Salutes to You

Just a few of the young men and women I'm praying for...okay, I put more than I thought I would, but wish I had more. Even had to put my dad in who served in WWII. Thank you for your service and commitment to our country and our safety. I remember you everyday.

Pampering made easy

A friend is having a great giveaway and I just wanted you to know. Go to Nikki's blog and see how you can win a Pampered Chef item. There are several ways to win, so get your entries in. Can't wait to get the items I ordered. Fun stuff!

Relaxing time in SLO

We decided to go home to San Luis Obispo for a visit. The last couple of times we came up, we were busy with weddings and parties and didn't really relax. This time, we came up with no plans (although Dan's golf clubs were in the trunk when I went to put my backpack in - I knew HE had plans). So we went up Saturday after Dan got off work. Went to church and then hung out with Noonie during second service while she waited for her mom. This is where we hung out.

Then we went to the Grad and met up with other Chargers fans to watch the game since it wasn't being shown in the area. We miss the Chargers get-togethers on Sundays where we went to Ken's and hung out there and cheered on the team. We need to find some fans down here to gather with.

Dan then went golfing with Dave on Monday and I went shopping at Beverly's. Then I returned a meter key and I'm getting some money back from it - the deposit and what was left on the key. I still have one for my visits, though. And then I went to the church to say hi to the few people who are still working there (lots changed since I left). 

Later that night we went to the Cleath's house to celebrate Leslie's birthday. What great timing. Free food, fun, fellowship and laughter.

Today I joined my friend, Noonie, at Margie's for our breakfast/girl time. We started doing this when I moved away. It's a great time to get together, relax, catch up and talk about things that are on our hearts and would like to have prayer for...a very special time just to hang out and enjoy the company we now miss since we are so far away. I'm so thankful for my friend and am so glad when we can carve out some time together, which is sometimes hard to do. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this time.

One of the last things I did today was pick up some apples that are laying around in my mother-in-law's backyard. The neighbor's tree hangs over and it is HEAVY with apples. A lot have fallen and you just shake the thing and more fall. They are pretty tasty, so I filled a bag with them and will eat them, maybe make applesauce, or if I feel brave, maybe make a pie. HA  Anyway, this is what it looks like - with a little company.

So finally, we headed out, but not without one more stop: CHILI PEPPERS

And this is the scene we saw coming down into Santa Barbara.

It was a nice visit and I'm glad we live close enough to make a trip up now and then. But it is nice to come home to our cozy little place in Redondo Beach. Until next time.

The Great Physician

I was talking with a fellow diabetes friend about insurance and wanted to know what kind of insurance he had. This brought up all kinds of conversation about doctors and his health in the past. He had been going to his doctor for years and was very pleased with him. One day he is having really, REALLY bad stomach pains. He is taken to the hospital and was seen by a doctor (not his because he was out of town). Well, the attending doctor told him he had pancreatitis. They started treating him for this and he wasn't getting better. His doctor found out he was in the hospital and came home to see him. When he got there, he examined him and took tests and said he DIDN'T have pancreatitis. He decided to try to isolate his problem. Ended up he was having a reaction to his meds...needed to stop taking one particular one because it wasn't helping anymore.

The thing about this whole thing is that the attending doctor was treating a symptom. Leroy's doctor stepped in and knew his history, knew the drugs he was taking, knew what worked and what didn't because he knew Leroy's body. After all, he'd been treating him for years and knew how his body reacted to things and what to look for. The same way that God, our Great Physician, knows our bodies because He created them and knows how things work or don't work. It's nice to know that this One doctor that I have, who's known me from the beginning, is always there to keep me healthy, physically and spiritually. In the First Place 4 Health Bible Study, we are there for each other, encouraging each other and praying for each other as we travel this road of weight loss together. We are figuring out what works and what doesn't for us, for our unique selves. God is showing each of us, through our different health issues, how to rebuild this temple for His glory.

Haggai 1:8 says: "Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored." Notice the action verbs..."Go", "bring", "build". We used each word to describe something we could do to physically begin working with God to rebuild our temples. "Go" grocery shopping (as opposed to eating out all the time). "Bring" healthy foods home from the store. "Build" a menu list (a way to be prepared so you don't end up going out).

How will you please and honor God today? Where will you go? What will you bring? What will you build?

          "God, I am honored to call my body Your temple! Help me to get stronger so I can
          fulfill my responsibilities as a member of Your household. Amen"*

*ã2010 First Place 4 Health - Balanced Living, Published by Gospel Light, Ventura, CA

A Prayer for Someone Who's Special to Me

It's been awhile since I've blogged, obviously, so I decided to try and start up again. I'll begin with a poem I found years ago. And I'll dedicate it to ALL my friends.

A Prayer for Someone Who's Special to Me

I often say a heartfelt prayer
For my friends who mean so much
I ask Our Heavenly Father
To bless everything they touch...

I ask Him for the graces
That they will need each day
To solve their doubts and problems
And to take their cares away...

I ask that He will fill their lives
With sunshine after rain
With success to crown their efforts
And with comfort for their pain...

I ask that He will give them friends
To brighten daily living
And hearts that know the lasting joy
Of loving and of giving...

And every time I say this prayer
One thing I always do
Is to ask these blessings specially
For a favorite person...YOU.
~Jean Kyler McManus~