Looking to the Shepherd

A New Start

2011-10-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official. I am changing career paths once again.

After completing my fourth year as a school secretary,

I have decided to stay home and take care of our 2 year

old grandson.

To be a stay at home gramma has been on my wish list

for many years. It was a hard decision and yet an easy

decision all rolled into one:

Hard...because of the financial aspect, as well as the "staying at

home all day" aspect.

Easy...because I love all four of our grandchildren, and it is

a real blessing that I will be able to spend all of this quality

time with one of them.

I am praying that I will be a great care giver -

one who is patient, kind, creative and wise.

May the Lord help me to be a blessing.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Life's a Beach

2011-07-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Well, life is really not always a beach, but it sure is WONDERFUL when your day is filled with GRANDCHILDREN!

We so enjoyed our time together with all of our kiddo's - the grown up ones and the wee ones....

rich blessings we do not take for granted.

Thank the Lord for the joy of family... truly children (and grandchildren) are a gift from the Lord.

June 16, 1986

2011-06-16T19:19:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it has been 25 years since my dad went to be with the Lord.
Some of my favorite memories about dad are:

When we were little we went swimming and dad would swim under water and let us ride on his back.

Almost EVERY night he would make popcorn with peanuts and we would eat to our heart's content. (I think that is why I still love popcorn.)

We used to have a wonderful time playing cards, with Mom, Dad, Grampa and Gramma.

He could build ANYthing. Houses, barns, bridges, wood splitters, christmas tree stands and a cradle for his granddaughter's babydoll.

He loved to fish, hunt and farm.

He always made home, feel like home.

I am so thankful, that when I get to heaven, my Dad will be there, to help me feel at home!

May I?

2011-05-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

May I just say that I can't believe how fast the month of May has flown by?

This school year seems to be one of the fastest I can recall.

I am so thankful for the beautiful green leaves/flowers and signs of new life that surround me.

One good thing about winter in central new york - is spring!

May the Lord bless you this day....He is so worthy to be praised!

May 7

2011-05-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, marks the 33rd anniversary of the death of our first-born son, Christopher James. He was a beautiful boy - 4lb 13 ounces of cuteness. When our son, Matthew was born, I was amazed at how much he resembled his brother, Christopher.

It seems like these 33 years have really flown by. Even though it has been so very many years, the loss really doesn't seem any easier than it was those many years ago. I wonder what our life would have been if we didn't lose our baby boy.

For the most part, I think that his death made me a much better person in many ways:

I became a Christian after his death

I gained such an intense sense of the value of life, children and family

I have such an appreciation for the promise of Heaven, eternal life and the Word of God.

I have been able to encourage others who have lost their children, sharing the comfort that I myself received from the Lord after Christopher's death.

Tonight, as I sign off, I pray that anyone reading this, that may have lost a child, would turn to the Lord for the comfort strength and healing that He alone gives to those who seek Him.

What's next?

2011-04-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

This past saturday we held our first ladies 'event' which was called "Celebrate Spring". My dear friend and I worked like crazy ladies and transformed the entry way to our church into a 'garden'. It looked great. We had lots of finger foods and made smoothies (we really wanted to do something a little different). The ladies really seemed to enjoy everything.

Since I am the new Women Ministry Leader, I wanted the ladies of our church to get to know me better, so I shared my testimony, tried to talk a little about spring, but mostly talked about winter...and how the Lord uses the difficult seasons of our lives to draw us to himself.

Today I learned that I did not get the new job I had interviewed for...which is okay. Unfortunately, today was a very stressful day. VERY stressful. I feel like my job is a 'winter' experience for me. Almost, every day, I feel the weight of this job. Sometimes, spring pokes it's head out, and I feel good about what I accomplish at work, but mostly, the job is bigger than me.

I guess I better take my own advice and draw close to God....I need His help. I am so thankful He is eager to come to my rescue. He is my 911 and He never fails.

Pondering

2011-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

It seems that most times I am sitting at the computer, I am

pondering....

I guess the empty page and the lateness of the hour,

naturally lends itself to wondering about the many

issues life brings my way.

Tonight....I am pondering the devotions that I am

supposed to lead on March 26th.

The ladies luncheon is about "celebrating spring".

I am torn between just plain sharing my testimony,

to trying to blend my testimony with a "message"

about Spring.

I have been jotting notes, but it is time for the

rubber to meet the road.

Please pray that the Lord will direct my

thoughts, and that what I share will be a

blessing to the ladies.

He knows what I am supposed to share.

I just need to listen for His voice!

One step forward - one step back

2011-02-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Back to work today after a WEEK off.

It has been a very long time since I
had a week off from work. It was GREAT.

Very busy day today - so much going on
with State budget cuts and all that the school
is dealing with.

Just like corporate America, schools have a
way of wanting more and more from the
employees.

Sometimes...it is pretty frustrating.

Right now I am:
~trying to be thankful
~trying to remember the good parts of the job
~trying not to think about why so many of the
secretaries in my district have been RETIRING.

Things that are new ~

2011-02-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of new things that are going on in my life -

1. Weight watchers ~

I joined December 22nd (yes, 3 days before Christmas)
because I was SO frustrated with my weight.

Since joining, I have lost 10 pounds.

Although it doesn't sound like much, I can tell a difference
in the way my clothes fit.

I am NOT planning on quitting. My goal is to reach "lifetime
membership" which means I can attend for free once I reach and maintain
my proper weight.

The thing I like the best about WW is the fact that I am becoming more
disciplined. Not just in my eating, but also in my devotions and exercising.

Just plain taking better care of myself.....
it is something that is so easy to put on the back burner.

2. Today I found out that I am the new Leader for our Church's Ladies Fellowship

Mixed feelings on this one.....We have only attended this church for 1 1/2 years, and
I feel a little unsure about 'expectations'.
I do have a burden for ladies, for their spiritual condition, and for friendships to be developed.
So even though I am kind of SCARED, I am choosing to trust that the Lord opened this
door to me for a reason.

Praying that I will be a blessing and that God will be honored by the way I handle this new
challenge in my life.

3. I have decided to be more faithful in updating my blog.

Praying that what is on my heart will bless someone else.

May God be praised - He alone is worthy!

February 2011

2011-02-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

I have been very negligent in updating my blog.

Guess that might be because I don't really think

anyone reads it.

There are so many things that are on my heart

yet - it seems pretty strange to just put things

'out there' if it doesn't matter to anyone.

I am going to ponder this a little longer -

To blog

Not to blog...

that is the question!

W.O.R.K.

2010-11-05T21:55:00.001-07:00

Lately, I have not been thinking about

work as a "four letter word".

For the longest time, I really

lamented

having to work.

I just plain wanted to be home,

free from STRESS

and able to babysit my

nearby WONDERFUL

grandson. (and if I really

could have anything ...

I would have my

WONDERFUL New Jersey

grandchildren here as well!

But.....

today, as SEVERAL of

my very dear co-workers

shared their very difficult

struggles with me, I was
REMINDED

once again,

that the LORD has me

right where HE wants me

to be......and for that I am

thankful and asking for

HIS

strength, peace and wisdom

as I allow HIS light to shine

through me....even in the

midst of a job that is sometimes

very

stressful.

Aunt Madelyn

2010-10-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

We said farewell to our beloved Aunt Madelyn this past weekend.
She was a gentle soul - loving and giving.
Spending time with her, always made me think of my childhood;
our many trips to Vermont.
She will be missed by all who knew her.

TWENTY TWO

2010-09-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

The number 22 is my 'favorite' number.

Mostly because it is the birthday of my darling husband,

Mr. Adventure. It is also my birthday.

Anyways, a couple of my other favorite people;

my dear DIL and one of my precious grandboys are

also 22's.

Happy fall to one and all!

THIRTY-SIX

2010-08-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my 'Mr. Adventure'

May the Lord continue to daily bless and guide

you in all you do!

Simply Saturday

2010-08-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

My favorite kind of Saturday ~

Wake up early

Read God's Word

Pray

Cook breakfast for loved ones

Do laundry

Clean House

Work in my garden

Check my daughter's blog

Pay Bills

AND

JUST BE HOME

Thank you, Lord

I am TRULY blessed.

time that flies

2010-08-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

It seems that almost every day

I am surprised by the speed at

which life is passing by.

I know that the bible teaches that

"our life is a vapor".

But, to live that vapor is another

thing all together.

In a couple of weeks, Jim and I

will celebrate 36 years of marriage.

Unbelievable!

Our children are all in their 30's and

our 4 grandchildren are growing up

so quickly.

May the Lord help me to appreciate

each moment...

may He give me wisdom and strength

to be a wise steward of this life....this vapor.

amen

Precious Moments

2010-06-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about pictures is that they truly do

paint a thousand words.....

memories of sweet days - gone by

memories of happy times - caring for my 3 children

memories of my parent's home - all that they built together

Thankfulness - that my beautiful little girl, is now a beautiful momma herself

Thankfulness - that I can still share in her life

(despite the fact that she lives too far from home)

Thankfulness - that I can watch in wonder how her own little children are growing

2010-06-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

24 years ago - June 16, 1986

My dad lost his battle with lung cancer.

He was 56

My favorite things about my dad:

He loved me

He loved my children

He loved my husband

He was smart...creative....hardworking

He helped others

He liked to have fun

He ALWAYS made me feel at home

I am so glad that he is going to

welcome me home when I get to HEAVEN.

Almost time to camp again!

2010-03-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

April......May......JUNE!

2010-03-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that March is more than half way done.

We have had a very mild winter and have been lured

into believing that spring has sprung exceptionally early

here in CNY.

Before you know it, our school year will be coming to a

close and it will be time to start all over again for the next

school year.

We can't wait

2010-02-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

New Jersey, New Jersey,

Why art thou so far

away?

Need to see my

dah'lings.......stat!

It is TIME for a visit -

2010-01-29T18:36:00.000-08:00

james R. and E. james

2010-01-25T19:50:00.000-08:00

The smiles say it all! I am so blessed to have family

close as well as far. It is the late night thinking time

when I realize just how much I miss the "full nest".

Yet ~ I am truly thankful for this season that the Lord

has allowed me to experience. May I be found faithful

to live for His glory each day.

2009-12-01T21:00:00.001-08:00

ThanksChristmas 2009

2009-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

I am so very thankful that we were able to gather as a family on Thanksgiving this year.

(Especially since it almost didn't happen.)

Many things stand out as high points:

All four of my grandchildren together

All three of my children together

A lovely daughter-in-law and son-in-law

another sweet new face to our gathering~Mike's girlfriend, Holly

But with all the blessings, I must say that the low point was saying farewell

to sweet Amelie, who melts my heart beyond words.

grannie loves you and misses you more!

2009-12-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

Remember

2009-11-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

Today at church, the Pastor spoke

to us about the Apostle Paul.

Two things were emphasized:

It is by grace that we enter into a relationship with the Lord. There is NOTHING we can do to earn this priceless treasure.
There is nothing greater in this life than knowing God.

The Pastor also mentioned that if we feel that our relationship with God is growing cold, we must REMEMBER that God loves us.

It seems that lately I haven't been FEELING God's love. I am sure that satan wants me to doubt God's love, and to fear what the future will bring.

Lately, there have been some pretty hard things going on with people that I love and care about. Yet....God loves me and God loves them. I must choose to trust God, I must choose to be thankful, I must choose to count my blessings, I must choose to commit my loved ones into the hands of the Almighty God, who created them and knows all about each of His children.

Oh Lord, may my love for YOU grow deeper and deeper, no matter what. May You be glorified in my life....I need YOU, Lord. Amen

2009-11-05T03:50:00.000-08:00

What can I say to describe the joy

that fills one's heart?

At a loss for words

2009-10-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Matt and Amy - one year ago at their wedding

are now waiting for the doctor's to give the

plan to treat their newborn boy's kidney problems.

My dear Rosemary on her first mountain climb

last year. Now climbing the mountain of fighting bone marrow cancer.

whirlwind week

2009-09-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

It's funny how a birthday can get lost admist the challenges

of life. Since Mr. Adventure and I share the same birthday,

we had made 'plans' to go out to supper together last

Tuesday to commemorate our shared event.

But

I ended up spending the whole day (from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

with a very dear person at a very scarey oncology appointment.

We postponed our celebration dinner for Wednesday.

BUT

I heard my daughter's scarey asthma cough and packed my bags at

5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, drove to New Jersey

and just got home 7:00 p.m. tonight.

MAYBE

We will celebrate our birthday dinner one night this week

maybe we'll skip this birthday, cause I don't really want to

get any older right now!

2009-09-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

We often sing the song "As the Deer" in our worship services.

Tonight, as I think about the last day of summer, I feel pretty tired, mostly because

we have been trying to squeeze every fun moment out of summer.

Maybe I would not be quite so worn out if I had spent more of this summer

panting after the Lord, and the perfect rest that He gives to those who come to Him.

Isaiah 63:14 says: Like the cattle that go down into a peaceful valley,

(to find better pasture, refuge and rest) the spirit of the LORD caused

them to rest.

Let's get out that pool again

2009-08-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

COME BACK!

2009-08-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I miss my girls - all three of them!

some things are worth repeating.....

2009-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

This picture was kidnapped from my daughter's blog

it is definitely worth a second (third, fourth,etc) look!

Love u my dah'lings....you all look mahhvalous!

This smile makes me happy!

2009-07-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

It was a real blessing to see my friend, Carol
and enjoy an evening with this sweet lady

as well as,

Jan and Jule Ann!

God is so good to allow us to have friendships that
grow - even when there is a great distance between
our homes.....His love knits our hearts together!

2009-06-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

Camping is the BEST -

even if it rains
even if I don't sleep because I'm in a tent
even if we didn't bring anything great to eat
even if we forgot our sleeping bags

I am thankful for my 24 hour campout

with Mr. Adventure!

If you fall off a horse

2009-06-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's me back in the canoe -

so even though my last water experience

wasn't the best, I was right back out there

this weekend - and enjoying every minute.

(notice there is not a certain golden retriever

in the boat with me)

It is a LITTLE easier staying dry without Sadie

in the boat!

surprise

2009-05-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a nice little break from our everyday
life because we went camping.

Since camping is one of my favorite things to do - I
was happy to go to our favorite campground and
enjoy the outdoors.

One thing I especially enjoy is being in a canoe
or kayak.

I thought it would be a good idea to introduce
our 9 month old golden retriever to the kayak.
Since I thought there was a good chance of tipping
over, I took off everything that I did not want to get
wet, namely my hood shirt AND my life jacket.

I then proceeded to paddle close to shore and
wrestle the dog into submission. She eventually
'won' and we flipped out of the kayak. Being a
pretty good swimmer and being fairly close
to shore did not help me at all when I hit the
freezing cold water.

I could not breathe in - (never experienced
this before) and I felt pretty panicked -
which really surprised me, cause I am NOT
afraid of swimming.

Thankfully, Mr. Adventure came out in the

canoe and lifted Sadie out of the water.

Thankfully, the Lord opened up my lungs

so I could once again breathe.

Thankfully I turned around and swam AWAY

from shore so I could cling to my kayak.

Thankfully I MADE it to shore, got dried

off and didn't catch pnemonia.

Thankfully I learned something .....

never take for granted the purpose of
a life jacket. (wear it - and DON't worry
about getting it wet)

the end :o)

Over the river and through the woods

2009-05-13T19:36:00.001-07:00

THEY ARE COMING !

I am so excited.

May the Lord watch over my

darlings as they travel to grannieblueswing's

house.

YEAH!!!!

Dear Mom

2009-05-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to my dear Mom, in Heaven.

I thank God for the many things that you taught me:

How to work hard.
How to put others before yourself.
How to survive when you lose your husband, your parents
and your children grow up and leave home.

I thank God for my favorite memories of you:

Hot chocolate and cinnamon toast at midnight.
Seeing you get up in the middle of stormy nights to light candles in case the power goes out.
Picking blackberries and baking pies.
Watching you be silly and dancing to your favorite music.

I love and miss you Mom.

Retreat

2009-05-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I spent a beautiful

day at a ladies retreat. We met in completely

restored hunting camp that looks like a hill-top

mansion that has fallen from heaven

and landed in a picture-perfect setting.

More importantly than the setting,

was the subject - drawing nearer to

and hearing from the Lord.

The ladies were so encouraging

and welcoming - I was a stranger to

all of them (except for one) and I

felt like I had known them forever.

The one thing that really impacted

me the most from the day, was the

time we spent looking at Ecclesiastes.

There truly is a time and season for

all things - and I have been doing

some serious soul searching regarding

the season of life that I am in.

May the Lord give me direction

and wisdom.....amen

Forever

2009-04-21T19:50:00.001-07:00

Forever -

The word brings to mind many different things

and here are just a few of them:

Eternal life with Jesus Christ my Lord
The fact that God always has been and always will be God
How long I want my love to last with my Mr. Adventure
My loved ones who are in heaven with whom I will share eternity
How I feel about camping and wanting to be able to stay at my peaceful getaway

But tonight, the word 'forever' brings a tear to my eye

as I think about my dear Amelie as she kept asking me

to stay with her at her house FOREVER.

This is the most endearing thing that anyone has EVER

said to me - and it melts my heart and makes me understand

why MY mom used to sing to her beloved granddaughter the

following song;

"I love you so much, it hurts me".

Grannieblueswing loves you, my sweet ameliegirl.

Tomorrow

2009-04-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

I love spending time at the ocean.......

there is just something about the size,

the sound, the beauty, the strength -

all things that make me think of the Lord

and how HE has all things in the palm of

His hand.

All things - including me.

One of the things about being 50+ is that

you start to think about how fast life has

gone by, how your goals have been met,

and now....what is next?

As a young girl, I could not wait to:

get married

have a family

be a secretary (actually, be a school secretary)

be a grandmother

and now....it seems

that other than retiring....there aren't alot

of goals left on my list.

Sooooo, what does the Lord have in store for me?

My heart's desire is to be a blessing to Him -

to be a faithful, growing, serving Christian.

On this late, SNOWY April evening,

My goal for this moment - will be to focus on being

a godly wife, mom, grandmom, worker

and to leave the rest in HIS hands.

Afterall -

HE has done a good job of being in control

of the universe; He surely can handle my

little corner of the world.

Alice is cute but.....

2009-03-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

In my book, the sayings of Amelie are MUCH better
than Alice in Wonderland's famous quotes.

Tonight, this grannie had the pleasure of a
phone call from her fav. big-girl granddaughter.
We talked about:

baking
housecleaning
visiting
buying new houses
visiting
reading
writing
how old we are
fun games to play
projects we need to do together
the fact that we will need to go to
a store to buy our craft supplies
planting a garden
going camping
building another snowman
a sleepover
her tent
my camper
and when ARE we going to visit???

grannieblueswing LOVES and misses you
sweetgirl

Welcome SPRING!

2009-03-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

Is there anything as welcome as SPRING

after a longggg cold winter?

All the signs of new life - make me want to sing!

p.s. Although, the picture is from South Carolina

we do have our OWN crocus blooming in our

front yard. YEAH!

I Miss this FACE

2009-03-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

For only being Wednesday, this has been a long week.

I REALLY wish I could wake up tomorrow morning

and make breakfast for my dah'lings and stay

home, reading stories, building puzzles and

hugging my grand-girls.

MAYBE if I wish real hard -

my wish will come true.................................!

Which looks better...... A or B

2009-03-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

After a recent visit to my eye doctor,

and his usual 25 questions of which

looks better? A Or B

which looks better? 1 or 2

I thought I would ask my friends

which view they thought looks better...

A or B

(I vote South Carolina!)

B - February in South Carolina

2009-03-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

A - February in New York

2009-03-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Ode to Snow

2009-02-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

It is hard to remember what the ground looks like.....

it has been covered by snow since the end of October!

So....my motto for living in snow country has become -

"love it or leave it"

We snow shoe, and ski and enjoy the beauty of the

covered hillsides....(and try not to complain about

the cold temp's, slippery roads and salt covered

vehicles!)

This winter, I have noticed the many different

personalities of snow - maybe a better word

would be, characteristics of snow.

You see, sometimes the snow blows across the

landscape like grains of sand. Other times,

the snow appears sponge-like and has the

strangest appearance. My favorite snow

is the snow that appears to sparkle like a

billion diamonds....

This morning, an unusal fog rolled through

our area and since it was so cold (8 degrees)

it stuck to the trees and coated them with a

white frost-like sparkle. VERY beautiful -

that is, if you like snow!

So my southern friends, even though

you have no snow, please know

that there is some pleasure for us

northerners amidst the ongoing battle

of winter in CNY!

Tag

2009-01-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

My good friend Carol, was playing a game of photo tag

and challenged her friends to join her. So I did -

I went to the 6th folder in my picture folder, and opened

the 6th picture.

This photo is bittersweet. It is a shot of my twins, their

two friends and myself at the dress rehearsal of my son's

wedding.

The bitter part - this marriage ended in divorce.

(I just haven't had the heart to erase the pictures.)

The sweet part - my sons make my heart happy -

they are the best of friends, working together and

tackling every project under the sun as a team!

Music to my ears & Joy to my heart

2009-01-18T04:56:00.000-08:00

Last night when we got home there was a special little surprise

on our answering machine....

A lovely little message from our sweet big-girl granddaughter.

( I was sad because I had inadvertantly deleted the

previous messages from her, which I

have replayed at least 100 times.)

So now that there is a little story on there again,

all is well with this Grannie for today.

(unless of course, the Lord would move my dah'lings

closer, so that I could see them more often)

Grannieblueswing loves you 2 Amels... and your momma,

your papa, and your babysistermeave!

(thank you for the phone call, Shellgirl) - love u, madre

Holiday Emotions Part 2

2009-01-10T04:06:00.000-08:00

ok - I never shared Part 1, but since we are well
into the New Year and my emotions are JUST
catching up with me.....

This morning I began the preparations for
the Adventure Family Gathering. (my husband's
family holiday party)

As I started cooking, I pulled out the following
from my cookbook cupboard:

A letter to my Mom from my cousin
A letter from my Aunt Mary to my Mom,
thanking her for loaning her money.
A plaque from my Grandma that was given
to me at my wedding shower 36 years ago.

I already was EMOTIONAL before I started
looking through this cupboard because I have
been trying to think about how to express
to my 3 sister-in-laws how much their love
and acceptance means to me. (we exchange
gifts today) So, when I came upon all these
items, it was the straw that broke the camel's
back, and now I need to compose myself so
I can cook food and wrap gifts this morning.

So, my friends, now that I have shared my
story, I must return to the tasks of the
morning, but not before I remind you all
to give thanks to the LORD for your blessings
this day. Life goes so quickly -

Here is the prayer from the plaque from my
gram:

Bless my little kitchen Lord,
And light it with thy love.
May the food that I prepare
Be seasoned from Above.
The service I am trying to do
Is to make my family content.
So bless my eager effort Lord
And make them Heaven sent.

Is it OK to steal???

2009-01-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

I was just looking at my daughter's facebook and HAD to post (steal)

this picture.....It is impossible to look at these beauties and

not SMILE!!! (especially when you love these babygirls 2 pieces)

2008 - The Year of the _ _ _ _ !

2008-12-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

The end of 2008 is swiftly approaching and today we 'celebrated' our FOURTH event which has prompted Mr. Adventure and me to name 2008. Let me explain:

Event #One:

On our way this summer to our fabulous camping getaway

all was well, we were closing in on our destination, when we

heard this loud bang -

We immediately pulled over to discover that our 4 year old camper

had a blown tire. Thankfully after a good samaritan's assistance and

approx. $100 later....we replaced the tire and were able to enjoy

our camping trip.

Event #Two:

Once again as we were traveling to another camping location,

Mr. Adventure and I were noticing how much the "wind' was

affecting the way our truck was handling. Seriously, we didn't

HEAR the wind, but the truck kept swaying. So, Mrs. Adventure

suggested that we might want to pull over and investigate. Sure

enough, it wasn't the wind.....it was a FLAT tire on the back of our

completely over-loaded, camper-hauling pick up truck. We were able

to change the tire, with the special supplies we had purchased at the

demise of the camper tire on the previous trip, and $400 we now have

four new truck tires.

Event #Three:

As I have been mentioning in my blogs....this is the winter to beat all

winters....it just keeps snowing, even when the weatherman doesn't

predict it! So Mr. Adventure has been plowing, plowing and then

plowing our driveway. And just to make it more fun, our 60 year

old farm tractor blew a tire. So, once again, we had to spend $$$$$

and replace / repair the tire. I am so glad that Mr. Adventure's nickname

is Mr. Handyman! :0)

Event #Four:

Today....as we were sailing along on wonderfully BARE roads in my

new car with BRAND new snow tires - Four Brand new tires.....two

of which are less than 24 hours old....I happened upon a large road

sign which had blown down in my lane on Route 81. (while travelling

at 65 miles per hour) and yes, I hit the road sign. And yes, I blew

out one of my brand new tires. And now there is a large whole in

my brand new tire. And to make it even more dramatic, we did

NOT make it to our destination - Our granddaughters 4th birthday

party. We are planning to try again tomorrow, but don't even know

if there will be a birthday celebration.....so we'll see what tomorrow

brings.

But to get to my point....in the Adventure Household we have

deemed 2008, you guessed it:

The Year Of the Tire !

Where art thou spring?

2008-12-26T02:24:00.000-08:00

My friend, Carol is a scrap-booking genius. If you want to see
the prettiest lilac scrapbook page - ever..... just click here:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9ml6947_Gkc/SUaa_XGSEBI/AAAAAAAABHU/GtBYCni_Zxg/s1600-h/IMG_0836.JPG

Here's what I did.....

2008-12-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

Watched morning shows :0)

Wrapped presents

Wrestled on my snow shoes (and nearly froze - REALLY)

Wondered about the marvels of the Lord as I read my new Bible (modern Message translation)

Whipped up a wonderful dinner

Wrapped up in my fav' fuzzy blanket

Watched a couple Christmas Specials

Wished my blog friends a good night

the end

A SNOW DAY!

2008-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

I always wanted to work for a school - It was the dream job that I have always hoped to have. (Until I landed the job and then...sometimes, more like a nightmare.)

One of the reasons that I had always hoped for a job in a school, was the fact that schools close when the weather is terrible. Or so, I thought, because even though we have had all sorts of terrible winter weather we are the only school district in Oswego County

that has NOT closed this year. Until today. YEAH for snow days!!!! (and not a moment to soon)

Now.....what should I do first???

special people

2008-12-15T21:25:00.000-08:00

Over Columbus Day

Mr Adventure and I

took a trip to Vermont

to visit my dad's 3 sisters

and one of his 9 brothers.

Pictured here is my Aunt

Delma (dad's oldest sister

who is in her 90's !!!!

Also his younger sister,

Ernestine.

Uncle Clifford

2008-12-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Uncle Clifford really reminded

me of my Dad. It seems so hard

to believe that my Dad has been

gone for 22 years. It is such a shame

that he died at such a young age (56)

and that my kids and grandchildren didn't get to spend more time with him.

Aunt Madelyn

2008-12-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

Aunt Madelyn, in her 80's, is

another of my dad's older sisters....

She is so very gentle and loving -

and it was wonderful to spend time with her.

Things I miss

2008-12-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

This question came up in a recent

bible study lesson:

What do you miss about being young?

The question mentioned something about a

carefree childhood, where all you needed

to do was play...etc.

I had to really think hard to come up with memories of

a carefree childhood. Since my Mom went to

work the NIGHT shift in a factory when I was an infant

and we grew up living on a farm, my 5 siblings and I

learned about work from a very young age.

I can remember climbing up on a chair

to wash dishes when I was 6 years old.

I do have some memories of building forts in the woods....

but I have alot more memories

of picking rocks and weeds out of our garden

harvesting food

scrubbing the floors and cleaning house.

Really....just working hard to keep the family going.

The main thing I miss about my childhood, is my parents.

I miss them being strong and healthy.

and now -

As my own children have grown up

and are building their own lives

(and as I sit in my daughter's bedroom, which is now our 'office' )

I miss having children in our home and in my arms.

I miss tucking my daughter in at night and laying on her bed with her discussing the 'cares of this world' with her.

I also miss the 'antics' of twin boys....NEVER a dull moment.

but now -

there are dull moments - yet there is a peace that comes from happy memories.

My husband and I truly enjoyed raising our 3 darlings, in our country home. We are

truly blessed - and I pray that my children look back at their childhood and have

happy memories.

Merry Christmas Madre!

2008-12-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

one blink later

2008-11-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

After weeks of preparation

planning
spending
sewing
cleaning
wrapping
baking

the Holiday came

and is now just a

happy memory....

I miss my darlings - goodnight for now and sweet dreams

or as Pop pop says....."dream of me".

Getting Closer

2008-11-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

Twas three nights before

ThanksChristmas

and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

(although I can hear snoring)

the stockings are hung and

the jammies are sewn

but presents still need to

be wrapped

The frig is now full

of vittles galore

we struggled to get

them at the very full store

So come one, come all

my dah'lings from Jersey

we can't wait to see you

and drive carefully through flurries!

And the snow fell

2008-11-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

Once again, CNY has been blanketed

by a fresh layer of snow. It is such

a blessing to be inside,

looking out from my warm home,

versus traveling on unplowed-slippery

roads like I was earlier today.

While I am spending some down-time today,

I have enjoyed:

watching a movie
eating home-made soup
and taking a mid-day nap

Winter (albeit early winter) has a way

of making me very happy to be home,

and content to have time to reflect on

God's many blessings.

He is so good and worthy to be praised!

A visit from an old Friend

2008-11-15T02:52:00.000-08:00

This morning I began my day with a precious treat.

Company you ask?

No.....through the modern marvel of technology,

I just enjoyed a video clip of one of the most

influentual ladies in my life,

Elisabeth Elliot.

I am in awe of the power that this woman

has to speak to my heart. Oh the wondrous

Spirit of God, who through His Holy Spirit,

can speak words of life, hope and courage

to those of like - faith.

(Thank you, Donna, for sharing Elisabeth in your
November 12th post on your blog
and thank you, Shellgirl for linking her to
your blog. If I linked this correctly, you
can visit Elisabeth below - )

http://booshay.blogspot.com/

The Road

2008-11-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

So often, my husband and are 'on the road'
heading to work, to the store, traveling
and at times, spending more time in the car
than we seem to be spending at home.

Tonight, I spent some time with friends on the
Roman's Road, (studying the book of Romans)
where we were reminded of how much we need
the Lord. I need His forgiveness for my sin,
because NOTHING I can do can pave my road
to Him. Because of my sin, at one time I felt that God
was a billion miles away and yet - I found that He
was as close as a whispered prayer of faith,
when I called out to His perfect Son and asked forgiveness
for my sin, accepting that Jesus died for me, I invited
Him into my life.

What a wondrous thought.....to know that God so
loved me, that He gave His only Son, to be born
as a human - yet divine baby, to grow to manhood
teaching others about God, the Father,
and then offer Himself as a sacrifice
on the cross to pay for my sin.

As we approach this Holiday Season, I pray that
many will come to the Savior for a personal
relationship.....that they will find the bridge
that connects us to our Father in Heaven who
loves each of us, more than words can express.

Ahhhhhhhhhh - Saturday Morning

2008-11-08T02:34:00.000-08:00

I love - Love - LOVE Saturday mornings - when I can be the

only one up and beginning my morning in the quiet.

The only problem I have with THIS Saturday morning is

trying to figure out where to start!!! The house somehow

is a disaster....and all I really want to do is SEW - and

in my sparetime...decorate my house for THANKSCHRISTMAS!

So, I guess I will start with sorting out my summer clothes

and making room for the winter clothes (YUK)

Oh well - least I'm not bored with nothin ta do!!!

ThanksChristmas 2007

2008-11-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Last Thanksgiving, we had a dusting of snow

and if October 2008 is any indication of what

Thanksgiving 2008 will be....LOOK OUT!

It's been a week since I last updated my blog,

and I wonder where did the time go, except

for FRIDAY, which was the longggesssst day

ever. (Halloween - is NOT a friend to an

elementary school secretary)

I am excited to tell you that I have dragged

out the ol' sewing machine and am attempting

to make some jammies for my two sweet

grandbabygirls. So far, I am very pleased

with the project - and really enjoy the fact

that I can pray for each of the girls as I

sew for them.

It is not too hard to get in the mood for

Christmas, because last Tuesday, we got

about 10-12 inches of snow. All of our

trees were bent over with the weight of

the wet/heavy accumulation and many of

the weaker trees broke. Wednesday morning

I spent 15 minutes STUCK in my driveway.

Thankfully, my nearly-next door neighbor, son

mattyboy, came to the rescue and pushed my

spinny-tire car out of the ice rut I was in.

Well - that's pretty much it for now....

time for some MUCH needed beauty rest

and we'll be back to work before I blink.

sweet dreams to all :o)

Never Give Up

2008-10-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

After many years of prayer, perseverance and

hard work, my sister-in-law,

Judyann Ackerman Grant

has her first children's book, published

by harpercollins and on the shelves!

For those who are interested in purchasing

this lovely book, you can visit:

http://www.harpercollins.com/book

What a testimony Judy is - a talented

and creative writer, yet most known in our family,

as a dedicated wife, mom and grannie to her

beautiful family.

I pray that the Lord will bless her

with much success as a writer,

but more importantly,

I pray that 'her children will

rise up and call her blessed'.

I believe that to be loved and appreciated

by your children is the greatest honor

that any mom, who has loved and sacrificed

for her family, could ever ask for.

I love you Judygirl :o)

9 Lives?

2008-10-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

Each day we go about our daily business, and rarely

take alot of time to think about life's "what if's".

Today, while making a quick trip to Syracuse

to get groceries....we had 3 "what if" experiences.

THREE times, we were nearly hit by cars that

either ran stop signs, shot out in front of us from

a parking lot or nearly side-swiped us because

they apparently don't know how to drive.

Some folks might say we were lucky....

but since I don't believe in luck,

I personally say "thank you Lord, for your

hand of protection".

The older I get, the more I realize it that it

takes a split second to change so much about our life

here on this earth.

I am thankful that our three encounters

did not become one of those 'change your life forever'

moments.

May I be about His business, remembering

to always redeem the time I have on this

side of glory.

Starting Over

2008-10-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am starting my day by
checking out a women's gym that is
very close to where I work.

I am going to meet the owner to get
"the tour" and "the talk".

I am starting a special weight-
loss class at my job and this gym has a
plan that waives the enrollment
fee if you are doing "the diet".

I am pretty sure that I will sign up
to exercise, especially since Mr. Wonderful
is driving me to work each day (so
he can save $$ using the ECONOMICAL
vehicle). When we ride together,
I arrive at work 45 minutes early
and have stay about 45 minutes late
each day. With all the extra time,
I figured I might as well try to get
healthy by exercising during the wait.

Who knows, maybe by Christmas, I
could be a little thinner!

The reason they call it EMPTY nest

2008-10-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes....the quiet is welcome.

Often.....the quiet is just plain sad.

I have wrestled with this for these
past several years that our children
have moved on....to build their lives,
and raise their families.

Although Mr Adventure and I
have been very 'free-spirited' and
traveled frequently, I truly have
missed having ANYONE or ANYTHING
to nurture.

So - after prayer and researching
and a son and daughter-in-law's
promise to watch her when she is
big enough to stay with their 2 big
pups, I bought a golden retriever
puppy this weekend.

Her name - Sadie

My hope - that she will take some of the "Sad"
out of my empty nest and bring some
young life - and laughter - into our quiet
lives.

So far, Sadie has not disapointed me, she
is adjusting well and sleeping fairly well.
Her fur is soft and her face is sweet, and she
is learning her way around our house
very quickly. She also has that very
unique 'puppy breath'. What I am enjoying
the most is that she is round and
rolly-polly and a fun girl.

by the way -

Please pass the papertowels :o)

2008-10-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

What's in a Name?

2008-10-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

My newest 'name'..... penned by my fav' oldest

grand-daughter (not to be confused with

my fav' youngest grand-daughter)

is the "Grannie with the Blue Swing".

I LOVE the fact that one of the little

labors of love that I have offered to my sweet

grandgirl was to hang a bright blue swing

in one of the maple trees in our front yard

for her to enjoy.

Who would have thought that something

so simple could have so many special

memories attached to it?

Especially when you figure she has only seen

the swing 4 or 5 times in the last 2 years!

Anyways.... if you have trouble remembering my

every day name, you are welcome to call me by

my treasured grannie title.

It always brings a smile to my face when I hear it.

In His Will is Our Peace

2008-10-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Peace.....even though things may not have turned out

exactly what I thought I wanted!

Thank you for those who prayed about the

possible job. And you may be wondering,

what was the answer from the Lord?????

Stay right where you are!

I am thankful that I KNOW He wants

me to stay put.

Even when the prospective new boss, 'broke'

the news to me that he was offering the job

to someone else, he said, "I don't know if you

are a woman of faith, but sometimes, doors

do not open when we want them to".

My answer to him was, "LOTS of prayer went

into this decision, and I am totally fine

with how this came out!"

Thank the Lord, that He knows what is

best. In His will, I find perfect peace.

Fall - the season of change

2008-09-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, OCTOBER first....just doesn't seem possible.

As I look at all the colors and feel the noticable change in

temperatures, I am amazed at how quickly this past year

has gone, (not to mention the FIRST birthday of a sweet

grandgirl in jersey.)

And now, there might be one MORE change. I am inter-

viewing for a different position at my school. Instead

of being the only secretary in my elementary building, I

am interviewing for a position in our special ed office,

where I would be part of a team - 2 secretaries, working

together to help meet the needs of our students in our

whole district (which includes 3 elementary schools,

1 middle school, the high school and also pre-k programs).

I am not sure if this is a good move for me or not, but am

definitely asking the LORD to close this door if it is not

what is best.

Sooooo, if you think of it, pray for this secretary on

Thursday, October 2nd at high NOON!

sweet surprise

2008-09-22T17:51:00.001-07:00

Birthday gifts come in all shapes and sizes.....

sometimes they are surprises

and

sometimes they are not.

This year....I received some very sweet surprises....

my blog is all fancy and plays the songs that my

hubby and I fell in love listening to .(thank you shell)

My sleepy - just waking up granddaughter

sang her first ever happy birthday song

to this grannie :0)

my sons..... did a surprise project for

their dad (painting doors to his jeep)

and

I am NOT surprised that

my husband didn't buy me anything new :0)

But he did take me away to our

favorite camping spot AND

I AM enjoying a wonderful diamond

wedding band, that was my Christmas '07

anniversary '08 and birthday '08 gift -

all rolled into one!

Happy Birthday Madre!

2008-09-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a new look for your blog

(and your new tunes!)!

Hope you like it!

Love you lots!

Love, Michelle

parting words and forgiveness

2008-09-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I was blessed to be able to attend

a women's retreat at Chamber's Wesleyan Camp.

The speaker was very enjoyable, the music was great

and I had quite a bit of time to reflect on my walk

with the Lord.

The weekend came to a close on Sunday with a

wonderful time of singing, Communion (including

a special message regarding the Lord's last words

to His Disciples at the last supper) and then the

closing message.

The communion message really hit home for me.

The speaker talked about how important it is to her

to give parting words to the people that she loves

(i.e. just dropping her daughter off at college).

I too, feel very strongly about giving words to my kids.

Just ask my kids, I am famous for giving them 'words'

before my husband and I leave to go on trips, etc.

Anyways, I was instantly reminded of the last words

that my own Mom spoke to me a week before she died.

Her words hurt me deeply.

After we had communion, the main speaker started

speaking about family relationships and FORGIVENESS.

Needless to say, the two messages brought conviction

to my heart.....and I had to ask the Lord to forgive me for

my unforgiveness.

Even if I am not angry about what my Mom said and did

to me her last few years on this earth.....the fact that I have

been "holding on" to the pain, needed to be dealt with.

Oh the grace of the Lord, to heal and strengthen when I am weak.

May HE be glorified in my life, as I seek to live according to

His perfect plan.

Running with the bulls

2008-09-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is what they call

this style of kite.

Yes, it is just one more of the

countless hobbies that my husband, Mr Adventure has tried.

I was pleasantly surprised how relaxing it was.

We attended my first festival on a Sunday afternoon.

It was a great family event, and I

would recommend this hobby to anyone who has young children,

(or who is married to someone who is young at heart) !

Interested in kites ? There are kite flying clubs that you can contact

for more info.

I wonder what the next adventure will be????

34 years of fun and counting !

A picture is worth a thousand words

2008-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

When I look at this picture:

I see a beautiful couple who love and care for each other

AND

I see two handsome brothers, who care about their sister

AND

are very pleased that their sister is loved and is happy

AND

that makes this Mom thankful because I am so very blessed!

The "Goal", or shall I say "Dream"

2008-09-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, seriously now, I know that the above bodies

are far fetched and are not likely to happen ! :o)

So, somewhere between the above picture

and the below picture, I need to strike a happy balance.

Bottom line.....try a little harder to eat

healthier and exercise.

Hope the pictures made you smile !

MAKE IT STOP!!!

2008-09-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful 3-day weekend!

We had a WONDERFUL time camping,
hiking Bald Mountain, canoeing and eating.

AND

eating and eating......

AND

If my husband and I don't stop eating.....
we are going to end up looking like these two
hippo's!

Mr. Adventure.....the great hunter

2008-08-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

yes....he hunts. But, I don't mind, I feel blessed

that the Lord has given my man, lots of successful

years as a hunter. Pictured above is last year's trophy...

which took first place in a big buck contest in our

town.

That's my guy.....the hunter/provider for my

family for these past 34 YEARS!

precious moments

2008-08-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Since I don't know how to download pictures from my husband's camera....

I often "browse" through old pictures that are saved on my computer.

This photo came up tonight, and when I saw it, my heart was warmed through and through!

What a special moment as we celebrated Amel's first dance and gymnastic performance!

BEAUTIFUL

2008-08-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

Lovely Daughter My sweet
grandprincess

Handsome Groom

Beautiful Bride

The Five

2008-08-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

It was a WONDERFUL day......

a whirlwind

and now......

the quiet is deafening

Waiting

2008-08-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Bible Verses is

Isaiah 40:31:

"They that wait upon the Lord

shall renew their strength,

they shall soar on wings like eagles"

It seems to me that so much of our time here on earth is spent waiting.

waiting in line
waiting at traffic lights
waiting to hear back from people

and the most difficult

waiting for answers to prayer.

The New International Version of the Bible uses the word "hope" in place of

"wait". I guess it means that while I am waiting on the Lord,

I am not to lose hope.

Dear Lord - help me as I wait on You, to have un-wavering faith,

knowing that You are the one who promises and is faithful.

Your timing is perfect and I will find my rest in You.

Bubbles anyone?

2008-08-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how many smiles a simple jar

of bubble solution can create.

Looking forward to more fun times with

the bubble girls :o)

Can't Wait

2008-08-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

Can't wait for my NJ kiddos to get here - so we can be

2 gether :o)

we're READY!

2008-08-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

The blue swing is empty.

The guest room is ready!

How do YOU spell relief?

2008-07-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

I spell it..... camping by the water!

What a blessing to spend the weekend with Mr. Adventure, camping on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Above, is the view from my camper and also a view from the water.

Virtually every window in my camper had a view similar to this one.....

water, water and more water.

Praise the Lord for a restful weekend and time to

kayak, bike and walk and REST!

Hot Chocolate Anyone????

2008-07-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

Okay....it's late, REALLY late, and you can't sleep.

Can you lay in bed? NOT ME! I toss and turn for a while, PRAY,

toss and turn some more, and then I GET UP.

It's like a ritual:

I put on my glasses
Grab my pillow
Tip toe down the stairs
Put a cup of milk in the microwave
Shove a piece of bread in the toaster
Find my fav' old movie i.e. (Family Man, While You Were Sleeping, etc.)
Spread my blanket and pillow on the loveseat
Add chocolate syrup to my warmed milk
Butter the toast and sprinkle cinnamon & sugar all over it.
Drink my cocoa and eat my cinnamon toast.
HOPE to be asleep before the movie ends!

You may be wondering a couple of things;

1. The significance of Hot Cocoa and Cinnamon Toast?????

2. Does this method help me get to sleep?

The answer?

1. When I was very young, my mom worked nights and I MISSED her so much, I would often wake up at midnight when she got home. Sometimes, she would make me hot cocoa and cinnamon toast. I WILL NEVER forget those sweet memories. Sooooo, even if I am not thirsty or hungry, I still make myself these treats on these late, sleepless nights.

2. Sometimes yes.....sometimes.....no.

2a. Tonight - No

The BIG countdown

2008-07-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Time is flyin faster than ever, and our whole family

is anticipating Aug 16th with much joy.

This mom is lifting lots 'o prayers on behalf of

this special couple.....asking the LORD to bless,

strengthen and guide them as they are married.

As challenging as it is to be married.....the blessings are countless.

When Mr. Adventure and I got married -at least 100 years ago- :o)

we were given a plaque that said the following:

'marriage is love, the union of two

who love each other through and through,

and as time goes by, it's easy to see

to have a great marriage, it really takes three '

(a man, a wife and the LORD!)

May HE bless you both, my darlings!

These are a few of my favorite things

2008-07-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

kayaking

camping

spending time w/family

HOLDING my grandgirls

Have you ever seen a better lookin donut?

2008-07-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

I LOVE these donuts ! Unfortunately,

at my "tender" age, the calories love me

and firmly attach themselves to my body.

So, as I enter week 5 of a weight watchers diet,

I am doing all I can to avoid the temptations of

fabUlous baked/fried goods. (not to mention my

most favorite treat, Dunkin Donuts Chai Tea)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

But for those of you who may not be fighting the battle of the

bulge, I hereby want all of you to know that the BEST donut

in the world can be found at a sweet little bakery in Inlet, New York.

(which thankfully is a 2 hour drive from my house).

This donut shop makes their own custard filling, which is as light as a feather and fluffy.

Not to mention heavenly choc frosting on top of the six inch circle of delight.

In case you are thinking that I am exaggerating, the picture above is a HALF donut.

Well, now that I have re-lived the memory of this donut, I am going downstairs to eat a piece

of fruit.....I can't wait!!!! not

Looking to THE Shepherd

2008-07-02T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have received some nice comments regarding the title for my blog, so I thought I would share the reasons why I picked that title.

1. I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart to be my personal savior 29 years ago.

He truly is "the good Shepherd" and His guidance and loving care have transformed my life.

2. One of my dearest friends and I used to sing together, and the song by the name of

"I Look to The Shepherd" was the first song we ever sang together.

It will always be a very special song to me.

(My friend has moved to FL and we no longer have the blessing of singing together.)

(I miss you Col!)

3. My title is a good reminder to me that as a Christian, I daily need to be looking to the Shepherd. He is the only source of strength and hope for living in this difficult day and age.

4. I pray that those who visit my blog, will question their own hearts to see if they are truly

looking to the Shepherd. Praise the Lord that He has promised that those who seek Him with their whole hearts will find Him!

Mister Adventure and Me

2008-06-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

The first time I ever laid eyes on my guy was when I was 14 years old.

I was roller-skating with a girlfriend,

and my Mr Adventure entered from across the rink.

I still remember what he was wearing.....and at my age that is amazing!

He was stopping in to the rink with a guy friend and

I imagine he was on the cruise for the hot chicks in our sleepy little town.

What better place to look than a roller rink?

Anyway, we did not speak or even meet each other that first night.

Although, my girlfriend DID know his name, which she shared with me.

I don't remember too much else about that night so VERY long ago.

Even though we were no where near each other that evening,

my handsome Mister Adventure's sparkling blue eyes melted my young heart.

Eventually, we were destined to meet.