If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Pages

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Tuesday 4 - What...Where...How?

 

What...Where...How?

 Hey, it's time for Tuesday 4 and I am so happy to see you back again.   Link up is above. 

Let's ask ourselves some questions.

1. What was the worst date you ever went on?  Honestly, I never dated much, but the ones I did go on were usually nice enough.  I was just always so nervous.

2. How was the nicest date you ever had? Any date with my husband and they still are.

3. Where did you grow up and how did you like it? Are you far away from there now? We moved a lot when I was school age, but always within about a 10 mile radius.  Still live within that same radius.  

4.  What did kids do for fun and dates when you were young? As I said, I didn't date much and only 2 "dates" while in high school (a Reds baseball game and senior prom).  But kids in this area usually went to dances, or movies and dinner and or ballgames.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Bits of This and That


Good Morning:  

It's been another good weekend for us.  On Friday, I met my sister in the late afternoon and we went to Joann's.  My sister was looking for some yarn for a project and a lot of their yarn is on sale right now.  She found some she liked and now she's ready.  I bought some yarn a couple months ago for a project I want to make, so I didn't allow myself to buy any more that day.  I come really close to being a yarn hoarder, so I'm trying to control myself until I use up some that I already have.  Anyway, a lady from my sister's church is trying to learn to crochet so she decided to start a small crocheting group.  I have always wanted to be a part of a group like this.  So when my sister invited me to join in, I jumped at the chance.  There are only 4 of us to start with.  Our first meeting is Wednesday afternoon.  I'm excited and a little nervous too.  I've met everyone involved but don't know them well.  I'm pleased to have a chance to make some new friends.  I'll let you know how it goes.
This is the yarn I'm using.

On Saturday hubby and I went to lunch at Texas Roadhouse and then I ran into a couple of stores to pick up some things we needed.  Lucy and I took a walk when we got home and then we mostly relaxed and had a nice evening at home together.

Sunday we went to church and had a good service. I'll post the video below.   On the way home, we stopped and picked up some lunch for hubby.  

I didn't get any because at 2:00 I was meeting up with some friends for lunch at a local restaurant.  These friends are all former fellow employees.  Six of us have worked together for many years and 2 of their spouses came along.  It was so fun catching up with them and we're planning to do it again.  Sometimes, I don't realize how much I miss people until I see them again.  

Also over the weekend I finished reading a novel called "Daring the Unthinkable" and started a new one called "Hooked, How Crafting Saved My Life" by Sutton Foster.  I don't know how this book is classified, but I'd call it an autobiography. I saw it when I was at Joann's and so I checked Libby and was able to get the Kindle version from the Library.  So far, I'm really enjoying this. 


Here's the pre-recorded video of Sunday's sermon.  The 4th in the series from the book of Ruth.
 


Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a really great day.

Cathy

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Share 4 Somethings - January




I'm linking up with Jennifer at Overflowing with Thankfulness for Share 4 Somethings.  The prompts are things we loved, read, learned and ate in January.

Loved:  I love the sermon series my husband started the first Sunday of January.  It's from the book of Ruth (which is one of my favorites).  He's calling it Unexpected Grace.  I've also heard people call them God Winks or God Moments.  There are a lot of those in Ruth.  Like, how did Ruth end up in the field belonging to Boaz.  I'm sure there were many other fields in the area.  But God got her to the right field where she would be watched over and meet the owner, Boaz,  God is so awesome.  I usually post his sermons on my Monday posts called Bits of This and That, if you might be interested.

Read:  I've read 5 books in January and currently I'm in the middle of a 6th book and hope to finish it before the end of the month. (Edit Monday morning:  I finished the 6th book and have started #7) I think that's a pretty good start to my goal of reading 50 books again this year. You can look at my Goodreads link on my sidebar if you're interested.  My favorite of those 5 is "The Bookshop of Secrets."  

I've also been reading the 4 Gospels along with Annie F. Downs.  She plans to record reading 3 chapters a day each day of the month so you end up completing all 4 Gospels every month.  Each month she will choose a different version.  January she is using NIV84.  I'm liking this so far and looking forward to another version in February.  I committed to myself to do January and now I want to do February.  If I do all 12 months, I will have read the 4 Gospels through 12 times and in 12 different versions.  I hope this will help me love and understand Jesus even more.  That's my desire.

Learned:  I'm in the process of learning a new crochet pattern to make a small blanket.  Can't wait to see if I can do it and if I like it.

Ate:  I really didn't eat anything special.  Probably one of my favorites though was the potato soup I made and also this meal at my favorite Mexican Restaurant.

Potato Soup    
Enchiladas


Well that's my 4 Somethings for January.  You can link up here if you'd enjoy writing a Share Something post.  

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a good weekend.

Cathy



Thursday, January 26, 2023

Thankful Thursday

 Good Morning: 

I love to take time to say thanks to God for all He does for me.  This scripture is a favorite this week. The Lord is definitely good and I don't understand how people can go through hard times without Him.  I'm so glad I can talk to Him anytime and anywhere.  You can trust Him for sure always and forever.



**I am really enjoying my journaling/coloring Bible.  Here are some pages I colored from the book of Ruth.  I love the book of Ruth.  It really shows how God is working things out in our life before we even know about the problem we may be facing.





**I'm thankful to have had the time to watch a movie and have a cup of hot chocolate because of a snow day on Monday.  For the first time in many years I am enjoying snow (not necessarily being in it, but looking at it from inside.    It's so beautiful and I don't even mind shoveling it.  Since I no longer have to get out and drive in it to go to work, I can just enjoy the beauty.  And that is what I'm doing.


**Believe it or not, I'm thankful for having a good dentist.  Now, I really, really hate going to the dentist, but I'm thankful that my dentist is good and takes good care of my teeth.  Actually, I've been seeing him for years, but now I'm seeing his daughter.  Nice to keep it in the family.
Waiting Room

That's it for today.  The link-up is here.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a blessed day.

Cathy

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Wednesday - At Home

 Good Morning Everyone:

Today it's Wednesday, 1/25/2023 at 9:12AM


We have new snow this morning and I believe it's supposed to snow/sleet on and off all day and into tomorrow.  So, we are home and this is a bit about what my morning has been like. I woke up around 5:30 and finished the book I've been reading and it was very good.

Finished this morning

Started this morning

It seems that on days we stay home that I'm in the kitchen most of the day, either making a mess or cleaning up a mess.  Made breakfast for hubby and me.  Eggs and Sausage and we both enjoyed that.  Oh and so did Lucy!  lol

While cooking the eggs and sausage, I put 1/2 eggs in and boiled them.  Plan to make some deviled eggs later.  


I filled the bird feeder and though this picture was taken through the blinds and screened window, you get the idea that the birds are enjoying it.  There was even a beautiful cardinal there eating for a minute.  I was unable to get his picture, but I sure enjoyed watching him.



Here are a few pictures outside this morning.

Puppy paw prints

Standing on our front porch looking across the front yard and the neighbor's homes

Standing in the drive and looking across the front yard towards the next door neighbors

Lucy enjoying being outside again this morning


Lucy doesn't mind the snow as long as the temperatures aren't sub-zero.  It's currently 35 degrees, so she's happy.  Don't worry, I don't keep her out very long.

Gotta wrap this up as hubby will be doing a live Bible Study on FB at 10:30am.  He usually does this at church, but we don't want to get out on the roads, so, he'll be doing it from our livingroom.

I'm missing the Hodge Podge, but I know Joyce deserves this break.  I kind of enjoy doing a post like this sometimes.  My blog is as close to journaling that I'll ever do and I do enjoy going  back from time to time to read some of my old posts.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day. It's now 10:03am.

Cathy

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Tuesday 4 - Home Sweet Home

 Home Sweet Home

You can link here to join in with Tuesday 4.

1. What kind of home do you have and does it need repair or improvements this year? We live in a ranch style home built by my father in 1996 in a subdivision a mile or so outside our city.


2. How do you accessorize your home inside and out?    Plants, art, books, wall hangings, maybe music in the background?  We have a big book shelf in the livingroom, we have paintings by my sister and also my daughter, etc.

3. What objects reside on your coffee table? Night stand? Side tables? Kitchen/Dining table?   Tablet and Pen, usually some type of yarn project is nearby, iPad, Phone and Kindle too. 

4.  Do you like your kitchen organized and with counters cleared off or do you prefer to have  the things you use often out on counters?     Do you mind  what some might see as clutter or do you hate having to dig out tools and appliances  when it comes time to use them? and prefer to have them within easy reach?  I dream of counters that are empty, but that will never happen in our home, because we have too many items we use often, and I don't want to always have to dig into cabinets to get them.  Easy Reach definitely works better for us.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll tell us about your home and click the link above to join in.

Cathy


Monday, January 23, 2023

Bits of This and That

Good morning.  I hope you all had a good weekend.  We did another fairly quiet but really nice weekend.  I've got some pictures to show you, so I'm going to kind of let them lead me to where I go on this post.

This is my new desk.  I really love it.  I was using a folding table before which was okay, but I really love this so much more.

And now I've moved the folding table behind me and it makes a great place to store some of my supplies.


One day last week, I was finished with things and decided to watch a movie and do a little loom-knitting.

On Friday we went to lunch with his mom.  She loves Mexican food as much as I do, so we went to Chuy's again.  This would have been their 67th Anniversary.  She is such a sweetheart.

On Saturday hubby and I went to the Ford's Garage for lunch and got some groceries and then spent the evening at home.

I found out about this book from Jennifer at Overflowing the Thankfulness.I finished it this past week.  It took me a little bit to get into it, but it really was very interesting.  It's about Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis.  I'm really glad I read it.  
 I
I read this book this past weekend.  I learned about it from Stacy, at A Mile in My Shoes and I absolutely loved this story.  This is the author's first book and her next one comes out in August and I'm really looking forward to it. 
 
On Sunday we woke up to snow.  We were not supposed to get this much and it was supposed to start later in the day.  However, these pictures below show how much snow we had when we drove in to town to go to church and it was coming down so hard.  We ended up cancelling church and driving back home. I was driving and I really don't like driving in the snow.  We slid a couple of times, but not too bad and we made it back home and had a nice Sunday, reading, watching TV, doing some cooking and shoveling snow.



This is where Lucy parked herself so she could watch the snow.

Trying to find a place to go potty

Our backyard in the snow


This is the book I started yesterday and I'm really enjoying it too.

So that's pretty much how my weekend was.  Did you get snow where you live?

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a good day.

Cathy

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Words of Wisdom

 


The above scripture is from the story of the Wedding at Cana in Galilee where Jesus did His first recorded miracle.  I had never really paid a lot of attention to this particular verse until hubby mentioned it in his sermon on Sunday morning.

"Do whatever He tells you."  

You know if we always do this, we will always be in His will. Pretty simple, isn't it!  His mama sure had some wisdom.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Tuesday 4 - Hooray for Hollywood

Back so soon?  Well, weeks fly by it seems. Welcome to Tuesday 4 in memory of Toni Taddeo it's first host and founder. Link up here.


How about the subject of Hollywood, it's 'stars', its products and it's affect on the world?


1.  Which of the big movie stars of the past were your favorites? why?  I enjoyed Doris Day in the comedies she was in like Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson.  No reason why, other than I just enjoyed them.  I also loved the musicals, like Singing in the Rain with Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly.  


2. Of the 'Blockbusters', which do you think is the all time greatest? Which was one you would see again?  I really have no idea, but I think Gone with the Wind was a pretty good one.


3.  Are you up on the latest Hollywood gossip? What interests you or alternatively why doesn't it interest you? No, I'm not up to date on most of it.  I really don't go to the movies any more.  I wait until I can find them streaming somewhere.


4.  Some movies, plays had a big impact on people.  Orson Welles radio performance of War of the Worlds caused havoc including suicides and accidents.   Is there a movie that you were greatly influenced or affected by?  Not that I can think of right off hand.  I just watch movies for enjoyment mostly.


Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy


Monday, January 16, 2023

Bits of This and That

We had another fairly quiet weekend. It was cold, but no rain and beautiful blue skies. We went to lunch on Saturday with his mom.  After we dropped her off back home, we stopped at Aldi's and I picked up a few things.  Came home and I did laundry and took a short nap and then took a walk with Lucy.  Saw a hawk perched on a utility cable wire.  It was beautiful, but I didn't get a very good picture that day.

If you look real close you can see him sitting
on the wire in the middle of the photo.


There's Lucy by the mailbox.

On Sunday we had church and hubby preached another in his Unexpected Graces Series from the book of Ruth.  I'll have it posted below.  Sunday afternoon, Lucy and I took another good walk and saw another (or maybe the same) hawk.  I got a little better pictures then.

Here he is from the back

Front view

He's beautiful and pretty big.

Below is hubby's pre-recorded Sunday morning sermon.


Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Sunday Stealing - Favorites

Favorites - Link up is here.


1. What is your favorite accent?  A Soft Southern Drawl

2. What is your favorite animal?  Dog

3. What is your favorite band?  Don't really have one

4. What is your favorite childhood book?  Little House on the Prairie

5. What is your favorite color?  Royal Blue

6. What is your favorite drink?  Diet Coke

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Raspberry Chocolate Chip

8. What is your favorite place on the planet? With my husband

9. What is your favorite sandwich?  Grilled Ham and Cheese 

10. What is your favorite swear word?  I don’t have a favorite, but I say crap a lot more than I should.

11. What is your favorite thing to wear?  Lightweight Sweatpants and a long, loose top if I'm not going out anywhere

12. What is your favorite food to eat on a rainy day?  If it's cold, something warm, like soup or chili

13. What is your favorite food to eat on a sunny day? If it's summer, a tomato and cheese sandwich

14. What is your favorite number?  Don't have one.

15. What is your favorite snack?  Oreo Cookies and a glass of milk

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy


Saturday, January 14, 2023

Saturday 9 - Hurting Each Other

You can link up here to join in with Saturday 9.

Saturday 9: Hurting Each Other (1972)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's song was written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell, who also wrote 1962's "Sealed with a Kiss." What was in the last envelope you sealed?  I think probably a birthday card.

2) In "Hurting Each Other," Karen Carpenter sings she wishes she and her lover could stop making each other cry. Have you most recently shed a tear in the last week, the last month, or longer ago than that? In the last week I've cried while watching a movie.  

3) One of the Carpenters' first records was a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride." Both Karen and Richard were huge fans and nervous about how the Beatles would react to their version. They were thrilled to learn that Paul McCartney responded by saying Karen had "one of the best female voices in the world." Tell us some news you received recently that brightened your day. I was invited to join a small crochet group starting next month.  I'm looking forward to it.

4) Karen died in 1983, but her musical partner and big brother Richard is still with us. He has said he grew up a big fan Top 40 radio, listening every morning as he got ready for school and every afternoon while doing homework. When you were a kid, did you like to study with music or the TV on? Or would you prefer quiet? I prefer quiet.  If music or the TV is on, I start listening on that and absolutely can not focus on my study.  The only kind of music I can listen to and study are songs that have no words or at least that I don't know the words.

5) Karen and Richard spent their teen years in Downey, California. It has the distinction of being home to the nation's oldest, still-operating McDonald's. It's been on the same site on Lakewood Blvd. since 1953. Tell us about a business in your neighborhood that seems to have always been right there, in that spot.  There's a shop in downtown Lebanon called Kay's Shoppe that has been there ever since I can remember. 

Photo from Internet

6) The siblings may have had a squeaky clean public image, but Richard did have a brush with the law while in Downey. The Carpenter family lived for a time in an apartment complex, and one of their neighbors -- a policeman -- objected to Richard "banging on the piano" at all hours. When did you most recently interact with an officer of the law? Last Sunday.  We were heading home and a cruiser pulled up in the lane next to us.  It was one of the officers that I had worked with for probably the 25 years of my career.  That was the first time I had seen him to say hi since I retired.  Of course, then the traffic light changed and we had to move on.

7) In 1972, when this song was popular, Mark Spitz was America's premier Olympian, winning seven Gold Medals. A poster of Spitz wearing his red, white and blue swim trunks and all seven medals was a top seller. Can you recall a poster that decorated your bedroom wall when you were a kid? My younger sister and I shared a bedroom for the last 10-15 years that I lived at home.  She collected posters of the old movie stars and modern day ones too.  They were plastered all over the walls of that room.  I owned a few of them such as Bogart and Lauren Bacall.  Most of the rest were hers and included Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler and many, many move.

8) Also in 1972, Liza Minnelli was encouraging us to "come to the cabaret." Without looking it up, do you know who Liza's famous parents were? Judy Garland was her mom.  I don't remember who her dad was.

9) Random question: Are you a better student or teacher? I've never been good at teaching, so I guess I would say student.

Thanks for visiting today.

Cathy


Thursday, January 12, 2023

Thankful Thursday


Things I am Thankful for (not in any particular order):

**Life - Waking up in the morning is a wonderful gift.  So many don't wake up.  I'm choosing to be grateful for every day I wake up on this side of the dirt. 😁 

**Family - I'm blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws (well the 2nd one will be my son-in-law in July, 1 grandson, a fun and wise mother-in-law, 2 sisters and 1 brother.  I'm blessed with a great brother-in-law and a sweet sister-in-law, nephews and nieces and 1 great nephew.  Plus, tons of cousins, some aunts and uncles.  I love every one of them.

**Home - We have a nice home (built by my father) that keeps us dry and warm.

**Dog - Love my dog Lucy.  She brings me so much laughter and love and sometimes annoyance, but I wouldn't trade her for anything.

**Church - I love our church and church family and I believe they love us too.  

**God - He is so good to us and loves us beyond all measure.  I pray I will always be able to see others through His eyes.  

**Bible - I love the scripture more and more.

**Child of God - "John 1-12 says "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God."  It thrills me to know that I am a child of God.  I mean, really that is the most wonderful thing in the world.  I'm thrilled to be my mom and dad's child, but being a child of Almighty God is amazing.  We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ!!!  What could ever be better.  If you are not a child of God, but would like to be, Romans 10:9-10 tells you how.  "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.'

**Blogging Friends - I so appreciate each one of you that stop by and visit from time to time.  I love reading your blogs too.  You teach me so much and remind me to stay close to the Lord.  You share your recipes, your pictures, your words of wisdom and encouragement.  I cannot tell you how much that means to me.

I'm going to stop there for today. I'm linking up with Jennifer at Overflowing With Thankfulness for Thankful Thursday.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy


Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Things I'm Enjoying This Week

 Doing a new kind of post today.  These are some things I am enjoying this week.

** Books - I'm currently in the middle of two books.  


Actually, I finished this book last night.
I plan to get another one by the same
author later today.

This one is going a little slower for me.
There are lots of descriptions and I'm more
of a person that wants things happening and
I need very little description of where they
are.  Although, it's been fun because Ellen at the 
Happy Wonderer
is posting about her trip
to the place that this book is about.  So, I'm
actually seeing some of the places on her 
post that are in this book.  You should check 
her out today. 


**Sky -  There was a beautiful sky the other night as the sun was starting to set. Of course, I feel my phone seldom does the view true justice.




**Inspire Bible - I am so enjoying this Bible.  I enjoy the coloring and I know I can journal in it too.  Here are a couple of the pictures from the book of Ruth that our current Sunday morning sermon series of Unexpected Graces is from. 



**Movies - I'm enjoying watching free faith-based movies even when they make me cry sometimes. 
"The Girl Who Believes in Miracles" (and it
really did make me cry) is really good.  I 
watched it on Tubi.

Well, that's all I have time for right now, as I have to go meet my sisters in a few minutes.  I hope you all have a really great day.  Thanks for visiting.

Cathy