This week has really seemed to be a week about death. Tuesday on The Biggest Loser one of the contestents brothers passed away. Then Wednesday night our Pastor spoke about death and how we are only a vapor.
Thursday morning when I read various blogs Linda told how her long time friend with cancer had passed away.
Then just this morning Sandie blogged that a dear friend of hers passed away on Wednesday unexpectedly.
So this morning this song came to my mind.
I heard it back in December1994. I was on the way to my Dad's funeral. I can still remember exactly where I was. We were just turning on the highway where the church was. Sitting at a red light with just enough time to hear it before we arrived at the church for his funeral. I had never heard it before then and have never heard it since then. But it is a wonderful song that says it all so much better than I ever could.
Even though we miss them and long to be able to be with them. We wouldn't want them back suffering as they were before they left us.
Linda and Sandie my thoughts and prayers are with you today and in the days ahead.
UPDATE: Shawn (my niece's husband) went home from the hospital yesterday. He is still in alot of pain and will be on slight bedrest for the next 8 weeks. But they are so happy to be home. In case ya'll haven't read Brandi's (my niece) blog she has on it there that Shawn wouldn't have made it alive for two more days if he hadn't of gotten the medical attention that he has in the past week. Thank you to all of ya'll for your prayers and kind words.
Please continue to pray for them they still have a long road ahead of them.
I have heard this song quite a bit lately. Then it was the first one I heard again this morning when I turned on the radio in the car. So I figured it was the one. I am loving the words to it.
It's time for another random dozen, this one seems harder than the ones in the past. Or maybe the questions are just digging deeper into our thinking. lol Just click on the picture above and join the rest of us over at Linda's.
This picture is a clarification for question 1:
1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?
Don't care for them, just give me flip-flops.
2. What is your favorite pizza?
pepperoni, and bacon with lots of cheese, is my favorite, but never get it. Usually just go with pepperoni, or cheese alfredo.
3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could?
[Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]
Can't think of anything. I really don't pay that much attention to the props. Maybe since I took Makayla to see Last Song last Saturday something from that movie. Since Miley was in it, she would totally love it.
4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.
Well if we were still in the Savannah area that would be easy. Paula & Sons or Mrs. Wilkes. But now that we're about an hour away from there, not really sure. The only one I can think of that is locally owned is Fordham's Farmhouse, and that's exactly what it is. It's southern home-cooking and really good.
5. What is your current favorite snack?
If it's movie night with the kids we have to have popcorn with M&M's.
6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")
A. Dancing with the Stars
B. Biggest Loser
C. Survivor
B. Biggest Loser definetly. Can't dance so that one is definetly out, and survive in the wilderness. LOL
Definetly could lose the extra weight, just don't know if I could handle all the screaming, even though this season does seem to be calmer.
7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?
I would say 8, we try to keep it clean but there is always paper or empty cups in there somewhere.
8. It doesn't feel like Spring until the flowers start blooming and the birds sing early in the morning.
9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.
Can't really think of anything specific. Maybe watching Biggest Loser last night and they drug Jillian through the mud puddles and put mud in unspeakable places.
10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.
losing weight. Would like to lose 70 lbs by Christmas
11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.
Something that my Mom told me Monday she was referring to one thing and I took into a situation that I'm facing. That when asked why she waited so long to rely on God about a health problem. She said she had to get to the point that she finally had all she could take. And that's when most of us really rely on Him is when we're at our ropes end.
12. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.
I try to be there when they need me to really listen to them about something and only offer advice when they ask for it. That's more for the older two. Makayla I guess what really makes her happy would be one on one time. Whether it be a movie, playing a board game together or just snuggling and reading a book together.
Kenneth was excited at all the fishing tackle he got in his basket.
Brianna just had to be different from the others.
Then they found eggs at home later that afternoon. Makayla had to look in each one to see what kind of candy was in them.Easter day after church. They were so ready to be done.
UPDATE on Shawn : Surgery Sunday morning 8:00 then in ICU until at least Monday.
Sunday at noon update on Shawn (my neice's husband) Out of surgery. Recovery for an hour. Few complications breaking threw the barrier covering pus lining. Did 2 procedures will be knocked out until tomorrow and long recovery ahead.
If anybody would like to email them directly my neice is Brandi and her email is bran7779@yahoo.com
Not sure how often she checks it but I do know she is able to send updates from the hospital.
First I want to ask for prayer for my niece's husband (Shawn). He was admitted to the hospital yesterday. This is what we know so far, I'm putting it exactly the way she has updated us so I get it right.
Pulseox was low, coughing up nasty green stuff &; in a lot more pain. Right lung closed off and, left lung has gotten infected. On oxygen and other meds now. Not going home until he's better. Thanks for the prayers!
Lung specialist came in this morning. Right lung has pus covering more than 75% they are deciding on surgery or a tube to remove the pus. Not likely it will be the tube. Surgery then ICU overnight.
Now for my TSMSS. I am looking forward to listening some great music today. Join us over at Amy's . You will truly be blessed.
Also don't forget to enter my giveaway that ends tomorrow.
Have you not heard about flashback friday? Each Thursday Linda posts what this week's flashback will be. Then on Fridays we post our answers. It's a great way to think back to younger days and remember things that we may have forgotten over the years.
What were birthdays like when you were growing up? Were they a big deal or understated? Did you have parties? Get to choose what or where the family ate for dinner? Are there any particular birthday traditions that you remember? Is there any birthday that stands out (good OR bad!), either due to the events surrounding it or due to the particular present(s) you received?
Of course I don't remember my first birthday but I've seen pictures. So I know I had the traditional cake that I stuck my hands in. I shared my birthday with my oldest brother. I was born the same day as he on his 11th birthday. So you would think that if there was something special about them I would remember since it was both of our birthdays.
My 29th birthday my oldest brother actually called me and told me happy birthday. Don't know why that one year maybe it was because it was his "40th". He will be 60 this year so I guess I need to make sure he knows that he's getting old. lol
Don't really remember birthdays being a big deal growing up. I'm sure we probably had cake and ice cream. I was number five of six children. We all had the offer of having a party on our 16th birthday. I can remember my oldest brother and my one sister's 16th birthday. I guess because of the pictures that were taken keeps the memories alive.
My 16th birthday I do remember having a few friends over and had cake and ice cream. But as far as any special gifts I don't remember any. I received my hope chest one year but I'm not sure if it was birthday or Christmas.
Now that I'm older I say I'm too old to make a big deal of my birthdays.
But I do try and make my kids birthdays special. But I won't go into any details in case thats for another flashback friday.
I wasn't really sure where to start with this. But it is something that has been on my mind lately. I know of at least one person that is married to a possibly verbally abusive spouse. I say possibly because I don't live with this person but, I do know what they have told me in confidence and honesty. I may not always have the right answers but I believe I'm a good listener, and am willing to pray for your situation. I know the female side of us may try to figure out who it may be. But it is not a fellow blogger or a relative to me. I feel like in some way there may be others out there and hopefully this will help them to seek help if they need to.
I have been told that there is no such thing as verbal abuse only physical abuse. But that is wrong. I know for a fact that being verbally abuse does exist.
First is a list of questions to even see if this pertains to you or someone you know. Your partner might have behaved as though these things were okay, even though it's obvious that they aren't okay...:
Do you feel that you can't discuss with your partner what is bothering you?
Does your partner frequently criticize you, humiliate you, or undermine your self-esteem?
Does your partner ridicule you for expressing yourself?
Does your partner isolate you from friends, family or groups?
Does your partner limit your access to work, money or material resources?
Has your partner ever stolen from you? Or run up debts for you to handle?
Does your relationship swing back and forth between a lot of emotional distance and being very close?
Have you ever felt obligated to have sex, just to avoid an argument about it?
Do you sometimes feel trapped in the relationship?
Has your partner ever thrown away your belongings, destroyed objects or threatened pets?
Are you afraid of your partner?
Being called names by your spouse: Any negative form of name calling is unacceptable. If you feel that it is a put down, then it most likely is. There are names that are obvious and, without question abusive. Using words to shame: Critical, sarcastic, mocking words meant to put you down either alone or in front of other people. Yelling, swearing, and screaming: This is called the “walking on eggs shells” syndrome because you are living with someone who goes verbally ballistic for very little cause. Using threats to intimidate: No threat should be taken likely, even if your spouse tells you they are only joking, especially if it causes you to change behaviors or to feel on guard in the relationship.
Blaming the victim: Your spouse blows his/her top and then blames you for their actions and behavior. Your feelings are dismissed: Your spouse refuses to discuss issues that upset you. They avoid discussion of any topic where they might have to take responsibility for their actions or words. You often wonder why you feel so bad: You bury your feelings, walk on egg shells and work so hard at keeping the peace that every day becomes an emotional chore. You feel depressed and have even wondered if you are crazy. Manipulating your actions: The persistent and intense use of threatening words to get you to do something or act in a way you find uncomfortable. This form of verbal abuse is common at the end of a marriage. If your spouse doesn’t want a divorce they will say whatever it takes to play on your emotions, to get you to stay in the marriage. All in an attempt to get you to comply with their desires, regardless of what is best for you as an individual.
Everything I've read suggest counseling together, or seperate. Even if your mate won't go to counseling with you, it will help your self-esteem to seek christian counseling for yourself.
Well ya'll know the drill by now. Linda posts 12 questions every Tuesday and we link up with our answers on Wednesday.
1. Define a great relationship. Honesty and trust.
2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?)
Two soft tacos, and cinnamon twists from Taco Bell.
3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.)
Yellow lab or golden retriever. I just think they are very pretty dogs. And I'm not a big dog lover at all.
4. If you had to move to a state besides the one you currently live in, where would you move? I haven't really ever thought about it. I would stay close to the coast as I am now. All of my family except for one brother is in Georgia so it would have to be where I could drive home often.
5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be? I am thankful for the way I was raised in a good christian home. The only thing I can think of is we would have been closer. Not in age but as in doing things together so we would still be close now that we're older.
6. Who's the funniest person you know? Not really sure about that one. In the blog world the first person I thought of was Quilly. And in real life my grandaughter Emily, she is always happy. The more you laugh the harder she will laugh.
7. Did you get enough sleep last night? Probably not because I truly enjoyed sleeping in last week while the kids were out on spring break.
8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning?
Is it really time to get up?
9. Grilled or Fried? --HONESTLY
grilled--- HONESTLY Other than last night, about once a month or less I splurge and fry me some chicken livers. I know most will say gross and so does all of my family.
10. Are you afraid of the dark? nope can't say that I am.
11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? a school teacher.
12. If you had one word to describe yourself , what would you choose? honest
This is my fourth review and giveaway sponsored by blog sparks. I have to say it is by far the best one yet.
New Simply… Go-Gurt is made from simple ingredients moms look for and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. Each convenient portable yogurt tube contains a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Simply stated, Simply… Go-Gurt is a good-for-you, low fat yogurt snack that you can feel good about giving to your kids.
New Simply… Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry. I received my gift pak today and I can't wait to get my go-gurt. Emily loves yogurt so I'm sure I will be getting the strawberry one for her.
This gift pak includes a coupon for ONE Box any flavor Yoplait Simply Go-Gurt Yogurt, a pocket etch-a-sketch, a weekly planner ( that includes a notepad, post-it notes, daily planner notepad, and an accordian folder to hold your coupons ), and a seat back organizer.
The organizer will be great for those summer vacations coming up. It straps over your car seat , so there's no more: I'm bored, Are we there yet, or How much longer? It has plenty of room for small toys, coloring book and colored pencils. I personally don't do crayons during the summer in the car. Doesn't look to good if left in the car to melt on my seats or doors.
You can also go to the yoplait website for a printable coupon for a free 8-pack yoplait . While supplies last, after that it will be $1.10 off coupons.
The coupons aren't valid in the following states California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.
Yoplait provided me with the free product, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark.
I will choose one winner for this wonderful gift pak on Sunday April 11th.
Mandatory entry is just leave a comment sharing your wholesome snacking tips that make your child(ren) smile.
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,
7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.
8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10Then the disciples went back to their homes,
11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."
14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.
30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"[b] 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."[c]
The Burial of Jesus
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[d]
40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."
5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!"
But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."
13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).
14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:
sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it."
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
"They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing."[a] So this is what the soldiers did.
25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"
27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
