tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923981113231954242024-03-14T07:54:55.801-07:00Janette's SageJanettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.comBlogger578125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-40915142569922755792016-12-28T06:07:00.002-08:002016-12-28T06:11:26.531-08:00Grateful!Grateful. Do we really know what that word means? Are we really grateful? This has been moving through my mind as I hear different people talk. As I lay my head down at night and ponder, "Janette, are you grateful or just full of complaints?" We get use to our style of life and start to take it as normal, forgetting who even gives us breath. A conversation I had with someone, which has become a very familiar conversation, left me with thoughts, "they don't even understand how grateful they should be." Those thoughts also convict me.<br />
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Christmas season is wrapped in a bow of Gratefulness, if we allow it. Without using too many words I want to show a picture that put GRATEFULNESS at the top of my priority.<br />
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Last year I handed out red envelopes to all my children for this Christmas. Inside the envelope had an invitation to celebrate Christmas in our home town of Austin. The last time we all visited the city and relatives together was over a decade ago. Since then, there have been marriages and grandsons. My mother-in-law had celebrated Christmas with us, traveling four hours, even as late as age 98. Since then she has stopped traveling and resides in a Senior Citizen housing. In June she celebrated 101 years on this earth. When I gave out the cards, so we all could plan, and for some of us, save money, I said a prayer. "Dear Lord, if it be your will, will you allow Deanie to be alive when we all go to Austin in December of 2016!"<br />
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GRATEFUL - as I walked into the room, knowing we all would be in one place to celebrate with my mother-in -law, I embraced that word fully. I don't know that my kids, nor my grandsons, could understand the true meaning of that word at that moment. I do know my husband could! I saw it in his face. <br />
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So here is my picture of Gratefulness. Ages 101 to age 1, all gathered together. My husband's mother - age 101, his only sibling, sister and her husband, and all of our family!<br />
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My heart grew bigger as I saw my grandson embrace his Great Grandmother. Little children just know how to love and his love poured out on her. <br />
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As if my heart wasn't full enough. We all went to enjoy places that held life time memories for my husband and I, as we shared our memory lane. I am sure my husband and I embraced the GRATEFULNESS more than they could embrace. Our budget doesn't allow us to travel much, so even getting to stay in a hotel is a big deal. We also don't fly out of the country, so even a road trip thrills us. We were grateful!!! Little happenings, such as seeing my grandsons at the hotel breakfast, was worth more than my heart could express.<br />
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Before leaving from town we stopped by my mother-in-law's place once more. Here we meet the newest of our extended family. Her Great, Great Grandson. Yes, that is seven boys in a row. He sat on her lap, She talked about how precious he was. <br />
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<b>She too...................knows the word -------------------- GRATEFUL</b></div>
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Christmas came with boxes and bows, but the gift I will cherish the most from this Christmas can't be bought at a store. No amount of money could buy what was deposited in my heart.<br />
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I know your Christmas was full like ours. May your New Year hold all the blessings that comes with a Grateful heart.<br />
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Good by 2016!!!Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-49400705176254749702016-12-06T07:33:00.000-08:002016-12-06T07:42:15.499-08:00Old is Always New AgainThis Christmas season started off with a bang....a BIG BANG. The week after Thanksgiving was so stacked with appointments and events I wasn't sure my body would survived. Well, it did!<br />
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I am on the Decor and Environment group at the church. What is that you ask? Basically it is getting the church or room ready for an event. We come in to decorate and set up and take down. For December that meant we were to decorate the entry, halls and class rooms for Christmas. The head designer does a great job and I am honored to come along side and just help, along with other women.<br />
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This is just a few of us who helped behind the scenes get the church ready for Christmas. We laughed about my lumberjack shirt! <br />
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I think this is the link so you can hear him!<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/KK9hLKfPPsn8X6pU6">https://goo.gl/photos/KK9hLKfPPsn8X6pU6</a><br />
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Benjamin had his Christmas concert at the University of North Texas on Tuesday night. He is the only boy in this Jr High Orchestra. He is also only in 5th grade. He did an awesome job. He is in the back corner to the left next to a teacher.<br />
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Stress relief was given in this over-scheduled week by going to keep my grandsons. We made cinnamon ornaments for the tree. I had also made 2 dozens for Ben's class at school, which I helped decorate his room with on Wednesday, before keeping my grands. Just playing with my grandsons makes all the tiredness go away, and even some of the body aches.<br />
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The youngest grandsons is now walking/running and giggling. These ages are so much fun.<br />
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In between all of this Benjamin and I found our Christmas tree. It is the smallest we have ever had, but we are enjoying it. This meant time to pull out all the decorations. Each year this a trip down memory lane for me. This usually means laughter and some tears. It always means thankfulness to a God who hasn't forsaken us. All the old, because new again, as I decorate our house. <br />
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Then the reminder that all of the stockings started 36 years ago and we keep adding the blessings of more reindeer. I started the reindeer stockings at age 19, a young bride. Now days everyone seems to marry so much older, so I guess I just got a jump on the journey of marriage and family.<br />
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Benjamin and I decided to use our artificial tree for the grandsons' tree. Their ornaments will cover this tree. I also grabbed some of their parent's ornaments and put on their tree...Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story and Dr Seuss. I am hoping they enjoy their tree when the see it. I know Benjamin and I are already enjoying it.<br />
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I finished up the week with another visit to the second set of three grandsons. Of course, we needed to make something also, so I grabbed the paint. We took their pumpkin and made it into a snowman. David was so excited he hugged the pumpkin!<br />
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The week came to an end. Memories were made, obligations completed, even lunch with a friend and the calendar turns another page in December. This week is slower. I am going to cherish the time to set at the feet of my Savior. May you also have time to spend hearing His voice and worshiping the one who the season is all about.Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-69936045545025502152016-11-27T09:50:00.001-08:002016-11-28T04:59:13.078-08:00The Turkeys Came!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My son made me this turkey this year, to go with my huge pumpkin from last year. <br />
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When you have six grandchildren under the age of 5, five of those under the age of 3, you can plan all you want, but they dictate the events of the day. Well, lets say, even their parents dictate! <br />
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My Joshua, he is the one who encourages me like my Benjamin, brought it all about. Don't we all need those who openingly voice their love for what you are doing or encourage you on when you want to just set down and say "NO!"? Well my Benjamin wins that prize first and Joshua comes in second. Weeks before Thanksgiving Joshua looked up at me and said, "Grand Mommy, how much longer before I come to your house for Thanksgiving?" To be honest, I wasn't in the mood, I really had too much on my mental plate to desire kicking into gear for a large group for Thanksgiving. Let me just tell you one thing!!! That little boy's question put gas on my very little flame and made it explode. My mind started going 90 to nothing, what could we do this year that would be memorable?<br />
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Then there is my Benjamin. I had decided to dye my hair just a day before our adventure to celebrate all the November birthdays, our gift to the four of them. I have posted before how much I hate worrying about my hair. I hate to schedule and have it cut, I never know what to do and I hate deciding if I should let it go totally grey or not. I hate to dye it and leave it for a year, to giving into the dying. Which I gave into and bought a box, after 30 minutes in the grocery store trying to see which color to use....of course, I picked wrong. So for all the Thanksgiving events, I would look like "witchy poo" in dark, almost black, hair! Benjamin came to my mental rescue telling me it didn't look bad, it looked good! So, my two little men keep their mother/grandmother motivated.<br />
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(three of the grandsons, Benjamin and daughter-in-law)<br />
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Our week of Thanksgiving started with taking the new 3 year olds to see animals at a drive through ranch. Now, if you don't know by now!, this Texas girl loves her outdoors. I have even slept on my own trampoline in order to view the star! So I experienced my own slice of heaven, with three of my children, one daughter-in-law and four grandsons. This really is an experience we will repeat again and again. God's creators at our finger tips!<br />
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I planned out every detail for our Thanksgiving gathering. You all know the routine, you clean your house...so they can get it dirty, you cook and keep thinking is that enough? You plan things to do...you pray and pray! This year I moved my dining room tables into our den and den into the dining room so we all could be in the same room. They all arrived and everyone has their own agenda. You know...different time schedules, different desires for play, want to set in different places, different food and different ways to do everything! <b><i> What joy! We are all so different and the more noise and dishes means we are alive!!</i></b>! <br />
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This year I prayed before our meal, among the moving, crying, eating, because they were starving, among the events of human life! Not something we have done before, but what God had placed on my heart. Bill normally leads our prayer. Each mother at the table prayed over her family and we lit a candle.<br />
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Our turkeys ran everywhere. When they all left..which was the afternoon, naps needed to be given for those little boys, I crashed!!! A good crash, but still crashed. We are a family...we have many bumps and bruises and will continue to add more. Nothing will go perfect, things will be spilled, people will be late, someone will offend someone, not on purpose, but it will happen. But in the end...everyone returns to their own homes, the kids are exhausted and memories are made! <br />
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<b><i>It is called ------------------------------ FAMILY!!!!</i></b></div>
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I pray you all experienced the same. The grace of God on all our messes and the joy of knowing He is writing our stories. Prayers spoken among the noise of life, and a God who hears and promises His Word will not come back void, makes all gatherings special.</div>
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Blessings as we all end November to enter the season of Advent.</div>
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I want to blog on what happened on Saturday. The story of two very different women standing face to face, with one very important thing in common. Stay tune!Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-90768670128492652802016-11-17T06:07:00.000-08:002016-11-17T06:07:30.423-08:00Season of Thankfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have to admit, I am just staying away from the News and other accounts of events in our nation, instead I want to focus on being Thankful. When I started blogging I was part of many who did thankfulness post during November. November this year has already been historic and I have been swept up in the business of this time of year. Before the month ends, I want to be still and thankful.<br />
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November for our family doesn't only mean Thanksgiving, it means celebration of life. There are four birthdays in November.<br />
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<b>Birthdays - Sarah Jane and Maverick (age 3) Picture at Pumpkin Patch, our yearly visit.</b><br />
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Our daughter-in -law celebrates her birthday first. She entered our world our son's senior year of high school. They met again, after earlier meetings years before, at the home school prom. From that night on they were never separate. She came from a female dominated world into our male dominated world. Almost fifteen years later, eleven years of marriage and three boys, I can say it has been a joy to see this young lady go from a teenager to the wife and mom she is today.<br />
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<b>David age 3 - big brother to the twins, Elliott and Thomas, or as he calls them "THE BOYS!"</b><br />
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Our second round of joy is our grandsons born two days apart. <b>David</b> born first to our only daughter and her husband in their first year of marriage. <b>Maverick</b> born next to our son and his wife, after years of infertility. They turn 3 this week and this Grand mommy's heart is overflowing.<br />
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<i>I was trying to find a good picture of MY FIRST BORN, and realized this is why I don't have any...he will never let me get a good one!!! I will remind him of this when his boys are being silly in family photos. My FIRST Born..............and no, I am not old enough to have a son age 33!! LOL</i><br />
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Not to be left out. Our first born will celebrate his birthday on Monday, just like he did 33 years ago, entering our life on a Monday. <b> First born....that about says it all.</b> He was our first full term, here on earth child, after two miscarriages. As all mother's know, you are forever changed. Children (biological or adopted) change you and your world and being thankful doesn't say it all. He is a wonderful son, husband and Dad of three of my grandsons. He built a business beyond anything his mother could have imagined and still amazes me with his accomplishments. Right now I am having the complete joy of working with him on some of his jobs. I get to do the fun part....pick out decor for homes.<br />
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Before our family fills in our sheets of the many blessings from this year, we celebrate the lives of these four. The decorations are up....my heart overflows as I recall God's faithfulness. In the middle of all the events on social media and TV, I recall the one who holds it all in His hands. In the middle of employment uncertainty in the new year, I recall He has never left us. In the middle of those who protest by not standing for our anthem, I bow to a God whose shoulders our government sets, and thank Him for our Nation.<br />
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May you all be blessed this Thanksgiving as you also recall the wonder of this past year, both the joys and the tears, knowing that God still reigns.Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-91080457069971731312016-11-07T07:10:00.001-08:002016-11-07T07:17:40.126-08:00Enemy Roars Only<br />
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Last week was a week to end all weeks. The realization of how the enemy attacks and tries...let's say that again..tries to take us out, was swirling in our home.(I Peter 5:8) There wasn't one area that the enemy didn't attack. His roar was loud and intimidating. His attempted bites, hurt. Our spirits and souls were tired. I couldn't seem to fight for myself, but I fought for others. My body ached. <br />
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<i><b>2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with aren't the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.</b></i><br />
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You look up and wonder, God are you still there, are you seeing what is happening?<br />
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As our family fought this week long, furious spiritual battle, because our battle is not with flesh and blood but the principalities of the air, we looked to the one who fights our battles and has already won the victory. How we forget that we fight from a place of victory, not defeat.<br />
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<b><i>Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorizes, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.</i></b><br />
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As I walked with my children along a path near our home, we quoted scripture. An old song came back to mind, "God put Satan under my feet, under my feet, under my feet. God put Satan under my feet and I will walk all over thee." As we walked and physically put our feet down, we also walked through the promises of God. Each step, each scripture, allowed the enemy's voice to grow weaker and weaker.<br />
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<b><i>Isaiah 54:17 - no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, an you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.</i></b><br />
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You have to chose to love life in the middle of these strong attacks, and yes, we all have them. You have to chose to get out of bed, which in and of itself is warfare. You have to chose to look for all the good and let it diminish the bad. You have to step back out of your self-pity party and breath.<br />
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The weekend came, a family with scars, scars that God will heal with His balm. Standing meant we had entered into His victory. We had events to attend, and our choice was to put on a happy face. That isn't a mask, it is saying to the enemy, "in spite of all the ATTEMPTS this week, I chose to move forward with a smile. I chose to allow the Lord to be strong where I am weak."<br />
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<b><i>2 King 6:17 - And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.</i></b><br />
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Our first event was the schools largest fund raiser. I am one of the home room parents this year and had been working on gathering our baskets for the auctions. There was one basket that made me smile, when it was being assembled. Yes, it would be bidding for more than it was worth and yes, I could go down the street and buy what I wanted for less, but that wasn't the point. The point was fund raising for the school. The point was, one of the attacks was financial and I needed to give back instead of walk in fear. The last point was, it has become my motto with my grands and I needed to be reminded that, although bloody from battle, there is joy in the adventure!<br />
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So I put my number down for the bidding. I WON!!!<br />
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<b><i>Life is an Adventure!!</i></b> Hills, valleys, good choices, bad choices, pain, joy, hugs, battles, words that lift and words that tear down....<b>an adventure, called life.</b><br />
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Benjamin finished up his baseball season. His whole family have attended at least one game this season. The nephews peering through the dug-out at their Uncle!<b><i> Life ..precious.</i></b><br />
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We ended the weekend with the opening of a new Drive Thru Movie. YES, we went retro. We went with another family who is fighting their own battles. The kids enjoyed the retro way of viewing a movie. I enjoyed being under the stars. I enjoyed the breeze, I enjoyed the laughter of kids, the parents sharing their by-gone-days of Drive-Thru, I enjoyed being still and knowing that God is still on the throne.<br />
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<i>My prayer for you this week is that whatever battle you are fighting, you will remember the army that is standing behind you. I prayer your eyes will be opened!! May we walk in the victory of a battle already won!</i>Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-8934391731981930402016-10-28T08:40:00.001-07:002016-10-28T08:40:14.113-07:00King of the World<div style="text-align: center;">
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I have some challenges</div>
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Our Nation has challenges</div>
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With each challenge we either turn to the truth or walk away in unbelief.</div>
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This song has been touching my heart recently. I sing the words to my spirit and soul.</div>
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As we look at the challenges before us, may we remember</div>
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<b><i>He Has Always Been the King of the World!!!</i></b></div>
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I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to keep you safely inbetween the lines<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to put you in the box that I've designed<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How could I make you so small<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When you're the one who holds it all<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Just a whisper of your voice can tame the seas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />So who am I to try to take the lead<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Still I run ahead and think I'm strong enough<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When you're the one who made me from the dust<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How could I make you so small<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When you're the one who holds it all<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ohhhh, you set it all in motion<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Every single moment<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You brought it all to me<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And you're holding on to me<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How could I make you so small<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When you're the one who holds it all<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When did I forget you've always been the king of the world<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You will always be the king of the world</div>
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<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-14554527812213092362016-10-19T05:54:00.000-07:002016-10-19T05:54:26.798-07:00Humble Pie<i>Humble Pie - the type of pie we usually don't want a piece of, yet life always serves it up on many types of plates.</i><br />
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I am not a fiction reader, although I am trying to learn to read more for just pure entertainment. <u>The Hawk and the Dove</u> is one of my all time favorite fiction novels. Within this trilogy set in a Monastery, the Monk walks through a season of eating humble pie. Delivering the most powerful illustration of humble pie, my father, who doesn't read fiction, commented on the power of this chapter. I recall this chapter every time I experience the same.<br />
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As a mother of six children and 55 years here on earth, I have had plenty servings of humble pie. As a parent, I learned early in my parenting that if I ever wanted to impress anyone with my children's behavior, that almost guaranteed I would be dished up a hearty serving of humble pie. What was ironic is this humble pie would usually be served on a plate meant for desiring to witness for Christ. One wise friend counseled me one day, after something with one of my small children's actions, "Janette, if you are going to take credit for your child's failures, you will take credit for their successes!" She desired for me to learn early that it was God who was at work in my children's lives for His glory. Her advice stayed with me for decades and came back to land again last week.<br />
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I received an email from the director of Benjamin's school. The email just said, "I am giving your SON an award tomorrow. If you can make it to the assembly that would be nice." That was weird, it wasn't the end of the grading period when awards were given.<br />
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I arrived for the morning assembly. I noticed there weren't any other parents. One of the faculty members came to ask me to come inside the gym. I came in set down, and wondered, "what is going on?" The director started out explaining a new award for this year. Each teacher would nominate a student who encouraged them to come to work each day. She would begin this year with the student she nominated. She went on to explain about this student. I was listening, not realizing, she was talking about my son. After a few words, she said, "Ben Wright". To my shock and Benjamin's he was who she selected out of the whole student body.<br />
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Humble Pie - the good tasting one, yet the one that leaves you speechless. As her words continued I stood to take pictures. I forced back the tears, as I called out to God, "what are you doing?" The gentle whisper in my spirit was, "it is for MY GLORY, don't touch it!" How humbling is that? It wasn't for me to look good in front of staff or other parents or anything to say, "look I have done well parenting my son!" It was more the, in spite of all your weaknesses, He will still work all things for his good.<br />
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Later that day, while still being dazed by the morning events I was served up a very heavy dose of Humble Pie. The humble pie that leaves you weak, faint, sick at your stomach kind. The one that if you don't handle it right there will be a huge price to pay. This humble pie was eaten with "I am in control" spoken from the Lord. If He could use Benjamin for His glory, then He would also use this humble pie also. <br />
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One humble pie is framed and the reminder hangs for us to see. The other humble pie is in the process of being walked out with God's grace. As my head hit the pillow that night the advice from my wise friend rang through my head again, "Janette, if you take credit for their failures, you will take credit for their success."<br />
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<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-7798467641142997062016-10-12T16:29:00.000-07:002016-10-12T16:29:31.877-07:00Heritage Left Behind<br />
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I can almost hear the voices of both of my grandmothers, and how they would have responded to the comments spoken in front of a wooden church pew. I must say, I couldn't believe my reaction at first, but the truth that rolled off my unrestrained lips reminded me of my own heritage.<br />
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Most of our churches are built for comfort now. You can choice which service you would attend since many of our churches have multiple services starting on Saturday night through Sunday. If you have an event you want to attend or a game you want to watch, you just change the service you attend that weekend. The length of the services is down to an art, to keep the attention of all in attendance. Your A/C and heater, are managed to make you comfortable, as well as, child care up through elementary school. The days of "hard wooden pews' have been replaced by more relaxing cushioned chairs.<br />
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I am not saying I am in disagreement with all the changes, but sometimes it makes me wonder, would we still attend, if all the comforts were removed?<br />
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Our women were having a ladies breakfast and worship time at our church. I am part of a small group of women who serve by decorating for different events. I am one that follows the leaders with a working hand....move items,..put up and take down. This event the designer wanted a place for women to gather, enjoy breakfast and maybe take a picture or two. Her vision was expressed and I came along side her with items I had collected from my home. This would include a wooden pew, chandelier, vintage songbooks and Bibles. The songbooks were my grandmother's she used for "singings". <br />
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The younger adults were enjoying seeing the pew, then the comments came. "Oh, I remember those and I am soooooooooooooo glad we no longer use them!" "Those were so uncomfortable." "The first time I got in trouble at church had to do with......................."<br />
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Without checking my words through my brain I stopped in my tracks. "Well, then you have something to be thankful for! You were raised in the church! If you set on wooden pews, then thank God for your Christian heritage!"<br />
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Needless to say, they just looked at me like I had dropped down from Mars. They hadn't thought of that, they were just expressing how much they liked church the way it conducts services now compared to their childhood memories. The point they missed was, they have a spiritual past. Someone dressed them, drove them, and attended the single service on Sunday, weekly, so they could hear the Gospel. Back in the day, there wasn't children's church, which meant they heard the Word from the Pastor.<br />
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I slowly walked away, glanced at the books sitting on display and thanked God for my Christian heritage. There was my husband and mine Bible's from our youth. The songbooks that my Grandmother had written her name across and used to sing from, the pew, though not from a church I knew, still represented where I would set.<br />
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I am still passing the Christian Heritage baton to my own children and now my grandsons. It will not be a wooden pew, or songbooks, but I pray that I will leave something behind. I pray that instead of them only seeing discomfort or entertainment, they embrace the truth of going to church - <b style="font-size: x-large;">The Gospel. </b>My grandmother might just say, "give me that old time religion." My grandmothers both were faithful to God and family until their death. Maybe those old wooden pews were better than we thought.Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-17873524646817127332016-10-03T06:15:00.002-07:002016-10-03T06:15:43.673-07:00Who Decided That?The past few months my heart has told me over and over again to come back to blogging.<br />
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It isn't that I feel my words are needed by others, or even read, it is for me. It seems that blogging is like a balm to my soul. Our souls need to be refreshed, as the world continues to drain them. Typing out my thoughts, my joys, my struggles and dreams, reminds me that life is good!<br />
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God's Word is the daily balm to our souls and spirit. I rest and soak in His word before taking on my day. I also believe there are other means God uses to refresh our soul. A visit to a play, a piece of art, a smile and kiss from a grandchild, can sooth the bumps of this life.<br />
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So, today I came back to look at my neglected blog. I should know, all things neglected need a lot of repair. It is better to continue to maintain, then to have to do a huge overhaul.<br />
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Well somehow, or some technology, decided to rearrange my blog. On the sidebar where I had social icons there were flashing " not nice" ads. One I wouldn't want anyone to see. I then took all the social icons off my side bar. If you were exposed to them, I apology.<br />
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As I scrolled down, all the blogs I cherish and their newest post were gone!!! They have been taken...whatever new update or whatever!!!, had removed them.<br />
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As soon as I get my other business done I hope to return and figure all this out once again.<br />
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<b><i>Lesson to self....neglect is never a good thing</i></b>. Not for my body, my mind, my spirit nor my blog!<br />
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Hope to see you soon................with a new outlook and cleaned up blog!<br />
<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-27796864175627836702016-09-06T14:46:00.000-07:002016-09-06T14:46:11.343-07:00Have Your Read Your Blog?<br />
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Recently a friend from my past contacted me. She knew my husband when they were youth and our paths crossed when I only had two of my six children. We share a love for the Lord and desire to see others encouraged in this journey of life. This similar hearts tie has kept us connected, even though we live miles apart.<br />
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She had been reading my blog!! Well, not my recent post, which seem to be few and far between, she was reading..........................<b>OLD POST</b>!! Those old post that show up on your blog side board, and usually are so old that they are only counted under a month and year.<br />
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She must have been determined, because she went way --------- back. She requested my permission to reprint for her online magazine. <br />
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I don't know how she found it, but she did. It is featured this month in <u>A Bundle of Thyme</u>, under the encouragement section of the magazine.<br />
http://www.thymemag.com/<br />
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http://www.thymemag.com/sept-2016---real-stories-prince-and-frog - This is my piece.<br />
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All of this promoted me to go back and read some of my old post. As tears rolled down my cheeks, or I laughed-out-loud, I realized that recording my journey in life was for ME! I needed to be reminded of God's hand on my life, through the struggles and the victories. I needed to be reminded that He had walked me through.........that.........and ............that..........and...........that. Post after post over the years shouted, "<b><i>He hasn't left you."</i></b><br />
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As I watch our family go around a very familiar tree, as the saying goes, a repeated struggle, I was encouraged.<br />
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So today I ask you, <b>"Have You READ Your Blog lately?"</b> You might see that the Lord has some encouragement for you in your own words. I think this is one of the best benefits to blogging. Maybe it is time to check out those Old blog post to see some fresh words for you today. I know I have benefited time and again from all of your post!<br />
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<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-26622569720350317142016-08-30T09:29:00.000-07:002016-08-30T09:29:12.064-07:00Balance!We made it through the first week of school. Earlier bedtimes, earlier rising, breakfast, packed lunches, school papers, home work and baseball practice. I think I should have automatically lost 10 pounds, but instead I think I gained weight. I am realizing I am more of an emotional eater, which isn't good for the waist line.<br />
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In the midst of the new "norm" of this time of year, and the calendar still filling up, I want <b><i>balance</i></b>. This comes in different forms for different people. A well organized home, charts on the walls and scheduled routines, for some energizes them, for others, it is a rope around their neck. We have both styles in our home. As the home manager, I seem to have to fall between the two or we all go nuts.<br />
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Throw in some spontaneous fun, a trip to the lake and I am go to go. So my <b><i>balance</i></b> this first week meant baking "Back to school cookies" for Ben and the grands. Joshua is being home schooled this year. Saturday morning I went, "by my self" to the lake to be still and <b><i>balance</i></b> my soul and spirit.<br />
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<b><i>Balance</i></b> comes back into focus. I usually find documenting all of these events through my phone camera is a must. I share on Instagram/FB, it reminds me that nothing is as bad as it seems, when I flip through the treasured photos I snapped. Yes, my phone is used more as camera than it ever is as a phone.<br />
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I also had to "grab these moments" in this first week of school. Three grandsons came for the evening and had dinner with us. The oldest "Joshua" loves to have candle light and for me to dress the table. Dress the table we did, with Veggie Tale place mats, napkins and candles. My heart settled down into the treasure of a day that was booked from beginning to end.<br />
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First day of school finished with Dr Seuss movies and brotherly love.</div>
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My other <b><i>balance</i></b> to missing Benjamin, working on a new job, while trying to learn a CAD program at age 55, came when I was called to help my daughter.</div>
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It was truly a throw back to the Andy Griffith Show. My daughter now lives in a small, rural community. One with only a couple of traffic lights. Cow pastures surround this little city where you hear the train pass through the downtown blowing its horn.</div>
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As I came to help I turned the corner to her street. To my wonder, coming toward me, was my three grandsons in their battery operated police car! As they realized it was me, they started to bail out of the car. This was a block or more from their home. We piled them into my car when my daughter realized the battery on kid's car was dead...it now needed rescued. After returning everyone home, the boys and I enjoyed the simple things in life. TRUCKS. CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS. As if a movie was playing before their eyes, we spent the morning watching dirt trucks do their job. One driver hooked his horn for the boys,</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Balance..</span></i></b>.........that place where responsibility doesn't suck all the life out of you.</div>
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That place that reminds you what is important and what will be remembered.</div>
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That place where you feel yourself breath and enjoy!</div>
Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-26257012819339426722016-08-23T06:48:00.000-07:002016-08-23T06:48:02.473-07:00Well! It Didn't!!!<span style="font-size: large;">It is over</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is done</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It will never be here again!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Summer 2016</span></div>
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My heart's cry for the summer was "don't fence me in!" As school started yesterday the fall calendar became full. Baseball practice, violin lessons and orchestra, church events and everyday obligations now highlight my desk calendar. It really does make me want simpler days. You feel the excited business all around you. Even the pastor addressed it in his sermon, wanting us to all make sure our priorities are in the right place. Sometimes I wonder how God sees it? </div>
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<b><i>Now Summer 2016 is now gone and we must conform!</i></b></div>
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I am not a list writing person, nor a huge planner. I look to the grander things in life and shoot my arrow in that direction. I enjoy seizing the moment, more than over planning it and having the planning drag on and on, just sucking the life out of the event. All that is to say...I Love SUMMER!</div>
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It is a time that society allows us to relax and not schedule, if both are not in our nature. I didn't put charts up on the wall with all the things Ben had to accomplish everyday, even if the guilt crept in. Instead, we lived the moments. Summer was fun. I must recap, because if I don't then I am not giving the credit to the one who rejoices over us with singing.</div>
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My hidden heart's cry all last school year was a desire to go to the beach.</div>
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The Lord provided.</div>
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My second was to fill our summer with "adventures". My two...two-year-old grands can now say "adventure". I must get shirts that cry out - Grand Mommy's Adventures.</div>
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So off we went for adventures. This meant movies - yes, little ones, food and movies. We went to a movie grill where they could all set by tables and eat food...in the dark...I still don't know why this is good. I still never know what I am putting into my mouth or even what it looks like!</div>
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Swimming and splash pads!!!</div>
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Yes, with my daughter's help I took all five grands to the splash pad. The movies were just with Grand Mommy and Uncle Ben.</div>
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I got to read this summer! I soaked in my second reading of <u> The Road to Blessings</u> by Penelope Wilcock. To be honest the truths in the second reading were so strong I think I will go back through it again this fall. Summer allowed me time to just reflect, to inhale, to listen to the soft voice of God. Life is just toooooooooooooooooo noisy with all it's demands and drama.</div>
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I also was able to design for a client.. I had a kitchen job that allowed me to pour energy into the creative part of me. We totally removed the old kitchen and started from scratch. This energizes me. I am praying the Lord will open up more doors for me to do what He created me to do. All Good gifts come from Him.</div>
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Our last summer "adventure" a Vintage Train Ride!</div>
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So as I pencil in more "we have to be at or do" on our calendar, I longingly look forward to next summer, but between then and now, I am going to watch for every "Adventure" life has to offer.</div>
Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-43495407066914639582016-06-30T14:59:00.000-07:002016-06-30T14:59:03.934-07:00Don't Fence Me InI think that is why I love summer, I don't want to be fenced in!!! My spirit and soul are refreshed when I can run outside the fence.<br />
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<b> I Love Summer </b></div>
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<li>I like not having a schedule</li>
<li>Not having to stay in doors because of weather</li>
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<li> Not having a Huge to-do list - cleaning can wait until Fall</li>
<li>I love getting up early to watch the sun rise, spend time with tea and God's word, before anyone moves</li>
<li>Free outdoor concerts </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRKOsaeurxk8eJ2lWCu2yuMNr-gRX3NtzR8xtrfsIiGYkL_lvZQfCHv8QEE3zXWh6mfHdR4h-d-iQfvrUsZymAcNgc3_xPh037zh-toTC5n6_Uh660Pc04Xv8AsXPa1PQN6Fo6wq-wAGo/s1600/20160625_203527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRKOsaeurxk8eJ2lWCu2yuMNr-gRX3NtzR8xtrfsIiGYkL_lvZQfCHv8QEE3zXWh6mfHdR4h-d-iQfvrUsZymAcNgc3_xPh037zh-toTC5n6_Uh660Pc04Xv8AsXPa1PQN6Fo6wq-wAGo/s400/20160625_203527.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>I love not rushing Benjamin off to school</li>
<li>Being spontaneous - go some where or do whatever, at the last minute</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzVjrKGBIRGu73laHglYxqa4bGeHjDi6JW9d5WJJXWuDRnQgOfGfLeWtbBXuc3639E9BjfnhGlz1YqTR2XL-Yc3j8Yg6QyHinZJ7Be7xjrI3FXEAWscUXSoecUQnSvz0kTm5Gp70lY9Bj/s1600/20160628_104631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzVjrKGBIRGu73laHglYxqa4bGeHjDi6JW9d5WJJXWuDRnQgOfGfLeWtbBXuc3639E9BjfnhGlz1YqTR2XL-Yc3j8Yg6QyHinZJ7Be7xjrI3FXEAWscUXSoecUQnSvz0kTm5Gp70lY9Bj/s640/20160628_104631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at the lake the other morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Water...water, and more water - beach - lakes - pool - Water refreshes my soul</li>
<li>Nature - all nature!!! Hike, camp, explore </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexdPwT2h7D8bhKmskYJldr8zcU9ze1HaC3Oq7TpKl-ab6YSZYa5X8pICdOQtFn6BRCgtgBv3dfWL04rCiCkcb9nOoj0v9JpNNu8893wvsmSrlCR_YnYVa1OK9wSbdK_yIyx_h_HHLEIRq/s1600/20160627_140535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexdPwT2h7D8bhKmskYJldr8zcU9ze1HaC3Oq7TpKl-ab6YSZYa5X8pICdOQtFn6BRCgtgBv3dfWL04rCiCkcb9nOoj0v9JpNNu8893wvsmSrlCR_YnYVa1OK9wSbdK_yIyx_h_HHLEIRq/s640/20160627_140535.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! Grand Mommy allows mud!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Sun - long days of Sun!</li>
<li>Playing.................the joy of playing!!</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42c0RvoRTnh4J-y7PB-BacMbLNMWzHZ6JlVPkRjmx4la7lk3IR2rsuVl14BDb9J9bF51zhUDH6Gwpmlv6DosjwLL-vaV0SOCrGVI5xDMgdz-wGepUPFMCMBGEmy1dO__SFMYOnzC_AJrD/s1600/20160617_171756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42c0RvoRTnh4J-y7PB-BacMbLNMWzHZ6JlVPkRjmx4la7lk3IR2rsuVl14BDb9J9bF51zhUDH6Gwpmlv6DosjwLL-vaV0SOCrGVI5xDMgdz-wGepUPFMCMBGEmy1dO__SFMYOnzC_AJrD/s400/20160617_171756.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twins chasing bubbles while everyone else is unloading boxes in their new home! They love the new place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT2Szw7t1zWkpnOFdrvG5W5ETWQ6fH1R4-L9dD7gVADGNqeULTw3I13_PFCj0RIqXxXit7WH4VBeOspe6r_OOkGXSf3sO-3it80rxcWVsZwRXv4UC8mHJXCyPAgHU6Ezl1t1Hh1PN71vs/s1600/20160620_101222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT2Szw7t1zWkpnOFdrvG5W5ETWQ6fH1R4-L9dD7gVADGNqeULTw3I13_PFCj0RIqXxXit7WH4VBeOspe6r_OOkGXSf3sO-3it80rxcWVsZwRXv4UC8mHJXCyPAgHU6Ezl1t1Hh1PN71vs/s400/20160620_101222.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking Blueberries.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Travel - if at all possible, seeing what is around our world - this means "staycation" more than out of town, but all of us could take more time to discover what is around us</li>
</ul>
<div>
Now as I look around and see all the dust, the cluttered places and disorganization, of my home. I just say, "Yes!" this is evidence of us making the most of summer! Fall will come, and once again we can organize, clean, be on a schedule, but for now................drop on in, but don't expect a show place. I will meet you for an adventure, my trunk is stocked for summer. I carry chairs, blanket, ice chest and car seats! Come on...we will have an adventure. Just don't fence me in before September!</div>
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<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-87122080199165189442016-06-18T06:05:00.000-07:002016-06-18T06:09:45.886-07:00Whirlwind May and JuneI can't believe it is already the middle of June. It has been a whirlwind around here. May ran so fast I couldn't catch my breath. I truly wonder how families do all that is required these days. I think home schooling was easier on our family. Benjamin's school schedule had us jumping. <br />
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God's faithfulness was seen again as he completed his third year in a charter school and fourth grade. This year was a challenge for him as God put on his heart to share the Gospel with a class mate. This meant he was taken into the director of the school's office. Although his school has all their school events in churches, and each program is started with prayer, a student was offended because Benjamin picked up the Bible from the holder in front of him. As the kids were waiting their turn to present their songs at the Christmas program, Benjamin shared Genesis 1:1 with a student setting beside him. As he told me later, "well where do you start when you want to share Christ? You start at the Beginning...in the beginning there was God." Without a word, he just showed the scripture. So, this year, God challenged him to step out and share. The parents were upset at this display of religion and the fact Benjamin brought a Max Lucado book to school, which was Cosmic Christmas, a fictional book. We learned as a family that our nation is different than when we were in school. He learned he still has the right of speech and to stand strong. What a young age to see that there truly is spiritual warfare. He is learning.<br />
<br />
As he finished this year he received Academic Excellence, having received all A's in every subject for the complete year. His orchestra, of which he is the only elementary student, it is the Jr High orchestra, received Superior in their competition. He also was introduced to baseball this year, and fell in love. Our sixth child to play baseball/softball. This delighted my heart, as I was allowed to go down memory lane over all the years of our others playing ball. As God showed his faithfulness to Benjamin, He also showed His faithfulness to me...a mother who still has a home schooling heart. He also showed his faithfulness to this "older" mom, it truly is a challenged to be in a world of mom's in their 30's!!! His ways are truly greater than ours!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s7JlO-sVTex3Mh720hM20pyH1jsSShgOXB0gg-QuZqk_59ylES4d5iOcop1Ner_krfU4XvhEO90QRsWlBc_-H6eab9YF9Vmxuw1bDA_pAZpJK74K1pOhyphenhyphenUZx-cH8YTzPaCkaW8p9guW4/s1600/IMG_20160529_133258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s7JlO-sVTex3Mh720hM20pyH1jsSShgOXB0gg-QuZqk_59ylES4d5iOcop1Ner_krfU4XvhEO90QRsWlBc_-H6eab9YF9Vmxuw1bDA_pAZpJK74K1pOhyphenhyphenUZx-cH8YTzPaCkaW8p9guW4/s640/IMG_20160529_133258.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Benjamin followed the Lord in baptism in May also. He had committed his life to the Lord a few years ago, but hadn't followed his commitment in baptism. His father had the honor of baptizing our youngest child. Our prayer now is that God will walk with him and uphold him with His hand. It is God who works in all of us until completion. <br />
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My precious Mother-in-law <b>celebrated her 101st birthday</b> the first part of June. My heart hurt this year when she couldn't see Benjamin play baseball. You see, she was the wife of a semi-pro baseball player. Even in her 90's she would drive for four hours to come see her grandson play baseball. Benjamin is the first child she hasn't seen play sports. Her and him share a very special bond. There is 91 years difference in their age, and have a very tender love for each other. Benjamin's relationship with her has given him a heart for the those who are rich in years.<br />
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May meant the twins turned 1!!! Our daughter still hits the ball out of the park with all that life swings at her. This weekend they moved...again...and are so excited about their new home. We rejoice with them on their journey of life. The other grands are all growing and the delight of my heart, as we continue "Grandmommy Adventures".<br />
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June meant 36 years of marriage for Bill and I. WOW! what an eventful journey. As we add seasoned color to our hair, we also add seasoned love to our marriage. God truly works through our relationships to show us HIM. Thank you Bill for 36 years.<br />
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In the midst of all the events God also blessed me with a desire of my heart. I wanted Benjamin to be able to go to the beach, which his siblings enjoyed multiple times in their childhood. I wanted to spend time with the Lord on the shores of the ocean. To my surprise, God provided through a company business trip. Bill worked and Benjamin and I played. I hadn't been to this beach, which we held years of memories, in 18 years. Not only did the beauty bless me, but walking down the memory lane again, reminded me of God's faithfulness.<br />
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I end with - God is faithful and I am not, yet, He continues to love me. What an awesome God we serve, I am humbled. He continues to walk with me through this "Adventure" called life.Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-66387621369740678152016-05-24T06:32:00.000-07:002016-10-15T12:31:26.253-07:00My Side of Fixer Upper Mania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWhYJpit1TeQkU235yMWUCejne8pQQoU4H8cpvbmHQA2lyZbKWgytfV2hpG3i_rE1GP321FtuczzwlNBgroouvYQyr44UEeGkCFx7cPcvBsuLwrmxbRLABwGkYgFQEqxQSyICOuxJ5uW4/s1600/1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWhYJpit1TeQkU235yMWUCejne8pQQoU4H8cpvbmHQA2lyZbKWgytfV2hpG3i_rE1GP321FtuczzwlNBgroouvYQyr44UEeGkCFx7cPcvBsuLwrmxbRLABwGkYgFQEqxQSyICOuxJ5uW4/s640/1857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, I am jumping on the Fixer-Upper Mania, but probably not in the way you expect.</div>
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If you want to hear about the Gaines, the jewels of Texas, you can google search to find post all over the internet. You can't turn anywhere without seeing their precious faces. They are even icons in the Christian world as they openly share their faith. I posted on them years ago, I think it was the end of season one of their show Fixer Upper.<br />
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I will show you pictures of my time at the Magnolia Silos, but what I will share here is my view on this "around the world" , "city changing couple."<br />
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You see, I know Waco and McGregor and all the towns surrounding this area of Texas. I am a native Texan, at least four generations have been born here, therefore, I seem to have relatives stretching the expanses of this large state. Therefore, I grew up going to Waco, where my Aunts, Uncles, Grandmother and cousins lived. It was WACO! It was and still is a SMALL town. I on the other hand was from Austin......................then smaller than now, but a big city in comparison to Waco.<br />
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Lucy and Ethel take the Silos, to celebrate both of our birthdays!</div>
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Waco had Baylor University and that was about it! There wasn't much to do in Waco, in comparison to the large cities of Texas.<br />
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The city hasn't changed much. Baylor did build a wonderful, eye-catching football stadium and their football titles have rocked them into the spot light. I posted in 2012 on my trip there with Ethel and what was in WACO, this was long before the Gaines started their transformation.<br />
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">But then,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> came the show</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Fixer - Upper </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> which woke up this town and it will never be the same. You see, when I went to the Silos, silos I had passed all my life, silos that were just empty, what I saw was God.<br />
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<i><b>You see, when God gets a hold of anything...............there are changes.</b></i></div>
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God took this one couple and He ignited a movement. There are jobs that were created out of the success of Fixer-Upper. Buildings were and still are being restored. A city has come to life!!! Restaurants have customers filing out the doors. Parking goes down the street. The vision keeps expanding.<br />
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<i>One couples "Yes" has transformed a complete city!!</i> People drive from everywhere to visit Waco now. Where Waco before was just a gas stop on your way to the large metropolis of our state, it is now a destination.<br />
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Local antique shops are full on Saturdays. Businesses that use to have just a few inside their store all day, now have to monitor the flow. The first time I visited her little shop on Bosque, there were only two people in the shop. Now you wait in line to get into the store!!!<br />
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My Ethel and I followed all the businesses Joanna had recommended on her paper you receive when you visit the Silos. I kept shaking my head and I repeated more than once....THIS IS WACO!!! I had to pinch myself.<br />
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Bottom line and end of this story. If you get a chance go, but what I hope you see isn't the store, the bakery, the gardens, the barn............the list is still being added to, as God continues to bring more and more of His vision to life, I hope you see HIM. I hope you see how God can take the little in our hand and expanded it for everyone around you. I hope you can see how, as my Uncle said, "we watched this young couple take a shack and make it into their home, thinking, what are they doing?", and see how God can change everything.<br />
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The Gaines latest purchase is the Elite Restaurant in Waco. Another historic landmark in Waco, where we have eaten through the years, on our way to another city, and also celebrated my mother-in-law's 98th Birthday. They will preserve history, as well as provide more jobs.<br />
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One couple.....................handing over their "dreams" to the one who gave the "dream" and then walking in obedience, they get to be part of what HE is doing in and through them.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed my pictures, but mainly I hope you see what I saw when I visited Waco. Now you can read their book, watch interviews on every network, read tons of blogs and hear their side of the story. I just wanted to share mine and my applauds is to a Big God....BRAVO!, what awesome works you do through those who say, "YES" to you.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-43897586890124751812016-04-22T18:04:00.000-07:002016-04-22T18:04:01.828-07:00ADVENTURE<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Without knowing it, I have taken on this word....ADVENTURE!!!</i></b></div>
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It is the word I use when I gather my grandsons into my arms and sweep them away for an </div>
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ADVENTURE!!!</div>
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The joy of getting older is you don't care what people think as you make a clown of yourself to produce a smile in your grandsons or even your youngest child. The cost is worth it as I jump or gallop like a horse to take them on an</div>
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ADVENTURE!!</div>
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Recently, my daughter-in-law found this shirt for my grandson to wear when he goes with me.</div>
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Today is my precious husband's birthday. The man I have loved for over 39 years. The man who is the father of all six of our children, ranging in ages from 32 to 10! That alone says it all...........</div>
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it has been an </div>
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ADVENTURE!</div>
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<b><i>Adventure - <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">An </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">adventure</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> is an exciting or unusual experience. It may also be a bold, usually </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Risk">risky</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> undertaking, with an uncertain outcome</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><i>This card today just jump-out and said it all for my husband.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An Adventure takes risk and has an unknown outcome....that is what life is all about. It isn't always laughing, sometimes it is crying, but most of all, it is a choice to enter into the ADVENTURE.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">I believe God calls us to enter into the ADVENTURE He has for us all. As we enter His adventure we also learn to trust Him in deeper ways. We walk in faith, through all the dangerous and un</span></span><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">explainable</span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> parts of our own personal adventures, trusting Him with the outcome. </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Our second son took all of us on an ADVENTURE, we hadn't experienced. We all went to the horse races for his birthday and had the joy of dressing up, as if we were going to the Kentucky Derby.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The ADVENTURE, gave us some wonderful picture time, while we celebrated his new decade of life. <i>It was a time where God showed me He is in the ADVENTURE. </i> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">My youngest son and my six grandsons lead me on ADVENTURES each week. They stretch their arms out to lead me on an ADVENTURE....life...it is risky...an </span></span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">unusual</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> experience.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">It has been an Adventure, this journey of being a wife, mother and now a grandmother.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">I have learned somethings on this Adventure, but most of it is, I don't know God's next move.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">What I do know is............He leads the ADVENTURE.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><i><b>Enjoy your ADVENTURE, each of ours looks different.</b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><i><b>Love the ones who are on the ADVENTURE with you.</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><i><b>Thank you God for leading us on an ADVENTURE.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">usually </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Risk">risky</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> undertaking, with an uncertain outcome</span></i></b></div>
Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-13671219962251671592016-03-23T06:05:00.001-07:002016-03-23T09:55:04.736-07:00Benjamin's Spring Concert<br />
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Last night I again, set amazed at our youngest son's playing ability. He had one of only two solos for the concert. Afterwards people asked him how long he practices, they were blown away. In comparison to the other students he is years ahead. The fact is..........it isn't his practice..........it is just a God-given-talent. As parents we can't take any credit, we have done nothing, other than provide the opportunity. We are now wondering where do we go from here? How do we encourage this gift God has given him at such a young age? We want to be faithful, while not being "too child" centered.<br />
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Today I wanted to just share with you our little's guys concert. He played in front of over 300 people last night. His legs hurt at the end from nerves. He said he kept thinking, "don't lock your knees or you will faith", which is what happened to his brother at our oldest son's wedding.<br />
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What was priceless last night was when a friend (age 10) came running up to him afterwards and said, "Ben, I knew you were good, but I had no idea you were that good!!!" I watched my son's eyes light up, as a peer gave him praise. I could just hug that kid!!!<br />
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This is to give credit where credit it due.............To God!!!, and may Benjamin's playing be for God's glory.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iqqHhCX_7_4" width="560"></iframe>Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-62503301095488850802016-03-11T07:16:00.000-08:002016-03-11T07:16:35.593-08:00I Will Watch This!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOWE2TE-uuEOEAruU8kI73rqKYszq3QLckKcIf_jQd0XAUlMkYUYX_UF0w0uDdGxOy0bDiDJ688xxAyfioY5jwy9-Q2ptXAYFZWfv8_Kqv-hlCXFeJS90V7FEmKprtL51D2HdOi39U0qC/s1600/soapbox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOWE2TE-uuEOEAruU8kI73rqKYszq3QLckKcIf_jQd0XAUlMkYUYX_UF0w0uDdGxOy0bDiDJ688xxAyfioY5jwy9-Q2ptXAYFZWfv8_Kqv-hlCXFeJS90V7FEmKprtL51D2HdOi39U0qC/s640/soapbox.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>I have to say or maybe it is, stand on a soap box and yell, I don't like commercials.</b></div>
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I remember the days when you couldn't advertise prescription drugs. Those issues we deal with in life, many things that should only be between your spouse and doctor, weren't embarrassing portrayed across the television. You didn't have to change the channel or cover eyes and ears of your children. Even "G" rated stations now have politically correct, which usually means no moral content ads, which display non-biblical and non-moral issues you have to explain to your child. I am one who doesn't care for this change in our society.<br />
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But before I "throw the baby out with the water" may I say, these commercials on values have caught my heart.<br />
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Someone is getting it right. They are allowing values be displayed on our TV. Between all the negative there is some hope. <br />
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My Benjamin is one who is caught by these ads. He is the one who catches the strong words and videos.<br />
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I hope this one blesses you as it did me. Values are out there. Let's continue to pass them on!<br />
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You can go to Values.com and see more. Have an awesome weekend.<br />
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<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-65874577796871431162016-03-07T06:45:00.000-08:002016-03-07T09:12:36.845-08:00They Came - One Hundred Thousand Plus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7h_8K3Zu7i7OFPr_R51pWHgU_xZdTQGsDqo2AoeZ54hDXBTrIq33MUWQc_SwRjopxmFZG_DbhoTri1v4SRsHa5_t5-Ss_8SPgQeesSO_D4mp2kLf4SrIEE7J8wY4lSFXKB5-UK11IHKJ/s1600/IMG_20160306_161907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7h_8K3Zu7i7OFPr_R51pWHgU_xZdTQGsDqo2AoeZ54hDXBTrIq33MUWQc_SwRjopxmFZG_DbhoTri1v4SRsHa5_t5-Ss_8SPgQeesSO_D4mp2kLf4SrIEE7J8wY4lSFXKB5-UK11IHKJ/s640/IMG_20160306_161907.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The traffic started backing up. It was still over two hours before the crusade was to begin. I have never been more excited to see a traffic jam. The lines started forming blocks away. Everyone was in such a good mood. The massive stadium daunting the sky. The clouds rolled in, yet one little hole in the clouds allowed the sun to shine through.<br />
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Benjamin didn't miss a step. He looked on at awe at the number of people. He has never been to one of these events. We had taken our other children to a Billy Graham crusade at the old Dallas Cowboy stadium years ago. In comparison to this stadium, it was small.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c6BJQMT6j0hHeoQ-NIqDNtuZLv8_4W3QvN1T_xpaLZhynw3OgnJxZuxS_rj00qpUqkSB8A0qlFBHnEEcRutlSzvmTbkmpr9xpnMr3dCoki7sPnyodnsGpNVIK2MDaRNp0skI70r0Jhlb/s1600/image-20160306_165037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c6BJQMT6j0hHeoQ-NIqDNtuZLv8_4W3QvN1T_xpaLZhynw3OgnJxZuxS_rj00qpUqkSB8A0qlFBHnEEcRutlSzvmTbkmpr9xpnMr3dCoki7sPnyodnsGpNVIK2MDaRNp0skI70r0Jhlb/s640/image-20160306_165037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The arena filled to capacity (100,000 people) within just a hour. People were even seated behind the stage, their only view would be to watch it through the massive screens over head. The stairs were loaded with people watching, who couldn't get a seat. Outside others listened, who couldn't get into the stadium. It was streamed live all around the world. The total number of viewers, only God knows.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Gospel was spoken. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Greg Laurie shared the Gospel.</b></span></div>
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My phone was dead so I didn't get a picture of him. </div>
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I don't need to judge the hearts of the people, that is God's job. He is the one who turns the hearts. He is the one! I prayed, I was obedient, the results is His, for His glory.</div>
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There were prayers lifted up for our Nation!! </div>
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This is Benjamin's hat, he picked it out and asked if he could have this.</div>
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The altar call was made, as was always done in the Billy Graham crusades.</div>
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The massive football field, which usually holds football players, was now being flooded with people, answering the call. The overflow was so large they opened up rooms all over the stadium to counsel those that came forward.</div>
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Romans 1:16</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.</span></b></div>
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Each time I have attended an event like this I have thought, well Lord, this is what heaven will be like. What a creative God we serve, none of us alike. </div>
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This morning my heart is full. I will continue to pray!</div>
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Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-86873139836318396372016-03-02T07:12:00.000-08:002016-03-02T07:12:31.960-08:00Woodlawn, Now Go! - part 3I will not argue if God speaks today or not. Much of what He says to us is through His Word, the Bible, however, I do believe there are other ways to hear His voice. As I picked up the old vinyl albums and placed them in a safe place, I still had the <i><b>Jesus Expo '72</b></i> running through my head. What did it all mean? I placed my thoughts aside with a "Thank you Lord, for faithful servants." Then we rented a movie.<br />
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Woodlawn - just the name brings back memories. I was a pre-teen in 1972, yet I can recall vividly my memories of that Christmas season. In our small part of Austin, Texas was a growing, on-fire, light-up-the-world for Christ youth group. I am sure many probably attended the <b><i>Jesus Expo</i></b> in Dallas in 1972. The name of the church was WOODLAWN. December of 1972 the large youth group was headed to New Mexico for a ski trip. They had prayer coverage from the church and others who knew many of the youth. They left Austin in two school buses...................the rest is history, know all over the world. There were 17 youth and two adults, who left this world to be with Christ.<br />
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Our phone began to ring, the news came through the television and tears of horror were felt in my family. Although none of my family members were on the buses, many of my family friend"s teenagers were. I remember the tears as each death was reported and those who were fine were being flown home. The relief to know our close friend's son was fine, while also grieving over the loss of so many, marked me for life.<br />
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http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/40-years-after-woodlawn-bus-tragedy-survivors-reca/nTfg4/<br />
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When I mentioned to my husband I wanted to see the movie Woodlawn, he assumed it was about the wreck. He had been invited on the trip, but decided not to go, so his memories are stronger than mine. I assured him "No!", that it was about a football team, however, I didn't know how the events of 1972 would be the backdrop of this movie.<br />
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I will not tell all of the true story, but I will tell you where God grabbed my attention. The football team was from a school named Woodlawn, a school that was dealing with racial tension, as the mixture of races were forced to play football. During the beginning of their football season a man asked to talk to the team. He started his speech telling about his experience at <i><b>Jesus Expo '72.</b></i><br />
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<b>What? You have got to be kidding? There is Jesus Expo '72 again.</b><br />
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His talk with the team lead to the whole team becoming sold out for Christ. The rest of the team's story is history. The story is inspiring.<br />
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The movie closes with actual films from the <b><i>Jesus Expo '72</i></b> and music from the album I had rediscovered during our vinyl playing of "oldies but goodies" Christmas morning. It goes on to tell about coming event to the Dallas area, Harvest America. At this posting there is over 1000 churches joining together to put on this one day event.<br />
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<i><b>Okay........................that was it! I am going!! I will be there!! I am praying.</b></i><br />
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Woodlawn will always be the church bus wreck to me and how God's grace and healing came to our city. The movie showed me that even in that name (Woodlawn), God was working.<br />
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My first two children were dedicated to Lord by the pastor who was the pastor of the church Woodlawn, in Austin, Texas. He guided his congregation through their grief and continued to pastor a growing body of believers. Again, more of my spiritual heritage. I just feel the Lord says, <i>"look, I am still working, don't miss it!"</i> An album and a movie drove that part home. I know I am weird to many, but then again, I think the Lord works in ways that don't always make sense. The events of today can be discouraging, yet HE is still on the throne. I am looking forward to Sunday and taking our younger boys to see this move of God. To also remember that God isn't finished yet, and there is more to come, as we bow our knees and pray.<br />
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*Sonja of <u>Bits and Pieces</u> let me know she was in attendance at Jesus Expo '72, the final night at the Cotton Bowl. Her father had lead groups through out the city. How neat is that? Maybe one day she will share her experience. Thank you all for sharing your experiences! Although I am sure some got "catch up" in the movement, I rest in the fact that God is the one who sifts through all of that. For now, I am seeing the many faithful seeds that were sown and the fruit of them decades later.<br />
<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-51579982868637796262016-02-28T14:48:00.001-08:002016-02-28T14:48:44.929-08:00The Surprise Vinyl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I had mentioned in my past post, we had a blast walking down memory lane, with our "oldie but goodies" vinyl records. What I wasn't expecting was the "Surprise" Vinyl. The one that took me off guard, the one that yelled, "who would have known all these events years ago?." The one vinyl that silently and quietly spoke, <b><i>"Only God."</i></b><br />
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I remembered the cover. We had two copies of this album. One must have been mine and the other my husband. My husband and I share a difference of seven year in our ages. This means, that when I was in Jr High, he was graduating from high school. Our memories of history in the 70's is very different. He remembers the war, I remember seeing it on TV. He remembers the draft, I wasn't aware of the draft. He remembers discrimination, I don't remember racial tension. Now this album started connecting the spiritual dots.<br />
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I started to play the songs, once again remembering the lyrics. What stopped me in my tracks was reading the writing on the back of the album.<br />
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Oh WOW! This was a time of God reaching down and igniting a fire in the young people of America. This had happened where I know lived. It had happened in my birth state, just miles from my home town. My spiritual heart just jumped.<br />
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All those years ago, people all over the nation had prayed for revival in the youth. I was a young youth, my husband a senior in High School. The cover of the album tells the story, the inside jacket on the album delivered the plan of salvation.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SVAW6l-F2GPQcemTTbwYBnyPWUrEMIK9-obCZZRyi1HDSMPkjGCFd4RZsEwkk7F4zqQkKUeFdsvJzi8y43vuP4zL51KJlNHe8kzomKb43GMaBUjcUbBDoKjRjcWWAZy_9reOB0LJ3x1r/s1600/IMG_20151225_085919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SVAW6l-F2GPQcemTTbwYBnyPWUrEMIK9-obCZZRyi1HDSMPkjGCFd4RZsEwkk7F4zqQkKUeFdsvJzi8y43vuP4zL51KJlNHe8kzomKb43GMaBUjcUbBDoKjRjcWWAZy_9reOB0LJ3x1r/s640/IMG_20151225_085919.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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As I stood, on Christmas morning, enjoying the dance down memory lane, my spirit became silent.<br />
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You see, I am a product of this move of God. My parents had been faithful to raise me in the Lord, yet the seeds of prayers where probably why I am still walking with the Lord. My husband is also the product of the same seeds sown for our generation. Here we now stand, parents and grandparents, are we sowing seeds for generations to come? I believe we are, yet I was also convicted of the fruit of prayers made for my generation in 1972 at the <i><b>Jesus Expo</b></i>.<br />
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The timing of this discovery was very eye opening, and yet, there was more the Lord would revive in the following days. I couldn't have orchestrated the events had I know all the info He would show me. This weekend, will be another time to sow seed. I will plant back into the same soil that others did in 1972. There have been many times through the years I know seeds have been planted. I also know, our nation needs a Revival. I want to be faithful to sow seeds in prayer.<br />
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I will write on the next event God brought about in my life to drive this point home and get me ready for the event this coming weekend.<br />
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***I know there are some of you that may have been at this event or part of this event. I am hoping <b><u>Sonja of Bits and Pieces</u></b> can add some to my account. Her father did serve with the Billy Graham ministries. Please, if you were part of this in anyway, would you share. I would like to hear more about what I feel is part of my spiritual heritage.<br />
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<b><i>Harvest America - http://harvestamerica.com/ Arlington, Texas March 6, 2016</i></b>Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-31799149164743082872016-02-25T07:11:00.000-08:002016-02-25T16:44:58.966-08:00Retro Ties Us Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everywhere you can look retro is in style. Music, decor, clothing and even food choices scream the past. I am sure every generation feels their generation some how, did life better. Just listen around, "we never did it that way", "we didn't have those problems in our day", "our music was so much better", "we parented better" and the list goes on and on. I am sure my generation wasn't particularly better, it was just what was common and familiar to us. Sin entered the world with Adam and nothing has been perfect since in this fallen world.<br />
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Even though is it is sometimes hard to accept the "new" ways, it is a great joy when the generations can agree and enjoy "past" things together. Last year I had the giggly, teenage feeling of enjoying a familiar "past" with my son, who is 35 years younger than I am. He is our fifth child. As he pumped music through his room, I could join in singing every word. Why? The familiar songs were from the 70's. I would apply my make-up with a grin, as I boobed my head to the familiar tunes. Somehow my wrinkles and grey hair, seemed to disappear as I saw a eager, full of life, ready to take on the world, teenage girl look back at me in my mirror.<br />
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This lead to my Retro Christmas purchase. I mean, what do you buy a 20 year old? The technology of today is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy past our budget, and he could care less about clothes. Then I saw it, I just had to have it, this would be soooooooooooooooooo much fun! <br />
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A turntable. Yes, that is right, a turntable. One of those old forms of technology we had been force to donate years ago, as all the "new" technology made it obsolete. Its purchase even showed the generational differences. As I spied the turntable I started toward my conquest, so did another woman in my generation. There were only two. We both laughed as we grabbed the coveted retro item. She was feeling the same things I was.......................memories of our youth. We both made our way to the cashier, while others in our generation saw our purchase, questions started coming. "Are vinyls coming back?", they hopefully asked. To which I knew the answer, "oh yes, and also the old vinyls are popular with the kids today." My treasure chest of vinyls were still in the garage. I couldn't wait to share this retro-toy with my young adult son.<br />
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Christmas morning came. He was thrilled! I eagerly ran to the garage to share my vinyl treasures, to share my knowledge of what 33, 78 and 45 speed meant on the turntable. To my horror, part of my vinyl treasures had been lost in our last moves. My heart sunk. I had carried them with me for over 30 years and now when I could share them with my son, they were gone. We still had a box. Many were my husband's own recordings. He had recorded dozens of albums from his days in high school and college bands, to his own album with a singing group. My husband's group was called <i>Reflections</i>, and one member is walking with his Savior in heaven, after a battle with cancer. again the past meeting our today.<br />
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The kitchen, which is also decorated in total retro, became our 70's memory dance floor. I fixed Christmas lunch while belting out the songs I had song in my youth. I didn't miss a word. Songs I hadn't heard in decades just floated back to my memory. I was a youth once again. All music evokes emotions! It doesn't matter the genre, secular, classical, and even church hymns evoke emotions. To say it doesn't is false, that is why music is so powerful for good or evil.<br />
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We laughed, we sang, we enjoyed the past together. One friend said to me later, "can you believe our parents let us listen to those songs?" Well, I don't know what she listened to, but although my parents were protective, I had my own level of standards, and my journey through my past youth didn't dig up embarrassing decisions, but a youth of joy. These memories were good and that is what I shared with my son. One song we laughed through was <u>I Am the Happiest Girl in the Whole USA.</u> I knew every word, that is how I felt in my youth. Weeks later, not knowing our Christmas memory lane walk, a friend sent me the youtube video to that song, stating, "I saw this and thought of you." <br />
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Our day ended with countless hours of walking down memory lane with our sons. Recalling stories and telling about the past artist we enjoyed. Some albums were also their grandfather's favorite, yet many were artist that are still touring, playing to sold out crowds. Some have recently died. Who would have believed their music would have transcended the generations and even become a glue to bring them together? So is the power of music.<br />
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There was even a bigger retro-walk in my vinyl record box. I am saving that revelation for another post. It is where I stood in amazement over the spiritual heritage the Lord had given me from the 70's.<br />
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So as we grow older and think this generation just doesn't get it, may we remember our parents and grandparents probably felt the same. The sin of today isn't new, that is why the world needs a Savior, that is way Jesus came to die for our sins. Our responsibility is to pray! Let's sow seeds for the future, while enjoying the positive fruits of our past, since our generation was also filled with fallen sin, that needed a Savior.<br />
<br />Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-62864336466479666822016-02-11T19:50:00.001-08:002016-02-11T19:50:11.796-08:00Perservance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Each of my children have strengths and weakness, like all of us. As their mom I can rattle off both on each of my offspring. I think one of the greatest challenges for many of us moms, who are trying to train our children in righteousness, is the ditch we can fall into focusing on character that needs to be molded, instead of rejoicing in character shown. <br />
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This week our third born son, the one whom his Dad whistled the theme song, "My Three Sons" as his announcement to all he called from the hospital, turns 27. Our third son earned his place in our family line up between two "I want the center stage" siblings. He has quietly left the stage on more than one occasion to allow them the attention they both crave. In so doing, he is our peacemaker.<br />
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He was our first violinist, here playing with Benjamin.</div>
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As he turns 27 this week I celebrate his character. Character that has been molded by the Lord through perseverance. While things have come a lot easier for his two older brothers, he has been the one who has continued to steadily move forward. With each knock down, he has returned to his tall stature, which extends over his older brothers, to get himself back on course.<br />
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He will finish up his degree this summer. He chose to obtain a degree debt-free. This challenge meant he would forgo a new car, vacations and even returned home for extended stay, until he could find affordable rent. Through out his journey he has continue to work full time or more, while attending school. He would collect employee of the month and countless other work awards, while still pushing through with school. He would walk the path at his own pace.<br />
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Many times I have questioned his college course, wondering if it might not be better for him to enter a career full time. He would take off a semester, earn up money, and return to school. He was determined.<br />
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As his other siblings married........and had children.....he continued on course.<br />
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When he was young my motto for him was, "slow and steady wins the race." I was the mom who would yell from the bleachers, "run like your pants are on fire", while he slowly rounded the bases in baseball. He was never the child you could rush, but I also said, "you will never have heart problems from stress." He has always reminded calm.<br />
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My steady man has convicted his mother's heart more than once. His silence can speak volumes, I never have heard him say a bad thing about anyone. He is never jealous, envious nor brags. He humbly moves through life, while his siblings seem to be blazing trails blowing up dust, he is content.<br />
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So, today I look up to "My Mighty Tower", which is what his name means, "I Love You and Happy Birthday". Your perseverance has made you the man you are today, continue on your race.<br />
Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-49931760727125710662016-02-05T07:23:00.001-08:002016-02-05T16:08:54.402-08:00It Never Works for Me!After a long week of fighting the crud, some unnamed illness, I found myself alone. My mind went wild with the possibilities. I would have a few hours before I need to pick up Benjamin. Alone time. What is alone time? What will I do now that I feel okay?<br />
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My friend recently had her annual medical test run. All those test that are needed at the mid-century years, were taken. The advice the doctor gave her was that he felt most women held in their stress. This naturalistic doctor advises his patients, before prescriptions, to try to manage stress in varies natural forms. One of his suggestions for women to release their stress is spa day. Massages were at the top of his de-stress advice.<br />
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We both looked at each other and said, "Yeah, RIGHT!" We both talked about all the issues that would keep us from de-stressing in this manner....money and time and family. We also discussed that we needed to learn from his advise. Walking is free...having a spa day at home, not massage, was also a possibility.<br />
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This is where my thoughts had gone in my head on this free morning. So off to the bathroom I went to have my own, de-stress, spa day. I looked into my drawer to find a spa packet, for my face, a gift from how knows how long ago. I looked down at my toes and fingers, yes!!!, they needed attention and color. I started the water in my shower. Calgon take me away commercial playing in my head, I stepped in. Surely the facial mask would remove the years of neglect. Surely my husband would notice all the time I am taking to beautify myself. Surely the stress would wash down the drain with the water.<br />
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Now, as my friend would say....I was setting myself up for a disaster. Truth is, It NEVER Works for me, but today would be different.<br />
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Music played, my hair was washed and wrapped in a towel, I leaned back in my de-tox mixture water to relax. I grabbed the facial mask and slathered it all over my face. It was thick. It smelled wonderful. Now in my rush to enjoy my spa day I didn't put on my glasses...I didn't read the package. As I leaned back relaxing, covered in my orange facial mask, I thought, I didn't read what it said to do. I grabbed the packet. To my horror I could barely make out, <b>Hair Mask</b>!!!<br />
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OH, MY!!, what had I slathered all over my face? Oh, my, was I now going to look like a red tomato all broken out? Oh, MY!!! I began to scoop off the mask, but not to lose it, rubbed it onto my hair!!!<br />
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While I am furiously removing the mask, praying it will not strip off my face, the phone rings. YES, someone is in need! My college son's car didn't work and he needs me to pick him up, NOW!!!<br />
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I look down at my toes, my fingernails and realize, once again.............It NEVER Works for ME!<br />
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Now how does this de-stress anyone? Well I was laughing as I stepped out of the tub, still watching my face in the mirror. Thank goodness, my hair mask, didn't manifest in horror on my face. As for my hair, well I couldn't tell any benefit.<br />
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My husband never knew I had tried to make myself look beautiful for him. My college son never knew he had interrupted my "spa day". Stress-free, came with the realization of laughing at myself, and plans to one day...............one day.............actually paint my nails, and use a face mask.<br />
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Laughter is good like medicine and it is free!!! </div>
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Today, I have some free hours......................you think I ought to try again?????</div>
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I hope you have a stress-free, relaxing, refreshing weekend!</div>
Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-292398111323195424.post-41604805650546473992016-01-26T07:40:00.000-08:002016-01-26T07:40:19.927-08:00Broken Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Some times you just have to stop and say.....That man of mine. Today is one of those post.</b></i></div>
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I have known my husband since I was 14. I even have diary post of the day I meet him and where. Funny, I meet him in the city we now live in, even though we both lived in our home town of Austin, Texas at that time. Our age difference of seven years prohibited anything but a friendship to form. He was more like the older brother I didn't have, and I his younger sister.<br />
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Flash forward to today. We have been married over 35 years, birthed six children and the grandparents of six small boys. We have lived in five houses over the years, three we owned and two we have rented. We have done the reverse, owned then rented, as our income has rocked up and down. Multiple jobs and changes which redirected the dreams we had in the earlier years of marriage. We have loved each other deeply and also frustrated each other greatly. There are days we couldn't imagine life without the other and days we both wanted to run away from our marriage. I think that is the true definition of marriage. <br />
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As our family has increased in numbers, a dream I had from the time I was in my teens, we have also seen our financial resources dry up. This has lead to learning how to live very creatively!!! It also has lead to learning what "living by faith" truly means. May I say, "Yes, God is faithful!" It has also meant that we forgo gift buying for each other in order to buy for our children and grandchildren.<br />
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That beings said, however, my husband ALWAYS finds some way to put something under the tree. This year he was the most creative and on point of any year I can remember, therefore, my shout-out to my man.<br />
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He took his gift card from his Christmas party, from his boss, and headed to the mall. He entered Barnes and Nobles. <br />
Let's stop there..................this is a man who knows his wife. Yes, by this time you would think he should, but I sometimes wonder.<br />
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He proceeded to buy me two of my "dream-to-be" magazines. You see, in my mind I would be a very good business woman. I have always dreamed of being a business woman, even when I was in high school. I dreamed I would own a dance studio. I trained in college to do just that. I was a dance major with a business minor. I took courses in business in order to run my studio. Later, I owned a decorating business while my children were young. Recently I have tried again. All of these helped with income.................none would make me end up in a magazine or on TV. You see...in the midst of this business dream, my real desire of raising a family always trumped the other. Instead of a dance studio, I became a stay-at-home, home school mom. No earthly awards or income, but still the most rewarding job I will ever have. Yet, I still read through the books, magazines, blogs and watch the shows, showing others business successes, and continue to dream...maybe one day.<br />
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Because he knows me he picked up the magazines. He also picked up a CD. You see, next to reading I love music. This past year I loved and allowed to sink into my heart, a song by Casting Crowns. Lastly, he went down the mall and bought some perfume. I am not good at keeping or spending money on perfume, but he loves when I smell like something more than household cleaners.<br />
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This man...................and I................have been broken together. We have brought our shattered dreams to the table and looked at each other and said...................we are staying together.<br />
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I don't tell him enough. I don't acknowledge him enough. Today I shout out to him....<b><i>I noticed.</i></b> May you stop and listen to this song, that inspired this post. May you help those around you let go of the unrealistic expectations they hold, that only rob from today. May you see God in all the brokenness, and His promise that He will make beauty from the ashes.Janettessage.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262598732466380229noreply@blogger.com15