17 Nov 2024 City

What is your favorite place to go in your city?

Hello to you from snowy and wet Idaho! I had snow on my car this morning before heading to church. I wanted to mention my cousin and I ended up going to Applebee’s on Veteran’s Day. They had a wonderful menu just for us veterans! We both had the 6 oz steak, broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes. It was very good. This was the first time I have taken advantage of such a thing. We agreed we would make a tradition out of it!

Today’s prompt is thinking about a city but I live in a town (for now! We are growing fast!). My favorite part of where I live is old town. Middleton was established in the 1860’s and is the oldest settlement in Canyon County. This is where the history is. There isn’t much left of old town Middleton – a lot of vacant buildings. There are a couple churches, the community center, the police station, modern stuff like a gas station and Subway. A couple businesses like a hair salon, a dog groomer, The Chap Wine and Tap, The Original Sunrise Cafe, 208 Burger, Kravs and Tacos El Rancho. Our Grace House is one of the only homes on Main Street. Because of the way Middleton is it is pretty much set the way it is. Growth has only happened to the outskirts not within where the historical buildings are. They built a Jack In The Box and Dairy Queen within the past couple of years. I hope Middleton will stay on the small side but with all the new developments (housing) I doubt it will stay small for long. The town next to us, Star, is experiencing growth we cannot with the way Middleton is laid out.

Today’s message in church came from a couple that was invited to share their stories of trials and tribulations within the past couple of years. They are business owners, home school their children and are active members of Grace Middleton Bible Church. With more commitment to the Lord, they have experienced more trying times but have remained faithful. I have been enjoying the interviews with members of our church. It seems like the more you are devoted to the Lord the bigger target you become for attacks and challenges!

Lamentations 3:22-23English Standard Version

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

29 Oct 2024 Kid at Heart

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

Hi there! How are you doing this fine fall day? Good I hope!

Today’s prompt makes me think of myself when I was younger. Children used to think when I would go to an adult function that I was there to see them! I gravitated towards children and pets as I didn’t feel like I fit in with the adults! Adults like to talk about things I am not always interested in. Kids and pets are less cerebral – more play and laughter – imagination. They are less complicated and like to look at things more simply and honestly. Adults are focused on adulting – politics, world issues, body problems, work and religion. I have strong opinions on these issues which are often contrary to public opinion!

Being a kid at heart is something I miss about myself as I grow older. I have kind of become what I used to avoid at public gatherings. I’ve had some things happen to me in the past few years that have roughened me around the edges and taken away my innocence. Thankfully there is hope in all this as I have surrendered to Jesus and he said we must be as children to enter his kingdom.

Matthew 19:14 New International Version (NIV)Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

26 June 2024 Most Delicious

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

I would say the most delicious thing I’ve eaten is my Moms chocolate pudding dessert. Being a foodie there are lots of things I find delicious but there are only a few things that I like to eat in special occasions. The pudding dessert is what I like instead of birthday cake because I like it so much!

Romans 14:19-20New International Version

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean,but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.

23 May 2024 Belongings

What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

The personal belongings I hold most dear are my crystals. I have collected them over time from different places. Each one has a memory associated with it.

Crystal I would love to have

Matthew 6:19-21New International Version

Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

13 May 2024 Improvement

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

One small improvement I can make in my life is to exercise more. Today I went to my physical therapy appointment at the VA in Caldwell and she could tell I have improved in my strength but I need to do more. I am weak in my glutes – the muscles in my buttocks and those that support my lower back.

Hebrews 6:10-11New International Version

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.

11 May 2024 Freedom

What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom to me is being able to do what I want within reason without consequence. Living in this country there is alot of freedom like that! Many have fought and died so we can have the freedom we have.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

https://www.bible.com › bible › GA…

Galatians 5:1 NIV – Bible

7 May 2024 Community

What do you do to be involved in the community?

Luke 22:26New International Version

The way I am involved in community is through my church. I go to church, attend a prayer meeting and fold bulletins on Thursdays. There is more I could be doing but I’m doing what I can right now. There are a lot of leadership vacancies in the church and I have thought about filling one but worry about becoming overwhelmed. I have been praying about it.

Luke 22:26

26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

27 April 2024 Emojis and Hoovey (movie)

What are your favorite emojis?

My favorite emojis are 🙏🤗😘🎶🐾😴💤❤️❤️‍🔥. I use these about every day when saying goodnight to my Aunt.

Last night I found a good movie on YouTube called Hoovey. It was a wholesome positive movie about a young man overcoming a fight with a brain tumor and persuing his dream of playing basketball. Lately I have been finding positive movies on YouTube another one was Fat Chance which was about an overweight young woman’s struggle to find love. I like how these movies include spirituality and prayer in them.

https://youtu.be/bB-Dd6Ll_UU?si=7N2LU0-DizokhjKw – Hoovey link to full movie on YouTube

https://youtu.be/BdWAPZc2vVs?si=OdJZSt6sPOsfDRCm – Fat Chance link to full movie on YouTube

25 April 2024 Risk

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

I would say the last big risk I took was buying a house versus renting an apartment. When I first moved to Idaho we looked at rentals and they just wanted too much money. First and second months rent plus a hefty pet deposit. I decided why not talk to a realtor and see if I could find a house. God answered our prayers and I found a realtor who found me my current home. I had enough money to put down a decent down payment from the sale of the Texas house. I’m glad I took the chance.

Ecclesiastes 9:11New International Version

11 I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift
    or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
    or wealth to the brilliant
    or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

17 April 2024 Decision

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

A decision I made that helped me grow was going back to church and becoming a Christian this past year. I had stopped going to church for a long time. The whole 12 years I lived in Texas and part of the time I lived in Delaware. I was a pagan for all that time. I was raised Roman Catholic and became disenchanted with it and stopped going. My ex and I used to go but felt like we didn’t belong. Since making the choice to allow Christ to be my savior I have made friends and church family at Grace Bible Church in Middleton. I am not alone anymore! I am finding my way with the help of my family and church family. There is a little part of me that is still reserved but I am learning to surrender. I have always believed in Jesus just hadn’t completely surrendered to him.

Philippians 4:13New International Version

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength