Hmm....

Has it really been this long?? Where has the time gone?

Dear Diary....

So much has happened since the last time I posted.. I am debating whether I should keep this blog going or not... It is nice being able to get on here and just type my heart out. It's sort of.. therapeutic... But there is not much I can offer to readers... Just my ramblings... I tend to talk a lot about my husband.. and that may not capture any one's interest but my own... What's a girl to do?!

Will 2012 be a year of blogging? Lol... Or will I forget AGAIN that the blog even exists??

A Good Name

"You got it from your father, it was all he had to give. So it's yours to use and cherish, for as long as you may live. If you lose the the watch he gave you, it can always be replaced. But a black mark on your name, son, can never be erased. It was clean the day you took it, and a worthy name to bare. When he got it from his father, there was no dishonor there. So make sure you guard it wisely, after all is said and done. You'll be glad the name is spotless, when you give it to your son."

This quote has significant value to my husband and I. My father-in-law gave a plaque to my husband with the quote on it right under our family name, Hale. It was given to him from his father who has now passed on. And now he has given it to my husband. Many thoughts pass through my mind when I read this quote. I think of the life (since I've known him) my husband has lived, prior to marriage and even today. My husband has never been perfect nor does he claim to be but he does love and fear God. He has never been overly concerned with what people thought of him but has always been concerned with what God thought of him. This ultimately affected the way he chose to live his life and the decisions he made. Which in turn, i believe, gave him a good name among people. He has a good name throughout the town as well as those he works with. People respect him for the stand he takes in living for God. For all of this, for the life he's lived and is now living, I am so thankful. I am reaping the benefits of a life lived in fear of the Lord. My husband has a wonderful testimony. There are many things he can say God has kept him from. And I'm sure i can say, he has not done it without help from God. We can refrain from many things when we have a relationship with God. "Religion will not keep you from sinning, but a relationship with God will." Prayer always makes the difference! Of that I am sure! Because of his relationship with God, I believe God has given us favor in many areas of our lives! It always works out for the good to them that love God! Remember to put God first and all else will fall into it's right place! I leave you with this scripture:
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." - Proverbs 22:1

- Posted from my iPhone

Christian Cartoons

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car..

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Oh my! It's been such a long time since I blogged. Life gets so busy. We just closed revival with Bro. Boone and let me tell you, it was awesome!! We had many get the holy ghost and some were baptized in the lovely name of Jesus! Heaven rejoices when new babes are born into the family of God! How refreshing it is! As soon as we closed, we started some remodeling on our church. The days have been long, but well worth it! I can't wait until it is all done, what a sight it will be!! Thank God for saints who will devote their time to the church! So, Saturday is the hubby's birthday and I still don't know what we're doing. His only requests: dirt cake, and home-made carne asada burritos, and a massage... I can handle that! Ha! He's so easy to please! Mother's day is Sunday and so far the plans are to make a home-cooked meal for my mom and all of her tribe!! Next week is National Nurses Week, if any of you didn't know, but boy have I been busy getting ready for it! It's kind of a big deal where I work and guess who is coordinating the celebration?! It's been fun but a lot of work. 200 plus nurses... my goodness.. I can't wait until it is over!! My sis-in-law delivered Miss Rori Layne and she is a doll (of course)! I can just hold her all day long! She is soo cute!! And Alana just loves her to pieces. Children are so precious! Well, that's all i can muster up for tonight. Too tired. Thanks for reading! Another long weekend ahead of me.... I can hardly wait for vacation! God is good!

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call.....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love....

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

So we made it through the tsunami watch in Avila! The most dangerous part.... The shopping! Major damage could have been done! The weather was really nice! I finished a great book and caught up on sleep! We went to the Melodrama in Oceano, which I always enjoy, but this show, "The Medicine Man" was especially funny! I feel like Avila has become our second home. Now we're headed home, a little early, but for good cause! A sweet surprise awaits us! White chocolate mocha in hand and I'm ready to go! So many calories but who's counting??

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Can't wait to hear about On Course! I'm sure it was awesome!

- Posted from my iPhone

Another Giveaway!

Head on over to angelo-alvear.blogspot.com for your chance to win a digital picture frame! Good luck!

Giveaway!

Head on over to http://siskendricksscrapbook.blogspot.com for a chance to win a Gold Canyon car sent!
Good luck!

What A Friend We Have In Jesus!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble-Psalm 46:1

I recently learned of the history behind this song and thought I'd share. How blessed we are to serve a God that cares for us! His strength is perfect! Enjoy!

Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fiance died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche, a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.

Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Many years later a friend was sitting with Joseph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musician Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.