A Pair of Bartletts

Packing Up The Moving Van

Well, dear readers....moving day is here.  I have been praying about a new direction in the blog world and the moving van has finally arrived.  I have packed up the suitcases and a headed down a new path.  I pray that you will join me for some coffee, some scripture and some new insights that I've gained in my walk with the Lord.  I have enjoyed EVERY minute of my time at A Pair of Bartletts.  I've met (so to speak) some incredible ladies over the years and have gained some lifetime (and eternal) relationships with them.  The Lord has been good and I'm excited about the whole "fresh blog" experience.  

For convenience, and because a girl just can't travel light, I decided to take "all of my luggage" with me, so you'll see that I imported all of my old posts from this site (incuding the recipes y'all!).  With that said, please join me when you can...I'd love to reconnect and catch up!  I'll be located at my new blog called "1st Praying Wives Club" and I can't wait to see you there!

In His Forever Grip,

Milk And Honey

It's amazing where the Lord will sometime lead us in our study of scripture. For whatever reason, I was lead to Deuteronomy 11 while in another scripture. I landed there through a cross reference. At any rate, when I got into the chapter, the Lord just made this passage jump off of the page for me. Isn't it amazing how He speaks? And I don't know about you, but there is no sweeter place to be than dwelling with the Lord in a land of milk and honey. Now please don't think that I am so naive to think that as a Christian, everything is going to spring up roses with Mary Poppins singing in the background. BUT, I do believe that obeying His statutes and walking upright is HIS word will bring forth fruit in our lives and we will dwell in a much better place than if we were wandering as aimless as those in the world who do not know Him.

Dear friend, seek HIS face. Take possession of the land and live long in that land. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and soul. I can't speak for you, but only for me....and I want to cross over Jordan and take possession of everything that the Lord has in store!

What scriptures are speaking to you in your study and quiet times?

Deuteronomy 11

1 "You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. 2 And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, 3 his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land, 4 and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued after you, and how the Lord has destroyed them to this day, 5 and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place, 6 and what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel. 7 For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord that he did.

8 "You shall therefore keep the whole commandment that I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the land that you are going over to possess, 9 and that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables. 11 But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, 12 a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

13 "And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. 15 And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. 16 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; 17 then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is giving you.

18 "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. 22 For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, 23 then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. 24 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea. 25 No one shall be able to stand against you. The Lord your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.

26 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. 29 And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. 30 Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road, toward the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oak of Moreh? 31 For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you. And when you possess it and live in it, 32 you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today. 

 

Be so blessed!

Our Prize

The hydrangea in this post is from my yard. I consider it one of the "prizes" from my yard. As prized as it is, there is something on this earth that I (we) prize even more. To say that my brother Paul and I are blessed with the Mother that God gave us, would be an extreme understatement. To say the very least, our Mom is the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. Now, in her humble way, she would probably try and think of a million reasons why she was "not" this woman. But trust me, she is every bit this woman, and then some.

Thank you Mom....for putting up with us as ratty kids, for helping us cross the border into adulthood and for encouraging us as married adults. Thank you for loving both of our spouses as if you had birthed them yourself. As the verses say, we do rise up and call you blessed. 

 

     ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?
      For her worth is far above rubies.
       ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
      So he will have no lack of gain.
       ¹² She does him good and not evil
      All the days of her life.
       ¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
      And willingly works with her hands.
       ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
      She brings her food from afar.
       ¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
      And provides food for her household,
      And a portion for her maidservants.
       ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
      From her profits she plants a vineyard.
       ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
      And strengthens her arms.
       ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
      And her lamp does not go out by night.
       ¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
      And her hand holds the spindle.
       ²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
      Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
       ²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
      For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
       ²² She makes tapestry for herself;
      Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
       ²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
      When he sits among the elders of the land.
       ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
      And supplies sashes for the merchants.
       ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
      She shall rejoice in time to come.
       ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
      And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
       ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
      And does not eat the bread of idleness.
       ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
      Her husband also, and he praises her:
       ²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
      But you excel them all.”
       ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
       ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
      And let her own works praise her in the gates.

(Proverbs 31:10-31, New King James Version)

 

Much love to all of my family and friends who are Moms....enjoy this day of honor!

What Kind of Pumpkin Are You?

I LOVE FALL!  I love EVERYTHING about it!  I love the COLORS, I love the SMELLS and the FLAVORS!   God was so good to us when He created such richly colored and flavored things like pumpkins.  I think pumpkins are beautiful to look at and I love their flavor....in both sweet and savory things.  I also love pumpkins because they remind me of the Glory of the Lord.  Have you ever seen two pumpkins that look just alike?  If you have, then we're ALL going to be rich!  You can't show me two pumpkins that are 100% identical to each other...YOU CAN'T DO IT!  

Pumpkins are beautiful things...they come in  an incredible palette of colors, some have bumps, some have ridges and lines, and sometimes, they are as smooth as silk.   Some have knotty stems and some have really beautiful stereotypically formed pumpkin stems.  Some might even have a worm hole or two!

God's children are a lot like pumpkins.  We have lumps and bumps and we have things that to some, are "not so beautiful", but to others, are just breathtaking.  We have lines and ridges...and we can be rigid when we want to be...and at times, we can be as smooth as silk in the outward showing of our personalities.  But lumps, bumps or otherwise, God created us uniquely and as incredible individuals...each of us being a total masterpiece in the eyes of the Father.  It's hard to remember sometimes that God created the beautiful and the not so beautiful...but to HIM....total perfection.  After all, we are created in HIS image!

         "So God created man in his own image, 
       in the image of God he created him; 
       male and female he created them."

                                 Genesis 1:27

Well, believe it or not, this was what I was pondering today as I made a batch of some really fabulous pumpkin soup.  I hope that you will consider it all "food for thought", no pun(kin) intended!

I'll leave you with the recipe that I used, and yes the pictures above were from today's batch of soup.  I hope that you'll try it!  The recipe is adapted from one that belongs to one of my favorite Food Network chefs, Robin Miller.  You can find her exact recipe for this soup by clicking here.  I will include my recipe below, since I have a couple of things that I add in addition to Robin's INCREDIBLE recipe.  I hope that you enjoy it!  And if you are looking for economical...THIS IS YOUR RECIPE!  For those of you who are fellow American Frugal Housewives...you'll love it!

SMOKY PUMPKIN SOUP WITH CUMIN

1 can (15 oz.) of canned pumpkin**, ~OR~ 15 oz. of fresh cooked pumpkin

1 ½ cups of reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup milk (I use Horizon Organic 2%)

1 pinch ground sage

1 pinch ground cinnamon 

½ tsp Sun Crystals (or other sugar substitute like Splenda)

15 turns of the peppermill

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 pinch ground bay leaves (or 2 whole bay leaves)

**MAKE SURE that you do NOT buy the pumpkin pie mix!  It should be the PLAIN canned pumpkin!

Whisk all of the ingredients together over medium heat. Serve hot!   If you like a smoother texture, you can process the soup through either a food mill or a food processor for a smoother puree.   If you are not a cumin fan, or if you are not sure if you are, then you may want to start with ¼ tsp. of cumin and then work up from there.  I love it, so I use the 1 tsp. that it calls for.

Enjoy!

 

 

Is God Cutting Your Grass?

WE ARE RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE of the glorious process of shopping for a new lawnmower, which is not really on my top ten of favorite things to do.  But, the yard at our new house is HUGE and it calls for the big guns. Even in the midst of the mundane day to day things like lawnmower shopping (I would rather be shopping for a hundred other things), I love finding teaching from the Lord.  As I was flipping through the DOZENS of Craftsman mowers on the internet (and trying to get as excited as Rob gets over new Craftsman "anything"), I was reminded of one of the great passages in Psalms that is such an incredibly comforting passage in today's wicked world.  

Psalm 37 (New King James Version)

A Psalm of David.

 ¹ Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
 ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
         And wither as the green herb. 
         
 ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
 ⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 
         
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him, 
         And He shall bring it to pass.
 ⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
         And your justice as the noonday. 
         
 ⁷ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
         Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, 
         Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
 ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret—it only causes harm. 
         
 ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off;
         But those who wait on the LORD, 
         They shall inherit the earth.
 ¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
         Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, 
         But it shall be no more.
 ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth,
         And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 
         
 ¹² The wicked plots against the just,
         And gnashes at him with his teeth.
 ¹³ The Lord laughs at him,
         For He sees that his day is coming.
 ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword
         And have bent their bow, 
         To cast down the poor and needy, 
         To slay those who are of upright conduct.
 ¹⁵ Their sword shall enter their own heart,
         And their bows shall be broken.

WOW....there is so much to take hold of in these verses!  We live in times that unlike those of the past, the evil deeds of those who purpose themselves to stir up strife "seem" to outweigh the just and the upright, who "seem" to be fewer and far between these days.  But even though it "appears" that Satan (and his many followers) "seem" to think that they have the last laugh, the Lord, the King of Kings, I AM, the Alpha and the Omega....HE and ONLY HE has the final say.  Isn't that comforting?  

We have an incredible advocate in Christ.  He is there to defend and never leave or forsake those who believe in Him as a personal Lord and Savior.   And what a fabulous sense of comfort and security to know that not only will the Lord cut them down like blades of grass, but He laughs at them!  I love to read about the character traits of the Lord, especially when the scripture talks about His laughter.  Rob and I take great pleasure in laughter....and laughter is a natural healer.  It's easy to feel bad when Satan (or his pawns) try and attack your character, your beliefs or just you in general.  But our Heavenly Father can give us peace"which surpasses all understanding"  and He will "guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) 

God is so good....and having God in our lives makes our lives worth living to the absolute fullest...with heads thrown back, hearts filled with laughter but more than that, hearts filled with the love of Jesus.  And like the song says, He is the peace speaker.....and I know Him by name!  Praise God!  

But knowing all of this is not where the Lord expects us to leave this.  He expects us to PRAY for our enemies as well.  You heard me.....pray for your enemies.  That's pretty hard to do....I find it incredibly difficult to do, but as Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  God did not put the expectation on us as His children to pray for our enemies, if He did not fully intend to give us the strength to carry out that task.  And it doesn't say "some things".....but we can do "ALL THINGS"!

Most gentle reader, if you don't know Jesus or you're not sure how to have a relationship with Him as Lord and Savior of your life, I pray that you will not only find a Bible teaching and Bible believing church home, but that you will consider clicking this link to read more about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings in Christ,

 

A Prayer For My Husband

It's not often that I'm away from Rob for any length of time, but this week, I have been with my brother and his family as my sweet sister-in-love is recovering from surgery for colon cancer.  I know that most people would think that it's just no big deal to be away from your spouse, but I would have to reckon with that.  I miss my husband dearly when I'm not with him.  I just miss him.  

While I've been away I have prayed daily prayers for him, since there is just so much going on for us with our move and lots of other ins and outs of daily life.  Last night, I happened to pick up a book that Julie has been reading called "Prayers of an Excellent Wife", by Andrew Case.  

 

 

I can say in only one day of reading that I would highly recommend not only this book,  but the companion book for husbands entitled "Water of the Word: Intercession For Her".  I pray that it will be a rich blessing to you as much as it has been for me since I picked it up yesterday.  

I'll leave you with the prayer that I have been studying and praying over since last night....if you download or buy this, you'll see just how rich in the Word each prayer is...it's almost hard to move onto the next one because each individual prayer is just overflowing in content.  And just so that you know the disclaimer from the author of both of these books (Andrew Case), you may share these passages based on the following guidelines:

{© 2009 by Andrew Case All rights reserved. Any part of this publication may be shared, provided that you do not charge for or alter the content in any way.}

As for the way that you should use the prayers, here is just a segmentof the instructions from the author advise: 

These prayers are also not intended to be merely read alone. To the married woman I commend frequent use of these prayers with her husband, praying them over him from her heart, using his name. This should be the rule and not the exception, so that he is regularly reminded that his wife loves and respects him, and that the Word of God abounds with sanctifying power. For this reason a short exhortation or encouragement for him is included in many of the prayers, usually beginning with “O beloved….” Take these as occasions to lift his spirit, to strengthen his soul, to sharpen his mind, to gladden his heart, to put a rock of confidence under his feet, to tenderly and humbly correct, and most of all, to point him to God as his all-satisfying joy.

Okay....as promised, I'll leave you with one of the prayers so that you can see for yourself. Have a very blessed (and prayer-FULL) week!

"O Keeper of Your elect,

It is better to take refuge in You than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in You than to trust in princes. Therefore cause my husband to take refuge in You alone. Be his strength and his song; be his great salvation.  Let him lift up the cup of salvation and call on Your Name. Open to him the gates of righteousness, that he may enter through them and give thanks to You. Raise his eyes to the hills to see from where his help comes. For his help comes from You, who made heaven and earth. Do not let his foot be moved; keep him and do not slumber. Please keep him and neither slumber nor sleep. Keep him from all evil; keep his life. Keep his going out and his coming in from this time forth and forevermore.  My beloved, do you know who keeps you? The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  LORD, keep my husband. We wait eagerly for Your Son’s appearing. Hasten the wonderful day of His return—the wedding supper of the Lamb. Amen (Psalm 118, 116, 121)."

 

Don't Worry--Be Happy

Luke 12 (New King James Version)

Do Not Worry

²² Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 

²⁹ “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things^[c] shall be added to you. 

³² “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

 

Saved Alone

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way....

"Saved Alone".  Those are the words sent back by Mrs. Horatio Spafford in a telegram to her husband in the aftermath of losing her four daughters in a shipwreck when the S. S. Ville du Harve was struck by the English vessel Loch Earn.   I'm sure that as Mr. Spafford read those chilling words that he was immediately overcome with the most horrific grief imaginable.  He was supposed to have been on that trip.  At the last minute, an urgent business matter kept him in Chicago while his family left to vacation in Europe.  Never would he dream that as he waved his goodbyes to his family that only his wife would return.  

But, God was still sovereign.  God still had a plan for the Spaffords.  It was in the midst of the grief that Mr. Spafford penned the words of a song that had one message...."peace".  As a result of this horrible tragedy, one of the greatest songs was anointed by the Lord to rise up out of the grief and despair.  The Lord gives us peace beyond our understanding (Philipians 4:6-7).  It was then that "It Is Well With My Soul"  was penned.  

I don't know why (other that it's just a God thing), but I literally woke up this morning with this song in my mind.  I think it's so incredible how the Lord can gently infuse something into our thoughts so that we wake up with it on our hearts and in our minds.  

I pray that it is "WELL" with your soul this morning!

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio Spafford

1. 1. 1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
       
   
   
   1. 1. When sorrows like sea billows roll;
       
   
   
   1. 1. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
       
   
   
   1. 1. It is well, it is well, with my soul.
       
   
   

   • 1. • 1. • Refrain:
              
     
     
     1. • 1. • It is well, with my soul,
              
     
     
     1. • 1. • It is well, it is well, with my soul.
              
     
     

2. 1. 1. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Let this blest assurance control,
       
   
   
   1. 1. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
       
   
   
   1. 1. And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
       
   
   

3. 1. 1. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
       
   
   
   1. 1. My sin, not in part but the whole,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
       
   
   

4. 1. 1. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
       
   
   
   1. 1. If Jordan above me shall roll,
       
   
   
   1. 1. No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
       
   
   
   1. 1. Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
       
   
   

5. 1. 1. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
       
   
   
   1. 1. The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
       
   
   
   1. 1. Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
       
   
   
   1. 1. Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
       
   
   

6. 1. 1. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
       
   
   
   1. 1. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
       
   
   
   1. 1. The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Even so, it is well with my soul.
       
   
   

   
    
   

 

Wal Mart Babies and Cowboy Cowards

 

 

I really had a great day today for the most part.  It started with work and then after leaving work, I headed about 20 miles north of my town to go and visit one of my best friends, who also just happens to do my hair too. We always have the best times laughing and cutting up and the bonus is that I get my hair done by one of the finest hair dressers in the county.  Tonight was a little different because I had to stop at Wal Mart on the way home.  It was SO busy in there (when isn't it?)!  I got there at 6:00, went straight to the pharmacy, talked to my other best friend, who happens to be my pharmacist also, grabbed some groceries from the list that my husband emailed to my Blackberry and headed for the check out.  

Up to this point, everything had been great.  I'd had a pleasant afternoon and got to see some great friends.  I got the things that my husband needed....how bad could the check out be?  

So, there I was, third in line.  The first couple in line were together, a married couple. They were having a good time together, racked up a few bargains with the price matching by using the sale papers.  Then there was a very young girl behind them.  She couldn't have been more than about 15 or 16 if she was a day.  I could see that she had chosen not to put her item on the belt, but instead, was clutching the item tightly to her chest with her head down.  At that point, I had not really paid any more attention to the situation since the first couple was finishing up their couponing.  As they smiled and waved to the cashier, the young girl stepped up.  With head down, she thrust the item to the cashier as if to tell her to please hurry and put it in the bag.  Do you know how your brain will suddenly kick into gear and say "hey you....wake up....pay attention!".  Well, that was my brain....as I looked up, I realized what she had thrust at the cashier.  It was a pregnancy test.  This is one of the busiest Wal Marts around and this evening it was packed.  I could see how nervous she was.  She was practically shaking.  But what came next was so unsettling.  As she finished her transaction, she practically grabbed the bag and the receipt from the cashier and took off in a bee-line to the women's restroom!  Not only was this girl young, but now I realized that she was young, alone and about to go to a Wal Mart public bathroom to find out what would or would not be happening to her in the next nine months.  This made me want to break down and cry, right there at the cash register.  I wanted to go and follow her and talk to her about Jesus.  I wanted her to know that there is a hope for her and for her unborn child.  but, there I was, checking out groceries and this little girl was all alone in the restroom for this life changing moment.  

Well, I paid the cashier, signed the little screen and headed for the door.  In doing so, I almost bumped straight into the young girl.  She had a tear in her eye and a very blank look on her face.  As I was getting my keys out of my purse, I noticed her walk up to the curb outside and look both ways.  I thought she was just checking to see if a car was coming before going and getting into her car.  Nope...that's not why she was looking.  I knew it when I heard it.  It was the engine to a very big truck.  The driver of that truck was (what I am assuming) her boyfriend.  Her BOYFRIEND!  This child had just walked into the middle of a busy store, bought a pregnancy test, gone to the bathroom to take it and meanwhile, the cowboy coward was riding around the parking lot listening to some tunes on the radio.  

Before I knew it, I was so angry.  Not angry that I wanted to go and commit a sin, but righteously angry at what I had just seen take place right before my eyes.  All I could think about were two verses.  The first verse that came to mind was directed towards myself:

 4:26-27 (New King James Version)

²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”:^[a] do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

And the other scriptures that came to mind were relating to what I knew was probably the inevitable....a new little life that had been created:

Psalm 139:13-17 (New International Version)

¹³ For you created my inmost being; 

       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

       your works are wonderful, 

       I know that full well.

 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 

       when I was made in the secret place. 

       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body. 

       All the days ordained for me 

       were written in your book 

       before one of them came to be.

 ¹⁷ How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God! 

       How vast is the sum of them!

I can't get the pictures out of my mind.  I can only pray for this new little life that has been created.  I pray that the Lord will put divine appointments in the path of this very young girl that will show her how special this little life is and that it is just that....a life.  I pray that this young girl has a godly influence somewhere in her life.  I pray that she will confide in them and that they will point her down the right path.  I pray for that desperate adoptive couple out there that is anxiously awaiting a baby, possibly this baby.

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me to witness this tonight.  Let it be a continuing reminder to me of all of the children out there who are scared and alone and are finding themselves in the midst of parenthood at too young of an age.  I pray that You Lord will place divine appointments in the path of this girl.  Lord, most of all, protect that little life that she is carrying.  If this child is being prepared for another family,  Father I pray that it would be a smooth transition for all involved.  

Lord, thank You that You are sovereign.  Thank you for salvation through the death of your Son Jesus on the cross.

Amen

 

Calling all Sisters! (The Great Washer-Dryer Debate of 2010)

In the spirit of my blog friend Joanne's prompting some months ago to become an "American Frugal Housewife", I'm calling on you for help!  I love a bargain, but I also want top quality as well.  And, the time is here....what time is that you ask?  

Well, it's that time..... time to send the old washer and dryer out to pasture (or, should I say "out to scrap") and time to purchase some shiny new appliances (don't you just love new appliances?).  I certainly don't want to have to resort to the antiques in the picture above!

I can't help but think of that old Cosby Show episode when Claire told Cliff that he was addicted to appliances and that they had "an appliance graveyard" underneath the counter.  You remember the episode...she scolded him because he is the one that bought the shiny new juicer, the one that Rudy and Peter decided to load full of grapes(to make grape jelly) that created the "great grape explosion" in their kitchen. And then cute little Peter said "I was just holding the bread"!  Ah...memory lane! But I digress....

Okay, but back to the task at hand.  Who better to ask opinions from than those who are in the trenches with me?  Ladies...I ask you, what are your favorites in the way of washers and dryers? Like I said, quality is a must, but I do love a great deal.  I have had Whirlpool for many years (those are the ones that are out the door), but my options are open.  I want efficiency, I want quality, I want ease of use, I want a FABULOUS price, and most of all, I want very clean clothes!  

So, what works for you....what have you been pleased with in recent times?  In the meantime...I'm off to do some washer and dryer research!  Onward and upward!

 

 

 

 

Green Is Not Your Best Color

Numbers 12 (New International Version)

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

 ¹ Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ²"Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.  ³ (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)   ⁴ At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. ⁵ Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, ⁶ he said, "Listen to my words: 

       "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, 
       I reveal myself to him in visions, 
       I speak to him in dreams.

 ⁷ But this is not true of my servant Moses; 
       he is faithful in all my house.

 ⁸ With him I speak face to face, 
       clearly and not in riddles; 
       he sees the form of the LORD. 
       Why then were you not afraid 
       to speak against my servant Moses?"

 ⁹ The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.   ¹⁰ When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous, ^[a] like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; ¹¹ and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. ¹² Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away."

 ¹³ So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!"

 ¹⁴ The LORD replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back." ¹⁵ So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.   ¹⁶ After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran. 

My bible study today ended up being in a book of the bible that I think might sometimes be considered an "obscure" book of the bible, if there could be such a thing.  But, it's where I've landed the last couple of days and quite frankly, it's been a great place to be.  I have a new women's study bible that I picked up at church last Sunday night (you can find it in A Pair of Bartletts Bookshop under the "bibles" category.  It's a women's devotional bible that has some really great daily studies, as well as some topical reading lists in the back of the bible.  It's very organized so that you can direct your study with less fuss.  

At any rate, I'm really enjoying the setup of this bible.  Today's study was in chapter 12 of the book of Numbers.  The chapter begins with Aaron and Miriam questioning why God is using Moses more than He is using them.  For some reason, they forgot about all of the things that they were being used for by the Lord and decided that Moses was basically "getting more credit".  

How quick are we in our daily lives to decide that someone else has something better, is doing something better, is moving up quicker, or is less stressed out than we are?  It's so easy to do when we are in our flesh.  I am the chief of sinners and am preaching to myself.  Dear Lord, let me be reminded :  

Proverbs 14:30 (New International Version)

 ³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body, 
       but envy rots the bones.

I have not always been quick to thank God for my circumstances.  But I find myself at a place in my life where I can honestly say it's so much easier to be content with what I have and the blessings that the Lord has so graciously bestowed upon me.  It's so much less stressful with contentment than with worry (over what your neighbor has, has done, is going to....).

How do you handle bringing envy under control?  Do you have control over the green eyed monster?  Have you given your burdens to the Lord to let Him work them out in His timing?  I will leave you with this:

James 3:14-18 (New International Version)

¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 

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Check Your Schedule

It's already a few days into January and just look!  My shiny, fresh, new Dachshund calendar is already filling up with tasks, things to remember and places to be!!  Last weekend, my mom and I were out of town visiting my brother and his family about five hours north of here.  While sitting in church last Sunday morning, my brother delivered a sobering reminder in his sermon.  It was very simple, yet extremely timely and extremely profound.  His reminder was regarding "New Years Resolutions--should you have them"?  Simply stated, he challenged us to not necessarily make new year's resolutions, but to maybe look at the new year in a different light.  He asked us to maybe put aside the traditional listing of our new year "to-do's" and maybe look at the new year ahead as 365 individual and new opportunities to serve the Lord in some capacity.  WOW.  Okay brother, you got me.  

So this year, instead of thinking so much of myself and what "I" need, I'm refocusing.  What can I do for the Lord and for others?  Can I find 365 new opportunities in 2010?

What's on your schedule?

 

If you would like to hear my brother's sermon, leave me a comment to this post (and include your email!) and I'll be happy to direct you to his podcast.
 

Journeying Into Fall

I love it when my kitchen is filled with the warm candle scent of an inviting Fall filled with warm peaches, apples and berries mixed with yummy spices.  And even better, on a day that is finally letting a cooler spell of weather take it's place over the hot and sticky summer that is finally coming to a close.  This has to be one of the most favorites times of year for me.  I love the rainbows of changing leaves, my front yard littered with pecans from the 100 year old pecan tree and watching the squirrels run around with sheer glee as they scramble for all of the plump pecans...as many as their cute little paws can hold.  And I can't be upset at them in their gathering.....there is plenty for them and for us.   In fact, there are more than enough to serve us humans and as many of the little scampering squirrels as possible.  I have the best time watching those little guys.  Some days they run around as if they can't believe their little eyes.  They almost don't know where to start with their harvest!  God was so generous to us when He created all of the beauty that He did for our sheer enjoyment!  He could have easily made this a black and white dull place to be.  He could have created it any way that He wanted to create it.  But, in His infinite wisdom and because of His great love for his finest creation (that's us!), He created a place that could be enjoyed and treasured by us humans.  I am so thankful that when He created our surroundings that He did give us things like this that could bring such great pleasure.....be it the scents from a simple candle or the squirrel army in my front yard!

As I was sitting here reading and studying, I came across another of the Puritan prayers in The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions that I enjoyed reading today.  So, I'll leave you with this from The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions--

JOURNEYING ON

LORD OF THE CLOUD AND FIRE,

I am a stranger, with a stranger's indifference;

   My hands hold a pilgrim's staff,

   My march is Zionward,

   My Eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,

   My heart is in thy hands without reserve.

Thou has created it,

    redeemed it,

    renewed it,

    captured it,

    conquered it.

Keep from it every opposing foe,

     crush it in every rebel lust,

     mortify every treacherous passion,

     annihilate every earthborn desire,

All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch;

I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength,

     might, spirit, affection, will,

      desire, intellect, understanding.

Thou art the very perfection of all perfections;

All intellect is derived from thee;

My scanty rivulets flow from they unfathomable 

       fountain.

Compared with thee the sun is darkness,

       all beauty deformity,

       all wisdom folly,

       the best goodness faulty.

Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than

        my dull heart can yield;

Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily 

          to thee,

   tightly entwine itself round thee,

   be allured by thee.

Then shall my walk be endless praise.

The Tide Rolled in Today

I'll bet you thought I had dropped off of the earth....but no....I've been SO overwhelmed with so many things going on in my life and in Rob's life right now.  My father is still very ill, Rob's Dad is also very ill, I've had some health issues going on and in December, Rob will have his second hip replacement.  Let's just say, I've been a little stretched lately.  But today, it was nice just to sit in the recliners and watch one of our favorite things of ALL TIME.  What is that you ask?  Well, it's a Southern tradition.  It's what we look forward to all year long.....it's College Football!  Specifically, it's University of Alabama Crimson Tide Football to be exact!  And the season has started off with a bang at 3-0!  Another win today of 53/7 was pretty nice to add to our scoreboard!

There has been so much swirling  around us that it's nice just to sit back with my husband and watch a great college football game.  We cheer....we hoot....we "holla"....and the dog looks at us like we've lost every shred of a brain cell in our heads.  And with every loud "Woo Hoo", one of the cats has a nervous breakdown.  But you know what?  We have the best time with each other. It's common ground that may not be shared by all married couples.  But for us, it's common ground that we love.  As a matter of fact, I think when we were dating, I remember Rob lighting up like a Christmas tree when I asked him if he liked Alabama football.  And I do, and he does too...and during college football season, you'll most likely find us in our matching recliners covered up with Alabama blankets with our Alabama Tervis Tumblers (Bed Bath and Beyond---go get yourself one!) and our little dachshund, Buddy.  And as soon as it gets cold, Buddy will even be decked out in his Alabama Crimson Tide fleece jacket!

These are by no means things that control our lives.....but they are things that we really enjoy doing together as a family.  Even if our family is just me and Rob and the dog and the cats, it's still our little family and we still thank the Lord that we have each other to share those fun Saturdays.  I see the family time being sucked out of the lives of a lot of families around us with more extra curricular activities than I have fingers and toes.   I see people leading separate lives all the time.  It's those times that it makes me thankful for first, my salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ; secondly, the holy covenant between me and Rob, bound together by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and; thirdly, it makes me thankful that I get to spend the rest of my days on the earth making so many more wonderful memories with Rob.  Aside from my Bible, he is the greatest earthly treasure given to me by the Lord.  I will forever be thankful to the Lord for placing us in each others lives.  He has truly blessed us beyond our own vain imaginings.  

I would pray that you and your husband have special things that bring you close together....special times like a great college football game, or a hometown high school football game or maybe something that is not sports oriented at all.  I just pray that you are as blessed as I am to have such a precious husband and one that I can find so many things to enjoy with him as we walk with the Lord and walk the rest of this life together.  

10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life........  30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.         Proverbs 31:10-12; 30-31

"Walking" Down Memory Lane

Well, today marked the second time that my husband and I have heard these words..."hip replacement".  As I went with Rob to the orthopaedic doctor today, expecting that his arthritis had simply flared up in his ankle, little did we know that we were going to be told for the second time that Rob's other hip would now need to be replaced.  You see, the arthritis in the ankle was being aggravated by his left hip.  His body has been overcompensating for the degeneration in the hip joint, therefore causing his rheumatoid arthritis to be an issue for him.  If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you'll remember that Rob had to have his right hip replaced last year in May of '08.  And WOW, what a journey that was!  Now, it's a year later, we're a lot wiser as to the "ropes" of this procedure, and for all of you physical therapists out there...we can recite "post op hip precautions" backward and forward.  I'm not saying that we are both excited about this, but, at least this time, we know what to expect and when to expect it.  Thank you so much to all who have been praying for us today and thank you to those who will pray for us after today.  We will covet your prayers over the next few months.  So, as of today, our good doctor has injected Rob's left hip in hopes that this will give him some relief for a little while.  Rob is finishing a degree at Liberty University, and is slated to graduate in May 2010.  Hopefully, the injection(s) will get him though until graduation...so if you are agreeing with us in prayer, this is a huge request for us.  

If you would like to read about our journey from May of 2008, just click on the archives beginning in May 2008 for this blog.  The posts begin there and spill into the next few months after that.  On the lighter side, I've reminded Rob of all that he has to look forward to with pool therapy at the rehab pool....accompanied by all of those cute little old ladies and their inner tubes!

Some Blog Love Please......

Well....I've been a busy bee tonight!  But even though I've been busy, I've had SO much fun in the process!  I have been helping my friend, Wendy, do a little bloggy plastic surgery.  She has been wanting to pick back up on blogging and needed some help getting refreshed.  So, please stop by her "house" and give a little blog love!  Her newest post is REALLY great!  It's called "What are you wearing"...and you can see it here on her blog at The Better Part.  It precious!

And stay tuned....I've got an AWESOME recipe that I want to share with you....my sweet hubby sang some sweet praises to his bride for this one!  Come back tomorrow and I'll share it with you...and some step by step pictures!

Have you been "(in)courage"-ed yet?

I just wanted to pass this along if you haven't seen it yet.  There is a new blog created by some very special women at Dayspring (the Christian subsidiary of Hallmark).  If you haven't been there yet, I would "encourage" you to go and visit "(in)courage"!  You can check it out here:

I have really enjoyed reading some of the postings there this afternoon.  I hope that you will also be blessed by some of their postings!  Let me know if you visit! 

Cafe Chat--What Would Your Title Be?

WOW...what a great question at Cafe Chat this week!  Kim atTo Know Him has posted another question from the archives.  And, it's SUCH a deep question....but a "good" deep.  It really made me take an introspective look. Her question to us was:

What would be the title of a book about your life?

Well, I'll have to tell you, what immediately popped in my head was actually the title of a movie, but it would be the title of the book about my life.  The book would be called "The Scent of a Woman". (HOO-WAH!) 

When I read the question, the verse in Ephesians 5:2 flashed up on the screen in my brain....it says:

"And walk in love, as Christ has also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma."

I have often thought of this verse the minute that I come in contact with some very displeasing odor, like trash.  I find myself thinking about the Lord and what HE must think about the very displeasing odor of our sin.  Actually, odor is a mild word....our sin to Him is a stench.  As sensitive as I am to certain smells (you're talking about a girl who  has to tie a towel around her face to clean out the fridge....I get SICK at the smell of cold food--not even bad food, just cold food!), I can't IMAGINE what the Lord must think at the hideous foul smell of something so  hideous as sin in the presence of a HOLY HOLY GOD! 

So, my dear friends, I would  hope that my book would be called "The Scent of a woman (of the Lord)"....I want my life to be a sweet smelling aroma to my most Holy and precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

SOOOOOOO....Are you going to be this?

 

Or will you be this?

 

 

He hasn't forgotten

With all of the tragic news being pelted at us through the media recently, it seems that at every turn that there is a very public divorce, a public admission of adultery and even today, two very public deaths.  I know that in all of these tragedies, the one thing that I struggle most with is the thought of the children involved.  Since Rob and I still have not had children yet, I think I have this extra sensitivity to those children who find themselves caught in the middle of all of these things.  My heart cries out for them.  My mind races with thoughts of "Lord, why couldn't they be here with us?  We would want them to have a home of safety, security and peace!"  But, I am reminded that God is sovreign.  He knows these children, one by one.  He has a plan and will reveal His plan in His time. So for now, I am just gently reminded of the words from the Lord.... Matthew 10:29 (New King James Version) 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

A cooling end to a hot steamy day

As I was about to get ready for bed just now, I had this craving for some icy cold fruit.  Alas!  Rob just cut up some really pretty orangey peachey fleshed iced cold CANTALOUPE!!!  After just having taken the dog for his nightly "spin" outside, I was in definite need of some refreshment.  And there it  was...all cut up into pretty spears...almost like cantaloupesicles.  They were SO good....if it's in season for you, get it, chill it chill it chill it and ENJOY IT!  The health benefits are also really great!

 

I'm headed off for some sweet dreams now!

Blessings to you as I strive to be the

Proverbs 31 Wife

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife? For her worth is far above rubies

 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 2

9 “ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum Summertime!

Okay....this is where I am NOT. But, this is where I  would LOVE to be right now!!  A girl can dream can't she?

Well, I know that it has been pretty quiet around here lately, but I have every intention of getting cranked back up on blogging here in the next few days.  I have be SUPER busy at work in the last couple of months....so much so that by the time that I get home, my brain is FRIED beyond belief--too fried to even bring myself to sit down to the computer!    But, in the midst of all of this, I have tried to stay up on all of my favorite blogs when I have had the time.  I have really missed the interaction with so many of the precious sisters in Christ that I have had the great opportunity of meeting in the "blogosphere".  But...no worries!  I have had some thoughts spinning lately that I need to write about.  Actually, they're so backlogged that I've got to finish sorting them out so that I will know what to write first!  

I hope that this post finds everyone doing very well and having a great summer.  Stay tuned....I definitely have more to come! 

Labels: Thoughts

In the Quiet

I know it's been quiet around here at A Pair of Bartletts lately, but for very good reason. My family has been anxiously awaiting the birth of the fourth child in my brother's family. They live about five and a half hours away from us, so my Mom and I have been "sitting" on ready the last week or so. We got "the call" Sunday morning, so we hit the road. Little Emma Grace made her grand entrance about 45 minutes before we were able to make it into town. And I must say, WHAT A BEAUTY! Mom and I are staying for the week and will head back home on Sunday. It's been really nice not only to spend time with my brother, sister in law and the new baby, but especially with the older three children (ages 2, 4 & 6). They have really been SO good and are all such a joy to be around. I could write countless pages about all of them and all of the neat things that make up each of them. But, for now, I'll keep it short, since "Sissy" (that's me) can hear some stirrings in the house that need my attention.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week. Hello to all of my bloggy sisters in Christ out there! You all know who you are! I'll probably do a little posting in the next day or so, now that Julie and the baby are here at home and we can get everyone back in the full swing of their daily routines.

Big Blessings to all!

Labels: Kiddie Talk, Milestone Moments

Winter Is Past

Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (NKJV)
11 For lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come,
And the voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs,
And the vines with the tender grapes
Give a good smell.
Rise up, my love, my fair one,
And come away!

The photo is of Amaryllis from my yard that has been in full bloom the last few days. I believe that the variety is a Royal Dutch.

Labels: The Glory of the Lord

Quiet....For A Couple Of Reasons

I know that it has been quiet for the last few days here at A Pair of Bartletts....but for two very good reasons.  The first reason (and the most important) is that I have been spending a fabulous four day weekend with my resident Sugar Pie AND Honey Bun, Rob.  This four day weekend was actually brought to us by way of a very Pagan "holiday" called Mardi Gras...one in which we choose not to participate.  However, the only "perk" of Mardi Gras to us is that we get these last two days of "revelry" as holidays...although we have not been active "revelers", as the rest of our city has been.  Instead, we have spent this four day weekend with each other...resting and relaxing.  It has been SO nice and I really hate to see it come to an end.  I actually got to sit in Barnes and Noble with Rob for about two hours today...sipping a Venti Earl Grey hot tea and reading....sheer Heaven, I tell you. 

The other reason for being so quiet is that I wanted to get a jump start on a project that I have really wanted to work on for quite some time now.  I have started working on both of our family trees through Ancestry(dot)com.  MERCY.....It's been SO much fun, not to mention interesting!  I LOVE history and have had the most fun finding out where we really "came from".  It's so neat to know that we had relatives back in the 1400's stomping around in England, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Russia, and New Zealand...just to name a few countries.  At any rate, it's been SO neat to see our family histories.  I have also had the BEST time reading some of the old names!  I have so many favorites, I would not even know where to start!  Well, I'm about to head back out to my little genealogy project for the evening.  I'll be revving back up to blogging in the next couple of days, so stay tuned!  Once very special post coming up will be "Marriage Monday", which will be the first Monday in March...so please come back and visit!! 

Oh...and for those of you who are in our families (both me and Rob)...please watch for an email from me either tonight or tomorrow (if you haven't already gotten one).  I have sent some out already directing you to the family tree online.  The ones that I have not sent yet are those who I had not gotten as much info entered for.  But, I'm just about "there"...so check your email! 

Labels: Ponderings, Thoughts