in His hands

Brr...

It is cold and the wind is getting carried away, if you ask me!  The only good thing is that it is blowing our leaves out of the yard.  I know, all our neighbor's leaves will end up in our yard before it is all said and done!

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We still do not have nursery furniture for baby Adelyn.  The store where they bought it is delivering some next Wednesday that was pulled from employee lawaways!  They have been more than nice.

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Kayci Ketchersid is having twin boys!

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Amanda Jill is having her boy this next week!!!

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Clinton is sick with a bad cold.  I better not get it!!!  I tried to get Aaron to let him go stay with him, but he is well now!  Thanks!!! ;o)

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You see the space shuttle lift off tonight?  Pretty cool stuff!!!

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This is TC and Brant.  Brant has been living in Sweden since August, I think.  He was staying a year, but he would be behind a semester and he wants to get done at UT so, he will be home before the Spring semester.  It has been a loonngg time!

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My Fresh Find today are these adjustable heel shoes.  Yes, adjustable heels!  All us women need these!!!

 

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Happy Birthday Carolyn!

Carolyn's birthday is on Friday, but we celebrated tonight.  We started at Cowgirl Cottage where we made jewelry and then headed to Broadway Brew for coffee & birthday cake.  Here are a few pictures...

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I came across this great leather handbag site over at Etsy.  They are my Fresh Find today.  Here is one of their handbags.

Surgery changes things...

A dear friend of ours had an emergency surgery last evening.  I went to the hospital to sit with my dear friend, his wife, while he was having it done.  We just visited and soon he was brought back into the room.  He was hurting, but such a trooper.  His humor never left him, which I found amazing! Not too long and he was on his way home.  Still recovering and following up with tests, he is feeling pretty good today!  God is good.  We know that what we face in this life he will use for his glory!  We are only the vessel!!!

While we were sitting, his doctor came in and I must admit I have not favored this person based on some things that were not what I believe to be right & true.  You know what?  I still believe those things were wrong, but I changed my mind about him because of the care and attention he showed my friend!

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Added a new photo album today.  Clydesdales in Plain View...left sidebar.  Beautiful animals, from head to tail ;o) 

We all need to carry this around if we care about what is going on politically in our Nation.  My Fresh Find is this leather bound pocket Constitution.  Love it, love it!!!

My how things have changed...

My how things have changed.  Look at me in my stroller...

 

and look at our Adelyn's stroller...

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Are you wanting some personal security?  My Fresh Find today offers that in a fingerprint door lock with deadbolt!

Mother Helen...

My dear high school friend Linda was in town today from Norman, Oklahoma.  She wasn't here for a fun visit, but to bury her mother, Helen.  Judy, Linda's sister lives in Plainview and was their mom's primary helper.  Both I consider friends.

I first met Helen in high school when Linda and I became friends.  She was my kind of mom because she didn't mind teasing with me AND she put up with me!

I remember when they returned to Plainview and opened Dargan's on the Square.  We got back in touch then and from that time on she has been in and out of my life.

We worked together at Gabriel's when I would Christmas wrap for them or when we did inventory.  We both have the same work ethic and that made us "partners" in many tasks.  Yes, we were partners in crime at times, too!!!  I think we may have played a few pranks in our time!!!

You can tell that I have wonderful, wonderful memories of Helen and of her family of which she was more than proud!!!  I do have to say that she brightened up especially when we talked about her grandkids.  Nothing made her smile more than that.

I saw Helen just a week or so ago and I remember thinking how pretty she looked and that she looked really good.  I'm glad I got to see her then.  I'm glad that I know that she is a child of God's and through her acceptance of Jesus Christ she is enjoying the promise of Eternal Life!!!

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Your Fresh Find today is this great new fun bag, the Polli.  I think it is more for Spring and Summer, but that will be here soon! 

 

You can buy these little extras to change it up, too!

Can You Trust the Bible?

Oh my goodness.  If you missed the worship time at FBC this morning then I suggest you catch it mid week. 

If you can’t then here is a little bit from my notes…

Dr. Hartbrought a message on, “Can you trust the Bible?’  Based on scripture from Psalm 19:7, it was a most factual and reaffirming message.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

There are 66 books in the Word.  That is 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.  There are 40+ authors of these books.  Beginning with being written in Hebrew, Arabic and Greek, these books comprised 1500 years.

It ends up with the same message.

The Bible is the most published book and the printing press was created to print the Bible.

The Bible is translated in about 2600 languages with linguists working on the remaining 500 languages so that ALL may hear of the Savior!

No book has been persecuted like the Bible – yet it survives!

There are over 2500 Biblical prophecies with over 2000 having been fulfilled.  332 prophesies have been fulfilled relating to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

The wonderful thing about the Bible is it is personal.  It judges our heart and touches us individually.

The Bible is the only book that WILL change your life if you let it.

James I. Packer wrote, “One of the many divine qualities of the Bible is this: that it does not yield its secrets to the irreverent and censorious.”  He also said, "If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible."

We can agree that there could be glossal discrepancies that have occurred over time, but the core, basic meaning of God’s word has not been altered.

The Truth will come to you through it.  From the Divine inspirer, through the Holy Spirit, the Word was given to human agents and it comes to us as a guide to live by.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.    2 Timothy 3:16

The Bible is the pathway we walk on to get to God.  Through it he teaches, rebukes, corrects, trains and delivers us [Believers] to righteousness.

There are many things that are factual regarding the Bible.  There are many things that we just don’t understand.  What I do know is that the Bible, Gods divine word, has been my guide on how to live in today’s world and to know peace doing it.  The Word has redirected me when I have not been on the correct path and has grown my relationship with Christ through those times.  It is my acceptance of a simple plan laid out in God’s word, accepting Jesus as my Savior, which allows me these privileges.   I know the end of the story for me as a Believer…eternal life with God. 

I want this for you, my friend!

I would say that I totally 100% trust the Bible.  It is 100% true.  It has 100% changed my life.  God is 100%

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Here is Chrissa at 5 weeks to delivery of baby Adelyn.  Isn't she pretty?

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My Fresh Findare these great alphabet blocks.  They are available in many other languages, as well.

Sharp + Word = Hope

This wire is sharp and serves as a sign of danger to those it protects.

The Word is hope and serves as a guide to those it protects.

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My Fresh Find today is most unique.  It is an "upper case" scarf.  I love different design aspects and this certainly is different.  You can wear it or you can decorate with it.  Comes in white and black.  Fun!!!

Lollipop lollipop oh lolli lollipop...Lollipop!

I bought me 2 new lollipop molds. I'm going to try something new with them. Here is a recipe Retha shared with me that she found online.

Makes 1 dozen

2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
Assorted candies and seeds, such as red and black licorice whips, candy corn, and hulled pumpkin seeds

Directions
Line three baking sheets with Silpat nonstick baking mats or parchment paper. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside.

Bring sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Don't stir, but occasionally wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent crystals from forming; boil until mixture turns golden and registers 300 degrees to 310 degrees (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, 5 to 7 minutes.

Immediately set pan into ice-water bath to stop the cooking (syrup will steam vigorously); let sit about 20 seconds. Swirl pan 2 minutes more to cool.
Working quickly, pour syrup onto baking sheets, forming circles (3 to 31/2 inches in diameter) and spacing pours about 4 inches apart .

Press in lollipop sticks.

With your fingertip or a wooden skewer, lightly press candies and seeds into syrup. Let stand until completely hardened and cooled.

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My Fresh Find are these great fish "bowl" bookends.  I guess you can leave out the books and watch the Beta fish flare!!!

Apology...

I offer my sincerest apology!  Really.  We so often don't apologize for our negative actions.  Speaking of negative actions...life is too short to be in a negative environment so, if you are...get happy somewhere else!!!  What we do everyday should honestly honor God.  We can't get to him if our hearts are burdened with unhappiness!!!

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Today my Fresh Find will share instructions for 500 things you just might need to know!  I think this book is a great one to add to your collection.

John & the Etter, Hopkins & Dayton "girls"...

This is my brother John (I wasn't born ;o) and our mother, to the left.  On the right is our grandmother, Lucy May Etter (Cranny) and our great-grandmother, Zoe Price Hopkins.  I mostly remember my great-grandmother as being ill.  She lived in Amarillo with her son Z. T. Hopkins where we would visit from time to time.  I did not know her well.

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Needing a different & lovely locket for someone special?  This one is my Fresh Find today!