ADDED 12.03.07  A friend sent me this so I thought I would do an add on here to share it with you.  It is the story of a little girl who lost her dog so she writes a letter to God and mails it.  Then she gets a reply back.  God uses us to do his work.  Are you being used?

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I   hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim.  I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven.  We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven.  That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at  the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had

Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.  Abbey loved being your dog.  Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother
you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God

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I think this is a topic that stirs emotion in a lot of people.  Either you love pets and hope to see them again one day or you don't care for pets and think that thinking of it is silly.  I have listed a good link below that I found quite interesting.  I don't believe we will know THE answer to this question until the time that we die.  And, when that time comes God will certainly bless us regardless.  I do think this question is one that God does not spell out for us in scripture.  If it is important to us, then we should go to him in prayer and seek a peace that only he can give.  We no longer have a pet, but we have had special ones through the years.  When I think of heaven I don't see animals everywhere like a farm or a park.  I think of heaven as full of the Light and the glory of God.  I'm not saying that pets are not there, I would love that...I think we learn a lot from our pets.  So, you just never know about what we might find in heaven.  If it is a place for only souls that are saved through salvation then...chances are...no pets because they don't make that choice.  If it is a place for those who are saved and the good things God created then they will be running along side us.  The important thing here is that the only way we will know is if WE are there.  That is another topic for another day.

http://www.pet-loss.net/heaven.html

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Find of the day is this nifty (does this word show my age?) little soap brush.  You put dish soap in the base and then pump it a couple a times to get just enough soap to scrub the dish!

Dear God, 
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I   hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim.  I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. 
Love, Meredith.

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays In your heart.  Abbey loved being your dog.  Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love. Love, God 
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Did anyone read the obituary in Tuesday's Plainview, Texas paper (www.myplainview.com)?  Two brothers, from Plainview, died in an oil rig accident in Odessa.  A third brother was working the same rig, but had left the site, thus his life was spared.  Their sister had died a little over a year ago and another brother had died earlier.  Four children in one family, three in about a year.  That must be so difficult to comprehend in an earthly mind.  But, as always God provides us a promise.  In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  Losing someone is not a temptation in itself, but our emotional reaction or outward witness is a choice.  We can be tempted to not be a witness or we can go to God for recovery and let him shine through us.  This is easy for us to say as believers.  What about those who don't know the Way, the Truth and the Light?  We need to be there for them, more than ever. 

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Find of the day is this great fake window!!!  Not for sale yet, but it will be.

Here is a shot of our 3 in one Christmas light rings representing the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Light of the world. In John 1:4-5 the Word says, In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  Since God sent Jesus to us for us to follow, and he is the light, it goes without saying that we should be a light, too.  In Matthew 5:14-16 the scripture says, You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.   God sent his son to allow us the opportunity to have eternal life.  He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him.  Let's remember this as we celebrate Christ-mas!!!

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Find of the day is this multi-colored light bulb with remote.  Now this looks fun!!!

I got our outside lights up today.  I love the warm glow of big lights in multi colors.  They remind me of the colors of the holiday! 

My "greenhouse" is working.  I water the plants about every two weeks and they survived the freeze!

Look who was looking into our house...little window peeper!!!

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Find of the day are these cute little pins that would add that special touch for someone special!!!

:o) Let me give you a quick update on our friends Ilhan & Fusun.  He got a heart today.  The surgery went well and he is doing okay tonight.  Of course, he is hooked up and sedated, but he has a new heart and they now can move forward.  Continue to pray for them. 

What do we do with all the (peppermint) candy canes we get during the season or for that matter all year long at the Sonic!  Well, Phyllis to the resue with recipes & fun.

CANDY CANE COCOA

Ingredients:

4 cups milk
3 ounces chocolate, chopped
4 red-and-white-striped peppermint candies, crushed
4 small red-and-white-striped candy canes
whipped cream

Directions: In a saucepan bring the milk to a simmer.  Add the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies and whisk until smooth.  Divide hot cocoa between four mugs garnish with whipped cream and serve with a candy cane stirring stick.  Makes 4 servings

CANDY CANE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
3 Tbsp margarine, melted
1 ea envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
16 oz soft philly cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup crushed candy canes
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
3 oz milk chocolate candy bars, chopped

Directions: Combine wafer crumbs and margarine and press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.  Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add gelatin, milk and candy canes, mixing until blended, chill until slightly thickened but not set. Fold in whipped cream and chocolate.  Pour over crust. Chill until firm.  Garnish with additional whipped cream combined with crushed peppermint candies, if desired.

CANDY CANE FUDGE PIE

Ingredients:

24 chocolate cookies, crushed
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup candy canes, crushed

Directions:  Combine cookies and melted butter or margarine. Press into 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Cool.  Put 3 cups marshmallows in a double boiler. Add milk, and cook until mixture melts and thickens. Cool in refrigerator for about 15 minutes.  In another bowl, whip the cream. Blend in the crushed candy canes and remaining 1 cup marshmallows. Fold whipped cream mixture into melted and cooled marshmallow mixture.  Pour into crust, and chill well before serving.  Makes 1 - 9 inch pie

But, let me share with you all about the candy cane...

Look at the candy cane

What do you see?

Stripes that are red

Like the blood shed for me.

White is for my savior

Who’s sinless & pure!

“J” is for Jesus my Lord, that’s for sure!

Turn it around

And a staff you will see

Jesus my shepherd

Was born for me!!!

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Find of the day is this great new book.  Why not buy books for all on your Christmas list this year.  I'm guessing they won't get more than one!!!  Here ya go...

Today is our precious baby girl's 27th birthday.  Can you believe it???  This picture I found going through some of her "memorabilia" today.  What precious times we have had with her.  Isn't this a precious picture of her dancing as Clara in the Nutcracker!  Kids are great aren't they?  They are God's special gift to us and I just can't imagine my life without these precious memories...the ones past and those that God has planned!!!

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Find of the day is this cute, cute dust pan & broom!!!  A Squirrel!!! 

The Christmas season is not my favorite time of year.  Easter is!  I do love and cherish the reason for the season, but I do not enjoy the commercialism of the holiday.  The stress of buying gifts is very overwhelming to me.  I prefer to do things throughout the year and not all at one time.  I LOVE to give gifts...just when God leads me to do something special for another, not because it is expected or demanded by the world. 

Yes, I am done with our Christmas shopping and no, it was not the most fun I've ever had.  We, like most, give gifts that really won't be liked or appreciated, to those who prefer gift cards or cash, WHICH are NOT appropriate gifts.  (I have done that in the past and it is easy, I must say, but there is really no thought, feeling or emotion behind that.)

I will never forget the Christmas that we did not do gifts for our family.  I must have been around junior high age and was shocked when my mother told me that we were forgoing gifts for ourselves and taking a family to Sear's to buy them Christmas that year.  It was the BEST Christmas EVER.  Part of the joy in it was that the family was actually there and I got to help the kids pick out whatever they wanted.  I did not know them and they did not know me.  I don't even know if they knew that we were "sacrificing", but it was just so impacting that I know that is why all this other "commercialism" brings me great frustration.

I know God is nudging at my soul to do more for others than for us.  We do all the typical giving to the offerings in Plainview during the holidays, but is that enough?  I'm praying about where God is leading...are you?

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Find of the day is this really cool storage container...

The word nativity is defined as:

1. The birth of Jesus.
2. A representation, such as a painting, of Jesus just after birth.
3. Christmas.

The synonyms for nativity are:

bearing, beginning, birthing, blessed event*, childbearing, childbirth, creation, delivery, labor, nascency, natality, parturition, producing, travail

I don't know about you, but we have a nativity.  It is from Fontanini and we have collected the pieces through the years.  As I sit out the different pieces it makes me wonder how it was that night long, long ago.  How would we have felt about a baby being born to save the world?  What if we were Mary?  I can only imagine her pain and her joy of giving birth to the one who would die for my sins.  She knew God's plan, but did she really?  I think her gift was faith...she lived each day knowing that God would give her direction and through her faithfulness, bless her.  That is my desire...to follow God's lead of stepping out in faith so that others might know his Joy. 

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I found these steps at http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Thankful

1. Pay attention to the people around you. You will find that everybody has something to worry or complain about, not just you. It's easy to focus on those who seem to have it all, but you never know what's going on inside. They might look happy, but they might be miserable as well. Don't look at others and think "I should have it like they do." Look at those who aren't as fortunate as you are and take note of blessed you are. Count your blessings. If it helps, consider volunteering or start a relationship with someone who is not as fortunate and find small or gradual ways to help them.
2. Practice acceptance. Stop dwelling on how things should be, what could've been, and what you don't have. Recognize what you do have--whether you like it or not, it's yours to keep or to change. Accepting your lot in life is not about resigning yourself to unhappiness. It's about not wasting time wishing for what you don't have.
3. Become a problem solver. Use your lemons to make lemonade. Get in the habit of asking yourself how you can turn the negative into a positive. The most successful people in life, and those who have the most to be grateful for, are also those who've endured tremendous trials and managed to persevere and turn it all around.
4. Learn to see hardship as a chance to develop character. Imagine yourself looking back ten years from now and recounting your difficult circumstances, and being proud of how you handled it and worked through it.
5. Develop a gratitude journal. It's pretty simple. At the end of every day, write down five things that have made you happy or appreciative that day; not necessarily big things, even small ones count.
   • For example: 1) nice weather, 2) being thanked by a customer at work, 3) my pet, 4) having people who love me, 5) a funny joke or a song you like.
6. Take joy in the small things. Blow bubbles. Walk the dog. Get lost in the park. Goof off or watch a funny movie and have a good laugh. Life's treasures are the small pleasures; give thanks for each small gift you receive!

Pretty good reading.  BUT, then I was looking further and found the following...on how to find peace.

1. Find a quiet, shady space. it can be anywhere (including outside) and get yourself comfortable..
2. Sit in a relaxed position on the ground or mat if outside.
3. Put your hands on your lap, or any comfortable position.
4. Close your eyes.
5. Focus carefully on your breathing.
6. Think about a long winding river and try and achieve stillness
7. Notice how much easier it is to concentrate when you are done and how you feel much, much happier.
8. Practice this more, you will get better.

Okay, I really don't believe finding a quiet, shady place and being still ALONE will bring peace.  I believe there is more!!!  Read Hebrews 3...

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Find of the day is this "lump of coal' for those in your life who deserve it!!!  

Or for your reindeer...

and for Santa...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and to get you in the mood for CHRISTMAS...check this out!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9568977582

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Find of the day...this great camera with a fisheye lens.  I'm getting it!!!