What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
My middle name is Joy and I’d like to think that’s because that’s what my parents felt when I was born. That’s what I’ve been told they felt when I arrived!
Psalm 21:5-7New International Version
K5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. 6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
On the 13th my cousin and I celebrated our birthdays 4 years apart. He celebrated the big 60 and I 56th. We are going to have a family gathering tomorrow. My Aunt took me to our favorite place in Star called the Rustic Table on my birthday and that was delicious. I had filet mignon and we had chocolate cream pie for the birthday dessert. What a treat! It’s a blessing we get to celebrate birthdays together!
Auntie and I sharing dessert
Proverbs 9:11New International Version
11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
I would have to say WiFi and cell phones are the most important inventions of my time. I can remember life before it and it was a lot different! I remember time without a cell phone – the closest thing was a CB radio! My Uncle Ronnie used the CB in his truck to let us know he was coming instead of using a regular phone. I remember dial up modems (DSL). It was so unpredictable and unstable. Up until few years ago my ex and I just had flip phones and hardly used them. Now we have smart phones and I don’t know what I’d do without them!
John 15:4-5New International Version
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.
The main tradition we still have in my family is celebrating birthdays and the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. My Aunt doesn’t like to miss an opportunity to celebrate! This next month we are celebrating birthdays from January and February. My cousin will be turning the big 60 so we want to make it special. He and I share the same birthday just 4 years apart. There is usually cake, candles and presents. It’s nice to be together and celebrate.
Yesterday I cleaned at the Grace House for the first time and boy did I get tuckered out! I just don’t have the stamina I used to have. Ever since the fall I had a winter ago I haven’t been the same. I will have to work my way back up and get stronger.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)”So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
If you could un-invent something, what would it be?
I think if I could in-invent anything in this world it would be guns. I know people including people I love use guns for hunting game but because of a gun I grew up without my birth mother. I lost a cousin. I know people say that if there aren’t guns they would find another way to kill and that’s true. There are other weapons. I just hate the mass carnage guns are capable of specifically automatic rifles.
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
A positive example of when I felt loved is when my cousin and his wife came and got me and took me to Idaho from Texas. It was during Covid and they didn’t hesitate to come anyways. It’s been going on 4 years since that happened. So many people were praying for me! I haven’t had someone do that for me before. There have been many other examples of how my family has shown their love for me since then but that was one of the greatest.
As I write to you we are getting more snow – I’m having trouble keeping up with it! I feel so week trying to shovel. I rescheduled my appts to next week in hopes the snow will let up and the roads will be better. It’s crazy out there!
1 Corinthians 13New International Version
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faiththat can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poorand give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Last night I had a vivid dream like I haven’t had in a long time. I dreamt of falling asleep in a dark room and then all the sudden the light coming on. The light switch had been flipped on and no one but me was in the room. I went and told my mom Dianne about it in the dream. I startled awake from this dream as it was so vivid! I couldn’t really fall back asleep.
Genesis 40:8New International Version
8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
Playtime is not something I think about much anymore. I used to play during time in the kitchen – I would dance and sing. Ever since I hurt my back last winter I haven’t been able to dance and even walking has been difficult. I have become a very serious person with all that has been going on in my life the past few years. My family wants me to get my back checked so I probably will need to get that done through the VA soon.
Ecclesiastes 3:1New International Version
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
I would have to say I’m the most happy being in good company and good food. I like to eat and enjoy sharing a meal with family and friends. The holidays is the best time for all of that! This past Thanksgiving and most recently our family Christmas party were great examples of what I mean.
Psalm 16:11New International Version
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
Something that sparks my admiration in others is thoughtfulness. I have people in my life that are extremely thoughtful and pray and look out for others. I used to be a lot more thoughtful than I am now. It takes a lot of energy to be thoughtful. I mostly pray for people now than do or buy things to show I’m thinking of them.
Ephesians 4:32New International Version
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
To be 