Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Jeremy Camp - The Way

Goodbye Blogosphere

On March 6, 2011 I wrote my very first blog post. I blogged about many things, mainly my faith. I hope through this blog you were able to see Jesus more clearly. I also blogged about movies, music, books, my family, friends and just things that were on my mind...

Today I say goodbye to blogging, maybe another time.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

The Way - to the Father
The Truth - revelation of God
The Life - He is the communication of God to us

Know the way, the truth will be revealed and your life will change and THE LIFE will speak to you in ways you never imagined.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Whitney Houston



This is a video of Whitney Houston in her prime singing one of her most famous and a personal favorite of mine, the song I Will Always Love You. Just look at her proud mama, an accomplished singer and gospel star in her own right, Cissy Houston, she looks so proud of her daughter. Whitney had a powerhouse voice and an amazing vocal range. Close your eyes and listen to the purity of her voice. The LORD blessed her with a beautiful gift.

She was 48 years old, I am 48 years old, her death has me thinking, a lot...

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

In Memorium

This post is dedicated to my father in law, Jack. Jack died last night in California where he lived. He leaves behind his wife Helen, my husband, his daughter and another son. He had 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Jack lived his life on his terms. He was not very talkative, spoke only when he had something to say. He loved to read, do the crossword puzzles, watch tv, shop (he bought a lot of stuff!), travel, gardening, building models of various things, his recliner, collecting and he liked to cook. He lived in the beautiful Napa Valley in California and in his prime was a manager of a mobile home park in Calistoga. He did all the maintenance there. He loved California, he moved his family there in the 1960's from Illinois.

A few memories of my time with Jack;

Our adventures in their camper, once to Yosemite and another time somewhere (no clue where) in Southern California. Good times.

Touring the wine country with him, not sure he always wanted to go with us since he lived there, but his wife would have none of that!

He made the best Huevos Rancheros! He always made them for us when we visited them.

One year when they visited us at Easter time, he slept in my son's room and he was not feeling well on Easter morning. He did not come to church with us but I had left my purse I was using that morning in the room and he made sure that I did not leave without it. He was very thoughtful that way. He came with us to our church Easter production and he told us a story about a boy in the bathroom. This was the most animated I had seen him when he told us that the man who played Jesus came into the bathroom and the boy said to someone I saw Jesus in the bathroom!! Jack told us that in the car on the way home.

Reading the paper and drinking coffee, eating gummy bears and various treats from Trader Joe's, oysters, smoked salmon and martinis!

Thanksgivings at our home when we lived in California for 5 years.

He loved the time my brother in law took all the men in my wedding party to this restaurant The Carnivale, my mother in law told me he talked about that for a long time. He also loved going shooting with my brother in law too, thanks Dave for creating two great memories for Jack.

I will miss you Jack, you were always very nice to me.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Go Big Blue!!!!




http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7542830

Copy the above video clip link to see Gian Paul Gonzalez on ESPN.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Worship



Saw this on someone's facebook page and I had to post this!!! Too funny... but all kidding aside, lifting your hands unto the Lord is a beautiful act of worship. I started out as a "rookie", now I border between pro and expert.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Gian Paul Gonzalez



Another shout out to Gian Paul who truly is all in for Jesus Christ.

All in!!!

This was posted on Yahoo! Sports.

Are you "ALL IN"?



Giants’ ‘All In’ credo has origins in faith
By Kristian Dyer | Shutdown Corner – 5 hours ago

Email

The Giants have a higher authority ... and we're not talking about Tom Coughlin. (Getty Images)
It was the week before Christmas and all through the team, not a playoff hope was stirring, not a sane one at least.
The New York Giants were just a handful of days from the Week 16 game against the New York Jets, with the Giants stuck at 7-7 and their season fast slipping away. Losers of four of their previous five games, it seemed as if the Giants were destined to finish second or even third in the NFC East. But then Gian Paul Gonzalez took the stand at the team's weekly chapel service and, before roughly two dozen players and coaches, began to challenge the players on and off the field where their motivation laid.
Gonzalez, a teacher in Union City, N.J., has spoken to the team several other times, but on this occasion he challenged the players spiritually and hit them with their responsibilities as husbands and fathers. But what surprisingly stuck was his challenge to them not just off the field but on it as well. When Gonzalez asked those gathered if they were "all in," his two words resonated in a way he didn't see coming.
A spiritual challenge would ignite a Super Bowl run and make believers of this Giants team in the rest of the NFL.
"I really had no idea; I was just glad I could hopefully encourage them on that night in December. It's a testament to the Giants and how hard they have worked and their determination and drive," Gonzalez told Yahoo! Sports. "It really exemplifies that when individuals join together and totally commit themselves to a common goal amazing results are possible and people will take notice - which I think is exactly what they are doing against all the odds. They are looking 'All In.'"
Giants chaplain George McGovern said that chapel attendance usually hovers in the mid-20s and that there has been no rush of new converts to fill the pews since Gonzalez's service and the team's improbable playoff push. But the challenge from the proverbial pulpit clearly spurred something in the way the Giants played.
Before the Jets game in his pregame speech, Giants defensive end Justin Tuck co-signed what Gonzalez said to the team, using the "All In" phrase in his speech. The Giants beat the Jets on Christmas Eve and the "All In" tag was used publicly by Tuck in his postgame remarks. The next week, 80,000 white towels filled MetLife Stadium with Gonzalez's words emblazoned on each one. The Giants won again with the crowd waving the "All In" towels as the players left the field, having clinched the division.
Talk about divine intervention.
Three playoff wins — two on the road — followed and now the Giants have taken their rather plebian 9-7 record into the Super Bowl. The phrase "All In" now sells T-shirts and caps and made a cameo on a Super Bowl commercial.
"The phrase can be applied in many ways and some players carried it over to their professional lives and determined to be 'All In' when it comes to competing on the field. They also made the application to the team concept [of] that being all players giving their all," McGovern said. "The phrase has taken on a more immediate meaning and is now centered on the players' efforts on the field and among each other. But for those men who were at chapel that night, the echo still reminds them of the initial application."
McGovern has been chaplain for the team for 16 years now -- and while he remembers many memorable moments from the hundreds of services, usually held on Saturday night, none has ever spurred a Super Bowl run. There was a trickledown effect from the chapel service to the practice field, an effect that now has the Giants a game away from their second Super Bowl win under head coach Tom Coughlin.
"Some key players were allowing attitudes to restrict their intensity at practice and in games [and] have replaced those attitudes with a concerted effort to give 100 percent in practice and on game day," McGovern said. "This focus then spread to other members of the team. The team chemistry was enhanced and confidence and teamwork grew. Winning games fed this healthy team chemistry."
It was a winning bet by Gonzalez, who said he felt "led by God" to deliver this particular chapel message to the team. Towards the end of the 20-minute service, he handed those in attendance a poker chip to tie together the "All In" mantra firmly.
"I gave them a poker chip, and silver sharpies, which they each took one. I then asked them to initial one side, and think about what God is calling them to be 'All In' about. Maybe it is being 'All In' as a man of God, father, or brother, or teammate, or all of those," Gonzalez said. "I let them keep the chip and challenged them to put it in a place they could remember it, to remind themselves that they are 'All In.'"
And if prayers are answered for those in Giants blue, some of those players will keep that chip next to a Super Bowl XLVI ring.
Follow Kristian R. Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer

Movie Review - Buck



My husband and I watched the documentary Buck this past weekend. If you love horses, you will love this movie. It is a documentary about Buck Brannaman who was the inspiration for Robert Redford's movie, The Horse Whisperer. Interesting parallels in training horses and raising children and also about your own lives. The film also details Buck's own abusive childhood and lovingly portrays the power of love that he received from his foster parents. The movie can feel like a commercial for the new age movement at times but all in all a good film.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Teddy Maio


I would like to dedicate this post to Teddy Maio. Teddy was a close friend of my parents. He was a big guy with a big heart. I have five memories of Teddy that stand out;

1) He was a policeman in our town, I called the police on an unruly boyfriend in high school and who shows up, Teddy!! Always the protector.

2) We were in the Bahamas on vacation with his family and some of the hotel employees were getting fresh in the elevator and who took them to task, Teddy!! Protecting me again.

3) Teddy loved Atlantic City, my father did as well, we were at the craps table and my father was letting me roll the dice for him (as a young girl my daddy taught me how to play this game) and there was Teddy cheering me on.

4) When my dad was in the hospital, right before he died, Teddy and his wife were there to lend their support. They also came to our house the night he died to offer comfort, good people.

5) He planted the trees that line the right side of my property (he was also a landscaper). He told me he personally went and picked out the trees, he wanted me to have good ones. My cousin and I dedicated two of those trees to our family members who passed away, her husband and my father.

The three additional trees will now stand as a memorial to Teddy, one for his big heart, one for his dedication to my family and one for being the protector of our town.

Quote of the Day


Something I saw on facebook, great quote.

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

Monday, January 16, 2012

John 3:16

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech(I Have A Dream)



By the content of their character...

He is quoting words spoken by the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 40:4-5 at the end of the speech.

Isa 40:4-5 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see [it] together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (NKJV)

Movie Review - Sarah's Key




I watched this movie over the weekend with my friend Diane. While I thought the movie was a little slow, it is a very important story that needed to be told. Aiden Quinn was fantastic as Sarah Sardynski's son, who finds out the truth about his mother's life. Bottom line, the French were responsible for 76,000 Jews being sent to the concentration camps. This true story is about Sarah and the choices she made when her family was taken prisoner by the French police in the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. Kristen Scott Thomas plays the journalist who uncovers the story and how it is connected to her. The movie is based on the best selling French novel of the same name by Tatiana de Rosnay.

Friday, January 13, 2012

What???!!!!?????

Mass. witches assembling to end Tim Tebow's season, keep Tom Brady's alive
Published January 13, 2012 FoxNews.com

Dec. 11, 2011: Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) prays in the end zone before the start of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady may not need the help, but some witches are planning to cast a spell to put an end to Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s miraculous season.
Witches Lorelei and Lori Bruno were scheduled to hold a seance at noon today – Friday the 13th – at Haven Crow Corner in Salem, Mass. to fix a win for the Pats.
“I’m going to raise the energy of the universe and send out all the good mojo,” Lorelei told the Boston Herald. “Lori will call in the Angels.”
The good witches won’t hex Tebow, as it’s “not their way,” but plan on setting up an alter with a hand-sewn Brady puppet and mojo bags filled with herbs and stones for every Patriots team member.
At the alter, the witches will chant, “Tom Brady will see what he needs to see, be where he needs to be and will take the Patriots to another victory.”
Hunky QB Brady, married to supermodel Gisele Bundchen, is a bigger draw for the witches of Salem than another recent marquee recipient of their spells, Charlie Sheen.
“You know, when we had our spiritual intervention for Charlie Sheen last year, we had a hard time getting all the girls to come,” laughed Lorelei. “But when we told them this Circle was for Tom Brady, oh, everybody will be there!”
“We want the true champion to come out on Saturday night,” Bruno added. “But since we live in Patriot Land, it’s red, white and blue and make the dream come true!”



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/13/mass-witches-assembling-to-end-tim-tebows-season-keep-tom-bradys-alive/?test=faces#ixzz1jMZhzTiz

I do not normally like to engage in the culture wars but this really makes me crazy!!!


Eph 6:12-20 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (NKJV)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Gian Paul Gonzalez




You may be wondering who is Gian Paul?? His family attends my former church and Gian Paul was very involved with the youth there and he was also my son's history teacher in 10th grade. He truly is a wonderful young man. Like Tim Tebow, Gian Paul's mom was told to abort him. Gian Paul was a star basketball player in high school and college. He had the opportunity to play pro but chose to go into ministry and use his basketball talent to help others. He is the founder of www.4-One.org. He also ran the NYC Marathon while dribbling. (See pic above)

Just wanted to give Gian Paul a place on my blog.

Watch Gian Paul on Fox News this very morning;

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1382546696001/

Monday, January 9, 2012

Timmy!!!!




Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Occupy

Everyday I read the newspaper and read the news online. I always go to foxnews.com and cnn.com. Something I read today on the CNN website got me thinking, which if you know me, this can be a very dangerous thing! Anyway, I posted the beginning of the article;

(CNN) -- The linguists have spoken and they have decided -- "Occupy" is 2011's word of the year.


First of all I did not know there was a word of the year and second who are these linguists.

Occupy, unless you have been living on some remote island, this is all we have heard about. Occupy New York, Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Oregon, etc. We even had a mini Occupy here in my home town, not sure how many "occupied". It was a small number but enough to make our local paper.

So I was thinking about the word occupy and Jesus' words came to mind in Luke.

Luke 19:12-13 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (KJV)

Jesus spoke in parables to bring great spiritual truths to His followers. In this parable Jesus is the nobleman and his servants are His followers. Occupy in the original Greek language means, do business until I come. We are to serve faithfully until Jesus returns, we are to bear fruit, we are to use the money he entrusted to us wisely. Jesus wants to see a return on His investment.

So I ask you, will you "Occupy" until Jesus comes or will you "Occupy" and as one of the definitions in Webster's dictionary states, to take up space. Do we really want to take up space?

Just sayin...

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Not My Pillow


Me: The worst pillow yet

Hubby: I can't believe you fell for that

Me: Silence (In my head I'm like, really!!)

Hubby: Send it back right away so we can get our money back

Me: Silence (In my head, really, he does not like it when I say, really)

I could just cry.

The search continues...

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Pillow Chronicles Part 2

It's here, it's here!!! My sleep life is about to change tonight.

Here is a timeline of today's event;

MY PILLOW





It arrives in this small box and I am thinking, my king pillow is in there, mmmmm... (By the way, that is my fabulous leopard Kate Spade purse in the background)




I take it out of the box and read the instructions and realize it is vacuum packed, oh thank you!!!




I really hope it is fluffier than this!!!


href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gkAy7wQjcM/TwdNLFPrKPI/AAAAAAAAAOc/BwjNmclnxXA/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG">


It is fluffier and there she sits, on my bed, awaiting for my head to "hit the pillow" and find the sleep that has alluded me for WAY too long. If it wasn't 2:30 in the afternoon I would go to bed right now and not wake up until tomorrow. Too much to do.

We shall see...

I will keep you posted on the pillow chronicles.

ZZZZZZZZZ's.........

P.S. I was unable to remove the html error in this post, sorry.

Sunday, January 1, 2012