandchildren, now this is pure, complete JOY! My heart leaps with JOY just thinking of my grandchildren.
5. My friends, what can I say. They are there through thick and thin, no matter what, warts and all. My partners, my buds, my always got your back pals, even when I'm not lovable, they love ME. Life wouldn't be any kind of life without my friends.
6. My church, I love my church family, I love being part of, and I am . I know I am loved.
7. My country, WOW! I live in a country that I have the freedom to be me, and you have the freedom to be you.
8. My home, I love having a place to call home. It is ours. A place to lay my head at night, to cook our meals, to wash clothes, to read, to craft, to watch TV, play on the computer. We can do what we want here, it's home.
9. My new car, how blessed am I with a new car.
10. Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of THANKSGIVING. (NLT)

BUSY, BUSY, BUSYNESS

9:30 a.m. Well it started out busy I went to WW and lost enough weight to hit exactly 12 lbs. following the weight watchers plan, and not to closely at times. My BAD! I am happy with the results. That put me at about 25 lbs in 22 months.
10:30a.m. After WW, I went to pick up a lab slip for my MIL and ask if my doctor had a cancellation for today and VIOLA!
12:45 p.m. At the doctors office, with an antibiotic and something is for this dang cough.
1:30 p.m. I feel really crummy, the good news about this bug is I do have moments (maybe hours) that I feel good then I fade. (bad news)
3:30 p.m. JB takes his mom for the blood work and physical therapy (4p.m.) and to pick up my meds. Me I lay around on the sofa
4:45 p.m. I start dinner, the rest of my family comes home at
5:30 p.m. Dinner, and it was delish! Chicken, mashed garlic potatoes, and green beens
6:30 p.m. Out the door to Sams warehouse, pick up the final things for T-Giving dinner (PIE)
and odds and ends.
7:30 p.m. I need to try the cinnamon-apple pie from Sams with CoolWhip free.
8:00 p.m. NCIS
9:00p.m. The Mentalist....My New Favorite Show
10:00 p.m. Computer time

Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. 1THESSALONIANS 5: 16-18

Blessings

Right Around the Corner

Three days until Thanksgiving, then Christmas. WOW! Then 2009! I can hardly believe how fast this year has gone by. I will have to reflect on this past year, and think of what I have accomplished. Not tonight. I have got the crazy bug that seems to be going around. Yuck! and now....... JB has it.
I did get out of the house today and bought our Thanksgiving turkey and the fixins' for dinner, so I am glad about that, I need to pick up a pie or two from Sams, and JB wants eggnog.
Speaking of eggnog...that's a segway, I will be at Weight Watchers tomorrow, I need to get back on track. I have lost about 17 lbs in a little over a year, 12 of it on WW, I have 9 or 10 more to go.
This has been a journey, kind of like driving cross country, without a map.
I just have to remember:
You made my whole being; you formed me in my mothers body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What YOU have done is wonderful. PSALM 139: 13-14
Hope everyone has a blessed tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JB

Today is JB's birthday! The years have flown by! Yesterday was Haleys birthday! Again time has flown by.
Not much going on in my world today, dinner at Panera....Yummy, I need soup. I've been watching the snow flurries out my living room window. I love seeing snow, of course I am warm and cozy in my house.
My thought for today, think before you speak.

The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. Proverbs 25:11

I just read this my daily planner and thought it was worth sharing. Speaking of daily planner, I am working towards the goal of being more organized in 2009. It is a process. They (whoever they are) say it takes 21 days to develop a habit, well I have about 40 days left in this year so hopefully I will get there. Life is a journey and this is just one that I am on.
Be Blessed

ONE CAN

Here we go again! Waited waaaayyyy to long to post.

JB and I have taken on a mission to help out out local food bank. They totally ran out of food two weeks ago, and have gotten some donations. My heart was really touched when I learned there was no food, complete with pictures of the empty bins, and shelves.
I feel like the Lord really touched my heart and with it gave me a real visual of kids collecting one can for the hungry. So, we named our mission/campaign (this is the first time I have called it a mission) anyway it is called One Can---Feed the Hungry. If I can post the flyer we composed, I will. We have had great response in our neighborhood just by going door-to-door!
My thoughts and request is check out you own neighborhood, there may be a need that you can help fill. This winter will be very cold, there are homeless who need coats, socks, blankets, maybe you can collect gently used items and donate them. There are families who will not have Christmas, maybe you and a group of friends can adopt this family. There are so many needs to be met, and what a gift to yourself to make a difference in someones life.
Blessings to All


. .O
CAN
. .E


Feed the Hungry

We are doing a food collection for our local Frederick, Maryland Food Bank. The shelves and baskets at the bank are empty. This food collection will continue until the shelves are overflowing. The theme of our food collection is ONE CAN, Feed the hungry. Our belief is if we can only collect one non-perishable food item from each of our friends and neighbors we can make a difference in the lives of others. If you would like to contribute one or more items to the ONE CAN campaign, please drop them off at:

SHARING

I painted this of flowers, I am not crazy about it, but my mother loved it so it is hanging in her house in Florida.

This is a painting tha JB did of me and Emmi, he had painted one of me with 4 of the 6 grands, so he has two more to go.

ELECTION DAY

What can I say? Voting today was a very emotional experience for me. It was an odd reaction (I mean for crying out loud, it was a vote)but for me, an emotional one. It would serve no purpose to say who I voted for, but to experience such a historical voting day is beyond any words I could write. I was moved to pray over the whole process, and cast my ballot. Viola, it was done.
I went to the poll(s) at about 9:30ish (am), and it was a breeze, no line, then JB went around 1:00ish (pm) and the same no line, no wait, no problem.
I then went to McD's and told the manager I was having a celebratory cup of coffee ( I thought I was funny), went to Sams to pick up a couple of things, then to Michaels, to check out whats new in crafting, and finally the highlight of my day, I went to lunch with my friend, Midge.
So, I was gone for about 5 hours, just killing time.
Tomorrow I have a Dr.s appt. He is supposed to do a nerve conduction test on my leg. I am a wee bit nervous about this, we shall see.
Thats about it for me for today.
One more thing, today is my dads birthday! Happy Birthday, on this historical voting day.
Blessings,
Words to aspire to:
Galatians 5: 22-23

Unbelievable!

Tomorrow is November 1st. Where in the world has this year gone? Let's see today was/is Halloween, and a disappointing one at that. We bought at least 8-10 lbs of candy, and I am not kidding. Can't resist warehouse pricing, and warehouse sizing.....plus JB buys the candy he likes and then we buy the candy we give out first, before his stash. So all this candy and and very few kids. I like candy somewhat, JB likes it a lot, so I guess we will have to find places to get rid of it, maybe he can take it to work.
Haley and Logan looked so cute. I'll post pictures later.
Also, I am going to scrap lift a project that I saw on another website. It is so cute. It's a handmade box with a lid. When you remove the lid the box falls open with pictures on the inside.
So that would be 1 picture for the four sides and 1 on the bottom, and then 1 on the inside of the lid. Of course you use PP to cover the box, and ribbon and embellishments, whatever you want to express your creativity.
That's about it for today, I hope everyone has had a Blessed Day.
Here's a scripture that some of you may find interesting.
Psalm 34:4

WOW!

My life has changed a lot since my last blog. To many to even talk about.
I am on a new adventure in my life. I am following in Sarahs in my daughters footsteps and have become a Close To My Heart (CTMH) Independent Consultant. Sarah became a consultant, and is very good at it. This is a really big deal for me.
I have always been outgoing, but sitting in a group and talking and standing in front of them and talking, well lets just say it has never been my thing. Can you say nervous, sweating, dizzy?
I really feel God has been preparing me for something, as far as speaking in front of people is concerned. Is it CTMH? That's a good question. I am not sure if that is it, but I am sure it is a beginning. It started first with the Small Group we began in our home. JB always appears to be confident at speaking in front of people, but he has turned some of the speaking in front of me.
We have had the group for well over a year and I have begun to feel capable of speaking with confidence in front of them. I will say our group when we first came together were strangers, basically and now they are family, and I LOVE EACH OF THEM, so that makes it easy.
Secondly, I have been attending Weight Watchers, and over the 9 months I have been going I have begun to open up to women I don't know, and I am comfortable speaking in front of them.
So, here I am on this journey, all of which I think God is leading me through. Do I know what the purpose is, not yet, but I know I will enjoy the scenery on the road to my future.
Blessings to All!
BTW if you get the opportunity read our small group mission statement (it's really the name of our group) it tells our story.
Romans 8:37

Boy I have been MIA

I was doing so well in blogging and then BOOM, I really just didn't. So here I am back again. Maybe I will do a little better. That is one of my goals.
I think I will make this about New Year. My number one well I have two number one goals, one is like my friend Heather from Croppers Cottage, I would love to read my Bible through this year. Secondly, I have 15 lbs - 20 lbs to lose. My goal is to lose the first 5 lbs. I know me if I look at the big picture I feel overwhelmed and say FORGET it. So I am taking the first 5 and will go from there. I was diagnosed with diabetes last year, and losing this weight is important for my health not for vanity. My blood sugar is doing very well and this is a learning process. One thing is whats good for me to eat may not be good for the next person.
Anyway 2007 wasn't a bad year I am looking forward to 2008. I want to be the best person I can be in all the areas of my life. I am thankful that I live in a country that I can be free to worship, I am thankful for my husband whom I love with and indescribable love, and my children, and grandchildren. I love them unconditionally. My friends are a very important part of my life and I love the dearly.
I hope everyone has the best year of their life ahead of them Hugs and Blessing to all.
Another thing our small group starts back up on the 11th of January, we have decided to drop the book we are doing for now and do a Bible study, we will be starting with Galatians. This should be fun and I hope to learn alot.