Warm and Cozy Again

So after finally getting to bed this morning we slept just an hour when the cat woke us up. haha Apparently he's afraid of the fireplace fan, its not even that loud. So when I wake up from him loudly meowing over and over again I think, what on earth is the matter with the cat and wow its blazing hot in here. But that will happen when you have a good fire going and 2 space heaters going full blast. I think it was around 100 degree's in here at that point, I could have died. So I get up and go looking for the cat. I found him hiding behind the toliet totally freaked out. Ha, He's never done that. I took him and Bossco who was also dying hot outside to cool off and left the door open while I waited for them. I can't tell you how good that cold air felt. I turned both heaters off and Marty checked the fire. That was at about 5:30 this morning.

We wake up at 8 when the phone rang and it is still super hot. Marty called the fix it people and they said they would be out later in the day, Big Score. Marty checked the fire as I checked my email and he discovers the fire has gone out. I cannot express the look of frustration he gave me over that. So we had two options, call Girl Scout leader Heidi to school us up on starting a fire or go back to bed. Guess which option we took.

So the fix it man showed up at 10 this morning, was here till 1 this afternoon and fixed everything. We have heat again. Praise God.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according To his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

So this experience has me thinking. How on earth did people get fire before paper, matches, and or fuel of somekind? I'm sure it was nothing short of a miracle of God. Rubbing two sticks together would take forever! And who stumbled onto that whole concept anyway? Then you have to to have something that will start the burn like moss and sticks, but those burn up fast and the bigger pieces of wood take ages to start burning. I would need a mountain of moss, twigs, and small kindling just to get a few logs burning. Marty would have to be the one who rubs the sticks together.

Psalms 77:11 (NIV)
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Brrrrr

I'm so tired.

All I wanna do is sleep.

What I wish most for in the world right now is for our boiler to work.

So we can have heat.

Marty and I just spent the last hour trying to build a fire in our fireplace.
We are NOT good at building fires, even with tons of newspaper.

First thing tomorrow we need to call a boiler repairman but I just know they probably won't be able to get us in at the last minute. So I'm thinking it will be at least a few days till the boiler is fixed.

Tomorrow is Marty's last day here before he goes back north for 3 weeks. One day for him to run this show before I have to take over.

Yikes.

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The bright side...

We haven't had chopped wood ready to go ever, until today. Marty spent the afternoon cutting some tree's he fell earlier this summer. You know so we would finally be prepared "in case" we ever needed it. ha I'm thinking God may have nudged Marty with out him realizing because I didn't ask him to do it.

Despite the moist wood and the dummies who have no clue how to start a fire with out lots of gas or oil, we got the fire going in the ol blaze king. We didn't use any fuel or oil, only newspaper.

Thanking God right this moment for a secondary heat source (our fireplace).

Marty just found 2 space heaters from when our heater went out a few years ago in the 5th wheel

Marty was here when it happened, even if it is for just a day.

I have a case of hot cocoa that will go nicely with the cold outside and the fire going inside.

God will help me through this.

Leviticus 19:12 (NKJV)

And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

Hearing the frequent use of taking the Lords name in vein comes to mind when I read this verse. I knew there was a verse that talked about this but just never saw it till tonight, and I wasn't even looking for it.

Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise

Ladies Retreat 2005

This years ladies retreat was just this last weekend. What a refresher and rejuvinator it was. My mom and another friend came up and went with me, it was so nice to have them join in with myself and the other ladies from church. The retreat was based around

Titus 2: 1-8 (NASV)
¹But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. ²Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. ³Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. ⁶Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; ⁷in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

The retreat was an overnighter out at Meier Lake Lodge, I think most of the ladies were up as late as 3:30am, which is hilarious when I think about it.

The accountability list was passed out to everyone but 10 more questions were added. I really like all of those questions.

There were 10 speakers, 11 speeches, with 3 crafts & a massage provided at midnight. Dinner, desert, munchies, breakfast, and lunch were all cooked and served by several men from our church. Talk about being pampered physicly and spritually. I really can't wait till next years retreat.

The speeches
1. The word of God may not be blasphemed

Mark 3:29 (NIV) - But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
Colossians 3:8 (NKJV) - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

2. Not given to much wine (presented by yours truly)

Galatians 5:19-21 (NASV) - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 4:3 (NKJV) - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

3. Malicious gossips

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV) - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
James 3:5 (NIV) - Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

4. Sober/Sensible

1 Peter 4:7 (NIV) - The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 5:8 (NASV) - Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

5. Love/obey your husbands

Colossians 3:18 (NASV) - Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

6. Love your children

Titus 2:4 (NKJV) - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children

7. Discreet

Proverbs 2:11 (NIV) - Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 11:22 (NASV) - As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

8. Chaste(disciplined)/pure(uncontaminated, not containing any mixture of evil)

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) - Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life
Hebrews 12:11 (NJKV) - Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

9. Keepers at home

Proverbs 31:27 (NKJV) - She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

10. Being Good

Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV) - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

From one pumpkin to another

What's it like to be a Christian?

It's like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

Unknown Author
Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Refining Silver

This was passed out at this years ladies retreat, it makes so much sense. Wanted to put it somewhere I'd remember it.

There was a group of woman in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter 3, they came across verse 3 which says:

"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..."

This verse puzzled the woman and they wondered what this statement means about the character and nature of God. One of the woman offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for the interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the siversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...". She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh thats the easy part, when I see my image reflected in it."

Unknown Author
Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Traitor

I am so emotionally attached to all of our vehicles. I always have been. I remember when I was 5 my parents told me they were selling our station wagon. That station wagon was the only family car I had ever known at that point, and I loved it. And of course at 5 I thought it secretly had a mind of its own, was a happy car, and loved our family right back. When I found they were getting rid of it I went out, got in the front seat and said goodbye to it. I was so sad and no car was as good as that one in my eyes for years to come. Even though it was a Ford.



This one is an 86, I think ours was a 79 LTD but they look the same and the paint jobs are identical. I can't believe I found a picture of one with the wood paneling and all.


Anyways.....



Yesterday we traded in our dually. We've had it for years and of course I was completely attached to it. It was my baby.

We've been talking about trading it in for a while. With it being our only newer vehicle that we trusted, it was what we drove anywhere beyond 30 miles. The purple truck is to big to drive long distances and we expected the blazers motor to blow when we bought it 5 years ago. So the dually is what we drove to Anchorage - or Homer - or to haul people - or our 5th wheel in. With gas prices what they are - and the 454 motor under the hood - and the high payments - and the high mileage - and with one year left for the extended, extended warranty, it was time. So we've been looking for a while at different car lots for a 4 door car to trade it in for, with out luck. Yesterday we found the car, it was totally unexpected and unplanned. We weren't even planning on driving by the lots yesterday but sure enough we ended up going by all of them and found a good deal at Park n' Sell. Before I knew it we were giving the keys to some stranger and saying goodbye to the dually. I can't tell you how wrong that felt. I feel like I just gave away my child, or lost a family member. It was so dependable and good to us, I feel like a traitor. The bright side is that we have a great car now (that we love) but my baby is gone.



There it sits, as we are about to leave it. I bet you its heartbroken.

And now you all know what a lunatic I am, if you didn't already.