Looking Back-God Will Take Care Of Us

This morning I was sitting in our sun room,watching the birds so eagerly eating food at the feeder.  Seems like there are so many lessons to be learned from birds.  There is a pecking order for sure.  A oriole was being pushed back out of the way by a tiny  little sparrow.  I thought it was kind of funny considering oh big the oriole is.  But than I thought of David and the giant.  The giant laughed when he saw David come out to do battle.

As I sat there for my morning devotions, I considered some of the needs that I and others have.  Those birds come flocking to the feeder because they expect food to be there.  If the food is not there, God has still provided for them. There is seed in the grass and surrounding flowers.






Mat 6:26

Do we come to God expecting? Our heavenly Father tells us we are so much better than the birds.  I am reminded of a time in our marriage when  John had lost his job and we had no money, for housing or food or gas.  We saw God provide for us in ways we didn't think possible.  From unheard of directions.  Nevertheless God provided for us.    Because of proving God a match for the difficult times, I know nothing is too hard for my God.

The secret?  Put God first. We paid our tithes first.  We trusted God even when we didn't understand. Jumped up with our testimony of how good it was to serve God.

Lessons we learned? God became our Redeemer, our Father, friend, healer and provider.  We learned that if God did it for us that time , He would do it again.  We learned it was not important for us to have the answers.  But we learned that God already had the answers.


Going thru difficult times is not fun or easy but it enables you to become a victorious christian.

Musical Monday

Days of Elijah

Maine Coone Cat

I love my cat!  Joy has quite a bit of Maine Coone in her genes.  We love her. I grew up with cats.  I have had many cats, Joy is my favorite pet. she has wormed her way into our hearts.  Her is a video  of another Maine Coon.

My Princess Hairball Otherwise Known As Joy

10 Fascinating Facts About Cats

Learn More About Your Cat.

1. In terms of development, the first year of a cat’s life is equal to the first 15 years of a human life. After its second year, a cat is 25 in human years. And after that, each year of a cat’s life is equal to about 7 human years.

2. Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees.

3. The hearing of the average cat is at least five times keener than that of a human adult.

4. In the largest cat breed, the average male weighs approximately 20 pounds.

5. Domestic cats spend about 70 percent of the day sleeping. And 15 percent of the day grooming.

6. A cat cannot see directly under its nose.

7. Most cats have no eyelashes.

8. Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four on the back ones. It’s not uncommon, though, for cats to have extra toes. The cat with the most toes known had 32—eight on each paw!

9. Some believe that if you dream about a white cat, good luck will follow.

10. Meows are not innate cat language—they developed them to communicate with humans!

Did You Know

National Tortilla Chip Day

Date When Celebrated : Always February 24

Today is a holiday with a crunch. One might even suggest that it is a corny holiday. Well, that's okay because today is National Tortilla Chip Day. Just a few decades ago, Americans seldom ate Corn Chips and Salsa. It's popularity has grown immensely. Today is a tribute to that rising popularity of one of America's favorite munchies.

Did you know? The corn chip recipe was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by texas businessman Elmer Doolin. 

Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day with a handful of crunchy, tasty corn chips and your favorite salsa or dip.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful today...

Looking Back- my Sundays

I love my Sundays.  I enjoy the preparation the day before,esp the evening before. Getting ready, doing my best to be ready to enjoy my day with the lord.  clothes ready-check Sunday school ready-check house cleaned-check jump in shower-check

God knew we needed to set a day aside. Focus on those blessings of the week. food on the table, roof over my head, wonderful husband, healing, the list goes on

I love seeing the children arriving for Sunday school,telling me all the news from the week before.  I am encouraged with the music in the services, the saints sharing how good God is, God's message given to us at the pulpit by the man of God.

Six days a week, we rush around as if there is no tomorrow.  I like to keep my meals simple.  I choose not to shop on Sundays unless a emergency.  After all I has 6 days to buy whatever I needed.  Sometimes we get so busy,just doing.

Maybe when we get so worn out,we should examine what we are doing or not doing. I am not one to get up early.  Lately I have been waking up between 6 and 6:30 am and can't go back to sleep.  I have found a joy in getting up grabbing a cup of coffee and bible .  I meet my lord in prayer on our deck. I am able to spend a hour or so, praying and reading the bible.  I feel like Jesus wakes me up because He is anxious to visit with me.  I have discovered a joy in my day when I start it out abiding with my Lord. Asking the Lord to take control of my day.  Knowing nothing will happen that is not in His plan.  Asking the Lord to send me too some soul that I can share the good news with.Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

musical monday

I love this group. I discovered it by accident. The name of the group is the Dunnaways. I saw the group while searching for something else. Of course, i was curious because of the name. No connection to my friends. I have found it to be one of my favorite groups.

Peace, Yes Can You Feel It..?

Yes, I do. Can you?

A Day When My Life changed so much!

I Went to work today. A seemly normal day. As usual, it was raining. My hubby dropped me off  with promises to pick me up later.

I was helping with a older age group.  Many of them I knew by name or saw in passing when they were dropped off.

What you need to know, I was feeling really good. I had not gotten that flu, every one else had got. I was looking forward to spending R & R with John.  I was excited.

When I walked into the classroom I saw they were doing a health and Well body check up.  Ok... I am sure this is a good thing. The four year old doctor called for the next patient.  I realized, He was talking to me. As I sat down, He pulled over his box of tools.  He listened to my heart.  Took my temperature, checked my reflexes.  He than in a very serious voice, informed me that my heart  was dead.  I wondered how this could be, but he repeated the diagnose, my heart was dead.  I thought, ok I can live with this....I think.  well the tests continued. He checked my pulse and than even in a more serious no nonsense voice, he informed me that my brain was oval shaped.

Now this was not a laughing matter! I had big plans for the weekend.  I had no time to be sick.  I told the doctor, I need for him to give me some medicine, so I would feel better.  He agreed, and informed me it would hurt a little bit. He then  gave me four shots of toxic water waste.  Put two band aides on shot site and sent me on my way.

I love games using your imagination with children.

Random Acts of Kindness Day

There's no better day to smile at a stranger than Random Acts of Kindness Day.

People all over the nation spread some joy and celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day Friday. The holiday marks a time when people are encouraged to be nice and do nice things for one another whether it be for a friend, family member or a total stranger. There are plenty of ways to participate in the national holiday, and what’s even better about Random Acts of Kindness Day, is that being kind to others doesn’t have to cost a dime. Check out a list of a few ways to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day below:

Smile at a stranger: Studies have proven that being completely ignored or overlooked causes an almost immediate effect of social discomfort. Ease some of that by offering smiles to people as they pass by on the street.

Buy a homeless person a hot meal: There are hundreds of Americans living on the cold streets. Spread a little cheer by purchasing them a hot meal that can not only help them keep warm but fill their hungry tummies as well.

Help an elderly person with their bags: More often than none, elderly people go overlooked. If an old person is struggling with their bags, offer them assistance. Offer to carry their bags whether they're bogged down with five or just one, and spark up a conversation with them along the way.

Give someone a compliment: If someone looks nice, tell them. Let people know how much they're appreciated, how great their work is or how much their presence is enjoyed.

Greet people: One of the easiest ways to brighten up a person’s day is by merely saying hello. It’s very common for people to pass by one another, especially in bustling and heavily populated cities. Make it known that their presence has been recognized by saying hello. Bonus: Asking a person how their day is going so far or how they’re doing can also go a very long way.

Donate to a clothing or food bank: Instead of letting cans of soup that’s been hiding in cabinets go to waste, take food items that will most likely perish to a food bank, so someone else who may not be in a position to go grocery shopping can also have access to quality food. As for those old clothes that haven’t seen beyond a closet in months, someone less fortunate would surely be grateful to discover those fashionable finds at a local Salvation Army or other donated clothing supplier. 

Funwith Sacramento Youth group

We had such a fun time this last weekend.

Valentine's Day Trivia and Facts

California produces 60 percent of American roses. However, the vast number of Valentine’s Day roses are imported, mostly from South America.

73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.

About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. That’s the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.

One-third of all Valentine cards are accompanied by gifts.

About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.

By the numbers: 70 percent of those celebrating the holiday give a card, followed by a telephone call (49 percent), gift (48 percent), special dinner (37 percent), candy (33 percent) restaurant meal (30 percent), and flowers (19 percent).

In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first “Conversation Hearts”, originally called “Motto Hearts”. Eight billion of these little candies are sold between New Years day and  February 14

.

More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine’s Day.

Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for the telephone, on Valentine's Day, 1876.

There You Have IT!

http://www.holidayinsights.com/holiday-fun/valentines-day-trivia.htm

Gotta Love Old Charlie

Looking Back- with Jesus

John 15:4

Abide in me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except in abide in the vine, no more can ye,except ye abide in me.

My Husband, decided He wanted to let the raspberry vines grow,so that He could have a patch of them. He is very happy to have the berries. The berries would not have happen if it was not for the vines. As you can see, the vines have just exploded and are more than I would have thought possible.  The vines did exactly what He wanted them to do, produce berries.  Unfortunately , it was hard to get to them because of the weeds that were also growing so well too. That and the mosquito's that would attack.

In John 15:4, we are reminded that to be a victorious Christian we need to be connected to Jesus just as the berries are connected to the vine.  But as I sat this morning looking down at my husband berry patch, I also was reminded that we need to let the Lord prune our spiritual relationship also.  Is there things in our life's that draw us away from Him? Things we have more time to do and less time to spend with him?  This can cause spiritual weeds, thus stealing our joy.John has decided that he wants to do some pruning and eliminate weeds and line the plants up in rows. Spiritual pruning is a good thing.  The Lord wants a vessel that will bring much fruit.

Those mesquites made it very   difficult to pick the berries.  We had to find some protection that would enable us to pick the  fruit.  As Christians, we want to go to the  word of God, become familiar with it so that we can defeat the snare of the devil.  Ephesian 6:11 tells us to put on the armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Don't let Satan steal your joy!

Chocolate trivia

Chocolate Trivia

We love our chocolates. We love it so much, that Americans consume over 3.1 billions pounds of chocolates per year. On average, each of us will consume over 10,000 chocolate bars in our lifetime!

You will be well served to know some interesting facts and trivia about chocolate, in order to "Wow" our family and friends with your chocolatey knowledge.

Chocolate Trivia:

• Let's dispel one myth right up front.... Researchers have found no link between acne and chocolate. What a relief!
• While 75% of chocolate purchases are made by women all year long, during the days  before Valentine's Day, on Valentine's Day 75% of the chocolate purchases are made by men.
• Chocolate comes from the Cacao or cocoa bean, grown on a Cacao tree. That's right, it is from a plant, therefore, it's a vegetable.
• The average person will consume 10,000 chocolate bars in a lifetime.
• The Aztecs once used cacao beans for currency.
• Columbus brought Cacao beans back to Spain in 1520. It quickly spread across Europe.
• The first chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1937 by Ruth Wakefield who ran the “Toll House Inn.”
• Approximately 40% of almonds produced in the world are made for chocolate products
• Approximately 70% of the world’s cacao is grown in Africa.
• The Mars company invented M&M's for soldiers during World War II.
• Research suggests that dark chocolate boosts memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain. This makes chocoholics very smart people.
• In 1942, the first chocolate bar was made by English chocolate company Cadbury.
• The Babe Ruth bar was created in 1920 by the Curtiss Candy Company. It was named after the famous baseball player.
• Cacao originated in Central and South America more than 4,000 years ago.
• .The Cacao tree can live for over 200 years. But, it only produces for 25 years.
• It takes approximately 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate.
• 70% of the world's production of cacao beans comes from West Africa.
• In Hershey, Pennsylvania, the street lights on "Chocolate Avenue" are in the shape of Hershey Kisses. "ya just gotta see it!
• Hershey’s produces over 70 million chocolate Kisses every day.
• A chocolate bar is actually low in cholesterol. A 1.65 oz. bar contains only 12 mg.
• The Catholic Church once associated chocolate with heretical behavior, including blasphemy, extortion, witchcraft, and seduction. Tell that to a Catholic at Easter.
• Dark chocolate has been scientifically shown to be beneficial to human health. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, and other varieties are not.
• Women tend to prefer white chocolate, while men generally prefer bittersweet or dark chocolate. Like 'em both? That's perfectly fine.
• One chocolate chip can give a person enough energy to walk 150 feet. Need the energy to walk a mile? Consume just 35 chips.
• American and Russian space flights have always included chocolate....  I bet that's a sweet ride!
• A 1.5 oz. milk chocolate bar has only 220 calories, less that a 1.75 oz. serving of potato chips at 230 calories.
• Americans consumed over 3.1 billion pounds of chocolate, almost half of the total world's production.
• Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that is believed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love.
• Hawaii is the only US state that grows cacao beans.

http://holidayinsights.com/recipes/chocolate-trivia.htm

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Longest Recorded Marriage

When my husband's Dad and Mom celebrated 50 Years of Marriage, they didn't want a big fan fare. We told them it was important to make a big deal of it.  Their great grandchildren and grandchildren need to see it is possible.  They are growing up in a generation that believes marriage is disposable. If things get tough( and they do!) toss it away , dump the vows in the garbage and move on to a new relationship.  That is not what God planned.  We read in God's word, Marriage is for life. Until death of a spouse.  Its a commitment.  We promise to honor, love and obey till death do us part.

What makes   this possible and easy? When God is a vital member of  the marriage. Put God first, your spouse and than you. Do that and you will realize that you took care of the important stuff first.

Love is Patient

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You Tell me

Ok, I don't do instant gram. There is a reason for this. I take pictures and make movies without even trying.  My phone, calls people on its own. I mean like all of a sudden, I am talking to someone.  I mean, truly I like you but wasn't planning to call you at that moment.  I think my phone missed you.  My phone also chooses whether I need a text from some one.  My daughter will ask me," Did you get the text I sent you ?" Uh no, it didn't come thru.  And if that's not bad enough, sometimes my phone chooses whether I really should send that text to someone.  Uh, excuse me..... Let  me decided,not a smart aleck smartphone decide for me.

So back to my original thought, Before this keyboard trys to derail me. I am going to show you a movie .  I really don't think I took it.  I think I am being framed.  I am not really sure, what the clip is about.  I come to you, my friend.  Can you tell me what's happening?  Should I save it for evidence?  I suspect my not so smart phone took it.  I was a innocent bystander.  Nobody will believe my story. Maybe its a conspiracy with my cat to drive me over the edge.

 So you tell me, is this movie clip worth saving for a whodunit movie?  I would hate to throw away a million dollars.

Your Help Is Much Appreciated
(Lost in the black hole of well I don't know... thus I am LOST)

Guest Blogger- Shelby Sletmoe

Hi, this is Tuesday Tidings by Shells

Today I am going tell you a story about how I was supposed to play in the snow...but I fell in a little stream...

So..last month we got some a lot of snow. Our papa asked our mom if we could go to our grandma's house. And mom said, "Yes!" So we went.

We (Sierra and I) slid down a small hill or two. And we had a lot of fun!!! And here is the water part...

We were sliding down a hill close to a small stream.

Sierra was pulling me, and I was
riding.Sierra turned too fast accidentally and I went straight into the little stream!

So I guess you know what happened next....I went inside! Well... that was that.I stayed inside almost the rest of the afternoon. I went outside again towards time to leave.
But I sill had fun!

Well I think that is all...

goodbye for now!

p.s. Here are some pics.

Enjoy!!!

Looking back seasons of life

Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth Psalms 46:10

Written while I lived in Wisconsin. Didn't have much time...

Where Has Time Gone????

I have noticed one thing.......
Time stops for no man or woman or girl either. Shelby Dea-Ann Sletmoe was born on February 4. She was just  a thought when we left for Arkansas. I flew back to see her born.That made it even more special. I was afraid I would not be able to do that.  Now 12 years later I watch my special girl have fun. Her older sisters planned a surprise slumber party. You guessed it... at Nanas.  We had fun. Watched movies,ate dinner. Played games.I told them they could stay up as long as they wanted.  I think Sierra was the only one up till 3:00 am.  Joy enjoyed having so many girls to play with.  Yesterday I got to go out to Olive Garden with Shelby and Heidi.  I told her it was the first time,I actually got to have birthday lunch with her. All in all it was good to see how one of my youngest girls growing up.

Charlie Brown Valentine

This One Is For My Special Blonde Hair Boy

When my daughter brings over the kids to my house. First thing one is always asking," Can I Vaccum, Nana" He will do all my floors and than move on to wanting to doing my wash.  Every Nana needs a helper like this!

RJ this one is for you...

Create a Vacuum Day

Date When Celebrated : Always February 4

Create a Vacuum Day just might leave you in an empty void. We found no factual information or records about this day. So, we can only speculate to its cause..........

Theory #1:  A hard working housewife, frustrated over her vacuuming chores, declared a day to commemorate the chore of vacuuming. The hole in this theory is that the day would likely be simply called "Vacuum Day" or "No Vacuuming Day". Why include the word "Create" in the title? This led us to........

Theory #2: A (mad!?) scientist created this day to celebrate the creation of a vacuum during laboratory work. But, isn't this routine scientific work!? We think so. Therefore, it led us to..............

Theory#3: Someone desperately in need of a simpler life, conceived this day. They wanted to create a vacuum that would suck all of the daily work, chores and clutter out of their life. If only for one day, they would be freed to enjoy the simple life of leisure. Now, here's a theory that really makes sense for today!

However you choose to commemorate this day, we hope it's a good one!

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Origin of Create a Vacuum Day:

Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. We can offer two theories about what happened to the original documentation of this day:

1. As the originators were creating a vacuum in their laboratory, the records were caught up in the void.

2. The originators were vacuuming their home, and the papers were sucked up along with the dust bunnies.

I love my Valentine 24/7

Happy Ground Hog Day

 Groundhog Day marks the North American holiday

She Does love me

Since February is traditionally the love month.  I will do my best to share the love with you. Joy loves doing all this.