God tells us to watch for warning signs in our spiritual lives...
When we start to see the evidences of "adultery, fornication, 
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, 
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, heresies, envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like" 


                                                            (Galatians 5:19b-21a),

we are headed down the dangerous road of living life in the flesh. 
Before you are pulled over by the Holy Spirit, 
take the next exit and pray.
Turn your heart back to the Lord, and heed His warnings
to keep your life headed in the right direction.

Lord, 
help me to recognize the danger signs of evil in my life
and turn back to You.Teach me to stay close to You
and to Your Word, 
so I stay on the path that leads to righteousness. 
In Jesus' name, 
Amen.

Newness

Today is a new day.  December 3, 2009. The only one there will ever be.
Almost a new year.  2009 is a year that won't be forgotten, 
 but where did it go so quickly?
I have a new job, that is utterly amazing.  
Nothing will ever top being a wife to 
my husband fire fighter with integrity, 
and Mom to my two up and coming christian leader teenagers,
but by golly, this working Momma couldn't be happier... 
    working at a fabric store!!!!!
I have a new heart for Jesus.  
I pray that will change, and grow stronger the closer I get to Him.
Every day should be a new day to read the Word, 
converse with the Saviour,
and see the blessings that are everywhere.
ok, be inspired, 
and do something new. 

Date Day

  Today is date day for our family.  Corban, Uncle Jason and Paps are going to the Monster Truck Rally at Conseco Fieldhouse, Haley, Grandma H, Aunt Alma and Cousin Kasey are doing the shopping and Starbucks thing and Dan and I are going to eat Barlo'sPizza and maybe a movie.
  We don't do this much, trying to live like no one else, so later on, we can live like no one else. (Dave Ramsey...) So, we are definitely doing better than we deserve here in the midwest! 
 The sun is shining, and it's so quiet here in the house. That doesn't happen much either. I kinda like it. 
 I'm sure Haley will have pictures to update with, and I will try to get a good one of Dan and I too.  So, Pizza, here we come! MMMMMmmmmmm!!!!

Gingerbread House

TaDa!!!!
This house was so much fun to embroider!
I still have a few minor touches to add,
but isn't it so cute!
Dan is making a platform for it that has
trees, a cobblestone walkway, Narnia lights
and even a pond! The Trains are even going
to be going!  I can't wait to set it up at our
Stewardship Celebration and Ladies Tea
this!
Enjoy....

I can't wait to share what I have been doing...

oh, just regular stuff;

and some really cool embroidery stuff too!

'Tis the season....

~\o/~

Praise the LORD!

Field Trips

What a fun field trip we had this week... Firefighters were training at a house by the airport, and we got to watch. Igniting while three firefighters were still in the building, waiting for safety exits, and watch the flames and faces in the fire! WoW!!!

I love my Firefighter

Hauger Home Vacation Day 2

Indianapolis Museum of Art was the trip of the day... This is, by far, my favorite piece of artwork! Such a feeling of Patriotism in this work! Thank God for artful talents!

Katya

Well, Katya, our new friend from Ukraine...she loves Mushrooms home cooked meals and now she has experienced...Starbucks! Vanila Latte YUMM!!! Up up and away in the Aerial71 Ladder.!! How exciting!

Isaiah 45:15a,18

Truly, God, " You created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. You made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos." Yet, it seems so many days are filled with chaos. So many THINGS are filled with the chaos of being here.

Jesus has overcome!!!

Kingdom Minded

I often hear the saying, "Put first things first". Did I place a higher emphasis on teaching my children multiplication facts over training a rebellious heart? Or did I work more on shaping my childrens hearts towards Christ rather than writing? Perhaps both. But realistically, I know in my heart that I placed a heavier emphasis on one over the other. I know that when my priorities change, I find myself rushing through devotions and Bible reading so I can get to the so-called "more important" subjects. Although that is not my heart, it is how I have been conditioned by the world. Yes, I want my children equipped so they can build the kingdom of God and I want them to thrive in life, but there is always a cost to consider."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way . . ." (Isaiah 53:6) It is a constant battle of my mind to continue to pursue Christ and His ways before all other things. I need to always remember what the Bible says: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) In this verse,"all these things" refers to our basic necessities of life--food and clothing. Earlier in this passage Jesus said,"For after all these things do the Gentiles seek" (vs. 32) and he rebukes his disciples as he tells them that "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." (vs. 32) Will this passage still apply to my children when they are grown? Of course it will! However, it is very easy today in this society to get caught up in the ways of the Gentiles, but that is not how I should think or even speak to others as I purpose to educate my children. In my mind I am educating them so they can further the kingdom of God and also so they can provide for their families. My intentions are good and honorable, but God does not require my children to have minds filled with a bunch of knowledge; He is seeking men and women who have a heart after Him, like David. ". . . I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." (Acts 13:22) The Bible does not state that David was an educated man like Paul, so it is safe to assume that he was not. What the Bible does say about David is that he was a shepherd who tended and protected his flock of sheep from lions and bears; he had boldness as he approached the king, along with courage and faith as a young boy when he fought the giant, Goliath; and he was a servant as he played his harp to king Saul. This was David's resume before he became the king of Israel! When I read Paul's resume, most assuredly according to the world's standards I would be impressed by it. Paul himself said in Philippians 3:4 that he was a man who had confidence in his flesh. He goes on to say,"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." (Philippians 3:7) When I get to the end of Paul's list of achievements, this is what he had to say about it, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8) Paul knew what mattered most in his life. He spoke with authority about worthless pursuits. I won't lose heart or become discouraged. I will keep in mind the race that I am running. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)As hard as this journey may be at times, I am encouraged to know that I am running to obtain an imperishable crown--one with an eternal purpose. My children will reflect the things that I put into them, so I'll make sure that the things we pursue will last forever. God does not require my children to have a college degree in order to use them, but what He does require is their hearts!

She came to the house of God with her heart smashed into bits. Her dreams had been crushed. Words of bitter cruelty had been hurled at her. And in those deep crevices of one's heart, where no human understanding penetrates, the pain finally rolled out. At the throne of God, with tears pouring down her cheeks, Hannah, we are told: "spoke from her heart." While Hannah had tried to share her hidden secrets, as author Mary Dixon Thayer so correctly notes, "Always there remain portions of our heart into which no one is able to enter, invite them as we may." Hannah had tried to explain how she felt. She tried to tell her husband who rebuffed her with, "What's the matter with me? Am I not good enough for you?" She even tried, on an annual basis, to express the loneliness and the sorrow that scraped the tender lining of her heart before her God at the sacred setting of Shiloh - but to no avail. Accused as a drunk she found herself in the uncomfortable place of defending herself from false accusations. So I ask you, had you been Hannah, what would you do? With the shreds of a broken heart in your hands, it might have been the easiest thing to recoil from anything and everyone who had the slightest potential for further damaging what was so wounded. Many times, in all our lives, there are people, who through the cruelty of their actions and words so deeply wound our sensibilities, we no longer have the strength or the will to plod ahead. The author, Henry David Thoreau said that most of us live lives of "quiet desperation." And it is in this quietness where many choose to reside, never speaking, never sharing, and never living. For Hannah, life within the walls of a broken heart wasn't any life at all and so, in spite of the hurt and pain, she went to her Father, again and again. And the Bible says she, "spoke from her heart." How I love those words. Hannah didn't pull out some book of transcribed prayers or prepared text, instead she went into those gashed chasms where no one dared enter and she laid open every pain, no matter how desperate it was or apparently inconsequential it might seem to another human being. And she asked for help from the "One" she knew she could count on. Like Hannah, the Psalmist David spoke from his own shattered heart when he cried out, "O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You. My inner self thirsts for You...so I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and glory." (Psalm 63: 1, 2). Just as Hannah came to Shiloh, so David came to his Father's dwelling place hunting and longing for that "Balm in Gilead." As he spoke from his heart to his loving Father, he was given a glimpse of the glory and power that as he so eloquently penned, "Satisfies us with marrow and fatness" (Psalm 63: 5). I do not know what pain is wrecking havoc in your world today. I have no idea what sorrow is tearing your heart apart. However, I do know that when we speak from our heart to our Father, we will find healing for our hurting and hope in place of all our dashed dreams. In the comforting words of the prophet Isaiah, "He has sent Me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61: 1). "The poor broken-hearted, going into (her) bedroom, bends (her) knee, but can only utter (her) mournful cry in the language of sighs and tears. Look! That groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God, and put into a vase made especially for tears, to be perpetually preserved." C. H. Spurgeon "Thou tellest my wanderings; put Thou my tears into Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?" Psalm 56: 8 King James Version

Training your children for their lives here and for heaven hereafter is the most important task you will ever take on, other than preserving your own soul before God. How you handle this task will affect your children for the rest of their lives, long after you are gone. What is more, you have one chance to do this job well. You can't reset the video to start over when you are older and wiser.

You are surrounded by skeptics and critics who are ready to ask questions and to pounce upon every perceived weakness of the homeschooling approach. Some of these skeptics are in your family; some are in your church. The failures of public schools somehow get a pass from the public--unless they generate a plea for increased funding. But let a homeschooling family miss a state requirement or do something bizarre, and the editorial writers, pundits, and politicians wag their heads and talk about the need for greater oversight of homeschooling.

You lie awake at night asking yourself questions such as, "What will people think?" "What if my child has special needs?" "Can I cover everything?" "Which approach should I take?" "Will my children be ready for college?" "Do I know what I am doing?" and the grand prize winner, "AM I GOING TO RUIN MY CHILDREN?"

God has always been, and always will be the same.  God is One and yet Three Persons, existing in the divine mystery called the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit.

God spoke creation into existence by his Word, and has chosen to reveal himself through Scripture -- the written Word -- and Jesus -- the Word-made-flesh.  The Scriptures that tell us about God are fully inspired, authoritative and reliable.

God gave humanity the gift of his image.  This gives us great dignity.  It also reminds us that we are dependent on him for all things.  God's gracious gift of his image was marred by our first parents.  The first sin and our continuing sin separated them and us from the full experience of God's presence, brought death into the world, and affects every aspect of humanity.

God is infinitely loving and has worked ever since the Fall to restore us to his relational presence.  Just as Adam brought sin and death into the world, God sent his Son into the world to bring righteousness and life.  Jesus was fully human, born of the virgin Mary, and yet fully divine, without sin.

Jesus taught of God's kingdom -- heaven coming to earth even now as God brings all things under his authority -- and demonstrated God's power in his earthly ministry. Because he was without sin, Jesus could and did offer himself as a perfect sacrifice on behalf of humanity's sins.  Jesus bore all the sins of history on the Cross, covering all people's transgressions with his blood.  God's forgiveness is now available to anyone who will turn from their own way and cling to the good way of Jesus.

Jesus died on the Cross and was physically raised again on the third day.  After appearing to his followers, Jesus was taken back into the presence of the Father, where he sits and mediates for us until he returns.

Jesus did not leave his followers alone.  The Holy Spirit was sent to empower all those who follow after Jesus and give God control of their lives.  God's Spirit empowers us as our advocate, helper, and counselor.  The Spirit binds us to each other, making us into the embodiment of Christ on earth.  The Spirit makes followers of Jesus increasingly holy as he lives in us, though we will never attain perfect holiness in this lifetime.

God carries the message of his salvation to the world through the Church.  The Church is to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of Jesus and God's kingdom.  The Spirit gathers the Church together from every tribe, tongue and nation.  God is glorified by the Church as we love him, each other, and those who are far from him....

I Believe

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born. A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived! I Believe... That just because two people argue, that doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, that doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is,

they're going to hurt you every once in a while

and you must forgive them for that. I Believe..... That true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe.... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe..... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done,

when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe.... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That my best friend and I can do anything,

or nothing, and have the best time. I Believe.... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken

the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I Believe..... The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything. Thank you God for the journey of life!

Father's Day 2009

we took Dan to see Chicago/EarthWind&Fire

in Indy for Father's Day this year. It was amazing,

and God was proclaimed as the giver of blessngs

in the 40 years that these groups have been

together...performing, original members still strong.

Like a marriage that puts Him first, 40 years is

full of times of trouble, sadness and shakey ground,

but the lowest valleys WITH Jesus are higher than

the highest mountains witout Him!

God is good!

God is good...

to make the decision to have a cheerful heart!
I don't always choose it, and my strength is ALWAYS. Sapped!

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

I am so thankful to God for the opportunity every day

Being confident of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

HIM

If everything comes down to love  Then just what am I afraid of  When I call out Your name  Something inside awakes in my soul  How quickly I forget I'm Yours   I'm not my own  I've been carried by You  All my life  Everything rides on hope now  Everything rides faith somehow  When the world has broken me down  Your love sets me free  When my life is like a storm  Rising waters all I want is the shore  You say I'll be ok and  Make it through the rain  You are my shelter from the storm   I'm not my own  I've been carried by You  All my life   Everything rides on hope now  Everything rides faith somehow  When the world has broken me down  Your love sets me free  You've become my hearts desire  I will sing Your praises higher  Cause Your love sets me free  Your love sets me free  Your love sets me free

Addison Road

Open up your eyesAwake, ariseLove like a hand reaches downAnd pulls us up from the dirty groundNow is the timeTo step from the dark into the lightCause you can’t change what you’ve doneBut you can choose who you’ll become(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over againIf you feel ashamedOf the choices that you’ve madeYou can be whole againAnd return to your innocence(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over againYesterday is goneToday is all you’ve gotYou don’t have to be who you’ve beenYou can change withinIt’s never too lateTo start over again(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over again

Matthew 4:23-24

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every 

disease and sickness among the people.

News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought

to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering

severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and

the paralyzed, and He healed them.

Dear Jesus,

I want to live a passionate life.

A life of loving people,

just like You did.

Providing what they need;

a shoulder to cry on,

a ride to work,

a word of encouragement.

I want to be an instrument

of Your healing in this world.

Amen.

~\0/~

What kind of peace is this? Ohhhh its called CONTENTMENT! Wow never felt it until this very second. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

• I love homeschooling because fixed hours aren't required to learn
• a subject. When I discovered God had given me a night owl who 
• loved to sleep in, I simply adjusted and made a schedule that worked 
• best for our family.

• I love homeschooling because there are so many fun things to learn.
• Not only are there great curriculums for covering the main subject 
• areas, but there are also countless extracurricular topics and activities 
• to explore. 

• I love homeschooling because I have the flexibility to adjust our day depending on what God brings. If my child is grasping concepts quickly
• and wants to know more in language arts, great; I'll keep going and forget about doing history that day. 
• I love homeschooling because it gives me an opportunity to really know  my children. As teacher and parent, I see both their heart and mind and 

• have the blessed privilege to develop both in the Lord.

• I love homeschooling because I don't have to wait until school's out at 
• 3:30 p.m. to receive a hug and a kiss. I have the joy of loving and being
• loved by my children throughout the entire day.

Romans 8:6b. ....the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

God You Reign!

In Christ alone will I glory

It a so exciting to be in God's work for the kingdom. I just can't explain!

It a so exciting to be in God's work for the kingdom. I just can't explain!

the Dash

I had nothing to do with the date of my birth, and I will have nothing to do

 with the day the LORD takes me home, but I have everything to do with 

the dash in between!  What will I do with my life for Christ? 

"Sheryl Hauger, servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ." James 1:1

Lovliness

"A true woman would hardly care to exchange her delicate

instinct, her versatile mind~which enables her to do the many 

little and great things in her everyday home-life equally well~

her quick perception, her motherly all-aroundness, her sweet 

womanly loveliness, for any other marketable thing, or any 

other characteristic or capability attained by culture or 

training. A true woman is a woman, and she does not desire

to be anything else, unless she can add it to her womanliness."

    ~Emma Drake in 'What a Young Wife Ought to Know" 1908

 Woodrow Wilson - "I not only use all the brains that I have, 

but all that I can borrow."

~sacred echoes~

As I’ve been growing in my relationship with God, I’m finding that I’m not listening for the whisper as much as I am the echo. Often when God speaks, He will say the same thing through a sermon, a passage of scripture, a chance conversation, or an unexpected encounter. When we begin looking for these ~sacred echoes~ then we are better able to recognize God’s voice in our life and more confidently walk in the fullness of what God has for us.

Devotion

Making Room For The Savior While other people may struggle with worldly temptations, my struggle has always been in the area of spiritual disciplines. My devotional life has been haphazard at best. Because I hadn't developed the habit of a quiet time as a child, when the busyness of adulthood came, I found it difficult to find time alone with the Lord. Some of you may be aghast at such a thought. Your devotional life runs like clockwork. You find it impossible to make it through the day with out time alone with God. If that is true for you, may I tell you how blessed you are? It has taken me nearly twenty years to come to this discipline, and even then it has been a gift of grace, not an accomplishment of my own making. My spirit began to grow and thrive as the soil of my heart was tilled deep and fed by the Word of God. But then my Martha-like perfectionist tendencies kicked in, causing me to approach my devotional time as another duty to perform. I loved the feeling I got as I checked of chapters in my Bible reading and conquered another memory verse. Robert Boyd Munger's article "My Heart Christ's Home" changed all that. Through the simple analogy he suggested, I discovered what it meant to have a Mary heart toward God. Suddenly my eyes were open to what true devotion is. It is not a duty. It is a delight. It is not an exercise in piety. It is a privilege. And it is not so much a visit as it is a homecoming. "Without question one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ Himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there," Munger says. "[Jesus] came into the darkness of my heart and turned on a light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship." Munger goes on to tell how he showed Christ around the house of his heart, inviting him to "settle down here and be perfectly at home," welcoming him room by room. Together they visited the library of his mind - "a very small room with very thick walls." They peered into the dining room of his appetites and desires. They spent a little time in the workshop where his talents and skills were kept, and the rumpus room of "certain associations and friendships, activities and amusements." They even poked their heads into the hall closet filled with dead, rotting things he had managed to hoard. As Munger described each room, they reflected my heart as well. But it was his depiction of the drawing room that would forever change the way I viewed my time with the Lord. "We walked next into the drawing room. This room was rather intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a bookcase, sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He also seemed pleased with it. He said, 'this is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet and we can have fellowship together.' Well, naturally, I was thrilled. I could not think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes apart with Christ in the intimate comradeship. He promised, "I will be here every morning early. Meet with Me here and we will start the day together." So, morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and He would take a book of the Bible... open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truths.... They were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the drawing room the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time together. Little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened... I began to miss a day now and then.... I would miss it two days in a row and often more. I remember one morning when I was in a hurry... As I passed the drawing room, the door was ajar. Looking in I saw a fire in the fireplace and the Lord sitting there... "Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?" "Yes," He said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me...He said "the trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to Me also." What an amazing thought - that Christ wants to spend quality time with me. That he looks forward to our time together and misses me when I don't show up. Once that message started sinking into my heart, I started looking at my devotional time in a whole new way - not as a ritual, but as a relationship. And a relationship doesn't just happen. It has to be nurtured, protected, and loved.

RESURRECTION DAY

Jesus is Alive!!!!

Quotable

Think not that faith by which the just shall live

Is a dead creed, a map correct of heaven,

Far less a feeling fond and fugitive,

A thoughtless gift withdrawn as soon as given:

It is an affirmation and an act

That bids eternal truth be present fact.

-Hartley Coleridge

Despereaux Tilling

By far the most honorable meecy I know!

Pondering the Past

THE TRACK

 My morning walk awhile back was a bit more challenging than usual. Snow covered the paved track at the local high school where I like to walk, making it impossible to tell where it was. As I stood staring at the whiteness, I realized I had a number of choices: I could choose to make my own path, I could choose to follow the tracks of others or of the snow mobile that had gone through, or I could search for the real path. The path of the snow mobile seemed the most solid, so I started there. It didn't take me long to realize however, that this path wasn't the right one. Besides going through the deepest snow, it led towards the middle of the open track area, in front of the baseball diamond, nowhere near the paved path. I then decided to follow in the tracks of others, but again, I quickly realized that they hadn't necessarily followed the path, either. Instead of going around the field, their tracks led off towards the high school campus. Making my own path was also not a good option. My tendency was to take short cuts, and where the ground underneath was a bit lower, I sank into knee-deep snow. Finally I decided to search for the true path. I knew that the track ran just to the outside of the 5-6 lights around the course. This was a good place to start! Next I watched for patches of pavement where the snow had melted, and I soon discovered that there were actually quite a few of these. Finally, I watched for signs of grass coming up through the snow, and if I could identify this on both sides but not under my feet, I had a pretty good idea I was on the track, even when there was snow. I soon found that parts of the track were easier to identify than others. The backside, for example, was easy. It was nearly bare. The front, on the other hand, was covered in about six inches of snow. I definitely had to pay more attention there.

 This reminds me of the Christian's walk through the world. We are told to stay on the path: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NIV). 

This could mean lots of things, but one of the very important applications is to have good, God-given convictions, and to stick to them. But often the path is hard to find because there is too much "snow"-our own desire-covering it. We want to "fit in", to "be like the crowd". We wish for an "easier path", one that runs into fewer conflicts! These desires can completely obscure our way! So what do you do? Just like I had several choices then, we have several choices.

        1. Make your own path-look at what seems logical and socially acceptable to base your convictions upon. This              alleviates the problem of not being like the crowd. But the world's wisest man warns against this:"There is              a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Prov 14:12 NIV) 

2. Follow the crowd. If everyone else is doing it, it can't be that bad! But what happens if the crowd's way isn't             Jesus' way? If you aren't careful you will soon find yourself on the wrong way! Jesus warns against this                     option: "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through                       it."(Matt. 7:13) 

3. Take the "path of the snow mobile"-the "easy road"-the path of least resistance. Paul warns adamantly                     against this: "… All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end                           street." (Phil 3:18-19 The Message) 

And none of these options worked for me that morning. There is one other choice, the one that worked for me: Search for the true Path, the "small and narrow road" that leads to life: "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt 7:14 NIV).

  So how do you find this "small and narrow road"? The same way I found the track this morning: 

1. Watch for the lights: Just as my track had a few lights around it, we have been given a light, God's Word. The Bible gives you all the guidance you need, and God's Spirit helps you apply the principles of His Word to your individual situations. 

2. Clear away the snow: Allow Jesus to work in your heart to change your desires into Godly ones, to learn to hate the things of the world. 

3. Watch for the grass: Ask God to show you what compromise looks like and watch for it. Ask Him to show you the moment you step off the path! Naturally, this is easier to do sometimes than others. But in all times, we can ask God to help us, for "I can do all things in him that strengthens me" (Phil 4:13 NKJV) 

Lord, help us to not see the world in shades of gray, but in black and white! Help us to hate even the tiniest tinge of compromise so that like David, we will to be able to say: "I try to walk a straight and narrow path of doing what is right …" (Ps 26:11 TLB)

SPRING

Spring has finally peeked it's head out of my front border in the form of Daff~o~down~ dillies.hosta buds and tulip leaves! Yippee! Thank you God for the miracles You give us in the morning, and everyday!

Following

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Psalm 143 A psalm of David Ps 143:1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. Clearly, the psalmist, David, wrote these words amidst circumstances of deep trouble and turmoil. In situations of suffering, we all know how appealing it is to wallow in the mire or self-pity and to think dark, vindictive thoughts against our 'enemies'. The Psalms are very candid in expressing grief and anger; and they give us the language for our own prayers when our own language fails us. God seems to be saying, through the Psalms, that it is all right to recognize and express these deep emotions to Him! After all, he knows that we are feeling them better than we know it ourselves! There is more to this poem than complaint, "I hide myself in You!" writes David. The place to flee in the midst of our struggles is to God, the only secure place of refuge. God is the only place of hope and comfort and safety. God is also the place to learn. "Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." To remain in the place of refuge, and to know the peace we all long to have in our hearts, we must seek to know and do the will of God. Isaiah 55:8 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD." Because this is true, we need to be taught His ways and His will. He teaches us His will in many ways, and even though we may not find the discipline easy, there is tremendous fulfillment in following them. We are learning as we follow. Our prayers are being answered even as we pray.

"While we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem-cell research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means."

— President George W. Bush, Aug. 9, 2001

Tuesday Dinner...

Dishwasher Salmon with Carrot Soup!

For years I have tried to remember where I saw that Salmon could be cooked in the dishwasher.  I think it was the Galloping Gourmet when I was little...

Anyway, no one has heard of it, and I thought I was crazy...but guess what we are having for dinner?!?!?!?!?!  

Picture...

I really like this picture. It's so cool. It's how I feel sometimes. Jesus just holding me. Cool.

Disney World and Downtown Disney were so much fun! Bundled up in three sweatshirts and hats...we were cozy...

WinterHaven, FL and Clearwater, FL vacation

...once we got there...

what a wonderful, and totally stress free vacation we had.  Aunt Donna and Uncle Jim are the most wonderful hosts we have ever encountered!  "Thank you, thank you and thank you, again!!!!! We love you and your home!  An inspiration for Dan and I to work as hard as we can so someday we will be able to move in next door!!!!!!!"

  Even though the cold blasted in, 50' during the day and 20's at least 2 nights, and stayed, as we did, we couldn't have asked for a better vacation with our family of 4, and now an added two with tons of memories!!  Pineapple growers unite!!!!

 Tampa PowerWorks with the Manatee observation deck and education building is a must for any Manatee lover!  The synchronization of their breathing was amazing!  Are Manatee and a Dugong the same thing?  

Later, with the rest of the story...

"Children, yours and mine, are the true wealth of any nation, and in them lies the hope of the future. A society that is too busy or too preoccupied for its children is just a nation of aging, dying people who feed on their own selfish interests."

Tribute to Mammy Hamster

Mammy.

She was by far the most endearing hamster EVER!

She never bit anyone in her 2 1/2 year life.

She loved carrots and cabbage.

When we first got her from our friend Drifter,

she was so small.  Tiny, in fact.

She would get food in her little pouches,

the run to her wheel and RUUUUUUUN!

{We always said she was running to South Dakota}

She'd drop her food in the wheel, and go get more.  

She was so silly!

When we had her wire cage, she would climb,

 up and down, up and around, and then JUMP off of her 

red platform.

She sure had night~time energy.

For someone nocturnal.

She escaped one time, and our Border Collie found her.

Sitting behind the washing machine.

Daddy got her and took the tiny little feet in his big hands,

checking for boo-boos.

She did hurt her back left paw, but she healed up fine.

The last time she escaped her cage, we looked fervently.

We tore the house apart.

We couldn't get the Border Collie to do her job again.

I was a mess.

Every song reminded me of her.

We called the radio station to ask for prayer.

We checked under the dresser as a last thought...

She was sleeping , under the dresser, where she was...

probably all day.

I was not a mess any longer.

I just wanted to hold her.

Recently, she had been gaining weight.

She was fat.

She was LARGE...

ok, she was OBESE.

Last night we played with her and loved her,

and cleaned her cage.

We heard her on her wheel ,

cause it was really squeeky,

cause Ma'am was FAT!

Then this morning when I said good morning,

She didn't lift her little head

squint her little eyes and 

rub her tiny face

to say good morning.

That's when I knew.

Mammy died.

I woke Haley, 

we cried together.

Now we have to bury her.

By the Hibiscus in the garden.

She loved flowers.

Or, she would have, 

I'm sure.

I loved Mammy.

Goodbye, dear girl.

~\0/~

Creating a successful Butterfly Garden involves attracting a wide variety of butterflies and encouraging them to return the next season. The best way to do this is to plant both nectar-producing and host plants. The nectar-producing plants need to provide flowers that bloom throughout the season, especially in mid- to late summer when most butterflies are active. These plants should be grown in open, sunny areas, as the adults of many species rarely feed on plants in the shade. The host plants should offer a source of food and shelter for larvae and a place for adults to lay their eggs.

• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Grow a wide range of host plants to provide food during butterflies' larval (caterpillar) stage.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants. Even the use of some organic or biological controls can harm butterfly larvae.
• Provide a shallow source of water (try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl).
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.