O, Be Careful...

As I was laying in bed recently, the lyrics to a song from my early childhood popped into my brain. I haven't thought about this song since my own kids were little and I was teaching it to them. My first thought was that I need to teach this to my grandchildren. As the song repeated in my mind, I started thinking about the words as they relate to my own life.

O, be careful little eyes what you see
O, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

As I have mentioned before, I am addicted to politics, current events, the news in general. The things my "little eyes" see by watching so much news each day is astounding. And horrible. And heartbreaking-ly sad. Have you ever stopped to think what our eyes take in each and every day? Whether you're watching the news, or prime time TV, or cable reality TV, or going to a movie, or even through reading a book; our eyes are subject to thousands of images that we do not need to be seeing. Psalm 119:37 says "Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!" (NET) I need to take this verse to heart and be careful what my eyes are seeing.

O, be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

In my every day life, this one is somewhat aligned with what my eyes are seeing. Although I watch the news with  the sound muted 50% of the time. For me, being careful of what I hear is more specific to popular songs, and the rough language that is prevalent in today's conversation. I think it's easier to guard what our eyes are seeing than what our ears are hearing. We can always close our eyes. Our ears remain open even while we're sleeping. I have to work deliberately at guarding what comes into my mind through my ears. "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge." Proverbs 23:12

O, be careful little hands what you do
O, be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do

One of the bloggers I read wrote a post about what she does in a typical day. It was entertaining, and I could certainly relate to the busy-ness of her day! It also got me to thinking about what I do with my hands in a typical day. Am I choosing activities that are constructive, or am I wasting my time on activities that have no worth? I'll be honest here: how much time am I wasting on the computer? Anything that has a screen is a mighty temptation. And in today's world EVERYTHING seems to have a screen! Proverbs 31:31 "Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

O, be careful little feet where you go
O, be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go

Where do my feet go? This one is easy for me as far as avoiding temptation by going places I shouldn't. But I fail miserably in using my feet when it comes to good health. I need to move my feet (and entire body) more in exercise. I feel mighty convicted by this little verse of the song! "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

O, be careful little mouth what you say
O, be careful little mouth what you say
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

I guess the lyricist saved the hardest verse for last. It is so difficult to tame my tongue! How many times have I said something hurtful, or cruel, or tactless, or mean, or untruthful, or thoughtless? How many times have I wanted to immediately take back the words that I've just uttered? How many opportunities have I missed to praise, or encourage, or support, or speak lovingly? Our words are so powerful, yet we use them with little thought to the consequences of their impact. Psalm 19:14 "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Next week as I begin to teach this little song to my grandkids, my prayer is that I will apply it to my life. That I will remember to guard what my eyes see, what my ears hear, what my hands do, where my feet go, and most importantly, what my mouth says.

Thank You, Janel!

My extremely talented DIL Janel painted this. She can do any craft or hobby she sets her mind to. She has a keen eye for color and somehow what she sees in her mind she is able to create through her hands. I am always so blessed to be on the receiving end of her handiwork!

Stitching Update - Week 7

I'm continuing to stitch on the "Happy Holidays" project I started a few weeks ago. With luck, I think I'll have it done this coming week. I hope so, I'm rarin' to start something new!

If you read yesterday's post, you heard about the VNSA book sale that we attended. I picked up some patterns there. I feel a little guilty because I told myself I wasn't going to buy new stash this year. But, we all really knew that wasn't going to happen! I paid $1 each for these except the Mary Engelbreit was $2. Yippee!

I found a blog with instructions for making DIY counting pins. I'm hoping to make some this week and have photos next week.

Happy Stitching!

VNSA

This year the VNSA Book Sale was the sale that we almost missed. At last year's sale they handed out bookmarks with the date for the 2013 sale. The weekend before it was scheduled, Jessica informed us that they had changed the date. Thank goodness she looked at the website or we would have headed down there on the wrong day. As it was, hundreds, maybe thousands of people did go on the wrong day and they were not happy.

The sale opens at 8:00 am. When we got there at 7:15 am, we could tell there were way less people in line that in years past. We were admitted in the first wave at 8:00 am. Yippee! They had changed the layout of the sections, but I had printed out a map and studied it so I knew just where to head first.

Jessica was able to attend this year after having missed the past two years. It is so much fun to have her there. After three hours of book shopping, we headed home. Poorer in money, but richer in books! Dan and I purchased all of the items in the picture below for less than $95.00.

This sale has been held annually in Phoenix for the past 57 years. They have over 600,000 books for sale each year. It is a book lover's dream. And it's free! (Except for parking which is $7).

If you'd like more info about the sale, I have a link to their website on the left side of the page. People literally come from all around the world to attend this sale.

I can't wait til next year!

Check Out This Giveaway!

The ladies over at Mennonite Girls Can Cook are hosting a give-a-way. Their newest cookbook "Celebrations" will be released on May 2nd. They are accepting pre-orders now. They are also having a giveaway featuring a copy of "Celebrations".

Head on over to this site for a chance to win. I follow two of the MGCC ladies and you can check our their blogs here and here. You can purchase these cookbooks at Amazon, as well as other outlets.

This is one giveaway I REALLY hope I win!

SSMT #4

Time to choose another verse to memorize. This time I chose a verse that all women (and men) can relate to. It has to do with receiving rest. Who among us gets enough rest? I'm not just talking about sleep. I rarely (never) take time to just sit down in the quiet and rest for a few moments. I truly believe that the times that I'm restless and don't know what I want are the times that my body/mind is crying out for some rest. I need to heed that cry more often!

Of course, true rest comes from giving our cares, concerns, worries, fears, and burdens to the Lord. When we give them to him "hands down", He reciprocates by giving us rest.

Matthew 11:28 NIV
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thirty-two years ago today Dan asked me to marry him. I, of course, remember him asking me, but I had no memory at all that it was on Valentine's Day. It's not that I'm an unfeeling, cold person. It's because the way he asked me irritated me so much he's lucky I said "yes". Ummm. Guess that statement isn't helping to dispel the thought that I'm not cold and unfeeling.

Dan's Mom and I had so much in common interest-wise. She loved to read. So do I. She was an avid cross-stitcher. So am I. She loved to talk. So do I. She didn't like me one little bit. There's where the problems started. When Dan asked me to marry him, he did it in front of his mom. I was thrilled. She was not. She got up and walked out of the room without saying a word. Here's your sign...

I had heard stories from Dan's sister and SIL about his mom's behavior at their weddings. After having her react so dramatically to our engagement, I knew I did not want to give her a stage to perform her drama on at our wedding. So we decided to elope. I've never been one to dream about big weddings, plus I'd been married before. (That ceremony was performed at a courthouse in Kansas City).

We planned our trip to Las Vegas. We had beautiful wedding announcements printed up. The night before we were supposed to leave, we were at his parent's house. Dan left the room and his mom lit into me. I can remember clearly all of the awful things she said to me. I'm not going to elevate their importance by listing them here. As we left her house, I seriously told Dan I was thinking of not marrying him just because of her rage toward me. But, I went through with it and boy am I glad I did!

We will celebrate our 32nd Anniversary this April. It always bothered me that his mom and I were not good friends. I would have loved to share our common interests together. I figured out over the years that it wasn't really me she didn't like. She just didn't want to lose her son. This thinking is completely foreign to me, so I didn't have much empathy for her position. I still don't.

My presence agitated her so much over the years. Even after we had kids. I finally made the decision to give her some peace and to save my self-esteem and removed myself from a relationship with her. I was courteous and respectful when they would visit us (I hope). I did not talk her down to my kids. Indeed I think my kids grew up thinking I was the problem. Which was fine with me. I did not want to bad mouth their grandma.

I am thankful in a way for her. First and foremost, she gave me my husband, whom I love completely. She also gave me a blue print for being a MIL. I do everything in my power to show my DILs how much I enjoy them; I truly love both of them. I informed them both when they entered our family that I just want to be their friend, they already have moms.

Last year when Dan reminded me that we were engaged on Valentine's Day I was shocked! I truly had no memory of the actual day it was. I marked in on my Outlook Calendar so I wouldn't forge again. I'm so glad he reminded me!

Stop the World I Want to Get Off

In 1966 a film version of the British Musical "Stop the World I Want to Get Off" was released. Given the content of the story and the fact that I was 10 years old at the time, I'm pretty sure I never saw this film. I've always remembered the title though. Being a pretty literal person, I always thought the title was silly. If the world stops, where is there to get off? I can honestly say that stopping the world and getting off has never been something I wish could happen.

I do admit though, that many many many times in my adulthood I have wished that the rest of the world would stop and I could keep going. Not forever. Just for a few hours so I could catch up. Or so that I could rest. Or so that I could take a deep breath and regroup.

There is just so much going on. And with all of the technological advances instead of having more time for ourselves we have less. This will not come as news to any of you, but being available 24/7/365 is exhausting. It seems like we never have time for thought. We never experience quiet. Indeed, quiet has now become something that makes us uneasy instead of refreshing us.

So last night as I began my last prayer of the day the phrase "stop the world I want to get off" entered my mind. I smiled and realized that I really meant "can the rest of you come to a standstill so I can have a moment to refresh". Or at least get a handle on all of the things/people I need to pray for. A friend with major financial problems. A friend who is job hunting. Two friends starting new jobs yesterday. A family member who had a mental breakdown and is hospitalized. A family member with kid problems. A friend with marital issues. Five acquaintances with cancer. A family member struggling with addiction. And the list goes on and on.

I know this reads like a downer post. That is not my intention. I just want to share with you that during the times that I feel overwhelmed, thank goodness I always (eventually) remember that I do not have to take on all of the situations I'm praying for. My responsibility is to pray for them, not fix them. I am not supposed to be consumed with the problems of the world. I am supposed to share love, empathy, encouragement, and support. I am supposed to remind people that God is bigger than any problem we have. I am supposed to debunk the myth that whatever they are going through is insurmountable. The lie that no one else has EVER had a problem as big, or as bad, or as crushing as theirs. To remind them that God is by their side. To assure them they are not alone and that I am willing to come alongside them and support them in any way I can.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Sales Alert

Attention X-stitchers living in the Phoenix, AZ area: my LNS "Needlers Nest" in Sun City on Bell Rd is having a sale. They have hundreds of buttons on sale for $1 and hundreds of patterns on sale for $2. If you're in the area check it out!

Stitching Update - Week 5

No photos this week. I finished "Through the Woods" and am now concentrating on "Happy Holidays" designed by Sue Hillis Designs.

I noticed this week that several bloggers were organizing their WIPs. I decided that would be a good thing for me to do too. So I'll be working on that this week and will have a list ready for next week's update.

See you next week!

SSMT #3

Number three?! That's right, there's one month gone in this new year. It's amazing to me how moments, hours, days can seem slow, but months just fly by. This year I'm approaching my verse memorization as I approached my cross-stitch goals. In x-stitch, I chose projects that I really like and can complete swiftly. I'm choosing verses that speak to my heart and are short enough that I'll actually retain them! Here's my choice for round three:

Luke 1:37 NET
"For nothing will be impossible with God."