My **new* January schedule:

Richmond to Washington/Dulles
Washington/Dulles to Vienna
Vienna to Prague
Prague to Budapest
Budapest to Skopje, Macedonia
Skopje, Macedonia to Vienna
Vienna to Washington/Dulles
Washington/Dulles to Vienna

I have always wanted to go to Austria and run across the green hills singing all my Sound of Music favorites....My layover is only two hours. I might have to run down the shiny polished floors in the airport instead. Wonder if that will cause any crazy looks?

Oh...did I mention that I hate to fly? And I just gained an extra leg?

Zechariah 4:6

My January Schedule:

Richmond to New York
New York to Prague
Prague to Budapest
Budapest to Skopje
Skopje to Zurich
Zurich to Atlanta
Atlanta to Richmond
________________
7 flights
11,058 miles
One purpose:
Jesus

What I did Monday Night...

What a thrill!!! What a chance of a lifetime!!! I can cross this off my bucket list although I hope it is not the last time I get to go to a Redskins game!

Yes, Andy and I were at FedEx field on Monday night for the Redskins vs. Steelers game. I am a diehard 'skins fan...and Andy is a diehard Steelers fan.

I only wish the outcome would have been different.



This happened too much.....

And this happened too much....


And there were too many of these twirling yellow things...

But I still llloooooovvvvvveeeee my skins!

Goblins and Ghouls!

Happy Halloween!
I love answering my door to see what goblins and ghouls are visiting me! Princesses, Grim Reaper, witches, Power Rangers (well...maybe not but I am not up on the current cartoons since all my kids are grown but they kinda looked like Power Rangers), etc. I even had "Slash" from Guns 'n Roses! I could not believe the 10 year old who was dressed up as him even knew who he was!

I always look forward to seeing the two boys who live next door (pictured below). Phillip (far right) would be upset that the flash allowed me to see his face...or would he? He IS smiling for the camera, after all!

Elijah threw together a wizard outfit in about 5 minutes from some stuff we found in the attic. Do wizards use cellphones? I guess the wizard on the Verizon commerical does...so why can't this wizard?

My cousins always come by the house to see me! I love it when they come! Their older sister is too old to trick or treat now and so I just get the two younger ones! Aren't they cute? Too much fun!

Just had two more trick or treaters ring the doorbell. Buzz Lightyear was so tired that he was leaning against his grandmother saying "I'm tired...can we finish now?"

priceless........................

Happy Birthday Elijah!

It has been a long time since I blogged last but what a great day to return! Today my baby turned 18 years old! Can that be true? Can it really have been 18 years ago today that I delivered this boy in an ambulance on the side of the road? Ummmm...excuse me....do you think you could pull this squad over? This baby is coming on it's own and there is nothing I can do about it!! And that he did...1...2...3.....baby delivered. On a beautiful fall day in front of Henry's Market! I'll never forget the squad driver calling JW over the radio and telling them that the "eagle had landed!"

And look at him now.............................love this boy! Should have named him "Henry"

My Jack is Baaaccckkk!

I've been waiting for this day!! This is the ONLY show that I stop what I am doing (well, besides some Redskin football) and actually sit down to watch! And if I'm not at home.....yes, I record it with my DVR! I know what I am doing November 23rd!
Wanna come over?

A Holy Vessel? YES!!!

I attend a weekly Bible study group that has been together for many years. These are amazing women that I would count as some of my closest friends. I can always count on them to speak truth over me.

We are currently in the Beth Moore study on the book of Daniel. Last night's lesson was particularly powerful for me.

We were studying about Belshazzar (Nebuchandnezzar's grandson) who threw a small party for a thousand nobles, his wives and his concubines. As the evening progressed and they had indulged quite a bit of wine (can you say drunk??), Belshazzar ordered the gold and silver goblets that had been taken from the temple of God to be brought in so that they could all drink from them. And as they drank, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, etc.

In other words (and as Beth puts it) "Belshazzar made the grievous mistake of treating the holy as unholy." Something that had been conscreated by God or "set aside and reserved exclusively for God" had been treated as common and vile.



Then Beth made this comparison:



We, too, are holy vessels in the house of the Lord. Something holy is "that which has been brought into relationship with God and designated by Him as having a sacred purpose."



Many of us do not accept ourselves as holy or that we have a sacred purpose. Nothing is more to Satan's advantage than you not to see yourself as holy because you're gonna act as you feel. And if I don't feel holy or believe it to be true, I am opening myself up to unholy matters, or actions, or attitudes, or feelings, etc.



I have a sacred purpose. I am holy.



2 Corinthians 1:21 -22 says:

"...He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

I love that! He put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit!
I'm on lay-away!!
God has bought me and he is "guaranteeing" that He is destined to complete it.

This lesson especially spoke to me because I often fall into the trap of self-depreciation. Many times, in the playings of my own mind, I allow the enemy to tell me that I am the ONE person in all of humankind that God is supremely dissappointed in and that He is indifferent toward me. Now I know this is not true but I allow the enemy to push that button with me over and over again.

So...Beth had us repeat this pledge, inserting our names and saying it loud and proud! I had a hard time saying it loud because I was choking back tears. But I believe it and I am going to post it on my refrigerator for a daily reminder.

I am posting it here and if you feel so inclined, insert your name and say it loud like you mean it!
'cuz it's true!

I, ____________, belong to God.
I am a holy vessel because I house the Holy Spirit of the living God.
The Lord of heaven and earth has said over me, "I declare you holy."
Today I commit to start believing what He says.

I am holy!

Empower me daily, Spirit of the Living God, to treat myself as holy.
Open my eyes to every scheme of the enemy to treat me as if I'm not.

You, God, are God!
Your word is truth.
This day, Father, I chose to believe you!

In Jesus name, Amen and Amen!