InstaFriday

We've been dealing with Dan and his stomach problem this week. Had an endoscopy yesterday and will hopefully get results soon. I guess I could have taken a couple of shots with my cellphone while waiting. Then I could have added them to this InstaFriday post since I didn't get too many this week again. :)

This was the sight of the beach BEFORE we even started our walk. So, you know that by the time I got back to this spot it was dark. I don't like it getting dark so soon. I'm a summer person and love the long days and walking while it's still light. But, that being said, it was actually pretty nice by the time we got back to this spot and not very cold either. So, I guess I can handle it for now. Oh, and all the stuff on the beach is all the bleachers and things that were taken down after the Hermosa Beach Volleyball tournament from the weekend. Can't believe I missed it. One day I will get to these tourneys just for the fun of watching. LOVE volleyball!

Liz and Gregg called to see if Dan and I wanted to meet them at Red Robin for lunch. Dan was already at work, so I went and joined them. I usually take pics of my food. Oh, well.

Then we went to the theatre to see The Help. On the way we say this.

Of course, Liz couldn't resist...

After the movie, which was excellent, by the way, I decided on the way out, to stop for the best drink (although those others sound pretty scrumptious) - Pumpkin Spice Latte and a cookie...didn't get dessert earlier, so figured it was time.

And I just happened to see this mall cop riding around. Didn't have my cellphone handy at the moment, so that's why the distant view.

And one of my DIY projects happened way back at Cal Poly. I happened to take an Art class where we made one thing from silver, one thing from clay and one thing from wood. God a C on the silver choker I made; a B on the mug with a place to put your hands and an A on my shifter knob. Woodworking is in my blood. Should I get together with Mr. Ernstrom? :) haha No, this was the only thing I ever made using real woodworking tools. It was supposed to be for my husband, but I didn't make quite what he wanted, but this still worked in a couple of our cars, one of which we had to send to the junk yard after a tree fell on it. I HAD to salvage this. It was black at one point, but I cleaned it up. Now it's on display.

Your turn to show off your fun/silly cellphone pics...and you don't have to have an iPhone to do this. I don't have one, but I enjoy trying to do this each week. Gives me something specific to blog about. :) 

And don't forget to add this week's InstaChallenge: DIY

Treasured Tokens Thursday

I don't even know who this little boy was, but I met him on my Compassion International Sponsorship tour when I went to Guatemala. He was being adopted by friends of a gal I met in my group. He is absolutely precious - notice he's not looking at the camera? He was watching his new parents. How adorable is he? 

What an honor to be able to share in this time with someone I didn't know - to see the transferring of this little guy into his new family. Kind of made me think of when I was adopted. I wonder if it was anything like this. I know my adoptive parents loved me, but they never really mentioned a lot about my time in Guatemala or my family and I wish they would have told me more about my background. But, I don't know anyone who is around that can tell me anything anymore. Not sure if I can research it either, but maybe I should try. What do you think?

I treasure the fact that God placed me in Guatemala and that He brought me to the United States and orchestrated my life the way He did. He knows what He is doing. So thankful for the life He had for me and has for me for the future.

What I Read Wednesday

"¹⁹And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." ²⁰And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. ²¹And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. ²² For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. ²³Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. ²⁴ Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." 1 Samuel 12:19-25

Verse 23 caught my eye. It was convicting to me because I'm always saying, "I'll pray for you..." "I'm praying for you..." and so on and so on. Prayer is something I want to be more deliberate with, but it's so hard to schedule it into my day. It sounds so weird to say that I should schedule prayer into my day, but I was thinking how Jesus took time in the morning, or whenever, just to go by Himself to pray. I'll have more to say on this in another blog, but right now I really want to follow through when I say "I will pray for you." I even made a notebook and everything. I've gotten into the habit of waking up early in the morning so I can read the Bible and study. And I do a quick prayer for my kids each morning, but there is so much to pray about, and I want to just sit down for a little while and just pray. Too many distractions...and that's the first thing I need to do. Cut down my computer and TV time.

So, how does prayer fit in your busy day?

Loving Others

Do you resemble God by the way that you love? 

Do others know you are a Christian 

by the love you show in your life? 

Jesus says that other people should be able to 

recognize us as Christians 

by the evidence of our love for others. 

Dr. Deborah Newman Then God Created Woman

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34 (NIV)

Preacher Green in The Help said: "If you can love your enemy, you already have victory." 

God says: "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." Luke 6:35

What are ways you can show love to your neighbors, your family and friends and your enemies or people who are 'irregular people' in your life? Ask God to show you how you can be more like Jesus and love people as He would have you love them.

ChristArt.com

Even though the boy was ripping her doll apart, the little girl offered him cookies - a way to show love to someone who does you wrong.

Sunday Hope

Every Sunday there is a different quote. Can't help but share them with you each Sunday. Sorry for the blur. I'll try to get better shots.

InstaFriday

 I'm going to try to be more deliberate with this InstaFriday thing. I think I said that last week. :) Well, at least I'm trying and it's fun to try and get shots with my cellphone since it is always (well, almost) with me. It's a little slow sometimes, but someday I hope to upgrade again. So here we go with my few pics for the week.

I finally went to Sprouts to check it out. There were a lot of people. Bought a lot of veggies and fruit since that is lacking in our daily diet. Trying hard to eat more balanced, as usual. Anyway, I blogged about this before, ha, on another InstaFriday post. This is what I like to see...a cart in it's place, all snugged up together. Thank you for taking the time to put your cart away. 

 In lieu of dirty dishes, I stop here (don't tell my doctor) for my favorite child dogs. If I'm going to do something like this, I try to only do it once a month. Amazing I can hold out so long. 

These chairs are very close to the ground. I don't think I'd be able to sit in them and get up without any help. They are very cute, though. When I leave work at 1:00pm, there are usually 4-5 housekeeping staff sitting there and just chatting away, taking a break. They do a great job. Every morning, Lupe comes and takes our trash, recycling, dusts and is very friendly and fun to chat with. I overheard her talking with a co-worker and it sounded like she was giving him Spanish lessons. Too cute. Maybe I should get in on that. I try to make a point of thanking them for their hard work and wish them a good rest of the day. 

What I don't like is dirty dishes, especially since I don't have a dishwasher other than myself...Dan does dishes, too. I've been trying to make sure I get them done soon after they have been used and this makes for a very pleasant morning to come into a clean kitchen. When I leave them overnight, I just want to crawl back into bed and hope the "dish elf" will come and do them. If I leave them when I go to work, he does come sometimes, if he has time before he goes to work. For the most part, we've been good about getting them done so we don't have a counter full of stuff that needs to be cleaned in order to make the next meal.

So join us for InstaFriday. Click the button below and find out how. 

InstaFriday

Taking a walk on Manhattan Pier. They didn't want their picture taken so I took it from behind. Dave, my brother-in-law, came for a Dodgers game and quick visit. We went to breakfast (can't believe I didn't take pictures of our food) and then for a walk on the pier.

 These were Liz and my seats for the game. Dan and Dave were a few rows to the right of us.

 The following are pictures of flowers and a house in Hermosa Beach that was kind of cool. No one is living there right now. I think it's a vacation home - the windows were all covered. I wonder if they would like some house sitters for the times they are gone?

This is my hydrangea bush. It didn't bloom like it did last year. So sad. The bad stuff was cut off and then all of a sudden there were two little blooms with a few more still to come. 

 I was glad to know that the Pepsis were "Not Actual Size" in the vending machine. Would have been too big to carry. 

 But I was sooooo thirsty.

This was on my Monday walk. It took a few minutes to get my cell phone ready to take this pic, but I was trying to get the massive flock of birds that were flying around the beach.

I was trying to get a picture of the moon and the stop light. The arrow was red and seemed to be pointing to the moon. Since I was in my car, I had a hard time trying to do it quick before the light changed, so forgot to zoom. Can you figure it out? Was straight in front of me.

I almost forgot a picture of something I love. I love my friends. The wall that this picture is on has a few framed pics or things from friends. This big one was signed by friends at our good-bye gathering at Ken's house. It's nice to every so often, look at the signatures and remember the good times and to get some encouragement when I need it. What a keepsake. Love it!

If you haven't already, link up with Jeannett for InstaFriday, posting pics of your week with your iPhone using InstaGram or just use your cell, like I do. Fun to see everyone's pics.

Gazing on Him

We tend to expect a great deal from our still-growing daughters. We want them to be

God-pleasing, faith-filled, 

prayer-oriented, Word-wise, 

self-controlled, smart, responsible, 

respectful, healthy, happy, generous, 

well-groomed, kind, capable, 

and content with what they have.

But are we daily trusting Him - that He is bringing them ever closer to being conformed to the image of His beloved Son? Debra Evans, Kindred Hearts

Let us hold unswervingly

to the hope we profess,

for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

I Was There (Meet Me in the Stairwell)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxJiiWo0JbE

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Goodbye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK ... I am ready to go." I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night. I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe on Me now." I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered. I was with the Firefighters, the Police Officers, the Emergency Workers. I was there, watching each brave step they took. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them. I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take My hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there. I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go." I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. ~~~ God ~~~ Written by: Stacey Randall

September 11 Tribute'

"What Do We Know?"

Thousand Foot Krutch

Pick up the phone, nobody's home, I'm all alone,
We've all been here before,
But yesterday, I saw a change, another way,
As you walked out the door
It's a twist, a little bit, I'll admit,
But we're stronger than before,
Open up, we've had enough, we've had enough,
Now we're holdin' on,.....and waiting

What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
I'll tell you what they're all sayin' (X2)

We all try to be somebody, but the world around us
Makes it so cloudy, when,
We all trust where we're supposed to, but the blood on
Their Hands says we're not close to the answer yet
But maybe if we pulled together, we could change
A million lives for the better,
And maybe, if we prayed a little more, we would stop,
Living in fear from the storm
And everyone sings

What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
I'll tell you what they're all sayin' (X2)
....Tell you what they're all sayin'

Bridge
Every part is you, every part is me,
Raise your hands and sing,
Tell them we can be
Show them who you are,
Show them you can see,
Raise your hands and sing,
Tell them we are free

What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
I'll tell you what they're all sayin' (X3)

Every part is you, every part is me,
Raise your hands and sing,
Tell them we can be
Show them who you are,
Show them you can see,
Raise your hands and sing,
Tell them we are free

What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
What do we know? What do we know?
I'll tell you what they're all sayin'
© 2007 Tooth & Nail Records

God Bless America

InstaFriday

FAIL!!! Three pics all week???? Well, at least it was something. I took this with my 49er hat so I could post on my Facebook page. It's football season. I hardly get to see my 9ers unless I go out to eat...I won't complain.

My daughter, Liz, started a new job and she feels like such a professional person - she has her own key, a parking space, her OWN office! She is a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) and got a job at Launch Preschool in Torrance. I didn't even think to get a picture of her "first day at school". What kind of mom am I anyway? If you zoom in you might be able to see her - the one on the left. So far she is feeling very good about this position. She hasn't met with students yet; that starts next week. So proud of her.

Driving home from the airport you see planes all over the place. DUH! Sometimes they seem like they are going to land on your head. One of these days I'll get a picture of that. I can't do it while I'm driving, but one of these days......

Well, I hope you do better than me and then link up with Jeannett and share your cellphone pics. Fun to see and meet others and their lives in photos.

NEVER FORGET

Sometimes I think that the only memorial to the 9/11 attacks is in New York City, but just walking around the South Bay, I find a couple of memorials and realize that they are everywhere because it is one event I know we 

WILL NEVER FORGET. 

Hermosa Beach has this memorial. (I cheated...copied from article, but wanted to have at least one picture along with the article.

And Redondo Beach has this. Each side tells the time and the story of which plane crashed where, including the Pennsylvania story with "Let's Roll": 

And then I have this memorial bracelet that I bought here. I rarely take it off, no matter what. I use it to remind me to continue praying for our military and all our rescuers and protectors who are out their putting their lives on the line. I'm sure they never dreamed they would ever be involved in such a huge event as this, but trust that each one is prepared as much as you can be no matter what. I thank you all for your service, your commitment to our country and your families who share you with us. God bless you and protect you.

  I will be delivering packages that our church has put together to some of our firefighters/policemen in my neighborhood. I've never done this before, and I'm excited to go thank them in person. 

What will you be doing, if anything, to remember our heroes on September 11th?