I have published my second book! Yes indeed and I am so excited with it. The Four Little Kittens has now gone international! I've been able to read to children in classrooms, about to read to another school in Arkansas, and in June I am part of a reading program both in Beaumont and in San Augustine, Texas.

But the COOLEST thing - is teaching kids about "adjectives"! I recently had a class whom I had read to "write their own stories" after hearing about the kittens. To be an inspiration to a child and help expand their mind is one of the most awesome experiences I have had.

I can't wait to read to another group - and then - Timmy Goes To the Farm which is at the Editor's right now - should be out by summer! Come along for an adventure as I not only continue to pursue my career as a Private Investigator and Quilter, but also as a writer.

She Rides Again Sometimes you want to believe that people will change, that things "just happen" and that everyone learns from the mistake(s). A while back I went to New Mexico to pick up a lady I had gone to school with. She had text me, we had emailed, and we had chatted on the phone - mostly about her "depression and her abusive husband". Having lived in an abusive relationship, studied domestic violence abuse in college and for my Private Investigations job, and been certified as an expert in Domestic Violence - the "buzz words" she used were all perfect. We plotted and planned, I went and got her - and she didn't last a week. I think there's a blog posted after she left about it all, so there's really no need to go into it all now. Have you ever heard that "history repeats itself"? Well, sure enough in this situation - it has. She has a blog now. I didn't know about it - but happened to accidentally stumble on it. I sat there reading - the same story - all over again - in fact, here's what her blog said: "Natural..that's what I try to do. No, this isn't about going green. Not about using all organic and no deodorant. It's a way of life that I like to be--being just me; how God made me and what He intended for me. The definition of "natural", as Merriam-Webster defines as a noun: one having natural skills, talents, or abilities. Notice the word " perfect" isn't in the definition. This will be a different post and I hope that I don't lose any of you. I am about to have a major change in my life and I would ask that you join me on my new journey. So, I'm jumping right in with it and asking you for support, encouragement, positive comments that will aid any of us that have or is going through what I am about to. First a little background. I’ve been married for 31 years and have four grown children, six grandkiddo’s with a seventh on its way! I do love crafting, being outside, gardening, photography, my critters, my job at the craft store, sometimes cooking and once-in-a-great-while---cleaning the house. *smile* If I could see my grandkiddos, that would be at the tip-top of my list, but they all live out-of-state. I apologize deeply for not being consistent in posting. Some days are just too much, especially now. My emotions are taking a flip-flop run and I’m praying and staying focused on what I need to do for the next coming months. Marriage is hard. I’ve made some lu-lu of mistakes. I’m not perfect. But I love from the ends of my toenails and consider myself to be pretty darn loyal. I work hard. I like who I am. I like the things I do. I like to learn new things and am constantly reading books, etc. that teaches on bettering oneself, helping others, encouragement, positive attitude, and the like. But, it’s not what my husband wants. After 31 years, he has filed for divorce. No kiddos at home anymore. No sitting out on the porch with iced tea. No drives to the mountains. No more. Yep, we’ve had a bug-tussle of problems, arguments, sadness and disappointments in each other. He is a good guy and maybe one day we will both understand what went wrong. I’m not asking for sympathy—well, maybe a little. But I am going to focus on reaching out. I’m finding that divorce is maybe worse than losing a loved one—just my opinion. The reason is that you don’t lose them to Heaven’s gates where you won’t see them again here. You lose them as warm flesh, their smell, their being involved in your life. You’re not going to have that anymore. They are still here and you know it—you just can’t be a part of it anymore. So there it is--out in the open. I want to make this a journey that will be of help. I don’t want to face it alone either. So, my craft store job is working on getting counseling for me and will pay for it! God is so good on this. And what I learn, I would like to share and in hopes that if even one person is helped, we’ve all done a good thing. Because this may strike a heart-string chord with some, I ask that comments be gentle and positive. But, I do ask for comments. I am in the process of building my Stamping Business. I am mostly just a hobbyist, but with upcoming financial difficulties, I need to build to a business. I’ve taken some webinars, bought books, have another blog that will be started to be worked on and Stampin' Natural will be moved over when it is done. I will be a hit and miss until after July as he will stay with me until then and then he moves out of state. When he moves, I am preparing to hit my blogging hard. (My busy mind and hands will keep me going.) I've been also studying tutorials to use for ideas in the paper crafting and with stamps. Can't wait to get those together and show you new stuff! There will be some changes to this blog also as my Stamping Coach recommended but my focus is not this blog but the new one. When ready, I will give you the link to the new blog. I appreciate all of you. Some of you know me personally but didn’t know about the upcoming divorce. Maybe we will see each other and have some time to visit. Or if you see my husband, please say hello to him too. Follow along with me as we move toward a New Journey. Much love and hugs to you all" ,And, then she signs her name I was a little perturbed that she would try to scam someone else into believing that crock. So, I jotted her a message: "you are good is all I can say. This is the same line of crap you served me almost 2 years ago for me to come to NM to get you and bring you back to Texas. What you didn't tell everyone - is - this is the - uhm - HOW many times now that you've said this or ya'll have done this? And, you didn't mention that you have family that isn't in your corner - uhm - lies? Drama? If you are going to post - you best post honestly - because as far as I am concerned - you still owe me for the trip to go get you 18 months ago - I still have the texts, emails and putting them side be side this - they are exactly the same lies. I do hope you get counseling - you truly need it. And, after all the lies you told everyone about my household - they've come to realize YOU are the liar! I can hardly wait to serve you papers when you hit Texas in May." Now that probably wasn't very nice. And, I will probably have to do penance for that. I did pray about it - and, I believe, I did the right thing. Why should someone else have to go through the expense like I did. Why should she haunt someone else or upset someone else's home? I didn't do it to be mean, but to let her know - "You cannot continue to lie to the world and not be found." I understand that she is having an "internet love affair" with someone we went to school with, thus she is coming to her first class reunion - ever. That's after she has said "I hate those people, I never wanted to be around those people, there's no one there that I like - blah blah blah" So, she will be bringing her fake little self to the reunion, to meet up with her "internet lover". Friends who are lawyers say that "class reunions are the number 1 reason for divorces". I hope those who are lawyers among our group are there to pass out cards, I think there is at least one divorce on the horizon. I'm truly not trying to be ugly - but I also am truly tired of people like this abusing others - either through lies, drama, spite or meanness. I see this everyday in many of my clients - they never learned to be fair with the world or they never learned that the world doesn't owe them. We've all had some sort of rot in our lives - some more than others - but it doesn't mean that the world owes us - nor does it mean that you take advantage of the kindness of others. I feel for the poor fella who is involved. And, for a long time, I disdained her current husband, perhaps in all honesty, he needs an award for having put up with the drama, the hell and everything else that went with her for 31 years. I read Psalms 25 each day - and in the first couple of verses where it says "enemy" - I name my enemies - and this lady's name has been on a sheet of paper for a long time. I am going to continue to pray for my enemy - but God also gives us wisdom to warn a simpleton who doesn't realize he is about to be trapped in a snare like a bird. I wish she would seek help, or that her family or friends would have her committed to where she doesn't hurt herself nor anyone else. She is "stranger - danger" and anyone in the path - will be a victim. Pray for your enemies - but don't let them hurt others.

Christmas Eve - 2012

I'm being very nostalgic this morning. I should be making sandwiches and getting ready for friends to come for Jess' birthday party. Instead, I am sitting in front of the fireplace and listening to Christmas music - thinking of Christmas' past.

When I was younger, my grandparents lived out in the country - at the old Woollum Homestead. There wasn't running water, we used a well to get our drinking, cooking, and bathing water. We used a "chamber pot" to go to the bathroom at night or we hit the path for the outhouse. We had a smoke house, where, after the first frost a hog was killed and hanging. We went to the woods to cut our Christmas tree - some would say it was a Charlie Brown scraggy little tree.

My Maw would decorate it with her best of ornaments, we'd string popcorn and holly berries with the Morris girls across the highway.

Maw would bake for days ahead of time. Cousins, Aunts and Uncles would merge on the house Christmas eve. You could find 4-6 cousins piled under the covers of an old feather bed. Some slept on pallets on the floors. There was always room for one more.

Maw and Paw were loving and kind. Having Christmas at their house made everything even more special.

I cannot remember Christmas' that were any better or more special than those we shared with my grandparents. Cousins didn't fight, argue and be hateful to each other like now. There weren't divisions in the family like now - Maw or Paw would settle those very quickly.

I remember one of my most cherished gifts from Maw was a turtle shell, that she stuffed, made a head, legs and a tail for it. I kept that treasure for many years - until a cousin, Sherry Kay, broke into my house and stole it before going to prison. She stole a lot of material treasures that my Maw had given me - never to be seen of again.

But one thing is for certain - Sherry Kay didn't steal my memories of a loving, happy and Merry Christmas with my grandparents. So I suppose we all can learn that it isn't the gifts that we receive - but it's the love of family and friends shared and memories made which are the most important. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have my turtle and a few other things back so that I could pass them on to my grandchild. I just know that won't happen.

I miss Maw & Paw, especially at Christmas. Maw would read the birth of Christ while I sat in her lap, with a blanket over me, in front of the fire place. Maybe that's why today in front of my fireplace, the Christmas carols playing - I remember wonderful Christmas' past with happy thoughts and memories.

I miss you Maw & Paw and you know you always had my heart. Merry Christmas!

Recently, there just seems to be an outpouring of hurt among the folks I know. Albeit, financial, physical, medical, turmoil, being hurt by family or friends, lies, manipulations, folks trying to "advance karma" - just a myriad of things which have hurt me or my friends.

Many have cried, including myself - from the hurt, the uncalled for persecution, the threats, the evil that others plan against you, the breaking up of families, friendships which have gone south, loss of job(s), or lack of job(s) - and many of us have curled up in a dark place to just cry.

I've heard crying does one good. It releases the tension and the anxiety. I also am told that tears are the only cure for weeping. You cannot weep inside and maintain a positive to one's self. We have to release the hurt - and tears help. I think recently my friends and I have cried enough to fill a river and more. If we combined all our tears, we could have helped the drought situation in Texas - whether we've cried for ourselves, friends, family or other.

"Jesus wept." That's the shortest scripture in the Bible. Jesus wept when his friend died and he weeps with us. (John 11:33)

In the days of King Solomon there were many ups and downs. Ecclesiastes, King Solomon wrote, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven . . . a t ime to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. (3:1-4)

I've looked back at some of my writings - I can tell when I am down and when I am up.

I've come to realize that we do ourselves a great injustice or disservice when we portray Christian life as peaceful and happy all the time. The Bible shows the believers' life as having ups and downs. Just because we are a child of God we all must have a time of joy or sadness, and each season will lead us to seek the Lord and trust Him more.

The Immovable Anchor

God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.

We all go through valleys in our lives. Valleys so low that we don't think we can climb even to the bottom of the next mountain. It would be so easy to lay down, not say anything nor do anything nor be anything - but that isn't who we really are.

I think while we are in the valleys of our lives, that it is a time to read more of what God has planned for us, to listen more to what God has to say to us, to see what God's goals for us really are. There is strength to be gained.

Four years ago, Hurricane Humberto blew through Southeast Texas - to us it was just a good ol' East Texas thunderstorm. Then, Hurricane Ike blew through the following year. The storm left many homeless, especially in the Bridge City and Gulf coast areas of Texas. I've watched Boliver, Crystal Beach and Gilchrist come back to life - I've seen the works of Christians and churches praying and working. The valley has been low for them - but - they also gained strength and new understanding. God's word was the immovable anchor during those storms.

He holds us steady when our knees are weak. He brings us through the fire, the water, the fury unscathed - we may not realize it at the moment - but if not for God's immovable anchor in our life - we would have given up - just said "that's it - I'm done."

"I will never leave you nor fore sake you." He says. "I am with you always."

Some of my friends and even me are going through some valleys - we are worried about our health, our finances, our families - many things we are fretting over that we cannot do anything about. One of my friends I spoke to yesterday is working herself into a tizzy about some tests that she has to take this weekend. I asked her, "Didn't you give that to God?" She said, "Well, I guess I didn't give it all to Him." I asked, "Why not? You can't fix it, but He can." Our immovable anchor in times of the storm.

"I surrender all....all to Him I owe...." Give it to the immovable anchor in your times of storm - no matter how large or small the storm - God is our immovable anchor.

Reunion Planning

Reunion Planning I've been working with several on an upcoming reunion for several classes. It's been trying at times - but it's also but extremely rewarding. I've been able to meet up with a lot of old (not in age of course! LOL) classmates - many I've not heard from nor spoken to in well over 40 years. Of course, in every planning there are those who want to create destruction. There have been "rumors" and "lies" that I've been the center of. I've felt belittled. I have felt persecuted over things I did not say nor do. I do know who DID say them, but it wasn't me. I have come to realize that when you are doing the right thing, making good decisions, you will not always be the most popular nor the most accepted. I have come to realize that there are trouble makers everywhere. During this time, I've prayed for my enemies. I have tried to be grace under fire. I have deleted negativity from my Facebook page. I realize that I cannot control others' emotions nor beliefs, but if they are negative and wrong, I also do not have to condone nor listen to them. I also believe during this time, I've gained a lot. I've gained strength in times of persecution, I've read my Bible more, I've prayed more, I've asked for forgiveness more and I think I've grown in spirituality. I saw ugly at it's best and I want no part of it. I saw me several years ago - spewing anger and vile at people over rumors. I do not want others to perceive me as someone I do not want to be. I was proud of how I handled things. I never cursed them. I was upset. I was stressed to the point my doctor said I was stroke stage. None of us wants to be lied about especially across the web. It hurt. I prayed that God would protect me from all their evil ways. And, I believe He did. I also had time to ponder of all the times in my life, how many times have I disobeyed God? How many times have I fallen short in doing my part of my life? I'm trying to walk the path God has for me - sometimes I falter - but I do know when I do - that He is there to help pick me up. We cannot control others' opinions of us. But we can have strength under fire - we can hold our heads up with the grace of a woman and not the grief of a child. We aren't in elementary school any longer - some of us have grown up, and, others - well, somehow they are still stuck in school with the same mentalities. I'm truly looking forward to this reunion. I'm looking forward to renewing friendships. And, I'm grateful for the persecution - because it has made me a stronger Christian - and for that, if no other reason - I am grateful to my enemies. Read Proverbs 12 - I read the Proverb after I had originally written this. I am thrilled with the confirmation.

Circumstances

I thought of you this morning, and thought of the trials we all go through. I wanted to share these 2 scriptures with you - to remind you that God is carrying you through this time in your life - that He is your shelter, your rock and also to let you know - as a friend - I'm here for you.

Psalms 86:7 "In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee, for thou will answer"

Psalms 138:7"Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through them. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies. Your power will save me."

God also says "I will never leave you nor forsake you"

We all live in circumstances that we don't like. We ask God "why" and He doesn't tell us - so we have to deal with them. But we can deal with them through the inner strength God gives us.

Phillippians 4:11-12 Paul was in prison in Rome writing to the Philippians - "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on amost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want." Paul was in bad circumstances when he wrote this. I think we can learn a lot from Paul. You focus on Christ rather than the circumstances.

I want to focus less on the problems and put more focus on Christ. There are no circumstances in our lives that God cannot change if He choses to.

Paul focused on the sovereignty of God, not the will of man. Romans 8:28 "And, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His will"

"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants." Just because we do not see God's work - He is working for us. He knows our needs before we ever ask. But we can't work against Him with our fretting.

The difficult things, pain, hurt times push us to listen more to what God has to say. Let's focus on the POSITIVE results and not the pain or loss. Philippians 1:12-13 Paul had all those guards day and night and was able to witness to all these guards - who were able to go out and preach and they pointed back to Paul and talked of his letters and courage.

Strength under courage - Love you - and look forward to continuing to pray with you and for you. God is dealing with us - in major ways - our trials and tribulations are really small issues - God is strengthening us and preparing us for great things. The focus of our life is Jesus who is within us. I want us to all know Jesus in the most intimate way possible. That, I am sure will take care of us all.

So, do we continue to focus on our circumstances or do we focus on the sovereinty of God and let Him use us to be a witness in someone else's life. it's our choice. it's what we can do.