What is your word for 2015?

I have found a website that I’ve already mentioned, "His Kingdom Come" and I urge you to check it out.

One of the propositions in this website is logos365.


From His Kingdom Come, logos365

Pick a word that  God gives you and  use it as your  word  for 2015.

I did this on my own last year, without the encouragement of other Christians and would think about it only once in a while.

This year, I found this on “His Kingdom Come” and made a commitment to live this word for 2015.

After prayer and Bible study this is the word I picked:

I chose the word “teach” because I want to take my Bible teaching to a new level – a new commitment. I am beginning the year by teaching a six week Sunday School class on Spiritual Gifts. One of my spiritual gifts is teaching and I have not used this gift to the best of my abilities. So, I’m jumping into 2015 with both feet and making some changes – through the leading of the Holy Spirit and praying I will be effective in what I do.

Look over the website of "His Kingdom Come"  and see what challenges God hits you with!! And have fun!

One Step Forward, Two Back in Bible Journaling

I’m still experimenting – to see what I like and don’t like before my journaling Bible gets here.

On this page I used a stamp, colored the trees with colored pencils, used some stickers for the letters, and gelatos for the two sets of words.

I’m not crazy about the sticker letters, I think I would like it better if I had lettered them.

And, I realized I wrote with the wrong ink pen and the gelatos smeared the ink a bit. I do have the correct pens – just forgot about them.

Also, the sermon I was going off of was so rich with information, I may redo this one and change it up some. But, I do like the idea of being in an orchard when the fruit of the spirit is evident in my life. When I have sin in my life, it’s stepping outside of the orchard.

Only one step to take to move back into the orchard.

The sermon is Max Lucado’s “Immanuel, God In Us.” Anyway, I liked this sermon so much, I am going to use this concept in my Bible.

Do you drink 64 Ounces of Water Every Day?

I’ve always been told to drink 8 – 8 ounce glasses of water each day. This is what I found on the Mayo Clinic web site:

“Everyone has heard the advice, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day." That's about 1.9 liters, which isn't that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the "8 by 8" rule isn't supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it's easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because all fluids count toward the daily total.”

 

I do drink water. I like water. I also drink coffee and tea. Once in a while I will have a soda. But I have been trying to cut down on the coffee and tea and drink more water.

 

I’ve found that having the water dispenser in our refrigerator door helps. I’ve also found another help -

 

My Infuser

I just keep this in the refrigerator and the water has just a touch of flavor. Very good, very refreshing. This has only oranges but I’m looking forward to experimenting with other fruits.

Bible Journaling–Part 2

While waiting on my Journaling Bible to arrive, I’ve been enjoying this new way of “keeping notes.”

I’ve often blogged about my Bible – and how much I love it.

    
Most of it looks like this inside:


I’ve never hesitated in writing in my Bible. But it has never dawned on me to “draw” in my Bible!! So I did mark some favorite verses with a little extra:

         

Nothing too creative – but a little bit more.

I’ve actually ordered a Journaling Bible to help me be more creative. I’m going to use it for the 52 weeks next year of “Take Me Deeper 2015.”  Looking forward to this new adventure with God.

I have had a bit of fun with Pastor Brad’s sermon from Sunday!!

I realized that “journaling” a verse is much easier than a complete sermon. It looks like PBrad preached for hours! But it was such a good sermon my notes were copious! So the following pictures are a variety of things I experimented with using the sermon as my model.

Disclaimer: I am not – nor have I ever been an artist!! Don’t expect “art” – what I can do is write words and decorate them – which gives me more time to meditate and think about what was said.

The Sermon was taken from

2 Corinthians 10:3-4       Ephesians 6:10-18

(this is a four week series)

I really remember this sermon – probably more than most because of the journaling. I was able to spend time meditating on God’s Word and mentally applying it to my life.

I would love to see some of your journaling if you are giving it a try. It’s fun, it’s calming and for me it’s here to stay!!

Bible Journaling

I’ve discovered something new. Well, new to me! Bible Journaling. I’ve kept journals for years but this is something different. Let me show you - Bible Journaling Pinterest Board. 

Discovering "Take Me Deeper 2015" was the beginning of my research into Bible Journaling and Digital Faith Art. I’m intrigued and jumped in with both feet. I would love for you to join me on this 2015 challenge of letting God take us deeper into a relationship with Him.

Check out His Kingdom Come website. This is the birthplace of “Take Me Deeper 2015.”

I also discovered you can even buy a “Bible Journal” Bible! It has wider margins for your “journaling.”

I did begin in a regular journal and decided I would take the advice of several other bloggers and sketch out my journaling on paper before I transfer it to my Bible. The really serious journalist’s draw on tracing paper and put that over their Bible pages.

This is my first attempt at Bible Journaling, using Psalm 61:2

“From the end of the earth I will cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”  KJV

What I have discovered in this process is that this verse is ingrained in my mind – much more than when I just memorized it.

I would love to have you join me with “Take Me Deeper 2015.”

I would also love to hear from you –

• Is Bible Journaling something you do?
• To what extent do you do it?
• Tell me about your experience with Bible Journaling.
• Share some of your pages.

Ready, Set, Snap– Saturday

         

                           Me                              @church

My glasses. Which are a BIG part of me…

                 

                                        Cooking                               curlygirl

I’m doing “Ready, Set, Snap" to learn more about my pictures. Not just taking them but what to do with them.

The first collage I did. I used PicMonkey.

The second one.

Playing with different embellishments

Plus, I now realize I should have used a darker background to frame the pictures

I actually used this one on my “about me” page here on my blog.

.

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

It is soup season!!

I found some new recipes to try this fall and tonight was the first experiment.

   

Slow cooking is so easy and so handy. So I started our experiment with a beef barley soup done in the crock pot.

I found the recipe here at allrecipes.com

If you read the reviews you will notice most  had to add “something” because it is bland. We found that to be the case, too. However, for this first time I made it according to the recipe. Very good flavor and I will make it again – but will take the recommendations of the reviews and add something extra.

I also adjusted the recipe to serve 6. I found that 6 servings actually served 3 with one bowl left for someone’s lunch tomorrow.

If you go by looks, it was a very “pretty” soup.

On a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best:

• The husband gave it a 3.5
• A gave it a 3
• I give it a 4 with the potential of a 5 once it’s tweaked

My Mom

I’m sure that much of my writing block has been caused by the activities of the last few months.

Mom hadn’t been doing well and my brother and I had been talking to Dad off and on about decisions that would need to be made. These type of decisions are not easy. For Dad or for Raymond and I. Raymond and I spent much of our conversations with each other saying “what should we do?” Our parents are very private people.

Then when she passed away, it all happened so fast. In that - she – we were all blessed. Her suffering was short-lived. Dad having to watch her suffer was – well it was a blessing that it went so quickly.

One thing I kept reminding myself is that we had her 60 years longer than many thought we would. I wrote about my Mom’s story H.E.R.E.

Anyway, I haven’t been able to come to terms about what to write about my Mom. Nothing I can write can explain the complex relationship that I had with her. – Maybe someday God will give me the words to write about the last three months. But not now.

Now I will just post what I said at her funeral.

 
Mom’s Funeral, October 4, 2014

“First of all Dad, Raymond and I and our families want to thank you for coming today and thank you for being a part of Mom’s life at different times over the years.

Over this last week – and I guess throughout my whole life I have heard many statements that begin “Before the wreck, Monie…..” As I was reminiscing these last few days it dawned on me that Mom’s life was defined into two periods. Before the wreck. After the wreck.

Before the wreck, she was vivacious, beautiful, a spitfire, outspoken and outgoing. And she could be a pain! She didn’t always make the right decisions.

After the wreck, she loved her faith. She was vivacious, beautiful, a spitfire, outspoken – outgoing – friendly – so very friendly – never met a stranger. She could still be a pain!! And she made some very good decisions.

She was given a second chance and she never took it for granted.

Her first good decision was that she chose to keep me. She could have let Grandma Elsie raise me. She could have let my grandma Louthan raise me. But at about 17 – 18 after fighting back from horrendous tragedy, she decided to buck up and raise her child alone.

Then, her next really good decision – she picked dad! Now, he may argue that he picked her! But he became the love of her life and her his. Such a good decision.

Then, she made another great decision, this decision was made with Dad so it was doubly blessed – they chose Raymond.

When you look at these 3 decisions, look at her life, the care giving she offered, the way she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren – how can any one of us look at this beautiful wife and mother and say that her accident, her wreck, was a disaster.

She took all the bad that could happen to a young woman and became better, stronger, and lived a life that she loved.

All of us can learn from the lessons Mom taught us.

Her legacy she left for Raymond and me, for her grandchildren, for her great grandchildren and the memories she left for Dad are more than any of us could have asked.

Wherever family gathers

To laugh, talk, eat

Wherever babies are held

Stories are told

And hugs are shared

Our Mom’s spirit lives on.”

 

Ramona  Doane

Obituary for Ramona Doane

Ramona Doane

Ringwood-Funeral service for Ramona Doane will be Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Lahoma First Baptist Church with Pastor Steve Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery west of Meno. Viewing will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 until 7:00. Any kindnesses of food may be taken to the church on Saturday morning.

Ramona was born at Orion on April 4, 1936 to Albert Turner and Elsie Ake Turner and passed from this life on September 30, 2014 in Enid. A marriage and farming career of 57 years started with Franklin Doane on June 7, 1957 in Enid. She was a charter member of the First Baptist Church in Lahoma. Ramona was a caregiver for neighbors, at Helena Nursing Home, at Bass Baptist Hospital and retired from Okeene Hospital. She was a volunteer at Oklahoma Blood Institute, taught GA’s at First Baptist Church in Ringwood and belonged to the Home Demonstration Club.

Survivors include her husband, Franklin Doane of Ringwood; her daughter, Brenda Cohorn and husband, Randy of Wichita, Kansas; her son, Raymond Doane and wife, Cindy of Enid; seven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; one brother, Don Turner and wife, Barbara and two sisters, Doris Brewer and husband, Loren and Linda Butler and husband, Don and many other relatives.

Those who preceded Ramona in death include her parents, Albert and Elsie; sister, Wilma Zimmerman and brother, Kenneth Turner.

Memorials may be given to the church through the funeral home.

“Ready, Set, Snap”

For my faithful readers I owe an apology. I’ve been in “writer’s block mode” so haven’t posted very much since August.

So when one of my VERY FAVORITE BLOGGERS posted a challenge, I jumped on it! It’s a “selfie” challenge. This challenges me in so many different ways, I can’t even express!

You can read about the challenge H.E.R.E. and think about joining us!   Jump in anytime!

My bloggy friend dramamamafive or Amy as many call her was challenged by her daughters and you can follow them H.E.R.E. and H.E.R.E.  Check all three of these blogs out, I promise you will enjoy them!

Okay, that was just the introduction!

Now for my

“Ready, Set, Snap” selfies!

 

Ready for church!

             

Kansas Winds      My Freedom 

      

Driving to Oklahoma

Lazy Saturday Morning

Arguing with the TV news!

I am short a few pictures – I actually forgot about snapping on Thursday and Friday.

Personal lessons:

If you are like me – you don’t like having your picture taken. I’m not sure why I don’t. – When I do I only see the negative. So, I’m going to use this challenge to try to be more comfortable with what I look like.

After several years of struggle, I did learn to like WHO I am. Now, I need to be thankful for what God created me to look like!

Photographer lessons:

I have short arms…. it’s hard to take a selfie! If you read my last BLOG HERE  you know I’ve gotten a new phone. This week has helped me learn a bit more about my new phone camera.  So I’m looking forward to learning more.

I didn’t use much creativity this week – I will try to be a bit more experimental next week.

Readers:        Do you like pictures of yourself?  

 

                      Do you enjoy taking selfies?

Technology Today

 I realized that I was going to have to put my phone down. Literally. It was a mess. After three years of being my constant companion I was going to have to say good bye.  My navigation wasn’t working correctly.  Calls were only okay. Lot’s of them dropped. But to be quite honest, I never know if that’s my phone or the service. BUT – if you’re like me, I didn’t want to part with $$$.

I started reminiscing. 

         This is the first phone I   remember. It hung on the wall in the kitchen of our old farmhouse. It was a party line – which was always interesting. When someone called our house it was two short rings and one long ring. Everyone on the party line had a different ring. So, we always knew who was getting a call. Yes, you could listen in on everyone’s phone calls. – I learned early on, they could listen to mine, too! And every single one of our neighbors did not hesitate to call my Mom if they thought I was using the phone inappropriately. This is the phone we used until I was 10 years old.

We moved across the field  from the old farmhouse to a “new” ranch style house. We not only moved – but we moved up to a new phone.

This black beauty was our move up. Now, I’m really only showing you these pictures for one reason. To let you know that my Dad and Mom still used this phone until about eight years ago. It was still the property of the Phone Company because they used to provide you with phones instead of you buying one. My parents used this phone for over 40 years. They hated giving it up.

40+ years. I was feeling so lucky that my smart phone had lasted three!

Life is so different in the tech age. I know “we” say that a lot. – those of us from the ages before the tech age. But it really really was so very different.

But now, I have a new phone and I can find where I’m going again. I literally HAVE to HAVE that navigation system… Otherwise I amble around like I don’t know where I’m going. – ‘cause I really don’t!!

Here is a picture of my new navigational system.

Oh, I mean my smart phone!!

I didn’t say life is worse today. And I don’t always call them “the good ole days” I just said it was different! I love my phone that doesn’t hang on the wall and can tell me where to turn! – and mostly I love that it can reroute!!!

What do you like best about the “technology age?”

What do you miss most about the “good ole days?”

What Stops the Creativity?

What causes writer’s block?

What causes artist’s block?

I guess everyone suffers from a “block” of something at some time or other.

My writer’s block started several months ago. Oh, I think up a GREAT blog idea and compose 1 or 2 sentences in my head but when I get in front of my computer BABAM – it’s gone.

My high school friend, Louanne is an artist and she gets the “block” too.

What is it that stops the creativity? I mean really, I’m 61 years old and I know I have tons of more stories in me than I’ve written. More advice, more should’a, could’a, would’a’s, just more of everything.

Here are some ideas of what I think can cause me to stop writing.

1. I’m a Christian, if I don’t prepare myself with prayer and listening to that still small voice, I don’t have anything to say.
2. Time. I put too many other activities before blogging.
3. Coming up with content that is actually worth reading.
4. Distractions. I let life get in the way too often.
5. Becoming too critical of what I’ve written so I just never publish.
6. Letting the criticism of others become too important to me.
7. Procrastination.

What do you think?

What causes you to have writer’s block?

-or a block of any of your talents?

A Little Color in My Office

My friend, Ellen, gave me a beautiful picture. I love it. It adds so much color in the office. I look up from my desk and it makes me happy!

Isn’t it gorgeous?

Thank you so much, Ellen!!

For My Family and Friends

I am writing this blog to you with no apologies!

I have found as I have gotten older that I have an urgency. An urgency to make sure you know Jesus Christ and all that His death means to you.

I’m interested in where you are in your faith. Do you have faith? Is your faith where it should be?

I believe our world is winding down. I believe that Jesus will return soon. I believe that a time is coming for you to decide whether you are for Him or against Him. There is no half way, there is no wavering on this decision. And it’s an all or nothing decision.

I will venture to say that everyone of you that has an opportunity to read this post has at some time heard the Gospel – the Good News – the plan of salvation – whatever you call it or whatever you’ve heard it called, I am sure you have heard about Jesus Christ and that He died for you.

If you are wavering in the decision to accept Him for who He is, in the decision in knowing the one true and living God I pray you choose Him.

I will pray – I will talk with you if you want to talk.

Figure it out.

Your future depends on it.

COLOR!!

Is it just me or are the colors more vibrant this summer? I believe the rain gave our earth a new life, a rejuvenation of color!

I especially noticed the color at the Farmer’s Market a couple of weeks ago.





It was too crowded to get many pictures!!

To My Friend Who is Hurting

When my friends are hurting, I hurt. I want to take the hurt away from them. But that isn’t possible.

I can pray. I can hold your hand. I can “do” things for you. Wash your dishes, listen, continue to pray, I can just be there. But I can’t take the hurt away.

And that’s why I’m so very sad tonight. BUT -

There is a big God – my God is in charge. He heals all hurts. I don’t have to be responsible  for healing the hurts of those I love. – He does it.

It just takes time. God loves you. So do I.

Toilet Paper

I’m sure many of you have toilet paper in your bathroom. It has become a necessity in our world. – Thank heavens! Much better than those old Sears and Roebuck Catalogs!

Most of us, have functional or maybe even attractive ways to display this needed tissue.

Mine is a functional display. Very practical.

Isn’t this little just the CUTEST girl you have ever seen??? Don’t you just want to pinch those sweet cheeks?

(trust me this all works into the same story - 

hang in there with me)

The last time this cutie visited me, she decided to make things “easier” for everyone here.

Well, maybe easier isn’t the correct description. But… Still, it’s pretty cute.

Why don’t Daddy’s and Mommy’s think actions are as funny as Mammy’s and Papa’s do???

- Cause I thought this was pretty darn funny!

Wildlife in Our Yard!

Geese are common in our area

So are rabbits!

But this old boy is not as common. He wouldn’t let me get close enough for you to see he has had a rough life. His shell has been chewed in the front. 

But he has persevered!