Grrr..... I can't believe that I've got ANOTHER cold!!

I'm sitting here with a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. I don't know....maybe it's allergies?? I've been treated before for allergy symptoms and the Clariton that I took at the time sure did the trick! Perhaps I should treat these symptoms as such.

Oh wow....gotta share this with you all! Last night I came home from work....an hour earlier than scheduled since my employer was out of town and 'dad' was in charge of the household. We had everything under control and he sent me home! Yippee! So, I arrived home and decided to color my hair. This time I used a dark brown color and WHAT A MESS I had! I was sure my forehead and ears would be stained blackish purple for weeks! As I was cleaning up all the excess color, including drips on the floor and even the wall, I decided that perhaps I shouldn't keep this color on my hair for the full 25 minutes. After about 15 minutes I hopped in the shower and rinsed my hair and washed. I actually decided NOT to shave my legs since I had just done that a few days ago and, as all you girls will agree....why do it if you don't NEED to!!!

Now, here's the amazing part.....! I got out of the shower, wrapped my hair, dried my body and headed to my bedroom and put on a shirt. I returned to the bathroom and hung up the towel and attempted to wipe off the counters and tidy the area and as I went to turn on the water.....THERE WAS NONE! Neither was there water in my kitchen! WOW....was I happy that I decided to rinse my hair after only 15 minutes, instead of the normal 25 minutes! Can you imagine having dark brown color on your hair and finding out you don't have WATER!!!???

Of course, I DO NOT believe in coincidences.....I fully trust that God orchestrated my getting into the shower to be fully washed and rinsed by the time the water shut off! HE knows all things and my hair coloring experience was not out of His observation and care!! Pretty amazing testimony, huh???

It's now Sunday morning and I'm still without water. I heated some Newman's Own Lemonade and added a tea bag to it in an effort to replicate my ever essential cup of morning tea. Not much luck....for future reference! After calling the water company, I learned that there is, indeed, a water line break just around the corner from my home and they say, "your water should be back on in a few hours". I'm thinking......do I want to go to church and brush my teeth and wash my face in the bathroom there????? It's early...guess I can wait the few hours to make that decision. I sort of wish I had slept late this morning!

Have a wonderful day today!

I don't know....to me some of this agenda seems pretty far from God's agenda:

(taken from "Slice of Laodicea" blog and paraphrased from whitehouse.gov site)

"Within an hour of his swearing-in, the following was posted on the official White House website, as Obama’s immediate “civil rights” goals.


* Protect cross-dressing and transgenderism in workplace (including schools) through federal law: Pass “Employment non-discrimination Act” [EDNA] to prohibit “discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression”.

* Expand hate crime statutes, including the radical “Matthew Shepard Act” which would allow the federal government to prosecute and punish if the crime was perceived to be “motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived . . . gender, sexual orientation, gender identity” of the victim.

* “Reinvigorate” the federal Department of Justice to pursue prosecution current hate crime laws against citizens.

* Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA]

* Push for full civil unions and federal recognition of homosexual couples, with benefits equal to actual marriage. (This appears to be leading up to full federal recognition of same-sex “marriage”.)

* Allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military - repeal “Don’t ask don’t tell.”

* Use the federal government to expand adoptions of children by homosexuals.

* Using the federal government to push for more sex-education and contraception in schools and throughout society (especially in light of the goal to repeal DOMA)."

Hi friends...

I'm blessed to have the day off work today and I just turned the TV on to catch the proceedings in Washington. This is a very influential day in the history of our country. I enjoy all the historical commentary as well as the interesting 'human interest' aspects of the proceedings. The coverage of this inauguration is a great venue for "people watching". I enjoy that too! Wow....it's incredible to see the 'age' that appears on the faces of many of the dignitaries of the past years.

As a Christian, though, it grieves my heart to watch our country head 'downhill'. I am saddened that God has been (is being) taken out of the foundational values and policies of our country. The leadership certainly does not personally acknowledge God nor seems to credit or trust in Him for his own life and salvation nor for the peace and prosperity of our country. Nonetheless, nothing occurs that has not first passed through the hands of our Lord. I continue to pray for our country, for our new leadership and especially for our service men and women who are serving our country.

I'm including a few words that I shared with a friend earlier today in an email. May we all "Seek first the kingdom of God".

“i just turned on the tv and am keeping my eye on the events in washington. incredible...the 'fuss' and hoopla that is occurring for this event. i find it curious that though the power of the Holy Spirit is WAY more than man's efforts could ever be......still man puts forth so much energy for the "things of man". if these same people would be surrendered to our Lord....imagine what the Holy Spirit would do in their lives and for His Kingdom! May God be glorified in our lives......in even the smallest way. THAT power (Holy Spirit power) will bring forth far more 'fruit' than even all this hoopla of today in DC. i just pray i can surrender daily to HIM.

Enjoy this Inauguration Day!

More snow again today!

I wish I had been able to capture today's beautiful snowfall for all to see! The flakes started falling this afternoon. They were HUGE and seemed to fall so slowly...it was just breathtaking!

As I drove home from work later this evening, though the roads were nasty and I was focusing on driving, I was still able to appreciate the beauty of the fresh snow on the trees and bushes that I passed. I noticed one bush that was especially pretty; it was a leafless shrub of twigs and sticks, and it was covered with little white lights remaining from the holiday season. Today, with the new snow on the lights...it looked just lovely! I wished I had been able to stop to snap a photo! I DID scour my favorite photo sites and found this stock photo that seemed to capture some of the serenity and peace that I thought was present in today's snowfall.

Hope each of you are able to appreciate and experience the beauty of God's creation, the peace of His Presence and HOPE that He gives for the future!

Another full day!

My day started when I left home....in a new layer of fresh, light snow...and headed to my church for the weekly worship service. The church I attend dedicated a new part-time Associate Pastor as he began his ministry at our church this week. He's been a youth pastor for the past 21 years and currently directs a regional organization that teaches and trains youth leaders.

For me, it was a real blessing to interact with this Spirit-filled man. This new pastor plays guitar and is a very gifted worship leader, leaning often to a more contemporary worship style. It was sure refreshing to be part of the worship team that is forming in our church. We began with an early rehearsal, where I accompanied a few songs on the piano, then Sunday School and then worship. The morning service was followed by a luncheon and fellowship at the church. This week, once again, I helped a gentleman of the church as I accompanied his trumpet solo with some background music of "Let There Be Peace On Earth". Another rehearsal or two and we will be ready to share the music at worship!

A few of the women of the church and I were having such a stimulating conversation and good fellowship after lunch that we decided to continue the session at the home of one of the women. It was nice to enjoy an extended time of 'girl talk' and Christian fellowship with two sisters in Christ. I decided at 8 pm that it was time to head home!

For the second time today, as I went outside to leave, I was greeted with new falling snow and a vehicle COVERED with white flakes! Fortunately, the snow was light and very easy to clean off my van. The roads were quite nasty, it was dark and I was in a neighborhood that was unfamiliar to me; I was glad that the Lord guided me home safely!

I'm now munching on a few pretzels and mostly 'listening' to a PBS television show about inhabitants of the North and South poles. I'm thrilled that I don't have to work tomorrow until 1 pm! I LOVE having my morning free...I normally spend extended time in devotions; prayer, Bible study and reading.

I hope everyone had a great Sunday! Stay warm....where ever you may be! And for those who are fortunate to have Martin Luther King day OFF WORK....enjoy the day!