Monday Thoughts

Motherhood is not for whimps, that's what my mother always told me when I seem to be going through tough times with my children. Well, she is right. I wish my young adult children would obey our wishes. God will see this, and they will be His people and if they walk in all the way God commands them, it may be well with them. Just like my verse of Jeremiah 7:23.

I feel like when you try to bake a cake from scratch and it does turn out, you just say oh well that's okay. But with kids I can not just turn my head and say that is okay. I have to keep baking and trying as a Mother, even though I'm older and tired of it. I must try again, and pray and memorize my verses for wisdom.

My new verse of the week is this: Daniel 2:20-21 "Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons he removes Kings and set up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:20-21

God can change things for my family, I'm seeking wisdom with my new memorizing verses for the year 2010, and I'm very excited about it. It is wisdom and calming to know, God changes times and season, he removes kings and sets up kings.

My prayer is to bring my adult boys to Jesus and bring wisdom to their hearts not folly. Just like my Pastor said this past Sunday, when he was teaching us about the woman wisdom and the woman folly in Proverbs 9. Great sermon, thanks Pastor James.

Blessed be the name of God, forever and every to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:20-21

In Christ Alone,
QB

Verse of the Week

Jeremiah 7:23
"But this commnad I give them: Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7:23

Off to church, I will be back later to post ways to memorize.

Love,
QB

Heaven's Promised Treasure

I was looking on the Hope in God site and found their newsletter, talking about prayer being Heaven's Promised Treasure. I want to share and believe what Calvin wrote. I have many things to pray about, my adult son is on the tip of my heart to pray for. He is on his own, he needs to be with Jesus, to handle his life with his Savior. I intend to pray more each day. Here is what I found in the newsletter.
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Calvin introduced prayer by pointing out first that in ourselves we are “destitute of all good” and “devoid of every means of gaining our own salvation.” But he goes on, saying that in prayer ... “the Lord kindly and spontaneously manifests himself in Christ, in whom he offers all happiness for our misery, all abundance for our want, opening up the treasures of heaven to us, so that we may turn with full faith to his beloved Son, depend on him with full expectation, rest in him, and cleave to him with full hope.”
With another metaphor, Christ is called an “inexhaustible fountain” in whom all the fullness of God dwells whom we are compelled to seek in prayer, especially because God both invites and commands us to present our requests to him:
»»“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
»»“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)

Calvin ridiculed the neglect of prayer, comparing it to being told where to find a fabulously rich buried treasure, yet foolishly allowing it to remain buried in the ground. In contrast, he said that real faith and relentless prayer fit together: “Call upon him in whom you have believed” (Romans 10:14). Such “calling” is thought of as the most profitable kind of “spiritual prospecting” imaginable because, as Calvin put it, “Prayer digs up those treasures which the Gospel of our Lord discovers to the eye of faith.”
Consider Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure ...
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)
At the outset of Prayer Week, look at the bounty that lies within our grasp! Calvin’s call is to get on our knees and dig up promised treasures, the treasures of …

Great God,
In public and private, in sanctuary and home,
May my life be steeped in prayer,
Filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,
Each prayer perfumed
with incense of atoning blood.
Help me, defend me,
until from praying ground
I pass to the realm of unceasing praise

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Dear Heavenly Father, Through my praying please may I find relief, peace, and my heart not to hurt anymore, nor my back with pulsing pain. God please bring my sons, my daughter, and myself and my husband to Jesus in a closer relationship than ever before this coming new year. May I pray more and find the Heaven's Promised Treasure with a joyful heart.

Thank you for this Christmas season of being with family and loving my family through meals I have prepared and my home open to them, may I please keep my home to be able to continue to do my gift of hospitality.

Guide me God, to love my husband in the way you want me to. Teach me to guide my adult children through memorizing verses, with prayer and with my actions. May they see you through me.

Give me strength to continue my day with my hurt foot, and sore muscles, I am so tired of being a limping lady.

I feel you there thank you, In Jesus Name Amen

Verse of the week

Today is Christmas Eve, I'm having my devotions with God. I want to start sharing the verses I am going to memorize each week. This week is special but I'm going to try and post them every Saturday.

Jeremiah 1:12b

"I am watching over my word to perform it."

My verse to memorize, I will try to post one every Saturday.

Merry Christmas
Love,
QB

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

"Count your Blessings" has always been a best-loved thanksgiving song. It was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., and composed by Edwin Excell who created the tune for the hymn.

Yesterday I was talking about sleep positions, I thought I would share with you if you have a hard time falling asleep; "Count Your Blessings" and you will start to relax and fall asleep, it worked for me last night, this helps you to see you do have a lot to be thankful for.

This maybe a great Thanksgiving song, but I'm using this song during Christmas 2009, when money is tight, and there is so much on my mind lately, about my adult children, and my weight. This song is PERFECT to remember all the wonderful things I must be happy about. Happy, Happy, Smile, Smile, Joy, Joy, Peace, Peace.

When upon life's billows you are tempest tosed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

CHORUS
Count your blessings name them on by one, Count your blessings see what God hath done; Count your blessings name them one by one; Count your many blessings see what God hath done.

I love verse 2:

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Verse 3: When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.

Verse 4: So a mid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged God is over all.

This song is a Christmas song, You know what God hath done? He gave us His son! He gave us Himself to us! The words above have displayed;
"What He Has Done"

Which Way Do You Sleep?

Last night I could not sleep very well, probably due to learning things about my son and his friends or partly due to my hip pain and foot pain. I kept trying different positions in bed. Which made me start thinking what really is the best way to sleep, for your back, neck and organs?

So I googled What is the proper way to sleep? I found these three:


Back Sleepers:

Yes, this is actually the preferred position to sleep because it places the least amount of stress to your spine-IF you:

Place a cervical roll or rolled-up towel under your neck. Make sure that your head is in a neutral position (that you are neither looking up or down). If you find that you cannot be “in neutral” then you need a smaller roll.

Place a pillow under your knees-This takes stress off
of your lower back. You could buy a special pillow for this, but a
regular pillow works just fine.

Side Sleepers:

If you sleep on your side, then follow these tips to minimize the
amount of stress to your spine.

Use a cervical pillow-Ideally, the pillow should take into account how wide your shoulders are-the wider your shoulders, the taller the pillow should be. This is because you want to keep your neck in a neutral position.Place a pillow between your knees. Not only will this feel more comfortable, if you have hip joint pain-this definitely helps.Try not to sleep on your side with your arm up over your head-this causes stress on the nerves that come out of the neck and into the arms and cause tingling or numbness down the arms.

Belly Sleepers:

This position places the most stress on your neck.
In this position you have your head turned to one side or the other for hours at a time. This is quite stressful to your neck muscles and joints.

Your body will try to shift your position to compensate. This is why people who toss and turn the most are belly sleepers.

To sleep more comfortably(belly sleepers):

Place a pillow under your waist, and do not use a pillow for your head.

Well, I decided last night before I read the above, that I like to sleep on my side and I do use a pillow between my knees, while I also love to sleep on my back but I have the tendency to put my arms above my head, so I try to tuck my arms in my pajamas to keep them down.

And while I'm awake in all this deciding moments, I try to pray for what's really on my mind, sleeping positions or my adult children, my husband, or Christmas? When my mind gets so cluddered, I try and force myself to Look in His Eyes, and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim.

How do you sleep? Maybe next time, I'll get into my position and sing to myself the Doxology. Prasie God, from whom al blessings flow; Prasie Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heanly host; Prasie Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN

Peace be with you.

Monday

When someone calls you and tells you your son is doing things he shouldn't or he is hanging around someone that is doing things he shouldn't, what do you do?

Well, I could feel it's all my fault or I could focus on Jesus. I've had a few moments to feel sad and talk to my son. Now, I'm going to wait for my husband to come home, so we can talk.

I've been in so much pain lately with my leg, but the pain in my heart seems broken too, when your children choose to do things they shouldn't this may just hurt worse.

I love the song "Tammy's In Love", so sweet and smooth, I even remember watching the movie a long time ago. I love the part where she says if she was in his arms she would sing like a violen.

My heart sings so joyfully. Debbie Debbie is in love. Jesus knows what I'm dreaming of is my children to love you so, I wish they could just feel what I feel. Just like the song. I pray for the ripple effect to pour onto them.

I feel Jesus loves me, I want to be in His arms. Debbie Debbie is in love.

Peace it's Christmas time.

I'm feeling a little better

There is power in prayer, and power in seeing God's face. Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His wonderful face. Yes, that is what I did, and prayer is what you did.
God is good, no matter what we go through. Sometimes it's just hard to tune out the pain and the hurts and the sad things going on around us, but we have to tune them out and see His face that is what counts.
Just the same we have to do with Christmas so many Santa's so many pretty decorations and lights and food and presents, but we have to tune them out and see His face that is what counts.
Jesus is the reason for Christmas, God gave Him to us to bear all our sins now and our future sins, and He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us each day to focus on Him.
The trinity is what I believe in.
Which reminds me of the word Believe. I've been hearing it a lot from our pastor too. We are studying in the book of Romans.
I would like a sign that says Believe, and maybe someone will say; "Oh you believe in Santa?" and I will say; " I believe in Jesus, His Father our God, and the Holy Spirit lives right in my heart."

I'm feeling better, much better.
QB

Why is my pain unending?

Jeremiah 15:18
Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?

Job 33:19
Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones, so that his very being finds food repulsive.

Job 33:26
He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.

I have a sprained right quadricep according to the nice chiropractor in our town, it hurts tremendously. This time of year is not a good time to be a cripple. I want to decorate to clean and prepare nice meals, but by the evening time, my leg is so stiff and hurting I have to sit down.

Limping in Henry's grocery store, or hobbling alone the parking lots, while cars are letting me cross the road, is not fun. I'm in pain constantly, so much my pain in my heal is gone, which is another story.

Since June 2009, I have been in physical pain with a bone spur, the doctors call it something else, but oh it did hurt severely. Now my hip and groin area are so sore, that I have to take two Aleve's in the morning and two in the evening. I'm trying to ice it every three hours or so, but I'm still in pain.

I know I must relax and quit questioning God or asking why? May my Lord, be gracious to me and have compassion please heal my hurting leg.

May this wound be a Romans 8:28 may I See God like Job did, may I see your face and know everything is going to be okay. May I remember in Christ Alone my hope is found, He will do to me whatever he wants to do to me, I will always be His for His purpose. I do know Him, I'm just in pain.


QB

Plan on six small meals spread throughout the day to prevent hunger

I'm going to try and loose 50 pounds, with a hurt leg too. I have not been able to exercise due to a bone spur in my heal, now a sprained quad, resulting in lots of extra pounds on my body. I'm feeling weak and sad about my looks. Today I decided to count my calories keep it at 1200 calories a day, and when my leg feels better, I will add in more exercise.

It sounds silly starting just nine days till Christmas but I feel the time is right and if I blow it on Christmas eve or day, I will not be too sad about it.

My goal today is to plan six small meals for me.

I keep talking about blooming for the King, well I need to start treating this flower with good food and water.

QB

My Orange Trees

The Spanish brought oranges to their settlement at St. Augustine, Florida in 1565 and by 1579 the groves were flourishing. Again the native people of the area became enthusiastic about oranges, planting them in their own groves and also carrying them as food on hunting trips. Today 9 out of 10 oranges grown in Florida is processed into juice. California produces the most eating oranges in the U.S.

With that bit of history about oranges I do believe it to be true, my oranges in my back garden are delicious eating oranges. We have three orange trees, they seem to be the ripest during Christmas time. We enjoy our oranges as dessert or as orange juice. I was thinking maybe this year I might make marmalade, but they taste so sweet already.

I planted one orange tree in honor of my hubby's father Frank. Being from England he was always outside when he came to visit. He liked getting his picture taken in front of our lemon tree or our orange trees.

I love orange tree blossoms too, in the late spring my trees give off the sweet smell of orange blossoms mmmm good.

I think I'll go eat another orange.

My trees are blooming for the queen of the French Family.

QB

Fill My Family With Christ

Christmas time is a good time for me to share Christ with others. It's a time I can be an example in my home with my decorations, most of all with my actions. Dear Heavenly Father, fill my family with Christ, use me for your teachings. May my family hear your inward call for them to come to You, everyday by using me.

Our family shares Christmas hospitality, we rotate between homes for our family gatherings during Christmas time. This year it is at my home, I have asked for it to be on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. I have invited my Dad and my Mom, and my sisters and brothers and all their children, to come to our home church this Christmas Eve. After church I will have soup in my crock pot and hot warm bread for them when they come over. We will eat dinner and Christmas desserts, and play games, while we enjoy each other.

Eagerly I want them all to come to my home church, "Grace Church", I know my sinful nature will be sad and resentful if they do not attend. This morning I am preparing myself to pray for wisdom, and for Jesus to keep teaching me in my heart, and for the Holy Spirit to give me power to be the example God wants me to be, to fill my family with Christ. I am praying for myself to keep calm, and happy. I must remember if it is God's will they will come to church.

I see things different than some of my family, I'm not better than they are, I just see going to church with Grandma and Grandpa, could be the last time, or all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins, could be a joyful time to praise and worship God. My heart's desire wants this to happen to make it a special and unique Christmas Eve. I tried to explain that to one sister, but she kept saying do not get your hopes up.

Which made me think of our family verse of this year "2009" is Romans 5:5 "Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."

I found a website that said I can make my own Christmas cards for free and only pay shipping of $3.50, since I'm trying to be frugal with our money, I thought this would be a great thing. I put Romans 5:5 on our Christmas cards, this wonderful verse that shows the Holy Spirit is living in our hearts, and God will never disappoint us.

Whoever believes will be saved, may I never neglect the larger scope for God's plan.
May I lavishly serve, show, and share others the gospel this Christmas Eve. Fill my family with Christ.

Bloom for the KING!
QB

Look above the Trees

I'm looking above the Trees to see God's Glory.

Have a blessed day.
Bloom for our KING!
QB

Taking a Blog Break

I am going to take a break from my blog. I'm trying to de-clutter, spring clean, most of all, make my life simpler with less. "Less is More" Right? In doing all these things, I need to take a break from my blog.

I thought I was going to transition into the corporate world like my DH, but our precious Father in heaven has other plans for me, He seems to be keeping me at home, exactly where I want to be!

Being a housewife is a very important position, of all. I have many hats. Speaking of many hats, I must be going...........smile

Bloom For the KING!
QB

Home

My husband has a new job! He will go again into the corporate world. He would rather have his own environmental busines but God had different plans for our lives. A door was closed a new one has opened, which seems even better for us. During this poor economical time, God opened a wonderful door for my DH!

God has opened a great door for my husband, and has taught me to be a more frugal wife with the gifts he has given us. I need to be home for my family, and for God's purpose to nurture and keep our home a place of peace. A place to take care of for our family of five.

I found this poem on a friend's blog. The alliteration in the first line gives the metaphor and is repeated throuhgout the poem. Having almost to go out and get a job in the outside world scared me, this poem touched my heart with a thankful heart. This poem says what the anxieties were in my mind.

If you prayed for our situation, Thank YOU>>>God has given us peace upon our shoulders.

HOME
by William Alexander Percy

I have a need of silence and of stars;
Too much is said too loudly; I am dazed.
The silken sound of whirled infinity
Is lost in voices shouting to be heard.
I once knew men as earnest and less shrill.
An undermeaning that I caught I miss
Among these ears that hear all sounds save silence,
These eyes that see so much but not the sky,
These minds that gain all knowledge but no calm.
If suddenly the desperate music ceased,
Could they return to life? or would they stand
In dancers’ attitudes, puzzled, polite,
And striking vaguely hand on tired hand
For an encore, to fill the ghastly pause?
I do not know. Some rhythm there may be
I cannot hear. But I oh, I must go
Back where the breakers of deep sunlight roll
Across flat fields that love and touch the sky;
Back to the more of earth, the less of man,
Where there is still a plain simplicity,
And friendship, poor in everything but love,
And faith, unwise, unquestioned, but a star,
Soon now the peace of summer will be there
With cloudy fire of myrtles in full bloom;
And, when the marvelous wide evenings come,
Across the molten river one can see
The misty willow-green of Arcady.
And then the summer stars … I will go home.

Thank Him for the Thorns

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks when she pulled open the florist shop door, against an April gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Easter week and the time she should have delivered their infant son.

She grieved over their loss. Troubles had multiplied. Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.

"She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder. "Easter, Thanksgiving, Holidays? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life, but took her child's?"

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk.

"I.... I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.

"For Easter? Do you want the beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the "Easter Special"? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Easter?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, there were no flowers. "Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again." She said, as she gently tapped her chest.

Sandra stammered, "Ah, that lady just left with, uh.... she left with no flowers!"

"That's right", said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Easter Thorns Bouquet."

"Oh, come on! You can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do, today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery." "That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I NEVER questioned Him why those GOOD things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, "WHY? WHY Me?!" (emphasis mine) It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!"the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Easter arrangement...twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"

"No... I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem. The Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny, here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem"and give thanks for what that problem taught us." As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too... fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "My experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow looks much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns....

Different Seasons

Reading Psalms for they comfort me, while giving me peace about new upcoming changes in our household. My husband has had a decline in his business, and it looks like I have to get a job. I do not want to get a job, but I have to. To be a helpmeet for my husband, and to do what my husband feels will help him.

I struggled with this for a long time. Because I feel the greatest career for a woman is staying at home. Keeping her home and family comfortable. A place for peace and relaxation.

A different season is coming my way after being a housewife for over twenty years.

I need prayer to help my anxiety go away. To trust God, He took care of me in the past He can take care of me in my new future.

I have made all kinds of frugal decisions, our gardener is gone but we have no lawn mower, our plumber is needed for we have no hot water at our kitchen sink. My brakes on my car need to be replaced. The best decision has been to cancel cable, we have been reading more. All these changes but, I still need to work outside the home.

I do wish I had a home business,never started one.

I will still work for my KING, wherever that may be.
QB

Love Today

LOVE YOUR HUSBAND. Love your Children!
You have no idea just how long or how short a time you will
have with him or them. So far as it depends on you... walk in love.
Be pleasant. Be faithful. Today is ALL you've got.

Just Love, that's my focus today, is to love..............

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Bloom for your KING!
QB

Women on Their Knees

I was cleaning and organizing some paperwork and I found something very dear to my heart. During my first year of marriage, my sweet and precious Mother, gave to me, a small notebook on, "How to pray for your Husband in 31 days", by Peggy Nyquist.

I'm trying to eliminate paper around the house, so I thought I would put this on my blog to save, for you, and for my daughter, Laura Beth. I'll write a day at a time, at the same time while typing, I will pray for my darling husband, and for my boys, Daniel, 23 years old, and James, 16 years old.

Praying according to God's Word is praying according to His will, and then we can ask with confidence.
Day 1 & 16

"Just as water is turned into irrigation ditches, so the Lord directs the king's thoughts. He turns them wherever He wants them to go." Proverbs 21:1

"And I will give them one heart and mind to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good for all their descendants." Jeremiah 32:39

" I will give them hearts that respond to me. They shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with great joy." Jeremiah 24:5

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Regarding God:

Ask God to give _______________a strong, unsatisfiable desire.....
... to know and learn about God.
... to know what the Bible says.

Ask God to give_______________
... a good heart toward God so he will want to obey Him- II Chron. 29:19
... a deep desire to become a Godly man

Ask God to reveal Himself in all His wonder and power and glory to __________________________

Ask God to give _______________________a heart that responds. Deuteronomy 30:6

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Regarding the family:

Ask God to give____________________________...
...A desire o be a good husband and father
...A desire to be an active example to his family of a Godly man

Ask God to make ____________________willing to make any sacrifices necessary to become this kind of example

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These requests are so important so I try to always pray this page along with the corresponding page that goes with the day of the month.

Thursday's Thoughts

In Tending Your Garden, Denise Sproul, wife of homeschool speaker R.C. Sproul Jr. and mother of seven children, seeks to encourage wives and mothers to be about the business of helping their husbands to exercise godly dominion, and to help raise up in their children godly seed for the building of His kingdom.


My Birthday is coming up next month, so I decided to make a list of books I want to read and this one is the first on my list, especially because the title is what I always say. "Bloom where you are planted" I love the title "In Tending Your Garden".

I'm going to make a list of at least ten books to read for "Spring Reading". How about you? What books do you have on your list?

Bloom for our KING!
QB

"Withoutdoors" Wednesday

This picture is of my daughter Laura Beth, smelling my roses.

Last summer I was asked to help out at my sister Renee's work. She works for a company that plans meetings for her boss to come and speak at conventions for the leaders in the hotel business.

I was in charge to organize someones desk, and to find out why she was so unorganized. This lady gave her notice to leave, so the time of was the essence. Not even her boss knew exactly what she was doing? Anyway, they needed someone right away to oversee her position because, everyone else in the office had so many duties to attend to.

Renee asked if I could help her out. I said sure, this will be fun for a change, and my husband does work at home, I'll do it. But it was hard to be in an office all day. I was happy to help out but unhappy. I couldn't figure out why I felt so closed in, then it hit me, I missed my garden.

At home, I work in and out of the home. I walk to and fro from my kitchen to my garden, all day long. I was free. I have a hammock for when it's time to read. There is even a trampoline outside for a jump or two. I could watch the hummingbird fly or the chickadee talk to our dog. In other words, I could stop and smell the roses, anytime I wanted to.

Since yesterday, was "T" day, I thought of today for Wednesday, to be "Withoutdoors".
My gardening day. My day to walk the dog, my day to enjoy outside especially since it is not raining today.

We do not have a gardener for the "E" word, EXERCISE for my darling hubby and myself.

I will be weeding, pruning, bending, pulling while throwing the ball around with our doggy, "Louie". I will be exercising, and James will be out there too.

I love being at home, free to walk with God and His creation, Withoutdoors.

Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you. (Genesis 13: 14-15)

I am very thankful for my garden. Thank you God.

Bloom for your KING!

QB

Toilet Tuesday

I call my Monday's my laundry days, why not call my Tuesday's my toilet cleaning days? As a housewife I find it fun when I have designated days for each part of the house and it's more interesting when I use "T" for my subject of the day, like Toilet Tuesday's. Laundry Monday's do not match, but it has always been that way for me.

Yesterday I was busy ironing, washing and drying our family clothes, while I put on the TV. My no stress days are my Mondays. I look forward to them because I know what is expected of me. I usually put something in the crock pot, so I do not have to think about dinner and I can smell savory aromas through out my day. I had a very enjoyable day yesterday. I was tired by 9:00pm but I sure felt good about my accomplishments, for my husband to have crisp iron shirts and nicely folded clothes in his dresser.

As for today, my chore of the day besides making sure James my 11Th grade son, is doing his school work, is in between our studies I will tackle our four toilets. Which is a very important job to keep us healthy and our environment in our home clean without bacteria. Scrubbing and cleaning these useful things which we cannot live without, my Toilet Tuesday's. I will think about doing it for my King, without complaining.

I remember reading a long time ago about Elisabeth Elliot telling her story when she first arrived in Ecuador. One of her duties was to clean the toilets. She said this is missionary work, she will do this for Jesus.

Mentors

Recently, I read a comment from my friend Marie, she said, "We dont' always get to pick our children's mentors. And coaches are definitely mentors whether they like it or not."

That is so true, last year coach Lyle was James' coach, he trusted him and looked up to him, and when he found out Cocah Lyle was not going to be there his senior year in high school, he was very sad to the point of not wanting to play.

I did tell Coach Lyle how James felt and this was his reply;

Your loyalty to me, and the staff is commendable. However, you only have one pass at playing High School Football. It is a wonderful experience as you know. Never let others dictate, motivate or change what you believe. Your source of wisdom and guidance is Jesus Christ. So, you should be getting your teammates together, and rather than focusing on the past, focus on the future; rather than focusing on Coach Lyle, focus on Jesus Christ. You should develop a prayer list that (1) God brings the right coach to Calvary, (2) God continues to guide the football program, and (3) your teammates learn to love one another. I am sure there is more – like a championship! But you all need to get together and pray!!! Make it a celebration, a new beginning. You know our verse James 1:12 – live it! You will look back on this and draw upon it for the rest of your life – “all things work together for the good – for those who love Him”. (Ro 8:28)

This is about your relationship with Christ, and your openness to following His lead! Do not let Satan destroy Calvary Football! Get your teammates together, quit complaining or threatening to quit and be part of what God is going to do with you, your teammates and Calvary Football. Love one another, and make a statement – a great witness for Jesus Christ!


Finally, I want you to know that I love you all! I will miss going to battle with you next year.


Coach Lyle

The following day James got some team mates together and prayed by the flag pole for their new coach.

Yes, coaches are our children's mentors.

Thanks Marie, for bringing this attention to me.

Let's pray together for Godly mentors next year in football.

QB

Saturday Rugby Game

Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.
~Louisa May Alcott


I stay at home most of the week, so I'm looking forward today to watch James play rugby, while I leave my cozy warm home.

It is a cold wet and windy day, but they still go out and play. James plays for the U19 team today at 11:30AM

He loves this game and has recruited about three of his football friends to join the San Clemente Rugby Club with him the GATORS!

I must go get ready, make some coffee for the ride and wake up hubby.......

Smile for Jesus.

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, I must keep that in my mind at all times. I must remember what He did for me, I am beautifully and wonderfully made. I lost ten pounds but I'm going to try and not to focus too much on my diet, but to remember oh how much He loves ME!

God thank you for giving me your son, and for giving me my husband and my children. You love me so much you gave me your son, so that I may live. I Love you. Happy Valentine's Day God.

I want to start everyday remembering you LOVE ME!

Thursday Thoughts

It's been easier for me while John has been gone, to eat simpler, for he loves his cookies and coffee. I'm picking him up tonight from the airport. His trip was not a social trip it was to attend his brother Michael's funeral. He helped carry the casket and he read Psalm 23 for the service. He is going to need a lot of comforting and rest when he gets home tonight. With my husband being gone, I had less sites of cookies around or the smell of coffee. Oh, he loves his coffee, and now I'm going to have to smell that wonderful aroma. It's going to get harder. I love coffee. I'm also missing my buttered popcorn. I make the air popped popcorn with my own butter almost ever other night. mm mm good Nope no more.

My mind is set to move on this time. I have been over weight for years, comfortable in my own "Flabala". (That's what my son Daniel calls it) "Flabala". Not until my sister Renee lost 80 pounds and my other sister Terri lost weight, did I decide that I needed to change too. Well, I think it took that mind set to do it. Many other times I have tried but my mind didn't seem to be on a goal of getting fit.

This time, because God has allowed me to suffer through my husband loosing work these past months, and my son's illness, I have been very depressed, eating more than ever before. Now, my mind is set for the New Year, a new beginning God is giving me to live and to change, to be happy in Him, to follow and pour my heart and soul into our KING!

I weighed myself this morning, I have lost six pounds, amazing huh? I have been keeping myself at home though. Cleaning and reorganizing closets etc. Keeping my mind off the world outside, and my popcorn.

Tomorrow is the day I'm taking my mother to Barstow, to visit my sister Colleen. She lives in Las Vegas, I live in Southern California, Barstow is our half way mark. We get a small Motel room, visit, do crafts or play games, go antiquing, and to be with each other for two days. How am I going to do? How is my mind going work then? Well, I hope good, I have faith in Jesus to help me through tomorrow. I will write again when I get back.

I pray my mind will be kept set on eating well for the road I'm on. I want to eat better to take care of my body, live happier, Love God.

One more thing, I haven't yet started an exercise routine, but I will soon.

Bloom For the KING!
QB

Cleaning the Office

Today I couldn't get out of bed because I was so cozy in our warm flannel sheets. My husband is in England so I got to stretch and move my arms and legs all around, it felt good. My headaches aren't as bad and my muscle aches are clearing up. Caffeine and sugar detoxing is uncomfortable, but my cozy bed made up for it today.

Anyway, I'm off to clean the office today and move things around so I can put a twin bed in there. We are having company come over next week, from North Carolina. My Aunt Karen and Cousin Kristin. They will be here the 12Th and 13Th of January.

Must clean the office, I want to paint this room someday, but for now it will have to do.

Busy Bee is signing off and ready to sweep........................
QB

New Year's Resolution

My New Year's resolution will be to loose weight. I have been struggling with my weight for about twenty years. After my daughter was born I gained 40 pounds, then went on "The Jenny Craig Diet". I lost all the 40 pounds of baby fat, but then gained it back and more. After my third and last baby was born I gained even more, went on to "Weight Watchers", lost some of my weight. At "WW" I did learn about portion sizes,and great recipes, good program but not for me. I eventually lost about 20 pounds, but I could not keep off the weight, with my poor eating habits.

This year I'm going to try something different, I'm going to use "The Fast Track Detox Diet" by Ann Louise Gittleman. I have a caffeine addiction and a sugar addiction, which I know both can be very harmful with large intakes. I want and will be prayerfully going through a detox of both.

My first day was January 1st of no coffee in the morning, or at lunch or at my usual time at 4:00PM everyday. A very slight headache at first, but oh the following day was horrible, headaches all day, I had to take three naps during the day. My third day I gave in and had one cup in the morning with organic half and half. I felt much better during that day. Well today is my fourth day, I'm drinking Eleotin tea for my morning cup.

As for results, after eating only meat and salads, eggs and smoothies, I haven't lost much weight and I'm very uncomfortable with muscles aches,not sleeping well, but I'm not going to quit. If I'm going through so much aches and pains while taking in no sugar or coffee or wheat, my liver must be very ill.

My beginning weight is 185 pounds, I'm 5'6 3/4 " tall, I'm 50 years old and showing signs of age in my face. I'm on the road to learn more about how to boost my metabolism and to get rid of the fattening toxins.

I'm going to bloom for The KING! Next step exercise!

QB