What happened???

Every morning I sign onto my pretty, red computer. I use my wireless, red mouse to click around to my favored sites on the world wide web.

The first one I like to go to is YouVersion.com so I can get a chapter or two (or three) into me before I start my day. So that's what I did today, but the daily reading guide had no chapters to read. What's with that? I know, I thought to myself, I will go to the reading calendar to see what it says, and that is when I realized what was going on. Today is leap year, February 29th. That date is not charted on their reading calendar, consequentially no chapters are displayed for reading.

There's something about leap year. It was zero degrees this morning but that can happen any time in winter. The sun is shining - nothing unique about that. But only once every four years can we say that "today is February 29th". Have a special day.

Stampin' Up Class - March

Attention all craft lovers! The next Stampin' Up class is going to be on Monday, March 10th starting at 7 p.m. The location will be at 4 Birch Lane in Clifton Pk.

Please let me know if you want to attend this class by March 5th. Call or e-mail me if you need more information about the class. We will be making a spring card and an Easter item. Let's be creative together.

Snowy day

It has been snowing since 10 this morning. It's the kind of snow that doesn't stick to the roads much but does coat the trees. It almost looks like powdered sugar being sprinkled out of the sky.

Usually, in the grey month of February, I am very ready for spring to come. To see my flowers popping up out of the ground and showing off their beautiful faces of color. But for some reason, I am enjoying this snowy day. It is a pure and pleasant kind of snow and it reminds me of a wonderful verse:

Isa 1:18 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

The Body of Christ

Have you ever been to a major league ballgame and then cheered on the bleachers at a high school match? Or worked at a giant corporation only to turn around and get a position with a small proprietorship? That is kind of like what happened with us today....

We go to Northway Church and the services that we have are usually filled to the brim with people. Not today. Why? Because NC is one church in 3 locations. The main campus is in Malta and has 4 services a weekend with hundreds of people gathering for each service. The 2nd campus is in Clifton Park with 2 services a weekend and the stage area alone is about the size of half of my house. We have always been involved in those locations.

Today we had the privilege of ministering at the 3rd location in Colonie which currently offers one service a weekend. Today, they were short a keyboard player and a drummer and I was asked to fill in on the keys. What a blessing it was to go from the major places to a small place. The leaders there are friendly, excited, humble. It was, in a word, precious. Our heart went out for the newest location and we know that God has wonderful things in store for the people in Colonie.

There was one comment made about how the 80-ish sized congregation was actually "a part of a church of over 2,000" which seemed surreal at the time is was spoken. But isn't this true of the body of Christ? We are many members but one body. You can attend a church with thousands or a fellowship of a few, but we are still one church. How glorious it will be when we can all finally assemble together at the feet of our Lord and eternally worship Him as one body in one location saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.

My little assistant

Sparkie came to work with me today. It was fun having him there. After he sniffed every corner of every office in the building, he plopped down on the floor next to me and relaxed most of the day.

I wish I could just plop down and relax that easy. Instead, I have many things buzzing through my mind, and it is difficult to relax.

Maybe we can learn much from our pets. Like enjoying the moment, loyalty, how to love unconditionally, being still. I think it is good for both of us to have him visit the office.

Lunar eclipse

For some reason, we were psyched about seeing the eclipse last night. We watched American Idol and when it was over, it was time to check it out. The moon looked kinda dirty and brown. Not very dramatic, but it was something different to see. The next one won't happen until 2010.

I guess we are used to drama and "the wow factor" in our day. If it doesn't hold you on the edge of your seat, it is dull. The eclipse was slow and dull, by today's entertainment standards, but it was proof of a consistant work going on in the universe. All things are working in the manner that they have been set up to be. That is worth seeing and appreciating.

Relax - It's a day off!

What comes to mind when you think about relaxing? Going to the spa and getting the special treatment? Sitting beside the crackling fireplace? Listening to the ocean's waves (real or simulated)? Spending time with those who you love the most?

I had the day off today. It was so nice to sip that second cup o' joe in my jammies and not rush out of the house. An added bonus was the fact that it was up in the 50's today and the sun started shining on us. I may not have had the luxurious day at the spa, or heard the breaking surf, but I did fully enjoy my relaxing day off.

Jehovah Rapha - Our Healer

About a month ago, our pastor's father was diagnosed with cancer. He was in alot of pain and was not able to get around because of it. The family was encouraged to come visit. It was a grim feeling. Regardless of that, he was prayed for by people all over the country. Yesterday the doctors "went in" to remove the cancer and they couldn't find any to remove. If you want to read more about it, hit the Buddy Cremeans' blog link under my favorite blogs and it is all there in black and white (and some pictures).

While scientists may want to see this as unexplainable or a misdiagnosis, I would rather believe that it is nothing more than an obvious, flat out miracle. Jehovah was called Healer in the old testament, Jesus healed the sick and dead in the new testament, and we are instructed how to pray for those who are sick so that they may recover. Well, that is just good enough for me!

Wanna Party???

We know what this means, don't we? That's right - it's time to get the Club-6 started up again. We will hold club in March, April, May, September, October and November. Club is held once a month and will be on a Monday night at 7:00 in Halfmoon, for those 6 months.

We have three definate members so far and are looking for three more. If you do not want to join, you are invited to be a guest anytime you wish to come out. Let me know if you want more information and let's be creative together.

are you starving?

I tried to find a picture in a google search to put here, but there was none that came close to display the image I had in mind. After looking in horror at emaciated people and animals, I had to stop my search. The effects of starvation are not pleasant to look at.

Perhaps the simplest picture I could have used would be an empty glass. Or maybe a dark and dreary cave, or an abandoned house. Or how about a dusty Bible? All these things represent starvation in one form or another.

Isn't it just like our mode of self-preservation to automatically identify starving as meaning a lack of food for your stomach? What about feeling a need for more light and warmth during these cold, winter days. We're starving for the benefits of the sunshine. What about that someone who is lonely and needs friends. Aren't they starving for attention? Does the lack of interest in spending time with your Creator fall into the "starving" category? I have to say that it does.

We all know when we are starving for food, sunshine, or friendship. Why is it so easy to deny our hunger for the living God? Only He is the One who can fill our spirit through His word. Perhaps it is a good thing that we cannot google a search to see a snapshot of our spirit's stature . . . or then again, maybe it isn't.

Let's be encouraged by David's words and purpose to start each day anew, and to keep our spirits from starving.
1 God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you!I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,traveling across dry and weary deserts.
2 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,drinking in your strength and glory.
3 In your generous love I am really living at last!My lips brim praises like fountains.
4 I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
5 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
6 If I’m sleepless at midnight,I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
7 Because you’ve always stood up for me, I’m free to run and play.
8 I hold on to you for dear life,and you hold me steady as a post.
Psalm 63:1-8 (the Message)

Wash it!

When I realized that we had run out of towels and bed sheets, I figured I had better catch up on some wash today. Getting motivated to do wash is one of my bigger hurdles to jump during my week. Putting off the wash is always a better idea! Regardless, the piles don't clean themselves and the cats don't do any wash for me when they are in the basement all night, so I eventually have to put on my laundress hat and get to it.

Anticipating the large volumes of wash to come, I purchased extra soap last week at the market. Looking at all those soaps makes me wonder what people in the "old days" used to do with one or two choices of soap flakes. I am truly grateful that we have machines to do all the soaking, agitating, wringing, and spinning for us. Four loads down today, I still have about four more to go before that pile is back down and under control.

Doing wash isn't my favorite thing to do, but there's nothing like those fresh, clean clothes and linens. And the rest of the wash can wait until tomorrow.

A chemist's sense of humor....

I was at the Stampin'Up party the other night, and someone told a science joke. Here's how it goes:

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.

Yeah, I didn't get it either. Apparently the dark goo in the bottom of the beaker is called the precipitate, and the clear liquid is the solution (of course).

I like science, but I guess I will never get to the level of the humor of a chemist. ;-)

Rainy Day...

Poem lyrics of The Rainy Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary; It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall, But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary. . .

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

It is interesting reading this poem. The first verse sounds just like what it looks like outside. How crazy is it to get rain and thunder in February?

Valentine Party - Stampin' Up style

Hello Creative Ones. I will be having a Stampin' Up party on Wednesday night at 6:30 at Laura's house. We will be making a card and a kiss holder for the ones we love. It will be lots of fun - hope to see you there.

Sneaky Stuff

If you don't know already, we have two cats and a dog. There is alot of sneaky stuff going on in our house.
Animals like to do what they want, but they know that they cannot do whatever they want, if we don't like what they are doing. So, they have to get sneaky about it.
Mouse likes to run through the door when you don't want her to. Open the garage door and she's there waiting to see how she can get through it. Especially if you don't want her to.
Tiki likes running water alot. He used to get into the toilet for a drink. We have to put the lid down so he can't get in there anymore. Then he went to the bathtub. After a shower, he goes in there to lap up the water and we think that's kinda gross too so we shoo him away. He sneaks in anyways, I know he does because his head will be wet for no reason sometimes.
Sparkie is not allowed in the game room. As soon as you walk out of there and turn the corner, he darts in to see what it is that he has been missing.
Yup, our house if full of sneaks doing sneaky stuff.