He redeems even our darkest moments

Let go of whatever burden of regret you may harbor within your heart. The failed relationships, the lost opportunities, the wasted money, the unhealthy lifestyle choices, the reckless decisions--surrender them and trust that they happened for a reason you may never understand but must still accept as part of your journey. Because here's what you must realize: God did not arrange every single step of your life to this point to leave the weight of your future solely in your hands. ...He provides a blessing and a lesson in what seems to be random, because it's all part of your cultivation. With God, nothing is wasted. He redeems even our darkest moments by allowing us to become a prism of His light. -T. D. Jakes Crushing

Dear Reader, I know you have things you regret just as I do. We all have those things. It's part of living. Let's transfer the things that weigh us down from our hearts to God's Hands. Let's repent of our sins, surrender our hearts, and become moldable for His use. May each of us become "a prism of His light." Let's have the grace and humility to let those who have hurt and disappointed us find rest and growth in their lives too. 

Christmas 2021

the "polite" picture

the "fun" picture

Christmas Day Picts

Brandon

I told him he was turning into me.
He agreed! LOL!

a pretty dried flower arrangement in one hand and tools in the other

It describes her perfectly: She is a woman of intelligent femininity with practical and marketable skills.

Joshua was the emcee this year.
He is very good at managing things!

Caleb

I can't remember what I said, but it had him laughing.
It was probably something most people would find shocking.

That hat has nothing to do with cooking. 

She received that nickname after very stealthily winning an online game against several friends.

Emily loved the gift Amanda gave her.

Hannah, who recently turned 13, with Brandon's kitty, Ford, who Miracle adopted and raised for us. There's quite a story behind both of the cats. 

Forensic Evidence

After giving it some time, they fired the one my child helped investigate. No charges have been pressed. This person was into very dark and hateful things. Things that make people concerned for their safety at work. 

Please pray everyone and everything stays safe. Please pray the one fired comes to know Christ. Thank you to all who have been praying regarding this.

My jam this week...

TobyMac - Overflow 

You fill my cup up 'til it overflows
And it's the sweetest love
That I've ever known
So blow it on me, all that I need,
Deep down in my soul
Fill my cup up 'til it overflows

Overflows
Overflows

One, two, three, four
It ain't a glass half full or a glass half empty
It's running over, it can't fit me
Down every side through the ground
Mo' than enough to go around
So come and get it, come and get it while it's hot
Come and get it, come and get it nonstop
'Cause the only thing sweeter than a love song
Is singing a love that goes on and on and on and on

The rest of the lyrics are here.

Aloe Flowers

This year, my old aloe plant is giving me four flower spikes.
I am going to TRY to save some of the seeds.

Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. John 19:39

Fluvoxamine for CoVid

My friend was telling me that an SSRI she was on for depression was found to be 91% effective against CoVid. I wanted to know the name of the SSRI, so I did a little research. 

Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19

A Randomized Clinical Trial

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773108

COVID patients on SSRI antidepressants are less likely to die, study finds

Electronic health records compared outcomes for patients across the country

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211115123538.htm

Antidepressant may prevent severe COVID-19, follow-up study indicates

Low-cost drug lowers risk of hospitalizations, deaths

https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/antidepressant-may-prevent-severe-covid-19-follow-up-study-indicates/

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

 Merry CHRISTmas

to our family and friends near and far, 

old and new,

close and estranged 

from The Asbell Family!

Dear Reader, whoever you may be and wherever you are, I pray you are enjoying more than holiday music, decorations, and presents under the tree. I pray you are also embracing God's great love for you. May we all resolve to worship and live for Him as He deserves each and every day in this coming year. Let's celebrate the gift of Jesus and eternal life by loving each other today and every day.

Sunset

I had to stop what I was doing and just enjoy the breathtaking beauty around me.

We get such pretty sunsets here due to the York River.

This was taken over our newest barn.

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; 

You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. 

Psalm 65:8

Meals at Brandon's

Brandon likes cooking gourmet.

If you are his guest, you eat very well!

This is schnitzel chicken, red cabbage haggis, and a hassleback potato.

I forgot the type of cheese on the chicken.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Quail Feeders

I was only home for half a day when Emily told me we needed new no waste quail feeders.

For anyone looking to make one, you need a wide container because they will jump on top of them. The wider base keeps it from tipping when getting near empty. I used the red containers from two sets of these.

I melted holes at the top with my soldering iron. I used the bottle's cap as a template for the holes. I went back over the edges with the iron a little but didn't bother with it too much.

Most people would fuss with the rough edges. Some spend a lot of time using sandpaper. I see where wild quail live on my place. It's rugged and thorny. Those rough, but not sharp, edges have never hurt my quail. Why put a lot of time into something that is only going to get poop on it?

Quail like to shake their heads while they eat. They sling food all over the place. Their waste of feed is the biggest complaint most people have about them. You can reduce that waste with a feeder designed for them to stick their heads through in order to eat. This design works pretty well for us.

They asked, and He brought quail,

And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

Proverbs 105:40

Paths

I often take walks to talk with the Lord. I cherish that time. It is so easy for me to recharge in nature.These are two of the paths we have on our place.

You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. Nehemiah 9:6

Bethany does this...

I live with a bunch of goofballs, and it sure is fun!

It's the truth

This was Emily's hurried response to me after I asked her to check behind me to make sure I did not leave something undone before I left home. (Yes, she knows how to spell you're.) My response is the truth. I am not perfect or even close. I am redeemed!

Shake it off and step up

A farmer had an old mule who fell in an open hand dug well. He knew the mule was old and he was not able to get the mule out of the well, so he decided to just bury it in the well. He kept shoveling dirt into the well and it would land on the mule's back. The mule would just "shake it off and step up" with each shovel of dirt. Before long, the mule could walk out of the well. In situations that seem impossible to overcome, we need to "shake the dirt off our back and step up". Soon we will be out of the well we find ourselves in.-Author Unknown

Celebration in Lights Newport News 2021

There is so much to love about the Celebration in Lights drive-through Christmas light display in Newport News.

Clint and I learned years ago that if you go early in the season on a weeknight close to closing, there will be less traffic allowing you to take your time driving through. On the night we went, there were only three other cars. At one point, Clint parked perpendicular to/in the road, and we just sat there watching the lights.

Proud of Amanda!

Amanda was given an unexpected raise of nearly $3 an hour on top of the raises she has already received this year. We are very proud of her success!

Please pray for Timmy

Timmy needs to get a deer to fill his freezer.

Timmy is in the advanced stages of Muscular Dystrophy and hunts from his motorized wheelchair in the fields behind my home. He also drives that chair down his narrow and very curvy road to a dock and fishes to provide for himself. 

So far this hunting season, he has only been able to get one squirrel and three rabbits. 

I know he is worried about it because he is asking me daily if I have seen deer and where and what gender and size they are. He is also asking me to give him the weather radar when he is in the field because he wants to stay as long as possible to increase his chances. His cell phone does not connect to the internet, and he will get stuck if it rains. 

His chances at a deer were further eroded when a group of hunters from out of the area came here and ran their dogs through our rural neighborhood.

I am giving him some male Muscovy ducks I need to cull due to winter feed costs. I am also going to set my squirrel trap at a house that has an abundance of them and see if I can help him get some more of those.

My family will not allow Timmy to go without, but it is important to him to be able to provide what he can for himself. 

Will you please pray that God will provide that single deer Timmy needs before hunting season ends on Jan 1?

Embarrassing Myself

 This is embarrassing, but I am going to share it because most people will laugh..and that's the goal.

I have been working my rear end off to make some things happen for my family. I also am helping a friend fill his freezer. I have been between THREE households helping with things. Then there is the normal stuff and the holidays. Life has been very full and productive. At times, I have been very, very tired.

As most of you know, I take a moderate approach to natural medicine. I am not all natural or nothing at all. I do believe we should start out with diet and lifestyle changes and natural medicine, but if that does not work then safe OTC or Rx can be an acceptable way to relieve suffering. My mindset on that makes me an outcast with both sides of the debate who feel it has to be all one way or nothing. Anyhoo...

Exposure to some dust at one place where I was helping with packing had me having a horrific allergy attack. Then, I was exposed to two beautiful and affectionate Persian cats who made the problem worse. I needed sleep badly, so I grabbed what I thought was OTC allergy medicine that had worked well for me in the past. I took it two nights in a row to help me sleep, or so I thought.

I thought my body was really having a bad reaction to the things I had been exposed to because it did not seem to be giving me the relief it usually does.

As I was about to take it for the third night, I finally looked closer at the label.

it was anti-diarreah medication.

 

I was laughing so hard at myself last night, I thought I'd wake up the family! I grabbed medicine for the wrong end of things! LOL!

I know where I messed up. I had gone by the similar look of the label instead of taking the time to actually read. 

There's a life lesson there. Sometimes we assume we know what is going on, but we don't really see all of the necessary details so we make crucial mistakes. May we allow God to lead us as we take each step in life because without Him, we will surely misstep! My love to all!

Goal!

Today is a HUGE day for my family! We accomplished another goal! Getting CoVid really slowed us down, but we rallied and made it happen! I am very excited to see who God will allow us to minister to at our next location. I am so loving this season of life!

When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2

Makes me happy

to make him laugh!

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine Proverbs 17:22a

I try to make sure those around me get a good dose of "happy medicine" every day!

Proud of My Child

One of my children inspired me to write Speak the Truth to Those You Love and Choose Carefully. They had to make a very difficult choice to go to someone and inform them of the harmful behavior of someone else. There were serious consequences for the other person. Hopefully, the person will be pulled out of the sin. My child didn't make the popular choice (people are mad), but they honored the Lord, showed integrity, and possibly kept the person from further harm. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit's work in my child's life to make such a tough call to do what is right at so young of an age.

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Rather than be spiritually immature and easily deceived, we are to speak the truth to one another, with love, so that we can all grow in maturity. We are to train one another in truth—the foundational gospel truths, truths about who God is and what He has called us to do, hard truths of correction, etc.—and our motivation to do so is love. The “love” referred to in this verse is agape love, a self-sacrificial love that works for the benefit of the loved one." source

Dear Reader, Speaking the truth of God's Word in love is a mark of maturity, and it helps others grow in maturity. May the Lord help us all be more aware of the choices and the significance of those choices placed before us. May He help us to walk more circumspectly with a heart that desires to obey Him no matter the cost. May we love others enough to lovingly speak God's truth into their lives. 

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

Hebrews 5:14

Update: Since I wrote this post, my child has been blessed with a really nice new friendship. I am very thankful for that. God is good!

Hannah and Emily Playing Limbo

This is Emily and Hannah at the CFA Christmas luau.

The video is courtesy of Joshua.

Hannah with the Hot Pineapple

Tillage House Christmas Lights Mathews, VA

Stock up: Cooking Oils and Cream Cheese

Restaurants Diversify Cooking Oils and Optimize Operations as Prices Soar

NYC Bagel Shops Suffer Cream Cheese Shortage As Supply Chain Issues Continue: Report

Best part of the Christmas Lights

The best part of the Christmas lights is seeing my children's enjoyment in them.

Another thing I forgot

I forgot to upload all of the pictures from the different off-roading trails we did in VA over the last few years. We've done all of them in Virginia, some in WVA, all we could find in MD, and several in NC. I had posted that I would share pictures of the ones in Virginia in the blog. After troubles with my new phone not talking to my new computer, leaving my camera behind at a house I watch in another city, an increase in my travel, and a very full, very happy family life, those pictures were pushed to the side one time too many for my brain to hold onto. I apologize for that. I know a few of you would still like to see them. I make no promises, but I will try to find and post some more pictures of those travels in a few weeks. I made a note in my calendar for January as a reminder to see if I can find them.

I have the details on the wheelchair-accessible hunting area in WVA for those who requested it. Hit my inbox and I will send them to you.

Things are about to get very hectic over the next 1-3 weeks. Another project is very, very close to finished. This project was delayed beyond our control. The timing isn't what I would have chosen, but it is what it is. Christmas season though!

I was really sweating how to get the Christmas presents wrapped with the little bit of time I had at home this week. So, I bribed Emily and Hannah! They eagerly helped me do in one day what would have taken me three days. 

We are in the stages of moving one household to another city where we will begin yet another project. Today, I am more or less resting because I twisted my ankle late last night while bringing boxes inside. Clint and I are here having one more fun weekend before we say goodbye to this beautiful haven. The whole family is coming here for a meal on Sunday. 

My love to all!

I found the better list..

I did not have time to find the source I wanted when I posted the drug shortage list, so I shared what I had readily available. This is the better of the two IMO because it shows resolved shortages.

Current and Resolved Drug Shortages and Discontinuations Reported to FDA

When I checked this morning, there were over 100 drug shortages. 

It's what they call him at work

freshly showered Joshua ready for work
He's joking with Bethany in the picture.

All of my children give me a hug and a kiss before they leave for work and often when they return home. I love it!

I snapped this picture of Joshua in his new manager's uniform. There were so many Joshua's working there when Joshua started, they called him Jay as a way to differentiate. He now answers to that as quickly as he does Joshua.

600 Items Missing from Walmart Pharmacy

600 Items Missing from Walmart Pharmacy  This is a person from one of the watch groups I am in sharing a conversation she had with a Walmart employee.

If you rely on Rx drugs, there are ways to obtain extra quantities. You can find these ideas on the internet. 

Memory Lane

This use to be Sovran Bank which I worked at when I married Clint.

We kept a sign in the window that we would look for each time we approached the bank. That sign would alert us to a robbery in progress so we would not enter the bank.

This is the old office of what use to be Parker Peanut which Clint worked at when he was a teenager. Clint took me into the building so I could meet his boss, Moody.

I took this picture from the Hardee's parking lot. The section the picture faces is the exact stretch of road where I knew I was in love with Clint. We were driving toward downtown, and I looked up at Clint. His face was illuminated by the approaching car lights. I thought, "Oh my goodness, he is so cute! He looks like Adonis!" My very next thought was "I think I am in love with him."

Prayers for Friends

Update: Stef's obituary and service info: https://www.rwbakerfh.com/obituaries/stefanie-pope

Nov 5: Please pray for the Lyman family. Today, their adult daughter, Stephanie, went to be with the Lord after many health struggles and a fight with cancer. Mom (needs a lung transplant, was unable to be with Steff) and Dad (brain cancer that spread all over) are also very ill. Thank you for praying for our friends.

I found out Mom was with Stephanie because Stephanie was sent home on hospice. Stephanie passed in her sleep after she and her mom exchanged words of love. 

Please pray for Nancy

Dec 7: From Nancy: "URGENT: I am asking for prayers now for me regarding my last step getting out of my house and away from this domestic violence from my husband of 12 years.

I’ve reported this to the DSS and the police have an open investigation of violent assault because of him breaking my hip and leg and injuring my chest (sternum, connective tissues to my ribs and ribs) after hip surgery (hip surgery was Oct 4th, his assault Oct 9th and my 2nd surgery Oct 12th and I’m still in horrific pain and using a Walker.

Because of his threats, I had moved MY portion of furnishings somewhere else by way of very expensive moving people: He threatened to empty the house and drive to PA. He was suicidal and I tried to get him help.

I think I have a pastor who may be finding me a place to lay my head."

Nov 10: Nancy is still working on a solution for where she will live once she leaves rehab. She asks for prayer regarding that. She had two major surgeries 7 days apart to repair the damage her husband did to her. Please pray for her complete healing. 

Oct 16: Nancy says she stayed in the relationship one day too long. She is going to rehab for 3-4 weeks which will also serve to keep her safe. There is an open police investigation in what her husband did to her. After he knocked her down, he staged the area to look like she tripped over a rug. Then he took pictures of her lying there. She knew her post op hip was rebroken and begged him to call 911. He refused. He waited a while and then put the phone beside her on the floor and told her to call them. Please keep praying for her. 

Oct 12: Nancy is in a very bad domestic abuse situation. She was attacked post op (at home) and is currently in her third surgery to repair the damage done in the attack. Please pray for her. 

Mutual Admiration

 

 

on my radar

I have been watching the radar on the cargo vessels for over a year.

The situation has not improved, in fact, it has grown worse.

I heard from a friend who unloads cargo ships. He said the backup of cargo vessels will get worse. He says will cause more shortages and higher prices. This is his educated opinion.

While I am not currently concerned about the supply in the stores because there seems to be plenty of the necessities,* I am continuing to keep my pantry well-stocked. We've already been told prices will continue to rise well into 2022, so I consider it a smart move and a good investment to purchase a little extra each time I shop. Another way to look at that is that your dollar will have less spending power in the coming months. Use it now while you have more spending power.

For those who need it, learning how to obtain and keep extra supplies of Rx medicine is also a prudent move. The information on how to do this is out there. 

This, I do know: We have been told a lot of troubles we've seen would be "transient or temporary." That has not been the reality. That tells me and many others that we can not trust those voices, so we need to prepare for our families as best as we can. This should not be fear-based or panic-driven. 

Every Christian I know who watches the events as Jesus commands is taking some sort of action to insulate their families from the expected troubles to come. Do the best you can with what you have where you are now. A little at a time is better than none at all.

Most importantly, we need to get our spiritual selves prepared. Each person needs to make sure they are right with the Father. Jesus told us there was only one way to Heaven:

 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Get yourself right with the Lord today.

*according to the pictures I am seeing all over the US on the groups and forums tracking this situation

Tillage Family Christmas Lights Mathews, VA

 https://youtu.be/mnnTAGebSWk is the link to the video I made of the incredible display of lights the local (Gloucester) used car dealership owner does at his home. I made one that was two minutes and one that was one minute long. The one minute seemed to be the best one. You can stop the video to get a better look. It is worth the trip to see. 

More info: https://www.facebook.com/tillagefamilychristmaslights

CoVid Illness Gift Ideas

I am so sorry I forgot to answer about the gifts we sent out this year to CoVid patients and others. It slipped my mind! Better late than never!?

These were the two gifts we sent out to most people with cards we mailed separately. The exceptions were for people who had a household allergy to nuts. We heard back from everyone, except one person, and everyone really enjoyed getting them. It worked out so the elderly shut-in recipients received mail on three days (the two gifts and the card) which really made their days. We received handwritten notecards back from the elderly ladies. <3

Dayspring Flip Calendar

Nut Harvest Nut & Chocolate Mix

Amazon is down in many areas, so I changed it from the image and text to just the text only.

Please Pray for Clint's Boss

Clint's boss has to have his new hip taken out again. There is another infection that is growing on the metal. The doctor told him that antibiotics can't kill this. The hip has to be removed, and they will give him a "loaner" hip until his new hip is made and replaced. He has been through so much since he had it replaced the first time. By the time he gets through this round, he will have had six hips-his natural one, three replacements, and two loaners while the replacements were being made.

This will create more work on Clint who will have to do both jobs, but he is getting training to move up another rung in the company.

Repost: Some of the Ways Our Family Prays for Our Enemies

Reposted by request.

This goes with:

A Simple and Effective Way to Pray for Difficult People

This is an incomplete list of things our family has prayed:

• come to the knowledge of their need for Him
• 
  
• grow closer in a relationship with Him 
• 
  
• to turn from sin and walk uprightly
• 
  
• to hunger for the Word and have a craving to spend time with Him
• 
  
• to give them knowledge of how to live better for Him
• 
  
• to give them wisdom
• 
  
• to enable them to put on the full armor of God each day, walk in righteousness, and be led by the Holy Spirit, and stand strong against the attacks of the enemy
• 
  
• may God's truth rule in their hearts, be in the forefront of their minds, and be on their lips
• 
  
• to have insight to my position and for God to give me insight to theirs and to increase our love for Him and each other so through understanding and love the relationship can be healed for His glory 
• 
  
• that they will do His will with surrender, humility, and all of their strength with pure motives
• 
  
• reveal hidden sin and pull the weeds in their heart
• 
  
• to die to self and live for Christ
• 
  
• to provide for all of their needs and to rain down blessings on them
• 
  
• to help us work more effectively together despite our differences
• 
  
• to give them a bold witness and expanding testimony for Him
• 
  
• to heal their sickness and bless them with good health
• 
  
• to send godly people to walk beside them in life
• 
  
• to strengthen and protect their marriage and help them have fun times together as a couple
• 
  
• that things will go well with their children and grandchildren
• 
  
• that forgiveness, healing, understanding, peace, unity, and genuine love between us can be reached so we can fight the real enemy that we share Ephesians 6:12
• 
  
• that they will learn from this experience and do better in the next situation so, if they call themselves Christians, they do not do more damage to God's name
• 
  
• that they will walk in their spirit instead of in their natural sinful flesh
• 
  
• that they are more grieved and focused on their sin than they are upset by the sins of others
• 
  
• that God will equip them to speak His love and His truth into their loved ones lives
• 
  
• to have fun, relaxing times with their family and loved ones
• 
  
• that they will be careful with their testimony, bold in their witness, and unashamed of the gospel
• 
  
• and so on

These are the same things I pray for those in my circle as well as myself. 

Repost: A Simple and Effective Way to Pray for Difficult People

Reposted by request.

This post goes with: Some of the Ways Our Family Prays for Our Enemies

This was included in a series of talks I gave to a group in the last few weeks: 

Enemy comes from the Latin word inimicus which comes from in meaning not and amicus meaning friend. Friend means someone with whom you have a mutual affection. The basic definition of enemy is "not a friend." The opposite of affection is indifference, disinterest, dislike, hatred, animosity, etc. A person who exhibits these qualities or works against your good is not a friend. That means they are an inimicus or enemy. 

God commands us to pray for our enemies which is hard enough. He also commands us to love them. I want to have integrity in my Christian walk and honor God as I try to fulfill this command to love and to pray. When I was a young wife, I did a study on enemies and asked the Lord how could I pray for my enemies with real godly love? As I attempted to reign in the feelings in that flesh vs spirit battle, how could I be certain that I was genuinely praying with love?

The answer was very simple... Whenever I pray for myself or my family, I include them and their family too. I pray for them the very same things I ask God to give me and my family because if I want it for myself/my family, then I know I am asking it out of love for them. It's genuine, easy, and after a while almost effortless. It becomes second nature to include them as I pray my way through my day.

If I ask the Lord to help me get through a difficult day, I pray the same for them. "Father, this day has gone from bad to worse. I am asking for your help in giving me strength and a renewed spirit as I move forward. I ask you to bless XXXXXX with the same on their hard days, because even though we don't get along right now, I don't want them to have to struggle this hard." Any prayer I lift up for myself, I lift up at the same time for them too. When I am doing this for them, I am covering them in prayer, like I would someone close to me, all day long with a right attitude. 

I've been doing this for many years, and it really helps me make that heart change from offended by them to forgiving and caring for them quicker and easier. Granted, at first, I am often praying out of obedience rather than feelings, but as I obey in this, my heart softens and changes. I submit to God's authority over my life with obedience, then He does a work in my heart.

If someone shares news of them, I feel like God is gifting me knowledge of another way I can obey by praying for them. If it is something good, I praise the Lord for it. It it is something sad or bad, I pray for their well-being through the storm. If I know of something they struggle with like a health issue, I add that to my prayer list also. 

Here's an invigorating truth:

If the other person is a sincere, dedicated Christian, they are probably praying for you just as hard as you are praying for them. Maybe they are praying harder! If two Christians are at odds but both are being obedient to pray for and show love to each other on that deeper level, it becomes 

a beautiful work of mutual grace and love 

that leads to restoration and unity. Both hearts are changed, and both lives are blessed by the other person's sincere prayers. It's another example of beauty from ashes.

Life is full of speed bumps, detours, and obstacles. It's hard to navigate through some situations. We often react with emotion and pride rather than looking at the situation factually with understanding from the other person's viewpoint. We are selfish and want our way even if that isn't what God wants from us. We also have an enemy who is working hard against us in our families and the church. God made us a diverse people and gave us different life experiences and temperaments. When you weigh these factors, it is natural that we will have challenges in relating to one another. 

Sometimes it is simply a dislike of the person that needs to be addressed in our hearts since we are called to love and esteem each other higher than ourselves. When that happens, we can ask God to help us learn things about that person that we can admire, appreciate, and respect. Other times, the situation is created by sinful ways of relating to each other. Sometimes, it is a misunderstanding or misconception. Many times, it is because we call our half hearted attempts at forgiving as successful when they are not. If we can not be polite and welcoming to each other, we have not honored God by truly forgiving in a way that changes us or our heart towards the person. We are also rebellious and make a lot of excuses.

That we have problems getting along with each other comes as no surprise to our all knowing Father. He even uses our disputes and our reconciliations for our good and His glory. He tells us to love the people who are showing us animosity and pray for them. While I believe we should look for other ways as well, we can obey God's commands to love and pray with very sincere prayers. All of His ways are good!

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 
Luke 6:27 

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 
Matthew 5:44-48 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 
I John 4:7

1.5 Million Christmas Lights in Suffolk, VA

His granddaughter asked for 100 lights. He gave her 1.5 million.

the next-door neighbor's sign

Suffolk grandfather spreads holiday cheer with 1.5 million lights

Coming up....

Caleb and Desiree have a formal Christmas party to attend on the 18th. He has purchased a tux, scheduled a hair trim with Amanda, and so much more. I hope we can get pictures of them to share. 

Joshua has a dinner planned with a nice young lady named Abby. I am partial to the name Abigail. I named one of my daughters that.

Joshua, Bethany, Caleb, Emily, and Hannah have a Christmas luau they will be attending this month. 

Clint, Emily, Hannah, Bethany, and I have a date planned to explore the Christmas lights north of our home. We just finished a Christmas light tour south of our home. 

We are considering some Christmas concerts. I am not sure any of them will work out with our work schedules.

Then, Clint, Brandon, Emily, Hannah, and I will go to a monster truck event in January. The last time Clint took our older children, I stayed home with the little ones. Honestly, I really like trucks, but I am not that crazy about monster trucks. Maybe attending the event will change my mind. I am absolutely crazy about my family, so I am going to make memories. 

Then, Clint and I are hoping to get another trip to the mountains to explore some areas we did not have time to explore on our other trips this year. We might combine that with a camping trip. I am so thankful to the Lord for that old suburban and a husband who has a knack for finding old roads that aren't used anymore. I have seen and experienced things I will carry in my heart always. 

We are also looking towards a few other events in the coming days and weeks. 

My love to all!

To Clarify the Birthday Post

To clarify, I was home for my birthday. I was away from home when I made the post.

We are proud of Joshua!

This happened a while ago... (trying to share some of the things going on in our lives)

Joshua was alerted by a co-worker that someone had been found passed out on the floor of the kitchen. He immediately went to help. Everyone else was standing around or poking the poor lady. Joshua checked her pulse and found a very weak one. He noticed her eyelids were moving rapidly. He told a co-worker to call for an ambulance and tell them an employee was unconscious and having seizures. 

The newly hired lady comes from a family that does not speak English well. Because of that, Joshua called another co-worker to his side who happens to be a translator for the company. He gave her the office keys and told her to find the emergency contact number in the lady's file and to call her family. He wanted to let them know what happened and also be able to give her medical history to the paramedics. The lady's brother met the paramedics, and with the translator's help, gave them details about her medical history. 

Afterward, the paramedics came back by the restaurant to praise Joshua for his quick thinking and for taking action. They told him his diagnosis was correct. She was having a seizure. They were also very thankful for him thinking beyond that moment and getting the translator and family member to help them help the co-worker better. That made their job easier.

The co-worker is due to be released from the hospital today or tomorrow.

God continues to place Joshua in a position as a very competent first responder. It is very rewarding for us as parents to hear from others how well he takes command of a scene, gives appropriate first aid, and gets help on the way quickly.

Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have 
because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:16

Please Pray for Walter

12/2: Both Sarah and Walter are home today. Sarah is still in a lot of pain. She is the only one home to take care of Walter, so she is overcoming and getting the job done.

12/1: While Sarah's discharge was being processed this morning, Walter started refluxing through his nose and mouth. They were sent downstairs to the ER which is where they are now. 

11/30: Sarah's procedure went very well, but they are having a hard time managing her pain. Please pray they can get that under control quickly.

Nov 27: Walter's swallow study went well. It shows his food is backing up some but it does eventually go down. They will meet with doctors next month to determine what, if anything, they do to help him. Please keep Sarah in prayer as she goes for her pacemaker battery replacement procedure on Monday.

November 23: From Sarah: "Please keep Walter in your prayers as he goes in tomorrow morning for a video swallow study for stage 1&2 foods. We need his body to show us what he needs from us to help him achieve eating going forward."

November 10: Walter is having a solid food test on the 23rd. Sarah has a pacemaker put in on the 29th. Walter has a triple surgery with ENT, GI, and Pulmonology next month. Please keep the entire family in prayer.

August 30: I have been slow in updating. He was admitted to the hospital. They did another dilation surgery on him Saturday morning. He did not aspirate anything like the paramedic thought. He was able to go home Saturday afternoon. I checked with Sarah on Sunday and she said he is doing fine. Thank you to those who prayed for this sweet baby boy. 

August 27: Sarah texted me. Walter is heading to CHKD by ambulance. He had breathing issues again. Aspiration is likely according to paramedics. 

(I removed the previous updates because the post was getting too long.)